- Jagdeo says - Chief Justice rules; says such a provision would disenfranchise voters - after intercepting alleged gold smuggling attempt
--joins list of distinguished awardees such as former US President Obama, renowned businessman Warren Buffet
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, received the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation for 2024 from the University of California, Berkeley at the NASA Ames Research Centre, where the Berkeley Innovation Forum 2025 is currently being held
PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, received the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation for 2024 from the University of California, Berkeley at the NASA Ames Research Centre, where the Berkeley Innovation Forum 2025 is cur -
rently being held. According to information from the Office of the President, TURN TO PAGE 3
By Trina Williams
DOMESTIC exporters have been advised not to panic as the Guyana government plans to engage the United States (U. S.) over its recent reciprocal tariffs, People’s Progressive Party ( PPP) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said.
Jagdeo, during a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, spoke of plans to use an engagement with the U.S. to clarify a number of matters regarding trade, with the hope of easing import duties on local goods.
US. President, Donald Trump recently announced a tariff plan as part of his 2025 re-election campaign strategy.
In that regard, Jagdeo noted that the announcement does not come as a surprise since President Trump had spoken extensively about trade during his election campaign, highlighting how he
planned to use it as a vehicle to rebalance trade between his country and the rest of the world.
“So, President Trump’s announcement yesterday did not come as a surprise to us here in Guyana. This was anticipated,” he said.
The VP then delved into the government’ s current understanding of President Trump’s tariff plans.
President Trump imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all countries but he also announced individualised reciprocal tariffs that are higher for over 50 countries, including Guyana.
Jagdeo then proposed the calculation that he believes the U.S. used to arrive at that figure. He said: “From what we looked at, all we have read, it seems as though all of the countries that have had higher reciprocal tariffs are countries that have been exporting more into the United States of America than they are importing from the United States of America.
That is, countries that have a trade surplus with the United States of America. It seems as though that is the basis for higher reciprocal tariff not individualised tariff barriers in each country.”
ported that the exports from Guyana into that country totalled US$5.5 billion while the imports amounted to US$1.3 billion.
According to their figures, there was a trade sur-
He then pointed to some statistics from the United Nations (UN) global trade platform, Comtrade data, which indicated that, for 2024, Guy ana exported US$3.3 billion to the U.S. and imported U.S.$2.56 billion was a trade surplus. However, the U.
plus of $4.1 billion. Jagdeo told members of the media that the Trump administration might have derived the 38 per cent figure based on the aforementioned
tistics drop and if the facts are made clear and both parties can reconcile the trade figures.
“The bigger the surplus is in percentage terms, the higher would be your reciprocal tariff. It is across the board, it is for friend and foe alike,” he said, adding: “We’re still to work closer with the U.S. government on the numbers and to see if that is what is applicable in our case. So clearly, we would want to point out to the United States of America, because we have good import data, that we’re importing much more from the United States of America than is reported by the U.S.”
He said that is one area where that can lead to a significant reduction in the trade surplus.
under American ownership thought ExxonMobil and Hess, the Vice-President highlighted.
Some US$3.1 billion which represents a large portion of Guyana’s exports to the U.S. in 2024, came from the petroleum sector, he added.
Three of the main Guyanese exports to the U.S. are petroleum products, aluminium ore, and gold, all of which are free from the tariffs, the VP pointed out.
the Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation has been conferred upon many great political leaders, reformers, statesmen and business leaders responsible for stimulating national and global economic growth – including:
● 1967 Galo PlazaPresident of Ecuador & United Nations diplomat
● 1970 Sun Fo, 2nd Premier of the Republic of China and framers of the Constitution.
● 1973 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
● 1978 Sadako Ogata, Minister of Japan to the United Nations
● 2001 Miguel Echeverría , President of Costa Rica
● 2004 Tom Clausen, World Bank Chief & Chairman of Bank of
America
● 2007 Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
● 2011 Yuan Tseh Lee, Reformer, Statesman & Nobel Laureate , Taiwan
● 2014 Janet Yellen, Chair of United States Board of Governors, Federal
RESERVE
● 2015 Pranab Mukherjee, President of India
● 2016 Barack Obama, President of the United States
● 2017 Paul Jacobs, Chairman Executive Chairman of QUALCOMM
● 2018 John Chambers, Immediate Past Chairman of Cisco
● 2019 Francesco Starace, CEO, Enel Group , Rome, Italy
● 2020 Michael Dell,
Chairman and CEO of Dell
However, Jagdeo contended that the rate might drop if the trade surplus sta-
● 2022 Her Excellen cy and King’s Counsel, Patricia Scotland Sec. General of the Com monwealth
● 2023 Dr. Mark Liu Chairman of TSMC, Tai wan.
President Ali was rec ognised for his leadership that has tran scended borders, par ticularly in the realms of environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
laboration with prestigious institutions such as
Over the past four years, Guyana’s trade surplus has surged, largely driven by oil exports, Jagdeo clarified
This growth underscored the dominant role of oil exports in shaping trade balances, with much of the industry
the benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by all
On the regional stage, Ali’s leadership within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) instrumental.
He then said: “Our discussion with the United States government will have to show the points I made that there is no inbuilt discrimination against U.S. products coming into our market…So I’ll be looking forward to having that engagement with the U.S. government. I want to assure all of our exporters that we [will] work with them, as we learn more of the issue… There is no need to panic about this issue.”
Under President Ali ’s leadership, Guyana’s contributions to the global dialogue on environmental conservation and sustainability through pioneering initiatives, such as advancing market mechanisms for carbon trading and moving closer to the establishment of an International Centre for Biodiversity, in col -
growth within Guyana through his government’s policies, have significantly enhanced household disposable incomes, helping to mitigate the global cost of living challenges faced by his citizens.
This comprehensive approach to governance is further exemplified by targeted support initiatives for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, small business owners, dialysis patients, and Indigenous Peoples, ensuring that
As Chairman of CARICOM, he has forefront of advocating for Haitian-led solutions to the crisis in Haiti, emphasising regional support for peace and stability through collaborative dialogue and consensus-building.
Silica City is envisioned to incorporate a smart city that integrates the latest in technology and sustainable practices, designed to enhance the quality of life for its residents and serve as a model for environmental conservation and technological integration.
This visionary project is aimed at constructing an urban environment where technology and nature exist in harmony, showcasing cutting-edge solutions for energy, waste management, and urban planning.
President Ali’s vision for Silica City was applauded for its embodiment of a groundbreaking approach to urban development that not only serves the needs of Guyana, but also sets a new standard for open innovation in emerging communities worldwide.
NO expense will be spared by the government in ensuring that Guyanese children receive a worldclass education, one that makes them competitive anywhere in the world, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has said. He made those remarks during a press conference
on Thursday at the party’s headquarters, Freedom House.
The General Secretary said: “We have to find a model, because we will put all the money necessary into education to ensure that when we prepare someone in Guyana; our children, they must be able to compete anywhere in the world, the best education
in the world. And we can afford it; and we will invest in it, but that may dictate a rethinking of the current school model.”
He then highlighted the investments that the government is already making in the education sector, more particularly the increase in the sector’s budget.
“…We also have to ensure that the model that we are investing in is yielding the best result for everyone, our children, especially,” the General Secretary stated while emphasising that this is a huge focus for the government.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently stated that in pur-
suit of the highest standards of education, the Government of Guyana is making continuous investments to integrate sectors, build out infrastructure, and strengthen collaborations.
“Many times when you graduate to free university education, most times the capital investment comes down… We are giving free education, at the maximum standard, we’re going to invest in the highest standards, the maximum standard, so we’re not cutting costs or cutting corners to deliver that free education,” President Ali told a gathering at the commissioning ceremony for the new US$4.5 million Col-
lege of Medical Sciences building at the University of Guyana (UG)’s Turkeyen Campus
The Head of State said that the government’s vision is not one that is centralised, but one that will see the deployment of services such as education and healthcare to every single region across the country.
To this end, the President pointed to projects that are already in the pipeline, including plans to convert the New Amsterdam Hospital into a teaching facility with the capacity to facilitate 200 students; expand the Charles Rosa School of Nursing, and engage partners like Mount Sinai to collaborate on research and education platforms to offer specialised programmes to Guyanese.
“This is what an integrated education and
world-class education and healthcare system must look like, and we’re making those investments out…,” President Ali said.
The government, he related, has already begun outlining its health programme for the next five years, focusing on significant, stimulated investments for students.
“We know the world is advancing at a tremendous pace, and we will also have to have ‘labs’ that allow our students to learn robotics, AI, using robotic arms to do surgery, otherwise, you will not be able to function in the new healthcare system that the world is adopting,” the Head of State said.
This, he said, will be an important priority, as the government now looks to partner with incubators at Silicon Valley.
- Chief Justice rules; says such a provision would disenfranchise
IN a lengthy judgement delivered on Thursday, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, declared that there is no legal requirement for Guyanese citizens to be resident at a particular address in order to be registered on the National Register of Registrants (NRR), or to vote at the General and Regional Elections.
The decision was delivered in the case filed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph (the applicant), who, among other things, asked the court to issue an order compelling the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to verify a registrant was living at the address claimed for the purposes of inclusion in the National Register of Registrants (NRR) and for voting.
The NRR is a database managed by GECOM that records the names of individuals who are eligible to vote in General and Regional elections. This database serves as an official list of registered voters.
The PNCR member argued that verification was necessary due to concerns that some registered addresses either lack buildings entirely or contain abandoned or dilapidated structures where no one has lived for years.
She further argued that while some addresses exist, the registrants are unknown to the residents in the community, and others are merely general locations, such as the name of a village or area. Smith-Joseph, through her lawyers, submitted that this has resulted, and continues to result, in entries on the NRR that have effectively "contaminated" the database.
Addressing Smith-Joseph’s concerns, Justice George stated: “The applicant has produced no evidence to support the contention that there are persons found not to be located at the addresses stated in their registration information; i.e., they do not reside at the addresses claimed. The evidence produced is based on the applicant’s perceptions of what is or might be occurring.
“In my view, the address claimed has to be accepted. The registration officer cannot say to a person presenting themselves for registration that they do not accept the address given for whatever reason, and, therefore, disqualify the person for a first registration or registration of a change of address. To do so
would be to disenfranchise persons, which would be unconstitutional,” Chief Justice George declared.
Furthermore, while Smith-Joseph acknowledged that residency is not a requirement for voting in General Elections, she argued that Article 73(1) of the Constitution of Guyana mandates citizens to reside in a specific region to vote in Regional Elections. Based on this, she maintained that residency is a constitutional requirement for Regional Elections and asserted that the addresses provided by individuals registering to vote in these elections must be verified.
Article 73(1) states that “Members of a Regional Democratic Council shall be elected by persons residing in the Region and registered as electors for the purpose of Article 159.”
Article 159 sets out the qualification and disqualification for electors. Article
159(1) states that no person shall vote at an election unless he or she is registered as an elector.
Article 159(2) stipulates that to be eligible for voter registration, individuals must be at least 18 years old and either a citizen of Guyana by birth, descent, or naturalisation, or a Commonwealth citizen who has resided in Guyana for at least one year, provided they are not a citizen of Guyana.
This makes overseas-based Guyanese eligible to vote.
While Article 73(1) refers to persons “residing” in the region, she argued that Article 159(1) does not impose a residency requirement, and, therefore, contended that these two constitutional provisions are in conflict.
The court dismissed Smith-Joseph’s claim that these two constitutional provisions conflict with each other.
On this issue, the Chief Justice emphasised: “The residency information is captured on registration when a person gives their address. Thereafter, GECOM merely has to assign persons to the regions or other local government constituency or areas based on the addresses given or claimed. So, when on registration, one gives an address, this would determine one’s residence for the purposes of Local Government elections of which Regional Elections are a part.”
According to Justice George, the only logical conclusion is that the “residing” in Article 73(1) must be interpreted in the context of the address claimed—the address provided at the time of registration.
She, therefore, held that: “Articles 73(1) and 159(1) are not in conflict. The former identifies where one will exercise their right to vote, which is guaranteed by the
latter. Parliament must have been aware of the intent of Article 159—more specifically, Article 159(1)—when it explicitly referred to Article 159 in Article 73(1).”
Justice George further noted that it would be illogical for Parliament, having removed the residency requirement from Article 159 in the 1980 Constitution, to have intended the creation of a separate registration process to verify addresses under Article 73(1), especially since both the General and Regional Elections rely on the Official List of Electors (OLE).
“Election laws of Guyana are clearly meant to provide minimal restriction on the eligibility of Guyanese regarding the right to vote. It simply places the onus on persons to get registered in the place of [their] choice regarding where they want to vote, so that the names can be included in the Official List of Electors—which is clearly meant to be the source list for all elections.”
In closing, the Chief Justice said that the order being sought by the applicant would mean asking the court to introduce a residency requirement—something this court has already ruled on—which would violate Article 159(1) of the Constitution.
“Article 159(1) is about the right to vote, while Article 73(1) is about where a person would exercise [that right]. So, the application is dis -
missed,” Justice George ruled. She emphasised that a person's name can only be removed from the voter’s list if they are deceased or otherwise disqualified under Article 159.
Moreover, the Chief Justice found that the issues raised in this case closely mirrored those in a previous case filed by Smith-Joseph in 2022. Considering this, the court ruled that she must pay costs, which will be assessed if not mutually agreed upon.
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, SC, who had previously called for the case to be dismissed, reacted to the Chief Justice’s ruling in a Facebook post, stating: “In yet another elaborate and well-reasoned judgment, the CJ [Chief Justice] dismissed the PNC’s case, upholding all of our submissions; and confirms once again that there is no legal requirement for a Guyanese to be resident at a particular address in Guyana in order to be registered or to vote.
“The court labelled the case as an attempt to disenfranchise Guyanese and violate the doctrine of separation of powers.”
The Attorney-General was named as a respondent in the application, alongside GECOM, which was represented by its in-house attorney, Kurt Da Silva. Smith-Joseph was represented by Attorney Dexter Todd.
IN a landmark judgement that upholds the values of inclusivity and constitutional integrity, Acting Chief Justice Roxane George confirmed on Thursday that Guyanese citizens do not have a legal requirement to reside at an address in order to register or vote in the General and Regional Elections.
This decision, issued in the wake of a suit filed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph, is an unequivocal victory for democracy, and the protection of voting rights in Guyana.
Smith-Joseph’s lawsuit sought to compel the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct a Houseto-House address verification of the names listed on the National Register of Registrants (NRR), citing improprieties such as registrations with uninhabited or empty houses. But Justice George dismissed such claims as baseless, pointing to the complete failure of evidence submitted to substantiate them. More so, she highlighted that such petitions constitute a step towards disenfranchising voters, a contravention of Article 159(1) of
the Constitution, which keeps the right to vote for all the citizens who qualify to exercise it.
Such a ruling transcends being a legal pronouncement; it is a moral position against exclusionary practices that threaten public trust in electoral processes.
The PNCR’s push for address verification, in the guise of election integrity, will disenfranchise thousands of citizens, particularly those whose homes are not permanent, on account of financial or social causes.
Justice George was correct in pointing out that election legislation
must impose as little restriction as is necessary on eligibility to vote, in order to assure that all citizens have equal opportunity to help determine the future direction of their country.
Further, the judgement maintains the primacy of constitutional conformity over administrative technicalities.
As Attorney-General Anil Nandlall illuminated, the Constitution itself does not mandate residency as a voting or registration qualification.
In aligning electoral legislation with constitutional requirement, the judgement ensures that no citizen is unrea -
sonably excluded from voting by administrative technicality.
Opponents may argue that address verification is required to maintain an accurate voter roll, and prevent fraud. But it was noted that there are no clear guidelines or procedures for determining whether an address is valid, or whether a registrant has a sufficient “connection” to it.
Such requirements without robust frameworks would invite subjective interpretation, and potential abuse, further complicating an already sensitive process.
Democracy prospers
if it remains open to all opinions, and not just those found convenient, or that meet capricious standards. In denying the residency restrictions to voting rights, Justice George has upheld this fundamental principle by allowing every Guyanese citizen to retain their inalienable right to exercise input in determining their nation’s future. It now rests with all the stakeholders—political parties, civil society, and GECOM— to uphold this judgement, and work together in respecting an electoral system that is faithful to the spirit of democracy.
Dear Editor,
RECENT experiences with One Communications (OC), formerly GT&T, show that they need to revamp their customer service design to become more efficient and highly responsive when a customer is having poor service.
What they have now is a bad design that leads to poor customer service when you have a problem. I am not a cussing man, but this phone company pushes you to the brink. Others
be more responsive
have told me the same.
The poor service here shows that the government needs to invite other providers who can offer a better internet/phone service. These folks may have changed their name but not their nature. The service is still poor.
My internet stopped working on Saturday morning, and OC said they don’t fix things on the weekend. That’s a bad design right there. They should change that. Have people on standby to do troubleshooting “24/7.”
Maybe their competitors should say “we are not like the OC guys, we respond to you 24/7. We are there when you need us.”
So, name change and new billboards mean nothing if you are not designed to respond with utmost speed. The OC guys said they would come on Monday but they never came. When one stays home waiting for the OC guys to come and they never showed up, that’s a wasted day. That shows disrespect to the customer.
PUC should make them
pay a day’s wages for “noshow.” I also had a ticket number to speak to a supervisor. They said a supervisor would call within an hour; that call never came. When I called on Monday, the apparently young, inexperienced operator said they have a high call volume right now, someone will call you back. No one called back. That seems to be a way to put you off, and your problem does not get solved. When the reps do talk to you, they ask for all the info. You already gave
them when you signed up for service.
That’s a waste of time when they design their process like that to ask for information already in their system. You would think they would ask you for your blood type next.
The worst part is they have a three-question survey of how well they did. Do they ever think they well get a rating above zero if your issue was not resolved?
My cell phone service is bad too. Sometimes you are in an area and you don’t get OC signal but
your friend with another company gets signal. My thanks to supervisor Rhonda who did respond and got the technicians here. The internet worked for two days and is off again. So I have contacted the PUC since I cannot talk to a supervisor. This letter is free, honest, no-cost feedback to OC to revamp its customer service to stay competitive. Please listen.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
Dear Editor,
SEVERAL writers have claimed that there has been an erosion of democracy in Guyana particularly during the PPP/C’s current term in office (2020-2025).
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) allege, for example, that freedom of expression under the PPP/C administration is being threatened . The PPP/C believes that much of the criticism emerges because they (PPP/C) has been refuting “fake” or distorted news. Any government, including the PPP/C, has the right to challenge distorted news or misinformation, but such responses must not be construed as attempts to discredit the press.
Nevertheless , the critics’ case is buttressed by reports of Transparency Institute of Guyana (TIGI) whose findings, however, are disputed by the PPP/C Government.
TIGI awarded Guyana a low score of 39 on the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) which is below the regional av -
erage of 42 and it (Guyana) ranks 92 out of 180 countries.
TIG notes: “In Guyana, state capture by economic and political elites fosters misappropriation of resources , illicit enrichment, and environmental crime.... transparency and law enforcement are very low and attacks on dissenting voices, activists, and journalists increasingly common.”
The PPP/C rejected these findings and said that they are not based on any credible evidence.
Another source of support for critics’ position on erosion of democracy is an organisation called the V-Dem Institute. Mr. Edward Burrowes says that Guyana has been moving since 2018 towards “autocratisation” (a political situation in which power is highly concentrated in one person who also suppresses dissent).
Based on his interpretation of the findings of the V-Dem Institute, he accuses the PPP/C Government of “trying
to stifle the emergence of third parties and freedom of expression.”
Had Mr Burrowes conducted a critical review of V-Dem’s methodology , he would have recognised why Guyana received lower scores on three (Egalitarian Components, Participatory Components, Deliberative Components) of the six metrics (the other three being Liberal Democracy, Electoral Democracy, Liberal Components).
Though quantitative and qualitative data show that Guyana has out-performed most CARICOM states in at least three of the six metrics (‘Egalitarian’, ‘Participatory’ and ‘Deliberative’ Components) it still received lower scores than the other electoral democracies. There is an abundance of data over the past four years (2020-2024 ) on how the PPP/C government has revolutionised the democratic process by taking government to the people on a weekly basis to every village in every region of the country
The PPP/C solicits citizens’ views on the development of its manifesto as well as on development priorities for their communities. These initiatives are reflected in the egalitarian, the deliberative, and the participatory components of Guyana’s electoral democracy. Yet Guyana has been scored below countries whom it out-performed on these metrics!
To understand, therefore, why Guyana received lower scores than other CARICOM states, one must know how the six metrics are computed and rated by the 30 experts (20 local and 12 overseas).
We asked V-Dem to name the local experts, but they declined: “We do not reveal the identity of our country experts and preserve country expert confidentiality according to a strict policy.”
In the interest of trans-
parency, accountability, and good governance, shouldn’t Guyanese know the names of the local “experts”? We need to know what data they provide to V-Dem. Have they ever provided any IMF or World Bank data on Guyana’s favourable economic performance?
Economic prosperity could only flow from a good democratic foundation, including freedom of expression. The IMF (March 2025 report) highlights various positive economic indicators such as an average GDP growth rate of 47 percent between 2022-2024; a projection of growth rate of an average of 14 percent for the next five years; while the non-oil sector would grow on average by 6.75 percent during the same period. The fiscal budget deficit would narrow from 7.3 percent to of GDP
in 2024 to five percent of GDP in 2025. Shouldn’t we know if any favourable data on Guyana has been sourced by V-Dem and other organisations like TIG?
While we condemn corruption; any form of criminal activity; and sluggish law enforcement; we do not find in Guyana any verifiable evidence that the PPP/C government is suppressing freedom of expression, an essential foundational principle of democracy. Instead, what stifles freedom of expression and democracy is “fake” news, misinformation, and the extant Defamation Act and the 2018 Cybercrime Act. Just think about it!
Sincerely,
Dr Tara Singh
GROWING up in south Georgetown, the talk among people was that if you get a jumbie lash you do not survive. In the school yard, when someone got hit by another, we would say it was a jumbie lash. I don’ t know if this saying in common parlance is still fashionable. But I like to use it both in my
columns and on the Freddie Kissoon Show.
It is my opinion that Sherod Duncan just put a jumbie lash pon Nigel Hughes. Sherod revealed that the AFC did a poll to ascertain Nigel’s popularity in relation to the consensus candidate issue and the poll revealed that Nigel didn’t make it.
If it wasn’t for Sherod, the public would not have known about the poll. But the poll revealed what political analysts knew since Nigel became AFC leader.
Two reasons explain the rejection of Nigel. One is that his political history was not one of consistent presence. He resigned in 2017 as the deputy leader of the
AFC while the party was in government. And after that resignation, he announced more than three times that he was finished with politics.
I was a huge face on the AFC’s 2015 campaign and Nigel did not participate on the public platform and he did not speak at any public meeting. He was absent for the 2020 campaign.
The second reason for the rejection by those who were surveyed is because since 2020, Nigel, unlike every leader in the AFC’ s hierarchy, immersed himself in Afro-centric politics. Since 2020, there is not an ounce of multi-racial content in his advocacy.
This was the most disappointing moment for me as someone who knew him intimately. My deeply held belief is that Nigel destroyed his immense pre-2020 standing in Guyana by his racial direction from 2020.
I believe Duncan is incapable of being soothed because he is implacably angry that, after leaving politics, Nigel would want to be that barefaced and seek leadership of the AFC. The core of Duncan’s anger is that if it wasn’t for Nigel he, Duncan, would have been leader because no one else was interested.
Duncan is wrong to believe that it was Nigel that undid him. Class analysis should have instructed Dun-
can that if it wasn’t Nigel, the Mulatto/Creole Class (MCC) that owns the AFC would have found another MCC personality if Nigel had refused.
Duncan may have a university degree, but he knows nothing about class analysis and is incapable of doing class analysis of his country.
Once you enter politics, you must learn how to do class analysis.
Duncan felt that because he kept the AFC alive as General Secretary, he would have been the anointed one. He didn’t and does not understand the AFC. Once the congress came around and Duncan threw his hat in the ring, the MCC became alarmed and reached out to David Patterson to seek the leader position to shut Sherod out.
In so many ways, Sherod is a mediocre politician. Sherod sought leadership of the AFC because he felt AFC bigwigs were not interested. But the AFC consists of another set of bigwigs that have never been visible but they are around. This is the MCC that birthed the AFC and owns the AFC. No other example portrays this MCC ownership more that the telephone call made on a certain day.
This must be the 50th time I am writing about this incident. When the AFC met to select its ministers
in May 2015, all the MCC personalities in that room, including Nigel, decided that it will make their MCC friend the Environment Minister. This lady was unknown to maybe all of the third-tier and second-tier leaders in the AFC from 2005 onwards.
The woman is closely related to Terrence Campbell. Do you see who Nigel Hughes chose to replace him as consensus candidate; a fellow MCC personality? Campbell, and the lady the AFC leadership called in May 2015 do not have a presence in the AFC but they are the owners of the AFC.
There are some wellplaced MCC personalities in Guyana that helped to form the MCC that up to this day, there are still around but the society does not know and will never know who they are. I could reveal some of their names but I am afraid of libel.
To conclude, Duncan was and is wrong to think Nigel snatched his crown. The MCC would not have allowed a cuss-down, wild man like Duncan to lead the MCC. It was stupid of Duncan not to know that all the societies in the world want their leaders to be classy people, not those who exist in the trenches and cuss down and shout down every day.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Thursday sought to clarify information which listed a man that was charged for assault and disorderly behaviour as a serving member of the force.
In a press release, the Defence Force indicated
that the court was provided with information from an attorney, who related that Marvin Douglas is a serving member of the Force. Against this backdrop, the GDF notified members of the public that Douglas was a former member of the Force, who was struck
off strength since July 29, 2013.
Douglas, who was placed before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court earlier this week, is facing charges in relation to an incident that occurred in January. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
-Jagdeo says gov’t willing to help affected staff
WITH r eports indicat ing that France-headquartered call centre, Teleperformance, has downsized its operations in Guyana, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the government is willing to help those who were genuinely affected.
He told reporters this during a press conference on Thursday at the party’s headquarters, Freedom House.
According to news reports, the company has already laid off hundreds of workers, and has closed its Camp Street, down-town Georgetown location.
Absenteeism, lack of punctuality, and in some cases fraud were cited as main issues by the company, Jagdeo said.
“I asked Ashni Singh what are you being told, and he said they have spoken about absenteeism, the lack of punctuality, and a couple
of cases of fraud… And, you know, they operate in a very competitive sector, and they have clients abroad. And if nobody is there, you can’t keep the quality of the service up,” the General Secretary said, adding: “Like a lot of people apparently are finding jobs elsewhere, so, a lot are leaving, or some are showing up late and stuff like that.”
However, for those genuinely affected by this downsizing, Jagdeo said the government will help them.
“For those who genuinely are affected and want to work, we would engage them; the Guyanese, because we believe that the economy is taken to such an extent that we can easily find alternate employment for people who may be affected in this area. So, we are addressing this issue, too,” Jagdeo said.
Teleperformance is still operating at its Middle and Thomas Streets, Georgetown location.
MASSIVE investment vehicles for ordinary citizens will be unlocked in Guyana’s booming oil sector, if the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is re-elected, the party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo has vowed.
Jagdeo, on Thursday during a press conference at Freedom House, said that his government has plans in place to ensure that citizens reap real financial gains.
Further, he noted there will be a push for tax breaks and lower rates for small business owners, making it easier for them to thrive.
Jagdeo told reporters: “Everyone must have the opportunity in Guyana to own something, or to get more re-
turns from their money. A big focus would be on this qualitative issue. We’re working heavily on that now.”
He added: “We’ve already identified about three big business opportunities in the oil-and-gas sector that we can tailor for small people in the economy; small investments that they can share the prosperity, too.”
Speaking more on the plans, he said it can be done in increments of $50,000 investment or $100,000.
“So, it is a huge thing that we’re talking about now; we have some intense discussions,” the General Secretary said.
Notably, the Small Business Bureau (SBB), under the Ministry of Tourism,
Industry, and Commerce (MTIC), successfully trained approximately 10,893 small businesses in 2024.
This marks a significant milestone in the Bureau’s mission to foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen the micro and small-business sectors across Guyana.
From 2020 to 2024, the Bureau reported a notable increase in the number of small businesses benefitting from its training programmes. Key areas of training included: Small-Business Management; Financial Management and Record Keeping; Business Proposal Writing; Guyanese Business Toolkit; Marketing Fundamentals; Delivering Quality Service, and a Label Designing Work-
shop.
These programmes were designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills to manage, grow, and sustain their businesses, while contributing to the national economy.
CENTRAL Government is standing firm on its position that it will not support Mayor Alfred Mentore and the APNU+AFCaligned councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s financial regulation, which is aimed at waiving interest on outstanding rates and taxes within the capital city.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo reaffirmed this position on Thursday during a press conference at Freedom House.
Speaking on Mayor Mentore’s position that he is ready to defend his position, should the matter be taken to court, Jagdeo told the residents of Georgetown that the PPP, in particular the party’s councillors on the City Council, support assistance for the ordinary people, but it must be done in a transparent manner.
Pointing out the question-
able nature of the City Council, he highlighted the fact that it has failed to pursue a $6.4 billion debt owed by a company affiliated with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which has not paid taxes for years on its properties in Georgetown.
“So let me make it clear, we are not supporting a scheme that APNU wants to put in City Hall to rip people off again,” Jagdeo said.
Further, Attorney- General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, recently lashed out at Mayor Mentore and APNU+AFC-aligned councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for what he has described as a blatantly illegal attempt to waive interest on outstanding property taxes, linking the move to a politically motivated scheme aimed at enriching a select few aligned with the opposition.
Speaking during his
weekly programme, ‘Issues in the News’, on Tuesday, Nandlall made it clear that the Council has no legal authority to implement any such a waiver.
“It is the express intention
of the Georgetown Mayor and some of the councillors to promulgate a financial regulation by which they intend to waive interest on outstanding rates and taxes,” the AG said, stressing that
such power rests solely with Parliament, and not with the local council.
He explained that the Mayor and City Council is governed by the Municipal and District Councils Act,
lege that the plan is part of a wider scheme to provide financial relief to certain wealthy individuals with long-standing arrears to the City Council.
“This is not being driven by any benevolent motive. This is a scheme to help a few selected persons who owe large amounts of money, including massive sums in interest,” the AG said.
He pointed to what he called the “duplicitous nature” of the APNU+AFC-aligned council, accusing it of engaging in political gimmickry and backdoor dealings while disregarding the Rule of Law. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag had also echoed these concerns, labelling the Council’s actions “unlawful and unauthorised”.
which authorises the imposition of interest on unpaid taxes, at rates specified by Parliament.
Nandlall explained that there is no provision in the law that allows the M&CC to waive this interest, adding that any attempt to do so would be unconstitutional, and in breach of financial regulations.
“If Parliament wanted to give the Council the authority to waive that interest, it would have specified so— along with the terms and conditions under which such waivers could occur. That has not been done,” Nandlall said.
He warned that any councillor who proceeds with the scheme could be held personally liable, along with any beneficiaries who may profit from the move.
“They will have to account for the monies involved. That is the law of Guyana,” the AG said firmly. Nandlall went further to al-
In a letter dated March 26, 2025, she cited the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap. 28:01, which grants exclusive authority to make financial regulations to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
“The Law is unambiguous,” Parag wrote, referencing Section 146(1) of the Act: ‘The Minister may make financial regulations for controlling and managing financial business of councils.’
She criticised the Mayor for acting unilaterally, without consulting her office and misrepresenting legal provisions.
Parag warned of legal consequences, stating that any unlawfully waived sums would be recovered through civil proceedings against the responsible parties, and reported to the police for appropriate action.
Adding to the mounting criticism, PPP councillors within the M&CC have also rejected the unilateral move, calling it not only illegal, but a deliberate political stunt aimed at misleading citizens.
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
MEMBERS of the Men on a Mission (MoM) have stepped forward to bring hope and relief to a family in distress.
In the wake of the devastating fire that destroyed the home of 44-year-old Lavern Charles on March 23, the compassionate team has committed to rebuilding an elevated two-bedroom concrete structure to ensure that the affected Rose Hall woman and her family have a safe and secure place to call home once again.
This initiative is a shining example of community resilience and unity, demonstrating the PPP/C government’s unwavering commitment to supporting those in need and uplifting vulnerable families.
Through swift action and dedicated resources, this reconstruction project will not only restore a physical dwelling but also rekindle hope, dignity, and stability for the family.
Charles of Lot 249 Fourth Street Swamp Section, Rose Hall Town, said that the fire, which is of electrical origin, completely destroyed her family’s house while everyone was at church.
Charles, a food vendor at the Rose Hall Town Market,
said that it is very hard situation to have to deal with.
“It is very hard at this time but we are trying to get by,” she said, noting that she resided at the location with her elderly parents and daughter, three.
After learning of the situation, contractors attached to MoM immediately decided to come on board to rebuild the structure in concrete for the family.
The project will be carried out through the MoM Initiative by contractors; Dauren Deonarine of Cardinal Enterprise; Mark Papannah of Polo Construction; Rondhall Lewis of RL Contracting; Devindra Persaud of DP Valcon; Kevin Abdulla of AE&N General Contracting; Feroz Ulla of Feroz Construction Services; Rishal Singh of Rishal’s Construction & Maintenance Service; Michael Samlall of Michael Samlall Construction; and Shunta Davie Ruffudeen of SDR Construction.
Based on information gathered, work commenced at the location Thursday.
Charles after meeting with the contractors, said, “We feeling much better that work has commenced on the house.”
Additionally, the mother of one will receive a gas stove to help her restart her business as well.
MINISTER of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill has made it clear that heavy-laden trucks are not permitted to traverse along the railway embankment on the East Coast of Demerara to alleviate damage to the thoroughfare.
He made these remarks Thursday morning while inspecting the recently rehabilitated Strathspey Bridge. The bridge collapsed after an over-laden truck drove over the deteriorated section.
Minister Edghill stated, “No trucks should continue to pass the acrow-panel bridges along this embankment. If not, we are going to end up having another failure. This is a new trend where trucks are going through community streets or wherever they think they could drive fast and that is causing damage.”
Within the last several months, the minister pointed out that over six acrow-panel bridges underwent significant
rehabilitation works, which were destroyed by over-laden trucks. He further noted, “It might not be one truck but the continuous flow of heavy-laden trucks where the weight is no longer on the axle but it’s now directly on the road and the structures are causing the damage.”
As part of the US$192.3 million Sheriff to Mahaica four-lane road project, Minister Edghill noted that all the acrow-panel bridges will be removed for new, resilient structures to be constructed. This project includes the construction of 48 bridges, 22 culverts, and a bridge across the Hope Canal.
“Trucks should not continue to cross these bridges until this project is completed and we put in place the kind of infrastructure that could take the tonnage of trucks that are traversing our roadways,” the public works minister emphasised. (DPI)
A 30-year-old former fisherman, Joseph Rameshwar, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 2018 killing of 72-year-old pensioner Jerry Rambeer.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Justice Damone Younge of the Demerara High Court. Rameshwar, of Bellview, West Bank Demerara (WBD), had previously been remanded to prison after appearing at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge. Before Justice Younge, he, however, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Attorney Muntaz Ali represented the prosecu -
tion, while Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam appeared on behalf of the convict.
The court heard that Rameshwar was responsible for the death of Rambeer, a pensioner of Lot 18 Sister’s Village, WBD.
According to police reports, on July 1, 2018, around 11:30hrs, authorities were notified that Rambeer was found lying unconscious on Back Street, Good Intent, WBD. Officers arrived to find signs of violence on Rambeer’s body, including a severe head wound. He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.
Sadly, around 15:00hrs on July 3, 2018, Rambeer succumbed to his injuries. Rameshwar was arrested on July 5, 2018, and confessed to investigators that he had struck Rambeer on the head with a rolling pin, leading to his death.
Following legal advice, it was determined that Rameshwar should be charged with murder.
INCREASING security concerns across the Caribbean set the stage for an experts’ meeting in Guyana on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
Bringing together regional stakeholders and international specialists, the meeting focused on developing national and regional action plans that will strengthen institutional responses, address gender-based violence, and enhance women’s role in peace and security efforts.
According to a press release, the hybrid two-day engagement was hosted by the British High Commission in partnership with UN Women and Our Secure Future, and brought together key stakeholders from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados to drive the implementation of a Regional WPS Approach in the Caribbean and National Action Plans (NAP) for each country
A WPS NAP is a country’s strategic framework to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which advocates for the protection and inclusion of women in peace and security efforts.
Each NAP is tailored to address specific security challenges within a country, ensuring that women and girls are integral to conflict prevention, crisis response, and recovery processes.
At both national and regional levels, WPS action plans provide structured interventions to combat violence, strengthen institutional frameworks, and enhance community resilience.
A WPS NAP for Guyana and other Caribbean nations presents a strategic opportunity to address key security issues facing women and vulnerable groups in the country. By identifying gaps in policy and institutional responses, the NAP can serve as a roadmap for building safer communities. In the region, Trinidad and Tobago has already adopted a WPS NAP, which took three years to develop and involved extensive stakeholder engagement.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, said: “An important part of the WPS agenda is thinking about the issues we have in our countries and how the agenda can help us. WPS is not talking about women as victims or vulnerable, even though sometimes they are, but women as being part of the solutions. How can women be brought to the centre of conversations?
“It took Trinidad and Tobago just about three years to launch their NAP and that sounds about right because effective consultation takes time. Bringing women into the centre of problem solving is not just the right thing
to do; it is also the more effective way of finding solutions.”
Vice President of Our Secure Future, Sahana Dharmapuri, spoke on the need for strategic partnerships and a regional approach, saying: “We want to do things regionally because it goes back to the principle that if we work together, we can accomplish great things. The discussion today is building on that—fostering regional sharing, ideas, and coordination—which is unique. We do not often get the opportunity to share across countries in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Capturing what women are saying about peace and security in their countries and sharing it with the global community highlights its global importance.”
Je’nille Maraj, Planning and Coordination Specialist at UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean provided an overview of the Caribbean’s WPS progress.
Maraj said: “This is a moment to examine the WPS agenda and have the conversations we are having to use the WPS Agenda to address social norms that impact us. In Trinidad and Tobago, the conversation started off with a small group of like-minded people, including CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, Elizabeth Solomon , very
similar to what is happening in this room.
“We thought about how is this relevant to Trinidad and Tobago, who should we have dialogues with and we sought out strategic partners. The Government took on their own commitment to take a note to Cabinet. This was bolstered by the NAP Academy in partnership with Our Secure Future. We also held different meetings with civil society.
“UN Women bridged some of the gaps and helped some of these conversations to happen. Many countries in the Caribbean are taking significant strides to address these issues and it is a good moment for all of us to push through.”
Key government representatives from Gender and Child Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister , Trinidad and Tobago were on hand to share an overview of their experience and the rationale for launching the action plan.
Kurt Meyer, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister said: “While we know that everyone is affected by insecurity, women, girls, men and boys often experience insecurity and violence differently. The WPS agenda is critical for achieving sustainable peace. Research indicates that peace agreements are 35 percent more likely to last at least
--developing action plans to strengthen institutional responses, addressing gender-based violence
15 years when women participate in negotiations. By ensuring women’s inclusion and protection , WPS strengthens societies, promotes human rights, and contributes to long-term stability and security.”
Mirsad Jacevic, a global WPS NAP expert who has supported governments in developing more than 100 action plans worldwide, emphasised the importance of the process during the meeting saying: “The development of a WPS National Action Plan is not just a policy exercise— what is even more important is how we get there.
“The stakeholders we bring together, civil society - whose role is absolutely critical in shaping sustainable security policies, the partnerships we build, and the sustained commitment we foster will determine the success of the plan and its impact on communities.”
The WPS activities started on March 26, 2025, with a Welcome Reception at the British High Commission Residence, where High Commissioner Miller and CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign Relations, Solomon, delivered opening remarks
A fireside chat followed, featuring prominent WPS experts Mirsad Jacevic and Dharmapuri, along with Delfina Gar -
cia Hamilton, UN Women Consultant for the Coordination of the Governance Programme on Women, Peace , and Humanitarian Security.
On March 27, the High-Level Experts Meeting focused on discussions that set the stage for actionable steps in integrating WPS across national and regional frameworks and on the progress and challenges of implementing WPS policies.
A multi-stakeholder team was in attendance as part of the dialogues: CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, Solomon, along with representatives from Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General ’s Chambers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
Other participating officials included representatives from the Trinidad and Tobago Gender and Child Affairs Division, Office of the Prime Minister and the Coalition of Domestic Violence and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in Barbados.
SOCU seizes over $60M in gold, cash --after intercepting alleged gold smuggling attempt
IN yet another major intelligence-led joint operation, on Thursday, in Georgetown, officers of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) successfully intercepted an alleged gold smuggling attempt.
Acting on credible intelligence, SOCU, in a press release, said its officers detained four individuals, two Brazilian nationals, one Cuban national and one Guyanese.
SOCU also seized a large quantity of gold valued at over $30 million and over $31 million in cash together with a quantity of electronic equipment.
This is a significant breakthrough in the fight against illicit gold smuggling, SOCU said, adding that the four persons are currently assisting with investigations.
According to Head of SOCU, Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, SOCU officers were able to disrupt the smuggling operation before the gold could be moved and warned gold smugglers to stop this illicit activity or they will face the full force of the law, underscoring the authority’s commitment to tackling transnational crimes and protecting the nation’s valuable resources.
This latest crackdown follows a similar enforcement action on March 5, 2025 at Lethem, Region Nine, where two persons were arrested.
The Government of Guyana remains resolute in its mission to combat illicit gold smuggling and dismantle networks involved in these illegal activities.
Officials continue to monitor and enforce strict measures to hold offenders accountable and prevent further economic losses to the country. Investigations are continuing with a view of prosecution.
IN a ground-breaking development for Guyana’s aviation industry, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced the certification process for Omni Helicopters Guyana Inc. to receive a Guyana Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
The acquisition of an AOC by Omni Helicopters will advance local aviation
portunities but also actively supporting the sustainable growth of Guyana’s aviation sector.
The GCAA’s Director General, Lt. Col. (Ret’ d) Egbert Field, A.A. along with his team, met with senior representatives of Omni Helicopters to lay the foundation
expertise. By employing and training Guyanese professionals across a range of operational roles (pilots, engineers, dispatchers, among others), they are not only creating employment op -
This achievement marks a significant step forward, as Omni Helicopters will become the first local rotorcraft air operator certified to provide vital offshore flight services for the burgeoning oil and gas sector in Guyana. This application and initiative align with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision for enhancing local content and building capacity within Guyana’s aviation industry.
for a thorough certification process. At this pivotal meeting, the GCAA outlined the key expectations necessary for regulatory compliance, reaffirming that safety and operational excellence re -
main at the forefront of this initiative.
Omni Helicopters has committed to meet the rigorous standards by presenting comprehensive plans and documentation that demonstrate their adherence to stringent safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and crew training programmes. The AOC certification process is a meticulous process, particularly for operators conduct-
ing offshore operations with large helicopters. Omni’s determination to excel in this process reflects their unwavering commitment to safety and professionalism in the aviation field.
As the certification process progresses, the GCAA and Omni Helicopters will continue their collaborative efforts to uphold safety, quality, and the highest standards of aviation practice.
Omni Helicopters is currently certified by the Brazilian Aeronautical Authority and provides offshore flights to the oil and gas sector as a foreign air operator in Guyana.
This development marks a landmark achievement for Guyana’s evolving aviation industry, one that prioritises safety, reliability, and local empowerment of its people. (DPI)
THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have proven once again that, for them, selfinterest trumps national development, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has pointed out.
He touched on the ongoing talks between the two main opposition parties during a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, his party’s headquarters.
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader and APNU Chairman Aubrey Norton, on Saturday made it clear that the PNCR would not accept what he deemed as disrespect, given that the PNCR carries “the burden of the work”.
At the time, he was speaking at the PNCR General Council.
Jagdeo highlighted Norton’s statements made at the General Council meeting, and offered no objections except for his bold claim of winning the upcoming Gen-
eral and Regional Elections, which Jagdeo described as “delusional”.
The APNU and AFC, which previously coalesced for the 2015 and 2020 elections, had set a March 31 deadline to finalise an agreement, but, as the deadline passed on Monday, disagreements persisted, and the AFC found itself at the centre of many challenges and contradictions.
On that note, Jagdeo said that the AFC is “pathetic”.
The General Secretary pointed to a statement made by the AFC, in which they outlined their conditions for a coalition.
Some of the conditions included a demand of a 4060 split of government positions in APNU’s favour, that Hughes is the presidential candidate, and that the presidential candidate’ s party should not hold the Leader of the List position, which controls parliamentary appointments and removal.
This, however, stands in contradiction to a comment
made by Hughes a few days prior, in which he said he was open to stepping aside for a consensus candidate.
talking about how they will split up jobs, w ho will get what, which ministry they will get, who will get top jobs
he would start off on a programme that would be hinged on public interest, and how to foster national development.
Speaking on how the parties have jumped to discussing how to divide the spoils of office, Jagdeo said: “So, as I said several weeks ago, their preoccupation, their primary concern is splitting spoils; they can’t win the election. They don’t have a pathway to winning the election, but already they’re
in the government if they win office ”
Jagdeo then said if he w ere to go into a negotiation to form a coalition with another group of persons ,
Unlike what the two parties are currently doing.
The General Secretary further stated: “They don’t care about people, and they don’t talk about housing or
water or generating external wealth… All they are concerned about is who gets what,” adding: “Every week, it is one thing, you ( want to) see what percentage we are going to get, who is going to be the leader.”
The two parties went their separate ways as of December 31, 2022.
The coalition lost power in 2018 following a motion of no- confidence, despite winning the 2015 elections.
When the Cummingsburg Accord, which bonded the parties was modified in 2019, the AFC’ s initial 40 per cent ownership stake in the coalition was lowered to 30 per cent.
Furthermore, the party’s dismal political relevance has led critics to say that the party is doomed to fail, if it contests the elections independently.
CONSTRUCTION is progressing on a new secondary school at Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
During a site visit by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Thursday, it was visible that significant work is underway.
The project, which costs US$8.1 million, is anticipated to cater for 1,000 students to accom-
modate both current and future populations, and is being constructed on some 6.12 acres of land.
The school will include the following facilities: 25 classrooms; an information technology laboratory; a language laboratory; science laboratories; an Industrial Technology Department (metal work, wood work AutoCAD); a Home Economics Department (food and nutrition, clothing and textile and home management); Visual and Performing Arts facilities, a library, and a sick bay. Further, it is expected to have an administrative block, which includes a principal’s office, staff room, canteen, sanitary facilities for students and staff, along with an assembly area, recreational area and other facilities.
MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, on Thursday, inspected the ongoing construction of the Goedverwagting substation that will transmit power from the gas to energy project to consumers.
According to information from the Ministry of Public Works, the substation’s switch yard will receive 230kv from the gas to energy facility, then it will be stepped down to 69kv by using 375MVA transformers.
Afterward, the 69kv will feed to 60MVA transformers and will be stepped down to 13.8kv, which will be distributed to 13.8kv switch gear at locations for consumer use.
Already in place are two 375MVA transformers, each weighing 241 tonnes as well as two 60MVA transformers that weigh 59 tonnes.
Renowned technology from Siemens and ABB will be used at the substation. There are also two substations under construction at Wales, West Bank Demerara. Minister Indar was accompanied by senior representatives from Kalpataru India, namely the Country Manager, PK Mohanty; Substation Business Head, Hemendra Gupta; Business Development Officer (LATAM), Samir Chaturvedi; Substation Head, Tapan Biswas and Construction Manager, Victor Johnraj.
THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has responded to the needs of a small miner who is facing difficulty getting back into the industry after a series of setbacks.
According to a press release from the association, at the recently held open day , Sherwin Mcalmont requested assistance to help get back into operational mining. He said that he had suffered a series of losses and needed some assistance to restart his operation at 14 Mile. The GGDMA agreed to assist him and, on Thursday, two engines, a motorcycle and other components were handed over.
President of the GGDMA Ronaldo Alphonso said that it is the mission on the GGDMA to assist miners get back into operation and to help maintain and improve the mining sector in Guyana.
He noted that it is very heartening when a small miner can move up to a medium scale miner as a natural evolution, pointing to the majority of the executives who started as small miners.
The GGDMA said it was pleased to assist McAlmont and provide him with the necessary tools to resume his mining operations , said President Alphonso.
“We understand the difficulties small
miners face , and we will continue to support them in any way we can,” Mcalmont thanked the association for the assistance and reiterated his commitment to keep detailed books and pay all his royalties and taxes due to the government.
The GGDMA said that the main purpose of the open days is to assist miners with issues that are affecting them and their ability to advance in the industry.
When the issues are raised, the association said it would review the case and offer assistance where it is appropriate.
“The GGDMA remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting miners and fostering the growth of Guyana’s mining sector,” the association said.
A small handing over ceremony was held, during which Alphonso, along with members of the Executive Committee, met with McAlmont and handed over the D-MAX 150 Off-Road Motorbike along with two four-inch dredge engines to help facilitate his return to mining.
The GGDMA’s Open Day provides all miners with an opportunity to engage directly with the association to discuss mining-related concerns, seek guidance, and access support.
--authorities assess section of Swan/ Kuru Kururu for construction of internal roads
THE first 25 homes under the Yarrowkabra Homestead Project along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway are on track for completion by the end of July 2025.
at Yarrowkabra, integrating agricultural development and solar energy solutions.
The Ministry of Agriculture is spearheading development of shade houses, while the Office of the Prime Minister is overseeing the installation of solar power systems.
first 25 homes under
According to information from the Ministry of Housing and Water, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Hon. Kwame McCoy, conducted an inspection of the ongoing works, along with technical staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
Edward Pillay, Operations Manager of DuraVilla Homes, the company constructing these housing units, was also on the ground.
The Yarrowkabra Homestead project is part of an innovative $6 billion housing initiative announced by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali last year.
This initiative will see the construction of 500 homes
The initiative is aimed at supporting single mothers and promoting economic empowerment. The shade houses will be utilised for income generation that can assist homeowners in meeting their mortgage obligations.
Each housing unit currently under construction spans 625 square feet and features two bedrooms, a kitchen area, and a bathroom.
First-phase infrastructure development in the area is also progressing steadily, with an 800-metre concrete road currently under construction.
DONLINK Juzwun Entertainment has unveiled the highly anticipated Nice Time RIDDIM, a groundbreaking project set to ignite the music scene. Produced by the iconic Code Red Records and meticulously recorded and mastered at Platinum 101 Studios
in New York, this album showcases the collaboration of Ruff Kutt Studios in Guyana and i2Recordings, bringing a vibrant fusion of global sounds.
According to a press release from the production team, the project which was officials released on all steaming platforms earlier in the week features a stellar lineup of fourteen talented Guyanese artists.
The Nice Time RIDDIM captures a rich variety of musical styles, each track infused with the energy, passion, and creativity of the Caribbean diaspora. This electrifying compilation raises the bar for entertainment, bringing fresh, dynamic sounds to the forefront.
The tracklist includes:
De Camera
Under the expert direction of Ryan Lynton and Donlink Juzwun Entertainment as executive producers, the Nice Time RIDDIM offers an unforgettable listening experience that will captivate fans worldwide.
Electrical networks are in the area, and drilling of a new well will be done to provide potable water to residents.
Minister Croal expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project, noting that a list of interested applicants has already been compiled.
These applicants are moving to the pre-qualification stage, with a particular focus on individuals along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and East Bank Demerara areas.
“This is an example of what we mean by ensuring that no one is left behind and that the prosperity and the development of our country happen for all,” Minister Croal stated.
Minister Croal highlighted other significant projects along the highway, including Silica City and the Hauraruni development. With the increasing population along the highway, these developments will help address both housing and employment needs.
“The beneficiaries will be the overall winners but on the way we also have families that are earning and have employment opportunities,” said Minister Croal.
Minister McCoy lauded the housing programme, calling it a major improvement in the lives of the beneficiaries.
“This is all one big empowerment programme from
The Ministry of Housing and Water is also exploring the replication of this housing model in other areas.
our government, and it continuation of what our vi sion is about altogether— our people, at the end of the day, would have meaningful benefits to their lives, and that the things they will be able to achieve are mea surable,” Minister McCoy remarked.
Pillay indicated that the first home is expected to be completed by mid-June, with the remaining units finalised by the end of July.
ru area along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway with the CH&PA team.
Despite an initial threeweek delay, the company has been able to recover lost time and is now on schedule.
He also noted that similar housing projects are currently underway in Barbados (60 homes) and St.
viduals who were relocated by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), and have since received ownership documents. They also benefitted from CH&PA’s Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy vouchers, following an outreach, to assist with the construction of their homes.
AMERICAN RACING TIPS
AQUEDUCT
Race 1 Three O Two
Race 2 Silo Ridge
Race 3 Magnolia Midnight
Race 4 Mad Banker
Race 5 Trade Secret
Race 6 Amundson
Race 7 Star Of Wonder
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
AINTREE
08:45 hrs Stellsr Story
09:20 hrs Imposr Toi
09:55 hrs Romeo Coolio
10:30 hrs Jonbon
11:05 hrs James Du Berlais
12:15 hrs Fiamobds For Luck
BATH 08:55 hrs Inlet 09:30 hrs Senorita Vega 10:05 hrs Tourist 10:40 hrs Kameko Spirit 11:15 hrs Gennadius 11:50 hrs Outrace 12:25 hrs Baikal
SOUTHWELL
11:45 hrs Cast Party
12:20 hrs Niminy Piminy
12:50 hrs How Impressive
13:20 hrs Bust A Moon
13:55 hrs Las Ramblas
14:30 hrs Caballo De Mar
15:00 hrs Combustion
15:30 hrs Tough At The Top
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS FAIRVIEW
08:25 hrs Luna Halo 09:00 hrs Strata 09:25 hrs Smashing 10:10 hrs Joy And Peace 20:45 hrs Haarlem
IRISH RACING TIPS DUNDALK
12:07 hrs Colective Power 12:42 hrs Brigid's Cloak
13:12 hrs My Girl Dioux
13:45 hrs First Wave
14:15 hrs Saxon Kingfom
14:45 hrs Jerpoint Abbey
15:15 hrs Beauparc
-
WHILE Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) regained the dazzling batting form they had lost somewhere on their trip to Mumbai, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting continued to be lackluster as they slumped to their third loss in a row after starting IPL 2025 with a mammoth 286. Four days after being skittled for 116 by Mumbai Indians, KKR posted a stiff 200 for 6, led by a 29ball 60 from vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and an unbeaten 17-ball 32 from Rinku Singh. Venkatesh
and Rinku enabled KKR to finish with a bangthey scored 78 runs in their last five overs - after Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set things up with a third-wicket stand of 81.
SRH were punished for being sloppy in the field more than a few times, and managed just 120 in reply after the KKR quicks took their mighty top three down in just 13 balls. Last year's runners-up slumped to the bottom of the table while the defending champions jumped five places from last to fifth.
Travis Head fell cheap-
ly for the second time in a row against Vaibhav Arora, as in the IPL final last year, while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan managed just 2 each. The eight runs scored by SRH's top three was their second-worst start in the IPL. In last year's final, their top three - though Kishan wasn't part of ithad managed just 11. SRH barely recovered from 9 for 3 and slipped to 66 for 5 and eventually suffered their biggest defeat by a runs margin in the IPL.
Travishan flop in big
There was no venom in the pitch, no unplayable bounce or movement either, but the SRH top order had no answers for the KKR pace attack, even though Mitchell Starc is no longer part of it. Head skied the second ball to mid-off, Abhishek edged a slower one from Harshit Rana in the second over to slip, and Kishan smashed one to cover where Rahane pouched a sharp catch on the tumble to delight the home fans. Nine for 3 could have become 9 for 4 had Andre Russell
held on to an on-drive from Kamindu Mendis at mid-on and made it a double-wicket maiden for Arora. Russell, however, redeemed himself when he got the next wicket as soon as the powerplay ended, having Nitish Reddy caught at long-on. Arora picked up his third eventually, getting the big scalp of Henrich Klaasen for 33 when he returned for his second spell.
In between, Reddy showed glimpses of his ball-striking talent, Mendis heaved a couple of sixes on the leg side off
Russell, and Klaasen tried to take the game deep even as the asking rate climbed past 15 an over. Rahane stifled SRH with five overs in a row from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakarvarthy, from the eighth to the 12th, which went for just 33 and brought two more wickets, before Arora removed Klaasen and Varun nearly scalped a hat-trick in the 16th over. SRH were eventually bowled out for 120, again raising question marks over their batting approach.
(BBC) - MAX Verstappen says it "was not a mistake" that he liked a comment on social media describing Red Bull's decision to demote Liam Lawson as "a panic move" and "close to bullying".
The remarks were made by Dutch former Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde, a friend of the Verstappen family, on Instagram, external after Red Bull moved New Zealander Lawson down to their second team Racing Bulls in a swap with Japan's Yuki Tsunoda just two races into the season.
Red Bull's Verstappen said: "I liked the comment, the text, so I guess that speaks for itself, right?"
The four-time champion refused to expand in public on his feelings about the decision, but added: "Everything has been shared with the team, how I think about everything.
"Sometimes it's not necessary, you know, to always share and say everything in public. I think
Liam Lawson (left) and Max Verstappen were team-mates at Red Bull for just two races
it's better [not to]."
Fellow F1 drivers Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly - himself the victim of a mid-season driver swap by Red Bull - and Nico Hulkenberg also liked the post.
Red Bull's decision to drop Lawson was a U-turn after they preferred him over Tsunoda last winter when they paid off Sergio Perez two years before the end of his contract.
That was despite Law-
son having raced in only 11 grands prix over two seasons compared with Tsunoda's four years of experience.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton described the dropping of Lawson as "pretty harsh".
Verstappen said Red Bull had to "take a good look at ourselves and just keep on working and keep on improving the car".
Lawson struggled to come to terms with the wayward handling of the
He qualified 18th for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and last for both the sprint and main grand prix in China, and failed to make significant progress in any of the races.
Red Bull demoted him because they felt he was in a spiral from which he could not recover.
Verstappen explained the characteristics that had led Lawson to struggle.
"It's hard because,
I mean, for me, this is the only car that I know, right?" Verstappen said.
"But I think from what I see out there, it is a little bit more nervous, a little bit more, I would say, unstable in different corner phases, maybe. Well, maybe [than] some other of my team-mates have been used to before.
"Some bits, of course, are clearly faster than where they came from, but to just piece it all together probably is a bit harder."
CMC –A brilliant five-wicket haul from seamer Ronaldo Alimohamed and an unbeaten half-century from Matthew Nandu spearheaded the Guyana Harpy Eagles’ fightback on day two of their West Indies Championship clash against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park, St. Kitts, here on Thursday.
When stumps were drawn, the Harpy Eagles trailed the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 5 runs with 9 wickets remaining.
At Warner Park: Resuming the day at 143-4, trailing by 50 runs, the Hurricanes were propelled by a 138run fifth wicket partnership between Keacy Carty 92 and Jahmar Hamilton 80, as the Leewards posted a formidable 335 in 79.3 overs, replying to 193 made by the Harpy Eagles.
Carty fell agonizingly
short of a century, dismissed for 92 off 182 balls after stroking 12 fours, while Hamilton’s aggressive 80 off 124 deliveries kept the scoreboard ticking.
However, once Hamilton was removed in the 72nd over, the Hurricanes collapsed, losing their last four wickets for just 40 runs.
Alimohamed was the standout bowler, claiming 5-91 in 19.3 overs, with Nial Smith providing good strong support with 3-62 in 15 overs.
Facing a deficit of 132 runs, the Harpy Eagles showed resilience in their second time at the crease, reaching 137-1 in 42 overs by stumps, to take a fiverun lead.
Matthew Nandu anchored the innings with an unbeaten 53 off 127 balls, while Raymond Perez contributed a solid 49. Kevlon Anderson remained not out on 31 off 55, setting up an
intriguing day three.
Over at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, the Windward Islands Volcanoes have taken firm control of their match against Barbados Pride, finishing day two at 203-4 in their second innings, for a formidable lead of 191 runs. Test batsman Kavem Hodge has been the backbone of the Volcanoes’ innings, remaining unbeaten on a patient 77, with Shadrack Descarte not out on 20, providing solid support as the pair looks to extend their team’s advantage on Friday. Earlier in the day, the Volcanoes’ bowlers laid the foundation for their dominance, with pacer Keon Gaston delivering a career-best 6-52 in his first match of the season. His fiery spell dismantled the Barbados Pride, who were bowled out for 198, securing a slender 12-run first-in-
nings lead.
Resuming at 94-5, Barbados suffered an early blow when Gaston removed the dangerous overnight batsman Kyle Mayers for 40. Matthew Forde 43 and Dominic Drakes 18 offered brief resistance with a 47run stand, but Gaston and Gilon Tyson 3-49 ensured no major revival by wrapping up the tail.
Despite losing openers Jeremy Solozano for a duck and Kimani Melius for 14, the Volcanoes recovered emphatically in their second turnnat bat, thanks to a blistering 123-run partnership between Hodge and captain Alick Athanaze.
Athanaze was in devastating touch, smashing 14 fours and a six in a rapid 78 off 71 balls before Drakes struck to remove him. Sunil Ambris, fresh from a first-innings century, fell soon after for eight,
giving Barbados a glimmer of hope at 152-4.
But Hodge and Descarte steadied the ship, adding an unbroken 51-run stand to put the Volcanoes in a formidable position with two days still to play.
At the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Half centuries from captain Teddy Bishop and Mbeki Joseph have given the West Indies Academy a slight advantage over the Combined Campuses and Colleges halfway through their contest in St. Augustine.
The Academy side entered Thursday’s second day 37-1, trailing the CCC by 201 runs on first innings and went on to post 316 all out in 79.2 overs on the back of some excellent batting from Bishop and Joseph.
Joseph started proceedings with 65 off 116 balls, including 10 fours at the top of the order before his skip-
per top scored with 99 off 140 balls including 13 fours. Bishop showed true maturity at the crease and looked certain to get to three figures, however, Chemar Holder had him caught, to the dismay of the Academy right-hander and a disappointed dressing room who had come out to the ropes to celebrate.
Joshua Bishop, 26, Rivaldo Clarke, 25 and Jordan Johnson, 23, all got starts but failed to kick on to ensure a bigger lead for the Academy side.
Holder was the pick of the bowlers for CCC with 4-81 from 18.2 overs, while Romario Greaves and Jaden Edmund each took two wickets.
Captain Johann Jeremiah then hit 22, not out, as CCC ended the day 35-0 in nine overs in their second innings, trailing the Academy by 43 runs.
CMC – JAMAICAN all-rounder Chinelle Henry found some good form with the bat to help the West Indies women’s cricket team thrash Scotland by 117 runs in their pre-tournament warm-up game here on Thursday.
Henry’s explosive 109 off just 71 balls set the foundation for the Windies’ imposing total of 290-7, with valuable contributions from Zaida James, who chipped in with 47 off 47 balls.
Scotland’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, and their chase
never gained momentum, crumbling to 173 all out.
Aaliyah Alleyne starred with the ball, claiming 4-21, while Jannillea Glasgow chipped in with 2-43.
Player of the Match
Chinelle Henry emphasised the importance of fine-tuning ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in Pakistan.
“We aim to qualify for the World Cup, so today was just about engaging those skills a bit more and being as ready as we can be for the first game. I just like having fun and embracing challenges,
and enjoying what I do, and that’s been my mindset. It’s about backing my skills and knowing when to use them in ODI cricket.”
With Scotland being their first official opponents in the tournament, Henry acknowledged the significance of the practice match.
“It was good to get a run-out against them today. Now we know what to expect when we face them in the real thing. We’ve picked up a few things to fine-tune before the qualifiers begin.”
Chinelle Henry scored 109 vs Scotland in the West Indies pre-tournament practice game
PRESIDENT of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Dr. Kishore Shallow, led a delegation to Grenada for a courtesy call on Prime Minister Honourable Dickon Mitchell. This visit marks President Shallow’s first official engagement with Prime Minister Mitchell following his recent unanimous re-election by all shareholder members for a new three-year term.
Dr. Shallow was accompanied by CWI Chief Executive Officer, Chris Dehring, who has been in the role for 60 days, and Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe. The visit comes ahead of the highly anticipated Test series between West Indies and Australia, set to take
place in Grenada from July 3rd to 7th, 2025. The series is expected to draw hundreds of Australian visitors, further boosting cricket’s presence in the Caribbean.
During the meeting, discussions centered on the continued collaboration between CWI and the Government of Grenada in developing cricket at all levels. A key highlight of the talks was the agreement to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cricket infrastructure, grassroots programmes and opportunities for young players in Grenada.
Prime Minister Mitchell expressed that “Cricket plays a vital role in every Grenadian
community, and we need to invest more in its development especially at the grassroots level, ensuring that the young players at the primary schools get opportunities to learn and play the game.”
He further added,
“Cricket is more than just a game for Grenadians. It is the one sport that has the power to bring people together for generations and so we must invest in our young players starting from the primary school level.”
Acknowledging the commendable strides that Prime Minister Mitchell and the Government of Grenada have made in the sport, Dr. Shallow stated,
“The conversation with Prime Minister Mitchell reaffirmed the shared com-
THE historic Parade Ground in Georgetown has been transformed with the installation of floodlights, courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. This marks a significant step in the government’s ongoing initiative to improve recreational and sporting facilities nationwide.
Minister Charles Ramson Jr. is leading this drive, aiming to provide enhanced spaces for communities across Guyana.
The Parade Ground, situated between Waterloo and Carmichael Streets on Middle Street, is a vital sporting hub, utilised by pupils during
the day and the Beacon Football Club for evening training sessions.
The newly installed lights let the club extend its training hours into the evenings.
Otis Roberts, President of the Georgetown Football Association, lauded the government's commitment, stating that approximately 90% of clubs under his jurisdiction now benefit from lighted training facilities, fulfilling a government promise.
Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Brathwaite, a long-standing club coach, expressed his delight, calling the installation a "dream come true."
mitment to nurturing young talent, enhancing infrastructure, and strengthening partnerships that will propel West Indies cricket forward. This collaboration holds great promise for the future of our cricket, and we
look forward to the positive impact it will have on the region”.
CWI remains committed to working closely with all regional governments and stakeholders to enhance cricket’s growth and global appeal. This visit underscores the organisation’s dedication to fostering strong partnerships as the West Indies prepares to welcome Australia and other international teams in the coming months.
A video snippet of lights being turned on at Parade Ground
He reminisced about training at the ground since his primary school days at St. George’s in 1961. He highlighted the Beacon Football Club's impending 40th anniversary of training at the venue in September, expressing hope for future stand development.
The government's commitment to sports development is evident in its substantial financial allocations.
In 2024, the nation witnessed an unprecedented ground enhancement programme, with upgrades supported for over 250 grounds nationwide.
The 2025 National Budget further underscores this commitment, allocating G$8 billion for sports advancement.
Notably, 100 hinterland communities each received $1 million to support their respective upgrades.
Specifically, G$2 billion is earmarked for the continued development of community grounds, building upon the 450 grounds that benefitted in 2024. An additional G$1 billion is allocated for the procurement and installation of lighting systems at grounds across the country.
- as Plaisance Education, Culture and
WITH the aim of continuing to support their athletic development, the Plaisance Education, Culture and Sports Club handed over a variety of sports gear to dozens of youths in Plaisance on Wednesday.
The donation is a continuation of the club’s efforts, that commenced since last year, and it included sneakers, and other essential equipment.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, President of the Club and Neighborhood
Democratic Council (NDC) Chairperson for Sports, Cohan Ismond emphasised the importance of sports in promoting discipline and pledged to continue supporting youth participation. These sentiments were also echoed by the chil -
dren’s coach.
The Parade Ground lighting project symbolises the government's dedication to improving sporting infrastructure and fostering community engagement through sports.
Club hands over Football gear
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the donation, with some excitedly trying on their new gear.
Benn highlighted the efforts by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport as it pertains to boosting the sports sector.
praised
Local leaders and community
She also voiced the NDC’s commitment to continue supporting the youths.
“We will work with this committee and coaches,” Benn stated. Further, she urged those children to value their new gear and express gratitude to their parents for supporting them to pursue the sport.
- as Plaisance Education, Culture and Sports Club hands over Football gear
