President Ali says urban renewal, strengthened security, new recreational areas among plans –– urges residents to collaborate with gov’t, other partners to remove
On Sunday, Minister of Housing Collin Croal, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith, and Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs joined Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand in Kingston and Tiger Bay, where they engaged residents on the ongoing, life-changing plans for the communities. The team later met with His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in Tiger Bay, and at the ‘One Guyana Kitchen’, where a range of initiatives designed to uplift residents and transform the area into a model community for the residents of Georgetown were announced. The day concluded with the President preparing a meal for the residents of Tiger Bay, adding a warm and personal touch to the outreach activities (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development/Facebook)
production systems, mega-scale farms for Guyana
Coursera partnership is Guyana’s ‘first real step’ towards modern Public Service training
—Former BCCPS study coordinator blasts former college as unaccredited, exclusionary, rooted in political favouritism
FORMER study coordinator at the now-closed Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS), Samuel Sandy, has stated that the partnership with the current government and Coursera is the nation’s first real step towards an inclusive, forward-looking and modern pursuit of national human resource development.
The former study coordinator of BCCPS, which was established by the former APNU+AFC administration, accused the creators of the institution of imposing a politically selective system that was outdated, exclusionary and failed to build the professional public service Guyana actually needs.
Sandy’s pointed rebuke comes on the heels of the former main opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/ People’s National Congress-Reform
(PNC-R), defending the college, which he explained, in a letter to the editor, was a militarised, relic of the past that was unaccredited.
“Guyana is positioning itself for rapid transformation in the years ahead. To sustain this momentum, our education and training systems must evolve. The BCCPS was firmly rooted in the past. Coursera provides a pathway to the future and ensures that learning is accessible, relevant, and responsive to the needs of a modern society,” the letter read.
Sandy, who is not only a former study coordinator at the college but also an ex-member of the PNC-R, noted in the letter that it is important to offer a factual and experience-based perspective on the ongoing discussion surrounding public service training in Guyana.
First, speaking of the most significant deficien -
cies of the college, which was the lack of accreditation by the Accreditation Council of Guyana, Sandy noted this rendered the cadets illequipped, as this meant that their qualifications received did not meet nationally recognised standards.
Another flaw of the college was its institutional design, as Sandy explained, the leadership structure was dominated by former army generals, colonels, sergeants, and other military personnel, rather than individuals with professional training and expertise in public administration or public service reform.
“This resulted in a culture and policy environment that closely mirrored the organisational framework of the Guyana Defence Force,” he said, noting that the militarised approach was not “inherently inappropriate.”
He further stated that the programme catered to a se-
lect and often “politically favoured group” of individuals, limiting access to many talented and deserving Guyanese and the curriculum was “one-dimensional” and offered “no meaningful” opportunities for specialisation.
He said that, unlike BCCPS, Coursera is open to
every eligible Guyanese, regardless of background or political affiliation and it supports specialisation, facilitates upskilling in hundreds of areas, and aligns with the realities of a technologically driven twenty-first-century workforce.
Additionally, aside from the BCCPS’ failure to build a stable, long-term public service workforce, he then pointed to the institution fostering internal tensions within agencies. Cadets were placed at the Clerk Three level,
‘Tiger Bay’ to be Georgetown’s first ‘model neighbourhood’
–––
President Ali says urban renewal, strengthened security, new recreational areas among plans
–– urges residents to collaborate with gov’t, other partners to remove societal stigma
By Naomi Parris
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan
Ali on Sunday morning outlined an ambitious plan to transform Tiger Bay and nearby communities into Georgetown’s first ‘model neighbourhood’ through a pilot programme that will prioritise community love, security, and social welfare.
Addressing residents shortly after a walk through the communities, President Ali emphasised that safety and collaboration would be central to the initiative.
He explained that the revitalisation effort will include improved public spaces, strengthened security, and a push for residents to take pride in protecting and maintaining their surroundings.
“We are going to work with the community in creating community ownership, community security, because you will have to help us and the police to
keep these communities safe; clean,” he said.
Already, a committee led by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand has been established to engage residents, and oversee works in Tiger Bay.
This is a part of the government’s ‘Rescue Georgetown’ initiative, which is an ambitious plan to restore the city to its historic reputation as “The Garden City”, while advancing sustainable urban development.
The plan outlines 15 landmark demonstration projects that will focus on ‘green’ infrastructure, climate resilience, and the celebration of cultural heritage. Particularly for Tiger Bay and the surrounding communities, President Ali said: “We want this community to be a safe community, because part of the ‘Rescue Georgetown’
programme is to make this route all the way from the seawall coming all the way here, going to Avenue of the Republic, going down to South Road, back into the Botanical Gardens, the walking tourism lanes of Guyana.”
The goal is to foster neighbourhood unity and sustainability. Key initiatives include working with a family to monetise their lands, improve housing, develop community facilities, and integrate social services for women and children.
He noted that three plots of land have already been identified to construct a recreational facility outfitted with football and basketball courts and night lights.
This land was donated by the owner of Mattai’s Food Market, a well-known supermarket in the area. The owner has since committed to employing more residents from the community.
Meanwhile, School of
the Nation will work closely with the community’s children, integrating the
already existing schooling and programmes in the community.
The Men on Mission (MoM) team has been identified to continue its extensive community support in the area, particularly as it relates to housing and social programmes.
“We are launching, as part of the ‘One Guyana Programme’, a neighbourhood love programme, where the entire community will work together as one unit. Why is this important? This is important because you can have one of the nicest parts of the neighbourhood lose value because another part of the neighbourhood is not so [nice]. We want the entire neighbourhood to work together to help us to lift the entire neighbourhood.”
‘WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE THE STIGMA’
President Ali said the government will invest in all the required infrastruc-
ture, including trucks and bikes, to help maintain security in the area. According to him, the construction and renovation of buildings, along with plans for craft shops, small business centres, and new restaurants and bars will create meaningful economic opportunities for residents.
“…the most important thing is people must know they are secure, they’re safe. And, we have to be honest, we have to remove a big stigma here, and we are going to remove it as a neighbourhood of love,” President Ali said.
Just last week, the government began public consultations under the Georgetown Drainage Improvement Project.
The plan to rehabilitate the city’s ageing drainage system has adopted a strategic and multi-agency approach, targetting some of the critical areas prone to flooding due to infrastructure deterioration.
President Ali engaging an individual during Sunday’s grassroots engagement in Tiger Bay
President Ali interacting with Tiger Bay residents (DPI photos)
Coursera partnership is Guyana’s ‘first real ...
which often positioned them above Clerk One and Clerk Two officers who had more qualifications and greater experience, and who were then required to train individuals who entered above them.
This understandably undermined morale and organisational harmony, Sandy explained.
This was also highlighted by Education Minister and former Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag.
The Minister said: “Having served as the Minister of Public Service, the Bertram Collins College promoted unfair recruitment practices in the Public Service. To be clear a person exiting the College jumped a Clerk II position straight into the Public Service without the actual experience of the system as a Clerk II.
It was also only for a selected political few to exercise authority over the College while being paid exorbitant salaries that were obscene.”
COURSERA
REPRESENTS THE
FUTURE
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, also refuted the former main opposition’s unfounded claims on the Coursera platform, noting that PNC-R’s Coretta McDonald’s recent attempt to smear the government’s partnership reveals more about her political motivations than any substantive concern for public service training.
Being frank, the Minister said the BCCPS was not a “bastion of excellence; it was a political institution, crafted during the APNU period to instil party loyalty rather than develop the intellectual capacity or professional competence of public servants. It served less as a school for governance and more as a factory for ideological conditioning. It was the APNU’s version of the Sophia Declaration: party-first, public interest later.”
Contrast that with Coursera, the Minister noted that this is one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, which partners with top-tier global universities such as Yale, Stanford, Johns
Hopkins, and Imperial College London.
Dr. Anthony made it clear that Coursera is not interested in which party you vote for, but its only interest lies in empowering learners with knowledge, skills, and opportunities.
“That is the kind of transformative access Guyana needs,” the Health Minister pointedly said.
He said: “The criticisms McDonald offers reveal a deeply outdated perspective on training and education. While she waxes poetic about an institution steeped in po-
litical nostalgia, she fails to confront the urgent needs of a modern public service.”
Highlighting the merits of Coursera, Dr. Anthony said learning is no longer confined to the privileged few who can access campus-based classes in the capital. All that is needed is a device and an internet connection with Coursera.
Second, Coursera’s courses offer real-world relevance, designed by global leaders in fields like public health, project management, data science, digital transformation, and more. Compared
to the insular curriculum of BCCPS, Coursera brings global standards into Guyanese public service training.
While BCCPS trained a few dozen at best, through the Coursera partnership, Guyana stands ready to train 27,000 public servants in a single year.
The minister labelled this as “transformational” and “21st-century nation-building.”
He further noted that Coursera produces empowered, critical thinkers, equipped to navigate an evolving global landscape
and serve their country with fresh skills and disciplined thought and trains Guyanese to become competent professionals, not “ideological foot soldiers.”
What Guyana needs now is not institutions designed to reinforce party loyalty, the Health Minister said, noting, “That is what Coursera offers. McDonald’s stance is a relic of a bygone era, one that Guyana has long outgrown,” Dr. Anthony plainly put it, adding that education must evolve and Coursera is the tool for the future.
New Campbellville Secondary students benefit from two-day empowerment programme
THE Rotary Club of Garden City (Georgetown) Guyana recently hosted a two-day Girls and Boys Empowerment Programme for nearly 80 Grade Seven and Eight students from the New Campbellville Secondary School on November 16, 2025.
The initiative, themed, “Building Lives Around Sound Truths,” aimed to strengthen personal resilience, emotional wellness, and social responsibility in youth.
Sonia Parag, the Minister of Education delivered the feature address, stressing the importance of cultivating confidence and discipline among
Guyana’s young citizens.
The programme featured workshops covering vital adolescent development areas, including bullying and cyberbullying awareness, etiquette, sexual health education, and the development of soft skills.
Signature sessions also included journaling and the Art of Living: Emotional Control to foster inner balance and resilience.
The Rotary Club reaffirmed its dedication to youth empowerment and its mission of supporting the growth of future leaders through community-centred projects. (MoE)
Nearly 80 Grade Seven and Eight students from the New Campbellville Secondary School recently benefitted from a two-day empowerment session hosted by the Rotary Club of Garden City (Georgetown) Guyana
New incentives to support women entrepreneurs, agro-businesses to be announced soon -President Ali
UNVEILING a fresh wave of incentives for small businesses, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, last week, announced that over 1,000 women trained under the Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme will soon be transitioned to entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the opening of GuyExpo 2025, President Ali explained that the forthcoming initiative will be further detailed in the government’s fiscal package for 2026, along will several other incentives to stimulate growth for small businesses.
“We’re going to announce a special initiative with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security that will convert more than 1,000 women we train under the WIIN, the original and only WIIN programme that will convert over 1,000 women into entrepreneurs,” President Ali said.
This initiative he stressed will see greater support for women-led enterprises, empowering them to not only be contributors to the economy, but also build sustainable livelihoods.
“When you hear that announcement, the boldness of that announcement, not following anyone, but creating our own path to prosperity,” he emphasised.
It was reported that during the first half of 2025, government advanced the training programmes earmarked for empowerment of both women and men. In this regard, 6,189 persons, including 4,077 women, completed training through the WIIN programme which was first introduced in 2021. The programme has since been expanded to offer training to men as well.
AGRO-BUSINESSES
As part of the wider push to strengthen the agricultural sector, President Ali also unveiled a series of aggressive incentives to stimulate investment in agro-businesses.
He confirmed that the government intends to introduce a taxation framework that will apply a zero per cent rate on all agricultural, veterinary, and agro-processing inputs that fall within the existing trade system.
“We will pursue a taxation system, as I said, that will see zero per cent on all agriculture, veterinary input and agro-processing input within existing trade framework,” he said adding:
“We’ll have special incentive for agro-processing and agri-value chain investment, special incentive for large scale cold storage facility, spe-
cial incentives and a graduated corporate tax regime for agro processing by level of turnover, which will be defined in the 2026 budget.”
A new, graduated corporate tax regime for agro-processors based on turnover will be defined in the 2026 national budget to provide additional support.
According to President Ali, the structure will be designed so that small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-business ecosystem pay little to no corporate tax. This, he noted, is intended to encourage more businesses to register formally, comply with tax requirements, and benefit from government assistance.
“This system will be graduated to the extent that small and medium-size enterprises in the agri-business ecosystem would see close to zero or zero in corporate tax,” he said adding,
“This will incentivise our agriculture businesses to- be to register themselves so they’re not afraid of the taxation system, so they become compliant.
So, we can help them to build their standards, and we can help them to adopt the values; a value system that will give them access to regional and international markets.”
During the first half of 2025 over 4,000 women were trained under the WIIN programme
Rebuilding Georgetown Together
WHAT is unfolding in Tiger Bay right now is bigger than a cleanup exercise, bigger than a single project and certainly bigger than politics.
It is a signal that the rebuilding of Georgetown has begun and every community, every family, every Guyanese, no matter race, background, or political leaning, has a place in this national transformation.
President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision for Tiger Bay as Georgetown’s first “model neighbourhood” is not about political strongholds or partisan territory. It is about development, plain
and simple. It is about ensuring that communities long written off, long sidelined and long overlooked are finally placed at the centre of a future that includes everyone.
During his walkabout on Sunday, the President made it clear that renewal can only work if communities themselves are part of the process. That message cuts through the noise; no government initiative will succeed unless people take pride in their neighbourhoods and become active players in their own upliftment. It sits within a much larger national effort. Over the past five years,
the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has pumped billions into upgrading Georgetown from public spaces to drainage, from community facilities to major urban projects. These investments are being driven by a multi-agency team and are strengthened by international partnerships such as the one with the King’s Foundation.
The mission is clear, restore Georgetown as the Garden City and build a modern capital that reflects the dignity and ambition of its people.
Tiger Bay is now part of that mission, not as an afterthought, but as a
cornerstone.
The planned recreational hub, training centre for children and support programmes for women are not political favours. They are investments in human potential. They are acknowledgments that development must reach everyone across race, across class, across geography.
It’s undeniable, Guyana is moving and communities that were once pushed aside are now being pulled into the centre of national growth. This is what rebuilding Guyana should look like -- collaborative, inclusive and forward-thinking.
Coursera reflects the future of learning, while the Bertram Collins model belongs to the past
Dear Editor,
AS a former Study Coordinator at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS), I believe it is important to offer a factual and experience-based perspective on the ongoing discussion surrounding public service training in Guyana.
While the College served a purpose during its brief existence, it was fundamentally structured for a bygone era and did not align with the educational and administrative needs of a modern public service.
One of the most significant limitations of the BCCPS was its lack of accreditation by the Accreditation Council of Guyana. This meant that the qualifications received by cadets did not meet nationally recognised standards. The absence of accreditation further restricted graduates from pursuing academic progression or gaining broader recognition for their studies, ultimately limiting the programme’s long-term value.
The institutional design of the College also raised serious concerns. The leadership
structure was dominated by former army generals, colonels, sergeants, and other military personnel, rather than individuals with professional training and expertise in public administration or public service reform.
This resulted in a culture and policy environment that closely mirrored the organisational framework of the Guyana Defence Force. A military-oriented model is not inherently inappropriate, but it is ill-suited for an institution that was intended to prepare a civilian workforce for roles that require administrative competence, policy literacy, and service delivery skills.
Although the concept behind the BCCPS may have been noble, the execution was deeply flawed. The programme catered to a select and often politically favoured group of individuals, limiting access to many talented and deserving Guyanese. The curriculum was one-dimensional and offered no meaningful opportunities for specialisation.
Every cadet followed the same general pathway, despite the diverse needs of a modern public service that requires technical expertise in numerous fields. My continued
interactions with former cadets reveal another important concern. Many did not remain in the public service after graduation. A considerable number left to join the private sector, start their own businesses, or exit public employment entirely.
This indicates that the programme did not achieve its intended objective of building a stable, long-term public service workforce. Instead, it created internal tensions within agencies. Cadets were placed at the Clerk Three level, which often positioned them above Clerk One and Clerk Two officers who had more qualifications and greater experience, and who were then required to train individuals who entered above them. This understandably undermined morale and organisational harmony.
By contrast, the government’s partnership with Coursera represents a modern, inclusive and forward-looking approach to national human resource development. Coursera offers access to globally accredited and internationally recognised programmes designed by some of the world’s leading universities and institutions. The platform
is open to every eligible Guyanese, regardless of background or political affiliation. It supports specialisation, facilitates upskilling in hundreds of areas, and aligns with the realities of a technologically driven twenty-first-century workforce.
This initiative is not limited to the public service. It extends opportunities to the private sector and to all citizens who wish to expand their knowledge and enhance their professional abilities. It represents a shift from exclusivity to equity, from outdated training models to globally competitive standards.
Guyana is positioning itself for rapid transformation in the years ahead. To sustain this momentum, our education and training systems must evolve.
The BCCPS was firmly rooted in the past. Coursera provides a pathway to the future and ensures that learning is accessible, relevant, and responsive to the needs of a modern society.
Sincerely, Samuel Sandy
A very brief history of Guyanese double standards
FRANCIS Bailey, the person designed by VPAC in the Forward Guyana Movement coalition to represent VPAC in parliament, has spoken out. Bailey will not be going to parliament in the final year of the present parliament in 2030 because according to Bailey, Amanza Walton-Desir (AWD) has not agreed to accept VPAC’s share of parliament.
So, it will be three years for AWD and two years for Nigel London, the leader of another party in the coalition.
Bailey is relentless in his criticism of AWD for according to him, not honouring the original decision of parliamentary sharing. He has done a live video in which the opening lines have a warning to viewers that his flow will not be about the PPP only. Basically, Bailey was saying he will talk about other politicians who are unprincipled and duplicitous. Bailey in a conversation with me said harsh words about AWD which I will not repeat.
I listened to Bailey, and I wondered which country he has been living in. It cannot be Guyana, because if it is Guyana then he is either naïve or ignorant or simply live in an introverted world from which he has now emerged.
As I wrote in a previous column on Bailey, I have known him for a number of years because he lived in the house next to my neighbour which made him my second neighbour. I have been buying Bailey’s honey for my wife for years now.
Bailey is no teenager and he has been around now for a long time. He must know more than a few things about political hypocrisy in his country. He must know and I know he knows that so many organisations
and Guyanese personalities that criticise the PPP are simply people who have no moral authority to make such criticism.
If Bailey had spent just one hour with his friend, Frederick Kissoon, I would have given him a lecture, titled: “Notes on the morally pauperised political landscape in Guyana” and he would have been a more knowledgeable person about his country.
Here are brief historical notes on the crass political double standards of Guyana. If I reveal what I know of Mark Benschop, some people will ostracise him right away.
A trade union official received a secret car from a gold company without his union knowing and his union had bargaining rights at the company. This man is one of the most insane critics of the PPP government.
I was a columnist for 30 years for the Kaieteur News owned by Glenn Lall. There is not one human in the past PPP leadership and the present PPP leadership that Mr Lall is better than. Mr Lall has no right to criticise the Government of Guyana. His record is by far worse and that is putting it mildly. Lall’s golden friend who is a crazy anti-PPP fellow is now in golden trouble.
I am speaking of the now deceased Ramon Gaskin. Mr Gaskin had used up unlimited energy for 25 years criticising various PPP governments from the perspective of socialist economics, but the big company that Mr Gaskin was a financial adviser for was one of the cruelest exploiters of labour in this country.
I know an elder gentleman who is a financial analyst and he cannot walk in the footsteps of President Ali. The two men in terms of moral standing cannot be compared.
There are people in the private media who have no shame. They have been calling for transparency and good governance, but they have no moral character to do so. These are people who have no professional ethics, but they pound the Guyana Government every day, telling Guyana that there are no ethics in the exercise of power as if they know what ethics are.
A man secretly arranged for hundreds of millions of outstanding taxes to be forgiven and it was forgiven, but he is currently one of those who constantly criticise the government, accusing it of every conceivable wrongdoing you can think of.
A middle-class woman who is an extremist anti-PPP hater, took 40 million dollars from a certain embassy in Guyana to do a project in Amerindian communities. She
did not produce even one page of research. What moral authority does she have to tell the Guyana Government what is right and what is wrong?
Money came into this country for the economic elevation of African Guyanese. Those who wasted this money are known for their poisonous accusations against the government.
I hope Bailey internalises these brief notes.
I close with some advice to those who want to go into politics: do not criticise the goat-thief if you are a cow thief.
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.
Terrence Campbell vs the AG, Campbell playing to the gallery
ON the latest instalment of ‘Issues in the News,’ the Attorney General gave his legal opinion on APNU’s proposed amendments to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act. The AG quite succinctly engaged the public in a genuine interpretation of why the proposed amendments will not be successful at this time.
The AG’s explanation was respectful, engaging and provided a solid understanding of all the main issues from the AG’s perspective.
Given the general gait of the weekly monologue, it would be reasonable to assume that the AG has essentially outlined the government’s position on these matters.
For those who are not up to scratch, I will attempt to summarise. The Natural Resource Fund Act was originally passed and assented to in 2019 by President Granger, after he suffered defeat in the No-Confi-
dence Vote (NCV) of 2018. At that time, the PPP had signalled its non-co-operation and vowed to repeal any Act passed after the NCV if it returned to government after the impending elections. Besides, the PPP criticised many aspects as being unenforceable, platitudinal and cumbersome. After coming to power the PPP used its majority in-house to promptly repeal and replace the Act.
During the actual vote on the Bill, pandemonium broke out in the National Assembly. APNU+AFC members of the house performed a grab-and-run with the mace. They subsequently brought a court case that argued that the passage of the Bill was unconstitutional and not validly passed because the mace was not on its designated mount at the time of the final vote.
The case was thrown out.
The very law grants the opposition a
member on the investment committee of the NRF. APNU+AFC appointed Dr Terrence Campbell. Since his appointment, we heard one gripe after another. He displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of the Act and a graver misunderstanding of his role on the NRF Investment Committee.
Campbell is behaving as though he had a special fiat to decide the quantum and manner of deposits and withdrawals from the fund. His role was simply to contribute to searching the globe for safe, transparent and lucrative investment opportunities and tender said advice to the Government of Guyana on the best avenues for investing a portion of the oil revenues to bear dividends for the future.
Campbell opined that the deposits to the NRF must be accounted for as individual cost centres and should not provide lumpsum support to the national budget and more specifically, should not be used to support current- account expenditures. Essentially, his claim is, to the extent that the Act does not confirm this prescription, it would be unconstitutional. As a result, prior to becoming an MP, he filed a legal challenge in the Supreme Court, seeking several declarations along those lines.
Since becoming MP, Campbell has filed proposed amendments to the NRF of 2021. The amendments seek to provide the very remedies for the self-same matters that are the subjects of the case before the court. In fact, the matter before parliament appears to be an exact photocopy of those matters before the court. This prompted the AG to cite Standing Order 41(2) and opined that, “The National Assembly cannot proceed to debate or deal with a matter if that matter is sub judice — meaning it is pending before the court. That rule is one grounded in the doctrine of the separation of powers … It is at the discretion of the Speaker to determine whether a matter is sub judice, but Speakers have consistently upheld this principle without exception over the years.”
Campbell used his Facebook page to fire back at the AG. Campbell’s response can easily be described as a dimwitted, inelegant and a complete embarrassment to anyone seeking an intelligent engagement on the issues. Instead, he did not engage the
AG in a similar, respectful manner, rebut the AG point for point or outline in similar, deliberate, succinct terms how his amendments are designed to benefit Guyanese. Campbell also had the option to deflect; he could’ve preemptively spun the issues surrounding an impending adverse Speaker’s ruling.
To my utter astonishment, Campbell replied to the AG by quoting a google summary paragraph which has nothing to do with the specifics in Guyana. He then went on to call the AG a “dunce,” then subsequently boast about how many books he bought at a “princely sum” before casting himself as better than others because he has superior academic certificates.
Campbell seems unable to grasp that our standing orders dictate that he only has to satisfy the Speaker that the amendments and intended debate will not be sub judice. Campbell has done little to help the public understand the real issues at hand. All we heard from him so far are the “sounding brass and twinkling cymbals” of haughtiness, conceit and narcissism.
The Campbell method is the very approach to politics that resulted in a catastrophic devastation at the 2025 elections. This approach is designed to appeal to a small,captive section of the dwindling base and cannot win a single new support.
As APNU’s lead in Parliament, Campbell must decide who he is speaking for and if he is the leader for a superficial ‘dirty dozen’ or a methodical dodecad. The trajectory of Campbell’s public engagement since being announced as a candidate and subsequently as parliamentary lead is laden with shallow, dirty name calling.
This will lead to political damnation; the PNC runs the real risk of whittling, which could result in a loss of critical mass. Their leadership crisis deepens; Campbell is not a viable alternative nor a break from the troubles that plagued Norton.
The PNC is in for some tough times ahead.
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.
AI-driven production systems, mega-scale farms for Guyana
–– as government looks to leverage new technologies to enhance agriculture
PLEDGING heavy investment in mega-scale farms and artificial intelligence -driven production systems, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has outlined an ambitious plan to transform the country’s food production systems leveraging new technologies.
The initiative will be pursued in partnership with key international bodies, including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
“We’re going to incentivise mega-scale livestock farming, and we’re going to invest in intelligence AI-led
production systems, working with IICA the FAO,” President Ali said.
He added: “We’re going to launch the farmers application… farming in the palm with extension services, scientific services and technical services available 24/7, in real time on the devices.
Those are the changes that we are going to pursue.”
According to President Ali, the new digital platform is expected to become a central tool for farmers, providing round-the-clock access to expert guidance, real-time data, and on-demand support. The application is expected to modernise traditional agricultural practices, and enable farmers to adopt more
precise, efficient, and climate-resilient methods.
President Ali reiterated that the initiative forms part of a broader commitment to modernise agriculture,
a smart surveillance system which supports predictive analytics and early- warning mechanisms, enabling a more proactive approach to farming.
This digital transformation of Guyana’s agriculture sector aligns with broader national goals of food security, climate resilience, and economic diversification.
ministry’s aim to improve the sector through technology.
increase competitiveness, and position the country as a regional leader in food production.
The government has already mapped out plans for
In addition to this, the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is currently in the process of creating a single digital platform to monitor the country’s sluices and pumps.
Just last year, the country launched an Agriculture Information System (AIS), thereby marking a shift in the
The AIS features a farm register module which creates a full database of farmers, including biodata and contact information. It also includes geo-referencing, a farm profile, and a survey module for producing and processing farm surveys. The core, extension, and survey modules are additional components.
The AIS has transformed the way the ministry gathers, organises, and uses agricultural data, Minister Mustapha said, further pointing out that the system will also help extension officers work more effectively by addressing data gathering issues.
Acquire compliances, structural requirements
to access incentives, opportunities to train, grow
–– GCCI President urges small-business owners
PRESIDENT of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kathy Smith, is urging local businesses to take advantage of what she has described as an unprecedented period of growth, emphasising that too many enterprises are missing out on opportunities because they fail to meet basic compliance and structural requirements.
Smith, speaking at the opening of GuyExpo 2025 last Thursday, cautioned that the era of complaining about
a lack of opportunity has long passed.
“No longer can we complain that there aren’t any opportunities. What I want you to do is to work on your compliances. We are seeing a lot of businesses that want opportunities, but they cannot be traced,” she told exhibitors and attendees.
She added that proper business structuring remains one of the most significant weaknesses among small enterprises.
“Create business structure. Too many of you are
involved in businesses and we cannot even find you on a phone number or a Facebook page. And please, I beg you, small business owners, put that money in a business account, not a personal account,” Smith said.
She stressed that this period represents “a time of unprecedented growth and opportunity… where opportunities are ripe for the picking, where entrepreneurship is thriving.”
Smith noted that the private sector continues to benefit considerably from the
government’s development thrust.
“The private sector continues to benefit from the government’s development policies and strategic investment, whether it is a small contractor who has access to contracts or a budding entrepreneur who’s benefitting from business-development training and grants.”
She acknowledged that these interventions have fuelled business expansion across the country, stating: “This government has been a catalyst for opportunities and the success of entrepreneurship, and that deserves acknowledgement.”
The GCCI President also highlighted the organisation’s ongoing collaborations with key ministries to strengthen local enterprises.
“We are working with the Minister of Agriculture to train farmers and women-led businesses in targeted areas geared towards supporting their businesses towards sustainable operations and success, which will be facilitated in our newly commissioned Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre,” she said.
Further, the chamber has engaged the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to ensure micro and small businesses access the tools needed for competitiveness.
Additionally, the chamber has launched its Skills connect application, which
allows small businesses to access training, jobs and other opportunities.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA), Rafeek Khan, also welcomed the supportive environment emerging for local manufacturers, especially those outside the traditional sectors.
“We are very much appreciative, especially for the non-oil sector at the GMSA
where we’re trying to build out the traditional sectors. We have recently heard that lending institutions are giving loans for immovable assets,” he noted.
Khan explained that many smaller businesses were previously unable to secure financing because they lacked land or buildings to use as collateral, but now they are able obtain loans, accessing capital that was once out of reach.
23 Region Two residents complete WIIN electrical installation training programme
TWENTY-THREE residents of Region Two have successfully completed the City & Guilds Electrical Installation Course through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), in partnership with Nations Inc. The training was held at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI).
The WIIN programme continues to transform lives across Guyana, offering accessible opportunities that demonstrate that learning and empowerment have no age limit.
Senior Training Officer attached to the ministry and assigned to the WIIN programme, Ms. Nandanie Persaud, said the ministry is proud to provide free technical and vocational training aimed at empowering vulnerable women, while also ensuring inclusivity by welcoming male participants.
She noted that the ministry has supported the establishment of numerous women-owned businesses through WIIN’s initiatives.
Ms. Persaud congratulated the new graduates on behalf of Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and
encouraged them to continue building on the skills they have gained.
Among the graduating class, 65-year-old Nandranie Immretie stood out as an inspiring example of perseverance and lifelong learning.
After completing the two-week programme, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to finally learn basic electrical installation, something she had always hoped to do.
Her accomplishment embodies WIIN’s mission to help women grow, build confidence, and create
Rafeek Khan
GCCI’s Kathy Smith
Gov’t to work with rice farmers to convert lands for greater profitability
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined a new diversification initiative aimed at boosting incomes and strengthening resilience within the agricultural sector.
Speaking on the government’s broader plan to modernise food production at the opening of GuyExpo 2025 last week, President Ali announced that rice farmers will receive support to convert a portion of their existing lands into complementary livestock and aquaculture ventures.
“We are going to help them, support them in converting two acres in every 10 acres that will allow them to achieve higher value of income, that would allow them to achieve diversification within their existing production frame, that would allow them to achieve resilience and profitability,” the President said.
According to President Ali, the shift will allow farmers to tap into higher-value income streams without disrupting their primary rice operations.
“We’re going to help rice farmers to convert at least two acres in every 10 acres into livestock farming, swine production, small ruminants, cage-crabbing and aquaculture.”
This forms part of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration’s wider agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to expand local
The
food production, encourage innovation, and strengthen long-term sustainability across the sector.
DEVELOPMENT BANK
The President announced too that the forthcoming Guyana Development Bank which will be capitalised with a minimum of US$200 million will place strong emphasis on supporting agriculture, tourism, services, and other value-creating activities, ultimately generating “tens of thousands of business opportunities.”
The Guyana Development Bank will also offer loans with no collateral requirement and a zero per cent interest rate up to a predetermined threshold, which will be unveiled in the 2026 National Budget.
“The bank will focus heavily on the agriculture sector, the tourism sector,
the services sector — any activity that deals with value creation,” he added.
This financial institution will be operationalised by 2026.
Already, the government has invested $2 billion in price support, ensuring that farmers receive at least $4,000 per bag of paddy.
Additionally, the government has supplied millions of dollars in fertiliser and seed-paddy insurance; removed VAT on machinery, equipment, and agro-chemicals; negotiated and settled Panama’s $1.5 billion debt to local millers and zero-rated the Guyana Rice Development Board’s (GRDB) sales commission in 2025.
In addition to this, rice farmers in Guyana now have access to crop insurance for the first time.
Rice farmers will see a further $2.7 billion being invested in the sector.
23 Region Two residents complete WIIN ...
From page 10
meaningful opportunities for themselves and their families.
Meanwhile, tutors Bisham Persaud and Lakeram Bissessar also commended the strong turnout of women in the programme and extended heartfelt thanks to the ministry for providing such valuable and empowering training to the public.
“We are happy that so many persons showed the interest in upgrading their skills and to ensure that they made the time,” Persaud said.
–– President Ali announces, says livestock, aquaculture ventures will unlock new streams of income
According to the President, farmers will see an injection of $300 per bag of paddy.
NEW RICE TARGETS
Despite climate pressures and recent global gluts in the rice market, Guyana continues to record strong production gains.
The country is set to produce 820,000 metric tonnes of rice.
“This is a very important industry; we not only have to maintain it, but we have to expand it. Our objective in the coming years from now
is to produce a million tonnes of rice, so we want Guyana to be one of the main food-producing countries in the region,” Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said last week during an engagement with farmers.
In fact, the sector saw a 13.9 per cent growth during the first half of 2025. Data from GRDB shows that 410,194 tonnes of rice was produced between January and June 2025, up from 362,030 tonnes for the same period last year. Officials attributed the increase largely to favourable weather con-
ditions and consistent yields, with the first crop of 2025 achieving an average of 6.6 tonnes per hectare, the same as in 2024.
The country’s production has seen a steady increase over the past four years. In 2020, the first crop averaged 5.7 tonnes and by 2024, it had increased to 6.6 tonnes per hectare.
This incremental increase in rice production has been ongoing since 2021, when production was 559,789 tonnes. In 2022, it increased to 610,595 tonnes, and 653,706 tonnes in 2023.
Government of Guyana has outlined plans to work with rice farmers to convert farmlands for greater profitability
Bina Hill Learning Institute’s principal launches children’s book about Stephen Campbell
PRINCIPAL of Bina Hill Learning Institute, Medino Abraham, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, journeyed to Santa Rosa, Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini) to launch a children’s storybook about Mr. Stephen Campbell.
Stephen Campbell was an Arawak Guyanese politician and political activist, and the first Amerindian Member of Parliament in Guyana. He had also established the Bina Hill Learning Institute at Annai in the Rupununi.
He is also from Moruca and would have dedicated
viduals, including the writer, the artists, the translator, sponsors, and the narrator, who told the story in the Lokono language to the children,” he said.
Abraham added that while the writer and artist are from Moruca Village, the translator of the Lokono language and the narrator are from Wakapoa Village, on the Pomeroon River in Region Two.
“I was part of a team that promoted the incorporation of the Wapishana language into school lesson plans for both teachers and students. We collaborated with local writers,
his life to improving education for the Wapishana people of the South Rupununi.
His hard work and commitment to helping his fellow Amerindians led to his recognition as the first parliamentarian by the late President Cheddi Jagan on September 10, 1957.
Abraham told the Guyana Chronicle that the book took three months to assemble before it was finally ready for the launch.
“This educational project involved several indi-
artists, and storytellers to create stories that originated from the local environment, such as plants, animals, and birds,” Abraham said.
He reported that the stories also featured myths, legends, and narratives from elders about medicinal plants and other sources of knowledge within the community.
Abraham noted that the publication of this children’s story about Mr. Stephen Campbell was inspired by his previous
experience working with the Bilingual Education Programme designed for Wapishana children in South Rupununi.
Additionally, he has a friend from Brazil who writes stories for Indigenous children and young adults to promote Indigenous literature and arts.
“As such, I decided to write a children’s book about Mr. Stephen Campbell, who was from Moruca and worked in the Rupununi to assist the people in education.,” he said.
Abraham stated that to produce the book, he delved into literature researched by Dr. Laureen Pierre and interviewed a few elders from Sawariwau Village, where Campbell first worked.
He explained that the reason for producing the book in both Lokono and English is to spark curiosity and interest among young children about the Lokono language, which is fading away in Moruca.
“We hope that some children will find it en -
gaging to learn about their original language and contribute to its revival,” he said.
Abrham reasoned that the book is historical; it tells the true story of a significant figure and features simple language suitable for children.
He noted that writing it in English also supports literacy, allowing children to read about the life of a great Morucan.
Abraham pointed out that the book is tailored for early childhood pupils in primary school and was launched at the Santa Rosa Primary School, his alma mater. About 230 pupils currently attend the school.
He said moving forward,
they plan to write more children’s storybooks about elders, plants, and animals from the local environment, as well as stories about landscapes, rivers, creeks, mangrove trees, and climate change to raise awareness of the environmental changes taking place.
Abraham disclosed that these stories will continue to be written in both Lokono and English for children and adults, contributing to the production of Indigenous literature.
“We hope to utilise modern technology, like artificial intelligence (AI) and social media, to promote our publications and productions,” he said.
A pupil displays the book as the story is read in English (Medino Abraham Photos)
Children at Santa Rosa Primary with the Stephen Campbell storybook
Copies of the book will be available for sale by the end of this month
Miss Kim Richards of Wakapoa Village reads the story in the Lokono language to Santa Rosa Primary School pupils following the book launch
‘Don’t just chase profit’
— Traffic Chief warns bar owners they can lose licences over drunk drivers
TRAFFIC Chief Mahendra Singh is warning bar owners across Guyana that they risk losing their licences if they continue to serve intoxicated patrons who then take to the road, reminding them that the law now places liability on businesses, not just drivers.
Addressing the launch of the Police Force’s Christmas Policing Plan on Friday,
Singh said the amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, “places blame squarely” on bar owners and servers who allow patrons to leave their establishments while drunk.
“The bar owner and the server they are both liable.
Revocation or suspension of the licence to operate the bar is one of the critical considerations. Once reported to us, we will take the action,”
Singh said.
The Traffic Chief said the goal is not to attack businesses, but to save lives during what is historically one of the most dangerous periods on Guyana’s roads.
“As an owner, don’t look at profit as the only thing that keeps your bar going, look at continuous patronage. If one of your known supporters dies, he is not coming back to spend any-
more,” he cautioned.
For 2025 so far, Singh reported 1,428 persons charged for driving under the influence, a number he says reflects both increased enforcement and persistent risky behaviour among motorists.
“Every person who drunk and drove and was tested and the breath test proved they were above the prescribed limit should have
paid a million dollars,” he said, highlighting the severity of existing penalties.
To strengthen enforcement, Singh said the Police Force will intensify “spotting” operations at bars, discreet monitoring techniques used when patrons are unlikely to report each other.
“Someone who is imbibing and socialising will not report another one. So, our methodology has to come
into play to support what we are talking about,” he said
The Traffic Chief also linked bar responsibility to the wider Christmas policing strategy, which emphasises personal accountability, multi-stakeholder engagement, and the protection of vulnerable road users.
“Road safety has no boundaries. And personal responsibility starts with us,” he stressed. “
UG’s Dr Estherine Adams wins prestigious international award for groundbreaking research on women’s history
–– university says award-winning research underscores its growing global scholarly presence
DR ESTHERINE Adams, Head of the Department of History and Caribbean Studies in the Faculty of Education and Humanities at the University of Guyana, has been awarded the ASSLH Edna Ryan Prize for Best Article on Women’s History (2023–2024) for her paper, “‘At Work, in Hospital, or in Gaol’: Women in British Guiana’s Jails, 1838–1917,” published in the Journal of Labour History.
The award, presented by the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History (ASSLH), recognises outstanding scholarship on women’s experiences and contributions within labour history. Dr Adams’s paper offers a powerful and original argument that the prison systems in colonial British
Guiana served not only to punish but also to extract and control labour, particularly from African and Indian indentured women.
The judges commended the article for being “original, clearly positioned in relevant recent literature and beautifully written to imagine and illuminate the lives of female indentured labourers in British Guiana.” They added that it ad-
vanced “an important argument about the centrality of prison labour to the colony, illustrating the intersections of coerced labour, capitalism, and colonialism.”
Dr Adams said she was “genuinely stunned” to learn that her paper had won the prize, especially since she had not known it had been submitted. “I had no idea the journal had entered my article, so the email ar-
Dr Estherine Adams, Head of the Department of History and Caribbean Studies in the Faculty of Education and Humanities at the University of Guyana
rived completely unexpectedly. There was a moment of disbelief followed by deep gratitude. As researchers, we often work in solitude — in archives, writing late at night — wondering if the nuance and humanity we try to convey will reach anyone. To learn that the article resonated that strongly was both affirming and humbling,” she said.
The judges’ comments held special meaning for her, as they recognised not only the academic strength of her research but also its human depth. “They recognised not just the academic contribution, but the humanity of the women whose stories I reconstructed from archival silences. When they noted that the article was beautifully written to illuminate these lives, I felt seen as a scholar, not simply for producing research, but for recovering lives erased from the historical record,” she reflected. Her motivation for exploring this subject was guided by a central question: Where were the women in the carceral histories of slavery and indentureship?
According to Dr Adams, “The prison was one of the earliest colonial institutions designed to regulate and exploit labour, yet women — particularly African and later Indian indentured women — were almost invisible in the archive. I wanted to centre them not as footnotes to male histories, but as labouring subjects whose experiences reveal how power operated through gender, race, and the prison system.”
She shared that one of her main challenges was the lack of detailed records on incarcerated women. To address this, she employed what she calls a “fragmentary methodology.” “In many cases, women appeared only as numbers or anonymous references buried in disciplinary reports. To overcome this, I read against the grain, analysing
what the record left out as much as what it included, and pieced together details across inventories, health reports, punishment books, and plantation records. If the archive whispered, I tried to listen as closely as possible,” she explained.
Dr Adams hopes that this international recognition will inspire more researchers in Guyana and across the Caribbean to interrogate history courageously. “My hope is that this award signals the value of work that confronts historical silences, especially in colonial archives. Guyana and the Caribbean are full of stories that remain unwritten. If this recognition encourages emerging researchers to take risks, ask uncomfortable questions, and challenge dominant narratives, then it has already done more than I could have imagined,” she said.
She also reflected on what the award means for the University of Guyana. “At UG, we teach, research, advise, and carry heavy administrative responsibilities, often simultaneously. This award is a reminder that world-class scholarship can be produced from Guyana, by Guyanese scholars, for global audiences. It also models for our students that their stories — the stories of this land and this history — are worthy of study and will be heard. The award is not just mine; it belongs to the Department, to the students who sit in our classrooms, and to the women whose lives I tried to honour in the research.”
The University of Guyana congratulates Dr Estherine Adams on this outstanding achievement. Her work continues to advance the institution’s mission to contribute meaningfully to national and global scholarship, while inspiring future generations of researchers to uncover and honour the untold stories of our region. (UG)
Minister Walrond calls for ‘culture’ change on roadways
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, has called for a national shift in attitude towards road use, as she stressed that behind every statistic is a family shattered by loss caused by accidents.
She made this call during the annual road safety walk early Sunday morning in observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2025, which is being held under the theme, “Careful Driving Saves Lives”.
“These accidents are tragedies we have the power to prevent. The responsibility rests with every Guyanese citizen. One death is too many,” Minister Walrond stressed.
As of 2025, Guyana recorded 130 road fatalities as compared to 97 in 2024.
However, the minister noted that without the government and the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) interventions, road accident fatalities would have been significantly higher.
Nonetheless, she outlined a series of measures currently being pursued to improve road safety, from enforcement to infrastructure.
“We are strengthening enforcement and expanding road safety education. We are improving infrastructure, better lighting, clearer road markings, safer crossings,” she stated.
The government has already procured 1,000 lights which is expected to arrive shortly.
Similarly, smart technology is being utilised to deter reckless behaviour on the roadways.
Beyond these initiatives, the minister revealed that discussions have begun to update the Road Traffic Act with new offences and tougher penalties.
“We are pushing for stronger penalties, the Traffic Chief and I have already started actively discussing the amending of the regulations and laws of the Road Traffic Act…also stiffer penalties to make it easier to put suspensions on licenses,” she detailed.
She added that the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Chambers have already been engaged and a draft is already in hand.
Moreover, Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh, said enforcement and education must go hand in hand.
“Let this be a representation of the change we wish to see. Our practices must align with what is lawful. Progress is a must, but not at the expense of safety,” Singh emphasised.
He noted that the police conduct road-safety education in schools across the country.
The GPF also collaborate with the Guyana National Road Safety Council, decentralised Road Councils, the Private Sector Commission, and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce to spread awareness on road safety.
Meanwhile, Lucio Bacchus, co- founder of ‘Mothers in Black’ and a longstanding safety advocate, appealed to road users to be more cautious.
Having lost her two children by a drunken driver, Bacchus passionately declared the need for drivers to desist from drinking and driving.
She said, “Drivers look out for our loved ones on the roadways, they are our future.
Let’s make road safety everyone’s priority. Don’t drink and drive, save our precious assets, our children.” (DPI)
Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, during the annual road safety walk in observance of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2025
Traffic Chief reports 12% drop in accidents
THE Guyana Police Force is reporting a 12 per cent reduction in road accidents, a development Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh says is the result of leadership, technology, stronger deployment and a renewed push for personal responsibility on the nation’s roads.
Speaking at the launch of the Christmas Policing Plan on Friday, Singh said the reduction “did not happen by chance,” highlighting that it reflects months of strategic planning and operational discipline across all regional divisions.
“This happened because of the leadership provided to us, the commitment of ranks and others specifically towards making sure it is effective. It represents an unmatched commitment to duty by each rank who staffs the Traffic Department,” he told the gathering.
Singh said the 2025–2026 national theme for road safety, “Careful Driving Saves Lives,” is already being
operationalised through sector-based deployment; 24hour CCTV monitoring; the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS) and the expansion of command centres across the coast.
“Road safety has no demographic or geographic boundaries. It impacts low-income, high-income and middle-income countries the same. It comes down to the road, your vehicle and you —the user — as well as others who are vulnerable,” he said
He noted that even in the face of continuously increasing vehicle imports and heavier convergence during peak hours, the force has been able to maintain significant reductions in accident categories.
“Presently, you will find a significant reduction in each category of accidents coming all the way to today, notwithstanding the fact that each day accidents are reported,” he said.
Modernisation of the road network, expansion of housing schemes and major commercial developments have increased daily traffic pressure, particularly on the East Bank and East Coast corridors. Singh said these realities demand better planning from motorists.
“Poor planning on the part of the road user taking things for granted and wanting to do it your way creates delays. It demands that you plan. It demands that you factor [in] expansion, increased volumes and the realities of a growing country,” he said.
To meet the Christmas season demand, the force has divided all 10 regions into operational sectors, expanded fixed-point placements and boosted roving patrols.
Singh said the strategic approach is grounded in ensuring safe and continuous movement of people, goods and cargo.
“Our intention is to ensure the continuous flow of all forms of traffic within all regional divisions. We want to minimise congestion and reduce accidents through visibility, partnership, awareness, enforcement and roving patrols,” he said.
The Traffic Chief reminded attendees that while enforcement is important, the public must recognise its own role in ensuring safer roads.
“Personal responsibility is not transferable. It starts with each of us,” he said.
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh
Two in custody following discovery of ‘illegal’ firearm at Mabaruma
POLICE in Regional Division # 1 are investigating the recovery of a suspected illegal .22 pistol following an incident in Mabaruma, North West District.
A statement said that Initial reports indicate that, on Saturday November 15, 2025, a 50-year-old taxi driver of Mabaruma was allegedly assaulted and threatened by a male who allegedly brandished a firearm during a fare dispute.
The matter was subsequently reported, and, acting on information received, ranks conducted a follow-up operation in the early hours of Sunday November 16, 2025, at Mabaruma, where two male suspects - a 21-year-old and a 23-year-old, both construction workers of Parika, East Bank Essequibo - were located and detained.
During further inquiries, one of the suspects led investigators to a bushy area in Mabaruma, where a suspected .22 pistol believed to have been used in the incident was recovered.
The firearm has been lodged and both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
Cops probing fatal logging incident at Mabura Road Concession
POLICE in Regional Division # 10 are investigating a fatal incident which occurred on Saturday November 15, 2025, at a logging concession located at 43 Miles, Mabura Road, Upper Demerara River.
According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the deceased has been identified as 63-year-old Chris Hall, called “Chatch”, a logger and skidder operator of Grant Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.
Initial investigations indicate that Hall was working within the concession when he was struck by a falling tree branch and subsequently became motionless. The matter was reported to the police and ranks later visited the scene, the statement said.
It added that he was transported to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was examined and pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.
The body has since been taken to the Pensioners Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Gayle-22 wickets
(2) Daniel Vettori-33 wickets
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which WI has the best ODI bowling figures against NZ to date?
(2) Which NZ has the best ODI bowling figures against the WI to date?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
EXETER
09:30hrs Harry Lowes
10:00hrs Lulamba
10:30hrs A Path To Ronda
11:00hrs Reallyntruthfully
11:30hrs Special John
12:00hrs Henrysbrotherjack
LEICESTER
09:10hrs Maccarellu
09:40hrs Artic Saint
10:09hrs Trad Jazz
10:40hrs Little Venice
11:10hrs Island Bridge 11:40hrs Wise Guy
NEWCASTLE
11:35hrs Nebras
12:10hrs My Love Is King
12:40hrs Mr Wonka
13:10hrs Popty Ping
13:40hrs Applesand-
pears
14:10hrs Orne
14:40hrs Bernalda
15:10hrs Macarone
IRISH RACING TIPS NAVAN
08:25hrs Watching The Clock
09:00hrs Colonia Victoria
09:35hrs Ace Brannigan
10:10hrs Yellow Clay
10:45hrs Dinoblue
11:20hrs Kopek Des Bordes
11:55hrs Lemmy Caution
AMERICAN RACING TIPS
FINGER LAKES
New Zealand clinch seven-run win to lead ODI series against Windies
(ESPNCRICINFO) - Everyone climbed onto the struggle bus in Christchurch, even Daryl Mitchell whose seventh ODI century cost him a little bit of his good health. A groin injury left him inside the dressing room for the entirety of the second innings, which wasn't the worst thing ever. He could put his feet up and watch New Zealand pull off a seven-run victory.
A two-paced pitch that offered sideways movement throughout the day made batting a distasteful exercise.
Mitchell seemed immune initially but soon he was battling not just a disciplined West Indies attack but also his own body breaking down from the stress. The fact that he was able to ride those challenges - and take New Zealand to a total of 269 - made the innings all the sweeter.
Mitchell must have felt it too. As soon as he reached his hundred, he whipped his helmet off and roared the word "yes" with so much emotion even the veins on his shaved head were popping all over the place. Performances
like these were once the purview of Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor, two all-time Black Caps legends. Increasingly though, Mitchell has been putting himself up on their level, this 119 off 118 a prime example. No one else was able to make even half of those runs with Sherfane Rutherford's 55 off 61 the next best score. Conditions at Hagley Oval on Sunday were not for the faint of heart. West Indies suffered in their chase, the help that was already available in the day now exaggerated under lights. Keacy Carty
Bavuma, Harmer and Jansen
spent most of his 67 balls as a crash test dummy. He would've been fine if it was just swing or just seam or just bounce. But all three kept combining at the behest of New Zealand's quicks and all the West Indian No. 3 could do was steel himself for the body blows. The first 10 overs produced just 32 runs. The next nine 27. There were 30 balls in between when only seven scoring shots were possible. And this was the change-bowlers - Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes - in operation.
Shai Hope (37 off 45) and
Rutherford fared a little better and New Zealand shelled a series of catches in the back end, but West Indies had fallen too far behind to be able to catch up.
They came into this game with five changes - three spinners out, three seamers in. The best of them was Matthew Forde who was on a hat-trick in the seventh over, removing Rachin Ravindra for 4 and Will Young on his 50th ODI for a golden duck.
That's when Mitchell walked in and immediately flipped the game on its head. Till then, New
Zealand's batters were trapped in the crease and Forde was given the leeway to do whatever he wanted. Mitchell, though, walked at the fast bowler, trusting his reflexes to deal with the speed of the ball - which on average was only 122 kph - and negating the biggest thing that Forde had going for him - sideways movement, particularly into the right-hander. West Indies tried to stop that by bringing the wicketkeeper up but that only slowed Mitchell down. It didn't uproot him.
script sensational South Africa
win at treacherous Eden Gardens
(ESPNCRICINFO) - South Africa started the day staring at defeat, only 63 ahead with three wickets in hand, but registered a stunning win, their first in India in 15 years and the second-smallest successful defence in Asia. The whooping and cheering among the South Africa players echoed amid a shocked Sunday crowd at Eden Gardens as the visitors bowled India out for 93 in the absence of their injured captain Shubman Gill.
Temba Bavuma was ever present, scoring the only half-century of the match and taking South Africa to a formidable lead of 123 on a pitch with extravagant sideways movement and variance in bounce. He was helped a little by some ordinary spin bowling on the third morning, but he had earned the errors after defending resolutely on the second evening.
The target of 124 was always going to be tricky with Simon Harmer outbowling India's spinners in the country where he had a forgettable tour in 2015-16. The uneven bounce made Marco Jansen a handful, causing the double jeopardy you need to defend small totals.
India began the day in the ascendance but not with bowlers likeliest to take a
wicket. Axar Patel opening the day was a surprise, and as the singles flowed with ease you could sense panic.
Rishabh Pant, who had been excellent with his rotation of bowlers and field placements on the second evening, began to change bowlers too quickly and also took a desperate review against Bavuma when Ravindra Jadeja
had clearly pitched outside leg from over the wicket. That Jadeja was bowling over the wicket in itself was a sign of desperation when all you really needed to do on this surface was bowl a good length and shut the scoring. Jadeja, who until day two was the best player of the match, just struggled to maintain that length and
bowled seven overs for 21 runs. Washington Sundar, one of the three spinners in the last four home Tests, was not used at all.
Bavuma's defence found an ally in Corbin Bosch's big hits, which he deployed mainly against Kuldeep Yadav. The two added an invaluable 44 for the eighth wicket, 25 of which came
off Bosch's bat. Eventually it was the fast bowlers that kept India alive. Jasprit Bumrah hit the top of Bosch's off, and Mohammed Siraj, in only his second over of the innings, got the better of Harmer and Keshav Maharaj with reverse swing.
It was always going to be a tough target on this pitch, but India had hope
in South Africa's selection of only two spinners, one of whom, Maharaj, had gone for 16-1-66-1 in the first innings. Jansen, though, stunned them at the start in his first two overs to send back the openers. Both these balls jumped off a length, got big on the batters, and took the outside edge.
That's the Test - Keshav Maharaj leads the celebrations (Nov 16, 2025 Getty Images)
Ele’s Trading and Hardware Road Race...
Briton John stands tall to clinch final race of season
road race
TEAM We Stand United cyclist Briton John delivered another top-notch performance on Sunday on the West Coast of Demerara roadways to outlast his competitors in the team Alanis organised Ele’s Trading and Hardware cycling road race. After a rolling start onto the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara Harbour Bridge from the East Bank of Demerara, the cyclists officially kicked off at Schoonord on the West Bank, heading to Parika. It was a gruelling race
as the elite riders rode with pace and power with the wind on their backs heading to Parika.
It was John who got the jump on his counterpart on the return leg to clinch the $50,000 first-place prize. Kwame Ridley finished
second, followed by Jamaul John for third.
Alex Newton and Alexander Leung captured the fourth and fifth-place spots to round out the top five finishers.
Ridley, after his fabulous ride, also took the
YMCA thump Spaniards in ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal
DEFENDING champion YMCA brushed aside Spaniards 6-2 when the group stage round in the ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal Championship concluded at the Retrieve Tarmac in Linden.
Jonah Simon led the way in the lopsided victory with a hat-trick. Adding a double was Kevin Gittens, while Jamal Bentick scored once. For the loser, Andrew Murray Jr and Tyler Lyle netted one goal apiece.
Meanwhile, Salah Family and DC Ballers battled to a 4-4 draw. Cecil Jackman bagged a brace for Salah Family, while Andre Mayers and Nicholas Gentle scored one goal each. For DC Ballers, Stephon Jupiter bagged a double, while Shane Luckie and Amoniki Buntin scored one goal apiece.
Masters category ahead of Jaikaran Sookhai and Robin Persaud.
The masters Over 50 was won by Jame Joseph with Mark Spencer and Nigel London completing the podium finishes.
Dinesh Sookhai was the
Juvenile winner, while
also claimed the
category with
and Ajani Cuttings third. The category 4 was won by Julio Melville with Tyrone Hamilton second and Collis Williams claiming the third spot.
MVP Girls Pee Wee Competition… St. John the Baptist, Marian Academy & Santa Rosa register wins
ST. JOHN the Baptist Primary was impressive on Saturday, the opening day of the MVP Girls Under-11 Football Championship played at the Ministry of Education’s Ground.
St. John the Baptist took a 7-nil win over Smith Memorial Primary to get their 2025 campaign off to the best possible start.
and Haley De Nobrega.
Haberkorn scored the opener in the 16th minute before Fernandes made it 2-nil in the 18th minute then DeNobrega scored a pair in the 20th and 22nd minutes.
Fernandes and Haberkorn register their second goals to guide their team to a comfortable 6-nil win.
Also, Figgy FC defeated HH Ballers via walkover.
The elimination round will commence on Friday with the quarterfinals.
Similarly, Hard-knocks and Bombers played to a 2-2 draw. Kwesi Quintin and Kenard Simon scored one goal apiece for Hardknocks while Dequain Samuels netted a brace for Bombers. Likewise, Young Gunners and Silver Bullets played to a 1-1 stalemate. Jermaine Mason scored for Young Gunners, while Sigmund Cobena netted for Silver Bullets.
The winner of the event
will pocket $1,500,000, while the eventual second, third, and fourth place finishers will receive $750,000, $350,000, and $200,000 respectively, and the corresponding accolade. On the individual level, the eventual Most Valuable Player will ride away with a motorcycle. It was also disclosed that a $300,000 economic grant will be awarded to a player or fan
to aid their academic development. Each team must put forward a candidate for the aforesaid scholarship. Below is the complete list of results and the quarterfinal matches.
Complete Results Game-1
Figgy FC vs. HH Ballers Figgy FC won via walkover.
(Turn to page 20)
St. John the Baptist’s Thalia Alert scored a hattrick with goals coming in the 19th, 21st and 24th minutes.
Elianna Grant then recorded goals in the 32nd and 35th minutes to extend their advantage before an Antacia Livan 40th minute goal completed the victory 7-nil.
Defending champion Marian Academy then dominated Tucville Primary 6-nil. Marian Academy were led by doubles from Haley Haberkorn, Ella Fernandes
Santa Rosa Primary also captured a 7-nil victory over Genesis Primary. Rovena Johnson was sublime with four goals with Bree Atkinson scoring a brace.
Other winners on the opening day were Potaro Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary and Waramuri Primary.
Agatash Primary also drew with Georgetown International Academy, while the clash between North Georgetown Primary and St. Aloysius Primary ended similarly.
Newton
juniors
Leung second
All the winners of the season-ending
Briton John collects his prize
Action between the Salah Family (black) and DC Ballers at the Retrieve Tarmac
FIBA Caribbean Women’s Championship…
Guyana captures massive win to get campaign back on the road
GUYANA’S national women’s basketball side put their foot on the gas on Saturday evening when they clashed with neighbours Suriname in the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Championship being played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The locals coming off a disappointing loss to US
Virgin Islands on Thursday rebounded like champions with a jaw dropping 64 points victory 106-42 against their Eastern neighbour.
After tip-off, Guyana’s women made their intention clear as they went on a scoring spree to lead 44-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Suriname would up their
defence in the second to temper the bucket flow but Guyana still outscored them 21-13 in the second half to lead 65-19 at the half.
After the break the Guyanese ladies showed renewed resolve, outscoring their counterparts 30-6 to build further on their lead.
The Surinamese finally
caught up to the speed of the game in the fourth to outscore Guyana 17-11 but the horse had already left the stables as Guyana cruised to 106-42 points win.
Anaya McDavid dropped 24 points with Amisha Ramlall sinking three three-pointers to record 25 as the pair led the team’s offensive push
from jump ball.
Ruth Adams (19), Ashna Ramlall (12) and Joy Brown (19) were also solid for Guyana as they steamrolled their opponents.
Suriname’s Chiniqua Pengel was their only player in double digits as they were overwhelmed by the home team at the Homestretch Av-
enue facility.
Earlier in the competition, Guyana beat power houses Bahamas 102-75.
Guyana will meet the Jamaican women in their final clash.
The top three teams will also qualify to the 2026 Centrobasket Women’s Championship.
Vanderstoop adjudged Best Boxer of GBA Junior Tournament at ‘Six Heads’ Gym
By Sean Devers
THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Youth Boxing Tournament held at the Andrew ‘Six Heads’
gym and Nickoli Qinsocf.
From the first bell, the two boxers went after each other with a flurry of energetic combinations, to the delight of the gathering of mainly young pugilists in the small gym named after Guyana’s first World Champion.
Gym in the heart of Albouystown on Saturday evening saw entertaining action.
One of the most exciting bouts of the night was the contest between the tournament’s ‘Best Boxer’, Imhoter Vanderstoop from the host
Both fighters connected with some fast three-punch combinations to the body and head in a close opening round.
The second round started with both boxers going at each other with guns blazing,
but as the fight got deeper into the round, Vanderstoop took the initiative and scored the better shots as Qinsocf tried to counter-punch.
The last round saw Qinsocf beginning to tire, and even when he hit Vanderstoop with some good shots, he did not advance for the kill.
Vanderstoop jumped on his opponent with a barrage of punches in bunches and hurt him.
After taking an uppercut to the body and a right hook to the head, Qinsocf sud -
denly stopped fighting and abandoned the fight.
In the fight between the ‘Big Boys’, Aferin Adams of the home gym beat Policeman Quacy Harley in a slugfest with both boxers hammering away at each.
Harley kept his man on the ropes for most of the fight until the referee stopped the bout in 2 minutes, 28 seconds in the second round.
Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym took the Best Gym title while the New Amsterdam Boxing Gym, Harpy Eagles and Pace and Power
finished in the runner-up spot with equal points.
the Best Coach.
GMRSC receives 1-Star FIA Environmental Accreditation, sets sights on 2-Star Rating for 2027
THE Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC) has earned the prestigious 1-Star Environmental Accreditation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), marking a significant step forward for motorsport sustain
ability in Guyana and the Caribbean.
The FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme
evaluates motorsport organisations on their environmental policies, systems, and long-term sustainability efforts. Achieving the 1-Star rating confirms that GMRSC has successfully established a structured environmental management framework and implemented essential policies at the South Dakota Circuit.
Over the past year, GMRSC has introduced im-
proved waste-management procedures, strengthened fluid-handling protocols, and taken initial steps toward energy-efficient facility operations. These actions form the foundation for the club’s future environmental goals. This achievement also aligns with the Government of Guyana’s national focus on sustainability and responsible environmental practices, supporting the
broader national agenda of building environmentally conscious industries and sporting sectors.
Looking ahead, the next FIA audit is scheduled for October 2027, and GMRSC has already committed to pursuing the 2-Star Accreditation, the second tier in the FIA’s comprehensive three-star rating system.
Achieving the 2-Star level will require expanded envi-
ronmental strategies, measurable improvement targets, and further integration of eco-friendly practices across GMRSC’s operations.
GMRSC President Mahendra Boodhoo, speaking on behalf of the club, said:
“This is a proud moment for GMRSC. Earning the 1-Star Accreditation demonstrates our commitment to growing motorsport responsibly. Our next goal is
to achieve the 2-Star rating by the 2027 audit. We are fully committed to ensuring the South Dakota Circuit becomes a Global leader in sustainable motorsport.”
This accomplishment positions GMRSC among the global leaders in FIAaligned environmental standards and strengthens Guyana’s presence on the international motorsport stage.
Lennox Daniels was adjudged
The winners show off their medals (Sean Devers photo)
Best Boxer Imhoter Vanderstoop with his trophy (Sean Devers Photo)
