Israel kills at least 79 people in Gaza, many at US-backed aid site: Medics
Govt.’s limited focus on non-oil sectors in US dollar
$10Mforfeitedfrom businessmaninvolved inlandsale‘kickback’
Canadian firm to seek key explosives, cyanide, radiation and export permits for Oko West gold project
Health Ministry testing drone systems to deliver blood in remote areas
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo onThursday directed reporters to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, when asked for an updateonwhenExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) will finally relinquish 20% of the Stabroek Block, a requirement that has now passed its deadline by nine months.
Jagdeo, speaking at a press conference, made it clear that such operational mattersfalloutsidehisdirect
oversight The Vice Presidentwasaskedwhy the public or media was not informedbytheministryofa one-year extension granted to the oil companies for the Kaieteur Block and when will the 20% relinquishment of Stabroek Block be completed.
“AsfarasI'mconcerned, all of the licenses, those who have licenses or licensees have to do relinquishment now,thetimehasexpiredfor them to relinquish,” Jagdeo responded.
However, he declined to offer a specific timeline or
explanation, adding, “I told you already, I'm not going to answeraboutwhenetcetera, y o u d e a l w i t h t h e ministry…I don't deal with routine things when this letter came in when that letterwentoutthat'sMinister Vickram Bharrat, he deals with that in his ministry, I deal with policy issues of a broad nature, they deal with operationalissues.”
N o t a b l y , t h e relinquishmentof20%ofthe Stabroek Block is now nine monthspastthedeadline.An April 2025 statement issued by Ministry of Natural Resources noted that the requirementsareexpectedto be completed “shortly” without offering a specific timelineforcompletion.
Under the terms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Exxon is required to return acreage where no commercial discoveries have been made in production, appraised or areaswherethereispotential commercialinterest.
Exxon was required to return a portion of the Block
to Guyana since October 2023; however, former PresidentDavidGrangerhad granted the company an extension in 2020 to conduct further exploration activities. This extended the deadline to October 2024. The most recent disclosure from the ministry reiterated that it is still finalising the r
relinquishment.
KaieteurBlock Fresh attention has also
totheKaieteurBlock. To date, no portion of the Kaieteur Block has been relinquished. The agreement for the block spanning 3.3 million acres was signed in A
n Guyanese authorities and ExxonMobil Guyana, the previous operator of the block, wh
ch led a consortium consisting Hess Corporation, Ratio Energy Ltd. and Cataleya Energy Ltd.
At his press conference, theVice President urged that updates be sought via the Ministry of N
al Resources' website, which he said was “teeming with information.” However,this publicationrecentlyreported that in November 2024, the ministry gave oil companies Ratio Guyana Limited (RGL) and Cataleya Energy Limited (CEL) an extension of up to February 2026, before final decision is made
on the relinquishment obligationsforthatoilblock. It should be noted that this decision that was not officially announced by the ministry but revealed by the oilcompanies.
A single prospect has been drilled to date in the Kaieteur Block, which resultedinasub-commercial
Tanager-1 well, which was drilled in August 2020, encountered16metresofnet oil pay, a discovery of approximately 65 million barrels of oil in the prospect area, based on independent estimates by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. (NSAI). This discovery was considered to be noncommercial as a standalone development. However, in spite of a number of subsequent postponements, the operator at that time, ExxonMobil, had decided not to exercise its option to drill a second wellontheblock.
In September 2023, it (Continued on page 10)
The People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) andtheAllianceForChange (AFC) have called out the Government of Guyana for its limited focus on the country's non-oil sectors, saying that it is influencing therecenthikesintheUnited StatesDollar
On Friday, both parties were asked to explain why the US dollar continues to climb and to provide solutionstotheproblem.The U.S. dollar, according to the Central Bank stands at $210 toGY$1.However,theprice across commercial banks stands at US$208 to US$216 At the local Cambios, the exchange rate is as high as US$224 to GY$1.
Economistandadvisorto the PNCR Elson Low in an invited comment told Kaieteur News that the consistent upward pressure on the US dollar versus the Guyanesedollarisduetothe government's failure to ensure that there is an adequate supply of foreign c u r r e n c y w h i l e simultaneously increasing the local money supply at a rate that is faster that the growth with the non-oil economy
“This has created a demand and supply imbalance, resulting in shortages of foreign currency and an exchange ratethatisoftenmuchhigher thantheBankofGuyanarate when citizens go to both banks and Cambios In essence, by increasing the money supply sharply (last year it increased by 25%, accordingtotheMinisterfor Finance), the government hasfloodedthelocalmarket with Guyana dollars,” Low said.
Hestressedthatthenonoil foreign currency earners
forGuyanahavebeeneither stagnatedorindecline,with the performance of sugar beingfarbelowexpectations and the gold sector only growingby0.5%lastyear If the situation is to be remedied, he opined that government must therefore at its minimum efforts meet its productions targets in sugar while combating the smuggling of gold to rebalancethemarket.
“Failure to address this multi-year shortage has resulted in higher prices for imported goods, prolonging thecost-of-livingcrisis.Itis clear evidence of poor economic management and the Private Sector Commission,GCCI,various large businesses and ordinary Guyanese have been calling for change for sometime,”Lowsaid.
He added that, “The government's sporadic interventionsintothemarket areclearlyinsufficient,andit is pointless for it to blame Trinidadian businessmen, who the PPP tries to scapegoat to hide its own incompetence. Rather, the government must address the root causes of this crisis and regularly monitor the market to ensure businesses and consumers can readily accessforeigncurrency.”
Meanwhile, the Leader of the AFC Nigel Hughes, told the media that foreign exchange is basically like any other phenomenon in economics, meaning it is a produce of the demand for foreign exchange versus the availability of foreign exchange.
Hearguedthat,“Mostof the income that we generate from oil and foreign exchange does not actually come directly back into the economy It's actually bankedinthefederalbankin
the United States of America.And from time-totime, ostensibly, there are transfers from that U S accounttoGuyana.”
Hughes explained that the current situation in Guyana the pressure for the demand for goods that have to be paid for in foreign currency is pushing the foreign exchange rate up. For example, with the increase in construction, cement is one of the biggest factors. In order to purchase cement,theforeigncurrency demand at the Central Bank would increase as a direct result of the demand from thecommercialbanks.
“That's just one everythingelsethatgoesinto construction, about 90% of the products that go into construction have to be imported.
So, with all the construction, all the hotel roomsthatarebeingbuilt,all the bridges, all the infrastructure, the roads, etcetera, there's a huge demandforforeigncurrency input. Now, if we're not bringing back a lot of the
separatetheoilfromthenonoil economy, and we don't generate (much from these) other than rice and some gold We don't have an export industry that is generating a lot of foreign currency,”Hughessaid.
foreign currency, that is sitting in that bank overseas inUnitedStatesofAmerica, what is going to happen is the supply of foreign currency in the commercial banks,isalotlessthanwhat isbeingdemanded,andwhat central bank releases to the commercial banks is not enough to manage that exchange rate,” he told the media.
T h e p o l i t i c i a n highlighted that quite often the Central Bank would releaseincreasedamountsof foreign currency into the exchangemarketinhopesto stabilizethecurrencybutthe increaseintheexchangerate is driven purely by demand of foreign currency and the availability made by the Central Bank to the commercialbanks.
“This is not likely to change Ultimately, the currency ought to be floated right now, it's actually managed So, what you actually seeing is not a real reflection of what the value oftheGuyanadollaris.Now, I want you to bear in mind that Guyana, we have to
Headdedthatitwouldbe artificialtolookattheGross Domestic Product (GPD) as the basis for assessing the country's progress. Instead, the non-oil sector should be looked at as it will be providing for the country postoil.
“That's really where you need to look at in the economy, and I'm afraid that's not a pretty picture at all.Asamatteroffact,Ithink there's a gross imbalance, and that's part of the reason why we are in the situation that we are in,” Hughes noted.
On April 8 Kaieteur News reported that the government has injected a further US$100M into the banking system to address foreigncurrencyshortages.
According to the Ministry of Finance, VicePresident Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, along with Central Bank Governor Dr Gobind Ganga, on met with theChiefExecutiveOfficers and other representatives of commercialbankstodiscuss recent developments in the banking system specifically
in relation to the market for foreignexchange. Atthemeeting,notewas taken of the continued availability of adequate levelsofforeigncurrencyin the financial system as a whole to meet ongoing demand, despite occasional timing differences. “These timing differences have resulted in some delays being encountered in the settlement of orders for foreign currency from time to time at some commercial banks,” the ministry's statementsaid.
According to the ministry in order to ensure that pending requests for foreigncurrencyaremetina timely manner, the decision was taken that a sum of US$100 million will be injectedintothemarketwith immediate effect and distributed across all commercial banks “This injection will provide immediate relief to the system in meeting pending
themselves.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e government said it remains closely engaged with the private sector including the commercial banks in the interest of ensuring that the marketcontinuestofunction efficiently
Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.
Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456
Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
According to ExxonMobil's annual report, the company and its co-venturers have invested GY$3.9T in assetsinGuyana. TomostGuyanese,onetrillionisanoutof-the-worldfigurethatstrainsthesenses. Butitisnotone trillion, but four trillion in offshore assets. With almost GY$4Tinassetshere,itistheequivalentofaboutUS$20B, another enormous sum. This is of much significance, considering the absence of an unlimited parent company guaranteefromExxonMobil,ifthereisamassiveoilspill offshore.
AccordingtoGuyana'sVicePresidentJagdeo,offshore oilassetscouldbeusedtocoverexpensesrelatedtoanoil spill. WeholdtothesidetheissueofGuyanapayingback ExxonMobilforitsinvestmentsintheStabroekBlock,and actually owning those assets. But they have been put forward by Jagdeo as what could be sold to help defray potentiallabilitiesfromanoilspill. Intheory,US$20Bin assets that are available for sale sounds reassuring. In reality, not one Guyanese should be comforted by that US$20B(GY$3.9T)inassets. Thosebillionscouldendup being a drop in the liability bucket, if there is a severe oil spill. But this is what Jagdeo has gambled this country's safety and prosperity on, and which ExxonMobil talks up inits2024annualreport. Often,weatthispaperweighif Guyana'soilczarandtheoilcaptainsofExxonMobildon't put their heads together, so as to get their talking points well-aligned. Assets available for disposal in an oil spill representonesuchinstance.
For starters, like most if not all items purchased and takenoutofthebox,thestatedvalueimmediatelybeginsto godown. Astheyearsofuseincrease,thoseassetsdecline invalue,sowhatisvaluedatUS$20Btodayisnotquitein thevicinityofUS$20Bayearfromnow TheExxonMobil 2024annualreportnotedtheco-venturershavecommitted to invest another GY$5T in the Stabroek Block by 2028. Again,thismaybeveryencouragingonpaper,becausethe asset base is widened, through more US billions added. What should be remembered is that assets already on the books, and in operation, are subject to ongoing depreciation,withthenetresultbeingthattheyarelosing value. As a reminder, Guyana is paying for those assets, andownsthem.
Also, in the event of a catastrophic oil spill, and in a countrywhereforeignexchangeavailabilityisoftenonthe brink,cashcouldbeneededonanurgentbasis. Thismeans that the billions/trillions in assets that are being bandied aboutwouldhavetobeliquidatedintoamarketthathasthe selleroverabarrel. Thesellerwantsreadycash,thebuyers haveachoice,havetimeontheirside,andhavethestronger hand. In other words, Guyana could find itself in that shakiestofbargainingpositions,onewhereitisoperating in a take-it-or-leave-it environment. In such situations, informationisthekey,andthewholeworldwouldknowof thedesperatestraitsinwhichthiscountryfindsitself. To reiterate,allthepowerwouldbeinthehandsofthebuyers ofwhatnowfallundertheheadingofdistressedassets. In layman's language, who would be so foolish as to be in a hurry to buy damaged goods? A vehicle that failed in a major way, and left its owner stranded and helpless? Unfortunately, it could be the scenario in which Guyana gets bogged down. To make matters worse, with vulture operators circling overhead, asset sales that may have lookedrichatonetime,nowdeterioratetofractionsonthe dollar
The point being made to citizens is that GY$3.9T in assets,orUS$20B,wouldnotbeasbrightastoldandsold tothegullible. Acash-strappedGuyanawouldbeahostage toitspastweaknesses,itsoldfailures. GY$3.9Tinassets are not being pushed to the forefront by accident. That's part of the continuum from Jagdeo and ExxonMobil that Guyana is in a solid place if an oil spill occurs. The unlimitedparentcompanyguaranteefromExxonMobilis, therefore,unnecessary Guyaneseshouldnotbethatnaïve, norfallforthatassettrick.
DearEditor,
I a m n o t a n t i -
ExxonMobil – far from it –forIreadilyacknowledgethe f a c t t h a t w i t h o u t ExxonMobil(EMGL)andits partners Hess and CNOOC, Guyana would have remained the unknown backwater whose nationals, andtherestoftheCaribbean, were the only persons who recognized Guyana's potential. It took big faith andbigmoneytorealisethat potential – and that is where the EMGL relationship is doing wonderfully for G u y a n a , w h i c h i s undergoing a massive infrastructural development that will soon be boosted when the gas to energy project comes on-stream Guyana today is known
worldwide.
The contract (PSA) that governs the relationship between the Government of Guyana (GoG) and EMGL, has been the subject of severecriticismbybothlocal activists and foreign observers. Our government hasheldfirmagainststrident calls to renegotiate the contract whereas EMGL asserts that it won't do so. TheGoG'spositioniscorrect for two reasons: any renegotiation cannot be unilateralandtheestablished legal principle of sanctity of contractsmustberecognised for good business going forward.
Thatbusinessisbusiness is simply reality, and parties entering into business deals will exert as much leverage
as they can to achieve the bestbargain.However,some of the terms of the PSA go beyond just 'a good deal' in EMGL's favour One such termissorepugnantthatitis reminiscent of the type of term that would be caught, giventherightlegalcontext, bytheUnfairContractTerms
Act, 1977, a United Kingdom statute which addresses contractual terms that exclude liability or impose unreasonable obligations that unduly favour one party That Act does not apply to the 2016 contract between GoG and EMGL.
I found reading KN's news story (Jun 11) about EMGL's Company Report particularly galling Tax breaks and tax exemptions
are standard incentives for attracting foreign business –butIdonotknowofasingle company other than EMGL, operatinginGuyana,thathas its taxes paid by the GoG to the GRA. Is that done in reality or is it an administrative fiction? The report says Guyana paid $260B (USD1.2B) in taxes toGRAonEMGL'sbehalfin 2024.Article15.5ofthePSA provides that the Minister responsible for petroleum shall furnish proper tax certificates evidencing EMGL's payments of income and corporation tax respectively The GoG is thus contractually bound to facilitate ExxonMobil's avoidanceofUStaxes–bya
(Continueonpage6)
Would they prefer our country to be governed by a President who is criminally sanctioned by the US Government?
DearEditor,
Christopher Ram, prominent Accountant who is also a Lawyer and indulges, from time to time, in dabbling on the extremities of politics and letter writing to the press, wrote a letter published in last Sunday's Stabroek, (8th June, 2025), given pride of place, claiming that President Mohamed Ali has
“diminishedthePresidency” and “ought not to be reelected” Strong and accusatory words. Mr Ram is, of course, entitled to his opinion, even though defaming, as he does, the character and performance of the President, and however misinformed, misguided and mistaken he is.
Mr Ram's letter is
burdened with presumption rather than fact, personal opinion instead of the truth and is based on Ram's convenient interpretation of Mr Azruddin Mohamed's allegedWhatsAppmessages accusing the President of f a c i l i t a t i n g “ t h e undervaluation for customs purposes of a high-end vehicle”(aLamborghini),in Mr Ram'swords.
DearEditor,
The southern American expression “A hit dog will holler” was brought to Guyana in a coordinated response across the controlledmediatomyletter appearing last week under the caption Destroying the Integrity of the Presidency Featuring media houses closely connected with the State and roleplaying by varying persona large and small, they have cast me in the memorable role of the BraveLittleTailorof"Seven at One Blow" fame, their combined failure allowing me to entertain the thought that Guyana has more unfeathered than feathered parrots, that we are one big soup kitchen.What emerges fromtheircollectiveeffortis notadefenceofpresidential conduct, but pseudo intellectualismandcowardly attacks from individuals
whose supper depends on howoftenandhowtheymix upthepot.
Notably, not one respondent addressed the substantive issues I raised concerning President Ali's conduct: concealing the expenses on Silica City, his vanity project; the documented WhatsApp evidence of a President engaging in communication withthetaxman;abandoning a public pledge to rebalance amostlopsidedcontract;the hidden Clyde & Company report; and the systematic u n d e r m i n i n g o f constitutional and statutory bodies. Having documented numerous cases of tax concessions and benefits granted outside of the law, I can attest that such irregular practices are far from isolatedincidents.
Most telling is President Ali's refusal to establish a
Commission of Inquiry to examine these matters - the one action that could definitively clear his name. Only a guilty person would refuse such an opportunity when the constitutional power rests entirely in his hands. And is there another way to describe a government that goes to courttochallengetheaward of a meagre pension equivalent to two hundred United States dollars per month to Zainul, a poor but dignified former carpenter while channeling hundreds of millions to friends and supporters than morally bankruptanddevoidofbasic humandecency?
To the first respondent, whoreferstomeasafriend,I am reminded of Caesar's final words: "Et tu, Brute?"
There is something particularlydamningabout (Continueonpage47)
Thereisnotascintillaof evidence, but loads of speculation, that the Presidentdidanysuchthing, allofitbasedonaccusations from the newly declared Presidential Candidate, Mr AzruddinMohamed.
What are the facts as we know them, shorn off speculation? Mr Ram conveniently overlooks the fact that Mr Mohamed has admitted his own guilt of attempting to persuade the President to act improperly on his behalf. There is no evidence, because there is none, that the President did anything to satisfy Mr Mohamed's appeal for his intervention.
The facts are that Mr Mohamed has been sanctioned, along with his father and his company, by the United States of America's Treasury Department for the alleged massive evasion of taxes on gold exports to the tune of some G$10B at the expense of our government and the people of Guyana.The facts are that Mr Mohamed has also been sanctioned for allegedly paying bribes to Guyanese government officials. The facts are that Mr Mohamedisnowbefore t h e C o u r t s f o r misrepresenting the value to the Guy
Lamborghini and other
fancy vehicles which he importedintothecountry
Nevertheless, Mr Ram prefers to believe and support claims made by an individual who has been accused by the US Government and is now before our own Courts accused of gross criminal behaviour
I feel reasonably certain, knowing my friend (I don't use that term sarcastically)
Mr Ram as I do, that Mr Ram will respond to my letter, so, in advance, I ask him,whomwouldhechoose at the forthcoming elections to be Guyana's President, other than Mr Mohamed?
Would he choose, for instance, the confused Mr Aubrey Norton, who has embraced the abject racism of Mr David Hinds or, perhaps, the other Presidential Candidate, Mr. Nigel Hughes, who has disqualified himself by the fact that his Company, Hughes, Field and Stoby, represents ExxonMobil, an u n f o r g i v a b l e a n d unacceptable conflict of interest for a Presidential Candidate? Or, perhaps, he would choose Mr Mohamed?
I have another question for Mr Ram. Does he really believe that President MohamedAli,asafavourto Mr Azruddin Mohamed, would have picked up the phone and directed Mr G o d f r e y S t a t i a , Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, to jeopardize his professional reputation by cheating on Mohamed's tax declarations?
Mr Ram's letter, to a large extent, seems to be foundedonaStabroekNews Editorial (Saturday, 7th June, 2025), arriving at much the same wholly irresponsible conclusions which he has echoed in his letter, that “on the face of what was presented by Mr Mohamed about his contact with the President in September of 2020, there is certainlyacaseforPresident Alitoanswer”.TheStabroek News appears to have arrived at this conclusion only based upon, it seems, thatthereonceexistedalong friendship founded on the sharedMuslimfaithbetween thePresident'sfamilyand (Continueonpage47)
DearEditor, I wish to express my grave concern over Mr Daniel Wharton also known as 'Baby Skello' who was charged and remanded to prison until July 1, 2025 for theactofblasphemouslibel.
It'simportanttonote,that I, in no way support the disparagementorvilification ofanyHindudeityaswhatis expressed by 'Skello' in his music.
But on the other hand, Jennifer Ally continues to make bigoted and racist statements towards the deceased Adriana Younge andherfamily,andIhavenot seen any statement from the
E t h n i c R e l a t i o n s Commission (ERC) reprimanding this woman forheractionsastheydidto 'BabySkello'.
One is the question, the double standards in Guyana whichisveryworrying.
TheHinducommunityin its right must and should be outraged at this sacrilegious action but the fact that 'Skello' was encouraged to offer a formal apology and remove the musical content shouldhaveendedthere.
It appears as if there are forces at work who are looking to target AfroGuyanese given that it's an
election year and I believe this constant victimisation mustcease.
Jennifer Ally an IndoGuyanese has been culpable of racial incitement and hostility and no disciplinary actions were taken against her, when her actions are as equally egregious as Mr Wharton's.
It is important for the general public to be guided Section 2 of the Racial HostilityAct 23:01 makes it pellucid that it is an offence to excite hostility or ill-will against a section of the public or against any person on the grounds of his /her race.
According to Section 2 (A),“Thiscanincludeusing words spoken by him in a public place or spoken by him and transmitted for general reception by wireless telegraphy or telegraph;or(B)by:causing words spoken by him or by some other person to be reproducedinapublicplace fromarecord”.
Section2(C)flaggedthat itcanalsobeusedinwritten orpictorialmatters.
Section3:statesthatAny person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary convictiontoafineofsixty-
five thousand dollars and to imprisonmentfortwoyears.
Itisimportanttonotethat under Part 5 of Offences Against Religion, Morality and Public Convenience Article 347 (1) of the Criminal Law Offences Act 8:01 states that anyone who publishes blasphemous libel faces a misdemeanour and a yearinjail.
Furthermore paragraph (2) of the same legislation stated that it shall be a questionoffactwhetherany particular published matter is or is not a blasphemous libel:
Provided that no person shall be liable to be convictedonanyindictment forablasphemouslibelonly for expressing in good faith and in decent language, or attempting to establish by argumentsusedingoodfaith and conveyed in decent language, any opinion whatsoever upon any religious subject. We must question whether this clause has relevance and applicability given that libel simply means a published false statement (i.e., written either through articles in a newspaper or any written format)thathastheintention of damaging a person's reputation.
Despite the fact that music must be written in order to be produced and r
s prevents him from writing theselyrics,soblasphemous slander—theactofmakinga false spoken statement that harms the reputation of a religion, whether it be a religious leader, a religious organisation, or anything associated with that particular religion—may be a more appropriate term for hisactions.
Slandercanbeexpressed verballyinavarietyofways,
messages,andnotes.
Whileblasphemouslibel is covered by Guyana's constitution, "blasphemous slander"isnot.
Libel and slander are covered by the Defamation Act of 1959, which also outlinedtheirlegality
IamadamantthatSkello should be released on bail, given a serious warning by Magistrate Miss Judy Latchman, and made to completecommunityservice in light of his apology and theremovalofthesong.
This stern warning servedtoSkello,shouldstate that if there is a recurrence, ramifications will be applied.
If we are to institute penalties, it must be done fairly as the scale of justice as far as I recall is not imbalanced.
To end, I urge our law enforcement agencies to focusonpeoplelikeJennifer Allywhocontinuetoviolate the Racial Hostility Act 23:01becausewhatgoesfor onemustgoforeveryone.
As an attorney in the making, I staunchly believe that the double standards in G u y a n a a n d t h e misapplication of our laws muststop.
Regards, AntonioDey
DearEditor,
Troubling scenarios of blatantinequityandinjustice unfoldbeforeoureyes.
One named young woman,allegedlytellsliesin a private conversation. Her words, unknown to her, are deceptively recorded and madepublic.Sheispromptly jailed and the cunning disseminatorisgrantedbail!
Another unnamed person, a 'civilian' in the (police) Command Center, deliberately lying to the country and thereby to the watching world, claimed to see(andhavevideoevidence of) Adrianna Younge going into an identified car,
number provided; a car that was nowhere near the alleged crime scene; a car whoseinnocentownercould have been charged for murder This unnamed individualwalksfree!
An aggrieved person takes her 'abuser' to court, and is told to 'reward' her abuserwithmillions!
A musical artiste is remandedforsingingasong deemed"blasphemous"even though he apologized and withdrew the song! It was heartening to hear Minister Manickchand and others, who while condemning the songcouldclearlyandfairly see inconsistencies in the applicationoflaws. When earth's courts and institutions make a mockery of justice, Heaven's courts may seem silent, but His ways are not our ways. Our times are in His hands! Do not underestimate His power! “ wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knowswhatliesindarkness, and light dwells with Him (Daniel2:20-22).
FearHim!
ClaudiaHeywood
ExxonMobil could very well...
Frompage4 complete fiction apparently – for not only has the Guyanese public been offered no proof of such payments to GRA, but moreovertheveryconceptis ludicrously unfair and wholly repugnant The world's biggest oil company thus made in 2024, $1.255 trillion (USD6B) from its Guyana operations, had $260B (USD1 2B) in Guyana tax effectively waived and furthermore did not pay US taxes that would otherwise have been due to
the IRS but for Article 15.5 ofthePSA.
EMGL is unlikely to simply experience an epiphany of corporate conscience and agree to pay
GRA taxes it is not contractuallyobligedtopay
S
participate in a fiction that wholly and solely benefits EMGL with no reciprocal gainaccruingtoGuyana,itis doubtful that EMGL would get very far in a claim for breach against the GoG in response to such ministerial
action Arbitration could possibly support EMGLand will be costly – however the costs would be well worth it if an arbitration finding in favourofthatodioustermis subsequently taken before the High Court by the Government of Guyana Aware of this, ExxonMobil could very well consider it prudent to offer to pay some amountintaxestoGRAand thereby earn legitimate certificates to present to the UStaxauthorities.
Yourstruly RonaldBostwick
Executive Member of the People's
N a t i o n a l Congress Reform (PNCR) Ganesh Mahipaul on Friday described the Guyana Elections Commission's (GECOM) decision to changeNominationFormon s h o r t n o t i c e a s “irresponsible”.
GECOM has announced thatNominationDaywillbe July14,2025.
The declaration followed President Irfaan Ali's disclosure that General and Regional Elections will be held on September 1, 2025.
Mahipaul told reporters on Friday at the party's weeklypressconferencethat the recent changes made by the Commission for the upcoming elections are well noted.
Mahipaul argued that becausetheelectionsseason isalreadyinmotion,political partieshavealreadyusedthe old Form 2, which requires signatures to support candidatesintheelections.
“What GECOM did yesterday was to change the format and structure of the old form, and this is applicable to the Regional List, the Geographical List,
and the Top-Up List. All these lists require a certain amount of signatures from nominators for the candidates to be eligible for participationintheelections. Whatthischangeseekstodo is to ensure that there are authentic signatures, and history has shown that it is only the People's ProgressiveParty(PPP)that has ever engaged in having fraudulent signatures on their forms in previous elections,”hesaid.
Heremindedthatin2018 d u r i n g t h e L o c a l Government Elections “there were signatures of a
family,andthatfamilyhadto come out publicly on social media to say that they never
gave consent or their signaturestobeonanyform.
We also remember in 2018, the People's Progressive Party had to withdraw from p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n Constituency #9 at Maria
Johanna, Wakenaam, because of the signatures that were on their forms being fraudulent, and we alsorememberin2023when Bharrat Jagdeo had to apologize to a family because a dead person's signaturewasontheform.”
T h e M e m b e r o f Parliament (MP) stated that while he understands the intention of the change is to
make the forms better, the timingofitposesaproblem. Mahipaul said that at the announcement of elections, the old form was still available on GECOM's website and it was used by parties to begin their work, especially in the remote and far-flung areas, where they needed to gather the signatures to satisfy the requirements.
“This decision, which wastakenyesterday,posesa problem in the sense that it will now require political parties to expend additional resourcestogoandredo
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In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.
MONDAY–JUNE09,2025
Whitherthegovt.'s oildepletionpolicy
What could be so difficult with government publishingitsmuch-vaunted oil depletion policy, if it has one?ThePPPCGovernment eitherhasoneoritdoesn't. On one hand, a robust depletion policy represents thelevelofprudencethatthe government's leaders and thinkers, oil planners and managers, have invested for teasing out and harvesting the most benefits out of the booming oil and gas sector On the other hand, it is how much care is obvious from
the provisions in such a policy to ride the demand and price peaks and troughs of a volatile commodity, to sustain this precious asset thelongest.
Without a doubt, it is a delicate balance, especially for a new oil producing countrysuchasGuyana,one that has so many urgent structural needs that demands huge sums of money
Tohavebuiltadepletion policy on those two prongs would provide the best indication of a government thatiscaringforcitizens,and notracingtocomplywiththe ever-increasing demands of profit driven oil companies.
Ramping up daily production levels that were a l r e a d y b e y o n d recommended safety limits is heavily focused on an extractionstateofmind,and has little to do relative to a depletionpolicy.
TUESDAY–JUNE10,2025
Agovt.builton favoursandfear "The structure of President Irfaan Ali's administrationisbuiltnoton law,butonfavoursandfeara deliberate strategy of rewardandpunishment.
In his distorted economic order, the poor survive on occasional handoutsof$100,000,while those with connections benefit to the tune of millions–throughcontracts, tax concessions and sweetheart deals One example close to him is the Silica City project, which is not accounted for or disclosed anywhere in the nationalBudgetorthepublic records.Theprojectisrunby the Ministry of Housing, of which he was once Minister and which has, since then, been mired in allegations of corruption.Letusnotrepeat the past, " Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram.
WEDNESDAY–JUNE11,2025
Diminishingof
T
thepresidency
Guyanese citizens,
Chartered Accountant
Christopher Ram and Social Commentator GHK Lall, have both called for GuyanesetorejectPresident Irfaan Ali at the upcoming elections,citinganumberof failures.
Ram even went further, saying that citizens placed their trust in him at the last polls, but have been repaid with secrecy, arrogance, betrayal and deception President Ali's own history comes back as his worst witness.Hehadpromisedto renegotiate the crooked oil deal with Exxon, but today heandhisvicepresidentare thebiggestdefendersofthat contract.Hewastheonewho promised transparency, but Guyanese live with a world of secrets. Access to information, as provided for by law, is a victim Remarkably,hedefendsthat lack of access, which gives impetustoapublicservantto gloat that, in effect, the president has all but handed him a blank check to erect information firewalls, as he has done. There's a blanket of secrets, one that is impenetrable, grows more mildewed by the moment, through the inaction that leadstoatrophy
Further, the president wastheleaderwhopromised accountability, and what did the nation get but coverups, whathasmanyelementsofa political protection racket. Maybe the call for his rejectioniswellplaced.
THURSDAY–JUNE12,2025
Sameoldpoliticians
Itisshockingthatleaders in both the former APNU Coalition Government and the current PPP/C Government claim to be committed to good governance, acknowledge the dangers that oil wealth poses, and aspire to do the bestforallcitizens,yetfailto deliver any protective measures.
To some Guyanese, it is shocking that nothing has beendoneforoverfiveyears that we have been pumping oil, other than our leaders becoming more and more tiedupinawebofdeceit.
However, to those who know Guyanese politicians better, this is neither shockingnorsurprising,asit ispartofthegamestheyplay and are allowed to get away withthroughouttheyears.
When they say they are about what is modern and safeguarding, those are nothing but platitudes and pretences from crafty political leaders, who speak deceptions by the mouthful. They do little, but talk and talk with endless promises that they will not keep, until pushedoutsidetheircomfort zones. It is why both the formerAPNU Coalition and this PPP/C Government have virtually shut down callsforrenegotiationof the o i l c o n t r a c t , t h e establishmentofapetroleum commission, and even putting independent meters at the oil pumps. It is the sameoldPPPandPNC.
FRIDAY–JUNE13,2025
Condemnedtoadestiny ofchronicpoverty
The position of both the government and opposition in resisting renegotiation of the lopsided ExxonMobil contract confirms the fact that patriotism has beaten a hasty retreat before the commercialism, tribalism, opportunism,andvandalism thathaveallbecomenothing butcentralfeaturesofouroil wealth.
Intoday'scircumstances, thereis no consideration,no space for the type of oil nationalism that would benefit immensely the citizensofthiscountry
We again urge that this oilbonanzamustceasefrom being this one-sided, feetupward, face-downward deal that condemns this nation to a destiny of continued chronic poverty forthemany
Wecannotcontinuetobe satisfied with being among therichestpeopleonearthon paper We must not become complacent and be misled about potentially having the highest GDP in the world, according to projections of experts. We have to put a stop to paying our fair share oftaxes,whileExxonandits partnersarethebeneficiaries of massive tax exemptions thatburdenusfurther
There are few things more dangerous in
publiclifethanamanwitha failed idea who refuses to bury it. Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana’sperennialprinceof economic wisdom, has dustedoffthecobwebsfrom one such idea the reintroduction of a development bank, a notion that should have remained
precisely where his government left it two decades ago: on the backburner,behindthekettle of discarded promises, somewhere next to the blueprint for sugar’s resurrection.
Inresurrectingthisbank, Mr Jagdeo is not so much offering policy as he is p e d d l i n g nostalgia—nostalgia for a timewhenfeasibilitystudies were commissioned and promptly shelved, when loftyrhetoricoutpacedfiscal
reality, and when “development” was the convenient cloak for statesponsoredbungling.Inthose heady early 2000s, when he was still burnishing his credentials as an economic modernizer, his government hadthegoodsense(foronce) to order a study into the viabilityofsuchabank.The study, it was said, did not find the idea of a development bank appealing. It was even said that for such a bank to be viable the rates offered may nothavebeenmuchdifferent from those being offered by commercial banks Afterwards, we did not hear
much about a development bank.
Thatwasthen. Now, awash with petrodollars,Jagdeoappears ready to plunge ahead, proposing an interest-free banktailored—hesays—for small and medium-sized enterprises. One suspects that this bank may be government-supported and that Jagdeo supposedly believes the oil money will lubricate this old machine and make it run smoothly But Guyana, if it has memory,shouldshudder
We have walked this road before, and we know howitends.Itendswiththe Guyana Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank GAIBANK, they called it, though it might as well have been named GAIBLEED.Bornunderthe PNC, GAIBANK was supposed to be the financial engine of rural upliftment and industrial advance. It turnedouttobeagiantsieve. Loans were given not on merit but on connection; projects were financed not onfeasibilitybutonfantasy Theresult:mountainsofbad debt, a bloated bureaucracy, and a credibility deficit deeper than the Berbice River The bank collapsed underitsownweight. Did we learn? No. The PPP, upon taking office, chose not to clean up but to pile on They absorbed GAIBANK’s debts into a “loan recovery agency”—a euphemism for financial hospicecare—andmergedit with GNCB, another
tottering institution The result? Still more haemorrhaging. Eventually, eventhePPPcouldnotdeny the futility and quietly privatized the remains. So it isnotjustthePNCthatowns the stain of developmentbankdisaster.
The PPP, Jagdeo’s PPP, helpeddeepenit.Aninterestfreedevelopmentbankisnot merely a bad idea. It is an idea so utterly devoid of economic discipline that it borders on the delusional. Why,afterall,wouldanyone repay a loan that costs them nothing to keep? What incentive remains when the invisible hand is strapped to a bureaucrat’s desk and the visible hand is giving handouts? An interest-free loanpromotesmoralhazard. It says to the recipient that this is not a commercial transaction;itisconcession.
A development bank tailoredtoofferinterest-free loans would not just duplicate the functions of existing commercial banks; it would actively undermine them. Private banks, which survive on margins and risk assessment, would find themselves crowded out Why would any borrower, when offered interest-free capital from a state institution, turn to Republic Bank or GBTI or Demerara Bank? The playing field, already uneven, would tilt sharply in favour of those with access to political connections That is not financial inclusion; it is patronageinalabcoat.
And who funds this
Dem boys seh life got it own kind of lottery AbigplanecrashinIndiakillmore than 200 people—men, women, children, peopleondeground.Yetonemanwalkout alive. With a few burns and bruises. And dustanddisbelief.
And just like that, people start holler: “Godsavehe!Isamiracle!”
Demboyssehiseasyfuhsaythatwhen yuhstandingfarfromdewreckage.Butifis miracle, then is a mystery too. Because if one soul was saved by divine grace, what happen to de others? Was de rest not deserving?Wasdeuniverseshortonmercy thatday?
Look, dem boys nah trying to question faith.Everybodyneedsomethingtoholdon to when the world feel like it cracking in two.Butsometimes,wedoesuseGodtofill indeblankswetooafraidtoface.
Dem boys seh maybe we too quick to explain de unexplainable. Maybe we need toadmitwejustdon’tknow Maybetheman
fantasy?Thegovernment,of course because which private investor or international financial agencyisgoingtofinancean interest-free development bank. Suchabankhastobe financedbythetaxpayer.Or more precisely: the oil windfall, which we are told must be saved for future generations. But what generation benefits from a state-supported bank that subsidizes unviable projects and socializes private losses? This is not development. It is the slow siphoningofnationalwealth into a pit dug by hubris and linedwithnostalgia.
The dangers do not end there. A state development bank,especiallyonebuilton cheap or free credit, invites political interference. Loans
will be directed not by rigorous underwriting standardsbutbyphonecalls from ministries. We have seen it before in Guyana. Everyprojectgonebustwill require a bailout. And each bailout will come with a pressrelease,blamingglobal conditions or rogue managers, never the policy thatbredthemess.
Moreover, Jagdeo’s development bank gambit sets a chilling precedent. It signals that the government, rather than creating the conditions for capital formation, intends to becomethecapitalprovider
That’s not economic planning; it’s economic regression It smothers competition and revives the state as a dispenser of favours rather than an
enablerofenterprise.
Mr Jagdeo is often describedasamanofvision. But even a blind man can havevisions.Therealtestis whether those visions are grounded in reality, tempered by history, and shapedbyprudence. His development bank proposal fails on all counts. It is an act of forgetting masquerading as leadership. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
survive because randomness ain’t got no manners. Tragedy don’t take roll call. It don’t ask age, background, or number of prayerssaidbeforebedtime.
Peopleseh“Godsavehe,”butwhatifde realmiracleisthatanybodywalkoutatall? What if life, with all its twists and terrors, justthrowonedicetoomanyanditlandon hisside?
Dem boys seh sometimes is not God playing favourites, but we playing ourselves—trying to make sense of chaos withsweet-soundingexplanations.
Sowhilewegladthemanlive,letwenot dress up tragedy in robes of righteousness. Letwemourndeloss,comfortdegrieving, andadmitthatsomethings—nomatterhow much we pray or ponder—just don’t make sense.
BecausedemboyssehifGodgotaplan, He keeping it real quiet. And maybe, just maybe,wenotsupposedtounderstanditall. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Amid the swirl of s t o r m y developments that engulfs Guyana, I am compelled to revisit that searing question, that concern:whatisthenational character of Guyana? And the associated question: what significance this holds for Guyanese? For me, for allcitizens?
Respect for truth-the courage to represent it, to standforit-isagoodstarting
place. Whatistruth? Where is that truth in Guyana, a kernelthatcomesclosetoit?
Look at Guyana, a place on global exhibition. A place characterized by sometimes subtle, often blatant, falsehoods. Thesubtlerones are shrouded under the sugarcoating of deceptions; or,asissaidbeforethebarof justice, misrepresentations. When perjury enjoys such paramountcy,thennotmuch is to be expected of such a
country Locally, memory fails frequently I have called that youthful dementia, when such applies. More fitting to the environment, I also discern self-inflicted derangement. Do anything to win the moment, to buy some respite. For time makes strugglingcitizensforget. In such conditions, a nation of amnesiacs is born, multiplies. The untouched citizen,onewhosearchesfor
truth, is viewed as an abnormality, one who rendersselfaninvalidinthe greatrushofevents.
Whenthereislittletono truth as the predominant characteristic coursing through a society at all levels,thentrustjustdiedon the altars of convenience, prompts what inspires to g r e a t e r d e c e i t s
Unsurprisingly, Guyana has mutatedintoacountrywhere perversity with money and dutyarewhatprofanes,now w o r s h i p p e d a s profoundness Guyana's highesthouse(parliament)is a dark web Religious housestransformintomostly motheaten dens. The rich house that should be spacious, hospitable, accommodating,nothingbut one of self-enrichment for the few, endless treacheries for the multitudes Cumulatively,whatoughtto have inspired to rise above circumstances to glorious national heights, respected ones, has brought out the absolute worst-insatiable greed, a mountain of lies (and abuse), and selfcongratulation-with two objectives ascendant: ride Guyanese into the ground, ride their hopes into oblivion. When statistics aren't hidden, they are d i s t o r t e d W h e n informationshouldflow,itis frozen. Forget about law and democracy It is how a country dies, from the feet up. Because the head has givenup;lollsinagrotesque rictus of insipidity and indolence.
Plus integrity shattered on the shoals of unconcern, theabandonmentofduty,the
violation of all that was onceheldsacred. What is sacred in a
c o u n t r y t h a t i s rudderless, spineless, headless? Fromthesandsof local life, I detect heads that rot Can Guyana and Guyanese still dare to think of, actually mention such hallowed substances as moral compass, ethical moorings? I see no foundation. Becauseofthat the architecture represents nothing but a gaudy façade on the outside, merely a crumbling structure deep inside. Beneath the tall towers, and kilos of asphalt, the graveyard of a nation expands, flourishes. Great fortunes produced from the great crimes wreaked upon trusting, hopeful people Whenaman,acitizen,gives his word and then tramples upon it at will, what is there to stitch the fabric of a nation, what to say of the threadthatshouldhaveheld, butdidn't?
Guyanese character, is mutilated, transforms into one of condoning in partnership with covering up, then forgetting. The cripplingofcharactercomes from the amputation of memory When morals and ethics, when principles and standards, when honour and self-respect, have been degraded below that of a peddler of flesh, then a nation stands before the abyss of self-destruction All the investor interest in the world, all the capital, all the racing to prop up this ramshackle national edifice, are for naught. Others are mastersofGuyana'sdestiny ForGuyanesehavewillingly abrogatedthatduty Neither courage nor substance (nor truth nor trust) existing; the absence of those feed such derelictions.
When I cannot trust one Guyanese to hold true to his or her sworn commitment, honour word tendered and depended upon, then I will be bold and assert, even attest, that there is no building.
T h e r e i s o n l y subtracting,demolishing. Is thisnotwhatGuyanesehave had, currently live with, despite all the fabricating, constructing?
Because when the next citizen, then the other, expands and repeats the practice of breaking word and desecrating precious trust, then only the tatters of fraudsandfarcesresult. The national culture, the
In this Guyana, who is a rolemodel,butaliar? Who is a hero, if not an impersonatoranddefrauder? Whoarethefiguresbeloved and belittled, other than cheaphuckstersandnational betrayers?
Those that can't be beaten are joined. Like captains, like most citizens. Thus, the rat race in the snake pit that's Guyana. I submit the Guyana national character Both the race of treachery to the bottom, the bottombreached,tornapart. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Frompage2 was announced by Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited Partnership that both ExxonMobil and Hess had elected to withdraw from the Kaieteur Block and return their participating interests to the original Kaieteur Licence holders, Ratio Guyana Limited and CataleyaEnergyLimited.
Ratio and Cataleya then sought government approval to reassign the participating interests, so thatRGLandCELwilleach retain a 50% participating interest,andtoappointRGL astheoperatoroftheblock.
Under the terms of the Kaieteur Petroleum Agreement, and upon
submission of an application to enter the secondextensionperiod,the participatinginterestsonthe block will have until February2025tocommitto drilling a well, before havingtorelinquish20%of the block, or if it so wishes, theentirecontractarea.
However, on November 17, 2024 Ratio Petroleum reported that a one-year extension, to February 2026, had been granted to the drilling decision date.
An unofficial English translation of an announcement by Ratio Petroleum stated that a formal request was submittedtotheMinistryof Natural Resources in
November2024,seekingan extensionoftheexploration period. It was stated that the extension was requested on the basis of technical and economic findings, according to the translated document.
Ratio, in the statement, said that the ministry confirmed receipt of the r e q u e s t , a d d i n g , “Accordingly, the partners in the block are expected to receive an update from the Guyanese authorities on whether additional explorationactivitieswillbe approved or whether the block (or part of it) will be relinquished, by February 2026.”
Withmountingthreatsto Guyana'sterritorialintegrity – including the shooting of Defence Force soldiers, the discovery of a large cocaine cache,theunexplainedcrash ofanewAirCorpshelicopter and the unceasing flood of undocumented Venezuelan migrants in the BarimaWaini Region – former PresidentDavidGrangerhas re-emphasized the need for the adoption of the doctrine of “Total National Defence (TND)”.Inaninterviewwith Kaieteur News,Grangersaid that the doctrine of Total National Defence was adopted, during his term in office, as a strategic frameworktoensurethatthe Guyana Defence Force (GDF) − both regular and reserve components received the resources it needed.
The doctrine, Granger said, promotes a multidimensional strategy that leverages all elements of nationalpower−diplomatic, economic,military,political, social and technological −to safeguard the country, while maintaining diplomacy as thefirstlineofdefence.TND callsforaDefenceForcethat is cost-effective and efficient, supported by the cooperationofcitizensinthe event of threats to the country'sterritorialintegrity
“The 'first line' of defence should always be a corps of professional ambassadors and foreign service officers in our foreign missions in Brasilia, Caracas, Paramaribo and international organisations such as CARICOM, C E L A C , t h e Commonwealth and United
President David Granger visited to the Village of Kaikan – a frontline village – back in February 2018
Nations.
Further, every Defence Force soldier needs to be experiencedandequippedto conduct operations by day and night, in any weather or terrain – particularly the jungle,mountains,riversand savan
characterise the hinterland,” theformerPresidentsaid.
“Suchaction,”hesaid, “willrequireasea-change indefencethinking.”
Granger, a former Comm
h
NationalSecurityAdviser prior to 2015, recalled that, within months of assuming the presidency, here-introduced'Exercise
Region's jungles and,
Armadillo'intheBarimaWaini Region's frontier villages. The Defence Force also underwent significant reorganization andrecapitalization (Continueonpage49)
The Guyana Police Force's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has completed its investigation into the circumstances surroundingthedeathof37year-old Delon Lawrence, who died at the Parfait Harmonie Police Station in March.
Police in a statement on Saturday said that the police file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP)forlegal advice on Monday, June 16, 2025. One suspect was recently arrested and questioned in relation to Lawrence's death, police said.
Lawrence, of Lot 10 De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara,wasonaRoute31 minibus on March 15th, 2025, when he was accused of stabbing a female passenger with a knife and was beaten by concerned citizens.
Hewasarrestedbypolice and taken to the La Grange Police Station, then to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, but was later pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Technicians(EMTs)whilein policecustody
“Inquiries revealed that around 21:00hrs on the aforementioned date and time, the victim was in Georgetown when she entered a route 31 minibus headingtoWales.
Shewasseatedattherear ofthevehiclenearawindow, alongside another female andthesuspect.
Accordingtothevictim, the suspect pulled a knife from his pants waist and beganbehaving(disorderly), attacking her and other passengers,” police said in March.
The commotion resulted inthedriverbringingthebus to a halt and the passengers exiting.However,Joneswas left alone with Lawrence who allegedly grabbed her hair, and stabbed her to the head, neck, face and hand multipletimes.
After some time, she managed to escape her attackerandexitthebus.
He followed her and had to be subdued by publicspirited citizens who saw whathappenedandrendered assistance to an injured Jones,afterwhichthepolice weresummoned.
“The victim was transported by publicspirited individuals to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was
treated and sent away Upon the police arrival at the scene, the suspect was observed being pursued by angry civilians who had already inflicted injuries on him, including swelling to hiseyesandhead,”thepolice said.
Attemptsweremadebya constable to apprehend Lawrencebutheattackedthe rank by lifting and throwing him to the ground and placing him in a chokehold. Onlookersrantothepolice's rescueresultinginLawrence being handcuffed and taken to the La Grange Police Station.
Lawrence continued to behave disorderly while in custody Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were summoned and Lawrence was subsequently taken to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station where he was placed in the hallway of the lockups Police said he was being monitored at regular intervals as they awaited the arrivaloftheEMT
Hewasresponsiveatthat time.
“Atapproximately01:57 hrs. on March 16, 2025, a rank observed the suspect unresponsive during a routinecheck.
The duty officer was immediately informed, and EMT was contacted again, and they responded and assessed the suspect, who w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y pronounceddeadbyadoctor on the team,” the police revealed.
On Monday, April 14, 2025, at 11:25 hrs., a post mortem examination with dissectionwasconductedon thebodyofthedeceasedand his cause of death was determined to be subdural haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head compounded by multiple fracturedribs.
The Ministry of H e a l t h o n Saturday stated that in a move to improve access to care in remote communities, it is actively testing drone delivery
systems capable of transportingbloodsupplies.
In a press release, the ministry said that in observance of World Blood DonorDay2025onJune14, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, joined the National Blood Transfusion
Service (NBTS) in celebrating the life-saving contributions of voluntary blooddonors.
The annual ceremony, held in collaboration with
Massy Distribution recognised the invaluable role of voluntary, unpaid b l o o d d o n o r s i n strengthening the nation's healthcaresystem.
According to the ministry, Minister Anthony applauded the donors for their selfless contribution to savinglives.
“Blood cannot be manufactured. Our health system relies on the generosity of voluntary donors. Today, we honour your selfless contribution andthelivesyouhelpsave,” hesaid.
Highlighting the significant improvements to the blood transfusion
system, the minister also noted the introduction of automated processing technologies to increase efficiency and the enhanced capability to produce and manage various blood components tailored to diversemedicalneeds.
“As part of efforts to expand access and improve services, the Ministry has increased the number of blood collection sites to seven, with five additional sites scheduled to open by theendofAugust.
These upgrades are crucial to meeting the growing demand for safe blood, with 11,225 units collected in 2024,” the
ministryreported.
During his remarks also, theministerunderscoredthe ministry's commitment to rigorous screening protocols, ensuring all donated blood meets the highestsafetystandards.
He noted that proper
handling and disposal of contaminated blood remain key components of this safetyframework.
Further, to improve access to care, the ministry said they are testing drones totransportbloodsuppliesto (Continueonpage14)
Frompage13
areas up to 200 kilometers away,asignificantstepthey said in emergency response capabilities
“ A s G u y a n a ' s healthcare infrastructure evolves, new operating theatres in district hospitals andmodernblood banking
integrated into ongoing hospital construction
increased demand in surgical and emergency services,” the ministry added
Meanwhile, present at the ceremony was Pan
Organisation/WorldHealth
( P A H O / W H O )
Representative to Guyana, Dr Kim Eva Dickson, who
organisation's support for voluntaryblooddonation. Collaboration among the Ministry of Health, the NBTSandthePAHO/WHO ha
y advancements, including the implementation of a five- year strategic plan and over 60 new standard operating procedures, informed by a recent
review,thestatementsaid
Canadian firm to seek key explosives, cyanide, radiation and export permits for Oko West gold project
Canadian firm, G Mining Ventures (GMIN) plans to begin applyingforaseriesofpermitsfor its Oko West Gold Project in Guyana from as early as the third quarterof2025.
Thisisaccordingtoitsrecently released feasibility study, NI 43101 Technical Report for the Oko WestGoldProject.
Among the first approvals GMIN intends to secure is an Explosives Use Permit from both the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken. The company expects to submitapplicationsfortheseinQ3 2025,withapprovalsanticipatedby May2026.
In early 2026, GMIN will also apply for a Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Licence from the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals ControlBoard,coveringtheuseof chemicals across the entire mining site This permit is likewise expectedtobeissuedbyMay2026.
Further into its permitting schedule, the company plans to seek a Cyanide Permit, which is necessaryforthestorageanduseof
Drone view of the Oko West camp W
cyanide during the mine's operational and commissioning phases, in Q2 2026 Notably, approval for this is projected for August 2027, but the application process can only commence once GMINsecuresitsMiningLicence.
Additionally, a Radiation Permit for equipment emitting radiationwillberequiredfromboth the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the GGMC, with GMIN targeting a Q2 2026 submissionandexpectingapproval byApril2027.
Finally,theminerplanstoapply for its Export Licence for Gold
fromtheGuyanaGoldBoardinQ3 2026, which will be needed once the project reaches its commissioning stage The company anticipates this permit willbegrantedbyDecember2027.
The Oko West project, located in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), remains GMIN's flagship venture in Guyana as it advancestowardsproduction.
This publication recently reported that GMIN has expanded its land holdings in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to 71 square kilometers. GMIN is the 100% owner of the Oko West Gold
Project, which falls under its main prospecting licence (PL) covering 44 square kilometers (10,890 acres).
The 44 square-kilometer PL area is currently considered an “advanced-stage exploration project”,andisexpectedtoproduce 350,000 ounces of gold annually from both open pit and underground mining over 12 3 years at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC)ofUS$1,123/oz.Arecently published feasibility study shows that the project is poised to deliver strong financial returns, thanks to low production costs. The Oko
Westprojectstandsoutforitsscale andhigh-graderesource. Thelatest Mineral Resource Estimate includes 5 4 million ounces (Indicated) and 0.4 million ounces (Inferred).
The initial PL was issued to GMIN Ventures Guyana Inc (formerly Reunion Gold Inc., now GMIN Guyana) on September 23, 2022,validforthreeyearswithtwo possible one-year renewals. Under theMiningActof1989,theGuyana Geology and Mines Commission administers such licences which grant exclusive exploration rights overthelicencedarea.
The High Court on Wednesday ordered the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to forfeit $10 million from businessman Naitram Outar, also known as 'Sweetman' of Diamond HousingScheme,EastBank Demerara(EBD).
Justice Peter Hugh ordered the forfeiture of funds from Outar for his involvement in fraud, bribery and money laundering.
Accordingtoastatement issued by the police, the
court directed SOCU to act onthebasisthatthecurrency was “tainted property and theproceedsofcrime”. The Court further ordered that the currency be paid into the Consolidated Fund pursuant to Section 82 of th
A
Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act,Cap.10:11.
Police said that on July 15, 2024 officers of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) along with other members of the
Guyana Police Force (GPF) searched the property of businessman Naitram Outar located in Diamond, East
narcotics and other tainted
GD$10,000,000 was found, seized, and detained by SOCU after he could not satisfactorilyaccountforthe money
A money laundering
immediately launched
discoveredthatinMay2024,
Outar conspired with another city businessman who was interested in purchasingtwoacresofland at Ogle for $50,000,000 frompersonsassociatedwith the Central Housing and PlanningAuthority(CHPA).
Outar was tasked with “settingupthearrangement” at the sum of $40,000,000
and the remaining
GD$10,000,000.00 was to bepaidasakickbackforthe transaction. Head of SOCU, Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh has issued a
stern warning to persons bent on trying to corrupt the system to desist from the illegal activities for they “will not be able to escape SOCU'S dragnet leading to them eventually being prosecuted.”
SOCU was represented by Attorney-at-Law and Prosecutor Mr David Brathwaite.
Colonel Lorraine Foster, MSM has successfully completed a Master of ScienceinNationalResource Strategy, along with a diploma for the U.S. Joint
Professional Military Education Phase II and Senior Level Education, at theEisenhowerSchoolofthe National Defense University (NDU)inWashington,D.C.
ColonelFosteristhefirst and highest-ranking female officer to undergo such training.Inastatementonits Facebook page, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said
that Colonel Foster commenced training in 2024 after a competitive process and approval of the Guyana DefenceBoard.
“Her candidacy reflects the renewed position of the Forcetointegrateandexpose femalesofficersandranksto strategic defence training,” thestatementsaid.
Further,theGDFsaidthat Foster's graduation comes at
a critical juncture of the
d consolidating further the military partnership with the United States along with G
o w i n g geopoliticalrelevancewithin the hemisphere Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, praised Foster's accomplishment, calling it a reflection of the calibreofleadershiptheGDF continues to cultivate
“Colonel Foster represents the evolving face of military excellence in Guyana, strategically minded, highly patriotic, and deeply committed to service,” he affirmed Brigadier Khan alsothankedthegovernment and military of the United States of America for affording Guyana the opportunity to have its military officers trained at and amongst one of its most prestigious of military institutions.
Meetthe radiantDonelleHarvey contestant numbertwo oftheMissGuyanaCultureQueen Pageant.At25,Donelleisabeaconofyouthfulambition,cultural pride,andgrace.Shestandsasatrueembodimentofwhatitmeanstobe Guyanese.Sheisboldandbeautiful.Whethershe’scommandingthestageor sharingherstory,Donellebringsnotjustbeauty,butpurpose.Sheisnotonlyready toleavehermark,assheviaforthecrown,butontheheartsofherpeople.
BySirRonaldSanders
T
he 55th Regular
A s s e m b l y o f t h e
Organisation of American States (OAS) will be held in one of its smallest member states at a time of global political and economic uncertainty Thatuncertainty is reflected across the Americas and within the OASitself.Inthisregard,the General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda, from June 25 to 27, takes on special significance: it must provide the atmosphere and leadership to reinforce the OASasarelevantinstrument
for advancing both individual and collective interestsinthehemisphere.
A d d i n g t o t h e importanceof this session is the first official appearance of the Organisation’s new Secretary-General, Albert Ramdin,whoassumedoffice for a five-year term on May 26. He is the first national from the CARICOM group elected to this top post. For 40 years, CARICOM nationals held only the Assistant Secretary-General role, while Latin American countries dominated the leadership. His unanimous election, following a contest with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister,reflectsconfidence i n C A R I C O M ’ s contributions within the O A S C A R I C O M representativeshaveworked diligently in OAS councils, overmanyyears,toearnthis respect. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda, as host and chair of the assembly, is acutely conscious of its role in providing an environment and guidance suited to current challenges. This assembly takes place amid overlapping political, economic, social, security, and environmental pressures, and against a backdrop of longstanding institutional strains within the OAS Those strains include chronic budget shortfalls, staffing gaps, and an overload of unfunded mandates, alongside the need to match aspirations withoperationalrealities.
BuildingInclusivityamid TensionsintheAmericas Trade and migration
tensions among the organisation’s members, particularly Canada, Mexico, and the United States, remain public and ongoing Ideological and other differences between
Latin American states have surfaced in the OAS during elections for officeholders, such as the Assistant Secretary-General (now Colombia’s Laura Gil) and the commissioners of the Inter-AmericanCommission on Human Rights to be chosenatthisassembly
Amid these tensions, Antigua and Barbuda has advanced the theme of the 55th General Assembly: “Building resilient and inclusive economies in the Americas ” This theme captures pressing concerns across the region
s
e
s i n g resilience strengthening economies to withstand external shocks, whether global market disruptions, climate events, or public health emergencies and inclusivity, allowing each member and observer state, large or small, to articulate its priorities within a collective framework It reaffirms that improving the well-beingofeverycitizenin the Americas is a shared goal, and that collaboration, mutual respect, and solidarityareessential. It is in that spirit that
A n t i g u a a n d Barbuda whose foreign minister, E Paul Chet Greene, is expected to be elected chair—proposes to guidetheassembly
InstitutionalContext: ChronicStrainsand MandateOverload
Even with political will, progress faces an uphill battle due to inadequate funding. For years, the OAS Secretariat has contended with a persistent gap b e t w e e n a s s e s s e d contributionsandthecostsof its core programmes.
O v e r r e l i a n c e o n unpredictable voluntary contributions, including supportfromobserverstates, further exposes key programmes to abrupt suspensions. As delegates prepare to debate mechanisms for mandate managementandtoconsider the organisation’s budget and funding sources, matching ambitions to resources remains vital for the OAS’s effectiveness and credibility Governanceand HumanitarianPressures Democratic practices across member states show signsofstrain.Forexample, a June 2025 assassination attempt on Miguel Uribe, a presidential candidate in Colombia,underscoresrisks
to electoral integrity and citizen confidence
However, the most acute emergency grips Haiti, where armed groups now control the majority of Portau-Prince, blocking basic statefunctions, precipitating a humanitarian catastrophe, an
restoration of democratic institutions and the election of
government. At the General Assembly, it is incumbent upon the OAS and its member states, within the framework of the OAS Charter and their respective m
demonstrating solidarity withthepeopleofHaiti.
Discussions in the Margins
As important as the formal agenda is, equally vital are the informal discussions among high representatives of member and observer states that will take place outside public sessions. These exchanges on global economic and politicalrealitiesoftenshape understanding and trust, informing official deliberations And the international scene is not encouraging.
G l o b a l g r o w t h projectionsfor2025indicate subduedexpansion,withthe United Nations forecasting approximately 2.4 per cent growthworldwide.Regional estimates indicate growth near 2.5 per cent in South America, about 1.0 per cent in Central America and Mexico,andunder2percent in the Caribbean for 2025. Elevated debt burdens limit fiscal space for social investments. Inflationary pressures have resurfaced amid trade tensions. U.S. tariffs, imposed on all countries last April, have raised costs in hemispheric supply chains, intensifying cost-of-living strains even where measures have been paused.
Concurrentreductionsin US funding—for example, cuts affecting UN organisations, the PanA m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organisation (PAHO), and the OAS impact health
capacity, with knock-on effects on workforce productivity in these organisations and social welfare conditions in Latin American and Caribbean countries. These economic a
assembly’s consideration of financing the OAS’s ProgrammeBudgetfor2026 mirrors the broader fiscal constraintsfacedbymember g o v e r n m e n t s T h e discussion will not be procedural;itwillbevital.
Spillovereffects ofconflicts
The Russian war against Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflictinGaza,andthehigh level of civilian deaths in both theatres have spilled over into the concerns of OAS member states as the prospectofglobaleconomic and political instability grows. Though not on the formal agenda of the assembly, delegates will
hardly be able to avoid informal discussion of these issues in their privateconversations.
Conclusion:Seizing aWatershedMoment fortheOAS
Therefore, the General Assembly in Antigua presents an opportunity for memberstatestoreclaimthe relevanceoftheOASandto deliver results that citizens truly value. Member States face a clear choice: allow another assembly to close amidfamiliarfrustrations,or seize this moment with pragmatic actions to foster resilient, inclusive economies across the Americas for the benefit of all.
(ThewriterisAntigua andBarbuda’s AmbassadortotheUS. HeisalsotheDeanofthe CorpsofAmbassadors accreditedtothe OrganisationofAmerican States.Theviews expressedareentirely hisown.Responsesand previouscommentaries: www.sirronald sanders.com)
NoportionofKaieteur oilBlockreturned …Govt.givesoilcompanies uptoFeb.2026before finaldecisionismade
To date, no portion of the Kaieteur Block has been relinquished.Theagreementforthe block spanning 3.3 million acres was signed in April 2015 between Guyanese authorities and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the previous operator of the block, which led a consortium consistingHessCorporation,Ratio Energy Ltd. and Cataleya Energy Ltd.
Though signed off at that time, Exxon and its partners were only allowed to conduct any works pertaining to the block in 2017. This approval was granted on the conditionthatonly40percentofthe blockcanbeexploredtosteerclear of aggressive tactics from Venezuela.
A 3D seismic survey acquired forthesouthernportionoftheblock covered 5,750km2 and provided the foundation for maturing a significant prospect inventory on theblock.
A single prospect has been drilled to date, which resulted in a sub-commercial oil discovery The ExxonMobil-operated Tanager-1 well, which was drilled in August 2020,encountered16metresofnet oil pay, a discovery of approximately65millionbarrelsof oil in the prospect area, based on independent estimates by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc (NSAI) However, this discovery was considered to be non-commercial as a standalone development.
However, in spite of a number of subsequent postponements, the operator at that time, ExxonMobil, had decided not to exercise its optiontodrillasecondwellonthe block.
In September 2023, it was announced by Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited Partnership that both ExxonMobil and Hess had elected to withdraw from the Kaieteur Block and return their participating interests to the original Kaieteur Licence holders, Ratio Guyana Limited (RGL) and CataleyaEnergyLimited(CEL).
RatioandCataleyathensought government approval to reassign the participating interests, so that RGL and CEL will each retain a 50% participating interest, and to appointRGLastheoperatorofthe block.
UnderthetermsoftheKaieteur Petroleum Agreement, and upon submission of an application to enter the second extension period, the participating interests on the blockwillhaveuntilFebruary2025
tocommittodrillingawell,before having to relinquish 20 percent of the block, or if it so wishes, the entirecontractarea.
However, on November 17, 2024RatioPetroleumreportedthat a one-year extension, to February 2026, had been granted to the drillingdecisiondate.Anunofficial Eng
n announcement by Ratio Petroleum states that a formal request was submitted to Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in November 2024, seeking an extensionoftheexplorationperiod. Itwasstatedthattheextensionwas requested on the basis of technical and economic findings, according tothetranslateddocument.
Ratio,inthestatement,saidthat the ministry confirmed receipt of the request, adding, “Accordingly, the partners in the block are expectedtoreceiveanupdatefrom the Guyanese authorities on whether additional exploration activities will be approved or whethertheblock(orpartofit)will be relinquished, by February 2026.”
Kaieteur News had reported thatattheendofthefirsttwoyears, bringing it to 2019, Exxon was required to “relinquish 25 percent of the contract area and commit to workprogrammeinphasetwo.”
This never happened In the next 24 months that would follow, 2019 to 2021, Exxon was required torelinquish20percentoftheblock or the entire contract area. As a resultoftheCOVID-19pandemic, whichhadhittheseshoresinMarch 2020, Exxon had approached regulatorsforaone-yearextension, thereby taking its period of relinquishmentto2022.Acheckof the MNR’s website shows that to date, no relinquishment has been made.
DespitetheexitofExxonMobil and Hess, Ratio and Cataleya remaincommittedtofindinganew partner to help move exploration forward Ratio Petroleum has publiclystateditsintentiontofarm down a portion of its interest and bring in a new deepwater operator with the technical and financial
damages, Vice President Bharrat JagdeotoldreportersonThursday It was reported that as many as 14 island countries could be affectedbyanoilspillinGuyana.
Jagdeo, at his weekly press conferenceheldatFreedomHouse on Robb Street, was asked by Kaieteur News whether the Oil Spill Law guarantees Guyana and its regional neighbours full and adequatecompensationintheevent of an oil spill that caus
environmental or economic damages.
internationallawanddoesnotmeet the requirements of international law for Guyana to act with due diligence and to take steps to preventtransboundaryharm.”
capacity to pursue further drilling. The final decision by the Government of Guyana will be criticalindeterminingthefutureof theKaieteurBlock.
TheKaieteurBlockislocatedin the deepwater area of Guyana’s offshore territory, part of the prolific Guyana-Suriname Basin. This region has gained global attention in recent years following over20majoroildiscoveries,many of which were made by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and itspartnersHessandCNOOCinthe nearbyStabroekBlock.
TheStabroekBlockdiscoveries have placedGuyana on the map as one of the world’s most promising frontier oil provinces, with an estimated 116 billion barrels of recoverable resources already confirmed.
Notably, the relinquishment of 20% of the Stabroek Block is now nine months past the deadline. An April 2025 statement issued by MNR noted that the requirements are expected to be completed “shortly” without offering a specifictimelineforcompletion.
Under the terms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Exxon is required to return acreage where no commercial discoveries have been made in production, appraised or areas wherethereispotentialcommercial interest.
Exxon was required to return a portion of the Block to Guyana since October 2023; however, former President David Granger had granted the company an extension in 2020 to conduct further exploration activities. This extended the deadline to October 2024. The most recent disclosure fromtheministryreiteratedthatitis still finalising the review of the relinquishment.
Neighboursaffectedbyanoil spillcansueExxonMobilfor damages,saysVPJagdeo
In the event of an oil spill offshore Guyana, nearby affected coun
ue ExxonMobiltoobtainaremedyfor
The Vice President said that withthenewlawinplace,thenew permits being granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have to ensure that Exxon and its partners are responsible and that the financial assurances they provide are consistent.
“They’re responsible for all of the damages caused, that is, the cleanup cost of the damage caused fromapotentialoilspillandtwofor consequentiallosses,”hesaid.
Asked whether the new law makes provision for Guyana’s neighbourstobecoveredunderthe financial assurances, Jagdeo said, “We legislate for the state of Guyana They have to provide financial assurances consistent withthenewlawortheirliabilities under the new law So, the assurancestheygivemustcoverall of those liabilities, that’s what we want.”
He continued: “So, I suspect if you’re talking about like Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t think they’ll legislate for Guyana when they look at oil spills etc., they can sue thecompanytoo…theycansuethe company(tobecompensated).”
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the law even before PresidentAli assented to it A number of experts and international organisations have pleadedwithhimnottosignoffon the bill, citing it being contrary to international obligations, good governance and a violation of the ruleoflaw
On May 20, this publication reported that international lawyer Melinda Janki wrote to President Ali, asking him not to sign off on the bill, due to it being contrary to internationalobligations. Contrarytoint’lobligations
In her letter to President Ali, Jankisaid:“TheBillwaspassedin the National Assembly on Friday, 16 May It will be sent to you for yourassentasPresidenttoenableit tobecomelawunderArticle170of the Constitution You must withhold your assent because the Bill is contrary to Guyana’s international legal obligations and is unconstitutional.” The lawyer pointed out that the drafter of the Bill clearly had no idea about Guyana’s international law obligations “The Bill at best contains meaningless references to
She noted that Article 149J of the Constitution requires the State to take “reasonable legislative measures” to protect the environment, including preventing pollution and ecological degradation. However, Janki said the bill attempts to: (i) lower or remove altogether (through the doctrine of implied repeal) the environmental protection and environmental rules and standards set out in the Environmental Protection Act or made under the authorityof thatact;(ii) to remove or make redundant the system of environmental management to protecttheenvironment.
Additionally, she said the Bill lacks the precautionary principle, which was described by Justice Winston Anderson, the future PresidentoftheCaribbeanCourtof Justice, as follows: “Precaution is emerging as a bedrock principle in Caribbean law relating to resource exploitation.Thecleareststatement oftheprincipleistobefoundinthe 1996EnvironmentalProtectionAct ofGuyana.”
Jankisaidthatthebillgivesthe executive the power to forego obtainingfinancialassurance,such as the unlimited, uncapped parent company guarantee, which ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd is currently required by law to provide in order to protect Guyana fromfinancialliabilityasaresultof Exxon’s petroleum operations “TheEnvironmentalProtectionAct isthebaseline.UnderArticle149J, the State may improve environmental protection, but the State cannot reduce environmental protection.TheBillisthereforenot a reasonable legislative measure, violates Article 149J and is offensive to the Constitution,” JankitoldPresidentAli.
Protectingforeigncompanies
ShealsosaidthattheBillseeks to protect foreign oil companies at the expense of Guyana. “The BP Macondowellblowoutin2010cost BP over US$65 billion, or around US$95billion in today’s money Guyana’s revenue from oil for the whole of 2024 is reported as being US$2 57billion It would take Guyana more than 35 years of current income to pay for a Macondo-type spill if the ‘responsible party’did not pay and iftherewasnoeffectiveandreadily enforceable unlimited uncapped parent company guarantee as is currently required by law,” Janki warned.
SheremindedPresidentAlithat JusticeSandilKissoonhadwarned in2023intheCollinsandWhytev EPA, ExxonMobil and AttorneyGeneral case that if there is an oil spill,“…theconsequenceswillbe Continued on page 21
Frompage20 devastatingnotonlytothecitizens ofthislandandtheenvironmentbut to inhabitants of neighbouring states and territories as well.” He further warned that in the absence of the unlimited uncapped parent company, “then the potential consequences are elevated and border on catastrophic ” “This massive potential liability as a result of harm to neighbouring sovereign states and their economies is well illustrated in ExxonMobil’s maps, Janki said, noting that, as is common and public knowledge, deep water drilling is a very dangerous exercise.
According to the lawyer, ExxonMobil has admitted to using faulty equipment (the gas processor) and to operating above the limits set in its environmental impact assessments, thereby increasing the danger to Guyana financially and environmentally.
“All MPs who voted for this Bill should now be required to provide ‘financial assurance’ to cover the increased financial risk to Guyana asaresultoftheirrecklessapproval of this Bill. Should you decide to assent to this Bill, the people of Guyana will be entitled to demand that you also provide ‘financial assurance’to them,” Janki told the President.
Canadianminingcompany
eyes66,000ouncesofgold annuallyatGuyanaproject …constructioncouldstart nextyearafterapprovals
Canadian mining company MakoMiningCorp.ishopefulthat by 2026 it receives the necessary approvals from Guyanese authoritiestobeginconstructionon its Eagle Mountain Gold Project Guyana.
The update was shared in the company’s first quarter 2025 earningsreport,releasedonJune2, where Mako outlined ongoing exploration efforts and the expected timeline for development oftheGuyana-basedproject.
Mako Mining’s 5,050-hectare site includes the Eagle Mountain project which is 4,784-hectare and Kilroy Mining Medium-scale which covers an area of 252 hectare. The project has two gold deposits, the Eagle Mountain and Salbora, as well as several other explorationtargets.
According to the company, US$1 5 million was spent in exploration and evaluation expenses during the quarter with US$1 million directed toward EagleMountaininGuyanaandthe remaining US$0.5 million in areas surroundingitsflagshipSanAlbino mineinNicaragua.
“Mako’s rapidly growing cash position will be used for the
developmentofEagleMountainin Guyana, which we expect to be permitted for construction by Q2 2026,” the company stated Notably, the company plans to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mining licence application to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency by late 2025. Pending approvals, Mako intends to start construction by2026,withfirstgoldproduction from Phase 1 targeted for 2027. A feasibilitystudyforPhase2,which will target deeper fresh rock resources,isalsoplanned.
Mako holds a 100 per cent interest in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA)-stage EagleMountainProject,locatedin theMahdiadistrict,roughly200km south-southwest of Georgetown
The company says the site is currently undergoing engineering, environmental, and mine permitting activities, as it prepares forafull-scaledevelopmentphase.
A 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Eagle Mountain Gold outlines that the projectcanproduce66,500ounces of gold annually on average for 15 years,LifeofMine(LOM).
Mako Mining is pushing ahead with its Eagle Mountain gold projectitacquiredthroughits2024 takeoverofGoldsourceMinesInc. Mako inherited a resource base of nearly 1 2 million ounces (indicated) and 582,000 ounces (inferred).
Recent project updates highlighted high recovery rates from shallow drilling and note the significant potential for deeper mineralisation Mako considers Guyana an emerging gold mining jurisdiction, citing a miningfriendly permitting environment andgrowingforeigninvestment.
Kaieteur News had reported that in its April 2025, “Profitable and Scalable Gold Production in
presentation, Mako Mining disclosedthatworksareongoingto unlock the property’s untapped potential. The company noted that ongoing exploration is targeting deeper mineralisation that remains largelyuntested,whileengineering and permitting activities are movingforwardonschedule.
Undertheheading,“Guyanathe nextgreatminingjurisdiction”,the company referenced several positivesthatallowittoexecuteits mandate.
“Mining-friendly permitting process; Emerging as one of the most attractive South American mining jurisdictions; Government supportforminingcombinedwitha favorable permitting regime enables tangible opportunities for accelerated permitting timelines In-country mining pedigree and growth of foreign mining investments accelerating in recent years,”thepresentationsaid.
$6.6BDiamondRegional Hospitalcommissioned
The state-of-the-art Diamond Regional Hospital, valued at $6.6 billion, was officially commissionedonSunday
The facility is located at Lot E, Great Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, and offers free healthcare services This facility is the first of six regional hospitals to be commissioned as part of a broader initiative to enhance access to quality healthcare across Guyana The project is a result of a partnership between the Government of Guyana and China’s Sinopharm
International, aimed at modernisingthecountry’sregional healthcare system. The agreement was signed in 2022, with construction beginning in 2023 The hospital was built by VIKAB
said.
Healsooutlinedthenextphase in the government’s healthcare transformation agenda This includes the completion of a new maternalandpaediatrichospitalset to become fully operational in the comingyear,theestablishmentofa national health emergency operations center to coordinate land, sea, and air ambulance services, and the development of a branded hospital in the upcoming SilicaCity
Additional innovations announcedincludetheintroduction of drone delivery systems for transporting medical supplies between hosp
Engineering in collaboration with theChinaNationalPharmaceutical GroupCorporation.
Thenewhospitaloccupiesfour acresoflandandfeaturesamodern two-storey building with a total floorareaof6,000squaremeters.It is a fully air-conditioned facility with 75 hospital beds, with each room designed to accommodate five patients and equipped with individual washroom and toilet facilities.Thehospitaloffersawide range of 24-hour services, including an emergency department, laboratory, imaging services such as ultrasounds, postural scans, CT scans, and a dental suite. There are three fully equipped operating theatres, along withanadditionaltheatrelocatedin the emergency department for urgent surgical procedures. Each bedisfittedwithanursecallbutton toensurepromptpatientassistance. Thefacilityisalsoequippedwithits own oxygen plant, a blood bank system, and six mortuary chambers. The Diamond Regional Hospital is staffed by 45 patient assistants, 50 nursing assistants, and 40 registered nurses The medical team includes approximately 70 physicians, comprising consultants, registrars, and government medical officers.
Of the 16 departments at the facility, 14 are led by female departmentheads.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residentsfromnearbycommunities turned out to witness the commissioning. During his feature address, President IrfaanAli noted that such investments as this will increase the life expectancy of citizenacrossthiscountry “Thisis no small investment This is an investment in the people of Guyana,especiallyinthepeopleon the East Bank Demerara An investment that will increase the lifeexpectanciesofthecitizens,”he
s, the implementation of robotic surgery, the retrofitting of dialysis facilities ineveryregion,andthedeployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare particularly for imaging interpretation. “Let us not taketheseinvestmentsforgranted,” President Ali urged. “I’m just giving you a taste of what is yet to come—but only if we can do this together,andonlyifyouareserious aboutyourfuture.”
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, echoed similar sentiments, expressing optimism about the hospital’s future impact. He noted that the new Diamond Regional Hospital was established to replace the previous facility, which was commissioned in 2007. Since its construction, the hospital has already created over 1,000 job opportunities for residents along the East Bank of Demerara. Dr Anthony also emphasised that the facility is staffed with highly trained medical professionals to ensure the delivery of quality care.
“The growth of the community must not be short of quality healthcare,”theministerasserted.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, praised the strong diplomatic and developmental partnership between Guyana and China during her remarks at the commissioning ceremony She highlighted that the Diamond Regional Hospital is the first healthcare facility jointly constructed by the two nations Ambassador Yang emphasised the qualityandstandardsoftheproject, stating,“Thishospitalisadaptedto Chinese standards, ranking among theworld’sleadingstandards.”
The other regional hospitals currently under construction are at Enmore, Lima Sands, Lethem, Bath,Number75Village,andKato. The Enmore Regional Hospital is expected to be the next to be commissioned.
TUESDAY
Exxonsaystotalassetsin Guyanapeggedat$3.9trillion ExxonMobil Guyana (EMG) saiditcontinuestomake Continued on page 22
Frompage21 substantial investments in Guyana, with total assets increasing 18% to GY$3.9 trillion.
This was stated in the company’s Annual Report for 2024 released last week
to the local media According to the company through year-end 2024, EMGLand its Co-Venturers have invested more than GY$8trillionintheStabroek blockandhavecommittedto invest an additional GY$5 trillionthrough2028.
“With continued reliable operations of the Destiny, UnityandProsperityFPSOs, gross production increased by 58% and revenues increased by 56% versus 2023, despite lower oil prices,” the release noted
According to the oil company with growing production, the Government lifted approximately 28 million “Profit Oil” barrels, and when combined with a 60%increaseincashroyalty
payments, delivered approximately GY$537 billion to the Natural Resource Fund – a new annual record Exxon said these highlights underscore its strong financial position
to meet its ongoing obligations to the Government and People of Guyana.
This newspaper reported last week that the subsidiary ofExxonMobilCorporation
in 2024 recorded an operating profit before taxation of almost US$6B. Explaining the financial performance of the oil company was the newly appointedBusinessServices Manager, John Colling. He was keen to note that the increase in the company’s profits was primarily due to the startup of the third Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel
(FPSO), Prosperity, which commenced production activitiesinNovember2023 but reached maximum capacityinJanuary2024.
Colling noted, “In 2024, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited generated $1 7 trillion (GYD) in revenue, whichisupabout60%from the prior year and that’s really driven by the Prosperity FPSO coming onlineandhigherproduction volumes.”
Similarly, the Business Services Manager said the company’s net income also increased to $995B (GYD) in 2024, compared with $615B (GYD) recorded in 2023, as a result of the addition of the Prosperity vessel Additionally, the startup of the vessel also accounted for an increase in production costs in 2024 which totaled $61.3B, compared with only $41.1B in2023.
Exxon reported a tax e x p e n s e o f $260,155,788,763 (GYD) and $995,144,810,603 (GYD) as its total comprehensive income for the year It is important to note that the company, in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 Production Sharing
Agreement (PSA) is exemptedfrompayingtaxes.
As such, it could be accurately concluded that thecompany’sprofitsforthe y e a r t o t a l e d $1,255,300,599,366.
The2024AnnualReport indicated that the exchange rateattheendofthefinancial period was US$1 = G$210, hence Exxon recorded US$5,977,621,901 as operating profit before taxation In 2024, ExxonMobil produced approximately 652,000 barrelsperday(kbd).During the period, Liza Destiny
producedapproximately157 kbd,LizaUnity246kbdand Prosperity249kbd.
President of EMGL, Alistair Routledge in the report said reflecting on 2024 fills him with both pride and gratitude for the collective efforts that have culminatedinwhathasbeen describedas“oneofthemost remarkable success stories” globally He was keen to note, “Our journey in Guyana is just beginning, poised to further transform thecountryanditseconomy, bringing significant and
production year-over year since the first oil production milestone in 2019 As a result,Guyanaisnowoneof the largest oil producers per capita in the world, and it boasts the world’s fastestgrowingeconomy.”
Agricolayouthshotdead …brotherarrested withrifleaftershooting upsuspect’shouse
Twenty-Eight-year-old Nicholas Narine called ‘Biggs’wasonMondayshot dead days after his family received death threats from thesuspect.
It was reported that the incident occ
red at approximately 08:15hrs on Titus Street Agricola, East BankDemerara(EBD).
According to the police, Narine of Agricola, EBD, wasallegedlyshotandkilled by 27-year-old Rafael Bollers of Brutus Street, Agricola,EBD.
“Investigations so far revealed that Narine and the suspect are known to each other On the date and time mentioned, Nicholas Narine was in the company of others, cleaning a drain on TitusStreetAgricola,eastof
the suspect’s yard, where there is a concrete fence.At the time, the suspect was armed with a handgun and dischargedseveralroundsin Nicholas Narine’s direction,”policesaid.
The police noted that Narine fell to the ground, while the suspect ran out of the yard and escaped in a southern direction with the firearm.
Narine sustained three gunshotswoundsinhisright abdomen, one on his back and one to his upper right arm. He was taken to the Diamond hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival,thebodywastakento the Memorial Gardens funeral home, and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Thescenewasprocessed andone9mmspentshellwas found. Several persons were questioned and statements weretaken.
TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) later issued a wanted bulletin for Rafael in connection with the murder ofNarine.
Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased, 22-year-old Keon Narine of Lot 120 Caeser Street, Agricola, EBD, was later arrested for allegedly discharging a loadedfirearm.
Thepolicestatedthatthe younger Narine discharged the firearm at the home of 60-year-old Gideon Bollers, who is the father of Rafael, the suspect in Nicholas’ murder
It was reported that the incident occurred at 08:30hrs, at Lot 120 Brutus Street,Agricola,EBD.
“ P r e l i m i n a r y investigation revealed that NarinewenttoBrutusStreet on a motorcycle, reportedly armed with a firearm and stopped in front of the said houseanddischargedseveral
ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd. (EMGL) President, Alistair Routledge
rounds, which hit the house in several places,” police said.
Keon reportedly left on the motorcycle in a northern direction Police officers then later went to Keon’s residencewhereasearchwas conducted and an AR-15 rifle and one magazine containing five (5) live 5.56 rounds of ammunition were foundinabedroom.
Keon was told of the allegation and the offences committed, cautioned, arrested and escorted to the Ruimveldt Police Station, along with the firearm and ammunition.
Police said that “when questioned further at the station, Narine told detectives that he shot at the house, because the 60-yearold man’s son, Rapheal Bollers, killed his brother, Nicholas Narine He also saidthatthefirearmbelongs to his brother Nicholas Narine.”
Eighteen 5.56mm spent shells were recovered from thescene.
Meanwhile Keon remainsinpolicecustody
Duringaninterviewwith KaieteurNews,thesisterand fatherofKeonandNicholas, Shineka and Barry Narine told this publication that
Rafael’s cousin and Barry’s sisterhadanongoingspatfor some three weeks and Nicholas tried to resolve the issue.Theysaidtheybelieve that because of that incident RafaelkilledNicholas.
WEDNESDAY
Companyreport:Guyana paidover$260Bintaxes forExxonalonein2024
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited(EMGL)didnotpay over $260 billion (US$1.2 billion) in corporate income taxestotheGuyanaRevenue Authority (GRA) for 2024. Instead, in keeping with the provisions of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed with the Government of Guyana(GoG),thestatepaid this amount on Exxon’s behalf from its share of oil revenues from the Stabroek Block.
ExxonMobil is the operator of the Stabroek Block with a 45 per cent interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds25percent.
According to Exxon’s 2024annualreport, Continued on page 32
In Guyana, we are witnessingaconcerningand progressive rise in cases of sexual assaults and sexual abuseagainstchildrenunder 12 years, with girls being disproportionately affected and a troubling increase among boys as well
Additionally, we are observingalarmingtrendsin sexual assaults and abuse targeting teenagers and adults across multiple
contexts Guyana is entrenched in a culture of rapeandsexualassaultthatis perpetuated by societal systems, compounded by incompetence and the
absence of effective governmental policies. The justice system is failing to protect victims and adequately punish and rehabilitateperpetrators.
S e x u a l t r a u m a encompasses the physical
and psychological
challenges faced by survivorsofsexualassault.It is imperative to understand thedifferentformsofsexual abuse,whichinclude:
**Verbal Sexual Abuse:**Thisinvolvesthe use of spoken or written words to convey sexual
content in various settings—at work, socially, orathome.Expressionslike sexual jokes, teasing about physical traits, graphic descriptions, and unwanted romantic advances all contributetothisabuse.
**Covert Sexual Abuse: ** This occurs without the victim’s awareness and may include being observed or stalked without consent, as well as sexual harassment through digitalplatforms.
**VisualSexualAbuse: ** Our culture is saturated with sexually explicit images,andexposuretosuch content without consent constitutes sexual abuse This can manifest in unwanted visuals, sexting, public nudity, or sexual acts performedinthepresenceof non-consentingindividuals.
- **Physical Sexual Abuse: ** This form of abuse includes any nonconsensual touching, fondling, or coercive actions, such as unwanted sexual contact, made possible through power differentials.Consentcannot be assumed if the individual doesnotexplicitlysay“no.” Sexual trauma can arise
from any non-consensual sexual experience that violatestheboundariesofan individual,oftenresultingin survivors exhibiting either hypersexual or hyposexual behavior Regardless of gender or age, anyone in Guyana who has been coerced or forced into unwantedsexualactivitiesis avictimofsexualabuse.
The psychological impact of sexual trauma is profound.Itstandsasoneof the most devastating forms of trauma, resulting in immediate and long-lasting physical, mental, and emotional consequences Theseeffectsvarybygender, age, and duration of the trauma, and they are crippling for survivors Common reactions include intense emotional responses to mundane situations, feelings of numbness, sleep disturbances, memory and concentration issues, s u b s t a n c e a b u s e , relationship difficulties, and physical health problems
Survivors may experience emotional outbursts, selfharm, suicidal thoughts or attempts, anxiety, and depression.
The outcomes of sexual trauma generally fall into twobroadcategories:
**Hypersexual Behavior: ** This compulsivesexualbehavior, often referred to as hypersexuality or sexual addiction, involves an uncontrollable focus on sexual fantasies and activities, leading to distress in various aspects of life. This reality predominantly affects females who experienced sexual trauma before the age of 12, though boyscanalsobeimpacted.
**Hyposexual Behavior:**Alsoknownas Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), this condition is marked by a persistent lack of sexual desire or fantasies, resulting in significant interpersonal difficulties. It commonly affects adult females who have endured sexual trauma pasttheageof13.Maleswho experience sexual trauma may not have a specific age of onset, but often exhibit sexual aggression toward other males or themselves, along with confusion regarding their sexual identity
As a clinician, I
recognize the urgent need to addressandrectifythiscrisis in Guyana. It is crucial to recognizetherecurringcycle thatexistsbetweensurvivors and predators, creating a t o x i c a n d u n s a f e environment Survivors endure crippling traumas repeatedly, often with different individuals over time. This is not a one-time occurrence.Asaresult,these s u r v i v o r s r e m a i n hypervigilant and overly alert, constantly preparing for the next potential threat as they strategize their responses to prevent future incidents.Thereseemstobe an unconscious imaginary bonding between predator andsurvivors
Therearetwosignificant psychological consequences faced by sexual trauma survivorsoverthelongterm, in addition to the immediate impactsalreadymentioned. **BorderlinePersonality Disorder(BPD):**
Sexual abuse plays a pivotal role in the development of borderline personality disorder, particularly in women Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a major risk factor for BPD, and rates of adult sexual abuse (ASA) are significantly higher among individuals with BPD
compared to other personality disorders. The onsetofBPDoftenoccursat a young age, primarily during childhood. BPD is notoriously complex and challenging to manage. It is characterized by chronic instability, including severe emotional and impulsive dysregulation, as well as disturbancesininterpersonal relationships and identity
Individuals with BPD exhibit heightened emotional sensitivity and struggle to regulate intense emotional responses, often remaining stuck in a state of emotionalturmoil.
Signsandsymptomsthat foreshadow personality disordersareoftenevidentin adolescents, indicating that BPD does not emerge suddenly during adulthood. Instead, it develops from early distortions in object relations and dysfunctional attachment patterns, leading to issues such as an intolerance of being alone, hypersensitivity to environmental cues, and a tendency to expect
detachment and hostility from others, along with a loss of positive memories relatedtorelationships.
Survivors of sexual trauma who develop personality disorders struggle to maintain healthy relationships, whether romantic, friendly, or professional They may experience emotional outbursts, substance abuse, andotherrelatedsymptoms.
**Post-TraumaticStress Disorder(PTSD):**
Research indicates that up to 94 per cent of sexual assault survivors exhibit PTSD symptoms within the first two weeks after the event, with around 50 per cent suffering from longtermeffects.
This is even more pronounced among child victims, who often lack the knowledge or resources to seek help, resulting in a lifetime burden of PTSD, anxiety,anddepression.
Survivorsfrequentlyfeel overwhelmed and shocked immediately following the incident, but long-term effects include symptoms of depression, anxiety, heightened suicidality, and post-traumatic stress disorder a reality also experienced by physical assault survivors One significant factor contributing to the
development of PTSD is the pervasive feelings of shame and guilt. Many survivors grapple with self-blame, complicating their recovery process.
Survivors often find it challenging to move past
t h e i r v i o l a t i o n s , e x p e r i e n c i n g hypervigilance a key symptom of PTSD that keeps them in a state of alertness.
**Treatmentfor SexualTrauma:**
Survivors of sexual trauma, regardless of its nature, require closure and healing.Ifyou,yourchild,or a friend has experienced suchtrauma,itisimperative to seek professional psychotherapy It’s essential to understand the profound impact of these experiences on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors towards yourself and others
Achieving closure and healing is the only way to reclaim your quality of life and regain power over your circumstances.
**Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): ** This method targets negative thought patterns that accompany trauma, helping individuals navigate the emotions and pain surrounding sexual assault.
CBT is effective in counteracting these effects
By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc. Clinical and Developmental Psychologist - Psychoanalyst Unwrapping Gift -Clinic
and teaching positive behaviors for better management.
**Group Therapy: **
Survivorscanfindasafeand supportive environment in group therapy. Sharing experienceswithotherswho have faced similar challenges fosters a vital support network, helping to mitigate the intensity of traumasymptoms.
**Psychodynamic Therapy: ** This approach addresses feelings of isolation, avoidance, and numbing, which serve as reminders of the pain of assault Psychodynamic therapy tackles emotional conflicts stemming from traumaandaidsinrebuilding self-esteem It provides effective frameworks for thinking about and coping withtrauma.
This is my area of specialisation.Don’thesitate to reach out and start your journey towards a healthier and more empowered life. Together, we can work on saving your relationships, managing emotional upheavals, and addressing anysubstanceabuseissues.
Regional standards play a crucial role in harmonising regulations and product specifications across CARICOM countries, thereby facilitating easier trade among businesses without encountering technical barriers.
Through the Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), member states are given the opportunity to contribute to the drafting of thesestandards,ensuringthedevelopmentof themostcomprehensivedocuments.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has, over the years, contributed to the development of many regionalstandards,someofwhichwerelater adopted as national standards. In keeping
with its responsibilities as a National Standards Body (NSB), the GNBS is currently inviting stakeholders to attend the public consultation session on two Draft CARICOMStandards.
These are the DCRS 82: 202X - Cocoa Bean Quality- Sampling Requirements and the DCRS 83: 202X - Cocoa Bean QualitySpecifications
The“DCRS82:202X,Cocoabeanquality – Sampling requirements” covers the selectionandpreparationofsamplesinaway thataccuratelyreflectstheoverallqualityand characteristicsoftheentirebeanlot,ensuring that subsequent quality assessments and analyses are reliable and meaningful. This standardaimstocontributetothereductionof
challenges, including sampling bias and systematicerrors,associatedwithobtaininga representative sample from cocoa bean lots for quality assessment. It is intended for use by producers, exporters, laboratories, and regulators.
Meanwhile,the“DCRS83:202X,Cocoa Bean Quality – Specifications” was developed to contribute to the improvement of the quality of regionally produced cocoa beans.
This standard is intended to support the drive towards regional quality improvement for cocoa produced by CARICOM Member States. It is designed for use by producers, laboratories, quality assessors, processors andregulators.
Thedraftdocumentsareavailableonthe GNBS
(
Standardisation – Standards for Public Comments) On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:00h, the GNBS will host a hybrid public consultationsessiontogatherfeedbackfrom interested stakeholders, including farmers, retailers,chocolatiers,andothers.
Participants can attend in person at the GNBS head office, National Exhibition Centre,Sophia,Georgetown,oronlineusing the MicrosoftTeams platform (Meeting ID: 2407692876568, Passcode: Pp2a8gQ9) Written comments can also be submitted to theGNBSusingtheCommentsSheetonthe w e b s i t e o r v i a e m a i l a t public comments@gnbsgy org before Friday,July11,2025.
Recognisingthatnationalstandardsaffect
retailers, manufacturers, as well as consumers, feedback from the public is crucialtothestandarddevelopmentprocess. The GNBS encourages all stakeholders to contribute to the development of the draft standardssincetheintentionisforthemtobe adoptedasnationalstandards.
Sofarin2025,thebureauhasassistedin thedevelopmentoftheregionalstandardfor compost, which will also be adopted as a nationalstandard.
Over the years, the GNBS has also adopted various regional standards to help local stakeholders meet regional requirements for numerous products and services. Some of the standards that were adopted include the CRS 39:2022 –Pesticides Labelling – Requirements, and CRS 76:2023 - Hand Sanitisers – Alcoholbased Hand Sanitisers – Specifications. Several standards for fresh agricultural producewereadoptedbytheGNBSandother member states to facilitate trade in the agricultural sector across the region, along withregionalstandardscovering‘sustainable tourism.’
TheGNBSisproudtoplayitspartinthe development of regional standards and encourages Guyanese to participate in this process by attending public consultation sessions and submitting public comments to the Bureau’s Standardisation Department. Forfurtherinformationontheseandother standards, please contact the GNBS at telephone numbers 219-0064 or 219-0065 orWhatsAppusat692-4627.
Publisher and Editor, Gem Madhoo Nascimento
he 16th edition of the ‘Guyana Where and What’hasbeenreleased.Publisherandeditor of the tourism booklet, Gem Madhoo Nascimento said the pocket size tour guide booklet for 2025 has been updated to include more interesting places, tourism site and scenes. She said that the 134 page16theditionofpublicationhasbeenincirculation “forashortwhilenow.”
According to Madhoo-Nascimento, the guide was first launched in 2007 for Cricket World Cup and through grit and determination has continued as an annual publication only missing one year, during COVID.
She explained that “The magazine was originally inspiredby‘Barbadosinanutshell’buthasgonebeyond that providing historical and geographical information toitsreaders.Ithasproventobeveryeducationalandis usedinsomeschoolsasareferenceguide.”
The publisher noted that Guyana where and what
helps you with comprehensive listings of hotels, restaurants, tourist resorts, tour operators, sporting organizations, recreational spots, historical sites , calendarofeventsandalotmore it’stheonlyoneofits kindinGuyanaandcanfitintoyourpocketorhandbag for easy access copies can be obtained from Guyana tourism authority and tourism and hospitality associationofGuyana.”
Madhoo-Nascimentonotedtoothat“Everyyearwe update the Guyana sections that feature hotels restaurants, tour operators and so forth since there’s hostofnewentitiesinGuyanaItgoesbeyond.”
According to the ‘Guyana Where and When’ publisherbetween15000to20,000physicalcopiesgoin circulation annually This is in addition to the online edition. We are hoping that we can go up 25000. It’s delightforbothGuyaneseandvisitorstohave.
The free information booklet for tourists is funded by ads, hence Mrs Madhoo-Nascimento is hoping to team up a marketing firm to get more ads to take the circulationto25,000bynextyear
In the meantime, Madhoo Nascimento expressed much appreciation to Ministry of Natural Resources, SBM,Soreidom,Medicare,AnsaMotors,NAPS,GBTI, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanta’s, Kamboat Aagman,KingsHotelandResidences,PalacedeLeon, Watooka Guest House , Woodlands, Civil Defence Commission, Dragon Tours and Umbrella Resort and Splashminsforthecontinuedcommitmentofsponsors. ThebookletsareprimarilyavailableatGuyanaTourism Authority and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana.
Theflipversionofbookletcanbeassessedonlineat wwwguyanawhereanswhatonline com This year edition also has a QR Code on the cover for readers to scan.
‘Guyana
Where and What’16th edition is out now.
In Guyana, our children are trained systematically to comply. From the moment they enter the classroom, they are conditioned to sit still,repeatwhatthey’retold, fear mistakes, and obey without question. Corporal
punishment, though officially discouraged, still castsalongshadowoverour schools.
Public shaming, reading out grades, mocking wrong answers,labelingstudentsas “slow”, is normalized. The result? Silencemistakenfor discipline; conformity mistakenforintelligence.
This culture didn’t emerge by accident. It is rooted in what many consider the debatably outdated framework of B.F Skinner’s behaviorism
S k i n n e r ’s r a d i c a l behaviorism profoundly shaped psychology by asserting that all human behavior is driven by conditioningratherthanfree
will His theories revolutionized education, parenting, and behavioral therapy by promoting
systems of positive reinforcement still widely used today In today’s classrooms, behaviorism shows up in the form of corporal punishment for mistakes, public reading of grades to shame or reward, goldstarsforobedience,and arigidsystemofcompliance that values silence over curiosity
But Skinner’s critics, including myself argue that his dismissal of internal thought processes and emotions reduces human beingstomechanisticactors, ignoring the complexity of consciousness, agency, and the richness of the human experience.His model, once effective for training compliant factory workers, military personnel, and officeclerks,nowfallsshort in a world that urgently
requires innovation, a d a p t a b i l i t y, a n d independent thought. In an era shaped by technological disruption and global uncertainty, rigid conditioningunderminesthe development of the very
qualitieswenowneedmost.
To be clear, across the world, some students are deliberately educated using more progressive models that prioritize inquiry, collaboration,creativity,and problem-solving.
These learners are being prepared, intentionally, for roles as innovators, entrepreneurs, and future leaders in the global economy Atthesametime,a second group of students manages to succeed despite rigid, compliance-driven systems.These are often the children of highly engaged parents or those fortunate enough to participate in afterschool or enrichment p r o g r a m s l i k e STEMGuyana, which exposethemtotheskillsand mindsets that traditional schools often suppress, criticalthinking,confidence, leadership, and the capacity toinnovate.
Both groups are rare. And the tragedy is that the majority, those trapped in outdated systems with no supplemental support, are being prepared for a world thatnolongerexists.
The tragedy of our current education model is that it prepares children for an industrial past, not the technological future they will inherit. Within the next five years, artificial intelligence will profoundly transform every major profession.
DoctorsnowuseAItools to detect diseases faster and more accurately than any human, everything from breast cancer to diabetic retinopathy Medical students who rely solely on memorization will be outpaced by machines that can instantly synthesize librariesofknowledge.
EngineersareusingAIto generate prototypes, run stress simulations, and design complex systems with precision no human could match alone The engineers of the future must becreativesystemsthinkers, peoplewhoknowhowtoask the right questions, not just solveequations.
Accountants and financialanalystsarealready
being replaced by AI software that processes transactions, detects fraud, files taxes, and offers realtime investment advice. What remains are roles that demand judgment, ethics, communication, and strategy
Journalists are being challenged by AI that drafts news articles in seconds. Lawyers now compete with AI systems that draft contracts and analyze case law faster than any legal team And teachers, yes, even we, must adapt, because our students have access toAI tutors available 24/7, personalized to their pace.
In short, any job based solely on knowledge recall, repetition, or rule-following willeitherbetransformed,or eliminatedbyAI.Thefuture belongs to those who can think critically, adapt quickly, collaborate deeply, andcreateboldly
YetinGuyana,ourpublic andprivateschoolsstillpush students to memorize notes, recite definitions, and fear failure. We are producing task-followersinaworldthat desperately needs selfstarters, critical thinkers, designers, researchers, entrepreneurs, people who can improve systems or products or invent what doesn’tyetexist.
Thegoodnewsisthatfor the first time in our history, resources are available. Oil revenuesareflowing.Donor funding is present. Private sectorinvestmentisgrowing and the government has stated a commitment to preparing learners for the new21stcenturyreality Itis my view that without a bold shift in how we educate our citizens, this wealth will not buildasustainablefuturefor all.
I t w i l l d e e p e n dependency, widen inequality,andleaveanother generationbehind.
To be sure, the non-oil economy, agriculture, tourism, technology, renewable energy, education, and the arts, can only grow if we develop the humaninfrastructuretodrive it forward That means
cultivating minds in every region that are curious, critical, and courageous, not minds trained to wait for permission.
Around the world, and even here in Guyana, we’re seeing what happens when students are given voice, agency, and purpose In North Dakota, studio-based classrooms let students design real-world projects whilestillmeetingacademic standards Students, previously disengaged, rediscovered their love of learning.
H e r e a t h o m e ,
STEMGuyana’s learning pods, robotics clubs, and international performance showuswhatispossible.
When students are challenged, supported, and inspired, they shine. These are the kinds of experiences we must scale across our entireeducationsystem.
Redesigning education doesn’t mean abandoning structure, it means rethinkingpurpose.Itmeans training teachers to guide, not control. It means ending thecultureofshameandfear
that suffocates creativity. It means reimagining our classroomsaslaunchpadsfor innovation, not factories for obedience.
Let us work together to raise a generation of Guyanese who are more human than the machines, more empathetic, more resilient, more original Thatbeginswithlettinggoof thepast.
Let’s stop preparing our children for a world that no longer exists. Let’s prepare them to shape the one that’s coming.
Frompage22
“Revenue includes non-
customer revenue of
G$260,155,788,763 (2023 –G$138,182,695,517) related to Article 15 4 of the PetroleumAgreement.Refer to Note 7.” The report goes on to state, “Income Tax Expense is recognised in respect of taxable profit calculatedonthebasisofthe income tax laws of Guyana that have been enacted as of the date of these financial statements.”
For 2024, EMGL recorded an operating profit before taxation of $1 255 trillion (US$6 billion). The company reported a tax expense of $260 billion (US$1.2 billion), and a total comprehensive income of $995 1 billion (US$4 7 billion).
According to the PSA, the Stabroek Block partners areallowedtorecover75per cent of the oil produced to recover their investment costs, the remaining 25 per cent is considered profit, which is split between Guyana and the Stabroek Block consortium, giving each12.5percent.However, the consortium pays a 2 per centroyaltyfromitsshareto Guyana. From its 14.5 per cent Guyana then has to pay taxesfortheoilcompanies.
Article 15 4 of the Petroleum Agreement states thatthesumequivalenttothe taxes owed by the company, will be paid by the minister responsible for petroleum to the Commissioner General oftheGRA.
The contract also allows fortheissuingofareceiptto ExxonMobil, indicating that it has met the local tax requirements to avoid the burden of double taxation.
Article 15.5 of the contract states, “Within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the end of each year of assessment, the minister shall furnish to contractor proper tax certificates in contractor’s n a m e f r o m t h e Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority evidencing the payment of the contractor’s income tax under the Income Tax Act andcorporationtaxunderthe Corporation Tax Act. Such certificates shall state the amount of tax paid individually on behalf of
contractor or parties comprising the contractor
and other particulars
customary for such certificates.” This publication had
reported that EMGL did not havetopayover$197billion intaxestotheGRAfor2023 and 2022, as a result of the clause of the 2016 PSA
According to Exxon’s Annual Report, in 2023, the government paid $138.182 billion in taxes on its behalf to GRA This figure represents a significant increase compared to the $59.381 billion government hadtopayforExxonin2022. Exxon had explained in its reportthatwhileitissubject to Guyana’s income tax laws, the taxes assessed on the company’s operation are paid by the government, rather than the company itself.
At a press conference earlier this year, EMGL PresidentAlistair Routledge said it would be incorrect to say the company was not paying taxes to the government of Guyana. He pointed out, “As far as paying taxes though in the country,Idowanttobeclear that while we don’t specifically pay corporate incometax,wedopayother taxes,likewithholdingtaxes and royalties we actually paid $49 5B in taxes as ExxonMobil Guyana to the GRAin2023.”
The 2016 PSA was signed under the former APNU+AFC government, and the current Irfaan Ali administration has stated that the agreement will remain in place, citing the sanctity of contract, despite widespreadcriticismthatthe deal is overly favorable to the oil companies. This tax arrangement continues to draw local and international scrutiny,withcriticsarguing that it deprives Guyana of direct revenue and gives Exxon and its partners a “tax-free ride” on their petroleum operations in the country
‘25%royalty fromoilmustbeon ballotatSept.1polls’ –GlennLallagain callsforreferendum onExxoncontract
As Guyanese prepare to head to the polls on September 1, businessman and advocate for a better oil deal, Glenn Lall, is again calling for a referendum on the current oil contract
signed between the Government of Guyana and USoilmajor,ExxonMobil. Lallsaidspecifically,the referendum must allow citizens to vote on the
demand for a 25% royalty instead of the current 2%, whichthepreviouscoalition government had negotiated with ExxonMobil back in 2016 There have been widespreadcallsforchanges tothecontract,andlastyear, some citizens had called for themattertobeputtoavote, but this was resisted by the government.Areferendumis a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo hadsaidthenthatwhilethere mi
g ExxonMobil to the table even with a successful referendum,hewouldprefer to deal with the matter after the general and regional elections.
He had said then, too, that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) should focus on preparing for the 2025 general elections, and that any discussionsonareferendum could be postponed until aftertheelections.“Wehave timeenoughtodealwiththat after the elections. But right now,GECOMmustfocuson one question, which is holding elections within the constitutionally prescribed timeframe,”Jagdeohadsaid.
The Vice President had highlighted that Exxon has madeitspositionclearthatit will not be up for a renegotiation of the oil deal. That deal waives all taxes andcatersforittobepaidby the government out of its share.Guyanareceivesa2% royalty; it allows Exxon and itsco-venturerstorecoverup to 75% of production costs before the remaining 25% is shared between Guyana and theStabroekBlockpartners. After accounting for the 2% royalty, cost recovery, and profit sharing, Guyana’s total take from the oil produced is 14 5% of the totalvalueoftheoil.Jagdeo added that any Guyanese, including himself, would want more out of the deal. “Would I like to have 75% instead of 52% in the future when all the costs are taken into consideration? We would love that But the government of 2016 signed an agreement that says the onlywayyoucouldhavethis amicably solved is with the agreement of the two parties,”hesaid. However, Lall, who was at the forefront of that call then, has brought the matter
back into the spotlight, saying Guyanese have had enough of the promises by the political leaders. Speaking during one of his social commentaries, Lall said the time for silence is over. “The days of begging these three political parties for dignity, decency, and honesty have long gone…Today, I am calling on every single Guyanese to demand that this Exxon oil contract be placed on the b a l l o t p a p e r c o m e September1.”
“Let your vote… let my vote… let every Guyanese vote for what we want from this wealth God has blessed us with. Let us choose,” he said.Thebusinessmanasked whether Guyanese want to continue to survive “on this miserable, shameful 2% royalty — the crumbs that thePPP,PNC,andAFCsold usforordowedemandafair share—aminimumof25% royalty — so that all of us, o u r c h i l d r e n , o u r grandchildren, and generations to come can eat properly, live with dignity, andwalkwithpride?”
Noting that the choice is simple, Lall said a 25% royalty will bring real salaries that reflect an oilproducingnation.“25%will ensure quality education withqualifiedteachers.25% canprovidefreemodernised healthcare that will serve all our people. 25% will pave our roads, provide clean water, and create real jobs. 25%willpullGuyanaoutof darknessandintothelightof prosperity,”thebusinessman said He charged that if citizens sit down and accept the current 2%, then they mustbepreparedtolivewith “that same old salary, cash grants, and vouchers And stop complaining — while billions of your wealth is being shipped out every
through the acquisition of medium-scale permits (MPMS), which will eventuallybeconvertedinto a Mining Licence The additional lands are being transferred by the GGMC to GMINGuyana.
TheMiningActspecifies thatsmallandmedium-scale permitscanonlybeissuedto Guyanesecitizensorentities beneficiallyownedbythem, butforeignfirmslikeGMIN can access these areas via joint ventures or property purchaseagreements.Largescale prospecting licences such as GMIN’s PL, however, can be granted di
single day.” He said the oil resources were meant to be Guyana’s,thisoilwasmeant tobeablessing,butbecause of the “greedy, selfish, and heartless politicians, it has becomeacurse.Acursethat hasmanyofourbrothersand sisters building cardboard shacks for shelter, while foreigners build castles overseas…”
Canadianfirmsitting on44sq.kmwith5.4M ounces‘buysout’ surroundingproperties, nowcontrols71sq.km …Guyanesetitleholders togetUS$5perounce whengoldproduction commence
G Mining Ventures (GMIN),aCanadianmining company operating in Guyana, has expanded its land holdings in Region Seven(Cuyuni-Mazaruni)to 71 square kilometers, according to its recently releasedfeasibilitystudy,NI 43-101Technical Report for theOkoWestGoldProject.
GMIN is the 100% owneroftheOkoWestGold Project,whichfallsunderits main prospecting licence (PL) covering 44 square kilometers (10,890 acres), containing an estimated 5.4 millionouncesofgold.
TheinitialPLwasissued to GMIN Ventures Guyana Inc.(formerlyReunionGold Inc.,nowGMINGuyana)on September 23, 2022, valid for three years with two possible one-year renewals. Under the Mining Act of 1989, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) administers such licences which grant exclusive exploration rights overthelicencedarea.
I n 2 0 2 4 , G M I N expanded its project area
er between500to12,800acres.
Under its PL, GMIN Guyana is required to make rental payments starting at US$0.50 per acre, submit annual work plans and financialreports,andmeeta US$240,000 first-year work commitment, secured by a 10%performancebond.
It was disclosed that GMIN Guyana had secured an option agreement with a Guyanese citizen (the Optionor) in 2018, covering nine MPMS (9,425 acres) representing about 86.5% of the total Oko West Project area. GMIN fully exercised thisoptioninFebruary2023, givingit100%mineralrights to the Optioned Area. The Guyanese citizen retains rights to contingent paymentsofUS$5perounce of gold produced from this area, with a first payment d u e 3 0 d a y s a f t e r commercial production starts.
In October 2020, GMIN also purchased two MPMS (1,465 acres) from another Guyanese titleholder, which were incorporated into the mainPL.Thepurchaseprice hasbeenfullypaid.
In March 2024, GMIN Guyanaenteredintoanother option agreement for the Northwestextension,adding three MPMS adjacent to its PL. This agreement mirrors thepreviousterms,including contingent production paymentsofUS$5perounce abovethefeasibilityplan.
Further, in December 2024, GMIN acquired five additional MPMS from a private Guyanese group for $4.3 million. The company explained that these parcels will allow for a more efficient project layout for waste rock and tailings storage rather than direct goldproduction.Inaddition, Continued on page 33
Frompage32 the sellers are entitled to US$40 per ounce of gold recoveredfromthisarea.
GMIN confirmed that with these transactions, the combined area of PL, the Northwestextension,andthe additional MPMS total 71 square kilometers, aligning with its development plans outlined in the technical report.
Kaieteur News had reported that the 44 squarekilometer PL area is currently considered an “advanced-stageexploration project”, and is expected to produce 350,000 ounces of gold annually from both open pit and underground miningover12.3yearsatan all-insustainingcost(AISC) of US$1,123/oz. A recently published feasibility study shows that the project is poised to deliver strong financial returns, thanks to low production costs. The Oko West project stands out for its scale and high-grade resource. ThelatestMineral Resource Estimate includes
5 4 million ounces (Indicated) and 0.4 million ounces(Inferred).
In October 2022, GMIN also secured environmental clearance from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to proceed with exploration activities on its PL. Under Guyanese law, GMIN may apply for a Mining Licence at any time during its PL’s term, subject to submitting a feasibility
s t u d y, m i n e p l a n , Environmental Impact
S t a t e m e n t , a n d EnvironmentalManagement Plan Such licences are usually valid for 20 years or the life of the mine, with renewalspossible.
>>>>>>>>>>
Government warned over Guyanese entering, livinginUSillegally
The United States Government has warned the Guyana Government about citizenswhoareenteringand living in that country illegally
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Cooperation said that it has
received an official Diplomatic note from the Government of the United States of America (U S)
a d v i s i n g o f s t r i c t enforcement measures and legal consequences for individuals who attempt to enterorremainintheUnited Statesunlawfully “This Diplomatic Note
follows the reinstatement and expansion of several immigration enforcement policies by H E Donald Trump, President of the United States of America,” the ministry said. It added, “While the US continues to welcome legitimate and legaltravellers,theSecretary of State has explicitly o u t l i n e d t h a t t h e Government prioritises the prosecution of offences for illegal entry and illegal presence in the United States, as well as criminal offences by foreign nationals.”
“Guyanese nationals who enter the United States of America without proper documentation or who overstay their periods of authorised entry or fail to respect the terms of their admission will be subject to the full extent of U S immigration law, including but not limited to: arrest, p r o s e c u t i o n a n d imprisonment or heavy fines,”thestatementread.
“Guyanese citizens are encouraged to pursue legal and authorised avenues for migration, employment, education, and travel to the United States Nationals currently residing in the United States illegally are strongly advised to depart immediately The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation strongly urges all Guyanese nationals to comply fully
with the immigration laws andregulationsoftheUnited States of America,” the statementconcluded.
The US diplomatic note to the Guyana Government comes one day after seven Guyanese were deported from that country The deporteeslandedonaspecial charteredflightattheCheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, East Bank Demerara(EBD).Policedid not state the reason for their deportation, but Kaieteur News understands that they mightbeamongdeporteesof PresidentDonaldJ.Trump’s administration’s sweeping deportation policy targeting undocumented migrants in theUSA.
Thebatchofsevenmight bethefirstsetofGuyaneseto be sent home from the USA since the Trump deportation kicked off. Kaieteur News learnt that the chartered planehadmadeseveraldropoffs before arriving in Guyana.Thedeporteeswere processed by the Guyanese policebeforebeingreleased, Kaieteur News was told Meanwhile, police told KaieteurNewsthatthereare some issues surrounding the releaseoftheiridentities.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e AssociatedPressreportedon Tuesday that Trump has made no secret of his willingness to exert a maximalist approach to enforcing immigration laws and keeping order as he
campaigned to return to the WhiteHouse.Thefulfilment of that pledge is now on full display in LosAngeles. The presidenthasputhundredsof NationalGuardtroopsonthe streets to quell protests over his administration’s immigration raids, a deployment that state and city officials say has only inflamed tensions Trump called up the California National Guard over the objections of Democratic Gov Gavin Newsroom — the first time in 60 years a presidenthasdoneso—and is deploying active-duty troops to support the guard. By overriding Newsom, Trump is already going beyond what he did to respond to Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when he warned he could send troops to contain demonstrations that turned violent if governors in the states did not act to do so themselves. Trump said in September of that year that he“can’tcallintheNational Guard unless we’re requestedbyagovernor”and that “we have to go by the laws.”
But now, the past and current president is moving swiftly, with little internal restraint, to test the bounds of his executive authority in order to deliver on his p r o m i s e o f m a s s deportations. What remains to be seen is whether Americanswillstandbyhim
company’s Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown office on June 3, Exxon’s Business Services Manager, John Collings hinted that Guyana can only take ownership of the assets it is paying for when production activitiesarecompleted.
Collingssaid,“Underthe petroleum agreement, those assets are o
highlighted, there is cost recovery on those assets so o
recovered and those assets have produced as intended then under the petroleum agreement Guyana does have the ability to take ownershipofthoseassets.”
once it’s operationalised nationwide, as Trump looks to secure billions from Congress to dramatically expand the country’s detention and deportation operations.
ExxonMobilsaysit ownsUS$34Binassets paidforwithGuyana’soil …countrycantake ownershipafter productionactivities –Business ServicesManager
E a c h m o n t h , ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operatorofGuyana’soil-rich StabroekBlocktakes75%of the production to recover its investments This processknown as cost recovery –ensures that the company and its partners recoup the costs associated with installing the facilities to ensure safe production and smooth flow of the operations. AlthoughGuyana’soilis being used to repay the Stabroek Block partners –ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC- the assets paid for through cost recovery does not belong to the country Thiswasrecentlymadeclear by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and later confirmed byEMGL.
D u r i n g a m e d i a engagement at the
The ownership of assets beingpaidforwithGuyana’s oilhavesparkeddebatesince Exxon signaled its intent to sell its local resources to meetfinancialobligationsin the event of an oil spill disaster With the country lackinganunlimitedoilspill guarantee from the parent company, Exxon has said it can sell the assets here to take care of costs relating to cleanup and compensation. It is however argued that these assets cannot be sold by the company, since they are being paid for by the state It would therefore mean that Guyana would be forced to handle the bill relatedtosuchadisaster By the end of January 2025, it was reported that Guyana already paid Exxon U S $ 3 3 9 B f o r i t s investments in the Stabroek Block In the meantime, ExxonMobil said it has invested or is committed to invest about US$54B on the six projects, sanctioned to date.
It was reported that Guyana’s financial protection in the event of an oilspillincludesaUS$600M insurance (per event), and a US$2B affiliate company guarantee As highlighted earlier,Exxonalsoexplained that it could sell the assets beingpaidforwithGuyana’s oil,tohelpthecompanytake care of its financial obligationsinthisregard.
Even as the debate continues over the rightful owners of these assets, stakeholders argue that the oil spill coverage is grossly insufficient, considering the scale of Exxon’s local operations and its likely impact on 14 Caribbean islands.
Governmenthassince Continued on page 34
Frompage22 passedlegislationtoaddress oilspillswhichlawyersboth locally and across the Caribbean have raised concernsabout.
Nigerianmangets 6yearsfortricking Guyanesewoman,others inromancescam
ANigerianNationalwas sentenced to six years in jail on Thursday after he and accomplices ripped off a Guyanese woman and a dozen others of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a romancescam.
The convict, Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu, was part of a scam where the mastermind pretended to be German and made the womanfallinlovewithhim before scamming her of $155,000 to clear gifts he neversenttoher.Shewasnot hisonlyvictim,accordingto an investigation conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Nwachukwu committed the scamsin2022.
He appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court o
Liverpool found him guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and sentencedhimtothreeyears’ imprisonment each on both counts. Ejike Nwachukwu was charged and remanded on both charges back in 2022.
One of his victims reportedly recounted during the trial that she was befriendedbyaGermanman
online and eventually developed a long-distance relationship with him. She recalled that in July 2022, herGermanloversaidthathe wouldsendpackagesforher viaFedEx.
Three days later, she receivedacallfromaforeign number stating that the packages had arrived in Guyana and that she would berequiredtopaythesumof GD$155,000 to various persons at the McKenzie Post Office to uplift the package.
Accordingtothewoman, shebelievedthepackagesto be genuine after she was informed that diamonds and other valuables were inside and that the $155,000 must be paid to ensure that they would not be confiscated on the basis of Money Laundering.
Police said that at the trial, SOCU produced evidence showing that Ejike Nwackukwu was an accessory to the crime. He reportedly arranged agents on behalf of the “German mastermind”toupliftmoney
from the victim SOCU reportedly said that they are still trying to find the “mastermind” and other personsinvolved.According to SOCU, it is a massive scheme being operated by Nigeriannationalsoperating inGuyana.
Dr.AdamsaccusesJagdeo ofbeingscaredofasking Exxontorenegotiatedeal
Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member
Dr Vincent Adams has accused Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of being afraid to ask ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) to renegotiate the oil contract governing the Stabroek Block operations despite promising to do so while in opposition.
Dr. Adams at the AFC’s press conference on Friday notedthatJagdeohasshifted the blame on the previous APNU+ AFC coalition government who signed the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the oil giant. He then outlined that the PPP government signed previous contracts with the oil giant containing the same terms as the StabroekBlockPSAthatthe partyisnowvilifying.
He accused Jagdeo of breaking his word to the public by refusing to renegotiatethecontractafter returning to office. He also outlined that despite the contract catering for the government to ask Exxon to make changes to the c o n t r a c t , t h e P P P government are now hiding behind “sanctity of contract.”
Dr Adams noted, “He said they sold us out to the foreigners Every time there’s a find out there, our people should be sad, because nothing comes our way and suddenly, when he gets into office, he’s hiding, his tune changed to sanctity of contract, fearing to even ask Exxon to renegotiatethecontract.”
Back in 2019, Jagdeo while being interviewed on 94.1FMsaid,“Theysoldus outtotheforeigners–theoil companies.Everytimethere is a find there, our people should be sad because nothing comes our way We are going to renegotiate those contracts because that’s not what we had in mind. When we were in the earlydays,wewerecoaxing
thepeople(ExxonMobiland partners) to go along. They (APNU+AFC) came into office (and met) 3 billion barrels of proven reserves and then gave up zero royalty, no taxes, no ringfencing, no local content for these people to spend any moneyhere.”
He continued: “Paying our people GY$72,000 a month when the foreigner is
getting US$10,000
Bringing water from California to drink here. We are paying for all that Landscaping – they wanna contract it to a company coming from abroad and the Trinidadians and others are just walking in not only in the oil sector but they are getting all the prime lands too… So that is why I got back into politics. I’m not preparedtoseethishappen;I have no desire to be Presidentagain.”
Although Jagdeo’s comments at the time were focused on the lopsided natureoftheExxoncontract, he now claims that the statements were meant for theotheroilblocks.
Currently, ExxonMobil, the operator of Guyana’s resourcerichStabroekBlock istheonlyproducerofoilin thecountry
In the meantime, government has said the Stabroek Block holds approximately 11 6 billion barrels of oil Exxon has beengiventhegreenlightfor sixprojectstodate;threeare already in operation, producing over 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) currently Guyanese have been
demanding a renegotiation of the terms of the oil contract since the deal mostly favours the contractor. For instance, Guyanareceives2%royalty, one of the lowest known across the industry Exxon and its contractors are also exemptedfrompayingtaxes. Meanwhile,eachmonth,the oilcompaniescandeductup to 75% of Guyana’s oil to recover its investments. The oil companies still benefit from the remaining 25% which is split evenly with Guyanaasprofits.
Nonewoildealsto besignedbefore elections–Jagdeo
Vice President and General Secretary of the PPP,BharratJagdeosaidthe government has halted the finalisation of new oil agreements until after General and Regional Elections scheduled for September1.
This means that no prospecting licences will be signed for the oil blocks awarded in Guyana’s inaugural competitive licensing round at least for the remainder of this government’sterm.
In 2023, six companies were awarded offshore oil blocks and four companies hadacceptedthetermsofthe new Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).
The government awarded eight oil blocks: Sispro Inc, Total Energies Consortium with Qatar Energy and Petronas, LibertyPetroleum
Continued on page 35
Frompage34 Corporation, Cybele Energy Limited, International Group Investment Inc , ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess and CNOOC and Delcorp Inc, which comprises Watad Energy and Communications Limited and ArabianDrillingCompany
The four companies that accepted the new PSA are Cybele Energy Limited, Delcorp Inc , TotalEnergies Consortium, and International Group Investment Inc. The oil companies will be
expected to pay a 10 per cent royaltyanda10percentcorporate tax to the government. In the meantime,thecostrecoverywillbe capped at 65 per cent in a given year, while profits will be shared 50/50betweentheparties.
Whenaskedforanupdateathis pressconferencethisweek,Jagdeo directed media queries to the Ministry of Natural Resources, noting that the ministry handles direct engagement with the companies.
“They would be able to give
youanupdateastowherewearein everyoneofthosenegotiations,”he said.
However, he stated that he believes no oil deal should be signedduringtheperiodleadingup to elections. “I doubt that we will signanyofthoseinthenextmaybe two or three months too if they’ve not been signed as yet I think we should await after the elections to dothat,”Jagdeosaid.
During his 2025 budget presentation,FinanceMinister, Dr AshniSinghsaidthegovernmentis
likely to enter three new PSAs in thefirsthalfofthisyear
Dr Singh said, “delivering on ourcommitmentofensuringalloil blocks are competitively tendered and aligned with global best practices, Guyana held its first licensingroundin2023.Amongthe eightshortlistedblocks,threePSAs will be finalised and signed in the first half of 2025, while the remaining bidders are engaging government with finalisation also expectedthisyear.”
The government has since
passed the Petroleum Activities Law and has finalised the new model PSAthat will govern future awards of deep water and shallow water concessions. Kaieteur News had reported that 11 of the oil blocksonauctionarelocatedinthe shallow area and three are in the deepwater zone. Importantly, each areaisgovernedbyseparatePSAs. They range between 1000 square kilometres to 3000 square kilometres with the majority of them being close to 2000 square kilometres.
BySavannahHendricks
Father's Day was in two weeks. I didn'tknowwhattogetDad.Last year I made him a coupon book. ThisyearIwantedtodosomethingdifferent. Ijusthadnoideawhat.
At dinner Dad accidentally dipped his favouritebluetieintohissoupbowl.Thetie wasruined.IsuddenlyknewwhattogetDad for Father's Day! “How much does a tie cost?”IaskedMomthenextmorning.
“Depends,” she said. “Some can cost twenty dollars Do you have enough allowance money Carter?” “No ” My shoulders sank. “There goes that idea,” I huffed. When I got to my room to change intomyschoolclothesInoticedaripinmy shirt.“Mom,Ineedyoutosewmyshirt,it's ripped,”Iyelled,rushingoutthedoortothe schoolbus.
AtschoolIpickedattheholeinmyshirt. I thought about how I could come up with enoughmoneytobuyatie.Itookadeepsigh andplayedwiththeholesomemore.
Astheholegrewinsize,anideasprung intomymind.Iboltedthroughthefrontdoor and straight to my room. I dug frantically throughmyclosettryingtofindotherripped clothes. “Mom!” I yelled down the hall headingtowardsher
by Uncle Roy
“CanIcuttheseclothesuptomakeDad tie for Father's Day? They are already ripped.” I pointed out the holes to Mom. “Iguess,” shesaid.“And”I added,“Can you show me how to sew?” “Yes Carter, let's start now before Dad gets home,” Mom said, heading for her sewing supplies.
I followed Mom's instructions to threattheneedleandplacethefabricflat.I gently pressed my foot to the foot-petal. The needle plunged, the fabric bunched, and the threat knotted. “No!” I whined.
“Try again Carter,” Mom instructed. I tookadeepbreath,gentlyappliedmyfoot tothepetalagain.Theneedleplungedand stopped. The machine made a horrible sound.
“Forget it! I can't do this!” I moaned andstompedtomyroom.Aftersittingin myroom,awhileIrealizedthatIifIwanted togiveDadaFather'sDaygiftIwouldhave tolearntoseworatleastkeeptrying.
Every day after school, I would try, and try, and try Finally, I was able to work the machineandwithlessthanaweektogo.The first stitches were big and far apart. But I grewbetter,andmystitchingbecamecloser togetherandlookednice.
On Father's Day I handed Dad a thin wrappedbox.Hetornthewrappingpaperoff and opened the box. “Wow! This is great Carter!” he said, holding up the patchwork t i e “ I remember that shirt of yours,” D a d s a i d pointingoutthe patches.
“Thankyou very much ” Dad's hug was big and warm. “I'll be sure to take this off when I eat soup,” he said, and we both laughed.
My father must be the greatest Of all the world's fathers, He is so patient, kind and loving, He is surely greater than all others.
He has made me feel so good, For as long as I remember And given me all I needed, We have had such fun times together
So, father, on this your special day, I wish you much joy and peace, May you always be strong and health And your happiness ever increase.
byAIMEE
Supplies you'll need: Bubble wrap, glue dots,assortedpaper,scissors,pens,andletter stickersifyoulike.
Step 1:Assemble your card with paper I layeredtwopiecesandgluedthemtogether
Step 2: Wrap a piece of bubble wrap aroundthemiddleandsecurewithgluedots.
Step 3: Add letter stickers to say “POP” andthenwriteyourmessage.
Ta-da!
Foldanotherpieceofbubblewrapinhalf and wrap around a cold drink. Secure with tape,andyouhaveacutelittledrinkcozy!
Aimee Error of The Elephant of Surprise for See Vanessa Craft
Today is Fathers' Day, and everyone, especially the youngpeoplewhostillhave their fathers working to maintain them and give them all they need to enable them to make the most of their future lives, should make it a special time to think about what they are going through, and doing something to show appreciationforthisinaparticularway
However we try to imagine the efforts our fathers have made, and the problemstheyhavefacedalongtheway tobringusup,wemayneverbeableto fullyunderstandthesituation.
Thismaybesobecausewehaveto rememberthatourparentsgrewupinan environment which was not as well equipped as the one in which we are
living now The appliances we have at home, the type of transportation we use now, the ease at which we can now communicate, all these were either absent or much less advancedthantheyarenow
Many times we observe teenagers act in ways which bring us to feel that they are either oblivious of the problemsthattheirparentsfacedtoget themtothestateinwhichtheyarenow, ortheysimplychoosetoignorethis.
This can cause much heartache in the ones who have brought them into the world, have nurtured and cared for themfromDayOne,andhavewillingly takenonthevariousproblemsinvolved in bringing them up – providing food, clothingandshelter,givingthemallthat is necessary for them to obtain a fair education,andworkedtowardshelping themtolaunchoutontheirown.
Therearemanyhomesinwhichthe
The effort to repay our fathers for all they have done for us must be a continuous one as it is a debt we can never fully repay.
fathers have taken on all the various problems in supplying their families withalltheyneed,withthemothersjust doingwhateverisnecessarytokeepthe householdgoing.
There are also many in which the fathers are single and have to perform allthesefunctionsalone. Thesefathers should be particularly honoured and shown appreciation, as you can never knowwhattheyhavetogothroughona daily basis to keep the home provided withallthatisnecessary
Whatever the situation, we need to takethetimetodaytoexpressgratitude to our fathers, and to do something special in this effort. It is usual for children to buy a card or a gift on this day
Thismaybewhatisexpectedbyall fathers, but it would be much more appreciated if we can actually communicate personally with our fathers and let them know one-to-one whatwefeelaboutthemandwhatthey have gone through, and still going through,forus.
Make an effort today to touch base with your father on a heart-to-heart level,anditwillgoalongwaytowards showing your appreciation and gratitude to him more than any card or giftcando.
“The finished puzzle will contain a loop made of horizontal/vertical line segments that connects all the white and black circles. The line going thru a white circle must be straight. However, there must be at least one corner made on the dot immediate preceding or immediately following the white circle (or on both dots). The line going thru a black circle must turn a corner on the black circle. Both of the lines emanating from this corner need to go straight through the next dot before making any more turns. "
by Uncle Roy
My father is one person Who can do so many things, He helps his family in so many ways, He is like an angel without wings.
He has to work so hard for money, To pay for all we need, And still he finds so much time To make sure we are happy indeed.
I know that I can never repay All the good he does for me, But I will surely try hard to do so To the very best of my ability
I promise I will ever love him, And show him gratitude and respect, And I look forward eagerly to the day, When I can provide all he will expect.
But for today which is his alone, I wish him all the best, Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Dad, May you enjoy a day of peace and rest.
ByAllyiahAllicock
“Starting
young gives you a sense of pride; that even in your youth, you can achieve a strong base of becoming your own employer.”
Growing up in a family of contractors, 29-year-old Kevon Ceon Thom loved todoplumbingandashegotolderhe optedtobecomehisownboss.Thom ventured into the world of entrepreneurshipin2019aspartofhis goal to further advance his skills in plumbing to not only personally elevatehimselfbutprovideservicesto thoseinneed.
Thisweek’syoungentrepreneuris theownerofKevon’sContractingand Plumbingservices,abusinessventure which is deep-rooted in his family history
Having grown up with his grandparents in the mining town of Linden, Region 10, Thom in an interview with The Waterfalls said thatafter17yearshedecidedtomove toGeorgetown.
“Ithenstartedmyjourneyintothe worldofwork.Iwasemployedonday jobs with contractors prior to becoming self employed,” he recalled.
HesharedthatonMay7,2019;he decided to turn his skills into a business.
According to the young man, Kevon’s Contracting and Plumbing Services’offers are plumbing installation,maintenanceservicesand repairing.
“Whenaskedaboutthesupporthe received since launch, Thom explainedthatithasbeenachallenge in terms of awareness about his business venture and growing as an entrepreneur
“However, my family has supported me positively with motivation to keep going along this journey My dedication to learning more about my field has enlightened me in this area keeping myself updated with the latest in the plumbingaspectandensuringIbring
quality service to my supporters,” he mentioned.
Noting that this entrepreneurial journey was not an easy walk in the park, he said the challenges he faced was growing his clientele and having proper knowledge as it relates to marketing and promoting his business.
Not letting the challenges weigh him down, Thom related that in overcoming this aspect he would interactwithclientstherebygettingan understandingoftheirneeds.“Iwould alsoresearchonwaystoimprovemy servicebylearningnewbestpractices intheplumbingfield,”hepointedout.
While he continues to provide services to the best of his ability, Thomstatedthatintermsoflong-term goals for ‘Kevon’s Contracting and Plumbing Services’, he is working towards making his establishment “a familyventure”.
“Working with my family to be able to give a rounded service to our clientsisthegoal,”headded.
Ashetakesstepstowardsmaking his business venture a well known brand in Guyana, our featured entrepreneur believes that young entrepreneurs give a sense of encouragementasitrelatestostriving tobuildone’sownfuture.
“Startingyounggivesyouasense ofpride;thateveninyouryouth,you canachieveastrongbaseofbecoming yourownemployer,”heexpressed.
Further, Thom is of the view that to boost small businesses locally, “Support on the local market and publicity given to small businesses,” can surely help young entrepreneurs inagreatwayinbuildingtheirbrand.
Persons desirous of contacting Kevon Thom can do so via telephone numbers(592)6757966/7607966or v i a e
It takes grit to succeed, but it takes passion to keep going.That'sthespiritthat defines Colonel (Ret'd) Dr. Wilbert Arlington Lee—a man whosestoryisstitchedtogetherby humble beginnings, military discipline,academicpursuit,deep faith,andunwaveringfatherhood.
Today, as the world honours fathers, The Waterfalls has selectedtohighlighttheroleofDr Lee; a man who has yielded three decades of his life to serving his leadership capacity of the army therebytrainingmanysoldiersand
assumingtheroleofafatherfigure inmorewaysthanone.
Serving for in excess of thirty years, this week's Special Person rose through the GDF ranks, holdingnumerouspostsincluding Platoon Commander in Lethem, Company Commander of the Jaguar Company, and eventually OperationalManageroftheForce. Oneofhisproudestmomentswas hoistingtheGoldenArrowheadon MountAyanganna.
He said “My early role as Company Commander helped me to understand and mentor many soldiers.Manyofthemcamefrom broken homes, and I felt responsible not just to train them buttohelpmakethembettermen,” hesaid.“Itwasachallenge,butit mademeafatherfiguretomany.”
Born and raised in the quiet village of Sandvoort,West Canje, Berbice, Dr Lee has worn many hats: military officer, pastor, educator,andmentor.Yetthrough itall,hehasremainedgroundedin valuesshapedbyhischildhood
Raised in a farming community, Lee spent his early days tending to livestock and workingtheland.
“Growing up in the village, givingitwasagricultureandallof that,oneofthethingsIhadtodois the importance of rising early in the morning. The importance of being thrifty and the value of education because we grew up poor,wastheavenuetowhichone can extricate themselves from povertyandsoeducationwasseen asvaluable,asimportant.”
“The other aspect of importance was distinguishing oneself, try to avoid getting into trouble, and cultivating a culture of respect for elders; making oneselfanassettosocietybeinga
Colonel (Ret’d) Dr. WilbertArlington Lee
Serving the GDF; Dr. Lee trained many young soldiers
goodChristian,”heshared.
Dr Lee attended Sandvoort Primary School before moving to Georgetown in 1975 After initially failing the Common Entrance Exams, he recalled with a laugh, “I can say that I successfully failed it.” But he didn't give up. After enrolling at FE Pollard Primary, he passed on hissecondattemptandwentonto attend Charlestown Secondary School.
OnAugust 10, 1979, 19-yearold Wilbert Lee enlisted in the GuyanaDefenceForce(GDF)asa private soldier It was the beginningofaremarkablecareer
“At primary school they had instructedtheyoungpatriotthatis a part of the Guyana National Service and in the secondary schoolhadthenationalcadetcore andwhenIwasinthevillageIwas partofascoutgroup.
So scout and national service really inspired me to become a memberoftheGDF.IthinkIwas attracted by the discipline and the fact that it demonstrated a lot of patriotism for our country,” he said.
Dr Leerecalledthatasayoung soldier he was surprised by the level of discipline but got accustomedtoit.“Ithinkwiththe village life and the fact that some of the values that were inculcated in me as a child helped me. So I was able with some minor adjustmenttoadaptquicklytothe militarylife,”heshared.
Heeventuallysethissightson becoming an officer, and after several attempts, he earned a coveted place in the Standard Officers' Course #14 (SOC-14) in 1983.
Describingtheofficertraining as “demanding and competitive,” Leesaid:
“It was hard to get a place in the course and to remain on the course. Therewerequite alotof exactingstandardsthatonehadto meet, so it was not only competitive but the requirements of the course drew the best out of you in order to survive. It was a year long course, one had to be at hisoptimumbestallthetime.”
He was also part of the elite Cadet Drill Squad under the leadership of WO2 Compton '09' Smith. “The drill was made to inculcate high discipline in you, MajorSmithwasverydemanding, he would have you drilling for longhours,”herecalled,laughing.
At the end of the course in February 1984, Lee emerged as BestGraduatingStudent,winning multiple awards including the Sword of Honour, the Brazilian ArmyChiefofStaffPrize,andthe VenezuelanArmyPrize.
“Coming from a small village
that most people never heard of, andnotattendingatopschool—it meant everything to me to rise to the top of that class,” he said. “It reminded me of Longfellow's words: 'The heights by great men reachedandkeptwerenotattained by sudden flight…' I held on to that.”
SCHOLARANDEDUCATOR
Dr Lee's thirst for knowledge was rooted in his childhood setbacks.
“I didn't do well in my early school years, and that motivated me to pursue education seriously asanadult.”
His academic achievements include Doctorate in Transformational Leadership –Bakke Graduate University, Seattle, Masters in Strategic Defense Studies – National Defense University, Washington, D C, Bachelor's in Public Communication (Distinction) –University of Guyana and Bachelor's in Bible and Theology
–CaribbeanSchoolofTheology
He has also lectured at the UniversityofGuyana,sharinghis wealth of knowledge in strategic leadershipanddevelopment. FAITHAND FATHERHOOD
Married since August 13, 1988, Dr Lee credits his wife, JuneAnn,ashisanchor “Shewas my rock. She held the home togetherwhileIwasaway Mostof my military career was spent outsideofGeorgetown,soshehad toraisekidslargelyonherown.”
Together, the couple shares
two children, Dr Robert Earl Arlington, a medical doctor and Shaunette Hermonica Ann, a certifiededucator
However despite the demands of military life, Dr Lee remained steadfast in his Christian faith. “Even in the army, I conducted religious services and counseled soldiers.After retiring, I was able to fully devote my time to ministry.” “When my kids were young, I was involved in their school life PTA meetings, prayer before exams, bedtime stories. That was important to me.”
Today,hedelightsinhisroleas grandfathertothreegirls.“Ispend as much time as I can with my grandchildren. I drop them to school, tell them stories, and just letthemjumponme,”hesaidwith awarmsmile.
Thisweek'sSpecialPersonhas served at First Assembly of God, Wortmanville since 1985, and currently holds the position of ExecutivePastor.
On a day dedicated to
F a t h e r s T h e
Waterfalls is placing thespotlightonhardworkingand dedicated men who always strive to do their best for their families while maintaining their roles as the bread winner and disciplinarian.
Fathers from all walks of life spoke to this publication about what fatherhood means to them, and shared advice to young and new fathers on their role as a father
Thirty-one-year-old Brain Mc Koy, is a police officer and father of two children. One of each gender and has been a father for fiveyears.
Mckoy told The Waterfalls that being a father has brought a lotofjoyandpurposetohislife.
He advised new fathers that “being a parent gives you a sense offulfillment,itisalsodemanding and requires a lot of learning and growing,” McKoy said since a father plays a crucial role in their children's lives, it builds characterandtheskillsneededfor development.
“You,beingapartofyourkid's life is the best gift you can give them,”thefatheroftwosaid.
RovinThomasisa44-year-old Firefighter and the father of two girls. He has been a father for 13 years and throughout he stands proud.
Peter Lester is a 73-year-old father of four and a grandfather of five
Thomas told this magazine that when he received the news thathewasgoingtobeafather,he felt proud and was overwhelmed withjoyandexcitement.
Thatwasthemomentheknew hislifewasgoingtochangeforthe better
“Life as a father has its challengesattimesbutbeingable to watch my two beautiful girls grow,learnandbecometheirown person has been the most rewardingexperienceofmylife,” Thomassaid.
Hewentontosaythatbeinga firefighter is a tough job, but fatherhoodgiveshimpurposeand strengthtokeepfighting.
“Fatherhood means being
present for my girls emotionally, mentallyandphysically It'sabout leading by example, protecting, p r o v i n g a n d l o v i n g unconditionally which are all lifelong commitments that I cherish deeply,” the firefighter toldTheWaterfalls.
He advised new fathers that being present is very important since time goes by quickly especially when it comes to the growthofyourchildren.
“You don't have to be perfect, just consistent and caring while showing empathy,” Thomas noted.
Joshua Emptage has one daughter; he is a technician and hasbeenafatherforfouryears.
The 26-year-old man explained that being a father has its ups and downs but it's a challengehewillinglyaccepts.
“I wanted a child for a while, butIwasn'tfinanciallyready,soI was scared when I got the news, butnowbeingafathertomybaby girlisamazing,”Joshuasaid.
Joshua's message to new and young fathers is one that says, “a child is not a burden, it's a reminder that you have to get up and stay up because you have responsibilities, also you have to getyouracttogetherbecausethey arealwayswatchingyou.”
Thirty-six-year-old Kurtly English is a barber by profession, has one son and has been a father
forfouryears.
The barber said that upon receiving the news of being a father he was both surprised and happybecauseheknewitwasthe beginning of a new chapter in his life.
“Fatherhoodmeansalottome because my father wasn't around completelyforaboutsevenyears, but we communicated and stayed connected,”Englishsaid.
Hisadvicetonewfathersisto staygroundeddespitetheupsand downs, while carrying out their fatherly duty which is care and l o v e y o u r c h i l d r e n unconditionally
Mr English said that “you
don'tstartbeingafatherandstop. You have to be a father right through.”
Wendell Jacobs is a 43-yearold father of five, who is also a businessmanandhasbeenafather for21years.
JacobstoldTheWaterfallsthat afterheheardhewasgoingtobea father he felt a sense of masculinity, maturity and responsibility Hesaidthatwasthe momentheknewthatattheageof 21 he had to leave his parents' homeandformoneofhisown.
The businessman explained thateachofhischildrenbroughta differentblessingintohislife.
“With my first child I moved out from my parents, my second child I built my own home, my thirdchildIwentintobusinessas the owner of 'Chicken King Grill andBar',myfourthchildIgotmy firstcarandwiththelastoneIgot married,”hesaid.
JacobssaidthatFatherhoodto him is a form of completion of beingaman.
“Knowing that your children would be able to look at you and be proud to let the world know whotheirfatheris.Hewentonto mention that being a father is one of the most amazing accomplishmentsbecauseyoucan nowfeelasenseofbelonging.
“Be a father that is there for everystageofyourchild'slife.Be (Continuedonpage43)
A29-year-old
m a n w a s
charged on Thursday with causing the death of a 52-year-old construction worker,
Antonio Ignatius, by dangerousdriving.
The defendant, Royden Daniels, appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate CliveNurse.
Daniels pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted$150,000bail.
He is expected to return tocourtonJuly3,2025.
Daniels was reportedly thedriverofacarthatstruck Ignatius last Saturday around19:15hrs.
Royden Daniels was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Policeinastatementsaid that Ignatius was killed
while crossing Agriculture RoadatTriumph,EastCoast Demerara.
“Enquiriesdisclosedthat motorcar #PAH 5305 was proceeding north along the western side of Agriculture Road at a fast rate,” police saidbeforeaddingthat“The driver alleged that the pedestrian suddenly walked across the road from east to west, into the path of his motorcar and a collision occurred”.
Ignatius was flung into theairbeforelandingonthe road. He was pronounced dead at the scene by an emergency response team attached to the Melanie Fire Station.
Frompage41 expeditions to Region 9, visitedmagistratecourtsand historicsites.”
As he reflects on what fatherhood means to him, Dr Leesaid:“Beingafather isoneofthegreatesthonors ofmylife.
I a l w a y s a s k myself have I done an excellentjob?
Not just for my own children, but for all those I hadtheprivilegetomentor I want them to be assets tosociety.”
And by all accounts, he hasdonejustthat.
Reflecting on life's difficulties, Dr Lee said: “My biggest challenge was provingthatmybackground didn't define my worth Comingfromapoor,singleparent home, I had to work overtime Education was another hurdle, but I kept pushingtoimprovemyself.”
His message to young
soldiersandcitizensalikeis simplebutprofound:“Don't let your beginning determine the height to which you can rise The milit
a great opportunity With hard work, determination, and discipline, the sky is the limit.” In January 2015, he w a s p r o m o t e d t o Substantive Colonel, one of thehighestranksintheGDF, and retired later that year after an illustrious military career
Frompage42 there to pick them up when theyfall,orbehometogreet them after school. Being a father means to be present,” the business advises new fathers.
Kurt Britton, 42, is a father of three who is a barber and businessman Britton has been a father for 11 years to his biological children; however, he has been performing fatherly
duties at an early age to his nephews who once lived with him for quite some time.
Thebusinessmanstated that since becoming a father his life has greatly improved and would have gottenbetterbecauseofthe lovehehasforhischildren
Britton's view on fatherhood is being able to shapethemindsofthenew generation and having the ability to encourage his children through life and assist them in becoming successful
The father of three believes that “love is a remarkable thing and if you love your children that is more than 80% that is needed to be a father because once you love t h e m y o u w i l l d o everything to make them happy”
The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Threehasreceivedover30bidsfromcontractorstoconstruct healthcentresatParfaiteHarmonieandLeguanIsland.
According to the recent reading of bids at the National Procurement and TenderAdministration Board (NPTAB), it
wasrevealedthatatotalof36contractorsbidfortheParfaite HarmonieHealthCentreproject,while20bidtoconstructthe healthcentreatMaryvilleinLeguan.Initsadvertisementfor bids, the regional administration said that each project will cost$50million.Theseprojects,amongothers,willformpart
oftheregion's$13billionallocationfromthenationalbudget. The government has been constructing health centres across the country to decentralize and expand the range of public healthcare services provided to citizens thereby enhancing accessibilityforcommunitiesnationwide.
ConstructionofHealthCentreat MaryvilleLeguanRegionThree.
Bidder Amount Tendered
MohamedSayaid
I.
$45,700,902
$44,216,152
ConstructionofHealthCentreatParfaiteHarmonie. Bidder Amount Tendered
I.KhanContractingService
LaKabuEnterprise
VKExcavatorRental
$44,661,152
$46,901,921
$42,765,450
$44,409,352 ZabeerZakierContracting
GoldenGooseConstructionService
$43,546,652
$41,362,545
$48,436,877
$45,200,902
$40,463,955
$42,412,545
$39,004,245
$42,996,345
MohamedSayaidEnterprise
Saqlain&SonGeneral Construction
M.KHanifConstructionService
Lallchan'sConstruction&GraphicsServices
L.SContractingService
Lefty'sEnterprise
S.SugrimEnterprise
ExtremeGeneral Construction&Supplies
$45,273,902
$45,273,902
$40,975,620
$43,773,902
$40,614,525
$42,819,700
$42,397,950
$45,511,593
$46,104,975 MSRInternationalEnterprise
$42,498,120 Ziona'sEnterprise
V&DEnterprise
EldoradoConstructionEstablishment
$44,621,115
$44,035,976
$43,886,115
$45,488,100 Ceraturium
Frompage7 work that was already done. AndImustpointoutthatthe APNU has basically completeditssignatures,and the completed work was done on the old form. Now, we have to go and redo the very work that we did just a couple of weeks ago,” he lamented.
Mahipaul stressed that with the new form, additional resources would have to be used by opposition parties to satisfy thenewrequirements.
He accused the government of using the state'sresourcestofundtheir campaign and gather their signatures.
“When we see Priya Manickchand in Region #9, orweseeSusanRodriguesin Region #8, or we see Colin Croal in Region #1, and wherever else you see the other Ministers, they are traveling on State resources paidforbytheState(suchas accommodation,meals,etc.) and are also engaged in the same exercise which the APNU is engaged in, which is to gather signatures to meet the requirement. We now have to go and redo that,”headded.
The MP called the commission's decisions irresponsible, saying that it was aware the issue existed forquitesometime.
“That will not short-
changetheAPNUCoalition. We will be going out again, and we will be getting our signaturesaswehavegotten them before, and we will be ready for these elections to meet the timelines, and we will defeat the People's Progressive Party come September 1st, 2025,” he assured. On Thursday, in a statement to the media, GECOM said that it has approved the use of a modified version of the Nomination Form which is required to be submitted along with the List of Candidates Political Parties to contest General and RegionalElections.
“The modified version of the Form was proposed by Chief Election Officer (CEO),Mr VishnuPersaud t
accuracy and to guard a g
e Nomination Forms are
Nominators submitting the Lists of Candidates for (i) theNationalTop-upListof Candidates, (ii) the Geographic Constituency ListofCandidates,and(iii) the Regional Democratic C o u n c i l L i s t o f Candidates,”GECOMsaid.
GECOM said the proposal was premised on the fact that there were a number of cases during the period subsequent to
NominationDayin2023for the Local Government Elections, where persons claimed they either did not sign as nominators or they werenotawarethattheyhad signedasnominators.
The matter generated a great deal of controversy in the public domain and affectedtimelyprocessingof ListsofCandidates.
Taking this development into consideration, GECOM said it is taking the opportunity to notify all potential contestants to use the new version of the form to document the particulars and signatures of their Nominators for their r
Candidates.
Further,theCommission said that it is of utmost importance to the avoidance ofdoubtandtoensuretimely processing of the Lists of Candidates within the short window of time that is statutorily available for the examination and correction ofListsofCandidates.
“Specifically, the modified version of the NominationFormcarriesthe following text at the top of every page: “We the undersigned knowingly and willingly provide our particulars and append our signaturesasNominatorsfor t
c Constituency/Regional
Party”,” the commission added.
Parties can access the updatedformsonGECOM's website in the General and Regional Elections 2025 r e s o u r c e h u b a t https://wwwgecom org gy/
public/home/resource hub Alternatively, hardcopies can be uplifted from the Office of the Chief Election OfficerorfromtheOfficeof thePublicRelationsOfficer
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AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI,June14(Reuters)India’s aviation regulator has orderedallBoeing787sbeing operated by local carriers to be inspected after an Air India crash killed 270 people thisweek,theaviationminister said on Saturday, adding the authorities were investigating all possible causes.
The aviation regulator hadonFridayorderedAir India to conduct additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft equippedwithGEnxengines, includingassessmentsofcertaintake-offparameters,electronic engine control tests and engine fuel-related checks.
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Advertisement·Scrollto continue“Wehavealsogiven the order to do the extended surveillance of the 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indianfleet,”aviationminister Ram Mohan Naidu told reportersinNewDelhi.
“Eight have already been inspectedandwithimmediate urgency, all of them are going to be done.”
He did not say whether government officials will be involved in the inspections.
The Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 787-8 Dreamlinerwith242peopleon board bound for Britain’s GatwickAirportbeganlosing height seconds after take-off on Thursday and erupted in a fireball as it hit buildings below, in what has been the world’sworstaviationdisaster in a decade.Air India operates 33 Boeing 787s, while rival airline IndiGo has one, according to data from Flightradar24.IndiGodidnot respondtoarequestforcomment. In a statement, Air India said it is currently completing the one-time safety checksdirectedbytheIndian regulator, adding that “some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes.”
calCollege,toldreporters.
Only one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived while others were killed as the plane struck the medical college’s hostel as it camedown.
The crisis has cast a shadow on Air India, which has for years struggled to rebuild its reputation and revamp its fleet after the Tata Group took over the airline from the Indian government in2022.Tata’schairmansaid on Friday the group wants to understand what happened, but “we don’t know right now.” Naidu said a governmentpanelwasinvestigating the crash and will issue a reportwithinthreemonths.“We are going to improve every necessary thing that is going to come our way, to improve the safety,” he said at the briefing, declining questions fromjournalists.
Later in the afternoon, authoritiesremovedthetailof the aircraft that was stuck on top of a building, while hospitalandrescueofficialssaid a body of a cabin crew member was recovered from the wreckage.
fromthedeceasedtorunidentification checks and DNA profiling.
Atleast11DNAsamples havebeenmatchedsofar,and authorities expect to hand over three bodies by Saturday evening, said Rajnish Patel, a senior official at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. He told reporters that the matching of samples was a meticulous process that had to be done slowly The wait, however,hadmadesomefamilymembersmoredistraught.
RafiqAbdulHafizMemon, who lost four relatives in the incident,saidhewasnotgetting any answers from authorities. “We have lost our children ... we are not understanding anything. Please helpusgetinformationabout our children. Tell us when theyaregoingtoreleasetheir bodies,” Memon said.
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The planes, however, have not been grounded, but a source on Friday told Reuters the Indian government was considering that as anoption.Naidualsosaidthe government will look at all possible theories of what led tothecrash.AirIndiaandthe Indiangovernmentwerelooking at several aspects of the crashincludingissueslinked toitsenginethrust,flaps,and why the landing gear remained open as the plane tookoffandthencamedown, Reuters has reported.
At least 270 bodies have been recovered from the site of the crash, Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior DoctorsAssociationatB.J.Medi-
Air India said it will provideaninterimpaymentof2.5 millionrupees($29,000)each tothefamiliesofthedeceased and to the survivor, to help address immediate financial needs, in addition to 10 million rupees in support announced previously by the TataGroup.
“Theprocessofreuniting next of kin with their loved ones and personal effects has begun,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in a statement, as authorities started handing over bodies ofpassengersandcrewmembers to their families, nearly 48 hours after the crash.
Dozensofanxiousfamily members have been waiting outside an Ahmedabad hospital to collect the bodies, as doctors were working overtimetogatherdentalsamples
Another father was upset about not being able to get the body of his son, Harshad Patel, saying he was told by authoritiesitwilltake72hours for DNA profiling. “The authoritiesaretryingtohelpbut our patience is running out,” he said. Most bodies in the crashwerebadlycharredand authorities are using dental samples to run identification checks.JaishankarPillai,aforensic dentist, told reporters onFridaytheyhadthedental records of 135 charred victims, which can then be matchedthroughreferenceto victims’ prior dental charts, radiographsorotherrecords.
Even for doctors, things are getting difficult, as the planestruckahostelbuilding of the B.J. Medical College, where many of the dead are undergoing identification checks. “Most of us are strugglingwithouremotions and are mentally disturbed because of the loss of friends and colleagues,” said one doctor who did not wish to be named. “The loss of so many colleagues and friends inthisincidentisdifficult.”
($1 = 86.0810 Indian rupees)
The Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM)will be conducting a Claims and Objections Exercise, commencingontheJune16, 2025.
TheClaimsaspectofthe exercise will conclude on June18,2025.Inthisregard, GECOM had given notice that its Registration Offices countrywide will open at
Frompage5
08:00 hours and close at 18:00hours.
In a statement to the media,theCommissionsaid that “in anticipation of an influx of eligible persons desirous of conducting registration transactions, GECOM has taken a decision to extend the closing time for the conduct of registration transactions
on June 16th, 17th and 18th 2025 from 18:00 hours to 20:00hours.”
“Against this backdrop, the general public is hereby notified that the official hours for all GECOM RegistrationOfficesonJune 16th, 17th and 18th will be 08:00 hours (8am) to 20:00 hours (8pm). Any person who would be 18 years or
olderbythe30thJune,2025 andisaGuyaneseCitizenby birth, descent, or naturalization or is a citizen from a Commonwealth countrylivinginGuyanafor one year or more is eligible for inclusion in the Official List of Electors (OLE) to be used for the conduct of General and Regional Elections2025.”
Further, GECOM is advising all eligible persons thatonthedaysoutlinedand duringthestatedhours,they can visit the GECOM Registration Office that is responsible for the area where they live to make a claimtoentryontheOLE,if his/her name is not on the list, by applying for registration.
Persons already on list can also apply for a transfer if he/she is listed at an address where he/she no longer lives, apply for changeofnameifhe/shehas changed his/her name since he/she was registered or apply for correction if there is incorrect information in the Preliminary List of Electors(PLE).
theMohameds,aboutwhich there is no secret, and, therefore,somehow,thatthe P
Mr Mohamed, and nothing muchelse.
WhattheStabroekNews andMr Ramhavechosento ignore, is the fact that PresidentAli,inspiteofthat friendshipandbecauseheis the President, has properly endedthatrelationship.
Mr G.H.K. Lall, well recognized for his entrenched hostility to all that is the PPP and the government, has gleefully joined the Stabroek News/Rambandwagonand, in the Kaieteur News, (Tuesday, 10th June, 2025), published a fountain of verbiage and meaningless superfluousrhetoric,calling
for the President’s resignation, devoting over some one thousand (1000) words, but not a single one of evidence, to support his hysteria. Why and how in the name of heaven does anyone read him, or does anyone?
T h i s e n t i r e l y
malicious attack on
President Ali has clearly been fueled by the very apparent political bias of theStabroekNewsandthe personal animosity of Mr Ram
So, I have a final question to ask, not merely of Stabroek News and Ram, but the entire electorate
Given that every declared contesting
Presidential Candidate is not without fault of some sort, would they really prefer our country to be
governed by a President who is criminally sanctioned by the US Government, or a President dedicated to taking our country down the black hole of racism and from a party which attempted to rig the last elections, or a President totally politically compromised by legal ties to Exxon and also a party associated with the rigging of the last elections, or a Presidentof agoverningpartywho,with allofhisallegedfoibles,has already,evidentially,ledour country down the road of a massive development programme to the ultimate benefit of every one of our citizens? For these are the choices before us as voters on1stSeptember,2025.
Yourssincerely, KitNascimento
Frompage5
betrayal couched in friendship’s language when all is done in the name of opportunism.
Regarding questions about electoral preferences, myanswerissimple:NOTA - None of theAbove. When choicesarebetweenpersons who are seriously compromised, including a president who has diminished my country’s highest office for party and supporters’ profits, the principled position is rejection.
To another, your transformation from closet critic to fervent defender illustrates how lucrative appointments alter perspectives -a la Martin Carter
To anyone who thinks that embracing facts is
engaginginextremities,and who possesses that rare and unprecedented wisdom to equate a simple accountant with billionaire and liberal democrat George Soros, I say,thanksbutnothanks.To them both, I say, some knives cut three waystoward enemy, friend and, ultimately, oneself Their blade has found all three targets. Asforthoserespondents vying for bit parts (extras in the film business), they constitute the “et al” of the government dependency support cast whose feeble attacks are unworthy of any response, or respectability Among these is one who substitutes fantasy and creativity – embellished with racist undertones - for truth and accuracy, qualities identified with the fiction
shelvesinthelibrary
But they all have one thingincommon.Theirvery existence depends on the electoral success of their party, are probably otherwise unemployable, and therefore deserve some understanding, but not respect.
I reserve my final words forthePresidenthimself.As a practicing Muslim, he knows that the Prophet (peace be upon him) declared that “a word of truth before a ruler” is among the highest forms of jihad.Hurtfultheymightbe, they are the unblemished truth while his defenders swear that the emperor’s clothesaremadeofthefinest silk when honest men, womenandchildrencansee thathestandsnaked. ChristopherRam
Aljazeera - Israeli fire and air strikes have killed at least 79 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, a number of themnearanaiddistribution site operated by the United States and Israeli-backed
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to local health authorities, the latest deaths of people desperately seekingfoodfortheirhungry families.
Medics at al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals in central Gaza, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed on Saturday as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the so-calledNetzarimCorridor
The rest were killed in separate attacks across the besieged and bombarded enclave, they added. Since the GHF started operations last month, at least 274 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded near aid distribution sites, according to a statement by theGazaMinistryofHealth.
The GHF said they were closed on Saturday But witnesses said thousands of
peoplehadgatherednearthe sites anyway, desperate for food as Israel’s punishing 15-week blockade and military campaign have driven the territory to the brinkoffamine.
‘Executionsites’ Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said Palestinians are starting to seeGHFdistributionhubsas “execution sites, ” considering the repeated attacks there. But people in Gaza “have run out of options, and they are forced to travel to these dangerous humanitarian spaces to get aid”.
Israel imposed a full humanitarian blockade on Gaza on March 2 for 11 weeks, cutting off food, medical supplies and other aid.
It began allowing small amounts of aid into the enclave in late May following international pressure, but humanitarian organisationssayitisonlya tinyfractionoftheaidthatis needed.
There has been no immediate comment by the
Israeli military or the GHF onSaturday’sincidents.
The GHF – a United States and Israel-backed organisation led by Johnnie Moore, an evangelical Christian who advised US President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign – began distributing food packagesinGazaonMay27, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the United Nations says is neitherimpartialnorneutral.
Israel and the United Statessaythenewsystemis intended to replace the UNrun network They have accused Hamas, without providing evidence, of siphoning off the UNprovided aid and reselling it tofunditsmilitaryactivities.
Israel has also admitted to backing armed gangs in Gaza, known for criminal activities, to undermine Hamas. These groups have beenblamedforlootingaid.
UNofficialsdenyHamas has diverted significant amounts of aid and say the newsystemisunabletomeet mounting needs.Theysay it has militarised aid by allowing Israel to decide
There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday’s Palestinian deaths.
who has access and by forcingPalestinianstotravel long distances or relocate again after waves of displacement.
Later on Saturday, the Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abasan and Bani Suheila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west towards the so-called humanitarian zone area, saying it would forcefully work against “terror organizations”inthearea.
More than 80 percent of
theGazaStripisnowwithin the Israeli-militarised zone, under forced displacement orders, or where these overlap,accordingtotheUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The UN estimates that nearly 665,000 people have been displaced yet again since Israel broke the ceasefireinFebruary Israel’swaronGazaand its population has killed more than 55,290 Palestinians, most of them civilians,accordingtohealth
authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated Strip, which is home to more than two million people. Most of the population is displaced and malnutrition is widespread.
Despite efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatartorestoreaceasefirein Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingnesstobackdownon coredemands,includingthat Israel implement a permanent ceasefire and not restartthewar
Israel intensified its military campaign against Iran, targeting key civilian infrastructure.
Aljazeera - Israel and Iran have carried out a new wave of attacks, fuelling fears of an all-out sustained war, with heavy exchanges nowenteringathirdday Iranian missiles struck northern Israel, killing one person and wounding 13 others, late Saturday into Sunday, according to Israeli newsoutletHaaretz.
Iranian officials, meanwhile,saidtheShahran oil depot, northwest of Tehran, was targeted by Israel on Saturday, though authoritiesclaimthefirehas beencontained.
Videos posted to social media, and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad, showed Iranian missiles in the skies ofnorthernIsrael.
Translation:Atthishour: Sirens in the Haifa area and theWesternGalilee
Israel’s Channel 13 reported that missiles hit HaifaandnearbyTamra.The attack on Haifa was widely anticipated, as the coastal city hosts strategic gas infrastructure Analysts suggest this marks the beginningofIran’spromised retaliation for the Israeli bombardment of key energy sites near Bushehr and Abadan.
Despite widespread public backing for military action against Iran, many Israelis remain sceptical Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg said there is growinganxietyanddistrust amongthepopulation.
“There is mass support for going after Iran – that’s the official narrative,” he said “But people don’t believe these strikes will
destroy Iran’s nuclear programme or bring regime change. They’re starting to fendforthemselves.”
Goldberg added that many suspect political motives behind the campaign, suggesting leaders may be using the crisistoboosttheirstanding.
“There’s no faith in the government’s ability to protect civilians,” he said. “Peoplefeelabandoned.”
Following the Israeli attacksonIran,TohidAsadi, reportingfromTehranforAl Jazeera, said smoke was seenrisingfromtheShahran oildepotinTehranfollowing an Israeli strike, though the full extent of the damage remainsunclear “Itwassaid that the oil storage centre was targeted, but the extent of the damage is not that much,”hereported.
He added that Iranian air defenceswereactivatedinthe capitalshortlyafterthestrike
“I saw the interceptions The sounds of explosions were heard,” he said Asadi described the ongoing Israeli bombardment of nuclear, military and civilian sites
a c r o s s I r a n a s “unprecedented”, warning that the developments are likely to trigger further escalation.
IsraelseekstoattackIran’s energyinfrastructure
Earlier on Saturday, Iran said that Israel intensified its military campaign, targeting keyinfrastructureanddealing another blow to the country’s struggling economy, as the conflict spirals towards a potentialsustainedall-outwar
Iranian officials confirmed that a blaze had eruptedattheSouthParsgas
field – one of the country’s most vital energy sources –after it was struck by Israeli forces on Saturday Though Iranian authorities later said the fire had been extinguished,thescaleofthe disruptionremainsunclear
E n e r g y e x p e r t
Manouchehr Takin told Al Jazeera that targeting South Pars – crucial for domestic c o n s u m p t i o n a n d commercial use – would deepenIran’sinternalenergy crisis. “This is an attempt to paralyse Iran’s economy,” Takin said. “The domestic gas network was already under pressure due to s a n c t i o n s a n d mismanagement.”
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reportingfromAmman,said the move marked a shift in strategy “Israel has previously targeted Iran’s
military infrastructure, nuclearscientistsandmissile facilities. Now it’s going after civilian economic assets,” she said, warning that the economic impact couldbesevereifdamageis extensive.
Iran reels from civilian tollandpledgesretaliation Tehran reported at least 80 people killed and more than 320 injured, including women and children, following Israeli strikes on both military and residential sitesacrossthecapital.
Among the dead are reportedly nine nuclear scientists. Iran hit back with a barrage of missiles that penetratedIsrael’shigh-tech missiledefencesystem,with atleastfourdeathsandmore than200injuriesrecordedin Israel since Friday [MenahemKahana/AFP]
Not many sea
creatures can boasttheperfect pout of a Hollywood starlet, but the red-lipped batfish comesprettyclose.
The batfish is a favorite among divers exploring the watersaroundtheGalapagos Islands and off the coast of Peru.
species not found anywhere else on Earth, and famously inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution.
batfish’s flat body is a brownish-gray color perfect for blending in with therubbleontheoceanfloor
But the red-lipped batfish’sstrikingmouthisn’t theonlyattributethatmakes the evolution of this fish unique.
The species is pretty special, even by the Galapagos’standards — the islands have the highest number of plant and animal
It’s unclear why the fish evolved to have such a seductivepout,thoughsome scientists believe that the large,practicallyfluorescent lips, framed by a blond beard, help the fish attract mates. And is there any doubt?
“Total
Frompage11
reforms Venezuelan provocation
The former president reminded that Venezuela continues to pose the most persistent threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity Venezuela in 1962 began claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Award which established the boundary between the two countries was null andvoid
Since then, it has claimed all five, mineralrich regions west of the Essequibo Coast and River, which comprise over 60 percent of Guyana’sterritory
The issue is now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Venezuela, however, escalated its provocation since the exploration and exploitation of large petroleum reserves got underway over the past decade
“ T h r e a t s o f Venezuela’s aggression occurred mainly along the approximately 790 km vulnerable border
b e t w e e n t h e t w o countries, about 80 per
An awkward swimmer, the batfish prefers to use his strong pectoral and pelvic fins like legs to “walk” across the ocean’s sandy bottom.
Luckily,speedandgrace aren’tnecessaryforthisfish togetameal.
While his lips are an enviable red, the rest of the
When the red-lipped batfish is hungry, all he has todoisfindagoodspotand secreteabitoffluidtoattract prey.
Yep, the batfish isn’t afraid to spritz a little perfume to make himself, evenmorealluring.
A member of the anglerfish family, who are
knownfor“fishing”fortheir prey, the batfish’s horn-like noseactsasafishingpole.
Afleshypieceontheend of a spine hidden under the batfish’snosecanbedangled down to act as “bait,” enticing smaller fish and crustaceanstocomecloser.
Thecombinationofthe batfish’s droopy mouth and long upturned nose can give the impression that the little fish is unimpressed with his
surroundings, but turns out he’s not snooty or bored he’s just waiting forhisnextmeal
A mature batfish grows to be about 25 centimeters (10 inches), but he’s fortunately not of much interesttofishermen.
One of over 450 unique species of fish who swim in the Galapagos waters, hopefully he’ll be strutting along the ocean floors for manyyearstocome.
cent of which is covered by jungle vegetation
This geographical reality suggests that the ground f o r c e s s h o u l d b e deployed in sufficient strength in the western borderlands in order to conduct continuous and c o m p r e h e n s i v e surveillance
The Coast Guard, similarly, needs to be poised to prevent hostile interference with our offshore petroleum industry, suppress piracy and protect our fishing industry along the 460 km coastland and exclusive economic zone,”Grangersaid He argued that the Defence Force should maintain a permanent strategic presence with adequate assets to detect, deter and defeat hostile actions on land and atsea.
“The Barima-Waini (No. 1) and Cuyuni-Mazaruni (No. 7)Regionscontainthemost vulnerable ‘frontline’ villages which are the homelands of five indigenouspeopleswhoare underconstantthreat. The safety of our citizens and soldiers
should be our first concern,”headded
Further, Granger said that Hinterland villagers live in fear of criminal attacks while reminding that foreign illegal miners frequently enter the country to exploit its mineral wealth and export wildlife. Armed ‘sindicato’ gangsters have fired on military patrols, raided mining camps and terrorizedcitizens.
“Border incidents such as the shootings in May 2016 and February 2025 are likely to recur in the dangerous ‘hotspots’ in the Cuyuni and Wenamu border rivers
Itshouldberecalledthat the Venezuelan Armed Forces still occupies Ankoko Island in the Cuyuniriverwhichitseized fifty-nine years ago. Numerous cross-border raids and robberies by criminal gangs also occurredfromtimetotime,” theformerPresidentsaid.
HesaidthatVenezuela’s hostilities are longstanding noting that one major concern has been the repeated incursions into the
EEZ, actions that have disruptedeconomicactivity and intimidated investors.
In2013,aVenezuelannaval vessel entered the EEZ and halted seismic exploration by the Teknik Perdana, sending a chilling message t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l stakeholders.
The most recent incidentoccurredonMarch 1,2025,whenaVenezuelan naval vessel unlawfully entered Guyana’s EEZ near theProsperityFPSO.
Citizenparticipation
The former president emphasised that the Defence Force must be proactive in preventing future intimidation and i n c u r s i o n s H e r e c o m m e n d e d t h e procurement of modern, military purpose-built river craft and the deployment of expert jungle warfare units with appropriate equipment throughout the borderlands to respond decisively to provocations “Military operations in a jungle environmentarenotthesort of thing with which Caribbean Island Defence Forces are likely to be familiar”, said the former president who, himself
received jungle warfare training in Brazil. During his presidency, David Granger augmented the strength of the Guyana People’s Militia, ensuring a countrywide presence acrossalltenadministrative regionsandsupportedbyhis administration’s creation of four capital towns “ at Mabaruma,Bartica,Mahdia and Lethem “ enabling ready responses to local emergencies.“Additionally, hinterland residents can contributetoborderdefence as ‘citizen soldiers’ if they are recruited, organized, mobilized, trained and equipped in local militia units to defend their communities and keep the rivers safe for innocent passage ” Strategic infrastructure Meanwhile, Granger criticized the inadequate hinterland road network and noted that unsafe river transport continues to result in accidents, drownings and attacks on civilians and soldiers alike. “Part of the solution to the border security problem would be an effective extension of strategic hinterland infrastructure The hinterland regions should not be left in a primitive conditionwithoutsufficient aerodromes, bridges and highways Further, the Defence and Police Forces needaircraft,rivercraft,allterrainvehiclesandefficient c o m m u n i c a t i o n s equipment, among other things,tobeabletodotheir work.”
The former president warned that continued unconcern about a comprehensive national defencestrategycouldleave Guyana increasingly vulnerable to external aggression and internal instability Venezuelan incursionsthreatennotonly territorial loss but, also, economic disruption –particularly in the petroleum and fisheries industries. Inadequate border infrastructure and surveillance could create security vacuums that embolden criminal ‘sindicato’ gangs and contraband activity Without a shift in strategic defence planning, citizens’ safety, national cohesion, investor confidence and territorialsovereigntycould bejeopardized.
(SportsMax) - For the second time in just a few days, the much-anticipated T20 International series between West Indies and Ireland was interrupted by a familiar and frustrating foe persistent rain as Saturday’s second match was abandoned without a ball being bowled at Bready CricketClubGround.
With heavy overnight showers and gloomy skies refusing to relent, ground conditions never reached a playable state, much to the disappointment of fans, players, and coaching staff frombothsides.
The no-result mirrored the fate of the first T20I, which was also abandoned due to inclement weather,
meaning the three-match series remains goalless heading into Sunday’s final fixture.
For the West Indies, the lackofgametimecomesasa blow, as they were hoping to complete a sweep of their own after being swept by England in both the ODI and T20Iseries.
Head coach Daren
The Match official and umpires assessed playing conditions on several occasions before making the decision.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Something is currently compelling you to be more of a world citizen than usual, Aries. You may find this somewhat disturbing You feel as though the roots of youridentity
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Your surroundings are currently changing, Taurus. Perhaps your circle of friends has already undergone a major change. The fact is that you no longer have so many prejudices about the people youmeet.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Gemini, you're demystifying theconceptoftalent.Youused to look enviously at other peopleandthink,"IwishIhad anaturalabilitylikethat."
CANCER(June21–July22)
Areyouthinkingofgoinginto businessforyourself,Cancer? Being self-employed doesn't automatically mean you will have more freedom Of course, you will be your own boss.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Within the next few days, you're likely to gain access to dimensions of perception you neversuspected,Leo.Perhaps you will become aware of certain energy phenomena, peakexperiences.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Often fiery temperaments like yours are drawn to fight for great causes despite the better judgment of more down-to-Earth people. As a result, you have great leadership potential that may emergetoday
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Your optimism is likely to receive a little boost today, Libra.Amemorableemotional encountermaybethesourceof some extra zeal. Or you may derive great satisfaction from beingpartofagroup.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)
Perhaps you should suspend your inhibitions for the day, Scorpio, and let your dreams guide you. For instance, you might imagine that the need to make any choices has vanished.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
This is the type of day you enjoy The climate is positive, and the energy is flowing. It's as though you have a magic wand.You give it a wave andpresto - the day's tasks and chores are done! By this evening.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
If the world collapsed today, you wouldn't bat an eyelash. You're perfectly content sailing along on cloud nine! The source of your bliss could bethatnewpersoninyourlife.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You may have had some emotional disappointments lately, but today will restore yourfaithinlove.Allyouneed to do is act. Your amazing lucidity and realism keep you from hoping for the impossible.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Put on your traveling shoes, Pisces. Fear of the unknown may have prompted you to postpone certain trips. You claimedyouweretoobusy,but noonereallybelievedthis.
Sammy and captain, Shai Hope, would have hoped to usetheseriesnotjusttobank wins but to reinforce roles ahead of other crucial assignments.
Ireland, too, were also lookingtopushforwardwith a developing squad and,
Third edition launched with massive...
From page 56
President Dr Irfaan Ali at the launch said it’s difficult for tournaments to grow so quickly and congratulated them on their growth from strength-to-strength in just threeyears.
He noted that cricket brings Guyanese together and this tournament is no different, thanking the organizers and teams for helping keep cricket at the pinnacleofsportsinGuyana andabroad.
Former organizer of the F a c e - o ff Ta p e - b a l l tournament, Paul Bonar popularly known as DJ Stress, was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his contributions to this specific format of cricket overtheyears.
Meanwhile, Richard Sukdeo of Telco Solutions presented a brand new cell phone to junior national allrounder Shamar Apple, yesterday following FL Sports initiating the generousmove.
The preliminary rounds will be held across four zones:Berbice(June28-29), East Bank/West Demerara (July 5-6), Georgetown/East Coast Demerara (July 1920),andEssequibo(July2627). The tournament will culminate in a grand finale on August 3rd at the N a t i o n a l S t a d i u m , Providence.
Registration is currently openforafeeofGY$30,000 perteam.(CliftonRoss)
more importantly, register a series win over the West Indiesonhomesoil.
Their ODI series ended 1-1 with the second contest
encounterrainedout.
Instead, the weather has been the only consistent
preventing any meaningful actionormomentum.
The third and final T20I, also scheduled for Bready, now becomes the only opportunityforbothteamsto salvage some value from the tour,weatherpermitting.
(ESPN Cricinfo)Steven Smith has avoided surgery on the compound dislocation he suffered on the third day against South Africa at Lord’s but still faces a race against time to
be fit for Australia’s upcomingTestseriesinWest Indies.
Smith went straight to hospital after leaving the field when he sustained the injury to his right little
finger, spilling a sharp chance offered by Temba Bavuma.
The wound was cleaned, stitched and the finger placed in a splint and it’s understoodhewillbeableto
batifhecantoleratedoingso withthesplint,whichhewill need to wear for up to eight weeks although the wound itself is expected to heal in aroundafortnight.
Theimpactonhiminthe field would also need to be assessed and it could hinder hisabilitytofieldintheslips.
Australia’s first Test in WestIndiesstartsonJune25 in Barbados, which would appear an unlikely timeframe, followed by matches in Grenada and Jamaica in July Smith had alsobeendueforabriefstint for Washington Freedom at Major League Cricket (MLC) between the end of
the WTC final and the first Test.
“He’s positive,” Pat Cummins said. “I think it’s somewhere around the 10 daystotwoweeks.
Then maybe you try and batwithasplintandseehow thatlooks.
Ithinkit’sabitofawait and see. I’d say first Test, maybe unlikely, and then kind of go from there. It’s a bitearlyjusttotell.”
It would be a significant boost for Australia if Smith wasabletoplayapartinthe series given there is uncertainty over the top order after the struggles of Usman Khawaja, Marnus
Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the World Test Championshipfinal. Khawaja’s lean outing continued his difficulties againstpacebowleroverthe last 12 months while Green faced just five balls in the Test, falling twice to Kagiso Rabada, in his first time batting at N o 3
Labuschagne made two starts of 17 and 22 having been moved to open but did not make a convincing case toberetainedintherole.
Sam Konstas is waiting in the wings for a potential recallwhileJoshInglisisthe other spare batter in the currentsquad.
(ESPN Cricinfo) - At 12 45pm on a sunny Saturday at Lord’s, South Africa secured the most significant moment in their cricket history with the World Test Championship title. It was not without nerves - how could it be?but this time there was no agony at the end. Aiden Markram took them to the brink with an epic 136, an inningsthatwillgodownas thecountry’smostimportant in Tests, before the winning runsweredriventhroughthe coversbyKyleVerreynneto sparkthecelebrations.
No longer was the 1998 ICC Knockout, with its various names and caveats, the only reference point for South Africa’s global
success.After so many near misses,theyhadacrowning moment.
It will be a hugely popular victory, too, as the underdog story so often is, and as part of the wider narrative around the health ofTestcricketoutsideofthe BigThree.
For all the success Australia have gathered over theyears,thiswillbeabruising experience given they had managedtotakea74-runfirstinnings which had been extended into three figures beforecollapsingto73for7on thesecondevening Thelower order repaired some of the damage,andthebowlersgave it their all, but for once they finishedsecond. Resuming on 213 for 2
needing 69 more for victory and eight wickets in hand wouldnotnormallybeascene for great uncertainty, but this wasnoordinaryoccasion The firstrunoftheday,apushinto thecoversbyTembaBavuma, wascheeredloudlybyacrowd heavily in favour of South Africa - as it had been throughoutthegame Bavuma had fought through the pain of a hamstring strain he picked up early in his innings, and left the team management contemplating retiring him hurt at tea yesterday, but instead he went on to forge the match-defining stand of 147withMarkram. There was no fairytale endingofBavumabeingthere when the winning run were
scoredasheedgedanexcellent lifting delivery from Pat Cumminsthatjustopenedthe doorforAustralia
The celebrations certainly suggestedtheystillbelievedwhile no one needed reminding of South Africa’s history - and the tension was palpable with runs hard to comeby
Markram was able to relieve the pressure with occasional boundaries, including a square drive off Cumminstheballafterbeing beaten on the drive and an evenmoreauthoritativepull.
However, Australia made them earn every run. Mitchell Starc continued his outstanding match with a superb delivery to remove Tristan Stubbs with 41 still
needed, which probably felt like141toanyoneofaSouth Africanpersuasion.
Australia’s desperation led to them burning their three reviews - two for lbws thatweren’tespeciallyclose andanotherforaglovedown the leg side against Stubbs theballbeforehefelltoStarc - and ironically, with scores level, Verreynne would gloveanattemptedscoopoff Starcthatwasn’tgivenout.
An on-drive by David Bedingham off Cummins brought the requirement down to under 20 and the chants from the crowd grew again.
Australia managed to stretch the game out to give them a brief burst with the second new ball but Josh
Hazlewood’s first delivery withitwaspingedoffhispads by Markram with the next beingworkedawayforthreeto bringthecountdowntosingle figures.
Markram was aiming leg sideagainwhenhepickedout midwicket, but this time nothing was going to stop SouthAfrica Ashestartedto walk off, a number of the Australians congratulated him Theyknewtheyhadbeen beaten by one of the great innings South Africa 138 (Bedingham 45, Cummins 6-28) and 282 for 5 (Markram 146, Bavuma 66, Starc 3-66) beat Australia 212 (Webster 72, Smith 66, Rabada5-51)and207(Starc 58, Carey 43, Rabada 4-59, Ngidi3-38)byfivewickets
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Hobart Hurricanes XI have officially namedtheirsquadforthehighlyanticipated 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), set to take place at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence from10to18July
Road Warriors will take on Footsteppers in the penultimate clash of the evening
Fans at the Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue,Georgetownwillbe in for a treat this Fathers’ night when Brazil’s Road Warriors light up the venue inthelastbatchofRoundof 32gamesin‘JuneMadness’.
Fresh off their triumph as reigning Big BashLeaguechampions,theHurricanesXI arebringingaformidablelineupastheyset their sights on the GSL trophy and a lucrative US$1 million prize fund. With a deepreservoirofT20experience,thesquad is well-positioned to make a strong impact onCaribbeansoil.
Stanlake, and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith. Smith, who played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors from 2019 to 2023, brings invaluable local knowledge and experience at Providence, a strategic assetforthevisitingside.
T
spearheaded by a balanced trio: legspinning all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary joins seasoned internationals Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Nawaz With all threecontributingbothwiththeballandthe bat, the Hurricanes boast a well-rounded, adaptableunit.
Wi
After creating quite a hugestirwhentheyplayedin thenationalchampionshipin December2024andJanuary 2025 the team was amongst 16 being automatically seeded into the Round of 32 of the ‘June Madness’ competition. They will take on Footsteppers in the penultimate clash of the evening.
The night’s proceedings
The tournament, organised by the renowned Kashif and Shanghai Organisation promised the mouth-watering flair of the Brazilians and that was delivered upon when the squad touched down at the Eugene.F CorreiaAirportat OgleonSaturdayafternoon.
will begin with a clash betweenBackCircle‘B’and Gaza Squad, followed by Bomb Squad taking on YMCA.BackCircle‘A’will match skills with Kingston, whileLaingAvenuetakeson BentStreetingamefour
The curtains will come down on the night’s proceedings with National Champions Sparta Boss battlingNorthRuimveldt.
The Futsal action will kick off at 20:00hrs this evening.
Leading the batting charge is dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Ben McDermott, whose extensive T20 career spans leagues in Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa,andEngland.
McDermott has also represented Australia in 25 T20 internationals, adding international pedigree to the Hurricanes’ toporder
TheHurricaneswillfieldapotentpace attack featuring Jackson Bird, Billy
experience, local insight, and explosive talent,theHobartHurricanesXIarepoised tobeoneofthestandoutteamsatthisyear’s GSL.
The Hobart Hurricanes XI squad is as follows: Ben Mcdermott, Billy Stanlake, NikhilChaudhary,JacksonBird,TimWard, JakeDoran,RafMacmillan,MarcusBean, M
, MohammedNawaz,MohammedNabiand OdeanSmith.
The eagerly awaited Kares One Guyana T10 Tape-ball Blast officially launchedthethirdeditionof the tournament yesterday at the event at RS53 Etkezo, AmazoniaMall.
The competition bowls off June 28 in Berbice, with ZonalwinnersbaggingGY$ 300,000 and a coveted spot inthenationalfinals.
The ultimate champion will walk away with a staggering GY$1.7 million, while the runners-up will receiveGY$700,000.
Even losing semifinalists and zonal finalists are set to be rewarded, with purses of GY$ 300,000 and GY$100,000,respectively
Captainofthedefending champs Titans, Leon Johnson credited the organizers and those involved for running a good competition.
Hestatedthatthetourney
has set the bar higher for Tape-Ball cricket The former West Indies Test batsmansaidheandhisteam werelookingforwardtothis
year’scompetition.
Johnson explained that with some 80 teams involved, the number being increasedfromlastseason,is
turned businessman, Steven Jacobs who has remained a figure behind the support of the concept since it’s birth, lauded the organizers for theircontinueddevelopment ofthetournament’sbrand.
Jacobs said the increase inteamsshouldnotbetaken lightly as the tournament continuestofocusheavilyon comradery and community cohesion. He urged them to strive for a regional and international level in the tournament with additional emphasis placed on the women.
Guyanalotteryamongafew others echoed similar views as they were equally happy to either be onboard for the first time or continued sponsorshipoftheevent.
The Trophies were for the third year, made by Guyanese craftsman
Stephen Mckenzie, who duringhisbriefremarksafter unveilinghiswork,hopedto see the tournament reach an internationalleveloneday
also a raise in the level of competition, with twice the teams equaling twice the competition.
Ex-Guyana all-rounder
Kares Engineering, the tournament title sponsor’s representative Natasha Persaud said the company was happy to remain title sponsorforathirdyearwhile urging Guyanese to come out and support the tournament.
Representatives from KFC, Giftland Guyoil,
The Main trophy which represents the six races is madeofsixdifferentspecies of wood, including a few different species of Silverballi,includingYellow andBrownalongwithamix ofCrabwoodandKabukalli, withfouradditionaltrophies being awarded to the 4 independentzonewinners.
Deodat Indar, Minister withintheMinistryofPublic Works,whorepresented
(Continuedonpage52)
AdNation, one of G u y a n a ’ s premier creative and advertising agencies, hasofficiallyteamedupwith Slingerz Football Club in a strategic sponsorship aimed at elevating the club’s visibilityandredefininghow local sports teams are marketed.
The club’s goal is to visually showcase the diversity and spirit of Slingerz FC, while reinforcing the value of local sports in national development.
achievedonourown.”
Ali also highlighted the evolution of the Slingerz brand, which originated in 2001andhassinceexpanded into a multi-dimensional enterprise spanning music, behind Slingerz Records, entertainment, horse racing with Slingerz Stables, and football.
Speaking on the club’s players, Ali added, “It’s important to show the faces of Slingerz FC. The players are our product and most valuableasset.
They need to know they’re appreciated and recognized,andAdNationis helpingusachievethat.”
basedinVergenoegen,while reinforcingthevalueoflocal sports in national development.
As a full-service custom sign and visual solutions company, AdNation offers everything from content creation and graphic design to project management and digitalsignage. Their team of creative specialists is committed to crafting personalized solutions that reflect the essence of each brand they workwith.
For years,AdNation has helped businesses across Guyana bring their vision to life, now, they’re doing the sameforfootball.
Inastatement,AdNation expressed enthusiasm about partnering with one of Guyana’s top-tier football clubs, noting that the collaborationwillgobeyond traditionalsponsorship. Together, they plan to roll out a comprehensive marketingcampaignthatnot only raises brand awareness for Slingerz FC, but also shinesabrighterlightonthe localfootballlandscape.
Georgetown, has already begun executing this vision, erecting a striking billboard in Eccles featuring several SlingerzFCplayers,manyof whom have proudly represented Guyana at variouslevels.
Slingerz FC President, Javed Ali, welcomed the p
T h e c o m p a n y , headquartered at Lot 31 BackStreet,BelAirVillage,
, “AdNation is stepping into one of the most important
something we’ve wanted to do since launching Slingerz FCin2013.
Their creativity and professionalism have taken ourbrandvisibilitytoalevel we simply could not have
AdNationhaspledgedto continue the momentum, with more billboards and branding efforts scheduled acrossthecountry
Their goal is to visually showcase the diversity and spirit of Slingerz FC, a club
According to the company, their partnership with Slingerz FC is not just about branding; it’s about building a stronger, more visible future for Guyanese sport.
SouthAfrica dethronedAustralia to become WTC winners (Getty Images)
