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Israel to bar 37 aid NEWS groups as UK and EU warn of severe impact in Gaza AIETEUR

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Thursday Edition January 01, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 01 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 42,059

Pres. Ali swears in TSC …APNU warns of troubling constitutional …promises fast-tracked promotions for teachers

erosion as Opposition not consulted Yassin slams South Ruimveldt Ex-girlfriend arrested for “forced” retirement man found dead murder of Linden businessman of former chancellor in his yard

Elderly woman found murdered in home …88-year-old husband arrested

Wales gas project pushed back again ...Govt now targets end of 2026 completion

Happy New Year to all We return with our next edition on Saturday January 03, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Thursday January 01, 2026

PLAN VIEW MAP SHOWING G2 GOLDFIELDS' AREAS OF INTEREST WITHIN THE OKO AND PURUNI DISTRICTS - DECEMBER 2025 AREA LOCATION

WARIRI MINE (HISTORIC) Past producer 1937-1939 (8,957 oz Au) Mapping and sampling ongoing

Guyana

South America

TARGET 8

TARGET 6 (RED ZONE)

(AREMU WEST)

NEW OKO DISCOVERY Included in Dec. 2025 MRE

AREMU MINE

TARGET 5 (BIRDCAGE)

(HISTORIC)

Past producer 1906-1911 (6,488 oz@ 15.6 g/t Au)

TARGETS 3&4 (HIGH HILL & OKO NORTH)

TARGET 7 (SANDS)

OKO-GHANIE DEPOSITS

OKO NW Included in Dec. 2025 MRE

TARGET 2 PETERS MINE (HISTORIC)

Past producer 1905-1909 (41,915 oz@ 41.0 g/t Au)

1.62 Moz @ 3.24 g/t Au (Indicated) 1.91 Moz @ 3.31 g/t Au (Inferred)

TARGET 1 (BORDER ZONE)

LEGEND G2 Assets G3 Assets

OKO WEST G MIMING

G2 Mineral Resources - Dec. 2025

4.64 Moz (probable)

Historic (past producing mine)

Advanced exploration target

Canadian firm expects swift approval for gold project C

anadian miner G2 Goldfields Inc. expects that regulatory approval for its Oko Gold Project could allow early works to begin within 24 months or less after the submission of its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

This was outlined in its recently published maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

With the PEA now completed, the company said it is positioned to submit a preliminary mine design to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its application for an environmental permit. This process requires environmental authorisation from the EPA following the submission and approval of an ESIA, which G2 expects to file in the first quarter of 2026.

“The Company anticipates that, based on recent precedents in Guyana, the period from ESIA submission to receiving a temporary environmental permit to begin early works on the Project would be 24 months or less.

The Company’s permitting activities will be guided by ongoing stakeholder engagement and government consultations, ensuring compliance with environmental and social international standards,” the company stated.

G2 is targeting total production of approximately 3.2 million ounces of gold from its Oko Gold Project, with average annual output projected at about 281,000 ounces during the mine’s peak years.

The project will entail a combined open-pit and underground operation with a 14-year life of mine, supported by an updated mineral resource of 1.6 million ounces of gold in the Indicated category and 1.9 million ounces in the Inferred category.

Moreover, G2 noted that over the past two years it has completed comprehensive environmental baseline studies through third-party consultants. These studies were aimed at supporting effective project design, regulatory compliance and the preparation of the ESIA. According to the PEA, the Oko Project area is not designated as a priority conservation site and does not overlap with any protected or Indigenous lands.

The PEA also outlines significant employment during construction and operations. During the mine construction phase, the workforce is projected to peak at approximately 1,250 personnel over an estimated 18-month period, in addition to workers required for open-pit pre-stripping activities during the six months prior to commercial production.

Once operational, the mine and processing plant are expected to sustain an average workforce of about 800 employees. Operations are anticipated to run continuously, with two 12-hour shifts per day, seven days a week.

In addition to the development timeline, the company highlighted near-mine resource growth opportunities. Drilling is continuing to target open extensions of high-grade mineralisation immediately outside the current mineral resource, with assays pending on drilling that has encountered visible gold.

The company said these targets are intended to extend known high-grade systems, test new mineralised structures and build on the existing resource base.

Daniel Noone, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of G2 had stated, “This PEA places the Oko Project firmly within one of the most attractive development projects globally. The PEA demonstrates the Project has the potential to generate very significant annual production at an average AISC cost of US$1,137/oz and is hosted in mining-friendly Guyana which actively promotes the development of large-scale gold mining. Moreover, the Project tenements host significant exploration potential, with multiple drill programs active across various adjacent and near-mine targets. We will be aggressively moving the Oko Project to feasibility and construction as we continue to explore this emerging gold mining district.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

PAGE 03

Wales gas project pushed back again ...GOVT. NOW TARGETS END OF 2026 COMPLETION

T

he long-awaited Wa l e s G a s - t o E n e rg y ( G T E ) project is now expected to come onstream by the last quarter of 2026, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said, pushing the timeline further back from earlier projections of mid-2026.

“We’re hoping by the last quarter in 2026 the gas energy project will be in a position to deliver but that too is a problem if the transmission and distribution is not completed…” President Ali said during an interview with five female journalists on Tuesday.

The president’s comments come weeks after Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat disclosed that government was engaging the contractor on a revised timeframe for completion of the project in 2026, following a series of delays.

Minister Bharrat said the administration was dissatisfied with the setbacks but noted that outstanding issues with the contractor had been resolved and that additional work hours were being added to accelerate progress.

Government officials had previously indicated that the project was expected to be completed by mid-2026.

The GTE project, located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, comprises a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant, which government has said is expected to cut consumers’ electricity bills by 50 percent. The project involves transporting natural gas from the offshore Stabroek Block’s Liza field via a 12inch pipeline to the Wales site, where 50 million cubic feet of gas per day

Ahead of the completion of the Wales GTE project, the government awarded a US$422 million contract for the extension of transmission lines for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

The transmission lines are being constructed along the eastern corridor of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

President Irfaan Ali (MMCFD) is to be converted into electricity.

Back in 2022, government hired CH4 (Texas) and Lindsayca (Puerto Rico) for the construction of the power plant and NGL facility at a cost of US$759 million.

However, the companies have split-up and Lindsayca is completing the project.

The GTE project has faced significant delays due t o g r o u n d i n s t a b i l i t y.

Chairman of Lindsayca, Nelson Drake, had revealed that a staggering US$100 million was spent to stabilise the unstable soil at the project site, a challenge that set the massive undertaking back by 14 months.

He had outlined that the p r o j e c t ’s t i m e l i n e w a s severely impacted by unexpected ground liquefaction at the West Bank Demerara site.

An artist impression of the GTE project.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A New Year, Old Truths As Guyana steps into a new year, the promise of oil wealth continues to cast a blinding glow, one that too often hides a harsher and more unsettling reality beneath.

Billions of US dollars now flow into state coffers, yet for countless Guyanese, daily life remains a struggle marked by rising prices, job insecurity, and declining hope.

This contradiction sits at the heart of the national unease that shadows the dawn of 2026. Corruption remains deeply embedded in public life, corroding confidence in government and widening the gulf between the powerful and the powerless.

The rhetoric of prosperity rings hollow to the market vendor counting coins at day's end, the public servant stretched thin by debt, and the young graduate scanning for opportunity that never seems to arrive.

Oil was supposed to change everything. Instead, too many feel they have been misled, treated as afterthoughts while a connected few feasts at the table of abundance. It is an open secret that dissatisfaction with governance is growing. Guyanese are angry, not because they expect perfection, but because they have watched failure dressed up as success and deception offered as leadership. They feel insulted by repeated assurances that all is well when lived experience tells a very different story. This disconnect between official triumphalism and everyday hardship has bred cynicism, resentment, and a dangerous erosion of trust.

Even more disturbing is the unrelenting tide of sexual and domestic violence. Women and children continue to suffer in silence, betrayed by weak enforcement, slow justice, and a culture that too often shrugs and looks away.

These are not isolated incidents or private tragedies. They are national emergencies, demanding urgency, resources, and political will.

A society that cannot protect its most vulnerable has no moral claim to progress, no matter how impressive its GDP figures appear on paper. President Irfaan Ali has spoken often of good governance and transparency. The new year demands more than speeches and slogans. If the President is serious about clean governance, then corruption must be confronted without fear or favour, not selectively or rhetorically. Institutions must be strengthened, not bent.

Accountability must be real, not cosmetic. Guyana's wealth must uplift the many, not entrench the privilege of the few. Anything less is a betrayal of both promise and people.

It has been sung that “what a difference a day makes.” This New Year, now only hours old, stretches long before us. No prophets walk among us, and no one knows what 2026 will bring. But Guyana has the potential for greatness beyond oil, a richness measured not only in barrels and balance sheets, but in dignity, security, and shared opportunity.

In the months ahead, there will be grand visions, stirring promises, and carefully rehearsed performances. This is when vigilance matters most. This is when hope must be tempered with hard questions.

Who is a genuine servant of the people, and who is merely a wolf in sheep's clothing? Who will resist the seductive pull of oil wealth, and who is already rehearsing their sellout? Experience has taught Guyanese to be wary.

Too many leaders who once spoke of integrity have since been ensnared by power and privilege, their words twisting into knots of half-truths and outright falsehoods. Unable or unwilling to dig themselves out, they choose instead to dig deeper, dragging the country with them. Meanwhile, poverty persists in a land of plenty. Too many Guyanese are hungry, anxious, and afraid conditions no child of this rich soil should endure.

There is too much wealth for this level of hardship, too many resources for so much want. The last four to five years, and those before them, have written a record that should never be repeated. As 2026 begins, Guyana stands at a familiar crossroads. The road ahead can lead to renewal or repetition, reform or regression. The choice is stark, the stakes enormous. A new year alone changes nothing, but a determined people just might.

GPHC says no medication, including chemotherapy drugs is delayed due to budgetary constraints Dear Editor, The Management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to strongly refute the claim published today, December 30, 2025, in the Stabroek News Letter to the Editor entitled “ P a t i e n t T o l d Chemotherapy Has to Await Budget.”

GPHC categorically states that no medication, including chemotherapy drugs is delayed due to budgetary constraints.

While it is true that some medications across the hospital may, from time to time, be tempora r i l y unavailable, such occurrences are the result of global and regional supply chain challenges and procurement timelines, not budgetary limitations.

Cancer care remains a top c l i n i c a l p r i o r i t y, a n d chemotherapy services continue to be provided based on medical urgency and clinical scheduling.

If any patient or family

member was indeed informed that chemotherapy treatment must “await budget,” Management urgently requests that the individual come forward to provide a formal statement, including the name of the staff member who allegedly made this claim, so that the matter can be thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed.

GPHC remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the

delivery of safe, ethical, and timely medical care to all patients. Members of the public are encouraged to verify information through official hospital channels and to report concerns directly to management for immediate attention.

Regards, Stacy Peters M a n a g e r , Communications Strategic Management Department Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Guyana's development provides immense opportunity in the healthcare sector Dear Editor, This week the world's first robotic heart transplant was successfully completed in the U.S. The technology has shown substantial benefits for both patients and doctors. The precision of the operation has increased, the time it takes and the level of invasiveness of the procedure has also reduced.

This will lead to a faster recovery for the patient and should help reduce overall expenses.

Given the technology involved and the machine learning tools available, artificial intelligence will certainly be able to play a more significant role in future surgical procedures.

Guyana has an opportunity to bring this technology into our medical field while also leveraging the expertise of o rg a n i s a t i o n s s u c h a s Doctors Without Borders to fill the current gaps being faced in our newly built hospitals. As our country

continues down the path of development, we must ensure that we not only meet the basic needs of our citizens but are also able provide the best healthcare possible by staying at the forefront of technological advances and innovation in the medical sector.

The future is ours for the taking and the stronger our healthcare sector becomes the more attractive our country will also be for those seeking a tropical paradise in

which to retire and reconnect with nature. The ecotourism and healthcare tourism markets can be very lucrative and substantial in size. It is CRG's hope that the upcoming budget presentation will cater for these opportunities via targeted and strategic investments in these sectors.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Grand Vision or Grand Larceny?

Dear Editor, To the Taxpayers (The Benefactors) & the Citizens (The Beneficiaries): The nation stand at the crossroads. The government has unveiled a housing "vision" so massive it threatens to eclipse our national budget and overwhelm our common sense. While we are told to applaud the "bold intuition" of our leaders, the math tells a story not of ambition, but of a calculated, predictable purging of the public purse.

I. The Impossible Arithmetic of "Success" The administration—led by t h e Vi c e P r e s i d e n t ' s declarations and the Minister's social media addresses—has set a target of 40,000 homes over 5 years. That is 8,000 homes annually, or 22 houses delivered every single day, blatant-tomfoolery.

The Reality Check: Logistical Ha s t e : Building 22 houses a day in a country with two rainy seasons and a documented technical labour shortage is not "ambitious"—it is a recipe for structural failure.

The Inspection Gap: To ensure value for money, we would need an army of independent inspectors.

Without them, "quality assurance" is sacrificed to meet political quotas, leaving the beneficiary with defective buildings, while the contractor walks away with the profit. It's not only about implementation, but technical and regulatory oversight.

The Contractor Load: Splitting 8,000 annual units among ~260 "pre-qualified" contractors mean each must deliver 30 units a year perfectly.

With some aspects being time-constrained and in a market where sand, cement, and skilled labor are already scarce, this will trigger scarcity-driven inflation, making the "affordable" home a debt-trap for the poor.

II. Deconstructing the $800 Billion Price Tag The Vice President has stated that it costs roughly $5 million GYD just to prepare a single house lot (roads, drains, light, water) before a brick is laid. When we aggregate the infrastructure and the build-out across the projected 5-year cycle, we are looking at a total investment nearing $800 Billion GYD.

Where is the Money Actually Going?

Official Target: 40,000 Homes in 5 Years (8,000 per year).

Infrastructure Cost (Per VP): $5 Million per parcel ($200 Billion total for 40k lots).

Construction Estimate: $10M - $15M per unit.

Questionable in the absence of designs and Bill of Quantities The "Larceny" Margin: When a vision is pushed without transparent financial feasibility or technical surveys, the gap between the "stated cost" and the "actual value" becomes a bottom—less pit for public funds. This is a “wealth transfer” masquerading as a welfare program.

III. A Call to t h e Parliamentary Opposition (The PAC-in-Waiting) To the Opposition in waiting: Your work begins now, in absentia. You will eventually chair the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the audit trail for this $800 Billion must start today.

We call on you to demand the immediate release of: 1. Technical Surveys: Where is the soil testing and

environmental impact data for these 40,000 sites?

2. Procurement Transparency: How were 264 contractors "prequalified" without public tenders that reflect true market competition?

3. Inflation Protections: What is the plan to prevent state-led spending from pricing the average private builder-homeowner out of the market?

Do not wait for the Auditor General's report three years from now to tell us the money is gone. The "predictable purge" is happening in real-time.

Conclusion: More Suspicious than Ambitious We cannot allow a "Grand Vision" to become a "Grand L a r c e n y. " W h e n t h e government avoids sound technical research and proffers data that defies the laws of physics and economics, it is no longer a housing drive—it is an expose in progress.

Taxpayers, wake up. The alarm is sounding. Let's stop the foundation of our future from being built on the quicksand of corruption.

Sincerely Hemdutt Kumar

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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When the Architects of Artificial Intelligence Disagree: Why Guyana Must Listen Now Dear Editor, Eric Schmidt is the former Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Google, where he helped scale one of the most powerful technology platforms in history.

In recent years he has emerged as a leading policy voice on artificial intelligence, advising governments on national security, cyber-risk, and technological competition.

Geoffrey Hinton, long known as the “Godfather of Artificial Intelligence,” is

Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and one of the original architects of deep learning, the mathematical foundation on which modern AI systems such as ChatGPT are built.

His research made today's AI revolution possible.

These are not commentators. They are builders.

What follows is not a literal transcript. It is a simulated intellectual conversation, synthesised from their published interviews, lectures, and

public warnings. Its purpose is not drama, but clarity.

Schmidt: “We are approaching a moment where AI systems will be able to improve themselves. At that point, speed becomes our enemy.

Decisions may occur faster than humans can intervene.

Governments are not prepared for this.”

Hinton: “I agree about the speed, but my fear is deeper. We do not understand how these systems represent knowledge internally. When

The PPP at 76 Dear Editor, January 1, 2026, will mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the PPP. Nowadays, little is told about why the party was established, who were its founders and from whence they came. Moreover, very few know that the PPP was removed from office twice by a combination of local and overseas operatives, that it fought against rigged elections at great cost involving loss of lives and tremendous sacrifice by many for many years up to 1992, then it lost power by an aberration in 2015.

For many years, the PPP was blocked from winning elections because, according to one Caribbean leader at that time, “It is better to have rigged elections in Guyana than to have no elections at all.”

Apart from the ideological innuendo that there would be no elections with a 'communist PPP' in power, there was a belief held by some that the PPP could never win elections so long as it did not bend to the PNC dictatorship and to America.

Throughout its long torturous life, like the 'Old Rugged Cross' while party, leaders and activists were shunned and branded to be what they were not owing to outdated convictions held by some who held on to language of the cold-war era and who, Ike ostriches with heads buried in the sand, refused to recognise that the PPP's members and supporters remained solid and unmoved by shibboleths.

The PPP was branded an 'Indian party' for which there

was no place in it for African Guyanese. But this has c h a n g e d d r a m a t i c a l l y.

Nevertheless, the attacks continue, but are so transparent and grotesque and in some cases muted and sophisticated, one is left to wonder whose side the framers are on.

76 years after, the PPP continues to weather the storm, winning election after election rigged or not. Few people would understand why it was necessary during the 1950-1992 period to be a good disciplined member of the PPP, who was expected to be honest and fair in all their dealings with the party, with their comrades and in their own personal life. And not to use the Party for any personal advantage and nor to expect any personal rewards.

It was about encouraging criticism and self-criticism; adhering to the party's code of conduct; about values, character, creative application of theory and practice, and above all, intellectual and spiritual uplifting from reading books on sale at the Michael Forde Bookshop or the Progressive Library, as well as by listening to lectures and speeches by outstanding

party leaders and guest lecturers either at the auditorium of Freedom House, sitting in the gallery of the National Assembly or at public or bottom-house meetings In that particular period, and naturally, because the party was not in government, it was not about bidding for contracts; seeking out perks; nor soliciting invitations to be on the cocktail circle; finally, it was not about “yes Comrade leader and “no Comrade leader” as it was with the PNC. For the PPP, it was about hours, sometimes days of complex and in some cases, delicate discussions on matters of policy and of national interest.

Many who have passed through the 'university of the PPP' have learnt to oppose (Continued on page 14)

a system learns something, we didn't explicitly teach it, we don't know what it knows — or why it knows it.”

Schmidt: “That is why control must remain absolute.

Humans must have override authority — a real kill switch. No matter how advanced the system becomes.”

Hinton: “But what happens when the system learns to persuade its operators not to use that switch? Intelligence does not need consciousness to manipulate incentives. It only needs objectives misaligned with ours.”

Schmidt: “Which is why governance matters. If AI is d e p l o y e d i n m i l i t a r y, finance, energy grids, or telecom systems, the state must regulate it like nuclear technology.”

Hinton: “Regulation alone is insufficient if we do not solve alignment. You can regulate a car. You cannot regulate something that rewrites the rules of the road.”

For Guyana, this is not an abstract philosophical debate.

We are digitising public services, expanding telecom infrastructure, deploying biometric systems,

experimenting with smart city technologies and introducing satellite connectivity across hinterland and coastal regions.

In previous letters published in the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News it has already been a rg u e d t h a t a r t i f i c i a l intelligence is quietly taking control of everyday life in Guyana through automated loan approvals, facial recognition in public spaces, algorithmic profiling of citizens and predictive systems that increasingly influence who receives services and who is excluded.

Those letters warned that these systems are being introduced without public debate, without legislative scrutiny and without a national framework defining who owns the data, who audits the algorithms and who is accountable when errors occur.

The exchange between Schmidt and Hinton shows that these earlier concerns were not exaggerated.

Guyana is not merely adopting new tools; it is importing decision making systems whose internal logic even their creators struggle to interpret.

When such systems become embedded in

government administration, policing, border control, t a x a t i o n a n d telecommunications, the risk is that we construct a digital state operating at speeds and complexities beyond meaningful democratic oversight.

In a society still grappling with inequality, weak regulatory culture and heavy technological dependency, this threatens to displace human judgment with opaque automation and to convert citizens into data objects managed by systems they neither see nor understand.

The warnings coming from Schmidt about loss of control at the systems level and from Hinton about loss of comprehension at the cognitive level converge on the same danger, the gradual erosion of human agency.

Guyana must therefore elevate artificial intelligence from a technical matter to a constitutional and cultural issue.

If we do not begin now to debate control, alignment, transparency and sovereignty in the digital age, we will not simply modernise, we will surrender our capacity to shape the future we are building.

Sincerely, Dr. Walter H. Persaud

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Urgent Inquiry Regarding the Non-Implementation of the 2025 Public Servant Salary Increase and the Status of the Allocated $19B Dear Editor, I write on this final day of the 2025 fiscal year with profound concern and on behalf of countless public servants across Guyana.

This letter seeks urgent clarification on a matter of critical national importance: the non-implementation of the salary increases for public servants, for which a sum of $19 Billion (G$19,000,000,000) was expressly earmarked, debated, and approved within the 2025 National Budget. As you are acutely aware, the national budget is a solemn covenant between the State and its citizens. The specific allocation of $19B

for "increased remuneration and benefits" for public sector employees was a pivotal commitment.

It was presented to the National Assembly and the people of Guyana as a necessary measure to improve the livelihoods of those who serve our nation, to combat the cost of living, and to retain skilled personnel within the government's employ.

It is therefore a source of grave dismay and financial hardship that, as of December 31, 2025, this mandated increase has not b e e n a ff e c t e d . P u b l i c servants—teachers, nurses, police officers, clerks, and

civil servants at every level—have concluded the year having budgeted on a promise that remains unfulfilled.

This failure has tangible consequences, eroding trust, diminishing morale, and undermining the very social contract that enables effective governance.

In light of this serious deviation from the approved national 2025 expenditure, and in the interest of fiscal transparency and constitutional propriety, I, and the public, request explicit answers to the following questions: 1. What were the precise, substantive reasons for the

non-disbursement of the allocated $19B for public servant salary increases in 2025? A detailed, technical explanation beyond generalities, specifying the administrative, legal, or policy impediments that caused this failure will be most welcome.

2. What is the current and final status of the unused $19B allocation? Given that the purpose for which this money was appropriated has not been met, the fundamental principles of public financial management dictate that these funds must be redeposited into the Consolidated Fund as unspent expenditure, in accordance with the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).

3. If the funds are to be

redeposited, what is the specific timeline for this t r a n s a c t i o n ? We a r e requesting information to the exact date by which this redeposit will be completed?

4. How will this be accounted for and made visible to the public? Will the redeposit of this $19B be: · Evidenced by an official receipt or transaction advice from the Bank of Guyana to the Ministry of Finance, a copy of which will be made public? · Clearly reflected as a receipt in the Audited Financial Statements of the Government of Guyana for 2025 to be presented by the Auditor General? · Explicitly accounted for in the upcoming 2026 Budget Estimates as a prioryear balance available in the Consolidated Fund, ensuring it is not lost or re-

appropriated without fresh parliamentary approval?

The people of Guyana, and particularly our dedicated public servants, deserve unambiguous answers.

The handling of this $19B is a test of the government's commitment to accountability. Failure to return these funds to the Consolidated Fund would represent a severe breach of fiduciary duty and an effective diversion of resources approved by Parliament for a specific, unmet purpose.

I, and the public, await your prompt and detailed written response, to be made public, so that this affair may be resolved with the transparency and urgency it demands.

Respectfully, Jonathan Subrian Esq.

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Yassin slams “forced” retirement of former chancellor Senior Counsel and former Chief Magistrate K. Juman Yassin has criticised the manner in which recent appointments at the top of the judiciary was done, raising serious questions about executive discretion, transparency and respect for constitutional norms in Guyana.

And he has opined that former Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards was not liked by the government as a result of the majority decision(s) of the Court of Appeal that she gave with the appeals pertaining to the 2020 elections and as such when she applied to proceed on leave, back in August 2025 a plan was hatched to have her removed. The plan, Yassin said also included to have Justice Navindra Singh being appointed to act as Chief Justice in order to cover any case that might come up before or after the elections to be held on the 1st September, 2025.

“I wish to state that what was done to Madam Cummings-Edwards to force her to retire without giving

her the opportunity to retire with dignity was wrong and failed to consider the decades that she served in the public service. I do hope that there is never a repeat of such an occurrence…” Yassin said in a letter to this newspaper which was published yesterday.

Meanwhile, Yassin, who has practiced law since 1971 was emphatic in distancing himself from partisan politics. His intervention, he explained, is rooted solely in his lifelong commitment to the judiciary and the rule of law. At the heart of the issue is the absence of explanation surrounding the acting appointments of Justice Roxane George as Acting Chancellor and Justice Singh as Acting Chief Justice.

According to Yassin, when appointments depart from established custom and precedent, the failure to provide a clear rationale invites speculation, embarrassment and most dangerously loss of public confidence in the judiciary.

He said while Article 127(2) of the Constitution grants the President discretion to appoint

acting officeholders after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, Yassin cautions that such discretion must never be exercised “willy-nilly.”

Discretion, he argued, does not exist in a vacuum and remains open to scrutiny, particularly when appointments appear inconsistent with experience, seniority and judicial practice.

Importantly, Yassin made it clear that his critique is not personal. He described Justice Roxane George as “the brightest and most learned judge in Guyana,” predicting her eventual elevation to the Caribbean Court of Justice. His concern, therefore, lies not with competence but with process.

Yassin laid out a detailed chronology of judicial appointments and events, culminating in the controversial developments of August and October 2025.

Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards proceeded on leave on August 4, covering the election period announced by

President Irfaan Ali. The following day, Justice George was sworn in as Acting Chancellor and Justice Singh as Acting Chief Justice.

When Acting Chancellor Cummings-Edwards returned on October 23, Justice George appropriately vacated the Chancellor's office, believing quite reasonably that she would resume her previous role as Acting Chief Justice, Yassin pointed out.

He said what followed, however, descended into what Kaieteur News had described as “Confusion in the Courts.” Justice George reportedly found herself locked out of her chambers, which remained occupied by Justice Singh, despite her return and without any communication from the President, his office, or the Judicial Service Commission clarifying her status. To date, Yassin notes, no explanation has been offered. This silence, he warns, is corrosive. In judicial matters, opacity breeds distrust. When judges themselves are left in the dark, what confidence can

Former Chief Magistrate, K. Juman Yassin SC

Former Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards

the public reasonably have?

He stated.

Amid the confusion President Irfaan Ali on October 24, 2025 announced that Justice Cummings had proceeded on early retirement and that Justices George and Singh will continue to perform the duties of Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Acting Chief Justice, respectively. During a live broadcast, President Ali said that Justice CummingsEdwards has requested to proceed on pre-retirement leave beginning Monday, October 27, 2025. “I take this opportunity to thank Madam Justice Cummings-Edwards for her long service to the judiciary and the people of Guyana. I express my personal appreciation for her many years of public

service,” President Ali said.

The president also disclosed via a Facebook post that he administered the oath of office to Justice Singh as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) at State House. Justice Singh will serve a three-year term on the Commission, which was reconstituted in July 2023 after a six-year hiatus.

News Source Guyana had reported prior to the departure of Cummings-Edwards that President Ali had written to outgoing Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton seeking his consensus on the substantive appointment of Justice George as Chancellor and Justice Singh as Chief Justice.

“Mr. Norton received the letter from the Government this afternoon,” the news agency said back then.

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

PAGE 09

Power, the press, and the silence at years end There is a small but telling ritual in democratic politics that rarely makes the textbooks but looms large in practice: the end-of-year press conference. It is not ceremonial in the way of a budget speech or a state opening of parliament. It is looser, messier, and for that very reason more revealing.

For decades, political leaders in mature and emerging democracies alike have stood before skeptical reporters at years end to account for what was done, what failed, and what lies ahead. The

tradition is rooted less in pageantry than in necessitythe need for power to submit itself, at least b r i e f l y, t o u n s c r i p t e d questioning.

The modern version of this ritual took shape in the mid-twentieth century, as mass media expanded and politics learned to coexist with the glare of persistent s c r u t i n y. F r a n k l i n Roosevelts press conferences, though carefully managed, established the idea that the head of government owed

reporters regular access.

Later, leaders like de Gaulle, Nixon, and Thatchereach in their own way suspicious of the pressnonetheless understood the value of an annual reckoning. Even authoritarian-leaning governments learned that refusing the press outright only fueled speculation and distrust. The end-of-year press conference became a pressure valve: a chance to project confidence, to frame the narrative, and to signal that the leader was not afraid of questions.

DEM BOYS SEH New Year, Same Old Promises (But We Wish Yall Well Anyway)

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em boys seh when New Year come, everybody does turn philosopher, preacher, fitness coach and financial expert all in one. From midnight reach cockcrow, yuh hearing, “Dis is meh year!” Same people who swear last year was also dem year, but somehow de year run off wid dem money, dem waistline, and dem good intentions.

Dem boys seh as de fireworks buss and de rum cork pop, everybody quick to mek big plans.

Gym full from January 1st to January 10th, then by January 15th is back to “ah does walk plenty at work.” Diet start strongsalad, water, positive vibesuntil cook-up rice call yuh name and whisper, “Just one plate nah go kill yuh.”

But in all de joking aside, dem boys seh New Year is a serious thing too. Is a time fuh pause and remember dem who aint make it to see another calendar turn. Some chairs empty this year, some phones silent, some jokes missing a voice.

So while we laughing and carrying on, is good fuh pour a lil extra drink, say a quiet

prayer, and remember dem who walk wid we but now watching from higher ground.

Dem boys seh New Year resolutions does have one special power: dem does mek people lie to demself wid confidence. “Ah gon save money dis year,” seh man who already owe everybody from Parika to Port Mourant.

“Ah gon stop procrastinating,” seh woman… tomorrow. Still, dem boys seh hope is a stubborn thing, and Guyanese is world champions at hope.

Dem boys seh we wish everybody success in whatever dem planningnew job, new business, new love, or just peace of mind. If yuh plan to mind yuh own business more in 2026, dem boys seh dat alone would improve de economy.

And finally, dem boys seh may dis New Year bring sense where sense short, patience where traffic long, and better behaviour where comment sections wild. If nothing else, may we survive another year fuh laugh at weselfbecause if we dont, Guyana surely will.

Talk half. Leff half.

In smaller economies and newer democracies, the tradition took on added weight. Where institutions are still consolidating and political power can feel concentrated, regular press engagements serve as a proxy for deeper accountability. An end-ofyear press conference tells citizens that their questionsfiltered through the pressare legitimate. It reassures investors, civil society, and ordinary voters that the government is prepared to defend its record in real time, without the comfort of scripted applause.

That is why one of the more disappointing notes as 2025 drew to a close in Guyana was the absence of such an engagement by the Head of State with the mainstream media. This was not a year marked by economic embarrassment or political retreat. On the contrary, the government has boastedoften and loudlyabout the performance of the economy, growth across multiple sectors, and ambitious plans for the future.

In such circumstances, history suggests not caution but confidence. Most politicians governing an economy like ours, flush with positive indicators and forward-looking projections, would be eager to celebrate their achievements before the nations press corps.

Yet that moment never came. Instead of a traditional end-of-year press conference, the President

opted for what was presented as an interview with a select group of individuals. The setting was controlled, the tone deferential, and the questionsif one is being charitablepredictable. This was not accountability as the term is commonly understood in modern democratic practice. It was not the rough-and-tumble exchange that forces leaders to clarify contradictions, defend choices, or acknowledge missteps. It was a curated exercise, closer to a promotional segment than a public reckoning.

There is something unsettling about this preference for selective engagement, especially when it becomes habitual.

Governments that are confident in their record do not usually fear the mainstream press; they manage it. They show up, absorb the uncomfortable questions, correct the record where necessary, and move on. Avoidance, by contrast, breeds suspicion. It suggests either a discomfort with scrutiny or a belief that scrutiny itself is illegitimate unless tightly controlled.

Neither interpretation reflects well on a government that insists it has little to hide.

The absence of regular, open press conferences also diminishes the role of the media as an intermediary between power and the public. Mainstream journalists, for all their flaws, represent a diversity of audiences and concerns.

To bypass them in favor of a hand-picked few is to narrow

the national conversation and to erode a long-standing democratic convention.

Over time, this practice normalizes opacity and lowers expectations.

Citizens begin to accept that access to power is a privilege granted selectively, not a right exercised routinely.

As 2026 approaches, one hopes this silence is not a permanent feature but a temporary misjudgment.

Traditions matter in politics precisely because they shape behavior and expectations.

An end-of-year press conference is not a threat to authority; it is a demonstration of it, properly understood. It says that the President is prepared to stand before the nation, through its mainstream media, and answer for the year that was.

If the coming year brings a return to regular, open press conferencesreal ones, not carefully stage-managed substitutesit will signal a welcome recommitment to transparency and democratic confidence. Guyanas progress, by the governments own account, should be strong enough to withstand a few hard questions. In a modern state, that is not too much to ask.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 2026 Monday May 02,01, 2022

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Guyana concludes tenure on UN Security Council Guyana has concluded its two-year term as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council. The tenure began on January 1, 2024 and was guided by the overarching theme “Partnering for Peace and Prosperity,” the Office of the President said in a press release.

According to the government Guyana's tenure on the Council coincided with a period of profound global and regional

upheaval. Major crises included the war in Ukraine; th e c o n f lict in G a za ; violence in Sudan; the spread of terrorism and violent extremism across the S a h e l ; t h e Ta l i b a n ' s intensified repression of women's rights in Afghanistan; and the protracted conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Security Council also confronted severe humanitarian and political crises in Haiti,

S y r i a , Ye m e n , a n d M y a n m a r, a l o n g s i d e emerging developments in the Caribbean Sea. In 2025, renewed tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as between Cambodia and Thailand, further strained international security. The Council also faced difficult decisions on financing African Union–led peace operations, while also addressing worsening food insecurity in conflictaffected regions, the

Facilitators of fraudulent driver's licenses to be fired this month - Ali

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resident Irfaan Ali announced Tuesday that officials who helped persons to access driver's licenses without completing the necessary requirement may find themselves out of a job this month.

During an online interview, the president relayed that an audit was conducted at the Guyana Revenue Authority which revealed some shocking data.

“Now look at the license…early in January, you will see a lot of people being sent home. We have just completed examining the records of all the license issued at GRA verses how many persons pass the theoretical test and how many pass the practical test and I can tell you the results is alarming because you can't go on to the practical if you don't pass theory.”

He explained that the government was able to obtain this data because of the digitised examinations.

The theoretical examinations are now being done electronically and the results are being issues the same way, reducing the human bias.

“We must never have the type of situation that robs this country of hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue.

So, we're building everything on systems driven by technology on a digital backbone to improve e f f i c i e n c y, e n h a n c e accountability and improve transparency,” he added.

In early December, the president had warned that drivers who obtained licenses without completing the required theoretical or

President Irfaan Ali practical exams will be charged and have those licences suspended if they fail to turn in the fraudulent documents within six weeks.

The president had said his government's increasing integration with technology played a key role in uncovering discrepancies in the licensing process. He explained that post-audits, facilitated by technology, had revealed significant irregularities, particularly with drivers obtaining licenses without completing the necessary exams.

“Technology is your friend,” the president said, noting that it enables the government to recheck the entire system, adding a layer o f a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. H e stressed that the government is now able to cross-check data, identifying individuals who passed the theoretical exam but did not take the practical exam, and vice versa.

“We can tell all those who wrote the theoretical exam and pass and that is the only way you can move forward with the practical exam, and we can tell all those who got a practical certificate and all those who actually got a licence with GRA, so we were able to triangulate the entire process and we understand the

discrepancies within the whole process,” he said.

The president noted that the number of drivers who completed their theoretical and practical exam is less than drivers who have licences. “If you have 150 people passing the theory but you have 400 people getting their practical certificate, something is wrong. And we are going to make those findings available,” President Ali said.

In efforts to rectify this, the government plans to publish the names of these individuals in local newspapers. Those affected will have six weeks to come forward and complete the necessary steps to regain their valid licenses. After this period, those who fail to comply will have their licences suspended and face prosecution.

“We have all the names of persons who got their practical paper but never passed the theoretical exam and we are going to give those persons in the public domain six weeks to surrender themselves and go through back the process or after that we are going to publish all the names in the newspaper, suspend their licence and prosecute them.

That is the only way we can beat this corruption. We have to prosecute all parties involved,” the president declared.

He added, “GRA would have given more licence than practical and theoretical passes, so we are now triangulating the entire process and we have all the date and information before us. Technology and the use of technology will be deployed at full scale and that is what we are doing.

government noted. Its agenda included issues such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel, the future of multilateralism, and peacekeeping reform. These matters were deliberated on amid deep geopolitical divisions among the permanent members, which often hindered the achievement of consensus, the release said.

Additionally, government Guyana had the distinction of presiding over the Security Council in February 2024 and again in June 2025. Under Guyana's presidency, two signature events focused on “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security” (February 2024) a n d " P o v e r t y , Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for

International Peace and Security" (June 2025).

Guyana also played a notable role in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, the Climate Peace and Security Agenda, the Youth Peace and Security Agenda and the Children and Armed Conflict file. It worked closely with Switzerland and Slovenia to draw attention to conflictinduced food insecurity as an Informal Co-Focal Point on Conflict and Hunger.

During its tenure on the Security Council, Guyana pursued an active and collaborative approach, working closely with elected members and regional partners to advance inclusive, principled, and pragmatic responses to international peace and security challenges.

Key actions and contributions during Guyana's tenure included: A3+ Collaboration:

Guyana worked closely with the African members of the Council—Algeria, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone in 2024, and Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia in 2025—under the A3+ Mechanism. Together, the A3+ partners co-authored resolutions, Presidential Statements, and press statements on situations including Sudan, Libya, B e n i n , a n d t h e G u y a n a – Ve n e z u e l a controversy.

Engagement with Elected Members (E10): Guyana coordinated with the ten elected members to advocate for ceasefires and expanded humanitarian access in Gaza, including the co-authorship of several resolutions addressing the situation.

Youth, Peace and Security: We co-authored with Sierra Leone a landmark resolution on Youth, Peace (Continued on page 13)

107 Region Two residents trained to strengthen Community and Patient Care Services

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total of 107 persons from Region Two on Tuesday graduated from the Ministry of Health's Patient Care Assistant (PCA) and Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Programme, marking another milestone in the Government's efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level.

The graduation ceremony, held at the Anna Regina Multilateral School, celebrated the achievements of 59 Patient Care Assistants and 48 Community Health Workers who successfully completed their respective training programmes, the Ministry of Health said in a press release.

The graduates are now equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies needed to support quality healthcare services across the region.

T h e t r a i n i n g programmes were designed to enhance patient-centered care, improve community outreach, and bolster frontline health services.

Graduates received instruction in areas including basic clinical care, infection

prevention and control, patient support, health promotion, and community engagement. Officials from the Ministry of Health commended the graduates for their dedication and resilience throughout the training period, noting that their contribution will be vital in strengthening service delivery at health posts, health centres, and hospitals throughout Region Two. Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their training programmes and commended the tutors for their dedication and commitment to imparting knowledge and skills to the students.

He explained that the Ministry of Health has been actively developing clear care pathways, enabling individuals to be trained, equipped, and progress across various areas within the health sector. “ P r e v i o u s l y, i t w a s challenging for Patient Care Assistants or Community Health Workers to transition into other programmes such as nursing. We have changed that. No one should remain stagnant at one level, we want to make access to

education easier and progression more attainable,” Dr. Anthony said.

The minister also highlighted the Ministry's hybrid training programmes, which allow theoretical components to be delivered virtually while practical training is conducted in person. He noted that this platform currently supports the training of close to 800 participants, expanding access to education while maintaining high training standards.

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to investing in human resources for health, emphasising that programmes such as these play a critical role in expanding access to healthcare, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring that communities receive timely and compassionate care. With the addition of these newly trained PCAs and CHWs, Region Two is expected to benefit from improved healthcare coverage, enhanced community-based services, and a more responsive health system aligned with national health priorities.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Standing the line for workers: GAWU closes 2025 with

renewed calls for increase in minimum wage As 2025 comes to a close, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is making it clear: this was not a year of retreat for working people, but one of resistance, resilience and real progress.

And the union has repeated its call for an increase in the national mini wage.

In a period marked by economic pressures, workplace uncertainty and global instability, GAWU said it remained firmly planted on the frontlines, defending workers' rights and advancing the interests of thousands of employees across the sugar industry and other sectors where the Union holds bargaining rights.

Minimum wage In reiterating its call for an improvement in the national minimum wage, GAWU in a lengthy end-ofyear statement said: “A fair and living minimum wage is essential to ensuring that workers can meet their basic needs and live with dignity.

While adjustments have been made in recent years, the Union maintains that the current level requires revision. Improving the national minimum wage is

not only a matter of social justice, but also an investment in national development, as it strengthens purchasing power, reduces poverty and promotes social stability.”

The union said it will continue to advocate vigorously for policies that place workers at the centre of development.

This includes support for decent work, respect for labour rights, access to training and skills development, and social protection for the most vulnerable. GAWU also emphasises the importance of continuous development that is inclusive and sustainable, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared broadly across society. “As 2025 comes to a close, GAWU extends its heartfelt thanks to its members for their trust, solidarity, and resilience.

The Union also acknowledges the dedication of its shop stewards, activists and staff who worked tirelessly throughout the year in service of the membership.

Their commitment remains the backbone of the organisation. GAWU takes

President of GAWU, Seepaul Narine this opportunity to wish all Guyanese a prosperous, peaceful and productive 2026.

The Union expresses hope that the coming year will bring continued development, greater opportunities and improved living standards for all. As Guyana continues its journey of transformation, GAWU stands ready to play its part in ensuring that progress is just, inclusive and respectful of workers' rights.”

GAWU said throughout 2025, it has continued to stand firmly on the frontlines in defence of its members, noting that it actively engaged with employers, state agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that

workers' voices were heard and respected. “Where rights were threatened or agreements disregarded, GAWU did not hesitate to intervene. Through c o l l e c t i v e b a rg a i n i n g , representation at grievance hearings, engagement with the Ministry of Labour, and, where necessary, public advocacy, the Union ensured that workers were not left to confront challenges on their own. This consistent defence of membership remains one of the core pillars of GAWU's work and one of its proudest achievements during the year under review,” the union stated.

According to the trade union, safeguarding workers' rights remained central to the Union's agenda in 2025. “GAWU continued to insist on respect for established labour laws, collective labour agreements and international labour standards.

Issues related to job security, fair treatment, occupational health and safety, working hours, and access to benefits were actively pursued. The union also maintained vigilance against arbitrary practices and any attempts to erode

hard-won gains. In doing so, GAWU reaffirmed that workers' rights are not privileges to be granted at convenience, but fundamental entitlements that must be upheld at all times,” the statement read.

According to GAWU, beyond defending existing rights, it remained focused on advancing new benefits and improving the conditions under which workers labour. In 2025, the Union engaged in negotiations and discussions aimed at securing better wages, improved allowances, enhanced safety measures, and greater respect for workers' dignity.

While challenges persist and not all objectives have yet been realised, meaningful progress was made in several areas. Importantly, the Union's consistent advocacy kept workers' issues firmly on the national agenda and reinforced the principle that development must be inclusive and peoplecentred.

Sugar The union said a significant development during 2025 has been the improvement in sugar production, noting that after

years of decline and uncertainty within the sugar industry, the increased output recorded this year represents an encouraging sign. “Sugar workers, who have endured closures, restructuring and instability, demonstrated once again their skill, dedication and commitment.

Their contribution to the improved performance of the industry cannot be o v e r s t a t e d . G AW U acknowledges the hard work of all the workers who, despite difficult circumstances, continued to produce and deliver.

The improvement in sugar production also underscores the importance of stability, investment and sound management in the industry. It reinforces GAWU's long-held position that sugar remains a vital component of Guyana's economy and a critical source of livelihoods for thousands of families and communities.

While challenges remain, the positive trends in production during 2025 offer hope that, with the right policies and continued support, the industry can be (Continued on page 15)

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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Complete assessment of gold mining sector to be presented January 5 – Pres. Ali

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resident Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced t h a t a comprehensive assessment of Guyana's mining sector will be completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to

strengthen accountability, environmental protection and production compliance across the industry.

During an engagement with journalists and students on Tuesday, President Ali stated that the assessment

will review every mining licence, claim, and operational decision, with firm action to follow where miners fail to declare production or hold lands without productive use.

“On the fifth of January,

Guyana concludes tenure on...

From page 11 and Security aimed at strengthening the mainstreaming of youth across the peace and security agenda.

The resolution calls, inter alia, for enhanced youth participation and leadership in peace processes, conflict prevention, peace-building, recovery, and reconstruction at all levels, and was unanimously adopted by the Council on 12 December 2025.

Leadership in Subsidiary Bodies: Guyana chaired the Security Council Sanctions Committees on Haiti and Guinea-Bissau, and served a s Vi c e - C h a i r o f t h e Committees concerning Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. We also actively contributed to the work of other subsidiary bodies.

High-Level Engagement and Field Missions: Guyana helped to organise and lead high-level briefings, debates, and expert engagements, including a Security Council mission to Colombia in February 2024 and an informal expert field mission to Chad in December 2025.

Guyana also convened the annual open debate on Children and Armed Conflict.

Coordination and Regional Outreach: Guyana was honoured to serve as Coordinator for the E10 group (October 2024 and October 2025), the A3+ group (January–March 2025), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Caucus in the Security Council. In this capacity, Guyana worked closely with CARICOM and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to elevate regional perspectives and priorities.

Civil Society Engagement: “We collaborated with civil society organisations to facilitate briefings for Council members, enhancing understanding of on-the-ground realities in several conflict-affected situations,” the release stated.

During Guyana's period of service, the Security Council adopted 90 resolutions, 15 Presidential Statements, 77 Press Statements, and 21 Notes by the President, all of which were the subject of negotiation. Throughout this time, Guyana was widely regarded as a principled and constructive actor, firmly c o m m i t t e d t o multilateralism, the United Nations Charter, and the rule of international law.

“Guyana's service on the Security Council has brought immense acclaim

and enhanced the country's standing on the global stage.

Guyana's successful tenure on the Security Council over the past two years is owed to the outstanding support and tireless exertions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Special recognition is due to Guyana's Mission to the United Nations and their counterparts at home, whose dedicated efforts spearheaded this national endeavour.

Guyana also expresses deep appreciation to its international partners, whose cooperation, goodwill, and constructive engagement strengthened the country's work on the Council.

Through these combined efforts, Guyana's contributions on the Council remained consistently principled, effective, and widely respected. All of Guyana can take great pride in this collective achievement.

As this service concludes, Guyana takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the shared pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity, striving together with partners across regions, hemispheres, and the global community to build a more just, inclusive, and harmonious world,” the release concluded.

there will be a complete assessment on every single licence, every single field, and strong decisions will be taken,” President Ali said.

The head of state announced that gold declarations will now be linked to mercury purchases to reduce under-declaration, environmental harm, and illegal activities in the industry. “We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations. If they have land that they are working on and there is no

serious decline, has recovered thanks to significant financial incentives that have helped protect miners and workers during global crises and supported communities near rivers and in remote areas.

The government has improved enforcement efforts, helping authorities identify new smuggling methods.

As part of these efforts, a multi-agency task force was established to conduct rigorous and ongoing

benefits directly and indirectly from mining, making it critical to balance economic opportunity with strict oversight and e n v i r o n m e n t a l responsibility.

The president emphasised that Guyana's development model is rooted in accountability and longterm sustainability, noting that stronger oversight in mining is necessary to ensure natural resources generate real production and national benefit. (DPI)

Bandits relieve city men of cash, phones and jewels

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andits armed with a gun and r i d i n g a motorcycle robbed three men of their cellphones, cash and jewellery during an attack at Harpy Drive, North East La Penitence, Georgetown Tuesday night.

Police in a press release said the robbery occurred

around 21:50hrs during which three males ages 23, 35 and 37, all of North East La Penitence were relieved of a quantity of cash, a cellular phone, jewellery and other personal items.

Preliminary enquiries revealed that two unidentifiable males on a motorcycle, one of whom

declaration, those lands will be repossessed,” the president stated.

He stressed that environmental destruction without production will not be tolerated. “There is no sense destroying the environment if there is no production,” President Ali added.

Dr. Ali observed that the mining sector, which faced a

assessments of gold declarations. The task force comprises the attorneygeneral, finance minister, the commissioner-general of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, and representatives of the Guyana Gold Board. He said thousands of Guyanese

was armed with a handgun approached the victims and carried out the robbery before escaping. Ranks visited and processed the scene. No injuries were reported. CCTV cameras were observed and will be reviewed. Efforts are being made to locate the suspects.

Investigations continue.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Israel to bar 37 aid groups as UK and EU warn of severe impact in Gaza (BBC) - Israel is to revoke the licences of 37 international nongovernmental organisations (INGOs) working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules.

ActionAid, International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières and Norwegian Refugee Council are among the aid agencies which will have their licences suspended on 1 J a n u a r y, w i t h t h e i r operations to end within 60 days.

Israel said they had, among other things, failed to hand over "complete" personal details of their staff.

The INGOs said that could put them at risk.

The move was condemned by 10 countries, which said the rules would

have a severe impact on access to essential services.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Japan, N o r w a y, S w e d e n a n d Switzerland said INGOs were integral to the humanitarian response in Gaza and that any attempt to stem their ability to operate was "unacceptable".

"Without them, it will be impossible to meet all urgent needs at the scale required," they warned.

The European Union's humanitarian chief, Hadja Lahbib, said: "Israel's plans to block INGOs in Gaza means blocking life-saving aid."

International humanitarian law "leaves no room for doubt: aid must reach those in need," she added.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the INGO suspensions "outrageous" and "arbitrary", and said they made "an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza".

The Humanitarian

C o u n t r y Te a m o f t h e Occupied Palestinian Territory - a forum that brings together UN agencies and more than 200 local and international NGOs - urged the Israeli authorities to reconsider the registration

decisions.

It has said INGOs run or support most of Gaza's field hospitals and primary healthcare centres, emergency shelter responses, water and sanitation services, nutrition stabilisation centres for children with acute malnutrition, and critical mine action activities.

Israel's ministry of diaspora affairs, which oversees registration applications, said the new measures would not affect the flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

It said aid continued to be delivered through "approved and vetted channels", including UN agencies, bilateral partners, and humanitarian organisations.

Israeli military body Cogat, which controls Gaza's crossings and coordinates aid deliveries, meanwhile said the INGOs facing suspension "did not

bring aid into Gaza throughout the current ceasefire", which began 11 weeks ago. It added that "even in the past their combined contribution amounted to only about 1% of the total aid volume".

The diaspora affairs ministry said the primary reason INGOs had their licences revoked was "the refusal to provide complete and verifiable information regarding their employees," which it said was critical to preventing "the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures".

Fewer than 15% of the INGOs providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza were found to be in violation of the new regulatory framework, it added.

That framework includes several grounds for rejection, including: Ÿ Denying the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state Ÿ Denying the Holocaust or the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 Ÿ Supporting an armed struggle against Israel by an enemy state or terrorist organisation Ÿ P r o m o t i n g "delegitimisation campaigns" against Israel Ÿ Calling for a boycott of Israel or committing to participate in one Ÿ Supporting the (Continued on page 16)

Urgent Inquiry Regarding...

From page 5 war, be it racial, tribal or religious; that national and working- class unity and peace, at home or abroad is to be nurtured and treasured; that human development, be it social, cultural, economic and environmental is to be supported in whatever shape or form so long it is peoplecentered.

'The university of the PPP' birthed many who would have studied abroad and returned home as qualified professionals; the party afforded the opportunity for many to develop the cultural, religious and intellectual attributes of others. Through its solidarity with friends and comrades abroad, members were exposed to the way of life of the peoples in foreign

countries; provided medical attention free of cost and recreational opportunities to those in need.

Seventy-six years later, many of the programmatic features and characteristics that distinguishes the PPP from others in or out of government, remain intact especially in the social sector where great advances have been made. And as we reminisce about the past 76 years of the PPP's stewardship as an opposition and ruling party, we should keep in mind, Victor Hugo, the French romantic writer and politician who wrote; 'Change your opinions, keep your principles, change your leaves, keep intact your roots' Your faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

Thursday January 01, 2026

GAWU closes 2025 with...

From page 12 further revitalised for the benefit of workers and the nation as a whole.”

In this regard, GAWU said it recognises the significance of the financial support provided by the Government of Guyana to the sugar industry. “The government's interventions during this period were crucial in sustaining operations, preserving jobs and creating the conditions for improved production. Such support reflects an understanding of the industry's strategic and social importance, as well as the communities that depend o n i t . G AW U h a s consistently argued that sugar workers should not be made to bear the burden of structural challenges alone; the government's financial backing has helped prevent further hardship and dislocation.”

Accountability At the same time, the Union emphasises that financial support must go hand in hand with accountability, transparency and a clear commitment to workers' welfare. “Investments in the industry must translate into job security, improved working conditions and fair compensation for workers.

GAWU remains committed to engaging constructively with both the government and industry management to ensure that the benefits of support a n d i m p r o v e d performance are shared equitably with those whose labour sustains the industry.”

Looking ahead The union said as it reflects on 2025, it also looks ahead to 2026, a truly milestone year in the Union's history. “In 2026, GAWU will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its recognition in the sugar industry.

This landmark anniversary is not merely a ceremonial occasion; it is a moment of profound historical significance for the Union and for sugar workers across Guyana.

That attainment was heralded by a poll that took place on December 31, 1975, and saw the Union obtain the overwhelming majority of the votes cast.

The period leading up to union recognition was marked

by hardship, struggle and sacrifice. Workers faced intimidation, victimisation and resistance from powerful interests opposed to u n i o n i s a t i o n . Wo r k i n g conditions were harsh, wages were low, and workers had little said in decisions that affected their lives and livelihoods. The journey to recognition was difficult, hard and arduous, requiring courage, unity and perseverance from workers and union leaders alike.”

According to GAWU despite these obstacles, the workers and the Union persevered. “Through collective action, solidarity and unwavering determination, sugar workers asserted their right to organise and to be represented.

Recognition in 1976 marked the culmination of years of struggle and served as a turning point that transformed industrial relations in the sugar industry. It opened the door to real collective bargaining, improved wages, better working conditions and greater respect for workers' rights.”

Pioneers As GAWU approaches this 50th anniversary, the union honours the pioneers and stalwarts who laid the foundation for today's achievements. The union said their sacrifices and struggles continue to inspire the Union's work and remind current and future generations of workers that rights are won through struggle and must be defended through vigilance and unity.

The anniversary will also serve as an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and to chart a course for the future in a rapidly changing economic and social landscape.

Looking ahead, GAWU remains firmly committed to the working class of Guyana.

“The Union recognises that while progress has been made, many challenges persist.

Rising costs of living, income inequality, job insecurity and the impact of economic transformation all place pressure on workers and their families. In this context, the role of a strong, principled and responsive trade union movement is more important than ever.”

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

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(St Lucia Times) International affairs professional Stephen Fevrier has warned that Saint Lucia must act decisively to reform its Citizenship by Investment Programme or risk being drawn into looming United States visa sanctions already impacting parts of the Eastern Caribbean.

He stressed that the restrictions now affecting Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and others are not sudden policy shifts, but rather the culmination of a security agenda that Washington has been signaling since the start of the Trump Administration.

“From its very first day, the Trump Administration signaled its intention to impose visa restrictions on countries that do not comply with US security requirements,” Fevrier said.

He pointed to January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14161, titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National

Security and Public Safety Threats. The order, Fevrier explained, made clear that Washington intended to tighten border controls and enforce stricter immigration and national security standards.

“Failing compliance, visa restrictions ranging from partial to full bans would be imposed on non-compliant governments,” he said.

Although the executive order did not spell out exactly how the policy would be enforced, Fevrier noted that a March 14 report by The New York Times revealed a draft US watch list placing Saint Lucia in a “yellow” category. Countries in that group were effectively put on notice and given 60 days to come into compliance.

“Saint Lucia was not immediately sanctioned, but we were certainly not in the clear,” Fevrier cautioned.

On June 4, the White House issued Proclamation 10949, which introduced the first round of bans. Twelve countries were fully banned and seven were partially restricted. Saint Lucia was not

named, but Fevrier said that optimism was short-lived.

“A few days later, credible media outlets confirmed the existence of a State Department cable sent to 36 countries, including Saint Lucia, warning that full or partial travel bans would be imposed if security benchmarks were not met,” he explained.

By December, those warnings became concrete action.

A new White House proclamation issued on December 16 cited national security risks, government fraud, poor passport security, and weak oversight of citizenship by investment programmes as justification for further restrictions. Three days later, the US State Department announced that visa issuance would be partially suspended for nationals of 19 countries beginning January 1, 2026, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

While Saint Lucia was again spared, Fevrier warned that the country remains vulnerable, largely because of its Citizenship by Investment Programme. “The core concern for Washington is CBI

programmes without a residency requirement, which pose challenges for screening and vetting purposes,” he said.

He noted that the US government has explicitly warned that such programmes create opportunities for individuals to evade travel restrictions by acquiring a second citizenship.

“A foreign national from a restricted country could purchase citizenship from a second country, obtain a passport, and then apply for a US visa, effectively bypassing the original restriction,” Fevrier said, referencing the language of the US proclamation.

According to Fevrier, US law enforcement agencies have also found that CBI programmes have historically been susceptible to abuse, including identity concealment and the circumvention of financial controls.

“Regrettably, Saint Lucia and other OECS states with CBI programmes that do not require residency fall squarely into the category of jurisdictions now under heightened

scrutiny,” he said.

The implications extend well beyond diplomacy.

Fevrier said investor confidence in Saint Lucia’s CIP is already being affected by growing international unease.

“In practical terms, if restrictions are imposed, there will be knock-on effects across the economy,” he warned.

He said air access to the United States, Saint Lucia’s largest tourism market, would be negatively affected, with consequences for hotels, airlines, and related services.

Students and athletes could face travel barriers, family visits would become more difficult, and access to specialised medical care in the US could be denied.

“We are already receiving reports that visa applications

by Saint Lucian nationals, including students, are quietly being declined, even for individuals who previously held visas without issue,” Fevrier said.

While some have argued that the bans are politically motivated, Fevrier rejected that characterisation.

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From page 14 prosecution of Israeli security forces in foreign or international courts

The ministry of diaspora affairs also alleged that Israeli investigations had "determined that individuals affili-

ated with [Médecins Sans Frontières] were linked to terrorist organisations, including the Palestinian Islamic

Jihad and Hamas", without providing any evidence.

"Despite repeated requests, the organisation failed to provide full disclosure regarding the identities and roles of these individuals," it said.

MSF said it took such allegations extremely seriously and that it would "never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity".

"Any employee who engages in military activity would pose a danger to our staff and our pat i e n t s . Publicly making such claims without substantiated evidence puts humanitarian staff at risk and undermines life-saving medical work," it added.

MSF also warned that deregistration by Israeli authorities would effectively block it from operating in Gaza, "where we support one in five hospital beds and one in three births, cutting off life-saving medical assistance for hundreds of thousands of people". Norwegian Refugee Council spokeswoman Shaina Low told NPR that it would no longer be able to bring foreign aid workers into Gaza if it was deregistered, but that its 200 local staff would continue to support communities as best as they could.

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

PAGE 17

Pres.

Ali swears in TSC …promises fast-tracked promotions for teachers Seven members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) returned to office on Wednesday, after being officially sworn in for another term by President Irfaan Ali. The swearing in ceremony was held at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

The returning officials, who will serve on the commission for the next three years, include Doodmatie Singh, who previously chaired the commission, former Deputy Chairperson Shafiran Bhajan, as well as Joan Ann DavidMonkhouse, Lancelot Baptiste, Satti Jaisierisingh, Maydha Persaud, and Mohammed Saddam Hussain.

At their first meeting, the commissioners will elect a new chairman and deputy chairman to lead the commission. The TSC was last appointed in December 2022.

During the ceremony, President Ali emphasised the critical role of the commission. “The teaching service commission is one such institution entrusted with s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y, professionalism and fairness of the teaching profession. Its members

President Irfaan Ali (5th left) along with the newly sworn in members of the Teaching Service Commission.

are vested with a solemn constitutional responsibility that reaches into every school, touches every teacher, and ultimately shapes the character and capacity of the nation itself.”

He further urged the members to take up their positions effectively. “I therefore encourage you to undertake your duties with seriousness, be guided at all times by the principles of fairness and merit. Doing so, will honour the

intent behind the establishment of the teaching service commission and make a lasting contribution to the development of education and society in Guyana,” he said.

Turning his focus to teachers, President Ali said the government is committed to ensuring they are promoted before reaching the age of retirement. He highlighted the creation of over 800 new teaching positions to facilitate this goal.

“Not only are we concerned about

the improvement and the welfare working environment for our teachers, but we want to see them having access to accelerated opportunities. That is why we’re investing to ensure 100% of our teachers are trained and trained graduates,” he said.

The president also discussed the government’s plans to fill 2,700 senior vacancies within the education system. These new roles, he explained, are designed to

improve the overall quality of education rather than filling traditional positions. He added that several new positions have been created to facilitate the faster upward mobility to teachers, many of whom had to wait until near retirement to become head teachers. “ The Minister of Education has advised me that a second deputy head teacher in grades A and B secondary school, Continued on page 22

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Two Brothers Rice Milling Complex …supports Hurricane expanding to Jamaica Melissa relief efforts Guyanese-owned Two Brothers Rice Milling Complex Inc. has announced plans to expand its operations into Jamaica in 2026 under the name “Two Ali Brothers Corporation Limited.”

According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Javed Ali, the proposed expansion is expected to strengthen the company’s engagement with the Jamaican community while contributing to economic

development through job creation and strategic partnerships.

According to a press release, in keeping with this regional outlook, the Ve r g e n o e g e n - b a s e d company has also stepped forward to support humanitarian efforts, donating more than 20,000 kilograms of rice to assist communities in Jamaica affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The donation was

distributed to several charitable organisations and individuals across multiple affected parishes.

Distribution was facilitated through Taujul Imports, following an initiative spearheaded by Slingerz Entertainment, also led by Ali, and coordinated on the ground in Jamaica by Jacqueline James and Zarie Ricketts.

The press release added, the contribution comes at a critical time as many

Jamaican communities continue recovery and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the powerful storm, which left numerous families facing food insecurity and hardship. “We at 2 Brothers Rice Milling Complex are deeply moved by the strength and resilience of the Jamaican people in the wake of Hurricane Melissa,” Ali said. “It is our honour to contribute to the relief efforts and to stand in solidarity with communities as they

Javed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Two Brothers Rice Milling Complex Inc.

A portion of the rice delivered to Jamaica in support of Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. rebuild their lives.”

Through his association with Slingerz Entertainment, Ali also connected with Dancehall star, Vybz Kartel and his Adidja Palmer Foundation, along with Carlton Grant, popularly known as Spragga Benz. The release stated that Ali expressed appreciation to the Honourable Floyd Green, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Dayton Campbell, General Secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP), Taujul Imports, and Jason Ricketts for their support.

H e f u r t h e r acknowledged the tireless efforts of the various charitable organisations and individuals working to provide food and assistance to families across the affected areas.

T h e d o n a t i o n underscores 2 Brothers Rice M i l l i n g C o m p l e x ’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its broader mission to foster goodwill and cooperation

throughout the Caribbean.

Beyond agriculture, the company maintains close ties with Slingerz Entertainment and Slingerz Records, a family-owned enterprise and a pioneering f o r c e i n G u y a n a ’s entertainment industry. For more than two decades, Slingerz Entertainment and Slingerz Records have played an instrumental role in promoting Jamaican artistes and supporting the music industry, strengthening cultural and creative links between Guyana and Jamaica.

The Slingerz brand has also expanded into sports, with Slingerz Football Club and Slingerz Racing Stables establishing themselves as dominant forces in their respective fields in Guyana.

Slingerz Football Club currently features three Jamaican players on its roster. Together, these businesses continue to emphasise community upliftment, regional unity, and sustainable impact across their various sectors.

Pres. Ali swears in...

From page 17 that position was created, and 60 newly created positions are in this category, a deputy head teacher in Grade C, primary and secondary schools, creating the opportunity for 101 newly created positions for upward mobility, additional senior master/ mistress in all schools to improve accountability, creating opportunity for another 408 new positions for upward mobility, senior masters/mistresses in grade E schools, creating the opportunity for 254 new positions for upward mobility,” the president said.

In total, 823 new positions have been added to the teaching service structure to facilitate career advancement for teachers.

“These positions did not exist previously. This means more teachers will be promoted, and more teachers will be given the opportunity to be promoted. Promotion means higher salary, additional benefits, and, of course, retiring at the higher level of tension,” the president emphasised.

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

Despite increased production rice earned US$4M less than first half 2024 - BoG Report In spite of rice production for 2025 seeing a significant increase, the sector still earned US$4M less than it did for the first half of last year, the half year report from the Bank of Guyana (BoG) said.

The earnings from rice exports which amounted to US$123.1 million translate to 3.1 percent below the level for the same period last year.

The report said that this is, “resulting from lower export price despite higher export volume. The volume of rice exported amounted to 224,963 metric tonnes, 5.5 percent or 11,807 metric tonnes more than the 213,156 metric tonnes exported one year ago.”

Rice exports to the European Union saw a decline to 19.7 percent from 35.8 percent in 2024, while CARICOM’s share increased to 21.5 per cent from 21.3 per cent one year ago. For Latin America, it increased to 54.6 per cent compared with 40.8 per cent in 2024.

Additionally, the average export price of rice decreased by 8.2 per cent or US$48.85 to US$547.35 per metric tonne from US$596.20 per metric tonne at the end June 2024.

On December 1, this publication reported that the rice industry expanded by 13.9 per cent in the first half of 2025.

That equated to a total of 410,194.0 tonnes in comparison to 362,029.5 tonnes in 2024. “In the first half of the year, 96,715 hectares were sown, an increase of 11,742 hectares or 13.8 per cent when compared to one year prior. Hectares harvested amounted to 95,788 hectares, an increase of 13.2 per cent when compared to end-June 2024,” the report said.

The performance of the sector is on account of larger numbers of acres being cultivated alongside greater productivity from the high yielding rice varieties, distribution of fertiliser and availability inputs as these were VAT exempted by the government.

This equates to a total of 410,194.0 tonnes in comparison to 362,029.5 tonnes in 2024.

“In the first half of the year, 96,715 hectares were sown, an increase of 11,742 hectares or 13.8 per cent when compared to one year

prior. Hectares harvested amounted to 95,788 hectares, an increase of 13.2 per cent when compared to end-June 2024,” the report said.

The performance of the sector is on account of larger numbers of acres being cultivated alongside greater productivity from the high yielding rice varieties, distribution of fertiliser and availability inputs as these were VAT exempted by the government.

The finance ministry had reported that Guyana’s rice industry was expected to grow by some 12.4 per cent this year.

PAGE 23

Mahipaul raises constitutional concerns over TSC appointments Opposition Member of Parliament and APNU spokesperson on Local Government and Regional Development and Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Ganesh Mahipaul, has raised serious constitutional concerns surrounding the swearing-in of members of G u y a n a ’s Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e Commission (TSC) yesterday.

Mahipaul contends that the process underpinning the appointments reflects a troubling pattern of constitutional erosion under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul (PPP/C) administration. Under Article 207 of the Constitution of the currently no Leader of the Opposition. But Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Teaching Service Commission is to be the opposition MP firmly rejects this premise, comprised of seven members. Crucially, stating that the absence of a formally Article 207(d) mandates that three of these recognised Leader of the Opposition is not members must be appointed by the President the fault of the 29 Opposition Members of after meaningful consultation with the Leader Parliament, but rather the direct result of of the Opposition. This requirement is actions taken by the Speaker of the National intended to ensure balance, inclusivity, and Assembly, who was himself selected by the bipartisan oversight in the governance of the current administration. “This is precisely the public teaching service. Mahipaul argues that kind of constitutional erosion we in the President Irfaan Ali is likely to say that he had APNU have been warning about,” Mahipaul to proceed with the appointments while said. “What we are witnessing is a maturing Continued on page 25 maintaining the position that there is

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Alyce Cameron

DISMANTLES MISREPRESENTATIONS OF AFRO-GUYANESE THROUGH SELF-PORTRAITURE Driven by a deep curiosity about culture and identity, Alyce Cameron combines a variety of techniques, materials and symbols to produce textured, expressive paintings that embody her introspective spirit and cultural background.

“As a mixed-media artist, I delve into the depths of my afro-Guyanese roots while exploring the emotional and social landscapes that influence our experiences. Drawing from my training at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, and a lifelong enthusiasm for artistic expression, I view art as not just a means of communication but also a p r o c e s s o f i n q u i r y, reflection, and healing.”

Cameron uses her work to confront the stigmatisation and misrepresentation of African traditions, while at the same time seizing the opportunity to uplift and empower afroGuyanese communities by narrating their stories with sincerity and respect.

“I explore themes of ancestral memory, the sacred, resilience, and the intricate realities of contemporary life. My approach is based on a dedication to counteract the stigmatisation and misrepresentation of African

Alyce Cameron

Ade, 2022. Mixed media painting on canvas, 16 x 20 inches traditions—restoring honour, respect, and depth to narratives that have frequently been distorted or disregarded.”

Heavily influenced by various aspects of the Asante culture (of modern-day Ghana), Cameron is keenly interested in if and how those aspects are reflected in not only her own lived experiences but also the broader Guyanese culture and fashion, in particular.

Her use of bold colours,

strong lines and richly textured surfaces, as well as her incorporation of mixed media elements all point to an artist who has committed years to steadfastly developing a deeply personal and intentional creative practice.

“Each piece serves as an invocation—an act of honouring, a reclamation of space, and a call to acknowledge the transformative potential of cultural authenticity,” says

Cameron of her process.

She uses self-portraiture to communicate her own emotional states of being, but more importantly, to signal ideas of grandeur and elevation. Cameron wields her likeness to assert her sense of self-worth, in an attempt to reclaim her identity, rather than accept imposed ideas of how she is viewed by the world. She is quite clear on establishing this herself, on her own terms, and without any outside interference or influence. Contrary to the quiet and mild-mannered demeanor she presents, her studio work offers a sneak peek of a fiery and expressive persona that is not always obvious at the first or second or even third encounter.

Much like the 15 century German Painter Albrecht Dürer, who is said to be the first known artist in European art history to repeatedly dedicate entire canvases to his own face, Cameron is unapologetic in her approach. She does not hide herself within larger group scenes, nor does she th

Worthy, 2022. Acrylic paint on canvas, 40 x 60cm

Except God, 2025. Mixed media painting on canvas, 20 x 27.5 inches

The Creator, 2024.

Acrylic paint on canvas, 18 x 36 inches paint subtle or obscure hints of her likeness, as other painters of that period or earlier might have opted to do. Instead, Cameron utilises this method of “selfinsertion” as a way of boldly rewriting the narrative in a discipline often fraught with misrepresentation, and even non-representation in some cases, of persons like herself.

It is her hope that by doing

so, a much better collective sense of self-worth would resonate across afroGuyanese communities. “[…] each new project feels like a step forward on a spiritual journey. I believe that art is a divine and expressive force with the ability to inspire change, cultivate understanding, and alter the world in ways that mere words cannot. Through my work, I aim to create pieces that resonate, heal, and encourage viewers to look deeper—into culture, into humanity, and into themselves.”

Cameron has exhibited extensively in Guyana and across the region, including countries such as Barbados and Suriname.

She is currently the Painting and Leather Art instructor at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, where she has been teaching since 2020. She is, at present, pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree (the first being at the University of Guyana and the second at the art school), and is scheduled to graduate in September 2026.

Genesis, 2021. Acrylic paint on canvas, 16 x 24 inches

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

Jamaican businessman launches third bid for US Congress (Jamaica Gleaner) Four years after losing his bid to represent Florida’s 20th Congressional District by a razor-thin margin of five votes, former Broward County commissioner and m a y o r, J a m a i c a n - b o r n businessman Dale Holness, has launched a third attempt to represent the heavily Democratic district.

Holness is seeking to replace the current holder of the seat and fellow Democrat Sheila CherfilusMcCormick, who first defeated him in a 2021 special election and again in 2022.

Cherfilus-McCormick is currently facing federal charges for theft of US$5 million after being indicted by a federal grand jury. She is accused of using funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund her 2021 campaign.

Cherfilus-McCormick, however, has maintained her innocence.

The indictment and subsequent arrest of the congresswoman marks an ironic twist in the attempt by Holness to get elected to Congress. During his previous campaigns Holness’s own daughter, Damara Holness, was convicted on fraud charges stemming from a COVID-19 pandemic benefits programme, a development that was used against him effectively on the campaign trail.

While acknowledging that his campaign was hurt by the actions of his daughter, Holness, who has maintained that he was” not responsible for her actions”, believes that “she has learnt her lesson, but more importantly, it has been proven that I had nothing to

Mahipaul raises constitutional concerns over TSC...

From page 23 dictatorship unfolding before our eyes, fed and sustained by none other than President Irfaan Ali.” The Teaching Service Commission plays a critical role in Guyana’s education system, with responsibility for the appointment, promotion, discipline, and removal of teachers within the public, non-board school system. Given the Commission’s influence over the careers of thousands of educators nationwide, Mahipaul emphasised that strict adherence to constitutional provisions governing its composition is not optional, but essential to democratic governance. He further accused the PPP/C administration of engaging in political “optics” to distract both the local population and the international community, while simultaneously disregarding the constitutional guardrails designed to protect Guyana’s democracy. “What is even more troubling is the silence of the international community,” Mahipaul added, “which is too often seen wining and dining within the very optic illusion created for them.”

However, when questioned by the media as to why did he go ahead with swearing in the TSC

members in the absence of opposition leader, President A l i s a i d b e c a u s e i t ’s important. “It’s an important constitutional responsibility that has to be executed. The minister came to me and explained the importance of this for the system itself, and I don’t want a new term to start without having the commission in place to make important decisions that would allow the quality of teaching to improve and also allow opportunities, more opportunities to be given to our teaching process of consultation with the organisation.” The President added: “I don’t know the opposition will be a he or she.

There might be a view that the opposition leader might be a he, but I can’t say.

I can’t predict what will happen? That’s a vote one way or another, an opposition leader will be here, and when an opposition leader is there, the President will fulfill his responsibility in accordance to the Constitution. The work of the government must continue, the work of the Constitution must continue, the work of getting our teachers. You just raise that.

That’s the complexity. You just raise the issue of teachers retiring without having maybe the opportunity to be promoted a lot more.”

HOLNESS... I am aware of what the people of the district are facing and what their needs are do with what she did”.

He said that while he believes that “the charges against congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick are serious, she deserves her day in court”.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Holness said he decided to contest the seat “because a great need exists for someone from the community who really cares and understands and believes in the people he or she is elected to serve”. He said he wanted to make it “crystal clear that my decision to run again has nothing to do with what has happened to the congresswoman”.

Holness said that he filed his papers on August 2 this year, three months before Cherfilus-McCormick was

indicted.

Expanding on his decision to mount another run, Holness noted that “Florida’s 20th congressional district has one of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment rates in the state”.

Unemployment in the district is listed at seven per cent, which is above the 3.9 per cent at the state level, while more than 22 per cent of children are listed as living in poverty, and more than 26 per cent of adults are reporting food insecurity as the district is said to be facing serious economic issues.

“There is a need to deal with the serious affordability issues facing constituents.

Wo r k i n g w i t h l o c a l authorities, businesses, and

non-profits can make a difference, and this is one such approach I intend to take,” Holness said, adding that despite his previous setbacks he has remained close to the people of the district.

“I did not leave after the election; I did not go away. I have been actively working with the community, with business leaders and others, and so I am aware of what the people of the district are facing and what their needs are,” he told the Observer.

He listed a raft of plans he hopes to implement if he makes it to Congress, even as he acknowledges that “the help of the federal government will be needed for at least some of the plans to succeed”.

His plans include making it more affordable for young people to attend college, providing more vocational and technical training, and making it more affordable for people to own a house.

Holness said that he would also pay keen attention to the matter of health care as he believes that support systems and mechanisms are needed to seriously strengthen health care, especially as it relates to mental health.

He added that he would also make a strong case for more federal help for early childhood education and

assistance with the cost for daycare.

One key issue that has not escaped his attention is the possibility that Florida’s 20th Congressional District could be subject to the current re-districting move being pushed, especially by the Republican Party in its effort to maintain control of the United States House of Representatives in the midterm elections scheduled for November 2026.

“I am fully aware of that possibility, but I believe that even if that were to happen, I could still prevail if I am the nominee,” he said.

The district — which covers portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties and includes the areas of Lauderhill, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, South Bay, and parts of the areas of Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Plantation — has a diverse population with a significant contingent of Jamaicans, of which about 25,000 are registered to vote, according to Holness.

Commenting on his close loss in the election four years ago, Holness said he believes that had a few more Jamaicans voted he would have been successful. He said he “will be going all out this time around to engage every single voter in the district to ensure that I will be successful”.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Thursday January 01, 2026

Consumer Protection Institute launched …aims to safeguard rights of Guyanese consumers A new independent body aimed at advancing and protecting the interests of consumers has been formally incorporated in Guyana.

The Consumer Protection Institute (CPI) has been established to address growing concerns over unfair, misleading and exploitative m a r k e t p r a c t i c e s a ff e c t i n g consumers across the country, the new body said in a press release.

The founding members of the Institute are: Ms. Wintress Whyte, Civil Society Activist, Ricky Ramsaroop, businessman, and

Christopher Ram, Commentator.

These persons will serve as the Institute's initial Board of Directors pending the appointment of additional directors, representative of consumers interest in Guyana, a press release from CPI said.

“We have formed the Institute in response to the growing range of goods and services available to consumers, the expansion of online and digital transactions, and the difficulties many consumers face with inadequate and misleading advertising, unfair pricing, unclear

Civil Society Activist, Ms. Wintress Whyte

Businessman, Ricky Ramsaroop

contract terms, and poor service.

Our purpose is to promote and protect the rights and interests of consumers. We will monitor market

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

practices, receive and record consumer complaints, operate reporting and hotline systems, and provide practical information to

help consumers understand their rights and how to raise concerns,” CPI added.

The new body said they will review complaints and market information to identify recurring or widespread practices that harm consumers. “Where appropriate, we will engage with regulators, businesses, and policymakers to seek corrective action and improvements in consumer protection law and enforcement.

We are independent and nonpartisan. We do not decide disputes, replace regulators, or exercise enforcement powers. Our role is to observe, document, and speak out where consumer interests are (Continued on page 32)

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

Ex-girlfriend arrested for murder of Linden businessman ...main suspect still on the run A 24-year-old woman has been arrested as police deepen their investigation into the execution of a young businessman, Amar Jones in Linden on Tuesday. Kaieteur News understand that the woman is the ex-girlfriend of Jones.

Police in a statement said that the murder occurred about 15:00hrs at Half Mile Public Road, Wismar, Linden, resulting in the death of Jones aged 27.

P r e l i m i n a r y investigations revealed that the deceased was travelling

in a motor canter along Half Mile Public Road when he was approached by a motor car from which an unidentified male exited and discharged several rounds in his direction before reentering the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

Upon arrival at the scene, police ranks observed the victim motionless in the driver's seat of the motor canter. He was escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. The

Dead: Amar Jones

body was later taken to GJetsco Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Elderly woman found murdered in home …88-year-old husband arrested An elderly man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his wife at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, police have reported.

Dead is Lackandai Tamessar, 89, a pensioner of Ogle Airstrip Road, East Coast Demerara. Police said her murder is believed to have occurred between Friday December 26, 2025 about 16:00hrs and Tuesday December 30, 2025 about 13:00hrs at the said address.

Investigation revealed that Lackandai was last seen alive on December 26, 2025 by a relative who visited her. However, on

December 30, 2025 the same relative returned and discovered her lying motionless with what appeared to be stab wounds about her body.The body was escorted to the Plaisance Health Center where it was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty and was subsequently taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it awaits a post-mortem examination. The woman's 88-year-old husband who was present at the location at the time, was arrested and placed in custody assisting with the investigation. Investigations are ongoing.

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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Police issue zero-tolerance warning on firecrackers The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a stern warning to citizens and businesses against the sale, possession and use of firecrackers as Guyanese prepare to usher in the new year.

In a statement the police said it recognises that during the New Year's period, there is usually an increase in the sale and use of firecrackers and other similar explosive devices.

“The Force is issuing a stern warning to individuals and businesses involved in selling these explosives, which can result in

serious bodily harm and injury to both users and innocent bystanders.

There have been past instances where both children and adults suffered grievous injuries due to the use of firecrackers. We therefore urge all to exercise care and caution and to act responsibly when deciding whether to purchase or use these items,” the statement read.

According to the police, persons found selling or in possession of these explosives will be subject to prosecution and the full force of the law will be applied. “Regulations

Despite the warning from police vendors openly sell firecrackers across Guyana

as to Sale, Purchase and Possession of Explosives Contrary to Section 13(1) (2) of

the Explosive Act Chapter 16:06 prohibits the illegal use and sale of explosives without the permission of the Minister and as such anyone found selling or distributing such items without a permit from the appropriate authority will face prosecution.”

The police said that regional commanders have been reminded to maintain and sustain law enforcement efforts aimed at preventing the distribution of these devices, including seizure where evidence of sale is detected as well as conducting raids and searches based on intelligence received.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

3 remanded for cemetery barrel murder

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hree men were remanded to p r i s o n o n We d n e s d a y i n connection with the murder of 39-year-old Levi Williams, whose decomposed body was found in a barrel at Le Repentir Cemetery on Christmas Day. Police had responded to a 911 report, leading to the discovery of the body.

Williams, a vagrant, was later identified as the victim.

The accused, Randy Mars, known as 'Ratty,' 42, of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke-Linden

Highway; Aaron Khan, known as 'Tattoo,' 29, of Lot 182 Charlotte Street, Georgetown; and Jamal David, known as 'Hundred,' 44, appeared before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty on Thursday.

They faced the charge of murdering Williams on December 23, 2025, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown. The men, who were unrepresented, were not required to enter a plea and were remanded to prison.

They are scheduled to return to court on February 4, 2026, for further proceedings.

Remanded: Randy Mars

Remanded: Jamal David

Consumer Protection...

From page 26 affected,” the release added.

As part of its initial work, the CPI said it will establish a consumer complaints system and a hotline for reporting issues such as misleading advertising, pricing problems, and service failures. “We will also publish a Consumer Protection Guide setting out, in plain language, the protections available to consumers under Guyana law. We look forward to the support and involvement of relevant sectors of our country. Further details, including hotline information, will be announced shortly,” the body said.

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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South Ruimveldt man found dead in his yard Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 53-year-old Anthony Mathurin of Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt, which is believed to have occurred on Tuesday December 30, 2025 between 21:40hrs and 23:45hrs at the said address.

According to police preliminary information revealed that the deceased who reportedly suffered from an illness was found lying motionless in the yard of the residence

by relatives who then summoned Emergency Medical Technicians. He was examined and subsequently pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

The body was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it awaits a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death. CCTV cameras were observed and will be processed. No arrests have been made.

Several persons were questioned as investigations continue.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 01, 2026

GPSU calls for fairness, equity and fulfilment of promises as Guyana enters 2026

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s Guyana ushers in the New Year 2026, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has issued a wide-ranging statement, extending greetings to its members and all Guyanese while calling for renewed commitment to fairness, equity and respect for public servants.

In its New Year message, the Union described 2026 as more than a change on the calendar, characterising it as a decisive moment for r e f l e c t i o n a n d determination.

The GPSU underscored the indispensable role public servants play in keeping the country functioning, often under difficult conditions and without commensurate reward.

“Public servants are the quiet strength of this nation,” the union said, pointing to the daily work carried out in hospitals, schools, finance offices, customs and revenue departments, air traffic control, social services, registries, courts and across the public sector.

While acknowledging the professionalism and sacrifice of workers, the GPSU stressed that appreciation must go beyond words and be reflected in fair wages, respect and improved conditions of service.

The union noted that during the last election cycle, commitments were made to improve wages, ease cost-of-living pressures, strengthen public services and ensure workers shared fairly in national progress.

However, it said many of those promises remain unfulfilled, leaving a widening gap between expectations and delivery.

Of particular concern to the GPSU is what it described as the misuse of a 2024 collective bargaining outcome to justify the nonpayment of a separate election-period commitment involving a cash grant publicly promised for 2025.

The Union said this conflation has been used to avoid honouring that commitment, despite it b e i n g p r o m i n e ntly highlighted during the national campaign.

According to the GPSU, such actions undermine

President of GPSU, Patrick Yarde confidence, erode morale, place additional strain on household finances and weaken trust between public servants and the State. At the same time, the Union pointed to recent developments as evidence that decisive action is possible when political will exists.

It cited President Irfaan Ali's announcement of a one-month tax-free bonus for members of the Disciplined Services, noting that the move demonstrated both recognition of essential workers and the Government's capacity to mobilise resources when it chooses to do so.

The GPSU said the bonus highlights the importance of equity across the public sector. Essential services, it argued, do not operate in isolation.

Health workers, customs officers, air traffic controllers, technical officers and administrative and accounting staff are equally vital to national stability, security and development.

The Union maintained that all essential services must be considered within a f a i r, t r a n s p a r e n t a n d coherent framework that recognises contributions, addresses rising living costs and ensures no category of public servants is left behind.

Another major concern raised by the GPSU is the continued loss of skilled workers, particularly in the health and education sectors.

Nurses, teachers and other trained professionals, the Union said, are leaving not out of disloyalty, but in search of dignity, security and better opportunities for their families.

“A nation that invests in

training its people must also invest in keeping them,” the GPSU said, warning that retaining skilled human resources is a national necessity, not an option.

The Union also called for greater recognition of the experience and wisdom of retired public servants, describing them as an untapped national resource.

It urged a review of the current retirement age of 55, suggesting consideration be given to raising it to 60 or higher, while preserving the option of early retirement.

The GPSU further advocated for structured programmes to engage retirees in mentoring, training and advisory roles to preserve institutional memory.

Additionally, the Union renewed its call for the Government to honour and implement the agreement reached with the former APNU administration to restore the GPSU Sports Complex.

It stressed that recreational and sporting facilities are essential to workers' physical and mental well-being, morale and work-life balance, and should not be treated as luxuries.

As it enters 2026, the GPSU said it remains firmly committed to advocacy. The Union called for respect for collective bargaining, full implementation of legally binding agreements between the Government and the GPSU, and compliance with ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

The Union said the year ahead must be one of action, accountability and renewed respect for the public servants who sustain the State every day.

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

As Guyana steps into a new year, the glow of oil wealth continues to mask a harsh and unsettling reality. Corruption remains deeply embedded in public life, draining confidence in government and widening the gap between the powerful and the poor.

While billions flow into state coffers, too many Guyanese still struggle to put food on the table, find decent work, or access basic services with dignity.

Even more troubling is the unrelenting tide of sexual and domestic violence.

Women and children continue to suffer in silence, failed by weak enforcement, slow justice and a culture that too often looks away.

These are not isolated tragedies; they are national emergencies. President Irfaan Ali has repeatedly spoken of good governance and transparency.

The new year demands more than speeches.

If the President is serious about clean governance, he must urgently confront corruption, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that Guyana's wealth uplifts all, not just a connected few. The country deserves nothing less.

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Former Windies glove-man Murray calls for change of leadership, CWI reform

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ormer West Indies w i c k e t keeper/batsman Deryck Murray scorched the current Cricket West Indies (CWI) regime, calling for a change in leadership and direction.

M u r r a y, w h o l e d Trinidad and Tobago from 1976-81, during a recent episode of the Mason and

Guests Show, called for a change to the current Dr. Kishore Shallow-led administration.

Murray in a brief yet scathing attack, believed that West Indies cricket is in need of an overhaul, essentially calling for the removal of Shallow, who wears a few caps including Minister of To u r i s m a n d M a r i t i m e

Affairs for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He thinks the Cricket Sub-Committee of Caricom should get involved; something he was adamant about for the future preservation of the sport in the Caribbean.

An interim committee should also be something to think of, as a relationship

Thursday January 01, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Tension may arise today, Aries. It's possible that you're either too dreamy or too practical to deal effectively with the issue. It's important to strike a balance. The toughest part will be finding others who agree with you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There may be dreaminess about your emotions today, Scorpio, which could keep you from focusing on the task at hand. The aspects dictate that people may be stubborn and confused - and you're likely to be one of them.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Yesterday's trajectory may run into trouble today, Taurus.

Your intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated. This conflict could create tension that will be difficult to resolve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Little voices whisper in your ear and ask you to take flight and join them in the clouds, Sagittarius. There's tension between what your heart and mind tell you. They're pulling you in very different directions.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try to align your mind with your emotions today, Gemini.

It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly pulling you off track.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Recent spiritual breakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) An emotional issue could be rubbing you the wrong way, Cancer. Your impulse is to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner. Go see a movie or read a book. Don't fall prey to the temptation to indulge in alcohol or food.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your artistic side wants to take to the airwaves in some way, Leo. Perhaps you should consider building a website or becoming a commentator on a local radio show.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) It may be apparent that what was so light and active yesterday is running into a few roadblocks today, Virgo.

You're suddenly heading into a brick wall with some of the projects you've been working on.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Capricorn. It may be best if you beat them to it and motivate yourself. Break away from the herd and go wherever you want to go.

between the CWI administration and Caricom Sub-Committee is critical for the revamping process.

He noted that when there is a need for transformation, such committees are introduced as part of measures which are used to help facilitate development throughout the world of Sports.

The former skipper pointed out that should any individual within the current administration take an analytic look at the current state of things, the dysfunctionality should be evidently clear.

As part of the 1975 and 1979 World Cup winning squads, the Trinidadian was undoubtedly keen on the interim committee playing a huge role in the reform

necessary measures in place while setting up a structure which not only affects the senior levels but the grassroots as well.

Murray, who still holds the record for the most dismissals (24) by a Windies keeper for a single Test series, is hopeful that if specific moves are made within the next few years; a complete rehaul will most definitely help to put West Indies cricket back on track.

With 2026 set to be a strange year for Windies cricket, given the financial constraints coupled with the reshuffling of a few tournament dates throughout the calendar year; much is expected to be accomplished despite the different hurdles ahead.

Deryck Murray process, citing a two-year period of operation for the proposed committee.

With Shallow already confirming he will likely not run again, Murray said it was important to put the

Berbice River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic Thursday January 01, 2026

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 14:15hrs Friday January 02, 2026

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 15:05hrs For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs DATE: 12/31/2025

4 10 11 14 16 18 21

4 6

0 Evening 1

DATE: 12/31/2025 Afternoon

6 1

DATE: 12/31/2025

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion, Aquarius. There's a debate brewing inside you, and you're having a hard time deciding whether to be practical or more fanciful.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It will be a challenge to keep your emotions on an even keel today, Pisces. Conflict may be brewing and you might fear it could get out of hand.

Everything will work out.

3

5

8

15 25 DATE: 12/31/2025

4

5 19 20 24 28

17

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G.L.C. 357 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel:226-0753. While every effort is made to ensure numbers are correct, please call the hotline for confirmation, The G.L.C. and Kaieteur News cannot be held responsible for printing errors.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

UDFA/Banks DIH Christmas futsal $1M final tonight New Year’s night in Linden

Botafago face Capital FC as new champions to be crowned Third place features Topp XX versus Blueberry Hill

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t’s could go down to the wire tonight, this New Year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s promoted Banks DIH 4th annual Christmas futsal championship final, featuring the East of Linden’s best Capital FC, matching skills with the best of the West represented by Botafago, for a winners’ purse worth $1M at the Community Hard Court in the mining town of Linden.

An expectant crowd is likely to be on hand with

Shane Haynes of Botafago supporters from the town expecting victory along with bragging rights and the championship trophy, at the end of the deciding game.

Capital FC

The runner up side is guaranteed $500,000 but losing is not an option for the two sides battling in this highly anticipated final.

The two losing semifinalists, Topp XX and Blueberry Hill United, are pitted against each other in the main supporting draw from 8.00pm, with another exhibition match scheduled from 7.00pm.

That Blueberry Hill versus Topp XX encounter will see the winners getting $200,000 and the losers $100,000.

Botafago

Having disposed of Blueberry Hill 7-3 the Botafago side featuring among their top performers Shane Haynes, Donovan Francis and Malachi Todd must fancy their chances of becoming the new champions, having knocked out Silver Shattas, last year’s s champions in the quarterfinals, before booking their spot with a close win against Blueberry

Hill in the semifinal.

To advance to the final, Capital FC eliminated Topp XX by a 3-2 score but will not be a pushover when they face Botafago for the grand prize of $1M, the champions’ trophy.

Their best players in the competition so far had been Selwyn Barnes, Mortimer Giddings Jr. and Emmanuel Atkins.

With major sponsors,

beverage giants Banks DIH on board, other sponsors have joined to support this tournament including B. Harry L u m b e r Ya r d , M r .

Kelmon Enterprise, M a j o r ’s R e n t a l , D .

Sookram and Daughters Construction, Semple and Sons General Store, Jermaine and Son Supermarket and Hardware Store and Dr. Joseph Haynes.

Guyana Cricket Board reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026

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he year 2025 has been one of pride and progress for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), as the Board continued to fulfil its mandate to promote and develop cricket across Guyana.

Throughout the year, the GCB provided cricketers with m e a n i n g f u l opportunities to realise their potential while proudly representing the Golden Arrowhead at all levels.

As the cricketing community welcomes 2026, the GCB Executive Members and Staff

extend best wishes to all cricketers, cricket fans and enthusiasts, corporate partners, members of the media, and the entire cricket fraternity for a blessed and prosperous New Year.

Message from the President, Guyana Cricket Board, Mr Bissoondyal Singh: “As we welcome 2026, the Guyana Cricket Board reaffirms its commitment to working closely with teachers, coaches, technology partners, a n d — m o s t importantly—parents and guardians to

strengthen the development of cricket in Guyana.”

“In keeping with the vision of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, we continue our outreach to hinterland communities to unearth new talent and advance cricket into a modern, inclusive and sustainable future.”

“I call on everyone to join us in this shared vision—united in purpose, driven by passion, and committed to building a stronger future for cricket in Guyana,” he ended.

President, Guyana Cricket Board, Mr Bissoondyal Singh

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

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Bent Street, Road Warriors clash for $3M as President’s Futsal Championship reaches finals night Heavyweights Bent Street ‘A’ and Road Warriors will square off for $3,000,000 in cash tomorrow, Friday, January 2, when the third edition of the Kashif and Shanghai ‘One Guyana’ President’s Futsal Championship concludes with a thrilling night of finals at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

A new Men’s Senior champion will be crowned following electrifying semifinal victories by both finalists on Tuesday night, as fans were treated to a barrage of goals in one of the tournament’s most entertaining evenings.

Men’s Senior Finalists Road Warriors were the first team to book their place in the final after a dominant 9–0 demolition of Bomb Squad. Both sides impressed throughout the tournament, but Road Warriors showed their class with a ruthless display. Arckson led the

charge with a composed hattrick in the 10th, 36th and 37th minutes, controlling the midfield and orchestrating the attack. Tournament marksman Matheus Henrique added a brace in the 23rd and 35th minutes, while Daniel Da Silva (25’), Wesley Ferreira (30’), and Dionatheus Pereira (34’) also found the net. An own goal in the 38th minute completed the rout.

Joining them in the championship match is Bent Street ‘A’, who edged a depleted Sparta Boss side 6–4 in a pulsating semifinal encounter. Bent Street raced into a 2–0 lead through Beveney McGarrell, who struck in the 4th and 20th minutes. Sparta responded with goals from Jobe Caesar (22’) and Nicholas McArthur (25’) to level the score before Ryan Hackett (28’) and McArthur again (31’) put Sparta ahead 4–2.

Bent Street showed

Clash of the Queens! Lady Kanaimas and Lady Royals to battle for Women’s Futsal crown.

resilience late on as Collin Nelson (35’) and Jamar Harrigan (38’, 39’) turned the match on its head.

McGarrell sealed the victory with a dramatic last-minute strike, sending Bent Street into the 2025 President’s

Futsal final.

Schools’ Finalists History will be made in the Schoolboys’ Division, w i t h We s t R u i m v e l d t Secondary and Dolphin Secondary advancing to the tournament’s first-ever

schoolboy’s final. West Ruimveldt overcame early resistance from West Minster Secondary before powering to an 11–5 victory. Jeremiah Griffith was outstanding with four goals, while Okel Roberts produced a relentless attacking display, scoring five times (5’, 7’, 13’, 18’, 21’).

Joel Griffith (8’) and Donovan Welcome (12’) also added to the tally.

In the second semifinal, Dolphin Secondary defeated New Central High 5–2.

Christenson Daudinot (3’, 10’) and Tyler Abrams (13’, 20’) did most of the damage, while Seon Grant’s 22ndminute strike sealed Dolphin’s place in the final.

Women’s Finalists The Women’s Division will see Lady Royals facing off with Lady Kanaimas after two convincing semifinal performances.

Lady Royals secured a 3–1 win over Street Vybz, with Shemaya Daniels

opening the scoring in the 5th minute and Amanda McKenzie netting twice in the 21st and 30th minutes.

Meanwhile, Lady Kanaimas delivered the most emphatic result of the night, overwhelming Westside Ballers 11–0.

Glendy Lewis led the charge with four goals (3’, 6’, 8’, 29’), while Naiome Williams struck a hat-trick (2’, 23’, 25’). Sandra Johnson, Lizandra Henrito, and Glengy Lewis added further goals to complete the rout. With six teams now confirmed across the three divisions—Road Warriors, B e n t S t r e e t ‘ A’ , We s t R u i m v e l d t S e c o n d a r y, Dolphin Secondary, Lady Royals and Lady Kanaimas—the stage is set for a spectacular Men’s, Women’s and Schoolboy’s finals as the President’s Futsal Championship crowns its respective champions tomorrow.

Undefeated Champions Set for historic showdown at Rising Sun on January 4 G

u y a n a ’ s horseracing season explodes into life on January 4 as two of the country’s most dominant Thoroughbreds, both undefeated, both champions, are set to collide in what is already being billed as one of the most anticipated races in modern Guyanese racing history.

All eyes will be on Olympic Kremlin, the reigning Horse of the Year 2024, as he makes his muchawaited return to competition at the Opening Day of Racing at Rising Sun Turf Club.

The Brazilian-bred star, owned by Slingerz Racing Stable, is undefeated to date and comes into 2026 with an intimidating résumé: 2024Guyana Cup winner & President’s Cup winner, and multiple feature race victories after his historic 2024 campaign.

Standing squarely in his path is another unbeaten powerhouse, Dataman, the USA-bred sensation from Master Z Racing Stable.

Dataman is a perfect 2-for-2,

capturing both the Guyana Cup and President’s Cup titles in 2025, and has quickly established himself as a serious force at the very top of the local racing ladder.

The January 4 feature will be contested over one mile, a distance that both horses relish. Olympic Kremlin and Dataman have each proven their class at the trip, winning mile races at Rising Sun Turf Club and Port Mourant Turf Club, posting remarkably similar times despite racing on different days and under different conditions.

It is a matchup that racing fans have been debating for months: Brazil vs USA Slingerz Racing Stable vs Master Z Racing Stable Horse of the Year vs the New Champion Challenger Undefeated vs Undefeated Simply put, something has to give.

Olympic Kremlin returns after a brief setback that kept him on the sidelines, but all indications from his camp suggest he is back at full

Dataman on the go strength. A representative of Slingerz Racing Stable shared their confidence ahead of the race: “Olympic Kremlin has done everything asked of him in Guyana.

He’s proven himself against the best, and he loves the

mile. January 4 is about reminding everyone why he’s Horse of the Year. Why he will remain undefeated.”

With victories in the two most prestigious races on the local calendar and an unblemished record,

Olympic Kremlin enters the race as the established king, but with no room for complacency.

Across the aisle, Master Z Racing Stable is equally confident.

Dataman’s rise has been swift, decisive, and impressive, and his connections believe the time is right to challenge the old guard. A spokesperson for Master Z Racing Stable responded with equal confidence: “Dataman hasn’t put a foot wrong since arriving. He’s undefeated, he’s won the biggest races, and the mile is exactly what he wants. If there was ever a moment to prove who the best horse in Guyana is, this is it. There will not be a second chance.”

Dataman’s American breeding, tactical speed, and proven stamina make him a formidable opponent, one many believe could usher in a new era.

The January 4 showdown is about more than trophies. It is about bragging rights, stable pride, training skills and

legacy. It is the kind of race that defines seasons and becomes part of racing folklore.

Adding to the excitement, Dataman’s presence on Opening Day ensures that the curtain rises on the 2026 season with maximum intensity, setting the tone for what many expect to be one of the most competitive years Guyana racing has ever seen.

This head-to-head clash underscores the growing quality and ambition of horseracing in Guyana.

With top-class imports, serious investment from owners, and enthusiastic crowds, the sport continues its resurgence, culminating in moments like this.

On January 4, Rising Sun Turf Club will not just host an opening race day. It will host a battle between two undefeated champions, over a distance they both dominate, in a race that will answer one question: Who is really the King of this sport? Excuses are prohibited….

The countdown is on.

Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 01, 2026

Lusignan Golf Club poised for an exciting and progressive 2026 B

uilding on the momentum of a h i g h l y successful 2024 and a year of steady advancement in 2025, Lusignan Golf Club enters 2026 with confidence, ambition, and a clear focus on continued growth, partnership, and excellence.

Lusignan Golf Club President, Ms. Anasha Ally, reflected on the club’s progress and outlined an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, noting that her re-election allowed the executive committee to further strengthen the foundation laid in 2024.

“Continuing from a successful 2024 and following my re-election, we focused on building on what we started,” President Ally said.

“A restructured executive committee saw members placed in new roles, and the results have been very encouraging.

The entire committee has performed credibly, as demonstrated by the successful hosting of the Brava Guyana Open and several other tournaments, even with weather challenges at times.”

Looking ahead to 2026,

Lusignan Golf Club President, Ms. Anasha Ally (3rd from left) and her executive.a Lusignan Golf Club is preparing for a dynamic calendar of major events, including the highly anticipated AmCham Golf Tournament, along with a number of other national and regional competitions.

These events are expected to further elevate the club’s standing while offering s i g n i f i c a n t v i s i b i l i t y, engagement, and networking opportunities for corporate partners.

President Ally also

highlighted continued infrastructural and operational investments aimed at enhancing the overall golfing experience.

Lusignan Golf Club is in the process of acquiring new grounds equipment to further improve course quality and maintenance standards.

The club has also expanded its fleet of golf carts, while the clubhouse continues to benefit from upgrades including new

bathroom facilities, fresh painting, and other outdoor improvements.

“These investments directly translate into better playing conditions and an enhanced experience for our members and visitors,” Ally added.

“We have also seen encouraging growth in membership and participation, which reflects the positive direction in which the club is heading.”

The President expressed

sincere appreciation to existing corporate sponsors, acknowledging their integral r o l e i n t h e c l u b ’s development and the successful execution of major tournaments. She also issued a strong invitation to Corporate Guyana to partner with the club in 2026.

“As we move into 2026, Lusignan Golf Club actively welcomes new corporate sponsors and partners,” Ally stated. “Sponsorship of the club and its events provides

meaningful brand exposure, direct engagement with key stakeholders, and an opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of golf in Guyana.

We look forward to building mutually beneficial partnerships with Corporate Guyana as we expand our events calendar and continue to enhance our facilities.”

Despite wider national staffing challenges, Lusignan Golf Club has successfully retained dedicated and experienced grounds and clubhouse staff, a factor Ally described as essential to the club’s ongoing success.

“We could not do this without our hardworking staff.

Their commitment and professionalism are fundamental to maintaining the standards of the course and the club,” she said.

As the new year begins, Lusignan Golf Club reaffirms its commitment to d e v e l o p m e n t , collaboration, and excellence, ensuring that 2026 will be a year of opportunity, growth, and excitement for members, sponsors, and visitors alike.

Thursday January 01, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

Slingerz, Western Tigers set for mouthwatering GFF Super 16 Cup Final …Police, Army to collide in third-place game Coach Jamaal Shabazz pays close attention as Darron Niles goes on the attack in the Super 16 Cup semis

T

he stage is set for a thrilling climax to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 Cup tonight as Elite League champions Slingerz FC lock horns with Western Tigers at the National Training Centre, Providence.

With both semi-finals decided by the lottery of penalty kicks, all signs point to a fiercely contested final that promises excitement, intensity and quality football.

Slingerz FC booked their place in the final after edging the Guyana Police Force FC

3–1 on penalties following a hard-fought draw in regulation and extra time.

Earlier, Western Tigers mirrored that drama, holding their nerve to defeat the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 5–4 on penalties, setting up what many believe will be a fitting finale to the tournament.

Slingerz Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz believes fans are in for a special spectacle, describing We s t e r n T i g e r s a s a deserving finalist and a worthy opponent.

“Of course we want to win, but the game will be a

great atmosphere for Guyanese football, for the players and for the fans, so we look forward to it with courage and confidence, because up to this point, we, Slingerz, does not know how to lose,” the Slingerz FC Head Coach said.

The Trinidadian-born coach, who guided Slingerz through an unbeaten Elite League campaign, is confident his side will rise to the occasion.

“We look forward to it with courage and confidence, because up to this point, we, Slingerz, do not know how to lose,” he

added.

While Slingerz arrive with the momentum of a dominant league season, Western Tigers have quietly grown into the competition.

Finishing fourth in the Elite League, the Tigers have shown grit, discipline and composure under pressure, attributes that have carried them through to tonight’s final.

Their most recent league encounter ended in a 1–1 draw, an outcome that underlines just how evenly matched these two sides can be. However, Shabazz made it clear that past results hold little weight on a final night.

The Slingerz coach also

acknowledged the expectations surrounding his team, given their investment and league success.

“Pressure now has been added to my middle name, so my name now is Jamaal ‘Pressure’ Shabazz,” he joked. “But part of the job of coaching is accepting pressure, and I’ve been built for that.”

According to Shabazz, “Its not easy to be born in Trinidad and Tobago, reborn as a Guyanese, and when you do well, they hail you as a Guyanese, and when you don’t do well, they curse you as a Trini, so I’m always under pressure, but part of the job of coaching, is

accepting the pressure.”

S h a b a z z , h o w e v e r, pointed out, “I accept the pressure, I’ve been built for that, alhamdulillah, and we look forward to this game, to deliver for our club, Slingerz.”

Meanwhile, fans will also be treated to a fiery third-place playoff as the Joint Services rivalry takes centre stage, with the Guyana Police Force FC and the Guyana Defence Force renewing their longstanding football battle.

The Police/Army rivalry is one of the most intense in local football, and supporters can expect a fiercely competitive contest.

Bent Street, Road Warriors clash for $3M as President’s Futsal Championship reaches finals night West Ruimveldt Secondary moves closer to futsal title with 11-5 win …Dolphin Secondary to clash with West Ruimveldt for Schoolboy’s crown tomorrow.

Olympic Kremlin

rts Spo

Undefeated Champions Set for historic showdown at Rising Sun on January 4

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