...insists on 40% of the spoils at all levels of government
One of the speed clocks installed along the Rupert Craig Highway
‘Guyana is one of the most exciting places to be’
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Guyana as one of the most exciting places in the world, outlining Guyana'suniqueopportunity to undergo transformative change.
Secretary Rubio made theseremarksduringapress conferenceatStateHousein Georgetown on Thursday, where he reaffirmed the United States commitment to supporting Guyana's development and be part of thecountry'stransformation.
“Ithinkandtothepeople of Guyana, thank you for welcoming us. I hope you
fully appreciate and understand this is one of the most exciting places in the world to be right now, because you have the opportunity, at this moment, to transformthis countryfor generations, and we want to be your partner. We want to be your partner in making thatpossible.Wethinkit'sof mutual benefit to see that
happen,”Rubiostated.
In his address, the Secretary of State, who has been in office for just nine weeks, said that while many nations are focused on stabilization or incremental progress, Guyana is poised f o r a c o m p l e t e transformation “This countryhasanopportunityto transform.And that's rare in the history of nations, to have an opportunity for transformative change. And w h a t I m e a n b y transformativechangeisnot simply oil and gas fields. And that's very important –natural resources are critical but that is just the basic ingredient that allows prosperitytohappen,”Rubio explained.
He highlighted Guyana's potential in multiple sectors beyond oil and gas, including technology, agriculture, and ecotourism. Rubio pointed out that with reliable and affordable energy, Guyana could
–Rubio
position itself as a major player in the global digital economy,includingartificial intelligenceanddatacenters. He also acknowledged the need for security and stability to protect the country's growing prosperity
Rubio's comment comes at a time whenAmerican oil giant ExxonMobil operates the oil-rich Stabroek Block. Sinceoilproductionbeganin December 2019, Guyana's economy has expanded significantly An upcoming arbitration case between ExxonMobil and Hess, a U.S.companyholdinga30% stake in the Stabroek Block,
is also on the horizon. Hess hasagreedtoaUS$53billion merger with American oil major Chevron, which would see Chevron acquiring Hess' stake in the block,estimatedtohold11.6 billionbarrelsofoil.
UnitedStates SecretaryofState, Marco Rubio
However, Exxon and CNOOC, another partner in the block, are challenging the merger, asserting their rights to first refusal over Hess'shares.
T h e a g r e e m e n t governing the Stabroek
Block provides oil companies with significant tax exemptions, allows for 75%costrecovery,andsplits the remaining 25% of revenue equally between Guyanaandtheoiloperators and Guyana receives 2% royaltyonitsresources.
The terms of the deal which was signed by the previous administration has faced heavy criticism for favoringoilcompaniesmore thanthecountry Whilecalls for renegotiation have persisted, the Irfaan Ali administration has defended its decision to uphold the agreement, citing the sanctityofcontracts.
In these frenetic times of hustle and bustle in our scrambletomoveaheadintheworld,bothasasocietyand as individuals, to talk about civility may appear to be an anachronism.Butthisconclusionwouldbetomissthefull significance of this value for our social integration, that is masked by the common apprehension that civility is only aboutgoodmannersorpoliteness.Thereareactuallythree facets to civility: civility as respect for others, civility as publicbehaviourandcivilityasself-regulation.
The first element insists that civility involves a demonstration of respect for others. As a young man, George Washington, father of the American Republic set down his ‘110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation’. His first rule was: ‘Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respecttothosethatarepresent.’
Thisemphasisonrespectingothersisstillthecoreofthe ideaofcivilitytoday.Civilityprovidesauniversaltoolfor signalling respect for others: the significance is in the symbolismoftheactmorethantheresultofthebehaviour Whetherthepersononthebuscanstandforthejourneynor not,theofferofaseatsymbolisesrespectforthatperson.
Thesecondelementsuggeststhatcivilityrequiresusto show respect to strangers and this requirement invests it withastrongmoralquality Concernshowntofriendsand familymayarisefromempathyorlove,anditislikelytobe strengthened by the certainty that we shall have to interrelate with them again in the future. Civility towards strangers,however,requiresthatwebehaveincertainways towardspeoplewhomaymeannothingtous,andwhomwe areunlikelyevertoencounteragain.
Thefinalconstituentofcivilityiswhatoneexpertcalls ‘sacrifice’, or what we might more mundanely refer to as “self-regulation” Civility involves trimming one’s immediateself-interest—wedesistfromdoingwhatwould bemostpleasingtousforthesakeofharmoniousrelations withstrangers.Civilitymeansdoingtherightthing.
In a holistic sense then, civility is behaviour in public which expresses respect for others and which requires restraining one’s own immediate self-interest when appropriate.Wouldwenotallagreethatthisqualityisvery muchneededinoursocietytobegintheprocessofforming “onepeople”?
The bottom line is that civility by definition, is inherently a good: ‘It is morally better to be civil than uncivil.’Beingciviltowardsothersispartofbeingagood andmoralperson.Itindicatestoourfellowcitizensthatone is willing to follow common rules and not act in a manner that subverts their well-being. This practice has to assist socialcooperation.ThesociologistEdwardShilsnotesthat civility is a social good because ‘there is not enough good natureortemperamentalamiabilityinanysocietytopermit it to dispense with good manners…Good manners repress theexpressionofillnature.’
In other words, people have to be civil to each other if sociallifeistofunctionharmoniouslyandwithaminimum ofunnecessaryconflictandupheaval.Lastly,civilityisthe favouredalternativetoincreasedstatecoercion.JohnRawls arguesthatif‘libertiesareleftunrestrictedtheycollidewith one another’. This is inherently true since diverse individuals will always want and desire different and incompatible things, and their unencumbered pursuit of their own objectives will unavoidably lead them into conflict.Thisraisesthequestionastohow(aswellashow far) individual liberties are to be constrained. Ultimately, thiswilleitherbeachievedbythestateapparatus,orthrough enlightened self-regulation.As Edmund Burke recognised back in 1791: ‘Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportiontotheirowndispositiontoputmoralchainsupon theirownappetites.”LetusreturncivilitytoGuyana.
Disregard for sound urban planning and expert recommendations costing Guyana
DEAREDITOR
, As I recall, it was either in the Greater Georgetown Development Plan or in another plan that the observation was made that the decision to construct the Railway Embankment Road, as a means of alleviating traffic congestion, was not the best option.
It was suggested that a more effective solution
would have been to build a similar road deeper inland, linkingthebacklandsofEast Coastvillages.
Today,aswewitnessthe severe traffic bottlenecks along the East Coast Public Road and the Railway Embankment, it is evident that the recommendation was both forward-thinking andpractical.
The current efforts to widen the Railway
Embankment Road come at a significant financial cost andinconvenience. That widened road when completed will not offer a long-term solution to the traffic congestion crisis
Instead, a properly planned inland road one that could have supported expansion and alternative traffic flow would have provided a much-needed
relief to commuters and residents alike But then again, the ruling party alwaysknowsbest.
The disregard for sound urban planning and expert recommendations has led to a situation where poor infrastructural decisions are being retroactively patched at greatexpense
Yourssincerely
RupnauthHardyal
ERC concerned about increasing tension in communities
DEAREDITOR
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has notedwithdeepconcernthe increasing tensions in several communities, as we approach the official campaign period for the General and Regional Elections expected later this year
The Commission is cognizant of various public discourse taking place on and offline, some of which have led to ethnic and politicaltensions
As such, the ERC denouncesallactsthatseek to undermine peace, respect, and understanding inournation
Guided by historical lessons of turbulent elections, the ERC reminds all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue, and reject any form of hostility or divisivenessthatthreatens nationalharmony
The ERC firmly calls
on leaders, supporters and all involved in public discourse, both in person and online, to uphold the principles of peace, unity, and respect for diversity
Political discourse must never lead to ethnic divisions or conflict amongourpeople
The Commission remains committed to its mandate of promoting ethnicharmonyandstands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure nationalunity
WeurgeallGuyaneseto reject inflammatory rhetoric and behaviour thatcouldheightentensions and instead work toward strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and nationalunity
Let us move forward together, upholding the valuesofpeace,respect,and understandingaswe promote harmony and good relations
Regards
Ethnic Relations Commission
Private Sector Commission Commends U.S. Commitment to Guyana’s Security and Investment Climate
DEAREDITOR
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) of Guyana joins with the unanimouswelcomebythe people of Guyana accorded the recent visit of United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to Guyana.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) also welcomes the unequivocal commitmentexpressed by the Secretary of State in support of the maintenance and security of theeconomicstability
of Guyana The Secretary of State has reaffirmed the determined positionoftheUnitedStates of America against any and all aggressive threats towards Guyana’s territorial integrity, thereby enhancing and reinforcing the confidence of investors and the business community in ourcountry
The Private Sector Commission (PSC), at this time, when the Nicolas Maduro regime has openly threatenedtheannexationof
the Essequibo region of Guyana, more than welcomes the unmistakable warning of Secretary Rubio to the Maduro regime of the seriousconsequencesofany hostile actions against Guyana or ExxonMobil’s operations within Guyana’s territorial waters. The PSC acknowledges the strategic importance of these assurances, as they provide much-needed security guarantees to businesses operating in the country and further strengthen investor confidence.The PSC further welcomesSecretaryRubio’s undertaking to raise the Caribbean’s concerns with regard to the United States’ proposed trade measures on Chinese-built vessels. The PSC appreciates his pledge to engage with U.S. trade policyofficialstoensurethat the potential economic impact on Caribbean nations, including Guyana, is taken into consideration. We believe that this continuing dialogue is crucial in protecting the economic interests of small
developingstatesthatrelyon internationaltrade.
The PSC remains committed to fostering a businessenvironmentthatis secure, competitive, and attractive to both local and foreign investors. We stand in support of the
Government of Guyana’s continued efforts to engage internationalalliesinmatters of economic and national Security
Sincerely PrivateSector CommissionofGuyana Ltd.
Nooneresponsible,someone isalwaysresponsible
DEAREDITOR
Systemicfailures...alife lost no one accountable (KNMar29). Nojusticefor thefamily
How could no one be held accountable or responsible when failures were established and recognized? Failures were man made as it is people whohavetoimplementand ensure systems work. So, s o m e o n e m u s t b e r e s p o n s i b l e a n d accountable.
Too often many failures are laid bare during investigations with promises to rectify and improveuntilthenexttime.
Andthecyclestartsallover again. The buck stops with thehierarchyofthemedical care staff of the hospital. They should be held accountable and either resignorberelievedoftheir positions With all the monies pumped each year into the health care system for failures to be happening tells of poor management andaccountability Thisisa slap in the face of those tasked to ensure gaps are taken care of and do not occur After all lives are endangered.
To say no one is accountableisnotaccepting
(Continuedonpage06)
‘Racism or a deficiency of vision’
DEAREDITOR
Ifthereisasinglereason no one, but particularly Africans,shouldvoteforthe Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) at the next general election it is the tremendous harm - waste of talent and young lives - it has caused over the last three decades. On 22/03/2025, I woke up
a n d r e a d t h a t a
Beterverwagting (BV)
Practical Instruction Centre (PIC) has just been ‘commissioned’ to serve some 400 students and community members with hands-on skills training to improve their employability andcareerprospects Andthat we should ‘celebrate more than just the opening of this centre [that] marks a significant step forward in ourcollectivecommitmentto equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge necessarytoexcelinarapidly evolving economy’ (VV: 22/03/2025)!
In 1994, Professor Zellynne Jennings-Craig, a Jamaican educator and researcher, said that ‘the majorityofyoungGuyanese adults14-25yearsofageare functionally illiterate.’ i.e. had reading and writing skills that are inadequate to manage daily living and employment tasks that require reading skills beyondabasiclevel. When I was minister of education between 2001 and 2006, the ministry stated that a ‘quick glance at educational statisticsatthenationallevel would show that less than thirty percent of those entering secondary schools are leaving with the requisites for higher education or the job market. At present the opportunities
available to the remainder for remedial education and or formal training are limited. Thus, over time we havebeendevelopingawork force whose skill development has been incidental’ (Training of Out of School Youth, MOE 2004).
In 2004, I presented a paper at the Caribbean Community’s Council for Human and Social Development arguing that TVET (technical and vocational education training) and general education should be better integrated at the secondary level In Guyana, this viewpoint led to the establishment of the 2004 National Council for Technical and Vocational Education, the National Accreditation Council and the Basic Competency Certificate Programme (BCCP):thelastwasaligned t o t h e C a r i b b e a n Examinations Council (CXC) CVQLevel1&2at theregionalandinternational levels The PICs and Industrial Arts Departments, wherever they existed, were tobeusedtoprovideaSkills for Life Programme (SFLP) for out of school youth and otherinterestedpersons
The vision was that no Guyaneseshouldbewithout some internationally m a r k e t a b l e l e v e l qualification and the orientation and structure of the then existing Board of Industrial Training, that dealt largely with the apprentice process, was consideredinappropriatefor the necessary volume of work The first SFLP programmebeganattheBV PIC in 2005 with I am
informed an enrolment of approximately 60 persons, but in in about 2007 the Ministry of Education scrappedtheprogrammeand left the PICs, which the government is now ‘commissioning’ , to deteriorateorcollapse.
As a result, in 2010, in a letter commenting on a Kaieteur News editorial ‘15,000 semi literates each year,’ I stated that ‘there is little doubt that one of the major problems that has faced Guyana over the past decades has been the enormous waste of human resources that results from our education system and identified in your editorial. As yousuggested,theimpact ofthiswasteisinmanyways deleterious to our society and therecertainlyshouldbemoral outragethatweappearunable toprovidesensible,systematic and continuous opportunities toallowallourpeopletoattain the good life However, althoughitisundoubtedlytrue that for some time large numbersofpersonshavebeen badlyleftbehind,itiswrongto suggest that the general orientation of universal secondary education is to neglect poor learners [C]onceptually, the answer to the overall problem is quite simple Itistomakeschooling more meaningful, productive and universal and simultaneously to create an informaleducationstructureto systematically mop-up those who are now untrained’ (KaieteurNews:01/04/10)
Fifteen years on, theVV a r t i c l e o n t h e ‘commissioning’ of the BV PIC is making a similar complaint.‘[T]heopeningof this facility comes amid growing concerns about the
Guyana continues to lag its Latin American and Caribbean counterparts in education outcomes, a reality highlighted in a recent World Bank report.
These setbacks are contributing to Guyana’s ongoing skills shortage, a challenge noted by the International Monetary Fund(IMF),whichlinksthe country’s educational performancetoitsskillsgap. While the PIC promises to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, it is unclear whether it will be enough to address the systemic deficiencies.’
Whatever the MOE is doing is not clear because neither theoretically nor practically has it been able to design, articulate and sell a comprehensive vision for educationinGuyana Iargued before that with economic, social and technological changes gathering pace, education policy must ensure that students develop knowledge,skillsandthelifelonglearningattitudesthatwill help them to meaningfully deal with a rapidly changing environment in which acquiringandmanipulationof knowledgeiscrucial
Employers have expressedtheviewthatthose who study the arts must pursuesomethinginscience and technology while technicians and engineers mustknowsomethingabout the arts While there is general agreement that the basic subjects of the traditional curriculum are essential, the feeling is that the concept of a general education must include
technical and vocational subjects.The general aim of secondary education is to provide all students with a broad-based education that will enable them to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and core competenciesthatwillmake them rounded and productivecitizens.
In 2001, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(
“Technical and Vocational EducationandTrainingforthe Twenty-firstCentury”defined technical and vocational education‘asacomprehensive termreferringtothoseaspects of the educational process involving, in addition to generaleducation,thestudyof technologies and related sciences,andtheacquisitionof practical skills, attitudes, understandingandknowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic andsociallife’
Education should cater forallspheresofinterestand abilities but should mainly perform three functions: (a) broaden‘Racism or a deficiency of vision’ educational horizons by servingasanintroductionto
the general world of knowledge, technology and work,(b)orientthedifferent abilitiestowardspreparation for further training and/or occupation and (c) promote in those who will leave formal education with no specific occupational aims or skills, attitudes likely to enhance their potential to access a first job and to continue their training and personaldevelopment.
PICswereinexistenceas part of the community high school process long before thePPPcametogovernment in 1992 and as noted above, two decades ago beginning at the BV Centre, the MOE was set upon the course that it only now intends to pursue! As Indians are associated with agriculture and commerce,Africans are associated with public serviceandthetechnicaland vocational trades. Whether deliberately racist or not, when one reduces the opportunitiesforAfricansto g a i n m a r k e t a b l e qualifications in or out of school in their traditional occupationsandthenspeaks of them as constituting the ‘fertile ground’ of the ‘unlettered’ what are we doing?
Regards
Dr.HenryJeffrey
The goal is not to protect the most vulnerable, it is score political points
DEAREDITOR, Kindly permit me space to respond to Councillor Lelon Saul’s letter dated March29,2025.
I’d like to begin with perhaps the most revealing aspect of his missive –Councillor Saul could not even be bothered to write it
himself Instead, he outsourced his argument to AI. In other words, his supposed heartfelt plea about economic suffering and ethical governance was outsourcedtoachatbot.Itis perhaps why his missive reads like a shallow imitation of genuine civic concern and is completely divorced from anything
resembling legal reality or administrative competence. If you are going to criticise policy publicly, at the very least, have the decency –andthespine–towriteyour own arguments But perhaps it is fitting: a synthetic letter for a syntheticargument. Saul begins by arguing that the situation is “…muchmorenuancedand the M&CC’s decision was ethically right…” Editor, howcaniteverbeethicalto seize powers the law never gave you? For one to claim integrity or justice when grasping for powers not entrustedtotheminthelaw is the very definition of
hypocrisy Chapter 28:01
(TheMunicipalandDistrict C o u n c i l s A c t ) unequivocallystatesthatthe Council is required to seek ministerial approval before takingstepssuchaswaiving interestonrates.Thisisnot aquestionofnuance–itisa question of transparency andaccountability
CouncillorSaul’smoral g r a n d s t a n d i n g notwithstanding, it is important to be clear: Georgetown is not in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe – residents are not being dragged out of their homes or forced to shutterbusinessesenmasse because of unpaid general
rates. Saul’s grandstanding, therefore, is a strawman built to justify lawlessness. The Council could have applied for ministerial approval for a waiver program, as provided for in law Instead, they opted for political theatre – choosing to use the citizens of Georgetown as pawns in theirill-conceivedscheme.
Saul goes on to cite international examples of tax relief – as if that somehow justifies the M&CC’s illegal actions
But this is a false equivalency It is true –many governments around the world, including ours, offer relief, but those programs are designed and implemented within a legal f r a m e w o r k W h a t
Councillor Saul is proposing is akin to a bank teller deciding to forgive loans, and then claiming alignment with ‘best practices in the finance industry.’Itisdelusional. Editor, I am convinced thatthegoalherewasnotto protect the most vulnerable – it was to score political points. No amount of AIgenerated drivel can justify their blatant disregard for t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability Georgetown deserves leadership with courage,yes–butalsowith competence, legality and the humility to follow due process.
Sincerely,
AlfonsoDeArmas PPP/CCouncillor
Bandits push down guard, rob Chinese nationals of
Two Chinese
nationals were robbedofover$1 million, by two masked and armed men on Saturday e v e n i n g , a t t h e i r supermarket, located in Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
The incident took place around 21:30 hrs at Lot525,Section10,Block X, Great Diamond The victims have been identified as Qing Yi Cue andXianChengXie,bothof the same address An estimate of $1,100,000, an IPhone 12 Pro Max valued $124,000 and $200,000 worth in phone cards were stolen.
According to police, the victims were at the supermarketcounterwhen the robbery occurred. “The victims were at the counter when the two perpetrators entered the supermarket one dressed
Frompage04 responsibility failures the hospital was supposed to r e c o g n i s e a n d p u t corrective measures and systems in place in order to prevent this tragedy from happening.
in blue denim jeans, orange boots, a black hoodie, and a black hat, while the other was wearing short green pants and a black hoodie,” policesaid.
One of the armed bandits pointed a silver gun at the security guard’s head, threw him on the floor,andforcedhimtolie facedown
The suspects then ordered the two Chinese nationals to do the same before steal
he aforementioned items fromthecashregisters
The suspects fled the s
ction Investigations revealed that there are CCTV cameras inside the supermarket, some of which were viewed, but the scene has not yet been p r o c e s s e d , a n d statements have not yet beentaken,policesaid
It didn’t and the poor consolation is ‘systemic gaps’ contributed to the unfortunate outcome Unacceptable, pure nonsense.
Sincerely ShamshunMohamed
Exxon and CNOOC sticking to 11B barrels figure in Stabroek Block, but Hess says its estimate higher
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) the operator of the Stabroek Block, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) a 25% partner in the blockhavebothdeclaredthattheir total recoverable Stabroek Block estimate falls below 11 billion barrelsofoilequivalent(boe).
Meanwhile, Hess, a 30% partner in the block, had disclosed that their figure exceeds the lessthan-11-billion-barrels-of-oilequivalent figure shared by the operatoroftheblock.
In its 2024 Annual Report, CNOOC highlighted some progress that were made in the Stabroek Block last year The company stated, “Made a onehundred-million-tons new discovery of Bluefin, further expanding the resource base in southeastern portion of the block. Total recoverable resources of approximately11billionboe,and8 projects will be in production by 2030, with total production expected to be 1 3 million barrel/day and capacity to be 1.7 millionbarrel/day.”
TheStabroekBlock,renowned for its vast oil potential, has been thesubjectofglobalattentionsince oil production commenced five yearsago.ExxonMobil'sPresident, Alistair Routledge, had stated that the company's estimate remains below 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, despite eight new discoveries in the block since the previousupdatein2022.
Notably, similar to Bluefin, CNOOC had revealed that one of theeightdiscoveries–Lancetfish–averaged 100 million tons In January, this publication reported that Hess Corporation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess, disclosed that his company's estimateofdiscoveredresourcesin Guyana's Stabroek Block exceeds 11billion.
At the Goldman Sachs Research: Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference, Hess said, “Yeah,theoperator,andwe'vehad talks with Exxon about this as operator, the very conservative, they haven't updated the 11 billion barrels equivalent, greater than 11 billion barrels equivalent of
discoveredresource.Ournumberis higher.”
In August 2024, Guyana's Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, announced that
The Stabroek Block
the Stabroek Block's resource estimate had increased by 600 million barrels to 11 6 billion barrelsofoilequivalent.“Wehave had a minimal increase in
resources.Ithinkwehavemovedto 11.6billionnow,”Bharratstated. Routledge during ExxonMobil Guyana's October 2024 press conference, noted that estimates can vary depending on the methodology and assumptions used. Routledge had explained, “The government released a number of 11.6B oil equivalent barrels, ExxonMobil's estimate is lower than that number our number remains a little under 11 billionoilequivalentbarrels.” He had also explained the variation between Exxon's figures compared to the reserves announcedbythegovernment.The Exxon official said that the state conducts independent studies, althoughitissuppliedwithdataby thecompany
Moreover, Hess Corporation is pursuing a US$53 billion merger with Chevron However, ExxonMobil and CNOOC have initiatedarbitration,citingarightof first refusal on Hess's share of the block.Despitethis,Hessexpressed confidence that the merger would proceedasplanned.
EPA to determine whether oil spill cost -ExxonMobil should be assessed in Longtail EIA
By DavinaBagot
The question of adequacy when it comes to oil spill insurance and guaranteeshaveoftenbeena subject of debate here. This issoasthecountryhasnever conducted or ordered a financialassessmentofwhat a spill can possibly cost Guyana and the Caribbean Region.
As ExxonMobil Guyana Limited(EMGL)progresses onitsapplicationforaneight project in the Stabroek Block, the country is still unaware of what a spill can cost,eventhoughitsimpacts canstretchtoaffectatleasta dozenCaribbeanislands.
AccordingtoExxon,itis
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is tasked with deciding whether such an assessment isrequired.
This was explained by E M G L P r o j e c t s
Environmental and
Regulatory Manager, Mariya Skocik during a public scoping session for the Longtail development in response to a question from KaieteurNews.
This newspaper had asked Exxon to say whether thecompanyisconsideringa financial study to determine whataspillfromthisproject, along with others, may cost not just the country but the Caribbeanregionaswell.
To this end, she explained, “As part of the development of the project we will be conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment; that is the reason why we are here today,toinformthescopeof the study and assessment of oil release, in an unlikely case scenario that happens willbepartofthatstudy.”
Additionally, she noted that Exxon does not know what the Environmental Permit would require, as previous Permits included a conditionforthecompanyto demonstratefinancialfitness tobeabletorespondtosuch an event Meanwhile, Exxon'sIn-CountryProjects Manager, Rebecca Cvikota reassured those in
(from right) EMGL Projects Environmental and Regulatory Manager, Mariya Skocik and Exxon's In-Country Projects Manager, Rebecca Cvikota interacting with citizens during a public scoping session for the Longtail project.
attendancethattheAmerican oil giant is committed to the country and will operate responsibly to ensure such aneventdoesnotoccur
Shesaid,“We'reherefor the long-term. ExxonMobil wantstooperateresponsibly as we explained in our presentation and really prevent an incident from happening, however in the event it did, we would take whatevermeansnecessaryto of course address that unlikelyeventofanincident and take care of the people and the environment of Guyana That's our commitmenttoyou.”
Thisnewspaperhowever pressed for a specific response on whether an assessment of oil spill costs
willbeincludedintheEIA.
As such, Skocik noted that the EPA, which was present at the meeting, would consider whether such an assessment is necessary “The reason we are here today is to inform that study, so I think that's really good feedback for the agency and for our future consultanttotakeonboard,” sheinformed.
Noassessmentofcost
During a public meeting for its sixth project, ExxonMobil revealed that it never studied the cost of an oil spill. The announcement camesomefourmonthsafter the President of Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), Darren Woods urged shareholders of the fortune
500companytovoteagainst a petition calling for a thorough study on the economic impacts of an oil spill from the Stabroek Block. Woods had called on the shareholders of the company to vote against the proposal since he believes there were adequate studies already done to determine impactstotheRegion.
However, the company's consultant revealed that no such financial study was everdoneinGuyana.
KaieteurNewshadasked theconsultantteamwhatthe likely devastation of an oil spillatthesixthprojectcould c o s t A s s u c h , Socioeconomic Resources / Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Anna Sundby of
Environmental Resources Management(ERM)said,“I can'tsaybecauseit'snotpart of the EIA.We haven't done an economic model of what the maximum economic impact would be. What we focusonwiththeunplanned events chapter is identifying what the risk of those scenarios are so we can put therightmeasuresinplaceto manage that risk and so that reallycomesdowntotheoil spillresponseplan.”
In the absence of such a study, the country is completely in the dark regarding the likely economic devastation to Guyana and its Caribbean neighbours should an oil spill occur in the Stabroek Block.
Notably, this document couldbeusedasatooltoaid inthepreparationforsuchan event. It would also inform othernecessarystepssuchas adequateinsuranceandother protectivemeasures.
Exxon previously said a US$600Moilspillinsurance wasinplacepereventinthe Stabroek Block. In addition, thecompanyhassubmitteda US$2BguaranteetotheEPA which stakeholders argue is grosslyinsufficient.
Thereisalsocontroversy over the company's assurance that its assets would be sold to help respondtosuchanevent.
GUYANA
Choosing between bad and worse
I’ve always had an aversion to elections, which I suppose is natural for someone who also has an aversion to large crowds, loud noises, and things that requirestandinginline.
Democracy is a wonderful thing in theory like monogamy, dieting, and watching only one episode of a show at a time.Butinpractice,itoften leadstobuyer’sremorse.
Guyana, of course, has perfectedtheartofelectoral redundancy. Every five years,wearepresentedwith a buffet of choices that consist mainly of chicken curryandcurrychicken.And yet, every so often, a brave soul emerges from the mist, boldlyproclaimingthatheis the answer to our national malaise. This is the onepersonpoliticalaspirant.
One-person political aspirants are fascinating creatures. They exist in a world of pure confidence, undeterred by minor details such as history, political arithmeticorthefactthatno one actually asked them to run. They believe that their sheerforceofwill,charisma, and the votes they believe they can secure will carry themtovictory
The problem is that the shelf-life of third parties is prettyshort.Oh,weflirtwith them from time to time like thewayamaninalong-term relationship might flirt with a woman—just enough to feel excited but
never enough to leave the wife. Some like the AFC stick around longer than others. But their demise is inevitable.
Guyanese voters are a paradox. They have a welldocumented history of complaining about the twoparty domination of the country’s politics, while simultaneously ensuring the perpetuation of this system.
Ifthetwomajorpartiesarea toxicrelationship,thenthird partiesarethewell-meaning but ultimately irrelevant friend who keeps saying, “You should leave them,” onlytobemetwithashrug.
This is where the power of staying home comes in.
For years, there was little alternative to voting for one ofthetwomainparties.And when the United Force becameashellafteritsmain support base migrated in droves, and when the AFC became ‘dead meat’ after jumping into the mix with the PNCR, the third party alternativesevaporated. For 2025 there will be no viable thirdpartytovotefor So,whatisthenextbest option? Staying home on ElectionDay
Now,Iknowwhatyou’re thinking Staying home doesn’t solve anything. It’s passive, it’s lazy, and it leaves democracy on its own.Butconsiderthis:what if mass non-voting was framednotasapathybutasa de liberateactofresistance?
Apowerful signal that says, “We refuse to pick between bad and worse.” What if, instead of dragging ourselves to the polling stationstocastavoteforthe lesser of two evils, we simply enjoyed the national holiday by sleeping in, drinking coconut water, and binge-watchingNetflix?
You see, voting has alwaysbeenpresentedasthe most sacred of democratic duties. But what if the real sacred duty is refusing to validate a system that has donenothingbutfrustrateus fordecades?
Thetruthis,ourelections have become an exercise in inevitability It has become anexpensiveandtenseritual where people line up to endorse the status quo. We know who will win. We know who will protest or seektorig.
The one-person political aspirants, of course, believe they can change this. They believe that their unique blend of righteous indignation can upend decades of entrenched politicalloyalty ButGuyana doesnotelectpoliticians;we inherit them. Politics here is lessaboutpoliciesandmore aboutethnicvoting.
The one-man political partydoesn’tstandachance. So why do they run? The answerissimple:egoandthe factthatpeopleeggthemon by faking support for them.
One-person aspirants believe they are
DEM BOYS SEH
Burnham is back... and he wearing red!
DemboyssehBurnhamcomeback,but dis time he dress up in bright red and he headshavedcleanfuhshowhehorns.And he walkin’ ‘round like he own de place. Andifyuhthinkmelie,tekwangoodlook atwha’goin’on!
People can’t gather in peace no more. Every time somebody try fuh hold a lil meeting, de hooligans does appear like is magicandwithplacardsandcheerleaders. Before yuh could say ‘dictatorship,’ de hooligansgetletloose,slappingpeopleand keeping noise fuh disrupt public assembles.
Back in de day, dem use to call it ‘orchestrated thuggery.’ Now dem call it ‘spontaneous protests’ Same jackass, differentsaddle.
Dem boys seh de State become de ultimatehitman.Ifyuhopposedemboysin red, yuh best prepare fuh some legal gymnastics.Todayisdetaxmanknockin’at yuh door Tomorrow is de drug squad showin’ up fuh search yuh fridge. If yuh real unlucky, is some fancy charge land in yuh lap—public mischief, sedition, or de
special That despite all evidence to the contrary, they will be the exception. They believe this right up until the moment the votes are counted, at which point they disappear into obscurity
And so, the cycle continues The two-party systemmarcheson,thethird parties fade away, and the on
collapseundertheweightof
theirowndelusion.Butwhat if, just once, we disrupted this cycle? What if, instead of engaging in the farce, we simply refused to play?
What if Election Day became National Hammock Day, a day where citizens collectively chose peace over politics, tranquility overturmoil?
latestone,‘contemptofBigMan.’
But wha’had dem boys hollering was how long it tek fuh de government fuh decide who de State could do business with.Sixmonthsplus,andislikedemjust wakeuponemorningandholler,‘Eureka!’ Butjustlikedat,delightbulbfinallycome on!Yuhmeantotellmeittekalldattimeto come up with dat fiction? Like dem been busy doing something else maybe sharpeningdeirknives?
Demboyswantreminddepeople‘bout something important. De monster yuh create does always tun back pun yuh. Today demsendinghooligansafterothers. Tomorrow,demsamehooligansgancome knockin’atyuhdoor Today,demusingde State like a sledgehammer against dem rivals. Tomorrow, it crashing down pun yuh head.
De Monster loose, and guess what? Nobody put a leash on it! Dem boys seh when yuh feed a beast too much power, it don’tstoptilliteatyuhtoo.Butlehwesee whogonbedelastmeal! Talkhalf.Leffhalf
Would it change anything? Probably not. But at least we’d get to enjoy a stress-freeday.
(The views
necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
H@RD TRUTHS
The Jagdeo Govt. press report: horrible
It was just a matter of time. No one could be that muchofaserialoffenderand get away with their verbal brutalities. Just when Guyana's Vice President of InformationandallNational Affairs (take a rest Cde. Gail), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo thought he was home free, time caught up with him. Hisdeeds,too. Ithastohurt, for he was deep inside his own backyard, with only months to go before elections, and the press watchersnabbedhimandhis government. Abusers of membersoftheindependent media. Playing the State mediaforapoke. Softsoap reporting due to fear of
retaliation Widespread atrocities committed in the scorchedearthcultureofhis government. Admittedly, I took some liberties with the language,buttheunderlying circumstances are indisputable Guyanese know about police riots (Chicago and the 1968 Democratic Convention) But who in Guyana ever hea
leadership riot repeated every Thursday afternoon year after year? If only Jagdeo had been more disciplined, patiently managed himself up to the elections, he could have effortlessly promoted himselffromauthoritarianto
totalitarianleader
A global group named CIVICUS called out both President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo for their zeal in engaging in verbal brawls with two objectives in mind. First, to contradict reality by touting the PPP Government's integrity, decency, humanity, transparency,accountability, piety, and commitment to national unity Somebody just expelled honesty from thiscountry,andIknowthat it is not me. The second objective is to strike down, putdown, and shutdown dissenting voices In Germany about a hundred years ago, dissenting voices
w e r e b r a n d e d a s “undesirables.” There were penalties attached. But “ p a r a s i t e s ” a n d 'undesirables' are how critical presences have been degraded in this country
The PPP Government's stormtroopers (Live in Guyana)havebeensetloose on Guyanese who the party
and its brass find objectionable,andwhomust be silenced by any means. And, by any leadership wink-and-nod. Go get 'em, boy(s)! Its taxpayer incentivized commandoes know the game and they go
at it with gusto as cyberbullies hiding behind the veils of social media. It
is worthwhile employment. Those who don't snare million-dollar jobs, latch onto multimillion dollar deals. Among the best jobs in this country is to be the PPP
Government's first responderstothosefoundto be nuisances (another euphemismfordisposables).
The Guyana Press Association took a beating. And like Deep South demagogues, such as Alabama's favorite sons: Keeper of the Peace Bull Connor and Governor Wallace, plus Governor Faubus of Arkansas, the good ole boys in the PPP takeout women by any foul means. The fouler the better (refer to the assaults on Nazema Raghubir and Davina Bagot, among others). One journalist, a real pain-in-the craw type, had his vehicle shot at, becausehe'satirelessdigger and revealer Talking about weapons put into action, there is that heavy duty one. State ads. The government knows who to steer them to, andwheretostopthemfrom going.
It is a shame that the
Americans, British, Canadians, and Euros have come to view the Ali and
Jagdeo government's assaultsontheFourthEstate asGuyana'sversionofblood sport. Withouttheblood. To thispoint. Myinterpretation of theABCE indifference is that their brains have become fried from getting drunk on cheap oil and an array of cheap business contracts It took an overseas-based outfit like CIVICUS to highlight the deplorablestateinwhichthe independent press is forced to operate here. Suddenly, alltheambassadorsandhigh commissionersandothersof that stripe see nothing, say nothing, and stand for nothingwherepressabuseis concerned. I suppose they are conserving their energy for election festivities close to Christmas Ah, two
rollickingseasonsrolledinto one.
Ihavealwayssaidthatif a leader has done no wrong, hehasnooneandnothingto fear Certainly not the independent media. There's noneedforfriendlyonesand theirfarces. Ifaleaderdidn't lie before, then he doesn't have to lie low later in front of the press. Or resort to waiting in ambush and then stabbing in the back (State ads). Ifaleaderhasnothing tohide,thenhedoesn'thave tohidehimselfinthefoldsof social media (or behind the dirty tricks of his or her hooligan army). This has been extended as a courtesy and a reminder to all local leaders, none more than Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo,twostalwartdoctors with the worst bedside manners People are watching, and they're broadcasting. Even worse, both have now earned a rap for having soft heads where criticism is concerned. One strong, straight verbal jab at either of the two and their glass jaws crumble. Try morecalcium,gents.
Thepresshasitsrole,and itisnottobebrownnosersto government leaders and ministers Nor to any politician. Avibrantpressis seen as a boon by honorable leaders. They listen, they learn, they adjust Sometimestheyagree,other times they don't. Standard practice. Incontrast,leaders who have compiled a deceptive record, one that gets sick in sunlight, must always look over their shoulder Orsewtheirgums together Orlashoutinfutile efforts to cover their tracks. Outsiders take note and report.(Theviewsexpressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Omai increases gold pit drilling
…cites high-grade discoveries
Omai mining property in Guyana
‘Information Commission useless’
...PNCR says Govt. wasting millions with Ramson at
Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton has described the OfficeoftheCommissionerof Information as useless and a waste of public funds as the system has failed to serve Guyanese.
The Leader said he supportstheprotestactionthat citizens have embarked on, given the lack of access to information in Guyana. He made these comments during hisweeklypressconferenceon Friday
request prompted us to publicly declare that Mr. Ramson's continued occupation of the position renders the office useless, a waste of public funds, and a disservice to the people of Guyana. Today, we still hold thatview.”
helm
A section of protestors in front of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson (senior) on Friday
Norton said, “The CommissionerofInformation, Charles Ramson Snr unwillingness to provide the public with information is an integral part of the PPP government's effort to undermine transparency and accountability and the right of citizens to know and be informed.”
The Opposition Leader was keen to note that a properly functioning and competent Office of the Commissioner of Information isacriticalagentofchangeon behalfofthepeople,especially atatimewhenthePPPregime hasbecomemoredisdainfulof the public and the Parliament, is becoming more secretive, less accountable, and is more incompetent and corrupt
“Thereis,therefore,aneedfor a proper Commissioner of Information,”theLeadersaid.
Scores of Guyanese from
Office of the Commissioner of Information
TheLeaderofthePeople's National Congress Reform (PNCR) explained that the Opposition also faces disappointment in its effort to accessinformationthroughthe Office.
Hesaid,“On16thFebruary 2023, I, as Leader of the Opposition, dispatched a “RequestforAccesstoOfficial documents”, under theAccess to Information Act 2011, to Commissioner Ramson, requesting the radio and television programme logs of the National Communications Network (NCN), showing its coverage of that year's budget debate in the National Assembly.”
Norton said the request was triggered by NCN's blatant one-sided coverage of budgetdebateswhereitcarried mostly the presentations of PPP MPs. According to him, the opposition's request was refused Consequently, the Leader explained, “The commissioner's absurd responses to our legitimate
variouswalksoflifeonFriday picketed Ramson's East Street Georgetown office over his failure to fulfill the duties prescribed by the Access to Information Act (2011). The activity was supported by the members of the press, Red Thread,GuyanaTradesUnion
C o n g r e s s ( G T U C ) , TransparencyInstituteGuyana Inc (TIGI), Opposition Members of Parliament, lawyersandothermembersof civil society, including former Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine.
Most citizens at the exercise, organised by Attorney-at-Lawandadvocate for good governance, ChristopherRamcalledforthe removal of Ramson from his post Ram has encouraged Guyanese to continue to supportthepicketexercisethat will continue next week at the samevenuefrom12noon.
He was also keen to note thattheprotestislikelytoshift to the Office of the President, should the activity fail to bear anyfruit.
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
Confidence and contradictions
Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton said he senses a victory for his party at the upcoming polls. Vice President and General Secretary of the PPP , Bharrat Jagdeo has often dismissed the opposition expressing confidence of another victory for his party.
Jagdeo would have you believe that the PPP's confidence is unshakable, that its record in government will deliver another term. And yet, the party's recent actions betray a nervous energy, a defensive crouch. The aggression directed at Azruddin Mohammed and his family—once allies, now targets—suggests a party that knows its grip is not as firm as it pretends.
And the funny thing is that Azruddin has not announced that he is contesting the elections; he is merely having conversations with the people.
Govt. to roll out automated speed ticketing system next week
The Government of Guyanaissettolaunchwhat itdescribedasacutting-edge automated speed ticketing system on Monday,April 7, as part of stepped up efforts toward enhancing road safetyandreducingspeeding incidentsnationwide.
This state-of-the-art
system, powered by advancedspeedcamerasand radar speed signs connected
t o c l o u d - b a s e d infrastructure, will detect
a
v
enforcement of traffic laws, the Department of Public Information said in a statement. This initiative is part of the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) Project, a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).As part of this project, new radar speed signs and speed cameras have been installed across Guyana to monitor vehicular speeds and traffic patterns.
The automated speed cameras will detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit, andticketswillbegenerated automatically without
manual processing. If a driver's contact details are registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), they will receive a notification via SMS or email with details of the violation. If their contact details arenotregistered,aphysical ticket will be delivered to their address The data collected from this system will also help authorities develop effective strategies to reduce speeding and improve road safety The deployment of these technologies highlights the government's commitment tousinginnovationanddatadriven solutions to enhance traffic management across thecountry
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasised the importanceofthisinitiative, stating, “As our country expands and embraces new infrastructure, we must also adoptadvancedtechnologies that enhance safety and
combined with real-time
ic monitoring, represents a critical step forward in ensuring compliancewithtrafficlaws,
Government is set to launch the automated speed ticketing system on Monday, April 7
reducing accidents, and ultimatelysavinglives.”
This system is fully automated and autonomous, ensuring impartial and consistent enforcement. No manual intervention is possible, making it impossible for offenders to manipulate or bypass fines. Allviolationsmusteitherbe paidorcontestedincourt.To enhance convenience, the government has partnered with MMG to enable direct payment of fines via its platform Additionally,
compliancewithtrafficlaws hasneverbeenmorecrucial, the DPI statement read. The SRIS Project, through the deployment of radar speed signs and automated enforcement tools, is a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e government's commitment to integrating technology intopublicsafetyefforts.
violations will soon be accessible in the GRA's “Padna” app, allowing drivers to easily check and processpaymentsonline.
Speeding has become a majorcauseofroadfatalities in Guyana, and with the rapidexpansionofhighways androadnetworks,ensuring
In the coming days, the government will launch a nationwidepublicawareness campaign to educate drivers on how the system works, what to expect, and how to comply All motorists are urged to follow speed limits and drive responsibly The goalofthisinitiativeisnotto penalisedrivers,buttocreate a safer, smarter, and more secure road network for all Guyanese.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e introductionofthesystemis coming at a time when the Guyana Police Force continues to struggle manage the roadways here.
This newspaper reported recently that there were 19
roaddeathsbetweenJanuary 1, and March 5, 2025, of these, 13 were occurred within a mere one-week span.Inaddressingtheissue, Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mahendra Singh had called on all road users to exercise caution He emphasised that by being moreresponsibleasitrelates to exercising safety measures, individuals can prevent contributing to road deaths. During an interview with Kaieteur News, the Traffic Chief cited that any solution to road fatalities ultimately hinges on the responsibility of the driver Hesaidthatifadriverfailsto comply with traffic rules, practice the five C's of driving, or operates their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is unrealistic to expect that theywouldnotcontributeto an accident that could result in the loss of life. “It is very important that each road (Continuedonpage17)
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IDB launches programme to expand care services in Caribbean
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a new initiative called “IDB Cares” that focuses on expanding care services and infrastructure to improve the lives of children, older adults, and people with disabilities, while creating jobs and accelerating economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
IDB Cares is the IDB’s institution-wide effort to address a region-wide shortage of high-quality, affordable care services, the bank said in a press release. The initiative will foster investment to create the jobs needed to meet the current demand and the expected increase in demand for paid caregivers. The initiative comes as the region needs to prepare for rapid demographic shifts: by 2050, one in four inhabitants will be over 60.
Expanding care services offers long-term economic benefits by helping increase women’s participation in the workforce, which is one potential avenue for increasing growth in the region. Eliminating barriers to women’s workforce participation could increase the region’s GDP by 20 percentage points, according to an IMF estimate. Greater care availability could also reduce workplace absenteeism and increase talent retention, boosting private-sector productivity.
IDB Cares includes financing for care-sector entrepreneurs through the Bank’s private-sector arm, IDB Invest, and promotion of innovative care startups via its venture-capital arm, IDB Lab. IDB Cares is built on three pillars:
1) Governance and financing: strengthening
institutional frameworks for comprehensive care systems and policies.
2) Coverage and quality of services: increasing investment in quality care services.
3) Shared responsibility for care: Promoting a more balanced distribution of care responsibilities within society and households. “Strategic investments in care services and infrastructure are critical for sustainable economic growth, productivity, and generating opportunities for all in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said IDB President Ilan Goldfajn, who launched the initiative at the Annual Meetings of the IDB and IDB Invest in Chile.
“IDB Cares embodies our commitment to care services and infrastructure to improve the lives of children, older adults, and people with
disabilities, as well as promote more balanced distribution of care. Let’s all care about care,” he added.
The initiative leverages the IDB’s extensive experience in supporting the care economy. This includes advising Mexico on creating a national care system, supporting Uruguay in improving care for people with disabilities who require assistance, and working with Costa Rica on implementing a long-term care system.
Care is a broad concept. The IDB understands care as paid and unpaid physical and emotional assistance to children, older adults, and people with disabilities.
It also includes domestic work. Care also extends well beyond the household and is a vital economic sector that sustains life and increases productivity in other industries.
IDB launches regional programme for disaster resilience
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Saturday launched Ready and Resilient Americas, a regional programme to make Latin America and the Caribbean more resilient to the disasters that harm its economies and quality of life.
The programme will expand and enhance the Bank’s work in this increasingly critical area, the IDB said in a press release. Ready and Resilient Americas aims to build stronger regional collaboration to boost resilience, improve readiness, ensure swift and effective responses, and bolster financial protection against disasters. Building on this proactive approach, the IDB will also allocate US$10 million in non-reimbursable financing to the program between 2025 and 2030.
This is additional to the IDB’s own financing and technical cooperation. At Saturday’s launch event during a plenary session with IDB and IDB Invest Governors at the 2025 Annual Meetings, IDB President Ilan Goldfajn and Chilean Finance Minister Mario Marcel emphasized how the program would be vital for better ad-
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dressing the natural disasters affecting the region. Chile is co-sponsoring the program and has been key to initiate and promote this initiative. To date, 37 member countries have signed a declaration of commitment to this programme. “Building resilience against natural disasters is no longer optional; it’s a necessity. The Ready and Resilient Americas initiative aims to strengthen disaster preparedness in our region by equipping countries with better data and tools, building a regional coordinated response and closing the financing gap by supporting resilience bonds and other risk-transfer tools,” said President Goldfajn.
Finance Minister Mario Marcel said, “Following the devastating forest fires and floods that recently affected Chile and many countries in Latin America and the Carib-
bean, we came to the IDB with the conviction that disaster preparedness and resilience must be a priority. Today we celebrate the launch of Ready and Resilient Americas, and we are proud to participate and actively contribute to this vital initiative for the region – a program that comprehensively addresses management of natural disasters. We must remember that these emergencies have a preventive component, but also an action component. In Chile, we are well aware of this; in recent years, we have had to face fires, floods, and earthquakes. This is a phenomenon that is repeated in neighboring countries, so we must be able to act in a coordinated manner, with a focus on collaboration and containment.”
Latin America and the Caribbean is the second-most disaster-prone region in the world. In 2024, it experienced
74 major disasters that affected nearly seven million people and caused an estimated $10 billion in economic damage. Ready and Resilient Americas is supported by 16 strategic partners from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. These partnerships can drive technological innovations, foster cooperation with the public sector to pre-position goods and services, and help co-design financial solutions that optimize costs and improve emergency readiness and response. The programme has three pillars. The first is to equip countries with advanced tools to better assess risks and their associated costs. This pillar also promotes technological innovation to make earlywarning systems more accurate and improve
(Continued on page 17)
Omai increases gold pit drilling...
From page 11 the program to pursue potential strike and dip extensions that are expected to have positive impact on the next resource estimate.
“We are increasing the current drill programme from 10,000m to at least 15,000m, with potential for further expansion pending additional favourable results. Fortunately, we are well-funded with a cash position of approximately C$30million, following our financing completed in February. Drilling will pave the way to an updated Mineral Resource Estimate anticipated in Q2 2025,
and an updated PEA planned for Q3 2025. We believe the potential for value creation through the drill bit continues to be strong,” Ellingham added.
The results from its first PEA for the Wenot Project revealed that the project is slated to yield over 142,000 ounces of gold annually over a 13-year mine life. At its peak, production is anticipated to soar to 184,000 ounces in a single year, with a total estimated production of 1,840,000 ounces of payable gold.
The Omai property mineral resource estimates totals 4.3
million ounces (Wenot at 834,000 oz. averaging 1.48 g/t Au (Indicated) & 1,614,000 oz. averaging 1.99 g/t Au (Inferred) PLUS Gilt Creek at 1,515,000 oz. averaging 3.22 g/t Au (Indicated) and 665,000 oz. averaging 3.35 g/t Au (Inferred)). Since its return to Guyana, Omai has been more focused on the Wenot mining pit, where a constrained pit approach is applied. The company has announced that it is now working on the Gilt Creek deposit where an underground mining approach is applied to integrate the Gilt Creek into an updated PEA planned for this year.
One
Bedroom Apartment in South Ruimveldt Garden. 250 k per month. Call :
- says mother of
Charlestown boy who died after gunshot in the head
“Right now I’m asking God to give me the strength to get through this”
ByShaniaWilliams
Keisha
Gustave,
the grieving mother of sevenyear-old Jeremiah Gustave, whosuccumbedtoagunshot woundonSaturdayevening, is calling for justice for her son and for the suspects involvedinthemattertoface thefullbluntofthelaw
After eight months of battlingforhislife,Jeremiah passed away around 18:30 hrs.attheirhomeinCharles Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Jeremiah was shot in the head on July 9, 2024, in front of his home. Keisha, devastated by the pain her son endured, is pleading for justice stating that her son’s life was taken away by stray bullets fired by two men who didn’t care who was around when they firedthoseshots.
Reports indicate that Jeremiah, a student at Smith’s Memorial Primary School, was sitting at his mother’s food stall when an altercation escalated, resultingintheshooting.
He was quickly transported to the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation(GPHC),where he underwent multiple surgeries Since his discharge, Jeremiah has been in and out of the hospital showing slow signs of recovery. The main suspect in the case, Odel
Garnette, also known as “Crab,”iscurrentlyinprison on remand as a court trial in themattercontinues.
He was arrested in July and charged with attempted murder Another suspect, Marlon Marcus, commonly known as “Mice Man,” was alsoinitiallycharged,buthis case was withdrawn in October by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Marcus had confessed to shooting Jeremiah during interrogation.
In an interview with Kaieteur News on Sunday, Keisha said, “They have to face some penalty because mysonain’tlivenolife,my son ain’t went in nobody way What can they come and tell me? I don’t even know how to process this thing.”
Keisha expressed her dissatisfactionwiththelegal outcomeinMarcus’caseand her frustration with the process.
“They(legalauthorities) have to do something about it.Y’all(DPP)withdrewthis matter when my son was alive, now my son passed away, y’all can’t come and tell me y’all ain’t get no evidence,”Keishastated.
“I ain’t want to hear nobody come and tell me ‘sorry.’I don’t want to hear nothing. Sorry can’t bring back my son, and they have
to feel the squeeze. I don’t want nobody (family members of the suspects) bringing no money and giving me,” she added, her voicefilledwithgrief.
Hearing the news of Jeremiahs’death
Keisha recalled the heartbreakingmomentwhen she received the news of Jeremiah’s death. She said that her birthday had passed last Sunday, and she was preparingtogoonanouting. However, when she left the house to prepare for the evening, Jeremiah’s father called her, stating that her sonwasnotbreathing.“Isee he father calling me, saying that jerry ain’t breathing, he deh at the hospital. Two minutesafterhecallmeback andtellmethatJerrypassed away,”Keishastated.
IDBlaunchesregionalprogramme...
Frompage16
adaptive social protection, focusing on the groups most exposed to and affected by naturalphenomena.
The second pillar is to form a collaborative network among countries, subregional networks, international organizations, and the private sector to coordinate necessary services and goods and ensure they are deployed rapidly and effectively during a disaster Thethirdpillarpromotesinnovativefinancial instruments to strengthen countries’ resilience and economic capacity to cope withdisasters. This includes support for issuing resilience bonds, catastrophe bonds, and swaps,andforregionalmechanismstolower insurance costs and increase coverage for agricultureandinfrastructure.
Govt. to roll out automated speed...
Frompage15 using member of the population be as cautious as possible. Take every step possible to avoid making themselves a target for likelihoodofbeinginvolved in an accident or contributing to an accident occurrence,”Singhstressed.
H e u r g e d y o u n g motorcyclists to ensure they are licensed and that they havetherelevantdocuments forthemotorcycles.
Last year, amendments weremadetotheTraffic,the Motor Vehicles, and Road TrafficActtobringaboutthe utilisation of 24-hour
surveillance cameras on major roadways into law, aims to help police identify drivers who violate speed limits and refuse to wear seatbeltswhiledriving. The road intelligent camerasystemwillbefitted onto traffic lights to support the implementation of this newlaw Thesystemwillbe managed by the Guyana Police Force. Championing the passage of the bill, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn underscored thatthistypeoflegislationis necessary as Guyana c o n t i n u e s t o s e e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l development.
The minister also pointedoutthatoverthepast few years; there have been hundredsofdeathsowingto road accidents. “We have noticed generally…the growth and development of our country Along with this growth and development, the investment in our roads [and]anincreaseinvehicles ontheroad,westillstruggle with road traffic accidents anddeaths,”heposited.The new laws are expected to play a critical role in acting as a deterrent to speeding and the violation of other trafficlaws.
Shereflectedonherlast conversation with her son, stating that loved and cared forhim.
“Friday night, I went to church, and before I left duringtheday,Itoldhim,‘I loveyou,andIwilllookafter youandtrytodoeverything foryouandbuyanythingfor you,’” Keisha said, holding backtears.
Jeremiahs’ deteriorating health
Keisha also shared that
Jeremiah had recently faced healthissues,causinghimto be briefly admitted to the GPHC. She recalled that around March 22, 2025, she noticedthathisstomachand handswereswollen.Healso looked uncomfortable and seemed the same way the followingday Theybeganto check the area where Jeremiah was feeding from and noticed green fluids coming out his body. “The part where you feeding him from, the father opened and he saw green water coming out from him looking like green seasoning,” she explained.
Keisha’s faith in Jeremiah’srecovery Shocked by her son’s outcome, Keisha stated that she was hopeful in Jeremiah’s slow but steady recovery and had faith that he would return to the energetic, jovial person she onceknew
“To be honest, I had the faith that Jerry would come through this and he’d be back to how he was. I never thought anything negative about this. I always prayed forthebestforhim.Butright now,I’maskingGodtogive me the strength to get throughthis,”shesaid.
At present, Jeremiah’s body is at the GPHC mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination, which is scheduled to take place between Tuesday and Wednesday
Jeremiah was rushed to the hospital where he underwent tests and an ultrasound “When we reachedthehospital,moreof the green water came out about 600 ml and they started running tests. Theysaiditwasdengue,but they still discharged him,” she said. However, Keisha expressed concern that the doctors might not have revealedthefullextentofhis condition. “If they did a bloodtestandanultrasound, they should have seen everything that was happening to him, but they justsaidhehaddengue,”she said.
Keisha Gustave and her son Jeremiah Gustave in happier times
AFC demands Hughes must head coalition’s ticket
...insists on 40 % of the spoils at all levels of government
TheAllianceForChange (AFC) on Sunday evening announced that it will only agree to coalesce with theA Partnership for National Unity(APNU)ifitagreesto a60-40split,wheretheAFC will hold 40% of the governmentpositions.
Accordingtoastatement fromthepoliticalgroup,this decision, among others, were made by the party’s National Executive Committee(NEC)onMarch 30,2025.
The Committee met specifically to address the status of discussions between the APNU and the AFC on the formation of a coalitiontocontestthe2025 General and Regional Elections. It also approved
conditions for any future partnership with that organization.
T
acceptanceofa60-40splitat alllevelsofgovernmentwith 60% of the positions being held by representatives of the APNU; the Party from which the Presidential Candidate is named, shall notbepermittedtonominate and/oroccupythepositionof the Leader of the List and finally that its Party Leader Nigel Hughes shall be the Party’s Presidential Candidate, in keeping with the earlier unanimous decision of the NEC in Januaryofthisyear
These resolutions were passed following more than four hours of robust, open
and candid discussions, accordingtotheAFC.
The political group also notedthatitsleadnegotiator, Alston Stewart provided the m e e t i n g w i t h a comprehensivereportonthe workdonebybothteamsand an overview of the present positionwiththeAPNU.The
meeting was chaired by Party Leader Nigel Hughes and was fully attended. The other two negotiators, cofounders of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman were also atthemeeting. K
negotiatingteamoftheAFC has been tasked with relaying these resolutions to theAPNUnegotiators.
OnJanuary21,2025,the A P N U
M
Understanding (MoU) with the AFC to explore the possibility of coalescing in the upcoming Elections, to be held later this year This collaboration represents the firstphaseofapotentialtwophase approach to the upcoming elections. Phase T
developing the necessary arrangements, institutions, and mechanisms to govern effectivelyandefficientlyas a unified entity postelection.However,theMoU st
agreement is reached by March 31, 2025, to proceed asacoalition,theagreement will end, and no coalition willbeformed.
In Phase One, both parties have agreed to collaborate on a common CampaignPoliticalPlatform (CPP) If they reach consensusontheCPP,Phase Two will address the coalition’s governance
s
cture (CGS) and electoral strategy The MoU outlines several key priorities for pre-election agreements, including the creation of a comprehensive political work program, coordinated public relations and communication efforts, and an integrated fieldwork approach.
Deadly Israeli strikes mar Gaza Eid celebrations
(CNN)-Israeliairstrikes onatentandahomehousing displacedpeopleinsouthern Gaza killed 10 people Sunday, including children, as Palestinians observed the first day of Eid-al-Fitr, rescuerssaid.
The Israeli military is stepping up its renewed campaign in Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahusaying efforts to pressure Hamas intoreleasingmorehostages were“working”andvowing to implement Donald
T r u m p ’ s h u g e l y controversial scheme to relocate Palestinians from theterritory
Twentypeoplewerealso injured in the strike on the Al-Mawasi area, Khan Younis’s Director of Civil Defense Yamen Abu Suleiman told CNN, warningthedeathtollwould likely rise. Alocal hospital confirmed the fatalities so far, saying five children had been killed. Video of the aftermathofthestrikeshows some of the child victims wearingnewEidclothing.In Middle Eastern tradition, childrenwearnewclothesto celebrate the three-day holiday. In the footage, a man is
Victims of an Israeli strike on the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis Sunday are laid to rest. Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images
seendraggingachildtoward the hospital, asking: “What was these children’s fault? They did nothing.” CNN has approached the Israel Defense Forces for comment.Palestiniansinthe GazaStripareobservingEid this year in the face of dwindlingaidsuppliesanda mounting death toll in the strip.
“Every year, I’m used to baking Eid cookies for my children,” one displaced woman, Ameneh Shaqla, told CNN. “But because of thecurrentsituationandhow expensive everything has become, I was only able to
prepareonekilogram—just to bring them some joy so they don’t stay sad because ofthewar.”
Abdel Fattah Khalil Karnawi, a street vendor, toldofthesoaringpricesfor clothing. “We came to the markettogetEidclothesfor the children. Unfortunately, the circumstances are tough and prices are very high.”
Israel resumed its offensive on Gaza almost two weeks ago,shatteringatwo-monthold ceasefire. It imposed a complete blockade of humanitarian aid entering the enclave, warning that its forces would maintain a
permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of the remaining 24 hostages who are believed to still be alive Hundreds of Palestinianshavebeenkilled intheenclavesincethen.
Al-Mawasi, a coastal region west of the city of Rafah, has repeatedly come under Israeli attacks, even though it was previously designated by Israel as a “humanitarian area ” Thousands of Palestinians have fled to Al-Mawasi, living for months in makeshift tents made of cloth and nylon, with little access to humanitarian
relief.Incommentsmadeon Sunday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuvowedtostepup the military campaign, saying the pressure on Hamas was “working.” “It works because it operates simultaneously: on one hand, it crushes Hamas’ military and governmental capabilitiesand,ontheother, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages. This is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said at a government meeting
Rejecting assertions Israel was unwilling to negotiate, he added that “cracks” were showinginHamasfollowing the renewal of the offensive and said Israel would implement “the Trump Plan — the voluntary emigration plan,” a scheme Trump himself appears to have walkedbackon.
Newceasefireproposal Sunday’sstrikecomesas Hamas has agreed to a new Egyptianproposaltorelease five hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander,inexchangefora renewed ceasefire, a Hamas source told CNN. The proposal is similar to one presentedseveralweeksago by US special envoy Steve
Witkoff, although it is not clearwhetheritalsoincludes the release of additional bodiesofdeceasedhostages. In exchange for the release of five hostages, Hamas expects a return to phase1ceasefireconditions, including the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, aswellasanagreementfrom Israeltonegotiatethesecond phase of the ceasefire, the sourcesaid.
Israel has responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal receivedfromthemediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counterproposaltothemediators,in full coordination with the United States,” the office said.
Netanyahu is facing competingdemandsathome fromhisright-wingcoalition who want to increase pressure on Hamas and families of the remaining hostages who fear more military action could endangertheirlovedones.
OppositionLeader, AubreyNorton
Nigel Hughes
U.SwantstoworkwithGuyanaonmigrationchallenges
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that while Guyana is not a source country for illegal migration to the U.S, it is essential for both nations to collaborate on migrationrelatedsecurityissues.
Speaking at a press conference held at State House in Georgetown last Thursday,Rubiooutlinedthe migration challenges Guyana faces due to its
growing economy and
strategic geographic location, making it an ideal destinationformanyforeign nationals.
Secretary Rubio highlighted the need for
proper screening and security cooperation to ensure the country remains safe.“Wewanttoworkwith you on that. I think that's a problem for you as well. I mean, obviously, because of the combination of your growing economy, labour needs, and your geography, youhavebeenaplacewhere alotofpeoplehavecomein, andIthinkyouwantittobe the right people, right?”
UnitedStatesSecretary ofState, Marco Rubio
Rubiosaid.
The U.S official further underscored the importance of intelligence sharing to prevent individuals with criminal intentions from establishing a presence in Guyana. He cited potential threatsfromorganisedcrime groups and drug traffickers, stressing that timely informationexchangewould beakeypillarofthesecurity cooperation agreement signed between the two nations.
He said, “If we have information on a Tren de Aragua gang member from Venezuela,wewanttomake sure that, we have collaboration and we're sharing that information. If we have information that some narcotrafficker is taking up shop here and has decidedtotrytoturnthisinto a base of operation, which could become could lead to violence and warfare here, gangwarfare,wewanttobe abletosharethatwithyou.”
Rubio further clarified that while Guyana itself is not a primary source of migrants attempting to enter theU.Sillegally,itcontinues to receive a high volume of peoplefromothercountries. “So from the perspective of Guyana, which is not a source country of migration to the United States per se illegal migration but it is a country that receives, unfortunately, you're getting a lot of people. And not everybodythatcomeshere,I mean, most people are probably here to work hard and so forth, but not everyone,”Rubioadded.
During Rubio's visit to Guyana, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed aimed at deepening cooperation and addressing regional challenges The MOU is designed to strengthen the partnership betweenthetwocountriesin tackling challenges such as narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime. The agreement also includes the sharing of information on synthetic drugdetection,transnational crime investigations, prosecutions, and militaryto-militarycooperation.
DCC continues winning ways thanks to Imlach masterclass
Captain Tevin Imlach crackedamajestictonasthe Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to a mammoth 131run victory over the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) as action in the Dave’s West Indian Imports/Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)
First-Division 50-over competition this past weekendatBourda.
DCC followed up this win after their encounter with the Malteenoes Sports Club where Jonathan Van Lange cracked 111 off 73 with83fromImlachtopush DCCallthewaytoawinning 320-6in41overs.
Recently recalled Guyana Harpy Eagles spinner Ashmeadashmead Nedd (4-28) and Ezekiel Wilson (4-37) shared 8
wickets which rocked Malteenoes for 112 all out Imlachalsoscored83inthat match.
Imlach then continued hisformashegotintoshape ahead of the final rounds in this year’s CWI Regional 4Day Championships, with a blistering156from130balls with 10 fours 4 sixes to lead hissideto352-8.
Former national youth
Rock Auto Futsal…
Monday March 31, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb.
18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
player Joshua Persaud hit a quick-fire 53, while Van Lange (39), Eagles opener Raymond Perez (23) and SachinSingh(23)chippedin nicely GCC spinners Devon Lord (3-64) and West Indies/Harpy Eagles allrounder Kevin Sinclair (266), tried with the ball but their team the suffered during the batting phase as they fell for 221 in 49.3 overs, despite a battling 96 from Navindra Persaud and 38fromsinclair DCCveteranall-rounder Christopher Barnwell led with 3-42, while Nedd continued to get his arm ready for Regional action with2-26withsupportfrom the young Jaden Dowlin (228).
World Boxing President arrives...
Frompage26
Christopher Samuda underscored the strategic importance of hosting highprofile international sporting leaders, saying it aligns with the association’s broadermission.
“The JOA has always indicated to our members that one of our strategic goalsistotransformJamaica into a mecca not just for performance, but also in terms of attracting international federation presidents,” said Samuda. “This visit reflects our commitment to enhancing dialogue and development that benefits the Olympic movement.”
As the visit unfolds, all eyeswillbeonhowJamaica andWorldBoxingcanforge deeper partnerships to enhance training, infrastructure, and competition opportunities for Jamaican boxers. The h o p e i s t h a t t h i s collaboration will not only elevate the sport locally but also inspire the next generation of champions fromtheisland.
B a c k C i r c l e successfully defended their RockAutoFutsaltitlewitha surging final win against GoldisMoneyonSaturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on HomestretchAvenue.
As a result, Back Circle carted off with $1,000,000 and the championship trophy, while Gold is Money received $500,000 and the corresponding accolade.Thecontestwhich ended 4 - 2 started slowly for the holders in front of a large crowd as Shemar Koulen scored in the openingfiveseconds.
Back Circle eventually restored parity to proceedings in the form of Stephon Reynolds, who scored in the 17th minute.
The score remained unchanged entering the halftimeperiod.
Upon the resumption,
Back Circle secured the advantage as Darren Benjaminfoundthebackof the net in the 33rd minute. However,theleadprovedto be short-lived as Gold is Money equalised in the form of Dexroy Adams in the35thminute.
Back Circle restored their initial one-goal advantage as Reynolds completed his brace in the 37th minute to make it 3-2. The win was then sealed in the 39th minute as Simeon Moorescored.
In the third-place playoff, Festival City defeated North East La Penitence 4-3 on penalty kicks after regulation and extratimeended3-3.
Festival City walked awaywith$300,000andthe respectivetrophy,whilethe loser pocketed $200,000 and the corresponding accolade.
Dr. Shallow and Bassarath returned as CWI President and Vice President
(CWI) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) is pleased to announce that Dr Kishore Shallowhasbeenreturnedas President, with Azim BassarathcontinuingasVice President, following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held today at the St. James Club in Antigua and Barbuda Both were unopposed and will begin a new three-year term, effectiveimmediately
In a unanimous vote, all territories supported Shallow, securing twelve (12) votes, while Bassarath receivedthebackingoffour territories, amassing eight (8)votes.
This marks the first three-yeartermunderCWI’s recently implemented governance reform, which introduces term limits to enhance accountability and long-term sustainability The AGM was attended by all member shareholders representing Barbados, Leeward Islands, Jamaica, Guyana, Windward Islands, andTrinidad&Tobago.
D r S h a l l o w, a Vincentian IT and business consultant, first took office in 2023 and has been at the f o r e f r o n t o f transformational changes within CWI, focusing on governance modernization, h i g h - p e r f o r m a
d
e l o p m
n
, a n d strengthening stakeholder engagement Upon his confirmation, he expressed gratitude for the continued
confidence placed in his leadership and reaffirmed hiscommitmenttoprogress.
“I am truly honored by the trust shown in me to continue leading Cricket WestIndies Thisconfidence suggeststhattheshareholders appreciatethatthereisaclear direction of progress one thatrespectsandvalueseach and every stakeholder and promotes oneness in our approach Critically, we must continue on this trajectory and build on the foundation. It’s a new day for CricketWest Indies, and together, we will push our cricket forward,” Dr Shallowstated.
VicePresidentBassarath, who also serves as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, pledged his
continuedsupporttoShallow and the broader CWI leadership team as they embarkonthisnewterm “I remain fully committed to supporting Dr Shallow and working alongsidetheentireBoardof Directorsasweenterthisnew period for West Indies cricket There is important work ahead, and we will continue to strengthen the game at all levels for the benefit of our players, fans, and stakeholders,” Bassarath said Cricket West Indies extends its appreciation to all its members and stakeholders for their ongoing commitment as the organization continues its mission to develop and promote cricket across the region.
Sunil Narine fit to play against Mumbai Indians on Monday
(ESPNCricinfo)-KolkataKnightRiders (KKR)allrounderSunilNarineis“100%fit” for their next match in IPL 2025 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday He had missed KKR’s previous match, against Rajasthan Royals, becausehewasunwellandresumedtraining onSaturdayeveningaftertheteamarrivedin MumbaifromGuwahati.
Narine trained with the rest of the squad on Sunday as well, starting with a football game before bowling in the nets along with spinner Varun Chakravarthy. “Sunilis100% fit He has definitely recovered well and he’s been practising since yesterday,” KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit said on Sunday “Today he is practising as well so he is absolutely fine at the moment” ESPNcricinfo learnedNarinewasillonthemorningofKKR’s previousgame,whichtheywonagainstRR,and was replaced by MoeenAli as a spinner who alsoopenedtheinnings Narine,itisunderstood, needed medical attention at the time but he returnedtotheteamhotelintheeveningandwas apartoftheircelebrations
“I’vebeenpractisingwell,andIjusttrytobe readyallthetime,”Moeensaidafterthematch abouthisunexpectedseasondebut “Igottold thismorningthatSunny[Narine]wasnotwell andtojustbereadywhenever Obviously,hard toreplaceSunnybutIfeltlikeIdidanicejobof it “You’rejustwaitingforyourturnandwhen thechancecomes,youtryandtakeitasmuchas you can. But on some wickets like today, I probablyusedmyexperienceasmuchasIcould to actually keep it simple, keep the stumps in play, keep the line to the left-handers in particularquitestraightandjusttryandspinthe ball ”Moeen did well with the ball, dismissingYashasviJaiswalandNitishRana tofinishwith2for23fromhisfourovers.He struggledwiththebatthough,scoring5in12 balls. Narine, an integral part of KKR since his first season in 2012, was one of their betterperformersintheopening-nightlossto Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at home in Kolkata. He scored 44 off 26 balls afteraninitialstruggletogetgoingandthen took 1 for 27 as KKR went down by seven wickets.
President Dr. Shallow (right) and Vice President Bassarath (Photo: CWI Media)
Fantastic Wharton snipes haul-trick in 11-0 win
- as Santa Rosa finish atop of Group ‘B’
Five thrilling
m a t c h e s concluded the third-roundstageofthe2025 Milo/MassyBoys’Under-18
Football Tournament yesterday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Queen’s College (QC) grounds.Theracetosecurea ‘perfect’ nine points has concludedthethirdroundof the 11th annual football championship,sponsoredby Petra’s longstanding partner Nestlé Milo Defending
champions Chase’s Academic Foundation continued their dominance as the most formidable school team in the country with a commanding 11-0 victory over Three Mile Secondary at the MoE ground.
Sensational forward Bryan Wharton once again stole the show, netting an impressive haul-trick to guide his team to maximum points.Thegoalfestbeganin
thesixthminutewhenIsaiah Ifill opened the scoring Twelve minutes later, Wharton got his first, doublingtheleadto2-0.Ifill then assisted another in the 25th before Wharton struck again three minutes later. From that point, it was the Wharton show, as he found the back of the net in the 55th, 57th, 60th, and 65th minutes Mark Glasgow (47’) and Jaden Christian (68’) also got on the scoresheet, sealing the emphatic11-0victory InGroup‘B’,SantaRosa Secondary maintained their top position with a convincing 5-1 win over CharlestownSecondary The match started with a defensive approach from both teams, but Santa Rosa managedtobreakthroughin the 13th minute when Dane Phillips executed a stunning acrobatic header to give his side the lead. Charlestown defended resolutely until
halftime, but Santa Rosa broke through again in the 48th minute to make it 2-1. From there, the floodgates opened, with Rupee Norton (65’), DarenWilliams (66’), and Keshan Campbell (68’) sealing the win in dominant fashion.
Meanwhile,Ann’sGrove Secondary is still searching for second victory in the competitionaftersettlingfor another draw, this time against Bartica. With the result, both teams earned a point, leaving them tied at four points atop Group ‘F’, withBarticaleadingongoal difference.
At the QC ground, St. John’s College secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Westminster Secondary. Jasiah Nedd was the hero, scoring the decisive goal with a powerful strike that rattled the net and secured three valuable points for his team. Hope Secondary also had an impressive outing,
Chase’s Academic Foundation goal scorers (L-R) Mark Glasgow, Isaiah Ifill, Jaden Christian and Bryan Wharton in 11-0 win
overp
Demerara Secondary 5-1
GoalsfromKendrickPellew (12’), Damario Webb (36’), Jayden Nicholas (37’), Asaiah Browne (53’), and Yohance King (68’) ensured a comfortable victory Hope’s swift attacking line dismantledWestDemerara’s porous defense, scoring at
regular intervals to claim threecrucialpoints. As the tournament moves into its decisive stages this weekend, secondary school football fans can expect even more exciting action. The 2025 champions will be crowned onApril19duringthegrand finale. The tournament is
sponsored by Nestlé Milo, withadditionalsupportfrom MVP Sports, Massy Distribution,theMinistryof AmerindianAffairs, and the N a
n a l S p o
s Commissio
It is coordinated by the Petra Organisationandsanctioned by the Ministry of Education.
World Boxing President arrives in Jamaica for historic Five-Day Visit
(SportsMax)-President of World Boxing, Boris van derVorst,arrivedinJamaica on Saturday night to begin a five-dayworkingvisitaimed atstrengtheningtieswiththe localboxingcommunityand exploringwaystoelevatethe sport both regionally and internationally.Touching
d o w n a t S a n g s t e r International Airport in Montego Bay, van der Vorst was warmly welcomed by members of the Jamaican boxing fraternity, including President of the Jamaica Boxing Association (JBA), Stephen “Bomber” Jones, who has been a staunch supporter of World Boxing sinceitsinception.
“For me, it’s a great pleasure to be here in Jamaica,”van derVorst said shortly after arriving. “Thankyoufirstofallforthe warm welcome. And the president for the Jamaica
Boxing Federation, Mr. Bomber, is a great friend of mine. He is a true supporter fromthebeginningofWorld Boxing. Jamaica was one of thepillarsofboxingandpart of the inaugural congress in 2023. Since then, the JBA has remained a leader in the Caribbean region. Together, we hope to further develop theregion.”
The World Boxing president will be in the country until Wednesday, April2,andwillvisitboxing programs at the grassroots level in Montego Bay and Kingston He is also scheduled to meet with key stakeholders, including Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, Jamaica Olympic Association(JOA)President Christopher Samuda, and other members of the local boxingcommunity.
Va n d e r Vo r s t emphasized his belief in
World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst (2ndl) and his wife Ingeborg van der Vorst were greeted by JBB President Stephen ‘Bomber’Jones (left) and JOAboss Christopher Samuda.
Jamaica’s potential to produceworld-classtalent.
visit, but by what it means for the Caribbean and for boxing in general,” said Jones. “Boxing is one of the oldestOlympicsports.Boris has galvanized a lot of countries to support World Boxing, and making one of his first official visits to the Caribbean is huge for us. This is historical in many ways.”
Van der Vorst also praised Jones’ leadership andhisrolewithintheglobal boxingmovement.
“I expect Jamaican boxing to grow and develop newworldchampionsunder our leadership. That’s why I’m here to discuss collaboration and how we can move forward, especially after the reinclusion of boxing in the Olympic programme. This presents great opportunities forJamaica.”
Therecentre-admittance of boxing into the Olympic
Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wasmetwithenthusiasmby bothvanderVorstandJones, who see it as a pivotal momentforthesport.
“ W e ’ r e v e r y encouraged—not just by his
“He was part of the first national federation to join World Boxing and has since become a leader in the region. He also sits on the Olympic commission for World Boxing and now serves on the board of the P a n - A m e r i c a n Confederation. In all aspects,he’strulyaleader.”
JOAPresident
(Continuedonpage23)
Commissioner of Police T20 Final…
All-round Headquarters retain title in dominant fashion
The Champion, Headquarters, took a photo op with their spoils.
Headquarters retained their title in 2025 Commissioner of Police Annual T20 knockout cricket tournament, which ended on Friday at Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
B a t t i n g f i r s t , Headquarters posted 150 in 19.3 overs, before knocking downtheOfficersXIfor143 inthesameamountofovers bowled.
Former National opener Kevon Boodie (39) and Pernel London (18) added 59, while Troy Leitch (34) and David Hickel (15)
consolidatedatthebackend forHeadquarters.
BowlingfortheOfficers was led by Troy Benn who grabbed 3-20, fast-bowler Bernard Bailey (2-20) and StephenHarris(2-27) Needing 151 for a win, theOfficershadaroughtime
batting with skipper
Ravindradat Budhram striking4foursinhis31with supportfromHarriswholent assistance with 28 (2x4 2x6).
Guyana Harpy Eagles
wicket-keeper Kemol
Savory crunched a pair of foursandsixesinhis21off9 balls, but their efforts failed
to stop a rampant Khanaiya Ramkarran, who starred with 4-21, while Boodie returnedtosnare3-12.
Prizes were awarded to Boodie for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the final and the best batsman on the winning team.
Ramkarran copped the best bowler award while Damion Vantull was awarded the overall MVP for scoring 236 runs and 8 wickets while TSU’s Lance Roberts was awarded for his solitary century of the tournament
