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One day after ranks of the Guyana Police Force were accused of demanding a bribe from a passenger at the CJIA, Commissioner of Police and Chief Immigration Officer Mr Clifton Hicken, along with Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (DCIO), Senior Superintendent Stephen Telford, on Monday visited the location to interact with immigration ranks and warn them against bribery.
Minister of
N a t u r a l Resources
Vickram Bharrat said that givingcitizenscashtransfers from oil funds is a failed
model, and if the government focuses on this Guyana will end up poorer thanitstarted.
Hehoweverclarifiedthat the government does intend toprovidecashtransfers,but emphasised that, as President Irfaan Ali has stated, this is not the only waytheadministrationplans tospendoilrevenues.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) back in March had praised Guyana's cash transfers, sayingthatithelpedtotackle poverty but cautioned the country about the likely impactfromloweroilprices and climate shocks. “Staff assesses that social transfer policies implemented in recent years have increased disposable income and reduced the poverty rate,” the IMF said in its Staff ConcludingStatementofthe 2025 Article IV Mission.
‘Full
The PPP/C Government in its last term provided cash transferstodisabledpersons, farmers, school children, mothers of newborn babies and dialysis recipients. It also distributed $100,000 cashtransfertoallGuyanese 18 years and older and had promised more such grants in its second term. “Going forward, additional targeted transfers, integrated into a medium-term fiscal framework, could further supportinclusivegrowthand help Guyana advance faster toward its sustainable development goal (SDG) of nopoverty,”theIMFsaid. Meanwhile,ontherecent electioncampaigntrail,allof thepartiespromisedcitizens cashgrants. InMarchofthis year Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told the media at a gathering at Babu Jaan, Corentyne,Berbicethatcash grants will be given in the future. “You will get your cashgrantsinthefuturetoo,” Jagdeo said. “Just imagine the next term in office how glorious that will be,” he added. During his address,
Jagdeo reaffirmed that the PPP stands by its commitments “When we make these promises that PresidentAli spoke about in the next term, you best believe that they will be delivered,”henoted.
The VP had explained thatthePeople'sProgressive PartyCivic(PPPC)hasplans t0 structure financial instrument created in such a way that enables citizens to invest their cash grants. “It will underwrite, it will give youaguaranteerateofreturn thanifthemoneywasplaced in the bank,” he noted. “So whenyougetyourcashgrant inthefuture,youcanputitin a financial instrument that the government will create, thatitwillunderwrite,itwill give you a guarantee rate of returnthanthemoneyifyou placeitinthebank,allofthis willempowerpeople,young people, especially to own things,”hesaid.
Fast forward to the launch of the party's elections campaign in July Prime Minister Mark Phillipsalsopromisedthatif
reelected the PPPC
Government will deliver more cash grants not less than $100,000. “Last year, wepaid$100,000cashgrant foreveryGuyanese18years andabove.Anditdidn'tdone deh, because once we start something, we got to continue it, and if we pay $100,000,nexttimeweain't gon pay you less than 100,000 so you figure it out foryourself,morecashgrant coming, and it will not be lessthan$100,000,”Phillips told a large crowd of PPP supporters at their election campaignlaunchinKitty However, Minster Bharrat has said that the issue of cash grants, “It's a failed model. It's a model thatdoesnotworkinanypart of the world. Now let's look atafewcountries.Let'slook at the US. Many of these people who have called for cash transfer, most some of them live in the US.” He explained that a lot of these persons live in the United States, and he would like them to tell him if cash transfers are offered to
Guyana will never see its full 50% profitsharefromtheStabroekBlockas long as government refuses to put in placering-fencingmechanisminfuture oil projects, Former Public InfrastructureMinister,DavidPatterson as said. He said any promise of 50% profit share by the authorities is a “fleetingillusion”.
In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, Patterson who is also Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC) voiced concerns over the approval of a seventh oil project for American oil giant ExxonMobil, in the absence of a ring-fencing provision. Guyana has been urged on numerous occasions by renowned independent bodies, such as theInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF) to implement a ring-fencing provision tosafeguardthecountry'sresources. Ring-fencing simply means that each oil project should pay for itself. Afterthecostoftheprojectisrecovered by the operator, all of the revenue generatedwouldbeavailabletosplitas profit (minus operational and maintenanceexpenses).
In the absence of this provision, Exxon uses profits generated from the projects in operation to finance
developments that are yet to come onstream. This continues to swell the cost bank which in turn delays the country from enjoying a larger portion ofrevenue.
AccordingtotheStabroekBlockoil deal,Exxoncanrecoverupto75%ofoil produced monthly for these expenses. In addition, the company also enjoys a 12.5% profit split with the government of Guyana. This means that Guyana receives 12.5% of the oil produced in
additionto2%royaltythatispaidfrom theoperator'sshare.
On September 22, the government signalled a greenlight to ExxonMobil foritsseventhdeepwaterdevelopment, the Hammerhead project. As such, Pattersonpointedout,“There'snoringfencing. With the amount of profit that they're making and cost being recovered,wearenonearertoreaching the 50, 50 revenue split that was promised. So, definitely, that continues tobeafleetingillusion.”
Duringapressconferencethisyear, Business Services Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, John Colling was unable to say when the country could enjoy its full 50% profit from the Stabroek Block. He would only assure that by the end of the decade, Guyana will receive US$10B annually
Heexplained,“Inthefuture,onceall of the costs have been recovered, a largercomponentoftherevenuewillbe available for profit oil, for splitting betweenEMGLanditspartnersandthe government of Guyana and we expect by the end of the decade that the governmentofGuyanawillbereceiving (Continuedonpage9)
citizens in the US, even though it is one of the most powerful countries on earth.
“The US produces probably the most oil in the world
among oil producing countries.I'veneverheardof any cash transfer in the US, Qatar I'veneverheardofany cash transfer in Qatar, the UAE, which is Dubai…I've never heard of any cash transfer given Look at Ghana, look at Angola, and those African countries that produceoil,”hesaid.
He reiterated that the model cannot and will not work,asitisnotpractical.If the government decided to give every household $500,000 monthly or quarterly, this may be sending a bad message or citizens may refuse to work.
“Whowillgotoschoolafter that?BecauseifI'mastudent andI'maGuyanese,Iwould say I'm collecting our money Why should I go to school?WhyshouldIstudy? Why should I get degree? Why should I go work? Because I'm collecting this money So it's the culture, is theculturethatwecreate,or the culture behind that,” the ministerreasoned.
Minister Bharrat explained that it will not be an incentive and it will be short-lived, resulting in the countrybeinginaworststate
than when it started producing oil. “Oil and Gas will end at some point in time,andthatiswhywehave used the revenue from oil and gas sector to continue building out forestry, mining, manufacturing, ecotourism, construction and the new sectors that are emerging now, agriculture
expandingbecauseweknow wehavetoprepareforafteroil, like Dubai did, and we have seen their success. So, theseareresourcesthatdon't last forever,” the minister reminded.
“We will end up poorer than where we start from. It simply means that we will end up with a country with peoplewhoarenoteducated because they didn't see the need to go to school and for their education and to study and to build a professional career, because they're receiving these cash transfers,andthepeoplewho have not invested in businesses and who are not working,andwewillsimply haveacountrywhereexpats and fo
ers will d
ate, obviously, because our locals are just sitting back and waiting on their cash transfer at the end of the month,” Bharrat stressed.
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It has gone almost unnoticed, drowned out by the politicalnoiseandtheoilheadlines,butthedailyreportsof murders, robberies, and other violent crimes in Guyana shouldjolteverycitizentoattention.Thestatisticsmaybe debated,buttherealityonthegroundcannotbedenied:the nation is facing an escalation in violence that is claiming lives,spreadingfear,anderodingtrustinthecapacityofthe statetoprotectitspeople.
In just the past months, the country has witnessed a spate of murders and attempted murders. The most prominent was the brutal shooting of popular cosmetologist Lolita Callendar known as Lola Doll. But herswasnotanisolatedcase.Almostdaily,thepagesofthis newspapercarrystoriesofmenandwomengunneddown in robberies, assaulted in their homes, or cut down in disputes that spiral out of control. Citizens are left to wonder:whowillbenext?
At his inauguration, President Irfaan Ali pledged to “kill domestic violence.” It was a bold and necessary promise.Yet with street robberies and murders rising, the President may now have to broaden his vow to killing crimeitself.Forwhatuseiseconomicgrowth,oilwealth, and grand development if citizens cannot walk the streets insafetyorsleepatnightwithoutfearofarmedintrusion?
AttorneyGeneralAnilNandlalladmittedlastyearthat“the Government is not comfortable with the level of crime and violenceinthesocietyandthatisnosecret”Hepointedtonew legislationandstifferpenalties Butaswearguedbefore,laws alone are not enough Guyanese have heard the same assurancesforyears promisesofamultifacetedapproach,of betterintelligence,ofstronger patrols.Yet the daily tide of crimecontinuesunabated.Theheartofthematterremainsa Police Force that too many citizens view as compromised Bribery scandals, corruption, and incompetence have hollowed out trust How can people feel secure when those taskedwithprotectingthemarethemselvesrepeatedlycaught inactsofextortion,collusion,orsimpleneglect?Itisnowonder thatsomevictimsdonotevenbotherreportingcrimes
Illegalgunsflowfreelyacrossourporousborders.Ask anycommunityandresidentswilltellyouoftheirfear,not just of criminals, but of the sheer number of weapons circulating. As an earlier editorial in this newspaper warned,“itisthisendlesstideofgunsthatispresentinlocal society, and that are clearly on the streets and primed for action.” Unless the State moves aggressively to intercept, sweep,anddisarm,themayhemwillonlydeepen.
Randomsweepsandsurpriseoperationsmustbecome thenorm.TheGuyanaPoliceForcecannotwaitforreports; itmusttakethefighttothestreets.Eachfirearmseizedis one less tool for murder and intimidation. Each criminal encountermustendwiththemessagethatlawlessnesshas consequences Severe jail terms must accompany convictionstosendanunmistakablesignal.
But enforcement alone is not the solution. Crime thriveswherepoverty,hopelessness,andweakinstitutions intersect. Our leaders cannot pretend that gleaming oil revenues will fix crime if the young, the poor, and the marginalised feel abandoned. Without opportunity and fairness, the lure of the gun will remain strong. President Ali must now confront this crisis with the urgency it deserves. Crime is not a side issue; it is the daily terror stalkingGuyanesehouseholds.Itisthequestionwhispered in every home: will my family be safe? Development cannot be measured only in roads built or oil barrels pumped, it must also be measured in how secure citizens feel in their own country If the President is serious about killingdomesticviolence,lethimalsodeclarewaronthis risingtideofcrime.Lethimdemandaclean,accountable Police Force. Let him insist on real strategies, not ad hoc soundbites.Lethimstandbeforethenationandsay:crime willnotclaimthiscountry’sfuture.ForuntilGuyaneseare free from the dread of murder and robbery, every other promiseofprogresswillringhollow
DEAREDITOR,
One of the benefits that theleadersandthepeopleof the region had hoped was that with the creation of CARICOM, the regional governments would have been acting together This is very important since we are relatively small individually and in terms of our population Therefore, acting on issues jointly wouldenhancetheinfluence oftheregioninternationally Moreover, CARICOM
increasing our bargaining power greatly, when dealing
corporations and large countries.
Thisismoreimportantat this stage in our region’s development.
Atthistime,Guyanahas become a major producer of oil and gas Trinidad & Tobago, which has been producingoilformorethana hundredyearshasdepleteda lotoftheirreserve.Theyare now looking for more in the deep waters. Suriname has also found oil and gas and will begin production soon. Recently in the news is that Jamaica and Grenada have joinedthehuntfortheblack gold.
WeknowthatGuyanain 2016gotaverypoordeal.In passing, it is still a mystery whythethengovernmentdid not involve Trinidad specialists during the negotiations to begin production.
That as it may, we now have a situation where three of our countries are oil and gas producers (Guyana, T&T and Suriname). Others mayjoinsoon.
Just as we have a CommonExternalTariff,we should develop a common investment regime in our naturalresourcesector
This is important for GuyanaandSurinamewhich hassimilarresources. If this could be achieved thenthepeopleofourregion will benefit more from our natural resources and integration in CARICOM couldbedeepened.
Itwouldbeintheinterest ofourcountriesindividually and for the region collectively if we can work outacommonregimetodeal with the huge corporations that are descending on the region. This would prevent the Oil giants from playing usoffagainsteachother
FormerPresident–DonaldRamotar
DEAREDITOR,
I am amazed that a number of senior members ofthePNC/APNUhavebeen a p p e a r i n g o n T V programmes in Guyana and expressingshockatthepoor results of their party at the recently concluded national and regional elections. It seems that these individuals were totally disconnected from their supporters countrywide.
In a letter to the press in Guyana two weeks prior to the date of the elections, but neverpublished,Iwrote:
“Historically, the vast majority of the AfroGuyanese and the IndoGuyanese segments of the Guyanese electorate have voted along raciallines with Afro-Guyanese voting for the PNC/APNU and Indo-
GuyanesevotingforthePPP
In 2015, some disenchanted PPP voters abandoned the PPP and voted for the PNC/APNU+AFCcoalition, enabling it to win the national election with a one seat majority and form the government However, in 2020, after concluding that the coalition did not meet their expectations, they returned to the PPP, giving
thispartyaoneseatmajority and enabling it to form the government.
Over the past several months, dissension within theranksofthePNC/APNU has seen the departure of a n u m b e r o f i t s parliamentarians and highprofilemembers.Somehave embraced the PPP, others havejoinedthenewly (Continuedonpage06)
, PrimeMinisterBrigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Friday, said something of immense value to all Guyanese. This was at the Marriott Hotel (during the celebration of the 76th Anniversaryofthefounding of the People’s Republic of China).ThePM,inreferring to Guyana’s continuing ‘housing overdrive’ explained that the time has come for “Guyana to significantly benefit from China’s expertise in this (housing) sector ” He explained that “by leveraging its extensive experience in large-scale, affordable housing construction and urban p l a n n i n g , t o comprehensively develop our infrastructure, the countrycancontinuetochart its course on a rapid development path, with Chinese expertise, to drive large-scale, affordable housing construction and urbanplanning.
First, without going to thestatisticsinhousing(land andhomes),Iventuretosay that there is a need for ‘speedier’ work on the ground. It is not far-fetched
tosaythattheChinesehouse construction output evinces “… advanced modular prefabricated systems for rapid assembly of factory-made structural components, leading to high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as traditional methods using materials like timber, stone, brick, and tiles for historicarchitecturalstyles.”
In other words, they are qualified,equippedandmost eager to ‘hit the ground’ in termsofprovidinghomesfor Guyanese, and right across thespectrumtoo,astheir“… moderninnovationsareused for everything from capsule homes for dense urban populations to large-scale residential and commercial projects,oftenutilizingsteel for frames and advanced engineering for safe, durable, and affordable housing.” I mean, don’t we need a rapid output (of durable homes)? With the Chinese about to step in (if given the chance), we are talking about teaming up with tested companies who have already been engaged in home and infrastructure construction internationally, particularly in developing countries across Africa,
Asia,andtheMiddleEast.
On our local scene, and as the PM pointed out, “ N o t a b l y , p a s t collaborations between the two countries (Guyana and China) in infrastructure and health, such as the construction of six regional hospitals and the new Demerara River Bridge, have demonstrated China’s ability to deliver complex projectsefficiently.”
As far as I can see, we need to ‘catch up’as the Dr IrfaanAli-ledadministration has ‘long time now’ exceededitshouse-lottarget in less than five years, by delivering over 50,000 houselotstoGuyanesefrom everyincomebracket,which stands in sharp contrast to justover7,000lotsthatwere distributed by the previous administration during its entire tenure in office.” I cannot help but applaud the PPP/C Administration, as thisisclearevidencethatthe party was most deserved of remaining in control of the leadershipofGuyana. Editor, the plan from the PPP/C Government, via the Ministry of Housing, is to build 40,000 more homes overthenextfiveyears,and
this is in keeping with Government’s 2025 Manifesto promise. We can expectthistobeareality,as PPP/C’s track record inspiresconfidence.
How about some great drivers,wherelocalhousing is concerned: low-interest rates at the local banks; the steel-and-cement subsidy programme; the Core Home Support initiative (falling under the $5 8 billion Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), targetingvulnerablefamilies and provides them with affordable core homes); and the housing subsidy and the construction of community grounds.
Let’s judge candidly our government’s housing programme, assess its effectiveness in creating a sufficient supply of affordable, accessible, and adequate housing for its population.Whatdoweget? Nothing but unabated commendations. It is indeed agreattimetobeinGuyanaa housing dream, once forlorn, is now an everyday reality
Yourstruly, RaymondAnderson
I n f r a s t r u c t u r a l development plays a crucial role in national growth, economic development and overall improving the quality of life for the population In Guyana’s growing and transformative economy,wecanseeseveral major infrastructural upgrades and expansion of roadways including the Heroes Highway, Ogle to Eccles Bypass and the Railway Embankment fourlanehighwayprojectarejust a few All these projects represent a major step towards theenhancementof Guyana’s transportation network, reducing commute time, and stimulate regional commerce. However, like m a n y l a r g e - s c a l e infrastructure projects, the construction process itself often create significant inconvenience More recently, prolonged traffic congestion, road safety
issues, and overall discomfort for commuters have become some of the common frustrations along the Railway Embankment corridor during the project execution.
One of the primary observationsmadeontraffic congestion during the road
construction is poor scheduling and inadequate phasing of the work
Dividing the construction into manageable phases and ensuringonlysmallsections of the road is closed or minimally traversed at one time This approach is known as incremental construction phasing and it allows part of the road to remain open and functional while work is ongoing on otherparts.
Additionally,contractors should be advised to schedule construction activities during off-peak hours such as in the night, weekendsandduringtheday when traffic is not heavy Schoolwasclosedforabout sixty(60)daysandtrafficon the road was significantly reduced, yet there was no major construction happening on the road Bridgesthatcouldhavebeen d i s m a n t l e d a n d reconstructed within that period to take advantage of the school closure was not done. School reopened on the 8th of September and since then to now, there are six key bridges within close proximity that have been dismantled between Coldingen and Buxton with a bypass installed that can
barely accommodate one v e h i c l e T h i s i s straightforward evidence of poor scheduling and lack of proper planning Persons leaving home at 6:30 in the morning and almost two hours later would arrive in Georgetown This affects both workers and schoolchildren, essentially creatingalossofproductive hours.
Inthoseareaswhereitis absolutelynecessaryforfull road closure, the construction of temporary bypass roads is a proven method to keep traffic flowing. This provides a dedicated path for vehicles to avoid construction zones andavoidcontributingtothe traffic build up. On the East Coast corridor especially communities along the Railway Embankment area, where communities are densely populated and the traffic volumes are high, contractors should explore such opportunities to build temporary routes especially for heavy duty vehicles and public transportation (like w a s d o n e o n t h e Diamond/Grove area) These bypasses also relieve pressure on the main construction zones and improvesworkerssafety Contractors should also try to incorporate
prefabrication and accelerated construction
techniques Modern construction methods such as prefabrication and modular construction can significantlyreduceon-sight
construction time Contractors should consider utilizing prefabricated components such as
drainage culverts, bridge segments, and retaining walls These can be manufactured off-site and then installed on-site, using cranesandotherequipment. The Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques have been used globally in order to reduce road closure duration from months to days These methods create long-term savings in terms of reduced traffic disruption and i m p r o v e d p u b l i c satisfaction.
Often, road construction projects are planned and executedwithminimalinput from the communities most affected As such, there should be an open line of communication with residents and businesses of affected areas In understanding local travel patterns, peak hours, and community involvement, there is need for better planning and execution of projects As such, it is necessaryforthecontractors to plan their projects after discussions with the involvement of the traffic arm of the police force, public transportation operators, and all other relevant stakeholders to know the direct and indirect effectsforroadusers.These e n g a g e m e n t s a n d involvement with those stakeholders will help the contractorsand engineersto know about issues that may not be evidently known to them.
Other measures that can help to reduce traffic congestion and driver discomfort during the construction phase of the
railway embankment road are improved road surface condition, contractors should ensure that temporary routes and bypasses are leveled, properly paved and free from potholes and unnecessary speedhumps These routes should be regularly maintained to prevent damage to persons vehicle,enhancetheirsafety, and comfort while driving. Another key measure is limiting certain class of vehicles from traversing the roadways during specific time periods, for example heavy duty machinery and trucks should be prohibited from the roadways during peaktraffichours.
There should also be a strict adherence to project timelines, and the relevant systems should be put in place to effectively monitor theseprojects.
D e l a y s i n r o a d construction are a major source of public frustration. Contractors must therefore ensure strict adherence to their project timelines by deploying a sufficient workforce, equipment, and material Government should also work with the relevant agencies and contractors to promptly identify and resolve challenges in the p r o c u r e m e n t a n d administrativephasessothat contractors have no excuse whentheyfailtocomply
(Continuedonpage09)
, The National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) operations havebeeninthespotlightfor sometimenowandforallthe wrongreasons,reasonsbeing, it is an institution that is involved in the receipt and disbursement of monies Whenever and wherever monies are to be collected and/or disbursed, there is bound to be some degree of friction, doubts and failings fromcontributorandcollector I do hope my article would give some clarity to the misconceptionsthatexist Now, the NIS is a statutory body that operates under the Law; in this case bound by the constitution as any other insurance agency. The simple fact is, you make contributions and at your retirement,youareentitledtoa monthly refund on your contributions Now,thereare somepertinentfactsthatmust be taken into consideration whendiscussingtheNIS,andI h a v e l i s t e d t h e m below:Persons must make at least15yearsofcontributions beforeyouareentitledtoafull NISPension
Contributors must get a yearly print-out of their contributions;itisasafeway in which you can keep accurate record of your contributions Donotwaitat retirementtocheckuponthese becausebythattime,itwould betoolate Thereasonforthis is that some institutions are defunct, for example some security companies and The Guyana National Service, where records of one’s contributions cannot be
verified Again,Ihighlightthe point, please ensure that you arm yourself with an annual printoutofyourcontributions from the NIS, stamped and certified by the scheme Without this, the insurance company would not be able ascertain, far less to honour yourclaimwithapayout
Self-employed persons must pay into the NIS; it is mandatory! If you do not contributetothescheme,you cannotclaim;TheNISisnota charitable organization that youruntoforahandoutifyou havenotbeencontributing,or onehaven’tbeenuptodatein your contributions! Selfemployed persons contributions are done on a scale worked out by NIS and theself-employedperson
Onasurvivalbenefit,thisis earned if one of the spouses died and the other, whether husband or wife receives a survivor’sbenefit Now,ifboth spouseswerereceivinganNIS andtheotherdiedthenapayout isworkedoutinfavourofthe survivoronascaleofthehigher contributor WhatI’veseenin themediaarepersonsclaiming benefit on both counts; that is theirownandontheirspouse It is not a windfall and certainly notlegal
In closing, I must highlight the point that the age limit for retirement in Guyana is very limited, that is, it should be extended to age60or65years.Theyears cited is progressive and forward thinking, while being a conservation of experienceintheworkplace.
Respectfullysubmitted
NeilAdams
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders has warned that climate change and an inequitable financial system aretrappingsmallCaribbean states in “permanent recovery,” urging the world to “price risk honestly and financeresiliencefairly.”
S p e a k i n g a t a consultation of more than 200 persons, convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights(IACHR)onpoverty, public debt and climate change, Sanders said disasters are driving debt while insurance costs surge. “When a Category-5 storm wipesouthomes,roads,and power, governments must borrow to rebuild again andagain.”
The ambassador remarkedthatOceanheating andmasscoralbleachingare erodingtheblueeconomy—
“over 84% of the world’s reefs have faced bleachinglevel heat stress since January 2023.” Sea level is risingroughly3.4mmayear in the Caribbean; without major adaptation, studies project 38–47% tourismrevenue losses by 2100. A record sargassum influx this year has further strained
coastal communities, while tighter reinsurance markets are making coverage unaffordable.
“The impacts of climate change are accelerating fasterthanthefiscalcapacity of small states to adapt,” he said, pointing to average annual disaster losses near 2%ofGDP,adaptationneeds around 3.4% of GDP, and small island states receiving only about 2% of tracked adaptation finance. Talent flight compounds the problem, with roughly 70% of the Caribbean’s tertiaryeducated living in OECD countries.
Sanders said per-capita income “distorts reality,” graduating vulnerable states out of affordable finance takinglittleaccountsoftheir exposure to shocks He urged rapid implementation of the UN-endorsed M
i d i m e n s i o n a l Vulnerability Index to unlock affordable, longtenor financing Framing climate and debt as humanrights issues, he cited recent Inter-American and International Court findings that financing terms must protectessentialservicesand social spending as human rights.
Frompage04 formed WIN party headed by billionaire and political novice, Mr Azruddin Mohamed, while another t w
Simona Broomes and Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir, are each heading a new minor party in the upcoming elections.
With the 2025 elections due in two weeks, the PPP and the WIN party are attracting a large number of Afro-Guyanese to their campaign rallies. If this is a reflection of how this segment of the electorate will vote, one can expect a poor showing by the P N C / A P N U + W PA partnership,especiallyasthe parties of Ms. Broomes and Ms. Walton-Desir together with the AFC, the former coalition partner of the PNC/APNU 2015-2020, are also likely to siphon off some of the Afro-Guyanese votes.
T h e c u r r e n t P N C / A P N U + W PA partnership cannot count on
the support of IndoGuyanese cross-over votes tocompensate.
Apart from their loss of trust resulting from the five months post 2020 elections fiasco, PNC/APNU leaders have not defended IndoGuyanesefromracistattacks by leading members of its nowjuniorpartner Also,the bypassingofIndo-Guyanese Mr Ganesh Mahipaul, a staunch, loyal and effective P N C / A P N U parliamentarian, and appointinganAFCimportas its Prime Ministerial candidate will likely deter any significant number of PPP cross-over voters from v o t i n g f o r t h i s partnership…”
Wenowknowtheresults of the elections. At the national level, not only was the PNC/APNU not in contention for the Presidency or Official Opposition, but has also not gained control of any of the ten Regions, including two ofitstraditionalstrongholds. In parliament, the PPP with 36 seats now has an
overwhelmingmajorityof7; the newcomer WIN with 16 seats, gained mainly at the expense of the PNC/APNU, is the Official Opposition; the PNC/APNU with 12 seats is now relegated to third party status; and the FGM taking the remaining oneseat.
Dr TerrenceCampbell,a successful businessman but newcomer to party politics, will lead the PNC/APNU teaminparliament.
InarecentTVinterview, he indicated he will be working with party leader Mr Aubrey Norton to restore the party to its past glory
It will be interesting to observe how he navigates the minefield of the party’s internal factionalism and at thesametimegettingallhis Members of Parliament to sing from the same songbook to promote nationalunity
His is likely to be a dauntingtask.However,one hopes his sojourn into politicswillbesuccessful.
HarryHergash
Sinceherappointmentas MinisterofEducation,Sonia Paraghasbeencarryingouta series of impromptu school visits, where she observed a troubling trend of high teacherabsenteeism.
In response, the minister
called for greater accountability among educators,urgingthemtobe present in classrooms to ensure effective learning takesplace.
However, president of the GuyanaTeachers' Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald,
e m p h a s i s e d t h a t accountability should not rest solely on teachers. She argued that the education
ministry must also demonstrate responsibility and fulfill its obligations to thenation'seducators.
In an interview with News Room on Monday, Minister Parag revealed that during her unannounced visits, she found several classrooms completely unattended by teachers. She said she was particularly alarmedbyoneschoolwhere asmanyas12teacherswere absent during school hours.
“ W h i l e y o u h a v e h e a d m a s t e r s a n d headmistresses trying their best to pull classes together, in one particular school I went to, 12 teachers hadn't shownupforthetermasyet.
Oneclasswasasleepattheir desks, all of them, because they didn't have a teacher to teachthemforthatparticular subject,” the minister explained.
B a s e d o n h e r observations,MinisterParag stressed that accountability must be enforced for teachers who are frequently absent and unaccounted for by their superiors. “If you don't have teachers in the classroomteaching,thenthe child doesn't learn. It's as simpleasthat.Teachersmust be held accountable for being present in the classroom, and they have to beaccountableforwhatthey areteachingintheclassroom when the day comes,” she explained.Parag also urged teachers to take punctuality and presence seriously, underscoring the role they play in children's educational life. “I'm asking teacherstoshowupfortheir children. Show up for your children. Show up not just because you have to. Show upnotjustbecauseit'sajob, butshowupbecauseit'sone ofthemostimportantthings youwilleverdoinyourlife. But I, as your education minister,willgiveyouallof my support to be able to build and develop the educationsectorinGuyana,” shesaid.
In a separate interview with Kaieteur News on Monday, Minister Parag confirmed that she inquired into the reasons behind the teachers' absences. “Yes, I did.Iwastoldthattwoofthe teachers reported sick,” she said. However, she pointed out that the majority of the absentees were unaccounted for “Some of them didn't indicate anything regarding their absence. Two or so were sick, and for a few others, the headteachers couldnotindicateareasonor theirabsence,”shesaid.
While acknowledging the dedication and contributions of teachers to the education system, Parag noted that accountability is necessary for those who consistently fail to attend classes “Teachers are valuable, and we do value them They have done wonders in the school system, but you have some teachers who are not showing up and we have to hold them accountable because subjects need to be taught, we have preparation for exams and students are looking forward for great results We encourage teachers to be in the classrooms and teach. We knowthatthereareinstances where somebody may be sick or if there is some
emergency that is happening, but to have 12 teachersoutforaboutaweek and a half is concerning,” Paragstated.
The minister suggested that schools should develop contingencyplanstoaddress absences, particularly for thoseonleave,toensurethat learning continues uninterrupted “We encourage schools to work around a schedule, even if teachers are on leave, there must be alternatives, especially since many teachers are being trained now. The fact is, some teachers have been absent since the term began, and some remain unaccounted for So, I believe as a headteacher, you have to
hold teachers accountable,” Paragstressed.
In response, McDonald, speaking with Kaieteur News, argued that accountability must be r e c i p r o c a l W h i l e acknowledgingthatteachers have a duty to fulfil their classroom responsibilities, she said the ministry itself hasfallenshortinaddressing the needs of teachers. She highlighted outstanding payments owed to teachers, issues surrounding compensation for marking School-Based Assessments (SBAs), and poor working and living conditions, particularly in hinterland regions.
McDonald criticised the ministryforfailingtohonour agreements that teachers be paid $500 per SBA per student Instead, she explained, the ministry grouped SBA projects and paid teachers $500 per group, which she described as “disrespectful and irresponsible.” She further noted that some teachers face challenges such as inadequate living quarters and unsafe working environments, which also affect their ability to deliver intheclassroom.
“MinisterParagisasking foraccountabilityonthepart ofteachers,butshemustalso
The vote was strongly supported by trade unions [Phil Noble/Reuters]
(ALJAZEERA)MembersoftheUnited Kingdom's Labour Party have voted to recognise that Israel is committing genocide inGaza,inamovethatincreasespressureon the UK government to adopt the same position.
Delegates at Labour's party conference approved an emergency motion backing the findings of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which earlier this month concluded that Israel “has committed genocide”. The vote was strongly supported bytradeunions.
ThedecisioncontrastswithLabourleader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as
senior ministers, who have argued that the question of genocide should be determined byinternationalcourtsratherthanpoliticians.
IsraelisfacingacaseattheInternational CourtofJustice(ICJ)inTheHagueinwhich itisaccusedofcommittinggenocide.Deputy PrimeMinisterDavidLammyreaffirmedthat stancefollowingtheconferencevote.
“That means that it must be for the ICJ with their judges and judiciary, and for the ICC, to determine the issue of genocide in relationtotheconvention.
Itisnotforpoliticianslikemetodothat,” hesaid,addingthathebelievedin“therulesbasedorder”.
MinisterofEducation, Sonia Parag
be accountable to teachers,” McDonald told Kaieteur News “Accountability comesfrombothsides.Iam not saying that out teachers should not be staying away fromschools,ifyoucometo dothejob,youmustdoitbut the same ministry has in place various benefits that the teachers enjoy Though teachersareabsent,itdoesn't mean that the children are unsupervised and without a teacher MinisterParagmust fix the business of the teachers, ” McDonald stressed.
Both Parag and McDonald agreed on the importanceofteachers'roles in shaping the future of the country,buttheircontrasting positions highlight an ongoing debate: how to b a l a n c e t e a c h e r accountability in the classroom with the ministry's responsibility to adequately support and respecteducators.
meeting with ministers and other technical staff
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday met with the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand along with technical government staff to advance Guyana's national solid waste managementandbeautificationprogrammes.
During the meeting, the President outlinedplansfornewandexpandedlandfill sites across the country He underscored the government's commitment to fostering cleaner communities and implementing sustainablewastesolutions,theOfficeofthe Presidentsaidinapressrelease.
He also highlighted the collaborative roles of the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce in this effort, noting that both
ministrieswillsupporttheLocalGovernment Ministrytoidentifysuitableareastodevelop greenspacesandbeautify
Work under this initiative is expected to commence before the end of the year, the release added. Also in attendance were the Minister of Housing and Water, the HonourableCollinCroal;theMinisterwithin the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Honourable Vanessa Benn; the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the HonourableSusanRodrigues;theMinisterof Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, the Honourable Zulfikar Ally;andtheMinisterwithintheMinistryof Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable StevenJacob
One of the lesser-known but fascinating aspects of Guyana’selectorallawisthe right of Commonwealth citizens to vote in national elections. Unlike in many other countries, Guyana’s Constitution extends the franchise beyond its own citizens to include those from other Commonwealth territories.
But there are conditions attached: Commonwealth
citizens must be both resident and domiciled in Guyana Of recent, this provision has been the subject of debate, particularly over the meaning and enforceability oftheworddomicile.
The origins of this provision lie in Guyana’s history as part of the British Commonwealth. When the countrybecameindependent in 1966, the framers of the
country’s Constitution soughttomaintainalevelof political and cultural fraternity with other Commonwealth countries
As a result, Commonwealth citizens legally resident and domiciled in Guyana were grantedtherighttovote.
Importantly, successive governments, including under Forbes Burnham or Desmond Hoyte, never repealed or revised this
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US$10Bayearinprofitoilandroyaltywhich isequivalenttoGY$2trillion.”
When asked to specify when this would be possible, the Business Services Manager noted that there are a number of factors that drivefutureperformancebuthisfocuswasto cover results up to 2024. He was therefore unable to give a clear indication of the year Guyana could receive the lion’s share of its wealth.
“Welookatanumberofprices,welookat a number of scenarios so I can’t be more specificthantosayingeneral,welookatall the different assumptions, we expect by the end of the decade for that number to approximateUS$10Bayear,”hesaid.Ringfencing
KaieteurNewspreviouslyreportedthatin three separate reports dated 2017, 2018 and 2019,theInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)
urged Guyana to ring-fence its oil fence its projects.Inoneofthereports,theIMFstated: “This asymmetrical treatment of profit and cost oil will benefit the contractor at the expenseofdelayinggovernmentrevenue.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with another international expert, Chatham HouseandtheWorldBankcalledonGuyana to include a ring-fencing provision for each project. Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo painted a more graphic picture in one his reports on Guyana. He said, “The lack of contract protections means that every time Guyana announces it has received more revenue, it is actually being shortchanged…the country may never see the promised annual revenues in the billions ofdollars.”
Dem boys seh, these days, people applying for jobs does bring more papers than a whole printing press could ever manage. You go open they CV,andyouwonderifyou reading a résumé or a library catalogue. Some of dem people have more letters after their names thanintheiractualname!
And nah talk about university certificatesdem papers is like diplomas, certificates, awards, c o m m e n d a t i o n s , memberships, and things with acronyms that could chokeyourdictionary You open one line, it full; open two line, still nah finish. Youstarttothink,“Isthisa person or a mobile filing cabinet?”
But yuh see, as an employer, you have to behave careful Because not everything with shiny letters and embossed seals is real. Some of dem boys andgirlswhoapplyingdem papers come from home printers, with ink running like rainwater and fonts so
fancy you wonder if a calligrapher did it in the middleofthenight.
Someoftheseso-called “certificates” nah even makesense.Youcheckone, it say “Advanced Senior Expert of Excellence in H u m a n R e s o u r c e Development, Level 7, Module23-B.”Youscratch yuhheadandseh,“Level7, module 23-B? What countryisthat?”
And this is why when dem boys hiring, it does take time. Short list them first, because if you tek everybody at face value, yuh office soon turn into a museum of fake paper
Thenwhenyoudecidewho to employ, ask for all them certificates.Andwhendem getdemcertificates, spend months checking if dem real or if dem one of those printer-made miracles that anybody can do at home with a printer and ink. Some real certificates, some fakebut dem boys seh, better to spend three months than to hire one paper warrior and find out
clause Despite extensive constitutional reforms after 1978andfollowingthe1997 elections, the requirements thatCommonwealthcitizens bedomiciledandresidentin G u y a n a r e m a i n e d untouched.
To better understand the debate, it is necessary to distinguish between residency and domicile Residencyisamatteroffact. Itreferstotheplacewherea person actually lives at a g i v e n t i m e A Commonwealth citizen working, studying, or otherwisephysicallypresent in Guyana can easily prove residency with an address, a utilitybill,orotherevidence. Residency does not require permanence;itonlyrequires presence.
Domicile, by contrast, is more complicated. It is not simplyaboutwhereyoulive, but where you intend to makeyourpermanenthome.
Courts across the Commonwealth have long treated domicile as a combination of fact and intention One can be resident in many countries overalifetimebuthaveonly onetruedomicileatatime.
This is where the constitutional requirement becomes problematic Domicileis,inmanyways,a mental state—what lawyers call“ofthemind.”Itreflects intention, and intention is somethingnogovernmentor officialcantrulyread.
he cant even turn on a computer
Truth is, not all that glitters when it comes to qualifications is gold Plenty people shining on paperbutnahhavealickof practical sense. Some of dem write “expert” like dem own the universe, but ask them to write a letter and dem look like you ask demtospeakSpanish.
So, dem boys seh, alwaystekyuhtime,check dem papers, and never get blinded by letters after names. Because one fake certificate can cost a company more than three realemployees.
So next time yuh looking at somebody CV and wonder how one person manage to collect more papers than the governmentprintingoffice, remembersometimes, its not what yuh see on paper, itswhatyuhcandowithall dem qualifications And some qualified persons cannot spell and cant write fuhsavedemlife!.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
subjectiveandelusivenature ofdomicile.Forexample,in the English case of Udny v Udny (1869), one judge observed that every person has a domicile of origin (usuallythedomicileoftheir fatheratbirth)andmaylater acquireadomicileofchoice (bylivingelsewherewiththe intention of making that place their permanent home). The rule is that your domicile of origin never disappears entirely; it only becomes dormant when you acquire a new domicile of choice. If you abandon your chosen domicile, the domicile of origin springs back into effect — unless and until you establish anotherdomicileofchoice.
casesaffirmthepositionthat courts cannot read minds, but they can infer intention from objective acts. And I contend that the mere act of applying for a national identification card can be consideredasevidenceofan intentiontobedomiciled.
Courts across the
Commonwealth have repeatedly stressed the
In Winans v Attorney General (1904), the UK courts emphasized that domicile is ultimately a matter of intention. In the case of Grove Vaucher vs TheSolicitortotheTreasury (1889), it was held that “the domicile of a person is constituted by the factum of residence in a country and the animus manendi that is the intention to reside in a country for an indefinite periodoftime.Therefore,in order to determine an intentionofthepersonatany particulartime,youmaynot only give regard to conduct and acts before and at that time, but also the acts and conduct after the relevant time, which are relative and have proper weight of cogency”.
The reasoning of the courts in these and other
While the application process for a National ID in Guyana does not explicitly ask an applicant to swear loyalty or declare an i n t e n t i o n t o s t a y permanently, the very act of applyingforandobtaininga National ID card is a formal acknowledgment of ties to the country It represents a willingness to participate in national systems, from voting to accessing public services. It is not something a transient visitor would do. In this sense, applying for a National ID is evidence consistent with an intention toremain,andthereforewith domicile.
Put differently, if domicile is an elusive state of mind, then applying for a National ID provides a tangible action that aligns withthatmentalintention.It bridges the gap between residency (physical presence) and domicile (permanentintention).
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
More frequently nowadays, the thinking is that America is too convulsed to straighten up, too far gone to turn back. I am glad to be given some slivers of rich developments that say otherwise. There's the saga of Jimmy Kimmel. More commentator than comedian;butaspeakerthat draws listeners, believers, followers. Andcondemners.
Kimmel was pushed away Now,heisback. He mustrecognisethetemperof the times, temper of his language.
There's no surrendering of rights, simply the recognitionthathisvoicehas reach, and it can provoke controversy, laughter He should stick to what he has donewell. Toaddthehostile (or as construed) into the alreadyvolatilecanmakethe fragilerivetsthatholdthings together snap at the seams. Like the jesters of old, his first call is to make the powerfullaughthroughtheir discomfort. Their subjects and courts are watching.
What was ennobling for me was that when Jimmy Kimmelwasstruck,somany stood up for not so much whathesaid,buthisrightto sayso. Afewpointedtothe primacy of that amendment that's the first one, and the reason thereto. Freedom of speech is that sacrosanct in America.
I welcome this easing of the battering winds that Kimmel had to endure There is even greater reception that those who stood up for his right to sacred expression hailed from so many different corners of America, includingthosewhohaveno useforhim.
The comedy cast was expected to be mostly in Jimmy Kimmel's corner They were. So, too, the entertainment crowd, which broadcastitsshareofwords, uttered dark warnings. No surprisesthere.
Thesurprisescamefrom the Republican Quarter Republican Senators Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand Paul
(Kentucky)tookobjectionto what the U.S. Constitution said shouldn't be, and what their consciences, notwithstanding their politics,saidiswrong,could leadtotheunendingcarousel of tit-for-tat up the road. Rep.DonBaconofNebraska courageously broke ranks and had his say It is the American Way No matter how unpleasant, obnoxious, the utterance, so long as no law is violated, then retaliation and restriction cannotbesupported.
WhatcanGuyana,ababy democracy at best, learn from developments in Am
e
Kimme
's points of contentiousness? First, the easiest thing in the world is to stay within the tribe, followthecrowd.
The flip side is that it reduces to the servile those who manage themselves in such ways. To zombies without mental capacity Second,therearetimeswhen independence of thought, andliberationofconscience,
aresotreasured,thatthereis no iota of patience, nor sufferance, for what is wrong, hence highly unacceptable, in its appearance, and substance. If I can't be of that, then of what am I about? Third, whennationalleadersareso feared, or so blindly and cravenly worshipped, then willful blindness, deafness, and speechlessness will be the dominant features in one's existence. It could be me.
T h e o d d s a r e overwhelmingly higher that it will be other Guyanese, and not me. Not when the need is for someone, just one, to stand up, and say it's dark around here. Let there belight. Anylittlelightthat must shine. One flickering candle can lead to another, then another Look at what Guyanesehad.
Mon Repos Market barrage, and a tsunami of denunciation followed Righteouswrathrisingtoits fullestheight. Regardlessof the underpinnings and mystery lapses, it's how it should be.
Although receiving its sharpest blow at the recent general and regional elections, depleting any chance of the party securing government or maintaining its position as the main parliamentary opposition, outgoing Linden Mayor, Sharma Solomon said much harm has not come to the People's National CongressledAPNUinRegion10.
In the lead up to the elections, the APNU was crippled by a spate of highprofile exits, which many believed damaged the general morale of the party APNU now holds 12 parliamentary seats to the People's Progressive Party/Civic's (PPP/C) 36, and newcomer We Invest in Nationhood's(WIN)16.
Solomon is among the new faces that will take up legislative roles in the National Assembly for the APNU. He succeeds former A P N U M e m b e r o f Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, who has since defectedtoPPP
Weighing in on the predicament during his appearance on 'The Countdown', on Sunday, Sharma made clear his respect for persons' political
But where were the outraged voices, chokingpassions,whena busstoppedinthemiddleof the wilds, and its occupants were hustled out? Not one voice of objection from the usual objectors. And when political thuggery and hooliganism stalked the campaign trail, why no disowning voices then?
Whenever there are two standardsofright,thenoneis ofalesserquality,suspectin itssubstance.
The U S has its problems with WIN's Mohamed. U.S.adjustment is the new standard. Can Guyanese-be they public or private institutions, political partisan or regular civilianattempt their own adjustment?
Withorwithoutnational independence, there's still independence of thought, independenceofexpression. Or should be. Whither that mentality, that condition?
Does it still exist? Where diditgo? Ishouldn'tlookto leaders for answers. I must firststareatmyself. WhenI am trapped by mental slavery,thenPhDs,JDs,and DDsmock.
Thementallyenslavedis aslave. Isubmitalsothatthe intellectually dishonest is dishonest plain and simple. Cruz, Paul, and Bacon inspire theAmerican inside. Some Guyanese of similar strength could make better Guyanese of others. One honest voice is what's required. Guyanese either stand for something; or they stand for nothing. Rise and say:hereIstand,nothingand noonecanmoveme.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
preferences Prior to his departure, Figueira as an A P N U M P, m a d e representation for Region 10, and was very consistent in calling out the PPP for supposed failures in that region. The former MP is now radically opposed to APNU “I believe it's a democraticandfundamental right of anyone to choose whatever political affiliation that they so desire. I have absolutely no problem with whoever, including Mr. Figueira, that would like to associate themselves with whatever party they want to.”
Figueira left APNU's camp allegedly over untreated tensions between himself and leader, Aubrey Norton. After the bruising defeat at the polls, former finance minister Winston Jordan publicly mounted calls for Norton to resign. Solomon stressed that the party's upcoming congress will be the ideal forum for selectinganewleader “I think it's the prerogative of anyone to process loss in different ways,includingthewayMr Jordan would have processed his to express himself... but with reference
to where I see things, I believe that it is important thataveryclearprocessisin place that allows for the partytomovebacktohaving faith in what the party has always demonstrated throughitsconstitution.”
Turning his attention to the party's performance, Solomon dismissed claims that the PPP has become a majorconcernfortheAPNU inRegion10.
“Despite the heavy spending, despite restriction to State media, despite the use of State resources as opposed to the opposition having an opportunity to do that,andnotwithstandingall those who would have crossed over, it was not enough for them to do more than they did in terms of winningvotesattheRDCas seats, and also winning any votes in terms of putting them in the National Assembly,” Solomon asserted.
He acknowledged that hispartyshouldinsteadseek to recover from the major upset by political newcomer Azruddin Mohamed, whose WIN party was responsible for dislodging APNU in a regionittraditionallyheldas itsstronghold.
The incoming MP disclosed that the APNU leader is ensuring that a “comprehensive evaluation” is done to determine where orhowthepartystruggled.
“There are many other issues that we can look at with regards to what occurred on September 1, 2025 and how that would have influenced the results andoutcomeoftheelections, but I think it starts with that…averycomprehensive, insightful and honest evaluation so that we know not only the issues, but we can diagnose them to the extent that we understand whatwentwrongandhowto correct them,” Solomon stated.
A40-year-oldconstructionworkerwasstabbedtodeath early Monday morning at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara(WBD).
DeadisGladwinDanielsofLot31GoedFortuin,WBD. Accordingtopolice,theincidentoccurredatabout00:30h. “Investigations so far revealed that the victim was consuming alcohol at a birthday party at Goed Fortuin squatting area when two suspects called out to him on the road, and after he went to meet them, an argument ensued, andhewasstabbedintheneckbyoneofthesuspects.” Danielscollapsedandwaslaterpronounceddeadatthe scene. The two suspects were arrested and taken to La Grange Police Station, where they are assisting with the investigation.
A30-year-old painter of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara(ECD),onFriday, wasremandedtoprisonafter he was charged with Robbery Under Arms, contrarytoSection222(c)of the Criminal Law Offences Act,Chapter8:01.
Remanded:LeonPersaud
Leon Persaud was arrested on September 19, 2025 by a rank from the Beterverwagting Police Station. He is accused of stealing a mobile phone (Samsung s22 Ultra) valued $180,000 from 39-year- old Nadira Khemraj called 'Nado'ofGoodHope,ECD. Persaud appeared at the VigilanceMagistrates'Court before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where the chargewasread. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is scheduled toreturntocourtonOctober 29forreports.
WorkersoftheBauxiteMining Company(BOSAI)havesettledfor a7.5%payincreasefor2025with additional benefits, following conciliation talks with the Chinese company spearheaded by the MinistryofLabouronMonday.
The company also agreed to give them an 8 percent increase next year Among the additional benefits are meal allowance and night premium. The workers were initially demanding an 8 percent increase this year and 8.5 percent nextyearbuttheChinesecompany refused, offering only 7 percent. As a result workers downed tools last Wednesday night and held a strike on Thursday (the following day). The strike actions engaged the attentions of Opposition politicians- one of them, WIN's leader, Azruddin Mohamed and also the Ministry of Labour and
ManpowerPlanning.Theministry, imposed conciliation talks under the condition that the Bosai employees resume work The workerscompliedandonMonday, the Ministry held its end of the bargainbyhostingtheconciliation talks. Following the strike, the ministry had said that it sought to
engage the management of the company and the workers'
Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on the issue. The Chief Labour Officer, Mr Dhaneshwar Deonarine, chaired a meeting with the parties
The United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday formally adopted Guyana's Report of the Working Group on the UniversalPeriodicReview(UPR), bringing the country's fourth cycle reviewtoaclose.
Arelease from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governancesaidtheprocessbegan in May this year with the fourth UPRcyclereview Thereleasesaid after extensive cabinet-level consultations, and inputs from constitutionalagenciesalonghighlevel engagements with the NationalMechanismforReporting and Follow-up (NMRF), 146 recommendations were supported byGuyana.Theministrysaidmost of the recommendations were already in various stages of implementation at the time of the review They include strong commitmentsto:
Continue strengthening democratic institutions and expanding access to justice and legalprotections;
Advancing gender equality, child protection, and the rights of personswithdisabilitiesandrights ofIndigenousPeoples; Reducing poverty, continuing the expansion of healthcare and education access in all regions, including rural, hinterland and Indigenouscommunities; Improving housing and access topotablewater; Accelerating climate action andlow-carbondevelopmentunder the Low Carbon Development Strategy2030.
According to the ministry, an additional 58 recommendations were noted and will be addressed during the already initiated constitutional reform process as determined by the Guyanese people, as well as those matters
which require further public consultations, or additional legislativework.
T h e r e m a i n i n g t w o recommendations were split to ensure accurate reflection of the State's positions on the matters containedtherein.
Speaking virtually at the adoption, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and head of the Guyana delegation, Gail Teixeira expressed gratitude to the 70member states that engaged constructively during the review, and to the Troika members (KingdomofBelgium,Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Dominican Republic) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for theirexpertsupportthroughoutthe 4thcyclereview
Guyana highlighted progress already underway, including judicial reforms, environmental protection measures, legislative modernisation, and democratic consolidation which are being further enhanced following the September 2025 elections. All of these align with the accepted recommendations.
The release said during the adoption, many delegations and UN agencies commended Guyana for its constructive engagement throughout the UPR process, welcoming its inclusive consultations, acceptance of recommendations on gender equality, child protection, climate action, and social inclusion, and progress in areas such as healthcare, education, Indigenous rights,andlegalreforms.
“Civil society representatives also acknowledged positive steps such as the decriminalisation of suicideandongoingimprovements
to prison conditions, health, education,waterandhousingwhile encouraging further action to continue protecting fundamental humanrights.
The Government re-affirmed itscommitmenttotheUPRprocess which remains a vital platform for t r a n s p a r e n c y, m u t u a l accountability, and dialogue, allowing States to reaffirm their commitmenttohumanrightswhile tailoring implementation to national contexts,” the report stated.
The Guyana delegation noted that the state remains cognisant of the challenges facing the world in ensuring full realisation of human rights for all, especially in the context of exacerbating climate vulnerabilities, geographic disparities, resource constraints, and human rights reversals globally
MinisterTeixeirastatedthatthe Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to working at the national level and in partnership with the international community, including through technical cooperation, to navigate global challenges, implement its UPR commitments, and advance a rights-based sustainable development agenda for all, the releaserelayed.
these bannas. I fed up of that,” the disgruntledworkeradded.
According to him, the Chinese bosses would say they are not makingmoneybutheisnotbuying that.“Packupandleaveifyuhain't meking profit” the man continued as he vented his frustration. His colleagues agreed with him that BOSAI is always “singing a sad tune to avoid giving us a raise.” They claimed that company continues to expand its operations in Region 10 and has even bought newfleetofvehicles.
where several issues arose and severalproposalswereputforward inanefforttobringthestrikeaction toanend.
Meanwhile, on the picket line last week Forward Guyana Movement(FGM)andWeInvestin Nationhood(WIN)politicalparties engaged with the workers. The workers took turns voicing their concerns to Mohamed. One of the workers told the WIN leader that the salary they currently receive is like a stipend. “The first thing is that we does draw a stipend we don'tdrawasalary.”“Wegivethese menareasonableproposalbecause every year was 6.5 (percent), 5 pointthisandallkindofstuff,sowe said 8. 5 percent this year 9 next year Demsehnahsowearight,we come down to 8 (percent) 8.5 (Percent),themstillnahwantthat “We ain't want hear nothing bout 7 (percent) it's too long we been oppressed in our country by
Others raised concerns that the company has Chinese nationals in their employ who they allegedly pay better salaries than the locals. The workers also complained that safetyprotocolsarebeingbreached by the company and working conditions are poor Following the meetingwiththeworkerstheWIN party called on the government to actquickly.Inastatementthenthe partysaidthatitstoodinsolidarity with BOSAI workers as they raise critical concerns about safety, fair treatment, and respect on the job.
“Issues such as unsafe machinery, sick leave, lunch breaks, fair wages, and adherence to labour laws are not privileges; they are basicrights”,thepartystatedwhile adding “We urge BOSAI, the unions,andtheMinistryofLabour to continue dialogue in good faith and deliver a just resolution that protects workers and supports the Region10economy.”
The Ministry of Amerindian AffairsonMondayannouncedthat Toshao of Mashabo Village in RegionTwo,HenryHendrickshas passedaway
Extending condolences to the family of the late Toshao, the ministrystatedthatHendrickswas aremarkableman,alovingfather, devotedgrandfather,andapillarof strength for his family and community
The ministry said Toshao Hendricksservedasaleaderofthe community,alwaysguidingothers with wisdom, kindness, and integrity It said his life was a testament to selflessness, hard work,andputtingothersfirst.
“He dedicated his life to the church, his family, and the people aroundhim.Alwaysreadytolend a helping hand, he inspired everyone he met to live with courage, compassion, and love. His legacy will forever live in the hearts of all who knew him,” the ministryexpressed.
Also expressing condolences was the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two, who noted that Toshao Hendricks
was originally from the South Rupununi, Region Nine who settled in Mashabo Village some 40 years ago and served as an ordained elder of the Mashabo SDAChurch.
“
community development later led himtobecometheToshaoinJune 2024 Toshao Hendricks has servedhiscommunityandcountry well.Mayhisservices,lessonsand memory continue to live on,” the RDCstated.
This publication understands thathediedonMondayfollowing abriefillness.
15-18 October
The Guyana Police Force's Narcotics Branch and Regional Division 6 on Sundayfoundanddestroyed more than $409M worth of cannabis during two operations in the Upper Berbice River area. Police also found two unlicensed twelve-gauge shotguns and ammunition.
In a statement, police said that the first operation was conducted at Zion, Upper Berbice River, where two acres of land was discovered.“Theplotofland was being prepped for cultivation. A make-shift camp was also discovered a shortdistanceawayfromthe fields, along with a drying area. The camp was about 30x20 feet in size and consisted of a living and kitchen area. The camp also contained about 350 lbs of dried cannabis. The camp and dried cannabis were destroyed by fire,” police said.
The two twelve-gauge shotguns, along with nineteen (19) twelve-gauge cartridges that were found.
The value of the dried cannabis destroyed amounts to$142,881,480. Meanwhile, between 05:00 hrs and 10:20 hrs Sunday, ranks from the Narcotics Branch and Regional Division 6 conducted a separate eradication exercise at Kalkuni, Upper Berbice
Riverduringwhichaplotof land measuring about two acreswasdiscovered.
Thelandcontainedabout 3,000 cannabis plants ranging from two to seven feet in height. “A makeshift camp and drying area were also discovered a short
...two others, including 13-yr-old critical
A22-year-oldCorentyne construction worker met a tragic end on Sunday after themotorcyclehewasriding slammed into a culvert at Number 68 Village, leaving two pillion riders – one of them a 13-year-old b seriouslyinjured.
Dead is Eric Kissoon, called 'Head', of Number Village Relativ Kaieteur News that was intoxicated, unlicensed, not wearing a helmet, riding a bor motorcycle with brakes when the occurred His Herman Kissoon, security officer Number75VillageHospital, recounted that he dutywhenhereceivedword of the accident. “I accident come in… hearoneoftheboysnameis 'Head'.Irunoverandseeme son lay down lifeless,” the grievingfathersaidintears. The father lamented that despite constant warnings, his son continued riding while drunk. “I does warn him over and over… but when he drink, he always want a motorbike. I don't know why his friends keep lending him.” Eric's reputed wife,RihannaDavidson,23, said the two had been making plans for their wedding. “I spoke to him
Persons at the scene, looking over the bridge rail where the fatal incident occurred. (GPF)
receivingmedicalattention.
ial investigations thatthemotorcycle 7562) was proceeding alongtheeasterndrive the #68 Village road, allegedly at a rate,” police said while hat Kissoon was unlicensed and neither him pillion riders were safetyhelmets.
in an accident. By the time wereachthehospital,itwas too late,” she cried. Both injured riders remain hospitalised in critical condition.
Meanwhile, in a press release police said the accident occurred at about 15:55h Kissoon was reportedly driving motorcycle bea
g registration number CN 7562.Thereweretwopillion riders: a 13-year-old male student and a 28-year-old male both of whom are
motorcyclist lost while negotiating a right bend and collided with a bridge rail located on the easternsideoftheroad.This resulted in the motorcyclist and pillion riders receiving injuriesontheirbodies,”the statement from the Guyana Police Force said. The trio was picked up and taken to the #75 Regional Hospital where they were examined by a doctor Kissoon died while receiving treatment. His body remains at the hospital's mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem examination.
distance away The camp wasabout30x20feetinsize and contained about 650 lbs ofdriedcannabis.
Further searches of the camp were conducted and two twelve-gauge shotguns with no visible serial numbers, along with nineteen (19) twelve-gauge cartridges, were found,” policesaid.
The narcotics plants were valued at $1,016,400 whilethedriedcannabiswas valuedat$266,367,720.
Police said it took possession of both firearms and took them to the Narcotics Branch to be submitted to the Ballistics Section for analysis. The camp, along with the dried cannabisandplants,wereall destroyedbyfire.
GuyanaandSouthAfrica on Monday signed an air services agreement to strengthen international air services between their countries.
Accordingtoastatement issued by the Ministry of PublicUtilitiesandAviation, the agreement was signed in Montreal, Canada, at the ICAO 42nd Assembly by Hon Barbara Creecy, MinisterofTransport,andLt ofSouthAfricaandDirector General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Col (Ret'd)EgbertField.
T h e a g r e e m e n t complements the more than 50 Air Services Agreements Guyanahasestablishedwith other ICAO States to develop air connectivity among States, the ministry provided.
The statement noted that the agreement strengthens thepartnershipandreaffirms the commitment of both nationstotheConventionon International Civil Aviation. “Itaimstoexpandairservice opportunities, promote economic growth, boost trade and tourism, and maintain the highest safety and security standards in air travel, addressing concerns related to aviation security,” thestatementsaid.
It was shared that alongside the standard articles on Grant of Rights,
D e s i g n a t i o n a n d Authorization, Recognition
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Col. (Ret'd) Egbert Field and Minister of Transport, and Lt of South Africa Hon. Barbara Creecy on Monday signing the air services agreement.
ofCertificatesandLicences, Safety, Aviation Security, Principles Governing
Operations of Agreed Services, User Charges, Tariffs and others, both parties expressed a keen desire for this agreement to create opportunities for airlines of both countries to expandtheirairconnectivity
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General stated that, “Significant efforts were made to reach this Agreement, marking a positive step forward
Guyana is forging partnerships and friendships with other countries to promotetransformationinits aviationsector.”
“With the signing of these Air Services Agreements, the vision of Guyana becoming an international hub for air connectivitygetscloser,”the statementstated.
Kaieteur News had reported that on Friday Guyana and Rwanda signed an 'open skies' Air Services Agreementtoencourageand facilitate airlines operating air services between the two countries. That agreement wassignedbetweenDirector General and H.E Prosper Higiro, High Commissioner ofRwandatoCanada.
ItwasnotedthatGuyana andSouthAfricaestablished diplomatictiesonNovember 4,1994. This publication understands that South Africahasavibrantaviation sector and is home to South African Airways, which operates to at least 16 destinations within Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) withdrew its application for warrants of committal and contempt proceedings against several senior public officials, over their alleged non-compliance with a court order handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon.
The GTU had filed contempt proceedings against the state officials over their failure to comply with an order of court in relation to the remittance of teachers’ union dues.
In its application, the GTU noted Justice Kissoon had ordered the officials of the government to continue the remittance of union dues until the final determination of court case filed over teacher salary increases. The government had moved to stop remitting the dues to the union following months of protest over calls for a hike in salaries.
gal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC, Minister of Finance Ashni Singh, Regional Executive Officer of Region 4 Donald Gajraj, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education Ms. Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, Regional Executive Officer Region Two, Susanah Saywack, Regional Executive Officer Region Six, Narendra Persaud and Regional Executive Officer Region Five, Sadick Ishmael.
On Monday, GTU president, Coretta McDonald told Kaieteur News that decision to withdraw the application was based on advice given by their attorney Mr. Wade.
President of the Guyana Teachers’s Union Coretta Mc Donald
General Chambers in a press release noted that September, 12, 2025, the Attorney General filed a Notice of Application to strike out the contempt of Court proceedings on a number of technical grounds.
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The contempt proceedings drafted by attorney Darren Wade on the August 26th, 2025 sought committal warrants against Attorney General and Minister of Le-
“Mr. Wade has advised us to withdraw the application until further notice, as their some technical issues with the filing. I don’t think, this is the end of this issue. We are just going to have discussions to decide on the way forward. Just at this time, we allow good sense to prevail. We will regroup and then we are going to be looking at the way forward,” the GTU president stated in an invited comment.
Meanwhile, the Attorney
These grounds included the failure to follow mandatory procedures to serve the contempt applications on the alleged contemnors personally; that the proceedings were statured barred pursuant to section 16 of the Contempt of Act, as the application was made more than one year after the time of the al-
leged contempt and that the contempt of court proceedings cannot be instituted against the state unless there is compliance with certain provisions contained in the State Liability and Proceedings Act. According to the release at the hearing of this application, an oral request was made for Justice Kissoon to recuse himself from these contempt proceedings, as the subject judgment was handed down by him previously. For the hearing, the Attorney General appeared in person along with Darshan Ramdhani KC, Shoshanna V. Lall - Deputy Solicitor General, Ronetta Prince - Principal Legal Advisor, Omar Hoppie and Ron AustinState Counsel for the Respondent. The judge acceded to this request and adjourned the hearing pending the reassignment of the matter by the Chief Justice.
Subsequently, the release added that Attorney General was served with a notice withdrawing and discontinuing the contempt proceedings altogether.
New York Daily News — The decision to donate the organs of a 13-year-old Queens boy shot to death on his way to school has saved the lives of four people, including a boy his same age who received his heart, officials said Sunday.
In addition to the 13-yearold who received victim Sanjay Samuel’s heart, a 15year-old received his liver and two adults in their 50s who received his lungs, pancreas and a kidney.
“I’m happy. It’s a good thing,” said Sanjay’s father, Theophilus Samuel, about the decision to donate Sanjay’s organs. “It’s very hard, this loss. But at least he saved four people.”
“It happened last night,” Samuel said of the organ har-
Sanjay Samuels vesting surgery. “It was not a hard decision at all.”
President and CEO
Leonard Achan said the young teen “became an organ donor hero today after his grieving family generously said yes to giving the gift of
life to patients waiting for a second chance.”
“LiveOnNY is humbled and honored to be the stewards of these precious gifts of life so that Sanjay and others may live on,” Achan said.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
The recipients of Sanjay’s organs live in New York, Ohio and the District of Columbia, Achan said. LiveOnNY is a nonprofit that helps coordinate organ donations in the New York City area.
After being pronounced dead Wednesday at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Sanjay remained on a ventilator so his organs could be harvested and donated, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press
briefing on Thursday.
The 16-year-old boy accused of killing Sanjay with a gunshot to the head was ordered held without bail by a Queens Criminal Court judge on Saturday. He surrendered Friday to cops at the 105th Precinct stationhouse with his lawyer after an intensive manhunt.
The killer approached Sanjay on a Razor scooter while the victim was with classmates outside the Dunkin’ Donuts at Springfield and Linden Blvds. in Cambria Heights at about 8:20 a.m. on Sept. 22, according to cops and prosecutors. He pistol-whipped Sanjay before shooting him in the back of the head in a clash cops believe was gang-related.
From page 05 with their project timelines.
The Railway Embankment four-lane road project is a transformative initiative for Guyana.
It is poised to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion along the East Coast corridor and further support the
country’s continued growth. However, it must be noted that the effectiveness of such transformative projects is not judged only by its final outcome but also by how well it is executed, especially with respect to the impact on everyday road users during construction.
Therefore, by adopting the use of smart planning, effective communication, modern construction techniques, and community-focused engagements, contractors can significantly reduce traffic congestion and discomfort currently experienced by drivers. Such improvements will
definitely lead to a more efficient project execution and also build public trust and satisfaction.
This without a doubt will ultimately contribute to the project’s long-term success and legacy.
Regards Shivesh Persaud
TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) has issued a stern warning to citizens: stop offering bribes to police ranksorfacethefullforceof the law In a sharp statement onMondaytheForcesaiditis deeply concerned about the growing number of cases wherepersonsattemptto“buy their way out” of lawful procedures by slipping officers money or so-called “tokens of appreciation ” “Offeringabribeisacriminal offence Boththegiverandthe receiver are guilty under the law,” the GPF stressed, reminding the public that bribery erodes justice, weakens accountability, and destroys trust in law enforcement
The Force reaffirmed its “zero tolerance” stance on corruption,notingthatinternal mechanisms are in place to detect and deal with rogue cops Any rank found accepting bribes will be prosecuted, while civilians who offer inducements will also be hauled before the courts The statement urged citizens to report incidents of b r i b e r y v i a t h e Commissioner’s Secretariat hotlines,whilepointingtothe government’s rollout of body cameras for ranks at ports of entry to strengthen accountability “Together, we must ensure that corruption has no place in our society,” the GPF declared Meanwhile,thestatementby the police comes one day after it was disclosed that policemen had demanded
The High Command of the Guyana Police Force has urged the public not to offer bribes to police ranks
money from a passenger at t h e C h e d d i J a g a n International Airport on Sunday On Sunday in a statement the Force confirmed that several of its ranks stationed at the CJIA are under investigation for allegedextortion.According to reports, the officers were caught demanding money from a passenger in order to release her lawful items. In thestatementpolicesaidthat CCTV footage and other evidence have corroborated the allegation. “The officers involved have been placed under close arrest while the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) carries out a full investigation,”policesaid. The statement further emphasised the force’s zerotolerancestanceoncorruption “To strengthen accountability and transparency, the Government of Guyana has orderedthatfromtoday,alllaw
enforcement officers operating at ports of entry, whether at airports or other borderpoints,willberequired to wear body cameras” The policestressedthatanyofficer found guilty of extortion or briberywillfacethefullforce of the law “The public is remindedthatnopaymentof any kind is required to clear lawfulitemsthroughCJIAor any other port. If anyone is asked for money, report it immediately to the nearest police authority,” police stated.As a follow up on the matter on Monday Commissioner of Police and
ChiefImmigrationOfficerMr Clifton Hicken, along with Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (DCIO), Senior Superintendent Stephen Telford visited the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, wheretheymetandinteracted with immigration ranks In a releasethepolicesaidthatthe visit was in the wake of allegationsthatPoliceranksat CJIAdemandedmoneyfroma passenger in order to release her lawful items Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana has instructed that from Monday, all law enforcement officers operating at any port ofentry,whetheratairportsor other border points, will be requiredtowearbodycameras as a measure to enhance accountability and transparency
Bribery
Thepoliceforcehasbeen dogged by allegations of bribery for decades. Last year while addressing the Guyana Police Force 185th Anniversary Symposium, then HomeAffairs Minister, RobesonBennstatedthat“if a policeman on the road decides to do right or left, and people left money, it’s a discredit to him and the Force in the public.” Benn then called for an end to disrespectful behaviour and the extortion of citizens, saying that he had received endless complaints Benn had also taken aim at police commanders who he said allegedlyflaunttheirwealth.
“ A n d t h e p o l i c e commandersandotherswho
find themselves in authority must not think that arriving at the job that they need to award and reward themselves and to walk around with plenty gold and diamond around their neck andtheirfingers.Iftheyhave that, it means that they are men who can be bought, I can buy you because that is whatyoulikeandyouflaunt it.Itmuststop.Itmuststop.”
In its 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) report the United States had said that “ C o r r u p t i o n i n Guyana poses a significant obstacletoitseffortstocombat drug trafficking Corruption within law enforcement,
bribery, and nepotism in the public sector and political entitiesfurthercomplicatethe fight against drug trafficking Authoritiesoftendropcharges or never file them and do not c o n d u c t s e r i o u s investigations; traffickers are abletoevadeprosecution” The Transparency Internationalforitspartinits report on Guyana this year stated that the state of Guyana had been captured by the economic and political elites, fostering misapprop
n of resources, illicit enrichment and environmental crimes.
The body also stated that Guyana has lost ground in the fight against corruption
moving from 40 points last year to 39 this year, ranking it92outof180countrieson the Corruption Perception Index. “In Guyana, state capture by economic and political elites fosters misappropriation of resources, illicit enrichment and an environmental crime,” the Transparency International report said. It added: “Although the country has created anticorruption institutions and laws, transparency and law enforcement are very low, and attacks on dissenting voices, activists and journalists increasingly common,”thebodystatedin itsreport.
(AL-JAZEERA) Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said hehadagreedtotheplanina pressbriefingwithPresident Donald Trump at the White House.
Adiplomatic source told Al Jazeera that Qatar and Egypt delivered Trump’s plan to Hamas’ negotiating team which has promised thatmediatorswillstudythe proposal.
The White House has unveiled the 20-point proposal,whichitsayscould bring an immediate halt to Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians and left the Palestinianenclaveinruins.
Trump’s20-pointplanto end Israel’s genocide in Gaza,publishedinfull:
Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threattoitsneighbours.
G a z a w i l l b e redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.Ifbothsidesagreeto this proposal, the war will immediately end Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare forahostagerelease.During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, willbesuspended,andbattle lineswillremainfrozenuntil conditions are met for the completestagedwithdrawal.
· Within 72 hours of Israelpubliclyacceptingthis agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
· Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners
plus1,700Gazanswhowere detained after October 7th 2023, including all women andchildrendetainedinthat context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
· Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coe x i s t e n c e a n d t o decommission their weapons will be given amnesty MembersofHamaswhowish toleaveGazawillbeprovided safe passage to receiving countries
· Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediatelysentintotheGaza Strip At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent withwhatwasincludedinthe January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to removerubbleandopenroads Entryofdistributionandaid in the Gaza Strip will proceedwithoutinterference fromthetwopartiesthrough the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent,inadditiontoother international institutions not associated in any manner with either party Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025, agreement.
· Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical
Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalitiesforthepeople inGaza.Thiscommitteewill be made up of qualified P a l e s t i n i a n s a n d international experts, with oversightandsupervisionby a n
w
n
ern
nal transitionalbody,the“Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including
FormerPrimeMinisterTony Blair This body will set the framework and handle the f u n d i n g f o r t h e redevelopmentofGazauntil such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including PresidentTrump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to
US President Donald Trump, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a news conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 29, 2025 [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]
create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.
A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be createdbyconveningapanel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by wellmeaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for futureGaza.
· A special economic zonewillbeestablishedwith preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participatingcountries.
·Noonewillbeforcedto leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We willencouragepeopletostay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza Hamas and other factions agree to not have anyroleinthegovernanceof Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and s u p p o r t e d b y a n internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the
according to an agreement they will make with the transitionalauthorityuntilthey are withdrawn completely fromGaza,saveforasecurity perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terrorthreat.
independent monitors. New Gazawillbefullycommitted to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
· A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighborsoritspeople.
· The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deployinGaza.TheISFwill train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experienceinthisfield.This force will be the long-term internal security solution TheISFwillworkwithIsrael and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from enteringGazaandtofacilitate the rapid and secure flow of goodstorebuildandrevitalize Gaza A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed uponbytheparties.
·Israelwillnotoccupyor annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the [Israeli military] will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon
between the [Israeli
military], ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States,withtheobjectiveofa secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens Practically, the [Israeli military] will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF
· In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation,willproceedinthe terror-freeareashandedover from the [Israeli military] to the ISF. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of thePalestinianpeople
· The United States will establishadialoguebetween IsraelandthePalestiniansto agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
Gazans say Trump’s peaceplana‘farce’ Residents of Gaza have expressed scepticism over the latest plan by Trump, dismissing it as a farce that wouldfailtoendthewar
“It’sclearthatthisplanis unrealistic,” 39-year-old IbrahimJoudehtoldtheAFP newsagencyfromhisshelter in al-Mawasi on the coast in southernGaza.
“It’s drafted with conditions that the US and Israel know Hamas will never accept. For us, that means the war and the sufferingwillcontinue.”
Abu Mazen Nassar, 52, was equally pessimistic and fearedthattheplanaimedto trick Palestinian factions into releasing hostages held in Gaza with no peace in return.
“Thisisallmanipulation. What does it mean to hand overalltheprisonerswithout officialguaranteestoendthe war?” asked Nassar, who wasdisplacedfromhishome in northern Gaza to central Gaza’sDeirel-Balah.
“We as a people will not accept this farce,” he said, adding: “Whatever Hamas decides now about the deal, it’stoolate.”
Frompage24
acrossthecountry,including women’s cricket in the indigenous communities”, saidtheHeadofState.
President Ali added that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB),theGuyanaFootball Federation and the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), have a mandate to ensureindigenousteamsare an integral part of their respectivesportsstructures.
“I have also asked the Guyana Cricket Board to
indigenous team to start
within their national competitions and trials. So, the best males and females will have an opportunity I haveaskedtheMinistertodo the same for football, volleyball, and basketball,” thePresidentoutlined.
Indigenous teams are also set to compete in national tournaments, adding to the ‘One Guyana’ vision which will see more athletes, women most notablybeingmoreinvolved in the continued success of Guyana’s rich history in sports.
Frompage26 two years’ time, hence the option to add golf to the other sports offered,” He explained.
According to Hussain, “It was through the collaborationwiththeAllied Arts Unit that golf was introduced into the school system in 2021, beginning with a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme that prepared over 155 PE teachers to delivergolfinstruction”.
“Over the past three years, thousands of students
have been given the opportunity to experience golf with more than 700 choosinggolfastheirCSEC Physical Education elective, sign
the sport’s growing popularity among young people. Golf is now
disciplines such as cricket, football, and basketball ” Hussainadded.
With growing interest from both students and educators, the GGA is now focusedonexpandingaccess to training facilities, such as theNexgenGolfAcademyin G
e Westside Golf Course in Vreed-en-Hoop, to further support the development of the sport across Guyana.
(Clifton
Ross)
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.
The
e 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.
President of Guyana His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali
has named former Guyana/West Indies stars
Ramnaresh Sarwan and R o g e r H a r p e r, a s
Mentor/Coach and Head of Wo m e n ’s C r i c k e t
Development, with major movestoboostsportsacross the indigenous communities
gathering massive momentum.
Theannouncementcame onSaturdayduringtheHead Of State’s visit to Everest Groundaspartoftheannual Heritage Games where over
President Ali made a few huge announcements which are set to reshape the sporting world of the indigenous communities across Guyana
800indigenousathletesfrom across Guyana’s 10 administrative regions took part in some highlycompetitive sports action as partofthe2025editionofthe traditionalGames.
Sarwan, an ex- West Indies and Guyana captain has been given the role of mentor and coach for indigenous talent, while former West Indies allrounder and international headcoachHarper,willlead thedevelopmentofwomen’s cricket,withspecialfocuson indigenouscommunities.
“He (Sarwan) will be responsibleforworkingwith indigenous boards and groups to select the first indigenousteamtobepartof the cricket infrastructure. I have asked Roger Harper to developwomen‘scricket (Continuedonpage23)
Victor Macedo
Under early morning skies, the sun burst through the Queenstown trees as the 2025 Victor Macedo Memorial Road Race got underwaylaunchedfromthe historic Peter Rose Avenue inwhatwasafittingstarttoa day of high-octane racing andfiercecompetition.
In true form, Jamual John, a crowd favourite and dominant force on the national circuit, turned up the heat both figuratively and literally, clinching overall victory in the Elite category Battling punishing crosswinds and sweltering temperatures over the 104.6 km (65-mile) course, John demonstrated unmatched form and endurance, once
reputationasthemantobeat onGuyana’sroads. Hot on his wheel, seasoned campaigner Robin Persaud crossed the line in second, edging out a strong field of challengers. Curtis Day claimed third, followed closelybyPaulDeNobrega, with both riders delivering solid performances under gruelingconditions.
In the Junior category, Alexander Leung launched an early breakaway and neve
oked back, controlling the tempo from the front and storming to another title as he powered d
Homestretch. Alex Newton and Omarie Abrams battled
hard to secure second and third place respectively, rounding out a thrilling youthcontest.
Veteran Robin Persaud doubled up on accolades by also taking top honours in the Masters Over-45 category, proving his excellence at a more mature age.Meanwhile,theMasters Over-50 division saw commanding rides from Mark Spencer and Junior Niles,whofinishedfirstand second respectively, setting thepacefortheiragegroup.
The Juvenile division was electric, with Dinesh Sookai delivering a spirited ride to take top honours. Kevon Stephen, despite a strong start, faded midway
and was unable to maintain thepace.InCategoryFour,it was business as usual for Carlos Mendonca, who executed another tactically flawless ride to secure yet anotherfirst-placetrophy
The event, expertly organized by the Flying Stars Cycling Club, once again served as a showcase of grit, talent, and community spirit. In a postrace statement, the club extendeditsappreciation:
Generous sponsorship was once again provided by Macedo Transportation, continuing the proud tradition of honouring the late Victor Macedo’s legacy through elite-level road racing.
(Onlineinformation)
TopFinishersSummary:
EliteCategory: 1.JamualJohn
“A special thank you goesouttothesponsors,the Guyana Police Force, the race officials, the cyclists, andallthosewhotunedinto the live coverage and supported this memorable event Your contributions made today’s race a resoundingsuccess.”
RobinPersaud
3.
MastersOver45:
1.RobinPersaud
MastersOver50:
1.MarkSpencer
2.JuniorNiles
JuvenileCategory:
1.DineshSookai
CategoryFour: 1.CarlosMendonca
T
he Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and NexgenGolfAcademyhave strengthened their ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education
through the donation of golf equipment and balls to Baramita,Region1. This initiative supports Minister of Education Sonia Parag’s mandate to place
greateremphasisonPhysical Education (PE) in schools every Friday, with the intention that golf be includedasakeyactivity Launched in 2021, the
secondary school golf programme has grown rapidly and is now active in secondary schools across 9 ofGuyana’s10regions. Thisexpansionhasbeen made possible through donations of equipment, balls, and training by the Guyana Golf Association andNexgenGolfAcademy
Mr Kurt Braithwaite
presented the equipment on behalf of GGA president Aleem Hussain to teachers and students in Baramita where he also conducted an introductorytrainingsession ontheprinciplesofgolf.
Mr Braithwaite noted thatthevisitformedpartofa wider programme, planned since June 2025, aimed at exposing students and
teachers to various sports, physicaleducationmethods, andteachingstrategies.
“Another objective is to enhance the delivery of the PE programme at the nursery, primary, and secondary levels, especially since the teaching staff is very young. The goal is to havePEfullydevelopedin
(Continuedonpage23)
(Cricinfo) -As fans clad inredandbluedancedinthe Sharjahaisles,theresultwas a foregone conclusion:
Zishan Morata was the last man out, caught in the deep by Karan KC, and West Indies had beenbundledout for 83. Three days ago, Nepal had never played a T20I series against a Full Member nation. Now, they had sealed it 2-0, with one matchtospare.
West Indies struggled to move beyond single-digits in the powerplay Only thanks to a boundary in the sixth over did they reach 16 for 2. By then, Dipendra SinghAiree had scalped the firstwicketwhenhebowled Jewel Andrew (2), while Kushal Bhurtel had taken a stunning catch at cover to sendbackKeacyCarty(1).
Nepal’svicegripoverthe scoringratewastheresultof their slower balls and full deliveries in the blockhole, with their quicks often marrying the two to great effect An inexperienced West Indies unit kept mistiming their shots on a pitch where none of their batters, barring Jason Holder’s 15-ball 21, played with any degree of comfort Eight-threealloutrepresents the former T20 World Champions’ sixth-lowest total The 90-run defeat is their joint fourth-biggest by runs Medium pacer Mohammad Aadil Alamwho ended with figures of 4 for24-wasthenextbowlerto getonthescorecard,thanksto thebiggestpointofdifference between the two sides: Nepal’s fielding Nineteenyear-old Gulsan Jha’s diving catchatsweepercoverinthe eighth over bettered their previouseffort,andsentKyle Mayers back after a sluggish 6off16balls
The going never got better for West Indies, as they kept losing wickets in the middle overs and found gapsinthefieldpluggedbya Nepal team who threw themselvesattheball.Alam
againstanAssociatenationaswellasa90-runloss-the biggest margin by which an Associateteamhasdefeated aFullMembernation. What makes this result
sent back Ackeem Auguste (17)andAmirJangoo(16)in back-to-backovers.Bythen, WestIndieshadslippedto63 for 5 and the required rate hadleapedtoabove13. Bhurtel added to his contributionsinthefieldwitha three-forthatsweptupthetail. Holder-thelastnominalhope for West Indies - fell to Lalit Rajbanshi in the 17th over, when Jha took his second screamer of the day Soon after, Bhurtel came back to tossupalegbreakandfountit caught on the outfield once again. This was a day when West Indies kept finding fieldersattheropeinsteadof clearingthem.
Earlierintheday,Nepal’s own innings had been one of twodistincthalves:inthefirst ten,theydidnothitasinglesix, but opener Aasif Sheikh had established a burgeoning partnership with Sundeep Jora, and a productive powerplay had taken them to 74for3atthemidwaypointof the innings In the next ten, the pair raced away and put onwhatwouldendupbeing a100-runpartnership.Jora’s 39-ball 63 eventually ended in the 18th over He had hit five of the nine sixes Nepal hit in the second half of the innings Sheikh remained unbeaten on 68 off 47 himself. At the other end, Alam’s 5-ball 11 took Nepal’s total to 173. Alam was playing his first match for Nepal after more than three years, having last appearedfortheminAugust 2022 His cameo would become a footnote to his starring role in the second innings.
I t w o u l d a l s o overshadow the efforts of West Indies’best bowler on theday-theircaptainAkeal Hosein - who took 2 for 21 andhadreducedNepalto14 for 2 in the fourth over However, any hopes of a rally after their loss in the first T20I were soon left far behind, as his team slipped to83allout-thelowesttotal by a Full Member team
more significant is that Nepal have secured it ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiersnextmonth,andin the absence of their lead
s p i n n e r S a n d e e p
Lamichhane,whohassatout both matches of the series. Nepal coach, Stuart Law, said Lamichhane excused himself citing personal reasons. Nepal now know theywillbefavouritestowin the third and final match of the series, to be played on Tuesday, having sealed the mostsignificantserieswinin theircrickethistory
This year’sAnnual Victor Macedo Memorial Cycle Race concluded on Sunday last at Liliendaal. Here’s a photo opportunity of some of the top performers at the 2025 event Here’s
