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Tuesday Edition U.S. pushes oil AIETEUR NEWS majors to invest big in Venezuela if they want to recover debts

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January 06, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 01

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Countries unite against U.S. kidnapping of Maduro at UN Security Council meeting Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. narco charges - says he is still President of Venezuela

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted leader of Venezuela, at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport before being taken to the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan on Monday.

Credit-Vincent Alban/ The New York Times

‘Calls grow for Susan to go’ - Opposition parties demand probe into minister’s rapid wealth

Court throws out Mohameds’ bid to stay extradition proceedings $74M fence planned for $62M Charity Police Station

GGMC shuts down 107 Brazilian gold operations

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

Maduro pleads not guilty to - says he is still U.S. narco charges President of Venezuela NEW YORK, Jan 5 ( R e u t e r s ) - To p p l e d Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges after President Donald Trump’s stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to respond.

Maduro, 63, pleaded innocent in New York federal court to four criminal counts: narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” Maduro said through an interpreter, before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty. The next court date was set for March 17.

Dozens of protesters, both pro- and anti-Maduro, gathered outside the

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz courthouse before the halfhour hearing.

ACCUSATIONS OF COCAINETRAFFICKING Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocainetrafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels,

Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has long denied the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.

Trump has made no secret of wanting to share in Venezuela’s oil riches. U.S. oil companies’ shares

jumped on Monday, fueled by the prospect of access to its vast reserves. While world leaders and U.S. politicians grappled with the extraordinary seizure of a head of state, an emergency o r d e r i n Ve n e z u e l a , published in full on Monday, ordered police to search and capture anyone who

supported Saturday’s U.S. attack. At the United Nations, the Security Council debated the implications of the raid, which was condemned by Russia, China and leftist allies of Venezuela.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres raised concerns about instability in Venezuela and the legality of Trump’s strike, the most dramatic U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion. U.S. Special Forces swooped into Caracas by helicopter on Saturday, shattered his security cordon and dragged him from the threshold of a safe room.

MADURO, WIFE APPEAR, PLEAD NOT GUILTY On Monday morning, Maduro - his hands zip-tied and his wife were escorted by armed guards in tactical gear from a Brooklyn detention center to a helicopter bound for the Manhattan federal court.

The judge began the hearing at 12:02 p.m. (1702 GMT) by summarizing the charges in the indictment.

Maduro, in orange and beige prison garb, listened on headphones through an interpreter. Hellerstein asked Maduro to stand and confirm his identity. He replied in Spanish. The judge told the couple of their right to inform the Venezuelan consulate of their arrests.

Prosecutors say Maduro has been involved in drug trafficking from the time he began serving in Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000 to his tenure as foreign minister and subsequent 2013 election as the late president Hugo Chavez’s successor.

MADURO’S LAWYER PREDICTS LEGAL FIGHT OVER ‘MILITARY ABDUCTION’ Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack said he anticipated voluminous and complex Continued on page 8

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

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Countries unite against U.S. kidnapping of Maduro at UN Security Council meeting T he United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday amid sharp divisions over the United States’ forcible rendition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an action that has triggered outrage, warnings of regional destabilisation, and rare open praise from some Western allies.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Council that the operation risked undermining the very foundations of the international system, stressing the need to respect national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity. He warned that the US action had set a “dangerous precedent” for global order. “I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted.”

The UN secretary general said the situation in Venezuela has been a matter of regional and international concern for many years now. He said attention on the country only grew following the contested presidential elections in July 2024. “The panel of electoral experts I appointed at the Venezuelan Government’s request to accompany the elections highlighted serious issues. We have consistently called for full transparency and the complete publication of the results of the elections.”

Guterres said Venezuela has experienced decades of internal instability and social and economic turmoil, noting that democracy has been undermined and millions of its people have fled the country. “The

A wide view of the UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela. (UN Photo/Loey Felipe) situation is critical, but it is still possible to prevent a wider and more destructive conflagration. I call on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive, democratic dialogue in which all sectors of society can determine their future.

This entails the full respect of human rights, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people.” He said” I also urge Venezuela’s neighbours, and the international community more broadly, to act in a spirit of solidarity and in adherence to the principles, laws and rules erected to promote peaceful coexistence. I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward.”

Sovereignty at stake Venezuela’s Ambassador to the UN Samuel Moncada said that not only his country’s sovereignty is at

stake, but also “the credibility of international law” and the authority of the United Nations. He said Venezuela was subjected to an “illegitimate armed attack” by the United States on 3 January, lacking any legal justification and constituting a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, Geneva Conventions and the principle of sovereign equality. Warning that tolerating the “kidnapping of a Head of State” and attacks on civilians would signal that “the law is optional”, he argued that the aggression is driven by Venezuela’s natural resources and geopolitical position.

For his part, James Kariuki of the United Kingdom said that Maduro’s actions created extreme levels of poverty, violent repression and failing basic services and precipitated a displacement crisis a ff e c t i n g t h e w h o l e r e g i o n .

“Maduro’s claim to power was fraudulent,” he said, noting his country’s desire to see a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate Government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people. He also r e a ff i r m e d h i s c o u n t r y ’s commitment to international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter. “These foundations are essential for maintaining global peace, security and the rule of law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán warned the Council that Washington, D.C.'s, “hegemonic and criminal plans” towards Venezuela have produced serious and unpredictable consequences for regional stability.

Accusing the United States of unilateral coercive measures, “economic asphyxiation” and even maritime terrorism, he said these acts show disregard for the Charter

of the UN and international law. He described the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores as driven by a quest for “control over Venezuela’s land and natural resources”, calling it “imperialist and fascist aggression”, and demanded their immediate release.

Mexico’s representative said the United States’ action must not be permitted, calling it a violation of the UN Charter and a threat to multilateralism. Stressing that the Council has an “obligation to act decisively and without double standards”, he said it is for “sovereign peoples to decide their destinies” with full respect for human rights. Warning against regime change by external actors and extraterritorial measures, he said such actions have “historically” only exacerbated Continued on page 16

Venezuelan interim leader tones down criticism, - calls for a ‘balanced and respectful’ ready to ‘work with the U.S.’ relationship with Washington during transition (ALJAZEERA) Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said she is willing to cooperate with the United States on the future of Venezuela, in a significant shift in tone from the immediate aftermath of a military operation leading to the abduction of leader Nicolas Maduro by US special forces.

“We consider it a priority to move towards a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela,” Rodriguez w r o t e o n Te l e g r a m o n Sunday. “We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on an agenda for

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez cooperation that is aimed t o w a r d s s h a r e d development,” she continued.

Rodriguez, who served as Maduro’s deputy since

2018, was made interim l e a d e r b y Ve n e z u e l a ’s Supreme Court on Saturday after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained in the most high-profile and

riskiest US military operation since the US Navy’s SEAL team killed alQaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a safe house in Pakistan’s Abbottabad in 2011.

In a televised address on S a t u r d a y, R o d r i g u e z denounced the US actions as “an atrocity that violates international law”, insisting that “the only president of Venezuela [is] President Nicolas Maduro.”

R o d r i g u e z ’s t e l e v i s e d remarks created a rift with Trump, who had suggested in the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s capture that US officials were in communication with her,

and she was willing to cooperate.

After Rodriguez called his administration a group of “extremists” on television, Trump quickly shifted his tone from calling Rodriguez “gracious” to threatening her directly. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic magazine in an interview early on Sunday.

The US president also said further strikes on Venezuela could take place, and he would not rule out putting “boots on the ground” in Venezuela, reiterating that the US was now “in charge”.

The belligerent actions and stance, which have prompted protests in the US and around the world, fly in the face of Trump’s election promise of an “America First” stance and keeping the country out of endless wars, as well as his previous criticism of regime change in the Iraq War. Rodriguez separately said on Sunday that she had launched a commission to seek the release of Maduro and Flores from US detention, where the Venezuelan leader is facing charges of “narcoterrorism c o n s p i r a c y, c o c a i n e importation conspiracy, Continued on page 11

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Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The capture of Maduro The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States marks a dangerous and unprecedented escalation in hemispheric affairs—one that should unsettle every Caribbean nation, regardless of its political leanings or views on the Maduro administration.

This was not diplomacy, nor multilateral action grounded in law. It was a unilateral military seizure of a sitting head of state on foreign soil, carried out by the world’s most powerful military, with consequences that will reverberate far beyond Venezuela.

President Irfaan Ali’s response that Guyana “supports efforts that uphold democratic norms” and welcomes U.S. leadership raises troubling questions about how small states interpret sovereignty when power intervenes.

Stability and democracy are worthy goals, but they cannot be built on the wreckage of international law. The idea that democracy can be delivered at gunpoint, or that regime change by foreign capture can never be legitimate, is a fiction history has repeatedly exposed.

Whatever one’s assessment of Maduro’s governance record, the principle at stake is larger than one man. If the United States can seize Venezuela’s president today, under the banner of democracy and security, what protects any other leader or state from similar treatment tomorrow?

International law does not bend according to the moral judgments or strategic interests of powerful nations. Once that line is crossed, all states become vulnerable.

CARICOM’s response, cautious but concerned, reflects an understanding of this reality. The regional body has acknowledged that the U.S. military action carries “grave” implications for neighbouring states. Trinidad and Tobago’s swift and public distancing from the operation was especially telling. It was not merely diplomatic housekeeping; it was an assertion of sovereignty and a signal that Caribbean territory must not be assumed as staging ground, accomplice, or silent partner in acts of military intervention.

The Caribbean has lived this history before. From Grenada to Panama to Iraq and Libya beyond the region, interventions justified in the name of democracy have left behind weakened institutions, fractured societies, and long-term instability. The capture of Maduro risks opening a similar chapter, one in which Venezuela’s future is shaped not by Venezuelans, but by foreign interests, particularly those tied to oil, security, and geopolitical leverage.

The response from the Organisation of American States (OAS), led by Secretary-General Albert Ramdin, stands in sharp contrast to the triumphalist tone coming out of Washington. Ramdin’s call for full respect for international law, civilian protection, and peaceful settlement of disputes reflects the only defensible path forward. Democracy imposed through force is not democracy at all; it is domination masquerading as virtue. Of particular concern is the precedent this action sets for “Zone of Peace” rhetoric in the Americas. Guyana has long championed the Caribbean as a region committed to peaceful resolution of disputes. That commitment is hollowed out when military seizures are applauded rather than questioned. True peace requires restraint, dialogue, and respect for sovereignty, not selective enforcement of norms by those with overwhelming power.

The situation is made more perilous by Guyana’s geographic and political proximity to Venezuela. Any instability next door carries direct consequences for Guyana’s security, economy, and territorial integrity.

Endorsing or appearing to endorse extra-legal actions today may weaken Guyana’s moral standing tomorrow, particularly when it seeks international support for its own sovereignty claims.

Tuesday January 06, 2026

NCD Commission urges the MOH to designate March 4 as National HPV testing day DEAR EDITOR January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

The Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of the NCDs commend the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for leading an aggressive fight against Cervical cancer in Guyana.

The Commission is grateful for the significant increase in investment to fight against Cervical Cancer. The Commission is pleased to see that the elevation of the fight against C e r v i c a l C a n c e r. T h e Commission, however, believes that there is an urgent need to further expand and elevate the education and awareness program in the fight against Cervical Cancer in Guyana.

We urge the Ministry of Health to learn from the tremendous work that was done with HIV and AIDS at the start of the 21st Century.

For the first decade of this century, Guyana crafted and implemented an awareness and education program for HIV and AIDS that was globally recognized. The

Commission believes that some of the same education and awareness strategies that Guyana used to spread HIV and AIDS literacy can be utilised for Cervical Cancer.

During this month, as we try to promote and spread awareness of Cervical Cancer, the Commission believes that the MOH should designate March 4th each year as National HPV and Cervical Cancer Testing Day that would start a dedicated week of testing across the country.

We urge that the MOH works with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to ensure that HPV and Cervical cancer Awareness programs are introduced in our schools, workplaces and in our sports clubs. We urge the MOH to work with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to ensure every MP is a champion in the fight against HPV and Cervical Cancer. We urge the MOH to work with faith-based organisations to spread awareness and for every faith-based leader to be a champion in the fight.

The Commission would like to see more utilization of radio, TV, printed media, social media and banners and posters for spreading education and awareness.

Every public building should have posters with HPV and Cervical cancer messaging.

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most prevalent cancer among women in Guyana and is a leading cause of death. Current estimates for Guyana indicate that approximately 121 women (about 15/100,000) are diagnosed with cervical cancer and a mortality rate of about 63 deaths annually.

Science has proven that Cervical Cancer is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted viral infection.

Therefore, it is important for initiatives to prevent HPV infection. It is also important for Guyanese, both women and men, to know their HPV status. Every girl between the ages of 9 and 15 should be vaccinated. The Commission acknowledges and commends the MOH for its HPV testing program which was introduced some time ago. In 2025, in an

effort to expand access to HPV testing, introduced a $2.8 billion HPV voucher program for citizens to access testing in the private sector so that each Guyanese can know that HPV status.

The intention is for more than 200,000 women between the ages of 21 and 65 to be tested by 2030. This was a good indicator of the Ministry’s commitment to ensure every citizen is aware of his or her HPV-status. For women who are HPV-positive, they are at high risk for cervical cancer. Therefore, it is important for every woman to know her HPV-status.

Just as we did for HIV testing more than two decades ago, the MOH must explore opportunistic testing for women. For every clinic that a woman visits, she should be offered HPV testing, if she is not yet aware of her HPV-status. All women who are HPVpositive should also be tested for cervical cancer.

The Commission notes progress in the HPV vaccination Program. After a slow start, Guyana has (Continued on page 06)

US invasion of Venezuela is state terrorism DEAR EDITOR Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP) unequivocally condemns the criminal US attack against Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela’s first lady, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of January 3, 2026.

This attack tramples on Venezuela’s sovereignty and inalienable right to selfdetermination and can only be described as State terrorism. Centuries of US a n d We s t E u r o p e a n imperialism, and their

current behaviour worldwide, has shown us that international law is a myth, a mental construct existing only on paper. We who are a part of the global resistance are well aware that international law does not exist in reality, since it cannot be enforced.

It is very clear that the type of criminal activity and naked fascism being pursued by the Trump administration and its allies in Western Europe and the Apartheid State of Israel cannot be stopped by the invoking of

The OAS is correct to emphasise that Venezuela’s constitutional order and institutions, however imperfect—must form the basis for any transition.

Sustainable democracy emerges from internal legitimacy, not external capture. Inclusive dialogue, not shock-andawe tactics, is what prevents civil conflict and regional spillover. Silence, or worse, applause from smaller states only emboldens a world order where power replaces principle. Guyana and the wider Caribbean must be careful not to confuse alignment with acquiescence.

Supporting democracy does not require endorsing lawlessness. The capture of Nicolás Maduro is not a victory for democracy. It is a warning, one that reminds the region that sovereignty is fragile, international law is only as strong as the will to defend it, and today’s precedent may become tomorrow’s peril. If the Caribbean truly believes in peace, then it must find the courage to say so, even when the violator is powerful, friendly, and confident.

i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w, resolutions and declarations issued by an impotent and obsolete United Nations.

For centuries we have experienced the brutal reality: that US hegemony and continued plundering of our resources is enforced with military might alone, and that any country who dares to chart its own course will be subjected to ruthless sanctions and brutal military assaults. The US and West Europe, since the colonial project was initiated in our Americas and the Caribbean, have intervened in the affairs of our sovereign nations with impunity. In the face of this criminal and life-threatening behaviour it is clear that we must resist by any means necessary.

This attack on Venezuela is a pyrrhic victory. It may seem like a massive defeat for revolutionary and progressive forces worldwide, but the decline of the US Empire is in motion and cannot be reversed by Trump, Hegseth and Rubio. Their reckless actions, supported by the governments of Guyana and Trinidad, will have dire consequences for all those

involved. The era of US fascism dressed up as “friendly fascism” pretending to be about ‘human-rights; and ‘democracy’ is over.

The way that Donald Trump, members of his administration, US senators and congressman are brazenly expressing their racist and fascist views, is a signal that the threat to our very survival is becoming graver by the day.

There is no better example of this brazen bravado, than the tweet from former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on January 2, “Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also, to every Mossad agent walking beside them.”

In the words of our sister Assata Shakur, who made the transition a few months ago, having dedicated her life to the struggle against US imperialism: “Where there is oppression, there will always be resistance”.

Gerald A. Perreira On behalf of the National Directorate, Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Workers of Guyana have more in common that unite us as against what divides us.

DEAR EDITOR, This year marks a century since the trade union movement began the fight for one-man-one-vote. The right to vote is constitutionally protected.

The journey to achieve this commenced in 1926 when Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow convened the first Caribbean Labour Conference in Georgetown, Guyana. At that forum issues such as prison reform, universal health care and education, regional integration, one man one vote, minimum wage, fundamental rights and freedoms, housing, and internal self- government were tabled as important in the workers pursuit for selfdetermination.

At the time there was no mass based political party, here and in the Caribbean, and the Labour Movement singlehandedly waged this struggle.

24 years after the trade union found a political ally in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which incorporated elements of the Labour Agenda in the political platform.

T h e t r a d e u n i o n ’s advocacy on the stated issues reflects a continuity of the struggle waged by our forebears, generations ago.

Trade unionists today see this as an act of protecting a formidable legacy bequeathed by those whose shoulders we stand on.

Securing the universal right to vote (1953) was never meant to be a one-off act, but the fortification of workers/citizens placed at the decision-making table in furtherance of the social, cultural, economic and political rights. Somewhere on the journey the Movement relinquished its militancy to the local political leadership who it was felt would have carried the workers’ charge.

The split in the political movement in the 1950s brought with it divisions within the Labour Movement.

The division manifested ideological (capitalism vs socialism) differences and even impacted on race. While ideology may no longer be a factor, race and political allegiance have proven to adversely impact the workers’ well-being, creating the space/opportunity for political parties to prey on these manufactured divisions to seek and retain elected office.

As time progressed where politicians found these useful ‘marketing tools,’ commitment to the workers’ cause began to wane because the premise for association was not primarily driven by accountability to workers’ permanent interest.

Workers of Guyana have more in common that unite us as against what divides us.

The historical recognition of informed solidarity in struggles and developmental agenda. There is commonality to be treated with respect and dignity, to participate in and benefit from the nation’s resources, and have the guarantee of its security and protection of its laws. These are values all can identify with, pursue and expect, as we move about our daily business, but yet they remain elusive for far too many.

Every five years, or intermittently, this nation holds General and Regional Elections. Politicians would come to the electorate with a ‘shopping list’ (i.e. manifesto) of promised goodies, which later lends the impression that from the outset there was no intent to honour. Society has had more than its fair share of promises and citizens more than their fair share of nonfulfilment of these promises.

As Guyanese we must move

in a deliberative manner to change the culture of promise to the culture of fulfilment.

We are in the season where the political campaigns have started, and politicians are once again making promises on the premise that if they are elected, they will implement/honour the promises. From Labour’s perspective we are tired of the promises, as such we would like to see a number of the promises made in the past be worked upon and implemented before the next elections.

The Preamble of the Guyana Constitution “Acknowledge the aspirations of our young people, who in their own words, have declared that the future of Guyana belongs to the young people, who aspire to live in a society which respects their dignity, protects their rights, recognises their potential, listen to their voices, provides opportunities, …”

The judiciary plays an important role in inclusionary democracy.

Where it is allowed to function as an independent and co-equal branch of government it plays a meaningful role in the development of society. As custodian of the Rule of Law where citizens have confidence that there will be recourse for grievances it minimises resort to vigilante justice. At the same the importance of confirming the appointments of Chancellor and Chief Justice to bring about the needed assurance and stability in the

system. This also includes addressing the injustice meted out to acting C h a n c e l l o r Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards.

Power from the people is for the people, not for a few.

Our voice and involvement in the political process does not start and stop at the ballot box. The power we exercise through the vote, though electing representatives, is never meant to be bequeathed to a few to do as they please, but that of ensuring this power is used in our interest. A principal way of guaranteeing this is ensuring and retaining active presence in the management and decision-making processes of the state on matters that impact our wellbeing.

Workers demand their rightful place at the negotiating table. Young people must be given meaningful, permanent roles in shaping the nation’s future.

Women must not merely be represented but empowered to influence decisions affecting their lives and families. The judiciary must be stabilised, independent, and respected as a co-equal branch of government. And the vulnerable must be treated not as afterthoughts, but as equal participants in national development.

Inclusionary democracy is the foundation of a just, stable, and prosperous society. The legacy handed down by the labour movement was not one of silence, submission, or symbolic participation. It was a legacy of organised resistance, informed (Continued on page 06)

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Reestablishing a Bank in Charity: A Case for Financial Inclusion on the Essequibo Coast DEAR EDITOR, Charity is one of the most important communities on the Essequibo Coast, serving as a commercial and administrative centre for s u r r o u n d i n g neighbourhoods.

Yet today, residents and businesses in Charity must travel long distances to access basic banking services-an inconvenience that affects livelihoods, productivity, and financial security.

This situation was not always the case. In 2012, Charity welcomed a commercial bank branch, bringing much-needed financial services closer to residents. However, that branch later closed, and since then the community has been without a local bank. The impact of this absence continues to be felt.

Farmers, small business owners, pensioners, public servants, and vendors must now travel to Anna Regina or further afield to cash cheques, conduct business transactions, or access loans.

For many, this means additional transportation costs, lost work hours, and exposure to personal security risks when carrying a large amount of cash. For small enterprises, the lack of nearby banking services limits growth and discourages formalisation.

At a time when Guyana is experiencing economic transformation and renewed emphasis on financial inclusion, it is worth asking whether Charity should once again have access to local banking services. The Essequibo Coast remains an

active agricultural and commercial zone, with rice farming, fishing, retail trade, and public administration forming the backbone of the local economy. These activities generate regular financial transactions that could support a modest banking presence.

Reestablishing a traditional full-service bank branch may not be the only or immediate solution.

Banks today are exploring more flexible and costeffective models.

One option could be a smaller service-oriented branch with limited staffing, supported by digital banking platforms. Another approach could involve authorized banking agents operating from existing businesses, enabling deposits, withdrawals, bill payments, and account services.

There is also room for collaboration. Partnerships between commercial banks, the Bank of Guyana, and government agencies could support pilot projects aimed at underserved coastal communities like Charity.

Mobile banking units or periodic on-site banking days could further reduce the service gap.

The goal is not merely convenience, but inclusion.

Access to banking services encourages savings, supports entrepreneurship, reduces reliance on cash, and strengthens local economies.

For Charity and neighbouring villages, restoring banking access would be a meaningful step toward equitable (Continued on page 06)

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

There is a much higher level of Do not spoil Housing in Guyana In one case, there was the scape I was shocked to learn D E , political and religious tolerance This is a timely word inability of the owner to sell that “… many communities, EAR

Dear Editor The dawn of a new year always brings with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism. Such optimism is by no means misplaced. The economy is doing well and this trend is likely to continue well into the new year. The year 2025 ended on a high note of optimism.

General and Regional elections concluded peacefully and without incident. The PPP/C was returned to office with a new and bigger mandate.

The country saw major i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l developments with significant improvements in almost all facets of life including access to better health care, education,

housing and disposable income.

All of this bodes well for the new year. Several new projects are expected to come on stream in the new year which will have a transformative impact on the economy and by extension the lives of the Guyanese people. This is not to suggest that we are free from developmental challenges.

The threat to our territorial integrity and national sovereignty continue to pose problems not only for us but for the region as a whole.

Wider afield, there is continuing devastation as a result of wars and conflicts.

Climate change continue to pose existential threats. Yet we have reason to be

thankful. We live in a society in which there is unity in diversity. Guyanese of all races and religious orientation celebrate Christmas. The same is true of other religious festivities.

There is a much higher level of political and religious tolerance. Our society is evolving to a higher level of multiculturalism. We are not a perfect society. No such society exists and we have to continue the search for higher levels of inclusivity and participatory democracy. We have reason to be thankful. I wish to take this opportunity to wish all Guyanese a prosperous and productive New Year!

Sincerely Hydar Ally

DITOR

from President Irfaan Ali. It is that there will ‘faster land title delivery’, as according to his vow, there will be “… the acceleration of the regularization of land and distribution of titles across Guyana, noting that the relevant agencies are in the process of completing longawaited ownership documents for several communities across the country.”

Quickly let me point out, and from experience too, that being without a ‘valid’ land title can cause and has caused significant financial and emotional distress (all because of the inability to prove ‘legal ownership, secure financing, or sell the property).

Thus, a property title is a fundamental right to a personal home, and its absence really creates substantial uncertainty and risk. Editor, in recent months I was plunged into great duress, and all because of the extra-dilatory ‘I do not know what and why’ of this ‘living hell.’

I was told by the lawyer, that the document is awaiting ‘only’ the signature of the court official, whether it’s a judge or magistrate, I really do not know.

But gosh, for over nine months! I know of quite a few such cases, and the repercussions are quite terrible (of this delay).

as a “cloud on title” (an issue with the ownership records) can halt any sale or transfer of the property. In my case, I just could not secure a loan/mortgage, and of course, I am in limbo still. As w e k n o w, f i n a n c i a l institutions require ‘verified’ title documents as collateral, so without them nothing, and I am just in perpetual torture.

Why? Aw a i t i n g J u d g e ’ s signature! Like if that is the only thing left, then make it mandatory for the document to be signed and handed over within say a one-month time frame.

There must be a way to stop this stymieing of a person’s life and well-being.

If the president so accommodates me, I can furnish him with all the details, as I need to get on with my life.

As was pointed out, the hard work was done.

Something unprecedented is happening in Guyana and pure ‘silliness’ is suffusing the ‘good ting.’

Like President Ali, I too praise the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for the “aggressive, hard work” to deliver land titles nationwide.”

And this must not be stigmatized because of a thing like a signature.

Looking at the general land

for decades, are still in want of ownership documents, with some residents facing nearly forty years of uncertainty over their titles.”

Unacceptable I say!

Yes, I have also learned “… delays had been caused by a mix of administrative and legal issues, as well as disputes over ownership, boundary lines and fences etc., and yes, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government is now focused on resolving these challenges so families can secure their ownership” but special measures are needed to ‘hurry-up’ the process. So, I hope that the President will personally do a follow up in a few weeks to see if what he requested is being acted on.

Editor, this is the harsh reality.

It is that ‘home ownership’ in North America, the haven for so many, nigh impossible.

This issue is widely discussed and a growing sentiment, especially among younger generations, is that of the ‘affordability’ crisis.

While not universally impossible for everyone, recent data indicates that it is increasingly out of reach for a significant portion of the population.

But in Guyana, we have beaten this, so no red-tape should stand in the way.

Yours truly HB. Singh.

Workers of Guyana have more...

From page 05 engagement, and relentless advocacy. If democracy is to endure, citizens must remain present, vocal, and organised long after the campaign slogans fade. Power must be exercised continuously, deliberately, and

collectively — not handed over and forgotten. Anything less risks undoing a century of struggle and reducing the people’s hard-won rights to empty words on paper.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Reestablishing a Bank in Charity: A Case...

From page 05 development.

As Guyana charts its future, communities like Charity should not be left behind. It is time for financial institutions, policymakers, and community leaders to re-examine the

case for banking services on the Essequibo Coast and explore innovative ways to bring them back.

Your Sincerely Medino Abraham MSc Innovative Rural Banking Advocate

NCD Commission urges the MOH...

From page 04 made significant progress in vaccination for girls aged 9 to 15 years.

The goal is for 90% girls aged 9 to 15 to be vaccinated by 2030. From all indication, Guyana now has exceeded 50% and should, therefore achieve 90% by 2030. While the Commission urges acceleration of the rate, the Commission is encouraged

by the recent progress made in this regard.

Cervical cancer is preventable. We can stop cervical cancer. But we must w o r k t o g e t h e r. E v e r y Guyanese child in school and every Guyanese adult must know that HPV is a cause of cervical cancer, must know his or her HPV status and every Guyanese woman must ensure they are

tested for cervical cancer before age 35 and again by age 45. Let us work together with our local and global partners to ensure that Guyana becomes one of the earliest developing counties that have stopped cervical cancer.

Sincerely Dr. Leslie Ramsammy Chair, NCD Commission

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Court throws out Mohameds’ bid to stay extradition proceedings A

cting Chief Justice Navindra S i n g h o n Monday denied a request made by attorneys for U.S indicted businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed for a stay of the extradition proceedings at the magistracy level until the constitutional issues raised by the defence are fully heard in the High Court.

As a result, the extradition case is scheduled to commence on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In December, the father and son duo had asked the court to stall the extradition case in the magistrate’s court until the constitutional matter regarding the 2009 amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Act is heard in full, to which Justice Singh was expected to make a ruling. During the ruling on Monday, which took place at approximately 11:00 hrs, the Mohameds were present

The Mohameds’ lead defence lawyer Roysdale Forde along with their attorneys, Roysdale Forde, SC, Siand Dhurjon, and Damien Da Silva. The State was represented by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, as well as other attorneys in the AG Chambers.

In his ruling, Justice Singh emphasised that he would not grant any relief that could delay the extradition proceedings. In his written decision, the Chief Justice stated: “While the applicants are entitled to pursue their constitutional

challenge, they have not met the high threshold required for the interim relief sought.

The constitutional motion/s can proceed concurrently with the extradition process without the risk of injustice.

Constitutional litigation must serve as a shield for fundamental rights, not as a sword to paralyse lawful statutory processes absent compelling necessity. In the circumstances the application for a stay of the extradition committal proceedings filed on

December 22nd 2025 is refused.”

Justice Singh’s ruling clears the way for the extradition proceedings to continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on T u e s d a y, J a n u a r y 6 .

However, the substantive constitutional application is scheduled to be heard on January 14, 2026, which would not hinder the extradition process.

In explaining his decision, Justice Singh addressed whether the constitutional challenge raised serious and arguable issues. He noted that the essence of the applicants’ constitutional challenges in the substantive High Court action is twofold. First, the applicants argue that the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act 2009 unconstitutionally authorises the Minister to bypass the judiciary and established court processes in extraditing individuals.

Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. narco...

From page 2 litigation over what he called his client’s “military abduction.” He said Maduro was not requesting his release but may later.

Flores’s lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she sustained significant injuries including severe bruising on her ribs and asked that she be provided X-rays and a physical evaluation.

Federal prosecutors in New York first indicted Maduro in 2020 as part of a long-running narcotics trafficking case against current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. An updated indictment made public on Saturday added some new details and codefendants, including Cilia Flores. The U.S. has considered Maduro an illegitimate dictator since he declared victory in a 2018 election marred by allegations of massive irregularities.

Experts in international law have questioned the legality of the raid, with some condemning Trump’s actions as a repudiation of a rules-based international order.

TRUMP ASSERTS OIL ASPIRATIONS In Caracas, senior officials from Maduro’s 13year-old government remain in charge of the South

American oil producer of 30 million people, first spitting defiance then pivoting to possible cooperation with the Trump administration.

American oil companies will return to Venezuela and r e b u i l d t h e s e c t o r ’s infrastructure, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. “We’re taking back what they stole,” Trump said. “We’re in charge.”

H o w e v e r, f o u r o i l industry executives said the Trump administration did not consult major U.S. companies Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), ConocoPhillips (COP.N) or Chevron Corp (CVX.N), before or after U.S. forces seized Maduro.

U.S. oil executives were expected to meet Trump administration officials on the Venezuela plan, an oil industry source said.

Venezuela has the world’s largest reserves - about 303 billion barrels - but the sector has long been in d e c l i n e f r o m mismanagement, underinvestment and U.S. sanctions, averaging 1.1 million bpd output last year, a third of its 1970s heyday.

ACTING VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT URGES COOPERATION After first denouncing Maduro’s capture as a colonial oil-grab and “kidnapping,” Venezuela’s

acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, softened her stance on Sunday, saying it was a priority to have respectful relations with Washington. “We invite the U.S. government to work together on an agenda of cooperation,” Rodriguez said. “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”

Trump has threatened another strike if Venezuela does not cooperate with opening its oil industry and stopping drugs. Trump also threatened Colombia and Mexico on Sunday and said C u b a ’s c o m m u n i s t government “looks like it’s ready to fall”.

Just how the U.S. would work with a post-Maduro government, full of sworn ideological enemies, is unclear. Trump appears to have sidelined for now the Venezuelan opposition, where many anti-Maduro activists had assumed this would be their moment.

Rodriguez, daughter of a leftist guerrilla who has been praised as a “tigress” by Maduro, is also known as a pragmatist with good connections in the private sector and a belief in economic orthodoxy.

CONSTERNATION GLOBALLY, POLITICAL STORM DOMESTICALLY

Washington’s allies, most of whom did not recognise Maduro as president due to voterigging allegations, have been more muted, stressing the need for dialogue and adherence to law. Trump’s raid has created a political storm in the U.S., with opposition Democrats saying they were misled.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to brief top lawmakers later on Monday.

One in three Americans approve of the strike on Venezuela that toppled the country’s president and 72% worry the U.S. will become too involved in the South A m e r i c a n c o u n t r y, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.

While a handful of conservative figures have criticized the Venezuela operation as a betrayal of Trump’s “America First” pledge to avoid foreign entanglements, most supporters have largely praised it as a swift, painless win.

I n s i d e Ve n e z u e l a , Maduro opponents have kept celebrations on hold as his allies remain in power and there is no sign of the military turning against them, even though many suspect some insiders h e l p e d i n S a t u r d a y ’s operation.

Father and Son Nazir (left) and Azruddin Mohamed at the high court.

Second, they contend that the Act impermissibly attempts to cure an omission in the 1931 Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain, in breach of their constitutional rights. Justice Singh explained that this omission is a statutory prerequisite under the Fugitive Offenders Act for the extradition of a person from Guyana. “Since that omission is a statutory prerequisite, in accordance with the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, to the extradition of a person from Guyana,” he said.

The Chief Justice further held that, in order to secure a stay of the committal proceedings, the Applicants were required to demonstrate that their constitutional challenge raised serious issues to be tried. On the defence’s reliance on Article 7 of the 1931 Extradition Treaty, Justice Singh stated that the court was not persuaded that the Treaty does not, by implication, provide assurances against further extradition by the requesting state, the United States of America.

Additionally, during the proceedings, the defence also submitted an application challenging the state of its capabilities of pursuing an extradition proceedings, stating that that the state was biased against the Mohameds, thereby depriving them of a fair trial.

Speaking with reporters, Attorney General Anil Nandlall explained the defence’s strategy, noting that courts have consistently rejected applications aimed at staying, stopping, or delaying extradition committal hearings. “The courts have universally, universally and uniformly, have rejected any type of

intervention that seeks to stay, stop or delay the committal hearing from taking place,” he said.

Nandlall SC has also explained the application made by the defence. “The court has signalled an intent so on the 14th of this month to hear the substantive matter, because this was an interlocutory application in a substantive matter. And the Mohamed’s have filed another challenge this time to the entire government being able to extradite, and they are saying that, because they are political rivals, the government is biased against them in this regard, that application also will be heard on the 14th,”Nandlall explained.

Meanwhile, defence attorney Roysdale Forde expressed disappointment with the ruling and confirmed that the defence intends to appeal Justice Singh’s decision to the Full Court. “We are disappointed.

We respectfully disagree with the decision, and we will be filing before the court to seek a stay of the proceedings at the level of the Full Court,” Forde said.

Explaining the decision to approach the Full Court, Forde noted that the process is likely to be lengthy, describing the matter as one involving complex and longstanding legal issues with conflicting precedents.

“I want the public to understand that this case raises thorny issues, many years of conflicting decisions. This would be a long, arduous process. It cannot result in any sort of even if stay was granted,” he said.

When asked about the implications for the extradition proceedings scheduled for Tuesday, Forde stated that several Continued on page 9

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

PAGE 09

The PPPC is at its nastiest ever T

he PPPC has always possessed a talent for meanness. It is a party that learned early that power, once acquired, must be defended not by persuasion but by pressure; not by confidence but by cruelty.

Over the years, it refined this instinct into a habit.

Political opponents were not to be debated, merely broken. Careers were to be smeared, lives made uncomfortable, reputations nibbled to death by

insinuation. This was the partys grammar of rule. Yet even within that sordid tradition, what we are now witnessing marks a new low.

The PPPC is at its nastiest ever.

There is now the unsettling sense that the PPPC is no longer content merely to dominate its rivals, but is determined to outdo Burnham himself in the art of political persecution.

Burnham felt threatened and lashed out. But the PPPC is driven by raw spite and the

urge to punish its rivals and has turned political harassement into policy and vindictiveness into a governing principle.

The PPPC has walked this past before, though never quite so grotesquely staged. Paul Tennessee of the Democratic Labour Movement was hounded with an intensity and attacked in PPPC strongholds. C. N. Sharma was pursued with a zeal that suggested a vendetta. These episodes were ugly, but they

DEM BOYS SEH

Trump and de Latin lesson he skip D

em boys seh dem nearly drop dem pepperpot spoon when dem hear Donald Trump talking like if Latin America is one big condominium and he is de landlord.

According to Trump, Venezuela is something he could just administer, like how you administer cough syrup to a stubborn child. Dem boys seh is either Trump joking, or he really believe de world still living in 1890.

Trump talk as if Latin America is some lost territory waiting on a new boss. He behave like if Bolívar and San Martín was two fellas who only pass through history to make room for Trump Tower Caracas. Dem boys seh is clear de man never read a line about Latin America, not even de comicbook version.

Latin America is one place where de word “imperialism” does cause spontaneous combustion. Dem boys seh people there allergic to foreign control.

Dem fight wars, stage revolutions, overthrow dictators, and write whole libraries about anti-colonialism. From Mexico to Argentina, dem countries pride demself on independence. Trump talking

about “administering” Venezuela is like telling a jaguar you going to manage he diet.

Dem boys seh even de people who cant agree on nothing else in Latin America agree on one thing: nobody coming from outside to run dem country. Not Spain. Not America. Not Trump with red tie and big ideas. Anti-imperialism is not a slogan down there; is a tradition, like Sunday lunch or arguing about football.

Trump seems to think de Venezuelans would line up, salute, and say, “Thank you, Donald, for saving us.” Dem boys seh if he try that, he would get lesson one in Latin American politics: resistance. And lesson two: revolt. Latin Americans dont wukk so.

De idea of being colonized by Trump would unite left, right, centre, and people who dont vote at all.

Dem boys seh Trump might understand real estate, ratings, and reality TV, but Latin America is not a board game. You cant just pick up Venezuela and move it into your portfolio. If Trump really think he could “administer” Venezuela, then de only thing he administering is proof that he dont understand Latin America at all.

Talk half. Leff half.

Court throws out Mohameds’ bid...

From page 8 issues would be raised before the Magistrates’ Court.

“There are a number of d i ff e r e n t p r o c e e d i n g s , challenging matters.

While the magistrate have ruled that our submission are vexatious, the magistrate is therefore would have taken a position that the legislation would be challenging this constitution.

We have a problem with that. My clients will be at risk of being in prison on legislation that will ultimately be determined by a superior court on the constitution, “he said.

Forde noted that the defence will continue to

fight for justice for their clients. “We will continue to press in the interest of our clients to ensure that they have a fair hearing from the length and breadth of the process,” he said.

The Mohameds have been indicted in a U.S. federal court in Miami, Florida on several charges.

The 25-page indictment, unsealed on October 2, 2025, accuses the Mohameds of orchestrating an elaborate fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana.

Earlier last month Magistrate Judy Latchman

delivered a decisive ruling that the extradition proceedings against businessman Nazir Mohamed and his son, Azruddin, will go on. She dismissed the defence’s attempt to halt the case by sending multiple constitutional questions to the High Court, ruling that the issues had already been settled by Guyana’s superior courts.

Magistrate Latchman emphasised that the core issues raised by the defence regarding the 2009 amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Act had already been considered by higher courts and did not require further review.

still pretended to operate within a recognizable framework: the selective use of institutions, the strategic leaking of accusations, the slow grinding down of an adversary until exhaustion replaced resistance. The present campaign against the Mohammed family abandons even that pretence.

What distinguishes this moment is not merely the target but the method. The PPPC has moved beyond political harassment into something darker and more reckless. Thugs have been unleashed to disrupt WIN party gatherings, as if intimidation were now an accepted form of public engagement. State agencies, which exist to serve the law and the public, are accused of being weaponized, bent from their purpose and repurposed as instruments of partisan punishment. This is no longer politics; it is the conversion of the state into a cudgel.

But even this did not prepare the country for the latest descent. No one expected the ruling party to reach the point where it appears to encourage people to invade and squat on lands privately owned by the Mohameds. This is not simply vindictiveness; it is nihilism. It is an invitation to disorder. When earthmoving equipment can be brought onto private property with apparent political blessing, the signal is unmistakable: ownership is provisional, law is optional, and power decides

everything.

This is the moment when the quarrel ceases to be about one family or one party. The orchestrated encouragement of illegal occupation of private lands should alarm every Guyanese who owns so much as a house lot. Land is the most basic assurance of stability in a fragile society. Undermine it, and everything else follows. The PPPC seems either oblivious to this truth or arrogant enough to believe that chaos can be carefully contained, that lawlessness will obediently limit itself to approved enemies.

History offers a brutal corrective. Zimbabwe did not collapse overnight. It slid. It began with political grudges, clothed in the language of redress. It proceeded to land seizures, tolerated and then celebrated by those in power. What followed were rapes, murders, dislocation, and the hollowing out of an economy that never recovered. Thousands fled.

Those who remained inherited a country stripped of confidence and capital.

Guyana should shudder at the comparison, yet the spectre is unmistakable.

I m a g i n e t h e consequences if this logic spreads. If today it is Mohammed land, tomorrow it could be anyones. Once the principle is established that political favour determines property rights, there is no natural stopping point.

Squatters will not consult party lists. Opportunism

does not respect ideology.

Eventually, even lands owned by those connected to the PPPC will be fair game.

At that stage, the party will discover what every reckless regime eventually learns: anarchy is a fire that consumes its arsonists last, but it consumes them all.

There are already whispers of another dangerous turn: allegations that officials seeking to uphold the law are being transferred or sidelined. If true, this would confirm that the rot has reached the marrow. A state that punishes legality and rewards lawlessness is not governing; it is decaying in real time.

The PPPC should pause, if it still can. Vindictiveness masquerading as strength is a fatal error. A party that believes it can terrorize its opponents into submission eventually finds that it has also terrorized the future.

Guyana deserves better than this diabolical course. If the country slides into land seizures, disorder, and flight, the verdict of history will be unambiguous. It will not be kind, and it will not forget.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10 S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

L

LAL

Tuesday 2026 MondayJanuary May 02,06, 2022

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

White Christmas Miracle of miracles.

Guyanese celebrated a White Christmas. It was so bitterly cold that the whites of Guyanese eyes could be seen. Bulging from behind their eyelids.

Glazed and driven crazy by the artic freeze that dumped tons upon tons of the white stuff on the heads of Guyanese. There was so much snow on the streets of Guyana that everything snarled to a halt. Not from traffic, but from the numbness in the mind, and weakness of feet to get to the markets and supermarkets.

Fingers bent like claws, seeking to clutch at some

whiff of the long-promised warm front that was expected, but not coming.

Not a sighting, leading to more sighing.

Icicles formed on the nose, the breath became labored, carbon dioxide exhalations turning into ice blocks in midair.

Trust me when I say that it was a White Christmas in Guyana, where the only places safe from the onslaught of the tropical blizzard were those oil rigs of Exxon 120 miles from shore. And the cabals having a great time at State Houses.

White Christmas for Guyanese started with that

blizzard of words from Excellency Ali. A w o n d e r f u l weatherman he is. Expect a blanket of snow, a thick, suffocating one; what leads to holiday blues, and layers of sulkiness. For all those dejected Guyanese thinking about Ebenezer Scrooge and making presidential comparison and connection, I have one word.

FUHGEDDABOUTIT! A regular frosty the snowman, the skinflint skipper has become these days.

Instead of let it shine, let it shine, there was the deep darkness, compliments of the Super Snowman, Dr. Irfaan Ali: no Xmas cash grant. Christmas will be in a January, which is another component of Guyanese being on the receiving end of yet another snow job from Dr. Snowman. I haven’t encountered a budget process that’s finalized by the end of January. Has any Guyanese? Mr. Santa Claus (the second), Dr. Ashni K.

Singh usually needs all of January, and that is only to read his prescriptions and milligrams that leave Guyanese cold. Whoever is not stoned cold, is driven into a comatose state, just from having the pleasure of listening to him. Before he is halfway through his mindbending array of figures, Guyanese can already feel the chill fingers of financial death (again) putting a vise around their necks.

One snow job after another, with probably new billions set aside to build snow roads to accommodate the tastes of expatriates and give them a sense of home.

If anyone said Exxon, remember that I wasn’t the one who did.

When there was silence in September, obfuscation in October, I said to myself: wait for it and watch for it: a cold front is approaching, with draglines of snow in the forecast. November brought nothing, no news at all, other than the Big People

prioritizing free and fair, and trying all kinds of tricks to register the button marked ‘credible.’

The private sector and the PPP are so close that the former bit the bullet, said that September was credible.

The private sector can’t move the minimum wage from where it has been stuck for three donkey years, but it is now an expert (a mover and shaker) about what is credible. What is that, if not part of the whitewashing of what went on, another snow job? If the white of snow was cocaine, Guyana would be like Atlantis, buried deeper than the Pacific Ocean, with Guyanese deader than the Dead Sea. I am someone who prefers the cold to blistering heat. So, I am with Pres. Ali. Not necessarily for him, but with him, and his ice-cold presentation. Neither Bram Stoker (Dracula) nor Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) frightens me as much as the local guy. Guyanese

trusted the PPP, put the fate of their children in the hands of the party that said it would take care of them for the next five, then twenty-five years.

Take care of the children it did, through entombing them in an avalanche of the snowy stuff. The adults that had some sort of difficulty were not spared.

For those Guyanese who have always been dreaming of a White Christmas, they just had one. Now they are trapped, struggling to extricate themselves from the deep snowdrifts produced and directed by Drs. Ali, Ashni, and Barry.

It’s going to be a long 2026.

From Streets of Laredo to streets of rock-hard ice. Try navigating that skating rink.

Barefoot and penniless.

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

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

PAGE 11

Opposition parties demand Ministers Rodrigues, Mustapha resign over corruption allegation Opposition parties, We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are calling for Minister of To u r i s m , I n d u s t r y a n d Commerce, Susan Rodrigues to tender her resignation with immediate effect, over allegations of corruption.

The former housing minister is accused of owning multiple properties, both locally and abroad.

While she admitted to owning properties in Guyana through legal means, the minister has not addressed the fresh accusation made by W I N L e a d e r, A z r u d d i n Mohamed, which alleges that she is the owner of a shell company registered in the United States, along with a $116 million house in Florida. In a statement on Monday, WIN referenced the series of expository stories which it said exposes corruption by the minister.

The party noted, “Minister Susan Rodrigues, in just a few years of public office, has reportedly acquired multiple U.S.based properties through shell companies. At home, she has received several parcels of prime state land being developed and ready for construction, while ordinary Guyanese wait years for a single lot. She has also made purchases of lands from private individuals.”

WIN pointed out that Guyanese have a right to demand answers about how public officials, entrusted with national resources, can amass wealth and property on a scale that far exceeds their official incomes.

More troubling however, for the opposition party is the deafening silence from the P P P ’s t o p b r a s s . I t questioned how a government that claims to champion transparency and

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha accountability can remain quiet while detailed reports of ill-gotten wealth by a cabinet member circulate publicly. WIN pointed out, “President Ali has repeatedly said they will hold corrupt officials accountable. How is it that laws designed to prevent money laundering, including the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, appear ineffective when senior officials can splurge on luxury properties, cars, and land without consequence?

When corruption was exposed on Sherwin Greaves, former CEO at the Ministry of Housing, he was forced to resign.” The party therefore questioned whether ministers are allowed protection which affords them the privilege of maintaining office.

To this end, WIN made it clear, “Public office is a public trust, not a personal bank. Ministers who have lost the moral authority to serve must step aside.

Guyanese deserve leadership that is accountable, transparent, and beyond reproach.

Silence or inaction in the face of these allegations only entrenches corruption and deepens public mistrust.”

It therefore called on Minister Rodrigues to resign

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues immediately to allow for full, independent investigations.

Should the minister fail to resign, WIN stated that the responsibility falls squarely on President Irfaan Ali to remove her from office to restore public confidence, and demonstrate that no one is above the law.

In a separate statement, APNU also called for Rodrigues to tender her resignation immediately to allow for an unfettered, impartial, and credible investigation. The party noted that the accusations leveled against the former housing minister raise serious and troubling questions that can no longer be ignored.

It pointed out that in January 2025, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir imposed restrictions on the use of the term “corruption” and related expressions within parliamentary proceedings.

Words and phrases such as “corruption,” “dishonest dealings,” “loot,” and “runnings” were barred from use. “These developments speak volumes about the impact of APNU’s campaign and the discomfort it has caused within the corridors of power,” APNU argued.

Venezuelan interim leader tones down...

From page 3 possession of machineguns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices”.

The commission will be cochaired by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and her brother Jorge, who is president of Venezuela’s National Assembly. Maduro may face a similar future as Panamanian President Manuel Noriega, who was taken

by US forces in 1990 after hiding out in his country’s Vatican embassy in the aftermath of the US invasion of Panama.

Noriega, formerly a staunch US ally, also faced similar charges of “racketeering, drug smuggling, and money laundering” and was

sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment. His sentence was commuted to 17 years for good behaviour, but he was later extradited to France on separate charges, then back to Panama, where he served out more prison time until he died in 2017.

Trump administration officials have portrayed the seizure as a law enforcement action to hold Maduro accountable for criminal charges filed in 2020 that accuse him of narco-terrorism conspiracy. But Trump has said other factors were at play, saying the raid was prompted in part by an influx of Venezuelan immigrants to the US and the country’s decision to nationalise US oil interests decades ago.

It went on to highlight that Rodrigues told the National Assembly that she

came from humble beginnings and that her family was part of the working class. “Against that backdrop, the revelation that, after just five years as a government minister, she has reportedly accumulated significant wealth and valuable assets here at home and abroad is deeply concerning and demands a full, independent investigation,” the party stated.

Moreover, it reasoned that what is currently in the public space regarding the speed and scale of this wealth accumulation is nothing short of “frightening.”

It noted that the volume, detail, and apparent documentary nature of the evidence being discussed have shaken public confidence and in the absence of a transparent and credible investigation, Guyanese are left with no choice but to draw conclusions.

APNU believes that the matter is not about political rivalry or personal attacks, but is rooted in integrity in public office, accountability, and the obligation of those entrusted with power to demonstrate that their wealth was lawfully acquired. In fact, the party reminded that Continued on page 16

$74M fence planned for $62M Charity Police Station

Newly reconstructed Charity Police Station The Ministry of Home Affairs will spend an additional $74 million to fence the recently reconstructed $62 million Charity Police Station in Region Two. This is according to a recent bid opening for the project by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

According to the information provided, some 36 contractors bid to execute the works.

They include Triple P Construction & General Supplies - $65,083,140; K&J Persaud Contracting Service - $64,573,140; A&R Naraine Contracting Services $65,102,112; Javir’s Construction and Supplies General - $46,763,175; Sovereignty Investments Construction Service $76,311,912; STP Investments Incorporated $73,557,300; A.G Enterprise - $53,000,000; Top Tier Builders ; D.D.A Enterprise $43,422,060; R&R General Construction and Supplies - $94,020,540; Alpha and Omega Engineering - $74,657,574; Wesley Haynes $46,084,620; Mohamed Rafi Yusoof Construction - $106,080,612; D. Chowkai & Sons Construction - $121,159,680; P&N International - $49,063,530; Ceraturium $47,560,050; Technocon Investments Procurement and General Contracting Solutions - $51,925,548; VG’s Construction Services - $ 52,062,840; Metal and Fabrication Ink$ 80,000,000; Global Builders Engineering Incorporated - $ 105,112,020; Andrect Engineering & Construction - $ 87,468,264; Steff Construction - $ 60,913,227; and Green

Plains Enterprise - $ 61,674,096.

Further, Seenaraine’s Construction & Landscaping Services - $ 40,978,602; IMS Construction and Logistics Services - $ 73,557,810; Ciachecal P3 Farms - $ 6 9 , 3 7 5 , 8 1 0 ; A m a y a ’s Tr a d i n g - $ 123,178,170; Kawal Ramdeen General Construction & Office Furnishing - $ 72,571,980; Trevor & Son General Construction Services - $ 45,972,930; L. Pool Civil Works - $ 71,629,500; Dundas Construction Inc. - $ 42,080,202; Holistic Contracting & Procurement Inc. - $ 124,451,730; united Builders Engineering and General Supplies - $ 72,020,160; Vijay Persaud & Sons Contracting Services - $ 71,381,844; K and J Persaud Contracting Service - $ 27,145,250; and Ican Engineering & Construction - $ 73,740,900, all submitted bids.

Notably, the project is estimated to cost $74,385,030.

In July 2025, former Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn commissioned the reconstructed Charity Police Station.

The building cost $62.7 million and now features upgraded male, female, and juvenile lockups; a witness and ID parade room; marine and immigration offices; CID and traffic departments; and accommodation for officers.

The station also includes a child-friendly area and a unit dedicated to responding to domestic violence, making it one of the most modern and responsive stations in the region.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Mohamed demands probe into Minister Rodrigues’ rapid wealth

Tuesday January 06, 2026

The house reportedly purchased by Minister Rodrigues in Florida, USA

- cites US property purchase Leader of the We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed is urging President Irfaan Ali to conduct a full-fledged independent investigation of Tourism Minister, Susan Rodrigues regarding the wealth she amassed since being a minister, which he said was used to finance the purchase of properties locally and abroad.

Previously claiming to sprout from “humble beginnings” the minister recently changed her narrative, insisting that she “comes from money” after she was called out by the presumptive Leader of the Opposition for owning several properties, including a mansion under construction and an apartment complex, all on prime lands on the East Bank of Demerara. Mohamed has raised serious questions regarding her ability to acquire such properties on a mere minister’s salary of around $1.2M monthly.

While the former Housing Minister has not denied ownership of several properties, she noted that she holds shares in a number of companies, locally and internationally, all of which have been declared to the integrity commission.

Since his disclosure last week, Mohamed made another revelation on Sunday evening; this time involving a property which

WIN Leader, Azruddin Mohamed he alleged is owned by the same minister in the United States, valued at $116M or US$540,000. The property he said is located at 8601 NW 46th Court, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33351, which was purchased on March 11, 2024. Mohamed stated that this was just one of several properties based under an American shell company.

The shell company, Revelle Investments LLC, was created on January 16, 2024 according to records filed with the Florida Department of State, Mohamed said.

“The listed mailing address for Revelle Investments LLC is 3550 SW 124th Avenue, Miramar, Florida believed to be one of S u s a n ’s o t h e r U . S . properties,” the WIN leader said. According to him, the annual report for the company shows that

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues Rodrigues signed off on records for the purpose of fee collection and compliance.

This, he noted, therefore creates an inescapable link to the minister, which holds her directly accountable for the declarations made to U.S. authorities. The property reportedly includes three bedrooms, two selfcontained bathrooms, an electronic garage and balcony, central air, vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets, French doors, and highimpact hurricane-resistant windows, consistent with a prime investment property.

He said “A full purchase of this magnitude demands scrutiny on the source, movement, and legitimacy of the funds used by a public official.” Mohamed demanded that Guyanese be given answers on whether liquid cash was collected in the United States to make the purchase, where the funds originated, which local bank facilitated the transfer and why such a large transaction was not flagged or reported to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Further, he questioned whether local banks were instructed to ignore standard anti-money-laundering protocols and if the funds were routed through any third parties?

The leader also enquired, “If the money did not originate from Guyana, then what was its source? Now that the minister has extended her transactions to the United States, the presumptive Opposition

Documents linking Minister Susan Rodrigues to the purchase and ownership of a home in the U.S through a company she created, Revelle Investments LLC

Leader noted that law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the (FBI), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should investigate the unexplained wealth.

The Opposition MP reasoned, “Imagine if a

junior Minister like Susan Rodrigues can acquire such wealth…much less a senior Minister. The Guyanese people are watching and they are demanding answers...I would also urge the Integrity Commission to publish all submissions over the years.

This will show if you’re really serious about fighting Continued on page 15

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Bamia Primary School finally opens - ministry says works completed, liability period still ongoing

The Bamia Primary School in Region 10 which is now officially completed and opened after its contract was signed in November 2021.

After four years under construction, the Bamia Primary School in Region 10 is officially completed and opened for learners.

This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development which stated that January 5, 2026 marked the official completion and opening of the school; a long-anticipated regional education project.

“The opening of the school reflects the government’s continued commitment to strengthening regional infrastructure and improving access to essential services at the community level,” the ministry reported, adding that the liability period is still ongoing.

According to the local government ministry, the school is a modern, purpose-built facility designed to provide a safe, inclusive, and conducive learning environment for children in Bamia and surrounding communities. The school includes spacious classrooms, administrative offices, sanitary facilities, and supporting infrastructure aimed at enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.

Minister Priya Manickchand expressed happiness over the completion of the school. “It was a major and consistent effort that had to be employed to get this school finished.”

She said, “everytime stakeholders fail to realise the government’s vision for universal access to education, it is our children and teachers who suffer and that is the opposite of what the government intends and desires.”

Continued on page 16

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday January 06, 2026

The new $800 million airstrip in Paramakatoi Village.

$800M Paramakatoi Airstrip commissioned P

resident Irfaan Ali on Monday joined residents of Paramakatoi Village and neighbouring communities in R e g i o n E i g h t t o o ff i c i a l l y commission the newly upgraded $800 million airstrip.

The airstrip which measures some 2,500 feet long and 50 feet wide, was upgraded to rigid pavement concrete by International Import & Supplies, who was awarded the contract back in 2024.

Addressing the commissioning ceremony, President Ali stated that the reconstructed and expanded airstrip is a bridge from isolation to opportunity. “A bridge from quiet potential to real progress, this airstrip will set the people of Paramakatoi and the people of Region Eight on a new trajectory,” he said.

Noting the importance of reliable air connectivity for Paramakatoi, the president said it means that more planes could land more often, families could stay connected, medical evacuations are “no longer a gamble with destiny” and fresh goods, construction material, and learning supplies could be taken in and out of the community.

The head of state noted that the new airstrip will open more ecotourism opportunities for the community. “The world is changing; more and more travelers seek experiences and immerse them in nature without destroying it. They want authentic cultural encounters. They want trails, less travel, wildlife unseen, streams untouched and biodiversity never before seen. They want sustainability, not exploitation and Paramaktoi has all of that and more,” he declared.

He continued, “But to turn this potential into real economic benefit for our people, we must first overcome the logistical barriers that have held us back. So, what does this new airstrip mean from the economic potential of this area.

It means larger aircraft can bring more visitors, more regularly. You can land at any time. It means store operators can plan year-round itineraries. It means local

President Irfaan Ali (white shirt centre) joined by Cabinet members and residents of Paramaktoi Village in commissioning their new airstrip on Monday.

entrepreneurs can build eco lodges, craft markets, cultural centers, all anchored in a dependable transportation link. It means jobs, it means income. It means prosperity rooted in the preservation of nature, not its depletion.”

The president added that the upgraded airstrip makes possible greater inclusion and improved goods and services and better cost.

He disclosed that with improved air access, the airstrip therefore ensures that the people of Paramakatoi are no longer punished by geography, but empowered by connectivity.

Emphasising on the cost spent to build and maintain an airstrip in such a remote place, he stated that his government invested because “every community, no matter how

remote, deserve access to the lifeblood of connectivity and commerce. We invest because no community should be left behind in our national journey.”

He added that this airstrip is part of a broader vision that fits within a strategic plan to “transform Guyana’s hinterland into vibrant contributors to our national story, without sacrificing the very qualities that make the hinterland so unique.”

During his address, the president noted the hefty cost persons pay to travel to and from the community. He said air services would complain of the state of the airstrip.

Now with an improved runway, the president added, “Today you have a brand-new

airstrip. Let us see what you will now say. And we are giving them enough time, to adjust their cost because we will not just sit by, and not allow the benefit of these cost savings to be transferred to the people… and we will know which one of the services will announce the reduction of the cost to come to Paramakatoi.”

Speaking also, was Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar who noted that the airstrip has an economic life span of 20 years once properly maintained.

“A few months ago, if you could have fly with a plane here the laterite surface would have given you a not so smooth landing. In fact, a better word a rough landing, that is what we have been accustom to decades before, but now you have a

concrete surface airstrip,” he said in his remarks.

According to the minister, works are underway to upgrade aerodromes across regions in the country and in Region Eight alone, they plan to upgrade eight aerodrome in communities like, Mahdia, Monkey Mountain, Kato, Orinduik and Chenapou.

Addressing the gathering also were Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, and Sarah Browne, who noted that the new airstrip will bring great benefits, reduce cost of living, expand the tourism potential of the village and ensure speeder delivery of goods and services.

Minister Edghill noted that the runway now has the capability through the use of solar lights to guide flights in at nights.

Minister Browne noted that this investment which will directly improve the lives of over 1,324 residents of Paramakatoi Village, and by extension all the residents of sub district one Region Eight, represents connection opportunities, and that Amerindian people and their villages are not left behind simply because of geography or distance.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

PAGE 15

U.S. pushes oil majors to invest big in Venezuela if they want to recover debts HOUSTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - White House and State Department officials have told U.S. oil executives in recent weeks that they would need to return to Venezuela quickly and invest significant capital in the country to revive the damaged oil industry if they wanted compensation for assets expropriated by Venezuela two decades ago, according to two people familiar with the outreach.

In the 2000s, Venezuela expropriated the assets of some international oil companies that declined to give state-run oil company P D V S A [RIC:RIC:PDVSA.UL] increased operational control, as demanded by late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. U.S. oil major Chevron was among companies that negotiated to stay in the country and form joint ventures with state-run PDVSA, while rivals Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American companies were prepared to return to Venezuela and spend to reactivate the struggling oil sector, just hours after President Nicolás Maduro was captured and removed

by U.S. forces. In the recent U.S. administration discussions with oil executives in the scenario

A mural depicting oil workers of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA is pictured near the company’s headquarters, in Caracas, Venezuela May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo that Maduro was out of power, officials have said that U.S. oil companies would need to front the investment money themselves to rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry.

That would be one of the preconditions for them eventually recovering debts from the expropriations.

That would be a costly investment for firms such as ConocoPhillips, the sources said. Conoco for years has tried to recover some $12 billion from the Chavez-era nationalization of its Venezuela assets. Exxon

Mobil also filed international arbitration cases, trying to recover $1.65 billion.

Trump began making public reference to the Venezuelan expropriations when he ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers last month.

CONDITIONS FOR A RETURN Whether or not the companies return would depend on how executives, boards and shareholders evaluate the risk of renewed investment in Venezuela, the sources said.

Mohamed demands probe into...

From page 12 corruption.”

In light of the allegations, Mohamed called on President Ali to investigate the wealth acquired by Rodrigues since she became a minister. He was keen to note that any probe should be conducted by independent investigators while the Rodrigues should be relieved of her duties, pending the outcome of the probe. Efforts by this newspaper to contact the minister on Monday were unsuccessful.

On December 31, 2025, Minister Rodrigues in a statement addressed the earlier allegations of land and properties purchased by her. She said, “I explicitly confirmed that I am the owner of the two parcels of land, situated at Peter’s Hall (East Bank Demerara) and that those lands were not the location of an apartment building, he claims I own. I clarified that I purchased those lands through private transactions, executed by agreements of sale.” She

reiterated that she never applied for, or received any land through the Ministry of Housing, the Central Housing and Planning Authority or any state agency.

Further, the minister noted that she submitted documents with her name, as a “law abiding citizen” for her construction activities. “At no time did I attempt to conceal any information or by pass any authority. I have been compliant with the laws of Guyana including submissions of all my assets to the Integrity Commission,” she stated. While it might have been easier for her to use an alias or conceal the truth, she said she chose to “do the right thing” because she can account for what she owns. The minister added that she has no interest in taking legal action against Azruddin Mohamed which may delay his extradition to the United States. As such, she made it clear, “This is the last I will have to say on this matter since I have more than adequately addressed these false allegations.”

“ConocoPhillips is monitoring developments in Venezuela and their potential

implications for global energy supply and stability.

It would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments,” a company spokesperson said in emailed comments to Reuters on Saturday.

The company reiterated the statement on Sunday when asked about discussions with administration officials for this story.

Exxon did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on Sunday.

Politico first reported on the recent discussions on Saturday. Even if companies do agree to return to the country, it could be years before there is a meaningful boost to oil output. The South American country has one of the largest estimated reserves in the world, but

production has plummeted over past decades amid mismanagement, lack of investment and U.S. sanctions.

Besides uncertainty surrounding the contract framework for any operations there, companies considering a return would also need to deal with security concerns, poor infrastructure, questions about the legality of the U.S. operation to capture Maduro and the possibility of longterm political instability, analysts have told Reuters.

Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC, produced as much as 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1970s, which at the time represented over 7% of global oil output.

Production fell below 2 million bpd during the 2010s and averaged around 1.1 million bpd last year, or just 1% of global production.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

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From page 3 conflicts and weakened societies. Sérgio França Danese (Brazil) said his country firmly rejects the armed intervention in Venezuela, calling it a blatant violation of the Charter of the UN and international law. Stressing that “South America is a zone of peace”, he warned that bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its President “cross an unacceptable line”. International norms, he said, allow no exceptions based on interests or ideology. Warning against spheres of influence, he linked weakened global governance to record conflicts, soaring humanitarian needs and military spending nearing $2.7 trillion.

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though Santiago does not recognize the Maduro regime, “the serious violations of human rights… do not have a military solution”. She said Venezuela’s crisis must be addressed through the “legitimate aspirations” of its people, expressed in free elections and citizen participation.

Recalling Chile’s own recovery of democracy with international support and organized citizens, she urged the Secretary-General and the Council to help de-escalate the situation.

Francisco Fabián Tropepi (Argentina) welcomed President Donald J. Trump’s “decisive action”, saying it could help end repression that has driven millions of Venezuelans into poverty and forced some 8 million to flee. Warning that drug trafficking from Venezuela has harmed the entire region, he said Buenos Aires has “unequivocally denounced the lack of freedom” there. Recalling Argentina’s asylum for opposition figures, he urged international support for a peaceful path to “restore institutional normalcy” and called for the release of an Argentine citizen detained since 2024. Sanita PavlutaDeslandes of Latvia said that Mr. Maduro’s regime “was rooted in mass repression, corruption and organized crime, including drug traffick-

ing, and posed a grave threat to the security of the region and the world”. The regime repeatedly violated the UN Charter and undermined international law, including through its open support for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.

She said that her country stands prepared to continue working with its partners to support a peaceful, democratic and just transition in Venezuela.

Eloy Alfaro de Alba Ambassador of Panama said that events in Venezuela are regrettable for their potential impact on regional peace but called for a constructive, forward-looking approach. Reaffirming his country's commitment to multilateralism, sovereignty and the UN Charter, he said Venezuela’s crisis stems from sustained democratic erosion and rejected recognition of what it called an illegitimate, authoritarian regime. He demanded the immediate release of political prisoners, highlighted the humanitarian and migratory fallout affecting the region, including Panama, and urged a peaceful, democratic transition reflecting the will expressed in Venezuela’s 2024 elections. Michael G. Waltz United States representatives told the Security Council that Washington,

D.C., carried out “a surgical law enforcement operation” to apprehend two indicted fugitives, naming “narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro and Celia Flores”. Stressing that “there is no war against Venezuela or its people”, he compared the action to the 1989 arrest of Manuel Noriega. He described Mr. Maduro as a fugitive and leader of a “vicious foreign terrorist organization”, alleging links to drug trafficking networks that use “illegal narcotics as a weapon”. Citing broader human rights concerns, he pointed to alleged extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary detentions, noting that more than 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country. China’s representative said his country was “deeply shocked by, and strongly condemns”, what he described as the United States’ “unilateral, illegal and bullying acts” against Venezuela. He accused the United States of “wantonly trampling upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests”, placing power above multilateralism and military action above diplomacy.

Warning of a grave threat to peace in Latin America and beyond, he urged the United States to heed the “overwhelming voice” of the international community and return to dialogue. Vassily A.

Nebenzia of the Russian Federation condemned the United States for what he called armed aggression against Venezuela in violation of international law, urging Washington, D.C., to immediately release the “legitimately elected President” and his spouse. He called on Council members to abandon double standards and not justify “such an egregious act of aggression” out of fear of the “American global gendarme”. Warning that the United States seeks control over Venezuela’s natural resources, he said its actions are generating “fresh momentum for neocolonialism and imperialism”.

Leonor Zalabata Torres (Colombia) strongly condemned the events of 3 January, stressing that the Charter of the UN permits the use of force only in exceptional circumstances, such as self-defence, and not to seize political control of another State. She warned that uncertainty caused by the “attacks” could trigger a large influx of migrants, requiring significant resources to support host communities.

As a preventive measure, she said Colombia has taken steps to maintain stability along the border and address potential humanitarian needs, including those of migrants.

Opposition parties demand Ministers Rodrigues,...

From page 11 public officials are required to meet a higher standard, particularly when their personal narratives and financial realities appear to be fundamentally at odds. As such, APNU urged, “Given the seriousness of the allegations and the damning nature of the evidence now in circulation, we call on Susan Rodrigues to

immediately resign from her ministerial post to allow for an unfettered, impartial, and credible investigation.”

Like WIN, the group noted that the president must remove Rodrigues from office, should she fail to step down, in keeping with his constitutional responsibility to protect the integrity of the executive and restore public

trust in governance. APNU pointed out that Guyanese deserve answers and silence, delay, or dismissal of these concerns only deepens suspicion and erodes confidence in democratic institutions. Meanwhile, WIN also called on the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha to resign over similar acts of corruption.

The party accused the minis-

ter and family of pocketing millions from public office.

It said, “These are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern that highlights systemic misuse of the office for personal gain. Whether through corrupt public office or through narcotrafficking, we call for a thorough investigation and the full penalty of the law following the resignations.”

Bamia Primary School finally opens...

From page 13 Further, the ministry noted that as a regional project, the completion of the primary school highlights the role of local government in identifying community needs, implementing development works, and ensuring that residents benefit directly from public investment. With the school now operational, students will benefit from improved learning conditions closer to home, while educators are supported by a modern and functional facility, the ministry explained.

“The completion and opening of Bamia Primary School demonstrate the practical outcomes of effective regional governance.

Through the local government framework, this project responds directly to community needs and ensures that public investment translates

into real, accessible services for families in Region Ten. We wish our pupils and teachers of this school and those who will be educated here all the very best,” the ministry expressed.

Kaieteur News reported that the $346 million contract for the school was awarded to St8tment Investment Inc. in November 2021 and was initially expected to be completed by July 2023. St8tment Investment Inc. was incorporated in March, 2021. Its principals are Rawle Ferguson and Kerwin Bollers of Hits and Jams Entertainment along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammed of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament. Since the signing of the contract, the project has since faced several challenges causing numerous missed deadlines. The

project experienced several delays due to a range of challenges, including labour shortages, increased material costs, and unfavourable weather conditions. The setbacks collectively impacted the original timeline and contributed to extensions; the contractor had claimed.

Minister Manickchand upon assuming her post, visited the project in September 2025 and had given the contractor up to October to complete all works. The school was still not completed by then. During an appearance on the GoMoseley Online Radio on December 1, 2025, Minister Manickchand informed that the project remains incomplete, with contractors still tasked with minor works before the facility can be handed over. “Contractors there have not finished what they are supposed to do. Up to yesterday, the ministry was

there, there are some very minor works left to be done,” she relayed. She said government will not accept an unfinished project. Having had several meetings with the contractor on what needed to be done, Minister Manickchand said she suspected that even before school closed, students could begin occupying the new school building. “But that would require them finishing the work. We are not taking a building that is not finished, but yes I am very disappointed by how long it took,” she mentioned.

This newspaper understands that the modern educational building includes 44 classrooms, a fully equipped gymnasium, an auditorium, a science laboratory, a music room, a library, smart classrooms, and modern restroom facilities.

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

GGMC shuts down 107 Brazilian gold operations

T

hree days after a 24-hour deadline for miners to up their declarations and get themselves aligned with G u y a n a ’s l a w s a n d requirements for the local mining sector was issued

by President Irfaan Ali, the Guyana Geology and M i nes Commission on Monday announced the suspension of mining operations of 107 Brazilians.

In a release, the commission said subject to the immediate suspension of all mining operations, Permissions to Operate, and any related authorizations.

“Such suspension takes effect immediately and shall remain in force pending the affected persons’ engagement with, and compliance to the satisfaction of, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission,” the oversight body relayed.

It said the notice was issued without prejudice to any further regulatory or enforcement action which the commission may

lawfully pursue.

Last Friday, President Ali had given foreign gold miners, particularly Brazilian nationals, who have had low to zero declarations, 24-hours to fully comply with local laws and the requirements surrounding gold declaration.

The head of state had earlier met with the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at state house, where instructions were given to immediately address non-compliance in the gold mining sector.

According to the president, all gold miners must fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.

He further directed that all registered dredges with no declarations will be deregistered. “All foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and

Over 100 Brazilian gold miners have had their mining licences suspended.

expulsion.

It was also noted that some Brazilian miners operating in Guyana have had very low or no declarations.

These miners have 24 hours to comply fully with the laws of Guyana and the requirement to declare to the Guyana Gold Board,” the post stated.

He said the Guyana Gold an d D i a m o n d M i n e r s Association (GGDMA)

and the MNR will work together to ensure that all miners, across every category, are registered with the ministry and have a local bank account.

The meeting with officials of MNR, GGMC and GGDMA followed a recent announcement by President Ali that there w o u l d b e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e assessment of Guyana’s mining sector to be

completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to strengthen accountability, environmental protection and production compliance across the industry.

President Ali had explaine d t h a t t h e assessment will review every mining license, claim, and operational decision, with firm action to follow where miners fail to declare

production or hold lands without productive use.

The head of state also announced that gold declarations will now be linked to mercury purchases to reduce under-declaration, environmental harm, and illegal activities in the industry.

“We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations. If they have land that they are working on and there is no declaration, those lands will be repossessed,” the president stated.

He stressed that environmental destruction without production will not be tolerated.

“There is no sense destroying the environment if there is no production,” President Ali added.

He observed that the mining sector, which faced a serious decline, has recovered, thanks to significant financial incentives that have helped protect miners and workers during global crises and supported communities near rivers and in remote areas.

Caribbean politicians linked to Maduro drug case will be exposed - Kamla Persaud ( Tr i n i d a d E x p r e s s ) “Today just like yesterday was a normal day in Trinidad and Tobago. What happened in Venezuela had nothing to do with Trinidad and Tobago. Citizens just like myself went about our normal business.”

So said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday, in response to concerns about her whereabouts and her failure to address the nation following the capture of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by United States armed forces on Saturday morning.

A news conference was held yesterday at the United National Congress (UNC) Chaguanas headquarters, where Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers was among the speakers.

He fielded questions from the media about the capture of Maduro and his

wife by US forces. Asked about the whereabouts of the Prime Minister, Sobers said she was engaged with other national commitments at the time.

The Opposition has criticised Persad-Bissessar for failing to address the nation.

Asked by the Express about this yesterday, the Prime Minister insisted there is no crisis in Trinidad and Tobago.

She said that Sunday, like Saturday, was a normal day in Trinidad and Tobago and what happened in Venezuela had nothing to do with T&T. “Citizens just like myself went about our normal business,” she said.

She added that her government continues its work to ensure the country’s s a f e t y, s e c u r i t y, a n d progress.

“Some persons may be desperate to manufacture a crisis where there is none, but to each his own,” she

‘normal business’: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Bissessar said these said.

Q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t matters fall under the c i t i z e n s w h o m a y b e purview of the Venezuelan w o r r i e d a b o u t w h a t government.

The Prime Minister said, occurred in Venezuela, Persad-Bissessar said, “We “Dragon gas is the property a r e n o t i n v o l v e d , s o of the Venezuelan people. citizens have no need to be Whenever they choose a leader through free and fair bothered.”

Asked whether she is democratic elections, that o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t t h e leader will make a decision Dragon gas deal being on Dragon gas.

Trinidad and Tobago returned again given the ousting of Maduro, Persad- does not covet Venezuelan

property, we never have and we never will. We will work with what we possess and endeavour to build on it.”

Caribbean politicians will be exposed Persad-Bissessar also said she has no doubt that Caribbean politicians implicated in the alleged drug trafficking charges against Maduro will eventually be exposed.

According to the c h a rg e s f i l e d a g a i n s t Maduro by the US Department of Justice, Maduro and his associates abused their positions to turn Venezuela into a haven for drug traffickers and violent crimi nal organisations, enriching themselves while undermining public institutions.

The indictment also implicates unnamed Caribbean politicians.

Persad-Bissessar said, “I’m not surprised at all. As the story continues to

unfold, I have no doubt that many ‘respectable’ and ‘celebrated’ people across all sectors of society will be exposed.”

The Prime Minister’s official X page (formerly Twitter) also posted an excerpt of the indictment, which stated, “so, too, were politicians along the ‘Caribbean route’ corrupted by cocaine traffickers, who would pay them for protection from arrest and to allow favored traffickers to operate with impunity as they trafficked cocaine from Venezuela north towards the United States.

Thus, at every step—relying on the producers in Colombia, transporters and distributors in Venezuela, and recipients and re-distributors on transshipment points n o r t h — t h e t r a ff i c k e r s enriched themselves and their corrupt benefactors who protected and aided them.”

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

Iran’s leaders struggle to end protests, US action in Venezuela stokes fears

(Reuters) - Iran’s efforts to quell a wave of antigovernment protests have been complicated by Donald Trump’s threat to intervene on their side, a warning firmly underlined by the subsequent U.S. capture of Ve n e z u e l a ’ s N i c o l a s Maduro, officials and insiders said on Monday.

A day before U.S. special forces seized Maduro and his wife on January 3rd and whisked them off to New York, the U.S. president warned in a social media post that if Iran’s leadership killed protesters who have taken to the streets since December 28 the U.S. “will come to their rescue”. At least 17 people have died so far. Tehran’s options have been limited by Trump’s threats and a long-running economic crisis that deepened after Israel, joined by the U.S., launched strikes on the Islamic Republic in June in a 12-day war that pummelled several of Iran’s nuclear sites.

SOME FEAR IRAN MAY BE ‘NEXT VICTIM’, OFFICIAL SAYS “These twin pressures have narrowed Tehran’s room for manoeuvre, leaving leaders caught between public anger on the streets and hardening demands and threats from Washington, with few viable options and high risks on every path,” one Iranian official told Reuters.

The view was echoed by two other officials and a former Iranian official who remains close to Iran’s decision makers. All of them

asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation.

A second official said that, after U.S. action in Venezuela, some of the authorities feared Iran could be “the next victim of Trump’s aggressive foreign policy”.

Iran’s economy has been hammered by years of U.S. sanctions, but its rial has been in freefall since last year’s Israeli-U.S. strikes that mainly targeted nuclear sites, where the West says Tehran has been working on nuclear arms. Iran denies this.

The protests that erupted in Tehran and which have spread to some cities in western and southern Iran do not match the scale of unrest that swept the nation in 2022-23 over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the hijab law.

But, even if smaller, these protests have quickly expanded from an economic focus to broader frustrations, with some protesters chanting “Down with the Islamic Republic” or “Death to the dictator” - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who has the final say in all state matters.

That presents a challenge for the authorities which have been trying to maintain and nurture the spirit of national unity that emerged during and after the IsraeliU.S. strikes.

A third official said

Iranian men read newspapers on a street, as protests erupt over the collapse of the currency’s value, in Tehran, Iran, January 5, 2026.

Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS worries were growing in Tehran that “Trump or Israel might take military action against Iran, like what they did in June.”

IRAN IS LONGTIME ALLY OF VENEZUELA Iran, which has for years allied itself with fellow oil producer Venezuela, which like Iran has suffered under years of U.S. sanctions, has condemned Washington’s action in Caracas. It has also c o n d e m n e d Tr u m p ’s statements about Iran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said such statements about “Iran’s internal affairs amount, under international norms, to nothing more than incitement to violence, incitement to terrorism, and incitement to killing.”

O n F r i d a y, Tr u m p threatened to intervene if protesters faced violence, declaring, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,”

though he offered no details on what actions he might take.

The protests threaten what has long been K h a m e n e i ’s d e f i n i n g priority: preserving the Islamic Republic at any cost.

In a sign of the leadership’s concern, Khamenei on Saturday accused “enemies of the Islamic Republic” of fomenting unrest and warned that “rioters should be put in their place”.

WORST UNREST IN THE PAST THREE YEARS Authorities have attempted to maintain a dual approach to the unrest, saying protests over the economy are legitimate and will be met by dialogue, while meeting some demonstrations with tear gas amid violent street confrontations.

However, at least 17 people have been killed in a week, rights groups said on Sunday.

Authorities have said at least two members of the security services had died and more than a dozen were injured in the unrest.

The country’s clerical establishment is still coming to terms with the 2025 Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets.

The attacks, which killed top Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear scientists, were launched just a day before a planned sixth round of talks with Washington over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

Negotiations have stalled since the June conflict, even as both sides insist they remain open to a deal. Washington and its allies accuse Iran of using its nuclear program as cover to develop weapons capability, a charge Tehran denies, saying its ambitions are purely peaceful.

DEEPENING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, LACK OF TANGIBLE SOLUTION Economic grievances remain at the heart of latest unrest.

Widening disparities between ordinary Iranians and a privileged clerical and security elite, compounded by mismanagement, runaway inflation and corruption — factors even acknowledged by state media — have fuelled public anger.

Witnesses in Tehran, M a s h h a d a n d Ta b r i z reported a heavy security presence in main squares.

“You can feel the tense atmosphere in Tehran, but life continues as normal,” said Amir Reza, 47, a carpet shop owner in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar.

President Masoud P e z e s h k i a n h a s u rg e d dialogue and promised reforms to stabilize the monetary and banking systems and protect purchasing power.

Starting January 10, the government will provide a monthly stipend of 10,000,000 rials per person (about $7) in non-cashable electronic credit for use in select grocery stores, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

For lower-income households, whose monthly salaries barely exceed $150, the measure represents a modest but meaningful boost.

The rial lost roughly half its value against the dollar in 2025, while official inflation reached 42.5% in December.

Jailed Palestine Action activist ends 60-day hunger strike as health fails (AL-JAZEERA) Palestine Action activist Teuta Hoxha has paused her hunger strike in the United Kingdom after more than two months without food while demanding immediate bail and the right to a fair trial.

The group Prisoners For Palestine wrote on Instagram on Monday that Hoxha is in serious condition and needs to be hospitalised. It alleged the 29-year old has been denied proper treatment by prison

authorities.

Hoxha “needs urgent medical care in hospital to prevent refeeding syndrome. The prison is refusing [her] medical treatment, which is required to prevent death in extreme cases of starvation”.

Refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition, happens when nutrition is restarted in a starving person too quickly. There was no immediate comment from prison or government officials. For the past 63

days, Palestine Action members have been on hunger strikes in prisons around the UK after being jailed over alleged involvement in break-ins at the UK subsidiary of Elbit Systems in Filton near Bristol in 2024. Elbit Systems is an Israeli defence company with factories and offices across Britain. Some members of Palestine Action are also being held for an alleged break-in at a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire,

where two military aircraft were sprayed with red paint.

The prisoners deny the charges against them, which include burglary and violent disorder.

After Hoxha has paused her protest, only three of eight Palestine Action hunger strikers continue to refuse food as they demand their release.

‘Apartheid regime’ In July, the British government voted in favour of proscribing Palestine Action as a “terrorist”

organisation – putting it into the same category as armed groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).

More than 1,600 people have been arrested in connection with support for Palestine Action after nearweekly protests for the ban to be revoked. The proscription is being challenged in court.

The protest group, launched in 2020, has described itself as a movement “committed to ending global participation

in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.

Those still on hunger strike include Heba Muraisi, 31, and Kamran Ahmed, 28.

Lewie Chiaramello, 22, is also refusing food every other day because he’s diabetic.

The strikers have made five demands: immediate bail, the right to a fair trial, an end to censorship of their communications, “deproscribing” Palestine Action and closing Elbit Systems factories in the UK.

Tuesday January 06, 2026

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Everest cricket awards ceremony recognizes top performers of 2025 EVEREST Cricket Club (ECC) recently held their awards ceremony to recognise outstanding individual performances among members in the calendar year 2025.

The gala event was held in the club’s renovated banquet hall where outstanding cricketers at the Second Division, First

Division and Masters categories were honoured.

The rich history of the club was reflected upon, as the century-old venue has seen tons of iconic players pass through its system, with the future still looking as bright as ever given the immense talent pool which the club has kept full over the years.

Among the top awardees in the 1st division categories, Guyana Harpy Eagles and West Indies Test opener, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (142 runs) bagged the club’s prestigious Batsman of the Year Award. Left-arm spinner, Javed Rasheed, who had 14 wickets from 5 matches, copped the Bowler of the Year Award, thus

Tuesday January 06, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries. Your persuasive manner and gentle nudges are just enough to get people where you want them.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) When faced with ten entrees on the menu, it might be hard for you to choose just one.

Feel free to order two or more, Ta u r u s . D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down. At the same time.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act on them, Gemini. No one else is going to do it for you.

Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take matters into your own hands.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them no mind, Cancer. You have the right to live your life any way you want to.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Reach for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closer than you think. 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 about what it is that you want most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to how far you can go.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.

There's an incredible opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm. Follow the music.

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 more magic into your life.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Today is an excellent day for you, one in which you'll find a great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius. Trust that your instincts are serving you well.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you need to make sense of it all. In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself.

Let your creative nature shine through.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Mix your reality with a bit of fantasy today, Aquarius.

Allow your feet to come off the ground for a little while. Give yourself a rest. Take some time to meditate and clear your mind of your daily worries.

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. Dream as big as your mind allows.

sealing off the category.

For the 2nd Division, National U-17/U-19 allrounder, Nityanad Mathura bagged dual awards, first the Batsman of the Year for his 139 runs, before the legspinner claiming the Best Bowler Award for his 17 scalps (5 games played).

The 3rd category, the Masters, was dominated by Hemraj Garbarran who walked away with the Best Batsman Award.

The former Windies U19 player, stroked a whopping 374 runs to run away with the award, as his teammate and another former national spinner in Lookeshwar Mahabeer was for the 3rd straight year judged the Bowler of the Year for his 28 scalps.

A few honorable mentions in the Masters Category were Vishan Lall (87 not out) and Shazam Ramjohn (87), who were recognised for scoring the Highest Individual Scores.

Surujdeo Ramdeen (5-23) captured the Best Individual Bowling Figures, the only 5fer recorded in the Masters category.

Meanwhile, the young Chanderpaul was also recognised for his recall to the West Indies Test side, while Guyana Harpy Eagles Super50 skipper Matthew Nandu was lauded for leading Demerara to a successful title defence in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Men’s InterCounty Super50

Hemraj Garbarran - Everest Masters’ Hemraj Garbarran collecting his award from Rajendra Chandrika. tourney.

Meanwhile, Captain of the Everest Masters, Rajesh Singh thanked as many people, entities and overall supporters of the club during the year 2025. The former Everest Club president urged all players to strive for continued fitness to continue to give dedicated service to their respective teams.

Meanwhile, Former We s t I n d i e s o p e n e r s Rajendra Chandrika and Ryan Ramdass were also a part of the ceremony and played a big role during the presentation of awards.

championship, as well as his national captaincy.

Another Harpy Eagles player in all-rounder Richie Looknauth, was also rewarded for making his First-Class debut for the Guyana, while Mathura was honoured for making the National U19 side in 2025.

Masters all-rounder Antonell Atwell was one of four Everest Masters that were in the West Indies Over-40s team during the recent over-40s Cricket World Cup in Pakistan, where he was recognised for being the MVP of the

Berbice River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic Tuesday January 06, 2025

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 06:35hrs Wednesday January 07, 2025

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 07:20hrs For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs DATE: 01/05/2026

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

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

BCB extends New Year wishes, cites number of areas for development in 2026 T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president and executive members recently sent its best wishes to the entire fraternity, following the arrival of 2026.

Following a statement which was posted to their facebook page, the BCB stated “As the new year takes shape, the President and executives of the Berbice Cricket Board would like to wish each and everyone of you, a very peaceful and productive 2026”.

“We at the board would like to commit ourselves to working beyond the call of duty towards the

development of Berbice cricket and to maintain the rich legacy of Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Alvin Kallicharan and Roy Fredricks”.

The message highlighted a few pluses for the continued growth of the sport across the ancient county, with Cricket set to be played at all levels with special interest being placed on inter-zone formats.

Also, special emphasis on the overall cricket development and personal development of talented players in Berbice, was one of the high-points mentioned.

Clubs are also at the forefront of developmental

plans in 2026, as the BCB body highlighted the need to further assist clubs in fulfilling their mandates of producing talented players who will go onto represent the county of Berbice, Guyana and by extension the West Indies.

“It is our hope that all of us will work together to make Berbice cricket the best.

As a collective group, we would like to express gratitude to all those you voted to return us to office for another term; It is our hope to fulfill our commitment to you.

Happy New year to you and yours”, ended the statement.

BCB executive committee sends best wishes for new year, while outlining slight plans for 2026.

Series win against Afghans...

From page 21 player, Nabi is one of the World’s leading limited over’s specialists; with a penchant for T20 cricket; regardless of the level.

With more than 20 cricket franchises from across every cricket playing nation to call his home, the old man’s presence is most certainly what Afghanistan need during this upcoming stretch of what could be considered their most important period of cricket all year. His international T20 record of more than 2000 runs to go along with his 100-plus wickets, this final hooray could pose a danger for not only the West Indies but during the World Cup against other opponents.

West Indies, like a few other nations, have yet to announce their squad for next month’s T20 Cup, further adding to the mystery of the team’s possible makeup for the Afghan series. The likelihood of the Windies making vast changes between this upcoming series and the World Cup, is low due to the Cup itself being co-hosted in Asia between India and Sri Lanka.

The battle against the Afghans will also take place in an Asian setting as the 3-match series will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); which is roughly under 6 hours from India and Sri Lanka.

With acclimation being key, especially ahead of such a monumental tournament, it’s safe to say that the Windies will definitely be

looking to select players who will familiarise themselves with the conditions in the UAE before going onto play in the Cup. Despite losing the 5-match T20 series to New Zealand a little before the end of 2025, players like Romario Shepherd, Captain Shai Hope, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Jayden Seales, Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein; will more than likely find themselves making up the core of the Caribbean side’s unit for possibly the Afghan series and the T20 spectacle shortly after. With no big guns like Andre Russell or Nicholas Pooran to call upon, players like Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Alick Anthnaze, Jediah Blades, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Alzzarri Joseph to name a few; could all find themselves apart of the World Cup mix having played their roles at one time or the other in T20’s; during 2025.

Although the World Cup will see Windies in Group C and the Afghans in Group D, both teams will be gunning to make the most of the upcoming series; the last bit of action before all eyes shift to the February 7 start to the competition.

It is expected that the Windies will make a full squad announcement soon, with eyes on the pieces who could likely transition over to the World Cup squad, should they perform well during the Afghanistan series.

Tuesday January 06, 2026

Kaieteur News

Series win against Afghans could set Windies right ahead of 2026 ICC T20 World Cup - Squad should be selected on basis of T20 Cup campaign

Rashid Khan

By Clifton Ross The final skirmish before the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup will be an important one, as both the West Indies and Afghanistan will be looking to use the upcoming 3-match mini-series, which bowls off on January 19; as a tester before they along with other nations from around the globe; enters the big stage come next month when the limited-overs spectacle gets underway.

West Indies will be doing a lot to forget 2025, especially with the New Year well upon them and a mixed road ahead, stemming from Cricket West Indies (CWI) already strapping in for what could be dubbed as a potentially challenging year.

Since 2016, both sides have faced each other a total of 8 times, with 2024’s ICC T20 World Cup match, which was won by the West Indies (108 runs), being the latest encounter. From the 8 encounters, the Caribbean side has managed to hold a 53 score-line, further adding to the importance of this upcoming series.

Shai Hope

While the Afghans have clearly stated that this series will serve as an ideal prelude to the 2026 Cup, which will bowl off a few days after; it is likely that the Windies too, will be using the mini-series as preparatory means to get themselves into World Cup groove.

One huge plus for the Afghans heading into this series, is the availability of a number of key players who have either been recalled ahead of the Cup or have made their return from injuries or worked out issues with the respective forms.

This series could also be used by the Afghans to help break a long-standing T20 jinx, being that no player has yet managed to score a century against the West Indies during the 8 times the two sides have met within the last decade.

O n l y o p e n e r Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is also a part of the squad, has come remotely close with his knock of 79. Some of the key players who will be banking on their past performances against the Windies; include all-rounder Gulbadain Naib who was recalled to the squad for the upcoming series and World Cup. Vice-skipper Ibrahim Zadaran, who made his debut against the West Indies in 2019, Captain and frontline spinner Rashid Khan, along with his two partners in the slower-bowling department in; Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad will all have the limelight on them over the next few

weeks. One huge surprise recall for the Afghans is the return of the veteran allrounder in the 41 year-old Mohammad Nabi. arguably the country’s most decorated (Continued on page 24)

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Mohammad Nabi

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Tuesday January 06, 2026

GDF star Sandra Johnson gets European lift with RC Lens Trial

Sandra Johnson (first from left) sharing a winning moment with her GDF FC team.

G

uyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club standout and newly promoted Sandra Johnson has taken a significant step forward in her football journey, earning a highly coveted training stint with Racing Club (RC) Lens Women in France.

The opportunity places Johnson inside one of Europe’s most competitive football environments and signals a major boost not only for her career, but for the continued rise of women’s football in Guyana.

R C L e n s Wo m e n compete at the highest level of football in France, a league renowned for its quality, intensity, and global influence.

Nicknamed Les Sang et Or (The Blood and Gold) in honour of their traditional red and gold colours, the club is steeped in history and professionalism. Training within such a setup places Johnson among an elite group of players striving to break into one of the world’s most respected football cultures.

The French women’s

league is home to global powerhouses such as Paris Saint-Germain Women and O l y m p i q u e Ly o n n a i s Féminin—widely regarded as one of the most successful women’s clubs in football history. Exposure to this level of competition provides Johnson with invaluable experience as she looks to establish herself on the international stage.

Locally, Johnson’s rise has been anything but accidental. Known for her solid defensive awareness, tactical intelligence, and attacking threat, the quick-

footed forward has been instrumental in delivering championship success for both her club and futsal teams.

Her consistent performances, versatility, and work rate have made her an easy selection for coaches and a standout within Guyana’s women’s football landscape.

Securing a training opportunity at the French club is a powerful endorsement of Johnson’s talent and potential. It reflects years of discipline, sacrifice, and commitment

to self-improvement, culminating in a chance that few athletes ever attain. For Johnson, the RC Lens stint could very well mark the beginning of a defining chapter in her football career.

Beyond her individual achievement, the milestone represents a breakthrough m o m e n t f o r w o m e n ’s football in Guyana. It sends a clear message to young female players across the country that international opportunities are attainable with dedication, performance, and the right exposure.

Johnson’s achievements were recently celebrated at a recognition ceremony hosted by the Guyana Defence Force following the GDF FC women’s Super-16 Championship victory organised by the Guyana Football Federation.

The event was attended

by Brigadier Omar Khan, o t h e r s e n i o r o ff i c e r s , representatives from the Sports Corps, club officials, and players, highlighting the pride and significance of the team’s success.

The ceremony also featured a symbolic coin flip representing discipline, sportsmanship, and unity.

Several of the tournament’s

top goal scorers and Most Valuable Players emerged from the GDF squad, underlining the depth of talent and exceptional performances within the team.

In an address, Brigadier Khan reminded the players that they are not only footballers, but ambassadors of the Guyana Defence Force. He stressed that their conduct, professionalism, and bearing reflect the institution at all times, urging them to strive for excellence both on and off the field.

The event also recognised individual advancements within the squad.

Lance Corporal Glengie Lewis was promoted to Sergeant, while Lance Corporals Jalade Trim, Sandra Johnson, Glendy Lewis, Brinetta McIntosh, and Niomie Williams were promoted to Corporal.

Recruit Aaliyah Christie was promoted to Lance Corporal, and Recruit Ya n i e r a K e n s w i l l t o Corporal.

As Johnson prepares to test herself in France, she carries not only personal ambition, but the hopes of her teammates, the GDF, and an entire footballing nation.

Newly promoted Sandra Johnson (left) and Jalade Trim.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 06, 2026

PAGE 27

“Andy Moore – The Ultimate Life Mentor”

Karl Moore, the Late Andy Moore and Colin Croft - Guyana 2018.

BY: Colin E. H. Croft – Former Guyana, Lancashire C C C & We s t I n d i e s Cricketer Happy New Year 2026! I hope that you achieve whatever you expect for the new year. Unfortunately for me, one of my very closest friends, ‘my brother from another mother’ – Andy Adolphus Mc Donald Moore – born on 13 September 1949, died last 27 December, just before 2025 ended. So, with great sadness, I welcomed this New Year 2026!

A VERY SPECIAL PERSON Much has already been written about Andy. He was not any ‘ordinary’ Guyanese. Indeed, Kaieteur News Newspaper, in its “SPECIAL PERSON” feature, which highlights Guyanese who had achieved much and had contributed whole-heartedly to the betterment of Guyana, had featured Andy Moore in its publications; 06 August 2017; written by Sharmain G r a i n g e r : https://kaieteurnewsonline.co m/2017/08/06/master-oftech-voc-andy-moore-is-aspecial-person/ What a loss Andy is to us who knew him. Guyana has lost one of its most fervent, dedicated, resolute, patriots.

Not the “blow-hard” type, but a man who used his entire life for the betterment of all who encountered him, in Sports (Judo / Self Defense), Business, Communications, Education / Teaching, and especially in Industrial Arts and Engineering.

ENGINEERING AND INFLUENCES Andy had a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Industrial Arts and Construction Engineering from the University of

Alabama and a Black Belt in judo and self defence. He built his own dredge in Guyana’s interior. He was an expert at technical drawing and drafting, and making anything, from wooded earrings, bangles, coasters and Afro combs, and using “turning lathes”, to having his own judo DoJo Camp and industrial arts metal-work workshop.

H e u s e d h i s qualifications and experiences to pass them on to the next several generations by continuously teaching and employing scores of younger people, mentoring them well. It was because of Andy that I did Mechanical Engineering Technical Diploma (METD) in Guyana and majored in Mechanical Engineering in university in USA. Those educational experiences and practical skills afforded me so many opportunities and exploits. Thank you Andy Moore. He was the hardest task master that I have ever met. 100% was never good enough for him. One had to know him to appreciate his intensity. Tough as greenheart, purple-heart and wallaba woods combined, Andy never did anything in half measures. In whatever he had set his mind to achieve; there were so numerous aspects of his life that would surprise many; he triumphed. Andy Moore was a genius.

T W O C O U N T RY BOYS Born at Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice, near where many regional cricket games used to be played, at Rose Hall cricket ground, on one of Guyana’s better sugar estates in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Andy learned and excelled at everything that he encountered.

I first met Andy Moore in 1967/68, when I was aged 14/15, and in 2nd / 3rd form at Central High School in Georgetown, this “Country Boy Come to Town” from Unity-Lancaster, Mahaica District. By then, Andy was already, at 20, completing his special industrial arts 3year training stint at (now) Cyril Potter Guyana Teachers Training College, then housed in Kingston.

Andy was also the then beau of my sister, Gloria.

They had met at Teachers Training College, as she too had been completing her Teacher’s Training; 1966 to 1968; after attending CHS. Since then, Andy has always been my ‘go-to guy’ for anything that I needed to know, while their off-spring, Karl, my nephew, is one of those “youths” that I still trust for my modernity.

From 1967/68, until I last saw Andy, in 2024 in Guyana, during ICC World T-20 World Cup 2024, he had taught me so much as to how to survive positively in life, from good or bad – determination, courage, focus, caution, suspicion, honesty, self-assessment, preparation – so many aspects of life. It was Andy who first demonstrated to me how to use a condom!

FUNNY REALITY Andy had been involved in many situations in my life that might have been extremely funny, had they not been so serious, even, in one event, life threatening.

You might even laugh: (i) One night in 1968, around 08:00pm, on one of Andy’s visits to my sister, at our grand-parents’ home in South Road, just east of most decorated player, Nabi is one of the World’s leading limited over’s specialists; with a penchant for T20

cricket; regardless of the level.

With more than 20 cricket franchises from across every cricket playing nation to call his home, the old man’s presence is most certainly what Afghanistan need during this upcoming stretch of what could be considered their most important period of cricket all year. His international T20 record of more than 2000 runs to go along with his 100-plus wickets, this final hooray could pose a danger for not only the West Indies but during the World Cup against other opponents.

West Indies, like a few other nations, have yet to announce their squad for next month’s T20 Cup, further adding to the mystery of the team’s possible makeup for the Afghan series. The likelihood of the Wi n d i e s m a k i n g v a s t changes between this upcoming series and the World Cup, is low due to the Cup itself being co-hosted in Asia between India and Sri Lanka. The battle against the Afghans will also take place

in an Asian setting as the 3match series will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); which is roughly under 6 hours from India and Sri Lanka.

With acclimation being key, especially ahead of such a monumental tournament, it’s safe to say that the Windies will definitely be looking to select players who will familiarise themselves with the conditions in the UAE before going onto play in the Cup. Despite losing the 5match T20 series to New Zealand a little before the end of 2025, players like Romario Shepherd, Captain Shai Hope, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Jayden Seales, Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein; will more than likely find themselves making up the core of the Caribbean side’s unit for possibly the Afghan series and the T20 spectacle shortly after.

With no big guns like Andre Russell or Nicholas Pooran to call upon, players like Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Alick

Colin Croft Anthnaze, Jediah Blades, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Alzzarri Joseph to name a few; could all find themselves apart of the World Cup mix having played their roles at one time or the other in T20’s; during 2025.

Although the World Cup will see Windies in Group C and the Afghans in Group D, both teams will be gunning to make the most of the upcoming series; the last bit of action before all eyes shift to the February 7 start to the competition.

It is expected that the Windies will make a full squad announcement soon, with eyes on the pieces who could likely transition over to the World Cup squad, should they perform well during the Afghanistan series.

Series win against Afghans could set Windies right ahead of 2026 ICC T20 World Cup - Squad should be selected on basis of T20 Cup campaign Sherfane Rutherford

Nityanand Mathura - caption- National Youth all-rounder and Best batsman/Bowler of the 2nd Division category, Nityanand Mathura (right) accepts his award from former Guyana/Windies opener Rajendra Chandrika.

Everest cricket awards ceremony recognizes top performers of 2025 Flashback! Sandra Johnson attempts at goal during the GFF Women’s League matchup with GPF Football Club.

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GDF star Sandra Johnson gets European lift with RC Lens Trial Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.