…demand answers on possible massive tax evasion in America
Screenshots of the mining area, as well as an excavator that does not belong to Halliman operating on the land.
A screenshot of the video showing the man who threatened Halliman on Tuesday.
…says GGMC still to issue permit even after failed legal challenges …alleges his life was threatened
A medium-scale miner is pointing fingers at a Guyanese gold magnate for beingbulliedforaplotofmininglandinthe ToroparuBackdam,RegionSeven(CuyuniMazaruni), claiming that the situation is beingenabledbyalaxGuyanaGeologyand MinesCommission(GGMC).
On Tuesday, Marvis Halliman shared video evidence of a man, purportedly an employee of the large-scale gold miner, armed with a rifle and demanding that he and his workers vacate the land. In the video, a confrontation unfolds between Halliman and the armed man. Halliman could be heard saying that he informed the menthat300feetfromtheriverisaplotof landnotownedbythelarge-scaleminer
However,themanwiththeriflecouldbe seen cranking the trigger and shoving another man, while ordering, “y’all move fromhere,youhearwhatItellingalyuh…I
warningy’allright…”
Commissioner, Newell Dennison
AsHallimantoldanexcavatoroperator, “youcan’tworkherebrother…”thearmed man responded, “you stop he and you gon seewhatgonhappen.”
The exchange grew heated, with both sides trading expletives. At one point, the armedmandeclared,“Y’allpleasecomeoff thisland…Idon’tconcernwhatanyofy’all say,” to which Halliman responded, “come offwhatland,comeoffwhatlandboy…you crankinggunonaninnocentman…”
Speaking with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, Halliman said the armed man threatenedtokillhimanddisclosedthatfive shotswerefiredinhisdirection.
Halliman disclosed that the issue dates back to December 2012, when his uncle, Wallace Daniels, discovered a strip of land parallel to the Puruni River that was unclaimed, though located near property
owned by the Guyanese gold magnate, the Alphonsos.
Hesharedthatafterdiscoveringtheland wasavailable,hisuncleappliedtoGGMC, andatthattimetherewerenolegal
Continued on page 6
Police ranks and GGMC officers in June 2025 showed up to the mining property during which there was a confrontation with Halliman who asked them to produce a document that he must vacate the land.
Three United States (U.S.) Senators on Tuesday wrotetotheChiefExecutive
O ff i c e r ( C E O ) o f ExxonMobil,DarrenWoods about the company’s tax arrangementsinGuyana.
The company, in joint venture with CNOOC and Hess (now Chevron), were
contracted by the Government of Guyana
(GoG) to produce hydrocarbons in the 26,800 square kilometer Stabroek Block.
Inaccordancewithterms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the companies pay no taxes to the country Guyana nonetheless issues a tax receipt,indicatingthatthose obligationsweremetlocally This is frequently used to avoid double taxation in the country that the company is registered.
In a statement issued to the media, it was explained that U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Chris Van HollenandJeffMerkleysent a letter on Tuesday to ExxonMobil CEO Darren
Wo o d s r e q u e s t i n g information on the company’s accounting of its U.S. tax liability as a result of the 2016 Stabroek Block PetroleumAgreement.
“The letter raises questions about whether American taxpayers are subsidizing ExxonMobil’s foreign oil production in Guyana,whichthecompany carries out in partnership with a Chinese state-owned company,” the statement said.
It was explained that currentU.S.taxrulesoffera
l o o p h o l e f o r b i g multinational oil companies drilling in a foreign country to shrink their tax bills.
“Closing this loophole would save American taxpayersanestimated$71.5 billion over ten years,” U.S officials have said. The Senators noted, “We are
concerned about the possibility that American taxpayers may be subsidizing ExxonMobil’s foreign oil production, whichtheydoinpartnership with a Chinese state-owned company”.
Thetriomadeitclearthat payments to a foreign government are not taxes and cannot qualify for tax credit.
“Payments to a foreign government in exchange for aneconomicbenefit[suchas the right to extract oil and gas]arenotconsideredtaxes
atallandthuscannotqualify for a U.S. foreign tax credit. Howeverspecialrulesallow ‘dual capacity’ taxpayers to divideupsuchpaymentsinto creditable taxes and noncreditablepayments. While it is not difficult to distinguish between taxes and payments for economic benefits, current rules allow contractstobestructuredina way that blurs the distinction. Thisloopholeis a particular boon to big m u l t i n a t i o n a l o i l companies,” added the senators.
Accordingtoa2021IMF report, U S effectively subsidises Big Oil and the fossil fuel industry to over US$600 billion annually.
Congressional Republicans added even more subsidies with their Beautiful-forBillionaires bill, which included a US$167 billion tax giveaway to companies like ExxonMobil that ship jobsandprofitsoverseas. In February, Whitehouse and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) reintroduced the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act which would reverse the special tax rate for offshore profits that’s half the domesticrate.
C o n g r e s s i o n a l Republicans also included a special US$427 million carveout for the oil and gas industry to shirk the Corporate Alternative Minimum tax that Democrats included in the Inflation Reduction Act to prevent companies from lowering their liability by abusing tax loopholes Whitehouse and other Senate Democrats sent a letter in early September to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slamming Treasury’sdecisiontocreate new loopholes in the corporate alternative minimum tax for the largest andwealthiestcorporations. In the letter the senators referenced a 2024 Treasury Departmentproposal,which
they said would have closed thisloopholebylimitingthe portion of a payment that wouldqualifyforaU.S.FTC to the equivalent amount of tax that the dual capacity taxpayer would have owed the foreign government if it was a non-dual capacity taxpayer
“Inotherwords,itwould prevent a company like ExxonMobil from shrinking itsU.S.taxbillbyclaiminga larger U.S. FTC than any other company operating in the country that was not paying for the right to drill on land owned by Guyana. Closingthisloopholewould save U S taxpayers an estimated $71.5 billion over ten years,” the senators wrote.
They added: “Big oil companieslikeExxonMobil do not need any more government subsidies According to a 2021 IMF report, U S effective subsidies to the fossil fuel industry are over $600
b i l l i o n a n n u a l l y Republicans added even more with their “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which included a $167 billion handout to companies like ExxonMobil that ship jobs andprofitsoverseas,aswell as a special $427 million carveout for the oil and gas industrytolimitoravoidthe Corporate Alternative Minimum tax that is intended to prevent companies from erasing their tax bill with special breaks,”theletterread.
As such, the senators saidtheywouldliketobetter understandwhetherU.S.tax dollarsaresubsidising“your partnership with China to drillforoiloverseas.Weask that you answer the following questions about how the 2016 PA with the Government of Guyana has affected ExxonMobil’s U.S. federal tax liability by no laterthanOctober23,2025:
1. Based onArticle 15.4 of the PA, did ExxonMobil
provide income tax returns to the Government of Guyana, and for which years? Did ExxonMobil directlypaytheGovernment ofGuyanaanyincometaxin 2024and/or2023,ordidthe Government of Guyana make such payments on ExxonMobil’s behalf out of the government’s share of profitoil?
2. For any income tax payments to Guyana made by ExxonMobil or on its behalf, what portion, if any, did ExxonMobil claim as U.S. FTCs in 2024 and/or 2023?
3 Did ExxonMobil claimanyU.S.FTCsonany paymentstotheGovernment of Guyana in 2024 and/or 2023?
4. If ExxonMobil
claimed any U.S. FTCs in 2024 and/or 2023 on paymentstotheGovernment of Guyana, please explain what provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or regulations the company usedtojustifytheclaimand provide a model of how the calculation of creditable tax was made using illustrative numbers that are consistent withactualresults.
5. If U.S. FTCs were claimed on any payments to the Government of Guyana, howmuchdidtheylowerthe company’s U.S. federal tax billfor2024and/or2023?
6. Does the 2016 PA between ExxonMobil and Guyana make a distinction between taxes owed to the Government of Guyana and payments for economic
benefits?
a. If so, please provide the specific language and ExxonMobil’sinterpretation of how it affects your U.S. federal tax liability under currentrules.
7 W h a t w a s ExxonMobil’s rationale for including CNOOC as a partner in its 2016 PA with theGovernmentofGuyana? Whitehouse and other Senate Democrats sent a letter in early September to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slamming Treasury’sdecisiontocreate new loopholes in the corporate alternative minimum tax for the largest andwealthiestcorporations. In 2024, ExxonMobil GuyanaLimited(EMGL) Continuedonpage6
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Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
On each occasion that the blood of another innocent Palestinian civilian is shed by the Israelis, the drops of blood spatter across the faceofAmerica. ThemorethattheIsraelismowdownand grinddownthePalestiniansintothedust,forcethehapless togrovelunderthebootsoftheirsoldiers,thelessAmerica canlayclaimtobeanhonestbrokerforpeace.
The less it appears to be a genuine leader for human rights,andallthatreasonablemenandwomenconsiderto becivil. ThedailyrampagesoftheIsraeliwarmachineare nowsonormalthatwhatusedtonumbbefore,causelittle reactiontoday
What is being inflicted on the Palestinians no longer qualifies to be called a war It is a systematic pogrom carriedoutonadailybasisfromtheairandontheground. Wagingwarisanexpensiveproposition,andthelonger that the battles and bombardments go on, the more costly the effort becomes. Though not dirt poor, the strength of Israel has one primary source. It is America, with AmericanmoneyandthewealthofAmericanarmspoured intothereadyhandsofIsraelthatgofarinperpetuatingthis conflict that is now so one-sided that what happens has gone past heinous and grotesque. By any measurement, what the Israeli forces are delivering on the largely defenseless Palestinians is vengeance multiplied several times over To be clear, this is not war anymore, so programmed and bloodcurdling it has become. This is man'sinhumanityagainsthisfellowhumanbeingstakento placesneverseenbefore,andintheopen.
For its part, America doesn't even work at appearing neutral anymore, so callous it has been to the atrocities committed against the Palestinians, lethal day after lethal day Over three quarters of a century ago, the Germans were made to pay a harsh price for their brutalities meted againstcivilianpopulations,thosethatclearlyfellintothe categoryofnoncombatants.
Duringthatsametimeperiod,theJapaneseweretaught the error of their ways, their overreach, their grisly acts against soldiers and civilians, when a firestorm was delivered from the skies onto their heads. Another one followedwithindaysofthefirstonetosealthatmessage. A worldthatwasonitskneeslookeduponAmericaasagift from heaven, liberators who earned every honour and accoladethatwasextendedtothem. Itwaswell-deserved, for there was a world lifted up out of the ashes, one that couldn't give enough praise, so heavy was the debt of gratitudeowedtotheAmericansfortheirsacrificeofblood andtreasure.
Where is that America today, the one of such heroic virtue? Where is that benevolentAmerican face that the Palestinians need so much today, needed so much for so manyyesterdaysthatnevercame?
Oldmenandoldwomenkilledormaimedasiftheyare nothingbutanimals,evenlower,givenwhathashappened to them. Young adults, younger children, even babies, blowntopiecesbytheIsraelisintheirfirefightsandfrom theirairflights,andAmericaistodayreducedtoastudyin silence, a picture of nonchalance. Hospitals and schools, food convoys and aid centers, have all come under a relentlessbarrageofsteelandfire.
Yet,Americaisunmovedandunwillingtoliftafinger onbehalfofthebatteredandbrutalizedPalestinians,other thantoutterastraywordofcautioneverynowandagain. WhatisthisthattheIsraelisareengagingin,what'scalled war? Whether conflict or war, it is now more than a war againstterror,awaragainstapeople,awaragainstcivility, awaragainstallthatishonourable. Itisnowwhatamounts toawaragainstMuslims,forwhenthereiswiderescalation oftheGazaassaultsinanotherareaoftheregion,thennot much else is left for the intellect to sift through. When America stands limply by, jumps in on the side of the barbarous, thenAmerica the Beautiful first inches slowly downward,andthenbyleapsandbounds,intotheterritory ofAmericathePitiful. America:examineself.
DearEditor, Mr. Nigel Hughes has done the decent thing in resigning from the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) now that his party is not represented in parliament. Kudos for such a principled position. That sets a good example for the PNC representatives on the G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) to followMr Hughes'example and step down forthwith. If theyfailtoresign,thenthere mustbeanearlyamendment in Parliament to remove them, or to reconfigure the composition of the Commission.
Now that the Chair has admitted much has not been doneandtheyarenowdoing
e setting up, Mr Christopher Ram, a civil society nationalist has rightly flayed the Commission for lack of progress Given the changing political realities, Parliament needs to do a
DearEditor,
reset of the Constitutional ReformCommission.Inthis reset,afewthingsneedtobe done. The new official Opposition Party WIN must be awarded seats, and the PNC must also be awarded seatsbasedonparliamentary strength, as the Parliament might decide. Now that Mr KeomaGriffithisaMinister of the PPP Government and waspreviouslynominatedto represent the Christian community, whomever nominated him must find a replacement who will represent vehemently the traditionalfamilyvaluesand Christian values of the Christian community I am not sure who nominated Mr Griffith.
Itisquitecleartheparties inthelastParliamentdidnot view Constitutional Reform as a high priority, as many items in the 1999 Commission Report have remained ignored Long before the next elections in 2030, we must fix problems with our election's machinery process, registration, campaign finance reform, implement recommendations from the observer teams, and address related matters that were the subject of court cases. Our system of awarding seats between national and regional is too complicated. The regional system itself doesnotseemtobeworking, and should be dismantled. No need to tie that to the elections process The related Regional Ministry itself is the most unresponsive, inefficient Ministry that cannot get things done in a timely manner, having to manage the work of so many ministriesinitsgeographical area. Our schools are not properlymaintainedbecause ofabadlydesignedRegional System. Whatthetaxpayerswant to know were these mostly no-show members paid an allowance for being on the Commission? Did they all collect their allowances?
What is the amount of allowance for each Commission member and the Chair? After so many years, did the Commission findaSecretary?Whoonthe Government side was supposedtopushtheworkof the Commission? Who on the Opposition side was supposed to hold the Governmentaccountable? What all parties need to know is that the people are watchingandwillholdthem all accountable for Constitutional Reform. The meteoric rise of the WIN group should send shivers downthespinesofallparties if they think they can dilly dally and scam the Constitutional Reform process. No longer will we accept the excuse that our system is bad and needs changing but we do not do anythingtochangeit.Ihope theprocesscanbecompleted inabouttwoyears.
Sincerely, Dr JerryJailall CivilSocietyAdvocate
As someone who has been associated with the Ministry of Education for more than fifteen yearsincluding the past five working under former MinisterofEducation,Priya Manickchand - I have seen firsthand how different leadership styles shape the growth and direction of the sector Each Minister brings uniquequalitiesthatleavean indeliblemark.
Minister Manickchand, inmyview,createdspacefor talented young people to thrive and lead, along with many other achievements. Her legacy in education remains both strong and significant.
The newly appointed MinisterofEducation,Sonia P a r a g , i s a l r e a d y
demonstrating qualities that set her apart. She brings to her role a rare blend of warmth and humility, grounded in a firm commitment to respect and equity,givingeveryoneafair opportunity Whatstandsout most is her genuine willingness to listen; to teachers, pupils, education professionals, and members of the wider public, and to ensure that solutions are shapednotonlybypolicybut also by compassion and humanconnection.
As a sociologist I value the importance of human connection.
In her early interactions, one sees a leader who embodies the vision of His Excellency, aligning with national priorities while fostering an environment
wherestudentscangrowinto well-roundedhumanbeings. This balance of humility, firmness and fairness is refreshing and reassuring, reminding us that education remains at the heart of Guyana's development agenda.
Transitions in leadership are never without challenges, particularly within the framework of a structuredfive-yearplan.
Yet Minister Parag has wisely chosen not to dismantle but to build upon thesolidfoundationsalready in place, while gradually introducing her own vision forprogress.Thisthoughtful approach reflects both prudence and maturity in leadership.
Guyana now stands at a pivotal moment where
evolutionineducationisnot optional but essential if we aretoremaincompetitiveon the world stage Our curriculum must adapt to newrealities,ourclassrooms must spark creativity, and our systems must embrace innovation and out-of-theboxthinking.MinisterSonia Paraghasalreadyshownshe is prepared to meet these challenges with grace, determination, and an open heart.
I look forward to the journey ahead under her stewardship and wish her every success as she continues to guide this nation's children, teachers, and communities toward a brightereducationalfuture.
PhillipWilliams Head EDYOU FM, NCERD.
Unresolved issues will see continued hemorrhaging of members, weakening of PNCR
DearEditor,
Now that the 2025 General and Regional Elections(GRE)haveended, with the PPP/C returning to office, I have taken some time to analyze the issues confronting the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) Unless these challenges are addressed urgently, the party risks continued decline and political irrelevance The
resignations and defections witnessed since 2020, and again after GRE 2023 and 2025, are unprecedented in ourhistory
Following the tenure of Cde Robert Corbin, the PNCR entered a new phase under Cde. David Granger, who successfully led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in the 2011 General and Regional Elections.Thiscoalitionwas
later strengthened through the Cummingsburg Accord withtheAllianceForChange (AFC), signed on February 14, 2015. That agreement paved the way for the historicAPNU+AFCvictory intheMay2015Generaland Regional Elections. Under his stewardship, the party also upheld its Constitution, ensuring General Council meetings were held and Biennial Delegates
Congresses (BDC) convened.
During its tenure, the Coalition Government a c h i e v e d n o t a b l e accomplishmentswithoutoil revenues, including salary increases of up to 77% for certain categories of public servantsandthereductionof VAT to 14%. These remain verifiable and indisputable. Itisthereforeunjustifiable (Continuedonpage6)
DearEditor,
I am in support of Dr Walter Persaud's unsolicited advice (KN Sep 23) to governmenttoconsideratie up with the magical city of Chiang Mai, Thailand, or consider aspects of its
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d management as a model for
Georgetown, which President Irfaan announced will be transformed into a moderncity Itisbrilliantly written, finest use of the King's language. In earlier writings, Dr Persaud used social theories of reputed scholars to explain life and politicsinGuyana.Hewrites simply and correctly, as opposedtothecontroversial, opportunistic columnist, explaining socio-political concepts.Now,hegivesusa sample of his skills in descriptive writing with a grand vision for the country's capital that is long overdueforrehabilitation.
GuyanesetalkofGuyana becoming a Dubai. Anyone who studies economics and development knows we are very far from there Countries go through stages of development as the
scholar WW Rostow theorized and illustrated
Thailand could be considered a model for Guyana for now Thailand
from the 1980s was considered one of theAsian Tigers,amongsecondworld nations, in high economic
g r o w t h a n d r a p i d development, similar to what Guyana has been experiencing over the last fiveyears.
BothChiangMai(andto some extent Bangkok and a couple other cities in Thailand) and Georgetown have similar features and characteristics (including its canals) as eloquently described by Persaud who forgot to mention one valuable role of the canals (rivers) — mode of local transportation and water markets (night as well as day),attractingthousandsof tourists daily, which can be emulated in Guyana. (Also, like Guyana, Thailand has ethnic conflict and border
controversies with neighbors).
As Persaud stated, Georgetown's canals can be transformed into a tourist attractionandformarketson the outskirts of the city PersaudlivedinThailandfor a number of years and no doubt has an expertise of its growth and development thatcanbetapped.
As someone who visited Thailand a dozen times, marveled by its beauty, civilization and culture, similar to India's, I encourage Guyanese to make a trip; millions of Indians and Chinese live in Thailand which is a major tourist destination for Europeans, Indians, Chinese. It is among the most beautiful countries in the East. Persaud and I are probably among a handful whospentconsiderabletime inThailand.
MyfirstvisittoThailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and other cities) was in August 1985 as a visiting doctoral student scholar at a universityinBangkokandin Chiang Mai. (As an aside, I learnedofForbesBurnham's death from the Bangkok Times, an English daily at the time, while a student in ChiangMai;Dr Ramharack was also a doctoral student scholar in the city a year beforeme). Iwasstruckby the advanced development inBangkok,ChiangMaiand otherThaicitiesin1985and immediatelythoughtofwhat couldbecopiedorborrowed in Guyana as Persaud does now While a doctoral student in Economics, my Professor in an Economic Development course recommended a study of Thailand as a model for development in the third world. It was a growing economy, among the least developedoftheTigers.This led to revisits every few
years,thelasttimetwoyears ago,totakeinitsbeautyand examine the progress from five years earlier I was always struck by the country's growth and development during every visit The cities and country's canals as a means of transportation and the waterorboatsmarketscould beemulatedinGuyana.Itis acknowledged that in Guyana's hinterlands, waterways have been used asameansoflocaltransport and even in marketing. The concept or idea can be expanded in other communitieswherethereare canals and other waterways andeventheconstructionof such.Thailandisalsooneof thelargestproducersofrice. It also produces sugar and coconutoilandsimilarfruits andvegetablesasGuyana.
ThecitiesinThailandare very modern, clean, and beautifully decorated with firstworldinfrastructureand tourist attractions includingtrainsorsubways. Chiang Mai is not as metropolitanasBangkokbut very majestic Guyanese will feel at home especially ontheoutskirtsthatarerural like with beautiful homes andmarkets.
I endorse Dr Persaud's recommendation that government should send a teamtotakealookatChiang Mai and or other cities as a model for Georgetown and totwinup.
Yourstruly, VishnuBisram
Failure to consult is a breach of the essence of a viable democracy
DearEditor,
Inasectionofthemedia, it was said that President Ali's vision to turn
Georgetown into a sustainable “Garden City”, was warmly received by the Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG),andtheplanisseen as a major step towards enhancing the city's appeal and liveability, fine words, but allow me to add this caveat; First, there seem to be no consultation with the municipal authority responsible for the city of Georgetown Failure to consult is a breach of the essence of a viable democracy
Second, change is alwayspossible;nottoforget that when professor Akbar Khan, a renowned town planner, spent several monthsandconsultedallthe relevant agencies, and produced a thorough report, accepted by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), it is now history that the then Central PPP government frustrated every effort to
i m p l e m e n t t h e recommendations intended to streamline and modernise thecity
I avoid the tedium of details but what follows are the ungarnished facts; after provoking a decent citizen, the late Campton Young a practicing Christian, who resigned, since as he said to me, he could not take the torment by the central government. The PPP then installed an interim management committee (IMC) under what law, of course,isanothermatter.
When the 1994 local government elections were announced the out-going chairman Dr Rose, stated thatevenifthecitycollected all monies, based under present regulations, these would be insufficient to provide a satisfactory serviceforGeorgetown,that stretched from Cummings Lodge East Coast, to Agricola East Bank (where the two arches are). When I was elected the Mayor, I accepted this wisdom of the PPPappointedchairmanand
proposed an establishment of a lottery to increase revenues We provided details to the President and Government,thematterwas referredtoMr SamuelHinds who was, at that time Prime Minister,andcarriedoutthe functionsofHeadofState.I headed a delegation including the Town Clerk, the late Robert Williams, Philomena Sahoye-Shury (PPP), C.M.L. John and RameshKissoon.
We presented a case seeking permission to establishalotterytoincrease ourrevenue.Afterapausein the discussions to allow Mr Hinds, as he said to consult others, he returned to the meeting and stated that the Government could not support a lottery because, in his exact words; “the religious community will be up in arms”. Within a few months the lottery was up and running and all off the profits going to the central governmentandnotonecent to the Georgetown M&CC, whoseideaitwas.Sam
(Continuedonpage6)
From page 2 challengesorobjections
According to GGMC documents seen by this publication, Daniels was invited to a meeting by GGMC Commissioner NewellDennisonwhichwas attended by Andron Alphonsoandhislawyers.
The meeting was an attempt to mediate a
c o m p r o m i s e a f t e r Alphonso complained he would have applied had he known the land was available However, that mediationfailed.
According to the document, Andron Alphonso owns river claims filed for in 2009, covering34claimsalongthe Puruni River, one mile upstream and 300-feet inlandonbothsides.Daniels' application, however, was for the 300-feet north and southoftheriver,adjacentto the Alphonso property The documentstatesthatDaniels'
actions were neither injurious to Alphonso nor illegal.
However, in February 2016, Alphonso objected to Daniels being granted Prospecting Permits Medium Scale (PPMS), arguing that his 2009 river claims included the 300 feet inland.
A tribunal chaired by Magistrate Allan Wilson heard the matter and in May 2024, ruled in Daniels' favour Magistrate Wilson held that under Guyana's mining regulations, river claimscannotbylawinclude 300-feet inland from the low-water mark, meaning Alphonso's claims did not coverthedisputedstrip.
Halliman recounted, “The magistrate ruled in ourfavororderingGGMC, the commission to grant us ourpermitsandstrikeoutthe
minister order” He said despite the ruling, GGMC stalled the process, telling himtwomonthslaterthatno permit would be issued “[Name withheld] tell me that no magistrate can't tell he what to do because what he told the magistrate to do, hedidn'tdoandthedecision will be appealed,” Halliman alleged.
The minister's order Halliman mentioned, is one made by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat. On May 3, 2023, Minister Bharrat issued a retroactive order closing the disputed area from December 6, 2012, which is thedaybeforeDanielsmade hisapplicationtoGGMC.
Halliman said he confronted the minister, “He said yes he closed the area, I said what reason you closed the area…so I told himy'allcan'tclosethisarea, this is prejudice to favor Alphonso…I said too that a personpropertyrightcan'tbe affected by a retroactive order, y'all can't go till back tobenefitsomebodyelse.”
In 2024, GGMC moved to the high court seeking a judicial review of the tribunal's decision. Some of the respondents in the case sought a dismissal throughtheirlawyers.
The respo ndents argued that the case was improperly filed and lackedgrounds.
The court dismissed GGMC's case, ruling that when Daniels applied in 2012 there were no objections, and that Alphonso only showed interest in the land after the applicationwasfiled.
It was noted too that even after showing interest in the land, Alphonso never made a formal application for the
sameplotofland.
In December 2024, GGMCagainmovedtothe high court this time seekingtoquashMagistrate Wilson's decision, arguing the permits granted overlappedwithlandalready reserved by the 2023 ministerial order GGMC contended that the order approved prospecting permitsforDanielsinanarea that had already been reserved and closed to mining.
The commission argued toothatthetribunaldecision wasunlawful,unreasonable, unfair, and an abuse of power. GGMC asked the court to quash this decision unless Magistrate Wilson canshowcause.
However, the court dismissed that challenge aswell
Halliman said that despite GGMC's repeated failedlegalchallenges,the commission has still not issued the permits. He also shared two letters dated September 16, 2025 addressed to Minister Bharrat and Robeson Benn, Senior Advisor on Security & Natural Resources seeking their intervention. However, it is unsure if the officialsreceivedtheletters.
He also shared videos s h o w i n g p e r s o n s purportedly working for the large-scale miner operating on the disputed land, despite it being out of theirlandclaims.
On Tuesday afternoon, Kaieteur News contacted Commissioner Dennison, who declined to comment even before hearing the question. Attempts to reach the Alphonso's were also unsuccessful.
Their office said no one was available, but tookanameandnumber
Frompage4 for some to blame Mr Granger for APNU's 2025 loss, given that he demitted leadershipinJuly2021. Atthelong-awaited20th Biennial Delegates CongressinDecember2021, Cde. Aubrey Norton was elected Leader, and he was returned unopposed at the 21st Biennial Delegates Congress in June 2024, despite unresolved grievances from contenders. As General and Regional Elections 2025 approached, efforts were made to build another coalition Many Osiris supporters, and even sections of our own base, expressed preference for a coalition government. The failure to unify, however, allowed the PPP/C to retain
office and gave WIN a pathway to prominence at ourexpense.
Now, three weeks after elections,callsaremounting forCde.Nortontostepaside andforaSpecialCongressto electinterimleadershipuntil the 2026 Biennial Delegates Congress If this is not addressed,thehemorrhaging of members will continue, weakeningthePNCRfurther aheadof2026.
Asthesayinggoes,every stewardmustgiveaccountof their stewardship. The time has come to stop the blame game and instead put our shoulders to the wheel. A Special General Council must be convened urgently to: Ensure strict adherence totheParty'sConstitution. Strengthenconstituency
DearEditor,
Irememberedthedaysas a youth in Guyana. My Dad wouldgivemeseasontickets toseethecricketgreatsofthe 70's.Hewouldtakemetothe prestine and prestigious Bourdaground.
Hewouldleavemethere alldayandreturnafterwork totakemehome.Iwouldsit in the Bourda south stand withmylittlebluetransistor radiolisteningtoCozierand "Reds"callthegameballby ball.
I saw the likes of the Chapell brothers, Jeff Thompson and Denise Lillee, the great Richards, Kallicharan,andClive.
Not forgetting the four h o r s e m e n o f t h e
Apocalypse---Croft,Garner, Roberts and Holding. Later, Marshall was added Crircket was not only fun, but a serious game. My friends and I would stay up until 1AM listening to the Packer series in Australia. Weknewmoreaboutcricket withoutTVandtheinternet.
I recently signed up for the cricket channel and watched the CPL. I was disappointed with the level of cricket I saw I saw mediocre cricket from the batting to the bowling to the fielding.
I saw cricketers who already had their bat raised readytohittheballbeforeit wasdelivered.
engagement to reclaim our supportbase.
Rebuild confidence in leaders
accountability
Prioritize youth and women's involvement to broadentheparty'sappeal.
Reopen coalitionbuilding conversations to create a viable path to governance.
The PNCR remains a mass-based political organization, but it must modernize, unite, and mobilize if it is to survive and lead again Guyana needs a strong and credible opposition, and the PNCR m u s t r i s e t o t h a t responsibility
Yourssincerely, AnnetteFerguson
Gone are the days when you tapped the bat at the crease reading the line and length of the ball. The basic yorker seems unplayer The middleorderbatsmenwould crumblelikedominoes. We need to bring back theglorydaysofcricket.Itis asportthatcantrulyunitethe country Iwasproudtoseeso many Guyana flags being waved.
Let's make cricket a true familyaffairstartingwiththe way the women in the half time shows and cheer leading dress and dance. I'm sure a lot of revenue was made by the franchises and businesses But the real loserswerethefans.
Regards
DanielSingh
Failure to consult is a breach...
Frompage5 Hinds is alive and he can attest to the accuracy of my statement.
W i t h o u t b e i n g narcissistic in the 90's I was known and called “action Green” but every effort every initiative was frustrated by the PPP government including the simple matter of increasing the fines for municipal
offenses, littering, etc. And that those fines should go directly to the council, even proposed a municipal court.
The fact that the Ministry of Local Government installed unqualified persons to key positions many of them in turnignoreddecisionsofthe M&CC and routinely carry out the wishes of the Minister responsible for LocalGovernment.
I have dealt with this matter ad nauseum but hope thatchangeofattitudebythe government will see implementation of the report.
I'm an optimist and rely on the quote by Alexander Pope; Hope springs eternal inthehumanbreast,soIsay nomore.
Sincerely ElderHamiltonGreen
Frompage3 the operator of the Stabroek Block was granted a tax waiver by the GoG amountingtooverUS$1.3B. This is according to the company's financials which indicate a tax expense of GY$260,155,788,763 for last year alone. During a media conference with local journalists to discuss the company's performance, EMGL refused to field questions on the tax certificates issued by the GoGanddirectedjournalists togovernmentofficials.
The sweetheart deal Exxon signed in 2016 states in Article 15 1 that the Contractor (ExxonMobil Guyana Limited) as well as its affiliates shall not be subjected to tax, valueadded tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge, or impost in respect of income derived from petroleum operations, propertyheldortransactions exceptasspecifiedunderthe agreement.
Further, Article 15 4
states that the sum equivalenttothetaxesowed bythecompanywillbepaid by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Commissioner General of the GRA. It should be noted
that the contract also allows fortheissuingofareceiptto ExxonMobil, indicating that it has met the local tax requirements to avoid the burdenofdoubletaxation.
GUYANA LOSES
Kaieteur News had reported that the since oil production commenced in December2019,thecountry lostoverUS$10Bintaxesto the Stabroek Block CoVenturers, as a result of the tax holiday granted by the 2016 PetroleumAgreement.
During the same period, the country's Natural Resource Fund (NRF) received payments totaling just over US$6B, inclusive of profits androyalty
According to the December2024NRFreport, atotalofUS$6,049,759,409 waspaidintotheNRFsince 2 0 1 9 , i n c l u d i n g
EXXON DEFENDS
It was reported that EMGL President, Alistair Routledge defended the localtaxarrangement.
He said the country is ultimately receiving taxes through the profit share arrangementand2%royalty requirements imbedded in thedeal.
Routledge told Kaieteur News,“Ineffect,thatprofitsharing royalty is tax. In other systems like whether you are running a different local business, you pay corporate tax – in effect it is thesame.Itisgivingatax,a revenuetothestate. Itisremittingrevenueto the state…while it is not called tax in the Petroleum SharingAgreement in effect that's what it is It is payments to the state in lieu of there being a tax agreement.”
Readmorehere:
https://kaieteurnewsonli ne com/2025/02/13/despitenot-paying-taxes-exxonboss-says-profit-sharingand-royalty-is-same-asgiving-guyana-tax/
US$786,190,162 in royalty This therefore means that Guyana and Exxon shared approximately US$10.5B in profitsduringtheperiod. Itcanfurtherbededuced a whopping US$42B in revenue was generated betweenDecember2019and December 2024, since 75% of the total revenue was deductedbyExxonMobilfor cost recovery As such, at a 25% tax rate, it would mean that Guyana lost over US$10B in taxes to the Stabroek Block partners aloneinfiveyears.
As Guyana continues to grantmoreoilprojectstothe multinational oil giant, ExxonMobil, the country's chance of enjoying larger profits from its resource is beingfurtherdelayed.
Under the 2016
Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), 75% of oil produced monthly is recoveredbytheoperatoras cost. The remaining 25% is then split between the oil companies and Guyana
Further, the contract stipulates that only after all costs have been recovered canthepartnersenjoy50/50 of the revenue generated as profits.
During a media engagementearlierthisyear, Exxon's Business Services Manager, John Colling was unabletosaywhenGuyana's share of profit would increase under the lopsided arrangement.
H e c o n c e d e d , “Currently, a significant portion of the revenue is being allocated for cost recovery ExxonMobil Guyanaanditspartnershave investedUS$40Btodateand have o
vered US$33B, so there is a cost recoveryongoing.”
“In the future once all of t
component of the revenue will be available for profit oil, for splitting between EMGL and its partners and the government of Guyana and we expect by the end of the decade that the government of Guyana will be receiving US$10B a year in profit oil and royalty whichisequivalenttoGY$2 trillion,”Collingadded. When asked to specify whenthiswouldbepossible,
the Business Services Managernotedthatthereare anumberoffactorsthatdrive future performance but his focuswastocoverresultsup to 2024. He was therefore unable to give a clear indication of the year Guyana could receive the lion'sshareofitswealth.
“We look at a number of prices, we look at a number of scenarios so I can't be more specific than to say in general we look at all the different assumptions we expect by the end of the decade for that number to approximate US$10B a year,”hesaid.
Collingwaskeentonote that EMGL and its partners have committed to invest overUS$55Binsixprojects that were approved at the time, adding that factors such as oil price and startup date of those Floating
Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) could affect the timeline for costrecovery
Accordingtohim,Exxon believes the Stabroek Block is“highlyprofitable”asseen since the inception and startup of its three major projects. “We are seeing the
profits and we are seeing those profits flowing to the government of Guyana, the people of Guyana as well as the partners who have invested substantially,” he said.
On Monday, the government of Guyana announcedtheapprovalofa
Hammerhead pegged at almost US$7B. This means that more expense has been added to the cost bank, further delaying Guyana's chance of enjoying a higher profitshare.
This is particularly troubling as experts predict oil p
significantly in the years ahead, as demand declines forthecommodity,duetothe shift to cleaner energy sources.
It is also important to note that this state of affairs is as a result of the lack of ring-fencing.
Aring-fencing provision would ensure that each oil project pays for itself, increasing the revenue available for profit sharing betweenthepartners.
Qatar's emir says Israel is an “enemy” to its neighbours, but vows to continue diplomacy
(CNN) Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin HamadAlThanistronglycriticizedIsraelin his speech at the UN General Assembly today, saying that it is “not a democratic country” but an “enemy to its surrounding neighbors.”
The comments come weeks after Israel launchedaseriesofstrikestargetingHamas' leadership in the Qatari capital in an unprecedented attack inside the territory of an important US ally“Israel is not a democraticcountrysurroundedbyenemies, butinfact,itisanenemytoitssurrounding neighbors, and it's engaged in a genocide, and its leader is proud of preventing the establishmentofaPalestinianstate,”Qatar's
emirsaidinhisNewYorkaddress. He also accused Israel's Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahuof“preventingpeace” with the Palestinians now and in the future, and said that Israel is trying to “impose its will” on its Arab neighbors. “Israel is surroundedbystateseitherwhohavesigned apeaceagreementorwhoarecommittedto theArabPeaceInitiative,butIsraeldoesnot make do with truces and settlements,” he said.TheemiraddedthatQatarwillcontinue toengageindiplomacyalongsidetheUnited StatesandEgypt.“Wewillcontinuetospeak truth,andwewillengageindiplomacywhen our enemies find it easier to use weapons,” hesaid.
Thisweekcamewiththe sad news of the death of Hollywood heartthrob, RobertRedford.Therewasa time that whenever major film stars died, the cinemas and television would host replays of their better movies.
Thattraditionisnottobe found anymore. Not even our television stations with their poor programming both to host reruns of the moviesofthedeceasedstars. Robert Redford made many excellent movies. But the oneIparticularlyenjoyedas The Way We Were which came out in 1973 and was shown in Guyana at the Plaza Cinema. The Way We Were' which stars Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford and is directed by SydneyPollack.
The Way We Were won two academy awards. Both awards were for its musical content. The movie is best remembered for its soundtrack which bears the name of the movie and whichbecameapophit.The Way We Were is not your
ordinarylovestory Thelove storyisjustacorollarytothe main commentary of the movie which is about the two types of persons in the world.
There are those who are passionateaboutrightsanda fairer society They take up theirplacardsandraisetheir voices in protest. They act. Thisgrouptendstobesmall, extremely small It comprises only a handful of persons In the movie, BarbaraStreisandplayedthe roleofapassionateactivist.
On the other hand, there is another type of personality,thosewhostand on the sidelines and watch on. They are indifferent to taking a stand on social and political causes Robert Redford personified this typeofpersoninthemovie. Thevastmajorityofpersons in the world belong to this personalitytype. Those who stand up and fight end up, just as the heroine of the movie, rejected and heartbroken They continue to fight on even when it is clear that
very few care. They are not accepted by mainstream society.They are not part of themainsocialcircles.
On the other hand, there are those who sit on the sidelines and refuse to get involvedinjustcauses.They sit on the proverbial fence. They end up being financially successful and socially acceptable.Anyone who lived through the dark days of dictatorship in Guyana knows, very well, these two types of personalities. A handful of persons were the ones who took the fight to the oppressors. They are still fighting today while the massesstandonthesidelines looking on, refusing to lend theirsupporttojustcauses.
Oppression had its good side, though. It was this system which threw up persons who made life-long commitmentstofightforthe rights of others. Many of themarestillinthetrenches fighting, at great personal sacrifice. Some, like Walter Rodney, did not make it. They were slaughtered by
A 45-year-old man known as 'Bread' drowned around 06:30 hrs on Monday,whiletakingabath in Lake Capoey, Essequibo Coast,RegionTwo.
Policeidentifiedthedead man as Andrew Edwards, a labourerofCapoeyMission, EssequiboCoast.
His cousin, Alex Richards, told police that Edwardswasdrinking“high
wine” with some villagers whenhelefttohaveabathin thelake.
Edwardsreportedlywent into the lake about 200 feet away from shore when he suddenly raised his two hands in the air before disappearing under the water
The villagers and
Richards realized that Andrews was in trouble and
went into the lake to rescue him but sadly he drowned beforetheycouldreachhim.
His body was found submerged The villagers retrieved Edwards' body from the lake and alerted police.
Andrew's body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital for further examination before being senttothemortuary
Guyana giving up more taxes dan it collecting.Datgattomaketaxreformabig joke.
And each year people asking fuh more taxconcessions.Demanwhodidnameafter de river, bin impose VAT pun nuff things. Anddenewgovernmentdecidedatdemgan removemostofdemtaxes.Butdemdoingit piecemealbecausedemtoogatpeoplewah alsoaskingfuhtaxexemption.
It mek dem boys remember de story of demanfromIsraelwhowasleavingRussia toreturnhome.
AtdeRussiancustoms'table,deofficials found a bust ofVladimir Lenin. Dey asked deman,“Whatisthis?”
The Israeli replied, “What kind of question is that? It is Lenin, the founding father of socialism. I bring him home as a
the dictatorship. Some were jailed, others dismissed, others broken financially The committed suffered They could not find jobs. The private sector did not wishtoemploythemforfear ofincurringthewrathofthe dictatorship. Many of these activists, who dedicated themselves to fighting for others, ended up having to scroungeforaliving.
On the other hand, the majorityofcitizensturneda blind eye to the struggle for the rights of others. They refused to participate because they were not
prepared to be exposed to victimization or were fearful.Theyevenrefusedto help those who were standing up for the people. The excuse made was that they did not wish to get involved in politics. Fiftytwoyearsafterthemakingof The Way We Were, the stereotypes still exist
Generally,therearestilltwo types of persons in this world.Ahandful of persons still are the only ones who will stand up for what is right.Thentherearethetens ofthousandsofpersonswho refuse to “get involved”. A
greatmanywrongsarebeing committedinGuyanatoday Thesilenceofthemajorityis deafening. They opt to stay on the sidelines rather than get involved. The way we were remains the way we are.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
reminderofmygoodtimeinRussia!”
The officials, impressed by the answer, said:“OK,youcango.”
Later, at Tel Aviv, de customs officials sawdebustandasked,“Whatisthis?”
The Israeli man replied, “What kind of question is that? It is Lenin, the guy who inventedsocialism.IleftRussiabecauseof him.Heistoremindmeofmyterribletime overthere!”
The officials, impressed by the answer, said,“OK,youcango.”
The Israeli arrived home. Many people cametovisithim.Oneofhisnephewsasked, “Whoisthis?”
The Israeli replied, “What kind of questionisthat?Itis10kgofgold,whichis tax-free!
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Mr C.A. Nigel Hughes walked away from politics underhisownpower Hedid from party politics and leadership, at least. The timing was right, the decision right. It was the only dignified one. Now, distraught and desperate comradeshavesentouttheir SOS: Save us, savior of the Guyanesepeople. Fromthe record, it is clear that Guyanese either didn't see Mr Hughes as their savior, or they didn't want him in that role. But the call from his well-meaning brethren rings out across Guyana.
Don't quit. Don't leave us alone in this pit. Return to the political pits.When the leader of a once recognized and viable political entity can only muster 3,610 votes in a national election, it is unconscionabletoaskhimto stay When a rank newcomer, a total political amateur, succeeds in compiling 35 times more than the AFC's showing of 3,610 votes, what does that say, drill into the head? It's time to go, while keeping a smile on one's face, while stepping away with measured grace. For sure,
thereareagreatmanypieces to search for, to try to put back together in some semblance of form and shape, and strength, but that hourhaspassed. It passed when so much timewaslost. Ishallnotadd to the lashes, other than to say that the people were left withnothing. Outofnothing comes nothing. It is less of the philosophical, and more of the statistical. Recall: 3,610 votes. There should begratitudethatsomanystill believed, after so much damage was done. Selfinflicted damage, I ask the
indulgence to add. Yet, againsttheodds,indefiance of the verdict of the times, Mr Hughes is being appealed to reconsider My own standard is not to look back, not to regret, not to second-guessmyself. Nigel Hughes may have his own. He should know from his little dealings with me, long before his reentry into Guyana'spoliticalwars,that noneofthisispersonal. Itis what is honorable, and it is my position that he did the honorablething,whenheleft on his own feet, and didn't have to be pushed out feet first.Because if there is one grandpositivetocomeoutof the opposition side of a contest that was never a genuine contest, it was one man, one leader, one citizen by the name of C.A. Nigel Hughes, stood up, shook off his pain, and said three words in three different ways: I am responsible. I take responsibility Therefore, I go. This is not theseasonof'whatifs.' The oppositeiswhatcommands: whynot? Whystickaround? Why not yield scorched ground, and rise to higher ground?
Thisisnotofabandoning troops. For where were they? Other than booking
passage to cross the river, cutting slices of the Guyanese pie for themselves. Inbusiness, when there is egregious failure, performance so bad astobeunmentionable,then the CEO has to go. The board doesn't want him around, the shareholders don't desire that he stays in place. But, most of all, he himselfknowsthatitistime tocutthecord. Restartlifein adifferentpasture.
I will be the first to acknowledge that that is of theoldwaywhenadifferent kindofmanwalkedthispale. I will say also that some of the old ways and old standards are so timeless as to be immortal. Don't quit shouldbegracedbythatwrit ofinsight.
Now, I have one more thing to assert, which I do unflinchingly in this public space. I caution that it is crude, may be found offensive by some, but I must persist, if only to register my position. In the circumstancesthatbefellthe opposition in the Guyana elections of 2025, a white man would have already been gone. Bags packed, shirt smoothed, farewell messagesshared,andoutthe
doorinamatterofhours. I take the strongest objectiontoanyone(anyone from anywhere) believing that the nonwhite man is made of a different fiber, possess a lesser regard for personal honour, harbor a smaller vision of what just must be done for the greater good.We are good at calling ontheforeignman,thewhite man, to run here to hold our hands and guide our feet in the right paths. I don't like that, but I bow before the weight of better judges, the crying needs of the environment. Sincehisgifts aresotreasured,thenIinsist that so must be standards to which he adheres. Against his better judgement, in conflictwithhisconvictions, NigelHughestookhisplace in the 2025 elections. He lost. He departed. He should stay that way. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the o p i n i o n s o f t h i s newspaper.)
R
e s i d e n t s o f Subryanville are set to take legal action to prevent the construction of a prefab building for the Mae's School, being developed on the Eastern end of Farnum Playfield.
Since losing its main campus in Subryanville to fire last March, the school has since been occupying sections of the playfield to house its operations and evenmovedtoerectaprefab structureontheplayfield.
The committee for the residentsofSubryanvillehas beencallingforacease-anddesist order to be issued to s t o p t h e o n g o i n g construction.
Elisabeth DeaneHughes, a resident of Subryanvilleandmemberof the group explained that residents have been engagingtheMayorandCity Council on the matter but their cease-and-desist order, isyettobeapproved.
“Mae's is not a for profit organisation and the residentsofSubryanvilleare adamant that the place should not be used for any type of temporary construction. We are yet to see where they [Mae's] got permission to erect a prefab buildingontheplayfield,she said, adding that the neighbourhood should not even be a space where commercialpropertiesexist.
“… so, the construction goes against so many regulations,” Deane-Hughes explainedthatthecommittee
for the residents of
Subryanville will soon approachthecourtforceaseand-desist order should the M&CC fail to stop the construction.
“This is a residential space that should be preserved as such. This is a privateschoolthatcanafford to find suitable alternative accommodation for its attendees…We have sought the intervention of the council and if they fail to address this matter then we willbemovingtocourt.”
In an invited comment, City Mayor Alfred Mentore explained that the council is seekingtohaveresidentsand school come to agreement for the school to use the playfield temporarily until their school is rebuilt. He noted that while the council has not granted permission for the prefab building to be placed on the field, the councilhasnotobjectedtoit.
“We haven't objected in principle as the 2000 kids thatattendtheschooltrumps any call for stalling the construction as matter is
Alvin Parag, a 49-yearold Businessman from Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, and Alberttown, Georgetown, was on Tuesday remanded to prison on a charge of traffickinginperson.
Parag was arrested on 2025-09-19 Parag is accused of committing the offence on a 31-year-old female foreign national, which occurred between 2025-03-29and2025-06-07 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
A section of the prefab building being erected at Farnum playfield Subryanville for Mae's School
being dealt with by the CH&PA. The CH&PA will handle approvals and permits and then it will be presented to the council.”
Mentoreexplained.
In a subsequent statement released on Tuesday, the community groupnotedtheirpositionon thematterhasnotshifted.
The group noted that on Monday, representatives of theircommitteeattendedthe statutory meeting of the GeorgetownMayorandCity Council held at the Kitty Market.
According to the statement, while the M&CC allowed the residents to orally request again another cease-and-desist/stop order for the current ongoing
construction of the prefab structures, the matter was deferredtoalaterdate.
The residents have since noted their frustration as there was no permission from M&CC for the construction of prefab buildings.
Additionally, they have noted that despite the urgency of this matter, M&CCdeferredthedecision tothestatutorymeetingthree weeks hence on 13th October2025.
Further, the community group has contended that to date, the M&CC has not provided any of the relevant documents requested by residents.
In their statement, the group said “These include
the minutes of the M&CC statutory meetings held on 24 March 2025, 8 September, 2025 and 15 September, 2025 The residentshavealsorequested the minutes of city works committee on 10 September 2025 and documents which M&CCareusingtoestablish the ownership of Farnum's PlayingField.”
Thegroupalsorequested any property transport from Mr David Sugrim (who is actingforMae'sSchools)for anypropertyinSubryanville and/or irrevocable authorisation.
According to the group theseincludeanydocuments whichconnectMr.Sugrimto Mae's Schools legally registered.Theseincludethe
transportfor9ThirdAvenue, Subryanville and/or irrevocable authorisation in Mr Sugrim's name, the transport for 19 Third Avenue,Subryanvilleand/or irrevocable authorisation in Mr Sugrim's name and the transport for 29 Third Avenue,Subryanvilleand/or irrevocable authorisation in Mr Sugrim's name, any c
Schools with Mr Sugrim's name and any business registration documents for Mae's Schools with Mr Sugrim'snameaswellasany documents which connect Mr.SugrimtoMae'sSchools legallyregistered. The residents are also (Continuedonpage22)
Thenurseryandprimaryschoolsin Micobie Village, Region Eight were shutonMondayandTuesdayduetothe lackofwaterinthevillage,TosahoJulie SinghtoldKaieteurNews.
that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) sent a few barrels of water for theschoolstouse.“So,schoolswillbe opened back tomorrow (Wednesday),” sheconfirmed.
Facebookpage.
Remanded: Alvin Parag
He appeared at the DiamondMagistrates'Court before Her Worship, Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman. The Accused pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge. The prosecution objected to bail and the accused was remandedtoprison. The matter was adjourned to October 6, 2025 for statements and disclosure The Guyana Police Force said it will continue to work with its stakeholders to combat TraffickinginPersonsinall forms.
Singh said that the entire village is withoutwaterbutnotedthattheGuyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is working toaddresstheproblem.
“Yesterday [Monday] afternoon I was made to understand the teachers announced schools closed until further notice. The water system we ain't getting water in Micobie, the whole village,”shesaid.
The Micobie Toshao said that she was informed that the village's water system “collapsed” causing the disruption. She said that a team from GWIisinthevillageworkingtorectify theproblem.
In the interim, Toshao Singh said
InapostviaitsFacebookpage,the Micobie Primary School said, “The school wishes to inform you that, through the efforts of the Regional DemocraticCouncil(RDC),waterwas transportedtodaytoboththeschooland the teachers' quarters. As such, school will resume as normal tomorrow, Wednesday, 24th September, 2025. Parents are kindly asked to sensitise learners on the importance of conservingwater.”
The water situation at Micobie Village was brought to the fore by leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed on Monday via his Team Mohameds
In a statement, Mohamed said he received reports that the village's nursery and primary schools were closed on Monday due to the lack of water
“Reports from our sources in Region 8 confirmed that Micobie Primary and Nursery Schools were today closed due to the lack of water Therefore, there is no water available for flushing toilets, washing hands, cleaningclassrooms,orconductingthe schoolfeedingprogram.Sincethestart ofthenewterm,studentshaveendured days without meals from the feeding programme,astherehasbeennowater topreparethemeals.Teachersarebeing forced to fetch water from the Potaro River,locatedapproximately1,000feet away from their living quarters,” Mohamedposted.
The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has seen a slight decline in voter support acrossthreeofitstraditional strongholds; Regions Two, Three, and Six at the September 1, 2025, General andRegionalElections.
According to the official Regional Democratic Council (RDC) election results, the party lost a total of 3,863 votes in those regions compared to the 2020elections.
In the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the PPP secured 17,442 votes in Region Two, 47,754 in RegionThree,and41,014in Region Six, amounting to a totalof106,210votesacross thesethreestrongholds.This marks a decline of 3,863 votes compared to the 2020 elections, where the party earned 18,755 votes in Region Two, 47,900 in RegionThree,and43,418in Region Six, for a combined total of 110,073 votes. The decline comes despite the
PPP's heavy campaign investment this election cycle, which included large rallies,aggressivephonecall campaigning, and other outreachefforts.
Despite the dip in these strongholds, the PPP made notable gains in Region Four, traditionally seen as a stronghold of the A Partnership for National Unity(APNU).
This year, the PPP collected 87,028 votes in Region Four, compared to 81,279votesin2020,again of 5,749 votes. In doing so, thepartyoutpaceditsrivals, including APNU (46,770 votes),thenewlyformedWe InvestinNationhood(WIN) party (41,936 votes), the Alliance for Change (AFC) (1,835 votes), Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) (2,689 votes), and the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) (550 votes).
Meanwhile, the WIN party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, made
significant inroads in PPP strongholds. In Regions Two, Three, and Six, WIN collected a total of 33,033 votes, 7,433 in RegionTwo, 13,020inRegionThree,and 12,580inRegionSix.When compared to the WIN party, thePPPsecured73,177more votes in its strongholds While still trailing behind the PPP in these regions, WIN's rapid emergence and strong showing signal a major shift in Guyana's politicaldynamics.
BeyondRegionFour,the PPP also improved its performanceinseveralother regions.
InRegionOne,theparty increased its votes to 9,021 from 7,996 in 2020; in Region Eight, from 2,050 to 2,847votes;inRegionNine, from 7,066 to 9,853 votes; and in Region Ten, from 3,208to4,197votes.
Overall,thePPPsecured
atotalof242,497votesinthe 2025 elections, an increase from the 233,336 votes it received in 2020, despite a lowervoterturnoutthisyear This overall performance secured the PPP a second
terminoffice,withPresident Irfaan Ali retaining power
The final election results revealed a disappointing performance for APNU, which was pushed into third place The WIN party
emerged as the new main opposition force with 16
surpassing APNU, which secured just 12 seats. The PPP/C retained its majority with36seats.
Naderia James, 19 years, of Baramita, North West District, has been remanded to prison for the murder of her 20-year-old boyfriend.
The accused appeared onTuesday at the Port Kaituma Magistrates' Court, via zoom, beforeMagistrateRabindranauthSingh.She was not required to plead to the indictable offence.Theaccusedwasremandedtoprison with her next court date set for October 14, 2025.
James is accused of murdering Kevin Smith, a 20-year-old male Guyanese Amerindian miner from Baramita, North WestDistrict.
The incident occurred on September 18, 2025, at approximately 17:00 hrs Investigations revealed that the victim and the 19-year-old accused were in a relationshipandhadbeenlivingtogetherina woodenandplasticcampforaboutayear
Atthetimeoftheincident,NaderiaJames returned home after consuming alcohol and foundthevictimlyinginhishammock.
Whenthevictimnoticedher,hegrabbeda cutlassandstruckherontheleftshoulderand
Charged with murder: Naderia James
herrighthand,whichledtohertobecoming agitated. James then pulled out a handmade knifefromherwaistandstabbedthevictimin hischest.
Following the stabbing, Smith stumbled out of the camp and collapsed in a patch of bushes. James fled the scene and made her way to the Baramita Police Station, where she provided a statement regarding the incident.
The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, through its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, has launched a formal investigation into a workplace fatality that occurred on Monday at a
construction site in Bachelor's Adventure, East CoastDemerara.
The victim, 28-year-old Cuban national Dayrovis Martinez Mendoza, was a
construction worker involvedinthebuildingofa Chinese-ownedsupermarket when a 15-foot-high, 120foot-long concrete wall collapsed at approximately 11:30 hrs. The wall came crashingdownwhileseveral workerswerenearby,fatally crushing Mendoza and trappingothers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry confirmedthatOSHofficers have commenced an investigation to determine thecircumstancesthatledto thecollapse.“TheMinister's team, comprising officers from the Occupational Safety and Health
Department, launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surroundingthetragedy,”the releasestated.
The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to improving workplace safety and preventing future tragedies “The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the lives and well-beingofallworkersby enforcing occupational safety and health standards and holding employers
accountable for noncompliance.”
During a site visit on the dayoftheincident,Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith extended condolences to the victim's family, friends, and colleagues on behalf of the GovernmentofGuyana.
Speaking with Kaieteur News on Monday, Minister Griffith pledged to intensify workplace inspections and emphasized the need for increased public education
An Assistant Accounts
Clerk at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently in police custody after investigators recovered a portion of the $5 million allegedly stolen from the entity
On Monday, several employees from GECOM's Accounts Department were taken in for questioning in connection with the missing funds.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Tuesday that the assistant clerk was found in possession of part of the stolen money While he did not disclose the exact amount recovered, Blanhum stated, “A small fraction of the stolen money was recovered by detectives in possession of an assistant accounts clerk. He is in police custody The probe is ongoing.”
The missing funds were reportedly intended to pay temporary polling day staff who worked during the September 1 General and Regional Elections According to reports, the
discrepancy was discovered overtheweekend,triggering an immediate police investigation.
The issue gained public attention after the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party alleged on Monday that GECOM was experiencing financial irregularities. WIN claimed that over $50 millionwasunaccountedfor and that multiple staff members had been arrested. However, police have confirmed the missing amount to be approximately $5million.
Therevelationhasplaced GECOM under public scrutiny, especially coming just weeks after the conclusionofthegeneraland regional elections The missing money affects the polling day staff In preparation for the polls, GECOM had hired temporary staff and scheduledtheirpaymentsfor September17.
Kaieteur News spoke with one such worker, who confirmed that payments were scheduled for September 17. Those who
onoccupationalsafety
“Weneedtoamplifyand continue inspections by our HealthandSafetyOfficers,” the Minister stated. “But equally, I believe we must find a way to have persons continue to join the educational aspect of health and safety Over the coming days, a robust plan is being examined to educate workers and employers on proper health and safety protocols.”
On Monday, residents in the area told Kaieteur News that construction of the supermarket began around three months ago, and many had raised concerns about the quality of the work. One resident remarked, “We did raiseconcernsaboutthewall ever since they started construction. How it was being constructed, it looked inferior, and we were worried that the wall might collapseanditdid.”
could not collect their payments on that day were told they could do so this week. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing investigation and the missing funds, those payments have been delayed.
Kaieteur News also understands that several temporary staff members who had already received their payments were shortpaid, receiving less than the amount stated in their contracts. One such staff member shared that while she did collect her payment, she and others who received their salaries during that same period noticed discrepancies.
According to her, between$5,000and$10,000 was missing from the original amount they had signedforintheircontracts.
Despite growing public scrutiny, GECOM has maintained silence on the issue Public Relations OfficerYolanda Ward stated briefly that the commission is conducting an internal investigationandwillissuea formal statement once it is complete.
body A thorough search confirmed that no other personsweretrapped. According to police, the property was being developed by 49-year-old Chinese businessman Xie Guohui, who had entered into a 40-year lease agreement on October 7, 2024, with property owner
MinisterofLabourand ManpowerPlanning; Keoma Griffith
Following the collapse, eyewitnesses reported that several Spanish-speaking workers had been on-site when the eastern fence wall suddenly gave way Only one body was visible in the rubble Emergency respondersfromtheGuyana Police Force and Guyana FireServicequicklyarrived, broke through the concrete, and removed Mendoza's
Carlos Paul Guohui reportedlyhiredsixSpanishspeaking labourers, whose names were not recorded, to assist with the construction, which began approximately two months ago under his direct supervision. He was reportedly absent from the siteonthedayoftheincident due to illness and was only informed of the collapse via aphonecallat11:50hrs.
The body of Mendoza has been taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortemexaminationas investigationscontinue.
The handing out of several gold mines at a time when Guyana is producing oilisarecklessmove.Thisis the view of former Minister ofFinance,WinstonJordan.
D
Countdown hosted by AndrewWeekes,Jordansaid that he believes Guyana has enoughoiltolastforthenext couple of decades, even at thecurrentextractionrateby ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), operator of the Stabroek Block
Legend
Internationalborders
Toroparu titles
Mining operation
Mining project
Roads Rivers
“Look, there’s enough oil there to last another 30, 40 years, even at the existing extraction rate…that’s huge money coming to a country in terms of population, [in] 10 years’ time with good investment and all these thingsallofusshouldbe,not super rich but have a decent standardliving,”henoted.
The former minister said hebelievesthetrendofhigh goldpriceswillcontinueinto the future. He added, “Look at the price of gold…which now is calling forth a bunch ofpeoplenowintoGuyana.”
However, he contended thatthePeople’sProgressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)
government in its “shortsightedness,” has handed out several massive goldminestopredominantly Canadian producers This publicationreportedthatfive Canadianminingcompanies collectively control an estimated 15 5 million ounces of gold across v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f
development These projects, spanning across Guyana’s mining regions, are progressing through exploration, feasibility studies, and permits. Many of the companies have boastedofGuyana’sminingfriendlypoliciesandbankon the projects to drive substantial growth for their businesses.
Forhispart,Jordannoted thatgovernmentshouldhave looked at the gains Guyana would receive from those foreign mining investments before making a decision on the way forward. He also said it would have been an opportune time to save the environment. “But instead, instead, we’re not satisfied withtheextractionoftheoil that we have got. We have gone on giving away these gold mines, these massive
gold mines, for next to nothing, because it’s next to nothing we just get a couplepeopleworkingthere, locals,withsomewagesand then some small piece as a royalty,”Jordanstated.
Hearguedthatthetiming of giving out so many largescale gold mines is not a good move. Jordan outlined that the large-scale producers extract the gold, whichisthenexportedoutof Guyana, adding value elsewhere He noted, “Everything else is given a w a y T h e r e ’s n o smelter…the gold is then goingtobedugout,andthen yougivethempermissionto buildairstrip.Theyaregoing to fly out the gold from the airstrip, and it’s going to be added value for somewhere else,butnotinGuyana.”
The former minister stressedthatgivingoutthese minesisnotnecessaryatthis stage.
“Now you got oil. You need to concentrate on how we diversify the economy usingtheseoilresources,”he said. Jordan added that what the government has done insteadisputafurtherstrain onthecountry’soversightof the already stretched mining sector “We don’t even have thecaliberofpeopleandstaff todoso,”henoted.
Further, Jordan pointed out that one of the gold producers,OmaiGoldMines Corp , which has now reentered Guyana’s mining industry, during its previous stint in Guyana, paid no income taxes. The company now has full ownership of the historic Omai gold project Omai recently announced an updated MineralResourceEstimate Continuedonpage22
Days ahead of the t w o - y e a r anniversary of Israel's war on Gaza, the “Solidarity with Gaza” group is inviting all Guyanese to join in a day of fasting and prayer outside the CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, on Thursday, September25.
The group, in a media release on Tuesday, noted thatOctober2025willmark two years of the “Israeli Apartheid State's genocidal war on the defenseless civilianpopulationofGaza,” who it said remains under siegeinwhathasbecomethe world'slargestconcentration camp.
“Guyanese of every religionandcreedarecalled upon to join together in prayer, meditation and fasting on Thursday September 25, 2025, as a demonstration of solidarity with the people of Gaza. Persons are free to fast in whatever way they are able, for any amount of time during the day, from wherever they are- at home, work, school, in or out of Guyana.
Therewillalsobeatent set up by the CARICOM Secretariat on the Railway
Embankment Road in Turkeyenwhereparticipants willbewelcometogatherin person to pray and meditate,” the statement rea
children, women, and men continuetobesystematically slaughtered before daily It s
Palestiniansareestimatedto have been killed by Israeli forces in the last 23 months, with countless others horrifically injured and scarred for life, both
p h y s i c a l l y a n d psychologically Entire families and lineages have been wiped out. According to 'Save The Children International', at least one PalestinianchildinGazahas been killed every hour by Israeli forces since the war began,withthetotalnumber of children killed now surpassing20,000.Israelhas also been systematically destroying hospitals and starvingthesurvivingpeople by restricting the flow of food, medicine, fuel, and other lifesaving materials into the Gaza Strip, the organizationrelayed.
“Just over a week ago, a UnitedNationsCommission ofInquiryconcludedthatthe
responsible for committing genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. This comes a year after the International Court of Justice ruled (in September2024)thatIsrael's occupation of Palestinian
This ruling was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly However,despite theserulingsandwidespread condemnationandprotestby respected organisations and millionsofpeopleacrossthe world, Israel continues to massacre,maim,torture,and displace Palestinians with impunity.”
Citing the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, the group said an estimated 132,000Palestinianchildren belowtheageoffivearenow projected to be at risk of d e a t h f r o m a c u t e malnutritionbyJune2026.
“Our intention behind this action is to reclaim our collective humanity by not remaining silent or turning away from what is widely acknowledged to be a genocide committed by the State of Israel against the women,children,andmenof Gaza.”
territory was illegal, constituted apartheid, and must be brought to an end.
“CARICOM's lofty statements of condemnation are not enough; they are m e a n i n g l e s s a n d hypocriticalwhenCaribbean nationscontinuetomaintain economic, diplomatic, sporting and cultural ties with the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel. As citizensoftheCaribbean,we demand that all CARICOM nations cut all ties with Apartheid Israel, as was done with Apartheid South Africa.”
The group noted that religious leaders and others including Reverend Patricia Sheeratan Bisnauth, Sheikh Haseeb Yusuf, Nicole Cole of the Guyana Rastafari Council Group, and former president, Donald Ramotar are expected to be in attendance.
In addition to showing solidarity with the longsuffering Palestinian sisters, brothers, and their children, the group is also calling on CARICOM nations to take stronger, more meaningful action to uphold their obligations under international law, end the genocide, and hold Israel accountable.
Two men pretending to be employees with the MinistryofFinancerobbeda hotdog vendor and her grandmother of a large sum of cash and jewellery on Monday at Huist Dieren Public Road, Essequibo Coast,RegionTwo.
However, they did not get to enjoy their loot after police responded promptly and arrested them hours later
The victim, Andrea Singh, age 30, told police that two men wearing surgical masks turned up at her home where she lives with her family around 13:30hrscallingfor“inside”. Her 83-year-old mother Samaria Harichand was in the kitchen and while she was sitting in a hammock under a shed inside her yard withherone-year-oldbaby Singh responded to the men and they asked her if a pensioner was living with her to which she responded yes. The men then said that they were employees with the Ministry of Finance and requested to see her grandmother's identification card Singh claimed that while communicating with the men she started to become suspicious that they might be lying because they hadastrongscentofalcohol and cigarettes and one of themaskedforwater Brushing the suspicious asideshegavehimthewater butthenthingstookasudden turn when they both rushed uptoherandplacedagunto herhead. Theyforcedherintothe house at gunpoint. One of them held onto her grandmotherwhiletheother took her into her bedroom and demanded that she give themmoney
The stolen cash and gold rings along with the illegal quantity of marijuana recovered from the suspects
valued$200,000.Singhalso handed over GYD $1,500,000cashandanother US$1,500incashwhichshe hadinapipeinherbedroom. Thevictimthentookherinto the kitchen area and went intoanotherroomtolookfor more valuables but Singh started screaming so they retreatedandranaway
crime patrol unit went to an abandon house at Huist Dieren Public Road, EssequiboCoast,wherethey found one of the suspects, Alim Fareed a 39-year-old a laborer of lot 155 Little Indian, East Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six hiding betweensomebusheswitha haversack.
Fearful for her life she allowedhimtorelieveherof four gold rings worth 250,000 and a gold band
The robbery was subsequently reported to the police. Investigators said that hours later they received some key information that led them to the suspect. At around 12:14 hrs. an anti-
A police rank took possession of the haversack and found GYD$ 700,000, US$1,570 and 230 Euro currency all cash inside They also found a black plastic bag containing marijuana.
He was arrested and reportedly admitted to committingboththerobbery and having marijuana in his possession.
The other suspect identified as 27-year-old Nicholas Christopher of Lot 76 village East Corentyne Berbice, Region Six was foundcloseby He too admitted to robbing the hotdog vendor after handing over GYD291,000 cash to police along with a sum of US currency
Police questioned them some more at the Aurora
Police Station and they told the investigators that they committed the robbery with a toy gun. One of them, Nicholas Christopher, even took detectives to an area where he hid the fake weapon.Accordingtopolice he pointed them to a black toygunwhichheclaimedhe hidinsomebushes. Police were also able to recover the clothes they woretocommitthecrime.In a pair of trousers police found two of the hotdog vendor'sgoldrings. Thetwo suspects remain in custody asinvestigationscontinue.
At a United Nations General Assembly side event at the Yale Club, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa called for urgent action to scale up hypertension controlintheAmericas.
Co-hostedbytheWorldHealth Organization (WHO), Resolve to Save Lives, and Bloomberg Philanthropies,theeventcoincided with the release of WHO's second Global Hypertension Report, which shows 1.4 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure,butonlyoneinfivehaveit undercontrol.
“The report confirms what we already know: hypertension remains the world's deadliest yet most manageable health threat,” Dr Barbosa said. “Behind these numbers are millions of preventable strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, dementia, disabilities,andprematuredeaths.”
TheWHOreportdetailsgapsin hypertension prevention and treatment, especially in low- and middle-income countries where only 28% have consistent availability of all WHOrecommended hypertension medicines in pharmacies or primarycarefacilities,comparedto 93% in high-income nations Uncontrolled hypertension costs these countries an estimated US$3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025—about2%oftheircombined GDP
Yet, “successful interventions are possible and they are happening, ” Dr Barbosa emphasized Countries that prioritize hypertension control, adopt strong public health policies likereducingsaltandtobacco,and strengthen primary care with standardized protocols and access to medicines are seeing better outcomes.
HEARTS initiative: A model forsuccess
HEARTS in the Americas initiative which implements WHO's Global HEARTS technical package exemplifies this progress. “Today, 33 countries are committed to HEARTS, 28 are actively implementing it, 12 have integrateditintoover80%oftheir primary care networks, and more than 10,000 facilities participate. Over6millionpeoplearereceiving hypertension treatment, with 60% achievingbloodpressurecontrol.”
He highlighted HEARTS' transformative impact: In El Salvador and Cuba, HEARTS has catalyzed the transformation of primary care. In the Dominican Republic, more than 4 million people now benefit from free treatment for hypertension and diabetes In Chile, trained pharmacists and nurses manage patients following the HEARTS
clinical pathway, based on a taskshifting model In Ecuador, HEARTS training has been adopted as a national strategy Additionally, 1.5 million health workershavebeentrainedthrough PAHO'sVirtualCampus.
He noted that HEARTS has shown how evidence can be translatedintoactionatscale—“by simplifying clinical decisions, improving continuity of care, enablingtask-sharing,andensuring reliable access to medicines and validateddevices.”
The initiative is also helping countries reimagine how they manage cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases in primary care. “These achievements prove the tools work and give us confidence that we can accelerate progress in hypertension control and management of NCDs even further.”
Scaling up for Sustainable DevelopmentGoals
Withjustfiveyearslefttomeet theSustainableDevelopmentGoal (SDG) 3.4—reducing premature mortality from NCDs by onethird—Dr Barbosa stressed the urgency of expanding successful interventions. “PAHO is building on the successes of HEARTS to scaleupthecomprehensive'Better CareforNCDs'initiative,”hesaid. He also highlighted the PAHO Strategic Fund, which supports pooled procurement of qualityassured medicines and technologiesatcompetitiveprices. “We know the cost of inaction — millionsofliveslostprematurelyto preventablediseases,”Dr.Barbosa concluded. “The tools exist, the evidence is clear, and now is the timetoactwithurgency,equity,and solidaritytoensurethatweachieve the global targets for NCDs, leavingnoonebehind”.
Tw o m a l e
B r a z i l i a n nationals have been charged with the unauthorised purchase of gold, the Guyana Police Forcehavereported.
JoseAntonioRodrigues
Dos Santos, age 58 years, andIsacAguiarAbreu,age 36 years, both miners from Boa Vista, Brazil, were arrested on 22-09-2025 and charged with the offence of 'Purchasing Gold from a Person other than the Board or Agent authorized by the Board', contrary to Section (7)(2) of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, in contravention to Section
23 of the Guyana Gold BoardAct,Chapter66:01.
The two defendants appeared at the Lethem Magistrate's Court on TuesdaybeforeHisWorship Magistrate Omadatt
Chandan, where the charge was read, separately, to them.
Theybothpleadedguilty andwereeachfined$75,000 o r s e v e n m o n t h s imprisonment.
...Husband confirms long-whispered rumours about ‘former PM's health, says he now lives only for her well-being
(Jamaica Gleaner) For years, it has been whispered in political and other circles – both within and outside of the People's National Party (PNP), the political movementsheonceledasits first female president – that Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica's trailblazing former prime minister, was livingwithdementia.
Last week, those whisperswereconfirmed.
Last Wednesday, as Simpson Miller was honouredwithoneofCuba's highest awards – the Medal of Friendship – her husband and“chiefprotector”,Errald Miller, confirmed for the firsttime,inarareinterview, that the 79-year-old former leader is indeed living with dementia.
D e m e n t i a i s a progressive brain condition with symptoms of a mental decline,whichoftenimpacts memory, thinking and language.
Today is being observed as World Alzheimer's Day (WorldDementiaDay(.The annual September 21 health awareness day aims to i n c r e a s e p u b l i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f Alzheimer's disease and othertypesofdementia.Itis
a part of the broader World Alzheimer's Month, which takes place throughout September
Miller said he has been Simpson Miller's primary caregiver,fiercelyprotecting herdignity
Speaking emotionally after the event, which was held at the Cuban Embassy in Kingston and hosted by Cuban Ambassador Fermín Quiñones, Miller said: “That's my life. I live for nothing else but her at this time I have a lot of opportunities, but I have droppedallofthosethings.I live only for her Only for her.”Millersharedthatwhile Simpson Miller has not reached the later, more debilitating stages of the disease, she is facing the challenges typical of dementia – particularly with m e m o r y a n d communication.
“[It's the] first time I'm going to [publicly] say it to anybody, but she has been going through dementia. So she still eats, drinks, sleeps,walks,talkstouswho are around. So if you come, you will see her like how [youknowher],”Millersaid.
“You will probably see her stare at you, and then once you go and get the hug and the kiss, we know that sherecogniseswhoitis,”her husbandrevealed.
Portia Simpson Miller made history as Jamaica's first female prime minister, serving from 2006 to 2007 andagainfrom2012to2016. She served as leader of the opposition from 2007 to 2012andfrom2016to2017.
She was also the first woman to lead the PNP, holding the presidency from 2006until2017.
Her political career spanned four decades in localandcentralgovernment with several ministerial portfoliosovertheyears.Her premiership saw significant national reforms, including the passage of tax incentive legislation in December 2 0 1 3 a n d t h e implementation of the fiscal rule in March 2014 which curbed the Government's apetiteforspending.
Despite her condition, Miller said Simpson Miller stillenjoyssmallroutines.
He added that a tell-tale sign that she has recognised someone is when she offers one of her well-known hugs andkisses.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday released its second Global hypertension report, showing that 1.4 billion people lived with hypertension in 2024, yet just over one in five have it under control either through medication or addressing modifiable health risks.
The new report–released at an event co-hosted by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives during the 80th United Nations General Assembly–also reveals that only 28% of low-income countries report that all WHO-recommended hypertension medicines are generally available in pharmacies or primary care facilities.
Hypertension is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.
It is both preventable and treatable – but without urgent action, millions of people will continue to die prematurely, and countries will face mounting economic losses.
From 2011 to 2025, cardiovascular diseases–including hypertension–are projected to cost low- and middle-income countries approximately US$ 3.7 trillion, equivalent to around 2% of their combined GDP.
“Every hour, over 1000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks from high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO DirectorGeneral. “Countries have the tools to change this narrative. With political will, ongoing investment, and reforms to embed hypertension control in health services, we can save millions and ensure universal health coverage for all.”
“Uncontrolled high blood pressure claims more than 10 million lives every year, despite being both preventable and treatable.
Countries that integrate hypertension care into universal health coverage and primary care are making real progress, but too many lowand middle-income countries
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are still left behind,” said Dr. Kelly Henning, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Health Program. “Strong policies that raise awareness and expand access to treatment are critical to reducing cardiovascular disease and preventable deaths.”
Persistent barriers
Analysis of data from 195 countries and territories shows that 99 of them have national hypertension control rates below 20%.
The majority of the affected people live in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems face resource constraints.
The report highlights major gaps in hypertension prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.
Key barriers include weak health promotion policies (on risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, salt, and trans fats), limited access to validated blood pressure devices, lack of standardized treatment protocols and trained primary care teams, unreliable supply chains and costly medicines, inadequate financial protection for patients, and insuffi-
cient information systems to monitor trends.
Access to medicines: a cornerstone of progress
Blood pressure medication is one of the most costeffective public health tools. Yet only 7 out of 25 (28%) of low-income countries report general availability of all WHO-recommended medicines, compared to 93% of high-income countries.
The report explores the barriers and strategies for improving access to hyper- tension medication through better regula- tory systems, pricing and reimbursement, procurement and sup- ply chain management, and improved prescribing and dispensing of these medicines.
“Safe, effective, low-cost medicines to control blood pressure exist, but far too many people can’t get them,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, President & CEO, Resolve to Save Lives. “Closing that gap will save lives — and save billions of dollars every year.”
Country-level progress
Despite barriers, progress is possible. Bangladesh, the Philippines, and South Korea
have made significant progress by integrating hypertension care into universal health coverage (UHC), investing in primary care, and engaging communities: Bangladesh increased hypertension control from 15% to 56% in some regions between 2019-2025 through embedding hypertension treatment services in its essential health service package and strengthening screening and follow-up care.
The Philippines has effectively incorporated the WHO’s HEARTS technical package into communitylevel services nationwide.
South Korea has integrated health reforms, including low costs for antihypertensive medications and limiting patient fees, which have resulted in the high rate of blood pressure control nationally: 59% in 2022.
WHO calls on all countries to embed hypertension control in UHC reforms. Implementing the measures recommended in the report could prevent millions of premature deaths and ease the massive social and economic toll of uncontrolled high blood pressure.
From page 11 seeking any permits and application for the prefabricated ongoing construction of the building on the playfield that they have since requested a cease-and-desist order.
In the interim, residents have engaged with Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to have the covenants on their transports enforced for all applications in at CHPA.
As the residents await the outcome of their reiterated demand to stop the construction, they noted the importance of the playfield to Georgetown's transformation.
“Farnum's Playfield has a history dating back to the 1940s when it was donated by the Farnum Family and declared community property by the Chairman of Kitty and Alexanderville Country Authority for use by the commu-
nities of Subryanville and Kitty.
Residents have been contributing to the maintenance of the Farnum Playground,” the release added.
Moreover, the residents of Subryanville are of the view that considering the plans for Georgetown's transformation, the open green recreational community space can be used as a model in the baseline study.
From page 16 (MRE) for its property, now estimated to hold 2.1 million ounces of gold.
“We can’t be serious, forgive me for sounding gloomy, but it is gloomy. I thought that we didn’t need to go and give out two and three more gold mines.
Those could be left for our future generations…when the oil run out…” Jordan said.
Notably, for the past 20 years, Guyana has been receiving either 5% or 8% royalties from the large-scale mining companies operating here.
Canadian gold company G Mining Ventures (GMIN) recently announced the commencement of construction of a 13-kilometer access road to its 5.4 million-ounce Oko
West Gold Project. GMIN is the 100% owner of the Oko West project and recently received an Environmental Permit from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the project.
GMIN’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Louis-Pierre Gignac last year said that if gold prices remain high when production commences at Oko West, Guyana could receive corporate taxes. Gignac said that unlike his father’s previous involvement with Omai’s gold project, where the company did not pay corporate taxes to Guyana due to low prices at the time, he is confident that Oko West will benefit from the current high gold prices. As such, he had expressed optimism about paying corporate taxes to the government, con-
tingent on gold prices remaining high. Additionally, other Canadian companies are active in Guyana’s mining sector. Aris Mining owns the Toroparu project, a significant gold development with both open pit and underground potential. The project boasts indicated resources of 5.4 million ounces of gold, placing it among the largest undeveloped gold projects in the region.
Another player is Mako Mining, which is pushing ahead with its Eagle Mountain Gold Project in the Mahdia district. This project has an MRE of 1.2 million ounces. Meanwhile, G2 Goldfields Inc. estimates recoverable gold at its Oko project at 1.5 million ounces.
he Ministry of THome Affairs is
preparing to spend approximately $130 million more to complete several outstanding works on the new Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU)
h e a d q u a r t e r s o n
Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.
Ministry
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e information provided, the ministryhadissuedatender, seeking bids for the installation of an elevator and completion of building and infrastructure works at CANUHeadquarters.
Three contractors have applied for the contract which is estimated to cost $130,368,917.
This was revealed at the recentopeningofbidsatthe National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office
Kaieteur News reported that in 2024, the ministry awarded a $421 million contracttoconstructthenew headquarterswhichisnextto thenewGuyanaFireService (GFS) headquarters on HomestretchAvenue.
At the sod turning event in January 2024, President Irfaan Ali said that the government is looking to constructanewheadquarters for CANU that will consist
of a regional integrated system.
He explained that this willallowCANUnotonlyto function effectively out of the city but to function in every single region with the same efficiency, same capabilityandwiththesame ability to proactively work against those who try to destroy the society with drugs.
“An important part what
we are doing with CANU alsoistobuilditscapacityto integratewithotherregional structureintheCaribbean,in LatinAmericaandofcourse with our partners in the western hemisphere that is why the structure of CANU will reflect this new approach to the work that theydo,”headded.
In addition to the $421 million, it was stated during an inspection exercise in
ConstructionofFemaleLivingQuartersatMabaruma.
InstallationofElevatorandCompletionofBuildingand InfrastructureWorksatCANUHeadquarters,Homestretch Avenue.
GuyanaLivestockDevelopmentAuthority
ReconstructionofStaffQuarters,GLDA,Ebini,RegionNo.10.
June 2024 that contractor GreenPlainsEnterprisewas awarded a $149.6 million contract to construct a culvert, fence, and security hut and storage unit for the CANUbuilding.
Notably, in April this year, another project for construction of barracks at the building was opened at NPTAB. The ministry had providedanestimateof$122 millionforthatproject.
ConstructionofBarracksatArakaka,RegionOne.
sexually assaulting a primary school teacher was on September 16, 2025 chargedwiththeoffenceand remandedtoprison.
RayHenryofLot32and 17 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast,RegionTwoappeared before Magistrate Ravindra MohabirattheAnnaRegina Magistrates'Court.
The court heard that he allegedly sexually assaulted a 23-year-old teacher on August 30, 2025 and based on advice obtained from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)
Henrywascharged. He pleaded not guilty to the crime. The matter has been adjourned to October 30,2025.
(AL-JAZEERA) Deadly
Israeli air attacks have intensified in Gaza City and ground forces have advanced in the south of the city, killing at least 36 Palestinians across the enclave.
Gaza's Health Ministry has warned that patients are facing “certain death” as hospitals in the besieged territorymayhavetoshutter vital departments within “a few days” due to fuel shortages.
The Israeli army has raided several towns around the West Bank city of Nablus,thePalestiniannews agencyWafareports.
Military raids took place in Bazariya, Qusra, Kafr Qallil, Burin, Duma, Surra, Sebastia and Beit Furik, it said Separately, Israeli settlersstormedtheoutskirts of Burin village, south of Nablus, leading to clashes. The settlers fired live ammunition, but no injuries werereported.
The situation continues to deteriorate, especially in theheartofGazaCitywhere Israeli forces have been using artillery shelling and
quadcopters to push more Palestinians to evacuate to thesouthandmiddleareas. They also stormed the Jordanian Field Hospital after it was evacuated Israeli forces continue to use explosive-laden vehicles to destroy houses
There have been endless appeals from Palestinian families saying their relatives are stuck under the rubble,butnoonecanreach them More Palestinians havealso become homeless after evacuating to the middle areas under constant bombardment
They were forced to walk under the sun from Gaza City towards the central partofGazawithoutfoodor shelter At the UN General
Assembly, Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the October 7 attacks are indefensible from any angle, but nothing justifies the ongoing genocide in Gaza
Headdedthat:
Ÿ Under tonnes of rubbleare buried tens of thousands of innocent women and children
Ÿ There,wecanseethat i n t e r n a t i o n a l humanitarian law and the myth of e t h i c a l exceptionalismofthe West are also being buried
Ÿ Hunger is used as a weapon of war and t h e f o r c e d displacement of
population goes on unpunished.
Ÿ ThePalestinianpeople are at risk of disappearing
Addressing the UNGA's 80thsession,Guterresgave particular emphasis to the warinGaza,whichissetto define this year's General Debate. “In Gaza, the horrors are approaching a
Smoke rises from an Israeli attack, as displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip, September 22, 2025 [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters
third monstrous year. They are the result of decisions that defy basic humanity. The scale of death and destruction are beyond any otherconflictinmyyearsas secretary-general,”hesaid.
He also referenced the ICJ which has delivered several orders on Gaza, includingcallingonIsraelto take steps to prevent
genocide, allow for investigation and boost humanitarianaid.“Weknow what is needed: Permanent ceasefire now. All the hostages released now Full humanitarian access now Andwemustnotrelentinthe only viable answer to sustainable Middle East peace: a two-state solution,” hesaid.
(Reuters) - U S
President Donald Trump argued for lower levels of globalmigrationandurgeda turn away from climate change policies on Tuesday in a combative, wideranging speech to the U.N. General Assembly that leveled scathing criticism of world leaders The 56minute speech was a rebuke to the world body and a return to form for Trump, who routinely bashed the U.N. during his first term as president. Leaders gave him polite applause when he exitedthechamber
He rejected moves by allies to endorse a Palestinian state amid Israel'slatestGazaoffensive and urged European nations to adopt the same set of economic measures he is proposing against Russia to force an end to the war in Ukraine.
Much of his speech was dominated by two of his
biggest grievances: immigration and climate change.
Trump offered his U.S. immigrationcrackdownasa case study for what other world leaders should do to curb mass migration that he says is altering the fabric of nations Human rights advocatesarguethemigrants areseekingbetterlives.
"I'm really good at this stuff," Trump said. "Your countriesaregoingtohell."
Trump, who met last week with Britain's environmentally conscious King Charles at Windsor Castle,calledclimatechange a "con job" and urged a returntoagreaterrelianceon fossil fuels. Scientists say climate change caused by humansisreal.
"Immigration and their suicidalenergyideaswillbe the death of Western Europe,"Trumpsaid.
Trump's administration plans to call for sharply
narrowing the right to asylumattheUnitedNations later this month, Reuters reportedlastweek,asitseeks to undo the post-World War Two framework around humanitarianprotection.
Trump sprinkled into his speech a litany of false and misleading statements, such asthatLondonMayorSadiq Khan wants to impose "sharia law" on London and that "inflation has been defeated" in the United States six days after the Federal Reserve said inflationhasgoneup.
ONRUSSIA European powers have spent months trying to stabilize their relationship with the U.S. leader with a focus on winning U S support to end the war in Ukraine.AtaNATOsummit in June, Trump and European leaders lavished eachotherwithpraise.
But in Tuesday's speech, TrumpmockedNATOallies for not shutting down purchasesofRussianoiland saidhewouldimposestrong economic measures against Moscow
"They'refundingthewar againstthemselves.Whothe hell ever heard of that one? IntheeventthatRussiaisnot ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round ofpowerfultariffs,"hesaid.
"But for those tariffs to be effective, European nations, all of you are gathered here right now, would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures."
He did not detail the measures, but he has been considering a package that includes sanctions against countries that do business with Russia, like India and China. The main buyers of Russian oil in Europe are
Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey
Trump later held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who pressed for more U S support to resist Russian advances. Trump, asked by reporters if NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace,said,"Yes,Ido."
On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Trump rejected efforts by world leaders to embraceaPalestinianstate,a move that faces fierce resistancefromIsrael.
"The rewards would be too great for Hamas terr
atrocities,"hesaid,repeating his call for the return of hostages taken by the Palestinianmilitantgroup.
Trump said the United States wants a ceasefire-forhostagesdealthatwouldsee the return of all remaining hostages,aliveanddead.
"Wehavetostopthewar
in Gaza immediately We
y negotiatepeace,"hesaid.
He was to discuss the future of Gaza during afternoon talks with several Gulfleaders.
Trump, who has cast himselfasapeacemakerina bid to win the Nobel Peace Prize, complained that the United Nations did not support his efforts to end conflictsaroundtheworld.
He added to his complaints with personal grievances about the U.N. infrastructure,sayingheand first lady Melania Trump were briefly marooned on a malfunctioning U N escalator and that his teleprompter was not initiallyworking.
"Thesearethetwothings IgotfromtheUnitedNations - a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter," Trump said, noting that Melania Trump nearlyfellwhentheescalator stoppedabruptly
Our roadways remain dangerous. Too many drivers treat the roadways as racetracks. Minibus operators, in particular, are notorious for reckless overtaking, loud distractions and a callous disregard for passenger safety.
The result is daily accidents-some fatal. This culture of indiscipline did not emerge overnight, it has been nurtured by years of turning a blind eye. Public education must go beyond posters and slogans. It must be persistent, targeted, and reinforced from the classroom to the licensing office.
New drivers must be trained not just in how to operate a vehicle, but in how to respect human life. Licenses should not be handed out like tokens; rigorous testing and continuous renewal processes must be mandatory.
Road deaths in Guyana have reached the level of a public health crisis. Every statistic represents a human being. Behind each headline is a grieving family and a community in mourning. This is not an issue that can wait until after the election cycle. It requires urgent, sustained, and coordinated action now.
GQ u e n t i n
Cricket
Player of the Tournament following an exceptional debut during this year's Republic Bank CPL T20 season.
Sampson, who is expected to play a bigger role in the upcoming regional season with his national side, the Guyana
Harpy Eagles, made a strong impression despite f
during the Warriors' run tothefinals
Thehard-hitting25-yearold, who initially floated around the batting order before securing a permanent spot at the top, scored 241 runs in nine games at an impressiveaverageof40.16, strikingat153.
His contributions included vital knocks of 25, 33*, 14*, 19, 76, and 50, which helped propel the Warriors to the final, where they eventually fell to the Trinbago Knight Riders in a spiritedcontest.
Despite the Warriors' defeat, Sampson's breakthrough season has firmlyestablishedhimasone of the most exciting young strikers of the ball in the Caribbean, while laying the foundation for a promising careerahead.
Frompage27 nod to the shared values of both football and life:
“Football teaches us important lessons discipline, perseverance, and respect — values we hold dear in how we serve our customersacrossthenation.”
Meanwhile, Courts Optical Chain Manager, Richard Simpson, shared his personal reflections on the significance of the tournament.
“I personally look forward to this time of year Notjustasasponsor,butasa parent. Over six weeks, we get to witness some of the best young footballers showcasing their talent in a structured and wellorganisedplatform.”
Headded:“It'sincredibly fulfilling to be part of somethingsoimpactful.Alot of organisations support major events, but this is where it all begins. We have the chance to help shape the future,andthatstartswithour youth.”
Thetournamentofficially kicks off this Saturday, September 27, at the MoE Ground. Come and witness 32 teams from across the country battle over six thrilling weeks for the ultimateU11crown.
Despitenumerous interruptions along the way, former national coach LennoxArthurhasremained steadfast in his mission to see the Annual Deputy Mayor's Cup through to completion.
With strong backing from the Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Denise Miller, this electrifying Seven-aSide Inter-Ward Football Championship has rallied players from across the football spectrum; young
t a l e n t s , s e a s o n e d campaigners, and veteran stars all united under one cause:tocelebrateanduplift communityfootball.
Afterabriefpausedueto unforeseen circumstances, the tournament returns in explosive fashion this Sunday, September 28, with a thrilling “Night of the Finals” at the Police Sports Ground,EveLeary
Eight of the best Ward teamswillclashinanintense knockout format four
quarterfinals, two semifinals, and one grand final—allinonenight.
Quarterfinal Line-up
includes; Albouystown
taking on Stabroek Ballers6:00.
Then at PM 6:30 PM, BackCircle'B'willfaceoff with Pele Following that at 7:00 PM, the mighty Uitvlugt Stars will take on Bent Street in the ultimate challenge and round out thequarterfinalfixturesee Soesdyke Warriors challenge Liliendaal Strikers for the final spot intothesemifinals
Winners from each match will return later that night to battle it out in the semifinals, as the road to gloryquicklynarrows.
The semifinal fixtures will be determined based on the outcomes of the quarterfinals, with the winners ofAlbouystown vs. Stabroek facing the victors of Uitvlugt vs. Bent Street, and Back Circle 'B' vs. Pele goingupagainstthewinners ofSoesdykevs.Liliendaal.
Teams to watch: Bent Street, a fan favourite, will look to continue their dominance but Pele stands firmlyintheirpath.
Stabroek Ballers, led by standout players like
...Expect fireworks on the pitch as top-tier talent and fierce rivalries collide under the lights this Sunday
DwayneJames,SeanTaylor,
Sherman Welch and company, have shown impressive form and could beadarkhorse.BackCircle 'B' brings high energy and sharptactics,makingthema formidable force in the final eight.One last dance. Come witnesswhowillwalkaway withthecrown.
Thetournament,heavily
supported by the Guyana Police Force, boasts a massive $1 1 million prize pool: First place will receive$500,000aswellas Ricks & Sari hampers and championship trophy
Second place will secure $300,000 in cash and runner-uptrophywhilethird and fourth place will take home $200,000 and
$100,000 in cash as well as placementtrophy
This year's edition has receivedbackingfromahost of corporate sponsors i n c l u d i n g ; O n e Communications, Reunion Gold, Pegasus Hotel, SuperBet, Ricks & Sari, Toolsie Persaud Ltd., John Fernandes Ltd , C&CL, N A M I L C O , B K
Gafoors, Kings Liquor Store, Massy Distribution, andmanymore. This Sunday, all roads leadtoEveLeary Fourepic quarterfinals, two thrilling semis, and one final- all happeningonenight.Anight packed with passion, pride, andpurefootballfire.
Turning Point Family, in collaboration with Mark Wiltshire, popularly known as “Jumbie,” will stage an exciting one-day Dominoes tournament this Sunday at the Turning Point SportsBar
The action gets underway at 1:00 pm, with matches being contested under the format of four games, six sittings, and “2 in1Out ”
The competition promises to be fast-paced and entertaining, attracting some of the best domino players eager to showcase theirskills.
Attractive prizes are at stakeforthetopperformers.
The winning team will walkawaywithatrophyand $175,000, while the runnerupwillcollectatrophyalong with$75,000.
The third-place finisher issettopocket$35,000,and anadditional$10,000willbe awarded to the Most
Clevon McEwan, left, and Cleon McEwan display the championship trophies
Valuable Player (MVP) of thefinals.
In addition to the matches, patrons can look forward to a lively atmosphere, with food and drinksonsalethroughoutthe day
The organizers are encouraging fans and supporters to come out and enjoywhatisexpectedtobe a competitive and fun-filled event.
The tournament is proudly sponsored by the N a t i o n a l S p
Commission.
ByRawleToney
If comedy had a footballing cousin, it would beMainstayGoldstar's2025 GFFEliteLeaguecampaign.
Yes,welaughed.Yes,we trolled,butafterthelaughter diesdown,weareleftwitha sobering reality, Guyana's so-called “top” football leaguelookslikeacircusact on the international stage, and the ringmaster is the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Let's back up Mainstay Goldstar, hailing proudly from Whyaka in Region 2, earned their place in the Elite League the honest way, by defeating Mahaica Determinators 1–0 in the promotion playoff final. Their qualification was celebrated as a milestone. An Amerindian-
basedclubsteppingontothe national stage, proof of football's reach into Guyana's hinterland The GFF paraded it as a victory for inclusion, growth, and the romantic narrative of “footballforall.”
But football, unlike politics, doesn't bend for optics. On the pitch, truth is laid bare.And for Mainstay, truth hit harder than a GDF strikerinfullflight. History tells us Whyaka was established around 1887, and football has been playedtherefordecades.But history alone does not prepare a club for the unforgiving brutality of the EliteLeague.
To play a single home “fixture” at Providence, Mainstay endured a ninehour commute, four hours
there, four hours back, plus the waiting. That's nearly a fullworkingdayjusttoshow upandbehammered.
By kickoff, their legs were already heavy By halftime, their dreams were too.
Now let's talk results. SlingerzFCandtheGuyana Defence Force (GDF) FC didn't just beat Mainstay, theyhumiliatedthem.
Both sides racked up 17 goalseachinthefirstround. If that sounds like a typo, it isn't. Then Slingerz, resting theirmainstars,casuallyput 20 past them in the return fixture GDF, however, weren'tinacharitablemood. They went full “military operation”andleftMainstay staringata36–0scoreboard, an all-time Elite League record that will hang like an albatross around the competition'scredibility
When the dust settled, Mainstay Goldstar's final tally reads 174 goals conceded, just eight scored in 16 games so far Of those 174, a staggering 90 came from Slingerz and GDF That's not competition That'spublicexecution.
Now, laugh if you want.
But the bigger picture is Mainstay's horrific showing
castsadarkshadowoverthe EliteLeagueitself.
What message does this send about Guyana's football? How can a league t h a t b o a s t s o f “professionalism” allow such mismatches that resemble training-ground scrimmages more than topflightfootball?
To be clear, Mainstay Goldstar deserved theirspot, they earned promotion fair and square. But earning a ticket to the dance doesn't meanyoucanaffordthesuit.
E l i t e L e a g u e requirements should go beyond promotion They must include financial capacity, squad depth, infrastructure, and the logistical support to sustain the demands of a top-tier competition. Throwing an underfunded team into the lion'sdenismorenegligence than“development.”
It's also unfair Unfair to Mainstay, who were clearly outoftheirdepthandforced into a weekly humiliation tour Unfair to fans, who were robbed of competitive football. And unfair to the league'scredibility,whichis now a running joke beyond ourborders.
The truth is, only four
Slingerz, GDF, Police, and Western Tigers are carrying the standard of competitive football in the Elite League. Their clashes are sharp, tactical, and worthy of the badgeof“topflight.”
The rest, with few exceptions (Santos, Monedderlust?), are strugglingtokeeppace.That gap is a governance issue, notatalentone.
The GFF must stop romanticizing “growth” for press releases and start protectingtheintegrityofthe competition.
P r o m o t i o n a n d
relegationshouldnotjustbe about who wins a playoff, it should be about who can sustain Elite League football. Otherwise, we're setting clubs up to fail, and worse, we're turning our premier competition into a globalpunchline. MainstayGoldstardidn't just lose games this season; they exposed the cracks in theentiresystem.Andunless the GFF gets serious about raising the standards, the EliteLeaguewillcontinueto bea“league”innameonly Because right now, the only thing “elite” about it is theembarrassment.
With just three days remaining before kickoff, the Petra Organisation hosted the official ball distribution and team briefing for participating schools in the 12th Annual Courts Optical Pee Wee Boys' Under-11 Football Tournament.
The event, held at the National Library, was attended by several schools along with teachers and officials It is widely regarded as the final step before the tournament's official kickoff, which is scheduled for Saturday, September27attheMinistry ofEducation(MoE)Ground, locatedonCarifestaAvenue.
As is tradition, the tournamentwillbeginwitha colourful March Past ceremony at 10:00 a m , followed by the kickoff of the first round of matches at 11:00a.m.onthesameday
Courts Optical has once again reaffirmed its commitment to youth development and sports across the region, returning as the title sponsor for yet another season. The tournamentisalsobackedby several key partners, including the Ministry of Education,SterlingProducts Limited, and Demerara Mutual Fire and General Insurance,amongothers. This year's tournament will feature 32 teams from various regions including Linden, Bartica, East
Berbice, West Coast Berbice, East Bank, West Coast, Essequibo, BarimaWaini,andGeorgetown.
Demerara Mu
…as 12th Annual Courts Optical Pee Wee Boys' U11 Football Tournament nears kickoff
ual continues to support the tournament, not only through sponsorship but by contributingtoplayersafety a n d c o m m u n i t y development. Representing the company at the team briefing was Marketing Manager, Oceola Van Doimen, who delivered an inspiringaddress.
th Several schools attended the 12 Annual Pee Wee Football team briefing and ball distribution exercise held yesterday at the National Library's Conference room
“Seeingsomanyschools andregionsrepresentedfills our hearts with immense pride.This tournament truly embodies the spirit of One Guyana through sports and community development,” shesaid. Totheyoungplayers,she
encouragement: “This tournament is all about having fun, making new friends, and discovering the excitementofteamwork.For families and educators,
children active, engaged, andoffer
lessonsbeyond theclassroom.” Sheconcludedwitha (Continuedonpage25)
FORMER Fifa vicepresident Jack Warner is a “free” man and cannot be handed over to the United States as all extradition proceedings against him have been permanently stayedbytheHighCourt.
In a significant move on September23,JusticeKaren Reid held that Warner was subjected to a “flawed” extraditionprocess.
“Ordinarily, civil courts are slow to make any decision, the effect of which is to thwart the conduct of criminalprosecutions,asthe publicinterestisusuallybest served by having those prosecutions determined on theirmerits.”
However, she added, “When it comes to the handing over of citizens for extraterritorial prosecution, the ExtraditionAct provides a manner in which this is to be done, and the protections thatarerequiredtobeputin place for the protection of ourcitizens.”
Oneoftheseprotections, thejudgenoted,wastherule of specialty, designed to protect TT citizens from being prosecuted for offencesotherthanthosefor which they are being extradited.
“A few things have become obvious. It is not in dispute that the only arrangement existing between the requesting state and Trinidad and Tobago is thetreaty.”
She referred extensively to the Privy Council's findings on the treaty provisions in relation to the specialtyrule,notingthatthe alternative of relying on the requesting state's laws to affordsuchprotectionwould lead to uncertain results owing to differences in statutory interpretation or changesinthelaw
According to the judge, the Privy Council noted that because of the differences, T T ' s E x t r a d i t i o n (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act “provided for specialty arrangements to be made to secure the protection of the rightsofourcitizenswhoare beingextradited.”
“The board accepted the assumption that the requestingstatewasactingin good faith and that even absent an agreement, the United States usually appliedthespecialtyrule.
“And finally, the board found that the certificate of the attorney general disclosed a specialty arrangement which compliedwiththelaw.”
However, she said in Warner's case, the arrangement the local and apex courts were led to believeexistedwasafiction. Thisspecialityprinciplewas centraltoWarner'scase.
She noted, "This breach is more significant when the courtconsidersthechangein administration of the requesting state since the delivery of the board's decision in 2022 and notwithstanding the references therein to the board's acceptance that the requesting state will act in good faith and on its
internationalobligations,the new administration has very publicly and quite vocally articulated and in fact demonstrated that when it comes to the rights of noncitizens, it is unburdened by considerationsofprocedural due process and the rule of law
As such, it was imperativethat,astheboard noted in its judgment, in order to ensure that the requiredstatutoryprotection regarding speciality was being afforded to the claimant, an arrangement thatexpresslyaccordedwith the requirements of Section 8.3oftheactwasrequiredto havebeenmadebetweenthe UnitedStatesandTT
"While more specific findings will be made in respect of the facts alleged by both parties and in relationtowhetheranyofthe several rights claimed that the claimants are alleged to have been breached by the defendant were in fact breached, I find it is sufficient for today's purposes to confine myself to the consideration just outlined that the conduct of the defendant breached the claimant's right to the protection of the law as concededbythedefendant."
(Trinidad Tobago Newsday)
TheICChasfinally d e c i d e d t o suspend USA Cricket (USAC), in the process hitting the reset button as it attempts to overhaul the leadership and governance structure of the sport in a key market. The decision was taken by the ICC Board after a virtual meetingonTuesday.
USAC's suspension will not impact the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup starting in February in India and Sri Lanka or the Los Angeles 2028OlympicGames.
The suspension comes just over two months after theICC,atitsannualgeneral meeting in July, had granted USAC three months to hold "free and fair elections" and carry out "comprehensive" governance reforms. At the time, the ICC reiterated that USAC would continue to remain "on notice", as it has beensinceJuly2024.
The ICC Board also warned USAC that it reservedtherighttotakeany actionitdeemedfitbasedon theprogressofreforms.
Eventually, on Tuesday evening, the ICC suspended USAC with "immediate effect" and temporarily took over "management and administration of USA nationalteams."
"The decision, taken by the ICC Board during its meeting earlier, was based on USA Cricket's repeated andcontinuedbreachesofits obligations as an ICC Member under the ICC's Constitution," an ICC press releasesaid.
"These include, but are not limited to, the failure to implement a functional governancestructure,lackof progress toward achieving National Governing Body statuswiththeUnitedStates Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and significant actions that have caused reputational damage
tocricketintheUnitedStates andaroundtheworld."
The suspension does not haveanimmediateimpacton cricket being part of the LA 2028 Games The ICC clarifiedthatUSAteamswill still be able to participate in ICC events as well as make preparations for the Olympics.
Calling it "unfortunate but necessary" the ICC said it was forced to take such extreme action to "protect thelong-terminterestsofthe game and the ICC's top priority remains ensuring thattheathletesandthesport itselfarenotimpacteddueto thesuspension."
During the time USAC had been put on notice, the ICC had been working with it to draw a "roadmap" and facilitate its securing national governing body (NGB) status from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee(USOPC).
This is mandatoryfor all sports that were added to LA28Games.Ashosts,USA areexpectedtobeoneofthe six teams to contest for medals in both men's and women'scategories.
That roadmap, which comprises six steps, was drawn by the ICC's Normalisation Committee, headed by chairman Jay Shah Prior to that, the committee met USAC top brassVenuPisike(chairman) and Johnathan Atkeison (CEO) twice - first in April virtually and then in person in June.The roadmap called for USAC to start an organisational revamp by bringing in three new independent directors to replace the incumbents on theBoard.
Following that the USAC Board would step down and prompt fresh elections At this point USACwouldapplyforNGB status.
Simultaneously, the ICC also said a comprehensive
review and reform of the USA Cricket Constitution "shall be undertaken" in close consultation with the Independent Directors and relevant ICC stakeholders.
With USAC unable to meet these terms, it was suspended.
USAC was being consideredforsuspensionat the ICC's AGM in July and only managed its threemonth reprieve by making "commitments" to the ICC Board to meet the criteria requiredformembership.
"When USAC was notified of the AGM's decision," the ICC press release said, "it was specifically advised in writing that, along with fulfillingthecommitmentsit madetotheBoardandtaking immediate steps in that respect, it must (i) not do/omit to do anything that might jeopardise cricket's inclusion in the Olympics, and (ii) not do anything (by act or omission) that brings cricket or the ICC into disreputeoriscontrarytothe bestinterestsofcricketorthe ICC."
For USAC to lift its suspension, it will need to follow procedure that the Normalisation Committee, incoordinationwiththeICC management, will outline and which "will include demonstrable and specific changes to USA Cricket's governance structure, operationsandoverallstatus intheCricketecosystem.
The normalisation committee will also monitor USA Cricket's progress and provide consultatory support.
“The ICC remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in the United States, protect the sporting ecosystem and its constituents, namely the athletes and bolstering its march towards a more significantroleontheglobal stage.”
ICC was helping USA gain National Governing Body status ahead of the Olympics (ICC/Getty Images)
Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, met with the presidentoftheGuyanaGolf Association (GGA), Aleem Hussain, along with representatives of several other sport associations, as heaggressivelysteppedinto
hisnewrole.
The meeting focused on identifying the challenges faced by different sport disciplines and highlighting t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s commitment to supporting their development and growthacrossthecountry
According to GGA President Aleem Hussain, M
enthusiastic about the expansion of golf and emphasized the need for more facilities and greater youth i
nationwide.
Hussain noted that the M
President Dr Irfaan Ali's
directive to introduce physical education on Fridays in schools—aligns seamlessly with the GGA's mission to make golf accessibletoall.
“Theastonishinggrowth of golf, particularly among secondary schools across Guyana,isatestamenttothe efforts of the GGA and Nexgen GolfAcademy over thepastfiveyears,”Hussain said “This success was made possible through the strong support of the Ministry of Education, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the National Sports Commission, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth andSport.”
Minister Jacobs further emphasizedthatwithseveral newgolfcoursesexpectedto be established in Guyana in
Al b i o n Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) registered a commanding victory over PoliceCricketClub,winning byaninningsand40runsin their Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) First-Division TwoDaycompetitionclash.
Playing at the Albion Community Centre ground, Police won the toss and elected to bat first but were dismissedforjust127in30.3 overs. Philbert Wilburg topscored with 26, while K. Mentore(24),A.Grant(17),
GGA president Aleem Hussain had a fruitful meeting with new Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs
the coming years, it is essential that local players areprovidedopportunitiesto sharpen their skills He
added that he looks forward to seeing Guyanese athletes competeontheinternational stage.
andJoelSeitram(15)offered someresistance.
For Albion, Kelvin Umroa claimed three wickets, while Leon Cecil, Shiv Harripersaud, and Gaurav Ramesh picked up twowicketseach.
In reply,Albion piled on the runs, racing to 352 for 8 in 60 overs by the close of dayone.
Their innings was highlightedbyabrilliant155 from Jonathan Foo, with support from Umroa (61), Damian Cecil (42), and VeerasammyPermaul(29).
Police bowlers K Mentore, L. Mitchell, and P James each took two wickets.
Albion declared overnight,holdingamassive 225-runlead.
Police fared better in their second innings but could only muster 185 in 47.5overs.
Wilburg again led with 52, supported by Grant (48) and Seitram (23) Cecil destroyed the batting lineup with figures of 5 wickets, while Permaul chipped in withfour
Frompage31 Tucville-based side The formerthree-timechampions of the Elite League now find themselves in a must-win situation,needingvictoriesin their remaining matches to avoid staying in the promotion/relegation playoff spot At the moment, they sit just above bottom-placed Mainstay Gold Star on the table Action continues on Sunday, with the second
match of the evening featuring Santos against Monedderlust Both teams will be desperate for maximumpointsastheylook tostrengthentheirstandingin theleague
…Santospicksupcrucial1 –0winoverWesternTigers
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) may have wavedgoodbyetotheirGFF Elite League crown this season, with Slingerz FC alreadyhavingbothhandson thetrophy,butthethree-time championsarerefusingtogo quietly Instead, they've left their boots firmly stamped on the history books with a record-shatteringdemolition job.
In what can only be described as an absolute massacre on the pitch, GDF FC thrashed Mainstay Goldstar 36–0, the largest scoreline ever recorded in the Elite League. The result wasastatement,andaharsh reminder that in football, mismatchescanquicklyturn intohumiliations.
GDF's front line had a field day, treating the Mainstay backline like training cones Stephen McDonald bagged a staggering nine goals, while
Quaency Fraser and Makhaya Jervis followed closely,hammeringinseven apiece.
Shemar Scott made his presence felt with a clinical hat-trick, and the supporting cast chipped in too, as if the script demanded every soldier get a turn at firing shotsintoMainstay'sporous net.
For GDF, the win was their 10th victory in 15 outings, pushing them up to 32 points and keeping them firmly in the hunt for a runner-upfinish.
With three matches left, including a clash against SlingerzFC,thearmysideis marching towards a strong conclusion, even if the championship battle is alreadylost.
But while GDF were busy celebrating a record, the spotlight inevitably falls on Mainstay Goldstar, and notfortherightreasons.
If football is called the
beautiful game, then
Mainstay Goldstar's campaign has been its ugly cousin.
Conceding 36 goals in one outing is not just a bad day at the office; it's an indictment of their entire season.
The numbers
damning; 16 games played, 174 goals conceded, and only eight scored.That's not defending;that'sopeningthe floodgates and watching the tiderollin.
Their backline has been more of a revolving door than a defensive unit, and their goal difference reads likeahorrorstory
Opponentsqueuingupto pad their stats against Mainstay Goldstar and in a league that aspires to professionalism, their performances have turned fixtures into farces and left fansshakingtheirheads.
Fortheleagueitself,such lopsided scorelines raise uncomfortable questions Whileeverycompetitionhas its giants and minnows, results like 36–0 flirt with farce, threatening the credibility of what is supposed to be the pinnacle ofdomesticfootball.
Fans want to see competition, not cricket scores, and Mainstay's c a p i t u l a t i o n h a s unfortunately turned them intotheleague'spunchline.
What Mainstay have delivered is a season-long comedy sketch, one that underminesthecredibilityof the Elite League. Nobody benefits from results like 36–0,nottheplayers,notthe supporters,andcertainlynot the reputation of Guyana's topflightfootball.
Elsewhere, the weekend saw a tighter contest as SantosedgedWesternTigers 1–0, courtesy of an early strikefromKymaniSealey.
The win keeps Santos sniffing around the top five, while Western Tigers will have to settle for mid-table respectability
Meanwhile, the Elite League resumes this weekend with four exciting fixtures.
On Saturday, Western Tigers will play their final match of the season when they face seventh-placed Ann's Grove United at 6:30 pm.
Later that night, at 9:00 pm, Fruta Conquerors take on GDF FC in a crucial showdown with relegation implicationsforthe (Continuedonpage30)
Seated are (R-L) Petra Reps. Nareeza Latif-Boston and Troy Peters, Courts Optical Chain Manager Richard Simpson, Petra Director Troy Mendonca, Oceola Van Doimen Marketing Coordinator at Demerara Mutual and MoE representative
