Kaieteur NEws

Minibus

Indiancompanydenies traffickingworkers

...claims employees asked for their passports to be kept

EKAA Earth Resources ManagementInc.(EKAAHRM),a mining company operating in Region 7, has broken its silence following allegations of forced labour, human trafficking, and substandardworkingconditions.

AtapressconferenceThursday afternoon, company executives categorically rejected claims that they confiscated employee passports or subjected workers to

"slavery".

TragedyCatalyzes LabourDispute

According to Chief Operating Officer Sivakumar and Human Resources Consultant Yoganand Persaud, a former Chief Labour Officer for Guyana, the current crisis stems from an emotional imbalance within the workforce followingasuddentragedy.

On May 12, 2026, Shekhar

The Indian nationals protesting in front of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning

Chetri, an Indian national employedbyEKAA,collapsedand diedattheRegion7operationssite.

"The death of a member of our workforce is the gravest matter we can face," COO Sivakumar stated, extending deep condolences to the family "We are cooperating fully with the authorities investigating his death. His post-mortem report by the health authorities has confirmed he suffered a mild heart attack."

Sivakumar stated that EKAA has paid for and finalized funeral coordination, embalming, and repatriation arrangements through

Crematorium The company is currently processing statutory clearances with the Ministry of HomeAffairs,theGuyanaRevenue Authority(GRA),Customs,andthe High Commission of India, alongsideaclearanceagentinIndia toensuretheremainsreachChetri's residencesafely

Sivakumartraveledtothequarryon May 15 to address the shaken workforce. Employees expressed severe anxiety over medical emergencies in the remote island(Continunedonpage6)

Corentyne father and son in Lesbeholden accident drowned – PME results

Joseph Mangar (32) and his four-yearold son, Johnathan Mangar, lost their lives on Wednesday afternoon after their vehicle skatedoverboardontheLesbeholdenPublic Road, both died from drowning and asphyxiation.

Thisisaccordingtoresultsoftheautopsy done by government pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan at Bailey's Funeral Home, West Coast Berbice on Thursday

The two, of Limlair Village, Corentyne were trapped inside the vehicle and died before any assistance could have been rendered.

Joseph,atruckdriver,wasreportedlyon his way to pick up his daughter from her school with his car Johnathan, a year one

pupilofNurneyNurserySchool,Corentyne wasinthevehiclewithhimatthetime.

At around 14:11h, the child's aunt said thatJoseph's mothercalledherandsaidshe noticed a car similar to his in the canal, and wantedtoknowwherehewas.

Notlongafter,thefamilyreceivedword that the man and his vehicle were pulled from a canal in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne. The child was discovered after, as persons were unaware that he was in the vehicle.Reports suggest that Joseph was speeding and lost control of his car, and endedupinthecanal.

The man and his son were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, Corentyne, where both were examined and pronounced dead onarrivalbyadoctoronduty

Joseph Mangar

Johnathan Mangar

Company representatives during the press conference (from left to right: Chief Operating Officer Sivakumar, Company Official Karthick Muthuvel, and Human Resources Consultant Yoganand Persaud)

Parliament billed for June 5 return

...asTeixeira criticises diplomats forcommenting on 100-day hiatus

After nearly one hundred dayswithoutaparliamentary sitting Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance GailTeixeira on Thursday said that the National Assembly will conveneonJune5.

And she has expressed regret that the diplomatic communitydidnotseeitfitto first engage the government on its plans for the National Assembly, before publicly commentingontheissue.

In a video statement that was posted on Facebook, Teixeira a veteran legislator said that she noticed the comments circulating in the media from v

ous ambassadors in the diplomatic corps of Guyana in relation to the sittings of parliament.

“It is regrettable that the ambassadors and those embassies and high commissionsdidnotseeitfit to first engage the government as the ruling party in the House in the National Assembly in terms of what its plans were for parliamentand/oriftherewas or was not a sitting planned. It's regrettable because had they done that, they would havebeentoldthattherewas asittingplannedforJunethe fifth, but unfortunately there seemstobelikeanewstyleof diplomacy where our friends and allies in these embassies believe they should only listentoonesideofthestory and not listen to the other side,andtheothersideinthis case is the government,” she said.

Teixeira went on to say thatthegovernmentwishesto makeitveryclearthatitisof the hope, this will not be the norminrelationtoissuesthat regard Guyana's legislative agenda,andthewayinwhich theparliamentisrun.Itisalso h o p e d t h a t f u t u r e engagements will be more profound and respectful, she said.

On May 20 this publication reported that the diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union have underscored the importance of parliamentary oversight and democratic governance amid Guyana's nearly 100dayabsenceofparliamentary

s

highlighting the need for

e engagement during a period

One of the drillships that operate in Guyana's Stabroek Block, Noble Sam Croft

MinisterofParliamentary Affairsand Governance, Gail Teixeira

of rapid economic transformation.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips said he is “unable to say” when the legislative bodywillmeet.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs confirmed with Kaieteur News that no date has been set. “I do not know,” he said while clarifying that the date forthesittingoftheNational Assembly is set by the government.

“Meetings are convened by the government; they wouldinstructtheMinisterof Parliamentary Affairs,” he reminded.

EU Ambassador Luca Pierantoni in an invited comment emphasised the necessity of active governance, stating, “We look forward to intensive parliamentary engagement that will enable Guyana to advanceitsambitiousreform agenda The work of Parliament is essential in fulfilling the democratic principlessharedbyGuyana, the Caribbean Community andtheEuropeanUnion.”

The U.S. Embassy in a statementunderlinedthelink betweenlegislativeoversight and the nation's ongoing economic boom, noting that, “A well-functioning parliament with legislative oversightisanimportantpart ofdemocraticgovernance.”

“Such oversight is important to safeguard Guyana's continued economic growth and transformation and represent thevoicesofitscitizens,”the embassysaid.

Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador Sébastien

Sigouin stressed the importanceoftheruleoflaw

and the functional mechanisms of a healthy democracy during this (Continuedonpage6)

In 2025, Guyana received a bill of US$34M for exploration activities in theStabroekBlockbyoneof the three partners, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited.

According to the company's financial statement for last year, its exploration expense was GYD21.4M.

Thiswasnottheonlybill it handed the country for its ongoing search for more oil inStabroek,asthecompany also charged Guyana for its unsuccessfulwellsthatwere drilled Hess said its “exploratory dry hole” expense for 2025 was GY 12.4M.

Hess holds 30% interest in the Stabroek Block while the Chinese oil company, CNOOC has 25% and ExxonMobil 45% as the operatoroftheblock.

CNOOC and Hess also added exploration and dry hole expenses to the cost bank but have not yet filed theirfinancialstatements.

In accordance with the

16

ing Agreement (PSA) that governs the prolific acreage controlled by these companies, all costs related to exploration activities can berecovered.

This means that Guyana forksoutmillionstopaythe companies to explore, even iftheyfindnooil.

This has often been the subject of debate as stakeholders hold the firm viewthatthereisgenerallya cost of business and by footingallexploratorybills, Guyana takes on the risk while the companies milk thecountry'sprofits.

The oil deal is designed to allow the companies to recover all petroleumrelated expenses upfront, before Guyana can benefit from an equal split of the revenuegenerated.

Up to 75% of revenue each month is allocated to the companies for cost

recovery, while the remaining 25% is split equally with Guyana as profits Notably, oilproducing states around the w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g neighbouring Suriname have blocked oil companies from recovering costs spent tohuntforoil.

Before production activities commenced, ExxonclaimedUS$1.6Bfor exploration activity in the Stabroek Block during the period1999to2017.

Despite the ongoing exploration activities in the block, ExxonMobil, the

operator has not announced any new discoveries since March2024.Thecompany's latestpubliclyannouncedoil discovery offshore Guyana was at Bluefin in the Stabro

k In November 2025, Kaieteur Newsreportedthatalthough no new discoveries were announced for the year, the Mid-Year Report published by the Ministry of Finance made a bombshell disclosure,awhoppingthree oil discoveries reportedly made by the contractor for 2025 ExxonMobil later clarified in a statement that

the discoveries cited in the report by the GoG were deemed “non-commercial” hencetheywerenotpublicly announced.In April 2022, Exxon said the reserves in the Stabroek Block totaled 11billionbarrels.

After mounting public pressure,twoyearsandeight discoveries after the last r e s o u r c e u p d a t e , governmentsaidthisgrewto 11.6B.

Notably, although Exxon supplies government with data, the company said its estimate of the resources waslowerthan11Bbarrels.

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Let’s push for ring-fencing

Wedonothavetheluxuryofself-congratulationhaving ledthewayforringfencingofGuyana’soilprojects. Wedo not criticise anyone who took a while, but now come out openly for ringfencing of new oil projects pushed on Guyana by ExxonMobil. We would prefer to celebrate when citizens from across this country, of all political persuasions, put aside what divides Guyanese and stand togetherforringfencing. Ringfencingiswayoverdue. Ina spiritofhonestpartnership,ExxonMobilshouldnotwaiton Guyana Government pressures. It should agree that ringfencingisfairforallpartiestothe2016oilcontract,and that its time has arrived. To continue to resist calls for ringfencing,whatwouldprofitbothitsshareholdersandthis country’s citizens, would leave ExxonMobil being held as the least of partners. Seen as the worst of unwanted presencesinGuyana,abloodsuckingleech.

Ringfencing should have been in the ExxonMobilGuyana oil contract that was largely the handiwork of the company In 2016, when Bharrat Jagdeo was Opposition Leader, his words told where he stood. “They (Coalition) cameintooffice-threebillionbarrelsofprovenreserves,and they gave up zero royalties, no taxes, no ringfencing.” When he could have used the weight of the office that he heldin2016torailagainst“noringfencing”,thenaftersix years back in power, “no ringfencing” should have been long reversed. Vice President Jagdeo knows as much as anyone else that it is the right thing to do. So why is his governmentnotdoingso,ringfencingnewoilprojects,and banishhislament? Whyishe,PresidentAliandtheentire Cabinet all now wrapping themselves in ‘sanctity of contract?’ He and the president made powerful commitments about what they would do with contracts (renegotiatethem),oncebackinpower Whatistyingtheir hands, and why go along with a situation that is so against thiscountry’sinterests,somuchtothelossofeverycitizen? OnewhereExxonMobilisthebeneficiaryofrecordprofits fromGuyana’soil,whilesomewhereinthevicinityofhalf ofthelocalpopulationfeelthattheyareworse-offsinceoil started being produced. The PPPC Government powers forward and seals ringfencing of new projects, and this countrywillbenefitfromthatonemove,itscitizensfinally enjoying the life that comes from being a significant oil producer.

APNULeader,AubreyNorton,hasfinallycomearound in favour of ringfencing. We will not waste any time by remindingofhowmuchprecioustimewaslostindeciding onwhatissoobvious,whatstandstohelpGuyanareapits just rewards, and to take its place among respected oil nations. Afterconsultingwithprofessionals,andsatisfying himself, Norton’s position is clear: “we should proceed to ringfence…to ensure that Guyana benefits…” To lock in his group’s position, he insisted that “we know that they must get profits, but not to milk us and our people are left poorer.”

RingfencingwillnotmakeGuyanaalosinginvestment forExxonMobil,orsenditintobankruptcy Thebreakeven price of production is too low, the oil of premium quality Alongside those, other favourable terms engineered for itself in the 2016 contract by the US oil veterans virtually guarantee many decades of high profitability for its stakeholders. The task before Guyana’s political elites in the PPPC Government and the entire Opposition (APNU, AFC,WIN,andFGM)istofollowthroughontheirpostures thatwereorareforringfencingofnewoilprojects. There mustbeactionsthatinfluenceExxonMobilthatringfencing has gathered sufficient momentum, Guyana should not be heldhostageanylonger

Ringfencing of Guyana’s oil projects has been recommended in different ways by such prestige organisations as the International Monetary Fund, the

The people of Guyana deserve transparency

DEAREDITOR,

Iwritewithdeepconcern regarding the recent public announcements made by Minister Juan Edghill concerningtheproposedfare structure for minibus operatorsacrossGuyana.

While any discussion aimed at easing the burden on citizens is important, several serious questions arise which the government must answer honestly and transparently

First and foremost, was the Minibus Association properly consulted before these announcements were made?Wereoperators,route rep

n

s, and stakeholdersgivenagenuine opportunity to engage in dialogue on the realities affecting the transportation sector today? Or was this another unilateral decision made by the government without meaningful consultation with those directlyimpacted?

The transportation sector,likeeveryothersector inGuyana,hasbeenseverely affected by the rising costof-living.Fuelpricesremain high.Thecostofspareparts, tyres, maintenance,

insurance, permits, and generaloperationalexpenses continues to increase. Many minibus operators struggle daily to maintain their vehicles while trying to provide a service to the public and sustain their families.

It is therefore troubling that the government appears quick to pressure minibus operators regarding fare

adjustments, while remaining silent on the skyrocketing prices consumersfaceelsewherein theeconomy

Has the government called on shop owners to reducethepricesofgroceries and basic food items? Have farmers been instructed to lower their prices at markets? Have utility providers, contractors, supermarkets, or other service providers been publicly pressured to reduce theirchargesconsideringthe economic hardships facing citizens?

Theanswerisclearlyno. The reality is that the cost-of-living in Guyana continues to rise under the current administration Ordinary citizens are paying

more for transportation, food, rent, utilities, healthcare, and educationrelated expenses Yet, instead of addressing the broader economic pressures affecting all Guyanese, the government seems focused on selectively targeting one sector

This approach is neither balancednorfair

What Minister Edghill should truly be concerned about is the slothful pace at which several government construction projects are progressing across the country, rather than making pronouncements on fare structures without

economic realities affecting ci

providersalike.

He should address the incompleteworksatPrincess Street and other locations, and explain to the Guyanese people how his government intendstorecovertaxpayers’ money paid to delinquent contractors who have failed to honour their contractual obligations; many of whom appear to be closely aligned withthePPP/C.

At a time when

taxpayers’ money is being wasted through delays, poor oversight, and unfinished projects, the government cannot expect citizens and transportation providers alonetoabsorbtheeconomic pressures affecting the country

If the government is genuinely concerned about the welfare of citizens, then t h e r e m u s t b e a comprehensive national strategy to address inflation and the rising cost-of-living across all sectors, not selective pronouncements aimed at minibus operators alone.

Public transportation operators are not enemies of the people. They too are Guyanese citizens trying to survive under difficult economic circumstances Consultation, fairness, and economic reality must guide any policy discussion relating to fares and transportationservices.

The people of Guyana deserve transparency, consistency, and meaningful engagement — not political optics.

Yourssincerely, AnnetteFerguson

The current administration is bad for business and bad for the poor

DEAREDITOR,

U n c o n t r o l l e d government spending has led to widespread inflation and unrealistic expectations in earnings. Businesses are now competing with highranking government officials who have become entrepreneurs with unfair benefits, connections and market access. Instead of making business easier and more prosperous for the average Guyanese businessperson, they are taking steps to corner the market and increase their income. It would not be a surprise if the current major humanitarian labour problem uncovered in Region 7 is linked to those previouslyaccusedoftaking a 5% stake in every major contract A matter that

should be independently investigated by the authorities After all, the silence and slow reaction of the leaders in the current administration has been deafening. The rush to get rich quickly has created unfair business practices, leaving most Guyanese businessesatadisadvantage when competing with businesses owned by government officials and their close friends and family In many cases, the situation reeks of corruption and inside information that allowsthemtooutbidothers, andeveninsomecases,they still gain the contract although their bids are less competitive.

The complaints of this occurring have increased significantly within the

UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram,andtheWorldBank. Itshouldnolongerbeiftoringfence,butthatitmustcome onboardnow Theoilprojectsthathavebeenapprovedare gone. ThenewprojectsthatExxonMobilislayingbeforethe Guyana Government for approval, those are the ones that should be ringfenced. Not another oil project should be exemptedfromringfencing. BothGuyanaandExxonMobil willprofitfairly,operateashonestpartners.

“regular”privatesector The current“upper”PSCthatwe often see on display, comprises of those with close government ties, and they have been given the lion’s share of the opportunities available. The establishment of another PSC for small and medium size businesses is becoming increasingly necessary for improved bargaining power and improved access to business opportunities. It is also important to note that fiscal audits have not occurred where there are suspectedmoneylaundering activities. Having this be an entry and ongoing requirement for both PSCs will help strengthen the perception of clean business

practices for foreign investors. Currently, this is not the case and on the internet, the commentary surrounding key business figures close to the government points to corruption, money laundering,andbribery. Unfortunately, the few who have gained unfair

access to major government contracts have also influenced government spending, creating excess where less would have been better Resulting in the costof-living crisis currently faced by the majority of Guyanese Instead of upliftment, Guyanese are facing hardships. Instead of prosperity, Guyanese are facing increased poverty, and instead of growing savings,Guyanesearefacing moreindebtedness.

T h e P P P C h a s mismanaged the economy and the Natural Resource Fund(NRF).Thepoorfiscal management of the country and rampant corruption which now go hand in hand have resulted in the greatest transfer of wealth from the country to the few with powerful connections Furthermore, the resulting benefits to the general population have been muted due to poor quality work, unfair business practices, and the lack of access to lucrativeopportunities.The Continued on page 5

Teixeira’s criticism of diplomats recalls Manickchand’s “feral blast”

DEAREDITOR,

TherecentcommentsbyMinisterGailTeixeiracriticizing the statement issued by foreign envoys concerning the prolonged absence of parliamentary sittings bring back memoriesofanincidentsometwelveyearsago.

On July 2, 2014, then Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Priya Manickchand delivered what later became infamously known as a “feral blast” at a United States Independence reception hosted by the outgoing U.S. Ambassador in Guyana.

The remarks attracted widespread criticism and diplomaticuneaseatthetime.

Ifmemoryservesmecorrectly,MinisterGailTeixeirawas alsopresentatthateventwhenthoseremarksweredelivered.

Itisthereforedifficulttoignoretheparallelsbetweenthat episode and the government’s present posture toward commentsmadebymembersofthediplomaticcommunity Yoursfaithfully, RoopnauthHardyal

The current administration...

Frompage4

PPPChastakentrickledowneconomicstoanewlow,where theyleavewithabucketfull,whileeveryoneelseleaveswitha tincupfilledwithafewdrops.

The PPPC has handed Guyana their party’s cup as a symbolforfuturebeggarsinasocietywherethegapbetween the haves and the have-nots has been significantly widened. Donotbesurprisedtoseemorewell-builtandlargebuildings nexttosquattersandderelictstructures.

This is the result of a communist regime that has shifted towards a winners take all mentality for party executives, enabled by economic policies that do not reel in spending, preventwidespreadcorruption,andthatdonotprovideaccess toalivablewageformostGuyanese.Forthebettermentofall Guyanese,wemustvotethePPPCoutofofficeifthisassault onthepocketsandprosperityoftheaverageGuyanesecitizen continues.

Sincerely, Mr.JamilChanglee

Clear

need for standardised and enforced fare structures that are transparent

DEAREDITOR,

As a public analyst who regularly engages with citizens, I feel compelled to once again highlight the g r o w i n g c o n c e r n s surrounding transportation and the rising cost-of-living inGuyana.

This issue has been raised many times before; yet in 2026, it has reached a point where daily commuting has become increasinglystressfuland,in manycases,unaffordablefor ordinarycitizens.

The conduct of some pub

on providers particularly minibus drivers and, at times, taxi operators—has contributed significantly to thisproblem.Therehasbeen a noticeable increase in arbitrary fare hikes, often implemented without any formal approval or regulation. These increases place an additional burden on citizens who are already struggling to cope with the general rise in living

expenses.

More concerning is the apparent coordination among some drivers who collectively impose these inflated fares across specific routes.

This informal and unlawfulorganisationleaves passengers with little to no choice but to comply, as alternative transportation options are limited. Such practicesunderminefairness and create an environment whereexploitationcanthrive unchecked.

Citizens, unfortunately, are often hesitant to speak out against these actions.

Many fear confrontation or victimisation, especially when faced with aggressive responsesfromoperators.

I have personally witnessed several instances where disagreements over fares escalated into heated altercations between drivers and passengers, creating unsafe and uncomfortable situationsforallinvolved.

This ongoing issue calls for urgent intervention There is a clear need for standardised and enforced fare structures that are transparent, fair, and consi

Regulatorybodiesmusttake

a more active role in monitoring and addressing these practices to restore order and public confidence within the transportation system.

I urge the relevant authorities to act decisively by implementing and enforcing generalised price controls within the public

Without such measures, this recurringissuewillcontinue to escalate, further affecting

wellbeing of the Guyanese people.

Sincerely,

Mr BlaneRBunbury

...operators demand urgent talks with govt. over fare dispute Minibus strike widens

Minibusoperatorsacross several regions have turned off their engines in protest against the government’s refusal to approve fare increases, despite escalating fuelandmaintenancecosts.

Operators on Route 32, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, described the government’s stance as an attempt to force them into transporting passengers for “next to nothing.” They are now calling for an urgent meeting with government officials to resolve the impasse.

Dozens of operators on thetarmacatVreed-en-Hoop spoke of rising cost of o p e r a t i n g p u b l i c transportation services Several complained that theirfareshaveremainedthe

same since 2018, despite fluctuatingfuelpricesandan increaseinthepriceforparts fortheirbuses.

Head of the minibus association for Route 32 explained they felt the need to address the lack of en

government on the issue of fare adjustments despite the rise in cost of living. The operator lamented that the situation was further a g g r a v a t e d

y announcement by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill that there is no fare increase.

“Gas has moved from 1, 200pergallonwithindays,” so it is atrocious and deceptive for Minister Edghill to go on media and say that things aint rise. Mr

Parliamentbilledfor...

Frompage3

pivotal era for the nation. He observed, “As you know, Canadaattachesgreatimportancetodemocraticinstitutions, parliamentaryaccountability,mediafreedom,andtheruleof law,particularlyasGuyanaundergoesrapidtransformation. We would encourage Members of Parliament, across party lines, to make full use of the mechanisms and levers availabletothemtoensurethattheNationalAssemblyplays its essential role in considering, scrutinising, and debating thegovernment'sambitiousagenda.”

A spokesperson for the British High Commission told KaieteurNewsthat“effectiveparliamentaryinstitutionsare a key pillar of democratic governance The work of ParliamentisanimportantcomponentofGuyana'songoing economicgrowthandinclusivedemocraticparticipation.”

Minister how can you say that there is no increase,

everything gone up. And now,youwantustoworkfor same fare that we working

for the past 15 years, how is thatfair?”heasked.

The operator continued “We are saying we need to meet with the authorities. For the past 20 years I been

operators

Ministry of Business and Tourism.AllofasuddenIam hearing that Mr Edghill has gotteninvolved.”

and we

Another operator from the same route noted that he has three other trade jobs to supplementthelittleheearns

Continued on page 18

Indian company denies trafficking...

Frompage2 like terrain of Region 7. In r e s p o n s e , E K A A management promised to station a dedicated health officer directly inside the camp Previously, medical needs were serviced via a boat captain from Batavia village who transported workers to the Batavia Primary Health Center, BarticaHospital,orcomplex c a s e s o n w a r d t o Charlestown.

CompanyProduces EvidenceDisputing Allegations

To counter the public allegations publicized on social media, EKAA displayed internal records, tax docum

, and photographic logs via a projector to members of the media:

1.OutstandingWages& StatutoryRemittances

The company rejected c

obligations up to March 2026 were fully settled Outstanding payments for April and proportional days worked in May are being processed in the standard course of the month To prove statutory compliance, EKAAshowcased GRAand National Insurance Scheme

(NIS) complaints vouchers and VAT data covering January, February, and March2026.

2.SubstandardFoodand CampConditions

Dismissing claims of poor rations, EKAA presented logs from its internal "Kitchen Tracker" digital group Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)arepreparedbychefs brought from India to match dietary preferences The company produced procurement receipts showing consistent weekly

fresh vegetables, meat, and eggs from local provisioning stores like Mattais, Balram, and vendors in Bartica and Georgetown.

Furthermore, camp

a c c o m m o d a t i o n photographs displayed ventilated living structures fitted with fans, weather protection, and an engineered secondary overroof built specifically for heatprevention.

3.Isolationand Connectivity

Addressingthelogistical isolationofRegion7,EKAA showed receipts proving they pay approximately $255,000 GYD monthly for

uninterrupted, unrestricted Wi-Fi via three dedicated devices so workers can maintain contact with their familiesinIndia.

4.PassportConfiscation andForcedLabour

EKAA unequivocally denied keeping workers against their will or confiscating identification

The company displayed an active ledger dating from May 31, 2024, to May 20, 2026, wherein workers voluntarily signed out their passports for personal transactions,suchasopening local bank accounts, applying for Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), and securing driver's licences Management highlighted that workers r o u t i n e l y e n j o y e d unsupervised freedom of movement, traveling independentlyonSundaysto Bartica for leisure, making holidaytripstoGeorgetown, and actively participating in Batavia's Heritage Village sporting and community events.

FearsOver

EmployeeWelfare

OutsidetheCamp E K A A o f

approximately 10 to 15 Indian national employees

refused to participate in the protest actions, reporting to management that they are satisfied with their wages andtreatment.Thecompany expressed deep concern for the 37 workers currently away from the campsite under what they consider to bethird-partysupervision. EKAA management reiterated that they are entirely ready to sit down in the presence of the Ministry of Labour and the Indian High Commission to review individual contracts, assess any legitimate funds owed, and facilitate return airfares forthosewhosecontractsare near completion They pleaded for the workers to returntotheformalregulatory processratherthantryingthe matterinpublicspaces

Earlier in the day, the thirty-sevenIndiannationals protested outside the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning They c

y recently returned their passports, has been calling their families claiming they are missing However, the workers insisting, “We are not missing! We are right here! We just want our money and our ticket to go backtoIndia!”

Pres. Ali faces press after ‘182-Day silence’

...mounting national concerns to take centre stage

One hundred and eighty two days after his last press conference, Guyana's Headof-State will hold a briefing todayamidaslewofnational concerns including human trafficking, the shutting down of Parliament protests by minibus operators over fareincreases.

The media conference will be held at the Office of the President, Georgetown from 2:00pm and comes exactly half a year after his last similar engagement, which was held on November21,2025.

Notably, only accredited members of the media, with a Presidential Media Pass willbeallowedaccesstothe engagement, a fairly new protocol established that limits the number of journaliststhatcanrepresent one media entity With the recent closure of Stabroek News, concerns have been raised regarding the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f independent media houses compared with the thriving number of pro-government newsentities.

Moreover, media are

wary of the format adopted at previous press conferences held by the president, limited reporters toonequestionandafollow up, significantly hampering the media from being allowed to deeply probe specific areas that warrant absolute clarity If time permits, reporters are allowed to ask a second question after the moderator circlestheroom.

In its New Year's message, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) had flagged the troubling decay of media freedom in the country, with reporter's being restricted. The body said, “Officialdom's only objectiveistoavoidasmuch as possible searching questions.Aphoneinterview or face-to-face semi media scrum on the side-lines of a major event is no substitute for a free and unrestricted press conference that allows forawidevarietyofsubjects tobeaddressed.”

Beyond presidential press conferences, the body also addressed the reduced interaction with media by

government.Atthetime,the body said weekly postCabinet media briefings has been substituted with a weekly diatribe by the General Secretary of the PPP, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeoathispoliticalparty's headquartersonRobbStreet, Georgetown.

“Infact,journalistsmust now formulate new strategies and tactics to access information for the public good in an era of creepinginformationcontrol by the Guyana government. Theveneerofpressfreedom is being presented as one in which there is media plurality and supposed accesstoofficials,”theGPA stated.

During a party press conference in March this year, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) raisedconcernsaboutwhatit describesasasteadyerosion of transparency in Guyana, warningthatthetrendcomes at a time when the country's oil sector is expanding rapidly and public spending is reaching unprecedented levels.

Member of Parliament (MP) Sherod Duncan pointed to replacement of year-end press conferences by the administration with mere statements on the performance of respective ministries in December 2025.Duncanreasoned,“All ofitistoavoidscrutiny Now ifyouaredoingallthiswork and you are putting people first wouldn't you want to engagethepublic?Wouldn't youwanttoengagemembers ofthemediafraternitytotell of all this goodness that you are doing out there?” The

President Irfaan Ali

M P

government is deliberately

engagements with credible media houses like Kaieteur News as is evident in the

Boat captain killed in Cuyuni River crash

AboatcaptainwaskilledonThursday morninginaccidentatTapir,located along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Anotherpersonwasreportedlyinjuredduring thecrash.

The dead man was captaining a metal boat whenitcollidedwithaspeedboat.

Detailssurroundingthecrasharesketchybut itisallegedthatthedeadman'sboatendedupin thepathofaBallahu,awoodenspeedboat.

Asaresultoftheimpact,hereportedlydiedon thespot.

The injured man along with the deceased's body were taken to Bartica as investigations continue.

shift from post-Cabinet briefings and now silence from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who held regular press conferences on Thursdays.

The dead boat captain

It’s time for the govt. to legally set minibus and hire car fares

Everyday,thousandsofpeopleinGuyana stand by the roadside, waiting for public transportation. They have one question on their minds: “How much will it cost me?” Andthesadtruthis,nobodycangivethema straightanswer

We have a serious problem with public transportation. Operators are raising fares andthegovernmentisjustwatchingfromthe sidelines, saying they haven’t “approved” any increase. But let’s be honest: does the government actually have the power to approve or disapprove fares right now?This writer believes the answer is no.There is no clear law that gives the government or the police the authority to stop a driver from changing his price. So, we are stuck in a terrible no-man’s land. Hire car drivers charge what they want. Minibuses are increasing their fares. Passengers pay or argue.Andthegovernmentbluffs,sayingno increaseisallowed,buttakesnorealaction.

Based purely on the price of petrol and spare parts, there is no reason for a fare increase.Justbeforethepandemic,petrolhit $230 per liter Today, thanks to a massive governmentsubsidyofmorethanG$600per gallon, the price at the pump at GUYOIL is only $208 per liter That is cheaper than before the pandemic. Spare parts and tires have gone up in price, yes. But petrol is the daily fuel for these vehicles, and it is lower now So,ifweonlylookatfuel,faresshould notberising.Yet,theyarerisinganyway

Why? Because the real problem is not petrol. The real problem is traffic and competition.

More and more people in Guyana now own their own cars. That means fewer passengersfortheminibusesandhirecars.

Atthesametime,ourroadsaresoclogged with congestion that a trip that used to take twentyminutesnowtakesforty-fiveminutes.

Aminibus that used to make six trips a day nowmakesonlythreeorfour

So, drivers are raising fares not because fuel is expensive, but because they are making fewer trips and carrying fewer passengers. They need to cover the same costsfromlesswork.Iunderstandthat.Itisa fair point. But raising fares in a secret, randomwayisnottheanswer

Thisbringsmetomymainargument:The governmentmuststop‘pampezetting’anddo the decent thing. Regulate the fares under law.Setclear,legalpricesforminibusesand hirecars.

Right now, when you get into a hire car that is not attached to a formal taxi service, youneverknowthefarefora‘shortdrop’.It mightbe$800.Itmightbe$1,000.Itmightbe $2000.Youonlyfindoutwhenyouarriveorif you ask. Some of the prices charged amount to extortion.The government should protect consumersfromthatkindofabuse.

But regulation does not mean punishing drivers.Itmeansgivingeveryoneafairdeal.

Hereishowitcanwork:

First, the government should sit down with transport operators, not bluff from a distance. Bring in the minibus associations, the hire car owners, and consumer representatives. Look at the real costs: not just petrol, but tires, oil, spare parts, insurance, and most importantly time losttotrafficcongestion.Thensetafarethat isfairtoboththedriverandthepassenger

Second, put that fare into law Print a simple fare chart for every bus and hire car Make it illegal to charge more than the law allows. Give the police the power to fine drivers who overcharge. That will stop the randompriceincreasesovernight.

Third, update the fares regularly—say, everysixmonths.Ifpetrolgoesup,farescan go up a little. If traffic gets worse, adjust for

Dem Boys Seh...

Rent Sky-High, But Belly Still Low

Demboyswastakingalimedownbyde corner de other day, when one man pull out his phone and start cussing. “Look nah,” he say,holdingthescreenlikeitbitehim.“Twobedroom,furnishedapartment,twohundred and forty thousand a month. And it not includinglightandwater.”

Well,thewholecornerstarttorockwith laughter Two hundred and forty thousand? Demboysrememberwhendatkindamoney used to be a manager salary, not a rent receipt.

Butthendeseriousnesssetin.Demboys starttocalculate:ifyoupaying$240,000for roofoveryourhead,andyoustillhavetobuy food,paytransport,sendchildrentoschool, and occasionally buy a toothpaste, what exactly you eating? The answer is sky pie and doughnut centres. Because after rent, youain’tgotmoneyfornotevenabottleof water

thattoo. Butdoitopenly,withnotice,notin secret. That way, passengers can plan their budgets,anddriverscanearnalivingwithout cheatinganyone.

Somepeoplewillsaythegovernmenthas nobusinesssettingfares.Theyarguethatthe free market should decide. But here is the truth:publictransportisanessentialservice, like water or electricity When the market fails—when passengers have no power and drivers act out of desperation the government must step in. Otherwise, the poorestpeopleinoursocietywillbetheones who suffer most.Theydepend on minibuses andhirecarstogettowork,toschool,tothe clinic.

So,Isaytothegovernment:stopbluffing. Yousaynofareincreasehasbeenapproved.

But since you have no legal p o w e r t o approve or disapprove, that statement means nothing. Instead, pass a law Set the fares. Give the police teeth to enforce them. Review them fairly every few months. Protect both the driverandthepassenger Guyanese are tired of guessing the fare every time they step into a vehicle. We are tiredoftrafficjamsandrandompricehikes. We need order, fairness, and action. No moredelays.Nomoreexcuses.Regulatethe faresnow

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

GGMC reminds gold operators of obligation to submit accurate records of production or risk losing licence

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has warned miners, permit holders, claim holders and tributors that failure to submit gold production and salesrecordsbytheupcomingdeadlinecould result in the suspension of mining permits, licencesandoperations.

InanoticeissuedonWednesday,GGMC reminded stakeholders of their statutory obligationundertheMiningActandsections of the Guyana Gold Board Act to maintain accurate records of gold production and provide documentary evidence showing that goldwassoldonlytotheGuyanaGoldBoard (GGB)orlicensedgoldtradersanddealers.

“Failure to comply with these statutory requirementsshallresultinthesuspensionof

mining permits, licences and operations without prejudice to any additional regulatory enforcement or legal action available to the Commission under the laws ofGuyana,”itwasstated.

GGMC also urged miners and operators toensurefullandtimelycompliancewiththe reportingrequirements.

According to the GGMC, all gold productionrecordsandevidenceofgoldsales for the period ending January to June 30, 2026, must be submitted to the Commission no later than June 30. Records can be submitted through the Mines Division WhatsApp platform using a designated QR c o d e o r b y e m a i l t o economist@ggmc.gov.gy

But what about de poor man? De one whodrivingbusorsweepingofficeorselling juiceoncartsinthesun?Heluckyifhefinda two-bedroom unfurnished for $150,000. And dat place probably have a bathroom windowthatdon’tcloseandalandlordwho believe“maintenance”isaforeignword.He paying more than his pay just to sleep near his work, because if he move out to somewherecheap,hespendingdeotherhalf onfare.

So dem boys not vex with de high-rent people Let dem enjoy their marble countertop and their keyless entry But dem boysvexwithdesystemdatforgetdataman stillhavetoeatafterhepaydelandlord.And thesedays,eatinglookingmorelikealuxury thanatwo-bedroom.

As dem boys always say: house is for living, not just for surviving. But try telling dattoderentbill.Itdon’thaveears.Onlya duedate. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Unless, of course, you is one of those clienteledatdemboyshearabout.Theones with the fancy job titles and the SUVs that never see a pothole. For them, $240,000 is just a little something-something Deh payingdatandstillbuyingimportedcheese andflyingtoTrinidadfortheweekend.Deh gat companies paying dat sort of money for dem executives. Except dis is not an executive-styledsuite.

H@RD TRUTHS

Nothing can come between

“Nothing can come, nothing can come Nothing can come between us…”

Those words are from British singer Sade's 1988 song of the same name. It wasn'therdoingthehonours inGuyana. Greet,Mr Jacob H e l s b e r g , U S UndersecretaryofEconomic Affairs. TrusttheAmericans to send a spin doctor to sell thesplendouroftheGuyanaExxon relationship He spoke of not seeing any daylight between Guyana's Pres Ali and Exxon's resident Guyana warlord, Mr Routledge. I'm not a suspicioustype,butwhenno daylight can pass between anytwopersons,whatcould begoingon? Grabaholdof whatfollows.

I hear echoes from the Ali-Routledge duet singing to each other, while looking deeplyintoeachother'seyes, shades of that great American soul balladeer, Percy Sledge: 'let me love you in my warm and tender love.' Nothingantisepticthere; butsizzlingfromtheburnof the romantic. If this muchextolled relationship wasn't so open, it risked prompting speculation about what happens in the dark, where

allbetsareoff. It'swhathas been disastrous for rankand-fileGuyanese. No renegotiation, no improvement in their condition. I continue with ExcellencyHelsbergandhis song-and-dance.

D i s p a t c h e d b y Washington, he reported not seeinganydaylightbetween Ali and Routledge. Funny, metoo. Heisonthemoney, whichexplainswhysomany Guyanese are out of money, left to scramble for a penny Locals have their own equivalent for Mr Helberg's fusion of the solar and physical to describe theAliRoutledge cheek-to-cheek waltz. Try this: 'dem suh close that breeze caan pass between dem.' Neither the undersecretary nor the US Embassy should need subtitles.

It explains why Guyana'sAlidoesn'twantto hear a syllable about renegotiation, while Mr Routledge,theothervoicein that choir, refuses to have it uttered in his presence. Put differently,renegotiatingthe Exxon contract must never pass the lips of these two

mutually admiring dance partners.

Bluntly, Mr Helsberg camewithawarninginvery veiled language. It was more for Guyana's headman thanExxon'sown. Hehates renegotiation;therefore,he's ruledout.

T h e w o r d f r o m

Washington, as deliveredby thewell-preppedHelsbergto Dr Ali was: the vibes are so positive, the flames are so warm, between he and Mr Routledge,there'snoneedto do the unthinkable, initiate the unnecessary, (speak of contract renegotiation) and spoil a great love affair, and senditcrashingontherocks. Pres.Ali is so much in love withExxon,andhowwellit has put up with him that, poorfellow,hewouldgrabat thatasanendorsementofhis sanctity of contract lifeboat. Sanctity of contract has become such a lifeboat for Pres.Alithathecanthinkof nothing else to bail himself out of what he promised to renegotiate.

Recall, my fellow citizens the one who said this: 'Guyana got the wrong end of the stick.' It wasn't

me, folks. Lock, stock, and barrel,thosewordsbelongto Pres Ali He proudly claimed ownership of them before. Today, he disowns them rather sickeningly, evenquitecontentedly

Thus, it makes sense for America to dispatch bigshot Jacob Helsberg to brace Guyana's Ali and slide around media inquiries aboutcontractrenegotiation. Irfaan Ali is America's guy Irfaan Ali is Exxon's guy Irfaan Ali is Routledge's

tangoguy

They know the moves,humthetunes: 'sanctity of contr Nothing can come between us.' I dismiss sanctity of contract as leprous and gaseous.

WhenAliandRoutledge embracesolovinglythatthe man from DC can't see any daylight between them, Guyanese are left with one role.

Passivebystanderswhile theirwealthisdrainedaway

embraces, then dances with, Exxon's Routledge, while they are shoeless, foodless, nearhomeless,andhopeless.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

...CARPHA urges heightened vigilance following WHO emergency declaration 'Ebola risk to Caribbean low'

Organisation's (WHO) declaration on May 16,2026,thattheEbolaVirusDisease(EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Caribbean Public HealthAgency(CARPHA)hasassessedthe currentrisktotheCaribbeanRegionaslow

ThedeclarationofaPHEICunderscores the need for heightened international and regionalvigilanceandcoordination.

In a statement, CARPHA said it continues to monitor closely, the outbreak through its global scanning and early warning mechanisms, while leveraging its integratedsuiteofregionalsurveillancetools to support timely detection and situational awareness.

These systems include event-based and indicator-based surveillance platforms with earlywarningalerts,suchastheTourismand Health Information System (THiS), the Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS), national syndromic surveillance through the District Health Information System (DHIS), and the Talkwalker social listeningplatform.

The current outbreak is caused by the relatively rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain, for which there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments. Ebola transmission requires close, direct physicalcontactwiththebodilyfluidsofan infectedpersonwhoisalreadysymptomatic, orwithcontaminatedmaterials.

Speaking on the WHO declaration and theRegion'spreparednessmeasures,Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, stated:

“Despitethelowrisk,CARPHAisurging itsMemberStatestomaintainahighstateof readiness.BecausetheCaribbeanisamajor globaltravelhub,theprimarywaythevirus could arrive is through an infected traveler CARPHA provides a layered, yet proactive approach to early warning, supporting Member States in the early detection, verification,andresponsetoemerginghealth threats.”

CARPHAcontinuestocollaboratewitha

wide range of international and regional partners that share information on crossborderdiseasespreadtostrengthenregional healthsecurity

OnMay18,CARPHApartneredwiththe Caribbean Community Implementation AgencyforCrimeandSecurity(CARICOM IMPACS) to reactivate an advanced electronic screening system at border entry points. The system securely flags and reviews the travel history of passengers arrivingfrom,ortransitingthrough,affected areasinAfrica,whileminimisingdisruption tonormaltravelandtrade.

EbolaanditsSymptoms

Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness. Although the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyostrain—historicallyassociated with a lower fatality rate than some other Ebola strains — it can still cause serious illness.

Symptoms typically appear between 2 and21daysafterexposureandmayinclude:

-Feverandsevereheadache

-Musclepainandweakness

-Extremetiredness(fatigue)

-Sorethroat

-Vomitinganddiarrhoea

-Stomachpain

-Unexplained bruising or bleeding (in somecases)

Ebolaspreadsthroughdirectcontactwith theblood,secretions,organs,orotherbodily fluidsofinfectedpersons,aswellasthrough contact with surfaces and materials contaminatedby these fluids. Infection may also occur through exposure to infected wildlife. Individuals infected with Ebola becomecontagiousoncesymptomsbeginto develop.

Whilethecurrentoutbreakdoesnotmeet the criteria for a pandemic, it represents an extraordinary public health event requiring coordinated international action. CARPHA Member States are therefore reminded to remain vigilant due to the possibility of travel-associatedcases.

CARPHA will continue to monitor the evolving situation closely and provide regularupdatestopartnersacrosstheRegion asnewinformationbecomesavailable.

...says move aimed at strengthening communication, member support

No extension granted for Canje, Orinduik blocks – Min. Bharrat

Minister of Natural Resources,Vickram Bharrat has disclosed that no extension was granted for the Orinduik and Canje oil blocks licence, and that the oil companies will be required to apply for new licences,thatwillbesubject to the terms of the new

Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).

Canadian firm, Eco (Atlantic)Oil&Gasholdsa 100%workinginterestinthe 1,354 square kilometers (km2) Orinduik Block and an indirect working interest in the 4,800 km2 Canje Block, through JHI Associates.

The Orinduik licence expiredonJanuary14,2026 andthelicencefortheCanje block expired on March 4, 2026.

…firms have to apply for new licence subject to terms of new PSA

In a May 18 statement, Eco's President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer(CEO)Gil Holzman disclosed that Eco and JHI “remain engaged

with the Government of Guyana with respect to a potential extension or reissuance of JHI's Canje blockoffshore,inparallelto

Eco's ongoing discussions with the Ministry on the termsoftheOrinduikBlock offshore.”

Minister Bharrat had

previously confirmed that the Orinduik licence has come to an end and that government was in talks with Eco and its partner

Navitas Petroleum LP, an Israeli company, on the way forward However, when contactedonThursdayforan updateontheoilblocks,the minister disclosed that no extension was granted “Theyhavetoapplyfornew licenceunderthenewPSA,” MinisterBharratsaid.

Similar to ExxonMobil's Stabroek Block PSA which has been heavily criticised, the Orinduik PSA is in similar nature The OrinduikPSAfeaturesalow royalty rate of 1% on crude oilproducedandsold,a75% cap on cost recovery and no corporate income tax Similar to the Stabroek Block deal, the Minister of Natural Resources is required to pay the companies income tax from itsshareofprofitoil. Meanwhile,thenewPSA whichwasintroducedbythe current administration, features improved fiscal termsfromtheStabroekand Orinduik PSAs. The new PSAmandatesa10%royalty rateanda10%corporatetax and it lowers the cost recovery ceiling from 75% to65%.TheOrinduikBlock is situated in shallow water, 170kmoffshoreGuyana.In 2019 two oil discoveries (Continuedonpage16)

Map showing location of Canje Block Minister

Bourda vendors in crisis

...as flooding, garbage drive customers away

For decades, vendors at Bourda Market have battled flooding and garbage buildup during heavy rainfall, but many now say conditions are worsening anddrivingcustomersaway, resulting in mounting businesslosses.

Afterweeksofincreased rainfall, sections of the market remain inundated, with one vendor describing the area as “pallet city” because vendors are forced

persisted for years without any workable solution, she noted, despite repeated promises by authorities to restructure the market. She

blamed the flooding primarilyonblockeddrains, especially the main drain alongNorthRoad,whichshe said is frequently clogged.

While she observed that the South Road canal is always flowing, she described the NorthRoaddrainagesystem and surrounding drains as

Floodwaters cover sections of the market following heavy rainfall and poor drainage.

Flooding inside the market disrupted business activity and customer traffic.

to use wooden pallets to moveabovethefloodwaters.

Onegroceryvendorwho has been doing business there for the past 25 years shared that most times, officialswhovisitthemarket do so at nights hence stallholders are deprived of engaging in meaningful discussions with them. “We need the engineer for the market; that is the man we have to talk to,” she expressed.

Pointing to a water-level stains on a nearby wall, she said she was forced to close for an entire week recently because vending in the floodwaters became impossible. The issue has

the market's biggest problem.

She also expressed frustrationoverthefinancial burden vendors continue to face despite having to contend with such poor conditions.“Westillhaveto pay stall rentals before the 15th of each month, otherwise we have to pay arrears,”shesaid.

During periods of flooding, she explained, the market effectively becomes “a pallet city,” forcing vendors to pay additional moneytorentpalletssothey can move around above the water “I have to pay someone$1,000tobringthe pallets and then to remove

themintheafternoonwhenI am leaving. I also have to makesurethatthepalletsare chained.All of this we have to go through, ” she expressed.

Another longstanding vendor told Kaieteur News thatshehasbeencopingwith flooding and a pallet situation for the past month. She believes that the flooding is caused by backed-up water with nowhere to drain, though some cleaning activity had recently begun in the area. Having vended at Bourda Market for more than 30 years,shesaidtheconditions have severely affected her business because customers

are reluctant to enter the flooded market to shop. She also raised concerns about thehealthrisksvendorsface from prolonged exposure to the unsanitary conditions, noting that many return home needing cough syrup and other medication. She calledontheMayorandCity Council to clean the drains, arguing that improved drainagemaintenancewould significantly ease the flooding problems vendors continuetoendure.

Athirdvendor, who said shehasbeenoperatinginthe Bourda Green area for the past 10 years, complained that flooding and garbage problemsatthemarkethave

Market vendors say persistent flooding is affecting daily business operations.

worsenedinrecentyearsdue t o p o o r d r a i n a g e maintenance She argued that authorities, including the Ministry of Public Works, could do more to address the situation by cleaning drains and gutters to allow water to flow properly

In addition to flooding, this vendor also highlighted concerns about sanitation and security issues at the market, claiming that drug users frequently create unsanitary conditions around vendors' stalls. She explained that walking through floodwaters daily whilewearinglongbootshas become physically exhausting and is affecting herhealth.

By the time she returns home after work, she said she is often too tired to complete household chores because of the strain caused by enduring the flooded conditions throughout the day.The vendor called on authorities to provide relief for vendors, arguing that if leadersgenuinelycareabout citizens, more action should be taken to address the longstanding issues affecting the market. “Bring some relief because of the loveforpeople.Yousayyou love the people, then do something for the people,” sheexpressed.

Meanwhile, Acting TownClerkCandaceNelson told this publication yesterday that officers from CityHallvisitedthearealast

week and carried out drainage-related works, but during another one of her visits two nights ago, she observedthatwaterwasstill present in the Bourda Green area. She noted, however, that water levels in the nearbycanalswerealsovery high, preventing effective drainage because there was nowhere for the water to flow

Accordingtoher,thecity engineer has since been instructed to revisit the area to determine how best relief can be provided to affected vendors,notingthatofficials have to wait for the canal waterlevelstorecedebefore determining whether blockagesarecontributingto the flooding and what remedialactioncanbetaken.

Nelson acknowledged that garbage accumulation remains a major factor contributing to the flooding problems at the market, explaining that the council hasalreadydeployedasmall excavatortotheareatoassist with cleaning drains and removing garbage However,shesaidthatwhen heavysiltbuildupinsections of the drainage system was uncovered, the excavator could not yet be used for desilting because the nearby roadwaywasrecentlypaved and requires additional time to properly cure In the meantime, she noted that workers are carrying out manual cleaning efforts to remove blockages and improvetheflowofwater

Second excavator strike in four days disrupts GPL network in Region Two

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) network in Hampton Court Village, Region Two, was damaged Thursday morning after an excavator struck critical infrastructure, marking the second such incidentthisweek.

GPL said the disruption occurred around 10:10hrs and resulted in a power outage affecting a large number of customers across theregion.

F o l l o w i n g a n assessment, GPL's technical teams confirmed that the excavator damaged key sections of the network, triggeringtheinterruptionto electricity supply The operator reportedly fled the scene before GPLpersonnel arrived.

Investigation conducted thus far has identified the owner of the equipment as Mr Jared Lawrie of Wild Oats Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the power companysaid.

Immediately after the interruption repowering efforts commenced, and the teams worked to safely restoretheelectricitysupply to customers Restoration progressed steadily until all

The excavator entangled with the GPL transmission line

affected customers were repowered successfully at approximately 11:06hrs, GPLnotedinthestatement.

The company has also la

investigation into the matter to be able to determine the

surrounding the damage to the network. In addition, a report had been made to the relevant police station and the parties responsible will be prosecuted to the law's fullestextentforthedamage caused to the company's infrastructure, according to GPL.

"GPL wishes to remind contractors and members of

construction, excavation or heavy-duty operations near

distribution infrastructure, must be coordinated with GPL so that safety can be ensuredandthereliabilityof thegridcanbeprotected.

Unauthorised or unsafe activities near GPL's infrastructure can result in service disruptions, damage to critical assets and pose seriousriskstopublicsafety GPL apologises for the inconvenience caused and thanks customers for their patience and understanding

(Continued on page 18)

MOEsignsMOUwith GPLtotrainschoolchildren

The Ministry of Education and the GuyanaPowerandLightIncorporated(GPL) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen technical education and create greater employment opportunities for students pursuingtechnicalcareers.

In a statement GPL said that, “The partnership will support GPL's accelerated TechnicianTraining Programme by creating a sustainable pool of skilled trainee technicians from institutions including the Government Technical Institute, New Amsterdam Technical Institute, Essequibo Technical Institute, and Upper Corentyne IndustrialTrainingCentre.”

Thetermsoftheagreementallowforthe technicalinstitutestoworkcollaborativelyto aligntrainingwiththeneedsoftheindustry, therefore ensuring that students gain the technicalskillsandthecompetenciesthatare requiredforcareersinthepowersector

MinisterofEducationSoniaParaginher address described the initiative as a positive stepthatwillbenefitstudentscountrywideby

creating greater opportunities for technical trainingandcareerdevelopment.

Head of the Executive Management CommitteeatGPL,KeshNandlall,notedthat “theinitiativecomesatacriticaltimeasGPL continues to embark on several major infrastructure projects that will require additional skilled personnel to support the Company's expanding infrastructure and operations.”For the company, the MoU supports the efforts to maintain a highly skilled workforce that is capable of meeting the country's growing demands in the electricitysector

Forthestudents,thepartnershipprovides access to competency-based technical training, practical exposure, industry guidance and potential employment opportunities on successful completion of theirtraining.

GPL remains committed to investing in workforce development and building partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for young Guyanese while supportingnationaldevelopment.

Guyana to host major global aviation safety forum in September

Guyana will host the joint International Civil

A v i a t i o n Organisation/European Union Aviation Safety Agency3rdGlobalRegional

S a f e t y O v e r s i g h t Organisation and Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organisation Forum for Aviation Safety fromSeptember29to30.

Speaking at the media launch of the forum on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre,

Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Minister of PublicUtilitiesandAviation, Deodat Indar said Guyana's selection to host the highlevel aviation gathering reflects the country's growingroleinregionaland international aviation oversightandsafety

The event is expected to bring together global aviation authorities, senior government officials, technical experts, and

representatives from Regional Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs),

Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organisations (RAIOs), member states, and industry stakeholders.

The forum, being organised in collaboration with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, ICAO and EASA, will focus on strengtheningaviationsafety oversight systems, improving accident and incident investigations, and advancing

g

onal cooperation in the aviation sector Discussions are also expecte

address emerging challenges facing global aviation and identify long-term strategies for sustaining effective oversight and investigative systems.

Indar used the launch to outline advancements in Guyana's aviation sector between 2020 and 2026, including significant i n v e s t m e n t s i n infrastructure, regulatory modernisation, and international connectivity Among the projects he

highlighted were the construction of a new stateof-the-art air traffic control tower complex and expansion of Terminal Two at the Cheddi Jagan InternationalAirport,aswell as plans for two new greenfield international airports at Lethem and Rose Hall.

Theministeralsopointed to the modernisation and digitisation of aviation systems, expanded training initiatives, and efforts to strengthen aviation safety oversight capabilities According to him, the number of aircraft on Guyana's registry increased from 78 in 2020 to 110 in 2025, representing a 41 per centincrease.Healsoshared that aircraft movements through Guyana's airspace rose from 63,863 in 2020 to 99,508 in 2025, a 55.8 per centincreaseovertheperiod.

Guyana's aviation security rating under ICAO auditsimprovedto80.12per cent from 62.90 per cent in 2016, while the country

attained a 63.41 per cent compliancelevelwithICAO safety standards following a June 2024 audit, surpassing its2007performanceandthe resultsofthelastfourICAO audits conducted in South America at the time, the ministersaid.

Indar further announced thatnewAutomaticWeather Observation Systems had been installed at both CJIA and the Eugene F Correia International Airport to provide hourly automated weatherupdatestoairtraffic controllers and aircraft operators. He said Guyana alsolaunchedthefirstICAO

NextGenerationofAviation

P r o f e s s i o n a l P l u s

Programme in CARICOM, while the Civil Aviation Training School achieved ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS certification, advancing frombronzetogoldstandard status and enabling the institution to offer internationally recognised aviationtraining.

Indar noted that Guyana had expanded its signedAir Services Agreements from 13 in 2020 to 27 in 2026, more than doubling the number of bilateral agreements He also highlighted Guyana's first

Wom

n Conference, held in March this year, in keeping with ICAO's push for greater participation of women in theaviationsector Indar announced as well that Guyana, through Director General of the GCAA Egbert Field, had been e

p o

the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System for the next two years. Also attending the launch were GCAA Deputy Director General, Dr Shaheed Sulaman and moderator,AlexGraham.

A section of the gathering at the media launch on Wednesday.

GPL and MoE officials after the signing of the MoU

Rubio says Cuba is threat to U.S. as Havana accuses him of ‘lies’

Reuters - Cuba poses a “nationalsecuritythreat”totheUS and the likelihood of a peaceful agreement is “not high”, U S SecretaryofStateMarcoRubiohas said.

His comments come just a day after the U S charged Cuba’s former president Raúl Castro with murder over the 1996 downing of two planes resulting the killing of U.S.nationals.

Rubio said Washington’s preference was “a diplomatic solution”butwarnedthatPresident Donald Trump had the right and obligation to protect his country againstanythreat.

Cuba’sForeignMinisterBruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of “lies” andsaidtheislandhadneverposed athreattotheU.S..

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio said diplomacy “remains our preference with Cuba”, but added: “I’m just being

honest with you, you know, the likelihoodofthathappening,given who we’re dealing with right now, isnothigh.”

He also accused Cuba of being “one of the leading sponsors of

terrorism in the entire region”, which Rodríguez vehemently deniedinapostonX.

The Cuban foreign minister criticised Rubio for trying to “instigate a military aggression”

andaccusedtheUSgovernmentof “ruthlessly and systematically” attackinghiscountry

Cuba is suffering from a fuel crisis exacerbated by an effective U.S. oil blockade, while under pressure from the Trump administrationtomakeadeal.

Its citizens have experienced extended blackouts and food shortages over the last few months.

Rubio said the country had accepted a US offer of $100m (£74.4m)inhumanitarianaid.

Trumphasrepeatedlysoughtto exert pressure on Cuba and has openly discussed toppling its communistregime.

Wednesday’s indictment of the former Cuban president is seen by some as reminiscent of Trump’s seizure of Venezuelan President NicolásMaduroinJanuary

Asked by reporters whetherand how - his government would

get Castro to the US to face the charges,Rubioreplied:

“I’m not going to talk about howwe’regoingtogethimhere,if weweretryingtogethimhere,why would I say to the media what our plansareaboutthat?”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who announced the charges in Miami on Wednesday, said the U.S. “expect he will show uphere,byhisownwilloranother way”.

Speaking to reporters in the OvalOffice,TrumpsaidCubawas a “failed country” and that his administration was trying to help them“onahumanitarianbasis”.

He said Cuban-Americans “want to go back to their country” andhelpCubasucceeded.

“Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years doing something and it looks like I’ll be the one that does it, so I would be happytodoit,”Trumpsaid.

U.S. and Iran still at odds on key issues, but Rubio sees some good signs

WASHINGTON/DUB

AI,May21(Reuters)-The U S and Iran stuck to opposing stances on Thursday over Tehran’s uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait of Hormuz, although U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “somegoodsigns”intalks.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will eventually recover Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium-whichWashington believes is destined for a nuclear weapon though Tehran says it is intended purelyforpeacefulpurposes.

“Wewillgetit.Wedon’t need it, we don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it afterwegetit,butwe’renot going to let them have it,” Trump told reporters at the WhiteHouse.

Rubio told reporters a diplomatic solution would be unfeasible if Tehran implemented a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. But he added that there had been some progressintalks.

“There’s some good signs,” Rubio said. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic So,let’sseewhathappens overthenextfewdays.”

A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Thursday that no deal has been reached but that gaps have been narrowed, adding that Iran’s uranium enrichment andTehran’scontroloverthe Strait of Hormuz remain amongthestickingpoints.

Oil‘priceswhipsawedin a volatile trading session on Thursday, moving lower on uncertain prospects for a resolutionofthewar

Two senior Iranian sources told Reuters before Trump’s comments that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive that the uranium shouldnotbesentabroad.

Trumpalsorailedagainst Tehran’sintentionstocharge fees for use of the strait, where a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas transited beforethewar

“We want it open, we want it free. We don’t want tolls,” he said “It’s an internationalwaterway.”

Trump has said he is ready to resume strikes on Iran,whichtheU.S.andally Israel first launched in late February, if he does not get the “right answers” from Iran’sleadership.

Iran’s Revolutionary

Vessels sail through the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 20. REUTERS/Stringer

Guards have warned that renewed attacks would triggerretaliationbeyondits region.

LITTLE PROGRESS IN TALKS

While talks to end the war have appeared to make little progress in the six weeks since a fragile ceasefire took effect, a main mediator, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, was possibly heading to Tehran for more talks on Thursday, threesourcestoldReuters.

“We’re speaking to all the various groups in Iran to streamline communication and so things pick up pace,” said one of the sources familiar with negotiations.

“Trump’s patience running thin is a concern, but we’re workingonthepaceatwhich messages are relayed from each`side.”

The impasse has wreakedhavocontheglobal economy, chiefly due to the

inflationary impact of high oilprices.

Trump faces domestic pressureaheadofNovember midterm elections, with his approval rating near its lowest since he returned to the White House last year, and fuel price hikes a big factorinthat.

Tehran submitted its latest offer to the U.S. this week. Tehran’s descriptions suggest it largely repeats terms Trump previously rejected, including demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damage, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets and the withdrawal of U.S.troops.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister on Thursday restated Tehran’s claims to sovereignty over the strait, saying aggression from the U S , Israel and some regional states had fundamentally altered

securityin‘thewaterway

In a legal commentary, Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran could adopt “practical andproportionatemeasures” to protect its security and maritime safety, citing internationallaw.

GLOBAL ENERGY SHOCK

TheInternationalEnergy Agencysaystheconflicthas produced the world’s worst energyshock. It warned on Thursday thatthepeakofsummerfuel demand coupled with a lack of new Middle East supply meansthemarketcouldenter the “red zone” in July and August.

S o m e s h i p s a r e managingtotransitthestrait, but only a trickle compared with ‘the 125-140 daily passagesbeforethewar

Iran’s IRNA news agency said 31 ships had passedinthelast24hoursin coordinationwiththeIranian

navy Iran said it aimed to reopen the strait to friendly countries that abide by its terms that could potentially includefees.

“It would make a diplomaticdealunfeasibleif they were to continue to pursuethat.Soit’sathreatto theworldiftheyweretrying to do that, and it’s completely illegal,” Rubio said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said their war aims were to curb Iran’s supportforregionalmilitias, dismantle its nuclear program, destroy its missile capabilities and make it easier for Iranians to topple theirrulers.

But Iran has so far retaineditsstockpileofnearweapons-grade enriched uranium, and its ability to threaten neighbors with missiles, drones and proxy militias.

The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters)

Sophia teen in custody for murder

Policehavearresteda17-year-oldmaleof Cummings Park, ‘E’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown in relation to the death of another 17-year-old in the vicinity of the Route40minibuspark.

The dead teen has been identified as Keroy Profit of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara(EBD).

Police in a statement said that it has launchedaninvestigationintoProfit’sdeath. An altercation reportedly occurred around 18:00honWednesday

“Preliminaryinvestigationsrevealedthat thedeceasedanda17-year-oldmale,whoare

knowntoeachother,wereamongagroupof studentswhentheywereallegedlyengagedin horseplay During the incident, the 17-yearold male, who was reportedly armed with a pairofscissors,allegedlydealtthedeceaseda stabtohisneck,”policesaid.

The injured teen was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC),wherehedied.Hisbodywastaken to the GPHC morgue, where it awaits a post mortemexamination.

Policehavesincereviewedclosedcircuit television (CCTV) footage and have questionedseveralpersons.

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Non-Aligned Movement health ministers raise alarm over worsening health crisis in Cuba

Health ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement have issued a strong statementfromGenevahighlighting the severe and escalating impactofprolongedunilateral economic,commercial,financial, and energy-related restrictions on the health systemofCuba.

The ministers warn that shortages of essential medicines, vaccines, medical equipment,andcriticalenergy supplies are increasingly undermining the country’s healthcaredelivery,withserious consequences for patients,includingrisingmortality rates, disrupted surgical andcancercare,andinterruptions to maternal and child healthservices.Theyalsocall on the World Health Organizationtodocumentthehealth impacts and support the establishment of binding humanitarianexemptionstosafeguard essential medical systems. The statement concludeswithareaffirmationof solidarity with the Cuban people and healthcare workers operating under difficult conditions.

Seefullstatementbelow: All human beings, without distinction of any kind, have the right to the enjoymentofthehighestattainable standardofphysicalandmental health. The right to health is a fundamental part of human rights and of a dignified life. The realisation of that rightimpactsalltheobjectives and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Inthiscontext,weexpress our deep concern over the serious consequences for Cuba’s health system of the unilateraleconomic,commer-

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cial, and financial blockade imposed against that nation for nearly seven decades, which since last January 29 has shifted toward a qualitatively different and quantitatively even more aggressive phase: energy strangulation through the blockade of fuel supplies. The right to health must not be undermined by the imposition of unilateral coercivemeasures,norbythe use of energy as an instrumentofcoercion.

The shortage and lack of availabilityofmedicines,pharmaceutical reagents, vaccines,andmedicalequipment causedbytheunilateralcoercive measures imposed on Cuba severely affect the Cu-

ban health system. National health systems depend on a continuous supply of electricity and on logisticsthatarenowbeingseverely hindered in Cuba, resultinginthedeteriorationof health indicators.

Mortality rates are increasing, life expectancy is declining, the prevalence of physical and mental disordersanddisabilitiesisrising, andphysicalandpsychological suffering is worsening.

Cuba’s infant mortality rate increased from 4.0 per thousand live births in 2018 to 9.9 at present, representinganincreaseof148%.Had the historical trend been maintained, approximately

1,800 children would have survived during that period. Due to instability in fuel and electricity supply, more than100,000patientsarecurrently awaiting surgical procedures, including more than 12,000 minors. More than 4,000 cancer patients are on waiting lists for surgery and cannot undergo their operations. The monitoring of 34,854 pregnant women and radiotherapy treatments for 16,000 people face recurring interruptions.

The lack of refrigerated transportation prevents the timely vaccination of nearly 30,000children,whilecloseto 3,000 patient are dependent on hemodialysis which re-

quireextraordinaryeffortsby healthcarepersonneltomaintain continuity of their treatments amid power outages.

We reaffirm the Cuban people’s right to health. We urge the World Health Organization to document the serious health impacts of the unilateral coercive measures imposed against Cuba and to promote binding humanitarian exemptions that protect that nation’s health system.

Wealsoreaffirmoursolidarity with the Cuban people andwiththeirhealthcareprofessionals who, despite extreme conditions, continue working tirelessly to sustain essentialservicesandprotect life.

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From page 6 asadriverjusttogetby. “The fare that currently exists cannot sustain we. From fuel to oil to servicing, is everything else price gone up. We have family too that we need to support, we got children to send to school too and when we strike is not only, we suffer but people commuters suffer…Thegovernmentmust consider we too,” he said.

Minibus operators at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown shared similar views. Dozens of operators ventilated serious concerns and underlined the growing financial pressures they face daily. “We dealing with fuel prices, spare parts, tyres, servicing, and fares in change in like15years,”anotheroperator stated.

Mr Allenaminibusdriver, who spoke on behalf of operators in the West Coast Berbice stressed on the cost to keep their business going.

He said “On a monthly

basis, we used to buy a Filter for 1500weusedtobuyoila quartz different types is sometimes is 2800 when you buyausedtyrewas7000and $12,000.”

Themancontinued,“Itis unfair for this fare from LitchfieldtoRosignalfor100 for 27 years now it never changesanditisunfairtobus drivers/conductors.”

Hesaidthattheoperators are open to dialogue with Minister Edghill and MinisterofTourismandCommerce, Susan Rodrigues. “We want to meet as soon as possible or we will strike every day untilwemeetasolution.”the operator urged.

APartnershipforNational Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan, who was on the ground speaking with the affected operators in a statement on behalf of the party, said that the concerns raised by them deserve serious and respectfulengagement.

Secondexcavatorstrike...

From page 14

during the restoration process,” the company added.

The power company in recent times has been hit with a series of disruptions caused by excavator and trucks working on road projects coming into contact with transmission lines.

OnlyonMay19,thispublicationreportedthattheL1transmissionlinewasdamagedbyanexcavatoroperator,resulting in power outage in sections of the country, spanning two counties. In a statement to the media then the company said that around 10:17hrs, the L1 transmission which interconnects the Garden of Eden and Grove substations, experienced a system disturbance.

“ThedisturbanceresultedintheGardenofEdenandGrove substationsgoingoffline,creatinganestimated37-megawatt deficit on the network. This led to widespread service interruptions across sections of Demerara and Berbice, leaving thousandsofcustomerswithoutelectricitysupply,”GPLsaid.

Duncan noted that “The government cannot continue to impose decisions from above while ignoring the realities facing ordinary working people. What I heard todaywasnotacallforconfrontation, but a call for fairness, dialogue, and recognition of the economic pressures confrontingpublictransportation operators across the country At the same time, I fully appreciate the inconvenience being experienced by commuters and the wider travelling public as a result of the strike action.”

TheAPNUparliamentarian underlined he role the transportation sector plays in

moving thousands of Guyanese workers, schoolchildren, pensioners, and familieseveryday

As a result, he called on theGovernmentofGuyanato urgently convene discussions with bus operators, route representatives, unions, and relevant stakeholders to reach an amicable and balanced solution in the national interest.

“Consultation, compromise, and mutual respect must guide this process. The transportation sector is too important to be managed through threats, victimization, or unilateral declarations,” he said.

Noextensiongranted...

From page 11

weremade,Jethro-1andJoe-1,bothwellsencounteredhigh qualityreservoirscontainingmobileheavycrude. Notwithstandingtheexpirationofthelicenceforthatblock,Ecohad outlined that the provisions under the PetroleumAct allow it to retain rights to its Jethro-1 and Joe-1 discoveries while itsappraisalprogrammewasunderreview

The company had shared that both the ministry and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had received the relevant joint submissions in relation to the proposed appraisal work.

ExxonMobilwastheoperatoroftheCanjeBlockwitha 35%stake,withpartnersTotalEnergieswith35%,JHIAssociateswith17.5%,andMid-AtlanticOil&Gaswith12.5%.

ExxonMobil Country Manager,Alistair Routledge during a recent press conference related that the company does not plan to apply for a renewal or extension to its licence to exploretheCanjeBlock. Heexplained,“Wearenotplanning to apply for any extension or renewal of the Canje licence. Webelieve,weexceededthecommitmentsthatwerelaidout inthePetroleumAgreementandtheprospectinglicencefor Canje.”

CanjeBlockislocated180kmoffshoreGuyanaindeepto ultra-deepwater(1,700m-3,000m),andcontainsprospectivity inbothcontinentalslopeandbasinfloortargets.CanjeBlock lies adjacent and directly Northeast (outboard) of the prolificStabroek.

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An inspection done by the company’s technical teams revealed that an excavator operating at Grove, East Bank Demerara,hadcomeintocontactwiththeline,thereforecausingdamagetocriticaltransmissioninfrastructureandtriggering the disturbance.

The excavator involved is reportedly owned by S. Joseph Transportation & Machinery Rentals and was being operated by Mr.GarfieldHindsatthetimeoftheincident.

The power company later demanded $8,059,361 in dam-

Eco recently announced its plans to expand its presence offshore Guyana through a US$52.3 million acquisition of JHI Associates Inc. This deal will allow Eco to acquire all remaining shares in JHI it does not already own. Through the acquisition, Eco would gain JHI’s 17.5% participating interest in the Canje Block. However, Eco had stated that theacquisitionofJHIisnotconditionalontheCanjelicence Extension.

VACANCY

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

Fresh

alarm at Wales gas project

Frompage27

Administrator Bibi Shaneza Nabi.

RHTYSCCricketteams,S.HussainEngineering... Cycle ride around New Amsterdam in observance of Independence Day

Foster urged the awardees to uphold their high standard of service to thegeneralpublic.Thelongstanding serving secretary noted that the real wealth of thecountrywasthehealthof itscitizensandhepraisedthe awardeesfortheirdedication to their profession despite thechallengestheyfaceona daily basis. Several of the awardees were forced to

misstheceremonyduetothe arrival of two accident victims at the hospital. Both of the victims were declared dead during the duration of the presentation, adding a sombre atmosphere. Foster committed the club and its ten cricket teams to continuing the award in the future.

Sponsor, Steven Hussain, in brief remarks stated that his company was delighted to be associated with the awards programme

and stated that he looks forward to working along with the cricket teams in future projects. Mr Poonai Bhigroog, sponsor of the under 11 and 13 teams, congratulated the awardees and hailed them as real heroesintheancientcounty He praised the hard work of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and called on other organisations to followinitsfootsteps.

Dr Mark Ramar and Dr Barra Ferrer speaking on

behalf of their colleagues expressed gratitude for the awards, noting that it was a pleasant surprise to be honoured. Ramar expressed confidence that the award would inspire all of the awardees to maintain their highstandard.

Senior female player Danielle Manns expressed thankstothemanagementof S. Hussain Engineering for their support, while special mention was made of Kevin Ramnarain of K and K ConstructionandtheGuyana Breweries Inc for their contribution towards the successoftheceremony

Friday May 22, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Remember that you were put here to have fun, Aries, and that happiness is your true destiny Keep that in mind today, as forces may tend to pull you away from the fun you'vebeenhaving.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You, of all people, will appreciate the need for structureandstabilityonaday likethis,Taurus.Thispractical energy could be taking some ofthefunoutoftheequation.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Tensionisapttobuildtoahigh level if you aren't careful about how you use words, Gemini. The tricky thing is that forces are going to try to push you and pull you in differentways.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Takealookatwhat'sgoingon aroundyoutoday,Cancer.Do some internal processing beforeyoureachaconclusion aboutthebestwaytoproceed. You may find that powerful forces are trying to win you overtoonecamporanother

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Watchoutforalittlejoltinthe actionassomeoneclosetoyou puts on the brakes in your relationship, Leo. Conflicts couldarisebasedonaneedfor morestructureandstability

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Just when you thought you had everything planned out andworkingsmoothly,Virgo, lovecomesinandclogsupthe works Suddenly your attention is diverted and your concentration flies out the window as that dazzling creaturecatchesyoureye.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Your heart is going pitty-pat, Libra, and you're tempted to escape to a romantic fantasyland in which you play thestarringrole.Thebadnews is that something could be tryingtoholdyouback.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You may feel a bit of strain todayasyoutrytofigureoutthe best way to get to where you needtobe Ontheonehand,the happyapproachcallsforyouto let loose, and strike out with conviction toward the things thatmeanthemosttoyou

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Your romantic side is powerfullychargedtoday The moreyoutuneintothissideof your nature, the happier you'll be.Onethingtowatchoutfor, isthatyoukeepatleastonefoot onthegroundatalltimes.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Attend to your duties today There's a pronounced sense of thepassageoftimeandfeeling that the days are slipping quickly by Make sure you fit love and romance somewhere intotheequation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Two different sides could be tugging at you. It may be that neither one is really making a strongcaseforpullingyouone way or the other Realize that adjustments may have to be madeinorderforyoutofitin.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Tension may be a bit high in just about everyone and everything you encounter today Some will feel a strong needforstabilityanddiscipline Others may be calling for fun andcarefreefrivolity

The RHTYSC was founded in 1990 by the St Francis Community Developers with the main aim of offering sports and educationasanalternativeto alifeontheroadforyouths. The club, has received a national award, Medal of Service and won five Guyana Cricket Club of the Year awards. Over the last thirty-six years, the club has won132crickettournaments at all levels while it has produced 133 players for Berbice, 76 for Guyana and ten internationals including threetestplayers.

The Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) in collaboration with the Mayor andTown Council of NewAmsterdam has organised a cycling event around the town of New Amsterdam.

TheeventwhichissetforMay26th,IndependenceDay willgofortwolapsaroundthetown.

AccordingtoorganizerRandolphRoberts,theeventwill be in observance of Guyana’s 60th anniversary Roberts stated that cyclists from his club, the FACC, will be participatingaswellasallotherinterestedcyclists.Hestated thatlettersofinvitationhavebeensenttoschoolsandother organizations.

MayorofNewAmsterdamMrWainwrightMcIntoshis expectedtostarttheeventandparticipateintheactivity The eventisexpectedtorideoffat13:00hrs.

ThecyclistswillrideoffatthejunctionofCharlesPlace and Republic Road, proceed along Republic Road through Winkle,turnleftintoNorthRoad,turnleftontoMainStreet proceedthroughStanleytowntoTacamaTurn,turnleftonto RepublicRoadpastthestartingpointfortwolapstoendin front of Leisure Inn in the vicinity of Main and Church Street. (SamuelWhyte)

Sawa Investments joins One Guyana T10 Blast with Berbice Zone sponsorship

Critical corporate support for the highly anticipated 2026

One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blastcontinues,withSawaInvestments Inc. officially coming on board as a majorpartner

The company has committed $500,000 to sponsor the first prize for thetournament'sBerbiceZone.

The Berbice Zone, scheduled for August 8–9, will feature 16 teams battling across four venues: the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground, No 69 Ground, Welfare Ground (Canje), and the Albion Sports Complex, which is slated to host the zonalfinalsonSunday,August9.

Speaking at the official handover presentation to tournament organisers FL Sport, Samantha Reid, Chief ExecutiveOfficerofSawaInvestments Inc., highlighted her deep personal and regionaltiestothesport.

"Fromapersonalstandpoint,Iama deep lover of cricket. Being from Berbice has further created a deeprootedconnectiontothesport,giventhe manystalwartsthathavecomefromthe county," Reid shared. "Cricket is us, cricketisGuyana,cricketisGuyanese."

Tournament Director John Ramsinghexpressedimmensegratitude forthetimelycorporatebacking,noting howcriticalgrassrootsinvestmentisto thetournament'sexpandingfootprint.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sawa Investments to the One Guyana T10 Blast family," Ramsingh stated.

"Their generous sponsorship of the BerbiceZoneunderscoresthevitalrole corporate Guyana plays in elevating grassroots cricket Berbice is an undeniable powerhouse of talent, and this$500,000prizegiveslocalteamsan incredible incentive to showcase their absolute best Partners like Sawa Investments allow us to dream bigger anddeliveratrulyprofessionalplatform forplayersacrossthecountry."

Financial incentives for the 2026 season have reached an all-time high. For the first time, cash prizes are guaranteed for every single team that reaches the quarter-final stage of their respectivezone.

Rewardsbeginat$25,000forlosing zonal quarter-finalists and scale up significantly, culminating in the $500,000 purse pocketed by the zonal

Chief Executive Officer for Sawa Investments Inc., Samantha Reid, and John Ramsingh of FL Sport.

winners before they advance to the NationalFinals.

The stakes at the national level are evenhigher,asteamswillcompetefora $2,000,000 grand prize, while the runner-uptakeshome$1,000,000.

In addition to the substantial cash prizes, the four national finalists will earn the prestigious right to represent Guyana at the upcoming Global T10 TapeballBlastthisOctober

Individual brilliance will also be handsomely rewarded throughout the tournament. The eventual tournament MVPissettowalkawaywith$150,000 andamotorbike.

Specialised awards for the leading run-scorerandtopwicket-takerinclude $100,000 and a new television each, ensuring that personal milestones are celebratedalongsideteamsuccess.

The 2026 edition introduces a streamlined registration process and a phasedapproachtosquadsubmissions.

Captains can secure their team’s spot right away with a G$35,000 entry fee and finalise their ultimate 15-man

talent pools closer to their respective zonalstartdates.

Registration forms are currently available through the tournament’s official social media channels or via direct WhatsApp contact at +592 6352235.

Following the opening 16-team leg in Berbice on August 8–9, the tournament will move on to East Bank/West Demerara (August 15-16) and Essequibo (August 22-23) in subsequentweeks.

Inastrategicmovetomaximisefan engagement and support local cricket festivities, the competition will pause during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)window

Action will resume post-CPL with t h e h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e Georgetown/East Coast Demerara leg (September 26-27 & October 3-4), all leading toward the historic national grandfinaleonOctober11,2026,which will be hosted for the first time at the Anna Regina National Stadium in RegionTwo.

Chess 960 tourney set for 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee celebrations

- Sponsored by Trophy Stall and Pegasus Suites

Chess960returnsforthesecondyearonIndependence Day, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Pegasus Suites and CorporateCentre.Theevent,whichishostedbytheGuyana ChessFederation(GCF)andsponsoredbyTrophyStalland the Pegasus Suites, promises to be an exciting and fun competition to celebrate Guyana’s 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee. Chess 960, also known as Fischer RandomChess,isavariantofchessstronglyadvocatedby the legendary grandmaster and former world champion Bobby Fischer The competition will be held in the Exhibition Room at the Pegasus Suites, compliments of PegasusSuitesandCorporateCentre.

Mr Brandon Badal, Director of the Pegasus Suites, is proud to support the Chess 960Tournament for the second consecutiveyear,especiallyasthisyear'stournamentholds special significance as it forms part of the celebrations marking Guyana’s 60th Anniversary of Independence. A keen chess player himself, Mr Badal has been a dedicated supporter of the sport and a valued sponsor of local chess events for several years. He commended the GCF’s promotion of Chess960, noting that the variant pushes players to think outside the box rather than relying on memorizedopeningtheories.

As Guyana proudly celebrates its 60th Independence Anniversary,TrophyStallispleasedtosponsorthetrophies and cash prizes for Chess960 Tournament as part of the nationalobservances.RameshSunich,proprietorofTrophy Stall,saidthathewasveryencouragedbytheprogresschess hasmadeinGuyanaovertheyears,notingthatmoreyoung people are becoming interested in the game, more schools are introducing chess activities, and local players continue toperformwithgrowingconfidenceandskill.Thisprogress, he said, shows the tremendous potential that exists within the sport and that his company is honoured to support an event that brings together talented players, young minds, andloversofthegameinaspiritofcompetition,discipline, and national pride. Mr Sunich advocated that for chess to continue growing and reaching even greater heights, there must be more tournaments, more opportunities for competition,andgreaterpublicandprivatesupport.

Trophy Stall extends congratulations to the organizers, participants,andsupportersofthetournamentandwishesall theplayerstheverybest.

The competition will be a 7-round Swiss format with a 15-minute time control and a 5-second increment for each player after every move. This chess variant shuffles the back-rank pieces at the start of the game to create exactly 960 different starting positions, forcing players to rely on creativityratherthanmemorizedopeningmoves.Whilethe pawnsremainintheirstandardpositionsonthesecondand seventhranks,theback-rowpiecesarerandomlyarranged.

Frompage26

Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Buttlertothisfeat.

Sudharsanwouldeventuallyfallfor 84, along the way surpassing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s tally to take back the OrangeCap.

ButtlerandGurjapneetstandout Buttler, who came in after Gill’s wicket,launchedintothebowlingfrom the get-go. He took particular liking to

NoorAhmad, depositinghim deep into the stands to quickly offset a brief slowdown.Amid the carnage from one end, left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh heldaway,mixinghiscutterswithwide yorkers to finish with 4-0-31-0, the figures taking a dent only because his finaloverwentfor15.

Buttlertoogottohishalf-centuryoff 23ballswhenhescythedtwoattempted wide yorkers from Anshul Kamboj to

thecoverboundary Kambojwentfor56 off his four overs, along the way concedingthemostsixesinasingleIPL season.ItleftCSKneedingamammoth 230, which they never looked like challengingonthenight.

Scores: Gujarat Titans 229 for 4 (Sai Sudharsan 84, GIll 64, Buttler 57*, Choudhary 1-36) beat Chennai Super Kings 140 (Dube 47, Rashid 3-18, Siraj 3-26,Rabada3-32)by89runs.

Registration for the tournament can be done using the registration link provided on the GCF’s Facebook page. Payment of the tournament registration fees is made via MMG.TheregistrationdeadlineisMonday,May25,2026, at 17:00hrs. Pairings and results will be published on chessresults.com.

TheFederationwouldliketoextendasinceregratitude totheTrophyStallfortheirkindsupport.

A special thank you to Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centreforprovidingthevenueforthetournament.

FormoreinformationontheChessFederationandclubs, follow our social media accounts and check our website guyanachess.gy

Courtney Walsh bowls into Guyana’s restaurant scene

…cricket legend says Guyana was a ‘No-Brainer’ for 519 expansion

ByRawleToney

West Indies fast-bowling legend Courtney Walsh has taken another major step in life after cricket, officially expanding his 519 Pan-Caribbean restaurant and sports bar franchise into Guyana, whiledescribingthecountryasthe idealplaceforbusinessinvestment atthistime.

Nestled at the recently-opened AC Hotel by Marriott Georgetown Guyana at Ogle, the new establishment represents another bold step in Walsh’s post-cricket journey The iconic Jamaican fast bowlerdescribedthelocationasan ideal fit for the brand, combining modern Caribbean elegance with the vibrant atmosphere 519 hopes toofferpatrons.

Walsh, one of the greatest fast bowlersincrickethistory,believes Guyana’s rapid economic transformation made the move an easy decision for the brand, which firstopenedinTrinidadandTobago approximatelynineyearsago.

TheJamaicancricketicon,who representedtheWestIndiescricket team in 132 Test matches and 205 One-Day Internationals, finished his illustrious career with 519 Test wicketsand227ODIscalps.

Hewasalsothefirstcricketerin history to reach the landmark of 500 Test wickets, cementing his legacyasoneofthesport’sall-time greats.

However,Walshsaidbuildinga future beyond cricket has always beenapriority

“I think it’s very important (to have life after cricket). Cricket is just a short lifespan, in terms of professionalsports,soformetobe abletobeinvolvedwiththisnowis justanotherchallenge,butit’salso tokeepyouonyourtoes,keepyou going. It’s life after cricket, so I think it’s important to plan while you’replaying,butyou’regoingto need to do something after the

Walsh explained that Guyana has long been one of his favourite destinations in the Caribbean, not only during his playing days with the West Indies and Jamaica, but also as a visitor away from the game.

That admiration, he said, only grew stronger after witnessing the significant development currently takingplaceacrossthecountry.

According to Walsh, shortly after the launch of 519 in Trinidad and Tobago, he informed his

game,” the towering Jamaican stated.

Widely respected throughout the cricketing world for his professionalism and longevity,

business partners that Guyana should eventually become the franchise’snextmajortarget.

“One of my investors came downtoGuyanaforameeting,and

he said I was right; lets move to Guyana So based on what’s happening, it was a no-brainer to cometoGuyana,”Walshsaid.

The former fast-bowling great notedthat519isdesignedtoseparate itself from the traditional sports bar modelbyofferingablendofcasual andupscalediningexperiences

“It’s a sports bar; we are going tohavetheregularsportsbarmenu, andthenwe’llhavethehigher-end menuaswell,andthenwehavealso createdourownsushibar,whichis oneofourbestsellers.”

Walsh, who remains one of the Caribbean’smostadmiredsporting figures,saidhehopeshistransition into business continues to inspire athletes throughout the region to prepare for opportunities beyond theirplayingcareers.

Havinghisnameattachedtothe brand, he admitted, comes with significant expectations, particularly regarding customer serviceandqualitystandards.

“Butit’sagoodthing,becauseit means we have to deliver So, the

staff are always under constant pressure. But they trust the brand, and they work behind the scenes,” Walsh explained Meanwhile, although not present at the event, Irfaan Ali, through Minister of Tourism Susan Rodrigues, praised Walsh for his remarkable contributiontointernationalcricket and thanked him for placing confidence in the Guyanese market.AccordingtoPresidentAli, whileGuyanacontinuestoposition itself as open for business, the Government is actively encouraging investment in sectors beyond oil and gas, as part of its vision of transforming the country into a diverse economic hub and a one-stop destination in the Caribbean.

For Walsh, the move into Guyana represents more than just anotherbusinessexpansion.Itis,as he explained, another chapter in a lifedefinedbydiscipline,ambition, and the willingness to evolve long after the cheering stopped on the cricketfield.

Promotech and Danny’s Auto Sales Support NTFGL Season Two...

AarnaSponsorsHospitalityforSecondRound

The National Top Flight Golf League (NTFGL) continues to attract strong corporate support as preparationsintensifyforitshighly anticipatedsecondseason.

After successfully supporting the league’s inaugural season, Promotech Guyana remains associated with the tournament, while Danny’s Auto Sales has officially come on board as a sponsorforSeasonTwo,signalling continuedconfidenceinthegrowth and development of competitive golfinGuyana.

Organisers praised both companiesfortheircommitmentto the sport, noting that corporate partnershipscontinuetoplayakey role in elevating the standard and profileoflocalgolf.

Adding to the growing list of supporters was Aarna Restaurant, which sponsored the food and hospitality for last Sunday’s tournament round Located on

Tournamentofficialsexpressed gratitudetoAarnaRestaurantforits support, noting that partnerships such as these helps strengthen the league and improve the overall tournamentexperience.

The NTFGL was launched to provide golfers with more structured and competitive playing opportunities while

consistency, and excellence amongparticipants Wi

optimistic that the league will continue to grow and attract even greater interest from players, supporters, and the corporate community

The continued involvement of PromotechGuyana,theadditionof Danny’s Auto Sales, and support from businesses like Aarna Restaurant reflect the increasing momentumbehindtheNTFGLand thefutureofgolfinGuyana.

Courtney Walsh sharing a light moment with Minister of Tourism, Susan Rodrigues.

Courtney Walsh during his remarks at the opening of his 519 Restaurant at the AC Marriott Hotel.

Myers, Reid and Kesney shine as YBG’s Ancient Conference heats up in Berbice

Vryman’s Erven Secondary Girls, Berbice Educational Institution(BEI)andBerbiceHigh continue to warrant favourable results in the Youth Basketball

Guyana (YBG) Ancient Conference on Wednesday as the Region Six regional playoffs intensified with a thrilling tripleheader of schools’ basketball action.

The latest round of fixtures liveduptoexpectations,producing exciting contests and standout individual performances as teams battled for crucial victories in the conferencestandings.

In the girls’ division, Venicia Myers delivered a sensational shooting performance to lead Vryman’s Erven Secondary to a commanding 16-6 victory over SkeldonLinePathSecondary Myers was in complete control fromtheopeningwhistle,dictating the tempo and displaying remarkable shooting accuracy throughout the encounter The prolific scorer accounted for 14 of her team’s 16 points in a dominant display that left the opposition strugglingtorespond.

Avion Kesney poured just about half the points as Berbice High holds Vryman Erven to 18-point defeat.

The boys’ division also produced high-quality action, with Berbice Educational Institution edging TutorialAcademy 19-16 in acloselycontestedencounter Demetrius Reid spearheaded BEI’schargewithagame-highnine points, producing several crucial baskets down the stretch to secure thenarrowvictory Tutorial Academy received a spirited effort from Raekwone Gladstone, but his contributions were ultimately not enough to preventdefeat.

Myers took Line Path to the cleaners with a silky game-high performance.

Meanwhile, Berbice High producedoneofthemostemphatic performancesofthedaywhenthey overwhelmed Vryman’s Erven 279inthefinalmatchup.

PointguardAvionKesneystole the spotlight with an explosive

offensive display, pouring in 16 points to dismantle the opposition defence. Kesney received strong support from Shimron Jahfer, who contributed six points as Berbice Highcruisedtoan18-pointtriumph and handed Vryman’s Erven their

firstlossoftheday

TheYBGRegionalPlayoffsare being sponsored by Edward B. Beharry Ltd , G-Boats Inc, National Sports Commission, Ministry of Education and Banks DIHLimited.

Gujarat Titans knock out CSK and seal top-two finish

ESPNcricinfo - ChennaiSuper Kings’ (CSK) slim playoff hopes were crushed emphatically by GujaratTitans(GT)inAhmedabad onThursday night as they sealed a top-twospotwithan89-runwin. Sent in to bat on a red-soil surface with pace and bounce, GT went all-in to post 229. Shubman Gill’s 23-ball half-century set it up for late fireworks from B Sai Sudharsan (84 off 53) and Jos Buttler(57notoutoff27).

In reply, CSK’s top five perished inside eight overs before Shivam Dube tonked 47 off 17 to brieflyinjectlifeintothechase.His dismissalleftthedoorajarforGTto knock over the lower order, which they did courtesy Rashid Khan to bowlCSKoutinthe14thover

TheSamsonmiss

In the game’s second over, SanjuSamsonleftthefieldtonurse a finger injury after Spencer Johnson’s hard-length delivery down the leg side suddenly swerved away after passing the

immediately, and didn’t return for

position, but he lasted all of one ball, nicking a Mohammed Siraj away-swingerintheveryfirstover Siraj’simpact Having taken a wicket off the

first ball in GT’s defense of 230, SirajthensawRuturajGaikwadloft him through the line over the covers, and then walk across to scoophimforsix.Inhisnextover, he saw the CSK captain whip him nonchalantly over the midwicket fence Siraj, though, remained unperturbedandremovedhimwith alengthballthatduckedbackinto crash into the stumps. One ball later, he silenced the home fans rootingforlocalheroUrvilPatelby havinghimtop-edgeaflickstraight down Prasidh Krishna’s throat at deepbackwardsquareleg. CSKcollapseagain afterDube’sfireworks At the start of the ninth, CSK were 72 for 5. It took Dube all of two overs to get the fans excited. Having endured a poor season, he beganbythumpingleft-armseamer Arshad Khan for 6, 4 and 4 in an overthatwentfor19.Hewentinto overdrive in the next, thumping Jason Holder’s hard-length delivery over long-on for six.And whenHolderwentfull,Dube’slong levershelpedscythetheballbehind

running back from cover, pulled off a stunner CSK lost their last four wickets in the next three overs, with Rashid finishingwith3for18.

Gill-SaiSudharsan’s openingheroics Long before his catching brilliance and the direct hit to run out Kartik, Gill began like a bullet train, surging to a 23-ball halfcentury to lay down the marker, even as Sai Sudharsan buckled downtoplaysecondfiddle.Hewas run-a-ballforhisfirst22deliveries enroutetoaseventhcenturystand with Gill - the most by an opening pairintheIPL. Gill survived on 51 despite feathering an attempted pull with none of the opposition appealing forcaughtbehind.Butitdidn’tcost CSK a lot as he fell soon after for 64 Once Gill perished, Sai Sudharsancarriedontobringuphis fifthconsecutiveIPLfifty-joining

Continued on page 24

Venicia

Demetrius Reid propelled Berbice Educational Institute to another win with a solid game-high performance.

rest of the innings with Kartik

wicketkeepingduties.Thenatureof his on-field injury meant Samson could return to bat in his original

square.Overs8-10fetched37.But one ball after launching Rashid overdeepmidwicket,Dubewasout to him when Gill,

Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill made life difficult for CSK in the powerplay. (Associated Press)

Basil Butcher Trust Fund-2026

RHTYSC Cricket teams, S. Hussain Engineering Solutions hosts Tribute to Doctors Programme

T

n dedicated medicaldoctorsattachedtothe Port Mourant Public Hospital were on Wednesday last honouredbythecricketteams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club during an impressive ceremony in the Hospital boardroom The teams with the support of the management of S. Hussain Ideal Engineering Solutions hosted the first edition of TributetoDoctorsprogramme aspartoftheirpopularTribute to Heroes award scheme. The event was held as part of the RHTYSC Basil ButcherTrust Fundfor2026.

Club Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the ten cricketteamsoftheRHTYSC has held a Tribute to Heroes programme at the hospital since 2015 and over the years over eighty employees have been honoured for their dedicatedservices.

The 2026 edition was held two weeks ago and the club agreed to hostaseparateawardceremonyfor thedoctorsandadministration.The teamsoftheclub-PoonaiPharmacy Under 11 and 13, Farfan and MendesUnder15,BakewellUnder 17 and Second Division, Pepsi under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, Namilco Thunderbolt under 21 and First Division organised the events which saw the

administratorreceivingfourspecial gifts along with a medal of excellence, a trophy and a framed certificate.

The awardees were Dr Mark Ramar, Dr Vanessa Singh, Dr Yanara Rodriquez Gonsalez, Dr Marissa Williams-Henry, Dr Saif Alli, Dr Ganesh Omapersaud, Dr RafeekRahaman,DrShariLaRose, Dr Ghamshaam Sukhdeo, Dr Dayana Rohoman, Dr Yumiley Dis Barra Ferrer, Dr Lidia Perez Lazo, DrIsabelGilRojoand Continued on page 23

Tribute to Medical Doctors awardees pose with RHTYSC cricketers and official sponsors.

Courtney Walsh bowls into Guyana’s restaurant scene

…cricket legend says Guyana was a ‘No-Brainer’ for 519 expansion

Chess960tourneysetfor60thIndependence DiamondJubileecelebrations

- Sponsored by Trophy Stall and Pegasus Suites

West Indies cricket legend, Courtney Walsh (4th left), along with Ministers of

Trophy Stall proprietor, Ramesh Sunich presents sponsorship cheque to GCF’s Company Secretary Marcia Lee at Trophy Stall South Road.

Scene from 2025 960 Chess Tournament.