Kaieteur News

…ascompanyrefusestodisclosefiguresforproject

Venezuelan among 3 station bombing

‘Weneedjustice’:Familyofgirlkilledin gasstationbombingcriesoutinanguish

WINcallsforunity,vigilance APNUurgesstrictermigrantscreening

‘Silence

where needed’ held for deadly gas

…journalists blast police for failure to engage media after bombing

Police said this car was used to transport one of the suspects involved in the deadly explosion.

Dead: Soraya Bourne

Police hunt Spanish-speaking terror suspect

…after gas station explosion that killed six-year-old girl

Law enforcement officers are urgently hunting a Spanish-speaking man suspected of planting an explosive device that caused a deadly blast at the Mobil Service Station on Regent and King Streets on Sunday night.

The explosion claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured seven others, including children and adults. Police have confirmed that the man is a person of interest in the investigation. According to eyewitness accounts, a

prevented an even deadlier blast She told Kaieteur News that the suspect, carrying two plastic bags, tried to dispose of them in a bin near the pumps. After a verbal confrontation, he moved toward the back of the station, leaving the bags near a cage of gas cylinders, moments before a massive explosion tore through the compound. Police continue

Minister of Home Affairs, Oniedge Walrond (4th left) in a high-level meeting with Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan (5th left), Head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Sheldon Howell (right), Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken (3rd left), Deputy Commissioners of Operations and Administration, Mr. Errol Watts (left) and Ravindranauth Budhram.

to comb CCTV footage and other evidence to track the suspect Authorities are u

h informationtocomeforward to help bring the perpetrator tojustice.

In a statement on Monday police said that at around 19:36hrs, a powerful explosion was heard on the southwestern side of the compound, near the section

where bottled cooking gas is stored. “The blast”, police c o n t i n u e d , “ c a u s e d extensive damage to the building, several parked vehicles and nearby properties.” The statement added: “At the time of the explosion, motor car PTT 8275, a silver Toyota Premio, was in the compoundwithdriverJenica Hooper, 27 years, a teacher

Govt. to cover funeral expenses of child killed in gas station blast

…promises counselling, other support to family

of Breeda Street, Werk-enRust; her mother, Yvonne Jonas, 71 years, a pensioner; her nieces, Soraya Bourne, 6 years, and Seddia McIntosh, 12 years, a student; along with her nephew, Reshard Lord, 7 years, a pupil - all of the said address”, police addedintheirstatement.

All of them were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital with the assistance of public-spirited citizens where 6-year-old Soraya Bourne was pronounced dead on arrival. The other victims were treated for injuries, multiple burns and flesh injuries to their bodies.

Officials from the Ministry of Human Services interacting with the family of Soraya Bourne on Monday morning.

The government through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has announced that it will cover the funeral and wake expenses of six-year-old Soraya BournewhodiedinanexplosionattheMobil Gas Station at King and Regent Streets on Sundaynight.

According to a statement from the ministry,onMondaymorningDirectorofthe Childcare and ProtectionAgency (CPA) Ms. LevineGouveiaandManageroftheDifficult Circumstances Unit (DCU) Ms. Jashudra Seeram-Lackhan visited the family to offer continuedassistance.

“Through DCU, the ministry will cover funeral and wake expenses, while CPA will conduct daily hospital visits to monitor the children’s progress. Counseling and support will also be provided to all affected, especiallythetwohospitalisedchildrenforas longasneeded,”theministrystated.

Visiting the grieving family on Monday also was Minister of Education, Sonia Parag who was accompanied by Chief Planning Officer at the Ministry, Ms. Mischka White-

The ministry noted that the incident which claimed the life of Bourne also resulted in the injuries of little Sadiya McClintock and Rashad Lord, along with Genica Hooper and Yvonne Jonas- all of whomareattachedtotheeducationsector

Minister Parag who expressed her deepest condolences to the little girl’s relatives, assured them that President Irfaan Ali,alongwiththeMinisterofHomeAffairs, Oneidge Walrond, and all relevant law enforcement agencies, are working assiduously to apprehend the main suspect and to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Minister Parag told the family that the tragedy has been felt by all of Guyana and that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Minister Parag also committed her and the Ministry of Education’s full support to the affected families,” the ministry statement.

This publication understands that the Ministry of Health is also providing support to ensure that all of the injured persons receivethebestcarepossible.

“The explosion also damaged four other motor vehicles and caused minor structural damage to a nearby building”, Police said. Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service, ranks f r o m t h e C r i m i n a l Investigations Department, Forensic experts among other investigators were immediately dispatched to scene.

Minister of Home Affairs, Oniedge Walrond informed the nation that explosionmightbe a formof terrorism. In a statement on her ministry’s Facebook page, Walrond stated, “The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to inform the public thattheGuyanaPoliceForce has identified and is actively pursuing a suspect believed to be responsible for the explosion that occurred last evening at the Mobil Service Station, located at Regent a n d K i n g S t r e e t s , Georgetown”.

WalrondonMondayalso convened a high-level meeting with Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, Head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), S h e l d o n H o w e l l , Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, Deputy C o m m i s s i o n e r s o f

The main suspect in the gas station bombing. (AI enhanced image)

O p e r a t i o n s a n d Administration, Mr Errol Watts and Ravindranauth Budhram. President Irfaan Ali in a statement on the matter said, that while on official duty in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he received comprehensivebriefingslate regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

“I have directed that a fullscale investigation be launched immediately and that every available resource and investigative tool be utilised to determine the p r e c i s e c a u s e a n d circumstances of this incident”, the President stated before adding “I was also briefed on the identifi

of an individual of interest, and I have instructed that images of this person be circulated widelysothatthepublicmay

assist the Guyana Police Force by sharing any information that could aid theinvestigation.”

Later Monday police released a photo of the person of interest and identified him as a Spanish speaking man He was dressed in a blue jersey and black pants and had on a black hat. The suspect was recorded on CCTV footage planting two bulky plastic bags next to the gas bottles before leaving the area Police also issued a wanted bulletin for another man identified as Roberto Fuentes but did not say why he was wanted. Police only stated,“RobertoFuentes,the driver and owner of the vehicle PSS 7874 is asked to visitthepolicestationclosest tohisresidence.Fuenteswas Continued on page 15

Griffith.

Dead: Soraya Bourne

Mystery surrounds cost of Exxon's gas pipeline

…ascompanyrefusestodisclosefiguresforproject

In two months’ time, the 220-kilometer Gas-toEnergy (GTE) pipeline will mark one year since completion in December 2024.

The structure was designed to transport gas from the Liza fields in the Stabroek Block to the Wales Development Zone, West Bank Demerara where the Government of Guyana (GoG) is currently constructing a power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL)facility

Delays in the completion ofthetwogasplantsresulted in the pipeline being left dormant until the facilities are ready for startup. In the meantime, there is a cost attached to ensuring that the pipeline is kept safe, which was constructed by ExxonMobil to the tune of approximately US$1B. It is

Guyana that is ultimately responsible for financing thesecosts.

As such, this newspaper recently asked the company to state the cost of maintaining the pipeline and for a disaggregation of what specifically the funds are spentfor Exxon ignored the question and instead reminded of the company’s responsibility to monitor the pipeline.

I t e x p l a i n e d ,

“ExxonMobil Guyana is responsible for covering the costs associated with monitoring, preserving, providing surveillance, and maintaining the pipeline until the integrated power plant is ready for startup.We are actively collaborating with the Government to support the commissioning of the joint pipeline and

powerplantfacilities.”

In December last year, the MaritimeAdministration Department (MARAD) issued a public notice indicating that the pipe l a y i n g w o r k s w e r e completed.

Since October 2024 President of Exxon Guyana, Alistair Routledge told reporters that the pipeline w a s m e c h a n i c a l l y completed He explained, “It’s been hydrotested, pressure test and we have been going through the dewateringexerciseandthen introducing nitrogen so we have a pipeline that is ready tointroducenaturalgas…”

He noted that Exxon’s responsibilitiesincludingthe risers, pipeline through the deep-water, shallow water and onshore is on schedule for completion by year end. In this vein, he said, “So

MobilServiceStationbombing

…Vendors displaced; businesses damaged

Several businesses in close proximity to the Mobil Service Station located at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown have been damaged as a result of the bombing which occurred on Sunday night. Kaieteur News understands that the impact of the bombing was evident in some buildings onAvenue of theRepublic,Georgetown.

Thewindowsofseveralbusinesseswere shatteredandsomeproductsdestroyed.

A vendor told Kaieteur News that the impact of the blast shattered windows and caused significant damage to a number of buildings nearby Several of the businesses are now forced to replace their windows, air conditioningunitsaswellasproducts.

The Acme building located across the streetfromtheMobilServiceStationaswell as the cambio and Chinese store behind it wereallaffected.

Small business owner, Crystal Wayne of ‘Crissy Exotic and Beauty Corner’ who operates out of the Acme building posted a videoonhersocialmediaplatformtoinform hercustomersaboutwhatoccurred.

Her beauty store, located on the third floor of the Acme building, was almost unrecognizable Monday morning The young woman was unable to open the store duetothemagnitudeofthedamage.

She spent the day cleaning and taking stockofthenumberofdamagedproducts.In the video published on her social media platforms, the businesswoman was seen removing the shattered glass and other materials that were scattered on the floor alongwithherbeautyitems.

Meanwhile, several vendors have been displaced as a result of Sunday night’s deadly bombing that claimed the life of sixyear-old Soraya Bourne and left seven othersinjured.

delighted to see that on course and on budget as well.”

The Country Manager explained that it was not unusualforvaryingelements ofamajorprojecttobecome onstreamatseparatedates. As such, he pointed to measures that will be taken by Exxon to secure the US$1B pipeline. “What we will do is we’ll complete the pipeline and we will make sure that it is secure Generally, we will leave it with an inert gas like nitrogen, perhaps with treatedwater,wearelooking at the details of that depending upon how long we think it will be left idle until we are ready to commission it with gas which would be when we alreadyknowthattheplantis ready to receive gas,” Routledgesaid.

He added, “We’ll do the testing of its integrity, but there will be a blind flange on the end of it waiting for the new plant to be connected and in the meantime, we will just keep that pipeline if you like, in earthandsafe,readytogofor theoperation.”

Since then, Kaieteur News understands that contracts have been awarded for monitoring the structure,

among others This newspaper was told that drones are being used to provide surveillance of the onshore pipeline which runs from Crane, West Coast Demerara to the Wales site. The contract was awarded to alocalcompany Pipeline cost

To date, Exxon has not publicly revealed the final cost to construct the pipeline Routledge was

asked to share the figure after he announced the completion of the structure, butherefused,explainingat the time that the company was still closing up contracts with companies fortheworks.

Last November, Exxon’s Country Manager told this publicationthatthecompany isconfidentthattheprojectis on budget since all contracts have been awarded He however noted, “there will always be some final negotiation on any sort of details that the contractors might want to confirm We’re on that billion-dollar number.”

When pressed to say when the final price tag for the project would be revealed, he said, “It would be sometime next year when we wrap up all the contracts.”

“Being displaced for us is a slight problem. You make every disadvantage an advantage.Thank God that we’re on wheels so we could move…I heard there was an explosion and then looked and saw the smoke rising. I didn’t know what was going on but we got to keep pushing,” Edwards told reporters in an interview aired on Prime News.

The young man, who sells pizza to raise money to attend law school, said that many of the vendors who plied their trade outside oftheservicestationhavesincerelocated.

“Some of my colleagues were affected but I don’t know where they are today,” he saidnotingthathecannotgiveup.

“I have to keep going because you know Iamdoingitforlaw Ifeelsobadforthesixyear-old who passed away and for everything that happened. We have to do better as a nation and that’s what I am doing this for, to make sure that we have human development that we have proper systems put in place that these things don’t happen again,”heexplained.

Joshua Edwards, who usually sells pizza in front the service station, told Prime News on Monday that about six vendors who sell outsidethestationweredisplaced.Hesaidit is a “slight” inconvenience considering that otherssufferedgreaterlosses.

(Jamaica Observer) The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is well aligned to provide assistance in the aftermath of HurricaneMelissawhichisprojectedtomake landfall in Jamaica between Monday night and Tuesday morning. The assurance was given by Prime Minister DrAndrew Holness onMonday,duringaspecialmediabriefingat the Office of Disaster Preparedness and EmergencyManagement.

The JDF’s DART team is often called on to provide aid during disasters, including relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts, often working with other government agencies.ItplayedapivotalroleinJamaica’s recovery following Hurricane Beryl which impactedthecountryinJuly2024.

“The JDF is on full alert, they have put in place their necessary protocols, they have a systemwheretheyhavespecialisedteamsfor disaster response, they call it the DART,”

Holnesssaid.

He added that, “Those teams are already stood up, directives have been given that the entire JDF is now the DART so their engineeringcore,theirvariousregimentsand so forth — everybody will be used for the national good if we have a strike on our country through this category five hurricane thatcouldcausesignificantdislocation.

“We are as prepared as we can be, of course there’s still room for improvement,” he said. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says “catastrophic” and “lifethreatening”hurricane-forcewindconditions are expected to begin impacting Jamaica Monday night and continue into early Tuesday

Noting that tropical storm conditions are now occurring in the country, the centre said thatwithintheeyewall,totalstructuralfailure islikely,especiallyinhigherelevationareas Continued on page 9

The 12-inch diameter gas pipeline constructed and laid by ExxonMobil

Pizza Vendor: Joshua Edwards

KaieteurNews

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Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

EDITORIAL

Crime and the killing of Faynel Brewster

Therewould be few citizenswho would not agreeand rather fervently at that - that crime is the number one concern in Guyana today It even surpasses worries about skyrocketingfoodpricesandtherisingcost-of-living.The murderof24-year-oldFaynelBrewsterinWestRuimveldt, gunned down by biker bandits outside her home, and the recent killing of a policeman by a businessman, a man sworntoprotect,cutdownbyoneheshouldhavebeensafe among,hasagainforcedthisrealityintosharpfocus.

In every public discussion on how to confront this scourge,thereareusuallytwoopposingcamps.Thefirstis the “tough-on-crime” approach, which insists that criminals must be dealt with through forceful policing, tougherlaws,andlongerprisonsentences.Thelogichereis simple:crimeexistsbecauseofcriminals,andtheonlyway tocurbitistoremovethemfromsociety

The second camp advocates what might be called the “social rehabilitation” approach It sees crime as the product of deeper social ills: poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, and hopelessness. Proponents argue that crime cannot truly be defeated through suppression alone; it must be uprooted by addressing its systemic causes.

Surely,thesensiblepositionliessomewherebetweenthese extremes We must agree that a forceful response to the escalatinganddeeplyentrenchedcrimewaveisnecessaryeven as we invest in breaking the generational pipeline that feeds young men into gangs and banditry Yet, in the communities wherecrimehastakenrootandbecomeaculture,itispainfully difficultforevenwell-meaningsocialprogrammestotakehold Whenaneighbourhoodnormaliseslawlessness,thevaluesof the wider society are mocked Sports clubs, libraries, youth centres, and community drama groups, the very outlets that could steer young people away from violence wither from disuse Effortstofixthesocialproblemsarestrangledbythe verycriminalculturetheyaremeanttocure Itwasoncealmost an article of faith that poverty causes crime Today, we must facethehardtruththatcrimeiscausingpoverty So,whatistobe done? It is easy to shout for more police, more vehicles, and more weapons We have heard for years the duelling statistics, one side claiming the Force is underfunded, the otherboastingaboutrecordspendingonlawenforcement. Butcrimehasneverbeenreducedbythrowingmoneyatit. Yes, the Guyana Police Force today has more resources thanatanytimeinrecentmemorybettervehicles,improved forensics, trained intelligence units, even air support.Yet, thestrategyremainsthemissingpiece.

Theevidence,hereandabroad,isclear:asmall,hardened group of habitual offenders commits the majority of violent crimes These are the chronic offenders incorrigible and fearless, who leave a trailof pain and grief in their wake To makearealdentinviolentcrime,intelligence-ledpolicingmust target,identify,andremovethiscoregroupfromourstreets At thesametime,thelawmustapplyequallytoall,whetherthe triggerispulledbyabanditonamotorbikeorabusinessman withfriendsinhighplaces Thekillingofapolicemanbyaman ofmeanshasshakenpublicconfidenceintheruleoflaw Justice delayedordeniedinsuchcaseswillonlyemboldenothersand deepencynicismamongcitizenswhoalreadyfeelunsafeand unprotected

We cannot build a safe Guyana on fear, nor can we reformitthroughslogansandphotoopportunities. Whatweneedisadualcommitment:firm,intelligencedriven enforcement to neutralize violent offenders, and sustained investment in education, mentorship, and opportunity to ensure fewer young men ever join their ranks.Untilwetreatcrimenotasanabstractstatisticsbutas a national emergency strangling development, driving away investment, and destroying families like Faynel Brewster’s, we will continue to mourn, to protest, and to livebehindirongrillswhilethecriminalsroamfree.

The surreptitious removal of Yonette Cummings-Edwards

DEAREDITOR,

Opposition Aubrey Norton, as per Constitution of Guyana, stood in agreement w

PresidentIrfaanAliasstated in the letter dated 10th July 2025 by Gail Teixeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, referencingArticle127(2)of theConstitution:

“If the office of ChancellororChiefJustice is vacant or if the person holding th

Chancellor is performing the functions of office of President or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, or if the person holding the office of Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such office or until the person holding such office has resumed those functions, as the case may be,thosefunctionsshallbe performedbysuchotherof the Judges as shall be appointed by the President a f

LeaderoftheOpposition”

Acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire were appointed to actintherespectiveposition in March 2017 by President David Granger, after consultation with then Leader of the Opposition BharratJagdeo.

It was disappointing to learn the agreement betweenNortonandAliled to the surreptitious removal of Yonette Cummings-Edwards from her acting appointment as chancellor Her office has since been filled by Roxane George-Wiltshire actinginthecapacity

It is evident that the creation of this musical chair arrangement was about making room for Singh to occupy the vacant position created by George-Wiltshire

It lends to speculation the regime is more comfortable with GeorgeWiltshirethanCummingsEdwards, whose ruling is perceived by many to be more favourable towards the People’s Progressive Party(PPP).

Singh now holds the strategic position of chief justice, a space created for him to ensure the continuity of government heavyhandednessonthejudiciary

This stems from the fact that he is willing to bend to the will of the government. Thesetwopositionsgivethe regimesuretyattheNo.1and No.2levels.

Both George-Wiltshire

and Singh allowed themselves to be pawns in the manoeuvre not only to oust a colleague, but to bring disrepute and corrupt the necessary independence of the judiciary

In this process, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards faced public humiliation

This was not necessary for her faithfulness and yeomanservice

At the moment when judiciary is facing its most crucial test regarding ethics and decency and the countryis boggeddownby efforts to undermine the rule of law, both should have stood and reminded the government of the importance of adherence to Article 127(2), stated in letter dated 10th July 2025 (asreferencedabove).

This action of musical chairs tarnishes the integrity of our judicial branch and the executive, leaving the ordinary man and woman with concerns regarding fair, transparent a n d i n d e p e n d e n t adjudication in the courts ofGuyana

This simple action has eroded the confidence and hope that any person, particularly supporters of the Opposition and independent of the government, can have

system

Guyanese only have to look a few nautical miles away to see the results when the executive seeks t o m a n i p u l a t e t h e judiciary and compromise theseparationofpower

Appointment through injustice is corruption of thejudiciary

How does the regime, the newly acting chancellor and chief justice expect the vulnerable and law abiding in society to feel that someone who is appointed through injustice will

willinglyupholdjustice?

While the Opposition

L e a d e r r e i t e r a t e d

Cummings-Edwards should have returned to her position based on a g r e e m e n t a n d understanding of the exchange between him and the president, society expected more from him Once again society was leftdisappointed

Having returned to work and being treated as an undesirable for the office she held for years by the removal of Singh, whether by his own violation or in cahoots with the regime, has led to Cummings-Edwards going on early retirement Society needs to hear the voices from credible legal authority and independent sources addressing these mattersofpublicconcern

T h e I r f a a n A l i government is called on to backdate CummingsEdwards’ appointment as Chancellor so she can receive appropriate benefits for the office she held and served faithfully - without complaints and disreputeovertheyearsbutwasdenied the opportunity to occupy withfulltitlerecognition.

The Opposition must alsodemandthis.

What has happened to J u s t i c e Y o n e t t e Cummings-Edwards,atthe highestlevelinoffice,isan eye opener for every worker and pote

l worker It is another sad day for the judicial system andGuyana

LincolnLewis

Safety and security are first priority

DearEditor, I note with serious concern the recent remarks by Prime Minister Motley, that we don’t need any U.S. presenceintheCaribbean.In myview,thispositionisboth imprudentandunjustifiable. Safety and security are first priority particularly for Guyana.

Firstly, the reality is that Caribbean states lack the military capacity and financialresourcestodefend themselves effectively against hostile regimes. The threat posed by Nicolás Maduro, with his baseless territorial claims against Guyana, is a case in point. Without the deterrent effect

of U S forces, we risk emboldening dictators who emulate the model of Vladimir Putin These dictators have their own personalagendatoremainin power by attacking neighboring countries and they have no remote u n d e r s t a n d i n g o r sensitivitiestolivecordially withneighbors.

Secondly, if we look at whatisunfoldinginEurope, particularlyinthecontextof theRussia–UkraineWar,we see that without U S military hardware, intelligence support and collective defence mechanisms,Ukrainewould likely have been destroyed.

Small states simply cannot go it alone in an anarchic international system. Prime Minister Motley should examine South Korea and Taiwan, two highly developing countries threatenedbythedictatorsin theregion. Finally, I find the Barbados Prime Minister’s position dangerously naïve.

The U.S. has never shown a propensity or inclination to occupy sovereign states in our region for long-term; rather,theU.S.presencehas often served as a stabilising factor for democratic nations All countries that profess democratic values should therefore support

efforts to counter dictators like Maduro and defend the sovereigntyofsmallerstates inourregion.RejectingU.S. presence now undermines ourcapacitytodefendpeace, sovereignty, and the rule of lawintheCaribbean. In this light, I must strongly disagree with and condemn Prime Minister Motley’sstatement.Isubmit thatitisdangeroussituation because it leaves Caribbean nations vulnerable at a time when the geostrategic environment demands vigilance, alliance and deterrence.

AsgarAlly FormerSeniorMinister ofFinance

Guyana’s traffic crisis: the river route we’re ignoring Build a safer Guyana

DEAREDITOR

,

As we build more roads, we are paving the way for more gridlock. The Demerara River offers a faster, cheaper, and smarter solution.

Guyana is stuck in traffic Anyone who has braved the East Bank Demerara corridor during peak hours knows the daily reality: a frustrating, costly, and polluting standstill. As the nation rides the wave of its unprecedented economic growth, our approach to traffic management is seriouslylackingthedatafor improvement, keeping us dangerously stuck in the past. Let’s think out of the box,byputtingthebrakeson the loss of valuable, productivetime.

Let’s give our citizens more quality and leisure timebyimprovingtheirlives with “simple effective solutions “The prevailing solution building and widening roads is a textbook example of shortterm thinking that, paradoxically,fuelsthevery problem it seeks to solve. Every new lane simply

encourages more car ownership, you build the roads, they will buy the vehicles, leading to more congestion and more pollution.

While the exploratory stageofalightrailsystemis a commendable long-term vision, it is fraught with logistical hurdles, immense costs, and timelines that are likelytostretchforadecade

or more Guyanese commuters need relief now,

and our planners need a pragmatic vision that leverages an existing, underutilized asset: the DemeraraRiver.

ThePerfectStormonthe EastBank

TheEastBankDemerara roadwayisthenation’smost criticaleconomicartery,and it is failing under the strain.

The current widening project, plagued by poor traffic management, has turned a chronic problem intoanacutecrisis.Buteven when completed, this wider roadwillbeinsufficient.We areoverlookingtwoseismic shifts:

1. Interior Traffic: This corridor is the main conduit for the vast resources extracted from the interior Expansion of extraction brings more commercial congestion.The traffic from heavy-duty trucks alone is immense and damaging to theroadinfrastructure.

2. The Brazil Link: The imminent completion of the roadway linking to Brazil will unleash a new wave of trade and leisure travel between Georgetown and Boa Vista The current planning appears to have no data-driven traffic survey to account for this incoming tsunamiofvehicles.

Thisisaperfectstormin themaking,anditcanbemet with a solution from the last century “Old is Gold” still holdstrue.

A readily available solution: The Demerara RiverCorridor

We have a solution flowingrightpastus.Instead of just pouring concrete, we

should be harnessing the river.Amodern, high-speed ferry service operating from the Stabroek Stelling to the Timerhi Docks, with designated stops along the route, would create an entirely new, efficient, and congestion-freecorridor

Themodelissimpleand proven:

•Park-and-Ride:

Citizens would drive to parking lots near river stops andtakeafast,reliableferry to their destination, drastically reducing the numberofcarsontheroad.

•Cargo Relocation: Designated loading and staging areas would allow industrial and commercial cargotobemovedbybarge, immediately removing a significantnumberofheavyduty trucks from the roadway, ensuring its longevity We are already doingthistomovematerials between the East and West Bank;it’stimetoscaleitinto aformal,integratedsystem.

The infrastructural build-out for ferry stelling and parking lots is far less disruptive, can be achieved inafractionofthetime,and is exponentially more costeffective than a light rail network. This system could be piloted on the East Bank andseamlesslyreplicatedon theWestBank.

A Global Blueprint for Success

This is not a theoretical exercise Many countries successfully utilize river transport to solve modern urbanchallenges.

•NYC Ferry Public Transit (5 Boroughs) 6

routes connecting 25 landings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island caters to over 25,000 daily commuters on weekdays, 35,000— 40,000 daily on weekends with leisuretravellers.

• Thailand: Bangkok’s extensive network of Chao Phraya River ferries is a vital,high-speedcomponent of the city’s transit system, moving millions of commuters past gridlocked streets.

•United Kingdom: London’s Thames Clippers provide a reliable and popular commuter service, seamlessly integrated with the city’s bus and tube network.

•Canada: Vancouver’s SeaBus is an iconic ferry service connecting the city center to the North Shore, carrying over 20,000 passengersdailyandbeinga cornerstone of the regional transitplan

The data is there to support the implementation, withthewill,thewantcanbe met.

Theblueprintforsuccess exists; we simply need the foresight to adapt it to our context.

A call for visionary leadership

Our powerbrokers and planners must look beyond the asphalt. The pursuit of wider roads is a race we cannot win. We must invest in a multi-modal transport system that includes the untapped potential of our rivers.

Implementingamodern (Continuedonpage16)

DEAREDITOR, It is with profound sorrowthatweacknowledge the tragic death of a young child, one of our own, at the MobilFuelStation–Regent and King Streets, G e o r g e t o w n i n Georgetown

“ P r e l i m

y investigations reveal that a foreign-speaking man, believed to be a nonnational, entered the station carrying bulky bags, placed one near gas and cookinggas cylinders, and shortly after an explosion occurred that killed the six-year-old girl and injured others”newssourceat

This loss cuts deep.As a small nation, our strength has always been in our people, our shared values, and our unity Yet this event exposes a frightening reality: our open borders and limited resources make us vulnerable if we do not takecollectiveresponsibility forsecurity

Wemustask:

How many more times will we allow our borders to be porous, our systems under-resourced,beforewe strengthenthem?

How many more innocent lives will be lost in infrastructure or public places before we act with sharedvigilance?

How many divisions of race, politics or creed will we permit to distract us, whenwhatunitesusshould be our protection of the vulnerable and our insistence on safety for all?

Today we call on every citizen,everyresident,every leader regardless of background to stand together:

We must sweep aside all racial and political divides

They have no place when our children’s lives areatstake

We must demand accountability and transparency from those entrusted with our borders, our policing and oursafety

We must protect our people every person and our infrastructure from threats that are not only physical, but moral: the threat of complacency, of ignoring red-flags, of underestimating the cost of freedomwithoutvigilance.

We must unite as Guyanese first, defenders o f o u r h o m e l a n d , s t e w a r d s o f o u r community, guardians of ourchildren

Let the death of this little girl not be in vain Let it be the spark that turns sorrow into resolve Let it be the moment we refusetobepowerless.

Let it be the time we remind ourselves: we are strongertogether

May we honour her memory by building a safer Guyana one where our borders are d e f e n d e d , o u r communities watchful, and every child can grow withoutfear

Respectfully,

AtikaStephens

3,600 to Graduate at University of Guyana’s 59th Convocation

Withthelargestcohortof students in its 62-year history, the University of Guyana is set to graduate some3,600studentsfromits Turkeyen and Berbice campuses during seven ceremoniesthisyear

In a release Monday, the university noted that the graduation exercises for the Turkeyen and Berbice campuses will be held between November 20–22

and on December 6, respectively

“UG is set to graduate close to three thousand six hundred (3,600) students, the largestbatchintheuniversity’s sixty-two-year history The institution will host six ceremonies from November 20–22inGeorgetownandone in Berbice on December 6 to celebratethegrowingnumber ofgraduatesbeingaddedtothe national, regional, and international workforce, in keeping with its aspirational

goal of achieving “one graduateperhousehold,”the country’s premier tertiary institutionrelayed.

According to UG, this year’sgraduationwillinclude students completing several new academic programmes forthefirsttime Theseinclude the Certificate in Dual Language/Multilingual PracticeinEducation(Faculty ofEducationandHumanities), thePostgraduateCertificatein Trauma and Grief Resilience (Institute of Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future), and the MSc in Geographic Information SystemsandRemoteSensing (Faculty of Earth and EnvironmentalSciences). According to the schedule, students from the faculties of Agriculture and Forestry; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Engineering and Technology; and Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (Intra-

Mural) will have their graduation on Thursday, November 20, between 09:00hrs–11:30hrs

Between 16:00hrs –18:30hrs on the same day, students from the faculty of Natural Sciences will have theirceremony

The following day, from 09:00hrs – 11:30hrs, the colleges of Behavioural Sciences and Research; Medical Sciences; and InstituteofHumanResiliency, Strategic Security and the Future will have their convocation ceremony The School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation will follow at 16:00hrs –18:30hrs On Saturday, November 22, thefacultiesofEducationand Humanities and of Social Sciences will be facilitated at 09:00hrs – 12:00hrs and 16:00hrs – 19:00hrs, respectively On Friday, December 5, the Institute of Distance and Continuing

Education (Extra-Mural)will have its ceremony between 13:00hrs – 15:30hrs On Saturday, December 6, the grandceremonywillbetaken to the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) at 15:00hrs Theuniversitysaid the six ceremonies for graduands of the Turkeyen Campus will be held at the Ameena and Sattaur Gafoor Multipurpose Auditorium, whiletheceremonyforUGBC graduands will take place on theUniversityLawns,Berbice Campus,TainSettlement The IDCE Extra-Mural Programme graduation will be held at the same

auditorium on December 5.

Prospective graduands are asked to check for informationdirectlyviatheir SRMSaccounts.Continuous updates will also be availableontheUniversity’s w e b s i t e : https://www.uog.edu.gy/con vocation-2025.

The ceremonies will be blended,withthemajorityof graduands attending in person and the remainder participating virtually according to their preference, the university stated. Thepublicisinvited to celebrate with the UniversityofGuyanaatthis

year’s special graduation ceremonies, which will be streamed live on the University’sFacebookpage: https://wwwfacebook com/ uniofguyana and the UG Broadcasting Service: https://broadcasting.uog.edu .gy/. The ceremonies will also receive coverage from local and international media.Theuniversitysaidit has produced over 70,000 graduates in its 62-year history,manyofwhomhave gone on to serve with distinction at the highest levelsinboththeprivateand public sectors, nationally andinternationally

The leadership most needed in the

Caribbean during times of crisis

DEAREDITOR

, Inthewakeofhurricane Melissa that is making its way through the Caribbean andJamaicainparticular,we have witnessed an exemplary display of regional solidarity and compassion from President Irfaan Ali and the GovernmentofGuyana.

WhileseveralCaribbean countries have focussed solely on the evacuation of their citizens from Jamaica, President Ali chose a broader, more humanitarian path offering support not only to Guyanese students andnationalsinJamaicabut also extending assistance to the wider Jamaican community affected by the storm.

This gesture is significant as it underscores the President’s unwavering commitmenttotheprinciple of Caribbean unity and a shared destiny. This gesture also reflects a leadership style that is grounded in empathy, regional cooperation, and the understanding that true

strength lies in standing together during times of crisis President Ali’s response demonstrates that Guyana’sroleinCARICOM goes beyond borders and politics. It is about people, compassion, and genuine partnership.

Unfortunately, despite t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s commitment to Jamaica during this crisis, recent statements emerging from the camp of the WIN party shows another one of their desperate attempts at attacking the government. They are claiming that the government has neglected Guyanese students in Jamaica. This is not only misleading but entirely false The facts speak otherwise.

The Guyanese Embassy andconsularrepresentatives have been in constant contact with students, ensuring their safety, providing updates and coordinating with the Jamaicanauthoritiestooffer the necessary support. The government’s intervention

was immediate and proactive, focusing on both safety and wellbeing of all. If this move by the WIN party is any indication of what they will be like in parliament, then we are surely in for a treat for the nextfiveyears.

At a time when misinformation is easily disseminated and spread, it isimportanttoacknowledge the truth Guyana’s leadership under the PPP/C has always been steadfast, r e s p o n s i v e , a n d compassionate. Instead of using moments of crisis for political gain, we should recognise and commend efforts that embodies the true spirit of Caribbean brotherhood.

President Irfaan Ali’s actions during hurricane Melissa reminds us of the kindofleadershiptheregion needs most critically at this time.

The kind of leadership that extends a helping hand rather than drawing lines between“us”and“them.”

ByShiveshPersaud

University of Guyana students at a previous graduation ceremony

‘Silencewhereanswersneeded’

…journalists blast police for failure to engage media after bombing

Senior journalists

have issued scathing critiques of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministry of HomeAffairsoverwhatthey described as poor media engagement following the deadly explosion at the MobilGasStationatRegent and King Streets, Georgetown, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne on Sunday night. The explosion occurred around 19:36 hours on Sunday, Bourne succumbed to her injuries while four othersarehospitalised.

At 7:36 a.m on Monday, several hours after the incidentDirectoroftheGPF Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Mark Ramotar, issued a statement revealing that on Sunday evening, a male of mixed ethnicity, believed to be a Spanishspeaking foreign national, wasseenatthelocationwith two bulky black plastic garbage bags. He reportedly attempted to dispose of the bags in a garbage bin at the station but was prevented from doing so by an attendant.”

Withthepolicerevealing that Sunday night’s

explosion was a planned terrorist attack, it sent social media into a frenzy In fact, citizens have been voicing heightened fear and confusion, particularly after police disclosed that the suspect is believed to be a Spanish-speaking foreign national The disclosure

speculation particularly as there has been an influx of Spanish-speaking migrants inGuyana.

Ramotar’sstatementwas shared in the “Joint Services/Press Team” WhatsApp group, which includes Minister of Home

Guyana slips in rule of law ranking

…falls to 18th in the Region

The global rule of law recession has accelerated again, according to the new WJP Rule of Law Index 2025, with Guyana slipping and is now ranked 80 out of 143countries.

In a press release, it was mentioned that a stark 68% ofcountriesdeclinedintheir rule of law in 2025, compared to 57% in the previous year including Guyana. Guyana’s overall rule of law score decreased bylessthan1%inthisyear’s Index. It ranks 80th out of 143countriesworldwide.

Regionally, Guyana ranks 18th out of 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean The region’s top performer is Uruguay(ranked23rdoutof 143 globally), followed by Costa Rica and Barbados. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela(143rdglobally).

Inthelastyear,24outof 32 countries declined in Latin America and the Caribbean Of those 24 countries, 19 had also declinedinthepreviousyear

Among high income countries, Guyana ranks 50thoutof51.

According to the report, a n e x p a n s i o n o f authoritarian trends is the primaryforcebehindtherule of law recession, with deep

declines in factors measuring Constraints on Government Powers, Open G o v e r n m e n t , a n d Fundamental Rights. The integrity of checks and balances has also been seriously weakened, including in Guyana, the reportnoted.Acharacteristic ofthisacceleratedruleoflaw recessionisashrinkingcivic space.“Freedomscrucialfor public discourse and g o v e r n m e n t oversight—measured under the Open Government and Fundamental Rights factors saw widespread erosion.” The report stated that Guyana is among the over 70% of countries experiencing a shrinking of civic freedoms: freedom of opinion and expression declinedin73%ofcountries, includingGuyana. Freedom of assembly and association declined in 72% of countries, including Guyana and civic participation declined in 71% of countries, including

Affairs Oneidge Walrond, Police Commissioner

Clifton Hicken, and several senior commanders The minister’s first response in the group came around 8:57 a.m, instructing to “share widely” in reference to a road closure advisory Her next message came around 10:00 a.m, commenting on anAI-enhancedimageofthe suspect that was taken from theCCTVfootage.

After the AI-generated image was shared, journalists raised concerns about its accuracy, warning that AI-enhanced visuals could be misleading “Remember that AI uses based on what’s in its database…” one journalist cautioned, suggesting that policeinsteadusetraditional video editing software to improvetheCCTVfootage.

Guyana,thereportnoted. The Index also shows that judiciaries are losing ground to executive overreach, with rising political interference across justice systems. Indicators measuring whether the judiciary limits executive powerandwhetherciviland criminaljusticearefreefrom improper government influence declined in 61%, 67%, and 62% of countries, respectively. This includes Guyana. More broadly, civil justice weakened in 68% of countries,butnotinGuyana. This decline reflects longer delays, less effective alternativestocourt(suchas mediation), and greater governmentinterference.

Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2025 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand The country with the lowest scoreisVenezuela,followed by Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti,andNicaragua.

Throughout the day, questions poured in from members of the media, especiallyafterpoliceissued a second bulletin this time requestingthatanindividual “visit the nearest police station.”Thebulletinoffered little detail, prompting journaliststoaskwhetherthe man was wanted in connection with the explosion. Journalist Leroy Smith said, “If this man is wanted in relation to the samebombingthenwearein areallysadstateandplaceas acountryandprovesthatwe not ready for what we have already gotten ourselves into. Because how is the public supposed to be eager and willing to assist if they are not properly fed the information? Soon people hear he associated with the bombing,theywillevencall and tell the police where he does buy clothes pins from. Mygoodnessbai…Likejust tellpeoplewhattheydealing with and get it over with… this is how y’all want press cooperation CCU? SHAMEFUL.”

Smith also questioned whether the man was “wanted or invited into by thepolice,”noting,“whichis it because there is a difference The language being used in these things just giving people headache.”

Former Guyana Press Association(GPA)President Nazima Raghubir later remarked, “we talking to ourselves ” Journalist DennisChabrolinamessage directedtoMinisterWaldron

said,“Goodafternoon,thisis analmostroutineexperience by the media. Please Hear Us.GraciouslyHearUs.”

Further, journalist

Michael Jordan urged the police to provide a basic acknowledgment saying, “Atleastgiveusa‘duetothe sensitive nature of our investigation we are unable to divulge too much at this time. We will however be holding a press conference soon…’”

Around 3:20 p.m, the CCU issued a follow-up message stating that an updatewouldbeprovidedat 7:00 p.m, urging the public toremainpatientandrelyon official sources for accurate information. However, this only fueled more questions as journalists sought to confirm whether the update would come via a press conferenceorastatement.

Director of the Department of Public Information (DPI) Edward Layne later clarified that the update would be issued as a pressstatement.

In a sharp message, journalist Gordon Moseley stated that in any other country, a deadly bomb attack in the heart of the capital, especially one that claimed the life of a child, would have immediately prompted a police press

conference.Moselysaid,“In thisrepublic,thereissilence fromboththePoliceandthe Ministry overlooking the Police… two early morning statements indicating a suspect is being pursued along with a notice for upcoming press statement are simply not enough. The entire posture of the Force with the local press is at its worst and this must be addressed especially when there are issues of national importance and of national security Minister Walrond, as a former Magistrate, you would know all too well the importance of information sharing for accuracy, please imploreonthePoliceandthe othersecurityagenciesunder your portfolio to do a far better job at engaging the media on these important events.Wemustdobetter!!!! The last Police press conference was hosted almost three years ago. Do better!!!!!”

Journalist Julia Johnson also noted that the lack of timely responses from the authorities “is asking for speculations.”

In another message Michael Jordan added that a press statement “is likely to leave many questions unanswered.” He listed the following:

1.Whatisthemotivefor the attack? Is there a Venez. terroristcell/cellshere?

2. Is this a lone attacker or group? If so, have the othersbeenroundedup?

3. What safety measures are being put in place at key locations, e g Ministries, schools, gas stations, commercial banks, infrastructure, e.g. the new bridge?Airports?

4. What measures are going to be put in place to monitor our growing Venezuelan population? Random house-to-house searches? Routine stop-andsearch operations? Increase ofranksatborders?

5 And whatever happened to the probe into the GPL and Police outpost attacks?”

Notably, the promised press statement was finally issuedaround8:14PM.

President IrfaanAli

Minister of Home Affairs

Oneidge Waldron

Top Cop Clifton Hicken

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

Who guards the gold?

The recent allegations, madebytheAmericans,that vast quantities of Guyanese gold may have been smuggled to its shores, over the past seven years, if true would amount to one of the largest acts of gold s m u g g l i n g i n t h e Commonwealth Caribbean. But one has to be careful withtheAmericansandwhat it alleges; there may be geopolitical motives behind theAmericanaccusations.

Such allegations constituteanembarrassment to the PPPC government. If what is alleged is true, then the PPPC has failed the nation Even more surprising has been the response of the government

to the accusations Last week, the second Vice President of Guyana called onthepoliceandtheGuyana Revenue Authority to investigate all those involved in the alleged smuggling It may have missed the Vice President’s recognitionthatitwasunder the watch of the very GRA that the alleged smuggling tookplace.Howthencanthe GRAbeaskedtoinvestigate what, if true, would amount toitsowndereliction? It is essential, however, to begin with a note of caution. There is, as yet, no public evidence that any gold has in fact been smuggled out of Guyana. What exists are allegations,

notproof.Yet,if—operative word if—gold was indeed been illicitly exported, the fingerofaccountabilitymust be pointed not toward the Guyana Gold Board, as the politicaldirectoratendsome of its surrogates seem eager todo,buttowardtheGRA. UnderGuyaneselaw,the Gold Board is responsible forauthorizingtheexportof gold and ensuring that the gold it buys and sells is legally sourced. It is not, however, responsible for policing the ports or preventing smuggling. The Guyana Gold Board Act establishes the Board as a commercial and regulatory bodytocarryonthebusiness of trading in gold and to

EyeOnMelissa: JDF DART ready...

Frompage3 where wind speeds atop, and on the windwardsidesofhillsandmountainscould beupto30percentstronger

In its latest bulletin, the NHC noted that the centre of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 16.4 north and longitude 78.2 westasitcontinuedmovingtowardthewest atthreemilesperhour

It said a slow turn toward the northwest and north was expected later Monday, followedbyaturntowardthenortheastanda faster forward speed on Tuesday A northeastward motion is expected on Wednesday and Thursday On the forecast track,thecoreofMelissaisexpectedtomove over Jamaica Monday night and early Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday Maximum sustained winds are near 165 mph (270 km/h) with higher gusts. Hurricane Melissa is a category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely before Melissa makes landfall on JamaicaonTuesday,theNHCsaid.

The Prime Minister meanwhile warned residentstostayawayfromSandyGullyinSt Andrew as he toured his constituency just hoursbeforeJamaicaisanticipatedtofeelthe

fullimpactofHurricaneMelissa.

Holness,theMemberofParliamentforSt Andrew West Central, was speaking to residents in the Waterhouse area, one of several communities located near the Sandy Gully He was accompanied by Abka FitzHenley, chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party’scommunicationtaskforce.

Holnessurgedresidentstotakethethreat seriously and avoid venturing near the gully duringthestorm.

“Stay away from the gully,” he warned, pointing to a section of the community to demonstrate the potential danger “As you canseewhatcouldhappen.”

Sandy Gully, one of the island’s largest drainage systems, runs approximately six milesfromthefoothillsofeasternStAndrew, passing through several densely populated communities including Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse, and Riverton City before emptying into Kingston Harbour via Hunt’s Bay

The prime minister’s visit comes as emergency services continue preparations acrosstheisland,withsheltersbeingreadied andresidentsurgedtosecuretheirhomes.

Authoritieshavewarnedthatheavyrains, flashfloodingandstrongwindsareexpected asHurricaneMelissanearslandfall.

DEM BOYS SEH

Marriagedehponderocks

Dem boys hear dis one ponTikTok.Aman went to he pastor and tell he pastor howhewanttoliveforever

Depastorlookatheand tellhe,“Getmarried!” De man was surprised. Soheaskeddepastor,“Dat ganmakemeliveforever?’

De pastor answer, “No, itwillkilldedesire?’

“authorizepersonstoexport gold.” But it is the Guyana Revenue Authority, under the Revenue Authority Act and the CustomsAct, that is chargedwithcontrollingthe import and export of goods, collecting duties, and preventing evasion and smuggling through official channels If gold was spirited out of Guyana through any legitimate port of exit, it could only have done so under the nose—or perhaps with the blind eye—of the GRA’s customs officers. And yet, in a twist worthy of satire, the government has suggested that the GRAshould be part of the team investigating theseallegedillegalexports. This is akin to asking the shepherd to help find the wolveswhoraidedhisflock.

It defies logic and undermines public confidence. The GRA, if these allegations bear any merit,wouldnotbeaneutral investigator but a potential culprit in a monumental failure of oversight or collusion.

That is why a credible, independent probe is indispensable But “independent” does not necessarily mean “foreign” There is a curious fascination in some quarters with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as if the FBI possesses mystical powers of detection.The Bureau, for all its storied history, is not an oracle. It investigates crimes that fall under U S jurisdiction; it does not descend upon sovereign nations to settle matters of domesticmisgovernance The myth that the FBI’s mere involvementwouldsanitizean inquiry is a naïve illusion, fostered perhaps by watching toomuchtelevision

Guyanadoesnotlackthe capacity for serious, impartial investigation; what it lacks is the political will to empower such an investigation. A panel of independent auditors, forensic accountants, and

retired judges with regional and international observers—wouldsufficeto unearth the truth. Such a body, appointed transparently and reporting directly to the National Assembly, would inspire far greater confidence than a politically managed process featuring the same institutions whose performance may be under scrutiny

Instead, what we are witnessing is a convenient diversion The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC)hasbeenquicktohint at wrongdoing by the former Head of the Guyana Gold Board, a known critic of the administration Thisattemptto link him to an unproven smuggling scandal smacks of political reprisal rather than reasonedanalysis Itisatactic as old as Guyanese politics: when cornered by controversy,findaconvenient scapegoatandburyhimunder theweightofinnuendo

Butthefacts,andthelaw, stand in the way of this narrative The Gold Board’s statutory duties are clear It must authorize exports and ensurethatthegoldittradesis legitimatelyobtained Itisnot tasked with verifying shipments at the port, monitoring customs procedures, or physically preventing contraband from leaving the country. Those responsibilities lie squarely withtheGRA,whoseofficers are stationed at every legal point of exit and are empowered to inspect, seize, anddetaingoodssuspectedof beingsmuggled

If, therefore, gold did indeedslipoutofGuyanain quantities large enough to attract the attention of the United States, the failure wouldnotrestwiththeGold BoardbutwiththeGRAand, byextension,theMinistryof Finance, under whose remit the GRA falls. For gold to leave the country illicitly through an official channel, it must first have bypassed customsdeclarations,export duties, and inspection

protocols—all of which fall under the GRA’s statutory watch This is not a technicality;itisamatterof accountability In any functioning democracy, a s c a n d a l o f t h i s magnitude—where billions in revenue could have been lost to smuggling—would have triggered resignations at the highest levels Ministers would step aside pending investigation Senior revenue officials would be suspended. But in Guyana, where political loyaltyoftenoutrankspublic duty, we are instead greeted with calls for the GRA to investigateitself.

If gold was smuggled, then the failure was a breakdown in customs control, not in gold authorization. The Guyana Gold Board cannot be blamed for the conduct of customs officers. Yet the PPPC’s eagerness to deflect attention toward its critics betrays an unease that goes beyond the issue of smuggling—it is a fear of accountabilityitself.

Elsewhere in the world, suchallegationswouldhave provoked political tremors. In Guyana, they provoke press releases and promises of“ongoinginvestigations.” The people of Guyana deserve more. They deserve an independent, fearless inquiry—not one managed by the very hands that may haveallowedthegoldtoslip away By the way, how would the Americans have known that the gold left Guyana without paying taxes. Do they have moles withintheGRA?

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

“So,whatyuhtellhim?” debartenderasks.

“Ahtoldhim,‘It’sfine.’ And then ah gave him the silent treatment for three days.”

Deh gat some people in Guyana nah want get married.Demcourtingdem girlsfuhyearsanddemnah wanttotiedeknot.Demore dem girls and dem parents askdemfuhgetmarried,de more dem men mekking excuse. Nuff young people afraid to get married. Dem claim dem want enjoy life beforedemtiedeknot. Itreminddemboysofde story of de man wah walk into a bar and tell de barman,“Mehtwenty-yearold son asked meh what marriage was like. So ah had to give he a demonstration.

Somepeopledoescome to dem boys and ask dem boyshowdemmarriagelast solong.Anddemboysdoes try to be honest and give dem de benefit of years of wisdomandexperience.

De odder day one man come and ask dem boys de secret of dem marriage. Dem boys explain, ‘’ Meh wifeandItaketimetogoto de restaurant two times a week – a little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She go Tuesday and dem boys go on Fridays.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Conmenandconwomenpaintedinoil

Impostor is a good word when circumstances fit Fixer, operator, conniver, hustler all have their place, depending on the individual andhowgoodheorsheisin pulling the wool over the eyes of the trusting, while takingthemforacostlyride. But there is one word that stands above the others Conman.

Con-woman. Whentheir mindsandtheirmouthssync to produce outputs that are rip-offs on the unsuspecting (or those willing to be taken in),thenthat’saconjobfrom a seasoned con laid before theeyes. Andears,too.

A conman doesn’t stutter;aspeechimpediment is a fatal occupational hazard, giveaway A conman is smooth as honey wrappedinvelvetpaintedin soft, alluring lights A conmancouldbethebiggest of them all in his chosen field, be it the commercial, the spiritual, the civil, or the political. Or an illiterate wearing intellectual garb Indeed, such fellows reach high and low in the political realm, the world over

Guyana doesn’t have the distinction of claiming an exception.

Ever listen to a businesspersonmakeapitch for a new product, or a new idea that requires some new cash?

A product that is nonexistent,onethatisbased onanideathatisaphantom. The only aspect of that business pitch that is solid and is real is the cash. The gullible gives up some of it, and they may not know, but theyjustsaidgoodbyetothat stash. Goneandnotcoming back. Ever hear a preacher in full flow, with steam coming out of his ears, nostrils,andeyelashes? The donation challenge is comingupnext,withalarger army with collection plates circulating among the faithful. A con man or con womaninvokingheavenand holy names while already calculating the bulk and weight of the collection plates. IfnootherGuyanese has seen them, heard them, or came close to them, I have In Guyana, in America. InAsia,inEurope,

and in Latin America BypassingAfrica spared me a repeat of such sordid encounters.

Ever watch to a civil society, or nonprofit, visionary making the rounds? Itisatreat. Power to the people. More for the suffering. Democracy is undersiege. Andthenheor she makes that one honest move in their lives. They come out into the open and crossover Tothesideofthe oppressors and brutalizers. Gotta join them if you can’t beat them. There will be opportunities to do better from the inside, when close to the throne of the power operators,action. Thelatter isthenewestconjob. Some just cannot help themselves. What’s in the blood is in the blood, just cannot be eradicated Here is a challenge for my fellow citizens. Ever had the rare, good fortune of coming acrossareformedconmanor con woman? Point proven, caserested.

Like most things in life, few are the absolutes that maintain that rigid,

Venezuela proposes suspension of all gas agreements with T&T

(Trinidad Express) Venezuela has proposed that all of its gas agreements with Trinidad and Tobago be immediatelysuspended.

The decision was made citing tensions with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, her previous statementsandthecountry’swelcoming ofUSforcesintheCaribbean.

Theannouncementwasmadebythe country’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez,whoinapressconferenceon Monday said the proposal was being made by the board of the Venezuelan State-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela,S.A.(PDVSA),toPresident NicolasMaduro.

impregnable monopoly on a standard, a way of life There are the exceptions: quiet,stoutofheart,devoted to clean hands, no matter howrichorhowpoor They can be found in the business realm, the civic arena, the spiritual pastures My heartbreakisthatthegenuine articles are so few, far apart. I pray that there will be additions to that lonely battalion, which could do w i t h s o m e u rg e n t reinforcements. NowIhave saved the best for the backendofthispresentation. What about conmen and con women in the political spaces,highandlow? Goas highaspleases. Aretheyno such creatures, are they so fewastobenegligible? And aretheysolowonthetotem pole as to be insignificant?

Onemorequestiontostir themind:whatisthestockin-trade of politicians, world over? In one word: WORDS. Themassofpoor Guyanesehasheardsomany big,beautifulwordsthatthey actually believe that they aren’t paupers and suffering from manifold hungers anymore. It’s an indication, powerful confirmation, of the skill of the political conmen and con women in Guyana today Words from pols that con the people in complacency, actually believing that this time, this onetime,theywillemergea winner, better, stronger It takes some outrageous and unprecedented conning to get destitute Guyanese into that frame of mind. They hang onto every word from politicalconmen,asifliving

dependsonit. Itisso.

The political cons know it, ruthlessly exploit it Promises Standards Ethos. Guyanese as worldbeaters Simultaneously, they clean-out the national coffers Hustlers and hypocrites hailed as heroes. Hollow drums pretending at glittering diamonds. Fiends masquerading as friends Exploiters claiming to be long-lostfathers. Comrades and countrymen or con artists? One or many? Guyanesecanjudge.

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

WIN urges unity, vigilance after gas station explosion

...says Govt. risked national security for votes by allowing unchecked Venezuelan influx

Guyana now faces one of its most precarious and unsettling moments in recent history,onethatdemandsmaturity,unity,and afocusonthenationalinterestabovepartisan politics,theWeInvestinNationhood(WIN) Movement has said as it reacted to the gas station bombing Sunday night on Regent Street.

In a statement, the party extends its deepest condolences to the family of sixyear-old Soraya Bourne, who lost her life tragically in the October 26, 2025 explosion attheMobilGasStationonRegentandKing Streets,Georgetown.“Wealsowishafulland speedy recovery to the other victims injured inthishorrificincident.”

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar speaks during the standing finance committee session at the Red House in Port-of-Spain yesterday. (Courtesy Parliament TT)

It comes just one day after Venezuela accusedTrinidadandTobagoofcollaborating with the United States on a false-flag operationitclaimsisbeingcarriedoutasthe US warship USS Gravely docked in Port of Spainyesterday

TheUS’sampedupmilitarypresenceand ten lethal boat strikes which have killed 43 has long been denounced by Venezuela. Gravely’spresenceinT&T,Venezuelaearlier alleged was part of an act of hostile aggressionagainstthecountry

“Wehavejustconcludedameetingofthe leadership of the Ministry of Popular Power forPetroleum—allviceministerspresent— together with the Board of Directors of PDVSA, accompanied by its president, vice presidents,andtheMinisterofEconomyand Finance,whoisalsoamemberofthisboard.”

“TheleadershipofboththeMinistryand

PDVSAhasdecidedtoproposetoPresident Nico

denunciation of the Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the BolivarianRepublicofVenezuela,signedin 2015 for ten years and automatically renewed this February for another five Article 13, paragraph 3, gives either party the authority to terminate it,” Rodriguez said Shesaid,“Thisagreementcoveredbroad areasofenergycooperation—jointgasfield development, infrastructure projects, hydrocarbon initiatives, and monetization of shared resources. It is a comprehensive framework, but we are now responsibly proposing that the President terminate it immediately.As a result, all gas agreements betweenVenezuelaandTrinidadandTobago willbesuspended.”

According to police reports, CCTV footage captured a man believed to be a Spanish foreign national leaving two black plastic bags near the gas station moments beforethedeadlyblast.Theexplosion,which rocked central Georgetown and damaged nearbybuildingsandvehicles,hassincebeen described as a targeted act of terror This marks the third bombing incident in the capitalwithinsixmonths,followingtheMay 17,2025attacksontheEastRuimveldtPolice Outpost at Vlissengen Square and a nearby Guyana Power and Light (GPL) substation. Therecurrenceandproximityoftheseevents raise troubling questions about Guyana’s internal security preparedness and border management.

WIN believes these attacks cannot be viewed in isolation. Reports of individuals entering Guyana under the guise of migration, some allegedly linked to foreign military or intelligence services must be taken seriously. “These attacks are interconnected and important, especially given the multiple warnings that some individuals crossing our borders, with open accesstoeverysectorofoursociety,mightbe

members of the Venezuelan army or intelligence services, and not all have good intentions. This administration has allowed theinfluxoftensofthousandsofVenezuelans into our country,” WIN said. “Our national securitywascompromisedthemomentparty politics took precedence among those who were more interested in winning an election thanensuringthesecurityofourcountryand itspeople,ignoringthenecessarychecksthat shouldbeputinplacewhenanothercountry istryingtotakecontrolofthree-quartersofits territory. Given the current geopolitical dynamics, Guyana must remain on full alert for any potential negative repercussions or retaliatoryactionsfromVenezuela.”

The party urges the implementation of heightenednationalsecurityandintelligence coordination.Stricterbordermonitoringand background checks on all non-Guyanese entrants. “A bipartisan national security coun

ncy, accountability, and collective defence of the state.Thisisnotatimeforblameordivision. It is a moment for national resolve and vigilance. Guyana must act swiftly and smartly to safeguard its people, its sovereignty,anditsfuture,”WINsaid.

Leader of WIN, Azruddin Mohamed

…one day after gas station explosion

Political parties demand urgent national security overhaul

Condemning the deadly explosion at the Mobil Gas Station on Regent and King Streets, political parties and civic groups are calling for national unity, transparency, andurgentsecurityreforms.

The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), led by Amanza Walton-Desir, warned that preliminary reports and circulating footage suggest the possible involvement of a nonGuyanese national. “While facts must be verified, this incident exposes deep failures in immigration oversight, border control, a n d i n t e l l i g e n c e coordination,” FGM said The party added that similar explosions in recent months underscore a disturbing lack of preparedness and the government’s inability to anticipateormitigatethreats topublicsafety Thepolitical party noted that these incidents shows the government’s inability to anticipate, mitigate, and respond effectively to these threatsthathasleftthepublic anxiousandfearful.

“In light of these developments, the Forward Guyana Movement calls on President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana to convene an emergency meeting with all Opposition Party Leaders Such a meeting is urgently needed to craft a unified, nonpartisannationalresponseto thegrowingthreatstopublic safety, and to reassure the nation that the security and well-being of every Guyanese, regardless of

background or origin, remain the foremost duty of the State,” the statement reads.

In addition to that, FGM said the Government must also issue clear and credible assurances to the people of Guyana, outlining immediatestepsbeingtaken to strengthen national s e c u r i t y, t i g h t e n coordination among law enforcement agencies, and restore public confidence. “We must all reaffirm that

every life in Guyana is sacredandthattheprotection of our people is, and must always be, the highest responsibility of those who govern,”FGMexpressed. While urging all citizens to remain calm, vigilant and united, FGM further called on the Guyana Police Force andallrelevantauthoritiesto ensure that every available resource is mobilised to identify and bring the perpetratororperpetratorsto swift and decisive justice.

“Acts of terror and violence must never find refuge in impunity,” their statement added.

“Moreover, the Government must engage citizens p r o a c t i v e l y a n d transparently through public briefings, community outreach, and clear communication — so that f a m i l i e s a n d neighbourhoods understand theriskenvironmentandcan work with the authorities to safeguardthemselves,”AFC mentioned.

Recallingrecentremarks madebytheformerMinister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn in March 2025, who warned of the presence of sleeper agents and covert operativesfromVenezuelain Guyana,AFCexplainedthat given the heightened geopolitical sensitivity around border security and hybridthreats,thisexplosion cannot be viewed simply as an isolated accident without full scrutiny “The AFC urgesthatthistragiceventbe examinedwithinthebroader

Also extending its deepest condolences to the Bourne family, was the Alliance For Change (AFC) who called on the Government to be fully forthcoming with the facts surrounding the security threatsthatthecountryfaces at present. AFC stated that the Guyanese people have a right to know what is happening, who is responsible, and how such a tragic event will be prevented in the future.

Continued on page 16

The scene of Sunday evening’s explosion

Transparency, stricter migrant screening urged after deadly gas station blast

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has called for heightened transparency in the investigation of the deadly Mobil Gas Station explosion on Regent and King Streets on Sunday night, while urging the government to implement stricter screening and documentation of all migrant workers and non-nationals in the country

The explosion, which killed

six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured several others, is the third bombingincidentinGeorgetownin undersixmonths,followingattacks on the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and a nearby Guyana Power & Light substation in May 2025. Police in a statement on Monday said preliminary investigations revealed that earlier in the evening, a male of mixed ethnicity, believed to be a Spanish

speakingforeignnational,wasseen atthelocationwithtwobulkyblack plasticgarbagebags.Hereportedly attemptedtodisposeofthebagsina garbage bin at the station but was prevented from doing so by an attendant The individual subsequently left the area, heading south along King Street to the westernsideofthefuelstation.

At approximately 19:36hrs, a powerful explosion was heard on the southwestern side of the compound, near the section where bottled cooking gas is stored. The blast caused extensive damage to the building, several parked vehicles and nearby properties. At thetimeoftheexplosion,motorcar PTT8275, a silverToyota Premio, was in the compound with driver Jenica Hooper, 27 years, a teacher ofBredaStreet,Werk-en-Rust;her mother, Yvonne Jonas, 71 years, a pensioner; her nieces, Soraya Bourne, 6 years (now deceased), and Seddia McIntosh, 12 years, a student; along with her nephew, ReshardLord,7years,apupil–all ofthesaidaddress.

They were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where Soraya Bourne

was pronounced dead on arrival. The other victims were treated for injuries and remain in stable condition The explosion also damagedfourothermotorvehicles and caused minor structural damagetoanearbybuilding.

Ranks from the Criminal Investigation Dep

Headquartersledbyseniorofficers processed the scene and collected several items of evidential value, including fragments of black plastic bags and adhesive tape, which have been sent for forensic analysis. CCTV footage has been obtained and is being reviewed to assistinvestigators.

The party emphasised that

investigations is essential, calling on the government to publish full

coordination among the Police Force,FireService,DefenceForce, andhealthagencies,aswellasany lapses identified in security protocols. APNU also stressed the need for immediate screening and documentation of all migrant workers and non-nationals, ensuring that every entrant is verified and law-abiding while

protecting the rights of genuine refugees and asylum seekers. The party highlighted that failure to regulate border crossings and monitor migration flows could have serious national security implications, especially given recent geopolitical tensions in the region. “The safety of our people must transcend partisan politics,” the statement said, urging calm, v

investigators continue their work.

APNU reaffirmed its commitment to a secure, cohesive, and resilient Guyana, where citizens can live free from fear On Monday, members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) including Dr TerrenceCampbell,Ms.Coretta McDonald, Saiku Andrews, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels, Nima Flue-Bess and Michael Richmond visited the grieving family and assured them that they arenotaloneintheirpain.

Meanwhile, in a statement of his own, Attorney-at-law, Dr Dexter Todd said while he commendstheswiftresponseofthe emergency services and the immediatelaunchofafull-scale

Continued on page 16

APNU representatives during their visit to the grieving family members

At current gold price, Canadian company set for massive profit

…COST TO PRODUCE AN OUNCE OF GOLD PEGGED AT US$1,200

PresidentandChief Executive Officer

of G Mining Ventures (GMIN), LouisPierre Gignac, has disclosed thatthecompany’sOkoWest Gold Project, located in Region Seven, Guyana, has an All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) estimated between US$1,100andUS$1,200per ounce.

GMIN’s target for the OkoWestmineisanaverage annual production of 350,000ouncesofgoldover a 12.3-year mine life. This gold mine is estimated to hold 5.4 million ounces of gold.

“At Oko, we’re looking at around $1,100 to $1,200 all-in sustaining costs per ounce, which is slightly above what we have at Tocantinzinho (Brazil mine),” Gignac revealed during an interview with BNNBloomberg.

AISC is an industry standard used to determine the total cost of producing one ounce of gold. With global gold prices currently trading just over US$4,000 per ounce, GMIN stands to earn a massive profit once gold prices remain high when gold production commences at Oko West by 2027.

Gold prices have remained elevated in recent years and recently reaching overUS$4000perouncefor the first time in history Notably, GMIN’s CEO last year said that if gold prices remain high when production commences at Oko West, Guyana could receive corporate taxes

President and Chief Executive Officer of G Mining Ventures (GMIN)

Louis-Pierre Gignac

Gignac said that unlike his f a t h e r ’s p r e v i o u s involvement with Omai’s gold project, where the company did not pay corporate taxes to Guyana duetolowpricesatthetime, heisconfidentthatOkoWest will benefit from the current highgoldprices.

As such, he had expressed optimism about payingcorporatetaxestothe government, contingent on goldpricesremaininghigh.

Further during the BNN Bloomberg interview, Gignac reminded that constructionoftheOkoWest project began early 2025, and with the company recentlysecuringafinancing package, the company now has full funding to complete the development of what he described as a “world-class project.”

Gignac said, “We are fully funded now with that financing package that

complements our cash flow from our Tocantinzinho Mine in Brazil, which is generatinggreatcashflowat thesegoldprices.”

In October GMIN announced that it secured a whoppingUS$387.5million financing package to kickstartdevelopment.

Thefinancingpackageis anchored by an agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions for a revolving creditfacilitythatallowsthe company to borrow up to US$350 million, with an accordion feature for an additional US$150 million available post-closing, which is subject to customaryconditions.

Speaking about the TocantinzinhoMine,Gignac said commercial production was achieved about a year ago, and the company expects to produce approximately 175,000 ounces of gold from that operation this year. “We were able to complete that basically on time and on budget for about US$460 million for an asset that will producegoldforthenext10 years at around 175,000 ounces,”hesaid.

The CEO noted that the success of the Brazil developmenthaspositioned, well for its Guyana project which is much larger He noted that the Oko West project,isexpectedtohavea capital expenditure just shy of US$1 billion. “Obviously this is a much larger project one that will produce 350,000 ounces a year on average for the next 13 years,”hestated.

PolicehuntSpanish-speakingterror...

Frompage2

laterseeninFacebookcommentsectionsof onlinemediaplatformsclaimingthathehad turnedhimselfinandhadsoldthecarin2024 toanindividualwhoneverreturnedorcalled back to get it transferred into their name. CCTV footage have also surfaced of the momenttheexplosion.

The car which suffered the full brunt of the blast was seen reversing into the area where the plastic bags were planted. While backing up the explosion went off pitching thecaraway

The children were seen being flung out ofthecar

Kaieteur News reported on Monday that one of the employees of the service station was close to where the blast happened and recounted that the children wereseatedinthecarwhenithappened

She said that the car pulled up and a woman stepped-out and ordered a water

Gignac shared that the Oko West operation will begin as an open-pit mine, which will feed the process plant He said once commercial production is underway, GMIN will then move to develop the underground portion of the mine.

The CEO said the company’s roadmap is to reachacombinedproduction of half a million ounces per year across its two mines. “That’s going to catapult us to

n

ially the intermediate producer status with two operating assets,” hesaid.

Last week GMIN announced that its Board of Directors has approved the start of full construction of its 100 percent-owned Oko WestGoldProject.

GMINisthe100percent owneroftheOkoWestGold Mine through its Guyanese subsidiary

The company’s main prospecting licence (PL) covers 44 square kilometers (10,890acres).

fromher(FiveGallon)

“ShethenwalkandgobytheKFC”,she saidwhileaddingshewantedtogotakeout thewaterandwait(exactlywherethecarwas backing up) while the woman was at KFC.

“Butsomethingtellmenahlemewaituntil she come back”. A few moments later the explosion occurred at the exact location where she would have gone to retrieve the bottleofwater

As the investigations continue, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported that an advance team from the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, which includes Indian forensic scientists specializing in fire and explosive scene investigations, is working along with local specialists providing technical support “Following their assessment, the team will advise on any additionalresourcesormeasuresrequiredto expedite the investigative process”, the MinistrystatedearlieronMonday

However, the company later revealed that it expandeditslandholdingsin Region Seven to 71 square kilometers. GMINisinpossessionof an environmental permit f r o m G u y a n a ’ s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Oko West project. The five-year permit is valid through July 2030.

It authorises the construction and operation of Oko West, which is expectedtocreateanaverage of 1,270 direct permanent jobs during its lifetime. The feasibility study for Oko Westoutlinesalong-life,low cost, and high-margin operation.

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VEHICLES FOR SALE

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VISA Application for USA, Canada, UK, ETA, ETC. Naturalisation guidance + application filling & Building Plans. Tel: 626-7040.

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English 1, Maths 2. For more information Call: 6159132 or email application to techserigy@yahoo.com

VACANCY

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call: 615-9132.

Maid for East Bank area. For more information Call: 6159132.

One (1) female cleaner for Eccles office. Call: 645-8443.

Western Union CSRS, Cashiers, Shelf Restockers, Floor Supervisors, Porters & Bond Attendants wanted @ Survival Supermarket. Call/ WhatsApp: 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

Hick's Ville Hotel is now hiring Receptionist, Hotel Attendant, Washer, Presser. Call: 227-7714 / 223-3448 / 640-0673. Email: info@vegeworld.net

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killing

…arraigned on manslaughter charge

A 37-year-old businessman appeared at the Vreeden-Hoop Magistrate’s on Monday and was placed on $1 million bail for manslaughter, following the shooting death of Lance Corporal, Richard Hayes.

Robert Hoosein of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, is accused of shooting and killing 35-yearold Hayes of Lot 13 School Street, Vreed-en-Hoop, during a confrontation at his cellular phone stall at Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling on October 23.

This publication had reported that Hoosein is a licensed firearm holder of a .32 Taurus pistol. According to police reports, Hayes who was attached to the Impact Base at Brickdam Police Sta-

From page 11 context of national security — not as a mere law-and-order issue, but as a matter of state responsibility to protect its citizenry from all forms of threat, internal and external,” the party said.

Need for stronger safety Meanwhile, in separate statement, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) explained that this tragedy underscores the urgent need for “stronger safety and security practices across the country” to protect lives and property.

PSC said it continues to work with and support the

cop granted $1M bail

Dead, Lance Corporal, Richard Hayes.

tion, had visited the suspect’s shop on October 22 (Wednesday) to enquire about purchasing cellphones and left shortly after.

However, around 09:00hrs on Thursday, Hayes report-

Charged, Robert Hoosein

edly returned to the stall, indicating he had come to buy a phone. The suspect told police that while he was packing boxes, Hayes became “hostile”, prompting him to ask the officer to leave. The businessman alleged that

bail

killing cop granted $1M bail killing cop granted $1M

killing cop granted $1M bail

killing cop granted $1M bail

Hayes instead picked up a cellphone heater gun from the display counter and threw it at him, striking him in the chest. In response, the suspect reportedly drew his firearm and discharged one round, hitting Hayes in his right chest.

Ron Hayes, who operates a nearby barbershop, said he rushed over after hearing the gunshot and found his brother bleeding, police reported. He immediately transported him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where the officer succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. The businessman was arrested the same day and police had seized his licensed firearm as they carried out their investigation.

Political parties demand urgent national security...

national authorities in upholding these standards. In extending its sincere condolences to the bereaved family and looks forward to a full and speedy recovery of the injured persons, PSC said it supports the directive by President Ali for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of this incident.

“The Commission urges all business places and every citizen to be alert to the seriousness of this matter and to maintain a maximum and heightened state of security and vigilance as the government takes immediate and ap-

propriate action to address the matter,” it noted in its statement. For its part, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) noted that based on the revelations that the explosion at the Mobil Gas was triggered by human intervention, it commended the Guyana Police Force for promptly identifying the alleged perpetrator. “This disturbing incident has underscored the importance of vigilance as it relates to our domestic security and the wellbeing of our citizenry, and as such the Chamber urges law enforcement to en-

sure that a thorough investigation is conducted and the perpetrator is brought to justice, and that a recurrence is prevented,” GCCI disclosed.

According to the Chamber, public security must be “preserved and protected”, and they therefore urged the public to report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.

“The GCCI extends condolences to the family and loved ones of Soraya Browne and wishes a speedy recovery to those who were injured by the explosion,” they expressed.

Transparency, stricter migrant screening urged...

From page 14 investigation by the Guyana Police Force and other security agencies, “I must stress that an incident of this nature cannot be viewed merely as a localised criminal act. The deliberate and violent nature of the explosion in a densely populated, essential commercial area of the nation’s capital constitutes a clear matter of national security.”

In light of this tragic and disruptive event, Todd has urged the Government of Guyana to shift its focus immediately from a purely reactive investigation to a comprehensive and robust proactive national security strategy. He said it is imperative that the government recognise the systemic vulnerability exposed by this incident.

To effectively safeguard the populace and critical infrastructure, the State must immediately: allocate maximum resources for strategic security:

immediately dedicate all necessary human, financial, and technological resources to strengthen intelligence gathering and security capabilities across all national sectors, particularly in areas susceptible to hostile or criminal targeting.

This extends beyond police work to include enhanced national intelligence mechanisms.

Additionally, Todd calls on the government to bolster border and immigration security, noting that given the description of the individual of interest, a stringent review and immediate hardening of all border management and internal immigration tracking protocols are essential to prevent the unmonitored entry or presence of individuals who may pose a threat to public safety.

Todd also called on government to conduct a nationwide, comprehensive assessment of security vulnerabilities across all essential ser-

vices, critical infrastructure and high-density public areas.

This assessment he said must inform immediate operational changes to security procedures.

Todd said the safety and security of every Guyanese citizen must be the paramount concern of the State.

“An incident of this gravity, which involves deliberate destruction and loss of life, warrants an immediate elevation of security protocols. The government’s response must not only seek

to bring the perpetrators of this specific act to justice but must also demonstrably ensure that the mechanisms are in place to prevent similar acts in the future.

This is a time for decisive, foresightful action. We call on the government to act proactively, with the gravity this national security matter demands, to restore confidence and guarantee the long-term safety and stability of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” the statement said.

Guyana’s traffic crisis: the river route...

From page 05 river transport system is not just about avoiding traffic; it is about building a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient Guyana. It is a readily achievable solution that can provide im-

mediate relief while serving the nation for generations to come.

Let’s stop being stuck on the roads and start moving on the river.

Sincerely, Hemdutt Kumar

Govt. to use US$1M grant from India to upgrade packaging facility at Sophia

The Ministry of

Agriculture on Monday disclosedthatitwillbeusing a US$1 million grant from the Government of India to upgrade and modernise the New Guyana Marketing

Corporation’s (GMC) Central Packaging Facility atSophia.

According to a brief statement from the ministry,

Agricultu

e Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with

a delegation from NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services) and officials from India’s Ministry of ExternalAffairs

t o d i s c u s s t h e implementationoftheQuick ImpactDevelopmentProject (QIDP).

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha engaging a delegation from NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services) and officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday.

It is under this initiative thatthegrantwillbeusedto upgrade the facility The ministry explained that the project will see the installation of modern, automated processing equipment for fruits, vegetables, and coconuts, a

Further, the ministry m

g efficiency and productivity within the agro-processing sector

modernizationoftheCentral Packaging Facility is

processing efficiency,

reduce post-harvest losses, and provide greater support to farmers and agroprocessors as Guyana continuestoadvanceitsagrifood transformation agenda.

“Minister

welcomedthecollaboration, noting that the investment alignswiththegovernment’s broader agenda to expand value-added production,

standards, and enhance Guyana’s capacity to access regional and international markets,” the ministry reported.

‘Every second mattered’

- Citizens risk life to rescue victims of deadly gas station bombing

Tw o p u b l i cspirited heroes are being hailed after springing into action during the deadly explosion at the Exxon Mobil Service Station on Regent and King Streets on Sunday night that claimed the life of six-yearold Soraya Bourne and injured several others, includingtwochildren.

Taxi driver Andre McRae recounted the terrifying moment when the blast erupted. In a short video interview with Prime News he recalled. “I was buyinggasandtheladysaid wait for her she going and buychickenandwhileIpark andwaitingtheladygonefor the chicken within 10 secondsthatwasit.”

Themansaideverything changed within seconds there was a loud explosion and sections of the gas station burst into flames. “I feel my car go up in the air likenearly20feetandcome down back on the road. I almost fell out because the door fling open by the impact.

Another car that went nearraiseup like10 feetoff the road and pitch away to the back,” he recalled. Mc Rae said that he recovered from shock almost immediatelyandspranginto action.

“I had to pull myself up outthecarandhustletohelp rescuethepeopleintheother car I take out the children them and call for people, callingforambulancewhenI look around nobody was there. The gas station was empty; everybody run away leftmealone.

Therewasnobodythere to help me; I alone had to help the people them and I wasthemantakecareofthe fire and everything.” He recalledhavingtoactfastso astorescuetheoccupantsof theburningcar

“Itaketheyouthmanout first,thenthelittlegirlwhen Itakesheoutshefallonshe face.WhenIpickherupshe likeshewasalmostdead,the motherwentandtakeoutthe other little girl out the car and then another guy come and was helping to take to safety as I take care of the fire,”McRaesaid.

Thetaxidriverrecounted that subsequently a pump stationattendantcametohis aid and gave him two [extinguishers]tohelptoput out the fire and the fire department arrived at the scene about 20-30 minutes aftertheexplosion.

Themanclaimedthathe helped to battle and put out theblazebeforehecollapsed and passed out. He said that he is not sure when the

ambulance arrived but he was taken to hospital. He said that he was treated, released and instructed to return for further observation.

“Them [healthcare workers] aint tell me yet what is wrong but I still feeling lil inside pain and burning on my body.” The mansaidthathisvehiclewas severely damaged. He said the police have not told him whatwillbecomeofit.“The police didn’t tell when I can get my car but I don’t want that, that is too much drama for me to take on that. I cannottakethatcar…Itwas just me alone represent the gasstationbecausewhenthe bombfireoffIwassittingin mycar.”

Richard Braithwaite, a vendorwhoalsocametothe

aid of injured persons at the gas station recalled hearing theloudexplosion.

“That was no gas bottle that explode; that was a bomb. Me ears ring off, I does sell by Avenue of the Republic close to by Church’s. When I hear the sound I jump pun my bike andridearoundKingStreet. When I reach in the gas station I see a car smoking and the gas station full of smoke.”

Braithwaite said he ran towards the car to check to see if anyone was trapped inside “I check to see nobody aint in the car I checkbackuptheroad.Isee a lil girl couple feet away from the car I pick she up while walking with she, whenIlookbackandseetwo otherlilchildrenaboyanda

girl. The boy hold on to the girl her face full with blood.” He said he struggled to get persons to stop and render assistance to the injured children. “To get them in the car now is another problem nobody ain’t really want carry them in them car...A lady in a Vezel carry the lil girl and another guy he carry the other two lil children in he car. That’s three kids,” the man recalled. Braithwaite said he looked to render assistance to other injured persons.“Iwentbackbythe King Street side and I see another lady hollering for

her foot, that was the grandmother I fetch she out to by the cambio. The police come while I fetching the lady I tell them carry she at the hospital;theysaidtheycan’t carryshetothehospitalthey got to work with some protocol. So, I left and went backtomystand…”

Thevendorisconvinced that based on the impact the explosion could not be relatedtoagasbottle.

“That thing can rock all thembuildingtill,gasbottle can’tdolikethat.

Ihearandfeelthatsound till by Avenue of the Republic.”Braithwaitesaid

Vendor: Richard Braithwaite

Taxi driver: Andre Mc Rae a

Despite ceasefires, Israel continues attacks around the region

(AL-JAZEERA)

-

Israel’s aggressions around the Middle East haven’t ceased with the recent ceasefireagreementinGaza.

The pact, established on October 10, has eased the pressure on Palestinians in Gaza, even if Israeli strikes there continue.And in other parts of the region, Israel is still attacking on multiple fronts.

Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank have all witnessed Israeli strikes in the last week, giving credence to the idea that Israel is trying to keep its neighbours destabilised and weak.

United States officials visited Israel this week, but Tel Aviv’s biggest backer didn’tseemtoindicateitwas ready to hold the country accountable for its regional belligerence, focusing its attentiononGaza.

Here’s all you need to know about Israel’s latest attacksaroundtheregion.

Israel is cracking down hard on Palestinians in the occupiedWestBank.

The Israeli military has killed more than 1,000 PalestinianssinceOctober7, 2023intheWestBankalone andhasintensifieditsefforts to annex the occupied territory.

For the second straight week, Israeli soldiers and settlers are harassing and

arresting Palestinians trying toharvesttheirolives.

One of the Palestinians Israel recently detained had been released during January’s short-lived ceasefire in a prisoner exchange, then was rearrested, according to Wafanewsagency

The violence on the ground is matched by rhetoric from Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who urged his supporters to pressure US President DonaldTrumptosupportthe WestBank’sannexation.

He has also said that Israel should declare “sovereignty” over the occupiedWestBank,saying this would stymie the “dangerous idea of a Palestinianstate”.

Syria

The Israeli military has been especially active in Syria in recent days, with localmediareportingnearly daily incursions into Syrian territory along the southern border

Last December, as the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad fell, Israel encroached on Syria’s territory and attacked its military infrastructure aroundthecountry.

Masked Jewish settlers attack the occupied West Bank village of Asira al-Qibliya [File: Nasser Ishtayeh/AP]

Israel has kept up its incursions, even though Syria’snewgovernmenthas not reciprocated Israel’s aggressions.

The incursions include reconnaissance overflights, groundinfiltrationbyIsraeli soldiers, arrests and disappearances of Syrians, a n d e s t a b l i s h i n g checkpoints on Syrian territory,accordingtoSyrian media.

Israel’s latest aggression took place Sunday morning in the villages of alRazaniyah and Sayda alHanout,inthecountrysideof Quneitra,Syrianstatemedia outletSANAreported.

“A unit of the Israeli forces, consisting of four military vehicles, established a checkpoint between the two villages.

During the operation, the forcesdetainedalocalbread distributor who was serving the surrounding villages

nearSayda,beforereleasing him and withdrawing from the area,” a SANA reporter said.

Numerous villages in Quneitra, southern Syria, have experienced Israeli incursions in recent weeks, according to Syrian outlet EnabBaladi.

At the United Nations Security Council session on October 24, Syria’s UN Representative Ibrahim OlabisaidIsraelmustrefrain from interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and should stop its incursions into Syrianterritory

He also condemned Israel’s continued occupation of Syrian territory, including the GolanHeights.

Olabi said Israel’s “aggressive” practices

violated the 1974

Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel. Israelhaspreviouslysaidthe 1974agreementisvoidsince thefallofal-Assad.

Lebanon

Next door in Lebanon, Israel has continued its regular violations of the ceasefirewithHezbollah.

The south has been subjecttoparticularlyheavy bombing by Israel in recent days.

On Monday, UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL shot an Israeli drone out of the sky after it claimed the drone dropped a grenade closetoapatrol.

UNIFIL said an Israeli tank then shot at peacekeepers, with no casualties caused. Attacks on UNIFILby Israel are not

unprecedented.

Earlier,onSunday,Israel killed two people, one in Nabi Chit, Baalbek, and another in Naqoura, south Lebanon.

Israel’s war on Lebanon ended on November 27, 2024, when a ceasefire was signed between the Lebanese government and Israel.

Gaza

US Vice President JD Vance said during a visit to Israel last week that the ceasefire agreed on October 10 between Hamas and Israel is going “better than expected”.

Yet,Israelhascontinued tolaunchstrikesacrossGaza and kill people, leaving the definition of what the US administration was expectingquitevague.

Outsideofitscontinuing attacks, Israel is also undermining the ceasefire agreement by creeping deeper into Gaza, overstepping an invisible “yellow line” it was supposed to withdraw to, as reportedbytheBBC.

While Israeli attacks are lessfrequentthanbeforethe ceasefire, Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israel persists in Gaza. In addition to its continued choking off of aid supplies entering Gaza, Israel has continued to increase its deathtoll.

Japan’s new prime minister faces her biggest test yet: Meeting Trump

(CNN) Months before she became Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi said she’d been invited to meet US President DonaldTrump.

It was November, just after his election victory and several figures close to Trump hadurgedhertovisitWashington,sheposted onherofficialXaccount.

But she declined, insisting then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba should be the first Japanese lawmaker to meet the new US leader

“However, I aim to work hard toward holding a position that would allow me to meet him in a dignified manner someday,” shewrote.

That“someday”hasarrived.

Takaichi’s first major test on the global stage comes as she heads to the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and theAPEC meeting in South Korea, trips that will reveal how muchofhertrademarkconservativerhetoric she brings into office. But the most closely watched moment will come between those

summits, when Trump visits Tokyo to meet Emperor Naruhito and sits down with TakaichiforthefirsttimeonTuesday

AboardAirForceOneonhiswaytoAsia, TrumpspokehighlyofTakaichi.

ThepairspokeonthephoneSaturday,in whatTrumpcalleda“verygood”phonecall.

“Shegreat,beautiful She’sveryfriendly,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One following the call. For Japan’s new leader, the stakes are high. Though the US-Japan alliance is one of the world’s strongest, Takaichi’slimiteddiplomaticexperienceand Trump’s unpredictability make their first meetingacriticaltest.

Their talks are expected to cover tariffs, regional security and Japan’s defense spending, all points of tension in recent months. Within Japan’s conservative ruling party, some worry Washington’s commitmenttotheIndo-Pacificisfading,as it demands more from allies. At home, Takaichi faces her own challenges. Her Liberal Democratic Party is still recovering

from corruption scandals, and her performance abroad could shape both her politicalfutureandherparty’srecovery Her approvalratingsitsatastrong71%,anumber herteamwillbekeentopreserve.

Under former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan pledged to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. Takaichi now wants to accelerate that timeline to March 2026, calling for Japan to “proactively advance the fundamental strengthening of its defense capabilities” at her first address in Japan’s parliament. But how the buildup will be financed remains unclear With the yen weakening and Takaichi pushing tax cuts, she may struggle tofundherambitions.

Tradecouldproveequallythorny Since returning to office, Trump has reignited his tariff wars, targeting even longtime allies.

After months of talks, tariffs on Japanese goods dropped from 25% to 15%, while Tokyo agreed to invest $550 billion in US industries. But many details remain vague,

andTakaichiisexpectedtoseekmoreclarity She’s also brought in veterans to help her navigateWashington.

Her new cabinet includes negotiator RyoseiAkazawa,wholedrecenttarifftalks, and several former aides from the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, figures who built a strong rapportwithTrump.

“It’saclearmessagetobothdomesticand international audiences that she’s trying to carry on Abe’s line of thinking, rather than Kishida’s or Ishiba’s,” said Rintaro Nishimura,aTokyo-basedseniorassociateat TheAsiaGroup,aconsultingfirm.

Energyisalsoexpectedtosurface.Japan still imports about 10% of its liquefied natural gas from Russia, a dependency Washington wants to curb. Tokyo has pledged to reduce the reliance, but says an abrupt cutoff could threaten its energy security Takaichi’s handling of regional relations will also shape her success with Trump.

BLUNT BLUNT

Justice must be swift and certain

The horrific explosion at the Mobil Gas Station on Sunday night, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and left others injured, has shaken the conscience of our nation. This brutal act, apparently carried out with deliberate intent, represents not only an attack on innocent lives but also a vile assault on public safety and peace.

We strongly condemn this act of terror in the heart of our capital. The authorities must pursue every lead and use every lawful means to bring the perpetrator and any who may have aided or directed him swiftly to justice. Nothing less will suffice.

To the grieving relatives of young Soraya, we extend our deepest sympathies. To those injured, we wish a full and speedy recovery. At a time when tensions ripple across our region, with the US military buildup, we urge all Guyanese to remain calm yet vigilant. Evil thrives in complacency; unity and alertness are our greatest safeguards. Let us stand together for justice, peace and the protection of every innocent life.

Seales and Hosein boss powerplay as West Indies go 1-0 up

ESPNcricinfo - West IndiescaptainShaiHopeled a batting turnaround that helped his side win by 16 runs against Bangladesh in thefirstT20IinChattogram.

JasonHolderandJayden Seales took three wickets each, while Akeal Hosein picked up two in the powerplay

It was, however, Hope and Powell’s unbroken 83run stand for the fourth wicket that set up victory Hopescoredanunbeaten46

Hope and Rovman Powell, playing his 100th T20I, put together a late burst of sixes tohelpthevisitorsto165for 3 In reply, Bangladesh crashed to 42 for 4 in the powerplay,andwerebowled outfor149.

off 28 balls with a four and four sixes Powell had similar numbers, facing 28 balls,hittingfoursixesanda four,andendingupunbeaten on44.

NasumkeepsWIquiet Bangladesh began well with the ball. They rallied aroundNasumAhmed’sfour overs. He went wicketless buttheleft-armspinnerkept

WestIndiesquiet,conceding just 15 runs in his quota. Openers Brandon King and AlickAthanazeonlyhitasix each though they stuck aroundfor8.2overs.Rishad Hossain bowled Athanaze for 34, when the batter missed a reverse sweep TaskinAhmedthenremoved King, caught at deep square legfor33.

Taskin followed up with the wicket of Sherfane R

Tuesday October 28, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Difficult predicaments could arise today if you try to exert your will over others without having the most honorable intentions, Aries. It could be that you're using someone else's fear of you to control himorher

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The fire within you is raging today,Taurus,andyoushould becarefulhowyouwieldthis power Be proud and triumphant. Walk with your shouldersbackandheadhigh. Freedomisimportant.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Gemini. Try to see the beauty and importance of everythingaroundyou.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Thingsarecomingtoacritical point for you today, Cancer, and you may find that other people openly object to your actions. It's OK to be a bit selfish if the situation is appropriate.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Feelfreetospeakmoreloudly today, Leo. You'll find that things fall into place more easily if you speak your thoughts outwardly and directly in the presence of others. Bring your internal powerunderyourcontrol.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Youshouldbaskinaglorious splendortoday,Virgo.There's a great deal of power at your disposal.You'll find your ego ishealthy,charged,andready forthebattlefield.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Add more sunshine to your day, Libra. It may be time to stir up your inner passion and let it speak with greater confidencethanyouhavebeen lately Make sure you heal yourself by letting the people aroundyouhearyourtruth.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You'llfindthatyoursparkcan easily turn potential energy into kinetic energy, Scorpio. Don'tunderestimatethepower of your words. Realize the profound impact they have on othersandtakeresponsibility

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Don't dwell on your fluctuating moods today, Sagittarius. Look at the larger trends and how positive elements are coming together inyourfavor

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Thisisyourdaytoshineinall your glory, Capricorn. There's noneedtoholdanythingback. You'll find that you have a great deal of love to share. Your heart is likely to go to extremes today in order to proveitslove.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Trynottolosesightofyour own projects or desires, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power and manipulative energy in the air today that could throw you off course if youaren'tcareful.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Recharge today by getting outside and stretching your arms to the sky, Pisces. Be proud and courageous. You have the power to turn an unhealthy situation into a positiveone,

Rovman Powell helped revive West Indies’innings. (AFP/Getty Images)

continued.This time, he fell first ball, caught behind. Although Hope struck couple of sixes at this stage, West Indies couldn’t quite pushthescoringrate.Nasum finished off his spell with anotherstingyover,the15th.

Hope, Powell roar in the end Hope then went after Rishad with two sixes, but with three over remaining, thevisitorslookedwellshort of a decent total Hope crackedaTaskinhalf-volley for his fourth six to start the 18th over Powell, meanwhile, finally middled one with seven balls remainingintheinnings.

Heslog-swept Mustafizur Rahman for a 102m six, before creaming Tanzim Hasan for three consecutive sixes in the last over He hammered Tanzim’s fulltoss, before going straight forthenexttwo.WestIndies pickedup51runsinthelast three overs, changing the complexionofthecontest.

Bangladesh crash in the powerplay

Bangladesh came out all guns blazing in their pursuit of 166 runs. Tanzid Hasan wasgoingatashot-a-ballbut helastedjustfiveballs,with Romario Shepherd taking a stunningcatchrunningback from mid-on. Litton Das then played a soft shot as Akeal Hosein got the ball to stop on the Bangladesh captain Caught in two minds,Littonpoppedbacka return catch, with Hosein taking it blind behind the non-striker standing next to him.

Hosein then had Saif Hassan caught at short fine leg in the next over, attempting a sweep. When Holder removed Shamim Hossain in the fifth overclipping off his off-bailWest Indies had made significant progress, with Bangladesh’s last pair of

specialist batters at the crease by the end of the powerplay

Tanzim,Nasummakelate effortThehostscontinuedto slide when Khary Pierre bowled Nurul Hasan off the insideedgeintheninthover Towhid Hridoy joined the procession when he fell to Seales in the 12th over He struckjusttwofoursinhis28 off25balls.

Tanzim Hasan then struckasixandthreefoursin his 33 off 27 balls, to keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive. He added 40 runs for the seventhwicketwithNasum, before Holder had him

caught at deep point in the 16th over Nasum kept the fire burning with another boundary, but Seales made him his third wicket in the followingover Holder then snuffed out the threat of Rishad, who miscuedonetolong-off.The innings ended when Taskin steppedonthestumpsinthe final over, having sent Holder sailing out of the groundinthe18th.

Scores: West Indies 165 for3(Hope46*,Powell44*, Taskin 2-36) beat Bangladesh149(Tanzim33, Holder3-31,Seales3-32)by 16runs.

Reuters-AustinReaves exploded for a career-high 51 points, Deandre Ayton complemented 22 points with a game-high 15 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers, playing without injured stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James, downed host Sacramento 127-120onSundaynight.

Taking the leading role after Doncic was a late scratch due to finger and lower-leg injuries, Reaves surpassedhispreviousNBA best of 45 points set last FebruaryagainsttheIndiana Pacers.

Healsofoundtimefor11 rebounds and nine assists, missing what could have beenhisfourthcareertripledoublebyasingleassist.

Rui Hachimura finished with 18 points, while LaRavia and Marcus Smart chippedinwith11apiecefor the Lakers, who played a third straight game without James,outwithabackissue.

Zach LaVine paced Sacramento with 32 points, whileDomantasSabonis(10 points, 14 rebounds) and

Dennis Schroder (18 points, 12 assists) posted doubledoubles.

Spurs118,Nets107 Victor Wembanyama totaled 31 points and 14 rebounds and keyed a late runashostSanAntoniobeat Brooklyntostayundefeated.

Rookie Dylan Harper added 20 points and eight assists for the Spurs (3-0) in

the win, with Keldon Johnson scoring 19, Devin Vassell hitting for 16 and Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle tallying 13 pointsapiece.

Cam Thomas poured in 40 points to carry the Nets (0-3) but had little help Michael Porter Jr added 16 for Brooklyn and Nic Claxtonwentfor10

Mavericks 139, Raptors 129

Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds to leadDallastoavictoryover visitingToronto

D’Angelo Russell had 24 points off the bench, while starter Cooper Flagg added 22 points for the Mavericks, who earned their first win of the season

NFLroundup: Jets stun Bengals forfirst win this season

Reuters - Breece Hall rushedfor133yardsandtwo touchdowns and also tossed the go-ahead 4-yard scoring pass to Mason Taylor with 1:54 left to lift visiting New YorkJetstotheirfirstwinof the season, 39-38 over the shocked Cincinnati Bengals onSunday JustinFields,whostarted for the Jets after Tyrod Taylor was ruled out with a knee injury, finished the game 21-of-32 passing for 244yards.

New York (1-7) moved within 38-32 on Hall’s 27yard touchdown run and an ensuing two-point conversion pass to Isaiah Davis with 7:52 remaining. Just after the two-minute warning, Hall took a pitch from Fields and tossed the ball 4 yards to Taylor in the back corner of the end zone forthego-aheadscore.

Joe Flacco hit 21 of 34 passesfor223yardsandtwo scores for Cincinnati. Chase Brown ran for a score and caught a touchdown pass while Samaje Perine added

94 yards on nine carries for theBengals(3-5),whoblew a 38-24 lead with 10:21 left in the game. Ja’Marr Chase had 12 receptions for 91 yards. Packers 35, Steelers 25 Jordan Love passed for 360 yards and three touchdowns and outplayed former teammate Aaron Rodgers while leading Green Bay over host Pittsburgh.

Love, the understudy to Rodgers for three seasons, matched Brett Favre’s 2007 franchise record of 20 straightcompletions. Hewas29of37overallin a near-flawless effort for the Packers (5-1-1) Tight end Tucker Kraft caught two scoringpassesandestablished career bests of seven receptions and 143 yards Rodgerswas24-of-36passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns while facing Green Bay for the first time since his departure after the 2022season,his18thwiththe Packers. Chris Boswell kicked four field goals, includingthreeof50ormore

yards, for the Steelers (4-3).

DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson had scoring receptions Dolphins 34, Falcons 10 Tua Tagovailoa completed 20 of 26 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns, leading visiting Miami to a victory overadepletedAtlantateam.

Jaylen Waddle had five catches for 99 yards and a touchdown, Malik Washington had four receptionsfor36yardsanda score and De’Von Achane ran for 67 yards and hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass for the Dolphins (2-6), who snappedathree-gamelosing streak.

Playing for the injured starter Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins completed 21 of 31 passes for173yards.KylePittshad ninecatchesfor59yardsfor the Falcons (3-4), who took theirsecondstraightloss.

Patriots32,Browns13

Drake Maye passed for three touchdowns as New England extended its winningstreaktofivegames

following consecutive home losses P J

Washington and Max Christie scored 17 points apiece,NajiMarshalladded 12 and Klay Thompson poured in 10 for Dallas, which shot 58 8% from the field, compared to Toronto’s49%clip

Scottie Barnes had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to pace the Raptors, followed by Brandon Ingram’s 22 points and RJ Barrett and Sandro Mamukelashvili’s16apiece.

Immanuel Quickley scored 14pointsbutmadejust1of7 3-pointattempts.Quickleyis 2-for-18 (11.1%) from long distance through three games.

Clippers 114, Trail Blazers107 Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points with 10 rebounds and Ivica Zubac added 21 points with eight boards as Los Angeles won for the second time in two home games with a victory over Portland.

James Harden added 20 points with 13 assists and

Frompage27

by beating Cleveland in Foxborough,Mass.

Maye completed 18 of his24passattemptsfor282 yards and was intercepted once for the Patriots (6-2) EachofhisthreeTDpasses came in the third quarter, going to tight end Hunter Henry and receivers Stefon DiggsandKayshonBoutte Mack Hollins led all New England receivers with 89yardsonsevenreceptions Browns defensive end

Myles Garrett recorded a franchise-record five sacks in the loss and set the NFL record for career sacks by a player under the age of 30.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was 21 of 35 for 156 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Cleveland(2-6).

Inotherscores: Eagles38,Giants20 Ravens30,Bears16 Bills40,Panthers9 Texans26,49ers15 Buccaneers23,Saints3 Colts38,Titans14 Broncos44,Cowboys24 (FieldLevelMedia)

John Collins scored 16 points as the Clippers continued to distance themselves from a seasonopening road loss on WednesdayagainsttheUtah Jazz.

LosAngelesextendedits winning streak to 12 games overPortland.

Deni Avdija scored 23 points and Jrue Holiday added21astheTrailBlazers fell in their second game under interim head coach TiagoSplitter Head coach Chauncey Billups is out indefinitely after he was arrested on chargesconnectedtoanFBI gambling investigation Shaedon Sharpe scored 19 points, Jerami Grant added 17 and Donovan Clingan had 10 rebounds for Portland.

Inotherresults: Pistons119,Celtics113 Cavaliers 118, Bucks 113 Hornets 139, Wizards 113 Timberwolves 114, Pacers110 (FieldLevelMedia)

Nicholette Fernandes and Ashley Khalil, alongside Taekwondo athlete Ceili Peterson and bodybuilding sensation Rosanna Fung, who continues to elevate Guyana’spresenceinglobal fitnessarenas.

Meanwhile, Junior

Sportswoman of the Year nominee Athaleyah Hinckson stands out after claiming Guyana’s first-ever gold medal in the CARIFTA Games U17 women’s 100m, and following up with victory at the South AmericanU20Championships She faces competition from fellow track standout

Tianna Springer, the CARIFTA 400m champion, amongotherrisingstars.

In the Coach of the Year category,JulianEdmonds,the coach for both Austin and Hinckson at the Running BraveTrack Club, will go up against Ryan Hercules (cricket) and Joseph “Bill” WilsonoftheGuyanaDefence Force Football Club, each having played instrumental roles in their athletes’ success. The Association of theYearwillbecontestedby four of Guyana’s most proactive governing bodies,

the Guyana Basketball Federation, Guyana Chess Association, Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, and the Guyana GolfAssociation. FortheSportsOfficialof theYear, the male nominees include GBF president MichaelSingh,FIFAreferee Shavin Greene, Vidish Sookram (bodybuilding), and Kerwyn Johnson, while Natasha George, Denisha Isaacs,andAileenBowmanJoseph lead the female category The MediaAwards will see Rawle Toney ( K a i e t e u r N e w s ) , Michaelangelo Jacobis (Stabroek News), Jemima Holmes (Guyana Times), Akeem Greene (Newsroom), and Eric Collymore (NCN) recognized for their outstanding coverage and promotion of sports throughout2024

Meanwhile,NAMILCO, AnsaMcAl,Enet,Bluewater S h i p p i n g , M V P, ExxonMobil, Trophy Stall, and Sublime Security have all been shortlisted for Corporate Sponsor of the Year, acknowledging their significant investment in localsport.

Omari Glasgow, Malachi Austin...

Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) and Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) battle for the rebound during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Norris wins in Mexico to take F1 lead from Piastri by a single point

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) - McLaren’s Lando Norris avoided early mayhem to cruise to a dominant Mexico City Grand Prix win and retake

t h e F o r m u l a O n e championship lead by a single point from teammate OscarPiastrionSunday Australian Piastri, who started the race seventh and 14pointsclearoftheBriton, finished fifth after a virtual safetycarinthelasttwolaps denied him a shot at fourth afterathrillingchase.

Charles Leclerc was runner-upforFerrari,ahefty 30.3secondsadriftofNorris, while Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen took third - just 0.7 behind theMonegasque.

Norris,whostartedfrom pole position and led every lap, now has 357 points to Piastri’s 356 with Verstappen on 321 and four roundsremaining.

HAMILTON HANDED

10-SECONDPENALTY

Norris last led the standings in April, a gap of 189days,andhadnotwona race since Hungary in early August Sunday was his sixth victory of the season, one less than Piastri, and career10th.

Oliver Bearman was fourthforHaas,abestresult for the Briton and also the U.S.-owned team, and was 1.1secondsclearofPiastriat a chequered flag waved by former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.

Verstappengainedaplacein fourth to the intense irritationofRussell.

“I got squeezed like crazy,”saidVerstappenover the team radio as Russell, who started fourth, called in vainforthefour-timesworld champion to hand the place back.

A scary incident saw RacingBulls’LiamLawson, whocameinforanewfront

wingonlapthree,accelerate out of the pits as two marshalsranacrossthetrack infrontofhim.

Verstappen and thirdplaced Hamilton made contact on lap six as they went side by side with the Red Bull driver trying to go pastatturnonebutendingup cuttingthenextcorner

Hamilton went off at turn four, cutting back

across the grass, and was handed a penalty for leaving the track and gaininganadvantage

Bearman meanwhile climbed to fourth, from ninth at the start, and looked on for a podium once Hamilton took his penaltyonlap24onlytobe reeledinbyVerstappen

While Norris enjoyed a calm afternoon in the

sunshine, Piastri had to fight back from a low of 11th after his first stop, passing Antonelli in the pitsandRussellontrack

The virtual safety car was deployed after Williams’ Carlos Sainz, last year’s winner for Ferrari, spun and stopped ontrackonthepenultimate lap with smoke coming fromit

KimiAntonelliwassixth for Mercedes, with teammate George Russell seventhandLewisHamilton eighth for Ferrari after a 10second penalty dropped him from third and dashed his hopes of a first podium for the team he joined in January

‘I’msurethatpeoplewill moveontothegamesandthe exciting plays and the superstars of the NBA, and thiswon’tstayinthenewsa while,butcertainly,

EstebanOconwasninth, making a double points finishforHaas,andSauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto took the finalpoint.

FERRARI MOVE BACK INTO SECOND PLACE

The top three all completedtheraceonaonestop strategy, while Bearman, Piastri and the Mercedes drivers all pitted twice.

Ferrari moved back into second place, a point ahead

of Mercedes, in a constructors’ championship alreadywonbyMcLarenbut with a tight scrap for the runner-upslot.

Norrismadeacleanstart from pole when the lights wentoutbutwascaughtina four-way tussle down the long run to turn one, with Verstappen cutting the cornerandbumpingoverthe grass.

Leclercthencutturntwo, giving the place back to Norris who emerged from the chaos ahead while

McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix. (REUTERS/Raquel Cunha)

Paradise Invaders, Trafalgar win in latest BFA Senior Men’s League action

The Berbice Football Association (BFA) Senior Men’sLeague,sponsoredby the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, continued on Sunday night with Paradise Invaders FC and

victories watched by an energeticcrowd.

Paradise recorded 13 goalsintwomatchesasthey wentonagoal-scoringspree overtheweekend.

AttheNumber5Ground, West Coast Berbice on Sunday, Paradise Invaders

FC were in attacking mode astheyhammeredIthacaFC 7–1 to go top of the points table.

Scoring for Paradise were Keysean Mingo, who opened the scoring, Deon Moriah fired home a hattrick, Curtland Richmond added a classy brace, while Devon Fraser and Keywan Mingo each chipped in with well-takengoals.

The combination play among Moriah, Richmond, and Fraser overwhelmed an Ithaca side that struggled to contain the pace and intensityoftheattack.

The opening contest of the evening resulted in Trafalgar Titans securing a hard-fought 3–1 win over

capitalized on a defensive lapse to give his side a brief lead However, Trafalgar responded immediately as Jeremy Thornhill found the equalizerinthe11thminute.

The momentum shifted firmly in Trafalgar’s favor before halftime as Enriquez Lewiscoollyslottedhomein the 42nd minute to make it 2–1. The Titans sealed the victory midway through the

secondhalfwhenDeAndary McKenzie added a third in the67thminute.

Meanwhile, on Friday at thesamevenue,CougarsFC went down to Ithaca FC 1-3 while Paradise Invaders got thebetterofTrafalgar6-1in aone-sidedaffair Paradise are currently leading the league on 10 points, followed by Ithaica on9.

India batter Iyer hospitalised with lacerated spleen

BBC Sport - India batter

Shreyas Iyer is “recovering well” in hospital after suffering a lacerated spleen while taking a catch in the third ODI against Australia inSydneyonSaturday

Iyer sustained the injury while fielding in the 34th over, running backwards to take a catch to dismissAlex Carey and landing awkwardlyonhisside.

The 30-year-old immediately clutched his side and received treatment on the field before being takentohospital.

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has not put a timeline on his return but confirmed he is “medicallystable”.

“Shreyas Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage region while

fieldingduringthethirdODI againstAustralia in Sydney He was taken to hospital for further evaluation,” the BCCI said in a statement on Monday

“Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen He is under treatment, medically stable, andrecoveringwell.

“The BCCI medical team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his injury status. The Indian team doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his day-to-day progress.”

India went on to win the match by nine wickets but losttheseries2-1.

A five-match T20 series betweenthetwosidesbegins inCanberraonWednesday.

FyrishBlackSharksFC. Black Sharks struck first in the 10th minute through Tyrease Gibson, who

Ithaca FC goal scorers in their 3-1win over Cougars FC (from left to right) Jememy Thornhill, DeAndary Mckenzie and Enriquez Lewis.

Scoring for Paradise Invaders were (from left to right) Keysean Mingo, Curtland Richmond, Devon Fraser, Deon Moriah and Keywan Mingo. Fraser

Shreyas Iyer is helped off the ground after taking a pain-causing catch to dismiss Alex Carey. (Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

Omari Glasgow, Malachi Austin headline

NSC National Sports Awards nominee list

Malachi Austin

The National Sports Commission (NSC) will on November 8 celebrate the achievements of Guyana’s finest athletes, coaches, and officials at its Annual National Sports Awards, wherethecountry’ssporting excellence in 2024 will take centrestage.

Following the review of submissions from national federations, the NSC’s committee, tasked with reviewing, deliberating, and selecting winners across all

concludeditsassessment.

Kassam Oliver claims victory at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Golf Tournament

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, commended the panel for ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process that recognizes the very best of Guyana’ssportingtalent.

Leadingthespotlightthis year is national footballer Omari Glasgow, Guyana’s all-time leading goal scorer, who headlines the nominees forSportsmanoftheYear

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) did not nominate Glasgow; instead, they submitted Luton Town FC attacker Isaiah Jones for consideration. However, the star footballer received his nominationdirectlyfromthe SportsAwardsCommittee.

Glasgow’s remarkable

The Lusignan Golf Club came alive on Sunday last as 36golfersbattleditoutunder clearskiesfortophonoursat theBruster’sRealIceCream Golf Tournament 2025. The course was in splendid shape,lushfairways,smooth greens, and a gentle breeze thattestedeveryshot,setting the perfect tone for a day of spiritedcompetition.

Emerging triumphant was Kassam Oliver, who carded a gross score of 85 witha22handicap,finishing on a net score of 63. His steady play throughout the roundsecuredhimfirstplace in a strong field. Anthony Scaresfollowedcloselywith 86 gross, 23 handicap, and 63 net, losing narrowly on countback, while Roy Dhori finished third with 83 gross, 18handicap,and65net.

In the special categories,

The outstanding players take time out for a photo following the presentation.

Miguel Yunis unleashed a powerfuldrivetocapturethe Longest Drive award, while Mike Mangal displayed pinpoint accuracy to win Nearest to the Pin. The Best Gross title went to Feroze Barkat 76, who delivered consistent form throughout theday

The tournament, now an annual favourite, once again showcased the strong partnership between Bruster’s Real Ice Cream andtheLusignanGolfClub. The course buzzed with camaraderieandanticipation as players gathered at the 19th hole to discuss their roundsandlookaheadtothe nextbigchallenge,theBrava GuyanaOpen,scheduledfor November1and2,2025.

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling extended gratitude to the sponsors, saying, “A big thank you to Bruster’s.

TheBruster’sbrandhasbeen a great supporter of the LusignanGolfCluboverthe past six years Led by Director Paton George, the c o m p a n y c l e a r l y understands its corporate socialresponsibility

What’s also important is the number of players the tournament attracted, 36 Thiswasaveryhighturnout and is reflective of the sponsor, but also a build up to the Brava Guyana Open. You could feel the air pulsating at the 19th hole as p

i

anticipation for the major tournament.”

With the Brava Guyana Open just days away, Oliver’s win adds a thrilling chapter to the club’s competitive season and signals an exciting showdown ahead for Guyana’spremiergolfevent.

League saw him earn both theBestYoungPlayerAward andtheTopScorerAward,as he guided the Golden Jaguars to a historic promotiontoLeagueA.

The 21-year-old, who hasnowtallied21goalsin33 internationalappearances,is

joined on the shortlist by Bodybuilder Nicholas Albert, who captured his IFBB Pro Card in 2024, Olympian Eman

el Archibald, and national cricketerAshmeadNedd.

The race for Junior Sportsman of the Year features four promising stars, track athletes Kaidon

PersaudandMalachiAustin, swimmer Raekwon Noel, and chess prodigy Sachin Pitamber, each having impressed on the regional andinternationalstages. Inthewomen’scategory, theSportswomanoftheYear nominees include two of Guyana’stopsquashplayers, (Continuedonpage24)

Athaleyah Hinckson

Omari Glasgow was nominated for Sportsman of theYear at the November 8 National SportsAwards.

Seales and Hosein boss powerplay Seales as West Indies

Akeal Hosein celebrates a wicket. (AFP/Getty Images)