Kaieteur News

...localtruckoperatorsprotest‘unfaircompetition’, sayforeignerstakingover eating up

‘Govt.notbudgingonchangestoExxon’scontract’

President Irfaan Ali has once again made it clear that his administration will stick tothetermsoftheProduction Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Guyana and ExxonMobil along with its partners, Hess Corporation andCNOOCforthelucrative StabroekBlock

The 2016 deal has long faced criticisms due to its lopsided nature-benefitting theoilcompaniesmorethan Guyana.

Despitecallsforthedeal tobechanged,theIrfaanAli led administration has repeatedly cited ‘sanctity of contract’as its reason to not push for any changes to the deal.

Addressing the audience at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston, Texas, the Guyanese head-of-state shared that many people have asked about the Exxon oil deal. “We have made [it] veryclearthatthesanctityof contractisimportantforus,” Alisaid.

Ali pivoted to note that insteadofmakingchangesto the Exxon PSA, his administration has created a new PSA which governs futureoilagreementswiththe stateforoffshoreoilblocks

He stated, “So there’s no secondguessingwhatweare doing We are ready to make the hard decisions, we make those decisions, we make thempublic Westandbythe decisions we make So, there’s predictability.” Ali stressed that one of the most importantthingsinthissector is predictability, as a key component for investors,

wanting to see predictability inState’spolicyanddecision making

Governing the Stabroek Blockisadealthatwaivesall taxesfromtheoilcompanies, stipulating that Guyana must coverthesecosts Itallowsthe companies to recover up to 75% of their investments before the remaining 25% is split Ofthis,Guyanareceives 12.5%, in addition to a 2% royalty paid by the oil companies.

The oil deal was signed by former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who served under the APNU + AFC Coalition government between 2015 and 2020. A few years ago, Trotman in his book titled, ‘From Destiny to Prosperity’ offered support to the governmenttorenegotiatethe lopsidedStabroekBlockdeal However, Trotman’s offer wasrefusedbyVicePresident (VP)BharratJagdeo

Duringaninterviewwhile runningforpresidentbackin March2020,Alihadstrongly criticised the Exxon PSA signed by the Coalition G o v e r n m e n t w i t h ExxonMobil Hestatedatthe time, “We have made it very clear,andwecanneveragree, howcould,howcould,Idon’t think any Guyanese agree withthis,noGuyaneseexcept the government that is defendingit Wehavemadeit veryclearthatwehavetogo towards, we’re looking at thesecontracts,renegotiating these contracts, looking at contract management and all of these things Everything wehaveto relook atbecause

…Pres. Ali tells Int’l institute

we have to ensure that our country does not get the wrongendofthestick.”

Ali’s remarks back then indicated a willingness to “review and renegotiate” the contracttosecurebetterterms forGuyana. However,since assuming office in August 2020, his administration has shiftedtosanctityofcontract.

Speaking with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Senior Journalist Gideon Long in a 2023 interview,PresidentAliwhen pressed about the possibility of renegotiation and the Exxon deal noted, “Well, I would say definitely, we did not have the best of deals, Exxon have a good deal signed by the last government” President Ali had outlined that sanctity of contract is very important to hisgovernment,adding,“We can’tgobackonthat”

W h i l e t h e P P P administration has made it clearitwillnotseektomake changestotheExxondeal,it should be noted that the former APNU+AFC governmenthadrenegotiated and signed the Stabroek B l o c k P S A w i t h

ExxonMobil’saffiliate

A few years after the agreement was signed, the D a v i d G r a n g e r administration approached the Exxon consortium, and successfully renegotiated a critical fiscal element of the deal. According to Addendum No. 1 to the Petroleum Agreement dated April26,2019,itwasevident thatthenamedpartieswerein agreement that the contract allowedforthe2%royaltyto be recovered To plug this loophole,theAddendumthat

was subsequently filed with the deeds registry categorically stated that it shall not be recovered in any way Sealing the new arrangement were former President,DavidGrangerand President of Exxon Guyana affiliate,RodneyD.Henson.

T h e P P P ’ s administration’scommitment to honour the deal as is, and not make changes has been publiclypraisedbyoneofthe Stabroek Block partners –Hess Ahead of the 2025 General and Regional

Elections where Irfaan Ali and the PPP secured victory and returned for a second term, Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess, a company that holds 30% interest in the Stabroek Block, assured stakeholders of political and fiscal stability in Guyana. Citing comments made by President Ali, Hess noted that he was categorically clear about no changes will be made to the Stabroek BlockPSA.

President Irfaan Ali

Stabroek Block

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

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

EDITORIAL

Parliament in paralysis

The continued dormancy of Parliament, months after thepassageofthe2026NationalBudgetisadirectassault on democratic accountability in Guyana. The government came to the nation with grand promises of an “aggressive androbustlegislativeagenda,”yettherealityhasbeenthe exact opposite: inertia, evasion, and a troubling abandonmentofconstitutionalresponsibility

Atthecentreofthisinstitutionalparalysisisthefailure to establish the full complement of parliamentary committees. Five months after the National Assembly reconvened,onlytwoofelevencommitteesareoperational, this newspaper reported recently This is a clear case of a fundamental breakdown in the machinery of oversight. Standing Order 80 is explicit: these committees must be constitutedatthecommencementofeachParliament.There is no ambiguity, no loophole, no justification for this dereliction.

Theabsenceofkeysectoralcommitteessuchas:Social Services, Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, and Economic Services has effectively shut down meaningful scrutiny of critical national issues. Who is examining the troublingreportsofvulnerablechildreninstatecare?Who is interrogating developments in the oil and gas sector, or holdingminingoperatorsaccountable?Whoisprovidinga parliamentary forum to address escalating tensions with Venezuelaandthecurrentviolenceattheborderresultingin one soldier being shot? Who is scrutinising international agreementssuchastheso-called“ShieldoftheAmericas”? Theanswerissimple:noone.

This vacuum of oversight is convenient.We know that without committees, there are no hearings. Without hearings,therearenoquestionsandwithoutquestions,there is no accountability Particularly alarming is the failure to reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the singlemostimportantbodyforfinancialoversight.Thelast auditreportrevieweddatesbackto2019.Inacountrynow awash with oil revenues and unprecedented public spending, this is nothing short of reckless. Billions of dollarshavebeenexpendedbetween2020and2025without parliamentary scrutiny The longer this continues, the deepertheshadowsgrowaroundpublicfinances.

Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley has pushed back against the state of affairs regarding the nonfunctioning of these committees, but her concerns have beenmetwithsilence.HercorrespondencetotheSpeaker, Manzoor Nadir on March 4,remains unanswered. This indifference is telling. It signals either an inability or an unwillingnesstoupholdthebasicfunctionsofParliament.

Meanwhile, Nadir appears preoccupied with international travel and presiding over a youth debating competition,whilethecountry’sbusinesscontinuestolag. While global forums and youth initiatives may have their place, they cannot take precedence over the core duty of ensuringthatParliamentfunctionseffectively Thepeople’s businessisnotasideproject,itistheprimarymandate.

Compounding this institutional stagnation is a broader pattern of governance that raises serious concerns. There have been no press conferences to address the nation. Constitutional requirements for the appointment of commissions are being ignored and allegations of press suppressionpersist.

Atthesametime,theexecutivebranchappearsdetached fromthedomesticcrisis.ThePresidentisfrequentlyabroad, ministers are mired in controversy and allegations of unchecked accumulation of wealth continue to circulate. Whether involving questionable business dealings or attempts to obscure incidents involving politically connectedindividuals.

Equally troubling is the weakness of the opposition. Internal divisions and external pressures have rendered it largelyineffectiveatatimewhenrobustchallengeismost

It is impossible to occupy territory and rule it for decades or a century without leaving cultural footprints

DEAREDITOR,

It seems that at last the representativesofVenezuela will address the ICJ at Geneva in the coming days. It will be interesting to see whether the Venezuelans willpresentevidenceoftheir claim.

Taking over territories can be done by warning someoneofmilitaryforceor conquestinwhichVenezuela is far superior to Guyana. Another way of proving

possession is by offering evidence of the cultural footprints.Itisimpossibleto occupy territory and rule it for decades or a century without leaving cultural footprints. Wherearethetombsofa governor? Where are the churches or schools? Where are the archives of government documents, orders issues, of legislation passed? Such evidence would be convincing. It is

significantthatonlylastyear the Caracas government appoin

governor of Essequibo after claimingtooccupyit.

These are significant historical landmarks and must form part of any genuine claim to ownership ofaterritory Muchmorecan besaid.Iwaspresentin1962 whenAccionDemocraticain Venezuela first raised its alleged claim of ownership of Essequibo. I wrote to the

then premier Dr Jagan and Opposition leader Mr Burnham pointing out this claim that appeared in the press.Theybothrepliedthat this claim was of an opposition party not a claim from the leaders of the Venezuelangovernment,and we can endure it. We have endured it for too long. I am now101yearsold,andIam speakingatfirsthand.

Respectfully, EusiKwayana

The persecution of the Mohameds: A two-pronged assault on political opposition in Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

I give a structured political analysis of what I characterise as the targeted political persecution of Azruddin Mohamed, a persecutionoperatingontwo simultaneous and mutually reinforcing fronts. The first is the weaponisation of state administrative power through the revocation of gun licences. The second is the entrenchment of ethnic and ideological dominance within Guyana’s Cabinet, which systematically

excludes m

ningful opposition representation

Together, these two instruments constitute a coherentstrategyofpolitical suppression, one that carries grave implications not only for the LOO, but for Guyanese democracy in the lead-upto2030.

The revocation of personalgunlicencesissued to the Mohamed duo — licences granted as standard security provisions for persons of their public standing was not an administrative decision. It was a political one. The mechanism by which such licences may be revoked is, insubstance,uncomplicated: aCabinetdirective,followed by the Commissioner of Police’s compliance, is sufficienttostripacitizenof

alawfullyheldinstrumentof self-protection. No judicial order is required No independent review is mandated.Thestateacts,and thecitizenmustrespond.

That simplicity of mechanismispreciselywhat makes it so effective as a political tool. It carries the formal appearance of administrative routine while functioning as a message — unmistakable to those who receive it and deniable to those who observe it from a distance.

Thequestionthatmustbe confronted is this: why the Mohameds, and why now?

The answer requires no

elaborate inference

Azruddin Mohamed occupies a prominent position as Leader of the Opposition — a role that, in any functioning democracy, is not merely tolerated but constitutionally protected The Opposition is not the enemy of the state; it is a structural feature of democratic governance, designed precisely to check the excesses of the party in power

When the instruments of the state are directed — selectively and deliberately — against the individual who leads that Opposition, the action transcends administrative discretion. It

needed. Civil society, too, appears subdued. In this environment, the burden of speaking truth to power has fallen disproportionately on the independent press. But a democracy cannot rely on a single voice crying in the wilderness.Guyanastandsatapivotalmomentinitshistory. Withvastoilresourcescomesimmenseopportunity,butalso immense risk. Without strong institutions, transparent governance, and active oversight, that wealth can easily becomeacurseratherthanablessing.

becomes persecution. The revocation of the gun licencesdidnotemergefrom a generalised policy review It emerged in a context of political tension, and it was applied to political targets. Context is not incidental to meaning; context is meaning.

Beyond its immediate impact on the Mohameds, the licence revocation functionsasasignaltoothers — to political figures, to civil society actors, to anyone who might consider meaningfuloppositiontothe government.Themessageis as old as political power itself: align, or be made vulnerable This is the architecture of intimidation, and it does not require overt violencetobeeffective.The withdrawal of security provisions from a public figure in a country where political violence is not unknown is not a neutral administrative act. It is a threat, rendered in bureaucraticlanguage.

Thesecondprongofthis persecution is less visible than a licence revocation — and therefore more dangerous. It operates not throughasingledirectivebut through the accumulated weight of appointments, t h r o u g h t h e s l o w construction of a Cabinet thatreflectsnotthediversity of Guyana’s population but the demographic and ideological preferences of thegoverningparty

The current Cabinet composition reveals a stark arithmetic: approximately 73% of Cabinet members belong to non-AfricanG u y a n e s e e t h n i c

backgrounds Put more plainly — for every four Cabinet ministers, three are non-African This is not demographicrepresentation; it is demographic replacement of one community’s political voice by another’s. The governing principle appears to be dominance,notinclusion.

One might respond that Afro-Guyanese ministers do exist within Cabinet — and this is true. Afro Ministers: Mark, Hugh, Kwame, Oneidge, and Juan – a presence, examined closely, reveals the second dimension of structural exclusion:unanimousassent functionary Theyarevisible butnotpowerful;presentbut not independent A community’s representation is not secured by placing its members in rooms where they are expected to agree with every decision made beforetheyarrived.

This pattern is a welldocumented instrument of managed pluralism It providesthegoverningparty with the optics of diversity while maintaining the substanceofcontrol.

T h e C a b i n e t ’ s compositionextendsbeyond ethnic arithmetic into ideological character. More than half of the Cabinet consists of individuals of Hindu persuasion— a fact that is not, in itself, problematic What is problematic is the downstream consequence: a Cabinet structured around Hindu ideological dominance will, whether intentionally or by institutionalgravity, Continued on page 6

We arrived with expectations

DEAREDITOR,

Wearrivedwithexpectations

Agreementmadeandcontractsigned

Paymenttobemadeandreturnguaranteed

Afterkeepingourcommitmentsbetrayalawaited

Contractbrokenandagreementdiscarded

Theykeptnottheirword

Promisesbrokenandadvantagetaken

Welookeduponthelandandsawopportunity

Wemadethemostofwhatwasbeforeus

Wemadethislandours

Rememberingthecircumstancesthatkeptushere

Rememberingwhattheydidtous

Rememberingtonottrustsoeasily

Wearrivedwithexpectations

Godtookusandchangedourlivesforthebetter

Astrangelandhasnowbecomeours

Alandwherewecanbecomestrong

Alandwhereweovercamethosewhotookadvantageofus

Wearrivedwithexpectations

Westaybecausewebecamestronger

Westaybecauseourancestorsalsoresthere

Westaybecausethislandisnowalsoours

Andwesay

Neveragainwilltheycheatus!

Wecamewithexpectations

Expectationsstillheldtoday

Theycometoourshoresagain

Tryingtogettheirownway

Contractinhand

Obtainedbyunscrupulousmeans

Theysaywemusthonourit

Whiletheydeceive

Mybrothersandsisters

Let’slearnfromourpast

Wemustrenegotiateforfairterms

Beforetheytrytoeconomically

Astheydidwhenthatmainstaywascast

Freedomisourstokeep

Wemustnotgiveitaway

Thefutureisours

Let’snotwasteourArrivalDay

Inhonourofthearrivalofourancestors!

Bestregards,

Mr.JamilChanglee

Pres. Ali regional food initiative drive is on target

DEAREDITOR,

During his first term in office, Guyana’s 9th

Executive President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s initiative for the memberstates of CARICOM known as “25 by 2025” is meant reduce the region’s more than $10 billion annual food import bill by 25 percent in 2025.

P r e s i d e n t A l i ’s underlying goal is to improveregionalagriculture production,productivityand investment in infrastructure. Though viewed as an ambitious goal by many, it will no doubt increase food production and hence food security in the region, especiallyamongthesmaller countries.

Although originally slated for 2025, the goal has been transitioned with a renewedfocusandinterestto achieve food security and self-sufficiently by 2030.While much progress has been made, climaterelated challenges and in some cases natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods a n d d r o u g h t h a v e necessitated the change in time President Dr Ali’s vision for reducing the region’sfoodimport,centers

on his serious commitment and dedication to transform Guyana with its huge land massandoilresourcesintoa globalleaderinfoodsecurity and the breadbasket for the Caribbean.

H i s E x c e l l e n c y leadership is fully supported by a trustworthy and specialized team comprising the Minister of Agriculture Mr Zulfikar Mustapha and technical experts in Guyana and several countries. The primary objective is for member-CARICOM States t o e m b a r k o n a comprehensive national agriculture development strategythatprioritizeshighvalue cash crops, megafarms and climate smart technologies. To accelerate andquickenthisplan,theAli administration has significantly increased resources from an $18 4 billion allocation for agriculture in 2020 to a historic high of $104 6 billioninthe2026budgetto fund critical infrastructure including the building of farm roads to markets, agriculture- processing facilities, improved seeds and grains and the revitalization and modernization of the

traditional sectors like rice andsugar Today, Guyana is not only building infrastructure to accommodate its agriculture expansion program,butisalsogrowing more food and in 2025, the country has achieved 88 percent of its food production targets with nontraditional crop It has successfully completed its first major commercial shipment of cassava chips and mango pulp to Antigua andcorn,soyaandpoultryto Barbados. Guyana’s agroprocessed items including jams, jellies and coconut milkhavedoubledinthelast fewyears,andthecountryis on track to become the Caribbean’s Food Capital in just five years of President Dr Ali’s tenure. Its exports have been largely driven by its massive investments in infrastructure, which has resulted in increased production in all sectors. Guyana is now considered the only nation in the region tobeself-sufficientinallkey categories.

While some of the smaller islands in the region including St Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are struggling to reach their targets, due in part to unavailability of land, Guyana, has become one of thetopperformers,followed by Barbados, Belize, Jamaica and Suriname However, by late 2024, the r e g i o n h a s s h o w n outstanding progress with a 25 percent increase in food production.

T h a n k s t o t h e extraordinary and superb leadershipofHisExcellency, Dr Irfaan Ali, Guyana with oneofthehighestgrowrates intheworldhoveringaround 45 percent of GDP has emerged as the only selfsustainable food producer in the Caribbean despite regional and global supply chain disruptions. This has been a remarkable achievement.

Sincerely, Dr. AsquithRose

The persecution of the Mohameds...

Frompage4

propagate Hindu ideological frameworks at the expense of all others. The question that mustbeasked—andanswered—isthis:do communities outside that ideological traditionreceivegenuinerepresentationinthe decisions that govern their lives between 2026and2027?

The answer, on present evidence, is no. And that absence of representation is not a bureaucraticoversight.Itisapoliticalchoice.

The genius of a two-pronged strategy is thateachpronglegitimisesandamplifiesthe other The gun licence revocation targets the Mohamed family directly, signalling to individual opponents that the state’s administrative apparatus is available for deployment against them. The Cabinet’s ethnic and ideological composition sends a broaderstructuralmessage:thattheleversof collective governance have been captured, that the institutions meant to check power have been filled with those who will not checkit.

Together, they create an environment in which political opposition is simultaneously unsafeattheindividuallevelandstructurally futile at the institutional level. This is not democracy This is the architecture of soft authoritarianism — authoritarianism that wears constitutional dress while hollowing outconstitutionalsubstance.

Guyana has watched this pattern before: across the Courantyne River, in the Dési’s Suriname decades The comparison is instructive, not because the situations are identical,butbecausetheearlyconditionsof democratic erosion share a family resemblance: the marginalisation of oppositionvoices,thecaptureofinstitutions, the normalisation of administrative persecution. Suriname’s people eventually reclaimedtheirdemocracythroughtheballot.

Political persecutions do not resolve themselves quietly They accumulate. Every licence revoked, every community voice excluded, every ministry decision that reflects the priorities of one ethnic or ideological group rather than the nation’s plurality—thesearedepositsinanaccountof grievance that will be drawn upon, with interest,atthepolls.

The2030generalelectionsarenotdistant. Every political actor in Guyana is already, consciously or not, navigating. One man nearing100stilltrieshisstyleofnavigatingin the letter writer’s column. The government that believes it can suppress opposition through administrative harassment and structural exclusion, and emerge from that election unscathed, misreads Guyanese’s memoryandpatience.

Santokhi’s fate in Suriname is the cautionary tale, having repaired his finances competently yet voted out by a people who felt invisible. Competence without inclusion is not a governing philosophy; it is an expirationdate.Theballot—whenitfinally comes—rememberseverything.

All political actors — government and oppositionalike—playtheirpartsonastage that belongs to the people. The Mohameds’ persecution, whether pursued through gun licence revocations or through the structural silencing achieved by an exclusionary Cabinet, is not merely an injustice to one family It is a statement about what kind of countryGuyanaintendstobe.

Democracy’sinstitutionsdonotmaintain themselves. They depend on those in power choosing restraint over retaliation.Alicence revoked for politics, a Cabinet built for compliance, an Opposition targeted by the administration it is meant to check — these are not the signs of a system working. They are the signs of a system being quietly dismantledfromwithin.

Someone must stand between the documentandthedeed.Betweenthepromise of constitutional protection and its betrayal. Betweenpowerandthepeoplewhompower isalwaystemptedtoforget.

That is what lawyers do. That is what an independent press does. That is what a genuineOppositiondoes.

The curtain has not fallen on Guyana’s democraticexperiment.Butitisbeingtugged — steadily, deliberately, from both sides at once. The people of Guyana, and all who standwiththem,musttakeholdofitbeforeit drops.

Sincerely,

Mohamed

Barrister

Zafar

John Ardill, ExxonMobil Vice President of Exploration

ExxonacceleratesGuyana oilanalysiswithAI

...says new technology interprets data in days rather than months

HOUSTON, May 5

(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil is using artificial intelligence and new technology to interpret seismic data from Guyana in days rather than months, John Ardill, the company’s vice president of exploration,saidonTuesday

High performance computing and AI-driven algorithms have accelerated seismic imaging, Ardill said at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston “We’reusingwhatwascalled deep learning, classification andsoreinforcedlearning We can turn those tools around in just a few days, and then the interpreter can get a prioritized list of anomalies to go effectively validate,”hesaid.

Exxon Mobil leads the consortium that controls all crude and gas production in theSouthAmerican‘country, which has boosted output capacity to more than 900,000barrelsperdaysince crudeproductionstartedthere sixyearsago

The company has also been able to use new technologies in other parts of the world to revisit oil

prospects previously considered uneconomic, Ardillsaid.Futureexploration will increasingly focus on areas that were once too difficult to develop but are becoming viable as technologyimproves,hesaid

HesaidExxonexpectsto complete seismic acquisition by the end of the year and quickly assess its offshore blockinTrinidadandTobago, which borders Guyana The company believes the geology could resemble GuyanaorAngola,hesaid

“Angola is deep water reservoirs, same as Guyana, and the concept we are looking for in Trinidad is similar deep water oil reservoirs,” Ardill told reporters on the sidelines of the conference He cited Guyana and Trinidad and

Tobago as examples of governments that `quickly and offer political and commercial terms that work forboththehostcountryand Exxon.

WhileVenezuelaalsohas a large resource base, Ardill said the commercial and political conditions must alignforExxontoconsidera possiblereturntothecountry

“It is one of the largest endowmentsintheworld,and with investment and technology it can be unlocked,”hesaid “It’sabout creating the right investment conditions”

MIDDLEEAST CONFLICT

The world has yet to feel the full ‘impact of global supply disruptions from the conflict involving the USIsraeli war with Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz,Ardill said He said Exxon routinely plans for suchdisruptionsandwasnot caughtcompletelyoffguard. It’s also about the incentive structureinwhichthesetools arecreated.“Weevaluateall these eventualities and plan,”Ardillsaid,notingthat the company used its diversifiedglobalsupplybase torespond‘todisruptions.

He said oil and gas projectsinthePermianBasin and Guyana “are extremely important when Middle East oil and gas are restricted” Exxon’s breakeven oil price in the Permian Basin and Guyanaisbelow$30abarrel, andnewprojects including planned exploration in Alaska — must compete withthat`benchmark,Ardill said, adding that new technology could help make thatpossible.

The challenge forAlaska is not political or geological but commercial, he said. “Alaska, because of location and conditions, is more expensive,”Ardillsaid “That’s wheretechnologycomesin,to unlocktheresourceandbring thosecostsdown”

Showcauseafteryoudoneshowforce

Ifevertherewasacaseof putting the cart before the horse, and then charging the horse for loitering, we now have one. It features the Mohammed family, and the police deserves front-row seats, popcorn, and maybe a small legal textbook for comicrelief.

The police last Tuesday seized the Mohammeds’ personal firearms and then, with a straight face that deserves an acting award, turnaroundandsay:“Kindly show cause why these same firearms licenses should not berevoked.”

Now, as far as I understandthings,thepolice were required to ‘show cause’. Asking someone to justify why something should not be taken—after youalreadytakingit—islike alandlordchangingthelocks andthenslidinganoteunder thedooraskingthetenantto explain why he should still be living there. This is high comedy

To be fair the law does give the authorities wide room to manoeuvre A firearm licence is not a birthright. It is a privilege. And under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act, that privilege can be revoked if the holder is of intemperate habits, unsound mind, unfit, or poses a danger to public safety

All sensible things

Nobodyarguingwiththat.

In fact, I agree that the authoritiesdon’thavetowait until a man start firing off rounds like it’s Old Year’s Night before acting. The power to revoke is preventive,notjustpunitive. Reasonablesuspicioncanbe enough. You don’t need a smokinggun. But—andthis iswherethecomedystartsto w o b b l e i n t o confusion reasonable suspicionofwhat,exactly?

It appears that the groundsfortherevocationis thatthereisanindictmentin a foreign land. And this indictment is hanging over the heads of the Mohameds. Now, an indictment is a serious thing, no doubt. But it is also, in plain language, an allegation dressed up in legal clothes. It is not a conviction. It is not proof. It is not even, by itself, a demonstration that anybody inGuyanasuddenlybecome a danger to the peace of the Republic.And to cap things off, it is not within the jurisdiction.

Ifindictmentaloneisthe new yardstick, then dem boys suggest we might as well set up a fast lane at the airport: “Accused Abroad?

Surrender Your Keys, Licence, and Possibly Your FavouriteChair.”

The danger with that approach is that it stretches “preventive” into “pre-

Dem Boys Seh...

emptive”.Andwhilethelaw allows the authorities to act on suspicion, it does not invite them to act on speculation dressed as suspicion.Evenifthepolice believe they have grounds. And maybe they do, maybe they don’t, the process must still make sense. It must follow a logic that even a manhalf-asleepinaminibus could understand. Instead, what we have here is a proceduralsomersault.First, there is a move to seize the firearms.Thensecond,there isarequestaskingownersto explain why the firearms should not be seized. Now howcanyouseizesomething andthenaskthepersonwhy it should not have been seized?Nobodyissayingthe Mohammeds have a constitutional right to a firearm license. They don’t. Thecourtshavemadeitclear that a firearm license is not propertyinthesacredsense, not something shielded by constitutionalarmour But what is protected, and what must always be protected, is fairness. And fairness, like good pepperpot, requires proper ingredients. First there must be some evidentiary basis. Thentheremustbearational connection between facts anddecision.Andthirdthere must be a procedure that does not look like it was designedinreverse

MORE MONEY, MORE EMPTY POCKET

Dem boys seh some people does treat salary increase like if it is a relay race between them and bankruptcy The minute dem get a raise, dem ain’t thinking about savings, investment or retirement. No sah. Dem thinking about a bigger television, a newercar,andaphonesoexpensiveitneeda guardservicetoprotectit.

One man get a promotion last year Beforetheinkdryontheletter,hegoneand buyaSUVsobigitlooklikeheplanningto invade a small country Every month now, the bank taking back the promotion in installments. Dem boys seh the poor fellow earning twice as much but sleeping half as good.

Another fella used to catch minibus and was managing life decent. Then he start earning more and suddenly he “can’t be seen” in public transport. He now driving a vehicle with payments longer than a prison sentence. By the middle of the month, he eatingonetennisrollanddrinkingpipewater tillpayday

Demboyssehsomepeopledoesconfuse looking wealthy with being wealthy If you wearing brand-name clothes but your light billhidingfromyoulikeawitnessprotection

Take away those ingredients, and what you get is not justice It is respectfully submitted that in this Mohammed saga, something is missing from the pot. Because if the only real seasoning is a foreign indictment, then the dish looking a little thin. And if the method is to seize first and ask the victim to justify why he should not be the victim, then the recipe itself needsrevising.

Attheendoftheday,the Statehaspower,plentyofit. But power, like a licensed firearm, must be handled carefully, responsibly, and with a clear line of sight. Otherwise,youendupfiring procedural blanks and callingitpublicsafety

programme, you ain’t rich You just fashionableandbroke.

And then there are the people who upgrade everything except their common sense. Bigger house. Bigger loan. Bigger creditcarddebt.Biggerheadache.Onelady boast how she move from drinking instant coffee to imported Italian cappuccino. But whenthelandlordaskforrent,shesuddenly becomeateadrinkeragain.Therealproblem is that people believe wealth comes from earning more. Sometimes wealth comes fromwantingless.Amanmaking$200,000 and saving $50,000 could end up better off thanamanmaking$1millionandspending $1.1 million trying to impress people who don’tevenlikehe.

Some people does laugh at de man wah riding bicycle to wuk and wearing old clothes.Butdesamemandonepayofffuhhe house, send he children abroad and gat a goodstashindebankfiuhhardtimes.Henah eating in fancy restaurant and drinking in dem expensive bars. He does but he bottle and tek it home and drink. The truth is simple:iflifestylegrowfasterthanincome, povertyjusttravellingfirstclass. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

And if this is the new standard, then everybody who has a firearm license, had better keep their receipts, their references, and maybe a written explanation in their back pocket Just in case somebody seizes first and askquestionsafter (The views expressed in this article are those of the author a

t necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper)

CPCE Centre to be built at Charity

In its move to decentralise teacher training,theMinistryofEducationsaysanew centre of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be constructed in Charity,RegionTwo.

The ministry is therefore seeking contractorstobidfortheproject.Thetenders areexpectedtoopenonMay12,2026atthe National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag, during an engagement with headteachers in RegionTwolastmonth,hadannouncedplans to establish a teachers’ training college branchintheregion.

The education ministry in a statement in April reported that $45 million has already beenallocatedinthe2026budgettokickstart the project, which will specifically serve educators in the Pomeroon River and other nearbyremotecommunities.

Theministrystatedthattheinitiativewill ensure professional development is accessibletoteachersresidinginthosehardto-reachareas,endinganerawheretheywere

forced to leave their homes and families to gaincertification.

Addressing headteachers at the time, MinisterParagemphasisedthatthefacilityis a fundamental step towards national educationalequity

“Teachers no longer have to travel to wherever or go just online,” the minister stated.

Theministerfurtherunderscoredthatthe project is about “quality education and qualitydeliveryintheclassroom,”notingthat investing in professional growth ultimately translates into better outcomes for the nation’schildren.Theministrydisclosedthat oncecompleted,thenew,modernfacilitywill feature a dedicated classroom block, staff offices, a kitchen area and washroom facilities, all housed within an elevated, ridge-and-beamstructure.

“This new facility will aid the government’s mission to move the national percentage of trained teachers from over 90 per cent to a perfect 100 per cent,” the ministrystated.

Iran: Taunting, egging on

Impression is of tables turned Overwhelming military dominance still favors America, hasn’t changed. The same applied over 50 years ago. Hanoi was immovable, selfsacrificing then, with names like Ho Chi Minh and NyguenGoGiapwillingthe battle forward Today, there’s Teheran, and mostly faceless,nameless,menwho relisheggingonanopponent that’seasilyunsettled,drama prone,notfullyoperational.

land and oil and control of thoseprizes?Comegetit.

From Teheran to Washington: “We are just getting started.” And “We know well that…the status quo is intolerable for America.” Iran is taunting Washington Want more war? Keep coming. Come closer Iran is lighting a fire underPresidentTrump,now trapped between the devil and Hormuz Strait. Want

American troops readied for a ground invasion; Iran says a million are waiting. ThemoreIran’sreactionsare absorbed, the more it is itching to suck in its sworn enemies.WhattheU.S.now find itself embroiled in: a quagmireoraclusterf***?

Iran was supposed to be running out of drones, missiles, other weapons of war.Itsneighbors-especially the UAE-will not agree, when recent bombardments are weighed. What’s Iran’s strategy relative to them? It could be to suck in other injured parties, with an apocalyptic vision to drive the Middle East to an overflowingboil.

Whatstartedoutasawar for land and oil, could unmakethedollar,unleasha religious war The corrosive Sunni-Shia divide nearing explosiveexpression. There are few countries that prides itself like Iran in its dedication to the pull of sacrifice Having been

badgeredandbrutalized,the time to lash back at tormentorshasbeengiftedto it.WhatIranlacksinskillsit has in will - a long war of attrition.

F r o m t h e U S perspective, that would be a worst-case scenario. Body bags are not favoured packages Stateside. The CNN enhanced Gulf War made for good TV entertainment with the good guysstormingfreelythrough Kuwait and to the outskirts ofBaghdad,withapalatable bad guy in Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.

The question today is who has right on their side andwhoisonthewrongside of this now increasingly forbidding war? Moreover, target Iranian economic infrastructure, and it has already demonstrated in clear and convincing terms that two can play that dangerous game. Thus, the battle hangs in the balance: unconditional surrender or respectfulceasefire?

The Iranian High

Command boasts many who hold martyrdom as a badge. Sure, it’s an unwinnable war, but with a consolation prize. In going down, take downasmanyascanbehad. It is why I say again, Iran could be egging on its enemies, whether from under the Islamic tents, or farther away, those it described as Satan and evildoers.

Americanshaveahistory ofmakingterriblesacrifices, but the cause has to be just. Emancipation of slaves and keeping the Union intact.

Save the world from Aryan supremacy, preserve economic hegemony, and ward off threats from the thenYellow Peril.When the treachery of Pearl Harbor (subject to different interpretations)wasaddedto that volatile formula, few Americans could be, or stood, against total war and committing U.S. resources todeliverthejob.

Where is any of that today? In scale and degree?

ThebasisfortheWaronIran is suspect It’s hard to support.

Trust is not where it should be for the leadership inWashington andTelAviv. Whateverkindofwaritturns outtobe,ithasalreadygone on too long, with pain felt, and the final price uncounted. For a country so deep in debt, this is the wrongwaratthewrongtime.

Fromallindications,Iran looks like the wrong target. All that it has to do is buy time, eke out some tiny missile successes, and stomach upset rages in foreign capitals From conflict pains to economic pains. It’s not the type of choice that’s appealing Bringiton.

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

Guyana’s economy may be boomingatrecordspeed,butanew international report suggests the countryiscollectingasurprisingly smallshareofthatwealthintaxes.

Guyana’srevenueshareshrinksdespiteexplosiveoilgrowth — new ECLAC report

Accordingtothereportreleased by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean titled: ‘Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2026’, Guyana recorded the lowest tax-toGDPratiointheregionatjust92% in 2024 far below the regional averageof217%

The report also noted that Guyana’s tax burden fell by 2.4 percentage points in just one year, one of the steepest declines across Latin America and the Caribbean. But the drop is not due to weaker tax collection. Instead, the report points to Guyana’s extraordinary economic expansion, particularly intheoilsectorasthemaindriver

“The2.4p.p.fallinGuyanawas a result of extraordinary economic growth (notably in the oil sector) outpacing increases in tax revenues,” the report noted According to the report, oil production continues to fuel rapid GDP growth, with the country among the fastest-growing economies globally However, this surge has created a statistical imbalance: the economy is expanding so quickly that even rising tax revenues appear smaller relativetototaloutput.

Meanwhile, according to ECLAC,taxrevenuesroseinmore than half of the countries in Latin AmericaandtheCaribbean(LAC) in 2024, with the largest gains

implemented major tax reforms.

ThereportwasreleasedonTuesday at the UN-ECLAC 38th Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy in Santiago, Chile. It shows that tax

revenuesroseasashareofGDPin 15 of the 28 countries in the LAC region included in the report and declinedin13.

According to ECLAC, the largest increases were observed in

Antigua and Barbuda (1 9 percentage points [p.p.]), Brazil (2.0 p.p.), Barbados (2.1 p.p.) and Cuba (5.0 p.p.). Each of these countries recently introduced majortaxreforms,whichincreased revenues from taxes on goods and services(Brazil,Cuba,andAntigua and Barbuda) and from corporate incometax(BarbadosandBrazil).

The two largest declines in the tax-to-GDP ratio were mainly due to economic factors. In Trinidad and Tobago, lower energy prices and declining natural gas production contributed to a fall of 3.0 p.p., while in Guyana strong economic growth outpaced increasesintaxrevenues,resulting inafallof2.4p.p.

The report shows that tax-toGDP ratios in the LAC region ranged from 9.2% in Guyana to 33.7%inBrazilin2024(Figure1), with a regional average of 21.7%, an increase of 0.2 p.p. from the previousyear ExcludingCuba,the average was unchanged from the previous year as slow economic growth and volatile commodity pricesweighedonrevenues.

Taxes on goods and services continue to represent the largest part of the tax mix in many LAC countries, with a lower contributionfromincometaxesand socialsecuritycontributionsthanin

Continued on page 16

“Foreigncompanieseatingupeverything”

…localtruckoperatorsprotest‘unfaircompetition’,sayforeignerstakingover

Morethanadozentruckdrivers and owners staged a protest on Wednesdayattheroundaboutofthe Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge calling for an even playing fieldinthetruckingsector

They told Kaieteur News that foreign companies, especially Chinese, are “eating-up everything” leaving them without work and forcing them into economichardships.

The local truckers are alleging that government incentives granted to the foreigners such as duty-free concessions are giving them an unfairadvantageinthelocalmarket Oneoftheaffectedtruckowners,S Ahmed said some of these foreign companies entering Guyana to do road works but are also using their truckstoprivatework

“...Killing the market price for us,asforinstance,theygoingtillto Oglewherethepriceislike$60,000 per a load of sand, they carrying it

for 50,000, some doing it for $45,000”,Ahmedtoldthepress.

Ahmedcontinued,“Ihavetruck parkedformonthsnowcan’tgetno work, right is unfair for we as Guyanesetofacethisherefromthe Chinese.” He contested that the Chinese companies don’t have to doanything.

“They getting duty free, they getsandpit,theygettingtheirown sourceoffuel,right,weoutherega battle it look the other day fuel raise.” Ahmed said while adding, “Foreigners coming and benefit morethanuswhichisnotsupposed tobehappening,youunderstand,so that’s our major concern why we out here today (Wednesday) from myperspective.

Another affected trucker, Anil said, “From since January I am home;Iamnotgettingnowork.”

He while work comes sometimes,itisdecreasingrapidly “TheChinesethemaredominating

the trucking industry because they have more than one trucking service and I was made to understandthattheyhavetheirown sandpitandsoon”,hedisclosed.

Aniladded,“Ameantheycome and take over our local truckers workandifsobethecase,thenthe local truckers them will have to punish ” The truckers who protested on Wednesday said they have now come to publicly voice theirconcernsbecauseitis“getting moreandmoredifficultforthem”.

“Everybody just losing but the Chinese just gaining all the time” were the words of another trucker ontheprotestline.

“We losing a lot, the fuel is expensive, everything expensive,” he said while adding “It’s almost two weeks now I am not working, progressisnotdoing,wejustlosing allthetime.”

According to the trucker, his boss’ trucks are parked while the

Cuyunipassagenowadangerzone... ‘Soldiers shot at again by Venezuelans’

Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force(GDF)wereshotatagainon “Arrival Day” by the armed men from Venezuela’s shore while on patrol duties in the Cuyuni River, RegionSeven.

TheGuyanaDefenceForceina statementtothe press saidoneofit patrols encountered hostile fire twice on Tuesday May 5 while conducting border security operationsinRegionSeven.

“Bothincidentsoccurredinthe Cuyuni River at approximately 16:10hrsand16:50hrsrespectively

miningtownofLinden,RegionTen overanallegedforeigntakeoverof the trucking and businesses in Guyana and locals being unable to get‘abite’.

In response to that protest action, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill assured that Chinese are not getting any duty-free concessionsfortheirtrucks.

at known locations,” the GDF stated while adding that on both occasions,thepatrolwasescorting civilian vessels and had returned fireinaccordancewithoperational procedures.

No one was injured this time and the vessels were manoeuvred outfromtheareasafely.

Tuesday afternoon’s shooting marked a second consecutive shoot-out between GDF soldiers and the armed men from Venezuela’s shore at Guyana’s westernborder

During Monday’s shooting, Lance Corporal Douglas sustained twogunshotwoundstohisrightleg and is currently recovering at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC).Anotherrank narrowlyescapedbeinginjured.

Reportsarethatabulletgrazed himpassingthroughhisuniform.

Kaieteur News received information that the shootings sometimesoccurdaily,makingthe Cuyuni River one of the most dangerousareastotraverse.

The dangers have prompted GDF patrol boats to escort Guyanese civilian who make a livinginthearea.

Douglas is the ninth soldier to have been injured by Venezuelan gunfireinayear

InFebruary2025,eightsoldiers were wounded after they were ambushedandshotatreportedlyby aVenezuelan gang while on patrol duties.

“Chineseeatingeverything.”

“I glad if the government or somebodycouldcomeoutandhelp us,becausewearelosingalotsowe pleading for help because this nonsensegastop.”

Meanwhile political figures visited the truckers on the protest line. Among them were leader of the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC) Guyana, Dorwain Bess and Opposition Leader,AzruddinMohamed.

The opposition leader, criticisedthegovernmentforbeing too “cozy” with the foreigners and called for an immediate intervention. This is not the first time truckers have been on the protest line due to an uneven playing field in the trucking industry

In May last year, truck drivers staged two days of protests in the

“The only thing that was dutyfreewasthemillwhichisoperating inside the quarry (Chinese-owned quarry), so if the Chinese bought trucksandareoperatingit,theyare buyingitjustlikeyou,”hehadtold the truckers. He had promised that the government will intervene to stoplocaltruckersfrombeingsidelinedwhenitcomestoliftingstones from a Chinese owned quarry at ArisaruMountain,RegionTen-an issue that local truckers had raised with Kaieteur News back in February2025.

Despite the minister’s assurances, the local truck drivers were dissatisfied and called on the government to clamp down on the number of trucks, which the Chineseareallowedtoimport.

One driver had said, “Then tomorrow morning, the Chinese wake-upandbringin200trucks,all a we… wha’ we doing with we truck? and 200 drivers, wha’ we doingwithwetruck?”

T h e m i n i s t e r h a d acknowledged that there is competition on the market over rates but declined to comment furthernotingthat“Guyanaisopen forbusiness”.

Notwithstanding, he assured that “the government will not sit idly by and allow Guyanese to be taken advantage of, even in that openenvironment.

Digiceltoexpandfibreoptic networkinmodernisationplan

U-Mobile (Cellular) Inc

trading as Digicel Guyana has disclosed that significant sums will be expended in a modernisation plan directed towards expansion of its fibre optic network in areas along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara,BerbiceandLinden.

The telecommunications company recently met with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)atitsofficeatLot106New Garden Street, Queenstown Representing Digicel were Chief ExternalAffairs OfficerAna Rua, Chief Business Officer Liam Donnelly and Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana and Suriname Deonarine Gopaul, while the PUC’s delegation included Chairman Dr Nanda Gopaul, along with technical and administrativestaff.

Accordingtoastatementfrom thePUC,themeetingprovidedan opportunity for discussion on m

telecommunications

telecommunications sector in Guyana.

During the engagement, Digiceloutlineditsplanstoinvest in network expansion and infrastructure improvements to support increasing demand, improve service quality and strengthen overall network capacity The company also indicated its intention to modernise its network, subject to therequisiteregulatoryapprovals.

“Digicel is also investing heavilyintheirmobilenetworkto keepupwithgrowingdemandfor data Additionally, discussions addressed operational challenges encountered during infrastructure deploymentandmaintenance,”the statementshared.

ThePUCsaiditwelcomedthe update and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining constructivedialoguewithservice providers to support sector development and ensure that consumers receive reliable and efficientservices.

Some of the truckers who protested on Wednesday

‘ICJ ruling will not change our position on Essequibo’ –Venezuelatells WorldCourt

...says ruling in Guyana’s favour will further poison relation between neighbours

Attorney representing Venezuela, Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday that a ruling in Guyana’s favor will not change the country’s claim to the Essequiboregion.

His submission followed oral arguments byGuyana’slegalteamonMondaybeforethe worldcourtattheHagueNetherlands Guyana approached the ICJ seeking the court’s confirmation that the 1899 Arbitral Award, established the international boundary betweenthetwoSouthAmericanneighbours, andhasrequestedadecreethattheboundaryis legally valid and remains binding on both statesunderinternationallaw

Responding to Guyana’s submission in the border case, the Professor Mbengue sought to bring Venezuela’s position into perspective.

He told the ICJ that “the 1899 award mightberelevant,itmayoffercontext,itis after all the wound that the Geneva agreement was designed to heal, but it certainly does not follow that the award shouldbepermittedtostandinthewayofa genuine resolution of the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela Jurisdictiontoentertainaquestionisnotan obligation to answer it and certainly not an

obligationnottoansweritwhendoingso ” Mbengue continued that “Affirming the validity of the award would also leave the underlyingcontroversyunresolved;whilst it would leave the states relationship irremediably poisoned and reduce the Genevaagreementtonothing...”

To avoid such a situation, the lawyer notedthatthecourtneedstobecognisantof the real issue in this case “What then, Mr president, is the real issue in this case?The

answer is plain It is the pursuit of an amicable, practical and mutually satisfactory resolution of the controversy bornoftheunjust1899awards Thisiswhat the Geneva agreement requires, what its parties have consented to,” Mbengue submitted

“That real issue is the pursuit of a mutually satisfactory solution to the controversy generated by the 1899Award, a solutionthatconsignedthisartifactofBritish imperialismtothepastwhereitbelongs,and that shuts a way forward. This is the only proper meaning of the Geneva agreement. It isasthough,sofar,theonlyinterpretationon therecordforthesimplereasonthatGuyana hasofferednone.”

Nevertheless, Professor Mbengue told the court that Guyana’s position is understandable. He said that Guyana “It is,

after all, the lucky heir to a deeply revolting awardinwhichitplayednopartbutGuyana is also the heir to an agreement that left that award behind in the hope of finding a just solutiontoaterritorialcontroversy.”

Inhissubmissionbeforetheworldcourt, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations Samuel Reinaldo MoncadaAcosta emphasised on the issue of thecourt’sjurisdiction.

He noted that for nearly a century, Venezuela has consistently maintained that mattersrelatingtoitsterritorialintegrity

Continued on page 18

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is moving to regulate parking on pavements across the city

City Hall issues strict pavement parking ban -questionsraisedoverconsistencyofenforcement

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Wednesday reminded that parking on pavements across the city is “strictly prohibited”pointingtopedestriansafetyasa concern

Inanoticeonthemunicipality’sFacebook page, the Council said pavements are designated for pedestrians, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, and should not be obstructed by vehicles, warning that such practices force pedestriansontobusyroadways.

The council also cited the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01, specificallySections9and10,whichmakeit unlawfultodrive,ride,orplacevehiclesand other objects on pavements and footpaths. It urged citizens to comply with the law and park responsibly in ways that ensure safety forallroadusers.

However,theannouncementhastriggered criticism on social media, with several residents questioning the consistency of enforcement “All I see is vending happening on pave,” one commenter wrote under the M&CC’spost,pointingtowhattheydescribed aswidespreadobstructionofpedestrianspaces beyondjustparkedvehicles

Anothercommenterhighlightedaspecific concernintheKittyarea,notingthat“straight up the road from where the council meets, there’s Bounty Supermarket which has

seemingly commandeered the pavement for customer parking… on one of the busier streets where many primary school children walk in the morning and afternoon, yetnoactionhasbeentaken.”

Persons also raised concerns of uneven enforcement with one commenter claiming thatwhentheyraisedconcernswithapolice officeraboutstoreownersblockingparking areas with pallets, they were dismissed “You have selective enforcement maybe the council could enlighten me?” the individual said Others questioned what action citizens should take when they observe violations in central areas “So when we see the vehicles on the pavement on Church Street and on Middle Street what do we do?” one person asked, while another pointed to alleged infractions along CharlotteandCummingsstreets

Some residents called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, including towing “Invest in a couple of tow trucks and charge fees to reclaim them,” one comment read Further,oneuserreferencedpreviouseffortsto remove vendors and clear parapets, claiming those initiatives were not sustained “This noticetoowillbefornothing,”thecommenter said,urgingauthoritiestotakedecisiveaction rather than issue repeated warnings.Another added:“Stoptalkingandenforcetheserules. Actionspeakslouderthanwords.”

United Nations, Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta

Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue

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IranreviewingU.S.proposaltoendwar

ISLAMABAD/WASH-

INGTON/TEL AVIV, May 6 (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a U.S. peace proposal that sources said would formally end the war while leaving unresolved the key U.S. demands that Iran suspend its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of .

AnIranianforeignministry spokesperson cited by Iran’s ISNA news agency saidTehranwouldconveyits response. U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed Iran wanted an agreement. “They want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’llmakeadeal,”Trumptold reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Trump had sounded more pessimistic about the chances of a deal. In a Truth Social post, he threatened to restarttheU.S.bombingcampaigninIran,callingthepossibility ofTehran agreeing to thelatestU.S.proposala“big assumption.”

Trump has repeatedly played up the prospect of an agreementthatwouldendthe warthatstartedFebruary‘28, so far without success. The two sides remain at odds over a variety of difficult issues, such as Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war handled onefifthoftheworld’soilandgas supply A Pakistani source and another source briefed on the mediation said an agreement was close on a one-page memorandum that would formally end the conflict.Thatwouldkickoffdiscussionstounblockshipping through the strait, lift U.S. sanctions on Iran and set curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme,thesourcessaid.

It was unclear how the memorandum differs from a 14-point plan proposed by Iran last week, and Iran has yet to respond to the latest U.S.proposal.Iran’ssemi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed source, said the U.S. proposal contained some unacceptable provisions, without specify-

ACCOMMODATIONS

- but key demands remain unaddressed

Iran, May 6, 2026.

ENTERTAINMENT

ing which ones. Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for parliament’spowerfulforeign policy and national security committee,describedthetext as “more of an American wish-listthanareality.”“The Americans will not gain anything in a war they are losing that they have not gained in face-to-facenegotiations,”he wroteonsocialmedia.

OIL PRICES TUMBLE

Reports of a possible agreement caused global oil prices to to ‘two-week lows, with benchmark Brent crude futuresfallingaround11%to around $98 a barrel at one pointbeforerisingbackabove the $100 mark. Global share prices also leapt and bond yieldsfellonoptimismabout an end to a war that has disrupted energy supplies. Trump on Tuesday paused a two-day-oldnavalmissionto reopen the blockaded strait,

citingprogressinpeacetalks.

TheU.S.militaryhaskept up its own blockade on Iranian ships in the region. U.S. CentralCommandsaidforces fired at an unladen Iranianflagged tanker on Wednesday, disabling the vessel as it attempted to sail toward an Iranianportinviolationofthe blockade.

NO MENTION OF KEY U.S. DEMANDS

The ‘source briefed on the mediation said the U.S. negotiations were being led by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoffandson-in-lawJared Kushner.Ifbothsidesagreed on the preliminary deal, that would start the clock on 30 days of detailed negotiations toreachafullagreement.The fullagreementwouldendthe competing U.S. and Iranian blockades on the strait, lift U.S. sanctions and release frozenIranianfunds.Itwould also include some curbs on

Iran’s ‘nuclear programme, with the aim of a pause or moratoriumonIranianenrichment of uranium. While the sources said the memorandum would not initially requireconcessionsfromeither side, they did not mention several key demands Washington has made in the past, whichIranhasrejected,such as curbs on Iran’s missile programme and an end to its support for proxy militias in the Middle East.

The ‘sources also made no mention of Iran’s existing stockpileofmorethan400kg (900 pounds) of near-weapons-grade uranium. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,Trump’sallyagainst Iran, said on Wednesday the two leaders agreed that all enricheduraniummustberemovedfromIrantopreventit from developing a nuclear bomb.Tehrandenieswanting to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Guyana’s revenue share shrinks despite...

From page 11 OECDcountries.In2024,taxes on goods and services accountedfor49.2%oftotaltax revenues on average across the LAC region, driven largely by value-added tax (VAT, 28.9% of revenues). Taxes on income and profits generated29.1%oftotalrevenues(17.4%fromcorporate incometaxand9.6%frompersonal income taxes) and social security contributions accountedfor15.9%.

Lookingfurtherback,the average tax-to-GDP ratio for the LAC region rose by 1.5 p.p. between 2014 and 2024, largely due to increases in revenues fromVATand from taxes on income and profits. Overthisperiod,taxrevenues rose as a share of GDP in 21 LAC countries and declined in 7. Tax revenues per capita increased in all countries, more than doubling in the DominicanRepublic,NicaraguaandGuyanainPPPterms.

The difference between theLACaveragetax-to-GDP ratio and the average for OECDcountrieshasnarrowed only slightly over the past decade.

TheOECDaveragetax-toGDPratioroseby1.2p.p.between 2014 and 2024, reducing the gap with the LAC averageto12.3p.p.in2024. The report shows how fiscal revenues in some of the largest economiesintheLACregion are significantly affected by fluctuations in commodity prices.

Amid strong volatility in oil and gas markets, average hydrocarbon revenues amongmajorproducersfellto 3.1%ofGDPin2024from4.1% ofGDPin2023.Decreasesin Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago drove the overall decline,whichwaspartlyoffset by higher oil revenues in Guyana. Meanwhile, revenues from mining fell from 0.55% of GDP in 2023 to

0.47%ofGDPin2024,largely duetoasharpdropintaxrevenuesinColombia. In 2025, oil and gas revenues are projected to have fallen to 3.0% of GDP due to a sharp decline in hydrocarbonprices,whileminingrevenues are estimated to have risen to 0.63% of GDP, supported by exceptional increases in the price of gold, silver and, to a lesser extent, copper Revenue Statistics in LatinAmericaandtheCaribbean 2026 is a joint publication by the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations(CIAT),theInter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for LatinAmericaandtheCaribbean (UN-ECLAC), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)CentreforTax Policy and Administration andDevelopmentCentre.

An Iranian woman walks next to a mural on a street in Tehran,

th High Court to rule 18 June on compensation case by parents of Mahdia dorm. fire victims

The High Court has set June 18, 2026 to hand down its ruling on whetherthelawsuitchallengingthe compensation received by the parents of 11 children from Micobie and Chenapou, who died in the Madhia dormitory fire, has validity

The guardians are seeking ordinary damages of over $200 million for each of the deceased children, in addition to aggravated and exemplary damages, which total more than $400 million per child. The damages sought are intended to compensate for the emotional distress caused to the families, as well as to deter future actsofnegligencebytheState.

The lawsuit, filed in the High Court by their attorney, Darren Wade,arguedthattheStatefailedto fulfil its legal and moral duty to ensurethesafetyandwell-beingof the girls under its care. The legal action outlines several constitutional breaches, including the confinement of the girls in a locked and grilled dormitory that hindered their ability to escape during the fire, ultimately leading totheirdeaths.

Wade’s application asserts that the State of Guyana’s failure to implement necessary fire safety measures, such as proper ventilation, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and escape routes, amounted to a severe breach of its duty of care. The case also claims thatthelockeddoorsandwindows, which were grilled and padlocked from the inside, constituted a violation of the girls’fundamental

human rights, including their right to freedom of movement and their righttolife.

According to the claim, the State’s negligence in failing to address fire safety concerns, despitepriorwarningsfromthefire service, directly contributed to the loss of life. The claim further emphasises that the tragic incident was entirely preventable had the State taken appropriate steps to ensurepropersafetyprotocolswere inplace.

The lawsuit also brings into question the actions of the government following the fire, particularly the meeting held on July3,2023,withAttorneyGeneral AnilNandlallSC.

During this meeting, family members of the deceased were reportedly pressured to sign an agreement without independent legaladvice.Theguardiansalleged

thattheagreementproposedasum of$5millionperchild,afigurethey argue is grossly inadequate for the immense loss and suffering Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts thattheState’sactionsamounttoa violationoftheconstitutionalrights of the deceased children under Articles 138, 139, 141, 148, and 149D of the Constitution of Guyana. The guardians argue that theconfinementofthegirlsinsuch conditions not only breached their right to life but also amounted to cruelanddegradingpunishment,in direct violation of their human dignity

On Wednesday, oral

submissionsonwhetherthelawsuit challenging the validity of 2023 landresourceagreementsshouldbe struckoutorbeallowedtoproceed toafulltrialweresubmittedbefore Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh. At the heart of the dispute is a

representing the Indigenous applicants, and King’s Counsel DharshanRamdhani,appearingfor the State, over the definition of “

constitutionalandcommerciallaw

TheState’sapplicationtostrike out the case rests on the argument that the applicants have failed to establish a viable legal challenge. Ramdhani contended that the law of contract acknowledges that parties often bargain under stress.

Citingthe1975LloydsBankLtdv Bundycase,thedefensearguedthat the absence of independent legal counsel does not automatically void an agreement Ramdhani

remindedthatfundsweredisbursed in September 2023 and the applicants waited until April 2025 to file proceedings. He argued that this delay and the acceptance of benefits effectively ratified the contract.

The defense maintained that becausethepressureappliedtothe parents to sign the contract with urgency was “legitimate commercial pressure,” there is no need for a substantive defense, as thecaselacksaconstitutionalbasis tomoveforward.

However, Wade who is representing the Indigenous communities argued that the State cannot treat agreements with Indigenous peoples as mere “commercial transactions for children ” He emphasized the unique vulnerabilities faced by those living in the interior where resources and legal access are

limited.

Wade submitted that the agreements infringe upon the protection of religion and the “traditionalguarantees”affordedto Indigenous people under the Constitution.Hereferencedclaims that individuals felt forced to sign documents they had initially rejected, calling the process an affronttodemocraticoperations.

Theattorneyremindedthecourt that the Constitution provides a “high tolerance” and special protections for Indigenous rights that override standard commercial law principles. It is important to note that the aforementioned submissions were not initially presentedtothecourt.

ThiswashighlightedbyJustice Singh, who while Wade was pleading his case, said “Where in yourpleadingisitstated?” Wade then suggested that the parentsdidnothaveenoughtimeto process their grief as the meeting with the Attorney General happened “a few days after” the fire However, Justice Singh, lookingatthefacts,disagreedwith him.

“Thechildrenlosttheirliveson nd May 22 [and] in the morning on July 3rd a meeting was held,” JusticeSinghstated.

Wadetoldthecourtthatthecase isimportantandhasthepossibility ofbeinglitigatedallthewaytothe Caribbean Court of Justice. He argued that the formation of internationallawandhumanrights theory must be applied to how the “deceased” rights of these communitiesaretreated.

Henry boys murder trial opens in Berbice High Court

A 12-member jury was empaneled on Wednesday at the Berbice High Court in New Amsterdam, to serve in the trial of two men accused of the 2020 murder of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry Justice Simone MorrisRamlallispresidingoverthehighprofilecase.

The suspects, Vinood Gopaul 35,andAnilSanchara39,arebeing represented by attorney Dexter Todd.

Thetwohavebeenchargedwith twocountsofmurder,oneeachfor the two young men. The accused, during their virtual appearance, pleaded not guilty to the charge whentheywerereadtothem.

Accordingtodetailsofthecase, between September 5 and 6, 2020, the two suspects murdered the two WestCoastBerbicecousins.

Theprosecution,ledbyMarisa Edwards, says some 44 witnesses areexpectedtoappearforthemajor trial Witnesses include police officers, relatives of the victims, andapathologist.

The butchered bodies of Joel 19, and Isaiah 16, were discovered

at a backdam in Cotton Tree, West CoastBerbice,adayaftertheywent missing. Sancharra, called ‘Dan Pole’ and ‘Rasta’, of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice; and Gopaul, called ‘Magga’, of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, along with a 20-year-old Akash Singh were all arrestedandremandedtoprison.

Back in August, 2021, Magistrate Peter Hugh had discontinued the duo’s murder charge for Joel Henry on the basis

of absent admissible evidence Thereafter, the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP)renewedajoint murder charge of both cousins against the two, maintaining that there was enough evidence to proceed.

Massiveoutpouringofgriefand anationwidecallforjusticemarked what is now etched in Guyana’s history as a national tragedy In West Berbice, communities stood in solidarity with the bereaved families,respondingtothechilling

murders with violent protests that are still regarded as among the fiercestepisodesofsocialunrestin thecountry

The matter continues on Thursday, with both the prosecution and the defence expectedtopresenttheirevidence.

Attorney Darren Wade

Attorney Dharshan Ramdhani

Murdered: Cousins Joel (right) and Isaiah Henry

Anil Sanchara, accused of murder

Vinood Gopaul, accused of murder

U.S. fires on Iranian oil tanker as Trump pressures Tehran for deal to end war

(AP)—TheU.S.militaryfired onanIranianoiltankerWednesday as President DonaldTrump sought to pressure Tehran into reaching a deal to end the war The Islamic Republic said it was reviewing the latestAmericanproposals.

Afighterjetshotouttherudder ofthetankerintheGulfofOmanas it tried to breach the American blockade of Iran’s ports, U S Central Command said in a social mediapost.

TheattackoccurredasIranand theU.S.areofficiallyinaceasefire. Trump threatened Tehran with a new wave of bombing if a deal is not reached that includes opening thecriticalStraitofHormuz.

Trump posted on social media thatthetwo-monthwarcouldsoon end and that oil and natural gas shipmentsdisruptedbytheconflict could restart. But he said that depends on Iran accepting a reported agreement that the presidentdidnotdetail.

“If they don’t agree, the bombingstarts,”Trumpwrote.

Israel hits Beirut for first time sincelastmonth’sceasefire

Meanwhile, Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the firsttimesinceaceasefirebetween Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group was announced April 17. Fighting has continued since then in southern Lebanon.

The last strikes in Beirut were onApril8,whenaseriesofmassive Israeliattackskilledmorethan350 people.Morethan2,500havedied in Lebanon since fighting began March 2, two days after Israel and theU.S.launchedthewaronIran.

An Iranian tugboat floats in the foreground as cargo ships sit at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday’s strike, which came without warning, targeted a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. Hezbollah did not immediatelycomment.

TrumpsuggestsU.S.might forceadealwithTehran

TrumpinsistedWednesdaythat Iranian officials want to end the war

“We’redealingwithpeoplethat wanttomakeadealverymuch,and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,”thepresidentsaid.

Hesuggested,bothattheWhite Houseandonsocialmedia,thatthe U.S. could ultimately force a settlement.

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts,” Trump said on socialmedia,“anditwillbe,sadly, atamuchhigherlevelandintensity thanitwasbefore.”

The White House believes it is near an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war, according to reporting by Axios. There is no deal yet, but provisionsincludeamoratoriumon Iranianuraniumenrichment,lifting of U.S. sanctions, distribution of frozen Iranian funds and opening thestraitforships.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions aboutthepossibleagreement.

A spokesman for the Iranian ForeignMinistry,EsmaeilBaghaei, told state TV that Tehran had “strongly rejected” U.S. proposals reported by Axios, but that it was still examining the latest proposed agreement.

A shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Tehran has largely held since it began April 8. Pakistan hosted in-person talks last month betweenthetwocountries,butthey

failedtoreachanagreement.

Trump suspended short-lived efforttoforceopensafepassage

Trump sought to increase pressureonTehranthedayafterhe suspendedashort-livedU.S.effort to force open a safe passage for commercial ships through the strait. The waterway was a vital passage for oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum productsbeforethewar

Only two American-flagged merchant ships are known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route after it opened Monday The U.S.militarysaiditsanksixIranian small boats threatening civilian ships.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries, including major powers such as China.

China’s foreign minister called for a comprehensive ceasefire Wednesday after meeting in BeijingwithIran’stopenvoy Wang Yi said his country was “deeply distressed” by the conflict, which began Feb. 28, when the U.S. and IsraellaunchedstrikesagainstIran.

China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open thestrait.

Trump is scheduled to attend a high-profilesummitonMay14and 15 with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump was the last U.S. presidenttovisitChinain2017.

“ We b e l i e v e t h a t a

comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable,” Wangsaidinavideoofthemeeting.

The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict “has not only causedseriouslossestotheIranian people,butalsohadasevereimpact onregionalandglobalpeace.”

Araghchi told Iranian state TV that his visit included discussions of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions imposedonTehran.

Trump has demanded a major rollback of Tehran’s disputed nuclearprogram.

A statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website said China values Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons while affirming its “legitimate right to the peaceful useofnuclearenergy”

Shippersaysstraitshutdown costing$60Mperweek

Hundreds of merchant ships remain bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to reach the open sea without passing through the Strait ofHormuz.

Acargocontainershipoperated by the CMA CGM Group was damaged, and multiple crew members were wounded when it came under attack while transiting the strait Tuesday, the French shipping company said. It said the injured crew members were taken off the ship and received medical treatment.

Oilpricesandshippingwillnot likelyreturntonormaluntiltherisk of attacks in the strait has receded, said Kaho Yu, head of energy and resources at risk intelligence companyVeriskMaplecroft.

‘ICJ ruling will not change our position

Frompage14

cannot be submitted to third party dispute resolution mechanisms. He stressed that this stance is not circumstantial, nor is it strategic.

“It is structural. It is an integral part of its international conduct, its domestic legal system, and its conception of how its mostessentialinterestsmust be protected. That position has not changed. Venezuela has never consented to submittingthisdisputetothe jurisdiction of any court or arbitral tribunal, “Acosta explained.

According to him, Venezuela’sdistrustforthird party dispute resolutions is rooted in historic and adverseexperiencewhichhe

claims led to the loss of the valuable Essequibo region. The UN representative for Venezuelatoldthecourtthat theactwasalsogroundedin the British Empire need to justify its territorial greed in thequestforgold. He stated, “Our territorial rights over Guyana Essequiba were systematicallyerodedduring the 19th century by the British Empire, which soughttoappropriatehalfof ourterritory.”

According to Acosta, despite attempts at direct, peaceful, diplomatic negotiations, the voracious British Empire, the largest empire in the world in the 19th century, could not satisfyitsowngreed. “It was only the

intervention of the United States of America in 1895 that forced the British to accept arbitration although Venezuela entrusted the fate of its territory to the supposed goodwill of the U n i t e d S t a t e s Unfortunately, the United States was not acting as a mediator to help Venezuela, but rather to impose its own will across the entire continent and to force the British Empire to recognise itasthenewpower.”

He said as a result, the fraudulent award was imposed by the two most powerful nations in the world “This marked the climax of the infamous gunboat diplomacy and the treaties imposed by force in Asia, Africa and Latin

America All of these experiences endured by our peoplehastaughtustostrive for peace, but always without expecting favours from large powers or miraculous results from rigged international arbitrations.”

Acosta continued, “This iswhatledtoourtraditionof not recognising the jurisdiction of arbitral tribunals or courts of any kind when it comes to matters relating to our territorial integrity This is why Venezuela does not acceptthejurisdictionofthe International Court of Justice, which was erroneously imposed in the 2020 judgment It respectfully rejects its jurisdiction to hear and

decideonthisdispute.”

In response to Guyana’s submission, the Venezuelan politiciansrefutedallegation thathiscountryhassoughtto s t y m i e G u y a n a ’ s development.

He highlighted the fact; Venezuela’s good faith and neighbourly spirit are clear in the joint development proposals that are extremely beneficial for Guyana in 2009.

“ F o r e x a m p l e , Venezuela and Guyana entered into rice for oil swap agreement, and that was renewed up until 2015 in that agreement, Venezuela purchased rice from Guyana at a price above market value, and it sold its oil at a price below market value Experts from

on...

Bank concluded that for Guyana, the cost of its oil imports had gone down, as had its t o t a l p u b l i c d e b t considerably. That was thanks to the generous long term financing terms offered by the Petrocaribe agreement ” “Venezuela has never beenanobstacletoGuyana’s development, as has been claimed in this very chamber On the contrary, Guyana has benefited from Venezuela’s solidarity policies, which have also been offered to other countries in the Caribbean region Venezuela can simplynotbeaccusedofnot beingagoodneighbour,”the politicianstated.

Guyana could have saved US$195M from powership deal if generators were purchased -Patterson

Guyana could have met its electricity demands and saved US$195M without renting the two Karpowership vessels had the government purchased generators instead, former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson has said

Patterson onWednesday during an interview with Kaieteur News referencedcommentsmadebyHead of the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) Executive Management KeshNandlallontherenewalofthe powerships’contractsinlightofthe delayedgas-to-energyproject

On March 29, Kaieteur News reportedthatGuyanaissettoextend its contract with Karpowership, the Turkishcompanywhichthecountry isrentingtwopowershipsfromata daily charge of approximately US$235,000 given the extended delayoftheWalesGasProject

NandlalltoldKaieteurNewsthat thecontracthastoberenewedorthe country will face more power

outages. He disclosed that the contract for the first powership expires in May. “Yes, we are planning to renew. If we don’t, you would get blackout,” he told Kaieteur News noting that the cost being paid by Guyana is likely to remainunchanged

“Wewerenegotiatingthatatthe moment but it’s likely to be the same,”hestated

In response, the former government minister said that the announcementbyNandlallreeksof “incompetenceandcorruption,both the hallmark of this PPP government” He reminded that it wasonlyfouryearsafterreturningto officethatthecurrentadministration was“forcedtoenterintothisshady agreementbecauseoftheircomplete mismanagement of the power sector”

Patterson said that the government has placed all its eggs into one basket when it decided to undertake the Wales gas-to-shore

project Heremindedthattheproject was undertaken with no feasibility study and that the contract was awarded to a company that has no trackrecordinundertakingaproject withthiscomplexity.

“Since 2024, the 36MW power ship would have costed the Guyanese taxpayers more than G$28B (US$131M) in rental fees, fuel and transportation, the larger 75MWpowerbargecomeswiththe even heavier costs for two years rentalofG$636B(US$295M)–all costs which were avoidable The G$91Bwouldhavebeenmorethan enough to give every Guyanese an additional $100K cash grant,” PattersontoldKaieteurNews.

He continued: “Note that to procure new 120MW dual fueled generators, with 20 lifespans (similar to the 465MW generators purchasedbyAPNU+AFCin2019) would be approximately US$130M – this would have been a more prudent approach, these new

generators would have been permanently available to GPL, additionally, as is now appearing more likely, that the Wales Gas to Shore project fails to deliver it projectedoutputpower,theinputof such a failure would be reduced,” Pattersonsaid.

Further, the former government ministernotedPresidentIrfaanAli’s promisethat“headswillroll”atGPL due to the company’s poor performance Despite the president’s utterances no official of thecompanyhasbeenreprimanded and the entire management team remains firmly in place, while the country continues to be plagued by dailyboutsofblackouts

The Wales Gas Project, which was initially scheduled for completionin2024,hasseenseveral delays Through this project, the

government has promised that electricitycostwouldbeslashedby 50 per cent for citizens It is important to note that though the project is expected to begin in the lastquarterof2026,governmenthas saiditwillnotgenerateelectricityat fullcapacityuntilmid-2027

Young learners at the Mainstay Lake Learning Pod engaging with tablets

APNUsaysrepeatedbailoutsshow riceindustryfailingunderGovt.

The A Partnership for NationalUnity(APNU)said the government’s repeated financialinterventionsinthe rice sector are not signs of progress, but evidence of deeper failures in the managementoftheindustry

In a recent statement

MODECrenewssupportfor STEMGuyanaLearningPodsproject

Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Company Inc. (MODEC) has renewed its backing of STEMGuyana’s Learning Pods initiative for the second year inarow,pledgingasumofmorethan$3.5M. The Learning Pods programme, founded and managed by STEMGuyana, provides after-school education in Mathematics, Science,English,andTechnologytochildren acrosslearningcentresnationwide.

In 2025, MODEC’s sponsorship of two Learning Pods in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) saw a total of 59 students engaged, with more than half being girls.A press release from STEMGuyana said overall, the participating students saw a measurable improvement in their academic performanceinMathematicsandEnglish. ItsaidMODEC’srecommitmentensures that students in the Mainstay Lake Learning Pod (Region Two) and the Paramakatoi LearningPod(RegionEight)willcontinueto access high-quality learning resources, mentorship, and hands-on experience in STEMfields.

SpeakingonbehalfofMODEC,Country Manager Rafael Fumis shared: “Our continued investment in the Learning Pods initiative reflects MODEC’s commitment to creating lasting value in the communities where we operate. As a company built on long-term partnerships and responsible operations, we recognise that education is fundamentaltosustainabledevelopment.”

Fumis continued: “By supporting students in hinterland communities, we are not only helping to bridge access gaps but investing in the future workforce, strengtheningcommunities,andcontributing totheresilienceandgrowthofGuyana.This initiative embodies our belief that progress goes beyond our offshore operations; it is measured by the positive, enduring impact wecreateonshoreaswell.”

Executive Director of STEMGuyana Dr KarenAbramssaidtheorganisationisdeeply gratefultoMODECforitscontinuedsupport.

“Thiskindofsustainedcommitmentiswhat transforms a programme into a movement, and we look forward to achieving even greatermilestonestogetherin2026.”

responding to the government’s latest cash handout to rice farmers, A P N U s a i d t h e administration continues to present the payouts as proof of good governance and concern for rice farmers. However, the opposition contends that the constant need for relief highlights longstanding unresolved problemswithinthesector

“The fact that rice farmers have to be rescued, season after season, crop after crop, and year after year,isnotproofofsuccess. It is in itself proof that the PPP/C Government has failed to properly manage, strengthen and enhance the rice industry When it rains and flooding occurs, it is a cash grant. When prices are notsatisfactory,itisabailout paid to the millers. When crops and markets are affected,itisacashtransfer When the yield is low, it is another cash transfer The government keeps plugging monies into an affected industry,butthegovernment never fixes the problems,” APNUstated.

The party argued that everymajorchallengefacing rice farmers has been met with temporary financial

assistance rather than structuralsolutions.

According to the opposition, while billions continue to be injected into the industry, the core issues affecting rice production, pricing, drainage, irrigation, and market stability remain unresolved.

According to APNU, drainage and irrigation and pest and disease, along with soil nutrient deficiencies are yet to be addressed. The party said farm to market roadsalsohavetobefixed.

The coalition said while the government continues playing politics, the rice industryisdecliningrapidly

“Now this is where the matter becomes even more troubling…ItisasifthePPP wants to keep rice farmers struggling so that they remaindependentongrants, subsidies and handouts instead of allowing the rice industry to become strong againandstandonitsown,” APNUsaid.

AccordingtotheAPNU, farmers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and vulnerable citizens must receive help when hardship occurs However, it said when the government identifies certain groups or sectorsforfinancialsupport, Guyanesehavearighttoask whether there will be fair distribution, whether there will be transparency, and whether the rich will get morethanthepoor

“Cash support must help people, help industries and

help the non-oil economy It must not become another political tool to hide government’s failure while the real problems remain unfixed The APNU therefore warns against a continuation of this failed PPP approach of constantly plugging monies into strugglingsectorsratherthan gettingtotherootcausesand fixing the problems,” the partysaid.

Last week, President Irfaan Ali announced a $3 billion support package for ricefarmersacrossGuyana. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), he said farmers who have “above 50 acres will get $10,000 (and) below 50 acres $15,000 per acre.That is more than $4B in injection to support our ricefarmers ” Addressing the farmers at the meeting held at the ACCC, the president said that government has been making huge investments in the rice industry since its return to office in 2020, working to ensure that drainage and irrigation is improved and investing in researchanddevelopmentto improveyields.

Hesaidoverthenextfive years, there are plans to address the farm-to-market roads, and critical dams, which will allow farmers to continue their work under the different weather conditionsandpatterns.

Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

Grove tackle Agricola; Herstelling... KissoonelectedGCUSApresident

Frompage24 hope to get support from Leroy Evans, Kevin Scott, and Seith Adams, among others.

Herstelling started their campaign on a high when

they blanked Lower Soesdyke2-0butwasjolted in their next game by Swan 1-4 before rebounding to upstageTimehrionTuesday night 4-0 via kicks from the penalty mark after a 0-0 stalemate in regulation and extra time, will fancy their

chances of booking a place inthefinal. They have been putting in the work and have been seeing positive results. They’ll now have to step it up another notch in order to beinthefinalandwillturnto their Captain Jonathan, Malcolm Hendricks, Johenni Mendoza, Candel Hazel, Jose Vasquez, Jesus Perez, Eleaezer Vandez and Andri Gomez to deliver anotherwinandplaceinthe championship match. Fans

are encouraged to come out and support their teams as admissionisfree. Organiser, Sports Extra, isexpressinggratitudetothe Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Housing, National Sports Commission, Bounty Farm Ltd., Fitness Express, Star Rentals, Trophy Stall, NAMILCO and Republic Bank for their partnership which has made this tournamentpossible.

Ma t t h e w

Kissoon was elected new presidentoftheGeorgetown CricketUmpiresandScorers Association(GCUSA).

Thursday May 07, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Have you felt somewhat lost forthepastfewdays?Thefog maylifttodayandenableyou to situate yourself at last. You'reprobablyeagertosettle a question that has nagged at you and interfered with your judgment.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You may have been feeling somewhat disillusioned Perhapsyoulostsightofyour goals or misplaced your faith in yourself. You'll feel some reliefbeginningtoday

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Youmightbetemptedtosettle certain matters by radical means. The visionary part of you means you're painfully aware of the world's wrongs. You see no reason not to take actiontocorrectthem.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Today will be fairly calm in terms of outside events, but yourinnerworldislikelytobe inarushofactivity Todayyou wish you could find the solution to your heartaches andyourcareerpredicaments.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You have a lot of thinking to do about your professional goals, Leo.You'll go over the elements to see if there isn't some way to approach things differently Are there new pathsyoucouldtryorwaysto improvethings?

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Youjustcan'tdoeverythingat once, Virgo. How do you expect to reduce your stress and recuperate while at the same time continue to be a superstar performer in every areaofyourlife?

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Thisisagoodmomenttoadapt yourlogicandreasontoreality. Ifyoudon't,you'regoingtorun intosomeintellectualproblems. Everyone knows that you find new ideas plentiful, but unless youhaveplanstobeanovelist, linkyourthinkingtoreality

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

It's going to be a little difficult talking to you today, Scorpio. You, who can be easily influenced by others, will be listening to and criticizing everythingthatpeoplesay

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Haveyoubeenreviewingyour family history lately, Sagittarius?Ofspecialinterest is your cultural background. What educational, social, and religious environment were youborninto?

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

It's time to elevate your sense of self, Capricorn. You're just asgoodasanyoneelse,sowhy don't you believe it? The problem is that you're very sensitiveabouthavinganego.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Today your intellectual and expressive abilities should receive a boost from the planets.It'sanexcellenttimeto organize your thoughts about presenting a project to a possible collaborator, engage intrade,orwrite.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Overall, the forecast for today is fairly good. The aspects seem to favor figuring out the meaningofallthat'stranspired overthepastseveralweeks.It's anopportunitytotakealookat the distance you've covered movingtowardyourgoals.

TheGCUSAhostedtheir elections on April 30 at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), after Kissoon, who is also a renowned regional cricket commentator; was electedhead.

Senior umpire Ryan Banwarie was named Vicepresident, with Dr Neibert Blair serving as Treasurer A s s i s t a n t

Secretary/Treasurer position willbeheldbyJavidPersaud while Public Relations Officer is Mohamad Nassir Other committee members to serve include Nadir Baksh, Carlo Douglas, Karen Weatherspoon and RonoleBourne.

New GCUSA president Matthew Kissoon (yellow shirt) flanked by his new executive committee members.

GBF Independence 3x3 Championship set to ignite Diamond Jubilee celebrations

…tournament set for May 17 at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

As G u y a n a continues its

month-long celebrationleadinguptothe nation’s Diamond Jubilee Independence anniversary, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will stage the

highly anticipated

Independence 3x3 ChampionshiponMay17at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The one-day tournament will feature 10 of the country’s top teams battling for supremacy and a lucrative winner’s purse of $300,000, in what is expected to be one of the marquee sporting events on theMinistry’sIndependence calendar

Thechampionshipforms part of a wider series of sporting activities being hosted throughout May as Guyana celebrates 60 years asanindependentnation.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has thrown its full support behind the tournament, covering all

prizemoniesfortheevent.

The second-place team willreceive$200,000,while the third-place finisher will p o c k e t $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 .

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) will earn a cashprizeof$25,000. The competition will showcase talent from across the country, with four Linden-b

Amelia’sWardJets,Retrieve Raiders, Victory Valley RoyalsandBlock22Flames set to compete against Georgetown sides Ravens, Colts, Pacesetters and Eagles.

Rounding out the field areacombinedBerbiceteam and Guyana’s National U23 team, both expected to add further intrigue and competitiveness to the

MCYS/East Bank Inter Village Football

tournament.

According to the tournament format, the 10 teams will be divided into twogroups,withthetoptwo teams from each pool advancingtothesemi-finals. The winners of those encounters will then move on to the championship game, while third place will be determined based on standings accumulated on

theFIBA3x3platform.

B e y o n d t h e Independencefestivities,the tournament also carries significant importance for the GBF’s long-term internationalambitions.

Thefederationviewsthe championship as a critical opportunity to fine-tune preparations for Guyana’s

Grove tackle Agricola; Herstelling battle Kuru Kururu in semis tonight

The battle lines have been drawn and it’s all to playforwhenthesemifinals of the inaugural MCYS / East Bank Inter Village Football Tournament are contested tonight, Thursday, attheEcclesEEGround. Organised by Sports Extra, this tournament has rekindled the competitive flameoffootballontheEast Bankwiththefinalfournow in the mix having

villages. Grove, led by their Captain Domini Garnett, whohasscoredinallthreeof their matches so far and has six(6)goals,themostbyany player,willputallontheline

when they face Agricola in today’sfirstsemi.

Grove has been clinical in their matches to date, defeating Circuitville (7-2), Upper Soesdyke (2-0), and Kaneville (3-0) and will be aiming to maintain this record against Agricola which did not have such an easytimereachingthisstage.

The Agricola lads suffered a 1-3 loss in their opening match at the hands of Kuru Kururu but reboundedtobeatMochaby a similar scoreline before moving on to win an epic clash against Swan in their quarterfinal, 5-3 in extra time.

Thetaskathandforboth villages would be victory which is the only pathway forward.Garnettwilldepend on the Padmore siblings, Kevin Jr and Devon,

national teams ahead of upcomingappearancesatthe Central American and Caribbean Games and the CommonwealthGames. Guyanaissettomakeits debut in 3x3 basketball at bothevents,markinganother major milestone in the continued development of thesportlocally

Rayfield Hilliman, Akeem Jarvis, and Jamal Cordis to secure a place in Saturday’s final.

Agricola’s charge for a similar result will center around the likes of Shemar Sampson, Demanie Cort, Jamal Fiffe, Solomon Austin,SamuelGarnett,and DennisAlexander who have all registered goals for their village.

Thursday night feature game will see Kuru Kururu, boasting a record three wins in as many matches coming

up against a determined Herstelling side The Soesdyke Linden Highway based Kuru Kururu team havewonagainstsomeofthe more seasoned villages in Agricola, Mocha (2-1), and UpperSoesdykebyasimilar score.

They’ll want to preserve this run and will depend on their most experienced player and leading scorer, Mervin‘Munro’Josephwho has scored a goal in each of theirwinssofar Hewill Continued on page 23

Shelroy Thomas in action for Guyana at the Caribbean Clash 3x3 Lite Quest in Suriname.

Guyana’s Travis Belgrave attacks the basket during the Caribbean Clash Lite Quest in Suriname.

Herstelling’s scorers from the penalty mark, Malcolm Hendricks (right), Candel Hazel, Jose Vasquez and Andri Gomez.

Devon Padmore (right) and Domini Garnett – Grove

Wallace questions players downtime ahead of grueling series next month

ByCliftonRoss

Ex-West Indies opener Philo Wallace questioned why players are being afforded so much rest ahead of a busy international schedule in just a month’s time, duringhisrecentappearanceonthe Mason and Guest show this past Tuesday During another weekly episode hosted by Bajan Journalist Andrew Mason, Wallace, who in recent times highlighted a number of good areas to which the CWI maystillorcouldhavedonebetter asitrelatestothecurrentmodeland direction of cricket at the regional and international levels, has raised equally good concerns as to why players have not been more active aheadofnextmonth’sinternational homeseries.

“Allwe’rehearingisthatwe’re are resting players, Shamar Joseph is dealing with an issue, so that’s moredowntime.WehaveSriLanka on our doorsteps but yet our main playersaregivendowntime.”

Theformerbatsmansaidthatit iscrucialforkeyplayerstohaveas much playing time as possible ahead of the forthcoming series; which is expected to be some stiff competition for the Caribbean side forthefirsttime.

Windies will host the Sri Lankans starting June 3rd with 3 ODI’s followed by 3 T20Is, and 2 Test matches in Antigua, mapping out an extensive road filled with actiontoKickstartthesummer

“We play six matches in

Jamaica against Sri Lanka, then theycomedowntoAntiguafortwo Testmatches.So,it’salotofcricket andtheguys’musclesneedtowork intothat,“saidWallace.

He maintained that while the Windies system affords a good strengthandconditioningstructure

to help keep players maintaining their peak playing shape, it is still notenoughtohelponegetintothe rightmatch-readyshape.

“All the strength and conditioning will help to condition them, but the actual condition will come from playing time,” Wallace stated; as using tournament’s like the ongoing West Indies 4-Day Championships is an excellent means of players getting back to peak playing shape ahead of any internationalassignment.

Meanwhile, CWI Director Miles Bascombe during the same programme,gavesomeinsightinto preparations revolving around a few of the West Indies’key pieces whoarebeingpreppedaheadofthe seriesahead.

“Shai Hope is the only player not to feature so far Alzarri (Joseph)Ithinkreturnedattheend of the first round, so we will work with him and ensure he is ready ahead of the international series,” the CWI Director of Cricket pointedout.

The Director believed that havingallthekeyelementsattheir disposalbutingreatshapeisoneof thekeyendeavorsofCWIwithjust weeks basically left until the Sri

The third and final round

of the 2026 West Indies 4-Day Championship delivered drama, dominant batting and a late twist in the tale as Barbados Pride stormed into the playoffs at Jamaica Scorpions’ expense, while Guyana Harpy Eaglesconfirmedtheirplaceinthe final with another commanding performance.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, theGuyanaHarpyEagleswrapped upa3-0bilateralseriessweepover theWindwardsVolcanoes to finish thegroupstageon63.8points,well clearofthechasingpack. Their batting was anchored by opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who made a patient 69 in the first innings before producing an unbeaten 117 off 297 balls in the second, to lift his side from a precarious129forsixto299allout.

With the Volcanoes setting a target of 318 to win, Gudakesh Motie was Guyana’s standout bowler with four wickets in each innings Veerasammy Permaul provided able support with three

scalps.

Despite64fromAlickAthanaze and a 74-run fourth wicket stand with Johann Jeremiah, the Volcanoeswerebowledoutfor225, 93runsshortofthetarget.Guyana

improvementeveninvictory

“The bowlers have been brilliant for us throughout this three-matchseries.Towinfour-day games you need 20 wickets. They didthatandthatwasbrilliantforus. Aconcernwouldbeourbatting.We have some stuff to iron out as a batting group and once we get that right, hopefully we can have a complete performance in both gamestocome,”Imlachsaid.

Meanwhile, Barbados Pride’s innings-and-11-runs victory at Sabina Park inside three days was the headline result of the round even as defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles completed a 93-runvictoryovertheWindwards Volcanoestofinishtopofthetable andwithaberthinthefinal.

TrinidadandTobagoRedForce

were denied a winning finish by a remarkable batting rearguard from a plucky Leeward Islands Hurricanes side and settled for a draw

Barbados recovered from an earlier deficit in the series and produced a commanding all-round performanceatSabinaParktolevel their bilateral series against JamaicaScorpionsatoneapieceto advancetotheplayoffroundofthe WestIndiesChampionship.

Takingfirststrikewiththebat, the Pride amassed an imposing first-innings total of 439, built largely on 94 from Jonathan Drakes and an attacking 84 from Roston Chase, they continued their trend of formidable batting withtheirfourthconsecutivescore above300

Therealdamagecamewiththe ball as spinners Chase and Joshua Bishop combined to dismantle Jamaica for just 142 in their first innings. With a massive 297-run lead,Barbadosenforcedthefollowon and the Scorpions never recovered.

Lankanskirmishissettobowloff.

“Remember what we are lookingatisensuringthatwehave all the players for the start of the international home series and Shai Hope has a huge role to play in that.”Bascombealsoclearedtheair on former West Indies player and HeadCoachOttisGibson,whohas anewrolewithinCWIasitrelates to players development while actingassomewhatofatalentscout forinternationalprospects.

“Ravi Rampaul is the bowling coach who is with the team so he willgoontourandhewillsupport camps and so on. But Ottis’role is tosupportcampsandworkwiththe next line of players who did not make the squad or identify players who have potential to play international cricket,” Bascombe ended.

- Praises bowling unit for brilliant job thus far

Although Jamaica improved to 286inthesecondinnings,Bishop’s five-wicket haul, which contributed to his overall match figuresof9for103,underlinedwhy captain Kraigg Brathwaite describedthe25-year-oldBishop’s selection as strategic after his historically positive performances againstJamaica.

Theresultflippedthestandings between the two teams. Barbados moved to 42.2 points and Jamaica slipped to 34 after starting with a slenderadvantageof9.8points.

At the Antigua Recreation Ground, Red Force dominated proceedings but were ultimately denied. Captain Joshua Da Silva’s career-best 220 off 304 balls, featuring 20 fours and two sixes, lifted his side to 522 for nine declared.

AndersonPhillipwasrelentless with the ball, finishing with eight wicketsacrossthematch.Forcedto followonafterbeingdismissedfor 345, the Hurricanes mounted a stirringrescueact.

From160forfouratthestartof

thefinalday,KeacyCartycrafteda composed century, 147 off 212 balls while skipper Justin Greaves struck 122 off 178, adding 174 for the fifth wicket.An unbroken 112run stand between experienced campaigners Rahkeem Cornwall (66*) and Jahmar Hamilton (50) then slammed the door shut and securedanunlikelydraw

Da Silva was nonetheless upbeat, “This third game was a great one for me with my first double hundred. We saw a lot of goodthings.”

“AndersonPhilipgettingeight wickets on that pitch was a tremendous effort with the marathon spells that he bowled anditshowsthequalitythathehas and why he’s playing at the top level It was a fantastic game for the boys and we are looking forward to the next step,” said the skipper

The Eagles will play Windies Academy from Sunday in a somewhat of a precursor match, as they await the winner of the Pride/RedForceplay-offbattle.

Ottis Gibson

Miles Bascombe

Diamond, Bishop’s High cart off James “Uprising” Lewis Challenge Trophy

Diamond Secondary School and The Bishop’s High School captured separate titles when the James “Uprising” Lewis

Tapeball tournament concludedonTuesdayatthe National Park Tarmac DiamondsecuredtheSenior title, while Bishop’s High claimed the Second/Third Formerschampionship. James Lewis continues to play a vital role in providing opportunities for student cricketers through this much-needed schoolbased Tapeball competition.

The tournament once again showcased a high level of competitiveness, with several schools vying for championshiphonours.

The Senior final drew a large crowd, as Diamond Secondary faced Christ ChurchSecondary Diamond

Diamond Sec’defeated Christ Church to take ‘James Lewis’Challenge Trophy

emerged victorious by 11 runs to lift the James Lewis trophy Batting first, Diamondposted69-3intheir allotted overs, with Paul McTurk leading the way withaclassy32.

In response, Christ Church Secondary managed 58-4 before their overs expired. Despite the loss, Jarad Ramlalcaran showed resilience with a determined 28, earning the all-round performance award. Ravin Singh was named the competition’sMostValuable Player(MVP).

Meanwhile, in the

Second/Third Formers division, The Bishop’s High S c h o o l d e f e a t e d Westminster Secondary to secure the James Lewis Challenge Trophy Bishop’s High set a target of 49-1, thanks to a brisk 16 from AryanPersaud. Chasing50,Westminster struggled to build momentumandendedon223, falling 27 runs short. Persaud delivered an outstanding all-round performance, returning figures of 2-8, and was rewarded with both the Best Batsman and Best Bowler awards.

In brief remarks, James Lewis welcomed the growing commitment shown by players, noting that the competition was highly competitive, with matches keenly contested throughout He also expressed gratitude to the participatingschools

The next tournament for secondary school players will be the “One Guyana Independence Cup, ” sponsoredbytheMinistryof Culture, Youth and Sport, and scheduled for later this monthinMay2026.

C r a c k l i n g w i t h anticipation, the tempo remained high as the small crowd witnessed a

sensational hat-trick performance from Charles Chester, leading North Star FootballClubtoitsfirstwin of the tournament against Mother Land FC, who stumbled to their second consecutive defeat in the NALICO/NAFICO-GFA Senior Men’s Knockout Football tournament on Tuesday

Plaisance ground came alive as North Star Football Clubstampedtheirauthority with a commanding 4-1 thrashing over Georgetown rivalsMotherLandFCinthe openingclashoftheholidaydoubleheader North Star came out the

blocksfiring.ShaquanDeen lit the fuse early, striking in the8thminutewithastrong, well-balanced effort that eventually muscled its way into the back of the net. 1-0, andNorthStarlookedlocked in.ButMotherLandstrikers weren’t about to roll over Lonsdale George answered the call in the 24th minute, coolly slotting home the equalizer to bring things levelat1-1.

The game eventually shifted; the momentum increased favourably for a calculatedNorthStar From there, it was the Charles Chester show Just three minutes after the restart,Chesterpouncedona loose ball, surged forward, and unleashed a thunderbolt torestoreNorthStar’sleadin

the 27th. That goal cracked Mother Land’s defensive shape wide open, and Chester drove right through it. With slick movement and ruthless finishing, he carvedupthemidfieldtwice more to complete a clinical hat-trick, putting the result beyond doubt and sealing a 4-1 triumph. Mother Land’s frustration showed, with George picking up a yellow cardjustbeforethebreak.

Later in the evening, Vengy FC and Pele FC played out a gritty, nononsense 0-0 draw Chances were scarce, tackles were firm, and neither side could find that decisive spark, forcing them to settle for a pointapiece. Meanwhile, zooming

out, the tournament table is already heating up. Riddim Squad and Beacon FC are setting the pace as group leaders, both sitting pretty with maximum points from two matches in Groups One and Three. Eastveldt FC, boasting a heavy goal difference, are right in the mix alongside Campton FC in Group One, both on four points. And here’s the kicker, Eastveldt FC, Campton FC, Riddim Squad, Beacon FC, Vengy FC, and Pele FC are all still unbeaten heading into the next round, Pele FC yettoaffectawin.

In a recap of previous a c t i o n , S u n d a y ’s doubleheadersetthetonefor the week, with Eastveldt FC running riot in a 7-1

Beacon FC strikers hope to maintain seamless run in 2026 GFA Men’s Senior Football tournament.

demolition of Northern Rangers FC with Akeem Farley and Tyrone Khan leading the charge in a goal fest. Meanwhile, Ordis FC and Genesis FC battled to a stalemate in their second meetingofthecampaign.

With

The Bishop’s High School wins James Lewis’ Second/Third Formers School’s Tapeball title. School’

VNet to power ‘Track Point Time Out’ at One

Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast

TheCaribbean’smostlucrative Tapeball tournament is set for a tactical shake-up as VNet TechnologiesInc.partnerswithFL Sport to debut the ‘Track Point Time Out’ in its upcoming fourth edition.

Named after VNet’s flagship asset tracking and fleet management service, the feature will grant teams a 90-second strategic window at the conclusion oftheeighthoverineachinnings.

This high-stakes pause is designed to allow captains and coaches to recalibrate and finalise their blueprints for the final two overs, which often determine the outcome of the fast-paced T10 format.

Safraz Sheriffudeen, Chief Executive Officer of VNet Technologies, noted that the partnership feels like a homecoming as the company’s connection to the event dates back to the inaugural year, when they competed as the V-Net Vipers, reaching the final at the National Stadium,Providence,beforefalling toEcclesAll-Stars.

Sheriffudeenexpressedpridein

supporting the tournament’s evolution after witnessing its rapid growthnationwide.

TrackPoint is a state-of-the-art, easy-to-use asset-tracking and fleet-management service that gives you a user-friendly way to detect and monitor your vehicle’s locationandactivity

The system helps you identify ways to cut costs and improve response time, security, and customerservice.

Tournament director John Ramsingh welcomed the integration of the Track Point brand, suggesting that the timeout adds a sophisticated layer to the competition.

“This new feature will add a competitive touch to planning and execution,” Ramsingh said. “In a formatasrapidasT10,havingthat moment to breathe and strategise could be the difference between winning a national title and going homeearly.”

The stakes for the 2026 Blast have never been higher, with organisers announcing a significantly bolstered prize pool. In a move to reward consistency,

every team reaching the quarterfinalstageorbeyondisguaranteed acashpayout.

Financial incentives begin at $25,000 for losing quarter-finalists and rise to $500,000 for zonal winners. The ultimate prize at the National Finals stands at a staggering $2,000,000 for the champions, with the runners-up takinghome$1,000,000.

Beyond the domestic rewards, the four teams that qualify for the national finals will earn the distinction of representing Guyana at the upcoming Global T10 TapeballBlast.

Registration is scheduled to go livethisFriday,May8,andofficials are urging interested squads to act immediatelytosecureaspotinthe 80-team, straight-knockout competition.

TheentryfeeissetatG$35,000 perteam.

To ease the process, Singh clarified that teams do not need to submit their full player lists at the time of registration. Instead, a phasedapproachwillallowsquads to be finalised closer to their specificzonalstartdates.

Thetournamentisscheduledto bowloffontheweekendofAugust 8–9inBerbicewitha16-teamcap. TheactionwillshifttotheEast Bank/West Demerara and Essequibo zones before a brief hiatus to accommodate the CaribbeanPremierLeague(CPL).

Following the CPLconclusion, the tournament resumes in Georgetown and the East Coast,

culminating in the national grand finaleonOctober11.

For the first time, the final will be hosted at the brand-new Anna ReginaNationalStadiuminRegion Two.

The tournament MVP is set to receive $150,000 and a motorbike, while the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker will each walk away with$100,000andanewtelevision.

Saint Stanislaus College make clean sweep of Georgetown Janet & Cheddi Jagan School girls & boys Windball Cricket

The Winners with officials and some parents enjoy a photo op.

The National Sports Commission Ministry of Culture,Youth & Sport 11th editionJanet&CheddiJagan Windball Cricket champion trophy Georgetown zone organised by Sport OfficeA Munroe, at the National Gymnasium continues with the unstoppable Saint StanislausCollegemakinga clean sweet. In the Cheddi

Jagan boys final, it was yet another night of excitement as Saints Stanislaus College did not disappoint the support of their parents. Player of the Georgetown

tournament, Ishan Haricharan, single handedly took on last year 2nd place teamBrickdamSecondary SaintsStanislausCollege sent in Brickdam Secondary

to bat, they scored 80-1 off their allotted 5 overs, with Prosper Jacobus not out on 36, Jaden Ramraj 16, while NaitramSamadtook1-10.

SaintsStanislausCollege turn in the middle ended on 83-2 off 4 overs with Ishan Haricharan blasting an unbeaten71(6sx7),afterhe

wasputdownthreetimes. Dildhan Ganesh 1-6 and GarrenNewton1-20were thesuccessfulbowlers. St Stanislaus College teams now advance to the national eight where there willbebattlingforthegrand prize of Eight hundred thousand dollars among other incentives sponsored bytheNSCandMCYS. Brickdam Secondary Schoolhasonceagainhadto settle for the #2 spot like in 2025.

Tournament Director John Ramsingh (left) and CEO of VNet Technologies, Safraz Sheriffudeen.

(ASTP)

Ishan Haricharan and his parents. (ASTP)

GBF Independence 3x3 Championship set to ignite Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Nikkoloi Smith during the Caribbean Clash 3x3 Lite Quest, being guarded by Deylon Bovell.

Philo Wallace (right) during a coaching session.

Harpy Eagles Captain Tevin Imlach