Kaieteur News

largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

strikes

Gaza …two million people living through acute hunger, as no food, fuel, water allowed into Gaza

Mystery over final

US$7.3 billion audit

...VPsendsreporterstoVickram,Vickramsendsreportersto Gossai,Gossaisayscheckwebsite,websiteshowsoldreport

...backstroopsandGuyanese-Norton

‘I will release evidence showing -Mohamed clearance of the Lamborghini’ who facilitated and ordered VPJagdeoseesnoneed togiveAdriana’sfamily preliminaryautopsyreport …sayspolicealreadyoutlinedfindings

Azruddin Mohamed

Mystery over final report of ExxonM’s US$7.3 billion audit

...VP

sends

reporters to

Vickram, Vickram sends reporters to Gossai, Gossai says check website, website shows old report

Six months after the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) gave clearance for the final report of ExxonMobil's US$7 3B audit findings to be made

public, the document remainsamystery

In November, the Commissioner General of the Revenue Authority, Godfrey Statia, informed thispublicationthatthelocal

c o n s o r t i u m , V H E

Consulting, has been instructed to release the finalisedsecondauditforthe company's expenses, incurred between the period 2018to2020.Atthetime,the CommissionerGeneralsaid, “The final audit will be released within the week. I have already given the goaheadtoVHEforthemtodo so ”Subsequently, it was

reported that Natural ResourcesMinisterVickram Bharrat assured that the reportwouldbemadepublic thefollowingweek.

document is not the “final report” approved by the GRA for publication. This information was also brought to the attention of Gossai. Kaieteur News has been pursuing the final reportoftheaudit,following the observation that several key expenses were not includedintheinitialreport, whichispresentlyonline.

I just deal with policy issues like the law, like the Local Content Act, the new PSA.

I deal with the big framework type issues so pleasetrackthosedownwith them.”

When another reporter

Thispastweek,Kaieteur Newscontinueditseffortsto access the report Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked about the document at his Thursday press conference, but he b r u s h e d o f f t h i s responsibility He said, “I keep saying that these audit things and stuff, you got to track it down with the Ministry documents and stuff, I don't deal with the smallissues.

attempted to remind him of his earlier commitment to check on the release of the report, he instructed, “I'm sorry,Idon'twanttocutyou short,buttheauditbusiness, please go and call Vickram BharratorGRA.

I can't follow up on routinethings.”

Four weeks earlier, d u r i n g h i s m e d i a engagement at Freedom House, the Vice President told this newspaper that the document should have been r e l e a s e d a l r e a d y Furthermore,hesaid,“Iwill check why they have not

d o n e t h e s a m e ” Nevertheless, Kaieteur News followed the proverbial breadcrumbs as directed by the chief policymaker for the sector and enquired about the document with Minister Bharrat.

The subject minister explained that he was engaged with other responsibilities at the time andrequestedthattheSenior Petroleum Coordinator, Bobby Gossai, handle the enquiry

To this end, this newspaperreachedouttothe

S e n i o r P e t r o l e u m Coordinator, who promptly responded. He told this publication that the document was available online, but independent checks by KaieteurNewsprovedfutile. Gossaithensharedalinktoa copyofanauditreporttitled 'VHE's “Initial” Audit Report for the Stabroek Block Cost Recovery Audit –2018to2020'. It is important to note that this report was published by the GoG since lastyearApril.Moreover,as clearlystatedinthetitle,that

WhenthereportbyVHE wascomparedwiththeaudit conductedbyIHSMarkitfor theperiod1999-2017,itwas found that the document provided comprehensive data on significant costs, such as those for supply vessels, drill rigs, SURF, helicopter services, and waste management, while these details were not included in the audit report bythelocalconsortium. This raised concerns over the quality of the audit conducted, but the government made it clear thatthereportpublishedwas not the final document Notably, the initial audit report was completed and handed over to government sinceSeptember2023.

Venezuelans will be deported if caught participating in elections for Essequibo - Chief of Defence Staff

Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan, announced on Thursday that any Venezuelans livinginGuyanawhoparticipatein the Venezuelan government's planned elections for Guyana's Essequibo will be arrested and deported.

The Chief of Defence Staff madethisdisclosureduringamedia briefing at Base CampAyanganna, where he was addressing the current state of events at the Guyana-Venezuela border, where GDF troops were attacked during riverainpatrolsattheCuyuniRiver, RegionSeven.

Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan (center), alongside ranks of the GDF at the press conference on Thursday.

Responding to questions posed by media personnel on the subject matter, Brigadier Khan stated, “I would tell you as part of my visit along the border, I made an announcement that should any Guyanese participate in such an election, there will be implications for that person. This is almost like passive coup because you are voting in a foreign government to haveourterritory Sothatwouldbe a serious offence; any Guyanese participating in such election will be arrested and there will be implications.”

He continued, “Secondly, any VenezuelanslivinginGuyanawho participateinsuchelectionswillbe arrestedanddeported.”

Notingthatitisaseriousmatter, he further urged that anyone with information about someone participating in the unlawful election should inform the authorities. Kaieteur News had reported that in March this year,

MinisterofHomeAffairsRobeson Benn had issued a stern warning that anyone who is appointed Governor of Essequibo and placed at Anna Regina will be charged withtreasonandlockedup.

Speaking at the Guyana Police Force Inspectors and Sergeants

Annual Conference at the time, he said “…any person, Guyanese or otherwise,ifit'saGuyanesewhois appointedtobegovernorandbein placeatAnaRegina,wewillcharge that person for treason and lock themup.

Each and every one of them, they're gonna be charged for treason, and anybody who is supporting them will also be charged,”Bennsaid.

As previously reported, Venezuela had announced that it planned to hold elections to claim Guyana's Essequibo region, which itsaidisscheduledtotakeplaceon 25 May 2025. Guyana had moved totheInternationalCourtofJustice (ICJ) for provisional measures to restrainVenezuelafromholdingthe elections.

Thecourtsubsequentlyhanded down its order on May 1, 2025. In the order, the Court reaffirmed the provisionalmeasuresofitsorderof December 1, 2023, which it said should be immediately and effectivelyimplemented.

VicePresident, Bharrat Jagdeo

MinisterofNaturalResources, Vickram Bharrat

SeniorPetroleumCoordinator, Bobby Gossai

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

DebtcancrushGuyana

Leading spokespeople in the PPPC Government constantly highlight Guyana’s low debt-to-GDP ratio. Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, is usually proud to point out how the debt-to-GDP ratiofellfrom47.4%atthecloseof2020to24.3%at2024 yearend. Byallaccounts,thatlowratioshouldrepresenta healthy state. In reality, it masks a shaky local condition relativetodebt-to-GDPratio. Thisiswhatcanbegathered fromtheBankofGuyana’s2024annualreport.

At the end of 2024, Guyana’s total debt stood at US$5.993B. From the central bank’s 2024 annual report, the export value of major non-oil commodities, such as gold, bauxite, and timber totaled US$1.379B. When the US$420.2M from all other nonoil commodities exported are added, Guyana’s total nonoil export earnings for 2024 amounted to nearly US$1.8B (US$1799.2B). When segregatedinthismanner,Guyana’sUS$5.993Btotaldebt at the end of 2024, emphasizes the alarming. The total national debt is being carried primarily by oil, increasing dailyoutputofoil,withthepriceperbarrelofoilstillinthe encouraging US$75-80 range. Immediately, it could be seenthatthelow24.3%debt-to-GDPratioaboutwhichthe governmentboastsisn’tsorobust,asclaimed.

Wetakethepositionthat,notwithstandingthehappychatter aboutadiversifiedeconomy,Guyanaisnowaonecommodity economy,withoilasthemajorcontributor Thefactthatoil priceshavebeenwheretheyare,thathashelped immensely with debt service payments. But should oil prices take a sustained hit, Guyana could be in trouble, with much laboringtomeetdebtserviceschedules.

Take the radical step of removing oil out of the local economicequation,andthereisthatmountainofdebthanging overtheheadofGuyana Butwedon’tgothatfar,weonly focusonthealwaysvolatileoilmarket,andhowitspricescan seesawmadly,dropprecipitously,andstayatlowlevelsfor aprolongedperiod. Fromaconsumer’spointofviewthat couldbehelpful,withcheapgasolineandenergyproducts at the top of the list. From an oil producing country’s perspective, however, it can be the beginning of a long nightmare For there is a load of debt to repay, and the oil revenues that made it so relatively easy to pay (when prices werehigh)aresuddenlynotcominginastheyusedtodo.

ThisiswhatwehavecautionedPPPCGovernmentleaders tobeconsciousof,andcarefulabout Theyalltakecomfort currently in the low debt-to-GDPratio and, in their haughty frameofmind,mockthoseGuyanesewhosayproceedmore conservativelywithnewloanstaken Meanwhile,Guyanese shouldstartworryingabouthowfarnonoilexportearningsof approximatelyUS$18BcouldgotoservicealmostUS$6Bin totaldebt Usingthemetricofnonoilexportearningstothe debt total, and the inspiring 24.3% debt-to-GDP ratio is replaced by one that is at the troubling level of 300%. In summary, less money coming into the national coffers translatestolessmoneyavailabletorepaydebtwhendue. WehaveurgedthePPPCGovernmentthatrushestotakeon more debt, to be less aggressive, be less reckless. The answerofthegovernment’sleaderswastobrandishoneof itsnewestandtrickiestsleightsofhand,the24.3%debt-toGDPratio.Whereistheharminslowingdowntheborrowing? ThePPPCGovernmentitselfhasadmittedthatthiscountryis desperately short of expert capacity The new infrastructure projects that the new debt finances cannot be monitored and managedwiththekeennessthattheyshouldbe Theresulthas beenthepeoplepayingfortheprojects(andthedebt)areleftto dealwitharaftofshoddyworks,andlittlevaluefortheirmoney Guyana cannot properly oversee the projects in its hands,butthegovernmentdelightsinhangingmoredebton the heads of citizens. Its leaders barrel merrily along like someyoung,out-of-control,speedster,throughbingeingon moreandmoredebt. Fallingoilpriceshavewreakedhavoc before in other countries. The same can happen again to Guyana’smadgovernmentborrowers.

PPP administration exhibits a troubling disregard for the concerns of our youth

DEAREDITOR, President Irfaan Ali’s dismissive and crude response to journalists’ enquiries regarding the investigation into the tragic death of Adriana Younge evoked a poignant memory from my stint in 2023 as Coordinator of the Youth Cluster of the Rights of the ChildCommission.Itserved as a stark reminder that this current PPP administration exhibits a troubling disregardfortheconcernsof our youth. Whenever the administration is unable to maintain control over a process or narrative, its instinct is not collaboration butcondescension. Itisworthnotingthatthe lastcohortofCommissioners for the Rights of the Child Commission was appointed in May 2009. Since then, successive governments, both the PPP and the APNU+AFC have failed to reconstitutetheCommission, thereby neglecting a vital mechanism for safeguarding the rights of our children While the current administration initiated the processin2023toappointa n e w c o h o r t o f

commissioners, the integrity of this effort was severelyundermined

The Rights of the Child Commission is mandated to consistoffifteen(15)voting members drawn from a broad cross-section of society, including youth organizations, women’s organizations, professional bodies, religious entities, private sector stakeholders, and other civil society groups.Inaddition,three(3) ex-officio members are nominated by the other constitutional rights commissions:theWomen& G e n d e r E q u a l i t y Commission,theIndigenous Peoples’ Commission, and the Ethnic Relations Commission.

During my time as Coordinator of the Youth Cluster, I witnessed firsthand several attempts by government operatives m a s q u e r a d i n g a s representatives of youth organizations to hijack the nomination process When their efforts proved unsuccessful,theChairperson of the Parliamentary C o m m i t t e e o n Appointments, Minister

Gail Teixeira, intervened inappropriately Through a clerk of the committee, she informed me that the Committee would assume control of the nomination process due to unspecified complaints, a tactic reminiscent of those used to orchestrate partisan appointments to the Ethnic RelationsCommission.\

I firmly rejected this overreach, requesting that any such directive be submitted in writing, along with the complaints referenced

I a l s o m a d e i t unequivocally clear that the CommitteeonAppointments has no authority to usurp, interfere with, or influence the outcome of a process governed by constitutional rules. Despite several further attempts to obstruct the democraticselectionofyouth nominees, theYouth Cluster concluded its process in accordance with all guidelines and within the established deadlines. The final report and election results were duly submitted. Both I and another youth leader were nominated as representatives for the

Commission.

Yet, to date, Minister Teixeirahasfailedtoconvene a meeting of the Committee on Appointments to finalize the process, by laying the cluster reports before its membersandthensubmitting listofnomineestoParliament to be voted upon paving the way for the official appointment of new commissioners Thisinaction hasrenderedtheRightsofthe Child Commission dormant and non-functional, at a time when the need for such an institutionisdire

When a government sidelines legitimate civil society processes simply becauseitcannotmanipulate outcomes in its favour, the conclusion is inescapable: it has little regard for constitutional democracy and even less for human rights.PresidentAli’srecent r e s p o n s e , t h o u g h disheartening, did not surprise me It merely reaffirmed the disturbing pattern of authoritarianism a n d d i s d a i n f o r accountabilitythathascome todefinethisadministration.

Regards

ClayonF Halley

WillAzruddin and Glenn Team up?

DEAREDITOR, Vice President Jagdeo

s overconfident) that the PPP will sweep the coming general elections due by November It is widely expected sometime in October The government hasnotinformedGECOMto begin preparation for elections with any date in mind.

T h e V P s a i d commissioned polls funded by the PPP have found that his party has a commanding lead over the opposition. Opinionssurveysconducted bythiswriterinJanuaryand again in April and ongoing snapshotsputthePPPahead, heading for a landslide victory although many among its traditional base are not pleased with governance and the way government has handled theirsecurity

The divided opposition does not pose a challenge to the PPP A combined opposition led by a

respectable leader will give the PPP a serious run. A combined opposition was posing a challenge to the PPP until the period of racially targeted violence in mid-April that drove disgruntled Indians back to their traditional base Africans have also returned to their base following the AdrianaYoungetragedyand thepolicehandlingofit.

The opposition PNC lacks the support and attractive leadership to unseatthePPP AndtheAFC lacks the number to defeat the two parties although a coalition of opposition parties led by a credible, respectableleaderminusthe PNC that is led by Aubrey NortoncouldtopplethePNC as the official opposition. Simona Broomes and Terrence Campbell have attracted a following that could put them in parliament. ANUG, WPA, and other minor parties are also in the fray but would need a joinder list to gain representationinparliament.

Aleader who could also pose a challenge to the PPP and PNC is Azruddin Mohamedwhohasaserious following in all villages and townsinallregions. Heisa populist not seen in the country since the rise of Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham in their youths during the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Glenn Lall also has a following who have been encouraging him to contest elections; voters have been calling for community meetings with the KN publisher. Many voters would like Azruddin MohamedandGlennLallto teamupunderanewpartyto contest the elections; such a combination will pose a serious challenge to both major parties. Both have shown some interests in politicsandhavetoyedwith the idea of a political movement, but neither one hasannouncedanyintention tolaunchapartyandcontest elections this year That is the combination, or even going their separate ways,

that the public will be watching Other political figuresandminorpartiesare struggling for traction. A movementthatcouldappeal to people who want to migrate to America or Canada or promote close relations or some kind of alliancewithoneortheother countriesorevenbothcould winovermanyvoters. As of now, all factors being equal, the PPP is coastingtovictorywhenever the elections are called unless the opposition is united under an acceptable credible leader Will AzruddinandGlennuniteas is the wish of supporters? Will they entertain the thought of joining with the other opposition figures and parties?AzruddinandGlenn have indicated they will not joinwithPNCorAPNUand AFC. The ruling PPP has stated that it will contest the elections with its Civic Alliance that it has been doingtheroundssince1992.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

AChild’s Thoughts in the Juvenile Justice System

DEAREDITOR, The month of May remindsusoftheimportance of mental health care. For children in the juvenile justice system, many of whomfaceuntreatedtrauma and emotional distress, mentalhealthsupportisnota luxury, but a necessity J u v e n i l e J u s t i c e interventions must go beyonddiscipline;theymust offerhealing.

Asaparent/caregiver,do we truly hold the wealth of our children? When we say wealth–wearetalkingabout their inner voice, mindset, c o n f i d e n c e a n d opportunities.Everychildin Guyana has the right to protection, dignity, and the opportunity to grow into a successfulhumanbeing.The evidence is undeniable: early exposure to the justice system increases the likelihood of repeat offenses,disruptseducation, andseverelyaffectsachild’s mental and emotional wellbeing We must ask ourselves - what kind of future are we shaping if we fail to offer our children betteralternatives?

Hereisthepainfultruth–many of us grew up with a mindset where we were raised to survive, not to thrive. We weren’t taught to dream big or become anythingandso,wedoubted ourselves before we even started. Now as parents and mentors,wehaveachoice–will we continue the cycle? Or will we raise children who know their worth, BELIEVE in their potential and walk through life knowingtheyareenough?

Since the revision of the JuvenileJusticeAct(JJA)of 2018, it had marked a significant step forward in how we support our children/youth.Itshiftedthe focus from punishment to rehabilitation, stating that detention should be used only as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate duration. The Act promotes diversion - a process that holds children/youth accountablefortheiractions withoutexposingthemtothe formaljusticesystem.

Informal diversion is a community-based approach that allows children and youth to take responsibility for their actions while remaining outside the court system. Instead of facing formalproceedingsorbeing detained, young people are connected with social services, counseling, education, mentorship, and restorative practices. This approach is particularly crucialfor first-timeor lowriskoffenderswhomayhave made a poor decision but deserve the opportunity to makeamendsandrebuild.

Reducing children’s exposure to courts and detentionisnotjustamatter of policy - it’s a matter of protecting their rights. The JJA 2018 aligns with international child rights standards,suchastheUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other global human rights frameworks. Every child has the right to be safeguarded from harm (Article19),tofairtreatment in conflict with the law (Article 40), and to survival

anddevelopment(Article6). Their right to education (Article 28), family care (Articles 9 and 20), and participation in decisions affecting them (Article 12) must be preserved. When children are unnecessarily detained, these rights are often violated, leading to long-term harm. Upholding these rights through informal diversion ensures not only legal compliance but also the creation of a more just, compassionate society

At ChildLinK, through the DRIVE Project and in partnership with the Childcare and Protection Agency(CPA),ourgoalisto strengthen community support systems in line with the spirit of the Juvenile Justice Act - emphasizing informal diversion, family involvement, counseling, and community-based rehabilitation.This model is proving effective One exampleisacounselingcase involvingateenagegirlwho was bullying her peers at school The case was referred to ChildLinK’s Diversion Officer for counseling After several sessions,thechildopenedup tothecounselorandrevealed that she disrespected her peers because she felt disrespected at home; her father verbally and physicallyabusedher One

(Continuedonpage09)

Please be advised that Ms. Saskia Caesar is no longer employed with SCL (Guyana) Inc. and is not authorized to represent, transact, or conduct any business on behalf of the Company.

Vacancy

Location: Camp St, One for 4 days relief & one for 5 nights. From 06:00 pm - 06:00 am. For enquires Call: 683-1504.

What are the priorities of the Guyana Police Force?

DEAR,EDITOR

Recently, Daniel Wharton, well known as BabySkello,wasarrestedin connection with the vulgar and blasphemous portrayal of the Hindu Goddess “Mother Lakshmi”, which was depicted in a song releasedbytheindividual.

While as young, objective voices, we don’t condone the vilification of anyreligionnoranyactsthat constitute sacrilege, we would like the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to act expeditiously asitrelatestothosepolitical a c t i v i s t s w h o presumptuously and glaringly made statements that incite racism and contravene the Racial HostilityAct,Chapter23:01.

We have observed the responsiveness of the ERC towards Baby Skello’s inappropriate content, to which they have vowed “to explore all legal avenues available under the laws of Guyana.”

T h i s s e l e c t i v e responsiveness from the ERCdoesnotaugurwellfor thecommission,giventhatit is an election year and the habit of racial profiling is synonymous.

The ranks of the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department heldSkelloinpolicecustody and interrogated him for the actsthathecommitted.

Based on reliable information, the musician was subsequently released frompolicecustodyandwas urged to retract the sacrilegiouscontent.We,the 592Voices,wishtoquestion the priority of the police, as thecountryisyettoawaitthe imprisonment of those perpetrators involved in the gruesome death of 11-yearold Adriana Younge and many others. The police hastily apprehended Skello but were unresponsive following the disappearance ofthepre-teen.

Skello is merely a sacrilege offender who needstobereprimandedand placed in a mental health facility because he obviously needs help, but Adriana Younge’s killers have not yet been caught. Does the Guyana Police Force conveniently and selectively arrest and imprison anyone without determining punishable versus unpunishable Offences?

Since the murder of Adriana, we have yet to witness the offenders brought before a court of law, given a preliminary trial, and ultimately given a guilty or not-guilty verdict.

Following dubious circumstances surrounding the 11-year-old’s death, the familyofthedeceasedchild, after consulting with their lawyer, has decided not to

burythechilduntilasecond autopsyisconducted.Thisis because there is no toxicology report and the first autopsy’s details have notbeenmadepublic.

What are truly the priorities of the Guyana Police Force? The 592 Voices, urge several membersoftheforcetoread the Criminal Law Offences Act 8:01 to really see what constitutes a criminal offence and a non-criminal offence.

It is noteworthy, that anyone who publishes blasphemous libel faces a misdemeanour and a year in jail,accordingtoArticle347 (1) of the Criminal Law OffencesAct8:01.

Paragraph (2) of the samelegislationstatedthatIt shall be a question of fact whether any particular publishedmatterisorisnota blasphemouslibel:Provided thatnopersonshallbeliable to be convicted on any i n d i c t m e n t f o r a blasphemous libel only for expressingingoodfaithand in decent language, or attempting to establish by argumentsusedingoodfaith and conveyed in decent language, any opinion whatsoever upon any religioussubject.

Skello’s lewd music, to whichhepromisedtoengage (Continuedonpage06)

GuySuCo made over US$200M More in Revenue from 2016 – 2020 than from 2021-2025

DEAREDITOR

,

On May 8, 2025, the StabroekNewspublishedan article titled ‘GuySuCo serves up another dismal performance in first crop’.

The article stated that ‘The GuyanaSugarCorporation’s (GuySuCo)2025 productiontodateshows total output of less than 15,000 tonnes sources say, less than half of its projection’.

This means that the projected target for the first crop of 2025 was about 30,000tonnesofsugarfrom four estates - Albion, Rose

Hall, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Editor, 15,000 tonnes of sugar for a whole firstcropisridiculousbyany standardforGuySuCo.

The article further indicated that ‘The figures will pile pressure on the government[to]defendhuge subventions to the industry whicharenottranslatinginto higher and more efficient production’.Indeed,Iwould like for the government to explain to the Guyanese

people, where is all the money budgeted for GuySuCo is going? Albion estate used to produce 20,000tonnesandBlairmont 15,000tonnesofsugarinthe first crop alone. So far, for 2025, the first crop for four estatesis15,000tonnes.The government has to be more accountable for how it is using the resources of the country.

GuySuCo made over US$200M more in revenue from2016–2020thanfrom 2021-2025 Sugar is not produced with politics but r a t h e r w i t h g o o d management. How does the PPP/C government justify firing a management at GuySuCo in 2020, that produced 183,615 tonnes in 2016 , 137,298 tonnes in 2017,104,641 tonnes in 2018, 90,246 tonnes in 2019 89,000 tonnes in 2020 and had a target of 143, 000 tonnes of sugar for 2021/2022; and replaced them with management that produced 58,995 tonnes in 2021,

58,025 tonnes in 2022, 60,204 tonnes in 2023, 47,130 in 2024 and now 15,000 tonnes so far, for the firstcropof2025 (Seetablebelow).

Evenintheheightofthe COVID-19 pandemic with alltherestrictions,GuySuCo produced 89,000 tonnes of sugar in 2020. The governmentcameintooffice in 2020 with a lot of pomp a

transforming the sugar industry It is incredible that Paul Chung, the current Ch

f GuySuCo was a former Chairman of the Private SectorCommission;nowhe is supposed to be a business czar,howisitevenhecannot produce more sugar that what the previous ‘lowly’, yet more experienced, p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d knowledgeable managers of GuySuCo under the APNU+AFCgovernment.

The underperformance of sugar production is one aspectofthebusinessbutthe tremendous loss in revenue

asaforeignexchangeearner isanothermatter Iwouldnot even venture to write about the loss of markets at this p o i n t U n d e r t h e APNU+AFC government,

GuySuCo had a future

While four estates were closed, Wales, East

Demerara, Rose Hall and Skeldon, the company continued to operate three estates, Uitvlugt, Blairmont andAlbion. Theplanwasto produce 143,000 tonnes of sugarperyearby2021/2022. Thecanesweretobegrown (Continuedonpage22)

What are the priorities of the Guyana...

Frompage05

insexualactivitieswiththeHinduGoddess, misrepresented the intentions of the deity, whoisknownforprosperity,wealth,beauty, andfertility

It is important to note that according to Article146(3)oftheConstitution“Freedom ofexpressiondoesnotrelatetohatespeeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capableofexcitinghostilityorill-willagainst anypersonorclassofpersons”.

So those who think that freedom of expression means that you can freely disparage, malign or disrepute another race or ethnicity, then think again you are absolutely wrong. Just how Skello can be reprimandedbytheERCforvilifyingahindu deity,thenwebelievetheGovernmentmust canceltheBaderationconcertsetforMay24 whereVybzKartelisslatedtoperform.

Kartel’s music portrays debauchery and blasphemytowhichhecomparedthefemale reproductiveorgantothatofJesusChrist.

Nevertheless, the Jamaican artiste was welcomed in our country by Head of State

IrfaanAliandtheMinistryofCulture,Youth & Sport. We seem not to comprehend the levelofdoublestandardswithinoursociety The 592 Voices urge our men in uniform to divert attention to arresting those who are criminals, as the cries of Adriana Younge’s familyandthenationaredistinct.

Relevance, objectivity, trustworthiness, credibility, and integrity should be the beacon of those tasked to serve and protect. We must commend all those right-thinking Guyanese who rallied around the grieving familyofAdrianaYounge,allraces,foronce inthehistoryofthiscountry,haveemergedas a united front to confront the tentacles of injustice.

There are efforts to polarise us, but we must not fall prey to such traps, as justice must be administered for Adriana Younge. Silenceisanindeliblesignofcomplicity,and we, as future leaders of tomorrow, must not be silent nor violent, for the truth should be ourmantra.

Regards, 592Voices

...Govt. calls on Venezuela to investigate shooting incident

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has intensified its border patrols, especially along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven, following three armed attacks on its troops by men in civilian clothing at the GuyanaVenezuelaborder

The incidents occurred over 48 hours, prompting calls from the Guyanese governmentforVenezuelato launchafullinvestigation.

At a media briefing on Thursday afternoon at Base

C a m p Ay a n g a n n a , Georgetown, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier

Omar Khan, MSS, confirmed that the attacks occurred between Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14, while GDF troops were conducting routine riverine patrols between EteringbangandMakapa.

Brigadier Khan noted

Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, during the press briefing on Thursday

that,unliketheFebruary17, 2025 incidents where six Guyanese soldiers were ambushed and injured during patrol duties in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven, no member of the GDFwasinjuredduringthis week'sattacks.

“Border Patrol departed our location at Eteringbang and was travelling to

Makapa, using two of our marine assets While en route, armed men opened fire on the patrol using automatic weapons,” the ChiefofDefenceStaffsaid.

AccordingtoKhan,GDF troops returned fire and safely exited the area. “The patrol,asafirstpriority,was to protect lives and assets and evade the firing. The

patrol returned fire and was able to exit safely along the river Noonewasinjured,no rank of the Defence Force wasinjuredinthatparticular incident,”henoted.

Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, during his visit to the border communities

He added that similar attacks occurred on Wednesday “Atabout14:35 hours, another Guyana Defence Force patrol, this time departing Makapa and headingtoBlackWater,was again fired upon by armed men using automatic weapons. The patrol also returned fire. Subsequently, noonewasinjuredfromour side,”Khansaid.

‘I will release evidence showing who facilitated and ordered clearance of the Lamborghini’ - Mohamed says

Amid the ongoing court battle over his luxury

vehicles and the government accusing him of evading taxes, businessman Azruddin Mohamed, on Thursday, threatened to release factual evidence to show who facilitatedandorderedtheclearanceof hisLamborghini.

“I've been informed that the PPP Government plans to institute several trumped-up charges against me to disruptmyvisittoRegionNine.Atleast it's not 19 fraud charges,” Mohamed wrote on his Team Mohamed's Facebook page Thursday afternoon.

The businessman added: “As soon as these charges are laid, I will release factual evidence showing the public exactlywhofacilitatedandorderedthe clearance of the Lamborghini, since they have such an obsession with it. Bharrat,staytuned!

When the facts come out, you will be left looking 'phenomenally stupid'. Andwhenthetruthsurfaces,itwon'tbe methecountrywillbelookingat.”

BackinApril,theGuyanaRevenue Authority (GRA) had written to the Mohameds claiming that it has “irrefutable evidence” of tax breaches andthefamily'sevasionofpaymentsof nearly $900 million worth in duties on luxuryvehicles;a2020Ferrari,a2023 LandRoverRangeRover,a2023Rolls Royce, a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster,

and two 2021 Toyota Land Cruisers, some nearly five years after they arrived in Guyana The GRA is claimingthatforthe2020FerrariPAD 5000, in the name of Hana Mohamed, there are additional taxes of $479,743, 489 for breach of the re-migrant requirements, for 2023 Land Rover RangeRoverPAC9000,inthenameof Leslie Khan, there are additional taxes of $61,485,982 for breach of the remigrant requirements; the 2023 Rolls Royce PAE 5000, in the name of Bibi Mohamed, additional taxes of $320,064,246 are owed for breach of the re-migrant requirements; for the 2020LamborghiniRoadsterPZZ4000, titledtoAzruddinMohamed,additional

Businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, poses next to his Lamborghini

taxes of $371,775,168 for false declarationofvalue;fora2021Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 4000, titled to Azruddin Mohamed, additional taxes of $24,641,272 are owed for false declaration of value and for a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 3000, titled toAzruddinMohamed,additionaltaxes of $24,641,272 are owed for false declarationofvalue.

Officials of the revenue authority andlawenforcementofficershadeven moved to seize the high-end vehicles and were engaged in an intense standoffwithsupportersofthebusinessman, andwerelaterservedwithaninjunction fromtheHighCourtthatblockedthem fromseizingthecars.

Just three hours later, a returning patrol came under fire again while passing the same area. “In the last 48 hours, we would have had three such incidents. This is unprecedented,” Brigadier Khansaid.

Notably, he said, since

the first incident, the GDF hadenhanceditsoperational posture and adopted drills that would mitigate the situation. These drills, he noted, were executed successfully

Despitetheattacks,Khan assured that patrols would not be suspended He outlined the military's duty under the Defence Act and the principles of upholding nationalsovereignty,stating, “We have an obligation as (Continuedonpage11)

Emergency response team tackles oil spill at DST Wharf

The DST Wharf located at Ruinveldt.

TheNationalEmergencyResponseTeamwascalledinto action on Thursday afternoon, following an oil spill at the DemeraraSugarTerminal'sWharf,Ruimveldt,Georgetown.

“The National Emergency Response Team, including MARAD, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard (GDF-CG) was immediately mobilised, and mitigating efforts are underway to stop the leak and contain the spill”, the Maritime Administration Department(MARAD)saidinastatement.

According to MARAD, the spill was reported to the agency around 17:00 hrs. Oil reportedly started leaking out from a vessel that was moored alongside the wharf to load rice. MARAD identified the vessel as a Palau flagged one, AROYAT,IMO#9151395.Thebulkcarrier,accordingtothe agency, entered Port Georgetown early Thursday An investigationwaslaunchedtodeterminethecauseofthespill.

Govt. must do more to contain Venezuela's aggression …urged to prioritise safety and welfare of our armed forces

Inthewakeoftheattacks on Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers by armed men in Venezuela on Wednesday, citizens and at least one Member of Parliament have called on thegovernmenttodomoreto contain the aggression by Caracas.

In a statement at midnight Wednesday, the GDFsaidthatwithinthepast twenty-four hours, armed men in civilian clothing on the Venezuelan shore along the Cuyuni River, between Eteringbang and Makapa, carried out three separate

attacks on Guyana Defence Force troops who were conducting riverine patrols. The GDF said on each occasion,soldiersexecuteda measured response, and no rank sustained any injuries. “TheForceremainsresolute in its mission to protect Guyana's territorialintegrity and ensure the safety of its citizens.

It will continue to respondtoactsofaggression alongtheGuyana-Venezuela border and will maintain regular patrols along the CuyuniRiver,”thestatement read. “The public is assured

that the Guyana Defence Forceistakingallnecessary measures to safeguard the nation's bord

s and maintain peace and security withinourbelovedcountry,” theGDFsaid.

Reacting to the incident, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Amanza WaltonDesir said the attacks on the soldiers “are not just attacks on our troops these are attacksonGuyana.”

“We stand in solidarity with our armed forces and we thank God no lives were lost.Butletusbehonestand acknowledge that more has

to be done for our men and women who risk their lives in our defence The government must do more than issue statements. Now isthetimetoactwithclarity and urgency to foster nationalunity

Let us be clear however, that unity in moments like these doesn't happen by accident. It must be led, it must be earned, and it must bereal.

No more lip service. No more optics. The time for decisive, inclusive leadership is now,” the opposition Member of

Parliamentsaid.

A New and United Guyana (ANUG) political party in a statement also expresseddeepconcernover the recent incident. “This unprovoked act of aggression underscores the urgency of national unity in thefaceofexternalthreatsto our sovereignty and territorialintegrity

ANUG unequivocally condemns any act of violence against the brave menandwomenoftheGDF whostandasthevanguardof ournation'ssecurity

Wecallonallcitizensto rally together in support of our Armed Forces, recognisingtheircriticalrole in protecting our national patrimonyagainstincursions andthreats.”

ANUG also urged the Venezuelan Government to honour international treaties and respect international laws by taking decisive action to prevent further incursionsbydirectedarmed gangs or military factions, operatingalongtheGuyanaVenezuelan Border “Guyanaremainscommitted to resolving the ongoing border dispute through peaceful means and in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h InternationalLaw

The matter of the border is currently before the International Court of Justice(ICJ),andweurgeall parties to respect the decisions of this esteemed body,”thestatementnoted.

In addition,ANUG calls upon Guyana's incumbent government to prioritise the safety and welfare of our armed forces by ensuring they are adequately equipped, trained, and supported in carrying out theirvitalduties.

It is imperative that all necessary resources be mobilized to secure our borders and maintain peace and stability in the region.

“Now, more than ever, we must stand as one nation, united against any external threattooursovereignty

We appeal to every citizen to remain vigilant, steadfast, and committed to

defending our beloved country,” the ANUG statementconcluded. Clearviolation

For its part, the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), through its Chairman Mr Halim Khan, also condemned what it described as “Venezuela's provocative and illegal decisiontoincludeGuyana's sovereign territory, Essequibo, in its upcoming regional and gubernatorial electionsslatedforMay25.”

Describing the move as “a clear violation of international law and an insult to Guyana's sovereignty,” Mr. Khan is calling on all Guyanese to stand united in peaceful resistance while advocating for stronger institutional capacityandpreparednessto defend the homeland. “No countrycanholdanelection on land it does not govern. Venezuela'sattempttodoso is nothing short of illegal occupation masked as democracy,” Mr Khan declared.

Khan emphasised the need for targeted training andcapacity-buildingacross nationalsectors.

He advocated for the equipping of key personnel with the authority and resources to lead in times of potentialcrisis.

“We must act now to ensure our readiness. The establishment of a more robust and responsive Joint Servicestaskforceisnotjust necessary—it is urgent. It willstandasbothadeterrent and a symbol of Guyana's unshakeable resolve,” he said.

Khan is encouraging all citizens including schoolchildren, residents, andmembersofthebusiness community to take a visible stand in defense of Guyana'ssovereignty

“OnMay25,Icallonall Guyanese to line the roadways across our nation and wave the Golden Arrowheadwithpride.

Let the world see that Essequibo is Guyana—not just in law, but in spirit,” he urged.

Confirming the origin of the water is scientifically tenuous

Since the autopsy report found that the 11-year-old child drowned, there has been a shift in the narrative. It is now being speculated that the child could have drowned in a bathtub and then dumped into the pool. This theory has led for calls for any liquids found in the girl’s lungs and stomach to betestedtoseewhetheritis poolwaterortapwater

However,inmyopinion, confirming the origin of the water from samples taken one week after the body’s discovery—is scientifically tenuous and fraught with limitations. I am not sure whether it’s possible for the sourceofthewater,foundin thebody,tobedetermined.I am not certain whether this

could have ever been determined.

i m e investigation is advanced in developed countries But evenforensicsciencehasits limitations. As such people

expectations that forensic sciencemaybeabletoprove the source of the liquids found in the child’s lungs and stomach. People like to believe that forensics can answer any question. But even science has its limitations

Autopsies conducted several days after death, are usually compromised by

processes that break down bodytissuesandcontaminate

internal fluids. These processes can significantly alter the chemical compositionofboththelung fluid and stomach contents, making precise analysis extremelydifficult Inwaterrelateddeaths,decomposition further complicates the identification of exogenous substances like chlorine from watersources

When a person drowns, waterenterstheairwaysand lungs, and sometimes the stomach However, the amount of water taken in is often small, and the concentration of diagnostic chemicals(likechlorine)can be low to begin with. These fluids mix with bodily secretions, are metabolized or altered by enzymes, and

AChild’s Thoughts in the Juvenile...

Frompage05 night, he came home, saw her on her phone, and proceededtohitherforusing it. The counseling sessions focused on ensuring the child felt secured and understood, while also connecting her with the necessary social services These sessions helped her recognize the impact of her behaviour, understand the emotions driving her actions, and learnt healthier waystorelatetoothers. This realisation didn’t happen all at once, but the counselor laid the foundation through guided

activitiesandreflection. The counselor later received feedback from the child’s teachers indicating that she was no longer engaging in bullying behavior

The child showed tremendous improvement: shebecamemorefocusedon positive interactions with classmates, demonstrated greater empathy, and no longerdisplayedaggression. Instead, she channeled her energy into classroom activities, group work, and creative tasks, exhibiting better emotional regulation andcooperation.Herteacher

noted a significant shift in herattitudeandengagement, reflectingtheprogressmade through consistent counseling and supportive interventions.

Achild’ssuccessstartsin their mind. Children should be corrected with care, not punished into isolation Together,wecanupholdthe promise of the Juvenile Justice Act and ensure that every child in the system receives the second chance that they need in order to believe in themselves and determinetheirfuture.

Sincerely, ChildLinKInc.

DEM BOYS SEH

Guyana is a land like no other!

Guyanaisalandofmanywonders—de waterfalls, de gold, de oil, and now, de magic of mekking accusation appear outta thinairDisplacesostrange,amancouldbe walkin’ down de road, smile fuh a photo, andnexttingyuhknow,hedemainsuspect inamurdercase!

Dem boys seh is only in Guyana yuh could be in de background of a photo, drinking ah Malta, and suddenly yuh wanted fuh grand conspiracy And if yuh sehyuhdidn’tdoit,demgonseh,“Aha!He denyin’ it too quick — dat’s suspicious!” Butifyuhkeepquiet,demseh,“Hesilent— hegottobeguilty!”Youcyanwin!

Everybody accusing everybody Yuh dogbarktooloud?Somebodyaccusingitof being part of a spy ring.Yuh wife look too long at a crime scene photo? She now get label as an accomplice. Even de man who does sell snow cone by de corner, dem accusing he too. Is a real Netflix series dis country turning into — but without de

arealsosubjecttoleachingif thebodyissubmergedforan extended period. Over the span of a week, most of the chemicalmarkersthatcould i n d i c a t e a w a t e r source—suchaschlorine,or pHdifferences—arediluted, neutralized,ordegraded. While it might seem

logical to test for chlorine—a chemical found inswimmingpools—itisnot a reliable postmortem marker Chlorine is highly volatile and reactive It quickly binds to organic material or evaporates. Free chlo

ne, the act

ve disinfectant in pools, loses its distinct chemical signature rapidly, especially in biological environments. After one week, even if the victim had drowned in a heavily chlorinated pool, any chlorine would almost certainly have dissipated or beenmetabolized.

Tapwaterandswimming pool water are chemically similarinbasiccomposition. Swimming pool water is essentiallytreatedtapwater, with added chlorine and sometimes algaecides or stabilizers. However, even

these additives do not leave b e h i n d u n i q u e o r quantifiable residues in the body after death, especially over time. It is unlikely that any test, including gas chromatography or mass spectrometry, could differentiate between water from a bathtub and pool water after the body’s internal environment has beguntodegrade.

In cases of drowning, water may be swallowed reflexively, leading to water beingpresentinthestomach. However, this is not a definitive indicator of drowning,letaloneofwhere the drowning occurred M o r e o v e r, d u r i n g decomposition, gases and fluidsmixandshiftbetween body compartments This cross-contaminationrenders the chemical profile of s t o m a c h c o n t e n t s untrustworthyasevidenceof thewater’sorigin.

Given the autopsy was conducted approximately one week after discovery, andconsideringthenatureof decomposition, it may be scientifically implausible to determinewithanycertainty

whetherthegirldrownedina swimmingpoolorabathtub based on the fluids in her lungs or stomach. We have beentoldthatsamplesofthe pool water were taken. But what use that would be is debatable given the decomposition of the body since death. It has also been stated the results of toxicology tests are being awaited. Those tests would most likely be concerned with body tissue and will be aimed at determining whether the deceased’s tissue had toxins or poisons orsubstancesthatthatcould have impaired her motor skillsorconsciousness.

Assuch,cautionmustbe exercised in expecting a definitivefindinginrelation tothetypeofwaterfoundin the deceased’s body That is not likely to yield any reliableresults.

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

budgetordefacts.

Demlawyersgansmilealldewaytode bank when dis drama done. Court gan full like Stabroek Market on a Saturday Every man and he cousin gan need a lawyer fuh defamation, wrongful arrest, and “I-swearhe-look-like-de-man-in-de-pic”syndrome. Yuh ever hear bout “innocent until proven guilty”? Not in Guyana! Is “guilty untilproventonotbeindephoto,nothavea beardlikedesuspect,andnotwearsize10 shoe.” Dem boys seh soon yuh gan need a disclaimer before yuh tek picture: “If I appearindisimage,Iacceptnoliabilityfor any crime that happen before, during or afteritwastaken.”

OnlyinGuyana.Alandwherederivers run wide, de oil run deep, and de accusations fly higher than a kite at Easter time.

Watch where yuh smile — somebody mightsehyuhsmilin’likeamanwhoguilty Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

A child isn't a commodity, a mystery death time to hurry

It is my difficult job to inform President Ali that he has it all wrong. Wrong to thinkthatthedeathofachild can be treated like just anothercommodity

Wrong to conclude that a mystery death, an untimely one, is a time to hurry to close books (and mind) and move on. No! Excellency Ali! No! Today I use the advantage of age and seek to extend a helping hand to a b r o t h e r g i v i n g t h e appearance of trying to do the right thing in Adriana Younge'sdeathandmakinga messofmatters.

ForthosewhoseewhatI share as a lesson for a leader, for all leaders, the choice is theirs.

Thedeathofachildinthe worst of circumstances, Mr President, is the wrong time torushover,paperover Itis wrongtoseekthedistanceof space, time, cover Wrong

when there are all manner of unknowns. Wrong when there were the corruptions that diminished a death Wrong when there were attempts at coverups that tried to conceal her passing. Wrong when there were s p i n s a b o u t t h e disappearance of Adriana that added to the unjustness of her demise. I believe that some of those nefarious efforts are still ongoing, but withgreatercareexercised.

Thepresidentmayhavea world of bigger things on his mind and bigger things on hishands,butthisisasbigas they come, due to its potential to unleash roiling energies. There is what is being closely watched, what could spiral into the unknown. Whatever Pres. Ali has before him, this is wherehemustbeathisbest. It is wrong to treat the death of this child as another

tick-the-box moment, one where the page can be turned, and one where there is the unseeming haste to move on. I can overlook Pres. Ali getting so worked up over the continued focus on Adriana Younge's death that his tongue got tangled and his enunciation got somewhatdisoriented.

Thepresidentcameclose tolaborwithhisconstruction of “belabel” when I am sure that he meant belabor If the death of this child has to be belabored,thensobeit.

For she is, and her death is, and the respect for her departure is, a stark confluence of the wrongs (the dark evils) that have proliferated on Excellency Ali's watch. As much as he may wish to run past this, it sticks to him like glue. On this occasion, his known skills at shedding aged skin areoflimitedvalue.

The president and his cohort are sure to disagree, butthatisnotrecognizedasa red light by me. Whatever he said about how much he did in all that he could have done, he has much more to do. He hasn't even chipped thecement.

President Ali needs to arrive at a place, and his guidance counselors should see to it that he gets there in theshortesttime.

The first is that this is more than the death of a child. This is more than the time spent on sorting through the muddles that have added further hurts to herdeath.

This is more than the reputationofhisgovernment and his leadership that is involved. This is about a whole society watching and w e i g h i n g e v e r y development related to this child'sdeath,andwheretheir conclusions lead them Those almost never take out of the quicksand and to the blessed relief of higher ground.

To Pres. Ali I offer some

little words of goodwill The death of Adriana Younge should be a catalystforthechanges thataresodirelyneededin this country Direly needed for so long, but denied and damnedforsolong.

Therefore, no amount of time spent, and all the doing what could have been done, meansnothing.

There is too much in the heads of Guyanese, and too much underfoot that cannot besqueezedoutofexistence.

Thedeathofthisyoungchild can serve as a cathartic moment for this country

But only if Pres.Ali displays the quality of leadership that has eluded him from the inception, or he has disowned to so much devastation to Guyanese, from coming to the fullest flower

The president must lead from the front, not from the side,orthesideofhismouth.

Mr President: the death of this child, this little girl, this now haloed Guyanese spirit, is not, cannot be, and must

not degrade to another business-as-usual moment. This is not business. This is about the quality of Guyaneselife. Thishastobe about leadership at its finest when the times are the grimmest.

Don't rush the brush, Mr Ali For that is when Guyanese will end up with a brush job, like they have so many times before. Adriana Youngedeservesbetter Her grieving family is due more. And so are all Guyanese. In a time when a child is unburied, PresidentAli must be unhurried, a beacon of inspiration. Sadly, he has not been able to find that in himself, when it is most needed.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Market-based day rate for drillships working in Guyana pegged at US$400,000

American offshore drilling company, Noble Corporation'slatestearnings revealthatthefourdrillships contracted by ExxonMobil

Guyana Limited for operations in Guyana's

Stabroek Block are commanding market-based dayrates in the low-to-high US$400,000sperrig.

Exxon's in its contract withNobleagreestopaythe market-baseddayrateforthe drill rigs: Noble Tom Madden, Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, and Noble Bob Douglas. The dayratesforTier1drillships like those working in Guyana have ranged from thelowtohigh$400,000s.

Notably, market-based day rates are reset twice per year (March 1, and September 1 each year) to

Frompage7 soldiers…thisisamissionwe take seriously, and will continue to patrol…and to eliminate any threat to our people.”

Moreover, Brigadier Khan also mentioned that he waspartofateamthatvisited fourbordercommunitiesover the past two days to engage residents.

“The community and the villagers in those locations were happy, not scared… happy that we visited. Our conduct in those gaps is to patrol by foot and boat, ensuring that we defend our borders and ensure that no one is illegally coming across, especially on the border with Venezuela,” he stated.

Khan described the area wheretheattacksoccurredas a stretch of the Cuyuni River thatissparselypopulated.He added, “It's an area that we have noted over the years where these armed men stop civiliansandextortmonies.”

Asked whether the attackers were part of the Venezuelan military disguised as civilians or a criminalgang,Khandeclined tospeculate.

“Wesharetheborderwith Venezuela, and we expect Venezuela not to violate our sovereignty, but we are prepared for any eventuality, and that's why we will continue to patrol the entire border,”hesaid.

Inastatementissuedearly Thursday morning, the GDF confirmed that all patrols involved in the incidents executed “a measured response” and reaffirmed the Force's commitment to

the projected market rate at that time. It should be noted that for every day that the drillshipswork,Guyanawill have to foot the bill. Owing to the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), GuyanasignedwithExxon–all of the company's expenses will be recovered. Under the deal, Exxon receives profits after 75 percent is withdrawn to coveroperationalexpenses.

According to Noble's first-quarter 2025 earnings report, its marketed fleet of 25 floaters was 80% contracted during the quarter, up from 74% in the previous period Recent contracts added 15 rig years to the floater backlog, strengtheningNobleoverthe nextseveralyears. In September 2024, it

territorial integrity “The Force remains resolute in its mission to protect Guyana's territorialintegrityandensure the safety of its citizens. It will continue to respond to acts of aggression along the Guyana-Venezuela border and will maintain regular patrols along the Cuyuni River,”itwasstated.

Meanwhile, Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Cooperation, in a statement on Thursday, condemned the attack on the military troops and called on theVenezuelan government to launch a thorough investigation and prosecutethoseresponsible.

“The ministry via diplomaticcommunicationto the Ministry People's Power for Foreign Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has registered its condemnation of these attacks and requested that a thorough investigation be carried out by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the perpetrators be apprehended and brought to justice,” the statementread.

Theministryalsorecalled the February attack on the GDF ranks and noted, “It is the intention of the Ministry, as it did with the incident of February 17, 2025, to bring these latest incidents to the attention of the International Community.”

The ministry said it will continue to monitor the situationincoordinationwith other government agencies and take all appropriate actionswherenecessary

ExxonMobil has extended its contract with Noble for fourofitsdrillshipstowork intheStabroekBlock.

According to Noble, ExxonMobil has awarded 4.8 additional rig years of backlog un

the Commercial Enabling Agreement(CEA)whichhas been assigned evenly across thefourdrillshipsextending each rig's contract duration from June 2027 to August 2028.

In May 2023, Noble announcedthatExxonMobil Guyana had extended their contract for the rental of the four ultra-deep-water drill shipstoworkinGuyanauntil secondquarterof2027.

To date, Exxon has obtained approval from the Government of Guyana for six development projects in the Stabroek Block – Liza PhaseOne,LizaPhaseTwo, Payara,Yellowtail,Uaruand Whiptail The first three projects are already producing oil at a daily

estimated rate over 600,000 barrelsperday(bpd).

Exxon has been on an extensive drilling operation in the Stabroek Block

Yellowtail is expected to come onstream later this year and Uaru and Whiptail to follow in the coming years. This publication had

reported that Exxon also contracted two drill rigs from

DrillMAX and

Notably, S t e n a D r i l l M A X contractural period came to an end earlier this year and

contract with Exxon comes to an end in June2025.

Stena:Stena

Stena Carron.

Stena Carron

One of Noble's drill rigs working offshore Guyana

Welder remanded for possession of ganja

A 36-year-old welder was remanded to prison on Thursday for possession of narcotics.GavinDowdenofSophiaappeared attheGeorgetownMagistrates'Courtbefore ActingChiefMagistrateFaithMcGusty,who readthecharge.

Dowdenpleadednotguiltytothecharge, which alleged that on May 14, 2025, in the vicinity of the Rubis Gas Station on VlissengenRoad,hehad1.042kilogrammes ofcannabisinhispossession.

At the time of his arrest, Dowden was travelling in a car bearing registration

numberPRR4041.Theaccusedtoldthecourt thathewasunderalotofpressureandonthe day in question, he was approached by someonewhoofferedtopayhim$100,000to dropabagtosomeone(unnamed).

Dowden insisted that he did not know whatwasinsidethebag.

The prosecution said that on May 14, officers of the CustomsAnti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were acting on information when they approached Dowden, who was in the driver'sseatofthevehicle.

Hewasapproachedbyanofficerwhotold

him that they had received information that narcotics were in the vehicle and a search would be conducted. The prosecution said thatduringthesearch,agreybag,whichhad four plastic bags inside, was found with a quantityofleaves,seedsandstemssuspected tobenarcotics.

Dowdenwastheninformedbytheofficer ofhisfindings.Inresponse,hesaidhefound the bag on the ground and picked it up. The bag with the suspected narcotics was then taken to CANU headquarters, where it was weighedandtested.

At that time, Dowden informed the investigators that a man had given him the bag to deliver it to someone else. He was subsequentlycharged.

When he appeared in court, he told MagistrateMcGustythathewasscaredwhile beingquestionedbyofficersanddidn'tknow what to do.Magistrate McGusty stated that Dowden's story was not adding up, and he knew what he was transporting.As a result, themagistratesaidshesawnospecialreasons to grant him bail. The matter was adjourned toJune6,2025.

VP Jagdeo sees no need to give Adriana’s family preliminary autopsy report

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo emphasized on Thursday that there is no need for the family of 11year-old Adriana Younge to be given a copy of the preliminary autopsy report, as the findings have already beenpubliclyoutlinedbythe GuyanaPoliceForce(GPF).

“They [the police] made it clear from the beginning that there were findings… that was told to the family, and they [the police]

outlined what the findings are,” Jagdeo said “The police issued a statement outlining the findings. They arewaitingonthetoxicology report to issue the final report,” he told Kaieteur News in response to questionsonthereport.

Jagdeo, following his weekly press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, dismissedconcernsraisedby Adriana's family and

attorney Dr DexterTodd on the provision of a physical copy of the preliminary findings.

The Vice President reiteratedthatthefamilyhad been briefed following the post-mortem examination (PME) and that the police's recent public statement contained all the relevant details.

However, Dr Todd has since submitted a formal writtenrequestforacopyof

thepreliminaryfindings,but received no response from thepolice.

“The findings were outlined in a police documenttothepublic,sohe [Todd] knows what the findingsarebecausetheyput it out, including what happened with the mucus in

Dead: Adriana Younge

VicePresident, Bharrat Jagdeo

the nose and everything. There is no sexual assault, there is no trauma; this is from the physical examinations of the body Theycalleditdrowning.But they are waiting on the toxicology report, and only then you could have a full autopsy report,” Jagdeo told KaieteurNews.

The Vice President, who is also General Secretary of the People's Progressive PartyCivic(PPPC),alsosaid that Adriana's family acknowledged receiving the saidinformation.“Theytold

the family this—that's why thefamilycameoutandsaid they were told this. Their owndoctorandDarrenWade [alsoknew],”headded.

KaieteurNewsreminded the Vice President that Adriana's family has been requestingaphysicalcopyof thepreliminaryreportrather thanthepublicstatementthe policeissued. He responded, “That is the preliminary findings That is what happened. I don't know what they want they want another finding?”

Threeweekshavepassed since the PME was conducted on Adriana's body,whichdeterminedthat thechilddrowned.

On May 7, the police issuedapressstatementwith preliminary findings but did notprovideaformalreportto thefamily

The press release was issued following a meeting among Adriana's family, their attorneys, and Police Commissioner Clifton H i c k e n , w h o w a s accompaniedbysomesenior officersoftheForce.

During that meeting, the Commissioner reportedly stated that no preliminary autopsyreportwasavailable at the time. However, just hourslater,theGPFreleased a public statement outlining what it described as “preliminary findings” from thePME.

Initsstatement,theGPF said that while the final report would only be c o m p

(Continuedonpage23)

Entertainment Kaieteur Entertainment Kaieteur

“The Journey" Collection Honours African Heritage and Resilience

In the vibrant world of Caribbean fashion, one designer's voice rings with particular clarity and purpose. MwanzaGlenn,founderofWanzas DesignsandastalwartofGuyanese fashion for 16 years, has unveiled

death over enslavement, others perishingunderitsweight,creating whatGlennpoeticallydescribesas "a blood sacrifice, paving the way for those who choose to live."

hislatestcollection,"TheJourney", a profound artistic statement that transcends mere clothing to become a moving testament to Africanresilienceandidentity

The collection, which debuted on Origins Fashion Festival Runway to critical acclaim, boldly confronts the painful legacy of the transatlantic slave trade while celebratingtheenduringstrengthof African peoples who survived and thrived despite unimaginable hardship.

"Coming from a place where our history starts with slavery, I wanted the collection to show that journey of where we came from to where we are today after all we've beenthrough,"

Glenn shared during an intimate interview following the showcase.

Glenn's deliberate colour palette speaks volumes. Blood red fabricsevokethesacrificeofthose who shed blood, some choosing

Black elements throughout the collectionrepresenttheformidable strength of African peoples who built economies, businesses, and industries through their labor and ingenuity Meanwhile, pristine white pieces symbolize hope for a future built on unity and purity of purpose.

using his African name. "But comingintolateteens,"hereflects, "I realized names are pretty big in knowing identity and where you camefrom."

That realization became a turning point. Glenn has since

"

dedicated his career to fostering

awareness of who we are as a people," a mission beautifully embodiedineverystitchandseam of"TheJourney." As fashion increasingly embraces narratives of cultural reclamation, Glenn's collection stands out for its emotional depth and historical resonance. Each garment represents what he calls "ThejourneyofHope,TheJourney of Identity, The journey of preservation," bringing together "memoriesofthepasttoembracea solidfuture."

Models showcasing pieces from "The Journey" by Wanzas Designs on recently hosted Origins Fashion Festival.

Guyanese Designer Mwanza Glenn poses with two pieces from his new collection "The Journey"

Perhaps what makes "The Journey"particularlyremarkableis how it presents a contemporary vision of Black identity without relyingonexpectedtropes.

“There are ways to celebrate blackness without having to wear headwrap or dominant print," Glennexplained.

This modern approach allows the collection to honour heritage whileremainingfirmlyanchoredin today'sfashionlandscape.

The collection's significance is deeply personal for Glenn, whose ownjourneymirrorsthethemesof hiswork.

Named "Mwanza" at birth, he confessestherewasatimewhenhe felt ashamed to introduce himself

After 16 years of designing, Mwanza Glenn has created more than a fashion collection; he has craftedamovingtributetoancestry andsurvival.

In doing so, he reminds us that true fashion innovation comes not

e t i c experimentation, but from having the courage to tell the stories that matter most. For those fortunate enough to witness "The Journey," the experience offers not just beautiful clothing but a powerful reminder: our journeys, both collectiveandindividual,continue, shaped by the past but always moving forward toward new horizonsofpossibility

Persons interested in pieces from this collection can contact Wanzas Designs on Facebook or Instragram.

"Mumbai Dreams"

Sashing Ceremony Set to Dazzle This Weekend

This Saturday, May 17th, the R o r a i m a

cess Hotel will transform into a celebration of beauty, culture, and empowerment as the 2025 Miss, Mrs & Teen India Guyana delegates are officially sashed under the enchanting theme "Mumbai Dreams."

The highly anticipated High Chai ceremony, scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM with doors opening at 4:00 PM, promises an eleganteveningshowcasing the bright young women who will compete for the opportunity to represent Guyana at the prestigious Miss, Mrs & Teen India Worldwide 2025 pageant in Mumbai,IndiathisAugust.

For pageant enthusiasts and cultural connoisseurs alike,thissashingceremony marks the first public appearance of this year's contestants across the Miss, Mrs, and Teen categories. The event has become a calendar highlight in Guyana's cultural scene,

blending traditional

e l e m e n t s w i t h contemporary flair in a celebration that goes beyond beauty to honour Indo-Guyaneseheritage.

"High Chai: Mumbai Dreams will be an evening where guests can relax with tea and delectable treats

while being thoroughly entertained," shares event organizer and Franchise Holder Hashim Alli. "The sashing ceremony is really about introducing these remarkable delegates to the public and beginning their journey toward potentially representing Guyana on the worldstage."

Entertainment features an impressive lineup of performances, including

appearances by the 2024 Top Talents and special showcases by the current titleholders. A highlight of the evening will be a performance by Aruna Sukhdeo, Miss India Worldwide 2023, bringing international pageant excellence to the Guyanese stage.

Fashion enthusiasts haveanadditionaltreatwith Nachle Designs presenting

their newest collection, " H a a m a r e P r e a m Kahaanee," fresh from its debut at Origins Guyana Fashion Festival This exclusiveshowcasewilladd another dimension of cultural celebration to the event.

The elegant affair calls for appropriate attire, with guests encouraged to dress in floral Indian or English outfits to complement the sophisticated atmosphere

Each $10

t includesnotjustentrytothis prestigious event but also a delightfularrayoftea,snack platters, and refreshing juice.

For these delegates, S

transformative journey. Threefortunatewinnerswill e

"Mumbai Dreams" become realityastheyearnthehonor of representing Guyana internationallyinIndialater thisyear

The sashing ceremony stands as both a celebration of individual achievement and a testament to the vibrantculturalconnections between Guyana and India. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the first glimpse

of possible future i n t e r n a t i o n a l representatives as they take their first steps toward bringing Guyanese pride to theglobalstage.

T&T

Govt. waters down Kartel's show

…blankshimfrominteracting withstudents,mediainterviews

Jamaican dancehall artisteAdidja Palmer also known as Vybz Kartel

( T R I N I D A D GUARDIAN) Defence

Minister Wayne Sturge has ordered that the itinerary of Jamaican dancehall artist VybzKartelbecut.

In one of his first acts of business,Sturge,accordingto a legal source within the ministry, is prohibiting Vybz Kartel from two media interviews and other events. The artiste, born Adidja Palmer,isscheduledtoarrive in the country on May 26 in preparationforhisconcerton May31.

Accordingtoimmigration order, Sturge blanked Palmer

"particularlyashisconviction wasnotbasedonmeritbuton alegaltechnicality."

He added that a detailed media release is being d

originally scheduled to perform in T&T in February, however, the One Caribbean M

s postponed to May Palmer was freed of murder in 2024, Jamaica's Court of Appeal ruledagainstretryinghimand hisco-accusedforthemurder ofClive“Lizard”Williams. Palmer, Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira

President Dr. IrfaanAli and Vybz Kartel at State House back in February 2025

a morning radio interview, a middayTVappearance,anda local press drop-in on May 27. He also blocked a meet andgreet,avisittoaschoolor youth centre, a cultural lunch with community leaders and an official meet and greet on May28.

In an immediate response to Guardian Media, Sturge, after questioning how Guardian Media became aware of his orders, confirmed the adjustments sayingbasedonPalmer'spast legal troubles he was concerned about him interacting with the country's

JonesandAndreStJohnwere convicted of the September 2011 murder of Williams. Lawyers representing the quartetmadeanappealtothe localCourtofAppealin2020, but their convictions were upheld.

Their appeal was then taken to the Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of jurormisconduct.

The Privy Council also remitted the case back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide whether there should bearetrial.

Medical students of the University of Guyana

UniversityStudentsHostKaraoke NightforSpeechAwareness andMedicalRehabilitation

In what is billed as a spirited celebration of the gift of speech andlanguage,theUniversity

of Guyana Medical Rehabilitation Students Association (UGMRSA) is

organising a karaoke fundraiserthisweekend.The "SingYourHeartOut"event willtakeplaceontomorrow, May17thattheGeorgetown Cricket Club from 7PM to 11PM.

Thekaraokenightcomes as part of the association's

speech and language awareness month activities,

butservesadualpurposeasa crucial fundraiser for the organization's community outreach efforts throughout theyear

"Wehaveourspeechand language awareness month and we wanted an activity surrounding that theme," explains Rayon Holder, PresidentofUGMRSAanda third-year student "We agreed that karaoke seems fitting since it celebrates the gift of having speech and language, things we often take for granted With karaoke,yougettocelebrate

that and express it through song that lifts spirits and showcasesvocalability."

Beyond providing an eveningofentertainment,the

to

firstnew songinthree yearsforthe 'Smurfs'movie

(CNN)— Rihanna may not have her ninth studio album readytoreleasequiteyet,butshedoeshaveanewsongcoming outsoontotideeveryoneover

The track, titled “Friend of Mine,” was featured on Wednesdayforthefirsttimeinthenewtrailerforthe“Smurfs” movie,inwhichRihannavoicestheroleofSmurfette.

In the trailer, Rihanna is seen in the studio during the recordingofthesong,laughingandsmilingwhileadjustingher headphones. ThefulltrackwillbereleasedonFriday

event highlights a serious m i s s i o n M e d i c a l rehabilitation remains largely misunderstood in Guyana,withmanyreducing the profession to "just a massage" or confusing rehabilitation with addiction treatment.

"In Guyana, medical (Continuedonpage19)

“FriendofMine”isthefirstnewsongRihannahasreleased since 2022, when she released “Lift Me Up,” the Oscarnominatedsongfeaturedin“BlackPanther:WakandaForever.” The“Smurfs”moviefollowsSmurfette,who“leadstheSmurfs on a mission into the real world to save” Papa Smurf (John Goodman) after he was “mysteriously taken by evil wizards,” according to an official synopsis. In addition to Rihanna and Goodman, the “Smurfs” movie will feature a voice cast including James Corden, Nick Offerman, Dan Levy, Natasha Lyonne,SandraOh,OctaviaSpencer,HannaWaddinghamand Kurt Russell, among others. Supporters of the “Umbrella” singer have long waited for Rihanna – who is expecting her third child with partner A$AP Rocky – to release her hotly anticipatedninthstudioalbum,whichwouldmarkherfirstfull album since 2016's “Anti.” In February, Rihanna said she's closer than ever to completing the task in an interview with Harper'sBazaar,claimingatthetimethatshe“justcrackedthe codeonwhatIreallywanttodoformynextbodyofwork.Iam actuallyfeelingreallygoodaboutthis.”Rihannastoppedshort of providing a timeframe for when the album may actually comeout,butdidsayhernewmusic“feelsright.” “Itfeelslike itdigsrightintowhereIneedtobe,andIwantthis,”shesaid. “Thisbodyneedstocomeout,andI'mreadytogothere.”The “Smurfs”moviewillbereleasedintheatersonJuly18.

'Pres. Ali never ‘lived up’ to promises

Mahdia dorm fire survivor tells Court made to the family’

...Mother of

Valerie Carter, the motherofthetwingirlswho died in the horrific Mahdia School dormitory fire, gave anemotionalaccountofhow the tragic incident, which occurred some two years ago,hasaffectedherfamily Carter is suing the State for in excess of $10 million for her surviving child, whom she said suffered emotionalandpsychological trauma as a result of the incident that killed her daughters.

All three of Carter's children were present at the school dormitory when it was set ablaze on May 22, 2023. Her twin daughters were among the 20 children whowereburnedtodeathin the heavily-grilled building. The family's lawyer, Eusi Anderson, has since argued that the government is fully responsible for the deadly fire Last July, Guyana's Government said it would pay$5milliontotheparents ofeachofthe20peoplewho died in the fire. The lawsuit followed a governmentappointed commission responsibleforinvestigating the fatal fire, which blamed authorities in part for operating the dormitory without proper emergency fire prevention systems in place.

Ms. Carter was called to the witness stand on the seconddayofthetrialbefore JusticeSandilKissoonatthe High Court in Georgetown.

The woman, who is originally from Chenapou Village, Region Eight, became emotional as she spokeoftheincidentandthe events that followed. She told the Court that her surviving daughter has been trying to cope as best as she can since the incident. “She

does just say 'mommy ah trying',” Carter said in response to questions by Dharshan Ramhdani KC, who is representing the State's interest in the matter The lawyer enquired about her daughter's academic performance prior to and aftertheincident.

The lawyer's line of questioning was, however, objected to as he sought to introduce information that did not form part of the record of evidence that is before the court Justice Kissoon described the move by the attorney as “unacceptable” and an “affront to the rule of law,” andorderedthathemoveon fromthatlineofquestioning.

The judge noted that sincethereportonwhichthe defence relied was not part of the records before the court,heshouldseektohave information admitted to the evidence at another juncture of the trial. Under further cross-examination by State Counsel,thewomantoldthe courtthattherewereaseries ofvisitsfromStateofficials, including President Irfaan Ali, after the fire. Carter noted that during those visits, the President made promises to look out for her family,butneverlivedupto them.

Asked by the lawyer whether the President met and spoke with her during his visit, she noted that he spoke to everybody “I don't know what he tell the other families, but he made promises and he never live up to what he promise,” she said. “What promise did he make you?” enquired the lawyer

The woman became tearfulatthispoint,relating, “Hetoldushewouldsupport

thefamilyallthetime,buthe neverdid.”“Didyouaskthe President to support you in any particular way?”

Ramdhani followed up. The woman paused before replying,“Theonlythinghe gavemeismyhouse,andI'm thanking him for that ” “That is the house in Diamond?” Ramdhani asked. “Yes,” she replied. “The house is an okay house?”thelawyerenquired further,towhichthewoman agreed.

Ramdhani then asked whether there was an offer for medical support by the President and compensation to the families affected by the tragedy “He told us that they would have doctors going into the village…” she said, adding that there werevisitsbytheteamfrom the State, but they stopped coming sometime in 2023. “Wasthereanoffermadefor compensation for each and every family affected, includingyours?”

“Yes,” she added. She alsorevealedthat,following the initial visit by the President and team, a MinisterofGovernmentwas assigned to do follow-up visits with her She said the minister would provide her with emotional support. Ms. Carter said, however, that she is unaware that a task force has been set by the government to assist the family The woman later admitted that her daughter was evaluated by an overseas-based doctor prior to filing the lawsuit, but notedthatthiswasnotpartof thesupportfromtheState.

Ms Carter's daughter was also among the witnesses who testified in Court on Thursday She recalled, under cross-

University Students Host Karaoke Night...

Frompage18 rehabilitationingeneralisn't well-known,"Holdershares. "Peopledon'tunderstandthe fullcapabilitiesofthecareer sincetheyminimiseitasjust a massage or 'rub down ' Someyouthsgenuinelydon't know what it means, they hear 'rehab' and think of addiction treatment " The $2500 entry fee (which includes snacks) will fund the association's pinning ceremony and support awareness campaigns, including school visits and community outreach programs. These initiatives aim to educate the public about medical rehabilitation and encourage more young people to consider it as a careerpath. The karaoke night promisestobemorethanjust singing, with competitions and prizes to be won throughout the evening Located at Georgetown Cricket Club on Regent and Shivnarine Chanderpaul Drive, the event offers participants a chance to support a worthy cause while having fun By attending this fundraiser, community members not only get to showcase their vocal talents but also

Relatives of the children who died in the fire at the Mahdia School dormitory on May 22, 2023

examination with the defence attorney, that she had seen an overseas-based doctorwhoaskedheraseries of questions about the fire anditsaftermath.

The teenage girl, who is nowaGradeNinestudentin Secondary School, revealed that she had a virtual conferencewithDr[Amber] Mc Donald, a US-based psychiatrist She recalled speakingtothedoctorforan hourwhileattheofficeofher family lawyer, Mr

Anderson. The witness said sheremembersbeingaskeda lotofquestionsbutshecould not remember specifically what those questions were.

Shesaidthat,too,shehadno difficulty understanding the doctor's questions. The teen toldthecourtthatthedoctor tooknotesasshespokewith her Askedlaterbythelawyer what she recalled about the night of the fire, the young girlnotedthatthedormitory is usually secured by the

house mother, who has the keystothemaindoorsofthe building. She recalled that whenthefirestarted,sheran to where the house mother was sleeping to alert her She recalled that the house mother, Ms Williams, hurriedlygotupandwentto themaindoortoopenit,but thekeysfelloutofherhands. She said that she rushed to the middle door and tried to getitopen,butshecouldnot since the place was tightly secured.

contribute to raising the profile of medical rehabilitation professionals in Guyana, professionals who play a vital role in helping patients recover physicalabilitiesafterinjury orillness.

In a country where h

s sometimes struggle for recognition, events like UGMRSA's karaoke night serveasbothcelebrationand educat

m

nding everyone of the importance ofspeech,language,andthe dedicated students working to build careers in rehabilitationmedicine.

Opposition will not be ‘used’ by Govt. for optics on border controversy

...backs troops and Guyanese - Norton

The Leader of the Opposition made it clear on Thursday that they will not lend support to the Government of Guyana (GoG) only at the State's convenience with regard to the ongoing border

c o n t r o v e r s y w i t h neighbouringVenezuela.

In a televised statement, Norton again expressed concern over the sidelining of the Opposition in Parliamentandoutsideofthe National Assembly, where planning and preparation efforts are concerned at the politicallevel.

He explained, “We have madeanumberofproposals to the government in previous debates in the parliament and in meetings with the President, all of whichthegovernmentfailed tohonour.” WithVenezuela planningtoholdelectionsin the Essequibo Region on May 25, 2025 which would inevitably be preceded by

preparatory acts, including acts within Guyana's Essequibo region, affecting theGuyanesepopulationand Guyana's sovereignty over its territory, the Opposition Leaderexpressedfrustration that government in response is planning a concert and a MotioninParliament.

“We were aware that Venezuela is going to have these elections, or rather sham elections, and the government did absolutely nothing, but now, suddenly, they are telling us about a concert and a motion in parliament,” Norton said The leader added, “We are deeply concerned that the government has no plan to ensure Venezuela is kept at bay Itisridiculous,asfaras weareconcerned,thatwhile the Venezuelans are seeking to hold an election purporting to have a governor in Essequibo, the Guyana government is inviting us to a concert. It

makesabsolutelynosense.”

He pointed out that a Motion was previously passed that states clear actions which should have been taken; however, the governmentfailedtotakethe necessary actions To this end, he explained, “We cannotcontinuetosupporta government that is inactive on the Guyana-Venezuela territorial controversy and seems to only come alive when Venezuela acts up That is unacceptable.As the opposition, we have continuously given our support to the government, but the government refuses toengagetheopposition.”

According to him, the governmenthadtheaudacity to plan concerts without the involvement of oppositioncontrolled regions “They did it all by themselves, but nowcomingtotellusthatwe must support a motion in parliament, that makes no sense to us,” the Leader

argued. Norton pointed out that in a previous meeting withPresidentIrfaanAli,the issue of the handing over of the chairmanship of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs to the oppositionwasraised,where they were informed that a meeting would be convened and Amanza Walton-Desir wouldbeappointedChairof t

To

however,noactionhasbeen takeninthatregard.

Nochanceforoptics

The Opposition Leader said, “Yet you now come seeking our assistance and cooperation We do not intend at all to provide you with the opportunity for optics We want genuine involvement if we are to confronttheproblemsfacing the people of Guyana, especially as they relate to the Guyana-Venezuela territorial controversy.” He added, “There have been no

serious meetings to even discussaplan.Yes,wemade manyproposals,andyoudid notrespondtothem,butyou also failed to convene meetings so that we can discuss critical national issues.Asagovernment,you refused to put our representativesonboards.”

Tothisend,Nortonmade it clear that the Opposition will continue to support the people of Guyana where the controversy with Venezuela is concerned, but any future cooperation or assistance to thegovernmentonthisissue will come only after the government engages and

recognizes the role of the opposition.

He urged Guyanese to understand that the Opposition supports actions to protect Guyana's territorial integrity, but is unhappy with a government that continuously promises to implement decisions and failstodoso.“Thelasttime wedebated,weweretohave a proper national public relations programme The Presidenthimselftoldmehe was going to undertake it, and it never happened. We have had enough of the government wanting our (Continuedonpage23)

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

PresidentAli failed to keep promise for thorough probe inAdrianaYounge’s death – Family

The family of 11-yearoldAdrianaYoungestrongly criticized President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana on Wednesday for what is perceived to be a failure to honour a commitmenttofullysupport the investigation into the child’ssuspiciousdeath.

In a statement released via social media, the family said the President has not fulfilled his promise to deploy all specialized resources to uncover the truth surrounding Adriana’s death.

Adriana’s aunt, Amika Lewis, in a Facebook post, expressed the family’s disappointment, specifically condemningthegovernment’s decision to hire Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), to assist with the investigation. McCoshen is currently in Guyana, aiding the Guyana Police Force with inquiries intoAdriana’sdeath.

Adriana’s body was discovered by her father, Subryan Younge, in the swimmingpooloftheDouble Day International Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo,onApril24,nearly 20hoursaftershewasreported missing during a family outing

In wake of the tragedy, the Younge family made repeated public appeals for international experts, particularly from the FBI, Scotland Yard, or RCMP, to lead the investigation. Their

calls came amid growing publicconcernandcriticism oftheGuyanaPoliceForce’s handlingofthecase.

This week, United States (U S ) Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, confirmed that the Government of Guyana has made no formal request for assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) In the statement, the family said, “This government has fallen short of meeting our family’s (and allofAdriana’suncles,aunts, cousins, etc , around the world) consistent and repeated calls for an internationally respected investigativebodytoleadthe inquiry

”

The family recalled a promise made by President AliontheverydayAdriana’s body was found. “On April 24, 2025, President Irfaan Ali made a solemn promise tothepeopleofGuyanaand to us, the grieving family of Adriana Younge, stating, ‘Noresourceoreffortwillbe spared Whatever specialized resources are

required to determine every aspect of the events and circumstances will be provided ’” However, the family said the government hasnotliveduptothatpledge

“But what have we received in return for that promise? Not the FBI Not ScotlandYard Not the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).Instead,wehavea r

institutional oversight, no formal backing, and no authority beyond symbolic presence, brought in as a lone actor to investigate the suspicious death of an 11year-oldchild.”

They questioned whether this level of engagement represents the President’s definitionof“noeffortwillbe spared” “Is this what PresidentAli meant when he said ‘no effort will be spared’? Is bringing in one retiree meant to satisfy the public’s demand for a thorough, c

dible investigation? Or is it a political performance meant to quiet everyone’s outrage without actually delivering truth?”thefamilyquestioned

The family also reacted torecentcommentsmadeby PresidentAliwhenaskedfor an update on the case. On Monday, the President told reporters, “I’m not going to belabourthispointanymore.

Everything I have committed to in the case… we brought in the independent pathologist; they have done their work.

There’s an independent investigator in, I’ve done what I said I would have done. The political handlers a r e n o w a t w o r k aggressively;letthepolitical handlersdealwithwhatthey want.”

In a strong response, the family said, “Even worse, the President now says ‘political handlers are at play’, an accusation that shifts the narrative away from accountability and attempts to paint a grieving

family’s pursuit of answers aspoliticaldrama.Buthere’s thetruth:wantinganswersis not politics Rejecting mediocrity is not politics.

Asking for justice is not political manipulation, it’s the bare minimum that a democracyshouldprovide!”

They added, “What we arebeinghandedarecrumbs, a symbolic effort, a single outsider,aquietsidestepfrom realinternationalinvolvement

Andyetweareexpectedtosee itasaloafofbread,asifjustice

has been served and truth uncovered ” Calling for meaningful action, the familyurged,“Justiceisnota performance. Justice is a process And anything less than the truth is a betrayal Whatistheretohide?Bringin the FBI Engage Scotland Yard RequesttheRCMP Do ittransparently.”

T h e y e n d e d b y reaffirming that their demands are not politically motivated, “This is not politics.THISISACHILD!”

President Irfaan Ali

WANTED VACANCY

Job openings: Truck drivers,Excavator operator, AC Technician & Health & safety officer. Apply via Whatsapp : 689-1111/ 6082114.

Hick's ville hotel & suitesreceptionist (shift position) hotel attendant (shift position) call : 227-7714 / 6400673 / info@vegeworld.net

Vegetarian Garden- Factory workers, merchandisers porters. call : 227-7714 / 6400673 / info@vegeworld.net

Reputable transportation service is seeking experienced Chauffeur with mini bus and hire car license. Call: 645-0025 / 707-9428.

Domestic (Live in option available), female cook and male & female workers for the interior :660-9093 / 6749999 / 661-5992.

Mason, Plumber, Painter & Tiler needed. Call : 629-8577.

Workers wanted for 6'' Land Dredge. Call : 688-3844.

Wanted One driver to work at Anita's Auto Paint &Motor Spares in Grove. Age 3040. Contact: 226-1287/2261270

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One Unregistered Nissan X-Trail 2016 model, Mode Premiere. Call : 649-0956.

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage PUTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.

SERVICES

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

Need a grocery shopper, ship chandler or visa application preparer: USA, Canada, UK ETA. 626-7040.

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English 1, Maths 2 call 615-9132 or email application to techserigy@yahoo.com

One (1) electrician for Eccles Call 615-9132.

One (1) female cleaner for Eccles office call 645-8443

General Domestic ,Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom village next to the post office. 5 day work

Office assistant Applications with Police clearance to office assistant to Cameron & Shepherd / csmain@ cameronandshepherd.com

Workers to work on farm in Bartica, Attractive salary offered. Call: 633-2338/ 67907906.

Vacancy at Dyna's Embroidery & Screenprints: We are hiring Factory Workers. Tel# 226-2621.

Live in domestic 30-45 years (female) $35,000 weekly. Call : 610-3974.

FOR RENT

A/C Space to rent, can be used for workshops, seminars, private tutoring, Counseling & meetings. Call: 2271028 / 652-2344.

1, five bedroom house, fully furnished, hot & cold water , 25 KVA Generator, spacious parking available.Call : 6858285.

3rd & 4th floor for rent each floor , 3200 x 2 sq ft floor & 1, 3 bedroom house, upstairs residence & ground floor business.Call : 6858285.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE 1-Skid Steer, 3Cement Mixer Trucks, 2Forklifts, 1-Model M Truck, 1-TM Truck#652-0251/6329929/650-0402

1 LF 45 DAF Truck, 1.2 neg, 125 aluminum baking sheet , 60,3 range baking pan $1200 each neg. Call : 6858285.

TRUCK TIRES 295/ 75R22.5 $40K EACH. CALL/WHATSAPP +592688-3201.

High Court rejects GRA’s additional affidavit in Mohamed luxury car case

Justice Gino Persaud rejected an application by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday for an additional affidavit to be admitted as part of its evidence in the tax evasion case against businessman Azruddin Mohamed.

Mohamed is accused of evading taxes on an imported Lamborghini Aventador car.

The GRA filed an affidavit on Wednesday evening, which included bank transfer information as well as an invoice made out to the businessman, which purported to show the cost of the Lamborghini sports car.

The tax agency alluded to documents from the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice, which reportedly shows that the Lamborghini Aventador, declared at US$76,000, was purchased for US$695,000, a staggering difference of over US$600,000.

The Revenue Authority argued that the difference in amounts declared by the businessman’s claim constitutes criminal tax evasion and potentially perjury. GRA disclosed that

Azruddin Mohamed and his Lamborghini Aventador

the documents were received from the U.S. through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

GRA’s attorneys submitted the additional affidavit to the High Court on Wednesday evening. However, Justice Persaud declared that the affidavit could not be admitted to the court at this stage. However, he did not provide justification for his decision but noted that reasons would be provided subsequently in

writing. Sanjeev Datadin, a lawyer for the GRA, told Kaieteur News that the application for an additional affidavit was made as soon as the new information became available. “The information was not available to us, not until yesterday,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Datadin said that Mohamed’s lawyer had not objected to the evidence.

Meanwhile, Mohamed’s attorney, Siand Dhurjon, told the court that the facts in the

case are clear – and the new affidavit was submitted by the GRA in an attempt to belatedly introduce new information to the court.

As such, the High Court granted an application for the written submission by the GRA to be deemed properly filed, and the request for the “further affidavit in defence” was denied. In essence, Justice Persaud ruled that the court will only consider GRA’s written submission during the trial set for September.

GuySuCo made over US$200M More in Revenue...

From page 06 by GuySuCo and cane farmers. Additionally, the three operating estates would have produced and supplied the local, regional and international markets with brown sugar. However, the Caribbean region imports over 200,000 tonnes of white sugar annually and GuySuCo was planning to produce about 50,000 tons of white sugar and

was engaging with another sugar production company in the region that has the capacity to produce white sugar also. This would have required remodeling one or two of the estates to produce brown and white sugar. The company would have continued producing other products, such as molasses. Another new economic activity was sugar tour-

ism, the then management developed a ‘Cultural Heritage (Sugar) Tourism Strategy’ and product, as a new business line. The PPP/C government will come and tell the people of this country during this year’s elections campaign that the sugar industry produced poorly in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 because the APNU+AFC government closed sugar estates during

the reorganization of the sugar industry. However, the question must be asked, how is it that despite the reorganization process, the industry still produced two to three times more sugar from 2016 to 2020, earned over US$200M more and with less resources?

Sincerely, Citizen Audreyanna

Thomas

Govt. to spend $35M to extend Mahdia Secondary School

T h e R e g i o n a l Democratic Council (RDC) ofRegionEightispreparing to spend approximately $35 million of an allocated $2.2 billiontoextendtheMahdia SecondarySchool.

Bidsfortheprojectwere recently opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, where it was revealed that four contractors have appliedfortheproject.They all bid between $29 million and $37 million to execute theproject. Notably, the Regional Administration will be e x t e n d i n g t h e Campbelltown Primary School at a cost of $25 million. The government, through the Ministries of Education and Local Government, have been extending, constructing and maintaining school buildingsacrossthecountry to improve access to education.

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids:

RegionalDemocraticCouncilofRegionEight ExtensionofMahdiaSecondarySchool.

ConstructionofHeavy-DutyGreenHeart TimberBridgeKurukubaruVillage.

ConstructionofHeavy-DutyGreen HeartTimberBridgeTumongVillage.

Supply&DeliveryofNineAll-TerrainVehicles.

Supply&DeliveryofOneNewMotorGrader

ExtensionofPrimarySchool CampbellTownPotaro/Siparuni.

ConstructionofHeavy-DutyGreenHeart TimberBridgeMonkeyMountain/Tuseneng.

VPJagdeoseesnoneedtogiveAdriana’s...

Frompage14 histological analyses, they felt“compelledtoshare”the early findings due to what they described as a “barrage of misinformation being peddled on social media intended to confuse and causepublicmischief.”

The release appeared to address concerns raised by the family’s attorney, who had questioned whether the cause of death had been prematurelydeclared.

“The Guyana Police Force wishes to make it abundantly clear that it was therelativesofthedeceased, their lawyer, and the doctor representing the family who divulged to the press and published on social media the preliminary finding of t h e c a u s e o f death—drowning—fromthe forensic examination. Thus,

the Guyana Police Force categorically rejects the contention of Dexter Todd that the Police, prematurely or at all, released the preliminary finding of the cause of death to the public ”

Inadetailedseven-point release,theGPFoutlinedits preliminary autopsy findings: No evidence of sexual assault – external genitalia examined, hymen intact; no traumatic injuries – soft tissues and skeletal s t r u c t u r e w e r e unremarkable; foam cone foundinnostrilsandmouth–often seen in drowning cases;“Washerwoman”skin changes – consistent with prolongedwaterimmersion; no antemortem injuries –skin was intact prior to death; liquid in sphenoid sinus – a brain cavity; also

consistent with drowning; liquidinlungs–anotherkey indicatorofdrowning

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Dr Todd confirmed that, despite formally requesting a copy of the report, he nor the family had received the preliminary autopsy findings. “We do not have a preliminary report as yet,” Dr Todd told Kaieteur News.

Adriana’s body was discovered by her father, Subryan Younge, in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, on April 24, nearly20hoursaftershewas reported missing during a familyswimmingtrip.

ThePMEwasconducted on April 28 by Barbadian pathologist Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul at the

GeorgetownPublicHospital

Corporation (GPHC)

Observing the examination were two international experts:Dr GaryL.Collins, ChiefMedicalExaminerfor the State of Delaware, and Dr Glenn A. Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.

Although the PME confirmed drowning as the cause of death, the exact time of death remains unknown, and toxicology resultsarepending.

Unconvinced by the findings, Adriana’s family has formally requested an independent review of the PMEdocumentation.

They have also confirmed that a second autopsywillbeconductedin theUnitedStates.

The body is expected to beflownoutbynextweek.

Opposition will not be ‘used’ by Govt. for optics...

Frompage20 supportwhenVenezuelaacts up, but then applies dictatorial methods to the peopleofGuyana,depriving them of freedom, depriving them of liberty, and the governmentoperatingasifit has the Transport for Guyana. We will bring it to an end. There will not be cooperation and support in such an environment,” Nortonstated.

He said that Opposition members are aware that the arbitral award of 1899 settled the question of the border between Guyana and Venezuela “Essequibo belongs to us, and we will continue our constant support to ensure Essequibo

continues to be the property of Guyana. We support the casebeforetheInternational Court of Justice (ICJ), and webelievethatwewillhave a positive outcome, and it is our view that all parties should honour the outcome of the judgment at the ICJ,” headded.

Additionally, Norton cited support for the country’s soldiers as he pointed out the need for more resources to be allocated in that direction.

“We denounce Venezuela’s so-called elections in Essequibo. There can be no suchelections.NoGuyanese

should be voting or be allowed to vote in such an election.Suchelectionsarea violation of international law, and we support the actionstobetakentoensure that there are no elections heldintheEssequibo,which belongs to Guyana,” the Leaderstated.

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 114 people, hospitals and rescuers say

At least 114 Palestinians havebeenkilledinIsraeliair strikesacrosstheGazaStrip onThursday,healthofficials andrescuerssaid.

Israeli forces have been intensifying their bombardment of what they say are Hamas fighters and infrastructure ahead of a planned expansion of their groundoffensiveinGaza.

ItcomesasUSPresident Donald Trump visits the region and indirect negotiations on a new ceasefireandhostagerelease deal between Hamas and Israelcontinue.

Later, the top US diplomat Marco Rubio said theUSwas“troubled”bythe humanitarian situation in Gaza. Asked by the BBC if the Trump administration remained fully behind the nature of Israel’s military action given the scale of the recent Israeli attacks and its bombing of hospitals, he said: “We’re not immune or inanywayinsensitivetothe suffering of the people of Gaza,andIknowthatthere’s opportunitiesheretoprovide aidforthem.”

Gaza has been under a completeIsraeliblockadeof all food and other humanitariansuppliesfor10 weeks. Rubio once again

calledonHamastosurrender and release the hostages it continues to hold and said there could be no peace so longasthegroupexists.

Hamas meanwhile accusedIsraeliPrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu of “undermin[ing] mediation effortsbydeliberatemilitary escalation”.

An Israeli government spokesmansaidIsraelwanted negotiations on hostage releases to succeed, but that they would take place while Hamas was under “military pressure”.

Israel issues major evacuation order for PalestiniansshelteringinGaza City In southern Gaza the streets of KhanYounis were filled with funeral processions and grieving families on Thursday morning, following what residents said were the deadliest set of air strikes in thecitysinceIsraelresumed its offensive almost two monthsago.

Some 56 people, including women and children, were killed when homes and tents sheltering displaced families were bombedovernightinthecity, the local Nasser hospital said.TheIsraelimilitarysaid it struck Hamas and

Palestinian Islamic Jihad fightersinsouthernGaza.

One man told BBC Arabic’s Middle East Daily programme that Nasser hospital’s mortuary was “filled beyond capacity”, and that several bodies had to be placed in the corridor beforetheycouldbeburied.

Doctors were forced to treat wounded people, including those with burns, amputations and internal bleeding, on stretchers, benchesandonthefloordue toalackofbeds,hesaid.

“Among those killed

today were 36 children... Entire families have been wiped from the civil registry,” he added “Tragically, this level of destruction has become part ofdailylife.”

One video shared by a localactivistshowedmedics laying dozens of bodies on the ground at a local cemetery An imam stood nearby leading prayers for hundreds of mourners gathered behind him in orderlyrows.

Safaa al-Bayouk, a 42year-old mother of six, said

hersonsMuath,whowassix weeksold,andMoataz,who was one year and four months,werekilledinoneof thestrikes.

“I gave them dinner and they went to sleep. It was a normal day [then] the world turned upside down,” she told Reuters news agency Reemal-Zanaty,13,said heruncle’sfamily,including her 12-year-old cousin Menna, were killed when their two homes were bombed. “We didn’t feel or hearanythinguntilwewoke

up with rubble on us,” she said.“TheCivilDefencedid not come. I will tell you honestlywepulledourselves [out].Myfatherhelpedus.”

Medics said local journalist Hassan Samour, who worked for Hamas-run al-Aqsa Radio, was killed along with 11 members of his family when their home in the eastern Bani Suheila neighbourhoodwasstruck. Reem al-Zanaty said she woke up covered in rubble after an overnight strike on her home and had to be rescuedbyherfather

In northern Gaza, the CivilDefenceagencysaidits first responders had recovered the bodies of four people following Israeli strikes in the northern town ofBeitLahiaandtwoothers inthecentraltownofDeiralBalah.

Later, spokesman Mahmoud Basal reported that an Israeli strike on a home in Jabalia town had killedallfivemembersofthe Shihabfamily Palestinian news agency Wafareportedthat15people were killed, including 11 children, when the alTawbah health clinic and prayerhallintheal-Fakhouri areaofJabaliarefugeecamp wasbombed.

Injured Palestinian child, Yousef Al-Bayouk, weeps over his brothers, Moath and Moataz, who were killed in Israeli strikes, as mourners attend their funeral, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Cricket West Indies pushing for Olympic Inclusion

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) insisting that the unique configuration of West Indies cricket be fairly accommodated in ongoing discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding qualification for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 OlympicGames.

In its correspondence,

CWI outlined two inclusive and practical qualification pathways that would enable sovereign Caribbean nations many of which have deep Olympic legacies—to participate in Olympic cricket in accordance with the values and requirements of the OlympicCharter

Dr Kishore Shallow, President of Cricket West Indies, made a compelling

call for fairness and inclusion: “The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance. Cricket’s return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes The Olympic Charteremphasizesfairness, transparency, and universality We are simply

asking that these principles beupheld—notjustinspirit, but in structure. West Indies cricketmusthaveapathway, and fully deserves an opportunitytocompete.”

Cricket West Indies’ proposal comes in light of the current Olympic rules that would exclude West Indies Men and Women teams from Olympic participation Given this situation,CWIisadvocating foreither.

Friday May 16, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.

CANCER(June21–July22)

If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra. There's an incredible opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb.

18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.

shut out of history We are ready to collaborate. We are readytocompete.Butabove all, we are asking for fairness.”

CWI is committed to constructive dialogue with the ICC and welcomes the opportunitytoworktogether in shaping a qualification processthatrespectsboththe Olympic ethos and the realities of cricket in the Caribbean.(CWI)

L. Mahabeer and Son Cambio...

Frompage33 embraced the tournament, whether through financial means or other forms of support.

If rankings are used and WestIndiesmenandwomen teamstechnicallyqualify,an internal qualifying tournament among its Olympic affiliated member countries will determine whichcountryrepresentsthe WestIndies.

A global qualifying pathway that includes associate ICC members in the 5 ICC Development Regions plus member countriesoftheWestIndies.

CWI’ssubmissiontothe ICC cites the Olympic Charter’s Bye-law to Rule 40, which mandates that qualificationcriteriamustbe “fair and transparent” and designedinlinewiththecore principles of the Olympic Movement.

These include universal representation,equalaccess, and the participation of the best athletes from all regions.

Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer of CWI, emphasized the need for meaningful engagement:

“Allweareaskingisthatour individual nations’ exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation. The structure of West Indies cricket is unique— men and women teams representing 15 individual nations and territories,eachwithitsown Olympicidentity Wecannot let this once-in-a-generation opportunity for national development pass without creating a way for our countries to participate. The spiritoftheOlympicGames that we have played an important global role in fostering, demands nothing less.”

“Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums as perennial gold medalists Now, with cricket’s inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not

Anandjit added that plans are moving full steam for the grand Independence T10 Cup, with teams and players to be announced in thecomingdays.

Eightfirstdivisionteams from the county will compete for top honours, with the format being a one gameknockout.

Total cash prize of G$500,000andtrophieswill be up grabs at the one day event.

While the teams will be represented by players within the respective associations, each team is allowed two guest players fromothercounties.

The champion team is guaranteed G$250,000 cash plus trophy; the runners-up G$150,000 and trophy, while the losing semifinalists will be receive G$50,000each.

On the individual side, Man-of-the-Match in the semi-finals and final will receiveatrophy Action will bowl off at 10:00h and conclude under floodlights.

Juniors test their mettle in Kraft Mac and Cheese Skill Level Squash Tournament

-Action continues today

With eyes set on the upcoming Junior CASA Championship in the Cayman Islands this June, the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) served uptheannualKraftMacand Cheese Skill Level Squash Tournament at the National Racquet Centre, starting Tuesday This year’s edition features a competitive round-robin format and has been spiced up with the inclusion of eight senior playerstopushthejuniorsto elevatetheirgame.

Theopeningtwodaysof play delivered exciting rallies, upsets, and strong court performances across all divisions, creatively namedafterKraftflavours.

Day One Highlights In The Cheesiest division, Demetrius DeAbreu got off to a winning start, defeating Shiloh Asregado in his opening match Over in Thick and Creamy, Zoey McDonald edged out Anna Perreira in a tightly contestedbout,whileAzaria Proffitmadehermarkinthe Original category with a solidwinoverJudeGobin.

Other juniors making their way to the winners’ circle included Mandica Munroe,ZaharaBelle,Tiana Gomes,MiguelWong,Javon Daziel, Tehani Munroe, Justin Goberdhan,

Christopher Lowe, Kaiden Alli, Maxwell Viapree, DanielLowe,JabrilAlli,and Matthew Daby, all notching earlywinsasthetournament gotintofullswing.

Day two brought even more intense rallies and competitive matchups In Original, Jude Gobin bounced back from his dayoneloss,dispatchingConnor Jacobus in straight games. Azaria Proffit maintained her unbeaten run with a clinical3-0winoverIngram Edwards, dropping just 10 pointsacrossthethreegames (11-3,11-1,11-6).

Tiana Gomes kept her momentum going in Thick and Creamy, outlasting Kristian Viapree 3-1 in a physical four-gamer: 11-1, 11-0, 7-11, 11-6 Zoey McDonald also picked up her second win of the tournament, narrowly edgingMaxwellViapree3-2 inanail-biter.

Meanwhile, Nidal Bacchus came out strong against Anna Perreira, winning in straight games: 11-5,11-8,11-7.

In White Cheddar, both Mandisa Munroe and Ella Fernandes dominated their opponents. Munroe battled throughatightsecondgame butheldhernervetowin3-0 against Zahara Bell (11-5, 14-12, 12-10), while

performance.

Three Cheese served up one of the most entertaining encounters of the day, with Jamie McDonald outlasting Lydia Fraser in a five-game thriller:11-7,11-5,7-11,1012, 11-9. Elsewhere in the same division, Jabril Alli m

f Maxwell Viapree (3-0), and Kaiden Alli cruised past Nidal Bacchus in straight games.

In The Cheesiest, Justin Ten Pow and Shiloh Asregado opened their campaigns with confidence. Ten Pow defeated Miguel Wong, while Asregado rebounded from his earlier loss to sweep Ethan Bulkan 3-0.

The Spiral division featured four competitive matchups on Wednesday, withJustinGoberdhan,Egan Bulkan,BlakeEdwards,and Emily Fung-A-Fat all notching convincing victories as they build momentum heading into the tournament’slatterstages.

Matches continued ThursdayattheGeorgetown Club,withmoreskill-testing showdowns expected. Stay tuned for continued coverage in our upcoming edition.

Swamy smashes perfect century to setup impressive victory

The East Bank of

Demerara/Ryan Dookie Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament continued with four thrilling encounters overtheweekend,asEccles, Uprising, Herstelling, and Demolition Cricket Club secured crucial wins on the roadtotheknockoutstages.

At Laluni Ground on Saturday,EcclesSportsClub

delivered a dominant performance, thrashing Diamond Sports Club by 69 runs in a rain-shortened match.Sentintobat,Eccles postedaformidable124-5in just 10 overs Navindra Persaudledthechargewitha blistering67,includingeight fours and two towering sixes, while Nehemiah

Honhenkirk contributed a solid25. In response, Diamond faltered under scoreboard pressure,managingonly557fromtheir10overs.Eccles’ bowlers stifled the batting line-up,withReyazLatif(28), Krsna Singh (2-9), and

-Persaud’shalfcenturyleadsEcclesto69-runwin

LucianSam(2-7)sharingthe spoils in an impressive allroundteameffort.

In the second match, UprisingCricketClubedged pastSilverBulletSportClub in a last-ball thriller Silver Bullet batted first and were bowled out for 121 in 19.2 overs. Ridge Rajaram (29) and Ronaldo Blair (31) offered resistance, but Uprising’s Mohamed Baksh wreaked havoc with figures of 4-14, ably supported by MiguelPark(2-23).

Chasing 122 for victory, Uprisingheldtheirnerveina tense

y Hutson struck 26 with two boundaries, Triston Bynoe playedacomposedunbeaten knock of 19, and Michael

Subadar’svital17ensureda five-wicket win with one balltospare,astheyreached 125-5.

Sunday’s actionfeatured another pair of intense clashes. Herstelling Cricket Club claimed a comfortable 27-run win over Patrewta Sawmill Cricket Club Batting first, Herstelling posted 94 from their 10 overs In reply, Patrewta Sawmill could only reach 67-5, failing to accelerate againstdisciplinedbowling.

In the final match of the

Providence Cricket Club by acommanding101runs.Star batterLeonSwamylitupthe ground with a sensational

unbeaten century, blasting 100* studded with 12 sixes and a solitary four Joshua Ferrell added a brisk 33, powering Demolition to a mammoth223-7.

P r o v i d e n c e , overwhelmed by the target, endedtheirinningsat122-7.

Ferrell also shone with the

ball, claiming 2-17, while Nathaniel Ramkhelawan took 2-20 to

the emphaticvictory

More exciting action is settounfoldthisweekendas thetournamentheadstoward itsclimax.Staytunedforfull coverage in the next edition ofthisnewspaper

Kellogg’sUnder14IndoorHockey Leaguecontinuestoday...

Frompage30

Junior Jets Boys SHC

Scorpions defeated SHC

Snipers 1 – 0 OFHC

Warriors defeated SHC

Sigma3-1

GCC Pitbulls defeated HikersHatchets10–0

SHC Scorpions received a walkover from GCC War Dogs

North Ruimveldt

Multilateral received a walkover from GCC War Dogs

Leon Swamy strokes T/20 century for Demolition Cricket Club.

Kellogg’s Under14 Indoor Hockey League continues today

The Guyana Hockey Board Kellogg’s Under 14 Indoor League got off to an exciting start last Friday at the St. Stanislaus College auditorium.

The tournament features tenboys’teamsandsixgirls’ teams from both clubs and schools.Theobjectiveofthe tournament is to develop young athletes through the league format, while simultaneously creating opportunities for young umpires and match officials togainexperience.

The league will run for six weeks, played on Friday afternoons from 4:007:00pmattheauditoriumsof St Stanislaus College, Marian Academy and tentatively Richard Ishmael and North Ruimveldt Multilateral.

Friday’s action saw experience dominating with GCC Pit Bulls mauling Hikers Hatches 10-0 in the boys’ category, while girls’ team Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Slayers demolished

their first form counterparts SHCSensations3-0. In another all SHC encounter, SHC Scorpions squeaked past SHC Snipers throughaJaydenGhansham penalty stroke Despite playing one player short, Old Fort Hockey Club (OFHC) High Fliers defeated North Ruimveldt Multilateral 3-1, thanks to a Jasmine De Santos penalty strokeandaRoyannSancho double. Omalo Layne also produced a scintillating performance, scoring a hattrick for OFHC Warriors astheydefeatedSHCSigma 3-1. Action continues this today at Marian academy from 4:30-7:00pm with thirteen matches scheduled totakeplace.

FullResultsfromFriday May 9, 2025 Girls SHC Slayers defeated SHC Sensations 3-0 OFHC High Fliers defeated North Ruimveldt Multilateral 3-1 GCCHer-ricanesreceiveda walkoverfromHikers (Continuedonpage29)

Celtics beat Knicks to keep play-off hopes alive

BBCSport-TheBoston Celtics kept themselves in the NBA play-offs with a win against the New York Knicks as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors to reach the Western Conferencefinal.

TheCeltics,thereigning NBA champions, were 3-1 down in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinalandmissingstarplayer JaysonTatum,whowentoff injuredingamefourandhas had surgery on a ruptured Achilles.

However, they earned a convincing 127-102 win at TDGardenthankstoDerrick White’s 34 points, and 26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds from Jaylen Brown.

Gamefivewilltakeplace in New York on Friday at 20:00 local time (Saturday 01:00BST).

“Wemadewinningplays on both ends of the floor,”

Finch) said at the end of the regularseasonthatwedidn’t do anything as far as trades or firing coaches. We just stuck together and we got throughittogether

“I’m super proud of our team, everybody that stepped up in some type of way this year We’ve got to keepgoing.”

TheWarriorsdidnotwin a game since losing star player Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury in game one.

Derrick White made seven three-pointers for the Boston Celtics. (Getty Images)

said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla “They made enough plays to win - gave usanotherchancetoplay.”

The Timberwolves beat the Warriors 121-110 to secure a 4-1 Western Conference semi-final playoffserieswin.

Julius Randle scored 29 pointsandAnthonyEdwards contributed22pointsand12

assistsfortheTimberwolves

Timberwolves will play the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference final, withtheformerleadingtheir series3-2.

“It’s great,” said Randle.

“We’ve had a season full of adversity Coach (Chris

“Injuries are part of the play-offs,” said coach Steve Kerr “I learned a long time ago that the play-offs are really about health and then just guys stepping up and making some big shots, big plays in key games. That’s whatdecideseveryseries.

“We’ve been on both endsofthat.There’snosense indwellingonit,andIdon’t want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished.”

Sunil Mangru crowned National 9-Ball Pools champion

popularity of cue sports in Guyana and the rising standards of local talent.

Organizers hailed the event as a milestone for the sport, citing strong participation and enthusiastic spectator supportthroughout.

The championship was made possible through generous sponsorship from FireballCinnamonWhiskey, WebsourceGuyana,Peerless

Frompage32

mentioning that a legion of quality players will be on show

Solutions, Global Imaging Services, Mandy Mangru, Andy’sAutoSpares,Sunil& Son Pool Bar, Suraj Sports Bar,andEmbassyAmerican Style Bar With this victory, Sunil Mangru has firmly established himself as a dominant force in the nationalcuesportscene,and fans will be eagerly anticipating his next appearanceonthetable.

The action-packed final rounds unfolded last SaturdayatSurajSportsBar, w h i c h h o s t e d t h e quarterfinals, semifinals, andchampionshipmatch The tournament, which kicked off

Inathrillingfinaletothe Cue Sport Association of Guyana (CSAG) and Fireball National 9-Ball Pools Championships, Sunil Mangruemergedasthe2025 National Champion, outplayingatalentedfieldin the country’s largest and most prestigious 9-ball tournamenttodate.

in early April, drew 64 of Guyana’s best pool players from districts across the country, showcasing a high level of skill, precision, and competitive spirit Mangru clinched the top spot after a series of intense matchups, withStevenPersaudfinishing

asrunner-up. Kevin Mangru and Kamil Husain shared third place honours, while Jerry Josie, Hakeem Ali, Mario Albert, and Saif Persaud rounded out the top eight in joint fifth The success of the tournament reflects the growing

He also expressed immense gratitude to all the teams for their continued participation not only for this year’s edition but since the Leaguewasfoundedin2021 Layne stated that his appreciationgoesouttoallthe sponsorsandagaintheyhave shown tremendous loyalty to keep softball cricket lively in theRegion Forthechampion game, the winning team will begivenajerseytoeachplayer

as they wanted them to be recognized for their effort. Laynementionedtherewillbe musical entertainment and live commentary as fans can haveatreatonthatday Meanwhile, for the semifinal segment, some of the prominent softball players coming out are: Patrick Rooplall, who has been in terrific form, the consistent ImamGafoor,stalwartJaimini Singh, Teddy Manchal, Ramzan Rasool, Punraj Singh, Latchman Rohit, Ganesh Mangal among others.

Fireball sponsored National 9-Ball Pool Tournament concluded in style as the winners share the spotlight at the presentation.

NSCcongratulatesNoelonhistoric GoldatPanAquaticsChampionships

The National Sports Commission(NSC),through Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, has extended congratulationstoGuyanese swimmer Raekwon Noel following his gold-medal performance on Tuesday eveningattheinauguralPan Aquatics Championships in Medellín,Colombia.

Noel,afreshmanatIndiana University, is representing Guyana alongside 16-year-old Shareefah Lewis at the prestigious event, which features athletes from 31 countries and is organized by PanAm Aquatics, the governing body for aquatic sportsintheAmericas

Competing in the fiercely contestedMen’s19–22100m butterfly, Noel touched the wall in a blistering 5400 seconds, narrowly edging out Venezuela’s Manuel Diaz (54.27s) and Puerto Rico’s Andrés Brooks (54.52s) in a narrow finish. His outstandingperformancenot

only saw him won gold, but also shattered Guyana’s national record of 56 35 seconds, which he had previously set in February 2023attheNationalAquatic Centre.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, I would like to e x t e n d h e a r t f e l t congratulations to Raekwon

Noel for his historic achievement in Colombia,” Ninvallesaidinastatement

Ninvalle commended Noel’s discipline, steady p r o g r e s s i o n , a n d unwavering commitment to excellence, noting that the NSC is proud to support an athlete who embodies both national pride and internationalpromise.

“Swimming in Guyana needed a resurgence, and Raekwon has become that beacon of hope,” Ninvalle added “Weremaincommitted to supporting him and other promising athletes as they continue to raise the Golden Arrowhead on the global stage” Meanwhile, Lewis also impressed in the pool, registeringapersonalbestof 33 47 seconds in the Women’s 16–18 50m backstroke to place eighth overall. “We also want to commend Shareefah on her performance,” Ninvalle said. “Every race is a step forward It’s not always aboutmedals;sometimesit’s about growth and she’s certainlyontherightpath.”

Noel’s campaign in Medellín is far from over, with the 200m butterfly, 100mbackstroke,and400m freestylestillahead.

Lewis will also return to action in the 50m freestyle and50mbutterflyevents.

ESCL Over-40, T20 semi-final showdown this Sunday at Reliance Sports ground

The Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) Over-40, T20 semi-final showdown is set for this Sunday at Reliance Sports Ground, Essequibo Coast, Region 2 (PomeroonSupenaam).

Two months ago, eight teams began participation andnowfoursidesstillinthe race for a top-prize of $100,000andatrophy

Excitement galore is highly anticipated from 10:00 am when defending champions Caribbean Cricket Club 2 will be matching their skills against RichmondUnited.

The other fixture is also slated for the same facility from 1:00 pm as Essequibo Legends competing with HiberniaStrikers.

The grand finale will take place also at Reliance the following Sunday at a time to be announced, but Chairman of the League

Wakeel Layne is very optimistic that the next two rounds will be entertaining fromball-one.

Layne informed that the runners-up side will cart off $50,000andatrophyaswell along with more monetary prizes for players and teams for various and outstanding performances.

L a y n e t o o k t h e opportunity to wish the remaining teams good luck and predicting some fierce andcompetitivecricket, (Continuedonpage31)

Raekwon Noel with his historic gold medal at the Pan Am Aquatics Championship.

Patrick Rooplall

Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance joins list of sponsors onboard T15 Women’s Tournament

Hand-in-Hand

MutualFireand Life Insurance

recentlyaddedtheirnameto the list of sponsors onboard for the inaugural Precision Sports T-15 Women’s Cricket Tournament set for thisSummer

The tournament will target the growth of Women’s Cricket in Guyana, with action being hosted at the LBI Community Centre Ground fromAugust9-16,2025.

Accordingtoorganisers, this exciting event aims to elevate women’s cricket in theregionbyprovidinglocal players with invaluable

exposure, development opportunities, and the chance to showcase their skillsonabiggerstage.

One of the key features of the tournament is the screening session that will bring together players from Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice who will compete for a spot on a select team representingGuyana.

Squads from Trinidad and Tobago will also be competinginthelocalevent whichwillseeavastamount of talent from across the Caribbean.

Precision Sports further explained that the primary aim of the T-15 Women’s

L. Mahabeer and

Son

L. Cambio partners with DCB for Independence T10 Cup

Corporate support continuestostreaminforthe Demerara Cricket Board’s ( D C B ) u p c o m i n g IndependenceT10Cupwith L Mahabeer and Son

Cambio the latest establishment to commit to thetournament.

Thefund-raisingeventis slatedforMay25attheLBI

Ground, East Coast Demerara CEO of L Mahabeer and Son Cambio

Lookeshwar ‘Vick’ Mahabeer earlier this week presented a financial contribution to Secretary of the DCB Davteerth Anandjit. The presentation took place at the cambio’s location on King Street, Georgetown. Mahabeer, an ardent cricket fan and West Indies Over-40 player, expressed his delight in becoming a partner of the

Cricket Tournament was to

opportunities for Guyanese women cricketers Regal Stationery, Jacob’s Jewelry Anil Beharry Real Estate among other entities have alreadythrowntheirsupport behindtheendeavor

highly anticipated tournament. He wished the DCBwellinitsendeavourto garner much-needed funds to aid in the growth and development of the sport in thecountyofDemerara.

L. Mahabeer and Son Cambio is the fifth business to support the tournament, joining Office Express, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Anil Beharry Real Estate, Construction and General Business Services and Naven’sConstruction.

Anandjit commended Mahabeer for his kind gesture, as he reiterated the importance of corporate support to foster the developmentofthegame.

TheDCBexecutivesaid the board is extremely gratefultoeveryonewhohas (Continuedonpage27)

Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance representative Brandon Singh (left) alongside Precision Sports Founder Nidia Andrews (right) following the donations of three trophies.

Businessman Lookeshwar ‘Vick’Mahabeer (left) presents the sponsorship to Secretary of the DCB Davteerth Anandjit.

Cricket West Indies pushing

Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of Cricket West Indies. (CWI)