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Ram knocks “misleading, financial statements” by oil companies

One dead, another

K a i e t e u r N e w s acknowledgestheJune22,2025 statementissuedbytheMinistry of Natural Resources (MNR), attempting to address the growing disquiet over the discrepancy between Guyana's reportedoilrevenuesofUS$2.6 billion and the US$10+ billion in profits declared by the Stabroek Block co-venturers. Unfortunately, the Ministry's responseisinadequate,evasive, and in places, dangerously misleading.

Asarefresherforallreaders, the issue at hand is how in a 50:50profitsharingpartnership, and with ExxonMobil's own financials for 2024 as the basis, there is this ongoing effort to obscure how the consortium received US$10.4 billion, and Guyana's share was US$2.6 billion Of note, is how ExxonMobil first sat on this for almost three weeks, and then influenced MNR to do what is nothing but lapdog duty for it. Meanwhile, investors reading the co-venturers handsome 2024 profit numbers from Guyana could have made investment decisions based on thosesameprofitnumbersbeing carried in the international media.

While the Ministry is technically correct in distinguishing between "profit oil" under the PSA and "accountingprofit"underIFRS, thisisadistractionfromthereal and urgent problem: the total

lack of transparency in the financial disclosures of the oil companiesoperatinginGuyana. The public has been given no dataon: thenumberofliftsallocated toeachparty, the split between cost oil andprofitoil, orhowmuchoftherevenue claimedascostrecoveryrelates to current-year expenditure versus the recovery of prior years'unrecoveredcosts.

This opacity raises serious doubts about the credibility of the financials. Under the PSA, upto75%ofoilrevenuecanbe takenascostrecovery,butasthe respectivestatements,thepublic hasnowayofknowingwhether the contractors' declarations are reasonable, let alone accurate. Even more troubling is the fact thattheseprofitdeclarationsare being paraded in the international press - and are being taken at face value by analysts, investors, and even potential acquirers like Chevron Yet these same financial statements, audited by the same firm, vary wildly in structure and disclosure. This inconsistencyaloneshouldraise redflags.

Itisofdeepconcernthatthe Ministry of Natural Resources astheregulatorofthepetroleum sector is treading on dangerous grounds when it tries to explain or justify the private financial reportingofExxonMobil,Hess, orCNOOC.

Dead: Jamal Hughes

CharteredAccountant, Christopher Ram

Ram knocks “misleading, financial

..says govt. also guilty of deception statements” by oil companies

Amid growing concerns over the discrepancy between Guyana's reported oil revenues of US$2 6 billion and the US$10 4 billioninprofitsdeclaredby the Stabroek Block co-

venturers, Chartered

Accountant Christopher

Ram has said that while the country'sleadersboastabout

revenue inflows, the foundational elements of transparency – consolidated projectaccounts,propercost audits, and consistent financial reporting are

glaringly absent or deliberatelyobfuscated.

Rammadethecomments in one of his columns published in the Stabroek Newslastweek.

HesaidGuyanesepeople remain in the dark as to whether they are receiving even the bare minimum

promised under the Agreement, including their so-called50%shareofprofit

oil On June 5, Yahoo Finance reported that ExxonMobil Corporation and its partners, Hess

Fromfrontpage

Corporation and China's CNOOC, reported a combined profit of $10.4 billion from their oil operations in Guyana in 2024, marking a 64 per cent year-on-ye

ump, according to ExxonMobil's latestoperationalupdate.

The surge was driven by expanded production capacity and favourable fiscal terms that continue to make Guyana one of the most lucrative oil plays globally, Yahoo Finance reported.

“ExxonMobil alone booked $4 7 billion in adjusted earnings from its Guyanaoperationslastyear, contributing substantially to itsglobalearningsof$33.46 billion Meanwhile, Hess posted$3.1billioninprofits from the region, up from $1.9 billion in 2023, while CNOOCearned$2.5billion, risingfrom$1.5billion,”the articlesaid.

Ram wrote that nearly eight years after the signing of the now-infamous 2016 Petroleum Agreement, it is clearthatneithertheforeign

oil companies nor the GovernmentofGuyanahave any real interest in accountability He pointed out that Annex 2 of the Agreement, which sets out the companies' reporting obligations, is weak and ineffectual “Reports are submitted solely to the Minister, with no legal requirement for publication orindependentaudit.

There is no consolidated f

statement, no disaggregated costdata,andnomechanism to ensure that the separately p

statements with limited, inconsistent, and opaque information is accurate, reliableandtimely

As a result, neither Parliament nor the public can verify whether the oil companies are overstating costs or underreporting profits To correct this, Government should mandate publication of all Annex 2 statements, require independent project audits, and adopt the EITI standard infull,”Ramsaid.

response to MNR's...

These companies are legally and commercially separate from the State of Guyana. It is inappropriate and arguably irresponsible for the Government to act as their public relations arm. Instead, the Ministryshouldbedemandingthattheseoil companiespublishstandardised,consistent, and complete disclosures so the Guyanese peoplecanassesswhethertheyarereceiving afairdeal.Untilthathappens,thesefinancial statementsandtheGovernment'sattemptto explain them must be regarded as inadequate, misleading, and potentially damaging to Guyana's international reputation. If the Government continues to accept this level of opacity and inconsistency, it sends the wrong signalthat Guyana is indifferent to accountability in the management of its most valuable naturalresource.

WethereforecallontheMinistryto:

1. Publicly acknowledge that current financialdisclosuresbytheStabroekBlock operatorsareunsatisfactory

2. That Guyanese, as the owners of the country'spetroleumresourceshavearightto knowwhyandhowthecountry'sshareofthe proceedsfromtheStabroekBlockdifferbya factor of almost 5:1 in favour of the oil companies.

3. Demand that the oil companies publish full and harmonised financial statements, clearly distinguishing between cost recovery (current and past) and actual periodprofit.

4. Recognise that failure to do so may bringGuyanaintodisreputeininternational financial,development,andanti-corruption fora.

Thisisnolongeratechnicalissue.Itisa test of the Government's commitment to transparency and its duty to protect the patrimonyoftheGuyanesepeople.

He said what makes matters worse “is the inconsistent, and in some cases misleading, financial disclosures by the oil companies themselves – all audited by the same firm.

O n l y C N O O C acknowledges the joint operation classification under IFRS 11 while Hess and Exxon remain silent on the nature of the arrangement.” Ram said on taxation, CNOOC correctly states that the Government paysthecontractor'sincome taxesoutofitsshareofprofit oil.However,hesaidExxon evades the issue entirely, while Hess claims to be subject to a 25% corporate income tax, even producing a tax computation – a misleading practice at best, andadishonestoneatworst. “ThecontentsoftheIncome Statements are all different. Even the reporting currency lacks consistency Hess reports in U S dollars, CNOOC in millions of Guyana dollars, and Exxon inGuyanadollars.

T h e n t h e r e a r e differences in treatment and disclosure of items like royalties, retirement

o b l i g a t i o n s a n d Decommissioning and Royalties.

Such differences frustrate comparability, undermineauditquality,and suggest that the companies are dictating the terms of disclosuretotheirauditors–not the other way around,” the chartered accountant observed.

According to Ram since the Government pays the corporate tax of all the companies from its share of profitoil,thereshouldbeno differential treatment. “Yet,

the effective tax rate on the incomeearnedbyeachofthe companies differs significantly This is not helped by three divergent disclosure notes, the reason for which is far from apparent Even more troubling is the illusion of equity embedded in the socalled 50/50 profit-sharing arrangement. The financial statements of the oil

c o m p a n i e s s h o w multibillion-dollar earnings while Guyana's share remains comparatively meagre. The ratio for the year 2024 and cumulatively for the five years to December 2024 is in excess of5:1.”

Deception

Meanwhile, turning his attentiontotheGovernment, Ram said the administration tooisguiltyofopacity,ifnot deception. “Public filings of Exxon and Hess in the US suggestthattheGovernment issues them with proper tax certificates confirming the discharge of their Guyana tax obligations,” he said, pointingoutthatnomoneyis paidoutofGuyana'sshareof profitoilandtherearenooil company taxes paid into the ConsolidatedFund. Hesaid the rules of EITI, the principlesofaccounting,and transparency require full, c o m p l e t e a n d comprehensible disclosure.

d transparency,orwhetherthe Governmentmanipulatesthe NFR or whether Tax Certificates are issued for moneynotreceived.”

R a m a l s o s a i d compoundingthesefinancial distortions is the government's ongoing failure to enforce one of the fewclearpowersithasunder the Agreement: the relinquishment clause. He said Exxon and Coventurers were required to surrender 20% of the Stabroek Block contract area nearly a year ago.“Instead,wearetoldthe M

rces is still “finalising” the areas to be givenup.”

“Whichever accounting route is followed – whether thetaxesaredeductedbefore transfer to the Natural ResourceFund,orafter–the outcome is equally misleading.” Ram said because the NRF has a significant c o m p o n e n t o f intergenerational funds, the Government has an interest in window-dressing the balance – to make it seem better than it is “It is therefore comfortable manipulating the balance by not reflecting the amount of thetaxrequiredtobepaidon behalf of the oil companies. The oil companies for their part,arenotconcernedabout

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

KaieteurNews

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EDITORIAL

Criminal defamation

Thestrikingoutofthecriminaldefamationcaseagainst USactivistRickfordBurkelastweekintheHighCourtisa welcomedecisionforthiscountry

In handing down her decision, last week Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire declared that the offence of defamatory libel is inconsistent with the freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 146 of the constitution. Shenotedtoothatinamoderndemocraticsocietysuchas Guyana’sifsomeonefeelsaggrievedbywhathasbeensaid aboutthem,theymayfileacivilsuit.“Itisdeclaredthatthe resort to criminal defamatory libel to protect individual reputationisunnecessary,disproportionatelyexcessiveand not justified and or required to protect reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons and are unconstitutional as beinginviolationofArticle146:6whichisthefreedomof expressionprovisioninourconstitution,”theChiefJustice explained.

Thecurrentadministrationissointoleranttocriticisms thatitwouldgotoanylengthtosilencepersonswhohave opposing views to them. No wonder, it has set out on a course to buy over journalists - many of whom have left respected careers in media to pursue propaganda of the slimiest for the present administration. We would be the first to admit that some of the views of Mr Burke are extremistinnature,butheoughtnottobepursuedinsuch vilemannertokeephimsilent.Hisextremistviewsareno different from those of the government spokespersons including the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo who is on record referring to his opposition political colleagues in someofmostvilemanner Journalistsatthisnewspaperand our publisher and columnists have suffered similar insults andbullyismbyStateoperatives.

It must be noted that since 2020, the European Union had criticised the Guyana Government for still having the criminal defamation law on its books, which can see journalists being jailed for libel. The formerAPNU+AFC CoalitionGovernmenthadpromisedtoscrubthelegislation from the books, but left office without doing so and the PPP/Chaskeptitforitsownnefariousschemes.Initsfinal reportontheMarch2,2020electionstheEUobservedthat despitetheConstitutionguaranteesfreedomofexpression, Guyana is at odds with international obligations and in addition to civil law, defamation is prosecuted also by criminal laws with sentences up to two years of imprisonment. “While there were no ongoing criminal lawsuitsorcasesofjournalistsbeingdetainedorconvicted, the mere existence of criminal liability for defamation constitutes a threat which may lead to possible selfcensorship by media professionals,” the EU stated in the 2020 report. The EU was not alone prior to 2020, the InternationalPressInstitutehadsaidthatcriminallibellaw wasborninanElizabethanEnglandcourtroomasameans forsilencingcritiqueoftheprivilegedclass.

Thatbodyhadsaidalawofsuchantiquatedethos,had littleplaceinmodernsocietywherethepressplaysapivotal role in shaping public discourse. IPI had said too that the mere threat of prosecution chills investigation and free speech, sustains corruption, unnecessarily protects public officials,anddeniesoneofthemostbasicofhumanrights, freedom of expression. “Criminal libel is one of the most pernicious media constraints in contemporary society Implemented at the will of any insulted public official, it frequently leaves no recourse for the defendant. In most countries, truth is not a valid defence, leaving defence a vexingproposition.”

ItwasnotsurprisingthatthePPP/CGovernmentdugup thelawtogoafterBurke-oneofitsfiercestcritics,yetthis is a government that preaches virtues of press freedom. When press professionals and other citizens, who go after and share information that leaders prefer the public not to know,arehauledbeforethecourts,vilifiedonsocialmedia andotherchannels,thatcanneverbesaidtobeconduciveto freedomofthepress.

Tell the full story

DEAREDITOR

, If we speak of hard truths, then the entire story should be told. In Guyana, a culture has taken root over the years where those with influence,wealth,andpower

bypass established procedurestoavoidcostand secureexpediencyinmatters controlledbythestate. Customsdutyhasbeena sore point since the 1980’s.

Many old enough to remember will recall incidents of pilferage and even the brazenness of customs clearances occurring outside of normal channelswiththeuseoffake stamps for a split of the savings.

It was a time when knowing someone allowed you to avoid the full cost of the process. A number of officers were caught due to their large expenditures and flamboyant lifestyles. What has occurred in the past continues to plague the present and the suggestion

that someone in high office can facilitate a speedy and less costly process for those who are wealthy enough to paythepriceshouldnotbea surprise.

Unfortunately, this culture of “leff something” has been found in numerous government agencies and private businesses. The cost to the government is substantial and the lost profits to businesses are measurable. The higher the stakes, the higher the probability of this kind of corruptionoccurring.Thisis why most, if not all Guyanese, suspect foul play in the Exxon deal and have been requesting a renegotiation for the last TENYEARS.

The fiasco surrounding the signing bonus, the unauthorized reduction of the GRA audit findings and the reluctance to have the U S G o v e r n m e n t investigateusingtheForeign Corrupt Practices Act have

only added to the suspicion of foul play around the signingoftheagreementand have fueled further calls for the renegotiation of the contract.

When the citizenry grows sufficiently tired of losing money due to corruption change will occur Wemustholdthosein charge responsible for their actions and we must discouragetheuseofbribery and corruption to get things done. The cost of doing otherwiseisquitesubstantial and we are experiencing t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e consequences in the oil and gas sector Every day Guyana continues to lose large sums of money that could have been used to secure the future of our children.

Ofcourse,thecorruption that has taken hold in our societyisnotworthit.Ifthe citizens of our country are ready for a more prosperous futureandacleanerlifestyle

change for the better will occur We will refuse the requests of corrupt officials, andwewillpaythefullprice as required by the government agencies through official channels When we are unhappy with the process, we will ensure that our leaders propose solutions that improve the speed,efficiency,andcostof the process. Conducting our nation’sbusinessinthisway will help place the importance needed on honesty and integrity in our society.

To do otherwise, will only allow the scoundrels amongst us to continue to gain power and it will also allowcorruptiontocontinue toberampantthroughoutour society Remember, where there is corruption there is crimeandinjustice.Wemust demand better for ourselves and for our future generations.

Sincerely,

Mr JamilChanglee

Back to the traffic chaos: Some suggestions

DEAREDITOR

,

By now volumes would have been written on the chaos on the roads in every part of GUYANA, the resultant slaughter, serious injuries, loss of limbs, mayhem and grief and suffering of the victims of theseblatantactsofTOTAL indiscipline on the roads. I would humbly suggest that from time-to-time decision makers should “abandon” their sirens protected vehicles, and observe the “madness” on the roads in Guyana.

A bold boast was recently made of TEN THOUSAND vehicles having been registered in threemonths(MarchtoMay, 2025)andwhilethisisasign of sorts of economic improvement, certainly some adverse effects have

been dragged along. Should that trend continue, and I have no reason to think it wouldn’t, that would be FORTY THOUSAND additional vehicles EVERY YEAR on our roads PHENOMENAL!!!

Iknowasafactthatvery manyofthecarsontheroads are acquired through loans, andamajorityofthesearein the “Private Hire business” where the drivers are NOT the owners, and have to make a certain amount for the owners, EVERY DAY YES, you guessed it, the minibusandtruckcultureis beingreplicated.

I’m going to be as brief aspossible,buthavetopoint o u t s o m e breaches/indiscretions observed EVERY day: Vehicles (government vehicles included) are

It is seeking to pick the free press apart, and then convertitintoadocilepoodle.ThePPP/CGovernmenthas morethanitsshareoffriendlymediaassets,yetitisasign ofitsfears,thatthereisthiscompulsionbytoshutdownthe few independent voices still around. A government that does what benefits citizens will be cheered by everyone. When it doesn’t, its leaders see threats everywhere, fear their shadows. When lawsuits are weaponised against media professionals, it isn’t about reputation. It is about scaring off those probing for facts. When restraints multiply, Guyana’s press freedoms aren’t strengthening, theyareweakening.

“parked”sometimesinpeak periods (even though NOW there are NO defined peak periods, day or night) in congested streets WITH hazard lights on, as if this a licence to double park and addtothealreadycongested area, e.g. on Camp Street between Robb and Regent Streetsat4.30PM.

I often wonder if deep tintsonvehicles:buses,hire cars, commercial vehicles, trucks AND government vehicles etc. have obtained thenecessarypermissionsto havethese,asonceagain,the majority of vehicles on the roads now seem to have thesetints.Itisimpossibleto recogniseerrantdrivers.

Even with traffic cameras on some roads, all categories of vehicles (from trucks to motorcycles) dash and dart from lane to lane without ANY indication of theirintentions,beforedoing so.It’sapitythatthecameras are not equipped to capture such reckless/dangerous manoeuvres. MAYBE the authorities can consider a NO OVERTAKING policy on certain roads during certaintimes.

I’d also suggest that motorcyclists and vehicle driverscommittingbreaches of the traffic laws, be transported in bus loads to

the accident wards of the hospitals, to see first-hand the agony victims of accidents endure Their vehicles should be impounded for days/weeks dependingontheseverityof breaches, as offenders may reconsider their actions where it hurts most, their pockets!!!

Another irritant is the loud horns on trucks, motorcycles without “mufflers” and the neverending deafening music from minibuses AND other motorcars. I’m most days a stone’s throw from police headquarters in Kingston ANDtheSt.Joseph’sMercy Hospital and the noise is disgustinglyearshattering. Editor, I’m sure others have written on these and many other indiscretions beforeandwouldcontinueto do so, until the madness is dramatically reduced, but having said that, I need to have a few more minutes of yourreaders’valuabletime: EVERY road user (and I’m only referring here to Georgetown) would have experiencedthebreakingup of specific junctions of roads, sometimes within a week of them being “repaired/resurfaced”. I am noengineerorexpert,butin (Continuedonpage06)

I have done everything in my power to make the call for the righteous to lead and it was the righteous that rejected it

DEAREDITOR

I am yet to see, in this 2025 elections campaign, anyotherpoliticianorparty, with the exception of the PPP, that is commanding suchlargecrowdswhenever theyvisitacommunity Such images are not telltale signs aboutcertaintyofvotesonly but powerful indications of Guyanese support for a man theywishtoleadthem.

Azruddin Mohamed boldly went ahead and formed a political party (WIN) amidst sanctions by the US and persecution by the Government of Guyana. The Guyanese people seem not to care about any of this and are speaking loudly by their presence and their enthusiasm to see him assume the highest office of theland.

People’s power can defy the odds. When sanctions potentially face a country and “bad name” by powerbrokers and the powerful seek to undermine a man and yet the masses lend their presence and support, it is a strong message of patriotism against all odds. This seems tobeacaseoftheGuyanese people telling the US and everyone else to bring it on but that will not break their will.Meanwhile, the flailing opposition has to turn up at funerals and Independence activities to appear to be in the race The opposition beleaguered by divisions, disunity and by all appearances, unattractive leadership,hasnotgiventhe people an iota of hope that they are prepared and ready to lead a country crying out forgoodgovernance.

Time to take playing seriously

Outside of a feeble cry for support, massive defections and resignation by MPs and the general membership and literally no campaign drive at this final hour,theoppositionpayslip service to winning The opposition is banking on, without any certainty, that the people need a change of Government and they will choosethem.Itisnotonlya sorry and sordid joke. It hinges on hopeful hopelessness in the face of therealitythatobtains. ITISRIGHTBEFORE OUREYESTOSEE

opposition void of the burdens of corruption and confusion,wasreadytosave Guyana?

The PPP is working tirelessly to have another chance to govern. It is not worried about the main opposition; it is worried about Mohamed. The PPP hasopeneditsdoortoalland sundry Itissayingcomejoin usandyouwillbetakencare ofnowandafterawin.Yet,I reflect. I ponder I wrestle withthethought.Whatifthe golden opportunity of yesterday had lived to see today? What if Terrence Campbellwasatthehelmof the opposition in this race? WhatiftheAFChadsaidyes to coalescing (and without doubt they would have with Campbellatthehelm)anda robust campaign was in motion? What if Amanza, Aubrey, Nigel London, Nigel Hughes and Dorwain Bess led by Campbell had appeared before the people in unison to convince them rightfully so, that a united

I have done everything in mypowertomakethecallfor therighteoustoleadanditwas the righteous that rejected it Amanza Walton Desir stands aloneastherighteoushopein therealmoftheopposition It is not too late yet But is she readyandwillingtogiveither all? Is she willing to invest everything in making the sacrifice?Doesshebelievein causetobethatrighteousone that God wants for Guyana? Timemaytellbuteventimeis saying there isn’t much time Azruddinisworking ThePPP is working VPAC and Bailey are working The People’s Movement is passionately pushing for the righteous to overcome Meanwhile, some are fighting with and among themselves.Itisasordidand sorryaffair

Sincerelyyours NormanBrowne SocialandPolitical Activist

I join the Guyanese Hindu community to condemn this attack on their Goddess

DEAREDITOR

I have just read a most eruditeletterbyFerlinPedro titled, “When rights and societal mores become codependent, secularism and democracy risk being undermined.”Mr Pedroand Iagreeonmuch.

However, we diverge at the point where Guyana must draw the line between protected speech and hate speech.Mr Pedroarguments are theoretical and have no groundings in the historical context of the Guyanese Hindu experience. Let us analyzehisletter

He concedes that “that fundamental rights are not absoluteandoftendependon societal “mores ”” And admits,“thatitistruethatno right is exercised in a void, but we must be especially careful when examining the rights afforded under the freedom of expression clauses of the Constitution. Article 146(1), establishes freedom of expression in strongtermsusingthephrase “without interference.” And he posits, “Article 145(1) similarly protects freedom of conscience “without being hindered ” The constraints which are

applied to freedom of expression, as outlined in Article146(2),aregenerally tied to preventing tangible harms such as threats to publicsafety,publicorder,or the protection of the reputation and rights of people.”

For him, the threat to public safety is where he woulddrawthelinebetween protected and hate speech. I do not subscribe to the “public safety threat” as the trigger for defining the boundaries between protected free speech and hatespeech.

We must thank Mother Laxmi that the Guyanese Hindu community does not have a predilection to inflict mayhemonthesocietyevery time it feels aggrieved Should we wait for the GuyaneseHinducommunity to unleash violence and mayhem on the society before we recognize the meritsintheirclaims?No!

The Guyanese Hindu community have been subjected to mocking sexualizedlyrics.Iwillgive three examples: First, our folk song-Sitaira Gyal of Wakenaam-has sexualized the Hindu woman, she was

encountered on Bamboo Dam (clearly a phallic reference), she wines (rhythmic gyratory movements of the pelvic region) like a Buxton goat a n d f o r h e r entertainment/gratification “momandeh.”

Second, the radio stations assault the Hindu sensibilitieswithsongssuch as “Sexy Marajin” and “NaneeWine.”Asoffensive asthesesongsare,theHindu community did not go on a rampage. They suffered the indignity of these songs and quiteresponsiblyrecognized that that the offensive lyrics isprotectedspeech. The slippery slope that began with Sitaira had reachedtheHinduGoddessMother Laxmi Baby

Skello’s song goes into uncharted territory; the lyrics are offensive and is capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against Hindus. Furthermore, it violates Article 38F which provides, “No person’s religion or religious beliefs shall be vilified.”

At this point, Guyanese Hindus are well within their right to be offended and to determinethatthis“eyepass muststop.”

Or in legalese: Baby

S k e l l o ’ s l y r i c s masquerading as art is hate speech. Baby Skello’s lyrics is punishable hate speech. I join the Guyanese Hindu community to condemn this attackontheirGoddess.

Sincerely,

RogerAlly

DEAREDITOR, InternationalDayofPlay (“IDP”) was passed on June 11,2025toverylittlefanfare

However, this relative nonrecognition belies the fundamental importance of what IDP represents and seekstopromote,particularly for children in the context of theirholisticdevelopment

According to the United Nations, IDP “marks a significant milestone in efforts to preserve, promote andprioritizeplayingsothat all people, especially children, can reap the rewards and thrive to their fullpotential”.Playinghelps children build relationships, overcome trauma and develop problem-solving skills. It also supports the development of the cognitive, physical, creative, social,andemotionalskillsthat children need to thrive in a rapidly changing world But beyond being “mere recreation” that is highly beneficial to children, playing has been recognised as a “universallanguagespokenby peopleofallages,transcending national, cultural, and socioeconomicboundaries”(United Nations,“PlayMakesABetter World”).

Some time ago, I had an eye-opening conversation with Leah-bear, a brilliant andarticulate8-year-oldgirl, about IDP During our conversation,Iwassurprised tohearhersaythatplayingis “foolishness” and that she does not consider it to be necessary for a child’s

happiness, wellbeing, and development. It was the last thingIexpectedtohearfrom a child who finds joy in playing and prioritises having fun whenever she can. Still, I was not entirely surprised by her admission since, in my culture, almost everychildwillhearatsome pointthatthey“ramp”(read: play) too much—with the concomitantimplicationthat playing is simply unnecessaryoridle.

Nevertheless, to truly ensure that children receive all the emotional, psychological, social, and intellectual benefits to be derived from playing, we mustfirsttakeitseriously We mustrecogniseplayingasan important medium through which children connect with themselves, each other, and theworld Wemustalsotryto avoid stigmatising the act of playing as just an unnecessary distraction so that children will embrace, rather than dismiss, its importance As UNICEF’s ExecutiveDirectorincisively observed on the occasion of IDP2024,“playisasignthat children feel safe and nurtured and loved”. So, let us commit to encouraging those feelings of safety, nurturance and love in children by taking seriously the importance of playing in children’s lives Humanity’s most precious gifts certainly deservenothingless

Sincerely,Amanda JanellDeAmor QuestAttorney-at-Law

DEAREDITOR, Itmaysurprisesome,but it must be said: the People’s NationalCongress(PNC)is, by every measure that matters, more democratic than the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)

Thisisnotastatementmade lightly It is informed by

experience,observation,and reflection especially in lightofrecenteventswherea growing number of political figures have abandoned the PNCtocozyupwiththePPP Letusbehonest:manyof these new converts are not drivenbyasenseofnational duty or community

upliftment.

They are chasing survival, opportunity, or status. Some are evading looming legal troubles Others are simply trying to secure a job, a contract, or a photo-op.

Their decisions have littletodowithprincipleand everything to do with personalgain.

control.

The Central Executive Committee calls the shots. Who rises, who is sidelined, whoisallowedtospeak,and who gets expelled—all of it isstage-managed.

These men gave decades to the party, and what did they receiveinreturn?

Smear campaigns, isolation, and character assassination.Thatisthetrue face of the PPP’s internal culture.

DEAREDITOR

I was hesitant to highlight this matter in the hopethatitwouldhavebeen addressed in due course by theEssequiboCricketBoard (ECB).

Much praise has been ushered for the transition and transformation of the ECB in light of a prolonged period of intransigence and lackofaccountability

With the assent of the Cricket’s Administration BillinParliament,allcounty boards’ constitutions were adoptedforcompliance.

It is in this context therefore,thatIamreferring to the Board’s constitution which states that “An

OfficeroftheBoardshallnot beeligibletoholdmorethan one post/office at any one time”.

In the current case, a Vice President and Chairman of Selector is the same person; which are two executivepositions. Thisissuewasventilated before after a similar scenarioexisted.

Iamsurprisedtherefore, thatnoattemptwasmadeto correct this executive blatancy, unless there is an attempt to undermine the constitutionthroughsecrecy with corroboration among theexecutives.

Regards ElroyStephney

But these individuals will soon realise—if they haven’t already that the PPP is not the democratic institution they were sold. Internally, the party is g o v e r n e d n o t b y transparency or open participation, but by manipulation and top-down

I say this not as an outsider, but as someone who has participated in the party’s internal processes and seen first-hand how decisions are made—not by merit or dialogue, but by favour and orchestration

If you want clues, just lookatthecoordinatedeffort to discredit these stalwarts when they decided they couldnolongerserveaparty where integrity was pushed asideforexpediency

The public may remember how veteran PPP leaders suchasMosesNagamootoo, Ralph Ramkarran, and Khemraj Ramjattan were castasidewhentheydaredto question the rot within

A n d t h o s e w h o orchestrated it? I will leave readers to draw their own conclusions but the answerisnothiddenfarfrom view

So while the PPP

presents itself as a party of the people, its track record shows otherwise. At least within the PNC, internal elections are held, positions are contested, and d e b a t e s h o w e v e r passionate are allowed There is space for dissent androomforrenewal.

That is the sign of a living,breathingdemocracy Let us not be fooled by temporary alliances or politicalturncoats.

The PNCR is more democratic than the PPP, but the PPPis much better at propaganda Constitutional breach by ECB

The measure of a party lies not in how it performs during elections, but in how ittreatsitsown—andonthat front,thePPPfallsfarshort.

Sincerely,

C.A.Singh

Kaieteur News should have called this war for what it is

DEAREDITOR,

The editorial in Kaieteur News of June 21, 2025, entitled “Israel vs Iran” presents the escalating Israel-Iran conflict as a mutual descent into chaos, driven by “reciprocal hatred” and “tech war” dynamics.

But this framing dangerously distorts and misrepresents the facts, and, most disingenuously fails to hold the true aggressors accountable.

It was Israel that

launchedanunprovokedand illegal attack against Iran. Israel has repeatedly been violating international law

t h r o u g h t a r g e t e d assassinations, bombings, and acts of sabotage against persons and targets within Iran

These were not defensive maneuvers

they were acts of aggression

Now, with the United States openly aligning itself with Israel and launching direct military

action against Iran, it too has joined this latest war ofaggression

Assuch,theeditorial’s attempt to present this as a balanced confli c t between “two blood enemies” distorts the core truth: Israel, with U.S. support, is the clear instigator and there was no legalbasisforIsrael’sorthe UnitedStates’attackonIran.

Youreditorialalsoseems to have ignored the fact that Guyana has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran as a

violation of international law

Rather than wringing i t s h a n d s a b o u t “simmering fires” and “spiraling tensions, ”

Kaieteur News should have called this what it is — an illegal war that both Israel and the United States must be condemned for, unequivocally and unconditionally

Anything less is a dangerous abdication of moralclarity

RupnauthHardyal

Back to the traffic chaos: Some suggestions...

Frompage04 discussions with likeminded persons, and since this a relatively new phenomenon, we speculate that the damage is done by HEAVY trucks and containers traversing these streets.

Three areas I’d mention are outsidetheCourtofAppeal, in Kingston; outside of the National Library/by the cenotaph and at Brickdam andAvenue of the Republic (significantlyatthejunction of the Magistrates’ Courts and Parliament) and a block going South at Hadfield Street.

Nowjusttakeafewseconds and think where these are, ALL around corners and consider if the culprits couldn’tbetheheavytrucks andcontainers.

My question is, if I’m correct, shouldn’t some sort of recovery of the costs to

build these roads to withstand the pressure these roadsarecalledupontobear, ONCE AND FOR ALL TIMES?

AND while this is being considered, can’t these repair works be done at nights?

Onthematterofworksbeing doneatnights,can’ttheCity Council schedule garbage collection during nights, instead of garbage trucks in Regent Street at 2 PM, congesting traffic for blocks?

Since parking in the city is now a problem with NO solution in sight, it’s suggested that the monstrosityonHomestretch Avenue, EAST of the 1763 Monument, be converted into a massive FIVE plus storeys parking lot, maybe with a few government offices be re-located around there That some

government offices be relocated outside of central Georgetown (e.g. GRA on CampStreet)toeitheronthe East Coast, before Mahaica OR along the Heroes Highway, with adequate parking.

ThecanalbetweenChurch Street and South Road, and other such canals can be covered and paid parking allowed And, possibly controversially, the burial ground on Regent Street, opposite Bourda Market, which hasn’t been used for maybe a hundred years or more, and is an EYESORE, canbeconvertedintoanother FIVEplusstoreysparkinglot

Finally, I’d like to recommend that serious consideration be given to a r a i l w a y s e r v i c e (underground preferably) between Georgetown and Mahaica and Georgetown and Diamond, and since the private sector is the “engine of growth,” they s h o u l d b e encouraged/enticed to undertake such an i n v e s t m e n t A comfortable, reliable and safe FERRY SERVICE, either government OR privately operated, between Diamond and Kingston, shouldalsobeconsidered.

URBAN PLANNING is sadlylacking!! Itwouldberemissofme t o l e a v e w i t h o u t complimenting the Traffic Department, headed by the energetic Assistant Commissioner of Police, andhishardworkingteam, who day and night, rain or sun, attempt to enforce order on our roads and to urge that they continue to make the Police Force a respectedservice. Withkindregards, HarryNNawbatt

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

For sale: Journalists

Family to legally challenge GPF’s refusal to release Adriana Younge’s autopsy report

Amid resistance by the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) to release the final autopsy and investigative reports into the death of 11year-old Adriana Younge, herfamilyhassignalledtheir intention of challenging the decisionincourt.

This was revealed by lawyer Dexter Todd in an interview with the media during Adriana's funeral on Sunday In late May, Todd hadformallywrittentoGPF requesting both the final autopsyreportandthereport compiled by Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), whohadbeenengagedinthe investigation However, police responded that they wouldnotcooperatewithout acourtorder

In a letter dated June 11, 2 0 2 5 , s i g n e d b y Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and seen by this publication, stated that GPF does not release autopsy reports or other documents that form part of a c t i v e c r i m i n a l

id

“Reference your letter dated June 02, 2025 on the above

subject, please be advised that it is not the procedure andorpracticeoftheGuyana Police Force to disclose copies of Post Mortem reports or any other reports that forms part a criminal investigation, save and except, in Court at the appropriate time. As such, regrettably, the Guyana Police Force cannot accommodate your request atthistime.”

On Sunday, Todd denouncedthePoliceForce's positionasunlawful,arguing thatthereisnolegalbasisto deny the family access to information.

Hesaid,“Iamnotaware of any procedure by the Guyana Police Force, there is no standing order, there is no law, there is no regulations recognized by thelawtoallowthepoliceto do that So what the Commissioner of Police is referringtoifthatisapolicy, that policy has to be backed upbylawanditisnotbacked up by law and we will challengethat.”

When asked about the timeline for pursuing legal action,Toddreplied,“Weare intheprocessofchallengeit. We had to allow this day

(Adriana's funeral) to happen, to come to an end before we move to the secondstage.”

Therequestsforthefinal autopsy and McCoshen's report came amid questions posed by Dr Carol Terry, a forensicpathologistbasedin theUnitedStates.

Dr Terry, performed the secondautopsyonAdriana's body in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Dr Todd, the pathologist cannot proceed with her report unless she receives the requested detailsfromthepolice.

As such, a second letter was sent to both Hicken and

Crime Chief Wendell BlanhumonJune3inpursuit oftherequestedinformation. However, that request was notgranted.

Meanwhile, Todd added that though the GPF has claimedthecaseisclosed,he firmly rejected that notion “By no long shot this investigationisclosed.

I believe that in every angle, we have to pursue it and we have to pursue it tactfully and of course ensurethatjusticeattheend ofthedayisserved,”hesaid.

In a press release issued on May 27, the GPF disclosed some of the final

autopsy findings and stated that, based on both the Canadian investigator's report and the post-mortem examination which concluded thatAdriana died b y d r o w n i n g , t h e investigation has been concluded. “The detectives are currently preparing the investigative case file for submissiontotheDirectorof Public Prosecution (DPP) for her perusal and legal opinion,”thereleasestated.

The team concluded that thechild'scauseofdeathwas drowning. Unconvinced by the findings, Adriana's familyarrangedforasecond autopsyintheUnitedStates. Her body was flown to Atlanta, Georgia, where Dr Carol Terry, Chief Medical Examiner of Gwinnett County, conducted the procedure However, the pathologist stated that drowning cannot be conclusively stated as the causeofdeath.

Adriana was laid to rest o n S u n d a y S t i l l overwhelmedwithgrief,her familywillnowhavetoface alegalbattlewiththepolice, who continue to withhold both the preliminary findings and the final autopsyreport.”

Adriana's lifeless body was discovered on April 24 in theswimmingpool of the Double Day International Hotel—just 20 hours after she was reported missing during a family trip to Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. A post-mortem examination (PME) was conducted on April 28 by a three-member international pathology team: Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul from Barbados, Dr Gary Collins, Chief Medical Examiner of Delaware (USA), and Dr Glenn Rudner of Mount SinaiHospital.

Norton willing to give coalition talks one more try

-Hughessayscannotmakedecisionalone

With Nomination Day fast approaching, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton has committedtogivingonemoretryto coalitiontalkswiththeAllianceFor Change(AFC).

OnSundayduringaninterview on Caribbean Tea which was streamedviaYouTube,Nortontold viewers that he was ready to talk.

“Mylatefatheralwaystoldmethe only thing that beats trying is failure itself. I am prepared to try now,”hesaid.

When asked by the host attorney, Vivian Williams, if his partyisstrongernowthanin2015, theoppositionleaderexplainedthat fromtheinception,itwasindicated

that a coalition was needed, and everything has been done to bring about one as it was thought to be priority

Headdedthathedoesnotthink that the issue is whether they are stronger now than 2015, because the question will presuppose that your opponent has the same strength,thereforeonewouldneed moretodefeatthem.

Norton sought to make a distinction between a coalition vs power sharing, saying that though there is some element of power sharingwithinacoalition,theelites ofthemovementhavetobelievein theonecoalition.

“The second precondition is

that there's an assumption about howmuchsupporteachsectionhas in the present political (arena) and what they bring to the table, and therefore as you discuss that situation,youhavetobecognizant of the fact that we come with different levels of capabilities and indifferentareas,andthoseshould be factoredin into determiningthe kindofmechanismyouputinplace to ensure that there is a coalition,” headded.

Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Nigel Hughes in responsesaidthathehas,“saidyou canneverclosealldoors.”

He made it clear that while the commitmentisthereandacoalition

may be what himself and Norton wanthewould,“havetogoback(to theAFC). I got to discuss allthose things.I'mnotsayingit'snotgoing to happen but I'm just saying, it's not as simple as getting up on a programme and the two of us saying "Hey yeah there's a Kumbayamoment…it'seasytodo Kumbaya; it's the mechanics after that.”

Hughes last week had told the media that any remaining prospectsofacoalitionwith APNU are now effectively off the table. Hughes had made the announcement one day after three senior AFC members Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and

Deonarine “Ricky” Ramsaroop jumped over to APNU by submitting their names toAPNU's listofcandidatesfortheupcoming General and Regional Elections, without informing the AFC. “It is unlikely to be any more coalition, I'mafraid.Idon'tthinkitwillassist either side to go into what did and didnothappen.Ithasn'thappened, and that time has gone. I think we are all going to concentrate on the elections. And in the case of the AllianceForChange,wearepretty certain that our policies, once presented to the public, will speak for themselves,” he added, emphasising that the party is now focusedonmovingforward.

Adriana's family lawyer, Dexter Todd

Adriana Younge’s

Leader of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

Waiting for a different wind

In Guyana, politics used to be a simpler affair—if politics anywhere can ever becalledsimple.Therewasa time,nottoofargone,when thegeneralelectionsfeltlike a two-man race: familiar figures,BurnhamandJagan; familiar platforms PNC and P P P ; f a m i l i a r disappointments.

T h e P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party and the People’s National Congress (PNC), each armed with their battalions of loyalists, marched voters to the polls like clockwork. As for the smaller parties, they made cameos—charming, tragic, s o m e t i m e s eccentric before exiting withbarelyaripple.

But today, the ballot has become crowded. We are witnessingaproliferationof small parties, each one bearing an acronym and a dream,eachonepeddlingits variation on a promise that sounds suspiciously like the last. They appear on talk shows and livestreams, offering earnest faces and vague assurances They swear they are different They swear they are new Butthemoretheyspeak,the moretheyseemlikecousins atafamilyreunion—dressed differently, but all of the samebloodline.

This bloom of political options might seem, to the untrainedeye,likeprogress. It is not. It is more of the same,onlyinminiature.The Guyanesevoter,patientashe is weather-worn, sees

t h r o u g h i t T h e overwhelming support still flows toward the titans, not because they have earned it, but because they have inherited it—the legacy of ethnic voting and resigned hope.ThePPP/CandPNCR remain the gravitational centers of our democracy, and the small parties, however sincere, orbit them likedecorativemoons.

The tragedy, if one is inclined to call it that, is not merely that the electorate resists change. It is that the change being offered is no change at all. A parade of small parties, each wedded to the same economic orthodoxy, does not constitute choice it constitutes redundancy For all t

cl

ims

o innovation,90percentofthe political hopefuls in this country are cut from the same neoliberal cloth. They speak in the language of markets and growth, of private enterprise and “investment-friendly environments ” It is the l i n g u a f r a n c a o f internationalconsultantsand downtown boardrooms, not of the cane-cutter, the seamstress, or the man hawking genips on Regent Street.

Neoliberalism, like rain inthetropics,iseverywhere andunderstoodbynoone.It promises freedom and delivers instability In Guyana, it has meant grand projectsfortheinvestorclass and tighter belts for

everyone else The waterfront may gleam, but the hinterland school still leaks.Ahotelbreaksground while people are still forced to seek private health care for major illnesses and half of our students are failing their school-leaving examinations And the political parties, big and small,callthisdevelopment.

This is the quiet consensus of our political elite.Theymaybickerabout roads and recounts, but they agree on the fundamentals. They agree that the role of government is to stimulate business, not serve people. They agree that the poor mustbepatient,andthatthe market will, in its own mysterious time, lift all boats though the small man owns no boat, and is likelywading.

The outcome, of course, is stasis. Not the stasis of silence,butofnoisewithout movement. An election in Guyana resembles a cricket match played on a muddy field. Much shouting, some movement, but no real progress. Even if, by some miracle, a coalition of small parties were to gain traction—or win, God help them—the ideology would remain intact Different

folks, same strokes Differentplayers,sametune. Votingformostoftheparties is voting for the same system Whichever party wins, neo-liberalism and capitalism are victorious The system is the problem.

DEM BOYS SEH

Stop hiding like bush man fuh catch speeders!

Demboyssehdepolice now turn magician. Dem disappearing behind every lil’ bend and bush corner widspeedguninhand,like dem playing hide and seek widmotorists.Butisnotno pickney game dem playing dem issuing speedingticketslikemango inseason.

De other day, dem boys pass one junction near a sharp turn and see one police peeping out like he spying pon he neighbour wife. Speed gun cock and ready.Buthearnah,deman measuring speed from an angle so sharp, he might as well be reading de weather forecast!

Demboyssehdatspeed gun don’t read mind and it

don’t read speed proper when you pointing it from desidelikeyouwantarrest de car for drifting. Any school pickney could tell dem dat if you pointing a gun at something that not comingstraightatyou,you gon get a reading dat more wrong than de GPL bill. And dat’s de problem. De police know de reading ain’t accurate, but dem still writing ticket like is Christmas bonus time. One driver seh he tek de corner slow-slow like he carrying glass full a water, and still getbookfuhspeeding.Wah kindascienceisdat?

Dem boys seh police shouldstoptryingfuhketch people like trapperman waiting fuh rat If you

And so long as neoliberalism wins, the small manloses. Andsothesmall man waits. He waits not for anelection,butforarupture. He waits for a movement that speaks in a language other than GDP and foreign direct investment. He waits for a politics of bread and butter,ofhealthandhousing. Hewaits,notalwaysinhope, but in necessity—because survival is not a platform, it is a condition. One does not wishtobecynical.Cynicism is cheap and usually lazy But realism, like a welltuned bicycle, can carry one

far The reality is that the structure of Guyana’s economy has been captured by a class that profits from thingsastheyare.Thisisnot a conspiracy; it is a system. And systems do not fall because a new party is formed They fall when peoplestopbelievingintheir inevitability There may yet comeatimewhenadifferent kind of politics flowers here unseen until the season is right. But until then,wewillvote,andshout, andgrumble,andgobackto our lives. The names on the ballot will multiply, but the

options will not. The poor man, the small man, will remain just that. Small, and waiting Waiting for the crackinthewall. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

serious bout road safety, then stand up bold and visible. Let people see you and slow down because dem respect de law—not because dem ‘fraid a sudden ambush like is war zone. And one more ting—if youhidingbehindacorner, how you sure which car really speeding? All dem cars look like dem rushing whenyouwatchingfromde bush.Solehwebereal.Use de speed gun proper. Use common sense. And stop hiding like jumbie waiting behind turn. Is traffic enforcement, not hide-andseek. Dem boys seh, if de guncan’tseestraight,don’t expectittoreadstraight. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

Floor crossers

Opposition Leader, Mr AubreyNortonisreportedto have said that there will be better decision-making to stem the recent spurt of crossovers from the PNC to the PPP My best to Mr Norton on that eel he has in mindtotame,tocontain. Buthowtokeepmercury (quicksilver) steady in one's handswhenthereissomuch movement underfoot? Mischief, too Call them

whateverpleases,andIthink that whether labeled crossovers,orfloor-crossers, or political crossdressers, or groupbetrayers,orjustplain regular hustlers, there are a handful of tricky obstacle courses for the Opposition Leadertocontemplate,ashe attempts to navigate around adilemma.

Thereisthepracticaland the human The first concerns what is self-

enriching, as in who has the marbles (or dolls) currently ItisnotthePNCorAFC.The human involves that big Pandora's box of ambition, invitation, seduction, and beinginposition. Ithelpsif there are also huge doses of the opportunistic in motion, as fueled by greed, a thick skin (to absorb insults), and an insatiable appetite for doing donkey work. Any dirtyworkthatwouldbepart

of a crossover expectation. How does any leader guard against those, succeed when such are present, is beyond mytraining?

There was the old PPP, theonethatrepresentedlocal political glory Forbes Burnham had the goods, which made dealing with Cheddi Jagan bad for personal business. The line was long: the ill-fated Vincent Te

d Lalbahadur Lalbachan, and even the once illustrious Ranji Chandisingh, among others of that pantheon None of them said then, nor anyfromtoday,whentaking awalkfromthetwilightzone to the wild side, would be caught dead saying that it was for the money Or the lure of counting among the prestigepeople.

Or of jumping ship and abandoning comrades when the times are 'guava season' hard. It must always be recalled that politicians usuallyhaveaspinthatputs a skid on matters when they are pulling a fast one Instead of the guile of flight and turn, it is better called swing.

Political swingers are what I call crossovers and floorcrossers. Let'sfacethe facts: the PPP is where the gravy is. If the money was withthePNC,thecrossovers would have been flowing in fromRobbStreet. Stabroek News would still be its stubborn self. So, I urge dismissing all that empty

chatter about what is good for the country, and who is aninspiringleader,and whatisbetterforthepoor, hungry,suffering,peopleof Guyana. It is all bull.

Guyanese have to be duller than duck soup to believe that a crossover pol, would be so self-disgracing that he or she would admit that the moolah was the main attraction.

Frankly,itisnoteventhe aphrodisiac of power,

because the newly crossovers will only be trusted to do spadework, latrine duty, and patrolling the perimeter A seat on a board, a procurement award to rope into the delicious action, and a heavier pay packet,whenitisthatdayin themonth.

With all the corruption going on in the PPP Government, there may not betimenorinteresttocollect the 'fine change' that monthly salary represents. Rememberalwaysthatmany in the local politician breed are, first of all, salespeople.

They bottle national treachery and sell it as leadership and party integrity

Thosewhowishtodrink dosoattheirownrisk. Just check with the leader of the pack,thePPP.

As for the PNC leader, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. Ibelievethatheknew whoweretheobjectsofPPP overtures,whoweretheones nibbling at the baits offered,

and who were while readying to abandon the team. He found himself in thatoldbind:fireonhishead if he made a move to oust those comrades who are open to cajoleries and enticements;andmudonhis face,ifhedidn't.

In terms of Guyana's supersensitive political realities, to make a preemptive move against some would have opened himtochargesofracialbias. Further,theslurswouldhave come fast and furious about howthePNCisaracistparty, and is not a place for one segmentofthedemographic. LikeIsaid,betterhethanme to deal with that minefield. Right or wrong, those with everything going for them usually gets the calls going in their favor, with the PPP claiming the honours Hence, I have some difficulty determining how the PNC leader is going to end'baddecision-making'as he calls it. He should know better

Because the best ope

a

ors are s

e

lth operators. Thosewhoknock glasses,thenknockbelow (Theviewsexpressedin this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the o p i n i o n s o f t h i s newspaper.)

NGSA 2025 results to be announced tomorrow

The results of this year's National Grade SixAssessment(NGSA)examinationwillbe announced on June 25, 2025, Minister of EducationPriyaManickchandannounced.

The minister in a video posted on her ministry's Facebook page on Monday said, “I'mverygladtotellyouthatwearegoingto beannouncingtheresultsofNGSA2025on the 25th of June at 11 0'clock and we'll be live.So,joinusI'mveryexcitedtobeableto announce these results for many reasons, becausethisiswhereyouseehowwellwe've done.”Manickchand made it clear that all students will be placed at a high school regardlessoftheresultstheyreceive.

“We're so much closer to universal secondary education. So, it doesn't matter howyoudo,you'regoingtobeabletogetinto a high school and you're going to do well at CXC, because we're putting everything in placeforthattohappen,”sheexplained.

The minister noted too that the students willbenefitfromtrainedteachersthroughout their secondary education.Additionally, she

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

said that the schools will be furnished with the necessary textbooks and laboratory facilities.Approximately15,813pupilswrote this year's NGSA on April 16 and 17. The examinations assess the knowledge of each student in four subject areas: Mathematics, English,ScienceandSocialStudies. After the papers are marked and the scores tallied, the points accumulated will determine which secondary school the studentwillbeplacedat.

20 key elections officers sworn-in

Twenty key election officers, comprising ten 10 Returning Officers and 10 Supernumerary Returning Officers, were sworn in officiallyonMonday

The appointment of the officers is a part of preparation for Guyana's upcoming General and Regional Elections The officers took their oath of office before Guyana Elections Commission

GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh during a ceremony held in the Boardroom of GECOM.

In a statement GECOM, noted that the oath-taking ceremony represents a critical step in the electoral preparation process. “The oath-takingceremonymarks akeystepinpreparationsfor the conduct of the elections since the Returning Officers will be responsible for overseeing the electoral process in their respective districts, while the Supernumerary Returning Officers will have responsibility for the respective sub-districts in Districts 3, 4, & 6 as provided for in the RepresentationofthePeople Act,”thecommissionsaid.

GECOM further stated that political parties and electors may now visit the designated district offices to access relevant information on the electoral process and statutory deadlines. A full listoftheappointedofficers, along with the addresses of their respective offices, is available on GECOM's official website at www.gecom.org.gy

In June, the National Assembly passed the RepresentationofthePeople

(Amendment) Bill 2025 (ROPA), which introduces provisions for appointing deputy supernumerary returning officers within electoral sub-districts in Regions 3, 4, and 6 G u y a n a ' s m o s t populated regions The amendment was presented by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC. According to the Legal Supplement dated May 16, 2025, Section 2 (1) of the RepresentationofthePeople Actwasamendedtoredefine the term “supernumerary returning officer” as “a deputy supernumerary returning officer. ” Additionally, Section 33 C (1)wasrevisedtoreplacethe word “shall” with “may,” thereby introducing discretion regarding the revision of the Official List of Electors and the roll for non-resident electors in specificcircumstances.

Explaining the purpose of the amendment, Nandlall stated, “The amendment is very simple When we enacted the Bill in 2022, we omitted to include in the d e f i n i t i o n o f a supernumerary returning officer someone to deputize his/her function. When one

A24-year-oldvendorand mother of four, on Monday, was placed on $75,000 bail when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court to answer a felonious woundingcharge.

Alisha Adams of Lot 42 Waini Street, Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty when appeared before Senior

draws the analogy between thesupernumeraryreturning officer and the returning o f f i c e r , a s t h e supernumerary returning officerwillbeaminiaturized version of the returning

officer, you realise that the returning officer has a deputy in ROPA, but in the amendmentsthatwedid,we did not include a deputy for thesupernumeraryreturning officer Andthatisallthatthe

billisintendedtocorrect.In my view, a supernumerary returningofficer,ifheorshe is not there, someone can deputizebyoperationoflaw and by normal grammatical canonsofinterpretation.”

Oneofthecentralobjectives of the amendment is the reorganisation of vote tabulation in Regions 3, 4, and 6. Under the revised structure, electoral sub(Conitnunedonpage16)

Alisha Adams at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court

Magistrate Fabayo Azore whoreadthechargetoher It is alleged that on April 5, 2025 at Water Street, Stabroek, Adams unlawfully and maliciously wounded JevenieBoutrim. T

v

w a s represented by attorney LawrenceHarris. Thematterwasadjourned toJuly14,2025. Vendor on $75k bail

The swearing in of Returning Officers and Supernumerary Returning Officers

SecurityguardrobsGiftland’s casinoof$13.1million

…wanted bulletin issuedforsuspect

A 24-year-old security guard on duty at the Fantasy Gaming Lounge locatedattheGiftlandMallcompound, Turkeyen,EastCoastDemerara(ECD), stole$13.1milliondollars,propertyof SylviaThomas.

The robbery occurred at approximately 05:30h. Police have since issued a wanted bulletin for RakameemBenowenNicholas.

Nicholas, whose last known address is 200 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is attached to Castle Security

Two supervisors, 21-year-old Raywat Sankar and a 27-year-old female were on duty at the time of the robbery Thesuspectwasarmedwitha 9mm pistol and 17 rounds which

belongedtothesecurityservice.

“Preliminaryinvestigationrevealed thatonthedateandtimementioned,the 21-year-old supervisor at Fantasy Game Lounge, Raywat Sankar, exited thecashierareatoassistthe27-year-old femalefloorsupervisorincleaningthe gaming area since no customer was thereatthetime,”policesaid.

They added that the suspect approached Sankar and the floor supervisor, took out the firearm, pointed it in their direction, and then discharged a round in the air, demanding that Sankar open the electronicdoortothecashierarea.

Sankar complied and the suspect then ordered him and the female supervisor into the cashier's room and

The Fantasy Game Lounge

SWAT rank accused of killing Orin Boston to know fate this week

PoliceConstable,Sherwin Peters of Amelia's Ward, Linden,whoisaccusedofthe killing of Essequibo Coast businessman, Orin Boston is expectedtoknowhisfatethis week.

His trial is currently before the Essequibo High Court where the prosecution called its final witness and closeditscase.Asummingup of the trial will be conducted on Tuesday and verdict is expected to be delivered on Wednesday Peters,amember of the Guyana Police Force's (GPF) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, was

further instructed Sankar to open the vault and place all the cash into a garbage basket, after which he left the buildingwiththecash.

“CCTV cameras at the Giftland mall captured the suspect walking out oftheGiftlandaccessroad,thenturning westontheRailwayEmbankment,and stoppingamotorcar(PZZ5690),which drove away in a western direction,” policenoted.

One9mmspentshellwasrecovered from the scene. Police attempted to locate the suspect but there were unsuccessful, his house was searched andnocashwasfound.

Effortsarealsobeingmadetolocate the car involved as the investigation continues.

Onedead,anotherinjured aftercardcrashesintocow

A 25-year-old resident of East Berbice Corentyne

died early Monday morning, while another sustained minor injuries after the motorcycle they were riding crashed into a cow along the Stanleytown

Public Road, New Amsterdam,Berbice.

Dead is Jamal Hughes of Glasgow Village, East Berbice Corentyne while 24-year-old Marashia Dehart of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam was injured.

Police in a statement said that the incident occurred at approximately 12:30h. Hughes was the rider of the motorcycle bearingregistrationnumber CP 2700 and Dehart, the pillionrider

“Initial investigations revealed that Hughes and

Dehart were proceeding s o u t h a l o n g t h e aforementionedroadonthe motorcycle, allegedly at a fast rate, when the cycle collided with the cow, which was crossing from easttowest,”policesaid.

As a result of the collision, Hughes and Dehart fell off the motorcycle onto the road. Both sustained injures and were rushed by publicspirited citizens to the New AmsterdamHospitalwhere theywereexamined.

Hughes was treated for the injuries to his head and body, but later succumbed to his injuries. He was then taken to the hospital's mortuary where a postmortemexaminationwillbe conducted. Dehart, on the other hand, was treated for herinjuriesandsenthome.

The motorcycle that was involved in the accident.

committed by Magistrate Esther Sam, at the Suddie Magistrate'sCourtin2022.

FollowingthePreliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter, Magistrate Sam ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Peters to stand trial for manslaughter before a judge andjury

Petersisexpectedtobegin histrialatthenextpracticable sitting of the Essequibo Assizes.

At his first court appearance, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which allegesthatonSeptember15, 2021, at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he shot and killed Boston. Kaieteur News had reportedthataround04:00hrs

onthedayinquestion,Peters hadbeenonapoliceoperation searching for 'illegal substances' at Boston's Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast home. Boston, who was reportedly still on his bed at the time of the shooting, was shot once to the chest by a high caliber rifle A subsequent autopsy report revealedthatBostondiedasa result of a gunshot injury to theleftsidechest. In protest of the shooting, residentshadmountedprotest action on the Essequibo Coast.

Four months after Boston's killing, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, recommendedthattherankbe charged with manslaughter Thispublicationhadreported that the man's family on the Essequibo Coast remains optimistic that justice will prevail.FionaBoston,wifeof thedeceased,hadstatedthatit has been a challenge for her andhertwochildrensinceher husband died. She said, “It tookalongtime,butIamglad that everything coming to light…whenIheardthenews, I was speechless. I didn't knowhowtoexpressmyself.I wasjustthere.Itissomething thatIwantedtoseeforalong time, the case hasn't been concludedyet,butthereisstill agreaterchanceforjusticeto prevail.”

Dead: Jamal Hughes

Orin Boston

Sherwin Peters

Rakameem Benowen Nicholas

Nascimento'swifeorderedoutofcourtforattemptingto

G e m M a d h o oNascimento, the wife of prominent Communications Consultant, Kit Nascimento was ordered out of the Courtroom of Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty onMonday,forattemptingto assist him in identifying an accused person in the electoralfraudtrial.

Nascimento, 93, served as an observer of the 2020 General and Regional Elections and is now an advisor on communication matters to President Irfaan Ali. Hetookthestandinthe trialwherebyformerGuyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; formerReturningOfficerfor District Four Clairmont Mingo;formerDeputyChief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence;'

APNU+AFCs Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph;andformerGECOM employees

Sheffern February, Enrique Liven, Michelle Miller, and Denise BabbCummings are all being

accused of conspiracy to manipulatetheresultsofthe 2020elections

U n d e r c r o s sexamination by the defence team led by attorney Nigel Hughes, Mr Nascimento was asked to recall the names of the persons involved in the alleged fraudulentacts.

Theelderlymanaskedto look around the court to see if he can identify any of the persons that he saw that day oftheincidentbutbeforehe could provide an answer, a lawyer on the defence team alerted the magistrate that Nascimento was being assisted by his wife in identifyingtheaccused.

As a result, the magistrate ordered Mrs Nascimento out of the courtroom Nascimento's testimony followed Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Thomas, who w a s t h e R e g i o n a l Commander of Division 4A (Georgetown) Thomas recounted his experience during the election tabulationonMarch5,2020 but admitted that he

destroyedhisdiaryissuedby the police and which contained confidential informationinrelationtothe March 2020 General and Regionalelections.

Thomas testified that around1:58hrsonMarch5, he received a phone call fromtheoperationalroomat BrickdamPoliceStation.

He was informed that someone involved in the tabulation process at the

Ashmins Building had allegedly removed a flash drive from the tabulation area and entered a private room.

Thomas said he proceeded to the Ashmins building, along with

Divisional Detective

Officer,JuliusWright,anda CID team, arriving at approximately 2:10hrs “When I got into the building, several local and

overseasobserversandparty representatives reported the same thing, that someone assigned to the tabulation center had removed a flash driveandwasinaroomwith a computer,” he said However, when asked to identifythosewhomadethe reports, Thomas said he couldnotrecalltheirnames.

Thomas was led to a room on the lower eastern floor, close to the tabulation

c e n t e r, w h e r e h e

encounteredamanidentified as GECOM Information Technology Technician, Enrique Livan “I was pointed out to the person in that room, who I spoke to, and he gave his name as Enrique Livan,” Thomas stated According to Thomas, Livan admitted to removingtheflashdrivebut denied tampering with any data. “He claimed that he was a bit tired and catching some rest because we found him lying over on the desk, leaning forward in a chair But the fact that he had the flash drive and was on a laptop raised serious concerns, especially given the circumstances,” Thomas said. However when asked about record of his account oftheelectionsdaysaga,the officersaidhenolongerhad thediary

Thomas told the court thatin2023,threeyearsafter the elections, he destroyed the diary since it contained “classified” information. He could not disclose any other details due to its confidentiality

Linden to get new $2.6 billion Christianburg Multilateral School

ByAlliyahAllicock

Prime Minister Bridgadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Monday turned the sod for the constructionofthenew$2.6billion Christianburg Multilateral Secondary School in Linden, Region10.

The school project which is beingfinancedthroughaloanfrom theWorldBankwillbeexecutedby PowerChina Jiangxi Electric Power Construction Company

ceremony, construction on the building will begin immediately and it is going to accommodate some 1000 children and 107 teachers. Speaking about teachers, theministerbriefedthatwithinthe last four years in Region 10, some 384teachershavebeentrainedand specifically at Christianburg Secondary, 28 are in training. The minister added that it is not only about providing access but ensuringthatoncestudentsgetinto schools that they are receiving a

US$12,821,592 32 (GY$2 66 billion).

PowerChina was awarded the contract following the National bidding process. Kaieteur News understandsthattheprojectwillbe supervisedbyKalitechIncandhas adurationof17months.

This publication understands that the school will be situated on some244,000sq.ft.oflandandwill comprise of nine blocks (67,000sq ft).Whencompleted,itwillinclude

an administrative block (comprisingofthePrincipalOffice, staff room, conference room and sick bay), multipurpose hall, 35 classrooms, a science block with three laboratories, technology vocationalblock,homeeconomics block, performing arts block, library, recreational area among otheramenities.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Manickchand said the new Christianburg Multilateral is oneofthreenewsecondaryschools scheduled for Region 10. “Here in Region10,I'mverygladtosaythat there are three new secondary schools,beingbuiltandthatwould be at Wairuni, Hurururu where we began secondary education, becausetheresidentsthereaskedus todothat,andthatnowneedstobe expanded and here at Christiansburg,” she said. “This Christianburgstoryisreallyavery beautiful story that took us long, because sometimes processes with our dear partners take longer than when we areusing localfunds and tomakesurewearecompliant,we have to go through those processes,”shecontinued.

According to the minister, following the sod turning

higherqualityofeducation.

Prime Minister Phillips in remarks shared that the Christianburg Secondary means a lot to him since he is a former student of the institution. The Prime Minister related that at a previous reunion, he was made awareofthevariouschallengesthe current school faces and made a promise that his government will haveanewschoolbuilt.

“I'm a proud former student of Christianburg Wismar Secondary School known as Multi. These grounds have shaped me just as theyhaveshapedthousandsofpast and current students, and we will continue to shape generations to come. That is why this project holds a deep personal significance for me when I stood before you priorto2020asImentionedearlier, that promise was made. Today I return with my ministerial

colleagues and government officialstodeliveronthatpromise, to turn the sod and fulfill that promisewithamodernworld-class school,”hesaid.

It was disclosed by the Prime Minister that not only will a new modern school be constructed but alsoanewplaygroundwillbebuilt.

Speaking on the significance for a new secondary building was Christianburg's Secondary Principal, Shellane Craigwell who noted that the current building posed several challenges for learnersandstaff.Accordingtothe Principal, the Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary was officially established on the 14th of September1975andwasoriginally designed to accommodate 500 studentsandstaff.

She noted the school was founded with the primary aim of equipping learners with technical

and vocational skills, an objective thatremainsevidenttoday,evenas many of the tools of the Industrial Technology Department have becomeoutdated.

Shefurtherexplained“Overthe years, three major challenges have significantly impacted the institution. First, surface erosion hascompromisedthefoundationof the current school building Second, the lack of timely and adequate maintenance has led to the deterioration of the physical infrastructure.Thirdly,andperhaps most pressing, is the issue of overpopulation.”

Craigwellnotedthattheschool was initially built for 500 students nowservesmorethan700students and a teaching staff of over 100. This overcrowding she stated has resulted in congested classrooms andcrampedstaffrooms,makingit increasingly difficult to maintain

effective teaching and learning environments The Principal expressedthattheconstructionofa new modern school facility with adequate space and infrastructure will go a long way in addressing these issues. “Such a development willnotonlyrelieveovercrowding, butalsoenhanceteacherefficiency and improve student outcomes significantly Itisimportanttonote thatCWSScurrentlyfunctionsasa Sixth Form institution and is optimized that very soon, the school will be gazzetted as a Sixth Formschool,”sherelated.

Meanwhile, Representative from World Bank, Ms. Diletta DorettisaidtheBankisproudtobe apartnerinthisprojectnotingthey have championed numerous education projects like this one. “This is a catalyst for promoting equityandagain,injobcreationin Guyana. We are a long-standing partner of the government. I'd like to thank the government for trusting the World Bank as a lead partner in the education sector and we have been working from nursery to secondary and most recently TVET We recognize that investingineducation,investingin people is really catalytic at this moment of Guyana's economic transformation,”sherelated.

This publication had reported that in December 2024, the EducationMinistryissuedatender, requesting bids for the project, at which both local and overseas firms initially applied for the contract. In its tender document, theMinistrystatedthatGuyanahad received financing from theWorld Bank toward the cost of the 'Guyana Strengthening Human CapitalthroughEducationProject.'

Prime Minister Bridgadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand alongside Representative from World Bank, Ms. Diletta Doretti, students and other officials turning the sod for the new Christianburg Multilateral Secondary School in Region 10.

An artist's impression of what the new school would look like when completed. (Photos, Ministry of Education)

Closing the skills gap to create more jobs in the Caribbean

By Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Director for the Caribbean

Earlier this year, I met a young graduate who had spent the entire summer searching for a job that m a t c h e d h e r education—withoutsuccess. Astheweekspassedandher options narrowed, she appliedtoalocalmeatshop, hopingtofindsomeformof employment.Buteventhere, she was turned away – she was “overqualified” to pack chickenlegs.

Her story is not unique. Across several Caribbean countries, young people are discovering that academic

qualifications, while essential,donotalwaysopen the doors they expected. Businesses, in turn, report difficulty filling positions, not because of a lack of applicants, but because many job seekers simply don't have the technical skillsorexperiencerequired. This disconnect - between the supply and demand of skills - is one of the most persistentgrowthconstraints intheregion.

In Grenada and Saint VincentandtheGrenadines,

for example, firms consistently rank the shortage of a skilled workforce among the top two obstacles to doing business.

The impact of this shortageisstriking:in2020, 50% of all job vacancies in Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesrequiringskilled workers remained unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants. In neighboring Saint Lucia, 40% of employers reported that the skills and education of workers hindered the country's competitiveness Meanwhile, the problem

e x t e n d s b e y o n d businesses—61% of youth report difficulties finding jobsorearningaliving,often because their academic qualifications do not align with the demands of the labormarket.

The ramifications are wide-ranging.

Youth unemployment in Grenada and Saint Lucia exceeds 40%, among the highest in the Eastern Caribbean.Forthosewhodo find work, many are employed in roles for which t h e y a r e underqualified 57% of workers in Saint Lucia

lacked the necessary qualifications for their roles in2019—orthatfailtofully

Lilia

Burunciuc,

World Bank Director for the Caribbean

utilize their education and skills While such employment may offer income, it can also lead to mismatches between workers'capabilitiesandjob demands, leaving many young people frustrated and limiting the potential of businesses to operate at full productivity.

These challenges reflect deeper structural issues, includinginadequatequality of basic education and insufficient collaboration between post-secondary institutions and the private sector

P o s t - s e c o n d a r y institutions often operate in isolation from industry, leaving students with academic credentials but without the practical or technical skills employers need.

Compounding the issue, the Eastern Caribbean spends around 14% of their education budget on postsecondary education, compared to 25% in Latin America and 32% in OECD countries With outdated laboratories, limited digital infrastructure, and low capacitytosupportinclusive education, many institutions are ill-equipped to prepare students for the demands of today'slabormarket. These challenges are further amplified by the emigration of highly skilled workers, whooftenleavetheregionin s e a r c h o f b e t t e r opportunities abroad. This loss of talent reduces the availability of skilled professionals at home and weakensthereturnonpublic investmentsineducation.

The skills shortage not only impacts individual job seekers; it undermines the broader economy by stifling productivity, reducing business competitiveness, and limiting opportunities forinnovation.

Partly due to missing skills, Eastern Caribbean firms are not adequately investinginandengagingin innovative activities. Only 2.7% of firms in Grenada and 3.2% of firms in Saint Luciahavehumanresources dedicated to research and development. Research and development are vital for f

y,

w technologies,andimproving business processes. For the Caribbean, investment in researchanddevelopmentis particularly important to address challenges in key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy, unlocking new opportunitiesforsustainable growth.

However, many firms perceive the cost of innovation as too high relativetothemarketsize.In smalleconomies,businesses often believe that investing in innovation won't yield sufficient returns due to limited local demand or the high costs of implementing new technologies This perception discourages companies from pursuing innovation, limiting their growthandcompetitiveness.

There is no single solution to these challenges –butthereareclearareasfor action. First, post-secondary education should receive more attention to ensure institutions are equipped to deliver relevant, highq u a l i t y t r a i n i n g Modernizing curricula to include both technical and transversal skills—such as p r o b l e m - s o

, adaptability, and digital literacy is essential for preparing youth for the

economy

Equally important is f o s t e r i n g c

o s e r collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector While some institutions already m a i n t a i n partnerships particularly intourism—thereisaneedto expandtheseeffortsacrossa wider range of sectors Deeperandmorediversified collaboration can help

evolving industry needs, encourage workplace-based learning opportunities, and support research and development initiatives that foster innovation and job creation Expanding regional frameworks, such as shared learning standards (Continuedonpage16)

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PAHOExecutiveCommitteekicksoff176thsession, addressingkeyhealthissuesintheAmericas

TheExecutiveCommittee of the Pan American Health Organization(PAHO),oneof the institution’s governing bodies, today began its 176th session in Washington, D.C. The committee aims to discussoveradozenprioritytopics to improve health in the Americasregion.

Keyagendaitemsinclude the Proposed Strategic Plan 2026-2031,theProposedProgram Budget 2026-2027, the Policyforexpandingequitable access to high-cost and highpricehealthtechnologies,the PlanofActiononNoncommunicable Disease (NCDs) Prevention and Control 20252030, and the Strategy on Health and Migration 20262031.

PAHODirector,Dr.Jarbas Barbosa, opened the session by highlighting the importance of this forum as a crucialopportunitytostrengthen regional cooperation. “This ExecutiveCommitteemeeting provides a valuable platform to shape the Organization’s approach to addressing challenges and, ultimately, improving health outcomes across the region,” he stated.

During his address, Dr Barbosa underscored the currentchallengesfacingthe region. “PAHO has been working diligently to continueprotectingtheAmericas region. There is an urgent need to increase immunization coverage due to the high risk of vaccine-preventable diseases,” he noted. He also emphasizedtheimportanceof advancing control over outbreaks such as yellow fever, H5N1, measles, and dengue, and of improving maternal, neonatal,andchildhealthindicators, as well as care for noncommunicable diseases, includingmentalhealth.

One of the central topics istheProposedStrategicPlan 2026-2031,whichproposesa more integrated, agile, and country-priority-focused approach.“Icountonyourcontinued leadership, expertise, and collaboration to finalize the Plan, and I reiterate the Secretariat’s commitment to continuefacilitatingyourparticipationanddialogue,building together, implementing lessons learned, and innovations,” Dr. Barbosa expressed.

Venezuela’s

Another highlight is the Policy for expanding equitable access to high-cost and high-priced health technologies, which seeks to address challenges related to the availabilityoftreatmentslike insulins, cancer therapies, and medicines for rare diseases. “All countries, both developing and developed, facechallengesrelatedtothe prices and availability of these technologies,” the PAHODirectoremphasized.

Additionally,theCommittee will address the Action Plan on Noncommunicable DiseasePreventionandControl2025-2030,whichaimsto support countries in accelerating actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4, seeking to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. The new Strategy on Health and Migration 20262031 will also be presented, oriented towards responding to health challenges arising from increasing migratory flows in the region. In a regional and global call, Dr Barbosa urged the Americas to work together under the

principleofPan-Americanism. “ThepowerofPan-Americanism is just as potent today as it was more than a century ago, and I believe it is one of the keys to building a brighter, healthier future for ourregion,”heaffirmed.

The PAHO Director concluded his remarks by reaffirmingPAHO’scommitment to health equity. “Above all, Pan-Americanismreflectsour unbreakable commitment to health equity We must therefore be relentless in our pursuit of universal health coverage,toguaranteeeveryperson,family,andcommunityin the Americas has an equal chance to live a healthy life,” he concluded.

TheExecutiveCommittee comprises representatives from nine Member States, serving staggered three-year terms. It currently includes Brazil,Canada,Chile,Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Uruguay, and the United States. Its deliberations this week will form the basis for proposals to be considered by all member countries during the Directing CouncilinSeptember

second-largestrefineryhalted duetopowerblackout,sourcessay

June 23 (Reuters)Venezuela’s second-largest refinery, the 310,000-barrelper-day Cardon plant operated by state company PDVSA, remained halted on Monday after a power blackout,threesourceswithknowledge of its operations said.

Venezuela’sagingrefining

networkhasfrequentoutages afteryearsoninsufficientinvestment, mismanagement and U.S. sanctions preventing the import of spare parts. Inrecentmonths,Cardonhas been key to processing feedstock from some of the Orinoco Belt’s heavy crude projects.

The blackout began early in the morning and did not affect Cardon’s neighboring refinery, the 645,000-bpd Amuay plant, one of the sources said. In the afternoon, power service to the facility was restored and workers began preparations for restarting some units, but

the facility remained suspended,accordingtoanother source.

“We have power back in the refinery, but there is no steam or air yet,” the person said, referring to the supply of industrial services to the facility, which is required to restart operational units.

20 key elections officers sworn-in...

Frompage11

districts will now be created within these regions, allowing tabulation to be conducted at the subdivision level instead of centrally at theAshmins Building, which was previously used for Region4.

The list of Returning Officers sworn in includes:

Andre Thomas and Roxanne Smith for Region 1 (Barima/ Waini); Rakesh Ramsamooj for Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Jerome Singh for Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica);ShellyAnn Shenella LewisMcDonald for Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice); Sunil Ramdial for Region 6 (East

Berbice/Corentyne);Dwayne Williams for Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Dwayne Marco for Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni); Carlos MelvilleforRegion9(Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo); and Krishana Elliott for Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice). The Supernumerary Re-

turning Officers sworn in are: Natasha GrenionDipchand, Timona Kasim, and Eon Singh for Region 3; Alexandra Bowman, Mohamed Karimullah, Noreema Azaad-Ledra,and Brandon Khargu for Region 4; andAvinash Rambharose, AlvinGarnett,andKellyAnn Mathieson for Region 6.

Closing the skills gap to create more jobs...

From page 15 andqualificationrecognition, wouldallowforgreatermobility of talent and ensure consistent skill development across the region. For small island states, suchcollaborationalsooffers apracticaladvantage:theabilitytopoolresourcesandbenefit from cost-sharing opportunities, making education andtrainingsystemsmoreefficient and sustainable. Finally, addressing barriers to innovationbycreatingincentives for businesses to invest in research and development and improving digital infra-

structurewillhelpunlockthe region’s economic potential. The World Bank is working with Caribbean countries to support these goals. The OECS Skills and Innovation Project is one example. With $36 million in financing, the projectfocusesonenhancing youth skills, fostering regional collaboration, and strengtheningacultureofinnovation. By supporting 40,000youngpeoplewithtargeted training, establishing common learning standards, and encouraging partnerships between businesses and post-secondary institu-

tions, the initiative aims to buildanecosystemwhereinnovation and skills developmentdrivegrowth.

Beyond the Eastern Caribbean,countrieslikeGuyana and Belize are also stepping up efforts to close the skills gap. In Guyana, the World Bank is supporting the government’sinvestmentina broad set of skills needed to power its rapidly expanding economy—withastrongemphasis on technical and vocational education and training. Meanwhile in Belize, where women’s labor force participationremainssignifi-

cantly lower than men’s, a forthcomingprojectwillfocus on early childhood development and female empowerment—withadedicatedcomponent aimed at expanding women’semploymentopportunities through skills development and support for businesses in the care and education sectors. The Caribbean holdsimmensepotential.Tapping into that potential will require a coordinated effort, long-term investment, and a shared commitment to aligning skills with opportunity Encouragingly, that work is already underway

Trump says Iran and Israel to have a phased-in ceasefire over 24 hours

WASHINGTON (AP)

President Donald Trump saidMondayonsocialmedia that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased inover24hours.

The U.S. president said on Truth Social that the ceasefire would bring an “OfficialEND”tothewar,a major change in the hostilitiesthatfollowsaU.S. strike over the weekend on threeIraniannuclearsites.

“On the assumption that everything works as it should,whichitwill,Iwould like to congratulate both Countries,IsraelandIran,on having the Stamina, Courage,andIntelligenceto end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” Trumpposted.

The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump’s statement and the officeofIsraeliPrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment There was also no immediate comment from Iran Iran’s attack Monday indicated it waspreparedtostepbackfrom escalating tensions in the volatile region The US was warnedbyIraninadvance,and there were no casualties, said PresidentDonaldTrump,who dismissedtheattackasa“very weak response ”Qatar condemned the attack onAl UdeidAirBaseas“aflagrant violation”ofitssovereignty, airspace and international law.Qatarsaiditintercepted allbutonemissile,thoughit was not clear if that missile causedanydamage.

Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated

areas Those comments, made immediately after the attack, suggested Iran wanted to de-escalate with theUnitedStates,something Trumphimselfsaidafterthe strikesearlySundayonIran.

QatarMaj Gen ShayeqAl Hajri said 19 missiles were firedatthebasethatishometo the CombinedAir Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest such wing in the world Trump said 14 missiles were fired, 13 were knocked down and one was “set free” because it posed nothreat.

Trump said Iran might be ableto“proceedtoPeaceand Harmony” and said he would encourage Israel to do the same However, Israel’s war on Iran continued, with the Israeli military expanding its campaign Monday to target sites symbolic for the country’stheocracy Iran announced the attack on state television as martial music played A caption on screencalledit“amightyand successful response” to “America’saggression”

Justbeforetheexplosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianwroteonthesocial platform X: “We neither initiatedthewarnorseekingit Butwewillnotleaveinvasion to the great Iran without answer.”

Earlier reports that a missile was launched at a base housing American forces in Iraq were a false alarm,aseniorU.S.military official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said debris from a malfunctioning Iranian missile targeting Israel had triggered an alert of an

impendingattackontheAin al-Assadbase.

Israel expands war to includesymbolictargets

On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel and Iran traded airstrikes that have becomearealityforcivilians inbothcountriessinceIsrael started the war to target Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclearprogram.

Iran struck Israel with a barrage of missiles and drones while Israel said it attacked“regimetargetsand government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.”

But Israeli officials insistedtheydidnotseekthe overthrow of Iran’s government,theirarchenemy since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution The latest strikes unfolded only hours after Trump himself mentioned the possibility of regime change a day after inserting America into the war with its stealth-bomber strikeonthreeIraniannuclear sites “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRANGREATAGAIN,why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he asked on his TruthSocialwebsite.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later described Trump as “simplyraisingaquestion.”

TheU.S.strikesoverthe weekendpromptedfearsofa wider regional conflict. Iran said the U.S. had crossed “a very big red line” with its risky gambit to strike with missiles and 30,000-pound bunker-busterbombs.

Israelaimstowinddown the war in the coming days, but that will depend on the Iranians, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity to discuss highlevelinternaldeliberations.

Israel’s preferred outcome is for Iran to agree

to a ceasefire and reenter negotiations with the U.S. overitsnuclearprogram,the official said. But Israel is prepared for the possibility ofanextendedlow-intensity war of attrition or period of “quietforquiet,”inwhichit wouldcloselymonitorIran’s activities and strike if it identifiesnewthreats.

Tehranstrikesopennew chapterofwar

The Israeli military warned Iranians it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran as its focus shifted to include symbolic targets The military issued the warning on the social platform X, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world due to an internetshutdown.

In Tehran, Israel hit the headquarters of the military force that suppressed recent protestsandblewopenagate at Evin prison, which is notorious for holding political activists Iranian state television shared blackand-white surveillance footage of the strike at the facility known for holding dual nationals and Westerners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiationswiththeWest.

Evin also has specialized units for political prisoners run by the paramilitary, allvolunteer Revolutionary Guard,whichanswersonlyto Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei.Thefacilityis the target of both U.S. and EuropeanUnionsanctions.

T h e r e w e r e n o immediate reports of casualties in Iran or significant damage. Iranian statetelevisionairedfootage it said was shot inside Evin, withprisonersundercontrol. However, the Washingtonbased Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for

3 arrested for shooting near Public Works Minister’s home

Threepersonshavebeen arrested for the shooting incident which occurred on Saturdaynightinthevicinity of the Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill’s home, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said on Monday

Law enforcement officialsarealsoinsearchof a fourth suspect The incident occurred at about 20:10hrs at Sugar Cane Road, South Ruimveldt,

Georgetown, by an unidentifiedmanwhowasin a black Mercedes Benz vehicle Investigators disclosed that there was a ‘social’ at the home of Richard Austin, a 69-yearold businessman of Sugar Cane Road, South Ruimveldt, with several students who recently wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). The students were reportedly invited by

Austin’s 16-year-old son, whoalsowrotetheexams.

Accordingtoeyewitness reports,a15-year-oldfemale student who attended the ‘social’andthesuspectwere standing next to a black Mercedes Benz vehicle that was parked on the road, whilehugging.Shortlyafter, the suspect entered the car andspedoff.

As the car was moving, the suspect pointed a handgunthroughthedriver’s

Human Rights in Iran said many families of detainees “have expressed deep concernaboutthesafetyand condition of their loved ones”intheprison.

According to an Israeli official familiar with the government’sstrategy,Israel istargetingthesesitestoput pressure on the Iranian administration but is not activelyseekingtotoppleit.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government deliberations The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site.

The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the United States.

The Israeli military did not elaborate. In Vienna, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he expected there to be heavy damage at the Fordo facility following Sunday’s U S airstrike there with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs Several Iranian officials, including Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, have claimed Iran removed nuclear material from targeted sites aheadoftime.

Iranpressesonattacking

Israel Iran said its Monday attacks targeted the Israeli cities of Haifa and TelAviv, according to Iranian state television. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, possibly from air defense systems in action, and Israel’s Magen DavidAdom emergency rescue service said there had been no reportsofinjuries.

In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and morethan1,000woundedin the war Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 950 people and wounded 3,450 others, according to the Washington-based group HumanRightsActivists.

The group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from Iranian unrest such as the protests surrounding the death of Masha Amini in 2022, said of those killed, it identified 380 civilians and 253 securityforcepersonnel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who leads one of Iran’s closest allies, said Monday after meeting in Moscow with the Iranian foreign minister that they had explored “how we can getoutoftoday’ssituation.”

Putin called the Israeli andAmericanattacksonIran an “absolutely unprovoked aggression.”

side window, discharged severalroundsintheair,and continued to drive heading west until the vehicle disappeared.

Thescenewasprocessed by detectives, and nineteen (19) 9mm spent shells were foundatthescene.

The registration number of the car was not seen. When questioned, the 15year-old female student refused to identify the suspectthatshewaswith.

Israel kills at least 43 Palestinians in Gaza, including aid seekers

At least 43 people have beenkilledinvariousIsraeli attacks since dawn as the military relentlessly pounds the besieged enclave, medicalsourcessay,withthe overallPalestiniandeathtoll in the war surpassing a staggering56,000.

Those killed on Monday include at least 20 aid seekers who lost their lives while desperately trying to accessfoodfortheirfamilies atdistributioncentresrunby the controversial United States- and Israel-backed

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which the United Nations has condemned for its “weaponisation”ofaid.

Thekillingsarethelatest in a wave of daily carnage, t a r g e t i n g h u n g r y Palestinianswhocontinueto maketheperilousjourneyto the food distribution points.

Critics have slammed the s i t e s a s “ h u m a n slaughterhouses” amid a worsening hunger and loomingfaminecrisis.

I

Palestiniansnearaidcentres have killed more than 400 people and wounded about 1,000 since the GHF began distributionsonMay27.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said Israel is engaged in its conflict with Iran while it also continues “the killing of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip with deadlyairstrikesontentsor residentialhomes”.

“Hungry crowds gather at food distribution centres in Rafah or the Netzarim Corridor So far, 13 aid seekers have been shot dead today They are among 30 people killed by Israel’s military since the early hours,”Mahmoudsaid.

Meanwhile, the Wafa newsagencyreportedthatat leastfourpeoplewerekilled and several others wounded by an Israeli air attack on a residential building in northernGaza’sJabalia.

Three others, all brothers, were killed by

Israeli forces while they were inspecting their damaged home in the alSalateenareaofBeitLahiya, innorthernGaza.

IncentralGaza,al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp announced it had received the bodies of two Palestinians and treated 35 others injured in Israeli strikes on crowds gathered alongSalahal-DinStreet.

Sixteen of the wounded wereincriticalconditionand transferredtootherhospitals in the central governorate, Wafasaid.

Israeli artillery also shelled the Shujayea neighbourhood in eastern GazaCity

The latest casualty figures bring the number of people killed in the territory sincethestartofIsrael’s20month war more than 56,000,withatleast131,559 wounded. Energy crisis The attacks come as the NorwegianRefugeeCouncil (NRC) warned that the lack of reliable energy sources is

Among the dozens killed are 13 aid seekers, as NGO warns Israel is also deliberately blocking energy access.

Palestinians are suffering from famine as Gaza’s humanitarian system collapses: PNGO

a key threat to survival in Gaza.

The“deliberatedenialof energy access” , like electricity and fuel, “undermines fundamental human needs” in the enclave, the NRC said in a newreport.

Israel has maintained a crippling aid blockade on Gaza, sealing vital border crossings, and preventing the entry of aid spanning

from food, to medical supplies and much-needed fuel.

“In Gaza, energy is not about convenience – it’s about survival,” Benedicte Giaever, executive director ofNORCAP,whichispartof NRC,said.

“When families can’t cook,whenhospitalsgodark and when water pumps stop running, the consequences are immediat

international community must prioritise energy in all humanitarian efforts,” she added.

NRC’s report noted that without power, healthcare facilities in Gaza have been adversely affected, with emergency surgeries having to be delayed, and ventilators, incubators and dialysis machines unable to function.

Iran fires missiles at US airbase in Qatar, oha says attack intercepted, no casualties

DOHA/ISTANBUL/TE

LAVIV,June23(Reuters)Iran’smilitarysaiditcarried outamissileattackontheAl Udeid U.S. airbase in Qatar onMondayafterexplosions wereheardacrosstheQatari capital following Tehran’s threat to retaliate for U.S. airstrikesonitsnuclearsites.

TheIranianmilitarysaid the attack was “devastating and powerful” but U S officials said no U S personnel were killed or injured in the attack on the airbase, the largest U S military installation in the MiddleEast.

Iran, which had been warned by Washington not to retaliate or face massive U.S. military action, had informed the U.S. via two diplomatic channels hours ahead of the attack, as well as Qatari authorities, a senior regional source told Reuters Qatar’s defence minister told Al Jazeera its airdefenceshadintercepted missiles directed at the Al Udeid air base, the largest U.S. military installation in

theMiddleEast. Iranhadissuedthreatsto retaliate against the United States after U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear facilities at the weekend, joining Israel’s air war

against Tehran, and

President Donald Trump mootedthepossibilityofthe Iranian government being toppled.

Advertisement · Scroll tocontinueTheattackcame shortly after a Western diplomat told Reuters there hadbeenacrediblethreatto a U.S. military base in the Gulf state following the unprecedented U S airstrikes on Iran’s uranium enrichmentprogramme.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Qatar, situated just across theGulffromIran,hadshut its airspace after receiving the advance warning from Iran. Bahrain, another U.S.alliedGulfArabstatejustto thenorthofQatar,saidithad also shut its airspace after

theIranianstrikeagainstthe AlUdeidbase.

Inaddition,theU.S.Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq had activated its air defence system out of concern for a potential attack, military sourcessaid.

The main U.S. military base in Iraq’s western neighbourSyriawasalsoon full alert for possible attack by Iran or Iran-aligned militia groups, a Syrian securitysourcesaid.

Qatar, a small, wealthy Gulf Arab state, had earlier announced it had closed its airspace temporarily to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. That followed an advisory from theU.S.embassyinQatarto Americans to shelter in place,outofwhatitsaidwas “anabundanceofcaution”.

Two U.S. officials said Washington had assessed that Iran could carry out attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon,althoughtheU.S.was still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see

Tehranforgoanyreprisal.

Earlier on Monday, Israel bombed a political prison in Tehran, in a renewed demonstration of its willingness to strike not only beyond military and nuclear targets but key pillars of Iran’s ruling system Despite Iran’s threats to challenge oil shipmentsfromtheGulf,oil prices fell 4% in volatile trading <LCOc1> , suggesting traders doubted the Islamic Republic would follow through on any action that would disrupt globalsupplies.

IranianForeignMinister AbbasAraqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Tehran sought backing from one of its last major power friends for its nextsteps.

‘VIVALALIBERTAD’ Israelmadeclearthatits strikes on Evin prison and othertargetsinTehranwere intended to hit the Iranian ruling apparatus broadly, and its ability to sustain power “Viva la libertad!”

Foreign Minister Gideon

Saar wrote on X, accompanyingavideoofan explosionatabuildingwith a sign identifying it as an entrancetoEvinprison.

Reuters could not immediately verify the video posted by Saar, although other videos showingtheaftermathofthe strike on the prison were verifiedasgenuine.

Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster released video showing rescue workers combing the flattened wreckageofabuildingatthe prison, carrying a wounded man on a stretcher The Mizan news outlet of Iran’s judiciary said urgent action was being taken to protect the health and safety of inmatesthere.

Evin has long been Iran’s primary prison for housing political detainees and security prisoners, as wellasthesiteofexecutions thatremainstrongmemories for the opposition. Several high-profile foreign prisonersarealsoheldthere.

Israel’s military said it

responsible for internal securityintheTehranarea.

The m

y was “currently striking, with

governmental repression bodies in the heart of Tehran,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Much of Tehran’s populationof10millionhas fled after 10 days of bombing Tasnim news agency reported a strike at an electricity feeder station in the Evin neighbourhood. Power company Tavanir reported some areas in the capitalsawelectricitycuts.

LIMITEDOPTIONS

Since Trump joined Israel’s campaign by dropping massive bunkerbuster bombs on Iranian nuclear production sites on Sunday morning, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.

MCYS/Ansa McAL June Madness Futsal Finalists will be decided tonight;

The teams earning the right to battle for the top prizeofTwo-Milliondollars will be formalised tonight, Tuesday night, when the semifinals of the June M a d n e s s F u t s a l championship are contested at the CliffAnderson Sports Hall Forty-eight teams commenced the quest to be the best in this inaugural edition of the June Madness championship and its now downtotherealbusinessend of the action. All the hard work will pay the requisite dividends as only one team will end as the best and bragging rights for the next year In the lineup with just two games to lifting the championshiptrophyandthe cheque are Road Warriors, who will battle Gold Is Moneyinthefirstsemi,with Sparta Boss tacking Back Circle ‘A’ in the second

tonight.

Back Circle have scored the second highest number of goals in their three matches so far, 21 and have conceded 4. Their level of efficiency on the offensive endismorethandoubletheir opponents,Sparta,whohave scored 10 goals whilst conceding6.

From that perspective alone, Back Circle will start as favourites to move on to

the championship game but forthistobecomereality,the likes of Chris Macey, Simeon Moore, Cecil Jackman, Darren Benjamin, Stephon Reynolds, Ravin Naughton, Fabian Abrams, Amos Ramsey and goalkeeper Azriel Davis, will all have to come to the party in some way, shape of form Sparta boasts a formidableline-upofcurrent and former national players in their armory, and while they have not been very convincing in their three wins to date, they certainly know how to win when it matters.

Tuesday June 24, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

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

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

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

GEMINI(May21–June20)

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

CANCER(June21–July22)

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

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

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

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

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

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

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

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

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

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

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

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

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

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

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

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

JoelYhap.

The respective winners will battle in Saturday night’sfinalwiththebiggest prize money in futsal at stake, two-million for the winnerand1-millionforthe loser

The third-place winner will be rewarded with $500,000 while fourth place isvalued,$250,000.

Preceding the semis will be a masters match between LindenAllStarsandtheGT Masters, the winner will

The likes of Curtez Kellman, who has scored in every game, talisman Jermain‘Panky’Junor,Ryan ‘Bum Bum’Hacket, Kelsey

Benjamin, Nicholas McArthur, Jobe Caesar, DarronNilesandthereliable goalie,OmarJoneswillhave to combine in a rock solid waytodeny,BackCircle.

The other match up features a very offensive minded Road Warriors unit that has scored a total of 27 goals in their three matches whilst letting in 4 goals, taking on the mean Gold Is Money who have scored the least goals of the four semifinalists, 9 but they have concededtheleast,just2.

Thisistheperfectmatchup between offence and defenceandfansareinfora mouthwateringshindig.

Following their massive opening win by a 16-0 margin, the Road Warriors’ potency in offence has dippedastheirsecondmatch ended 7-1 and their third, a veryclose4-3.Thismightbe good news for Gold Is Moneywhosetechnicalstaff would have been studying the Brazilians’ style of play and will have to come up with a strategy to counter them.

The likes of Luis Da Silva, who has the most goalsofallplayers,Matheus De Souza, Arckson Andreazza, Wendrecky De Souza, Ricardo Silva and company will have to be mindful of the almost airtight defence of the Gold IsMoneyteam.

They’ll be spearheaded bythePedrobrothers,Jamal and Hubert, elder statesman William Europe, Randolph Wagner, Dextroy Adams, StephonJupiter,theyouthful BryanWhartonandthemost efficient custodian to date,

clashwithanotherCityteam on Saturday when there will be $100,000 and $50,000 at stake for the winner and loser

And,thefemalesegment of the June Madness championship will also continue tonight from 20:00hrs when Lady Canaimas seek to win their second match against Pouderoyen Females. The other game will see The Lioness facing Tucville Terrorists.

Britton, Van Lange among winners at the GTTA Independence Tournament

Shemar Britton was among the stars at the recently concluded GTTA Independence tournament.

The National S p o r t s Commission (NSC)andtheGuyanaTable Tennis Association (GTTA) wrapped up their National Independence tournament lastweekendattheNational Gymnasium.

Senior national star Shemar Britton, along with the talented Jonathan Van Lange, Colin Wong andJasmineBillingy,won t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e categories

In the men’s singles round robin finals of 8 players, Britton played unbeaten defeating Van Lange, Niran Bissu, Elishaba Johnson, Nigel

Bryan, Colin Wong, Krystian Sahadeo, and Malachi Moore Second place went to Van Lange, third to Bissu, fourth to Johnson, Bryan fifth, Wong sixth, Sahadeo

seventh, and Moore

finished at the bottom of thetable

In the B Class Open finals, Colin Wong beat Malachi Moore to take that category Joint 3rd places went to Levi Percival and AkeemHall.

Van Lange won the U19title

He beat Malachi Moore in the finals; joint third places went to Colin Wong and Kristian Sahadeo

In the women’s singles finals, Billingy defeated Thuria Thomas Joint third places went to Samara Sukhai and Akira Watson

Billingy won the girls U-19 round robin title She defeated Samara Sukhai, Angel Robinson andAkiraWatson Second place went to Sukhai, third to Robinson, and Watson finished at the bottomofthetable

Guyanese Joseph cops Test Player of the Year Award...

Frompage25 and T20I Player of the Year titles in recognition of her consistentbrilliancewithbat andball.

Among the other winners, Shai Hope was recognized as Men’s ODI Player of the Year for his continued leadership and performance with the bat.

AlzarriJosephtookhomethe Men’s T20I Player of the Year award, while Nicholas Pooranwasacknowledgedas the Regional T20 Player of theYear

In the domestic circuit, Justin Greaves was awarded CG United Super50 Cup Player of the Year, and Mikyle Louis claimed the

West Indies Championship Player of the Year honor In the women’s game, Kycia KnightearnedtheCGUnited Women’s Super50 Cup Player of the Year and Guyanese off-spinner Plaffiana Millington was named CWI T20 Blaze PlayeroftheYear

It was a night that linked past and present, where the echoes of greatness met the promise of the future.As the regionreflectedononeofits proudest sporting moments from1975,theachievements of today’s stars offered renewed hope that West Indies cricket, like its champions, will continue to rise.

2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL)

Grimmond,Millington,Campbelleamong

Guyanesestars

tofeatureinGuyanaAmazonWarriorsWomen’ssquad

The squads for the 2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL)

have been officially confirmed following the successfulcompletionofthe player draft. Each franchise will feature a 15-player squad comprising four overseas stars and 11 local talents, as they prepare for

another thrilling season of women’s T20 cricket in the Caribbean.

Barbados Royals Aim forHistoricThree-Peat

Defending champions

Barbados Royals will once again be led by world number one all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who has captained the side to consecutive WCPL titles

The Royals retain a strong Caribbean core with the return of Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, and Aaliyah Alleyne,andwelcomeKycia Knighttoherhomefranchise forthefirsttime.

On the overseas front, the Royals are bolstered by the return of Australian wicket-keeper Georgia Redmayne and Sri Lankan

C

o p

i Athapaththu,bothintegralto

last season’s championship run. They are joined by

Shreyanka Patil, who shifts from the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Australian multi-sportathleteCourtney We

versatilitytothesquad.

Trinbago Knight Riders SetSightsonRedemption

After finishing runnersup in 2024, the Trinbago Knight R

s are determined to reclaim the title they last held in 2022. Deandra Dottin remains the squad’s co

n

stone, supported by an exciting group of young talent including Jahzara Claxton, Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, and Samara Ramnath-all21yearsoldor younger They’ve complemented

youth with experience, draftingplayerslikeShabika Gajnabi, Rashada Williams, and Abigail Bryce. Their

Eli Hazel completes run in recognition of fathers

BYSAMUELWHYTE

Eli Hazel a Physical

fitness instructor, community and Sports

activists and sp

o

completed a run around the townofNewAmsterdamin recognitionoffathers.

Hazel, of the Unity for the Nation fame completed the run being accompanied by his grandchildren who wereonbicycles

H a z e l a n d h i s grandchildren set out on their journey around 06:00hrs. The run began from Lot 40 Stanleytown, proceed through No 41 Scheme, through Vryheid into Angoy’s Avenue, around Tucber Park, then along Winkle Road, into Garrison Road along NATI

and The National Psychiatric Hospital and The Burnham Park into Esplanade Road, enter Strand (Water Street) through New Amsterdam along Stanleytown around Tacama Turn into Main Street and concluded at its placeoforigin.Theruntook about2hrs.

Hazel, is a qualified Physical Fitness Instructor

He is the holder of a Certificate from the British Sports Trust Harvard Community Sports Leaders Course which was held by t h e B r i t i s h H i g h Commission. The course dealt with Sports Management, Marketing,

Organizing, Coaching and Discipline in Sports among other areas He is the founderoftheUnityforthe Nation Group in New Amsterdam,Berbice. Hesaidthattherunwas to show appreciation for fathers. In a brief chat with

themedia,hereiteratedthat fathers and men in general must not only be seen in a badlight.Buttheyaresome good men around. He said that there are many men whospreadloveandcanbe seenasrolemodels.

Using his Unity for the Nation platform, he reemphasized that Unity andLeadershipisneededin Guyana now more than ever

Themansaidthathefelt satisfied that he completed the journey He felt that it wassomethingfittingtodo, because of the significance of the occasion. Doing the activity at this time, show thesignificanceoffathers.

OvertheyearsHazelhas been organizing a number of community and sporting and other events across Berbice.

One of his highlights wasdoingashacklewalkin chains in remembrance of slavery Other events include runs, walks, jogs, cycling, speeches, spelling, physical fitness, in recognition of mothers, fathers, youths, the elderly, unity,health,goodmanners, peaceandotherinitiatives.

Defending champions Barbados Royals

spearheaded by Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen, returning Indian pacer Shikha Pandey, and South African power-hitter Lizelle Lee, who makes her WCPL debut Rising leg-spinner Salonee Dangore also joins theside,addingdepthtothe bowlingunit.

Guyana Amazon WarriorsChaseMaidenTitle onHomeSoil

With all matches of the 2025 tournament being played at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, the Guyana Amazon Warriors will look to harness home support as they chase their first WCPL title.

Theteamretainsawealth of experience with Stafanie Ta y l o r, K a r i s h m a Ramharack, and Shemaine Campbelle anchoring the squad.

The Warriors have a strong local presence with seven Guyanese players in thelineup.

They welcome back English World Cup winner Lauren Winfield-Hill and South African speedster Shabnim Ismail, returning forherthirdseason.

The squad also secures Laura Harris, a key contributor to the Royals’ 2023and2024triumphs,and Australian leg-spinning allrounder Madeline Penna, whoaddsdynamicbalance.

The 2025 Massy WCPL will take place from 6 to 17 September at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Eachteamwillplayfour group-stage matches, with the top two sides advancing tothefinaltocompeteforthe covetedWCPLtitle.

Eli Hazel with his grandchildren after completing the almost 2 hours run around New Amsterdam.

Plaffiana Millington

Saints, QC, and GTI advance as YBG Georgetown Basketball finals loom

The2025editionof t h e Y o u t h

B a s k e t b a l l Guyana (YBG) Georgetown Regional Championship has reacheditsfinalstretchafter an exhilarating weekend of semifinal action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). The competition, which spans the Boys and Girls Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 divisions, is now set to culminate in a highlyanticipatedfinalsday onFriday,June27.

In the Boys Under-14 division, St Stanislaus College (Saints) and St Rose’s High punched their tickets to the championship match with thrilling semifinalvictories.

SaintsedgedpastSchool of the Nations in a tightly contested showdown, while Rose’s held off a strong challenge from Queen’s College (QC), setting up a highly anticipated clash for thetitle.

The Girls Under-14 bracket saw dominant displays from President’s College, whose ‘A’ and ‘B’

teams continued to impose their authority on the division. Both units have advanced to the finals, underscoring the school’s depth and developmental successingirls’basketball. Moving across into the Under-16 action, Saints turned up the intensity to defeat Queen’s College 2619. Leading the charge was Demitri Crandon, who impressedwith12pointsand 7rebounds.

Crandon’s inside presence was backed up by solid performances from Josiah Lee and Hartley Price, who added a combined 11 points to stave offQC’schallenge. In the other U16 semifinal, President’s College narrowly got the betterofStRose’sHighina 32-29 thriller Mattanaiah Fordyceledthewaywith11 pointsand6rebounds,while Chazaiah Bernard added 8 crucialpointstohelpsealthe deal. Saints will now face President’s College Royals in what promises to be a heatedU16titledecider

The Under-18 division brought its share of drama and highlight-worthy moments. Queen’s College avenged earlier losses by defeating Saints 35-25, powered by a balanced offensiveunit.

Darren Dublin (9 points, 5 rebounds), Alan Patterson (8 points, 6 rebounds), and Reshaun Gurrick (6 points) all contributed key buckets as QC managed a commanding second-half surge to book their final’s berth Meanwhile, Government Technical Institute (GTI) turned in a strong team performance to edgePresident’sCollege2822 Raymond Paul was instrumental in the victory with 9 points, while Jaheim Barnwell’s rebounding presence and clutch scoring proved too much for the PC side,whostruggledtomount a final comeback. GTI will now go head-to-head with QC for the coveted U18 crown.

With the semifinal dust settled, all eyes turn to the finalsdayonFriday,June27,

Queen’s College Girls came up short against PC altering an all PC final in the U14 championship.

where champions across all divisions will be crowned at the mecca of local basketball, Cliff Anderson SportsHall.

The Georgetown Regional Championships, a marquee event on the youth sportscalendar,continuesto enjoy the generous support

of KFC Guyana, along with Edward B Beharry & Company,G-BoatsInc.,and the National Sports Commission.

Abram Zuil crowned Janet Jagan

National Windball Cricket Champions

Abram Zuil Secondary, hailing from the county of Essequibo, stormedtovictoryintheinaugural National Windball Cricket Playoffs, held in memory of the lateformerPresidentJanetJagan.

Thetournamentwassponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport and coordinated by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

In what was a significant expansionfrompreviouseditions, formerlylimitedtoRegions3and 4, this year’s national showdown welcomed participation from schools across all administrative regions, with the exception of Regions1,8,and9.

Organisers cited logistical challenges for the exclusions but assured stakeholders that efforts are already underway to ensure full participation in future editions.

Atthetournament,whichdrew over 2,000 student-athletes, Abrams Zuil’s path to glory was paved with powerful hitting and disciplined bowling, with star

performers Ravid Fredricks and EronBenjaminleadingthecharge.

In a thrilling start to the knockout stage, Three Miles Secondary chased down Saint Rose’sHigh’s59-2withease.

Narindra Isurdeen struck a resilient 35 for Roses, but Three Miles, powered by Christiano Ram’s44andMarioRamjag’s12, breezedto63-2.

Abram Zuil then announced their intent with a dominant 145 without loss against JC Chandi Singh Secondary. Fredricks blasted an unbeaten 84 decorated with ten sixes, while Benjamin chippedinwith41(sixsixes).

In response, JC Chandi Singh managed 86-5, with Arif Marimotoo’sentertaining64(nine sixes)theloneresistance.

In a shock result, 11-time champions Covent Garden Secondary were knocked out by ParikaSalemSecondary

Despite posting 105-2 thanks to Venesh Kalpoo’s 46 and handy knocks from Terick Ramotar and Devindra Ram, Parika chased it down with 106-1. Bharat

Seepersaud struck 48, while Linsdyl Harris hammered seven sixesinhis46.

Camille’s Academy also impressed with a commanding 149-0 over Berbice High School.

Darwin La Rose (70) and Yuvraj Bhagwandin (65) lit up the park, while Berbice’s 104-2 was not enough despite Gilbert Griffith’s unbeaten47.

Abram Zuil marched into the final after demolishing Three Miles Secondary Fredricks smashed69(10sixes)intheirtotal of 129-1, before Benjamin wreaked havoc with the ball, taking 3-4 in a single over Fredricks also contributed with 20, bundling Three Miles out for just52-6.

In the other semi-final, Parika Salem defeated Camille’s Academy in another run-fest Camille’s posted 98-1 with Bhagwandin scoring a brilliant unbeaten50.

However, Parika Salem responded with 101 without loss, led by a scintillating 69 from LinsdylHarris(eightsixes).

As a result, Camille’s Academy and Three Miles Secondary were declared joint third-placefinishers.

In the much-anticipated final, AbramZuilweresentintobatand posted 96-4, with Eron Benjamin leadingthewaywithapowerful56 (eight sixes), supported by Fredricks’ 24. Montey Miguel claimed 2-21 for Parika Salem, whileKevinWongandR.Persaud chippedinwithawicketeach.

In response, Parika Salem’s chase faltered under pressure Despite contributions from Harris (24), Wong (16), and Subraj Chaitram (15), they were restricted to 79-3. Fredricks once againmadehismarkwiththeball, taking a crucial 1-1 and was deservedly named Player of the Final.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, in his closing remarks, lauded the initiative, crediting the Government of Guyana and the MinistryofCulture,Youth&Sport fortheirunwaveringsupport.

“Thisyearishistoric.Wehave anationalfinal,andit’sonlygoing

to get better,” Ninvalle noted. “We’ve seen improvement, and we’llbegoingbacktothedrawing boardtomakenextyearevenmore successful.”

The DoS also disclosed that that the National Sports Commissionislikelytoaddacash incentivenextyear

He praised the players, organisers,andespeciallythestaff of the NSC for executing a national programme of such magnitude.

Allister Munroe, the lead Sports Officer behind the event, expressed gratitude to all contributors, including the Ministry of Education, Guyana Police Force, parents, head teachers, officials of ASTP, and most importantly, the over 2,000 student-athleteswhoparticipated.

FinalPlacings

Champions – Abram Zuil Secondary Runners-Up – Parika Salem Secondary Joint Third – Camille’s Academy and Three Miles Secondary

Montra Jaguars, Cotton Tree, Mahaica Hawks among 16 teams for Berbice zone

The Berbice zone of the Kares One Guyana T10 TapeballBlastissettoignite with 16 teams vying for supremacyonJune28thand 29th.

Finalists from the 2024 edition,MontraJaguars,will be looking to go one step furtherthisyear,butwillface stiffcompetitionfromfellow returnees Cotton Tree Die Hard and Mahaica Hawks, among other talent-filled teams from Berbice, before they can reach the national finals.

Other teams in the BerbicezoneareChampXI, Crabwood Creek, Bath Sports Club, Corriverton Spartans, Line Path Select XI, Ethan XI, D’Edward Sports Club, New AmsterdamXI,TucberPark, andNameBrandTitans,who playedinthe2023editionof thetournament.

Saturday’sactionwillbe split across two venues: the

#48 Ground and the Rose Hall/CanjeGround(Welfare Ground).

The intensity then shifts to the Albion Sports Complex on Sunday, where the zone’s champion will be crownedunderlights.

Play is scheduled to commenceat9:30AM local time each day, and entry for allspectatorsisfree.

Tournament Co-

Director, John Ramsingh, is enthusiastic about the Berb

ce leg, sta

ng, “Berbice marks the beginning of our expansion, and we are eager to witness thetalentwithinthiscounty We anticipate high-octane cricketandencouragefansto rally behind their local teams. Ultimately, both the teams and their supporters willemergeaswinners.”

Thestakesarehigh,with the Berbice zone winner securingacovetedspotinthe national finals slated for Sunday, August 3rd at the

National Stadium in Providence, commencing at 2:00PM.

Beyondthenationalfinal berth, the Berbice zone champion will also pocket a significant $300,000 prize, alongwithaspeciallycrafted trophy, and will have the opportunity to compete for an additional $1.7 million at theNationalStadium.

The runner-up in the zone final will receive $100,000.

Cricket enthusiasts in Berbice are in for a thrilling weekend of Tapeball action as the road to the national finalsbegins.

The national finals will offer even greater rewards, with the runner-up taking home $700,000, a trophy, andmedals,whilethelosing semi-finalists will each receive$300,000.

Individualbrilliancewill also be recognized throughout the tournament, with prizes including: MVP

2025 CWI/WIPA 8th annual Awards Gala

Guyanese Joseph cops

of the Year Award

Guyanesefast-bowlingsensationShamar JosephandWindieswomen’sskipper,Hayley Matthews emerged as the major award recipients at the 8th annual CWI/WIPA Awards Gala held on Sunday night at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle, where Caribbean cricket’s finest gatheredtohonourexcellenceandreflectona goldenmilestoneinWestIndieshistory

The ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of the West Indies’ groundbreaking victory at the 1975 Prudential World Cup a moment immortalized when Sir Clive Lloyd’s team defeated Australia by 17 runs at Lord’s to become the first world champions of the sport. Surviving members of that legendary squad including Sir Clive, Sir Vivian Richards,DeryckMurray,andSirJoelGarner were present, receiving standing ovations from players and guests alike for a triumph thatcontinuestoinspiregenerations.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who participated in the presentation of severalawards,praisedboththelegacyofthe

Plaffiana Millington

($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy+TV),MostWickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy($35,000).

The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered significant support from a wide range of

Test Player

- Millington named Women’s T20 Blaze player of the year

Test player of the year, Guyanese Shamar Joseph and GCB president Bissoondyal Singh share a moment following the 2025 CWI/WIPAAwards Gala.

1975 team and the current crop of players.

“Aswepaidtributetothelegendswhomade it possible, it was also a reminder; legacy is notatrophy,itisfuel...Congratulationstoall of tonight’s award winners... Let us keep pushing,keeprising,andaboveallelse,keep rallyingroundtheWestIndies,”shepostedon Instagramafterwards.

Joseph, whose sensational Test debut againstAustralia in January 2024 captivated the cricketing world, was namedTest Player oftheYear Matthews,theinspirationalWest Indies Women’s captain, was a double awardee,claimingboththeWomen’sODI

(Continuedonpage22)

sponsors, including Kares Engineering Inc, the Office ofthePresident,theMinistry of Culture,Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer

Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo

Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s A c a d e m y , N a v i n Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & TechnicalSolutions.

Kevlon Anderson of the Montra Jaguars plays a shot in the 2024 final against the eventual champions, Titans All-Stars.