Kaieteur News

ExxonM still in control of over $70 billion in cleanup costs

Decommissioning monies, or cleanup costs as commonly referred to, are currently being withdrawnbyExxonMobilGuyana Limited(EMGL)althoughthesum will not be required until production comes to a halt in the StabroekBlock.

In the oil and gas industry, decommissioning refers to the process of safely dismantling and disposing of offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities once they reach the end of their productive life.

This involves cleaning up the site, removing equipment, plugging wells to prevent leaks, and restoring the environment as closely as possible to its original state.

Decommissioning is also a costly exercise, sometimes demanding billions of US dollars hencecountriesareoftenadvisedto mandate that oil companies set aside money in a fund for this purpose.Thisfundensuresthatthe country is not left to carry the burden of handling those costs which ought to be covered by the oilcompanies.

To date, over $70B has been drawn out of Guyana's oil towards decommissioning by Exxon Earlierthisyear,thecountry'schief policymaker on petroleum, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealed

…as

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

President, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited,Alistair Routledge

thateffortsarebeingmadetoallow Guyanatohavejointcontrolofthe decommissioningaccounttoallow for greater transparency and accountabilityofthefund.

Currently,Exxonstillholdsthe key to fund as government is still working towards this objective. This is according to Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat.

Inanexclusiveinterviewatthe sidelinesofaneventlastweek,the Minister told Kaieteur News, “We haveaconsultantthatisworkingon that right now for us; the same consultant that has been working with us all the time, S&P Global. They are working with us on putting that together so we'll have more information once we get that.”

He declined to answer further questions as he shuffled off to anotherevent.

In its 2024 Annual Report, EMGL, the operator of the StabroekBlockreportedthatithas already drawn about $70.4B for decommissioningtodate.Notably, Exxon'sco-venturersalsoenjoythe privilege of taking and controlling cleanupmonies.

For instance, 2023 financials seen by this newspaper indicates that ExxonMobil billed Guyana $10,857,314,009, while Hess also added $13,072,707,068 and CNOOC $11,393,140,000 for decommissioning In total, the companies charged the country $ 3 5 , 3 2 3 , 1

U S $ 1 7

decommissioning in 2023 Notably, CNOOC's financials at the time also revealed that the companies deducted monies for a projectthathadnotyetcommenced productionactivities.

When asked to address this state of affairs during his weekly press conference, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo refused to comment, since according to him, “I think it is not accurate.” He however pointed out, “but if the project hasn't started as yet, my assumptionisthatyoucan'tdeduct from it for decommissioning if it hasn't even been commissioned as yet.”

Jagdeo was clear that oil companiesshouldnotbededucting

coststodecommissionaprojectifit hasnotyetbeencommissioned.At hisweeklypressconferenceearlier thisyear,theVPnotedthatthenew Petroleum Activities Act requires decommissioning costs to be held inajointaccount.

“We passed a newAct, and the act now says, if you have the decommissioningcost,youhaveto keep it in an account held jointly betweenthegovernmentandtheoil and gas companies,” Jagdeo explained,

Hesaidheishopefulthatallof the monies the company had been holding for decommissioning for the current producing projects will beaddedtotheaccount.

“Butfromthepreviousproject, we're hoping, over time now, that the law is there, that the next talk we'll have to have with Exxon… overtime,thatwillhappen,”theVP added.

In November 2024, Minister, Vickram Bharrat confirmed that ExxonMobil will now be required to follow a series of robust decommissioning rules as outlined inthenation'sPetroleumActivities Law

Whilethenewrulesonlycame into effect in August 2024, the ministersaidtheyshallapplytoall ofExxon'sprojectsintheStabroek Block,includingthosepassedprior totheenactmentofthelegislation.

Pres. Ali to unveil real-time audit system

opposition slams govt. on fiscal management

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced a sweeping upgrade to governmentoversight:anew real-time audit system designedtomonitorprojects, spending,andoverpayments

as they happen The announcement came as he rebutted accusations by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which claimed the 2024 Auditor General's report exposes poorfiscalmanagement.

President Ali dismissed theclaims,arguingthereport instead shows “significant

i m p r o v e m e n t ” i n

t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability Henotedthat 81% of 2023 audit recommendationswerefully or partially implemented,

c o m p a r e d t o t h e APNU/AFC's 2015-2019

term, when 83% of recommendations went unimplemented.

President Ali made the comments on a live Facebook broadcast, which was flooded with Guyanese in the comment section, eager for an announcement on the cash grant, promised by the government ahead of theChristmasseason.Tothe disappointment of some, the Presidentaddressedfindings and conclusions of the AG, Deodat Sharma which indicate a decline in issues relating to transparency and publicaccountability

President IrfaanAli during his virtual address on Saturday

ThePresidentarguedthat the APNU representatives ignored the report which highlights approximately 8 1 % o f t h e recommendations in 2023 were fully or partially implemented.Hesaid,“This isamarkedincreaseoverthe APNU/AFC term in office whichwasbetween2015and 2019 where most of the recommendations remained unimplemented year after year, prompting repeated warnings.”

Ali quoted a section of the AG report which cited concern over the lack of implementation of the recommendations, as 83% were not fully implemented at the time. The President sa

leadership,therehasbeen

e n t recommendationsbytheAG and proactively address issues.

“Because of our approach, the Auditor General had no reason to warn the government about the poor implementation of recommendationsfromprior years, in reports from 2020 to 2024, demonstrating our resolve to act on audit findings and uphold the principles of transparency

and the rule of law,” he stated.

PresidentAlipointedout thataccountingofficershave alreadybegunimplementing recommendations in the 2024 AG report, but further to that, the government has made other notable achievements. According to him, “From 2022 onwards, 100% of overpayments detected during audits were fully recovered before the audit report was finalized.” Hewaskeentopointoutthat over 70% of overpayments underthepreviousCoalition

administration were never recovered.

The President boasted that although government's spending increased rapidly, overpaymentswerelessthan 3% in 2023 and 2024, reflective of the training provided to public sector employees.

He announced, “In the near future, the government planstoaddressthisissueby deploying appropriate technologytoallowforrealtime project management and auditing. This solution h a s a l r e a d y b e e n successfully tested across several initiatives, including the World Bank project and is slated for broader implementation.”

To this end, he clarified, “We are going to move to a system whereby we will have real-time audits of projects, project financing and disbursements so that evenduringtheprojectcycle and during implementation, we can see where overpayments are being made and have those

adjustments within the project itself using technology, AI and predictiveindicators.”

Withregardtothe20%of recommendations not implemented by the PPP during the period 20202022, the president said efforts are being made to reduce this number in the years ahead. Shifting his attention to overpayments, the President said, “During 2024, the audit office continued its rigorous oversight of government operation by reviewing 829 contracts totaling close to $50B. Of these contracts, less than 3% were cited for o

overpayments in 2024 were fully recovered before the auditor general report was finalised. This marks the third consecutive year that

finalization of the auditor g

- an unprecedentedoccurrence.”

Additionally, Ali noted (Continuedonpage8)

KaieteurNews

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Debt burden and debt servicing

Commonsense says that the bigger the loan, the bigger the mortgage. It doesn't require any financial wizardry to know that as more debt is piled on a nation's account , the moredemandingthedebtserviceobligations. Debtservice isthatcombinationofaportionofthedebtpaidback,andthe interest charges that apply Guyana finds itself in that position today, where rising debt has led to rising debt servicerepayments. Withanervouseyefixedonoilprices, debtservicingcouldbeabackbreakerforthiscountry,with thenumbersbringingachill.

In the first six months of 2025, Guyana's borrowings rose by 13.5%. Six years ago, this nation's debt stood at US$1.8B,andtodayithasincreasedbyamultipleofmore thanfourtoUS$7.7B. Thearrivalofoilhasbroughtoutthe gambler and wild spender that were trapped inside Guyanese leaders. There has never been a loan dangled before irresponsible and calculating leaders that has not been grabbed. Borrowing facilitates spending, and spending open doors to other opportunities, few of them positiveforthepeoplewhoaresaddledwiththerepayment of the accumulated billions of US dollars in loans. A glimpse of what could be in store in the future has just surfacedforGuyanesetothinkabout.

Inthefirsthalfofthisyear,Guyana'sdebtservicetotaled US$110M, and of which US$44.8M represented interest payments alone. It is a whopping 40.7% of the total debt servicepaymentsuckedupbyinterestalone. Moremassive loans are in the assembly line, and they just have to be consideringthatanewAI-powereddigitalplatform,andthe planned Georgetown overhaul are part of the national vision. Separately, only a few weeks ago, US$1B was approved by the Islamic Development Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank Group for Guyana and Suriname. It'slikelythatthehogofthatUS$1Bloanwillbe forGuyana. Borrowingiseasy,whenthebiglendershave Guyanaratedasapremiumborrower,duetoitsbillionsof barrels of oil. What is juicy and sweet today can quickly turnsourtothetastetomorrow,whenitistimetohonourthe schedule of repayment, when that same debt service can becomeayokearoundtheneck.

BillionsmoreinUSdollarsarebeingreadiedtobeadded tothiscountry'stockofdebt,andonecanonlyimaginehow much more the debt servicing will climb. Currently, this year's debt service figure is likely to be approximately US$220M,withaboutUS$90Mofthatforinterestpayment. Dotheleadersofthiscountrycarethatdebtservicing,onan annualizedbasis,isclosinginonaquarterofabillionUS, andlikelygoingtosurpassthatbeforemuchmoretimehas elapsed? Withoutadoubt,Guyana'soffshoreoilcollateral issolid,andasrepaymentproofascanbe,intheeyesofthe bankersandotherlenderswillingtocollecttheirsliceofthis country'srichharvests. Butitisadifferentstateofmindthat takesoverthelenderswhenthecollateralfortheloansthey madetoGuyanastartstolosesomeofitsvalue.

Abarrel of oil selling at US$70 is not the same for one thatsellsatUS$60. Thejittersbegininearnestshouldthe US$50 a barrel mark become more conspicuous, what can nolongerbedismissedwithawaveofthehand. Whatever the price of oil, and wherever the global economy finds itself, Guyana's debt still has to be serviced. Demand for localexportsmaybelessthaninthepast,andoilincomeat lowerthresholds,butthedebtstillhastobehonoured. Itis healthy to be committed to taking advantage of upsides whentheypresentthemselves,andborrowinghasitsroleto play But only through a regime that is characterized by prudent borrowing decisions relative to amounts, and timing.

Weatthispaperthinkthatthegovernmenthasborrowed too much too quickly, and that could return to haunt in the worstwaypossible. Inthefirstplace,whyisGuyanaevena borrower? Let's hope that future repaying doesn't inflict pain.

Coconut Farming has a big place in Guyana

DearEditor,

Great indeed it is that Guyana is really pushing 'coconut expansion' in the Pomeroon. I read that the “Government is introducing a high-yield Brazilian variety,andatthesametime strengthening infrastructure and training.” For me, with 'morethanenough'land,this isthewaytogo.

The details gathered frommynewsreadingshow thatthePeople'sProgressive Party Government has intensified its drive to revitalisethisindustrywitha majorexpansionprogramme underway in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-

Supenaam), where hundreds of farmers are already benefitting from the introduction of a new highyieldingcoconutvarietyand significant State investment in infrastructure, training, a n d v a l u e - a d d e d processing.” I do know that coconutisoneofthosecrops thatwetakeforgranted,and thisshouldneverbeso.

At the ground level, we allareawarethatcoconutisa calorie-dense fruit that is high in saturated fat, fiber, and several important minerals, especially manganese and copper. Imagine this: “A single serving contains significant

amounts of calories, fat, and fiber, along with smaller amounts of protein and carbohydrates While the high saturated fat content, particularly from mediumchain triglycerides (MCTs), isnotable,muchofthefatis from MCTs which are metabolized differently than otherfats.”Nutritionally,we can'tgowronginuppingthe ante where coconut productionisconcerned.

Editor, I like this move here, where “... part of the N a t i o n a l C o c o n u t

e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n Programme, will focus on replacing ageing and fewer productive coconut trees

with the Brazilian Green Dwarf variety, widely regarded as a “gamechanger” for the sector” Honest, those long, unsightly and old trees need togo.Aesthetically,theyare reallybigeyesores.

The switch is so much betterasthenewvarietywill mature in just two to three years, compared with the traditional five or more, and will produce roughly 240 nutspertreeannually Older trees in the Pomeroon typically produce around 160.”

Let me add another big plushere.Itisthatcoconuts (Continuedonpage6)

Monetisation of gas and data centre investments should be thoroughly vetted

DearEditor,

The President's concern

over the untimely monetization of our gas resources is understandable, but it should be noted that a market currently exists for theseresources,anditwould berelativelysimpletoaccess thatmarketandsellourgas. Thus, monetization can be quickly accomplished and the resulting funds invested to make higher yielding

returns. The possibility of improving cash flow also brings into question the financial impact that can be gained from investing in a RegionalDataCenter

We must keep in mind that in the digital world, there are few to no boundaries.

AI development can occur globally within a multinational company; and across the globe with

international cooperation, global data flow, and opensource models With the current push for a common globalregulatoryplatform,it will become easier for collaboration and joint development.

These considerations makeitlessadvantageousto haveaRegionalDataCentre forAIdevelopment,andthis is more so when one considers the significant

Cash grants and Christmas

DearEditor, Guyana's families are

households during the

development observers say could put more money in local pockets and stimulate the economy at a time of

d Communities, educators, small business owners, and residents broadly view the programmeasapositivestep

toward a happier and more secureholidayperiod.

Proponents contend that direct cash top-ups enable households to spend the infusion on food, utilities, school supplies, and small gifts for Christmas without sacrificing other essentials.

In communities across Guyana, recipients say the extra support could help

expenses, avoid debt, and ease the financial squeeze

competitive advantages in the hands of 1st world

countries who have tremendous experience in leading the AI revolution.

Guyana may be able to improve our position in this market space by partnering withleadinginstitutionsand governments focused on AI development while also leveraging their extensive network of data centers Profitability of standalone date centers can also be

that often accompanies the festiveperiod.

First, the liquidity is likely to circulate quickly in local markets, benefiting petty traders, market vendors, transport services, and other local providers. This immediate multiplier effectcansustainlivelihoods in areas reliant on seasonal

employment. Second, the fundscanserveasabuffer

(Continuedonpage6)

A Clean Guyana Cannot Come at the Expense of its People

DearEditor,

The fresh term of Guyana's government has broughtwithitanaggressive campaigntosweepcleanour country's public spaces.The vision behind this—orderly markets, visible trash receptacles, healthier environments should be welcome to everyone who dreams of a better Guyana. Noone,leastofallthosewho shop or live amid mounting garbage or chaotic roadside stalls, wants filth or confusion to define our communities.

But listen to the voices now rising from Vreed-enHoop, Parika, Buxton, New

A m s t e r d a m a n d beyond voices of men and womenwho,overnight,have watched the places where theyekedoutalivingscraped awaywithafewdays'notice Vendors, mechanics, and small stallholders who for years provided “grab-andgo” groceries, food, and household supplies to n e i g h b o u r s a n d passersby now told to dismantlewhat,tothem,was not clutter, but sustenance, support, and communal identity

“Beautification” is a worthy aim—but when was it agreed that dignity and fairnesswouldbeleftbythe roadside, alongside the shacks and old tires? Many

of these same vendors, mechanics,andshopkeepers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the ruling party in the last campaign, energized by promises of a share in Guyana's new prosperity Instead, their reward has beenacoldedicttoclearout, oftenwithnowheretogoand no alternative except to watch their hard-earned sourceofincomevanish.

Noticesforremovalhave been as short as three days an indignity that betraysalackofempathyfor theirdailystruggles.

Let'sbeclear:yes,illegal

vending, roadside mechanics, and dumping

create hazards and discomfort for all. Yes, the use of public reserves for private gain cannot go on forever But improvement must mean more than replacingworkingpoorwith flower beds A truly progressive government would have invested first in inclusive dialogue: townhall meetings, phased transitions,fairwarning,and compensation or relocation where possible. Instead, the campaign often feels like judgment delivered from up high, rather than renewal achieved alongside those mostaffected.

There are glimpses of betterways.Insomeregions, officials have begun to

consult vendors on new market spaces and to promise improved stalls and amenities at rebuilt tarmacs, pledging that “everyone benefits from safe and structured vending spaces”. Thismustbetherule,notthe rareexception.

If we are striving for a “OneGuyana”whereallcan prosper,thenthoselabouring at our margins vendors,

s m a l l m e c h a n i c s , tinkerers—must be treated asfullcitizens,notclutterto be seen only when convenient and discarded when“progress”demandsit. True revival of our nation is notjustaboutneatsidewalks or clean gutters, but about the respect shown to its people in every act of governance.

Let's build a clean, just Guyana—notonthebacksof the vulnerable, but shoulder toshoulderwiththem.

Sincerely,

HemduttKumar

complexandchallenging.

IfthePresidentinsistson pursuingtheseventures,itis vitally important that the M

performs the financial modeling and accounts for

downside risk exposure and make the business case for theirpursuit.

should also be compared to

opportunities to ensure that

attractive projects are given priority Unfortunately, the recent presentation by Exxon was very brief and left many q

ons unanswered. We must make well informed decisions to avoid the risk of poor performinginvestments.

Bestregards, Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

T

RepublicansofGuyana

Destruction of my snackette

DearEditor,

I am writing to formally complain about the recent demolition exercise on the West Coast of Demerara, during which my snackette was removed. My structure is gone and my only source of income has been destroyed. I complied fully withtheinstructionsgiven. However, just a few buildings away, the Baruch GrillatCorneliaIdaremains s

y operational Its structure, which residents understand to also be on government

reserves, was not removed.

impression of selective enforcement.

Many of us in the community are longstanding Guyanese citizens who have lived here for generations.Yet we feel our rights were disregarded while a business run by Ve

interruption. This unequal treatment is unfair and requiresexplanation.

GPL has also connected electricity to this structure,

raising questions about whether proper inspections and approvals were done, especially if the building is not in compliance with regulations and is illegally onGovernmentreserves.

I ask that your office conductanyinvestigationor checks, which you consider necessaryintothissnackette stilloperating,asthismatter is of public interest and concerns fairness and equal treatmentunderthelaw

Respectfully, Formersnacketteowner ofCorneliaIda

Coconut Farming has a big place in...

Frompage4

areincrediblyversatile,with all parts of the fruit used for everything from food and drinktoindustrialproducts.

The meat can be made intoflour,milk,oroil,while the water is a refreshing, electrolyte-rich beverage

The husk is processed into coir for ropes and brushes, and the shells can be made into bowls, ornaments, or activatedcarbon.

Then how about the 'once-taken-for-granted' coconut oil? Now it is heralded,sinceitiscommon knowledgethattheoilishigh in calories and saturated fat, similar in fat and calorie contenttoothercookingoils, butwithadifferentfattyacid profile.

It has a unique flavour,

especially in its unrefined form,andahighsaturatedfat content that makes it useful for baking and high-heat cookinglikefrying.

Whilesomebenefitslike hair and skin moisture are supportedbyevidence,other claims, such as preventing Alzheimer'soraidingweight loss,requiremoreresearch.

So, with the Brazilian Green Dwarf, it is a double andtripleboon.

Itisknownforitssweeter water due to higher sucrose levels, and its unusually high-water volume of about 700–750 milliliters per nut, all making it very strategic forGuyana,asthereisafastgrowing global coconut watermarket.

To date, great progress hasbeenmade.

Thousands of seedlings have been distributed to Pomeroon farmers, even as many are already preparing fortheirfirstmajorharvests. Then,asthenationhasbeen informed, the initiative extends far beyond seedling distribution.Thewordisthat the Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, is rolling out extensive support infrastructure, including the “bed and drain” system, and coconutshreddersetc.

In a nut-shell, the MinistryofAgricultureisset to facilitate the industry, in sizeandmodernism,tomake very lucrative and sustainable.

Yourstruly, RaymondAnderson.

Cash grants and Christmas...

Frompage5 against unexpected costs

common during the holidays, such as meals for guests or school-related purchases when the new termbegins.

Third, direct cash

transfers empower families to make choices

best suited to their circumstances, rather than waiting for programme designs or bureaucratic processestocatchup. AstheChristmasseason unfolds, many in Guyana hope the programme will deliver tangible benefits for families, support local merchants, and reinforce a sharedspiritofgenerosity

Sincerely, PhilipInshanally

Guyana's School-Feeding Programme remains in focus

DearEditor, It is so good to hear that the Education Ministry is reviewing the schoolfeedingprogramme,seeking toensurethatthatitwillmeet the nutritional needs of students,andthatitwillbeof overall benefit to the schoolchildren and their families, right across the country

Before saying too much, I have to emphasize that brain development and academic performance are inseparably linked, as “Propernutritionisessential for healthy brain growth, which is critical for learning ' It is well documented that “Children with healthy diets often perform better academically andcanfocusmoreeasily.”

According to Education Minister Sonia Parag, she had a 'sit-down' with the School Feeding Unit to ascertain the daily operationsoftheprogramme and to see how it can be improved to create the desired impact. As we all know, a good schoolfeeding programme providessignificantvalueby improving students' health, learning, and attendance, while also benefiting families and local e c o n o m i e s T h e s e programmes reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and enhance cognitive functions like concentration and memory, leading to better academic performance They also provide financial

relief to families and can support local agriculture. I mean the spin-offs from the inter-linking are very noticeable, as a quite a few sectorswillbeonboard.

Onalargerscale,Iknow that Europe and North Americaarepushingschoolfeeding programmes Finland, for example, providesfree,cateredschool meals to all pupils. France

and Italy also have established programmes The United States has a National School Lunch Programme that provides free or reduced-price lunchestoeligiblestudents.

AttheleveloftheUnited Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), it promotes and supports school-feeding programmes as a way to improve child health, nutrition, and education, particularly in low-income countries and humanitarian settings.

These programmes are viewed as a smart investment that can enhance achild'swell-being,increase school attendance, and contribute to a nation's development. UNICEF, in fact, will, at times, partner withgovernments,asperthe UNWorldFoodProgramme (WFP), and other organizations to implement these programmes, which canincludeprovidingmeals, nutrition education, and h

deworming.

Itisgreattonotethatthe Ministry is collaborating with the Carnegie School of Home Economics, to assess the programme's menu and enhanceitsnutritionalvalue. Thishasagoodringtoit,as the institution is considered good, particularly for its history of skill-based training in culinary arts and nutrition Then as the Ministry noted, it will address “ complaints receivedfromthepublicand via social media… (these)” will be investigated and addressed promptly and fairly.”

Editor, this injection of energy and interest speaks wellforthenation'schildren. After all, Guyana has budgeted some $5.5 billion its National School Feeding Programme for 2025, an increase of 12.2% from the previous year's allocation of $4.9billion.

This funding is intended to support nutritious meals for students across the country, particularly in remote and hinterland regions, with the goal of improving health, nutrition, and school attendance. The programme's scope has expanded to include all Nursery to Grade Two students, providing them with options like biscuits, juices,andhotmeals.Allwe need to do is 'get on board' with the minister, as she drivesforwardtheinitiative.

Yourstruly,

HargeshB.Singh.

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY–

NOVEMBER09,2025

Oilauditsinthedark

There has never been a

time in Guyana's history when audits carried more weight — or more secrecy These are no ordinary balance sheets. These are

audits of ExxonMobil's oil expenses, the very lifeblood of our economy, yet the Guyanese people are being keptblindfolded.

Three audits Three curtains pulled tight by the PPPC Government The smallest US$1 6B in expensesfrom1999to2017 —uncovered US$214M in questionable charges Magically, that sum shrank toameaslyUS$3Mthrough some backdoor deal A junior official took the fall, while those in high office washed their hands clean.

Vice President Jagdeo

p r o m i s e d b i n d i n g arbitration—yet nearly two years later, nothing has started US$214M languishes in a swamp of excuses.

The second audit questioned US$65.1M. Still silence. The third a colossal US$19.6B — is reportedly complete, but hiddenfrompublicviewlike State secrets. When leaders hide the truth about billions belongingtothepeople,trust collapses.Guyanesedeserve full disclosure not smokescreens, not stalling. Whose interests are being protected? Certainly not the hungry, hurting citizens of thisoil-richnation.

WEDNESDAY–NOVEMBER12,2025

Manybarrels,many brokenpromises

Guyana now pumps almost a million barrels of oil a day, a breathtaking achievement for a small nation. The figures dazzle, the wells roar, and the headlines glow with promise. Yet, beneath that glitteringsurfaceliesabrutal truth: the more the oil gushes, the deeper our peoplesinkintopoverty

Whatdoesitmeanwhen a country so rich in black gold leaves its citizens

scraping by on $60,000 a month, battling rising prices andhopelessness?Whenthe government boasts of billion-dollar projects, but ordinary families can barely afford food? This is not developmentitisbetrayal.

Oil was supposed to lift Guyana; instead, it exposes the widening gulf between promise and performance. Every extra barrel produced shouldrepresentastepoutof poverty, not another drop of despair If this continues, history will remember it not as an economic miracle, but as a moral failure written in oil.

THURSDAY–NOVEMBER13,2025

Brokenpublic infrastructures

How many warnings must be ignored before tragedy strikes at the Haslington new housing Scheme? For months, residents have begged for repairs to their collapsing bridge, their main route in and out of the community Yet,nothinghasbeendone.

Two days after they raised fresh alarms, the structure remains a death trap. A schoolboy already came close to serious injury when his bicycle wheel slipped into one of the gaping holes. Must it take a funeraltospuraction?

The negligence here is inexcusable This is not about politics or budget cycles — it is about human lives.TheMinistryofPublic Works and the local NDC have had more than enough time and warnings. Every day that bridge remains unrepaired is a gamble with disaster

Fix the Haslington

bridge now Not next week, not after another meeting. The people deserve safe passage,notexcuses.

FRIDAY–NOVEMBER14,2025 Oilwealth,emptypockets

Exxon's announcement that Guyana has surged to 900,000barrelsofoilperday should have been a moment of national triumph Chevron's declaration that theStabroekBlockholdsfar more than 11 billion barrels a “world-class,” gold-mineassetonlyaddsto the grandeur. On paper, Guyana is one of the most resource-rich nations on Earth. But for ordinary citizens, this abundance feelslikeadistantfairytale. Despite record-breaking production, Guyanese continue to struggle with high costs of living, low wages, and fragile public services The muchcriticised Exxon contract remains lopsided, granting theoilgiantenormousprofit while Guyana receives crumbs compared to global standards Wealth gushes offshore while inequality deepensonshore. What meaning do these spectacular production milestones hold when families cannot afford housing,healthcare,orbasic comfort?Oilwealthwithout fair returns is not development, it is exploitation.

If Guyana is to avoid becoming yet another cautionary tale of resource wealth squandered, leaders must renegotiate, regulate, and reinvest. Otherwise, the nation risks standing atop a gold mine while its people liveoffscraps.

Pres. Ali to unveil real-time audit...

Frompage3 that 34 audits of foreign funded projects were conducted with no material findings of irregularities He said 19 of the audit opinions were issued by 12 constitutionalagencies.

Furthermore, the audit cover expanded to public enterprises and statutory bodies, reflecting the highest level of institutional oversight in recent years, accordingtothepresident Withregardtobreachesin the procurement act and

regulations, Ali highlighted the marked reduction reported by the AG, while breaches to the Fiscal M a n a g e m e n t a n d Accountability Act also declined. There was also improvement in agencies resolving queries before the finalisationoftheAGreport. ThePresidentnoted,“452or 705% of the queries in the management letters sent to the agencies were resolved during the period they were giventorespondtotheaudit office.”

Tothisend,heconcluded that there has been notable i m p r o v e m e n t i n transparency, accountability, good governance and financial performance betweentheperiod2020and 2024.Hesaidthegovernment isstillnotsatisfiedandwillbe issuing performance indicators for Permanent Secretariesandotherheadsof agencies to be measured to ensure implementation of recommendations and compliance with financial regulations

An insult to our Constitution

aIn my opinion, it is not only the case that the 1931 UK-USExtraditionTreatyis invalid and inapplicable to Guyana The Fugitive Offenders Act, as amended in2024,isinmyestimation,

r e p u g n a n t o f t h e

C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d undemocraticincharacter

The Fugitive Offenders Act of Guyana, particularly asamendedin2024,isnota pieceoflegalmodernisation. Itisadraconianblueprintfor the systematic dismantling

of the foundational principles of natural justice. It is an act of executive arrogance,soegregiousinits design and so blatant in its contempt for liberty that it

d e m a n d s o u t r i g h t

condemnation This legislation does not merely flirtwithtyranny;itformally invites it into the heart of Guyana’slegalsystem.

The Fugitive Offenders

Act of 2024 is an unconstitutionalandmorally bankrupt statute It is a document that flies in the face of centuries of jurisprudential evolution designed to protect the individual from the overbearing state The legislation concentrates powerintheexecutivewitha voracity that would embarrass an absolute m o n a r c h , w h i l e systematically disabling the judiciary – the citizen’s last refuge–fromperformingits

protectiveduty At its core, the amended Act is a masterclass in constitutionalvandalism.Its m o s t p o i s o n o u s provision the gutting of the “political offence” exception transforms a bedrock protection of internationallawintoamere suggestion, subject to the whims of a politician. The notion that, under Section 8 the Minister, a sitting member of the executive, can decide on the political characterofanoffenceisan affront to the very principle oftheseparationofpowers.

The Fugitive Offenders Act places the fox in unequivocal charge of the henhouse, allowing the potential for the state to weaponize extradition against its political opponents under the thin guiseoflegalprocess.Thisis not law; it is the machinery of persecution, granting the executivethepowertolabel any dissident a “common criminal” for the purpose of surrender But the affront to the separation of powers does not end there. Section 14 (2) implicitly ascribes judicial powers to the Minister to order someone becommittedtocustody–a judicial power A 2009 amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Act allows the Minister, under Section 3 A (a) to have someone committed or be kept in

custody in the interest of justice. Section 12 grants the Minister the power to require a magistrate to proceed with an extradition hearing. It appears that we have forgotten the CCJ rulingintheMarcusBisram case.

This comprehensive demolition of judicial authority makes a mockery of every principle of natural justice. The right to a fair hearing i

dered meaningless when the final arbiter is a political actor who has already sanctioned the surrender But it gets w o r s e T h e 2 0 2 4 amendments to the Fugitive O f f e n d e r s A c t fundamentally weaken the procedural safeguards that protect individuals facing extradition and, in doing so, createcleartensionswiththe Constitution. By permitting courts to admit “a record of the evidence of the case… including evidence that would not otherwise be admissibleunderthelawsof Guyana,” the amendment strips away long-standing evidentiary protections that f o r m p a r t o f t h e constitutionalguaranteeofa fairhearing.

This change allows decisions about a person’s liberty to rest on material that could not survive scrutiny in any Guyanese court, including untested hearsay or improperly

DEM BOYS SEH

Too much brief, not enough doctors

DemboyssehGuyanagotmore lawyers than potholes— and that is saying something

Everywhere you turn, is a next young attorney clutching a law book like a newbornbaby,hopingsomebody,anybody, wouldbringalilcasefuhdemtoargue.But casesscarcelikeiceinablackout.Someof dem lawyers so hungry fuh wuk, dem settlingdownquietlybehindlildesksinall kinda government offices not the Attorney General one, mind you— but all dem other departments where the most legal thing happening is signing for stationery

Yet, we proudly building we own law school.Awholelawschool,boysandgirls! Eachyearweturningoutmorelawyerslike is plantain chips— crispy, shiny, and plenty Before long, dem boys seh we gon need a registry just to keep track of which lawyerain’tgotaclientyet.

But hear the real joke: the only field whereGuyanagotanactualshortage—we ain’t expanding that at all! Medicine.Yes, medicine! Hundreds of bright, brilliant, book-smart children got the grades fuh

obtained evidence. Section 24 (6) states, “Nothing in this section limits the evidence that may be admitted at any hearing to determine whether a person is liable to be extradited.” And later, the amendments evenallowfortheadmission of opinions Because extradition proceedings can resultinprolongeddetention andultimatelyremovalfrom the jurisdiction, the use of such unreliable or unchallengeable evidence is inconsistent with the constitutional demand that justice be administered under fair and rational p r o c e d u r e s T h e amendments further permit foreign witness statements, d e p o s i t i o n s , a n d prosecutorial certificates to be admitted automatically, even without proof of authorshiporauthentication, oranyopportunityforcrossexamination This undermines a core tenet of natural justice: the right to confront and test the evidence used against one’s liberty. By allowing a foreign Attorney-General’s certificate to stand as sufficient evidence that a case exists without requiring the underlying testimony to be tested in court—the law effectively outsources a judicial determination to a partisan officialabroad.

Takentogether,the2024 amendments create a processthatinvitesarbitrary or politically influenced outcomes and exposes individualstoextraditionon thin or untested grounds. They broaden admissible evidence to a degree that removes essential safeguards against error, fabrication, or abuse, and they shift the balance of power sharply away from the courts and towards foreign p

agencies. This erosion of

Constitution,whichprotects against arbitrary detention and ensures that decisions affecting fundamental

liberty are made under transparent, rigorous, and

protections,theamendments undermine not only natural justice but also the very constitutional structure that guards individuals from the excessesofstatepower

Although an extradition court is not required to conduct a full evidentiary trial, its limited task of determiningwhetheraprima f

c i e c a

prosecutorial certificates to be admitted automatically, without proof of authorship, authentication, or any meaningful opportunity to contest their integrity In doing so, the amendments deprive the court of the ability to assess even the

threshold reliability necessaryforalawfulprima facie determination and effectively invite the judiciarytoaccept,untested, the assertions of a foreign

Attorney-Genera

prosecutorialauthority

This collapses the distinction between judicial evaluation and executive allegation, and permits a person’s liberty to be restricted based on material that the court is legally disabled from verifying Even at the preliminary stage of ext

adition proceedings, such a regime offends the principles of

entermedicalschool.Demstudynightand day, drink more coffee than water, and finish with all the subjects that does make ordinary people get headache. But when timecometogetinUG medicalschool,is liketryingtogetawindowseatonaLIAT flight—impossible.

Meanwhile, we building hospitals faster than you can say, “Doctor!” New hospitals popping up like cook-up pots on OldYear’sNight.Andafterwebuilddem? We importing Cuban doctors! Nothing wrong with the Cubans— dem brilliant— butwhasenseitmakethatweownchildren could become doctors, but we closing the doorpondem?

Demboyssehifislawyerswewant,we already set fuh the next century But if is doctors we need, we better start widening that medical programme before the hospitals start hiring attorneys fuh diagnose flu. As one of dem boys mutter whilesippinghetea:“OnlyinGuyanayou graduatinglawyersfuhsuethehospital,but don’thavedoctorsfuhrunit.” Makesense?Youtellwe. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Thisfurthercollapsesthe traditional separation between executive assertion and judicial proof, and erodes confidence that extradition decisions are based on reliable, credible, andindependentlyevaluated material Such a regime violates both the letter and spirit of constitutional fairness because it denies individuals a meaningful opportunity to challenge the caseadvancedagainstthem.

e x i s t s nevertheless presupposes that the material placed before it meets basic standards of authenticity, reliability, and judicial independence.Aprimafacie inquiry does not permit cross-examination as of right, but it does require the courttosatisfyitselfthatthe evidence is real, originates fromlegitimatesources,and can support a prosecution if leftunchallenged.

The 2024 amendments undermine these minimum constitutional and commonlaw safeguards by allowing foreign witness statements, d e p o s i t i o n s , a n d

constitutionalguaranteethat deprivations of liberty must rest on procedures that are fair, rational, and subject to independent judicial scrutiny

The Fugitive Offenders Act,therefore,isnotalawfit for a republic. It stands as a repudiation of justice itself and must be challenged, resisted,andstruckdownby the courts as the grave constitutionalinsultthatitis. The survival of Guyanese democracydependsonit.

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

H@RD TRUTHS

TheSagaofAzruddinMohamedandtheMeaningofOneGuyana

For those waiting for a broadside at ExcellencyAli, continuewaiting. Guyanese have been told repeatedly that the hostility department is owned and controlled by the PPP of Drs. Ali and Jagdeo. If they were brain surgeons, there would be an aircraftcarrierofmadpeople runninglooseanddangerous in this country I insist that whenthePPPGovernmentis bent on hanging up the

uncrowned Opposition LeaderofGuyana,thenthere is one unavoidable result. HanginguptheWeInvestin Nationhood (WIN) leader, the Hon Azruddin Mohamed, hangs up Pres. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in midair, leaving him suspendedbetweenanoakat theheights,andarockonthe ground. His One Guyana programme suffers, suffocating slowly with

1,000separatingthemselves first, then another 10,000 lost. Be careful, proceed wisely,myliegeAli. Notthe waytogo,Mr President.

The We Invest in

Nationhood captured 109,000 Guyanese hearts. Given what is happening to him, and the process of his finalizingandswearing-in,it is an investment of a disappointing kind. Alo, in and for a nation that's best

left to its old practices, tricks, and visions. It is where I am, from my place several furlongs deep inside the sideline. That's me, but doesn't have to be for other Guyanese. But what to do with109,000Guyanesewho raisedtheirhand,madetheir mark, and inked their finger

for WIN's Azruddin Mohamed? For those who have never seen a winner madesoquicklyintoaloser,

try studying the saga of Mohamed. Not Mohamed Irfaan Ali, but Azruddin Mohamed. He cannot even get to put his hand on the Koran and swear his oath. Yeah, it's the real Guyana. Don'tforgetwhoisincharge ofthesameGuyana. Ikeep saying the same thing frequently: it's not the clothes that make the man. It's what the man makes of his times, his opportunities, hispotentials.

One Guyana, it was One Guyana it still is, despite all the, er, ups and downs. If that is too heavy, then try despite all the additions and subtractions.

A real stats man am I. I should have been at the Bureau. Thenwhowouldbe left to enlighten Guyanese that when Azruddin Mohamed is strung along, then hung up, in effect, Dr Irfaan Ali hangs his own visionandprogrammeupon thetallesttree. Theworldof Guyanesewatcheson,andit sees what it sees. Time for some numbers to point out how the president stumbles, crumbles.

TheWINterrorgrabbed 109,000 votes All Guyanese,notoneforeigner, qualified or not. They may be largely PNC votes, but that does not strip any of them of their Guyanese identity. Therefore, I respectfully submit to ExcellencyAli that 800,000 Guyanese minus 109,000 of them surely cannot be held aloft and held out as One Guyana. I took the easy route and left out the 70,000+ PNC votes, and One Guyana took another savageblowtothatsensitive area in the vicinity of the groin. Sorry, Mr President, butIoweittotheGuyanese people (and to the presidency) to call the situation as the situation is. Therearenotwowaysabout that, with another round of apologies laid at the president's feet. Take note, fellow Guyanese: I leave hatreds and hostilities to the

PPP Ofcourse,Ihatewhat the PPP leadership does. But I cannot hate the men themselves, for then the worst of worshippers I will be. Foremphasis:hatewhat they do, but never the men, however dangerous and odioustheymaybe.

I continue with this Leader of the Opposition caper in parliament. With a seven-seat majority, there shouldn't be a hung parliament. But there is the Hon. Speaker of the House tying himself into knots in hiseffortstotwistsideways; other unmentionable way to hisdisadvantage. Alexander the Great would bypass those knots. What's the objective? What's the standard? Whatareallthose gymnastics and gyrations about? Whyevengothere? Who is the real intellectual author of this dirty, tricky chapterinGuyana'spolitics? How does any of that add onebodytotheOneGuyana masquerade band? Take a bow, Mr Speaker, but don't take those kinds of blows, brother

An idea arises (still get those). Perhaps, Pres. Ali's One Guyana amounts to 800,000 minus 109,000, minus PNC numbers, minus AFC types, minus Ms Amanza'sarmy Something is missing. Oh yes, minus the gangs of outcasts, undesirables, deviationists, andnonconformists. Ladies and gents, members of the diplomatic corps, the local aristocracy and paparazzi: after all the subtracting of offensiveGuyanese,thereis what I believe Pres. Ali's One Guyana is. Hanging up Azruddin Mohamed, hangs up Mohamed Ali's One G u y a n a s o l u t i o n Hopefully,notfinal.

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

Teixeira says opposition MP

‘ill-informed’on human rights law

M i n i s t e r o f Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, on Saturday delivered a forcefulrebuttaltoaletterby WIN Parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, who accused the Government of failing to constitute the Human Rights Commission (HRC) while promoting humanrightstraining.

Sarabo-Halley, in her November 14 letter, argued that the administration's human rights workshops

“ s t a n d i n s h a r p contradiction” to its failure toactivatetheconstitutional body responsible for protecting those very rights. Training, she said, cannot substituteforanindependent commission empowered to act on violations But Teixeira dismissed the argumentas“ill-willed”and rooted in “convenient amnesia,” stating that the

MP's letter rests on “ r e g r e t t a b l e b u t unsurprisingly flawed

premises ” “Training individuals in human-rights awareness cannot substitute for the establishment of an independent, permanent commission empowered to actonviolationsandtohold s t a t e i n s t i t u t i o n s

accountable If the

Government is truly committed to human-rights advancement, it must begin not with workshops and certificates, but with respect for the Constitution itself,” the Opposition MP said in h e r l e t t e r (https://kaieteurnewsonline com/2025/11/14/governmen ts-commitments-to-humanrights-vs-its-failure-toconstitute-the-humanrights-commission/)

Responding to SaraboHalley, Minister Teixeira said while public discussion onhumanrightsgovernance is always welcomed, the argument presented by the authoroftheletterisnotonly “ill-willed, but also one of convenient amnesia about the facts. It rests on a series

of regrettable but unsurprisingly flawed premises.”

Theletter,Teixeirastated misunderstands both the purpose of human rights

education and the constitutional mechanics of the HRC. “Contrary to the ill-informed view of the author, human rights education is not and has never been a symbolic activity under any national, regional or international standard, nor is it a tool to

Minister of ParliamentaryAffairs and Governance,

score cheap political points. It is a core obligation under international human rights principles and a crucial component of a functioning democraticsociety Training is an essential tool in building the very culture of transparency, informed participation, and public scrutiny that is required to holdgovernments,Members of Parliament, civil society, a n d a l l c i t i z e n s accountable,” the Minister argued.

Building knowledge among a broad base of Guyanese, the minister says strengthens the very ecosystemthatthecollective government (executive, legislature and judiciary) serves.Shefurtherexplained that human rights training ensures that duty-bearers and all citizens understand their legal obligations; that citizens know how to claim their rights and carry out their responsibilities so that the wider governance environment remains vigilantandinformed. This work continues preciselybecauseitsupports the long-term effectiveness and legitimacy of Guyana's human rights architecture which neither starts nor stops at the Human Rights Commission, she noted in the statement. “I reaffirm that education, institutional d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d constitutional reform processes can and shall progress with a more informed citizenry,” the ministerexpressed.

Further, Teixeira mentioned that the MP's

capacity building, public awareness, and institutional reform, she addressed. “I s h a l l n o t a l l o w misinformation or political grandstanding to diminish the credibility of this national effort. My Ministry nor the Government will be

deterred from advancing democracy and good governance through its many initiatives and measures to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from its programmes and policies. This includes human rights education efforts which

ensure the inclusion and participationofabroadbase of Guyanese participants and highly qualified international and local f a c i l i t a t o r s , ” t h e Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister disclosed.

claim that the Chairpersons of the other Commissions must elect the Chairperson of the HRC, is “blatantly incorrectandareflectionofa lack of understanding” of Guyana'ssupremelaw

“UnderArticle212N(3), theChairpersonisappointed bythePresidentfromalistof sixpersonsnotunacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition (a similar provision exists for the appointment of the Chairperson of GECOM). Thus, the HRC Chairperson is not elected by the Chairpersons of the constituent Commissions as wasincorrectlyposited,”the ministerexplained.

Teixeira pointed out that theabsenceofaChairperson of the HRC could not be interpreted by any rational person as evidence that education initiatives should be halted In short, the establishment of the HRC through a constitutional process has absolutely no r e l a t i o n t o t h e implementation of a human rights education initiative, sheadded.

“The author's approach, driven either by a lack of knowledge of the constitutionalarchitectureof Guyana or most likely by political theatre, does a disservicetothehundredsof persons who have already benefitted and will continue to benefit from this course,” theministerblasted.

Strengthening the culture of human rights

r e q u i r e s m u l t i p l e simultaneous actions,

WIN's Member of Parliament (MP), Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

Gail Teixeira

Home Affairs Ministry sitting on

$714M - Auditor General uncovers huge sum not returned to Consolidated Fund

The latest Auditor General's report, l a i d i n Parliament, has revealed a major breach of financial lawbytheMinistryofHome Affairs, which failed to return a stunning $713.944 million to the Consolidated

Fund at the end of the 2024 fiscalyear

According to the report, Section 43 of the Fiscal M a n a g e m e n t a n d Accountability (FMA) Act 2003 is explicit: all unspent public funds must be sur

Consolidated Fund at year's end. Yet, as of September 2025, auditors found 15 cheques totalling nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars—still sitting in the Ministry's Accounts Department.As a result, the Appropriation Accounts

were overstated by the said amount,thereportrevealed.

In response to the revelations, the ministry acknowledged the finding and is awaiting the delivery of outstanding items before thepaymentismade.

The Audit Office recommended that the Head of the Budget Agency “institutemeasurestoensure full repayment to the Consolidated Fund of all amounts remaining unpaid attheendofeachfiscalyear incompliancewiththeFMA Act2003.”

Additionally, there was

an examination carried out onemploymentrecordandit was discovered that two officers were overpaid in their salaries in the net sum of $175,218 whilst the related deductions totalling $28,812 were also overpaid to the various deduction

agencies “Similarly, amounts totalling $2.435M remained outstanding as overpaid net salaries to employees with respect to 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. The related deductions totalling$350,693paidover to the various deduction agencies were also not

recovered,” the report furtherrevealed.

In its response the ministry said that “the Head of the Budget Agency indicated that the Ministry has since written the Accountant General in an effort to have the sums recovered In relation to p r e v i o u s y e a r s ' overpayment, efforts are ongoing to have the remaining sums recovered.” Meanwhile theAudit Office is recommending that the Head of Budget Agency continue its efforts to recovertheoverpayment.

Education Department slams

brutal bullying incident in Linden

TheDepartmentof Education in Region 10 has strongly condemned a disturbing bullying incident involving a student of the Linden Foundation Sec

School, followingthecirculationofa videoonsocialmedia.

In a firm statement, the Department reiterated the Ministry of Education's zero-tolerance stance on bullying, noting, “Every student has the right to feel

schools ” Officials confirmed that the matter is being addre

d in accordance with established protocols, with steps u

accountability and to supporttheaffectedstudent.

“Thewelfareofourstudents remainsourhighestpriority, and appropriate actions are being taken to ensure accountability and to supportthestudentinvolved.

We encourage parents, students, and community members to continue partnering with us to foster safe learning environments across all schools,” the Department shared in its statement.

The Department also urged parents, students, and community members to partner with educators to maintain safe learning environments. The incident comes just days after the Ministry of Education launched its first public consultation on AntiBullying and Anti-Violence

P o l i c i e s , h e l d i n collaboration with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Human Services and SocialSecurity

A d d r e s s i n g t h e consultation, Minister of Education,SoniaParagsaid, “Bullying is by no means right in any form. We must take a zero-tolerance approach to bullying…With bullying, we can't eradicate

it overnight, but steps that we take and consistency is what it is. Consistency and persistence in what we do willensurethatwereduceit tremendously and that we produce wholesome individuals that we really want to see contribute constructively to society,” Paragsaid.

The public consultation shenotedistofindwaysofa more balanced approach to the issue, looking at the social issues that would contribute towards children's behavioural patterns and develop policies to address the problem Bullying she disclosed, creates a deep psychological wound in someone's mind that leads them to suicide and depression,andadarkplace “whereusasadultcan'thelp them.” This problem which islongoverdue,theminister committed to working closely with the other ministriestoeradicate.

The Linden Foundation Secondary School

Drones,dogs & 24/7 patrols

…Police unleash massive Christmas security operations

As s i s t a n t Commissioner andRegion4'A'

CommanderSimonMcBean

has announced an aggressive, technologydriven security plan for the 2025 Christmas season, declaring that drones, smart cameras, and 24-hour

patrols will blanket Georgetown to protect shoppers, businesses and residents.

Launching the 2025

Christmas Policing

motorcycleswillbedoingso upuntilmidnight.

Motor vehicle and maritime patrols will be doneon a24-hour basis and all rotations and timings weredecideduponbasedon ananalysisdone.

“Now,someofourfocus areas, our markets, as we indicatedthemarkets,you'll see increased presence of police joint with the City Constabulary Inthoseareas, you'll find a joint patrol where a police

Assistant Commissioner and Commander of Region 4 'A' Simon McBean

Programme on Friday, McBean said patrols of every type will be sharply increased starting from Saturday Foot, bicycle, vehicle, maritime, mounted, canine, drone and traffic units Police will also operate in tight partnership with the City Constabulary, private security firms, businesses and other stakeholders McBeansaidtheobjectiveis clear:cutcrime,cutfear,cut congestion.

He reminded that there are risks due to increased commercial activities. He said the capital city will be divided into different sections and will be policed basedontheirneeds.

“Wewillhavedailyanticrimeandtrafficpatrols.We intendtohave207patrolson adailybasis,112beinganticrime and 95 traffic patrols onadailybasis.

Thatwilltake507police officers,policeranksdailyto ensurewehavethosepatrols ontheroad.258ofthoseare foranti-crime,and249ranks will be conducting traffic patrols on a daily basis. Our patrol timings, our drone patrols will be done daily based on our needs,” McBeanexplained.

Canine, mounted, bicycle and foot patrol will be done from 08:00hrs up until shopping is closed off.

Rank patrolling on

successful policing season andthesmartcameras,facial recognitionandlicenceplate recognition cameras for

identifying suspects' motor vehicles and monitoring suspicious activities will be inuse.

officer will partner with the city police, and they will be conducting patrols in and around the market areas, shopping malls, again, we have a joint presence in places like Giftland Mall, youwillhavepoliceofficers incollaborationwithprivate security on the ground that will ensure that those areas are safe, Robb and Regent Street, our banks and commercialareaswillbeall we will all be,” the commandersaid.

He went on to say that police presence has also been increased in tourism and recreational areas and there was collaboration Ministry ofTourism to train hundredsofranksintourism policing.

This boost for the Force willensurethatcarparks,the sea wall, hotels, and the residentialareasaresafeand secure “ when people leave their homes to shop, they are safe, so those areas willalsoseeincreasedpolice presence our ferry stellings, post offices and our shipping agencies that during this time, there is a need for because there is an influx of persons from all parts of Guyana who converge at our shipping agencies,”headded.

The Commander also disclosed that technology will be heavily relied on during this time, to ensure a

WIN accuses Speaker of mismanagement

…says Parliament must not become a personal estate

G u y a n a ' s m a i n parliamentary oppositionWe Invest in Nationhood (WIN)issoundingthealarm over what it calls “a troubling pattern of mismanagement, political manipulation, and abuse of authority” within the Office of the Parliament, directly

implicating Speaker

ManzoorNadir In a strongly worded

s t a t e m e n t t i t l e d :

'Management of the

Parliament of Guyana' the Opposition outlined a series ofallegationsitsayspointto the erosion of transparency,

staff welfare, and

parliamentaryintegrity

Firstly, WIN said, 2025 marks the fifth consecutive year in which the Office of theParliamentwillnothosta Christmas social for staff, with the explanation given that no funds are available. “From 2021 to 2024, the Speaker, Mr Manzoor

UKHSA, PAHO and CARPHA collaborate to strengthen diabetes and NCD care in Caribbean

Bridgetown, Barbados,

1 4 N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 5 (PAHO/WHO) - In most

Caribbean countries, diabetes is one of the most pressingandfastest-growing health challenges. This is also true in the United Kingdom Overseas

Territories (UKOTs): Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the

C a y m a n I s l a n d s , Montserrat, and Turks and CaicosIslands.

To strengthen diabetes and noncommunicable disease (NCD) care in these territories, the UK Health SecurityAgency (UKHSA), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and

Development Office (FCDO) through the Civil ResilienceFund,conveneda regional workshop from November 3-7, in collaboration with the Pan

A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization (PAHO) and theCaribbeanPublicHealth Agency (CARPHA) The workshop provided a space forhealthleaders,clinicians, and technical experts from the six Caribbean UKOTs andguestAtlanticUKOT,St Helena, to strengthen their collective capacity to prevent, diagnose, and managediabetes.

The NCD burden is driven by high levels of overweight and obesity, u n h e a l t h y f o o d environments, physical inactivity, and ageing populations - factors that together translate into premature mortality, lost productivity, and increasing costs to health systems

AccordingtoPiedadHuerta, PAHOSubregionalProgram

Directora.i,thesechallenges compel us to strengthen primary health care, promote prevention, early detection, and quality diabetes management to the peoplewhoneeditmost.

“Primary care remains themostequitable,efficient, andsustainablepathtobetter health outcomes This workshop is timely and

necessary and builds on our shared commitment to reducing the burden of NCDs and advancing resilient health systems through Initiatives such as HEARTS and the Better CareforNCD.Together,we must accelerate progress toward Sustainable

Development Goal 3.4, which calls for a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030,”MsHuertastressed.

P A H O / W H O RepresentativeforBarbados and the Eastern Caribbean countries, Dr Amalia Del Riego, defined the partnershipasmeaningfulto tackletheproblemofNCDs atvariouslevels. “Itisnota challenge that we can take individually by one agency This week is one of critical importance because you are going to be undertaking a d e e p d i v e o n t h e fundamentalsofpatientcare and clinical pathways for diabetes So while we continue doing everything else that needs to be done, prevention, addressing determinants of health, commercial determinants of health,theindividualcareis extremely importantstrengthening primary care, strengtheningthenetworkof services, and the way in which the health workers provide quality, coordinated care, so that people who are affected and are at risk can be served in the way that theydeserve”,DrDelRiego noted.

The UKHSA was c o m m e n d e d f o r championing collaborative approaches to chronic diseasepreventionaswellas the ongoing technical engagement of CARPHAin supporting regional NCD programs and strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacities across the Caribbean. “As part of our ongoingworktosupportthe health, wellbeing and resilience of the Caribbean UK overseas territories, we are pleased to convene this

workshopatatimewherewe are seeing significant increases in the prevalence of diabetes in the region. Through collaboration, shared technical expertise, and joint leadership, this workshop demonstrates the commitment of the UKOTs, UKHSA and regional partners to address NCDs, i

ed Catherine Mbema, lead for theUKHSAdelegation.

Felicia McLean, Chief Nursing Officer in the Cayman Islands, described the week-long session as impactful "Bringing together participants from the OverseasTerritories and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) created a meaningful space

and collaboration - both for our currenteffortsandforfuture initiatives. I am leaving with valuable tools and knowledge that will support thedevelopmentofanaction planformyisland,shesaid.

Similarly, Dr Naail Uthman, Senior Medical Officer of Bermuda, stated that the workshop provided direct access to regional expertise, practical tools, and models to accelerate improvements in diabetes prevention,careandsystemwide planning “It can strengthen evidence-based decision-making,closegaps in surveillance and medicines access, boost workforce skills, and produce a tailored, actionable diabetes plan for Bermuda,” Dr Uthman stated.

T h e U K O T representatives worked on developing action plans and committedtocontinuingthe exchange and collaboration among them to build a cohesive response to diabetes and NCDs St Helena presented data showing that Small Island DevelopingStatesacrossthe world share similar challenges and potential jointsolutions.

Nadir,allegedlyinsistedthat thestaffsocialbeheldatthe EverestCricketClub,which he serves as President. No consensus was reached on the venue proposed by the Speaker, and so the Office chose to issue Christmas hampers instead. Now, in 2025, I have been reliably informed by several staff members that there will be no Christmas social or issuance of hampers. This raises serious questions about the allocation and use of funds budgeted for staff welfare,” WIN's MP, Tabitha-Sarabo-Halley said inthestatement.

Secondly, she said in addition to the political reasons that have contributedtothestallingof theelectionoftheLeaderof the Opposition, there also appears to be an attempt to avoidconveningthemeeting to redirect or retain the remaining 2025 funds allocatedtotheOfficeofthe LeaderoftheOpposition.“It isallegedthatthesefundsare

intended to be shifted to the Office of the Speaker in the absence of the office of the opposition leader This, if true, represents a troubling m a n i p u l a t i o n o f parliamentary processes for administrative or personal advantage,” Sarabo-Halley said.

Thirdly, she noted that this is the first time in three parliamentary cycles that MembersofParliamenthave notbeenissuedlaptopsatthe start of a new Parliament. Though the Office budgeted for the devices and the procurementprocesswentto tender “These allegations are serious and raise legitimate concerns about the responsible and transparent use of public funds, the prioritisation of personal interests over institutional integrity, the obstructionofparliamentary functions for reasons unrelatedtogovernance,the welfareandfairtreatmentof parliamentary staff, and the ability of MPs to carry out t h e i r l e g i s l a t i v e responsibilities under such conditions.” According to WIN, “now it has become clearwhythePPPwashappy withthetenureofthecurrent speaker in the last parliament. Our Parliament must at all times reflect the highest standards of accountability,transparency, and fairness Guyanese deserve a Parliament that operates above personal interest and political manipulation, and one that respects both its members anditsstaff.”

New four-lane highway fromVersailles to Parika

The government

through the Ministry of

Housing – Central Housing and Planning Authority is currently inviting bids for the construction a new fourlane highway which will stretchfromVersaillesonthe West Bank of Demerara to Parika, East Bank Essequibo,RegionThree. This is according to an invitation for bids issued by theministry Bids for the project are expected to open on December 22, 2025 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration

Board(NPTAB)office.

According to the notice, theprojectisdividedinto17 lots.Theministrystatedthat the delivery/ construction period for lots 1 to 17 is 20 months.

The Housing Ministry also informed that pre-bid meeting will be held on November 27, November 28, December 9, and December 10 at the CHPA Projects officer boardroom and at the Leonora Stadium parkinglot.

This publication understands that this new highway project forms part of the Schoonord to Parika road link. The project is beingbuiltinphases.

While, the highways are aimed at reducing traffic congestion along the West Bank and West Coast corridor, the government had stated previously that it willalsostimulateeconomic growth and open up employmentopportunities.

The purpose of the meetingsisforsitevisitsand tooutlineevaluationcriteria, environmental and social management requirements and all other pertinent information relating to filling out the bid, the ministrynoted.

Speaker of the NationalAssembly, Manzoor Nandir

New York Real Estate Company founded by Guyanese sisters marks 100 years

ANewYork real estate company founded bythreeGuyanesesistersismarkingits100th year Founded in 1926, ESRA Realty LLC, originally known as Edward's Sisters Realty, was launched by Millicent, Sarah and Lucille EdwardswhowereborninGuyana.

The sisters migrated to the USA to chase the American dream. Their family settled in Harlem and recognized a lack of community housing.Theyfilledthatneedbyfoundingone of the first black-owned and operated real estatefirminNewYorkState.

In1929,LucilleEdwards-Chancewasone of four black females to graduate NYU laws school and was the first black practising (Continuedonpage53)

On the Cover of a special edition publication: the current owners, of ESRALLC, Ramona Grey-Harris, Maurice Russell Grey andAden Seraile; nd2 and 3rd generation Guyanese-American.

The Company participated in a legacy event hosted by Chase Bank in NewYork in the summer.

Khan

The Waterfalls Waterfalls

Khatija Khan

Meetthe sultryKhatijaKhan This week’sbeautyhailsfromNewAmsterdam, Berbice.Khatijaisapart-timeadministrative managerwhofindsjoyinspendingtimewithherfamily andfriends.Herpassionforworkshinesthroughinherdaily work.Khatijaalsoloveschildrenandgoesbythesocialmedia handles,kitkhatand@callme_khat.Herfavouritequoteis,“The bestwaytopredictthefutureistocreateit.”Thisquoteperfectly encapsulatesKhatija’sforward-thinkingapproachtolifeandher commitmenttomakingapositiveimpact.

Camille’s Academy girls make top ten for outstanding performance in subject areas

Two female students of Camille’s Academy, Mayadevi Prasad and Venesha Mahadeo have made the top ten list of outstanding performance in single subject areas. Prasad a student of the academy’s Crane,WestCoastDemerara campus placed 10th on the students who copped outstanding grades for Agriculture Science and Venesha Mahadeo a student of the Diamond, East Bank Demerara Campus attained the6thpositiononthelistfor Spanishperformers.

Theschoolinastatement issued via its social media

p a g e e x p r e s s e d congratulations to the twoyoungachievers.

“We are proud to announcethattwoofour outstanding students from the CSEC Class of 2025 have earned places among Guyana’s Top 10 in their respective subjects!

Your hard work, dedication, and passion forlearninghavebrought great pride to our school community.”

“ A h e a r t f e l t congratulations to our achievers, their teachers, and supportive parents for guiding them on this journey of excellence Together, we continue to nurture values, inspire minds, and celebrate success!”

and dedication has paid off.

Weareveryproudofyou.To our outstanding performers, we are extremely proud of you.Welookforwardtoyou continuing to shine. As you move to the next chapter of yourlife.Andwearecertain that our country and our futureareingreathandswith you,”Paragsaid. Further, in a statement from the Ministry of E d u c a t i o n , P a r a g commended the students for their exceptional dedication and resilience, noting that their achievements have brought great pride to their schools, families, and the widerGuyanesecommunity

as a testament to Guyana’s continued pursuit of educationalexcellence.

“The Ministry also recognises the stellar achievements of students across subjects such as Agricultural Science, Economics, Chemistry, EnglishA,andMathematics.

Guyanahasdominatedasthe topperformerforPortuguese after having introduced it to the curriculum in 2015

Similarly, students performed excellently in religious education,” the statementsaid.

TheMinistryhighlighted that these results reflect not

only the hard work of the students but also the collective effort of teachers, parents, and school administrators who have nurturedtheirgrowth.

“These achievements, and the achievements of many more students who will be honoured in the comi

Guyana’s unwavering pursuit of excellence in education,” the Ministry said.

“Each achievement tells a story of determination, mentorship,andthepowerof education to transform lives.”

After the list of top achievers were announced, MinisterofEducation,Sonia Parag commented that such excellent performance is testament that Guyana’s futureisingreathands.

“We wish to extend the warmest congratulations to all of our CXC and CAPE students.Allyourhardwork

“These achievements speak to the hard work and resilienceofourstudents,the commitment of their teachers, and the steadfast supportofparents,”Minister Paragsaid.

“You have represented your schools and your countrywithdistinction.The Ministry will continue to invest in ensuring that every child in Guyana has the opportunity to reach their fullpotential.”

The statement described the students’ performances

Venesha Mahadeo placed 6th for Spanish

Mayadevi Prasad copped 10th place for Agriculture Science

ATowards a better life with your psychologist Risk of marrying in the 20’s…

healthy relationship with ourselves starts withself-discoveryand personal development. Having a healthyrelationshipwithourselves depends on a healthy parent-child relationship or psychotherapy If your childhood was traumatic at 19-20, you should be seeing a psychologist, to help with selfdiscover and guide with personal development,

At18trustsinothers;abletobe vulnerable; healthy self-esteem; being independent person with agency, independence and agency; believing in one self-unwavering and developed capacity of competence; firm self-identify and purpose, all should be in place at thatage.

These are needed in adulthood so when we get involved in relationships, we do not get lost servingotheratourownexpense.

In almost all cases, we commence our adult lives with abnormalitiesweacquiredfromour parents and community that are destructivetoourrelationshipwith ourselves and others. Personalities areformedbytheageof18.

By18,onecanhaveclustersof personality disorders, paranoid, avoidant, narcissistic, dependent, borderline, antisocial, mental illness such as bipolar, schizophrenia, chronic anxiety, depression,orPTSD.Havingthese psychological imbalances without knowing them is a travesty The next thing that happens is relationships falling apart due to maladaptivebehaviour Wearelost and trying to figure out what is happening, fighting for an everyday life. It is an undercurrent of the last 18 years of childhood baggage. We are physically ready for a relationship, but are not mentallyoremotionally

Most 18-year-olds who turn into adults are either passiveaggressive or overtly aggressive. Both are trauma responses to traumatic experiences at the hands ofparentsorthecommunity Itisa middlegroundbetweenpassiveand aggressive behaviour, involving honest, straightforward communication to reach mutually beneficial solutions. This is not everyone’s story but if you are is highly risky and challenging to be in a long term healthy and committed relationship let alone a marriage.

Last week I shared some of the risks associated with marrying in one’s 20s, today I present some more of these challenges.

O n g o i n g P e r s o n a l

Development: Your 20s are a formative decade where you discoverwhoyouareandwhatyou want from life.Your values, goals, and even personality traits can change significantly during this time. Marrying early means you andyourpartnermustlearntogrow

together, and there is a risk of growing apart as you both evolve into different people. The human brain, particularly the frontal cortex, the center of executive functions, does not fully mature untilaroundage21,withtraumain thelate20s.Yourabilitytomakea healthy,comprehensivedecisionis lacking.

Incomplete personal development: Your brain is still developing until your mid-to-late 20s, and you may undergo significant changes in identity, values,andgoals.Whatyouwantin apartnerat22maydifferfromwhat youwantat32.Moreover,thisisa reality because of childhood trauma, where identity, sense of purpose, self-esteem, being vulnerableandcomfortableinyour strength and competence were hijacked because of childhood trauma. Now you have to unlearn andlearnwhatitmeanstobe…

Financial instability: Many people in their 20s are not yet financially established, which makes it difficult to make major joint decisions about housing, careers, and other significant expenses.Peopleintheir20s often have less established careers and fewer financial assets. Financial pressurecanbeasignificantsource ofconflictandstraininamarriage, and a lack of stability can make it harder to weather unexpected challenges.Youarenotmarryingto pool your money and build an empire.Thatisatap.Youhaveyour own money Your potential is working. You have a degree, a professional career or a business. Your chance of getting divorced becauseofamoneyfightis62%

“ Your20sare Growingapart”: a time of significant personal growth, as you navigate your career, build new friendships, and redefine your relationship with family It can be challenging to grow in the same direction and at the same pace as your partner As we get older, towards our 40sbetween 40 and 65, the new psychosocial milestone is not a healthyrelationship;thisshouldbe established and maintained in 1840 (22 years to get it right). The birthof40to65isleavingalegacy, contributing to our children’s lives andsocietyinsignificantways.Itis wherewereachourpeakingrowth and development. The foundation hastobesetinour18-40agerange, more so 18-30. This is the very reason most people who got married in their 20s fight to get a divorceintheir40s.

Lack of Life Experience and Emotional Maturity: Marrying young means you have less independent life experience, such as living alone, travelling, or managing a household on your own.Alack of emotional maturity can make it challenging to handle conflicts effectively, communicate needs, and manage the inherent

difficultiesofmarriedlife.Youmay lack the life experience to understand what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like, especially if your parents had not hadone(thatis,almost18yearsof seeingadysfunctionalrelationship and experiencing it as a child), which leads you to make poor choices or tolerate unhealthy dynamics Children who were abused and neglected by their parents are more likely to start relationshipsataveryearlyage.To get what they never got from their parents.Thatisatrap.Younow,asa young adult, have to REPARENT yourlife.Givingyourselfwhatyou nevergotfromyourparentsbefore

(Part 2)

youenteracommittedrelationship.

Limited Social Circles and Support: Abused and neglected children move into adulthood with smallersocialnetworksorhavenot yet established robust support systemsintheircommunities.This makes it difficult to find external supportormentorshipwhenfacing maritalchallenges.

Opportunity Cost: Choosing marriage and potentially an early family life in your 20s means putting specific personal or career ambitionsonhold.Puttingpersonal development and self-discovery aside to have a child or marry is a no-no. It is robbing yourself and setting yourself up for failure later in life or for painful, challenging hardship. Decisions made early in your 20s can lead to feelings of resentmentandregretlaterinlifeif the goals you did not pursue becomeasourceofdissatisfaction. This, in turn, breeds poor mental health.

By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc. Clinical and Developmental Psychologist - Psychoanalyst Unwrapping Gift -Clinic

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

ExxonMobilrakesinnearly US$10Binsixmonths,while GuyanagetsjustUS$1B …Oilgiant’scostrecovery almostdoublesnation’stotal debtasprofitspouroverseas

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of the prolific Stabroek Block, has recovered a staggering US$9.768 billioninjustthefirstsixmonthsof 2025—afigurethatnearlydoubles Guyana’stotalnationaldebt,which stood at US$6 billion at the end of 2024.

The Bank of Guyana (BoG) recently published its Half Year Report, following the publication of the Mid-Year Report by the GovernmentofGuyana(GoG).

According to figures released by the Central Bank, Exxon recovered US$3,157B in the first quarter of 2025 and US$6,611.1B in the second quarter This means the company utilised a total of US$9,768,100,000 for cost recoveryinsixmonths.

Inkeepingwiththetermsofthe 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), EMGL is allowed to deduct 75% of oil produced each month to meet its expenses. In the absence of a ringfencing provision, the company is not only paying for the projects currently in operation, but those thatareyettocomeonstream.

Whilestakeholdersfearthatthe forecast of low oil price in the futurewillgravelyaffectGuyana’s ability to enjoy its wealth, the governmenthasagreedtoallowthe companytomaximisetherevenues from the petroleum activities to benefit shareholders of the StabroekBlockpartners.

As such, Guyana’s earnings from the sector in the first six months of the year paled in comparison to what the oil companiestook.

According to the Mid-Year Report,theNaturalResourceFund (NRF) or the oil account barely received US$1B during the same period.

The report states, “In the first half of 2025, Government had 15 lifts of profit oil from the three producing FPSOs, Liza Destiny (3), Liza Unity (6) and Prosperity (6).” Each lift is equivalent to one millionbarrelsofoil.

To this end, government reported, “During the period JanuarytoJune2025,Government received US$1,053 8 million as revenuefromitsshareofprofitoil. This included payments for two lifts that occurred in the final quarter of 2024, and 13 of the 15 lifts that occurred in the first six monthsofthisyear.”

It was also noted that in July, US$140.5 million was received as profit oil payments for the two GovernmentliftsexecutedinJune.

Government also received US$169 6 million in royalties related to crude oil production and

salesinthefinalquarterof2024and thefirstquarterofthisyear

At the end of June 2025, the NRF contained (inclusive of interest income of US$68.9M) a total of US$3,192.2 million, after withdrawalsofUS$1,200million.

Canadianfirmtobuild massiveairstripforToroparu US$14.7Bgoldproject

Canadian mining giant Aris MiningCorporationispreparingto break ground on an internationalstandard airstrip deep in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni, a move that signalsthecompany’sintenttofasttrack operations at its massive

US$14 7 billion Toroparu Gold Project, one of the largest undevelopedgolddepositsinSouth America.

TheToroparuProjectlocatedin Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is being developed through Aris Mining’slocalsubsidiary,ETKInc. The project is expected to produce an average of 235,000 ounces of gold per year over more than two decades.Theproject’slife-of-mine production is estimated at 5 0 millionouncesofgold,4.9million ounces of silver, and 260 million poundsofcopper In its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the project, the company noted that the new

1,750-metre-long airstrip will replacetheexistingone,whichsits within the footprint of the main Toroparupit.

According to the PEA, the relocated facility will be built to accommodate larger aircraft and willserveasakeylogisticshubfor transportingpersonnel,equipment, and goods to and from the mining site.

Thecompanyexplainedthatthe runway will be aligned parallel to the prevailing southeast wind directionandenclosedwithina70metreboundaryzoneonbothsides along the centreline to restrict the height of structures nearby It was alsostatedthattheairstripwillhave a total width of 60 metres of clear space, ensuring compliance with internationalsafetyandoperational standards.

Aris Mining said the upgraded facility will include two main securityaccesspoints.Thefirstwill be located along the main access road adjacent to the relocated airstrip and will feature a truck parking and staging area, logistics andsecurityoffices,andanaircraft hangar for temporary storage and emergencyovernightshelter

A second access point will be establishedattheprocessingplant, serving as a controlled entry between low and high-security areas It will include a security office and change house for all personnel accessing the highsecurityandminingzones.

Aris Mining also stated in the PEA that the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of NaturalResourcesandtheMinistry ofPublicWorks,hasagreedonthe terms of a road users’ agreement that will facilitate unhindered access to the project site. The agreement provides that ETK will maintain and rehabilitate sections of the public road leading to the Toroparu project, subject to final terms.

Kaieteur News had reported that Guyana is set to reap an estimated US$3.4 billion in taxes and royalties from the Toroparu Gold Project, which is expected to generate US$14.7 billion in gold sales based on a base gold price of US$3,000 per ounce over its 21yearminelife.

The PEA states that at a base gold price of US$3,000 per ounce, theprojectisexpectedtocontribute US$2.2billioninincometaxesand US$1.2billioninroyaltypayments to the Government of Guyana, bringing the country’s total projected earnings to US$3 4 billion At the same gold price assumption, the Toroparu gold project is projected to deliver an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV5%) of US$1 8 billion, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 25.2%, and a payback period of threeyears.

UndertheMineralAgreement Continued on page 23

EMGLPresident,Alistair Routledge

The Toroparu Gold Project

Frompage22 with the Government of Guyana, the project will pay an 8% royalty on gold sales, 1.5% on silver, and 1.5% on copper It was stated that the royalties are deductible from taxable income under Guyana’s 30% corporate tax rate. Notably, a 2011 mineral agreement between ETK and the Government of Guyana established a tiered gold royalty of 5% for prices up to US$1,000 per ounce and 8% for pricesabovethat.

According to information from the company’s website, the project site was first mined by Alfro Alphonso in 1997 and explored by ETK from 1999 under a joint venture with Alphonso ETK acquired full ownership in 2020, paying US$20 million to exercise itsoption,whileAlphonsoretained certain alluvial rights and access privileges, ETK also secured an investment agreement with GOInvest granting tax exemptions on project-relatedimports.

MONDAY

OmaiGoesAllIn:5rigsnow diggingforgoldinRegionSeven -eyesgovt.’splanneddeepwaterportforfurtherbenefits

Canadian mining company Omai Gold Mines Corp has intensified its push to unlock Guyana’snextmajorgoldbonanza, with the deployment of a fifth drillingrigatitsOmaiGoldProject in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Omai holds a 100% interest in the past-producing Omai gold project, which hosts two orogenic gold deposits: the shear-hosted Wenot Deposit and the adjacent intrusive-hosted Gilt Creek Deposit.

In September, the company announced the addition of a fourth rig to its gold project as it pushes ahead with an aggressive explorationprogramme.Initslatest update, Omai disclosed that another rig has been added to its fleet “Five rigs are currently drilling on the Wenot deposit with the goal of completing an additional 8,000m before year end,” the company said. It further noted that a total of 64 drill holes have been completed to date this yearontheOmaiproperty,totalling 30,297m.

Earlier this year, Omai announced an updated combined Mineral Resources Estimate (MRE) of 2.1 million ounces of gold(indicated),a7%increase,and 4 3 million ounces of gold (inferred),a92%increasefromthe previousMRE.

Omai’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elaine Ellingham, said that although the company remains focused on expanding the Wenot open pit deposit and advancing an updated

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elaine Ellingham

PreliminaryEconomicStudywitha much-expandedOmaimineplan,it still believes that identifying and defining additional satellite deposits will create further value fortheproject.

“A few of our exploration targets have evidence of highergrade mineralization and present possibilities for satellite pits that could positively impact early cash flowandoverallNPV[NetPresent Value] With today’s results, we will further model these targets to guide additional drilling in these clearlyprospectiveareas,”shesaid. Ellingham added that since Omai has identified the Wenot deposit along a 2 5 km strike length, the potential depth extension bodes well for the longterm potential of the project. She noted that while the Omai MRE is already sizeable, the geological extension to depth of the shear corridor that hosts the gold mineralization in the upper part of Wenot provides the possibility for anevenlongerminelife.

Moreover, Omai’s CEO stated

that the government’s planned deep-water port on the coast of Guyana could bring additional benefits to its gold operations

Ellingham had previously identified the US$190 million LindentoMaburaRoadasamajor advantage to the company’s operations.

“Omaiislocated10kmfromthe only road from Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, to Brazil. Paving is well underway on this road and there are longer-term plans to establish this as an access toamajordeep-waterportplanned on the coast of Guyana, east of Georgetown This infrastructure would further benefit the Omai project,”Ellinghamsaidinarecent companyupdate.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has said the planned deep-water port will be constructed in Region Six, linking Guyana directly to Brazil and wider Caribbean markets as part of efforts to make thecountryaregionaltradehub.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has repeatedly stated that his administrationplanstoupgradeand expand Guyana’s ports to handle more maritime trade and position the country as a regional logistics centre Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has explained that the project’s viability depends on integration with northern Brazil, since revenue from cross-border trade would help sustain the investment. He had also disclosed that the government has received several proposals and is assessing thefinancialandtechnicalcapacity ofdevelopers.

LittleSorayalaidtorest

Six-year-old Soraya Bourne, who was killed tragically in the

deadly bombing at the Mobil Gas StationonRegentStreetwaslaidto rest on Sunday after a heartwrenching service at the Heavenly Light World Outreach Fellowship, CooperStreet,Albouystown.

The service was attended by Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Walrond and several other parliamentarians from the opposition –APNU. The powerful blastkilledBourneandinjuredfour others, including children and adults Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) showed the suspect, clad inabluejersey,whatappearedtobe black trousers and a khaki hat, entering the gas station and first attempting to place a bulky black bag in a bin located at a pump station. An attendant, who was seated there, forbade him from placingthebaginthebin.Theman thenventuredtotheareaofthefuel station where it is reported that cooking gas was stored. Shortly after, the car in which little Soraya Bourne and her family traveled in was seen slowly reversing before thebombexplodedcausingthegirl and her relatives to be pitched into theair

Last week, four Venezuelans andthreeGuyanesewereremanded to prison following their appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the deadly October 26 bombing The prosecution outlined that all the suspects acted in alliance with the main suspect, 33-year-old Venezuelan Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, who was identified as the primary orchestratoroftheattack.Theother sixindividualswereeitherawareof the plan, aided Poedemo, or assistedintransportinghim.

The accused are: Wayne Correia, 44, Guyanese; Ramesh Pramdeo, 51, Guyanese; Krystal

LaCruz, 33, Guyanese; Jennifer Rodriguez,33,Venezuelan;Johnny Boodram, 27, Venezuelan; and Alexander Bettancourt, 44, Venezuelan.Theyappearedincourt onthesameday,buttheirhearings were conducted at different locations Poedemo, Bettancourt, LaCruz, and Boodram’s case was heardbeforeChiefMagistrateFaith McGusty at the Georgetown District Court, while the cases of Rodriguez, Corriea, and Pramdeo wereheardvirtuallyattheLeonora Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate AliciaGeorge.

Poedemo faced a separate charge He was accused of committing an act of terrorism on October 26, with intent to threaten the sovereignty and security of Guyana or strike terror to the people by using an explosive substance by placing it at the mobile fuel station on Regent and King Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown, which caused the death of six-year-old Soraya Bourne. He was not required to enterapleatotheindictablecharge.

Meanwhile, Bettancourt, LaCruz,andBoodramwerejointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo in carrying out the bombing They were also not required to enter a plea. All were unrepresented except Boodram Boodram’s attorney, Mikel Puran, arguedthathisclient,ataxidriver, had no knowledge of the bombing andwasmerelyhiredbyLaCruzto drive her and twoVenezuelan men to Georgetown Pooran claimed thatBoodramwasinnocentandthat his arrest was an abuse of the judicial process, as police had not followed proper procedures. “It is an abuse to bring him before the court and he has no knowledge,” Pooranstated.Nevertheless,the Continued on page 24

Omai’s

Family members and friends pay tribute to Soraya Bourne during her funeral service on Sunday

Frompage23 prosecution opposed to bail on grounds of public interest and safety to the public The four accused were remanded and scheduled to return on November 12, for further proceedings Meanwhile, Rodriguez, Correia, and Pramdeo were jointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo betweenOctober24and29atEast BankEssequibo.Theywerealleged to have assisted in the bombing, although their lawyers denied any involvement.

TUESDAY

Toddlerdrownsintrench atQueenstownVillage

A one-year-nine-month-old boy, Devon Walker, tragically drowned on Monday in a trench near his home in Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Reports indicate that Devon’s mother was asleep when the incident occurred Villagers told Kaieteur News that his older brother spotted him in the trench and tried to rescue him but was unable to He ran to alert their motherforhelp.

By the time Devon was pulled from the water, he was unresponsive. The family rushed himtoLimaHospital,wherehewas pronounceddeadonarrival.

U.S.endorsescourtfilings… asMohamedblastsGovt,alleges taxpayersfundingforeign prosecutorsinextraditionbattle

The extradition case involving prominent businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed continued on Monday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, but not without fresh controversy over alleged non-disclosure of key U S documents and claims of government bias. The Mohameds,

owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise werearrestedonOctober31,2025, following a warrant issued by a Georgetownmagistrateinresponse toaformalextraditionrequestfrom the United States Government Their arrests came weeks after a U.S. Grand Jury in the Southern District of Florida unsealed a sweepingindictmentonOctober6, 2025, charging them with wire

fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and customs-related offences tied to a US$50 million gold export and tax evasion

scheme At the first court proceedings, the Mohameds were granted$150,00baileach.

The ongoing proceedings have sparked contention between the duo’s defence attorneys and representativesoftheUnitedStates Government, as the latter have not yet provided all the documents relatedtotheallegationsagainstthe Mohameds.Asaresult,thedefence team has been unable to properly reviewandassessthecase.

During the initial court appearance, special prosecutor Terrence Williams alleged that Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed were involved in an international criminal enterprise with links to Venezuela, the United States, and the Middle East. He claimed the businessmen had connections with Venezuelan authorities, which could enable them to flee and allegedly continue their unlawful activities.

Continuation of the proceedings on Monday, attorneys representingtheU.S.Government; Williams KC, Celine Deidrick, Herbert McKenzie, and Glenn Hanoman, submitted several documentstothecourt,includinga diplomatic note and warrants from U.S. authorities. However, the prosecution requested additional timetoobtainandsubmittheirfull disclosurefromtheUnitedStates.

Speakingwithreportersoutside the courtroom, leading prosecutor

Williams said the documents

e disclosure,standarddisclosure,and we have just adjourned for further casemanagementtobereadytodo the committal proceedings. These

c documents and case evidence documents, which are standard in anextraditionlaw,”heexplained. However, defence attorney Senior Counsel (SC) Roysdale Forde, argued that the U S prosecution had not provided his team with copies of the submitted documents, effectively withholding key materials. “We have not been able to study the disclosure, but the prosecutors wouldhaveindicatedthattheyneed to make further disclosure steps. We believe that this is part of a larger process of the number of documents they would have had. We believe they need to study the disclosure.”

Forde also stated that none of the documents submitted by the prosecutioncontainedreferencesto alleged links between the Mohameds and Venezuela or the Middle East When asked about such references, he replied, “Absolutely not.” He called on the prosecution to “reveal all the documents that they have in their possession,whichwouldberelated tothismatter.”

A d d r e s s i n g h o w t h e proceedings will continue, Forde said, “At this stage, we intend to standbythoseconstitutionalissues andcontinuetomaketheargument that we would like to have those matters referred As part of the disclosure process, we would need to review the documents, but full disclosure has not yet been made. Webelievethedocumentsthathave

prosecutions.Yet now, in my case, thePPPgovernmenthasgonesofar astoneglectthenormalprotocolof having local prosecutors lead the case, and instead hired King’s Counsel and attorneys from Jamaica,”hesaid.

Regarding attorney Hanoman, Mohamed claimed there was a potential conflict of interest, alleging that Hanoman is closely

PPP government and has previously represented one of his business r

Mohamed accused the prosecution teamofmaintainingclosetiestothe government and acting with political bias His sister, Hana Khamelia, issued a statement

’s commitment to due process “Today’s development marks another step forward in ensuring thatfairness,transparency,anddue process remain at the heart of the ongoing matter involving Mr. AzruddinMohamedandMr Nazar Mohamed,”shewrote.

been made available will further enhance our arguments for additional disclosure and the need for constitutional reform.” At the end of the court proceed, Magistrate Latchman granted the prosecution’srequestforadditional time and adjourned the case to November 24for further reporting and the submission of additional documents.

Abuseoftaxdollars

Following the court hearing, Azruddin Mohamed took to his Facebook page criticising the prosecutors handling his extradition case. He accused the Government of Guyana of using taxpayers’moneytocoverthelegal fees of the Jamaican prosecutors involved, while also alleging bias with local attorney Glenn Hanoman.

Addressing the issue of the Jamaican prosecutors, Mohamed said, “What is more appalling is that the three Jamaican attorneys are being paid by the government, and this corrupt and incompetent cabal is blatantly lying to the Guyanese people that they are not paying for their legal services Nandlall is telling Guyanese that the U.S. appointed these Jamaican prosecutors.Thisisanotherblatant lie. Taxpayers are fully footing all the bills for their hefty legal fees, whichwillbeinexcessofhundreds ofmillionsofGuyanadollars.This includes their flights, transportation,andsecurity,allpaid forbyyou,thetaxpayers.”

Mohamed argued that in previous extradition cases, local prosecutors were used to represent thegovernment,butinhiscase,the administration opted for a costly approach “In recent extradition cases, the police legal adviser and prosecutors from the DPP’s Chambers in Guyana handled the

Khamelia added that the adjournment “is not a setback, but rather a chance for full justice to prevail ” She reiterated that the family remains “calm, confident, and cooperative with all legal processes,” focused on “clearing theirnames,protectingtheintegrity oftheircompanies,andreaffirming their commitment to Guyana’s growthanddevelopment.”

According to the indictment, firstreportedbyKaieteurNews,the Mohamedsallegedlydefraudedthe Government of Guyana between 2017 and June 2024 by evading export taxes and royalties on over 10,000 kilograms of gold, using falsified customs declarations and re-used export seals to disguise unpaid duties. The document also details a US$5.3 million undeclaredgoldshipmentseizedat Miami International Airport, as well as the under-invoicing of a luxury vehicle worth more than US$680,000 The extradition request, transmitted to the Guyana Government on October 30, 2025, was made under the U.K.–Guyana Extradition Treaty, which remains in force pursuant to the Fugitive Offenders Act (Cap 10:04) as amendedin2024.

WEDNESDAY

Pres.Alivowsgasboomby2030 - pledges mega projects to transform Berbice

President Dr IrfaanAli has set an uncompromising deadline for Guyana to monetise its vast gas resources, insisting that the Stabroek Block, estimated at 17 trillion cubic feet (tcf), must fuel a series of mega projects aimed at transforming Berbice into a regionalhubforinnovationand Continued on page 38

Devon Walker

Nazar Mohamed and his sonAzruddin Mohamed at the Georgetown Magistrates’Court.

inlifeinspiteofalltheodds”-UGGraduand

Thepathtograduationis often difficult, marked by late nights and grueling exams But for Maria Blucher,whoissettoreceive her Bachelor of Science in BiologyfromtheUniversity of Guyana later this month, that path wasn’t just difficult; it was forged

through fire, grief, and the weight of community stigma. Maria is the second eldest of five siblings, and sheisthefirstinherfamilyto earnauniversitydegree.Her story isn’t about inherent privilege or a network of guidance; it’s about a

stubborn, self-made resolve born in the challenging communitiesofAgricolaand Albouystown.

“I feel super proud of myselftoknowwhereIcame from…it is like magic, I can’t believe it,” Maria says asshereflectedonalifethat demanded resilience almost

fromthestart.

Maria’searlieststruggles were defined by loss and instability She spent her early years with her mother inarentalhomeinAgricola, a community often unfairly defined by negative stereotypes, a stigma Maria was aware of. During her

primary school years, tragedy struck. “We lived in arentalhomeinAgricolaand we lost our home in a fire. Thatwasaverydifficulttime forus.Mymomstartedover fromscratch.Allwehadwas theclothingonourbacksthat night.”

The family relocated to Albouystown, another community grappling with social challenges, only to face more hardship when their new rental place was severely affected by flooding. Three years later, whileMariawasstillachild, her mother passed away “Thatwasaverydevastating time for me as a child,” she recalled.

Along with her other siblings, Maria moved in with their paternal grandmother, Wendy Blucher, a pensioner who had to raise them under severe financial strain While her father offered support when he could, the household was stretched thin Despite the bleak landscape, a quiet determinationbegantoform within Maria She recognised that without positiverolemodelstoguide her education, she had to become one “I was determined that I had to become something in life, I hadtosettheexampleformy youngersiblings.IsaidIwill gotoschool,Iwillnotleave school, I will not get pregnant.”

Thetraditionalsafetynet of strong financial and academic guidance was simply not there The

motivation for her relentless drive came from a more personal and painful place: her mother’s reality as a vendor “Igotthedrivewhen my mom died. What drove me is I know people say ‘when mother dead, family done’. My mother was a vendor, selling drinks in front of Demico, I would help her sell, and when she died,IsaidIdidnotwantthat forme.”

Her initial goal was just tocompleteCXC,getagood job, and secure stability University wasn’t even a considerationuntilafriend,a UGgraduate,steppedinand encouraged her Suddenly, shebegandesiringtoworkin the science field, perhaps as a doctor or a nurse but eventually settling on dentistry

After writing eight subjectsatCXCandpassing five, she was rejected from the CAPE programme to pursue Science subjects at St Stanislaus College becauseshehadonlypassed Biology, failing Chemistry and Physics, but accepted to dotwounitsofCAPE-Pure and Applied Math “My world was shattered at the time,” she recalled, having been so excited about her dentistryplan.

She refused to be defeated.Withthehelpofan understanding aunt, Laurel Duncan, who lives in the U.S. and who agreed to support her with finances to rewrite CXC and to write CAPE, she moved closer to relativestocut Continued

Maria Blucher

Police Sergeant and future lawyer,

Carl Pedro

prepares to graduate from UG

“Successisn’taboutwhereyoustartbuthowdetermined you are to finish,” says Police Sergeant Carl Pedro, a proud member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who will be graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Guyana when the institution hosts its 2025 ConvocationceremoniesfromNovember22toDecember6.

Police Sergeant, Carl Pedro is set to graduate with LLB from UG

Pedro resides at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three. He shares that this achievement marksanothermilestoneinhisacademicjourney Healready holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management from the UniversityofGuyana.Butlaw,hesaid,wasalwayshisdream, adreamthatgrewstrongerafterhejoinedtheGuyanaPolice Force.

“Pursuinglawhasalwaysbeenapersonaldreamofmine and it grew stronger when I joinedthe Guyana PoliceForce, onethatdemandedagreatdealofsacrifice,commitment,and faith,”heshared.

His pursuit of law was not an easy one. Balancing a fulltimejobasaSergeantattachedtotheTrafficDepartmentwith afull-timelawdegreetestedhisenduranceineverypossible way “Asthesayinggoes,‘Lawisajealousmistress,’andthat proved true. My job requires long hours on the road, often under the scorching sun. By the time I got home, exhaustion madestudyingfeelalmostimpossible.”

Things became even more challenging in his final year when he was transferred to the East La Penitence Police StationandplacedinchargeoftheTrafficDepartmentthere. “ImissedmanyclassesinthatfirstsemesterbecauseIhadto be present at the station, and on the road to supervise ranks under my command. Still, I managed to pass all my courses thatsemesterwithabove-averagegrades,”hesaidproudly Pedro recalled countless nights spent studying until sunrise, fuelled by coffee and determination. “There were countless nights when I stayed up studying until sunrise, sipping coffee to stay awake, and heading to work wearing darkshadestohidemytiredeyes.Irememberoneparticular nightwhileIwasstudying,Ireceivedacallaroundmidnight aboutafatalaccident.Ihadtoclosemybooksandrushtothe scene, and then return home after and continue studying. Thosewerethemomentsthattrulytestedmyresolve.”

Financial challenges were another major obstacle “Financially, the journey was also challenging, especially giventhehighertuitionfeesintheLawprogrammeatthetime. ButImustexpressgratitudetotheGovernmentofGuyanafor abolishingtuitionfeesinmyfinalyear Thatprovidedmuchneededreliefandmadeitpossibleformanyofustocomplete ourstudies.”

Despitethehardships,Pedroremainedfocused.“Ioften Continued on page 36

ACommunicationsspecialistJanellePersaud securesUS$10,000CCFgrantforRupununiproject

media/communications specialist whose project ‘Before Us:

CapturingAncestralWisdominthe Rupununi’isfixedundertheArtfor Change theme, in the Multimedia category She proudly features alongside fellow Guyanese ethnomusicologist Rohan Sagar, who is also in the multimedia bracket, with his work titled ‘DecodingtheBaboonDance’.

t least two deserving Guyanese have been selected grantees from a sophisticated pool of artistic talentsacrosstheCaribbean,under the Caribbean Culture Fund’s (CCF) Cohort three $400,000 project.

One ecstatic CCF awardee is Ms. Janelle Persaud, a Guyanese

The organisation invited creatives and cultural bodies to explore the transformative power ofartinshapingtheCaribbeanthey envisioned With projects that covered regional aspirations, challenges, and triumphs; they proposed changes they wished to see.

The third call was initiated on June 4, 2025, attracting interest from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica,

Monsterrat,St.KittsandNevis,and Suriname.

The CCF lends support to individuals and organisations with orientation to culture and creative projects within the Caribbean, disbursing grants based on the stated themes, underlying values and demonstrated qualities, feasibility, and capacity of project leaders.

On November 12, the CCF announced that selected project leaders from the Caribbean who hadappliedinJunewillbeawarded US$25,000, US$10,000 and US$5,000 for their projects across threebroadthemes.

Theprojectsshouldthoroughly correspondwithspecificcategories intheirthemes.Eachprojectshould alsotranslatetohowpracticallythe changes envisioned could be

wrought in the Caribbean by making use of arts and culture. Periodical interactions would be made with the individuals for

reviews and updates on their respectiveventures.

Providing insight into the engagement, an official from the CCF told The Waterfalls that once the contractis signed and a project satisfies the organisation’s objectives, the individual receives thefirsttranche.Thisisonanormal basis 50 per cent of the budget proposed, and the budget should notexceedtheamountforawardee, per theme. Should this occur, then individuals would have to provide evidence of partnership and for additionalfunding.

Afteranotherphasedreview,in which an intermediate report is to behandedovertotheorganisation, thesecondtrancheisthensupplied andtheprojectiscompleted. This year, the broad concepts, eachfromwhichtenapplicants Continued on page 37

Guyanese media/ communications specialist, Janelle Persaud

Guyanese ethnomusicologist, Rohan Sagar

From where I stand... No Applause Necessary

Irecently attended TEDNext 2025 in A t l a n t a , a n experience that has both renewedandrecalibratedmy sense of duty to country It also reminded me why I do what I do. Why I write this column. Why I push. Why I keep going, even when pushback comes; because it doescome.

I’ve experienced it through subtle and not-sosubtle forms: like the time the state-appointed council at the University of Guyana pulled the venue for TEDxTurkeyen a week before it was set to take place; whispers and anonymous social media attacks; even the occasional backhanded remark from officials A government minister recently turned to a friend of mine, right after being commended for good work,andsaid:“Youshould tell your friend—just like she’s quick to criticise, she should also acknowledge whenwedowell.”

It’s a sentiment I’ve heardmorethanonce.“Why didn’t you mention all the otherpositivethings?”

I shouldn’t have to That’s what DPI, NCN and the Guyana Chronicle are for Will including the “positives” make you listen more to what I have to say? Willitmakethemlessintent on sending their keyboard warriors to discredit my voice? We all know that the powers that be are less interested in balance. The issueisthatIdaretospeakup atall.

Let me say this plainly and with all the love and respect deserving of the office: citizens do not owe government ministers or others in high office commendation.

When you do your job—when you perform the duties for which you campaigned and were elected—itisnotagifttothe people. It is the job. I, like mostcitizens,followthelaw and contribute in ways far beyond the transactional expectationsofcitizenship.I work. I serve. I give back. And I do not expect medals fordoingso.

A m i n i s t e r o f government is elected to serve.Thatistheagreement. If I choose to commend him or her for exceptional work, then that is my prerogative not an entitlement. In fact, I count my vote for their reelection as my greatest act of commendation This constant expectation of praiseisrootedinalingering post-colonial posture that seesleadersmoreasmasters than as servants of the people And that posture must be shed. It’s just one component of the countless inherited structures we’ve retained because it benefits the elites and those in proximitytothem.

At the same event a friend nearby said, “you seemtohaveaproblemwith authority,”whenIdidn’tjoin the applause thanking the Minister for being there. I ponderedthatforawhile.Do I struggle with authority? I donot!Ihaveaproblemwith unearned applause I’m perfectly capable of celebrating people when it’s deserved but simply showing up, especially as a publicservant,doesn’tmerit a standing ovation. I didn’t clap, not because I disrespected him, but because I don’t believe in automatic reverence. He’s doinghisjob.

This is not to say the Minister in question wasn’t

deserving of applause. I just didn’t see the need to do it simply because he’s a Minister He is, before all else,apersonjustlikeyouor me. Did he applaud when I walked into the room? No. And I wouldn’t expect him oranyoneelseto.Andthat’s thepoint.

At TEDNext, I sat in sessions with changemakers from across the world. One was titled Engage, where I listened to grassroots organisers and democracy advocates discuss their fight to create more inclusive societies. They, too, face institutional resistance They, too, are often made to feel like outsiders for demanding more. But they press onbecausedemocracy is not static. It is a living ideal, constantly evolving, constantlytested. And it is not just under threatinplaceslikeGuyana. The United States, the selfappointed vanguard of global democracy, is now facing a democratic crisis of its own. So, the question arises: who is holding

democracy accountable now? Who decides what a functioning democracy looks like, when even its original torchbearers are flickering?

In Guyana, we claim democratic status, but we remain what I’ve called “a democracy unevolved ” We’veadoptedthetrappings of democracy, but the essence; transparency, inclusion, voice is still heavily policed and often discouraged. We must move beyond superficial performances of democracy and build systems that truly empowerpeopletospeak,to challenge,andtoshapetheir nation. And for the love of everythingthatisholy,when some citizens criticise, it is not an attack It is an invitation to do better.To be better

And that’s exactly what TEDxTurkeyen was designed to be; an open, respectful space for bold ideas and unheard voices, thosevoicesthatrarelymake it onto conference stages or media panels. People with

sharp minds and soft hearts who believe Guyana can be morethanitisrightnow

When the event was pulled, I was disappointed. But I now see the gift in the disruption Being at TEDNext 2025 has opened my eyes to what’s possible. I’ve learned, expanded and c o n n e c t e d W h e n TEDxTurkeyen returns in 2026,itwillbebolder,better, andmoreinclusive.

Permit me to share another nugget from a TEDNext conversation; folks stay “in their corner” for all kinds of reasons and oftentimesitisoutoffearof losingapieceofthepie.And I get it. Survival is real. But here’sthething:thepieisnot even fully baked, and it

By Janelle Persaud

certainly isn’t being shared equitably Rightnow,thepie feedsthefew

But if enough of us push and if more of us choose courage over comfort, the pie will grow Eventually, there will be enough to go around. But not if we all remain silent; not if we all choosesafetyoversubstance andnotif,wealldecide“not me”.

SoI’llkeepspeaking.I’ll keep building I’ll keep showingup.

And I hope more of you will too Because, from where I stand, the only way forward is together, and the only way we grow is by tellingthetruth;evenwhenit m a k e s p e o p l e uncomfortable.

towalk graduationstage

Twenty-one-year-oldKhadijaFyffe,oneoftheUniversity of Guyana’s (UG) most active and well-rounded students, is among the 3600 students set to graduate in November when the institution hosts its series of convocation ceremonies. Khadija, who will leave her mark on the University through her involvement in numerous extracurricular activities and international engagements, will be graduating with a Bachelor’sdegreeinEconomics.

Knownforherverybubblypersonalityandwillingnessto be of service to the university student community, Khadija expressed gratitude to the University for providing lifechangingopportunitiesforherwhichshenotedwillalwaysbe cherished as she moves to another chapter in her academic journey

Khadija was more than just a student striving for good grades,shewasatrailblazerinherownright.Duringhertime at UG, in addition to being actively involved in sports, she served as Junior Vice-President of the University of Guyana Students’Society(UGSS)andasaFacultyRepresentativefor theFacultyofSocialSciences.Shealsovolunteeredwiththe Confucius Institute, where she began studying Mandarin in 2022andwentontowinfirstplaceinthelocalChineseBridge Competition. Additionally, she served as an intern with the UG’s Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC) where she provided much needed supporttothesuccessfulhostingoftheuniversity’s2023and 2024OpenDayandJobFair

Reflecting on her journey, Khadija expressed both relief and pride at completing her four-year programme, which began in 2021 after she graduated from The Bishops’ High School. “I feel so relieved. It has been a tough four years. Honestly,Ireallyneedabreak,”shesaidwithasighofrelief. Sheexplainedthatherdecisiontopursueeconomicsstemmed from her passion for statistics, international trade, and development.“Ilovedeconomicsbecauseofhowbroaditis.I reallylikedthemathsineconomicsatfirst.Iwasattractedto theuseofstatistics;itwasn’tasrepetitiveasaccounting.Iliked how every trend in society could be explained not only by numbersbutalsobytheoreticalevidence,”shesaid.

However, her four-year journey was not without challenges. Transitioning directly from high school to university during the COVID-19 pandemic,Khadija said she hadtolearnself-disciplineandindependence.Shesharedthat therewasapointinherjourneywhensheexperiencedburnout and her grades began to drop, but she persevered with the supportofhermother

Khadijaadmittedthatshealsostruggledattimeswithselfdoubtanduncertaintyaboutherchosenfield.“Iwashavinga bitofaconflict,questioningifIchosetherightdegreeorifI really liked it. I’ve also found that I was dealing with some personalmatters,likewhoIamasanindividual.So,Iwould saythatimpactedmeinacertainway,likefindingmyself,who Iamasanadult,”shesaid.

Fortunately, with the help of the campus counsellor and support from her mother, she was able to overcome those struggles and regain focus. As she grew more confident, Khadija increased her involvement in campus life, by being involvedintheUGSS,andeventuallybecomingaJrViceContinued on page 52

Khadija Fyffe (right)

Guyanese law student making waves as dancer in the Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands-based Guyanese, law student and dancer, Gabrielle David

By Shania Williams

AsGuyanese,manyofusdreamofexcellinginthe

land where we were born but countless others carryourflagproudlyacrossborders,provingthat Guyanesebrilliancebloomsanywhere

One such person is Gabrielle Onessa David, a young woman from the humble streets of South Ruimveldt who migrated to the Cayman Islands at age 13 Today, she is not onlywavingtheGoldenArrowhead high but carving out an inspiringpathasadancer,choreographer,youthleader,and lawstudent.

David’s journey began long before she boarded that plane.BorntoMarciaMyersandClaudeDavid,shegrewup in a home that nurtured creativity, discipline, and purpose. Anonlychild,shedescribesherselfasalwaysbeingdrawn tothearts

Shetold The Waterfalls, “Ialwayshadadeeploveforall things art music, instruments, dance, and reading,” she shared Hermothernoticedthatsparkearlyandenrolledherat the National School of Dance, where she performed at Mashramani, Independence Day ceremonies, and church events.

Shelaughswhenrememberingherchildhoodself:“Iwas alwaysdancingaround theycalledmeanoldsoulbecauseI always had a smile ready” Yet David was more than just artistic,shewasopinionated,expressive,andlovedtodebate.

“Atayoungage,Iwasquiteopinionatedandhad,asIoften heard,‘aplasterforeverysore.’Theprofessionintriguedme, coupledwiththeopportunitytomakeadifference.”

HerearlyeducationtookherfromtheNewGuyanaSchool toSt JosephHigh Butinsecondform,herlifechangedwhen she migrated with her mother and stepfather to the Cayman Islands Thetransitionforherwasnotsmooth.

“Those first few months were undoubtedly challenging,” shesaid “Ideeplymissedhome,myfamily,andmyfriends I

Continued on page 47

Gabrielle David and her dance troupe during a rhythmic dance showcase

Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ returns to the Hot 100 earlier than ever

It’stime,earlierthaneverbefore,for Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to return to the Billboard Hot 100 As previously reported,thecaroljinglesbackontothe Hot100datedNov 15atNo 31

Notably,“AllIWantforChristmasIs You”appearsontheHot100forthefirst time via activity, in part, during Halloween, as the latest list reflects the trackingweekbeginningOct 31

Still, the metrics for “All IWant for ChristmasIsYou”haveremainedfairly steadyatthebeginningofNovemberin recentyears Ascountedtowardthelatest Hot 100, it drew 99 million official streams and 942,000 airplay audience impressionsandsold1,000intheUnited States Oct 31-Nov 6, according to

Luminate

The song’s totals the year before in the corresponding chart week: 104 million streams, 17 million in airplay audience and 1,000 sold (Nov 1-7, 2024) The year before that, it scored 108 million streams, 18 million in airplayaudienceand1,000sold(Nov 39,2023)

As with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” hitting a new streaming-era high in the Hot 100’s top 10 concurrent with the reentry of “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” factors beyond the latter’s metrics appear to play into its sleigh ride back to the chart while pumpkins are still on doorsteps before Christmas ornaments have likely been brought down from the attic In

analyzing the chart vault for “Thriller,” Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger cited such factors as generally lower streaming counts year-over-year for currenthitsandtherecentHot100rule change to remove long-charting hits more rapidly, helping to make more roomforholidaysongs.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” originally released in 1994, hit the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in December 2017 In December 2019, it ascended to No 1 at last Having led in each holiday season since, Carey’s soloist-record 19th leader has ruled for 18 weeks to date, the third-longest commandinthechart’shistory It’salso attheNorthPoleonBillboard’sGreatest ofAllTimeHoliday100Songsrecap

Something powerful is h a p p e n i n g i n o u r classrooms. Every week, I watchyoungpeopledevelop a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence and how it can shape their futures.

They study real problems, design solutions and use emerging tools like Vibe Coding to test their ideas.Itisaspacefilledwith curiosity, courage and creativity It is also a reminder that when children are given access to the right environment,theyrise.

In a former class, a thirteen-year-old boy stood out He was bright, thoughtful and naturally

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation

The new AI divide is already here

- Guyanese

finish high school. A child who leaves school early enters adulthood with fewer options, lower earning power and limited access to the opportunities emerging in our rapidly changing economy

Artificial intelligence makes this divide even sharper AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li reminds us, “The future belongs to those who understand how to harness dataandintelligence,notjust consume it.” She is right. The children who learn to work with AI today (and I don’t mean just ChatGPT) will be better prepared for the modern workforce, for tertiary training and for the

curious, but he came to us struggling in school and unsureofhisdirection.After a few weeks in the programme, he began staying back after class to refine his projects and help youngerstudentsunderstand AI concepts. One day he said, “I didn’t know I was good at this. I just needed somewhere to try.”Thatone sentence captures exactly why programmes like these matter Talentcannotgrowin silence. It grows in spaces that challenge, support and igniteambition.

Oureducationecosystem must serve the full spectrum of learners Advanced students need places that stretch them Struggling students need places that believe in them. Every child needs a path into the future. Well-designed programmes offer that by meeting students where they are and moving them steadily to wheretheyneedtobe.

Yet beyond these learning spaces, the national picture remains sobering Roughly 60 percent of children in Guyana do not

new technical careers openingacrossthecountry

The ones who miss this transformation will face a world that has moved on without them and with the influxofcheapforeignlabor entering Guyana, they will be squeezed economically fromaboveandfrombelow The future looks bleak for those who continue to drop outofschool.

This is why I am urging parents to act. Help your children stay in school Support them through the difficultsubjects.Encourage them to build the resilience that learning demands. And when they struggle academically, do not wait until they fall so far behind that education feels out of reach.

Flexible learning programmes like Pathway Online Academy offer AIsupported lessons and structured online tools now makeitpossibleforstudents who have dropped out, or who are on the edge of dropping out, to catch up at their own pace It also empowers the average

children must not be left behind

student to become an advanced student These resources help rebuild confidence,strengthenweak areasandprovideapathway back to mastery Whether a learneristwomonthsbehind ortwoyearsbehind,theright

support can help them reenter education with a real chancetosucceed.

Guyanaisexperiencinga moment of transformation. Allofourchildrendeserveto be part of it. Even if today a child is struggling with

numeracy, literacy and has been out of school for a few years,wearewillingtowork with them because all students deserve the skills that open doors They deserve the confidence that keeps them in school. And they deserve the future that only a strong educational foundationcanprovide.

The AI divide is already here.Ourresponsibilityisto makesureourchildrenstand onthesidethatbuilds,leads andthrives.

GNBSADVANCESQUALITYMANAGEMENTSTANDARD TOENHANCELOCALRESTAURANTINDUSTRY

The Guyana National

Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to advance its mission of supporting business development by promoting standards and quality services.

In support of Tourism Awareness Month 2025, the Bureau is encouraging local restaurants and related establishments to adopt the National Standard ‘GCP 17:2025 – Code of Practice for Quality Management in the Restaurant Service.’This

standardservesasavitaltool to strengthen management systems in restaurant establishments, improve servicedeliveryandenhance customer satisfaction within Guyana’s growing hospitalitysector

The Code of Practice, whichwasupdatedthisyear, provides guidelines for restaurant establishments, defined as any commercial foodserviceinwhichfoodis handled, prepared and served to customers. Such establishments include free-

standing, in-hotel, and fastfood restaurants, as well as ice-cream parlours, coffee shops, and leisure facilities. Institutional food services, such as food caravans and school-feedingprogrammes, are exempt from this standard.

Thestandardisdesigned to help restaurants manage dailycontractualagreements and develop practical managerial and leadership skills.

It outlines quality principles and best practices

incorporate to enhance service delivery By specifying managerial requirements necessary for the efficient operation of restaurant establishments, it aims to ensure customer satisfaction and elevate the overall dining experience in Guyana.

control, purchasing and other critical components necessary for the effective implementation of a Quality Management Syst

(QMS). Implementing the Code of Practice for restaurant services can be a timely response to the challenges m

environment, document

d establishments are currently facing By adopting this standard, businesses can operate more efficiently, build customer trust, and maintain consistent quality in their products and services.

The GNBS continues to promote national standards, helping local businesses to meet international quality r

n d positioning Guyanese products and services as more competitive on the globalmarket.

Interested stakeholders can purchase a copy of the standard from the GNBS to begin upgrading their establishments For more information, individuals can contact GNBS at Tel: 2190064-66orvisitourboothat the upcoming GuyExpo, scheduled from November 13 to 16 at the Sophia ExhibitionCentre,underthe theme ‘Transformation Through Entrepreneurship andInnovation.’

Visitors to the GNBS booth, located in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce’s t

he opportunity to ask questions and learn about the various na

ds, certification, and training programmes, as well as calibration, testing, and v

available.

Police Sergeant and future lawyer, Carl Pedro...

Frompage30

reminded myself that I had invested too much of my own savings and effort to quit. I also drew inspiration from our AttorneyGeneral,AnilNandlallS.C.,whosecourtadvocacyI deeplyadmire.”

Some of his best moments at UG were the in-person lectures. “Lectures from Mr Neville Bissember and Mr ChristopherRamwereunforgettableastheyalwayshadaback storytothetopic.Theybroughtreal-worldexperienceintothe classroom and made the law come alive.” He also cherished thefriendshipsbuiltalongtheway “Ididn’tcomefromwhat persons would consider a top secondary school [Stewartville Secondary],yetIfoundmyselfperformingonparwiththose whodid.”

Pedro was among the top 25 students of his class to be accepted into the prestigious Hugh Wooding Law School in TrinidadandTobago,whereheiscurrentlypursuinghisLegal EducationCertificate(LEC);thefinalsteptowardsbecoming anattorney-at-law “TheUniversityofGuyanatrulyprepared meforthisnextstageofmyjourney,”hereflected.

Now in Trinidad, Pedro continues to face financial challenges. “Among the top students that got accepted, I appliedforstudyleavefrommyjobandunfortunatelyIdidnot receiveanyresponse.Iwasforcedtotakeannualisedvacation leave to study I asked the Guyana Police Force for sponsorshipbecauseitisverychallengingfinancially:tuition, board and all other expenses. I am already experiencing financialdifficulties,butIwillnotgiveup,”heshared.

Despite the struggles, he remains steadfast. “My hope is that my story encourages others, especially working young people,tonevergiveup,nomattertheodds.Youdon’thaveto comefromatopschool,youdon’tneedtohaveitallfigured out,andyoudon’thavetobefinanciallysecure.Onceyou’re consistent,disciplined,andtrustGod’stiming,Hewillmakea way.”

Pedro expressed gratitude to his mother, his greatest supporter, and to the University of Guyana Library staff for theirdedication.

As he continues his studies at Hugh Wooding, Pedro remains motivated to make both his mother and the Guyana Police Force proud. His journey is one of perseverance, discipline,andfaith,areminderthatsuccessisnotdefinedby one’sstartingpointbutbyone’sdeterminationtofinish.

(Source: University of Guyana)

Communicationsspecialist

JanellePersaudsecures...

Frompage28

were drawn, are: Art for change (US$10,000), Caribbean Collaboration (US$25,000), and Residencies and Fellowships(US$5,000).

Categories included Multimedia; Pottery, Ceramics and Sculpture; Performing Arts: Theatre, Dance, Festivals; LiteratureandPublishing,Design;LibrariesandArchives.

Subsequent to the announcements, Persaud took to her Facebookpagetoconveyherexcitementasshegetssetforher majorundertaking.

“I’m so honored to have been selected as one of the granteesfortheCaribbeanCultureFundtoexecuteaproject thatisnearanddeartomyheart.The‘Beforeus’projectwhich I’ll launch soon...this grant that I’ll receive from the CaribbeanCultureFundwillallowmetorunthepilotforthe project which is ‘Before us: CapturingAncestralWisdom in theRupununi.”

She shared too that the grant will allow for her to return homewhereshewillthenidentifypersonsfromLethemand other parts of the Rupununi and dialogue with them to compileherwork.

Persaud revealed that she was drawn to the project after meetingupwithaformerprimaryschoolheadmaster,whose mind still, she noted, was yet sharp notwithstanding he had advancedinage.

The awardee is gearing up to use her project as a contributiontowardsreversingthedisappointingrealityofthe youngergenerationknowingverylittleabouttheirancestors, family lines, the community, and what shaped it. Such knowledge,sheexpressed,mustbededicatedlyimpartedand preserved. Hailing the positives of both old school and modernconventions,Persaudaimstohaveherworkarranged with every digital commodity available for the convenience and preference of those who are more familiar with present day technology, as well as retaining the older format of knowledgeandexperiencesimprintedinphysicalbooks.

“Iwanttobeabletousethetoolsthatwehaverightnow On one hand, I want to sit with the older folks in the communitiestocapturetheirstoriesinawaythatwecouldput short versions online where most of us get our information, butalsoinabookletformatthatcouldbeplacedinschoolsand inthenationallibraryandarchivesandsoon.”

With US$10,000 granted to her, this noble ambition is wellwithinherreach,sponsoredbytheCCF Persaudholdsovertwodecadesofexperienceinthearena of communication, having worked with several established agenciesacrossthecountryinvariousseniorcapacities.

Herwork,‘BeforeUs:CapturingAncestralWisdominthe Rupununi’,isaculturalandstorytellingproject,documenting thevoices,knowledgeandlivedexperiencesofeldersacross Guyana’s Rupununi region, beginning with five pilot subdistricts.

Through filmed interviews, writing and digital storytelling, it records traditional knowledge- including histories of the Rupununi Uprising and ancestral healing- to be shared through short videos, a YouTube channel, and a printedcompilationforeducationandarchivaluse.

Frompage24

industry Speaking to a packed audience of local and international investors, technical experts, and global industrial leaders at the inaugural Berbice Development Summit 2025 held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, President Ali declared,“Iamnotwillingtopush monetisation beyond 2030 Constitutionally,Ihaveanelection in 2031, and I can’t run again. I’m notleavingthisdecisionforanyone after me.Any option that does not allow this country to monetise gas before 2030 will not have the type ofsupportthatIwouldliketogive.”

The two-day summit focuses on unlocking Berbice’s potential as Guyana’s logistical backbone for future industrialisation and energy distribution, positioning the region as a critical link for national and regionaldevelopment.

Only recently Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo echoed similar sentiments saying that the government has made it clear that its energy partner, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) will not determine the country’s priorities where the utilisation of its resourcesisconcerned.Assuch,he noted that revenue flow from the developmentofGuyana’sgasinthe prolific Stabroek block must come inasearlyaspossible.

He made the comments in response to President of EMGL, Alistair Routledge who has said that the liquification of natural gas wasnotapriorityforthecompany Routledgetoldreportersatarecent media briefing that while liquification of natural gas was an option, Exxon is actively considering other options to bring valuetothecountry “Currentlywe arenotprogressingplanstoliquify any of the gas neither the Longtail or any of the other developments. We continue to hold that as an option but what we’ve been workingwiththegovernmentonis prioritise availability of gas and supply of gas onshore into the country where we’d have the highest value to the country to support additional power generation, installation of data centres…alumina. These kinds of projects and probably many others that will grow other parts of Guyana’s economy and provide otherbusinessopportunities.”

He added that these options would be “more attractive” compared to LNG But Jagdeo noted that government remains focusedonitsplanstomonetisethe country’s gas resources and exploringallfeasibleoptionstodo so. “When we said we want to monetise the gas and that we were goingtogooutforanexpressionof interest to get a company that would work with us in a tripartite way, and with us, and Exxon in a tripartiteway,weareseriousabout it,andwemadeitclearthatwewant todothisearlier,ratherthanlater,”

said.TheVPfurtherpointedout thatshouldExxonnotbeinterested in developing the resources in the Haimara and Pluma discoveries, then government is prepared to seekanothercontractor Hepointed outthatgovernmentdoesnotintend to put the project on the back burner; and is in fact willing to examine all options for the monetisation of the resources, that would return the most benefit to Guyana and prove feasible for the privateinvestors.

Jagdeo had expressed disappointment that Exxon has seemingly dismissed the potential of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project, since he believes that option has great potential He explained, “So we have not taken any option off the table in the pursuit of this project as yet and LNG is one of those very feasible options and that could be done faster, because you can do it throughafloatingplatform.Ihope Exxon doesn’t think that by trying to take this off the table, which it seems as though they’re doing by saying it’s not a priority, that they would delay this project that they were not initially interested in ” The VP pointed out that infrastructure to support another optiontodevelopthegasmaytake longer,comparedtoafloatingLNG platform.

TheGoGhadengagedFulcrum LNGtoexploreoptionstodevelop the country’s gas, however Jagdeo couldnotprovideanupdateonthe discussions with the company He nevertheless urged, “This project hastohappen,andithastohappen soon.Itmustbecomeapriorityfor everyone, for Exxon, for the government and the other partners that we want a revenue stream to flowfromthegasearlytoGuyana.”

VPJagdeosaidthatindetermining the feasibility of a future project, every option must be explored which includes bringing the gas to shore for industrial purposes,

utilising a floating platform to produceLNGsorexportingthegas toTrinidad.

Berbicegrowth

Meanwhile, the president emphasised the need to create a platform for momentum and unity by partnering with the government and private sector investors, and communities to expand networks and establish the Berbice ecosystem.

President Ali emphasised that Berbice’s growth must be viewed as part of Guyana’s wider integrationwithBrazilandtherest of South America, particularly through major projects such as the deep-waterport,whichwillenable faster trade and transportation. He saidthatwhileGuyanaiscurrently focused on developing its own gas potential,itsinfrastructurewillalso help neighbouring countries like Suriname shorten their time to monetisation and benefit from sharedopportunities.

“This, for us, is a low hanging fruit and any development in Berbice must open up the opportunities,”thepresidentnoted. To complement this massive development, the government has committed to investing in a new BerbiceRiverBridge,theMoleson CreektoNewAmsterdamfour-lane highway,twoHope-likecanalsand a Corentyne River Bridge linking GuyanaandSuriname.

“This infrastructure plan that I’veoutlinedhere,wearepursuing tohaveitallcompletedwithinfive years.Anditwillgetdone.Thereis no choice,” the president affirmed. AccordingtoDr Ali,theideasfrom the Berbice Development Summit will feed directly into the Guyana Energy Conference in February, where final investment decisions areexpectedto bemade.President Ali thanked investors and partners for their support and confidence in Guyana’s growth trajectory He reiterated that the government’s focus is to ensure that gas

development creates tangible opportunities for people, jobs, and strengthens Guyana’s position as a keyplayerintheregion.

Attending the ceremony were theSeniorMinisterintheOfficeof the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, and ExxonMobil Guyana’s President Alistair Routledge,amongotherofficials.

Lindenmankilledin latenightrowwithlover

A 30-year-old carpenter, identified as Kevin Alexander of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, was fatally stabbed on Monday night during a violent domestic dispute with his 28-year-old girlfriend at theirhome.

Police said the incident occurredaround9:45p.m.,afteran argument between the couple reportedly escalated During the confrontation,thewomanallegedly stabbedAlexander once to the left sideofhisabdomen.

The injured man was assisted by relatives and public-spirited citizens and taken to the Linden

arrival by a doctor on duty The suspect was subsequentlyarrestedandplacedin custody The body ofAlexander is presently at the Gjetsco Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination Investigation is ongoing.

THURSDAY

AlbionEstateworkersstrike afterforemanfiredforassault

Operations at the Albion/Port Mourant Estate came to a halt on Wednesday after cane harvesters, Field Foremen, and a Field Superintendent attached to cane harvesting downed tools in protest of the dismissal of one of their colleagues.

TheGuyanaSugarCorporation (GuySuCo) confirmed that the strike action began early Wednesday, November 12, 2025, following management’s decision to terminate the services of a Field Foreman who was found to have physically assaulted another employeewhileonduty

According to the Corporation, the dismissal was carried out in keeping with its established DisciplinaryProcedureandPolicy, which strictly prohibits such conduct. “Such behaviour cannot be condoned under any circumstance,”GuySuCostated.

The state-owned company noted that the dismissed employee has two avenues to challenge the decision, either by appealing throughtheDisciplinaryProcedure or by pursuing the matter via the Grievance Procedure applicable to his category of employment GuySuCo said it remains committed to “open dialogue and fair process” and is currently engaging relevant stakeholders, i n c l u d i n g e m p l o y e e representativesandunions,tobring Continued on page 39

he

Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on

President Dr. Mohamed IrfaanAli delivering the feature address

KevinAlexander

Frompage38 the matter to an amicable and timelyresolution.

The Corporation appealed to striking workers to “exercise good sense,resumeduties,andallowthe established systems to address the issue in accordance with company policy and due process ” Meanwhile, the strike threatens to furtherdisruptoperationsatoneof GuySuCo’s key estates, which is already under pressure to meet its productiontargetsfortheyear

ChevronhintsStabroek Blockholdsmorethan 11billionbarrels - signals room for more exploration, eager to help

Chevron on Wednesday suggested that Guyana’s Stabroek Block,alreadyestimatedtohold11 billion barrels of recoverable oil, could contain even more than current projections “When you think about 11 billion barrels, big fields getting bigger I would expect upside,” Chevron Vice ChairmanMarkNelsonsaidduring thecompany’sinvestordayinNew York.

Chevrongaineda30%stakein theblockearlierthisyearfollowing its acquisition of Hess, after a lengthy legal battle with ExxonMobil, which operates the block with 45% interest. Chinese firm CNOOC holds the remaining 25% According to a Reuters article, Chevron’s investor day event provided financial guidance through 2030 incorporating Hess, and included a presentation slide showing production capacity growthovertimeinGuyana.

Nelsonsaidtherewasroomfor more exploration in Guyana and thatChevronwaseagertohelp.

“There’s some deeper reservoirs to test, and we look forwardtoworkingwiththepartner to do that,” he said. In September, during a Barclays conference, Exxon Senior Vice President Jack Williamssaid11billionbarrelswas the“bestnumber”thecompanyhad for an estimate of the resource,

while more exploration would continue.Separately,Exxonsaidon Wednesday that daily oil productionatStabroekhadreached 900,000 barrels a day The company eventually expects to havetotaloutputof1.7millionbpd from eight developments in the country “Everything that we have sharedtodayreflectstheoperator’s view,” Chevron’s Nelson said, referring to Exxon. “That’s what a goodpartnerwoulddo.”

The issue of Guyana’s oil reserves has been a source of contention and former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan believes the Stabroek Block oil reserves is far more oil than the 11.6 billion barrels both ExxonMobil and Guyana Government have announced The former minister saidthatevenatthecurrentpaceof extractionbyExxonMobilGuyana

Limited(EMGL),hebelievesthere isenoughoiltolastanother30to40 years. The question of Guyana’s true reserves gained attention in 2024.ThatAugust,theMinistryof Natural Resources announced that reserves grew by 600 million barrels to 11.6 billion, following eightnewdiscoveriessincethelast update in April 2022. But Exxon disputed the government’s figure, providingitsownlowerestimateof below11billionbarrels.

“Ibelievequitehonestlythatwe are being fooled and we are doing nothing about it, about how much oil has really been discovered,” Jordan said, citing the last eight new discoveries made by the oil company He argued that there has been a blackout on information aboutthetrueestimateofGuyana’s oil finds. “All those 11.6 billion barrels that they are telling us I believeitisdoubleortriplethat.So, wegotoilthatcouldlastus40years or 50 years even at the present extraction,”Jordannoted.

Jordan further estimated that at a conservative US$60 per barrel, Guyana stands to earn massive revenues “That’s huge money comingtoasmallcountryinterms of population, 10 years’time with good investment and all these things, all of us here could be not super rich but we should have a decentstandardliving,”headded.

Oil was discovered offshore Guyana in 2015 and by December 2019, production commenced Exxon has already received government approval for six developments in the Stabroek Block The first four are in operation,producinganaverageof

650,000barrelsofoilperday(bpd) with an installed capacity of 900,000 bpd The company’s country manager, Alistair Routledgeatapressconferencelast year said the Stabroek Block reserves are less than 11 billion barrels. Routledge was asked how manyoftheeightdiscoverieswere appraisedforthecompanytoarrive atthenewresourceestimateof11.6 billion barrels. He explained, “The government released a number of 11.6 billion oil equivalent barrels, ExxonMobil’s estimate is lower than that number…our number remains a little under 11 billion oil equivalent barrels.” Furthermore, he noted that the company is obligated to make such reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission,makingthepointthat Exxon was not keeping the figures away

FRIDAY

‘STAYINYOURLANE’ …Pres.Alifires backatoppositionover cashgrantpromises

President Irfaan Ali on

Thursday evening launched a fiery counterattackatthenewopposition party, We Investment in Nationhood (WIN), accusing its members of overstepping as they press the government to fulfill campaign promises, chief among them,thelong-awaitedcashgrants.

Speaking at the opening of GuyExpo 2025 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Ali dismissed the criticisms and told what he called“detractors”tobackoff.

“You don’t need to remind us about our commitments—whether it’s cash grants, incentives, subsidies,”Alideclared.“Weknow whatourcommitmentsare,andwe are going to deliver every one of them,faster,better,greater.”

He added: “Find your place. Stayinyourlane.Don’tgetbeside yourself Understand what level you are boxing at Build your reputation before you come to the heavyweight.”

WIN, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has been consistently calling out the administrationforfailingtodeliver the cash grants promised on the campaign trail Mohamed even wentasfarasofferingtohandover his controversial Lamborghini to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, but only if the government fulfills its promise to distribute the grants beforeChristmas.

Jagdeo, at the swearing-in of new parliamentarians, assured the publicthatthegrantswillcome,but stoppedshortofgivingadate.

Acrosssocialmedia,Guyanese continue to ask the burning q u e s t i o n : ”When are we getting the cash grant?” With Christmas nearing, expectations—and frustration are mounting as citizens await a firm announcement.

‘Stopwatchingfromthe sidelines’-GCCIPresident -urgesGuyanesebusinessesto stepupaseconomybooms

With Guyana on the brink of unprecedentedeconomic

Continued on page 40

Vendors of the Vreed-en-Hoop junction

President Irfaan Ali

Frompage39 expansion, local businesses are being urged to stop acting as bystanders in their own country’s development and instead seize the opportunities unfolding around them.

This was the central message delivered on Thursday at the Georgetown Chamber of

Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI’s) fifth Business Development Forum, where more than100small,medium,andmicro enterprisesgatheredatthePegasus Suites and Corporate Centre for presentationsonscalingup,export readiness, and tapping local markets.

During opening remarks at the Forum which concludes today, President of the GCCI, Kathy Smith chided small businesses for engaging in some practices which shesaysmaybestaggeringgrowth. “Smallbusinessesarecomplaining that they are not getting finances but sometimes when I call these people, first thing I can’t get them on the phone because they would say to me ‘oh I don’t know the numbersoIdidn’tanswerit’.Now you are in business trying to convince me to buy your products andservicesandyoudon’twantto take a call that you don’t know the number,”shereasoned.

Further, the GCCI executive noted that some small businesses still operate from home after benefitting from contracts “You are getting contracts, you are growing but your business is done inyourhomeandwhenthecontract money comes you gonna fix the stairs,putdownahouseontheland, youaregonnabuyacarortwo,go on a few vacations and then when you go to the bank and when the bank say no you call Kathy or the GCCI. You know why the bank is saying no small business owner? Becausetheycan’ttraceyou.”

To this end, she pointed to the need for businesses to create accounts,hireemployeesandother small but meaningful moves that could aid in traceability, such as creating an email address, Linked In profiles and a website. Smith was keen to note that companies from Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica are moving in while Guyanese are sitting comfortably observing The business owner howeverurged,“Wehavetoensure thatwearenotspectatorsintowhat ishappeninginourowncountry As asmallbusinessowner,youarethe champion of the growth and development in Guyana. Stay the route,staylockedin.”

Moreover, as the economy evolves, she charged local entrepreneurs to ensure their businesses reflect the growth in how they meet the rising demand and fine-tune products and services.

According to her, “Guyana’s rapid pace of development is

unmatched The government continuestorolloutdevelopmental projects and initiatives while streamlining systems for increased efficiency and a diverse economy andtheprivatesectorasthebeating heart of the economy must keep up.”

Meanwhile, the keynote speaker of the event, Chairman of Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL)andDemeraraBank,Komal Samaroo hi

importanceofseizingopportunities

importantly,heurgedbusinessesto plan efficiently and stay informed oninternationaltrends.

He said, “No country is an islandbyitself…thereforeweneed tothinkhowwetakeadvantageand plan our businesses so that we are not impacted by negative global trends.” The businessman stressed the need for careful planning and recommendedtheSWOTmodelto businesses to analyse strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to aid in the evolution of a robustgrowthstrategy

SATURDAY

Produceorperish! -Pres.AlithreatensGuySuCo’s managementovercontinued underperformance

ThemanagementoftheGuyana Sugar Corporation has again been put on notice that should it fail to raise its level of production; heads couldrollinthenewyear

The warning was issued by PresidentIrfaanAli,wholamented thecontinuedunderperformanceof the industry despite the sustained investmentsbythegovernment.

“Let me be very clear: If the managersinGuySuCocan’tdeliver tousnextyear,fromtheinvestment weareputtinginGuySuCo,wewill have to find a new management systemtogiveusthetypeofresults that we are investing to get,” Ali stated He was at the time addressing the opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2025 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre Thursday evening.

Ali said “there is no shortcut. I

want to be clear, we must get the results we are investing for, we must get the productivity we are investingforandwhilesugarisnot yet out of the woods, I am very pleased to learn of a partnership thatwillseelocalandinternational investors coming together and will invest in a sugar refinery here in Guyana and that project is earmarked to be announced before theendofthisyear.”

Guyana’s sugar industry has been making a downward spiral overtime,withdatafrom2024and this year showing massive decline in production output.According to data,GuySuCofellshortofits2024 and 2025 targets, producing just 47,103 tonnes in 2024 against a goalof63,276tonnes,despiteover $45 billion in taxpayer subsidies since2020.

Theindustrycameunderheavy criticism last week by the APNU, for what the coalition said was ‘misleading propaganda’ in the Ministry of Finance’s half year report. Shadow Minister of Agriculture and APNU MP Vinceroy Jordan dismissed the government’s claims that the industrygrewbyover100percent.

Hesaidevenwith$13.3billion in additional 2025 funding, first crop results continue the declining trend, leaving the government’s ambitious modernisation promises unfulfilled Factories remain inefficient, workers demoralised, and targets missed yet, no

must stop using GuySuCo as a political tool to win sympathy and votesinsugarbeltcommunities.” Lamenting that the citizens deserveresultsandnotpropaganda, he stated that until the government can deliver real improvements in productivity, accountability, and worker welfare, there is absolutely nothing to celebrate. In light of this,“Theoppositionwillcontinue toholdthegovernmentaccountable for every cent spent and every promisebroken.Sugarworkersand taxpayers deserve honesty, efficiency, and leadership not emptyspeechesandfailedtargets,” heassured.

accountability has been enforced, the APNU said Jordan warned, “The PPP must stop using GuySuCoasapoliticaltool.Sugar workers and taxpayers deserve honesty, efficiency, and leadership — not empty speeches and broken promises.”

He stressed that the 2025 midyear report is saying that sugar expanded by 136.7 per cent, when the facts tell a different story, one off failure, waste, and broken promises.

“Wherethereportingisdonein comparisontosugarproducedona previously failed target, and excludes sugar produced against the current set targets. The fact is, GuySuCo failed to reach its set targetbothyears(2024-2025),”the MPhighlighted.

Hesaidfurtherthattheindustry by the government’s own admission in 2024 contracted by about60.4percentbymidlastyear andbytheendoftheyeartherewas a 21 85 per cent of the total productionincomparisonto2023.

“Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has been boasting about the progress at Rose Hall and BlairmontestatesearlyinMarchof thisyear,butaccordingtothe2025 Mid-Year Report, GuySuCo remains far behind its own ambitious targets. After more than $45 billion in taxpayer funding since 2020, the government has little to show for its so-called “revitalisation” efforts In 2024, GuySuCo produced just 47,103 tonnes of sugar, well below its target of 63,276 tonnes,” the MP pointedout.

Jordan noted that even though the government talks about harvesters and automation, it cannothidethetruth,thatthesugar industry under the PPP regime is sinking deeper into dependency andmismanagement.Hereminded that, “President Irfaan Ali had boldly declared that “heads will roll” if GuySuCo failed to meet its 2025 first crop targets. Well, the targetshavebeenmissedagain,and not a single head has rolled Instead, the same excuses are recycled year after year while billions more are wasted. The PPP

Government has been promising “head rolls” at the GuySuCo for some time now In 2024, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha threatened a shakeupinmanagementifthepoor performancepersisted. Hehadtoldreportersatanews conferencethatgovernmentwould be very stringent as it sought to ensure GuySuCo perform the way itshould.“…Inthenewyear,we’ll see some changes in management ofGuySuCoatvariousestatesthey are already contemplating to move managers. Some managers will come out of the system. So, they themselves, without our intervention they themselves havelookedtoseetoassignpeople in the area that they can perform better,”theministerhadstated.

In December 2024, President Ali promised to fire the management of the suga

corporation, if set targets were not met.

Domesticviolencemurders doubledfor2025 – Crime Chief

Crime ChiefWendell Blanhum on Friday disclosed that murders related to domestic violence have doubled this year compared to 2024.

In his crime presentation so far forthisyear,herevealedthat81per cent of the murder victims were males while 19 per cent were females.However,overthelastfive years, there has been a decline in serious crimes, disorderly murders account for the highest percentage inmurders.

According to Blanhum these, “havethehighestdistributionwhen compared with other categories, domestic borders doubled for this period when compared with the previous year That is from 13 in 2024 to 26 in 2025 during theyear 2025.”

Thecrimechiefsaidthehighest percentage of murders were recorded in Region 4A and this translates to 24 murders, while Region Two recorded the lowest percentagetodatefor2025.

On September 8, this publication reported that From JanuarytolateAugust13,women Continued on page 41

President IrfaanAli

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

Frompage40 lost their lives in domestic violent encounters.InJanuary,16-year-old Janelly David was beaten to death andleftinahammockinRegion1 by her partner Eon Moore.Also in the same month, 34-year-old Bibi Fazila Ally (34) was killed by her ex-partner Bidraj Ganesh Her bodywasleftinapoolofbloodand was discovered by her eight-yearold son. In February, 27-year-old, KeneshaVaughnwasshot12times by her husband Marlan Da Silva during an argument, while he was allegedly intoxicated at their Diamond Housing Scheme, East BankDemerarahome.

Also, in the same month Shameeza Mohamed was brutally beatenbyherson-in-lawParsuram Arjune subsequently succumbing toherinjuries.

The month of April saw five women losing their lives: Mezona Ronaldo was set on fire by her partner Kevin Cadogan and subsequently succumbed to her injuries Reports from family

members revealed that he had cut herhairoffafewweeksbefore.

Also, inApril Maline La Cruz, her sister Sueann La Cruz and her mother,WaveneyLaCruzlosttheir lives at the hands of Maline’s expartner Parmanand Ramdehol, when he shot them at their Waiakabra Village, Soesdyke –LindenHighwayhome.Inthesame month,30-year-oldMarissaBeete

was shot by her ex-boyfriend Ghalee Khan, a convicted drug trafficker

InJuly,JenelPollydore,26was shotdeadataweddingbythefather of her child. In August, Teekadai Solomonwasshotatleast10times by her husband Alroy Solomon who then turned the weapon on himselfendinghislife.Healsoshot their son during the ordeal. In the

same month, 45-year-old Bibi ShazidaHanifwasstabbedtodeath byherex-husbandMartinTrue.

Recently two men lost their lives in domestic disputes. A 30year-old carpenter, identified as Kevin Alexander of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, was fatally stabbed during a violent domestic dispute with his 28-year-old girlfriendattheirhome.

Police said the incident occurredaround9:45p.m.,afteran argument between the couple reportedly escalated. During the confrontation,thewomanallegedly stabbedAlexander once in the left ofhisabdomen.

The injured man was assisted by relatives and public-spirited citizens and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctoronduty

The suspect was subsequently arrestedandplacedincustody The body of Alexander is presently at the Gjetsco Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem

examination.

Also,adomesticdisputeturned deadly at Lot 890 B Field, Sophia, leaving 25-year-old Akeem Evans dead, allegedly at the hands of his 23-year-old reputed wife, Jenoria “Heaven”Browne.

Accordingtopolicereports,the murder occurred around 18:10hrs at the lower flat of a two-storey house owned by Evans’ parents. Evans, a labourer, reportedly had ongoing arguments with Browne, stemming from suspicions that she was involved with other men, said hissister,MellissaStuart.

Eyewitness Renetta Blake recounted that Evans ran out from the family yard bleeding from a stabwoundtohisleftchest,telling her that Browne had attacked him. Browne reportedly fled the scene, crying.

A taxi driver later transported both Evans and Browne to the Georgetown Public Hospital, whereEvanswaspronounceddead on arrival. Browne allegedly left thehospitalimmediately

Interesting Creatures... (Goura victoria) Victoriacrownedpigeons

The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests,maroonbreastandred irises. It is part of a genus (Goura)offourunique,very large, ground-dwelling pigeons native to the New Guinea region, with the Victoria crowned pigeon measuring as the largest extantspeciesofpigeon.

The bird may be easily recognized by the unique whitetipsonitscrestsandby its deep ‘whooping’ sounds madewhilecalling.Itsname commemorates the British monarch,QueenVictoria.

The Victoria crowned pigeon is a deep blue-grey

colour with a small, black mask. Its feather crest (the signaturefeatureofcrowned pigeonsotherthantheirsize) is conspicuously whitetipped. On the wing coverts isarowoffeathersthatarea palerblue-graywithmaroon tips. These form a distinct wingbar Thechestisadeep purple-maroon color As in all crowned pigeons, melanism has been observed. The other two crowned pigeons are somewhat superficially similar,butonlythewestern crowned pigeon overlaps in range with the Victoria species. The Scheepmaker’s crownedpigeondoesnot.In

the western species, the crown is more scraggly and hair-like, the chest is a uniform blue-gray and not maroon, and a less distinct wing-bar is present. Both sexesaresimilar Habitat

The Victoria crowned pigeon is distributed in the lowland and swamp forests ofnorthernNewGuineaand surrounding islands It usually occurs on areas that were former alluvial plains, including sago forests. Thoughtypicallyfoundator near sea level, occasionally birds of this species may venture up in the hills to an elevation up to about 3,000 feet.

The Victoria crowned pigeon is a large, bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast and red irises.

“Iwasdeterminedthat...

Frompage26

transportation costs, studied relentlessly, and rewrote the exams. Even when the initial results showed another failure, shewasnotdeterred.Shedemandedareview “Theresultsof the review came back and showed I passed. Oh my God, I jumpedforjoy,”sherecalled.

AcceptanceintotheUniversityofGuyanawasatriumph, butthebattleforthedegreehadonlyjustbegun.Thetransition fromthesecondaryschoolsystemtoUGwasabrutalshock, especially while juggling a demanding job at a call center “FirstyearofUGwasvery,verydifficultforme.Iwantedto drop out. Jumping from CXC level to UG level was really a hardtransition,”shenoted.

Maria struggled with core academic requirements, which she had never been taught is secondary school, such as plagiarism and proper referencing. She failed a course, missing assignments because she hadn’t grasped the seriousness of university-level deadlines. But her Christian faithbecameheranchor

Sheeventuallylefthercallcenterjobandtransitionedinto teaching with the support of her partner, But the challenges continued as she fought to complete labs and exams while working.Ultimately,shepersevered,drivenbyaself-imposed promisetonotjustgraduate,buttoexcelwithherBachelor’s ofScience.

Today, Maria is a teacher at Diamond Secondary School, pursuingapaththatwillseehercontinueintheeducationfield beforepotentiallyrevisitingherdreamofbecomingadentist. “Itdoesnotmatterwhereyoucomefrom,aslongasyouhavea passion and you want to pursue it, go ahead,” she said. Her advice,hardenedbyyearsofstruggle,issimpleandpowerful. “No community can define you. University does not decline your application because of where you are from. You determinewhereyouwanttoendup.”

Mariaisalivingproofthatself-determinationcanchange the narrative, turning the ashes of loss into the triumph of academicachievement.

(Feature by the Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC), Office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana.)

The Thankful Forest

In the heart of the Enchanted Forest, there was a special place known as the ThankfulGlade.Itwassaid that the magic of gratitude flowed through every tree, everybrook,andeveryleaf inthisserenecornerofthe forest.

Richard E Grant on Getting Starstruck and SpiceWorldSequel

As autumn painted the leavesinshadesofredand gold, the animals of the Enchanted Forest gathered in the Thankful Glade They were preparing for their own Thanksgiving feast, a tradition unique to theforestcreatures.

The gathering was a harmoniousblendofforest inhabitants, each contributing a dish to the feast Squirrel Susie broughtthejuiciestacorns, Owl Oliver provided wisdom soup, and Rabbit Rosie brought baskets full of crisp, fresh carrots. But the true magic of the feast was the sharing of gratitude.

The grand oak tree at the center of the glade served as the meeting point.

Theforestanimals,big and small, feathered and furry, gathered beneath its sprawling branches. They knewitwastimetoexpress their thanks for the bountiful forest and for eachother.

The ceremony began with a gentle rustling of leaves,astheForestElder,

a wise old deer named

Elderwood, stepped forward.“Dearfriends,”he began,“today,wegatherto celebrate the gifts of the forest and the bonds we share Let us begin by sharing what we are thankfulfor.”

SquirrelSusie,withher bushy tail, stood up first.

“I’m thankful for the abundant acorns the forest provides. Theykeepusnourished throughout the year, and forthat,I’mtrulygrateful.”

Owl Oliver hooted softly “I’mgratefulforthe wisdom that guides us throughthedarkestnights.

Knowledge is a gift, and it helpsusfindourway.”

One by one, animals

Never give up

ByUncleRoy

Iusedtothinksomeworkwastoo hard,Andsodidnoteventry; ThisisbecauseIhadtriedbefore, AndgaveupwhenIcouldnotgetb y

ButthenIlookedaroundmyclass, Andsawothersdoingswell, WhenIthoughtIwasbrighterthan them,AndfeltIcoulddojustas well.

SoIdecidedtonevergiveup, AndtoalwaysfeelIcoulddo better; Iputmywholemindtomywork, Andsooneverythinggotsomuch easier

Sweet Little Turkey Treats for Thanksgiving!

Supplies:

·TombowMONOMulti

·LiquidGlue

·TombowXtreme

·AdhesiveRunner

·CandyKisses

·KraftCardstock

·PaperPunches–Circle, ScallopedCircle

·MiniGooglyEyes

·RedFelt

·OrangeFelt

·Scissors

STEP1:Cutoutthered felttomakethewattleand snoodoftheturkey(flaps bythebeak).Usingthe orangefelt,cuttriangles tomakethebeak.

took their turn, expressing theirheartfeltthanks.

Deer Daniel was thankfulforthesoftmossy beds in the forest, Fox Fiona for the colorful leavesthatmadetheforest magical in autumn, and Bear Ben for the strong trees that provided shelter andwarmth.

But it was Little Bunny Bella, the tiniest among them, who moved everyone to tears With her small voice, she said, “I’m thankful for all of you

Youmakemefeelsafe and loved in this forest, and I couldn’t ask for betterfriends.”

As the forest echoed with their expressions of gratitude, something magicalhappened

The Thankful Glade began to glow with a warm,goldenlight,anda deliciousaromafilledthe air

The animals watched in awe as their simple offerings transformed into a magnificent forest feast

The acorns turned into honey-glazed acorn treats, the wisdom soup shimmered wit

secrets of the forest, and thecarrotsbecamesweet, crispydelights

It was a feast fit for royalty, yet it was born from their shared gratitude

They dined together, sharing stories, laughter, and

thankfulness.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they knew that the Thankful Forest was a place where gratitude turned simple moments into something trulymagical.

Theend!

circletemplate().Feel freetouseactualfeathers tomakeitmorerealistic!

STEP3:Glueeverythingt ogether!Thereyouhave cutekissestreatstogive outthisthanksgiving.

Makeasmanyasyoucan tosharewithfamilyand friends.

Supplies:

·TombowMONOMulti LiquidGlue

·TombowXtreme AdhesiveRunner

·CandyKisses

·KraftCardstock

·PaperPunches–Circle, ScallopedCircle

STEP2:Cutoutthe circularbasetoplacethe treat.Thencuttheturkey featherbaseusinga flower-like/scalloped

·MiniGooglyEyes

·RedFelt

·OrangeFelt

·Scissors

STEP1:Cutoutthered

felttomakethewattleand snoodoftheturkey(flaps bythebeak).

Usingthe orangefelt,cuttriangles tomakethebeak.

STEP2:Cutoutthe circularbasetoplacethe treat.

Thencuttheturkey featherbaseusinga flower-like/scalloped circletemplate().Feel freetouseactualfeathers tomakeitmorerealistic!

STEP3:Glueeverything together!Thereyouhave cutekissestreatstogive outthisthanksgiving.

Makeasmanyasyoucan tosharewithfamilyandf riends.

THANKSGIVING IS ONTHE WAY! HOW MANYTHANKSGIVING WORDS CAN YOU IDENTIFY?

Determine the Principles to Govern your Life

We asked you last week to use the time since then to try to think of the guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value. This can be clearly understood when you try to imagine life without any one. The more closely our own habits and conduct are alignedwiththem,themore accurateandfunctionalthey will be. Acting positively in l

principles will impact our personal and interpersonal effectiveness far more than any amount of other effort expended on changing our attitudesandbehaviours.

Thosethatwillprove tobestguideyourlifeare:Fairness, Honesty; Integrity, Human Dignity, Growth,Tolerance,Respect

fornature,andLoyalty

These principles would help you to create a solid foundation for your lifewithfullconfidencethat youareonthecorrectpathto the fulfilment of your life purpose. You will need to consider each of them, and ensurethatyourcharacteris

When you teach yourself about right principles, you will readily be able to identify those around you who are following them, and setting an example for you and others in our society

alignedtothem. Whenyou accept any one and place it into your self-conscious, you can be assured that it will be available to guide you in any situation that requiresittokeepyouonthe right path to your overall success.

One of the most important of these principles is fairness, the idea of which is universal, and out of which our whole concept of justice and equality is developed. One can see evidence of even

young children having this sense of fairness, although there are vast differences in how it is defined and achieved.

Try to think of what you understand about each of the others mentioned aboveduringthisnextweek. We shall be expanding on each of these in this next issue,sothatyouwillhavea clear guide to how you shouldliveyourlife,soasto get the most out of your effortsofmakingthebestof yourself.

Each puzzle is divided into 10 different regions. Each region, row and column contains exactly two stars. Stars may not be adjacent to each other (not even diagonally).

Be the Best of whatever you are

Ifyoucan’tbeatreeatthetop ofthehill,Beabushdowninthevalley, Butbethebestlittlebushbythesideofthe hill,Beabushifyoucan’tbeatree. Ifyoucan’tbeabushbeagrass, Andsomehighwayhappiermake; Ifyoucan’tbeasnapper,justbeapatwa, Butbetheliveliestpatwainthelake.

Wecan’tallbecaptain,somehavegottobe crew,There’ssomethingforallofushere, There’ssomuchworktodo,andlessertodo, Andthetaskyoumustdoisquiteclear

Ifyoucan’tbeahighway,thenjustbea trail,Ifyoucan’tbethesun,thenbeastar; Itisn’tbysizethatwewinorwefail, Justbethebestofwhateveryouare.

Uncle Roy is once again appealing to all teens to write to himaboutanyproblemyoumaybefacingforwhichyouneeda solution. HewouldalsolikeyoutocontributetothisPageby submitting other material that he can include here. These include:

1.Apoem,shortstoryorbitofadvicethatyouhavewritten andwouldliketosharewithyourfellowteens.

2. Any significant event that has happened, or any interestingitemaboutwhatisgoingonaroundyou.

3.Acommentary about where you live to acquaint others about it. As mentioned before, you can email me at: uncleroy1992@yahoo.com

Solutions

Frompage32

was naturally shy, and my peers thought I had an ‘accent,’soIhadtoadapt.”

Church became her anchor in a strange new environment.Movingfroma Pentecostalupbringingtoan Anglican community was “quite a culture shock,” she admitted. But involvement inyouthactivitieshelpedher blossom, eventually leading her to serve three terms as youthleader

Despite the challenges, G a b r i e l l e t h r i v e d academically Shegraduated high school with honours andreceivedtheprestigious, ‘Save Our Youth Award.’

She then went on to the University College of the CaymanIslands,completing an Associate of Arts in Literary Studies and later a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology and AppliedSociology

In 2020, she was offered a temporary role at the CaymanIslandsLawCourts,

Guyaneselawstudentmakingwaves...

artistryeveryday

She admits balancing law and dance demands

extreme discipline

working alongside administratorsandtheChief Justice. Her diligence stood out.“Iwasrepeatedlyasked, ‘Have you ever thought of pursuing law? You’d make an excellent lawyer or judge.’”

Encouraged by judges, mentors,andherfamily,she tookwhatshecalledaleapof faith.“Itooktimetoprayand reflect. God laid it on my heart to journey down this path,”sherecalled.Gabrielle was accepted into a law programme, which she now pursues part-time while working full-time at the courts.

But through it all, dance remainedclosetoherheart.

In 2019, she joined the Cayman Islands National Dance Company (CINDC), rekindling her passion for movementandperformance.

“ThecamaraderieIfeelwith mydancefamilyandthejoy dancing brings me are truly special,”shesaid. This year, she stepped

SummerWalkerreleases NewAlbum

‘FinallyOverIt’

After much anticipation, Summer Walker has delivered her third album, Finally Over It, via LVRN/Interscope Records.

The two-part album is the concluding installment of the trilogythatbeganwithOverIt(2019)andcontinuedwithStill OverIt(2021).DiscOne(ForBetter),whichincludesthelead single “Heart of a Woman,” features collaborations with Chris Brown, Anderson .Paak, Bryson Tiller, Mariah The Scientist,DojaCatandLatto.

“‘ForBetter’isaboutchoosingme,fullyandfinally,”said Walker “I’vemadechoicesthatdidn’talwaysmakesenseto anyoneelse,butIdon’tregretanyofthem.Theyalltaughtme Continued on page 54

into choreography for CINDC’s 37th season, themed Majestic She created a contemporary pieceinspiredbyGuyana.“I titled it ‘Reflections of Kaieteur ’ My Guyanese identityisattheverycoreof who I am.” She explained that the lessons she learned growing up discipline, respect,hardwork,shapeher

“Sometimes during warm ups,I’mtryingtorecalllegal precedents,” she joked. Yet danceremainshersanctuary “When I step into the studio andthemusicbegins,allthe stresses just melt away.” On manynights,afterrehearsal, she rests briefly before wakingbetween3and5a.m. tostudy

Her talent has taken her beyond Cayman’s borders. She has performed in Jamaica,Barbados,andmost recently London as part of theCARIFESTAdelegation.

“If you told 8-year-old Gabrielle from South Ruimveldt that she’d be travellingtosharethegiftof

dance, I’m not sure I would have believed it I am incredibly grateful and blessed.”

Her next major performancewillbeinAGift atChristmas,awidelyloved annual Cayman production showcasing musicians, dancers,poets,andthewider artscommunity

Thoughherlifeisrooted in Cayman, David’s heart remains tethered to Guyana. She is passionate about serviceandhopestooneday give back in a meaningful way “I would love the opportunity to give back to thecountrythathasgivenme so much I’m passionate a b o u t y o u t h a n d development and want to play it forward in ways that matter.”

Her advice to young Guyanese living abroad centers upon believing in their dreams and keep the faith.

“Prayaboutit.Seekwise counsel.And go for it. With faith, the right attitude, and determination, you can achieve anything you set yourmindto.”

And with a fond nod to her mom’s constant reminder, she adds, “Keep thefocusright.”

From South Ruimveldt totheCaymanIslands,from the courts to the stage, Gabrielle Onessa David continuestoembodywhatit means to be Guyanese abroad who is talented, resilient, disciplined, and determined to make her markontheworld.

Gabrielle David during an emotional duet

A NAME TO WATCH IN GUYANA’S CREATIVE LANDSCAPE “Jasmaine Assanah”

JasmaineAssanah is a talented choreographer

In Guyana’s evolving creative landscape, where

young artists are increasinglycarvingoutspacesthat don’t fit traditional molds, Jasmaine Assanah represents somethingrefreshinglyauthentic,a woman who refuses to be boxed intoasinglecategory

At 23, this St. Joseph High School alumna has built a life around powerlifting, hockey, contemporary choreography, pageantry and content creating for the thousands who follow her onlinejourney,ajourneythatbegan inthechurchpewsandaltarswhere many young Guyanese find their firstcalling.

Asababyworshipdanceratage six, she learned movements designedtoevokestrongemotions andspiritualconnection.Butitwas inHighSchool,undertheguidance of Mariesha Arthur and Lloyd Thomas that her relationship with dancetrulyevolved.

“Compared to worship dancing, which is a bit restrictive, contemporary allows you to be freer especially when it comes to emotions,” she explains. “I dance with a lot of facial expressions which I prefer. Just adds more spice.”

That freedom unlocked somethingprofound,thediscovery that she could tackle any dance style if she studied it well enough. Fromdancehalltohiphop,cultural

“TBH,Itrytobeinthebackground a lot, but I see now that it’s quite hard for me to do that because I’m always called to share my talents. Infact,that’slikeoneofmybiggest struggles. Staying self-motivated whenIgenuinelywanttodisappear for a while, until a gig or promotion,”sheadmits.

However, she clarified that despite the lack of motivation sometimes, because of her discipline and determination she willalwaysdeliver

Behind Assanah’s discipline and diverse talents stands a towering figure: her grandmother It was this woman who ensured youngJasmainecouldcook,stitch, embroider, wash, and clean, basic life skills that many take for granted. But more importantly, it was her grandmother who joined her in the church dance group, nurturing the very passion that would define her granddaughter’s life.

“My biggest role model growingupwasmygrandmother,” Assanah said. “She was the one who even joined me in the church dancegroup,soIhavehertothank forthetalentsIpossesstoday.”

approacheslifewithintention,who values both the mundane and the magnificent, and who understands that true strength comes in many forms.”

For someone who expresses herself so eloquently through movement, Assanah’s proudest momentcameinasurprisingform, thecalculatedpowerofadeadlift.

heartwarming.”

When asked what she hopes to sharewithyoungGuyanesewomen who look up to her, Assanah said, “Never stop. Even if you have to startover20times,don’tevergive up on yourself, that’s the biggest betrayal to yourself. Move at your own pace and ignore the noise as muchasyoucan.”

dances to ballroom, Assanah’s versatilitybecamehersignature.

She dominated many dance stages across the country, worked onseveralchoreographiesthatwon competitions, as well as won special prizes from pageants, which she competed in copping besttalentwithherdanceability

While social media may label her an influencer, a title she’s still not entirely comfortable with, Assanahisquicktoclarifythatshe amultifacetedwomanwhorefuses tobeboxedin.She’saprofessional athlete, she is part of the hockey teamthatrepresentsGuyana,shea fitnessenthusiastwhocompetesin powerlifting competitions, but dancing is where her heart truly lies. “I’m not sure I fit into the influencercategoryorhowIfitinto it, and for sure I love a good gym sessionandhockeygame;however I’dsaydancingismytrueself.”

Onemayaskhowa23-year-old manages such a hectic life

“Everyonethat’sclosetomeknows that I’m a planner I’m very intentional about the things I have goingoninmylife,”sheexplained.

“If there isn’t any way I could balance something, then it wouldn’t be part of my schedule eventhoughIwelcomespontaneity attimes.”

But even the most meticulous planner faces cha

, particularly in the demanding world of social media visibility

Those lessons, both practical and artistic, shaped not just what Assanah can do, but who she has become, “someone who

“I’d never forget the feeling in my last powerlifting competition whereIpulledthreetimesmybody weight,” she recalls. “I’m usually alwaysinmyheadwhenitcomesto deadlifts,butatthatmomentwhenI walkedofftheplatform,Iwastruly proud.KnowingIworkedhardand achieved something that I only spent a few months preparing for And the support was most

The 23-year-old has built a life around powerlifting, hockey, contemporary choreography, pageantry and content creating.

It’s advice she clearly lives by, someone who balances multiple passions not by dividing herself, but by remaining whole and intentionalineachpursuit.

Looking toward the future, Assanah harbours a dream that would bring her various passions full circle, opening her own Arts Academy WithanAssociate’s Continued on page 54

ByAllyiahAllicock

Provin g that ag e does not limit success, today we share with you the entrepreneurial journey of

16-year-old Shemiah James is the proud owner of 'Bouquets by Miah'

“I truly believe that young entrepreneurs play a powerful role in society. We bring new ideas, energy, and innovation. We prove that age doesn't limit success. It's about passion, effort, and consistency.”

1 6 - y e a r - o l d

Shemiah James, the ud owner of 'BouquetsbyMiah'.

Currently in her final year of the New Central High School, James is a creative and determined person who loves learning and finding ways to express herself through art and

design.

Bouquets by Miah, a smallbusinessshestartedin 2024 focuses on creating h a n d m a d e f l o r a l arrangements and creative bouquet gifts for any occasion birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, funerals or just to make someone'sdayspecial.

Speakingonthisjourney, James in a recent interview with The Waterfalls saidthe idea for her business came fromsomethingassimpleas watching a TikTok video about making roses. She addedthatitallbeganfroma spark of creativity and a desire to share something beautifulwithothers.

“I tried it for fun and immediatelyfellinlovewith theprocess.Istartedmaking more bouquets, improving my designs, and soon realized,Icouldturnmynew hobby into a business,” she shared.

Sinceitslaunch,theteen mentioned that the support for craft has been amazing. She highlighted that family, friends, teachers, and even people from her community have supported her in ways she is grateful for “They've encouraged me, shared my work, and helped me grow mybusinessmorethanIever expected.

Their support motivates metokeepgoing,evenwhen things get tough,” James expressed.

Owningasmallbusiness at such a young age, James related that it has taught her responsibility, patience, and “how rewarding it feels to make others happy through something I've created with myownhands.”

She noted however, that runningabusinesswhilestill in school has not been easy Balancing schoolwork, orders, and personal time was one of her biggest challenges, she told this magazine.

“There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, butIlearnedhowtomanage my time, plan ahead, and stay organised,” she stated. According to her, she also struggled a bit with getting materials when she first started, but with patience and creativity, she eventually found ways to makethingswork.

Grounded and prepared for what is to come, James revealed to this publication that her long-term goal is to

growBouquetsbyMiahinto a recognised local brand withitsownspacewhereshe can create and display her creativework.

Additionally, she would love to host workshops one day to teach others how to make their own bouquets. “Morethananything,Iwant toinspireotheryoungpeople tobelievethattheirideasare worthchasingnomatterhow small they might seem at first,”shesaid.

Speakingaboutinspiring others through her craft, our featured entrepreneur is of the view that small business owners are role models for the next generation, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and show what ispossible.

“I truly believe that young entrepreneurs play a powerful role in society We bringnewideas,energy,and innovation. We prove that age doesn't limit success it's about passion, effort, and consistency,”sheexplained.

T o s e e y o u n g entrepreneurs and their venturethriveinoursociety, James think more can be done to help them She suggested having youth business programmes, training opportunities, and community events it give them more exposure and guidance.

Ifyou'dliketoseemore ofShemiahJamesworkor place an order, you can contact Bouquets by Miah at telephone (592) 6435908 or email at shemiahjames43@gmail c om. Persons can also find the business page on I n s t a g r a m a t @bouquetsbymiah to view some of her beautiful bouquetcreations.

Five among first in their families to earn degrees from UG

Graduation is always a moment of pride, but for a special group of students from the University of Guyana (UG), it represents something far greater They are among several students who are the first in their families to acquire a university education in a journey which saw them breaking through barriers, overcoming adversities and turning long-held dreams intoreality

Theirjourneyshavebeen marked by sacrifice, resilience,andfaith.Eachof themcomesfromadifferent partofthecountry,including from far-flung Indigenous communities, yet they share a common thread, the determination to rise above their challenges and set a strong foundation for future successes.

These path-breakers haveredefinedwhatitmeans to persevere. Their stories speak not only of academic triumphs but of courage, community,andthepowerof

believing that one's

background does not determineone'sdestiny

For Ishwari Misir who hails from Woodley Park Village, West Coast of B e r b i c e , t h i s accomplishment is deeply personal and emotional. Ishwarirecentlycompleteda Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies after four demanding years, balancingafull-timejoband long daily commutes to and from the University's Turkeyen Campus She explained that there were many nights when she felt

exhausted after the long commute, but she never allowed fatigue to silence herdream.“It'sanemotional andproudmomentformeto be the first in my family to graduate from university This achievement isn't just mine,itrepresentsthehopes and sacrifices of my family, especially my mother, who worked hard to give us the best opportunities she could,” she proudly said. Ishwari hopes to continue her studies at the Master's level,drivenbyapassionfor theenvironmentandadesire to show others that determinationcanovercome anyobstacle.

Sakinah Ghannie grew up between Lusignan, Kitty andNonPareil.Enteringthe UniversityofGuyanaatjust sixteen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic w a s e x c i t i n g a n d overwhelming For her, everything felt unfamiliart h e s y s t e m s , t h e expectations, even the virtual classrooms. “I didn't knowhowanythingworked. I even joined a final-year class by mistake during my first semester,” she recalled withalaugh.Butbeneaththe humour were moments of doubtandisolation.Withno one at home familiar with universitylife,she often felt lost.“Ilearntthatit'sokayto start without knowing everything. What matters is having the courage to learn and keep going,” she said. Supported by her parents, Melinda Alfred and Rahim Ghannie, and her aunt, Dr Indhira Harry, Sakinah gradually found her rhythm.

Shebuiltfriendshipsthrough her faculty's Geography Society and discovered her voice and confidence along the way. Her proudest moment came during a field trip to Region Two, where hands-on learning brought herstudiestolife.Asthefirst inherfamilytograduate,she hopes to pursue a Master's degree and inspire others to embrace uncertainty as part ofgrowth.

Christal Craig, from TucvilleinGeorgetown,also overcame her share of challenges while pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies. Her mother's belief in education was her guiding light “Beingthefirstinmyfamily to graduate is a milestone I hold with immense pride. Mymotheralwaystaughtme the value of learning, and I wanted to make her proud,” she said Her final year proved the most difficult, with research setbacks and countless obstacles that tested her patience. Yet she refused to give up. “There were moments I felt overwhelmed, but I stopped and thought about all the sacrificesmymomhadmade for me to reach this point,” Christal shared One of Christal's most memorable moments was participating in the 2025 Chinese Bridge Competition, where she placedthirdafterperforming a dance routine that reawakened an old passion. The experience reminded herthatuniversitylifeisnot just about academics, it is also about growth and rediscovery She now hopes

t o s p e c i a l i s e i n Environmental and Natural Resources Management and use her story to encourage otherstopersistthroughfear andself-doubt.

RuthPatterson,whowill graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies, hails from the Indigenous community of Laluni,about20kmfromthe Linden-Soesdyke Highway She was faced with some of the most daunting obstacles of all With no reliable internet access in her area, Ruth had to rely solely on mobiledatatoattendclasses, complete assignments, and sit exams “There were countless times when my signal would drop in the middle of a lecture or an important discussion; I always felt like I was trying to catch up,” she said Moving between relatives' homes to find a stronger connection took a physical

and emotional toll, and at one point, she nearly gave up. It was faith that kept her grounded “Jeremiah 29:11 reminded methatGodhadnotbrought me this far to leave me stranded.Therewaspurpose in the process even when I couldn't see it,” she said. Ruth found comfort and strength in the friendships she made through the 'Uni Buddies group' and her classmates,whobecameher extended family They studied together, supported one another, and pushed through exhaustion and doubt “The friendships, faith, and love of my family carriedmetothefinishline,” she said. Ruth now plans to pursue a Master's Degree in Oil and Gas Management and use her education to promote responsible and sustainable development Her hope is that young

communities will see that theircircumstancesneednot limittheirpotential.

For Orwin Anthony Corlette, who grew up in

, education has always been hiswayofservingothers.He will be graduating with an Associate Degree in Social Work, becoming the first in his family to earn a university education. “This achievement holds deep significance for me and my family It represents hope, perseverance,andthepower of determination,” he said. Balancingfull-timeteaching with university studies was no easy task. At times, his classes at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE)andUGoverlapped, forcing him to juggle assignments, work duties, and late-night revisions “Thereweremomentswhen (Continuedonpage52)

Iswhari Misir will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

Sakinah Ghannie will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Geography

Christal Craig will be graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies

Ruth Patterson will be graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Studies

OrwinAnthony Corlette will be graduating with anAssociate Degree in Social Work

Soca Star Alison Hinds in Hot Water

over Cayman Fiesta non-appearance

Dancehall Mag --

Reynolds Entertainment Agency,oneoftheprincipal organisersofCaymanFiesta in the Cayman Islands, has refuted allegations of 'unprofessionalism and disrespect'madebysocastar Alison Hinds in the wake of thethree-daypartyweekend.

“On the Saturday night which was all soca artist we got a 150 patrons, so I approached all the artistes and explained to them that the venue was empty and I was willing to pay 50% of the balance that was outstanding and they said no,”TamekaReynolds,head of Reynolds Entertainment Agency,said.

Soca artist Lady Lava

was the only artist who performed on the soca night ofthepartyweekend.

“I had a 45-minute conversation with Alison Hindsonthedayoftheshow after which she agreed that she wasn't going to post anything and that I would pay her outstanding balance bytheendofthemonth,soI wassurprisedthatsheposted lies, half-t

uths and innuendo to slander the nameandbrandofReynolds EntertainmentAgency,”Ms. Reynoldssaid.

Reynolds Entertainment Agency, which is very influential in the processing of work permits for artistes and industry professionals, functions as a booking

agency that works with top tier talent in dancehall and reggae.

“Ibelieveitisinstructive that she can post a slander and lie but she never once postedaflyeroftheCayman Fiesta show Mrs Hinds refused to do the two radio interviews that would have helped promote the event, the first excuse for one interviewwas thatshehada nail appointment. That was o n e i n s t a n c e o f unprofessionalism and the other excuse was that “she hadplans”.Whatplans?She got a paid deposit in full yet she didn't post a flyer, no radiostationinterview…that was unprofessional and unfair, and factual,” Ms Reynoldscontinued.

Destra releases new single 'Free again'

One of Soca's strongest female soldiers sets things in motion againwithhernewsingle,“Free Again.”

Last carnival, Destra Garcia paused to focusonagospelalbum-somethingshehad been putting off for some time, but felt compelledtodo.

Earlierthisyear,Destrabroughtgospelto Queen'sHallwhensheperformedsongsfrom her gospel album, Reflections. She blessed the almost capacity audience with her powerfulvoiceraisedinprayerandworship.

Themotheranddaughterpairsparkedthe first of many crowd choruses and sing-alongs for the night as they blended their voicesintributetotheAlmighty

JoinedbytheMariaReginaGradeSchool Choir for “Jesus Loves Me”, Destra left the stage for her first wardrobe change as they sang, “I Know Who I Am”. Returning in a resplendentbluegown,Destradeliveredfive more songs before being joined by the One Love Choir, who raised the roof with the classic“YouRaiseMeUp”.

Her daughter Xaiya then returned for a pianosoloof“ThePrayer”and“Hallelujah” before a compelling video presentation heralded Destra's return in a fiery red ensembleforthegrandfinale.

Rising up from below the floor while

singing the earth-shaking, “Break Every Chain”, she followed with the soca-esque upbeat“NoOne”andendedwithamedleyof Baptist sankies accompanied by the One LoveChoiranddancers.

“Ifeeldrainedrightnow,butohsoalive!” she said after taking photos, receiving congrats and sharing hugs and kisses with fansforanhourafterwards.

Now ahead of carnival 2026 in Trinidad andTobago,theartistereaffirmsherlovefor the art-form and shows the dynamic compositionofthegenre'sinternalworkings - playing around with thoughtful lyrical content while staying true to the soulful melodiesthatmakeSocawhatitis.

Fiveamongfirstintheir...

Frompage51

Ifeltcompletelydrained,but I stayed focused on my purpose which is to make a difference in the lives of others,” Orwin shared. His motivation came from his students and the belief that education can transform lives.

Orwin hopes to advance his studies in Social Work andcontinuecontributingto

the development of communitiesacrossGuyana.

“I want my story to show young people that no matter where you start, success is within reach when you stay disciplined, faithful, and focused.”

As they prepare to walk across the stage at the University of Guyana's 59th Convocation which will be held in November and early December, these five graduates will carry more thantheirdegrees,theycarry stories of faith, resilience

The Cayman Fiesta is a three-day event and the series of shows took place between November 7 to 9th and also featured a night headlined by rap star Rick Ross that attracted 1500 people,thedaybeforetheillfatedsocaevent.

Inapostreleasedviaher Instagram account, the soca queen Alison Hinds attempted to clear her name and brand wasn't damaged byhernon-appearanceatthe CaymanFiestaevent.

“I want to let the people ofCaymanknowIwasthere andreadybutbecauseofthe unprofessionalism, the disorganisation and disrespect of said company, Reynolds Entertainment, I was not able to perform,”

Frompage30

President and one of the representatives for the Faculty of Social Sciences

w i t h

en students and the University administrationfollowingthe challenges of online learning.

“I was so happy to be a partofUGSSactivitiessuch as the as karaoke nights, mystery hunts, and sanitary paddistributions;seeingour University, our campus life, go from something that was not really buzzing at that time, to something that is lively

and triumph. Ishwari Misir, Sakinah Ghannie, Christal Craig, Ruth Patterson, and OrwinAnthonyCorlette,are not just first-generation graduates, they are trailblazers. Their success will echo not only within their families, but across communitiesandthroughout Guyana, inspiring many others to believe that their dreamsarepossibletoo.

(Source: University of Guyana)

Allison Hinds

g on campus, playing games and

Hinds said. “They did not take care of business beforehand,”sheadded.

The soca queen alleged that there was a breach of contract.

“My contract states very carefullythatbusinesshasto betakencareofbeforeItake the stage, at any event, no matter what it is This promoter saw it fit to disrespecttheartisteandnot dowhattheyweresupposed to do, so I wasn't able to perform as I wanted to perform, so Cayman, I apologise for not being able to be on the stage for that event,”Hindssaid.

However, Ms. Reynolds rubbished Hinds' version of events.

“No one else on the Cayman Fiesta soca night

thesethings.Thatwasoneof the things I wanted and now wehavethathappening,”she said.

Khadijareflectedthather time at UG shaped her into the confident and mature young woman she is today “It has made me more rounded, not only focusing onacademics.Comingfrom secondary school, I always hadthischildishmentality.I would think that I am too smalltodothings.

ButIslowlyrealisedthat my age is not a factor in the things I can do or how mature I can be when it comes to having certain conversations University definitely brought out that sideinme.Iamnowreadyto

chose to slander a reputable agency At no point did the agency fail to meet its obligations, discussions were made with all the performers. Inthebusiness world, things happen and compromises have to be made,theartistes,promoters and event planners must always strive to satisfy fans. We tried to satisfy fans and make arrangements to make up for shortfalls that may happen in the course of n o r m a l b u s i n e s s transactions,” Reynolds explained.

” We were committed to pay but Mrs. Hinds had damaged her own brand by failing to perform, and attempted to damage my brand with her lies and slanderous comments,” Ms. Reynoldsadded.

Ms.Reynoldsshotdown the allegations that the airline tickets were not paid for by her agency “That allegationisalie,”Reynolds said. “The airline cancelled theticketsandputthemupin Pegasusandthathadnothing to do with Reynolds EntertainmentAgency.”Ms. Reynolds said that a mishap occurred as it related to the reservations for the AC hotel.

face the next chapter of my life,”sheexplained.

With her Bachelor’s Degree completed, Khadija now plans to pursue a Master’s in International TradeinChina.

Her goal is to further bridge the relationship between China and Guyana, particularly in trade, with hopes of being an effective contributor to her country’s development. She hopes to work with international organisations to help realise this vision. As she prepares to walk the graduation stage in November, she celebrates not only her academic success but also the growth, confidence,andpurposeshe hasgainedalongtheway

Destra Garcia

New York Real Estate Company founded...

Frompage15 female attorney in the State ofNewYork.Shecombined her Real Estate acumen and her legal efforts to enhance the community services of the Edwards Sisters Realty Associates.

A m o n g m a n y accomplishmentsfrom1948 to 1968, Mrs. Chance was the president of the Harlem Taxpayers and Property Owners Association; she was a director of Freedom NationalBankfrom1966to 1971, a member of the New YorkStateElectoralCollege in 1968 and the president of the Inner City Housing and Development Council from 1972 to 1980 She was dubbed the driving force of the business and a mainstay intheHarlemcommunity

T o d a y , t h e i r commitment and love for Harlem has passed down through generationsand has allowed ESRA Realty LLC to remain a stable fixture within the ever-changing NewYorkrealestatemarket. In fact, the company is recognized as the oldest, black family owned, real estate firm in Harlem New

York. The current owners, Ramona Grey-Harris, Maurice Russell Grey and AdenSerailerepresenta2nd and 3rd generation Guyanese-American.

Grey-Harris noted that ESRA Realty LLC has owned up to 60 properties, managed countless and offers services in property management,realestatelaw, mortgages, brokerage, and appraisals.

Over the years, thousands of families have purchased homes through the Edwards sisters and countlessmorehavelivedin properties owned or managed by the firm. GreyHarris told this publication that she carrying on the legacy of her aunts Lucille and Millicent and her mother,Sarah.

“Lucille and Millicent are my aunts, Sarah is my motherandtheyarebornand raisedinGuyana. My grandmother was born in Guyana from Barbadian parents. We have owned up to 60 buildings. Currently, we manage and do sales. We have 14 office

staff,”shesaid.

Sheexplainedduringthe firm's 100 years, they have hired and employed many minoritiesinvariousrolesin thefirm.

“We currently have a multi-staff. Ownership of properties comes with numerous issues red lining, lack of banks giving

y regulations.

Our clientele are multi ethnic and where the buildings are located often decide who lives in the area,”shesaid.

To mark, its 100th anniversary, ESRA Realty hosted a centennial gala at the Alhambra Ballroom in New York on Friday, November14last.

Obviously proud of the

d community impact, GreyHarris remains focused on building a future that honours the past She expressed gratitude for the longevity, the ability to adapt to changing times and optimismthatthefamilywill continue to thrive in businessinthefuture.

Acentennial gala, to mark ESRA's 100th anniversary, was held at the Alhambra Ballroom in NewYork on Friday, November 14 last.

Caribbean countries to hold slavery reparations talks on UK visit

Aprotester holds a sign during a rally to demand that the United Kingdom make reparations for slavery, ahead of a visit to Jamaica by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as part of their tour of the Caribbean, outside the British High Commission, in Kingston, Jamaica March 22, 2022. REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reparations commission will hold talks this week with officials and politicians in Britain on addressing the historical injustices of slavery and colonialism,aswellastheirlastingimpacts.

At least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped,forciblytransportedbyEuropean shipsandsoldintoslaveryfromthe15thtothe 19thcenturies Advocatessayactionisneeded to confront the enduring legacies, such as racism. Calls for reparations have gained momentum worldwide, particularly among CARICOM,agroupof15memberstatesthat includes Barbados and Jamaica, and the AfricanUnion(AU)

CARICOMhasareparationsplan,which includes calls for a full and formal apology, educationprogrammes,debtcancellationand monetary compensation, while the AU is developingitsown

A backlash against reparations has also been growing, and many European leaders have opposed even talking about them, with

opponents arguing that today's states and institutionsshouldnotbeheldresponsiblefor historicalwrongs.

BritishPrimeMinisterKeirStarmersaid ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa last year that he preferred to look forward rather than engage in "very long, endless discussions about reparations on the past" However, at the end the summit, leaders of the 56-nation group headed by Britain's King Charles agreed to include in their final communique that the time had come for a discussion on the issue. The CARICOM commission's visit will take place from November 17 to 20 and aims to "strengthen strategic partnerships and promote a joint programme of public educationandengagementonthereparations agenda",amediaadvisorysaid.

A2025pollcommissionedbyTheRepair Campaignrevealedgapsinpublicknowledge about the Britain's role in slavery and colonialism, with 85% of respondents unaware the country had forcibly transported over3millionAfricanstotheCaribbean.

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Trump buys at least $82 million in bonds since late August, disclosures show

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WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump bought at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds from late August to early October including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, financial disclosures made public on Saturday showed.

According to the forms released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Trump carried out more than 175 financial purchases from August 28 through October 2. The disclosures, made under a 1978 transparency law called the Ethics in Government Act, do not list exact amounts for each purchase, only providing a broad range.

The maximum total value of the bond purchases exceeded $337 million, according to the filings.

Most of the assets listed in Saturday’s disclosures consist of bonds issued by municipalities, states, counties, school districts and other entities with ties to public agencies.

Trump’s new bond investments span several industries, including sectors that have already benefited, or are ben-

efiting, from his administration’s policy changes such as financial deregulation. Corporate bonds acquired by Trump include offerings from chipmakers such as Broadcom and Qualcomm; tech companies such as Meta Platforms; retailers such as Home Depot and CVS Health; and Wall Street banks such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Purchases of the debt of investment banks in late August included bonds of JP Morgan. On Friday, Trump asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate JP Morgan over its ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The

bank has said it regrets its past ties with Epstein and did not help him commit “heinous acts.” Trump also acquired Intel bonds after the U.S. government, under Trump’s direction, acquired a stake in the company. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. The administration has said before that Trump has continued to file mandatory disclosures about his investments but that neither he nor his family has a role in running the portfolio, which is managed by a third-party financial institution.

Trump, who became wealthy in the real estate sec-

tor before entering politics, has previously said that he placed his companies into a trust overseen by his children. U.S. stocks ended mixed on Friday, with the Dow dropping about two-thirds of a percent, the S&P 500 closing essentially flat, and the Nasdaq ticking up marginally.

A disclosure filed in August indicated that Trump had purchased more than $100 million in bonds since returning to the presidency on January 20. Trump also submitted his annual disclosure form in June, which indicated that income from his various ventures still ultimately goes to him, raising concerns of potential conflicts of interest. In that annual disclosure, which appeared to cover the 2024 calendar year, Trump reported more than $600 million in income from cryptocurrencies, golf properties, licensing and other ventures. It also showed Trump’s push into crypto had added substantially to his wealth. Overall, the president’s June disclosure reported assets worth at least $1.6 billion, according to a Reuters calculation at the time.

“Jasmaine Assanah”– A name to watch in Guyana’s...

From page 48 degree in Performing Arts and a deep love for all art forms, she envisions a space that breathes creativity, from dance to film and photography, drama to fashion, art to music and literature.

“I barely know what my next two years will look like

and that’s rich coming from someone who’s a planner,” she admits.

“But I do know that no matter what life has in store, I’d be grateful. I try to remain positive and optimistic, because I know things will work out for me.”

It’s this combination of

meticulous planning married to faithful optimism that makes Jasmaine Assanah’s story so compelling. She’s not waiting for life to happen to her; she’s actively choreographing it, one intentional movement at a time.

And if her past is any indication, the future holds per-

formances we won’t want to miss.

For now, whether she’s in a dance studio, on a powerlifting platform, or simply vibing to music in her everyday life, Assanah continues to let her heart speak through movement, and Guyana is listening.

Summer Walker releases New Album ‘Finally Over It’...

From page 47 something. Every heartbreak brought me back to myself. I’m not looking for someone to complete me, I’m already whole. I’m protecting my peace, honoring my worth, and sitting in a softness that’s still strong. So whatever I choose now, I’m choosing from a place of power, not pain. I’m clear, I’m aligned, I’m better.”

“‘For Worse’ isn’t bitter, it’s honest,” Walker noted.

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“I’ve loved too hard, ignored red flags and tried to fix things that were beyond repair. The difference now is I love myself that deeply, I’ve grown, I’ve healed and I refuse to accept anything less than princess treatment. F—k My Type. Peace may not be passion, but at least it isn’t pain.”

For writing and production, Walker worked alongside Bryan-Michael Cox, TheDream, Troy Taylor, Nine-

teen85, Kuk Harrell, Nija, Ant Clemons, Slim Wav and more.

As indicated above, Finally Over It is the follow-up to Still Over It, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 166,000 equivalent units sold.

The latter album included the singles “Ex For A Reason” featuring JT, “No Love” with SZA and “Unloyal” with Ari Lennox.

In between albums, Walker appeared on songs with Ari Lennox (“Queen Space”), Ciara (“Better Thangs”) and Usher (“Good Good”), among others. She also released her CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE EP, which was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 66th Grammy Awards.

Speaking of the Grammys, Walker has two nominations at the 68th ceremony. “Heart of a Woman” is nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.

Us President, Donald Trump

US Marines touch down for military exercises with T&T Defence Force

(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN)

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers says the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will be coming to this country to take part in military training exercises from November 16 to 21 with the local DefenceForce.

His announcement came yesterday, one day after Attorney GeneralJohnJeremietoldtheUK’s Financial Times that the United States military is expected to intensifyexercisesinT&T Jeremie made the comment during an interview with the publication. In the article, he is quoted as saying that the US 22nd Marine ExpeditionaryUnitwouldintensify exercises“inthecomingdays.”

The MEU previously came to this country along with the USS Gravely,awarshipthatwasdocked at the Port of Port-of-Spain from October26to31.TheGovernment said the purpose of that visit was joint military training with the DefenceForce.

TheAttorney General also told the Financial Times, “We are engaged with our friends in the north in a series of exercises.”

Yesterday,Sobersfirmlydismissed speculationthattheupcomingjoint training exercises would lead to war Duringamediabriefingathis ministry’s St Clair office, he gave further details of the US troops’ visit, reading from a media release and explaining that the training formed part of the Government’s strategy to ensure the Defence Force was “optimally trained and equipped” to address gun crimes andgangviolence.

Soberssaidtheexerciseswould bestagedacrossT&Tinbothurban and rural environments, with

activities taking place during dusk and after dark, and with some operations involving US military helicopters.

According to a later statement issued by the ministry, “The focus of the upcoming exercise is military-to-military engagement, allowing personnel from both countries to become familiar with eachother’sequipment,tacticsand techniques.

The exercise will challenge participants, offering them opportunities to expand their expertise and professional development.

Training will take place across TrinidadandTobagoinbothurban and rural environments, with operations scheduled during dusk and after dark. Several of these exercises will incorporate 22nd MEUhelicopters.

Thiscollaborationisoneofthe many side-by-side exercises that theUSmilitaryhaslongconducted in partnership with the TTDF It

demonstrates the strong partnership between Trinidad and TobagoandtheUnitedStatesbased onmutualrespectandispartofthe country’s long, fruitful, ongoing p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h USSOUTHCOM.”

The US Embassy also clarified the purpose of the MEU’s visit, saying that in addition to training, the unit “will also be engaging in outreach activities with various schoolsinTrinidadandTobago.”

Sobers’ announcement came two days after the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, arrived in Caribbean waters.

When asked whether the Governmentwouldsupportawarif one unfolded between the US and Venezuela, Sobers maintained that

the question was speculative. “If you ask me something factually, I would answer If you ask me something based upon conjecture, I’veneverdoneitasalawyer,andI wouldneverdoitasaminister.”

When pressed on what the Government’s approach would be ifsuchaconflictarose,Soberssaid it would make the “best possible decision.”

“If it (war) happens, trust that your Government will stand with you and we will make the best possible decision in the interest of thepeopleofTrinidadandTobago. ThatiswhatIcansay.”

Sobers also rejected claims circulating online that the drills were a precursor to a large-scale militaryconflictthatmightinvolve the T&T Defence Force, saying there was “no information to suggestthat.”

However, on Thursday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the beginning of Operation Southern Spear, a militarycampaignledbyJointTask Force Southern Spear and the US Southern Command aimed at disrupting narco-trafficking. “This mission defends our homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our hemisphere and secures our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The western hemisphere is America’s neighbourhood - and we will protectit.”

Sobers also responded to concernsaboutthepresenceofUS militaryassetsintheregion,noting that T&T’s high levels of gun violence and murders over the years required urgent attention. Because of its proximity to mainland South America, he said T&T would be disproportionately

smuggled Fentanyl found in Trinidad

( T R I N I D A D EXPRESS) - During a series of operations last week, the Customs and Excise Division intercepted multipleshipmentsofillegal narcotics, including 38.998 kilogrammes of marijuana, m o r e t h a n h a l f a milogrammeofMDMA,and disturbingly,eightampoules of Fentanyl, a highly potent syntheticopioid.

Fentanylisasignificant public health concern due to its extreme potency and highriskofoverdose Medical experts warn that as little as two milligrammes, roughly the weight of a few grains of

salt, can be lethal for most people. Fentanyl is far stronger th

n

affectedbytheinfluxofdrugs,guns andpeople.Referringtotheuseof assault rifles by criminals, Sobers argued that fatalities and violence involving high-powered weapons were happening well before US military operations began earlier this year He defended the Government’scontinuedsupportof USmilitaryexercises.

“People have been going a r o u n d t h i s c o u n t r y indiscriminatelyshootingatpeople with AK-47s and AR-15s, which areweaponsofwar,priortowhatis takingplacenow

Ican’trecallthelasttimethatI heard or saw somebody spraying down a car, or going into a neighbourhood and doing a driveby shooting and killing six people at the same time or killing people indiscriminately These things are not occurring anymore, so if what we’re doing is having a tangible andpositiveeffecttogetridofthat problem, then thank God by all meansthatwe’redoingwhatwe’re doing.”

Responding to questions about the timing of the joint training, especially since the major Tradewinds Exercise was held between April 26 and May 8, Sobers said, “Every time we get help from a foreign superpower, it should be considered something special. We have to build that foundation,andoverthelastcouple of months, with respect to the TTDFworkingalongsidetheUS.”

‘Opticsnotright’

However, when contacted for comment, Ret’d Coast GuardLtCmdrNormanDindial said he was not convinced that US Marines in T&T would be limited exclusively to training exercises

He referred to ongoing US military strikes and naval

Alliance’s interim political leader and defeated candidate for Chaguanas East in theApril 28 General Election, said that given the related military activity in the region, it was too suspicious to dismiss the exercises asroutine.

“Theopticsarenotrightatall, combat training at a time when thereisheightenedtensionbetween the US and Venezuela and a military build-up in the Caribbean Sea.You’ve got to ask yourselves, what is our military getting ourselvesinvolvedin?”

Dindial, who has worked at the National Radar Centre, the National Operations Command Centre

Mogadishu, Somalia as part of the UN’s efforts to combat terrorism and piracy, said the MEU was an elite fighting force and it was reasonable to question whether their role in T&Twasstrictlyfortraining R e f e r r i n g t o t h e announcement of Operation Southern Spear, Dindial said confirmation of a US military presence only added to the unease

“This is a self-sustained, h

, f

rw

rddeployed, rapid-response force with ground and air combat capabilities, and it’s normally used to introduce a follow-on f

ting a mission This is more troubling when the US Secretary of War posts on X that he’s announcing OperationSouthernSpear ”

her commonly abused opioids, including heroin and morphine, making even small quantities deadly if misused.Severalindividuals connected to the seizures were arrested and have

Magistrates’ Court The seized marijuana carries an estimated street value of TT$9,737,800, while the MDMAcarriesanestimated s

TT$1,515,000.

Palestinians reel under winter rains as Israel blocks Gaza shelter supplies

Cold temperatures a n d h e a v y rainfall have worsened already dire conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian families across the Gaza Strip, as Israel continuestoblockdeliveries of tents and other critical shelter supplies to the besiegedterritory

Humanitarian groups have been warning for weeks that Palestinians living in tent camps and other makeshift shelters do not have what they need to withstand blistering winter conditions in the coastal enclave.

Manyhavebeenforcibly displacedmultipletimesasa result of Israel’s two-year bombardment of Gaza, which damaged and destroyed more than 198,000structuresacrossthe Strip, according to United Nationsfigures.

“Ihavebeencryingsince morning,” a displaced Palestinian mother of two told Al Jazeera from Gaza CityonSaturday,pointingto

her family’s tent, which had been flooded as a result of heavyrainfallovernight. Thewoman,whodidnot provide her name, said she wasstrugglingtoprovidefor her children after several members of her family, includingherhusband,were killed in Israel’s genocidal war,whichbeganinOctober 2023. “I am asking for help

to get a proper tent, a mattress and a blanket I want my children to have suitableclothes,”shesaid.“I don’thaveanyonetoturnto There is no one to help me.”

The UN and other humanitarian groups have urged Israel to lift all restrictions on aid to the Strip, where more than

69,000 people have been killedinmorethantwoyears of Israel’s war. But the Israeli government has maintained its severe restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid despite a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian group Hamas that came into effect on October10.

Aid groups said earlier

this month that about 260,000Palestinianfamilies inGaza,totallingalmost1.5 million people, were vulnerableasthecoldwinter monthsapproached.

Want to come back to thisarticle?Saveitforlater ‘Misery on top of misery’

Atthesametime,theUN agency for Palestinian refugees(UNRWA)hassaid it has enough shelter supplies to help as many as 1.3millionPalestinians–but cannotbringthemintoGaza duetotheIsraelirestrictions.

On Saturday, UNRWAchief Philippe Lazzarini said deliveriesweremorecritical than ever as this winter coincides with Gaza’s displacement crisis “It’s cold and wet in Gaza Displaced people are now facing a harsh winter withoutthebasicstoprotect them from the rain and cold,” he said in a social mediapost.

D e s c r i b i n g t h e humanitariantollas“misery ontopofmisery”,Lazzarini noted that Gaza’s fragile

shelters “quickly flood, s o a k i n g p e o p l e ’s belongings”.

“More shelter supplies are urgently needed for the people, ” he added Reportingfromaz-Zuwayda incentralGaza,AlJazeera’s Hind Khoudary also said many Palestinians have no otheroptionbuttoremainin flooded and flimsy tents since their neighbourhoods weredestroyedbyIsraeland sheltersarefull.

“Parents are unable to [buy] their children winter clothes,shoesandslippers,” she said. “Families are left helpless, without knowing what to do ” Late on Saturday,theIsraelimilitary firedflaresinareassoutheast ofKhanYouniscity,sources in southern Gaza told Al Jazeera.

Armies generally launch flares to highlight enemy positions and indicate incoming attacks Earlier, Israel launched air strikes inside Gaza ceasefire’s “yellow line” demarcation nearKhanYounisaswellas GazaCityinthenorth.

Thousands march outside COP30 summit in call for action

(BBCNEWS)Marching to the beat of pounding soundsystems,thousandsof climateprotestershavebeen bringingtheirmessagetothe gates of the COP30 climate talksinBrazil.

Chanting and singing “free the Amazon” , demonstrators in host city Belém have been carrying three giant coffins reading Oil,CoalandGasflankedby t w o g r i m r e a p e r s Indigenousgroupsdisplayed signs reading “the answer is us” as an inflatable elephant and anaconda weaved throughthecrowdunderthe hot sun. It is the first time since 2021 that protesters

have been allowed to demonstrate outside the UN climate talks. The last three took place in countries that donotpermitpublicprotest.

“Weareholdingafuneral forfossilfuels,”TugaCíntia toldtheBBC.Sheisfromthe theatre group Hydra Dance from the Federal University of Pará. “I’m here because

enough is enough with COP meetings and theory. It’s time for us to actually act,” she said. “Fossil fuels are still being burned.We know all too well what it’s like to live on the frontline of climate change,” Brianna Fruean, a climate activist from Samoa, a low-lying island extremely vulnerable to climate change, told the BBC. “We are here after so many COPS, marching for justice, for the end of fossil fuels,” Ilan, from the nongovernmental organisation 350, who lives in Brazil, said.

Some carried signs reading “demarcation now”, calling for indigenous groups tobegivenlegalownershipof their territories Hundreds of indigenous groups live in the Amazon and are regarded by expertsasthebestprotectorsof biodiversity and forests

Smaller sister protests have taken place around the world including in the UK Security wastightattheCOP30venue

Thousands march outside COP30 summit in call for action on Saturday

as police with riot shields guarded the entrance On Tuesday protesters carrying signs broke through security lines at the summit The incidentcausedminorinjuries totwosecuritystaffandsome limiteddamagetothevenue

Representation of indigenousvoiceshasbeena flashpoint in these talks, some of whom have set up stalls outside the fenced-off

COP30 ve

delegates. The meeting was dubbed the “indigenous people’s COP” but many groupsfeeltheirconcernsover deforestation, land protection andresourceextractionintheir homesarenotbeingheard

Negotiations continued at the COP30 talks on

S

countries are meeting to try tomakeprogressontackling climate change Little

progress was made in the first week of the talks, although some delegations say they are pushing for an agreedstrategytodeliveron pastpromisestomoveaway from using planet-warming fossilfuels.

President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva of Brazil is hostingthetalksandchosethe cityofBelémtoputtheworld’s focus on the Amazon. But shortlybeforethetalksopened

last week, his government granted permission to the Brazilianstateoilcompanyto exploreforoilatthemouthof the Amazon On Friday, analysisofattendeelistsbythe coalition Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO) suggested a record number of delegates fromfossilfuelcompaniesare attending the meeting With theUSstrikinglyabsentfrom negotiations, progress has beenslow Itisthefirsttimethe countryhassentnodelegation to the talks, after President Donald Trump branded climatechange“acon”

Earlier in the week a group of senior climate leaderswrotealettercalling on the summit to ensure the facts about climate change were“upheld. Tencountries have signed an initiative called Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30, launched by the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change.

APalestinian man clears stagnant water from the road near a displacement camp after the first winter rainfall in Gaza City on November 14, 2025 [AFP]

BLUNT BLUNT

Bluff and blather

President Irfaan Ali's latest “produce or perish” warning to GuySuCo's management has a familiar ring, because we have heard it over and over since 2021. Each year, the riot act is read.

Each year, the executives nod solemnly. And each year, GuySuCo returns with the same story: low production, broken factories, spiraling costs, and yet another request for billions in bailouts.

The President's tough talk may sound decisive, but citizens are increasingly unmoved. They have watched more than $50 billion in taxpayer dollars pumped into an industry that continues to stumble, stagnate, and sink. Threats lose their force when repeated without consequence.

At this point, Guyanese are not hearing leadership — they are hearing bluff on loop. The truth is simple: GuySuCo has become a political museum piece, preserved at great cost, even as the rest of the economy modernizes and expands.

If “perish” is never an option, then “produce” becomes meaningless. The country deserves honesty. Either GuySuCo is restructured with real accountability, or the government must finally admit that endless bailouts are not rescue plans; they are habits.

ICC launches Emerging Nations Trophy for women

(ESPNCricinfo)-Anew global tournament, the ICC Women’sEmergingNations Trophy, involving eight teams from four continents, will be played from November 20 to 30 in Bangkok. Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, UAE, Scotland, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda will take part in the inaugural edition. The trigger for the tournament, an ICC statement said, was the success of the recent ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, where “more than 500 million viewers in India” were recorded and there was also “significant growthinviewershipacross countries”.”Nearly 300,000

fans attended matches across India and Sri Lanka and the event concluded withIndiabecomingthefirst Asian team to lift the Women’s Cricket World Cup,awatershedmomentin theevolutionofthesportand thesocio-culturalcontextof gender roles,” an ICC statementsaid.“Buildingon the extraordinary impetus

provided by the marquee event, the ICC continues to invest in creating a sustainable future for women’s cricket The Women’sEmergingNations Trophy is part of a new three-tier development pathway designed to offer high-performance exposure toemergingnations.”

Sanjog Gupta, the ICC chief executive, said, “It is theICCandtheChair’s[Jay Shah] vision to sustainably expand cricket’s footprint across the world and grow the women’s game

Sunday November 16, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Today you will have all the energy you need to deal with long-term family problems. Indeed, you'll probably clash with some of your relatives. But this situation won't cause anyseriousissues.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You enjoy caring for others andyouinterveneregularlyin their lives to guide them. Ironically, today you're the one who needs advice. You'll probably need to get away from it all in order to get a clearviewofyourownlife.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

We all have to make compromises in order to live in contemporary society.You may have strong beliefs, but it's difficult to combine your idealsandasociallife.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You'vealwaysfelttheneedto free yourself from society You need to feel independent at any cost. You may need to face certain relationship problemsatthistime.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You may feel annoyed about the attitude of some of your groupoffriends.Unlikethese people, you're very openmindedandyoucandealwith situations as they arise Indeed, you have a natural ability to adapt to every situation.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Today, Virgo, you'll be submerged under a lot of emotions. In a way, you'll be revisiting your childhood

Youmaybeveryedgy Thisis agooddispositioninwhichto analyzeyourlife.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

You really know how to seduce,Libra.Thereisaspark inside of you that spreads naturally to those around you. You have a big reservoir of sensitivity and emotion that couldgrowtoday

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You're a very active person, Scorpio, but today you'll probably be disappointed. If you ask those around you to help with your activities, they most likely won't understand yourneeds.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Nothing much is happening today, yet you seem worried and tense. You'll have to use this day to your advantage. Think about your life. You'll also think about the needs of yourrelativesintheyears.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You often need to thrive on personal emotions.Today will benoexceptiontotherule.For instance, you could try to captivate the attention of peopleyouadmire.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You shouldn't try to fight the feelings that run through you today Don't even try to rationalize them These feelingsareprobablyrelatedto emotions dating back to your childhood You shouldn't avoidoranalyzethem.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

You'll be lost in your thoughts today, analyzing your life and relationships.You'll be asking yourself if your existence is meeting your standards. You will ponder what to expect from the future and from the peoplearoundyou.

AndreRussellreleasedby KolkataKnightRiders

(ESPNCricinfo)-Inone of the most high-profile releases in IPL history, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have decided to let go of their star allrounder Andre Russell ahead of the auctionforIPL2026.

Russell has been a constant for the franchise since IPL 2014 and was among five players retained bythefranchiseaheadofthe 2025 mega auction for INR 12crore.

Providingeliteathletesfrom emerging nations more opportunities to play at the highestlevelisaimedatfasttracking their development and improving the competitiveness of their teams.

“It also drives the visibility of the sport in participant nations, serving as a driver of girls’ involvementinthesportand inspires women from other nationstostaycommittedto thedevelopmentpathways.”

The opening day will feature Thailand vs NetherlandsandPapuaNew GuineavsUAE.

A bona fide T20 great, RussellisalsoanIPLGOAT Only two players in IPL history have scored over 2000 runs and picked 100 wickets One of themRussell - has been released, and the other - Ravindra Jadeja - has been traded, making the 2026 retention window among the most headline-makingones. While the development will surprise many, including KKR fans, the franchise had deliberated releasing Russell ahead of the 2025 mega auction before deciding to stall that call.

Russell, who is 37, had retired from international

cricket in July, having only played the T20 format after the2019WorldCup. Russell, who was the Player of theTournament in IPL 2019, was part of the KKR’s title-winning teams in 2014 and 2024. Russell also won 16 Player-of-theMatchawardsatKKRandis only behind the other KKR great Sunil Narine. A powerful batter who is knowntotakebowlersapart, especially in death overs, Russell has hit the jointseventh most sixes (223) in theIPL.

It is understood that more than one franchise sought out Russell in trade. KKR, though, will have the biggest purse, INR 64.30 crore, at the auction and could look to even buy him back. The teams will also pay attention to Russell’s form in the 2025 season. With the bat in ten innings, Russell hit 167 runs at a strike rate of 163 72, including a 50. His bowling numbers, though, were under par: eight wickets in nineinningsatanaverageof 27.12 and an economy of 11.94.

Petra-Republic Bank U18 SSFL continues today with 5th round

Action in the Republic Bank

U n d e r - 1 8 Secondary Schools Football Leagueheatsuptodayatthe Ministry of Education Ground, as four pivotal clashes bring the curtain down on round five of the 2025championship.

Chase’s Academic F o u n d a t i o n , We s t Ruimveldt Secondary, a n d C h a r l e s t o w n Secondary continue to lead the pack in this sixth editionofthetournament,

while Abram Zuil

S e c o n d a r y a n d President’s College are still hunting their first winofthecampaign

The marquee matchup of the afternoon sees the u n b e a t e n C h a s e ’s Academic Foundation looking to keep their flawless record intact as they square off against fellow title contenders Charlestown Secondary Sitting on nine points, Charlestown will be desperate to halt Chase’s momentum and draw level at the top But they’ll have their hands full, Chase’s attacking firepower, led by Kennard Halley, Isaiah Ifill, Bryan Wharton, and Mark Glasgow, has been nearunstoppable Charlestown’s dynamic

duo, Dilshawn Alleyne and Adion Marks, will need the game of their lives to break Chase’sstride.

Three Mile Secondary willalsobeeyeingabigleap up the table when they take on President’s College at noon.

The Barticians, with two wins from four outings, will fancy their chances of moving to nine points against a PC side eager to shake off a rocky start and finally claim threepoints.

Next up, Abram Zuil Secondary will go all-out in searchoftheirfirstvictoryof the season when they meet S o u t h R u i m v e l d t

Secondary.

South Ruimveldt to tackle Abram Zuil today at 13:30 hrs

But with South boasting a +5 goal difference and a sturdy two-win, one-draw record, Abram Zuil will need a disciplined, spirited performance to earnabreakthroughresult.

In the day’s third matchup, Dolphin Secondary battle secondplace West Ruimveldt Secondaryinwhatcouldbea defining moment for both teams.

West Ruimveldt; powered by the electric Griffith brothers, Joel and Jeremiah, along with the

ever-dangerous Ronaldo Ramdassare determined to stay neck-and-neck in the titlerace.Dolphin,however, will be aiming for an upset and will need a standout performance to topple the tournamentheavyweights. The tournament is proudly sponsored by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited and expertly coordinated by the Petra Organisation, with additional support from Ronoca Concrete Inc , Guyana Beverage Inc (Busta), MVP Sports, and the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSports.

Charlestown Secondary to battle Chase’s Academic Foundation for three points

Joy Adams’ triple-double headlines Guyana’s

106–42 Rout of Suriname

Captain Joy Adams delivered a commanding triple-double performance on last evening, powering Guyana to a resounding

106–42 victory over Suriname as the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. With the five-team tournamentcomingtoanend tonight, the win keeps Guyanafirmlyincontention foratop-twofinish,onethey must now secure tonight when they close their campaignagainstJamaica.

Adamswasnothingshort of sensational. The Spainbased professional controlled the game on both ends of the floor, finishing with19points,12rebounds, and10assists,becomingthe firstplayerofthetournament toregisteratriple-double. Her court vi

n, rebounding presence, and leadership were on full display as she orchestrated Guyana’s offense with remarkablecomposure. Every time Adams touched the ball, the home c

anticipation, erupting with each dish, block, or putback Her all-around brilliance set the tone for Guyana’s most complete performance of the championship.

Backedbyabuoyantand electrifying crowd that turned the venue into a

…must-win clash with Jamaica tonight

cauldron of noise, Guyana came out blazing from jump ball Everydefensivestopand fast-break finish sent fans into a frenzy as the host nation played with pace, aggression,andtotalcontrol.

The fireworks started early behind the explosive Anaya Mc David, whose slashing drivesandconfident finishing saw her pour in 24 pointsonanefficient12-of-17 shooting Mc David attackedtherimrelentlessly, her 75 percent scoring clip highlighting Guyana’s sharp ball movement and their abilitytocarveupSuriname’s defense Matching her brilliance was Amisha Ramlall, who shot the lights out with 25 points on 10-of15 shooting, including an impressive 85 7 percent conversioninside.

Inthepaint,RuthAdams

dominated with a bruising 19-point, 13-rebound double-double,musclingher way to second-chance baskets and controlling the glassatbothends.

Completing the starting unit’s scoring spree was Ashna Ramlall, who added 12 points on an efficient 6of-10 shooting, staying aggressive and capitalizing ondefensivebreakdowns.

Allfivestartersscoredin double figures, combining for a stunning 99 of Guyana’s 106 points, underscoring the team’s chemistry, spacing, and relentlessoffensivepressure.

ButGuyana’sdominance was not limited to scoring. Defensively, they were suffocating.

Brown and Adams controlled the boards, while Mc David and the Ramlall sisters applied constant pressure on the perimeter, forcing hurried decisions and turnovers By halftime, Suriname was already strugglingtokeeppace Bythe final whistle, Guyana had delivered a statement; one fueled equally by execution and the deafening roar of the homesupporters

Now, attention shifts to tonight’s crucial showdown against Jamaica. With the tournament’s top two spots still up for grabs, Guyana will need another inspired performance.

A win would cement theirplaceamongtheleaders andcapoffamemorablerun onhomesoil.

Surinamewasheldto15of-64 shooting (23.4%), as Guyana clogged passing lanes, jumped screens, and contestedeveryshot.

MVP Sports Girl’s U11 Football Tournament…

Johnson nets four in big win, Alert’s treble seals victory for SJTB

Rosa Primary puts seven (goal)

Th e P e t r a -

organised MVP

Sports Girls Under-11 Schools Football Tournament kicked off yesterday at thMinistry of Education ground with commanding performances from St John the Baptist, MarianAcademy, and Santa Rosa Primary, setting an electrifying tone for this year’scompetition.

Potaro Primary, West Ruimveldt, and Waramuri

Top also entered the winner’s column, each

advancingviawalkoversdue to opposing teams failing to show

Following a vibrant March Past ceremony, the ninth edition of the tournament roared to life, witnessing two standout individual performances from Thalia Alert and RovenaJohnson.

St John the Baptist (SJTB) wasted no time stamping their authority, crushing Smith Memorial 7–0, led by the brilliant midfield mastery of Thalia

Alert.

Alertdeliveredoneofthe tournament’smostexplosive opening displays, scoring a blistering hat-trick in just five minutes. She found the netinthe19th,21st,and24th minutes, propelling SJTB to a commanding early lead and setting the tone for the restofthematch.

Elianna Grant added a second-half brace, while Anitacia Livan chipped in with a 40th-minute strike to sealanemphaticvictory Santa Rosa Primary

matched SJTB’s margin of victorywithadominant7–0 triumph over Genesis Academy, thanks largely to the unstoppable Rovena Johnson.

After Bre Atkinson handed Santa Rosa the perfectstartwithgoalsinthe 4thand7thminutes,Johnson took complete control. She delivered a dazzling fourgoalperformance,scoringin the 9th, 17th, 28th, and 29th minutes, thrilling the crowd and firmly establishing herself as one of the

tournament’sbreakoutstars. Marian Academy also opened their campaign in style, defeating Tucville Primary 6–0 Haley Haberkon, Ella Fernandes, and Haley DeNobrega each recorded braces during an eight-minute scoring burst thatoverwhelmedTucville’s backline.

In other results,Agatash Primary and Georgetown International Academy battled to a 1–1 draw, with Rakeyla Joseph scoring in the15thminutebeforeSofia

Molina equalized four minutes later North Georgetown Primary and St Alouysius Primary also shared the points in a 1–1 stalemate.

The tournament is sponsored by MVP Sports withsupportfromDemerara Mutual, Sterling Products Limited, Soft n Pretty Toiletry, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. It is sanctioned by the Ministry ofEducation.

Santa

in Genesis in MVPFootball opener

Ella Fernandes (with ball) scores twice in 6-0 win for MarianAcademy

RuthAdams had a monster game on both ends of the floor

2025 CWI Republic Bank Five for Fun...

“Discipline

Curtains came down yesterday as St. Lawrence Primary School were crownedwinnersofthe2025 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Republic Bank Five for Fun cricket program which ended at the National Gymnasium.

Attendedbyanumberof parents, teachers, coaches the program saw another chapter being written as a largenumberofyouthsmade stridesintheiryoungcareers ascricketers.

Minister within the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs during his feature address; congratulated Republic Bank for their continued emphasis on developing cricket at the grassroots level.

The former Guyana allrounder further highlighted the importance of the Government’sgoaltohavea structured sports system

is your key to success”- Minister Jacobs

with the help of corporate Guyana and the various associations.

Jacobs added that the overallgoalistoensurethat children at the grassroots withintheSportssystemcan develop into future Guyana cricketers.

He told the kids in attendance that he was once sitting where they were as membersofsuchaprogram, adding that his road to successwasfirstinitiatedby similarprograms.

His overall advice to the students was “Discipline is key to your success”, while highlighting the focal point being the marriage between educationandsports.

Minister Jacobs said government policies are gearedtowardscapturingthe well-rounded growth of students.

Plans to upgrade and redotheindoorfacilityofthe LBI Ground as well as the Essequibohostel.

One huge pitch by the Minister was challenging RepublicBanktohavemore than 500 players and more than 75 Schools for future programs.

M

Communications Manager

congratulated the players for making the tournament anadventureforall S

captivating to parents, teachers and coaches alike as it aids in building confidence while sparking curiosity; reassuring the Bank’s commitment to Sports and future Five for Funeditions.

G

Board (GCB) secretary Ronald Williams also thanked all entities for making the program a success, while recognizing the past career of Minister Jacobs during his playing years

M e a n w h i l e , S t TheresafromBerbicewon the first edition, but it was two-time winners from East Bank Essequibo St. Lawrence Primary, who were crowned champions forthesecondtime. Awards for Best batter went to the champs,

Tianna Steele who hit 36 runs Best Bowlingfigures went to Massiah Primary’s Sushani Thornhill with 3 wickets. Award to the best fielder went to another Massiah Primary student inVideshPritam Massiah also copped the award for the Team

S

However, MVP of the tournament went to Steele whowasonahattrickduring the finals which her team wonby50-oddruns.

earned medals and bags complimentsoftheBank

Jacobs

MVPTianna Steele collecting her award from Republic Bank Marketing and Communications Manager Jonell Dummett

Forthethirdconsecutive year, Nexgen Golf and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have teamed up to deliver an exciting and interactive mini-golf experience for visitors to GuyExpo.

This year’s exhibition features a striking mini-golf replica of the Dr. Bharat Jagdeo Demerara River

Golf returns to GuyExpo…

Guyana Tourism Authority partners with GGA Nexgen for 3rd Year

thebridgeforachancetowin instantprizesfromIglooIce CreamandSunshineSnacks, along with opportunities to win premium local excursions. Prizes include trips for two to Kaieteur Falls, Elite Kayaking experiences, the Demerara Sunset Tour, Essequibo RiverDayTour,Georgetown

City Tour, and ATV adventures Minister of Tourism, Honourable Susan Rodrigues, praised the initiative,stating:”Golfisan important part of our focus on sports tourism, and we have asked Aleem to do everything possible to make thishappen.Thisexhibition,

thousandstotrygolf—many for the first time—shows that we can create avenues forhigh-endsportstourism.”

Director of Tourism, Kamrul Baksh, echoed the Minister’s sentiment:”We committedtopromotinggolf several years ago with Aleem and Nexgen Golf, and the results have been

fantastic. We believe that together, we can generate widespread enthusiasm for thesportwhilecreatingjobs and driving revenue into the country.”

The mini-golf attraction is located at the Tourism Villageandisfreeofcharge, welcoming participants of allages

Bridge, drawing large crowds and enthusiastic participation at the Tourism Village.

The attraction was designedbyAleemHussain, PresidentoftheGuyanaGolf Association and designer of the Westside Golf Course, and constructed with the assistanceofGeruGordon.

Visitorscan“rollacross”

Prime Minister Mark Phillips getting in on some golf fun at this year’s Guyexpo year

Minister of Tourism Susan Rodrigues showing her skills with the golf club as GGANexgen Golf Academy presidentAleem Hussain watches on

Virgin Islands blowout Jamaica for third consecutive win

The US Virgin Islands continuedtheirred-hotrunat the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship, overpowering Jamaica 93–43 on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Thevictorymarkedtheir thirdstraightwininasmany games, putting them firmly onthebrinkofcapturingthe regionaltitle.

With the tournament returning for the first time since2022,whenCubalifted thetrophy,theVirginIslands are now just one win away from becoming champions. They face the Bahamas today, and a victory will officially seal this year’s championship.

Fromtheopeningtip,the Virgin Islands displayed a levelofpace,discipline,and scoring efficiency that no team in Georgetown has beenabletomatch.

Leading the charge was J-Naya Ephraim, who delivered a near-flawless performance with 20 points on a scorching 8-for-11 shooting.

Dominating both inside and in transition, she was unstoppable, finishing at a blistering 72.7% from the field and pulling down six rebounds.

Alongside her, Anisha George was a force in the paint, pouring in 16 points whilehittinganincredible6of-7 attempts. Her work on the glass and rim protection further frustrated Jamaica’s offense.

The Virgin Islands’ balanced attack was evident across the stat sheet. Imani Tate added a composed 16 points and seven rebounds, controlling the tempo whenever Jamaica threatenedtomakearun.

Naja Ngongba chipped

in with 18 valuable points, slicing through the defense with clever cuts and confidentfinishes.

By halftime, the visitors had built a commanding lead, shooting above 50% fromthefloorwhileJamaica struggled to keep pace. The defensive pressure never relented, forcing turnovers, contesting every look, and limitingJamaicatojust30% shootingoverall.

Jamaica,whoenteredthe tournament hopeful of making a statement, simply had no answers Tiffany Reynolds tried to keep her side afloat, dropping 17 points, but it was a lonely effort. Jamaica’s perimeter shooting failed to ignite, converting only 2-of-13 fromthree-pointrange.

Their 43 total points reflected just how dominant theVirginIslands’defensive rotations and physicality

were.

The biggest statistical contrast came on the boards and in interior scoring. The Virgin Islands won the rebounding battle 46–22,

racking up second-chance points that broke Jamaica’s rhythmandmorale. Asthetournamentinches toward its conclusion, the VirginIslandshaveemerged

as the clear

Their3–0record,allblowout wins, underscores their statusasfavouritestosecure the title on the tournament’s long-awaitedreturn.

Boss advance to round of 16

Harmony Ballers 5-1 in the penultimate contest of the night Meanwhile, North East La Penitence whipped Pike Street 4-0 while Stabroek Ballers downed Eastside3-1andCorinthians overcameAlbouystown2-1.

Also, Bent St B edged MaradBallers2-1.Theevent will resume on Tuesday at thesamevenue.

The winner of the event will receive $1,000,000 and the championship trophy, whilethesecond-,third-,and fourth-place finishers will pocket $500,000, $300,000, and $200,000, respectively, and the corresponding accolade.

The event will also featureawomen’sandyouth segment which will commence at the semifinal round of the main draw $150,000willbegiventothe winner of the women’s section,while$100,000will be awarded to the victor of the youth division Both second-place finishers will receive $50,000. Below is the complete results and fixturesforthenextround. CompleteResults Game-1

Stabroek Ballers-3 vs. Eastside-1

Game-2

NorthEastLaPenitence4vs.PikeStreet-0

Game-3

o

powerhouse.

Defending champion

GoldisMoney,TeamSpirit, Sparta Boss, and North East La Penitence secured their berths to the round of 16 when

Team Spirit whipped Victoria to advance to Bent Street round-of-16

The USVI’s J-Naya Ephraim (#21) in defensive mode against Carissa Robinson of Jamaica at the CliffAnderson Sports Hall.

Silver Bullets, Spaniards register wins in ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal

Part of the action between HH Ballers (orange) and Spaniards

Silver Bullets annihilate Westside Ballers 23-0 during ExxonMobil Futsal Championship in Linden

The New Era Entertainment-

coordinated ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal Championshipcontinuedon Friday evening, with Silver Bullets and Spaniards securinggroupstagewinsat the Retrieve Tarmac in Linden.

Silver Bullets riddled Westside Ballers 23-0 Damion Williams netted nine goals, while Sigmund CobenaandRodensioTudor recorded a helmet and hattrick,respectively

Adding respective doubles were Colwyn Drakes, Jermaine Samuels, and Omar Williams, while FelixInnissnettedonce.

On the other hand, SpaniardsedgedHHBallers 4-3, led by a helmet trick from Mark Jacobs. For the loser, Sedeu Nelson bagged a double, while Cedric Huntescoredonce.

Also, Young Gunners and Foundation Family played to a 1-1 draw Dwayne James scored for Young Gunners, while Chaka Hall netted for FoundationFamily Meanwhile, DC Ballers and Hardball Management defeated Fearless and YMCA B via respective walkovers.

The competition continues at the same venue on Wednesday. Utilising an initial group stage format, the16teamsaredividedinto four groups, with the eventual top two finishers advancingtothequarterfinal segment.

Group A features Hardk n o c k s , H a r d b a l l Management,Bomberz,and

YMCA B, while Spaniards, YMCAA, HH Ballers, and FiggyFCmakeupGroupB.

Meanwhile, Group C comprises Young Gunners, Silver Bullets, Foundation Family, and Westside Ballers, while Group D is made up of DC Ballers, Salah Family, Stabroek, and Fearless.

The winner of the event will pocket $1,500,000, while the eventual second, third, and fourth place finishers will receive $750,000, $350,000, and $200,000, respectively, and thecorrespondingaccolade.

On the individual level, the eventual Most Valuable Playerwillrideawaywitha motorcycle.

Itwasalsodisclosedthat a $300,000 economic grant will be awarded to a player or fan to aid their academic development.

Each team must put forward a candidate for the aforesaidscholarship.

CompleteResults Game-1

DCBallersvs.Fearless

DCBallerswonvia walkover Game-2

SilverBullets-23vs. WestsideBallers-0

DamionWilliams-9

SigmundCobena-4

RodensioTudor-3

ColwynDrakes-2

JermaineSamuels-2

OmarWilliams-2

FelixInniss-1 Game-3

HardballManagement vs.YMCAB

Hardballwonvia walkover Game-4

Spaniards-4vs.HH

Ballers

Spaniardscorer

MarkJacobs-4

HHBallersscorers

SedeuNelson-2

CedricHunte-1

Game-5

FoundationFamily-1vs. YoungGunners-1

Foundationscorer:

ChakaHall-1

YoungGunnersscorer:

DwayneJames-1

Joy Adams’ triple-double headlines Guyana’s 106–42 Rout of Suriname

…must-winclashwithJamaicatonight

Virgin Islands blowout Jamaica for third consecutive win

…to face The Bahamas today; on the brink of title

2025 CWI Republic Bank Five for Fun…

“Discipline is your key to success”- Minister Jacobs

Guyana's Captain JoyAdams had a triple-double to lead Guyana to victory against Suriname