


PetroleumEngineer and spokesperson fortheAlliancefor Change (AFC), Dr Vincent Adams, has challenged the Government of Guyana to make public its depletion policy,whichVicePresident
Bharrat Jagdeo recently spokeof.
At his last press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo told Kaieteur News that Guyana's current depletion policy was crafted tomatchtheglobalmarketin
termsofsupplyanddemand.
Calling his bluff, Dr Adamsissuedachallengeon Friday to release the policy, sothatitcouldbeperusedby the opposition and citizens alike.
“Well, I have never seen
a(depletion)policyfromthis administration So, what BharratJagdeoneedstodois publish his policy Maybe I don't know if you've seen it, butIhaveneverseenapolicy besides (him) talking stuff. What is that policy?” he questioned.
Dr Adams said such a policy is born from longterm planning, based on the production profile over the years, which is available in theFieldDevelopmentPlans (FDP) The government would have to look at their strategic plan in the projects they were looking to undertake, and compare to seeifitmatcheswhatisinthe FDPs.
“Then you can devise a policyfromthat,ifyouwant to not produce at the maximum level, then you can regulate how much oil you want to produce, etcetera. But… first of all, they have not released the FDPs, and I'm glad you askedthatquestion,”hesaid.
The petroleum engineer addedthatthevicepresident “lied barefacedly, (when he) saidthatsincetheycameinto power, they've released every single field development plan. That's a blatantlie.
I and others have been calling for them to release those FDPs. They've never released a single one. And this man got there on television before this countryandsaidthatthey've released every single FDP that's a brain to try and immediatelyneedtocallhim outinit.”
During his press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo made it clear that long-term policies are not determined by day-to-day changes.
KaieteurNewshadasked thevicepresidentwhetherhe is considering putting a depletion policy in place to existing frameworks to manage and strengthen the oil sector, thereby ensuring maximum benefits for citizens.
“Should we have a depletion policy now…you don'tdeterminepoliciesofa long-termnatureonthebasis ofdailyoccurrencesinanoil and gas market which is known for its volatility, and sowhenIsawthatcomment coming from Jordan [Winston Jordon- former Finance Minister] I wonder if he really understood policy,”Jagdeosaid.
Jordan,inaMay5,2025 article captioned, 'Govt should hedge, implement
PetroleumEngineerand Spokespersonforthe AllianceforChange (AFC), Dr. VincentAdams
depletion policy in face of droppingoilprices–Jordan' published in the Stabroek News, said that with unpredictable oil prices and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) projections of lowering crude prices this year, the government's 'drill baby drill' policy is flawed and a depletion strategy is needed.
In the article, Jordan opinedthatitisnottoolateto implement a depletion policy “The more FPSOs [Floating Production and Storage and Offloading vessels] ExxonMobil brings on,itiswiththeseadditional costs,” Jordan told Stabroek News.
“And if you are now extractingmoreandmoreoil andatalessandlessprice,it will take longer to pay back Exxon's [operational] costs. And in that, our dream of getting a better profit share willbelikewhatBobMarley said, 'a fleeting illusion,'” Stabroek News quoted Jordanassaying.
Jordansaidhelistenedto the government and especially Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, that the policy is to extract as much oil as possible, as the timeframe for fossils is dwindling and operational costsarelowestnow
However, Jagdeo, a formerpresidentandfinance minister, said the type of policy that Jordan spoke about would have to be alteredasoilpricesfluctuate.
“The depletion policy that we have now was carefully calibrated to take accountofwhat'shappening globally, with the demand forandthesupplyofcrudeto theglobalmarket.
Now, the overarching (Continuedonpage12)
ByRenaySambach
Guyana'smineralwealth continues to attract major foreigninvestment,withfive Canadianminingcompanies collectively controlling an estimated 15 5 million ounces of gold across
various stages of
development These projects, spanning across Guyana mining regions, are
progressing through exploration, feasibility studies,andpermits.
Many of the companies have boasted of Guyana's mining-friendlypoliciesand bankontheprojectstodrive substantial growth for their companies.
OmaiGoldMines
Corp.–OmaiProject
Omai Gold Mines Corp. has full ownership of the historic Omai gold project, situatedinGuyana'sinterior Once a prolific gold producerfrom1993to2005, the mine yielded 3.8 million ounces of gold during a period when gold traded below US$400/oz The company has revitalized the property, which benefits
from much existing infrastructure and will soon be connected to the two largest cities in Guyana, GeorgetownandLinden,via paved roads Omai is
focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%ownedOmaiGoldProjectin “mining-friendly”Guyana.
Since2021,thecompany has established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest-growing and wellendowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield greenstone belt. In February 2024, Omai announced an
updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2 0 million ounces of gold indicated and 2.3 million ounces inferred, comprising both the Wenot open pit depositandtheadjacentGilt Creek underground deposit. This was followed by an initial baseline Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in April 2024, which contemplated an open pit-
only development scenario andincludedonly45%ofthe Omai Gold Project MRE. The PEA for the Wenot deposit outlines an open-pit operation producing 1 84 million ounces over a 13year mine life Annual production is projected to average 142,000 ounces, peakingat184,000ouncesin thebestyear
Subsequent to the 2024
MRE, Omai has been aggressively drilling to expandgoldresourcesatthe Wenot deposit and has identified additional wide zones of high-grade gold mineralization. Over25,000 metres of additional drilling on the Wenot deposit have beencompletedsincethelast resource es
February 2024. This year, Omai plans to continue its drill programs, announce an updatedandexpandedMRE, and complete an updated PEA, which would include anexpandedWenotopenpit deposit and an underground mining scenario at Gilt Creek.
ArisMining–ToroparuProject ArisMiningisadvancing its Toroparu project, a s
d developmentwithbothopen
potential.Theproject boasts indicated resources of 5.4 million ounces of gold, placing it among the largest undevelopedgoldprojectsin theregion.
Situated in the CuyuniMazaruni district, Toroparu includes an established exploration camp, airstrip, and road infrastructure.Aris (Continuedonpage 12)
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Fifty-nine years of Independence should have Guyana bubbling with energy The discovery of oil in abundance should have been enough to give Guyana new life, through vibrancyofspirit,asenseofhavingconqueredolddemons, readyforthechallengesofbeingadifferentkindofcountry All the old limitations replaced by fresh visions, new determinations As we see it, something strange happened withthecomingofoil
After59yearsofIndependence,thedefinitionofnational self-determinationunderwentachange Insteadofbrimming with unharnessed power to leap forward, Guyana is going backward, ever downward This cannot be Independence fromancientcolonialismandimperialism Truthbetold,this is the self-destruction that is foisted upon poor, backwards countrieswheretherichnessofoilimpalesitsleaders,drivesa stakeintotheexpectationsoftrustingcitizens
th Onthis,the59 AnniversaryofGuyana'sIndependence, thereisanationalcrisis Itiswhereleadersmakecomplete fools of themselves, then try to camouflage that by abusing citizens who expose their emptiness In a country that is supposed to be free of any shackles, there is the national embarrassment of leaders who are afraid to speak Strong men speak in shrill tones, like weak children who have a losing hand, but still try to sell that they have something of substance behind them Guyana's leaders tiptoe around talkingaboutthenation'simmenseoilwealth,asifdoingso would open them up to powerful blows. In the normal mannerofcowards,theylookaroundforthepowerlessinthe population to batter into helplessness, instilling greater fear and dependency on their moods and their goodwill Real Independence would uncork all the energy in real leaders possessingrealsubstance But,asthehistoryofAfrica,Asia, andLatinAmericahasemphasized,thosewholinkedhands with exploiters, who bartered their nation's birthright for personal enrichment, usually can't speak They can't represent the interests of their citizens, can't stand for anything. They hem and haw, pretend to cover lots of space,onlyforittobenoticedthattheyhaven'tmovedatall. All they do is keep their feet planted and go around in circles. Those are not the actions of independent leaders, but those who have condemned themselves by their still unrevealedtreacheries. Inthelast59years,Guyanamoved fromunderthesaddleofsugarandbauxitemasterstounder the bridle of oil and gas masters. From British masters to Americanmasters,andthatiscelebratedasIndependence. th On the occasion of Guyana's 59 Anniversary of Independence,nineyearsago,whenoilwasfirstdiscovered, the ordinary citizens of this country dared to dream of economicliberation Theyimaginedthatitwouldnotbetoo long before they actually tasted the fruits of that kind of independence Realmoneyintheirhands,greatstridesmade by every Guyanese living their oil dream, sharing in the rewardsoftheiroil Littleofthathashappened,withhopes fading,confidenceweakeningthatsuchwilleverbe.
Nine years later, most Guyanese are trapped in their unchangingcyclesofpoverty,theirgrandparents'grimview of life's unyielding cruelties There should have been economicindependencethatflowsfrombeingpartandparcel ofsharinginmassiveoilwealth WhatGuyaneseareforced tolivewithisthedependencecultivatedbyleaderswhocheat their promises The same callous leaders then hand the citizensadollartokeepthemundercontrolandhangingona string Be patient is the mantra, for there is more like that comingforthosewhobottleuptheirangrydisappointment, andsubscribetothecongamesoftrickstersmasquerading asleaders.Justasinthedaysoftheoldcolonials,thehogof the profits from Guyana's riches leaves these shores in the handsofforeignexploiters Whathaschangedafter59years ofIndependence,otherthanfortheflagandaccentsofthose whodon'tcallthemselvesconquerorsbutpartners? RevJim Jones had his Kool-Aid, and he also had promised h independencetohisflockofpartners. Inthis,the59 yearof Guyana's Independence, oil has become a toxic brew, and GuyaneseleadersarethenewJimJones.
DearEditor, Peeping Tom's column "Justice Must Not Be Selective" (Kaieteur News, May 23, 2025) correctly warnsagainstmobruleinthe wake of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge's death
The arson and looting that followed were destructive acts,notdeliberativejustice. The rule of law cannot survive when society replaces inquiry with inferno.
Yet the commentary's moral framework is deeply flawed.Thecolumn draws a hollowparallel:"Onefamily grieves a lost child.Another watches their life's work go up in flames ” This equivalence is morally bankrupt. Property can be rebuilt; children cannot be resurrected Peeping Tom overemphasizes the hotel owner's material losses while underplaying the
national trauma of a dead child and botched police investigation, the piece prioritizes commercial interests over public accountability a familiar Guyanesereflex.
The columnist claims couragefor"speakingforthe hotel" when "no one dares" defendit.Thismisrepresents reality Hotel owners rarely lack a voice in Guyana, where wealth confers protection. It's the grieving, poor family of Adrianna Younge who goes unheard, shut out from justice, media platforms,andpower
The real silence isn't around defending wellconnected businessmen; it's the institutional silencing of the child's memory through bureaucraticobfuscationand narrativemanagement.
Callingpolicemisstepsa "fumble" trivializes a fundamental breach of
public trust. False claims about security footage misdirected a child's disappearance investigation. Her body was later found in the very pool that was allegedly already searched.
Public rage stems not from irrationality but from decades of institutional failurethathaveconditioned people to believe justice doesn'tworkforthem.
The violence cannot be condoned but must be understood Labelling it simply "mob rule" without examining what creates mobsmistakessymptomsfor disease. The absence of swift,credibleinvestigation, officialsilence,andthesense thatpowerfulinterestsmight evade scrutiny created a vacuum into which chaos rushed Yes, prosecute looters and arsonists. But extend that call equally to those responsible for
investigative failure, not through scapegoating but w i t h c l a r i t y a n d consequence Otherwise, "justice for all" remains an emptyslogan. Justice must not be selective.Thismeansasking why justice has historically been d
ed to the powerless, not just why the powerfularenowunderfire. It means ensuring Adrianna Younge isn't forgotten as a m e r e s y m b o l b u t rememberedasacatalystfor institutionalreform.
Will Guyana continue protecting property and privilege more swiftly than children? Or will it build a justice system truly worthy of the name swift, transparent,andfair?Justice must not be selective. But neithermustitbesuperficial.
Regards, Terrence Richard Blackman,Ph.D.
DearMr Editor, Fifty-nine years ago, Guyana became an independentstate.
At that time, we had the most beautiful city in the WestIndiesandthebrightest mindsintheWestIndies,for instance, J.F Haynes and SonnyRamphal. Guyana had the best tradesmenintheWestIndies; Afro-Guyanesewerethebest carpenters, masons, joiners andeveryothertradeyoucan
think about except for goldsmiths, they were mostly East Indians, and the Portuguese had clock and watchrepair Back then, five Guyana dollars were equal to one British pound, and that is how the five dollars was reformed as a pound Guyanese were among the best sportsmen and women; RohanKanhai,LanceGibbs, and Roy Federick –cricket, George Depena (athletics),
lanMacDonald-longtennis, MartinDias-weightlifting. Weevenhadsomeofthe best students in the West Indies; our G.C.E. scores were excellent. That was until around the 1970s or around1985,whentherewas a movement towards an allaround improvement Guyanese were once the best-dressed people in the West Indies, second only to Jamaicans.
Our men and women,
someofthemaredressedtoo lawlessly, you do not know whether they are attending a funeral or a party. And the way we use the road, Editor, let me tell you about 16 years ago, I visited India The way they used the road was described as organized chaos.
I n G u y a n a , i t ' s organized lawlessness.
Sincerely, Frank Debreu
DearEditor,
Immediately upon
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as Pope LeoXIV,Ihumorouslysenta note to colleagues suggestingthatperhapsheis a close relative of Mr Mallet-Provost, whose posthumously published story forms the basis of Venezuela's claim to almost two-thirds of Guyana and that he could perhaps lend Venezuelahishelp!
Not long after, a video surfaced, purportedly of a speechthenewpopemadein response to one by Captain Ibrahim Traore, president of BurkinaFaso,addressingthe Catholic Church's historical exploitative relationship with imperialism and its political interference in Africa.
As noted a few weeks ago, astroturfing –artificially manufactured political movement - is widespread in the world today, and my first reaction tothevideowastoconclude thatinthecontextof'Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want' the pope was unlikely to have used his first major speech about Africa in response to someone who rose to the presidency by way of a military coup and hascreatedapoliticalsystem that is worse than Guyanawhat the V-Dem Index describes a 'closed autocracy' i.e. an outright dictatorship! But the scope and depth of the pope's supposed presentation were
impressive, leading me to conclude that if the historic dataitcontainsarecorrect,it may well have come from theVatican.
A few days later, the Catholic News Agency stated that 'A 36-minute video purporting to show Pope Leo XIV reading a statement denouncing colonialism and praising Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the 37-year-old leader of Burkina Faso, has garnered nearly a million views on YouTube as of Monday
The video is fake and not to be taken seriously That doesn't mean Pope Leo will never address the topics raised in the video, such as colonialismandCatholicism in Africa; however, he just hasn't yet (Catholic News, Artificial Intelligence, Burkina Faso, Pope Leo XIV, Pope Leo, Ibrahim Traoré,deepfakes). Itiswidelybelievedthat demographic trends in Africasuggestapotentialfor it becoming a major global political and economic player in the coming decades, but only if its various countries 'take advantage of this demographicopportunityby developing appropriate policy frameworks Good governance, solid m a c r o e c o n o m i c management, good trade p o l i c y, e f f i c i e n t infrastructure, and effective investments in health and education must all be taken into consideration' Agenda
2063 is the continent's strategic plan for attaining this goal ('Governance Quality and Sustainable Development in Africa,' PublicOrganisationReview, 14/02/2025).
Agenda 2063 aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concretemanifestationofthe pan-African drive for unity, self-determination,freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism andAfrican Renaissance. The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leadersthattherewasaneed to refocus and reprioritise Africa's agenda ... to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issuesaimedatrepositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the globalarena.
Asanaffirmationoftheir commitment to support Africa's new path for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, African heads of state and government signed the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the OAU/AU in May 2013.The declaration marked the rededicationofAfricatowards the attainment of the Pan
African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peacefulAfrica,drivenbyits own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena and Agenda2063istheconcrete manifestation of how the continent intends to achieve this vision within a 50 year period from 2013 to 2063' (https://au int/en/agenda206 3/overview).
PresidentIbrahimTraore seized power from another militarymanin2022andhas becomeverypopularamong young people in Africa and beyond. It is said that his 'messages reflect the age we are living in, when many Africans are questioning the relationship with the West, andwhythereisstillsomuch poverty in such a resourcerich continent.' A 2024 survey in 39 countries by Afrobarometer showed a drop in support for democracy, although it remained the most popular form of government 'Democracy has failed to givehopetotheyouth.Ithas not delivered jobs or better education and health, etc.' ('Why Burkina Faso's junta leader has captured hearts andmindsaroundtheworld,' BBC,11/05/2025).
However, at a more general but objective level, outofatleast242successful military coups that have occurred globally since 1950,Africaaccountsforthe largest number at 106. It is estimated that since 1950, therehavebeen189country-
years of democracy in Africa, compared to 1823 c o u n t r y - y e a r s o f dictatorship.
As a part of his revolutiontoensureBurkina Faso benefits from its mineral wealth, the junta ditched former colonial power,France,infavourofa strong alliance with Russia and China, has engaged a Ru
ry brigade, and adopted leftwing economic policies
Among other things, the president nationalised two gold mines owned by a London-listedfirmandplans to take control of more foreign-owned mines. Not surprisingly, then, French Presiden
E
m
nuel Macronpreferstoseehimas one of a 'baroque alliance between self-proclaimed pan-Africans and neoimperialists' such as Russia andChina.
Ontheflipside,President Traore has failed in his promise to restore civilian rule by 2024 and to quell a 10-year Islamic insurgency thathadbroughthavocclose
to the capital city, Ouagadougou, within 3 months of his coming to power Traoreissaidtohave cracked down on dissent, including the opposition, media and civil society groups,andpunishedcritics, among them medics and magistrates,bysendingthem to the frontlines of the war against the jihadists ('Burkina Faso outcry over 'conscription used to punish junta critics,' (BBC News, 06/02/2024).
Incidentally and perhaps of interest to Guyana, Burkina Faso has a border conflict with Benin that was taken to the ICJ in 2010 and received a unanimous decision in 2013 that was intended 'to settle the amicably'butasoftoday,the border issue has not been fullysettled!
Research has shown that much of Traore's popularity has been fueled through social media, including many misleading posts intended to bolster his revolutionaryimage.AI-
(Continueonpage6)
DearEditor,
An amusing and mischievous Facebook post was issued by that Facebook misinformation page known as Guyana Daily News, targetingme,attorney-at-law, Mr Siand Dhurjon, that I “wasdetainedandquestioned by US authorities at JFK International Airport in connection with ongoing investigations involving his clientAzruddinMohamed”
I wish to categorically state that this post is a lie by t h a t F a c e b o o k misinformation page known astheGuyanaDailyNews
At no pointin timewas I ever detained by the US Authorities, this morning or atanytimeinmylife
At no time was I questioned by the US authorities about Mr Mohamed or any other individual at all, at any point intime Myfamilyof5andI is travelling on vacation during this time and we encountered particularly warm and helpful immigration officers who duly admitted me and my family into the United States withoutincident,detentionor questioning about third partieswhatsoever
MyvisitstotheUSAare frequent
It is strange that the Facebook misinformation pageknownasGuyanaDaily News was privy to my departurefromGuyanatothe
United States last night, as I did not make this publicly known It was in Guyana wheremyfamilyandIfaced scrutiny Before walking through the glass door to the check-in area of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, there were two detectives posted at the entry carefully observing who entered the departure area As I walked past him, he greeted me as if wehadknowneachotherfor years Further, particularly excessive and extensive checksweremadeonmeand my family by security personnel who searched the persons of myself my wife andmythreeminorchildren, including my seven-monthold baby, much to my annoyance After this, unknown individuals working at the airport unnecessarily checked our passports a fourth time Our passports were first checked by the airlines at check-in, secondly,priortoentryofthe immigrationareaandthirdly, by an immigration officer These unknown individuals thoroughlycheckedmyentire family'spassportsaftertelling methat'theywerelookingfor someone' I observed that they were not checking everyone'spassports.
I now recognize the true purpose of this heightened scrutiny on myself and my family by officers at the airport.
Iwishtoadvisethepublic
that an attorney merely representing a sanctioned individual does not, without more, open himself up to sanctions or to detention and investigation The US government is no fool It is well aware of the fundamental right one has to counsel Unless an attorney has engaged in activities beyond legal representation, such as participating in or facilitating alleged criminal activity, without more, that attorney would not face US sanctions or visa revocation Ifitwereotherwise,thevery judgesofourSupremeCourt – three of whom (and counting) to date have awarded no less than ten formal orders of court in favour of Mr Azruddin Mohamed and his sister, Ms Hana Mohamed, would be similarlyatrisk Butthisisnot thecase GuyanaDailyNews, its principals, agents and servants are hereby given fifteenminutestoremovethis slanderous and defamatory article, failing which I shall institute proceedings in the SupremeCourttosetrightthe rank defamation that they have issued, which is damaging to my upstanding reputation This threat, like any threat made by me, is pursuanttomydutytosetthe record straight and to vindicatemylawfulposition.
Sincerely,
Mr.SiandDhurjon, Attorney-at-Law
DearEditor,
Governmentcontinuesto alienate the Opposition as nationalinterestsuffers.
The Irfaan Ali regime missed a glorious opportunity to demonstrate to Guyanese and the world that the nation is united in defenceofEssequibo.
Prior to last Friday's parliamentary engagement on the Venezuela/Guyana border issue, let's not forget thatasimilarmotion,passed in November 2023, saw engagement between the G o v e r n m e n t a n d Opposition.
Both sides played a role in a process that saw the conceptualisation and development of that motion, which was laid in the National Assembly and passed with unanimous support.
The Government must recognise and accept that it cannot operate in abstract to what is taking place in society
There continues to be stark divisions between GovernmentandOpposition supporters on the distributionofresourcesand respect for fundamental rights.
The Opposition was electedbyhalfthesocietyto representitsinterest.TheAli regimeneedsnotforgetthat, according to GECOM's declaration,ithasonlyaoneseat parliamentary majority A smart Government will takenote.
I n l i g h t o f t h e continuation of claims of discrimination by the other half of society, a gulf has been created between the twosides.
One would therefore have expected President Ali to take note and act in a
manner befitting his greater responsibility as Head of State and Head of Government, to weld the different forces together on thisissue.
The President should havetakentheleadershipin engaging Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to deepen the process by appointing a joint team, not onlytowritethemotionbut to plan the parliamentary activities that occurred last Friday to ensure these were reflective of a national approach
Following the approach ofcollaborationontheMay 2025 motion, as was done for the November 2023 motion, the two sides should have organised and deepened events on the eve of Guyana's independence that would have sent a strong message to Venezuela For instance, t h e y c o u l d h a v e collaborated on adorning the National Assembly and its environs with national themesandemblems
They should have entered parliament as a united force, bearing flags and placards, 'not a blade of grass-' singing national songs.Thentheycouldhave taken their respective seats, understanding clearly that they are united on every element of the motion that wouldbetabledonthedayin question.
Such a demonstration would have sent a strong message that internal differenceswereputasidein thenationalinterest.
Instead,theyenteredthe NationalAssemblydisunited and came out even more disunited.
Thegovernmentcantake no credit for passing the
motion without the opposition.
They created the environment of disunity by m a rg i n a l i s i n g t h e Opposition, then now seekingtocapitaliseonit.
To what end? To serve their own political purpose, becauseitdoesnotservethe national interest. Instead, it demonstrated deepening dictatorialtendencies.
The onus is on the Government to demonstrate that national interest supersedespettypoliticsand partisanpoliticalgain.
It is the job of the governmenttoforgenational unity
Too often in criticism, peoplelookattheeffectand notthefactors(cause)giving risetotheeffect.
The opposition never voted against the motion tabled. What the opposition did was express its dissatisfaction with the process adopted in undermining the process established to deal with this issue.
The government has once again cast aside the principal political objective of the society to forge an inclusivedemocracy
Guyanese must demand thattheGovernmenttreatthe Opposition with respect After all, it is a one-seat difference, not forgetting, resulting from questionable results Friday was an unnecessary, unacceptable and untimely parliamentary s h o w o f p o l i t i c a l brinkmanship, on the eve of independence,thatsmacksat the people's aspiration to forgeaGuyanathathonours its motto: “One People One NationOneDestiny.”
Sincerely, LincolnLewis
‘Astroturfing, autocracy...
Frompage5 generated videos of various projects, where music stars likeRKelly,Rihanna,Justin BieberandBeyoncéareseen immortalising him through song, although they have donenothingofthesort.
The video of the pope was bound to be refuted, butitsayssomethingofthe lengths astroturfers are prepared to go in the hope of maintaining whatever residue remains from the fallout.
The popularity of the leadership of dictatorial military governments is not new When, by way of a coupe,attheageof32,Gerry Rawlings took power in Ghana, he was known as 'Junior Jesus', but he left office after almost two decades with a mixed legacy, one positive aspect of which was his helping to create an 'enduring' democracy.
I f a s y s t e m o f government is to be blamed
for the conditions of Africa today, it is most likely autocracy/dictatorship, and we are seeing in Guyana the alienation and instability to which it inevitably leads. One commentator suggests that for 'a "lasting legacy Traoré should focus on achievingpeaceandbuilding strong state institutions to b r i n g a b o u t g o o d governance' ( op. Cit. BBC 11/05/2025).
Regards, D.HenryJeffrey
By now, all of Guyana must know that the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project is a con on citizens. With a feasibility study engraved on the vice president's brain, and billions still being pumped into the project, this country is still no closer to accessing cheaper, cleaner or more stable electricity. Instead, we continue to throw money down a rabbit hole with the hopes of one day completing the project.
With delays after delays and not a single agreement made public to date for this multibillion-US-dollar initiative, the government should be ashamed to continue defending this project.
With US$1B already spent to complete the pipeline, millions more being spent on arbitration, and two gas plants still struggling to make progress, responsible actors should be held to account for wasting Guyanese tax dollars on a project that was never feasible in the first place! The truth is, no government would hide documents or details of a project it truly believes to be beneficial.
Agoldsmith, identified as 46y e a r - o l d Dharmera Arjune, was, on Saturday, robbed of $500,000 cash, five penny weights of raw gold worth $146,000,ablackhaversack worth$10,000andaquantity ofjewellery,thevalueyetto bedetermined.
According to the police, the man resides at Lot 215, Brittania Public Road, West Coast Berbice. The incident tookplaceonSaturday,May 24, 2025, around 16:45 hoursatthesameaddress.
“Two identifiable males of African descent, one armed with a firearm, are suspectedtohavecarriedout the crime…The scene was visited at approximately 17:00hoursonMay24,2025 byateamofpolicemen,”the statementsaid.
Arjune owns a jewellery shop,whichisaflatconcrete building, located on the northern side of the BritannicaPublicRoad.The structure faces south and is within a securely fenced yard. Itisfurthersecuredwith
mesh on its northern side, and the only entrance is to thenorth,whichisinternally secured by bolts but externally secured by locks. TherearenoCCTVcameras in the vicinity of the building.
“According to Mr. Arjune, he was seated at his workbench cleaning jewellery brought in by customers when the two suspects entered his workshop. They asked if he had chains for sale and later requestedtoseeaone-ounce chainandinquiredaboutthe price per pennyweight of gold,”policesaid.
Accordingtoreports,the men retrieved the black and grey haversack from underneath the counter, which contained cash and jewellery
While he was in the process of displaying the chain, one of the suspects, a tall man of medium build, clad in a grey jersey, pulled outablackhandgunfromhis waistandissuedawarningto him, “Don't move or I'll shoot.”
The terrified man
grabbed his haversack and fled northward from the shop. The second suspect, whopolicesaidwascladina red t-shirt and shorts, went after him, and subsequently, ascuffleensued.
The first suspect approached and fired a shot towardsArjune'sdog,which missed. He then seized the haversack.
Police said, “The suspectsescapedsouthalong the public road and fled in a white motor car, though the victim could not recall the
vehicle's registration
number One spent .32 shell casing was recovered near the bathroom in the victim's yard;itwasphotographedby the CSI and retrieved as evidence. No injuries were reported.”
Theareasurroundingthe scene was canvassed for CCTV cameras, several were observed, and footage is pending review Witness statements were taken, and thescenewasphotographed. Theincidentwasreportedto the police at approximately 16:50 hours Investigations areongoing.
- threatens legal action against Guyana Daily News
Siand Dhurjon, attorney for local businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, has slammed what he described as a “mischievous,” post by Guyana Daily News, owned by Ameir Ahmad, which claimed that he (Dhurjon) wasdetainedandquestioned by U.S. authorities, at the J o h n F K e n n e d y International Airport in connection with ongoing investigations involving his client,AzruddinMohamed.
Dhurjon, who travelled to the US with his family Saturday evening, said they were admitted without incident, detention or questioning about third partieswhatsoever
He said the experience was warm from helpful immigrationofficers.
The attorney said it is, however, strange that Guyana Daily News was privy to his departure from Guyana,ashedidnotmakeit public. He gave the news site,itsprincipals,agentsand servants 15 minutes to remove the “slanderous and defamatory article.” Should they fail to do so, he threatened to institute proceedings in the Supreme Court “to set right the rank defamation that they have issued,whichisdamagingto myupstandingreputation.”
Dhurjon said the only issue he encountered during histravelwasattheCJIA.“It was in Guyana where my family and I faced scrutiny Before walking through the glass door to the check-in area of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, there
not checking everyone's passports. I now recognise the true purpose of this heightened scrutiny on myself and my family by officersattheairport.
Dhurjonemphasizedthat an attorney representing a sanctioned individual does notopenhimselforherselfto sanctions, detention and investigation. According to him, “the US government is nofool.Itiswellawareofthe fundamentalrightonehasto counsel.
weretwodetectivespostedat theentrycarefullyobserving who entered the departure area.
AsIwalkedpasthim,he greeted me as if we had knowneachotherforyears.”
Dhurjon said excessive and extensive checks were made on his family by security personnel who searched him, his wife and three minor children, including his seven-monthold baby “After this, unknown individuals working at the airport unnecessarily checked our passportsafourthtime.
Our passports were first checked by the airlines at check-in, secondly, prior to entryoftheimmigrationarea and thirdly, by an immigration officer These unknown individuals thoroughly checked my entire family's passports after telling me that 'they werelookingforsomeone'.
Iobservedthattheywere
Unless an attorney has engagedinactivitiesbeyond legal representation, such as participating in or facilitating alleged criminal activity, without more, that attorneywouldnotfaceU.S. sanctionsorvisarevocation. Ifitwereotherwise,thevery judgesofourSupremeCourt – three of whom (and counting) to date have awarded no less than ten formal orders of court in favour of Mr Azruddin Mohamedandhissister,Ms. Hana Mohamed, would be similarly at risk. But this is notthecase.”
Dhurjon is representing Guyanese businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, who, along with his father, Nazar, and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Thomas, were sanctioned by the United Statesin2024.
The US said between 2019 and 2023, the Mohammeds omitted more than 10,000 kilograms of goldfromimportandexport declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the GovernmentofGuyana.The company also engaged in extensive bribery of government officials, which served to enrich the corrupt actors involved, undermine Guyanese institutions, and deprive the people of
Guyana of important revenues, the US missive read.
The US' Treasury Department said Mae Thomas was involved in criminal activities with the father and son business moguls It said Thomas misused her position as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs between October 2020 to August2023toofferbenefits to Mohamed's Enterprise in exchange for cash payments andhigh-valuegifts.
Imagine a bakery owned by Sam. Every day, Sam employs Joe to bake bread. Joeworks8hoursadayand ispaid$100.
Now, let's look at the business side of things. In oneday,Joeusesflour,yeast, water,electricity,packaging, etc.. Let's say that all these materials and utilities cost
$50 Then there is rent, maintenance, equipment
wear, admin, etc (overheads). Let's say that's another$50.
So,thetotaldailycostto Sam is Joe's wages of $100; ingredients and materials: $50; and overheads of another$50.Thistotals$200
Now, Joe bakes enough breadthatSamsellsfor$500 in total that day So the total income (from selling bread) is $500. The total cost of production (all-inclusive) is $200. This leaves a profit (surplus)of$300.
This $300 is what Karl Marx called surplus value. It'swhatremainsafterallthe
costs are paid, including Joe's wage. But here's the key point: That $300 of profit only exists because Joe produced more value during his workday than he waspaidfor Joe's labour created the value of the bread, and though he was paid a fair market wage, the value of what he produced exceeded thatwage.Thatexcessvalue was taken by Sam, not becauseSamworkedharder, but because Sam owns the bakery This is the core of Marx's idea: that workers generate more value than they are paid, and that extra value is taken as profit by thosewhoownthebusiness.
In other words, under capitalism, profit is unpaid labour
Now,Joedoesn'townthe bakery That's Sam's name on the sign. Sam is a decent fellow,oftenseeninspecting crustsorshakinghandswith suppliers. Sam pays for the flour, the salt, the yeast. He
pays the rent and keeps the lights on. All told, it costs Sam about $200 a day to k e e p t h i n g s running including Joe's wage.
To repeat for emphasis: ThebreadJoebakessellsfor $500. And the extra $300? That doesn't go back to Joe. That's Sam's. It's what's left after the bills are paid. Sam calls it profit. Karl Marx called it surplus value. I call ittheanswertowhysomeare rich and some are not. And why poverty is not simply a lack of opportunity or initiative, but is also structural.
Thestoryweoftentell,or are told, is that with enough effort and hustle, Joe, too, could own a bakery.We call it the “opportunity myth.”
ButtheladderweofferJoeis madeofricketywood.
Joe can't buy the oven. He can't afford to close the gapbetweentoday'srentand next week's paycheck. He has a daughter She needs
In the great hall of nations, the curtain stillrises—Astagesetwithsugarfieldsand offshore fires With Exxon scripts and Chinese cranes, While democracy plays to standing-roomactors.
Fifty-nine candles flicker on freedom's cake,Butwhosebreathblowsthemout,and forwhosesake?
The oil runs thick, but trust runs thin, Andunity,thatstubborndream,stillfights tobegin.
shoes. He has a tooth that aches when it rains. And he bakesthebread.
Meanwhile,Samopensa secondbakery.Hebuysnew ovens,hiresmoreJoes.Each one paid enough to stay, but not enough to rise The profits stack like loaves at closingtime.
This isn't to say Sam is wicked or that ambition is a sin. It is only to say that the world isn't quite as even as we pretend Wealth isn't always born of brilliance. It is often the fruit of ownership, not labour The man who kneads the dough makeslessthanthemanwho ownstheoven.
Opportunity,intheory,is a lovely thing But in practice, it's often a door withoutadoorknob.Wehold it up like a lantern, but we forget who is allowed through and who is left squintinginthedark.
Ifwewanttounderstand poverty, we must stop treating it as a failure of effort.Andifwewanttotalk honestly about wealth, we
mustadmitthatitridesonthe backofsomeoneelse'swork. Joe bakes. Sam profits. That's the math. But the capitalist elites do not wish toadmitthattheirwealthwas created on the back of appropriating surplus value, whichtheydidnotcreate.
The capitalist elites prefer stories of genius and grit, of risk-taking investments and innovation. Theyspeakofjobcreationas if it were a selfless public service, rather than the means by which they multiply their earnings. In modern mythology, the boss isthebuilder,thelaboureris the burden. And so long as that myth holds, the system is preserved: the workers toil, the owners accumulate, andinequalitydeepens.
We teach children that successisastaircaseandthat eachstepreflectsachoiceor a talent. But we rarely show themtheelevatorintheback, the one only a few are handed keys to. We don't speakofinheritedcapital,of tax loopholes, or the quiet
machinery of exploitation thatturnshumanlabourinto privateluxury
Instead, we scold the poor for their circumstances and celebrate the rich for their extraction. If a man who bakes can't afford his own bread, it's not a tragedy of laziness—it's a failure of justice. Poverty is not the absenceofambition.Itisthe presence of a structure that takes more than it gives back, and then tells you the deficitisyourfault.Untilwe reckon with that, no talk about lifting people out of poverty in six months will bridge the chasm between those who work and those whoprofitfromtheirwork.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
AwhisperofBurnham,amurmurofJagan, Echo in markets where the people still bargain.
We've built highways to nowhere,And towersto thesky,Butsinkholesinfairness
Letourhopesgoby Theforeigngazeis greedyThelocaltonguetoosly—Anation sold in silence, While the old wounds cry
This land of six races, stitched from struggle and sea,Still argues its colours in b
It hangs in the air Slowly picks up some energy. In time, transforms intoanunstoppableforce. A source of pride. A broad, deep, and spiralling component of human existence at its best. An essential. Asrawandpureas oxygen. What cleanses the soul,setsthespiritfree.
Freedom. No!Iwritenot of freedom of speech today,
although there is much to talk about that virtue Freedom of speech is not granted to me. I carve out myownfreedom. Forthere is that heat inside that can neither be contained nor controlledonceitisreleased tofinditsownfooting,begin itsownenlightenedjourney Freedom. Again,NO! I speak not about freedom of associationonthisoccasion.
For what is it, and where is it? How I ask (on behalf of many citizens, those hundreds of thousands of Guyanese), can freedom be, when there is that tightness between the shoulders when space is shared? When an open mind is presented to absorb what is offered, to distilandinterpretlater?
Freedom. No and yes, this one is. The one that is
aboutfreedomofchoice. As long as it is me, then that's just fine and dandy. All is well,allwouldbesafe. The nocomesintoplaywhenthe chancetoexerciseorexpress freedom of choice is extorted, violated, distorted, and lastly aborted As Guyanese, we have seen all this, haven't we? Growing from an innocent and impotent child to a monster of a man now Unimagined before, given the source of his strength, very much the norm now, with many offspring of that diabolical creature now roaming, now stabbing, now seeking ways to drag down and then destroy ultimately What have we become?! What wouldcomefromallthis,to wheredoesallthislead?
Freedom For sure, todayIspeaknotoffreedom of speech, nor freedom of association, nor freedom of choice. Today, I speak and write of all those freedoms andthenmoreofthem. And how all of them are enchained and in rags, as anyoneenslavedis. Onthis most ordinary of days, I speak and write of that master freedom of all Freedomfromfear
Freedom. Freedomfrom fear Why fear? Who is there so debased, so utterly obscene, such a spawn of darknessandallofitsforces, that there is a speck-the merest,invisible,intangible, innocuous, insipid molecule-offear?
For what? For allowing thefreestandfullestflowof
the mind Then expressing it openly before all, from friend to foe. FearthatIhesitate,that I think twice, that I retreat. Fear of offending, or of being found offensive. Because I know who they are,howtheythink,andhow they react. Freedom to speak, for then I say what contradicts,onlyjustalittle, and there is the dread that a day of reckoning is all but guaranteed. Freedom to write and that stirs others to think differently, which is seen as a danger Then, to top it all off, to leave a testimony for the ages to comeofthewaythingswere, and how some men came to be. Down through history, powerful men have feared the sword. They feared the pen even more, and with an enduring,sleeplessfright.
Freedom. Freedomfrom fear Fearthatviralparalysis in the blood that clogs the heart, takes away the knees. Fearisthatpoisonspreading in the head, that worm clawing away in the gut. Fear is that evil spirit that reduces strong men, loud men, and proud men to invalids, to that state of helpless impotence. The indignityofdeath,butofnot yetbeingdead. Ofwatching oneself die in slow motion, andnotbeingabletomovea muscle to save oneself What kind of existence is that, where even euthanasia isanexittoogoodtogive?
Freedom. Okay, so they takeawaythejob. They take away the
contract. Theytakeawaythe land, and the scholarship, andtherelationships,andthe sponsorships. Allthethings that were a part of the fear, they have taken away So, whatistherenowlefttofear?
I have said this to many Guyanese within listening distance. I now extend the favour to President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Attorney General Anil Nandlall. When there is an absence of crippling debts to truth, there is nothing to fear When what is clean is not dreaded as a destructive allergen, then thereisnothingtofearagain. And, when what is straight andtrueisnotseenasaspear to the heart, then why fear anything, since all has been conquered? Whytrembleat the thought of ordinary citizens, and a drop of ink spilthere,onesimpledabof commongoodnesspresented over there and everywhere else?
Freedom. Freedom is such an invincible power thatithasawayofstrangling those who tempt the gods when they seek to suppress it. Freedom can neither be bought nor bartered (nor brutalized).
Be of good cheer, be strong, be sure, is my greetingtoall.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
While the recently passed Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, R e s p o n s e a n d Responsibility Bill sets no clear requirement for an unlimited parent company guarantee, the government of Guyana has assured that the US$2B affiliate guaranteethathassincebeen lodged by the Stabroek Block partners will not be scrapped.
D u r i n g t h e ParliamentaryDebateonthe Bill two Fridays ago, the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil
Nandlall, described unlimited parent company guarantee as an “unknown animal” as he argued in defenceoftheproposedlaw
On Saturday, the Ministry of Legal Affairs
addressed concerns regarding the Bill It
explained that while “experts” have interpreted Section 21 of the proposed legislation to mean that an operator will be the sole responsible party in the eventofanoilspill,thiswas notthecase.
Clause 21 of the bill states, “An indemnification or any like agreement shall beinvalidforthepurposesof transferring the liability of a responsible party under this act.”
Tothisend,theMinistry explained, “The clear intention,asexpressedinthe languageabove,istoprevent a responsible party from divesting or alienating to a thirdpartyanyliabilitythatit may attract in the course of itsoperations.
Itisacommonfeaturein the commercial world for entitiestotransferliabilityto third parties so that their assets are insulated and protectedfromfinancialand
current mechanisms of financial assurance in place, including insurance, bonds, and parent company guarantees.
It was explained, “A guarantee(ofwhichaparent company guarantee is a species) is legally distinct, and commercially different, from the concept of transferringliability.
O u r e x p e r t commentators have either conflated or confused the two. A guarantee does not transferliability.
It assures liability in the event of the failure to discharge by the primary actor(theresponsibleparty).
Limited (the responsible party) does not have adequate assets, the burden of oil spill-related costs could be left on Guyana, especially in the absence of unlimitedcoveragefromthe parentcompany
other consequences which may result from such liability.
This section intends to prohibit that practice so that the liability incurred, at all material times, remain with theresponsibleparty.”
Therefore, instead of evading liability, the MinistryarguedthattheBill providesfortheopposite.
Furthermore, it was explainedthatthissectionof the proposed law does not deal with or have any connection to any form of financial assu
companyguarantee.
“Financial assurance is exclusively addressed in anotherPartoftheBill.
ItiselementarythatActs of Parliament must be read as a whole so as to ensure thattheirspecificprovisions are interpreted in their proper context, ” the Ministryurged.
Part VIII of the Bill, t i t l e d “ F i n a n c i a l Responsibility”, addresses financialassurance.
The government argued that it expressly maintains thestatusquo,upholdingthe
A transfer of liability permits the assignment of liability to a third party, thereby allowing the primary actor (the responsible party) to evade oreludeliability Section21 preventsthis.”
Additionally, section 27(4) of the Oil Spill Bill requires assurance coverage to be as “comprehensive as practicable”.
The Ministry of Legal Affairs urged that these financialprovisionsmustbe read along with section 17, which places “no cap whatsoever” on the liability thatitcreates.
Section 17 of the Bill states, “A responsible party is liable for all damages caused by an oil spill incident, removal and r
, and
storation of the environment as far as practicable,andforanycosts
rising therefrom or connectedtherewith.”
The “responsible party” is defined as the operator or licence holder in the proposedlaw
It is important to note that stakeholders have
These and other “flaws” have prompted Guyanese to urgePresidentIrfaanAlinot toassenttotheBill,passedin the National Assembly on May16,2025.
Be that as it may, the Ministrymaintainedthatthe “robuststatutoryframework now established protects Guyanaanditspeople.”
Frompage3 is currently in the project optimization phase, focused on enhancing access and preparing for development. The company holds 100% ownership of the project
According to the company, extensive exploration and drilling programmes have already been carried out at Toroparu, revealing the potential for a long-life, large-scale open-pit mining operation.
With key infrastructure for the project, including a camp,airstrip,andsiteroads, alreadyinplace,ArisMining
is now reviewing its development strategy, hinting at possible shifts in how it will advance the site amid intensifying activities inGuyana'sgoldsector The company highlighted that Guyana has recently seen increased investments and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in gold mining, driven by the country'sgrowingreputation asaminingfrontier
The Toroparu Gold Project and its adjacent properties, collectively known as the Upper Puruni Concessions, consist of two gold deposits: the Toroparu
deposit and the Sona Hill deposit,whichliesaboutfive kilometers southeast of the main site The company noted that the Toroparu project is a gold exploration and development project w
resources.
GMiningVentures (GMIN)–OkoWestGold Project
Following a business combination with Reunion Gold in 2024, GMIN has takenfullcontroloftheOko WestGoldProject,locatedin Region Seven The Oko Westproject,fullyownedby GMIN, is positioned to becomethenextmajorphase ofgrowthforthecompany The 44 square-kilometer project is currently considered an “advancedstage exploration project”, and is expected to produce 350,000 ounces of gold annually from both open pit and underground mining over 12.3 years at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,123/oz A recently published feasibility study shows that the project is poised to deliver strong financial returns, thanks to low production costs The
Oko West project stands out for its scale and high-grade resource. ThelatestMineral Resource Estimate includes 5 4 million ounces (Indicated) and 0.4 million ounces(Inferred).
The estimate reflects extensive drilling work over 505diamonddrillholes,366 reverse circulation holes, and 59 trenches conducted betweenDecember2020and September 2024 A construction decision is anticipatedinthesecondhalf of2025.
Earlier this year, GMIN received an Interim Environmental Permit for the project, paving the way for early construction activities and the company has advanced permitting efforts toward securing the full Environmental Licence from the Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA).
In March, GMIN initiated early works at Oko West, including site preparation for a barge landingontheCuyuniRiver and the construction of a permanent camp to support futuredevelopment.
The company is also expected to execute works on main access and internal
roads, airstrip, permanent camp facility, water and sewage treatment plants and power generation and communicationtower
Notably, GMIN has officially started the process tosecureamininglicencefor itsOkoWestgold.Alongside the mining licence application, GMIN has also begun seeking other critical permits needed to bring the project to full-scale operation These include approvals for port operations, fuel use and storage, as well as the installation of transmission and telecommunications towers.
MakoMining–Eagle MountainGoldProject
Mako Mining is pushing ahead with its Eagle MountainGoldProjectinthe Mahdiadistrict,roughly200 km south-southwest of Georgetown. Acquiring the project through its 2024 takeover of Goldsource MinesInc.,Makoinheriteda resource base of nearly 1.2 million ounces (indicated) and 582,000 ounces (inferred).
The company plans to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mining licence application to Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency by late 2025
Pending approvals, Mako intends to start construction in 2026, with first gold production from Phase 1 targeted for 2027 A feasibilitystudyforPhase2, which will target deeper fresh rock resources, is also planned.
Recent project updates highlighthighrecoveryrates from shallow drilling and notethesignificantpotential for deeper mineralization Mako considers Guyana an emerging gold mining jurisdiction,citingaminingfriendly permitting environment and growing foreigninvestment.
G2GoldfieldsInc.–Oko Project
G
d a significant increase in gold resourcesatitsflagshipOko Project in Guyana since its last MRE dated April 3, 2024.
EffectiveMarch1,2025, G2disclosedthattherewasa 60% increase in indicated gold resources, bringing its estimated recoverable gold to 1.5 million ounces, and a 49% increase in inferred resources to 1 6 million ounces. Located within an 83,967-acre property, the OkoProjectconsistsofthree main mineralized zones: the high-grade Oko Main Zone (OMZ)inthenorth,thebulk-
tonnage Ghanie Zone in the south,andthemorerecently identified Oko Northwest Zone.
The majority of the indicated resources stem from the OMZ, which includes near-surface, highgrade mineralization with standoutzones.
These zones contain 609,000ouncesofgoldatan average grade of 10 25 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, extendingfromjust5to370 metres below surface. The OMZ alone now hosts 808,000 ounces in the indicatedcategoryatagrade of 7 98 g/t, and 513,500 ounces inferred at 4.60 g/t, placingitamongthehighestgrade gold deposits globally atshallowdepth.
The Ghanie Zone has also seen growth, with indicatedresourcesreaching 663,400 ounces at 2.01 g/t gold, and inferred resources rising to over one million ouncesat2.64g/t.
This zone is considered highlyprospectiveforlargescale open-pit development, given the consistency and scale of mineralization Meanwhile, the Oko NorthwestZone,thoughless advanced, has added 97,200 ounces of inferred resources at a grade of 0.61 g/t gold, highlighting further upside inthebroaderdistrict.
Frompage2
agreement to go to more sustainable sources of energy will cause a major reduction in demand for fossil fuel-related supplies. In the short term, this may not be so, but in the longer term,thiswillhappen.
We've already seen evidenceofthistakingplace in the transport sector,” Jagdeoassuredreporters.
He noted that the three largest sources of carbon emissions are burning fossil fuel for power generation, using fossil fuel for transportation and land
d e g r a d
n d defor
ion When combined, they account for nearly over 90% of all emissions. Citing that the transportation industry is headed towards electric vehicles,Jagdeoaddedthata depletion policy also has to take the environment into account.
“I don't see anybody talking about that as the driving factor behind a depletion policy, because if you don't get your crude out oftheground,andtransferit or monetise it, or your gas
out and monetize it, and invest or save your financial resources to be utilised for theprosperityofthecountry quickly you run the risk of being stranded…your crude beingstrandedintheground because,there'sseveralother countries that are competing with you and never being able to monetize it if that futurehappensfasterthanwe think,”theVPstated.
Jagdeo noted that the futureisadecarbonisedone,
notingthatthegovernmentis more focused on getting the crude out of the ground as fast as possible and transformingitintofinancial resources Meanwhile, Kaieteur News attempted to seek clarity from Jagdeo about the policy Messages were sent to him and the Minister of Natural Resources,VickramBharrat, seekingacopyofthepolicy However, up to press time, noresponsewasreceived.
The government of Guyana (GoG) continues to face criticism for the Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and ResponsibilityBill,whichis now being described as a “legislativefailure”.
TheBillwasapprovedin the National Assembly on May16andaimstoestablish thelegislativeframeworkfor the prevention of oil pollution, the preparedness and coordinated response to oil spill incidents, and the establishmentofliabilityand compensation mechanisms
in Guyana's national territory Since its passage, however, stakeholders such as international awardwinning lawyer, Melinda Janki, and former Executive D i r e c t o r o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams, have called on President Irfaan Ali to withhold consent to the legislation.
Lendinghisvoicetothat call is chartered accountant and prominent attorney-atlaw, Christopher Ram, who, inarecentcolumnpublished by the Stabroek News, highlighted a list of failures featured in the proposed legislation. Ram utilized his 159thcolumntoexplainwhy he believes the Bill should notbemadealaw
“It fails almost every measure when stacked against international best practice,” the dawyer reasoned,ashepointedoutto readers that Members of Parliament (MPs) who argued in the Bill's defense did not acknowledge the Guyana's Ships Act and the country's decades-long membership of the International Maritime Organisation(IMO).
Ram said, “This raises serious doubts about the thoroughnesswithwhichthe Bill was prepared and between the Bill's vessel provisions and existing maritimelaw Thatisarecipe for jurisdictional chaos and operationalconfusion.”
The attorney added that as a member of the IMO, Guyana has binding obligations under the MARPOL and Civil LiabilityConventionsforoil pollution “Going beyond the drafting is whether Guyana has been noncompliant with its international obligations for over decades and whether the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs or Natural Resources were
aware of this international compliance framework,” Ramreasoned.
Worstfeatures
Meanwhile, the lawyer contended that the funding arrangements stipulated in the Bill are among its worst features.Hepointedoutthat fundingsourcesfortheCivil Def
consolidatedfund,donations andcontributions.
Tothisend,Ramwarned, “When oil companies and otherresponsiblepartiescan make 'donations' to the very agency responsible for regulating and sanctioning them, the potential for regulatory compromise becomesinevitable.Officers may find themselves beholden to generous contributors rather than e n f o r c i n g
c o m p l i a n c
” M o r e shameful, according to him, however, is that the country with the world's largest per capitaoilreservesisreduced to allowing and inviting donations to fund its newly minted prized protection agency
The attorney opined that Guyana could have instead implemented a US-style funding mechanism through a levy on all oil produced or imported in Guyana to ensure independence, predictable revenue, and eliminate the corrupting influence of voluntary contributions.
Weakpreparedness
Ram also raised concern over the fact that although the CDC is assigned overall responsibility for the planningandcoordinationof oilspillresponsesbyallstate agencies, it lacks the necessary assets to fulfil its responsibilities.
The Bill identifies the DirectorGeneraloftheCDC as the National Incident Commander, while the Director of Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the CEO of the Guyana Energy Authority are designated as Deputy Incident Commanders for offshore and onshore incidents,respectively
“To function even nominally, they will need to haveeasilyaccessible,afull range of assets including specialisedoilspillresponse vessels,containmentbooms, skimmers,dispersants,aerial surveillance aircraft, trained marine response teams, floating storage facilities, shorelinecleanupequipment and round
communication systems,” Ram stated, while highlighting that the Bill does not indicate how these multi-million-dollar assets will be acquired, stored, maintainedanddeployed.
“It creates a command structurewithoutthetoolsto command anything meaningful All of these need to be financed by the industry and sector,” the lawyernoted.
PSAclash
…Ram questions law's compliance with int'l framework
Ram also pointed to the fact that Article 32.3 of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) requires the government to "restore the lost or impaired economic benefits to the Contractor" He therefore explained that in the event thenewlegislationadversely impactsoperations,resulting from the Bill's liability regime and billion-dollar penalties, compensation obligations to the Stabroek
Block contractors could be triggered The lawyer concluded, “This Bill is a disaster in its own right, a legislativefailure.Alawthat fails eight of ten international standards, that was rushed through Parliament without clauseby-clause review, that was denied referral to the Public AccountsCommitteedespite Opposition requests, is demonstrably unfit for presidentialassent.”
Guyana's borders with Venezuela remained intact on Sunday, even as that country's President, Nicolas Maduro,urgedhiscitizensto illegallyelectaGovernorfor Guyana's Essequibo territory
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took reporters and other media workers on a tour to four Region One communities close to the Venezuelan border to observe whether any election was taking place in Guyana There was no evidenceofpolling.
Maduro had decided to illegally name Essequibo as a Venezuelan state in this year'selection.
Reporters visited
returningtoGeorgetown.
Their first stops were at Matthews Ridge and Baramita Due to bad weather and persistent rain, one group of reporters went to Baramita while Kaieteur News and another group stopped at Matthews Ridge andArakaka.
Like Imbotero, it was a quiet Sunday at Arakaka.
Residentswere,however,on alert for anything unusual, and some showed their support for Guyana's territorial integrity by flying the Golden Arrowhead with pride.
One small shop was decorated with the Golden Arrowhead and had another hoistedonaflagpole.
Baramita, Matthews Ridge, Arakaka, Mabaruma and even Imbotero, an area located in the Barima River and a few hundred meters away from a Venezuelan army base setup a few hundred meters away on Venezuela's side of the RegionOneborder.
Venezuelansremainedin Venezuelan territory, and it was business as usual at MabarumaandforGuyanese living along the Barima River
Indigenous Guyanese were seen paddling their boatsintheriverunbothered astheycarriedouttheirdaily routine.
It was the same at Mabaruma, a quiet Sunday Reporters even got a chance to take photos and videos of Guyana's boundary markers in the Barima River as curious Venezuelan soldiers looked on from their side of theborder
Imbotero was the last stop for the reporters on Sunday afternoon before
and that is very bad because it tends to corrupt the community”, Phillips said while adding, “We saw one with an excavator (being blownup)thatisnotevenin Guyana, some boat with some soldiers up and down but we don't know about that”.
He assured, however, “Butpeoplenahaworry,we live all our lives quietly and theynahaworry”.
e urged fellow
Guyanese to s
Venezuela/Guyana border controversy only from
Speaking with reporters, an Arakaka village councillor, Rudolph Clarkston,toldreportersthat nothing concerning the Maduro sham elections is happeningatArakaka.
Nevertheless,hesaidhis
community is a bit concerned that Venezuela could easily invade Guyanese territory, and is calling for stronger security measures.
“Nothingreallygoingon inArakakahere,butwethink we should get lil more
security here in Arakaka because the Barima River runsstraighthere,it'samore easy access to this area,” Clarkston explained before adding that some assistance withfirearmscouldhelp.
Meanwhile, a respected
village leader, NDC Chairman, businessman and Justice of Peace, John Phillips, warned against the spread of Venezuelan propagandabyGuyanese.
“There is a lot of Guyanese,localsthattendto pass on false information
official sources, including governmentwebsites,andto desist from spreading misinformation.
“Don't do that because you only antagonizing the community, getting them all hyper that something is happening, and then it's not true,”Phillipswarned.
At Matthews Ridge, residents, including a Venezuelan national, were dressedinwhitet-shirtswith a logo of the Guyana map andthewords“Essequibois Guyana's”.
One businessman, Gregory Vincent, owner of GV Construction Inc., and his staff used the t-shirts as their official uniform for workonSunday
Askedwhytheychoseto doso,Vincenttoldreporters, “Well, both myself and my employees are proud Guyanese. And we know that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.Wewillnotgiveup Essequibo.”
He said that Mathews Ridge, at the moment, does notevenhaveVenezuelan
(Continuedonpage20)
H
undreds of Guyanese
gathered in Anna Regina on Saturday evening for a patriotic concert, sending a clear message that Essequibo will always belong toGuyana.
The event, hosted by the Government of Guyana, was a rallying cry of unity and national pridethatsentaclearmessagethat Guyana will not be intimidated by Venezuela's planned sham elections,inwhichithasthreatened toillegallyelectagovernorforthe Essequiboregion.
Citizens,youngandold,waved theGoldenArrowheadandchanted “Essequibo is we own” as cultural performances by local dance groups and artists and messages of solidarity filled the evening. Addressingthecrowd,Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, PresidentDr MohamedIrfaanAli, issuedafirmstatementthatGuyana will not yield an inch of its 83,000 square miles of sovereignty to Venezuela.
Thepresidentremindedthatthe InternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ), which is yet to give its final ruling inthebordercontroversycase,has
beenconsistentwithitsprovisional rulings These rulings have demanded that Venezuela must refrain from taking actions that would escalate the situation in the Essequibo region, which has been under control by Guyana for decades.
Specifically, on May 1, 2025,
the ICJ ordered Venezuela not to hold or prepare for elections in the territory, pending the court's final decisiononthebordercontroversy Thecourtalsoorderedbothparties to refrain from any actions that might aggravate or extend the controversy or make it more difficult to resolve. However, the president said, “There have been inc
Venezuela that have caused us to beonhighalert actionsthatare in blatant breach of peace, international rule, international securityorderandwhattheArgyle Agreementstandsfor
a d e controversyinventedbyVenezuela will be appropriately dealt with at the ICJ — no other way; no other meansbecausewearesureofwhat
is ours and Essequibo is ours,”he declared, reinforcing Guyana's unwavering position on the territorialcontroversy
President Ali denounced Venez
campa
of provocation and misinformation, informing the gathering that Guyanawillstandontherightside of the law and will not be intimidated or coerced. Instead, he said the nation will continue to pursue a peaceful resolution through international law and diplomacy, even while remaining firminthedefenceofitsterritorial integrity
“Tonight we will demonstrate ourculture,wewilldemonstratein dance and music, we will demonstrate what binds us
(Continuedonpage22)
Aheadofthesham elections it had planned for the Essequibo on Sunday, the United States Government had rejected all attempts by Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, and “his illegitimate regime to undermine Guyana's territorialintegrity.”
This was the statement byMichaelKozak,Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Kozak called the electionasham.
Guyanese journalists who, over the weekend, travelled to Guyana's border regions to observe whether there were any election day activities by the Venezuelan regime, reported that there werenone.
Even in Venezuela, Al Jazeerareportedlowturnout in the legislative and regionalelectionsfuelledby
disillusionment and frustration, under the shadow of a heightened government crackdown and opposition leaders calling foraboycott.
Sunday's elections are
comp
participationsincelastyear's disputed presidential vote, which President Maduro claimedtohavewondespite contradictory evidence, Al Jazeerareported.
Only last week United States (U.S.)Ambassador to Guyana,NicoleTheriot,had expressed her country's readinesstosupporttheGDF in eradicating criminal activity along the borders.
Ambassador Theriot made those comments onTuesday while delivering remarks at the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), held at the Guyana MarriottHotel.
The ambassador referenced the reports of the attacksbyVenezuelangangs on the ranks of the Defence Force. The attacks occurred between Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14, while GDF troops were conducting routine riverine patrolsbetweenEteringbang andMakapa.
Unlike the February 17, 2025 incident where six Guyanese soldiers were ambushed and injured
A man casts his vote in Venezuela's parliamentary elections, in Caracas, Venezuela May 25, 2025. REUTERS/ Maxwell Briceno vote
during patrol duties in the CuyuniRiver,nomemberof the GDF was injured during therecentattacks.
Theriot said, “These are criminals engaging in criminal activity, and the UnitedStatesstandsreadyto supporttheGDFinitseffort to eradicate this activity along Guyana's frontier and to ensure the safety and security of Guyana's people.”
The U S Ambassador noted that investment requires more than just favourablebusinessclimate. She noted that the two most common concerns that the
U.S.Embassyreceivesfrom American companies looking to establish a presence in Guyana are political and civil unrest, particularlyaroundelections time and Venezuela's aggression.
Reiterating the U S position on the GuyanaVe n e z u e l a b o r d e r controversy, Theriot said, “On Venezuela, our stance has remained exactly the same since this controversy resurfaced [President Nicolas]Maduro'srhetoricis i n f l a m m a t o r y a n d unacceptable, but at the end of the day, it is just bluster
p domesticsupport.”
Guyanahadmovedtothe International Court of Justice (ICJ) for provisional measures to restrain Venezuela from holding the electionsyesterday
The court subsequently handed down its order on May1,2025.Intheorder,the court reaffirmed previous provisional measures and prohibited Venezuela from taking any action in relation tothecontestedarea.
To the elections, Ambassador Theriot had said that the U S fully supports the ICJ's provisional measures for Venezuela to
its elections, and noted that the U.S. is extremely unhappy that Venezuela has made an “ill-adviseddecision” togo aheadwiththeelections.
Ambassador Theriot said, “Everyone should see the sham for what it is. It's sabre-rattling from the Maduro regime, nothing more, and no amount of bluster or sabre-rattling changes the fact that the United States will always stand shoulder to shoulder
Michael Kozak,Assistant Secretary of State for Western HemisphereAffairs
withGuyanainsupportofits sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Guyana-Venezuela
he International Court of Justice (ICJ) Despite a December 2023 agreement betweenPresidentIrfaanAli and President Maduro committing to regional peace, on March 1, 2025, a Venezuelan naval vessel enteredGuyana'swatersand approached Exxon's Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block and radioed thattheFPSOwasoperating indisputedterritory
(ALJAZEERA) Israeli forces pounded Gaza on Sunday, killing 25 at a school-turned-shelter as well as two Red Cross workers, a journalist and several children, including the enclave's youngest influencer,YaqeenHammad.
Meanwhile,Spainhasurgedthe world to consider sanctions on Israel as it hosts foreign ministers
from20EuropeanandArabnations in Madrid to push for a two-state solution.Also, Yemen's Houthis claim a missile attack on Israel's main Ben Gurion International Airport.TheIsraelimilitarysaysit interceptedtheprojectile.
Israel'swaronGazahaskilled at least 53,939 Palestinians and wounded 122,797, according to
than 61,700, saying thousands of peoplemissingundertherubbleare presumeddead. An estimated 1,139 people
Frompage15 immigrantslivinginthecommunity, except for one young lady who is employedatthePakeraHospital.
“…Ithinkbynowsheshouldbe aGuyanesecitizen,”Vincentsaid.
Asked about his thoughts on Venezuela purporting to hold elections in the Essequibo, Vincent responded, “We haven't seen any group of people, you might hear a f e w p r o p a g a n d a a n d misinformation,butweatMatthews
Ridgedon'tlistentothem”
He continued, “ We listen to information from the President and from the Government and from the realestsourceoffactualandtruthful information.”
“We don't follow propaganda andwehaven'tseennopartofmajor invasionfromVenezuelaandwewill not give up Essequibo,” Vincent iterated before adding, “We as citizens,wearegonnafightwiththe governmenttoprotectEssequibo”.
Reporters from the other group who conducted interviews of their own related that residents of Baramita and Port Kaituma shared similar views and showed strong support for Guyana's territorial integrity, completely shunning Maduro'sshamelections.
Even some of the Venezuelan immigrant community in Port KaitumasupportedGuyana'srightto defend its Essequibo from Venezuela.
were
Venezuelan army remained on its side of the Region One border during Venezuela's sham elections on Sunday
A shop at Arakaka flying the Golden Arrowhead. NDC Chairman and Arakaka businessman, John Phillips
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Former Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Valerie GarridoLowe, passed away early Sundaymorningfollowinga heart attack, her party, the AllianceForChange(AFC), has said.
She was 64 and a mother of two adult children. According to a short biography of Garrido-Lowe on the website of the Parliament of Guyana, she was a businesswoman for many years and has also made stellar contributionstothefieldofeducation,healthjournalism,advertising, graphic design and insurance.
A sports enthusiast, she served on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control and on the Hinterland Youth and Sports Development Association. As a politician, she wasamemberofTheUnited Force(TUF)forfifteenyears, beforejoiningtheAlliancefor Change in 2011, the Parliament of Guyana said.
In a statement, the AFC said it is deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of “our longest-serving and most dedicated members, Former Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe,whodiedearly this morning as a result of a heart attack.” Garrido-Lowe wasnotonlyastalwartofour party from its earliest days but a fearless advocate for the people of Guyana, the AFC said.
“Sheservedwithdistinction as Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’Affairsfrom2015to 2020,wheresheworkedtirelessly to empower Amerindiancommunitiesand protect their rights and live-
lihoods. Her passionate voice, unwavering commitment, and sincere compassion earned her the respect and admiration of all who workedalongsideher.”
Asminister,theAFCsaid Garrido-Lowe was a trailblazer—awomanofcourage, integrity, and deep conviction. “She dedicated her life to public service and to the cause of building a better Guyana.
Her contributions to nationaldevelopmentandtothe growthoftheAFCwillforever be remembered and cherished. We extend our deepest condolences to her children,familymembers,friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Valerie’s passing is a profound loss not only to our party but to the entire nation.”
On its website, the AFC said that the plight of single mothers is one of the platformsthatGarrido-Lowewas passionate about, herself a proudparentoftwochildren, who she raised as a single parent. “She is also a grand-
mother of two wonderful grandchildren, one of whom is autistic and has cerebral palsy.”
Garrido-Lowe was the secretary of the Guyana Greenheart Autistic Society andamemberoftheDisabled Persons Organization of Guyana. Born to now-retired headmaster,IgnatiusGarrido, andMariaJosephaGarridoof Moruca,Region#1,GarridoLowe, whose educational pursuitswouldlaterbringher toGeorgetown,hadfirsthand knowledge of the needs and problemsofpersonslivingin Hinterland Guyana, another oneofherplatforms,theAFC said. Garrido- Lowe says: “I believe there are workable solutions available that will enhance the lives of all Guyanese,andIamprepared to dedicate my energies towards making the dreams of my people come through.”A firm believer in God, she believes that he has a plan for eachandeveryoneofus;hers is to serve her brothers and sisters of this great nation –Guyana,theAFCsaid.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament, Cathy Hughes, writing on her Facebook page,said:“I’velostmypartnerinthestruggleforabetter Guyana. Valerie, we spoke many times yesterday as you werebeingmedivactoGTafter a heart attack. Last night we spoke for the last time, promising to connect today Now I’m at the hospital but you have left us. How could this happen? I was not ready to say goodbye. But are we ever?Recallinthispicourfirst day in parliament.” The National Congress of Womenthe women’s arm of the
PNCR,alsoextendedsincere condolences on the passing ofGarrido-Lowe.“Toherfamily,theAFCWomen’sarmand theMembersoftheAFC.She shallbemissed.MayherSoul Rest in Peace,” the NCW said.
Another Member of Parliament, Ronald Cox, said, “Death is not a foe, but an inevitable adventure.” “To the family, relatives, friends, comrades and general residents of Kwebana, Region 1, I extend sincerest condolences to you on the passing ofValerieGarrido-Lowe.”
“It was a few weeks ago, we discussed so much and several commitments were made, but God has other plans for her,” Cox wrote on his Facebook page.
AFC leader, Nigel Hughes,alsoinamessageon hisFacebookpage,said:“We have lost one of our best and mostfaithfulmembers.Tothe familyofMs.ValerieGarridoLowe, we extend our most profound sympathies at this devastating loss. We would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to you for having shared her with us. Her contribution both to the party and the country will be recorded. Val, travel safely May your wonderful soul soar over us.”
PNCRMemberandMP, GaneshMahipaul,inaterse statement,saidhewokeupto thenewsthatValerieGarridoLoweisnomore.“Sheserved as a Minister and MP of our dearGuyana.Everydaydeath isremindingusthatlifeisjust forashortwhile.Deathisthe only permanent. Condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.”
From page 19 together as a nation, and we will showcase — not with weapons—ourlove,ourculture and our peaceful nature, who we are [and] what we stand for.”
He also assured the gathering that Guyana enjoys strongsupportfromtheinternational community, includingfromCARICOM,theCommonwealth, the Organisation ofAmericanStates(OAS)and the United Nations Security Council — all have con-
demned Venezuela's continued aggression.
“Essequibo is not up for negotiation,” the president firmlyunderscored, reminding that “Our borders were settled in 1899 and the ICJ is the only forum for any dispute, not aggression, not propaganda, not elections.”
The1899ArbitralAward, whichVenezuelaseekstonullify,haslongbeenrecognised internationally as the definitive settlement of the boundary between British Guiana
(nowGuyana)andVenezuela. Guyana maintains that this award is legally binding and that any attempts by Venezuela to alter this agreement unilaterally are illegitimate.
“Today, in one voice, all ofGuyanasaystoVenezuela: you are dead wrong. And all of it belongs to all of Guyana… we will not bend, weshallnotbend,andweare strong [together],” the commander in chief strongly stated.
The concert saw the at-
tendance by the Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, cabinet ministers, membersofthejointservices, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan and members of the diplomaticcommunity,among other dignitaries. Their presencereflectedtheunitedfront of the government and the people of Guyana, sending a clear message to Venezuela that Guyana stands ready in unity to defend its sovereignty. (DPI)
5526.
AsGuyanacelebratesits 59th Independence Anniversary, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) honours the workers—past, present, and future whose sacrifices, struggles, and leadership paved the way for our country's freedom on May 26,1966.Yet,today,wemust confront a difficult truth: while independence was won, its promise remains unfulfilledfortoomany Independence must m e a n something especially for those who made it possible. The Labour Movement, beginningwiththefounding of the Trade Union Movement in 1926, was central to the struggle for self-determination It is workers who marched, organised, and agitated to break the chains of colonial rule. But in today's oil-rich Guyana, many workers find themselves shut out of the
wealth they helped to make possible.
In2025,Guyanaboasted a $ $1.38 trillion (US$6.63 billion) and projected oil revenues of US$2.8 billion. Despite these figures, the average worker continues to struggle denied decent jobs, livable wages, safe working conditions, and the basic dignity of a fair pension. Collective bargaining rights are under threat Bauxite workers remain without termination benefits. The promises of independence are slipping out of reach for those who builtthisnation. This is not a mixed anniversary for Guyana's working class. Instead of inclusion, they face exclusion Instead of opportunity, they face despair The very government that should protect their rights is challenging a court ruling that upholds collective
bargaining—aconstitutional right.Worse still, Guyana in 2025isdangerouslydivided, d r i f t i n g f r o m i t s foundational motto: "One People One Nation One Destiny" Discrimination, m
d inequality persist across race, geography, and class, threateningtheveryfabricof ournation.
The GTUC renews its call for a governance model that is inclusive, constitutional, and rooted in human rights. We demand leadership that serves all especially the vulnerable, the working poor, and those left behind. TheTradeUnionMovement remains committed to fighting for a just and equitable Guyana for a nation where workers are respected, their rights
protected, and their contributions rewarded. We continue to press for proper management of our national
Mayor: Let there be no doubt: Essequibo is and will remain part of Guyana
Fellow citizens of Georgetown and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Happy 59th IndependenceAnniversary!
Today,Monday,May26, 2025, as we, Guyanese, proudly celebrate the 59th
anniversary of our independence,wedosowith hearts full of gratitude, reflection,andanunyielding d e t e r m i n a t i o n Georgetown—theCapitalof thisveryblessedland—joins the nation in saluting the sacrifices of our forefathers and mothers, the strength of our people, and the unwavering spirit of our republic.
For us, independence is more than a date on the calendar; it is a sacred reminder of our long and treacherous journey from colonial rule to sovereignty, from division to unity, from struggletoprogress.Itisthe story of a resilient people, forged in adversity, yet unbreakable in hope and aspiration Still, on this solemnandsacredoccasion, we,allofus,mustalsoraise our voices in firm
condemnation of a deeply troubling and unlawful act. The recent move by the GovernmentofVenezuelato create tensions within our society and the region, to attempt to hold a sham election to appoint a socalled "governor" of Guyana's Essequibo region is a blatant and provocative violation of international law, and an affront to our sovereignty
Let there be no doubt: Essequiboisandwillremain part of Guyana. Every inch of its soil, every clear and murky river that runs throughit,everycommunity thatthriveswithinit—ispart of this beloved nation Georgetown stands resolute in defence of our territorial integrity
We, the elected stewards ofthiscapitalcity,callupon all Guyanese—at home and abroad—to stand united and vigilant.Theworldmustsee that Guyana is indivisible, and no illegal decree or foreign pretension can changethattruth. Guyanese, as we reflect on our national journey and
resources—human, natural, and economic for the benefitofall.
The Workers' 11-Point CalltoAction: Implement Article 13 of the Constitution to ensure inclusionary democracy and citizen participation in decision-making.
*Peg Old Age Pensions to at least the national minimumwage.
*Restore the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to financial viability and activate unemployment benefits for displaced workers.
*ReviseSalaryBandsfor public servants, the Disciplined Services, and teachers to match the new economicreality
*Implement a Universal
Cash Grant of $1 million to every adult Guyanese from oilrevenues,asproposedby ProfessorCliveThomas.
*HonourTripartiteWage Agreements made under the APNU+AFC government forprivate-sectorworkers.
*Uphold the Right to Collective Bargaining, enshrined in Article 147 of the Constitution and protectedunderinternational labourconventions.
*Ensure Free Education from nursery to university, cancel student debt at the University of Guyana (UG), and reinvest in UG and CritchlowLabourCollege.
*Guarantee Equitable Access to Opportunities in o i l a n d n o n - o i l sectors guided by need, merit, and fairness, not
politicsorethnicity
*Promote Political, Economic, and Social Justice—there can be no peace where justice is denied.
*Abolish PAYE to ease theburdenonworking-class households and stimulate realincomegrowth.
O n t h i s 5 9 t h Independence Anniversary, GTUC urges every Guyanese to reflect on the journey we've made—and thebattlesyettobewon.Our ancestors fought for our freedom. We must honour themnotjustinword,butin action—by continuing the fightforjustice,dignity,and sharedprosperity Happy Independence, Guyana.Letusmakeitmean something—forall.
Orecommit ourselves to the path ahead, we must also confront the challenges within our society that d e m a n d j u s t i c e , accounta
d compassion. In this moment ofnationalintrospection,the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown reiterate our unwavering belief and call for Justice for Adriana. Her lifemattered.Herstorymust be told.And her family, like every citizen of this nation, deserves the truth. No stone must be left unturned. No silence will be accepted. Justice must—and will—be served.
O n t h i s 5 9 t h Independence Day, may we embrace our heritage with pride, defend our sovereignty with courage, and build our future with unity,dignity,andjusticefor all. Long live Georgetown. Long live Essequibo. Long l
ve the Coope
ative RepublicofGuyana.
Happy Independence Day!
HisWorship,theMayor
Mayor and City Council ofGeorgetown
n the historic occasion of the 5 9 t h Anniversary of Guyana's Independence, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
e x t e n d s h e a r t f e l t congratulations to all Guyanese. This is a time of national pride and deep r e f l e c t i o n , a s w e commemorate nearly six decades since our nation broke the chains of colonial rule and took its rightful placeamongthefreenations oftheworld.
T h e j o u r n e y t o independence was not a gift freely given, but a right bravelywon,spearheadedby the sacrifices, struggles, and unyielding spirit of the Guyanese working class
The labour movement, of which GAWU is a proud product,playedapivotalrole in resisting oppression and championing the cause of freedom.
Itwasinthefactories,the fields,andthestreetsthatthe call for liberation was soundedloudestandlongest.
We especially remember and honour the outstanding leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan, a towering figure in ournationalhistory
His unwavering commitment to the poor and
working people laid the foundation for an independent Guyana rooted injustice,equity,anddignity His lifelong dedication to democratic principles and the upliftment of the masses continuestoinspireourwork today
Since May 26, 1966, our country has seen notable advances in health, education, infrastructure, and governance. We have ov
ng economic hardship, political instability, undemocratic governance, and elections that betrayed the will of the people.
Yet, through the perseverance and resilience of the Guyanese people, we haverisentimeandagain. Today,Guyanastandson the cusp of its greatest transformation. With the responsible stewardship of our natural resources and a renewed national vision, the nation is experiencing unprecedented growth. We are on track to realise the dreams of generations past of a country where prosperity is shared, every citizen has an opportunitytothrive,andno oneisleftbehind.
However, even as we celebrate, we are reminded
of the need to remain vigilant GAWU strongly condemns the ongoing machinations by the GovernmentofVenezuelato undermine Guyana's sovereignty by conducting electoral activities related to the Essequibo region Essequibois,andhasalways been, an integral part of Guyana. We reiterate that international law must be respected, and we stand firmly with the Government and people of Guyana in defence of our territorial integrity
We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for the Caribbean as aZoneofPeace.Atatimeof globaluncertaintyandrising conflict, our region must continue to uphold the principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and diplomatic resolution of disputes. As we mark 59 years of independence, GAWU urges all Guyanese to celebrate this milestone with dignity and peace. Let ushonourthelegacyofthose who fought for our freedom byworkingtogethertobuild a stronger, fairer, and more unitedGuyana.
Happy Independence Day,Guyana!
Long live our unity, sovereignty,andpeace!
TheGuyanaPublic Service Union (GPSU) extends warm greetings to all Guyanese, at home and abroad,aswecommemorate 59 years as an Independent Nation,ajourneydefinedby the unrelenting will of a peopledeterminedtogovern themselves with dignity, justice, and selfdetermination.
The GPSU embraces the NationalTheme,“Guyana:A Future of Unity and Progress,” as both an a s p i r a t i o n a n d a responsibility We must recognize that without genuine national unity, grounded in respect, justice, and inclusion, all that we have achieved, positively since Independence in 1966 can be undermined Our internal division weakens collective resolve at a time when Guyana's sovereignty is threatened. Guyana's firm stance against Venezuela's unfounded claim to a large portion of our country's resources and, by extension, its people demands that we stand together. Unity is not optional, it is essential to defending our borders, our dignity,andourfuture.
On May 26, 1966, Guyana proudly raised its Golden Arrowhead and steppedontotheworldstage as an independent nation. Morethanaflag,theGolden Arrowhead embodies the essenceofwhoweare.
Itsboldcoloursrepresent our vast forests, mineral wealth, mighty rivers, and the courage, endurance, and
perseverance of our people. It is not merely a national emblem; it is a promise to future generations and a pledge to protect the values for which our fore-parents fought.
T h e r o a d t o
Independence was neither short nor easy It was paved by the unwavering leadership of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Cheddi Berret Jagan, along with th
able contributions of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the FatherofTradeUnionismin Guyana, and many other TradeUnionists.
Though they came from different racial and ideological backgrounds, theysharedacommonvision for a free, just, and united Guyana.
Supporting that vision were thousands of public servants- nurses, doctors, engineers, surveyors, teachers,clerks,technicians, law enforcement officers, and revenue workers- who kept the machinery of the colonial state functioning, even as they were denied justice. In the shadow of the empire, they laid the groundworkfornationhood.
Founded on June 8, 1923, the Guyana Public Service Union preceded the birth of our independent nationby43years.Bornout of necessity, it became the voice of the voiceless, advocatingforfairandequal treatment of Guyanese workers, in stark contrast to the privileges afforded to expatriates.
The GPSU evolved not
merely as a labour organizationbutasapillarof resistance, a platform for advocacy, and a partner in governance. It helped shape a professional, modern publicserviceandcontinues to fight for the dignity and rightsofworkersthroughout Guyana. Notably, the public servicemustbepermittedto discharge its functions c o n s i s t e n t w i t h constitutionalrequirements.
Through decades of represen
tion and negotiation,theUnionhas:
Ÿ Fought for fair wages, improved working conditions, regulated working h o u r s , a n d allowances
Ÿ
y labourpractices
Ÿ Advanced the professionalization ofthepublicservice
Ÿ Participat
n a l development as a strategic partner, not abystander Today, the GPSU represents a broad crosssection of Guyana's public sector,including:
Ÿ Doctors, nurses, and c a r e g i v e r s safeguarding public health
Ÿ State lawyers and
upholdingjustice
Ÿ Revenue officers,
ERC: Embrace the principles of inclusivity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends itswarmestfelicitationstoall Guyaneseathomeandinthe diaspora as the nation collectively observes the 59th Anniversary of Guyana'sIndependence.
On this momentous occasion, we reflect with prideonthejourneywehave undertaken as a nation, from the dawn of our freedom to thepresentday
Fifty-nine years ago, our forebears, through unwavering determination, agitationandasharedvision to remove colonial domination, secured our independence, charting a courseforself-determination andnationalsovereignty
This anniversary serves asapoignantreminderofthe sacrifices made and the dreamsthatwerekindledfor a united, prosperous, and harmonious Guyana. As we celebrate this significant milestone,theERCreaffirms its unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where every Guyanese, regardless of their ethnic background, feels valued, respected, and empowered. Ourdiversityisourstrength, a vibrant tapestry woven from myriad cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Itisthisrichmosaicthattruly defines us as a nation. The ERC recognizes that building and sustaining national unity is an ongoing
integrity
Ÿ Airtrafficcontrollers and immigration officers protecting ourborders
Ÿ Geology and Mines workers advancing sustainable resource development
Ÿ Alongsideeducators, administrators, technical personnel, andcountlessothers These workers are not merely employees of the State, they are the lifeblood ofnationaldevelopment,the guardiansofourdemocracy, and the silent architects of progress.
Asoneoftheoldestand most resilient institutions in Guyana,theGPSUreaffirms its commitment to ensuring that progress is peoplecentered,thatworkers'rights areprotected,andthatpublic service remains a cornerstone of democracy and national development. Webelievethattrueprogress must be anchored in justice, equity, strong institutions, and unwavering respect for the contributions of public servants and workers across thisnation.
However, the Judiciary must be independent and freefrompoliticalinfluence. It must be adequately resourced and sufficiently funded to execute its duties in a professional and impartialmanner
As Guyana enters a new chapter,fueledbyagrowing o i l a n d g a s e c o n o m y s e r i o u s challengesemerge.Thevery vision that united us at Independence is now tested
process, one that requires continuousdialogue, understanding, and mutual respect. We encourage all citizens to embrace the principles of inclusivity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. Let us use this occasion to bridge divides, strengthen bonds, and work collaboratively towards a future where ethnicharmonyisnotjustan aspiration,butalivedreality forall.
M a y t h i s 5 9 t h Independence Anniversary inspire us to renew our dedication to the Guyanese ideal–anationwherepeace, progress, and prosperity are shared by all Happy IndependenceDay,Guyana.
by:
Ÿ The rise of contract labour, threatening job security and representation
Ÿ The erosion of collective bargaining rights
Ÿ Stalled negotiations and disregard for legally binding agreements
Ÿ Policies that marginalize, rather than empower, the publicservice
These are not simply administrative matters, they are fundamental threats to good governance, social justice, and sustainable development.
To truly honour our Independence, we must rekindlethespiritofpurpose andsolidaritythatbroughtus thisfar TheGPSUcallson:
Ÿ The Government of Guyana to recommit to good-faith engagement with the Union
Ÿ All institutions to uphold fairness, justice,andequity
Ÿ Citizens and civil society to promote accountability and inclusion
Ÿ Public servants to remain organized, informed, and c o m m i t t e d t o excellence
There is a significant lack of trust and confidence in our governing bodies that prevails nationally, and rebuilding the nation's trust mustbeatoppriority Letus restore trust and confidence, rebuild unity, and shape a
national identity rooted in equalopportunityandshared prosperity for every citizen, regardless of background or ethnicity
As we continue to modernize and develop our beloved country, let us honour and safeguard the gains of our Independence by promoting quality public service, justice, and the dignity for all workers. We must remain resolute in our pursuitofnationalunityand steadfast in our demand for full adherence to our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the International Conventions of the United Nations (UN) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) ratified bytheParliamentoftheCooperative Republic of Guyana.
To every public servant andworker,fromhospitalsto schools, courtrooms to borders, mining fields to administrative offices, factories, farms, and urban or rural centers, we recognize your hard work and contributions, and we saluteyou.Yourlabouristhe lightthatneverwentout,not during colonialism, not during crisis, and not during division You are the enduring stewards of Guyana'sdemocracy
L e t t h i s 5 9 t h Independence Anniversary inspire us to reflect deeply, act boldly, and live with integrity, in full alignment with this year's theme: “Guyana:AFuture of Unity and Progress” and our nationalmotto:“OnePeople. OneNation.OneDestiny.”
President IrfaanAli announced, on Sunday night, September 1, 2025 as the date for General and RegionalElections.
H e m a d e t h e announcement during his Independence address at Albion Sports Complex,
Region Six, Berbice President Ali also told the gathering that he will soon issue the proclamation for the dissolution of Parliament.
He said he arrived at his decision after engaging the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh. He said he was assured that GECOM would be ready to hold elections on that date.Back inApril, this newspaper had r e p o r t e d G E C O M Commissioner Charles Corbin saying that the Commissionwillbereadyto host the 2025 General and Regional elections by late September
P r e s i d e n t A l i ' s announcementhascomeata time when there is widespread discontent with h i s g o v e r n m e n t ' s management of the nascent oil and gas sector and their handling of the security sector, particularly the Guyana Police Force Ali, whowillbeseekingasecond term, will face the PNCR, AFCandothersmallpartiesmost of them yet to signal whowillbetheirpresidential candidates.
AliwaselectedforafiveyeartermintheMarch2020 elections, in which he defeated the incumbent David Granger, securing for hispartyaone-seatmajority inthe65-seatlegislature. He was sworn into Office on August2ofthatyear,months aftertheelections.
Kaieteur News was unabletocontacttheleaders ofthemainoppositionparty f
president.
We'reready
However,VicePresident Bharrat Jagdeo, in his capacity as General Secretary of the ruling People's Progressive Party ( PPP), said he welcomes President Dr Irfaan Ali's announcementofSeptember 1st, 2025 as the date for General and Regional Elections.
"As the General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), I am proud to say that we are readytodeliverourmessage of continued progress to the people of Guyana in the upcoming election campaign.Since returning to Office in August 2020, our government hit the ground running, and we have not lookedback."
Notingthatinthefaceof a global pandemic, the PPP G o v e r n m e n t a c t
9
testing, secured life-saving vaccines, reopened the economy, and restored essential public services
"Within just 40 days, we passedanemergencybudget to remove burdensome taxes, support vulnerable groups, and revive critical sectorsoftheeconomy And wedidfarmorethanthat.In just under five years, we have restored confidence in the economy and created thousands of jobs for the Guyanese people From a g r i c u l t u
n d infrastructuretoenergy,ICT, andtourism,wehavedriven broad-based, inclusive growth.
We invested heavily in healthcare, education, affordable housing, social welfare, and built stronger, safercommunities."
Jagdeo added that over this period, thousands of house lots have been distributed, putting land and homeownership within reachforordinaryGuyanese families. "We tempered the impactoftheglobalincrease in the cost of living by increasing disposable income across both the private and public sectors. To ease the financial burden on families and businesses, we introduced several initiatives including subsidies on electricity and
water, the removal of all taxesongasolineanddiesel, and the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, which led to cheaper access todataandotherservices."
He said the government also reduced mortgage i n t e r e s t r a t e s a n d implemented a range of additionalmeasuresaimedat putting more money into people's pockets "At the sametime,wetackledrising livingcoststhroughtargeted interventions for the elderly, unemployed,women,youth, a
safeguarding jobs and incomesnationwide.
Importantly, we did not just deliver on our 2020–2025manifesto—we exceeded it by listening to the needs of our people and takingdecisiveaction.
We implemented initiatives that ensured all sectionsofsocietybenefited — from miners and farmers to public servants, youths, entrepreneurs, and ordinary f a m i l i e s i n e v e r y community,"Jagdeonoted.
Looking ahead, he said the party's re-election campaignwillfocusonplans to build on "this strong foundation. We will create thousands more jobs across new and traditional sectors, expand healthcare services with over 6,000 new jobs in that sector alone, and
establish hubs for medical
, and information technology We willmoderniseeducationby embedding STEM, AI, and digital skills in classrooms, increasing scholarships, and growing a Digital Guyana.
Housing development will
ac
distribution of 5,000 house lots annually, alongside new c
communities like Silica City "He said majo
infrastructure projects — including new bridges, h
harbours, modern airports, a
connectivity, and support economic diversification
ess reformsandSMEfinancing, "we will continue to open opportunities for every Guyanesecitizen. We also recognise that important work remains in several key areas These include improving garbage collection and community drainage systems to foster
neighbourhoods, expanding street lighting and other initiatives to enhance community safety, and making more land available forsmallminersandfarmers to boost productivity and supp
livelihoods."
"Needless to say, throughout our term, we have faced relentless obstruction from the Parliamentary Opposition, whose political games have done the country a d i s s e r v i c e T h e PNCR/APNU/AFC/WPA, in whatever form they present themselves to the electorate, have no track record to stand on – no record of delivering for the Guyanese people – and nothing credible to offer the electorate As such, Guyanese can expect their characteristic campaign of lies, racism and division to continue, along with the usuallonglistofunrealistic, lofty, populist promises, whichtheyhavenointention offulfilling."
The PPP leader said the party anticipates this and will meet this challenge head-on, "exposing their deceptionateveryturn.
The PPP has always stood for democracy, social justice, economic growth, andnationalunity That commitment remains unshaken. We will continue working to build a Guyana where every citizen – young and old, of every race, gender and religion –has the opportunity for a progressive and prosperous life.
Wearereadyforthe2025 Election And we are prepared to win it for the people of Guyana," the statementended
The paperwork to facilitate the departure of AdrianaYounge'sbodyfrom Guyana has been finalised, and the 11-year-old's remains are expected to be flown to the United States this week for a second autopsy
This confirmation came from Adriana's mother, Amecia Simon, who spoke with Kaieteur News on Sunday While unable to provide a specific date, Simon affirmed the departurewillhappenwithin the week “Sometime this week she will leave,” she said.
Simon added that arrangements for Adriana's body to be flown overseas are progressing smoothly, and the paperwork for her travel is in its completion
stage “So far, so good, everythingisset.Justforher body to be flown out,” she stated.
The decision to pursue a second autopsy was first made public on May 13, 2025, by the family's attorney, Dr Dexter Todd He told Kaieteur News that the family had opted for a full forensic review in the United States to be conducted by two US-based pathologists.
Since then, the family has been preparing the necessary documents for Adriana's body to be flown to the United States In a previous interview with Kaieteur News, Todd revealed that the paperwork processbeganonMay16.
Duringthatinterview,he revealed the family's
financial challenges in their questforanswers.“Itisvery costly Thefamilyisbearing thecostofthis.Flyingabody
here is not cheap, and I witnessed them selling everything, pulling everythingtheyownbecause they just want the answer,” Todd said. “The money is coming out from their own pocketandwhateversupport that was given, and that alone is surrounding the investigation.”
Saturdaymarkedexactly one month since Adriana's lifelessbodywasdiscovered and retrieved by her father, Subryan Younge, in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. She was found nearly20hoursaftershehad been reported missing during a family swimming triponApril24.
The initial post-mortem examination (PME) was
performed on April 28 by government-appointed Barbadian pathologist, Dr ShubhakarKarraPaul,atthe GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) It concluded thatAdriana died by drowning. However, the time of death could not be determined, and the toxicology report remains pending.
The PME was observed bytwointernationalexperts: Dr Gary L. Collins, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Delaware, and Dr Glenn A Rudner from Mount Sinai Hospital in NewYork.
Unconvinced by the official findings, Adriana's familyformallyrequestedan independent review of the PMEfootageandsupporting documentation They also
requestedtheinvolvementof Trinidadian pathologist, Dr Daisley, in the review process However, Dr Daisley has yet to receive clearance from the medical council.
Despitefacingresistance and criticism from some government officials opposedtoasecondautopsy, the family remains determined to pursue an independent investigation Adriana'sbodywillbeflown to a forensic lab in Atlanta, Georgia, where the second autopsywillbeconducted.
The family remains resoluteintheirpursuitofthe truth behindAdriana's death and is determined to fully investigate the matter without the support of the government and law enforcement.
The 2025 edition of the 'One Guyana' King and Queen of the Sand Football championships which was set to kick off on Sunday, May18,butwascurtailedby therain,willnowkickoffon Independence Day at the People's Progressive Party Civic(PPP-C)Lindenoffice ground.
Astheexcitementramps up amongst the teams in what is anticipated to be a
tournamentwithatotalof20 male teams and 8 female teams that will be matching skills over the next few weeks as they seek to be the toptwo(2)ineachgroupthat will advance to the next round and closer to the top four
Following the opening match, it will be a clash of Queens from at 17:30hrs between Iconic Strikers and Rockstone. This would be followed
by another female match between Avocado Ballers andHururufrom19:00hrs.
Thereafter,thekingswill takecentre-stageandthefirst matchwillseeTeamMineral matching skills with Swan FC from 20:10hrs. Next up willbeUDKVictorsagainst LilBallersfrom21:00hrs. Rockstone will throw down the gauntlet to HardballManagementinthe mainsupportingmatchfrom 21:50hrs with the feature
clash between HH Ballers andAvocado.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Passionandromanceareinthe air, so make the most of the great atmosphere! Everyone seemstobeinafestivemood. You feel close to others and feelprofoundgratitudeforthe lovedonesinyourlife.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
You may receive some upsetting news from a family member today It could have you reeling for a moment,but whenyoutakethetimetothink about it some more you'll realize that things aren't as troublingastheyfirstseemed
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Youmustweighyourphysical limitationswithyourdesireto get everything done, Gemini. You run the risk of wearing yourself out and getting sick justasyoufinishyourtasks.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Todayyoucouldrealizethata friend is actually your soul mate, Cancer You've been spendingalotoftimetogether attending social events, and you've come to realize how much you look forward to eachother'scompany
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Youmayfeelatoddswiththe restoftheworldnow,Leo,as youyearnforsomequiettime alone. See if you can find a balance between spending time with your family and timealone.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Youhaveawarmandsensitive nature, Virgo, and today you could be feeling especially tuned in to the feelings of others.Romanceisverymuch onyourmind,asareallthings sensual.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Thismaybeatrickyday,Libra, as you feel the pull of conflicting demands and desires. On the one hand, you feel obligated to your career and fulfilling the demands of youremployer.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
It doesn't seem fair that your workload has increased these last few days Never mind that youstillhaveallofyournormal tasks to do, your boss expects youtofinalizeanewbudgetand writeaproposalaswell?
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
You've been extremely busy these past few months, working extra hours at the office, then going out with friendslateatnight.Thissortof behaviorisknownas"burning thecandleatbothends,"andit rarelyhasahappyending.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Expect today's planetary energies to raise your social consciousness,Capricorn.You may be distracted with thoughts of the homeless person you saw today, or the television special you saw on babieswithAIDS.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
You may be asked to swallow your pride and give in to someoneelse'swilltoday This will be difficult for you to do. Try to concentrate on your good reasons for obedience, and work out your frustration bytakingabriskwalk.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
The planetary energy makes this a good day for contemplation rather than action, Pisces. If you feel the urgetobuy,don't.
Speightland will be defending the queen's title while a new king will be crowned as last year's champions, DC Ballers are notinthereckoningthistime around. Over four million dollars in cash, trophies and other incentives will be up for grabs. The action will continue on Friday at the samevenue.
Queenssegment:
GroupA- GDF, Hururu, Circitville Stricker
, AvocadoBallers.
G
Fearless,Speightland.
Kingssegment:
Group A- Hard Knocks, HH Ballers, Avocado Ballers, One Syde, Turf President.
Group B - Young Gunners, Spaniards, UDK Victors, Foundation Family,
Frompage30
follows: President –Jeewanram Persaud, Vice President – Juanita Persaud, Secretary – Roshini Boodhoo-Persaud, Treasurer – Bibi Gani and Executive Members – Mehendra Chatargum, Faraad Gani, MelesaRamnaraineandSean Duncan. Also in attendance were Directors of Archery Guyana, Mr Ryan McKinnon and Mr Saeed Karim, who expressed their support and encouragement to the new club executives, reinforcing the Federation's commitment to inclusive growth and collaborative development across all regions.
Themorningconcluded with light networking and shared dialogue, with both entities looking forward to fruitful collaborations and the continued growth of archeryinGuyana
Speightland are the defending Queens of the Sand.
In a move lauded by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Queensway Security Service on Sunday rewarded three of their employees for their exceptional performances while representing Guyana at the recently concluded Caribbean Boxing ChampionshipsinSt.Lucia.
Jamal Eastman, Joel Williamson, and standout performerTerronWintzwere recognized at Queensway's Canje, Berbice office with monetary incentives, underscoring the company's commitment to supporting localtalent.
Wintz emerged as the most decorated among the trio, pocketing a total of $350,000 Of that sum, $100,000 was designated to support his ongoing training and nutrition, while the remaining $250,000 was a reward for clinching the coveted Best Youth Boxer awardattheChampionships.
Competing in the youth division,Wintzdominatedhis
67kg final bout against St Lucia's Denzel Stephens, with the referee stopping the contest two minutes and 36 seconds into the second round.
Williamson and Eastman wereeachawarded$100,000 for their efforts in the ring, with GBA President Steve Ninvalleexpressinghopethat the gesture by Queensway Security would set a precedent for other companies that employ athletes.
“This kind of corporate involvement is critical,” Ninvallesaid
“Queensway has shown they understand what is needed for our athletes, not justinboxing,butinanysport to excel. These young men train tirelessly, and support likethisgoesalongway.”
Ninvalle also took the opportunity to highlight the GBA's intensified focus on youthdevelopmentinrecent years, pointing to the surge of interest in boxing among the nation's youth,
especially in regions like Berbice
“We're investing heavily in our youth programme,” Ninvalleemphasized
“Our aim is to expose more young boxers to elite competition, regionally and internationally, so that they have the platform and experience to one day
In a thrilling display of resilienceandnationalpride, the prestigious National Independence Three-Stage Cycling Road Race concluded as a massive success over last weekend, thanks to the timely intervention of the Ministry of Sports after controversies threatened to derail the event.
With an excess of $3 million injected at the
transition into successful professionalcareers.”
The GBA, under Ninvalle's leadership, has been instrumental in nurturing grassroots talent acrossGuyana
The association's recent
efforts have borne fruit, with Guyanese boxers making theirmarkonregionalstages andearningaccolades
“Timeandagainwehave proven that with the right structure and support, our amateurboxerscanrisetoany occasion,”Ninvallesaid The p
Ninvalle noted, not only celebrated the young pugilists' achievements but also ma
,
d a progressive step forward i
Frompage27 end Stirling's cameo before getting the ball to seam in from well outside off as HarryTectorlookedtoleave, only to hear the death rattle. The double-wicket maiden all but ended any hopes of a fightbackfromIreland.
Cade Carmichael and Lorcan Tucker put on a 72run stand, with the former impressing in his second ODI innings, and he looked especially good pulling away the short balls, but Alzarri Joseph and Greaves sent them both back in the
e-GBA
space of ten balls From there on, it was just a formality forWest Indies as they avoided back-to-back series defeats against Ireland, who were also two batters short with Neill and Little injured during the firstinnings
“This race is more than just competition; it's a symbol of our sporting heritage,” said Minister Ramson “Despite the hurdles,weweredetermined todeliverforourathletesand fans.”
On the day, the international field was fierce, with Garcia pushing the pedals to the limit; sweeping all three stages across the two-day event, showcasing elite endurance andtacticalbrilliance.While local riders couldn't secure the coveted elite first place spot, Christopher Griffith of the KFC Evolution displayedoptimalendurance to secure third behind the Raiders duo, the local s h o w i n g d e s e r v e s considerable amount of praises, to support this; several young Guyanese cyclists demonstrating significant improvement a g a i n s t r e g i o n a l competitors. The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF)
eleventh hour, the government ensured the smooth execution of the race, which saw a dominant performance by a Colombian rider Mateo GaricarepresentingTrinidad Raiders, while local cyclists put up a spirited fight with excellentperformancesfrom Robin Persaud and Alex Newton. Just days before the event, logistical and financial challenges loomed large, casting doubt on whether the race, a staple of Guyana's Independence celebrations would proceed. However,MinisterofSports Charles Ramson Jr and Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle stepped in, securing the necessary funding and resources to guarantee the event's staging.
extended heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Sports, the N a t i o n a l S p o r t s Commission, and the Commissioner and respective Commanders of the Guyana Police Force for ensuring security and traffic management Special recognitionwasalsogivento the hospitalble service from the Taj Hotel and Church View International for accommodating teams and the IT analysts who streamlinedlivetrackingand results, Munchies Restaurant National motor racer Kevin Jeffrey and family and everyone that madethiseventasuccess.
“ W i t h o u t t h e government's support, this
event wouldn't have happened,”saidafederation
spokesperson “We're already looking ahead to next year, aiming for even greaterlocalsuccess.”
With the 2025 edition nowinthebooks,thecycling community is optimistic aboutthefuture,hopefulthat continued investment will propel Guyanese riders to thepodiuminyearstocome.
(ESPN Cricinfo)Keacy Carty's career-best 170andsupportingactsfrom Shai Hope and Justin Greaves helped West Indies hammerIrelandby197runs via the DLS method in the third ODI to draw the threematchseries1-1.
Carty hit his second hundred in as many games while Hope and Greaves scored half-centuries to power West Indies to their second-highest ODI total before a fiery opening spell from Jayden Seales all but sealed the win for West
Indiesinthefirsteightovers ofIreland'schase,whichwas shortened to 46 overs due to rain delays, with the target resetto363.
Barry McCarthy was once again the star with the new ball for Ireland as he removedbothopenersbythe fifth over But Carty and Hope, for the second match inarow,stoodfirmforWest Indies. Carty began with a flurry of confident cover drives and flicks, in contrast to his nervous start a couple ofdaysago.
Once the first ten overs
weredone,Cartywashappy to slip into a support role, with Hope the aggressor in their137-runpartnershipfor the third wicket. Hope and Carty brought up halfcenturies in consecutive overs, picking regular boundaries off debutant seamer Jordan Neill, before rainstoppedplay
Neill, meanwhile, injured his shoulder while trying to make a diving stop at the boundary a couple of overs before the rain break, cuttinghisdebutshort.
Whenplayresumedafter
a short rain delay, Harry Tector was brought into the attack and Hope welcomed him with a six over square leg.
Lorcan Tucker looks on as Shai Hope, who made 75, hits a shot (Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Liam McCarthy created a few chances with his extra bounce. Carty's cut off him went low to Tector at backward point but he was slowtoreact.Twoballslater, Hope got an outside edge through the vacant slips cordon.
Hope kept the tempo up during his run-a-ball 75 before he tried to pull one that wasn't short enough fromMcBrineandsubstitute fielderThomasMayestooka good catch diving in front fromlong-on.
There was a period of pressure from Ireland that saw them give away just 18 runs in five overs. ButAmir Jangoo, who was stuck on 7 off 23 till then, lofted Liam McCarthyoverhisheadfora six to release some pressure before Carty top-edged a pull for a six that took him intothe90s.
A cover drive off Tector in the next over took him to 97 before he edged a cut to bring up his hundred in the 38thover
Carty kept going and milked Barry McCarthy for two boundaries in the next over But Jangoo's struggles cametoanendashetriedto take on an arm ball from George Dockrell and holed outtolong-off.
There was another rain delay with eight overs left. When play resumed, Carty dispatched Dockrell back over his head for a six first ball and lofted the next ball over long-on to reach his highestODIscore.
McBrine nearly had Greaves caught at deep midwicket,butDockrelllost hisbalanceandwentoverthe boundaryropeashegrabbed the catch.Asliced boundary overshortthirdrubbedsaltin thewoundforMcBrine.
A pulled four from Greaves took West Indies to 300 with five overs to go.
Carty reached 150 off the first ball of the 46th over as Greaveskeptattackingfrom the other end with two more boundaries off Liam McCarthy
Carty smashed sixes off three consecutive legal deliveries off Barry McCarthy after Greaves hit one of his own in a 28-run 47th over The last of those, by Carty, injured a cameraman at long-off, forcing another break in play
When play resumed, Carty tried to go big again but picked out the deepmidwicket fielder, giving Liam McCarthy a muchdeservedwicket.
Greaves continued to attack, reaching his halfcentury off 22 balls but chipped one to cover next balltogiveBarryMcCarthy histhirdwicket.WhileBarry McCarthyfinishedtheseries as the leading wicket-taker, he became the first Ireland bowler to concede 100 runs inamen'sODI.
From there, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase delivered a fewmoreblowstotakeWest Indies to a mammoth total. West Indies scored 132 runs in the last eight overs, the third-most by any team in a men's ODI, where ball-byballdataisavailable.
More rain delayed the restart, but once the chase did begin with a revised target, Seales made immediate impact With movementonoffer,hegotan inswingertosneakinthegap between Andy Balbirnie's bat and pad to crash into the stumps.
Paul Stirling continued to attack, hitting Forde for two sixes in the fifth over amid a flurry of boundaries, reaching 6000 ODI runs in theprocess.
Two overs later, however, Seales drew a top edgeoffanattemptedcutto
(Continueonpage27)
Ticketsgoonsale for the highly anticipated 2025 ExxonMobilGuyanaGlobal SuperLeague(GSL)at8:30 amonTuesday27May
With prices starting at just GY$500, fans can enjoy exceptional value and witness world-class cricket featuring some of the top championteamsfromacross theglobe.
A n U n m i s s a b l e
Lineup of Global Champions, this year's GSL will showcase five powerhouse franchises, each bringing elite talent and thrilling competition to Guyana's shores: Central Stags(NewZealand–Super Smash Champions), Dubai Capitals (United Arab
Emirates – ILT20
Champions), Guyana Amazon Warriors (West Indies – 2024 Caribbean Premier League Finalists),
Hobart Hurricanes (Australia – Big Bash League Champions) an d RangpurRiders(Bangladesh
– D e f e n d i n g G S L Champions).
W i t h r e i g n i n g champions from top T20 leagues around the world,
the 2025 edition of the GSL issettodeliverunforgettable cricket action, familyfriendlyentertainment,anda vibrantstadiumexperience.
Teams will compete f o
GlobalSuperLeaguetrophy and a US$1 million prize pool, making every match a high-stakesspectacle.
Inadditiontotheworld class cricket there Guyana Amazon Warriors matches and the GSL final will also feature the best regional musical talent making the GSL an unm
experience.
Ticket prices for the 2025
accessibility for all fans. With entry starting at just GY$500, there's never been abettertimetobepartofthe excitement.
Tickets will be on sale at 223-234 Camp Street, Georgetown and online at www.gslt20.com.
The box office will be open 8:30am to 4:30pmon weekdays and 9:00am to 1:00pmonSaturdays.
Full ticket price details areasdepicted
The Executive committee of Bow Nation Archery Club took a photo op with AG members following the ceremony
On Sunday, a simple Affiliation Ceremony and Breakfast Gathering were held at the Grand Coastal Inn.Inawarmandsymbolic gesture of unity and growth, Archery Guyana formally welcomed Bow Nation Archery Club into its nationalfold.
The event, hosted over breakfast, brought together the leadership of Archery Guyana and the newly affiliated Bow Nation in an atmosphere of camaraderie, vision-sharing, and commitment to the advancementofthesport.
President of Archery Guyana, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, in delivering remarks, stated, “Today marks a significant milestone, not just for Bow NationArcheryClub,butfor the entire archery communityinGuyana.”She emphasised the importance
of such moments that embodyunity,development, and the shared love of archery
Mrs.Persaud-McKinnon commendedBowNationfor its visible enthusiasm and initiative. “To the members anddirectorsofBowNation: thank you for your passion, your vision, and your commitmenttoaligningwith the standards of the national federation,” she noted. “On behalf of the Executive Committee of Archery Guyana, I extend heartfelt congratulations, and I invite you to continue working alongside the National Federationtoensurearchery becomes a strong pillar of o p p o r t u n i t y a n d transformation across Guyana.”
The highlight of the morning was the official presentati
Certificate of Affiliation to
Bow Nation's President, Mr JeewanramPersaud,byMrs. Persaud-McKinnon an act that formally sealed the club's standing as an affiliatedclubofthenational federation.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Bow Nation was Secretary Ms Roshini Boodhoo-Persaud, who expressed sincere gratitude to Archery Guyana's Board of Directors for their guidance and support. She reaffirmed Bow Nation's commitment to upholding the values and principles of the national federation and pledgedtoworkinharmony with Archery Guyana in fostering discipline, excellence, and opportunity inthesport.
Mrs Boodhoo-Persaud also formally introduced the executive members of Bow NationArcheryClubas (Continueonpage26)
(BBC Sport) - Robert Lewandowski scored twice as La Liga champions Barcelona wrapped up their domestic treblewinning season with a comfortable victory at AthleticClub.
Having sealed their 28th league title with two games to spare, Hansi Flick's men scored their 100th goal of the league campaign with the 14thminuteopener
Lewandowski expertly chipped home goalkeeper Unai Simon, before he doubled the lead only three minutes later, arriving at the back post to head home
inswingingcorner
Thegoalswerehis27th in the league, and 40th overall,thisseason.
Substitute Dani Olmo sealed the victory from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of added time as Barca finished the campaign with 88 points from 28 wins and four draws.
Theyfinishedfourclear of Real Madrid as German Flick won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles during his first season in charge of Barca.
Despite his side's firsthalf dominance, Athletic Clubhadtwogoodchances
Robert Lewandowski scored 40 goals in 51 appearances during the 2024-25 season (Getty Image)
to reduce the deficit before the break - both falling to Maroan Sannadi, who shouldhavedonebetter
The 24-year-old striker failed to hit the target from six yards out after getting on the end of Unai Nunez's cross.
Sannadi then poked wide with only visiting goalkeeper Inaki Pena to beat after being played through on goal by his captain Oscar de Marcos, who was making his 570th and final appearance for the Bilbaooutfit.
Lewandowski, who has only Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (31) ahead of him in the La Liga scoring charts this season, passed up chances to complete his hat-trick early in the second half.
Athletic Club went close again when Barca centre-back Pau Cubarsi's defensive header from Alex Berenguer's free-kick rattledthecrossbar.
De Marcos received a standing ovation from the San Mames crowd as he was substituted in the 89th minute, passing the captain'sarmbandtofuture captainInakiWilliams.
But it was Barca who had the last word as Olmo scored from the spot in the stoppage time after he was broughtdownintheboxby YuriBerchiche
The hosts, who had secured their Champions League qualification before the final day, finished fourth, level on 70 points with fifth-placed Villarreal
Akili Haynes and Priyanna Ramdhani continued their impressive run by successfully defending their Mixed Doubles title at the 2025GUMDACBadminton Tournament. The duo also captured top honors in the Men'sDoublesandWomen's Doubles events, partnering with Tyrese Jeffrey and M i s h k a B e h a r r y, respectively
Their outstanding performancesacrossmultiple categories underscored their dominance, versatility, and exceptionalskillinthesport.
Inoneofthetournament's most thrilling matches, Haynes and Jeffrey faced a formidable challenge from risingstarNkosiBeatonand hispartnerChenintheMen's Doubles final. The highe n e rg y e n c o u n t e r highlighted the depth of talent and competitive spirit within the local badminton scene.
TheMixedDoublesfinal also brought excitement, with Haynes and Ramdhani taking on the emerging pair of Beaton and Beharry The matchup showcased a dynamic mix of experience andupcomingtalent,adding furtherdramaandintrigueto the tournament. Tournament formats included a Round of 32 draw for the Men's Doubles, a Round of 16 for the Mixed Doubles, and a
Round Robin format for the Women'sDoubles.
The 2025 GUMDAC Badminton Tournament provedtobeacelebrationof athletic excellence and growing talent, reinforcing the sport's rising profile in Guyana The Guyana BadmintonAssociation once again expresses its gratitude towards Mr Darrell Carpenay for his continued sponsorship of the tournament Sponsorship plays a crucial role in the successandsustainabilityof sporting events, and Mr Carpenay's support is undoubtedly invaluable Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the players, parents, spectators, and fans whose involvement and support was vital in making thiseventasuccess.
Moreover, the GBA would like to acknowledge the Director of Sports and the Staff of the National Sports Commission for availing the usage of the facility, the National Gymnasium.
UpcomingfortheGBAis their National Junior Championship on July 5-6, 2025 and the Panam Individual Championship andCampinGuatemalaalso inJuly Day2Matches–May 24th,2025
X D Q F – A k i l i Haynes/Priyanna Ramdhani
v s F r a n k
Waddell/Anjaneysa Godette:21-13,21-7
W D – A s i y a h Eastman/Leshaunte Berkley
v s . H a r s h i n i Muralidharan/Gabrielle
Felix:23-21,21-17
M D S F – A k i l i Haynes/Tyrese Jeffrey vs. ChetBowling/DanTan: 2112,21-17
XD SF – Nkosi Beaton/Mishka Beharry vs Wen Yuan Chen/Asiyah Eastman:24-22,23-21
MD SF – Nkosi Beaton/Wen Yuan Chen vs Frank Waddell/Joanathan Debidin:21-18,21-15
X D S F - A k i l i Haynes/Priyanna Ramdhani
vs Gavin Cao/Zhou Fenglian:21-5,21-12
XD Finals – Akili Haynes/Priyanna Ramdhani vs Nkosi Beaton/Mishka
Beharry:21-11,21-18
WD Final – Priyanna Ramdhani/Mishka Beharry vs. Shivannie Persaud/Anna Perreira:21-7,21-8
MD Final – Akili Hayes/Tyrese Jeffrey vs Nkosi Beaton/Wen Yuen Chen:21-13,22-20
Mixed Doubles
3rd Place – Wen Yuan ChenandAsiyahEastman
3rd Place – Gavin Cao andZhouFenglian
2ndPlace–NkosiBeaton andMishkaBeharry
1st Place –Akili Haynes andPriyannaRamdhani
Women Doubles
3rd Place – Asiyah
Eastman and Leshaunte Berkley
3rd place – Gabrielle Felix and Harshini Muralidharan
2nd place – Shivannie PersaudandAnnaPerreira
1st Place – Priyanna Ramdhani and Mishka Beharry
Men Doubles
3rd place – Frank Waddell and Joanathan Debidin
3rdplace–ChetBowling andDanTan
2ndPlace–NkosiBeaton andWenYuanChen
1stPlace–AkiliHaynes andTyreseJeffrey