Kaieteur News

...Policesaymajorprogress inmurderinvestigation

FourYearsLater...Govt. and Exxon still can’t agree on expert to resolve US$214M audit dispute

Four years after a British audit flagged US$214 million in questionable oil expenses,theGovernmentof Guyana (GoG) and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) remain deadlocked, unable to agree ona“soleexpert”tosettlethe dispute.

Therevelationcamefrom

Exxon's President, Alistair Routledge, who confirmed that discussions with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are still ongoing to identify a mutually acceptable expert to review thecontestedclaims.

IHS-Markit, which reviewed some US$1.6B in expenses for Exxon advised theGoGthatsomeUS$214M was not billed correctly by theoperatorduringtheperiod 1999to2017.

Although Exxon

reportedly supplied documents to the GRA to substantiate the expenditure, the tax agency did not budge onthefigure.

As such, the parties have moved to engage a sole experttosettlethedispute,in keepingwiththetermsofthe 2016 Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).

Article 26.1 of the agreement states, “The Partiesshallmakereasonable effortstoresolveamicablyall disputesbynegotiation.

Anotice of the existence ofadisputeshallbegivenby a Party to another Party...in theeventthatnoagreementis reached within sixty (60) daysafterthedateonwhicha

Partynotifiestheotherthata Disputeexists,orsuchlonger period as specifically agreed by the Parties in writing, any Party shall have the right to havesuchdisputedetermined byarbitrationasprovidedfor in this Article 26, Notwithstanding the above, such period of negotiation is not required where the running of this time period may bar access to arbitration.”

According to the

President of EMGL, “We have been working with the GRA on identifying a sole expert with whom both (Continuedonpage6)

EMGLPresident, Alistair Routledge

NaturalResources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

The debt-trap

The Government last week celebrated yet another increase in borrowing power, this time from the United Kingdom,whichraiseditsexportcreditfinancingceilingfor Guyanafrom£2.1billionto£3billion.

The announcement has been billed as a vote of confidenceinGuyana's“boomingeconomy”andasignthat global investors view the country as a rising star in the region.Butbeneaththeapplauseliesadangerousdelusion. WhattheUKcalls“confidence”mayinfactbecalculation and what government officials praise as “trust” could very wellbeatighteningchainofdependency

ThehardtruthisthatGuyanaisborrowingonthebackof oil revenues it does not control and wealth it has barely begun to see. On Monday this newspaper reported that ExxonMobil slapped Guyana with a staggering US$2.3 billionexplorationbill,coststhatmustberecoveredfromoil revenues before the country can even see its fair share. To date,GuyanahasearnedlessthanUS$1billioninroyalties, a fraction of what should be flowing into the national treasury The math is damning: Exxon's bill is more than double what this nation has received in royalties from its own oil.Yet, our government continues to boast of “fiscal space”and“borrowingroom”asiftherichesofStabroekare securelyinourhands.

The country's debt continues to climb from US$4.5 billion in 2023 to nearly US$6 billion at the end of 2024, with debt servicing costs also on the rise. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and his Finance Minister, Dr.Ashni Singh oftentoutwhattheycalledafallingdebt-to-GDPratio,now around24percent,asproofthatGuyanaisinnodanger But as chartered accountant Christopher Ram rightly noted, in ourarticleonMondayalargeshareofthatGDPasmuchas 60percentbelongstoforeignoilcompanies,nottoGuyana. Any debt incurred, however, belongs entirely to the Guyanesepeople.

That'sthedangerousillusionatplay:theideathatoilhas madeGuyanarichenoughtoborrowwithoutfear Ithasn't. Whatwehaveisaneconomyinflatedbyoilproductionbut hollowed out by a contract so lopsided that Exxon and its partners reap the rewards while Guyana carries the risks. TheUK'sgesture,then,mustbeviewedforwhatittrulyis notcharity,notpartnership,butstrategy AsRamobserved, thisis“morethangenerosity.”It'sBritain'swayofsecuringa footholdinGuyana'soil-driveneconomy LiketheChinese before them, the British are offering financing tied to their ownfirms,thecontracts,supplies,andprofitswillflowback toLondon,notLinden.

What Guyana needs now is discipline, fiscal, institutional, and political The Inter-American DevelopmentBank(IDB),initsownsoberwarning,urged countries in the region to borrow cautiously, to strengthen governance,andtoensurethateverydollarofdebtleadsto measurable, sustainable growth. Yet Guyana's recent borrowing spree from the UK, India, and multilateral agenciesseemstorestmoreonpoliticalshowmanshipthan onprudentplanning.

ThisisnottosayGuyanashouldneverborrow Strategic borrowing,tiedtotransparentandhigh-impactprojects,can accelerate development. But borrowing blindly, on the assumption that oil will bail us out, is reckless. Especially whentheoilbelongsmoretoExxonthantous.

BillionsofAmericandollarshavebeenwithdrawnfrom the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) since the PPPC Governmenthastakenbackthereinsofpower Towithdraw such huge sums, and then to rush ahead and add more billionstothenationaldebtmustqualifyasgovernmentand leadership recklessness taken to an alarming level. The NRFshouldn'tbeseenorusedasapettycashbox,butthisis how it has been handled by the government, in which MinisterSinghisakeypresence.Debthasitsuses,butdebt has been abused by the government, with ordinary Guyanese not fully knowing the trap that the PPPC Government has laid for them. The government says that diversification of the economy will help to weather any

Wade, WIN and Terrence Campbell

DearEditor, Iwritewithreferencetoa letter published in your newspaper on October 15, 2025 and titled "The attack onDarrenWade".

The writer, Khemraj Harryram,suggestedthatmy Facebookpostwasanattack on Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade. Nowhereinthatpost was Mr Wade identified as thesubject. ItwasMr Wade who, by comments and a

subsequent post, claimed that status. I don't believe that I have ever confirmed hisclaim.

Second, I will ignore the personal attacks unleashed by Mr Harryram and the irrelevant lecture on a "cab rank"rule.

Thesituationissimpleas itrelatestoMr Wade. Heis a member of the PNCR and was a National Candidate of t h e A P N U

Contemporaneously,heisan attorney representing the WIN party and/or the Mohameds. TheAPNUand the WIN party found themselves at loggerheads. It is my considered opinion that these facts placed Mr Wade in a difficult position for which a recusal from public commentary and judgment was his only option.

The issue of ethical

conduct has become foreign toGuyanese. Consequently, citizens venture into business relationships, offices, and commentary regardless of personal bias, financial interests, or personal relationships. One can only hope that, one day soon, we will come to understand the importance ofethicsinthepublicspace.

Sincerely,

TerrenceCampbell

President Ali's Road Crisis Remarks

Prove

DearEditor, President Irfaan Ali's October 12 meeting on the East Bank traffic chaos laid bare what many Guyanese havelongobserved:thePPP Government has no system

President admitted himself, “enough effort is not placed in the contract management and the workflow plan,” and that the result is “tremendoushardshiponthe people.”

Thosewordsarestriking. If, after five years in office, the Head of State must

the PPP's Planning Failure

m

actors, consultants, the police, the Coast Guard and the Public Works Ministry to dictate work schedules, coordinate drones, and threaten legal sanctions,whatdoesthatsay a b o u t m i n i s t e r i a l competence?

T h e s e a r e n o t presidential duties, they are symptoms of institutional collapse.

Rather than being an act of strength, the President's tirade confirmed that governance under the PPP hasbecomeaone-manshow When every problem, whether a traffic jam or a

contract delay, awaits presidentialintervention,the entire Cabinet and bureaucracy are reduced to spectators.

The President himself conceded that he had visited thesiteatoneandtwo-thirty in the morning, personally checking who was working. That is not leadership; it is micromanagement born of systemicfailure.

If the government had empowered local engineers, enforced contractual standards, and maintained parliamentary oversight, such crises would never escalate to this point. The

PPP'sobsessionwithcentral control has stifled initiative and accountability across agencies. What Guyana needs are functioning institutions that prevent crises, not presidential marathons to chaseafterthem.

Until the government restores professional managementandtransparent supervision, the traffic jams oftheEastBankwillremain a metaphor for how the country is being run: congested, reactive, and directionless.

Yoursfaithfully, SherodDuncan

Oil windfall faces turbulence: Guyana braces for budget pressure as global glut threatens earnings

DearEditor,

TheInternationalEnergy Agency(IEA)hasconfirmed that the global oil market is heading toward its largest surplus in history, expected toreach4millionbarrelsper day (bpd) in 2026 This oversupply, mainly driven by increased OPEC+ production and new output from countries like the United States, Brazil, and Guyana, is expected to push prices down from roughly $72 today to about $54 per barrel—a25%decline.

Oil Outlook and Guyana'sProductionSurge Guyana's output, led by ExxonMobil's consortium, hasalreadyreached770,000 bpd with its fourth floating production facility online.

Projectionsshowproduction surpassing 900,000 bpd by 2026whentwonewprojects (UaruandWhiptail)comeon stream. This growth ensures volume stability even in a pricedownturn,butearnings inUSDtermscouldcontract sharply because Guyana's share of profit oil is tied to globalpriceaverages.

Impact on Revenue, Debt,andInfrastructure Guyana's 2025 budget stood at US$5 billion, more than triple its pre-oil GDP level, with major outlays on infrastructure (33%), education (17%), and health (12%) Much of this expansion has been loansupported, with public debt declining from 61% of GDP in2018tounder25%in2025

storm. Wethinkthatthegovernmentisfoolingitself. Being the compassionate government that it claims to be, a better effortshouldbemadetostopfoolingcitizens. Thereissome diversification in the local economy, but some of those sectors feed on oil operations and oil production going at breakneckspeeds. Inotherwords,whateverthedirectionof oil demand and oil prices, that is the degree of supporting energy from the diversified businesses that the government likestoemphasize.IfGuyanaisnotcareful,thestoryofthis erawillnotbeoneoftransformationbutoftragedyofarich nation that mortgaged its future for loans it could never repay,builtonoilthatwasnevertrulyitsown.

—largelyduetooilreceipts. However,a25%oilpricefall in 2026 would strain the Natural Resource Fund (NRF)inflowsandwidenthe fiscal deficit, as the government faces higher borrowingcostsandreduced exportreceipts.

Servicing loans for massive projects—such as the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Gas-to-Energy plant—could become more difficult With less oil revenue, the government may have to slow infrastructure rollouts, extend project timelines, or refinance at higher interest rates Effects on Social SpendingandCashGrants

Reliefmeasuresfromthe 2025budgetincluded:

Increased public assistance payments to

GY$22,000 monthly (benefiting40,000people)

GY$100,000 newborn grants to all Guyanese mothers

GY$10,000 health vouchersforbasictests

Such programs were financed from oil revenues and are politically sensitive. If earnings decline sharply

then these transfers could face cuts or delayed disbursements, unless offset by higher taxation or sovereignborrowing. Can Other Sectors Fill the Gap?

A g r i c u l t u r e , construction, and services have modest potential to cushiontheslowdown: Agriculture, benefiting from GY$360 million in irrigation and floodresilience programs, may grow but remains small in totalGDPshare

T o u r i s m a n d manufacturing are expanding slowly but lack theexportscaletooffsetoil's fiscal weight.
Thus, nonoil sectors will not fully bridge a revenue gap caused by lower crude prices, particularly if government consumptionweakens. 2026 Budget Outlook

Given these dynamics, Guyana's 2026 budget is expected to pivot toward fiscalconsolidation:

Possible increases in selective taxes (e g , sin taxesorimportduties). Reprioritizationof (Continuedonpage5)

Caribbean Sea: Zone of Peace and Prosperity

DearEditor,

Lapping against the shores of several sovereign countries and dependent territories, the Caribbean Sea is our patrimony Many of us learnt how to swim or were even baptized in its serene and azure waters. It sustains us economically through fisheries, shipping, tourism, and many other ways. This is why news of United States (US) military strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in our stretch of ocean has sparked deep emotions: indignation, fear, and disbelief. In this SRC Trading Thoughts, I arguethattheCaribbeanSea mustremainazoneofpeace foroursharedprosperityand notatheatreofwar

O f D r u g s a n d Geopolitics

Since September 2, 2025, the US Southern Command has carried out fourstrikesonallegeddrugsmuggling boats in the southernCaribbeanSeanear Venezuela. At least twentyone people have been

reportedly killed Washington justifies the strikes as part of its fight against 'narcoterrorism', targeting aVenezuelan gang known as 'Tren de Aragua', which it had designated a foreignterroristorganization

in February 2025 Washington also pointed to the need to stem the flow of

illegal narcotics to the US from Venezuela, which it sees as a narco-state and the current administration as illegitimate.

For decades, Caribbean and Latin American countries have cooperated with the US on counternarcoticsunderthebannerof the latter's 'War on drugs'. The Caribbean region sits alongamajortransshipment route for narcotics moving from South America to satisfy markets in the north. Weaponsflowingsouthfrom the US in turn help fuel our own gang violence and homicide rates in the Caribbean.

The US' recent military strikes cannot be divorced from the wider deterioration in US-Venezuela relations, which soured under the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frias and worsened under his successor Nicolás Maduro Moros. Successive US administrations have imposed sanctions against Venezuela Moreover, in 2020 the Manhattan US attorney announced charges against President Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials for narcoterrorism, inter alia, and offered an award for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. In August2025,thebountywas increasedtoUS$50million.

Against this backdrop,

the deployment of some 4,000 US troops and other military assets in the Caribbean Sea near the Venezuelan coast has reignitedspeculationthatthe USintendstopursueregime change in Venezuela, an argument Caracas has also advanced. In response, the Maduro government has

strengthening its military assets. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has also condemned the US actions, noting that Colombian nationals may have been among the decedents in the lastattack.

At Venezuela's request, theUNSecurityCouncilmet in emergency session on October 10, though any

remains unlikely due to the US'vetopower Washington argues that it is at war with drugcartelsand,therefore,is acting in self-defense under the UN Charter Yet such c

ply questionable. A month after the first strike, no credible evidencehasbeenpresented by the US administration thatthetargetedvesselswere indeed drug boats, nor have theidentitiesornationalities of the deceased been disclosed Human Rights Watch and other observers have condemned these strikes as extrajudicial

Oil windfall faces turbulence: Guyana braces...

Frompage4 capital projects to lower yearlyexpenditure.

Reducedorfrozensocial transfers, potentially replacedbytargetedsupport ratherthanuniversalgrants.

Increased borrowing frommultilateralinstitutions under favorable terms for energy transition and social protection.

Advantages and Risks

Pros:

Continuedinvestmentin oil infrastructure ensures long-term revenue even at lower prices. Debt remains comparatively low, giving

room for short-term deficit financing.

Accelerating non-oil investment could promote diversification and resilience. Cons: Lower oil receipts hinder momentum in infrastructure and welfare expansion

Rising debt pressure could erode Guyana's fiscal credibility. Any withdrawal of social support could heighten inequality and political tension

PublicTakeaway

killings and violations of international law Indeed, therearelegitimatefearsthat the deceased could have been innocent migrants or fisherfolk.

These unilateral actions alsorecalladarkereraofUS interventionism in its socalled “backyard, ” philosophically undergirded bytheMonroeDoctrine,and exemplified by the US's 1983 invasion of Grenada, the infamous Ship Rider agreements incident in the 1990s and the ongoing embargo against Cuba. For many Caribbean people, not only do these memories remain raw but the recent strikes mark a dangerous escalation of militarization in our usually peaceful waters, with possible economic and social implications.

Shared Waters, Shared Stakes

The Caribbean Sea, thoughlessthanonepercent of the world's ocean area, accounts for as much as 27 percent of the global ocean economy and around 18 percent of regional GDP, according to an InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) report. Every

day, its waters carry fishing boats, cruise ships, tankers, andcargovessels,servingas arteries that sustain regional life.

Despite our small landmasses, Caribbean nations command exclusive economic zones (EEZs) severaltimestheirsize.This has led to a growing recognition that we are not merely “small island developingstates”but“large ocean economies ” Many Caribbean countries are seekingtodeveloptheirblue economy through, for exam

transport, sustainable fisheries, renewable energy and deep sea mining. But investment and growth depend on stability Escalating military tension

between the US and Venezuela threatens this Moreover, Trinidadian fishermen working the narrow waters between TrinidadandVenezuelahave expressed fear for their livelihoods and safety.

Therefore, increased militarisation or outright conflictorwarcouldimpact fisheries, deter investment and tourism, imperiling the very industries upon which

our future prosperity depends.

AZone of Peace Not War Since the Cold War, the Caribbeanhastakenpridein being a “Zone of Peace.” This principle is based on a shared commitment to avoiding military conflict, conserving regional sovereigntyandstabilityand rejecting foreign military intervention. At the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, several Caribbean and Latin Americanleadersreaffirmed thisstanceintheirspeeches. However, troubling cracks are emerging in what should be a unified Caribbean Community (CARICOM) front on this issue. Citing the blood shed which drug trafficking has wroughtonherowncountry, TrinidadandTobago'sPrime Minister, Kamla PersadBissessar, publicly supported the US actions in the region after the first strike. Media reports also suggest that the US has approached Grenada to host radar equipment and associated personnel at Grenada'smainairport.

(Continuedonpage6)

Still No Census Results - Yet the Government Celebrates Statistics Day

DearEditor,

If current projections hold, 2026 will mark a testing year for Guyana's young petro-economy Citizens should expect a morecautiousbudget,fewer broad-based cash grants, and greater emphasis on debt sustainability and e

spending.

While not a crisis, it r

point—fromeasyprosperity to prudent management amid global oil market volatility

Sincerely, HemduttKumar

The audacity of the twopage government ad celebrating Caribbean Statistics Day 2025 in yesterday'sissueofKaieteur News (October 15, 2025) is simply stunning to any informedreader

The 2022 National

Censuswascompletedinthe latterpartof2022.

Yet, despite repeated promises by the PPP-led government, especially in the lead-up to the 2025 General Elections, the nation is still awaiting the release of the census results, now entering the

thirdyearofdelay

DoSeniorMinisterwith Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez of the Bureau of Statistics still have any self-respect left?

Sincerely, AndreBrandli

The Hinrich Report is a great framework to help structure our future National Development Strategy

DearEditor,

The recently released Hinrich Report which is titled the Sustainable Trade Index (STI) 2025 provides key considerations for the governmentasitupdatesour national development strategy

Where we position ourselves in the world of globaltradeisadecisionthat must be made within the context of our current alliances, our current capabilities, our current stage of development, and our future national interests. STI2025provides3models where tradeoffs occur along key dimensions to help determine where a country currentlysits,thusproviding the insight necessary to structure policies in support of strategies to shift to the desired trajectory for national development. The three models provided are thefollowing:

Efficiencyvs.Autonomy

Short-term profitability vs Long-term social cohesion

Climate ambition vs Developmentsovereignty

According to the report some STI economies,

"prioritize robust infrastructure and open markets, while others focus on strengthening labor

protections, addressing income inequality, or investing in environmental safeguards" (Reference: Hinrichfoundation.com)

Based on the current situation within our country CRG suggests that as a nation we pursue a strategy that will take us towards an economy that initially accomplishesthefollowing:

Progressiveness and p r o t e c t i o n ( H i g h liberalization, High tariffs). Although an open system is maintained key sectors are protectedsobusinesseshave an opportunity to become morecompetitivewhilealso providing workers with job security during their transitionoutofpoverty The U S falls within this quadrant.

Balances growth (High social cohesion, High profitability). Currently we are experiencing low social cohesion and high profitability This is widening the gap between the haves and have nots.We must do a better job at preventing wealth from being accumulated amongst a few well-connected individuals and ensure that opportunities for financial gain are better distributed. The local content laws are a great step in this direction,

butwealsomustsupportthis with supplier development initiatives. Singapore falls withinthisquadrant.

Remains focused on becoming a sustainable green economy where our use of renewables surpasses the use of climate damaging energy sources, and our economic development enhances the environmental contribution we make to reducing greenhouse gases. This means better managing our oil production rates and increasing our investments in renewable energy technologies. It is also an opportunitytoensurethatwe pursue natural resource use that minimizes the negative impactontheenvironment.

Itshouldbenotedthatthe United Kingdom has topped theSTIthisyear

Although our nation is not within the 30 countries on the list there is a lot we can learn to avoid and do to helpaccelerateourcountry's development to 2nd and 1st world levels in a variety of areas.

Hopefully, this will help starttheconversationforthe developmentofthecountry's new five-year strategy and the associated resource allocationprocess.

Bestregards, JamilChanglee

Political favouritism undermining fairness at GPL

DearEditor, Kindly permit me space in your newspaper to highlightanissuethatraises serious concerns about fairness and professional integrity within the Guyana PowerandLightInc.(GPL). I have been employed at GPL for over fifteen years and have seen many changes,bothgoodandbad. However, what is currently taking place is particularly troubling. The Commercial Director recently proceeded on her annual leave, and in keeping with established practice, the Customer Services Manager has been appointed to act in her absence Following that chain of authority, the

Commercial Officer who servesasthejuniormanager and direct deputy to the CustomerServicesManager would then act in that role. This has always been the standard procedure, consistent with public serviceguidelinesandGPL's internalsuccessionpolicy

To the surprise and disappointment of many staff members, this process was ignored. Instead, someone from an entirely different department— the FinanceDepartmentwithno experienceandwhodoesnot hold a senior position was appointed to act in the position. This decision has left many dedicated and qualified employees feeling o

demoralised. It undermines the principles of fairness, merit, and professionalism that s

d guide appointmentswithinapublic utility When other factors appear to take precedence over competence and institutionalnorms,iterodes

confidenc

in the o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d discourages hard-working staffwhohavedevotedyears ofservice.Iurgetherelevant authorities to review this matter carefully and ensure that appointments within GPLare based on merit and establishedprocedure.

Regards

C o n c e r n e d G P L Employee

‘Guyana

isacountryinahurry’

– Min. Edghill urges foreign investors to bring their money, talent and teams

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has described Guyana as “a country in a hurry,” urging international investors to take advantage of the opportunitiesemergingfrom thecountry'srapideconomic transformation.

Deliveringremarksatthe International Business Conference (IBC) on Wednesday afternoon at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Minister Edghill said Guyana is the place to be, pointing to billions in government-led projects that are reshaping thenationallandscape.

“ G u y a n a ' s infrastructural development has taken center stage largely because in the construct of things, when you're battling hard for resources,youhavetojudge between what is extremely important and what can be done,”Edghillstated.

He explained that the government has been strategically investing in projects to address the country's long-standing development deficit while simultaneously building new and emerging sectors.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

“We will use and invest money from the Natural Resource Fund to develop traditionalsectorsinGuyana and at the same time build new and emerging sectors,” theministeroutlined.

Oil is currently being produced from the Stabroek Block located offshore Guyana This block renowned for its vast oil potential, has been the subject of global attention since oil production commenced five years ago.

Since oil production commenced in December 2019, Guyana has become a hotspot for foreign investment.

Minister Edghill noted,

“There is a lot that is happening, and there is a lot that is going to continue to happen.”

Hefurtheroutlinedtothe audience what the People's Progressive Party government has been investingin. Heoutlinedthe administration's ongoing infrastructural drive is valuedataboutUS$3billion andincludesseveralflagship initiatives such as the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, which has been completed at a cost of US$262 million, the Wismar–Mackenzie River Bridge valued at US$36 m i l l i o n , a n d t h e Linden–Mabura Road, a 121-kilometre stretch currentlyunderconstruction atacostofGYD$33billion.

O t h e r m a j o r undertakings the minister noted include the East Bank Road Improvement Project from Good Success to Timehri, pegged at US$76 million,theEastCoast–East BankBypassRoadvaluedat US$130 million, and the East Coast/Railway Embankment Upgrade, whichcarriesapricetagof

(Continuedonpage17)

Govt. and Exxon still can't agree...

Frompage3 parties are comfortable. Thatisaprocessthattakesa little bit of time, partly because it's the first time we'vedonethistogether.”

He added, “You know everything you do for the first time, you go through a learning process but also, youknow,it'snotunusualfor that to take time. Most sides have a view of, you know, whomightbeasuitablesole expert, you know, we made proposalstooneanother,we simply review those, and then we have further discussion. I think we are gettingclose.”

To this end, Routledge

noted that to his knowledge, there have been no finalizationofasuitablesole expert to review the claims. The Exxon President noted that the company is striving to give confidence that its expenditurewasgenuineand appropriate to underscore prudent management of the investments being made in Guyana.

Further, he pointed out thatExxonwasperhaps“the mostauditedorganizationin the country” since the company is not just subjected to internal audits butexpenditurereviewbyits co-venturers and external audits by the GoG. “So

we're very rigorously audited We take the accounting side and the diligenceofmakingsurethat we spend wisely as extremely important, because ultimately we're aligned, it's about maximizing the value and maximizing the economic recovery of resources in the country We'reactuallyvery, very aligned in our mission to do that,” he urged Notably, IHS completed its audit of the company and submittedarevisedreportto the GoG since March 2021. This means that the audit is now in its fourth year since thereportwashandedover

Caribbean Sea: Zone of Peace and...

Frompage5 CARICOM must sustain opendiplomaticengagement with the US on this issue, recognizing that the region has allies in the Caribbean diaspora, civil society and business community in both t h e r e g i o n a n d internationally who do not want to see an escalation of thisconflict.

Over 60 civil society organisations in the US authored a letter dated October8tomembersofthe

US Congress expressing concernoverthelegalityand morality of these strikes, while several senior Democrats have asked for evidence justifying the strikes.Inapressrelease,the UN itself has called for restraint, with Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča emphasizing that all efforts to combat transnational organized crime must be conducted in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h internationallaw

We all share a stake in ensuring that the Caribbean Sea,thewaterswhichsustain our livelihoods and economies,donotbecomea conflictzone.TheCaribbean mustspeakwithonevoiceto defend the sanctity of our shared patrimony Preserving peace and prosperity in these waters is not just a diplomatic goal. It is a moral, social and economicnecessity

Sincerely AliciaD.Nicholls

Millions in gold royalties unaccounted for

Residents of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, Region One is requesting thatMinisterofAmerindianAffairs, SarahBrowneleadaninvestigation and financial audit of the village council over the alleged mismanagementoffundsandother issues.

Highlighting the matter on Wednesday, was leader of WIN, AzruddinMohamedwhosharedthe letterofpetitionwrittenbyresidents to the minister on his Facebook page.

“We the people of Four Miles Village, Port Kaituma, are writing this letter of petition to you, requesting that you carry out an investigation and an audit under Section(27)andSection(33)ofthe Amerindian Act of 2006, on the grounds that the Toshao and councilorsoftheFourMilesVillage Council, have failed to carry out their duties and have contravened several provisions of the act,” the letterstated.

According to the villagers, sections breached include aspects dealing with village general meetings, functions of the village council,functionsandpowersofthe Toshao,dutiesofthecouncil,death orincapacityofaToshao,auditsand mining.

The villagers documented that at general meeting which was held on June 8, 2025 they had called on the village treasurer, to give an accountoftheroyaltiesandincome of the village.“She stated that the village council received 98 ounces ofgold.Whenaskedforanaccount of how the 98 ounces of gold royalties were used, the treasurer said that 64 ounces were sold at $540,000 per ounce, amounting to $34,560,000intotal.Whenaskedto provide a breakdown of how the village council utilised these monies specifically what projects were executed and how much each projectcost-thetreasurerrefusedto give an account as requested. She then closed her books and left the meeting,”theystatedintheirletter

At a later meeting which was held on October 9, 2025, the residents stated that at that meeting it was requested again for a proper updateonthefinancialstatusofthe community, to which they claimed the treasurer was not present. They weretoldshewas“sick”.

Further, the residents disclosed that while at that meeting, the village council proceeded to read out financial statements, but the topic of gold royalties was still left unanswered.

“The village council claimed that they had received some 65 Oz ofgoldoverthelastfourmonthsbut when the rangers were asked to clarifywiththeirrecordshowmuch gold was received, the rangers said they just record how much gold is washeddownbutthevillagecouncil receives the royalties. The rangers

then went on to confirm 82 oz of gold, eight pennyweight was received over the last 4 months.

Whenclaritywasaskedforfromthe village council on this revelation, they could not give an account but toldusthatthetreasurerwillhaveto answer that question,” the letter stated.

Notingthatthisgrossdisrespect andlackofaccountabilitycannotbe accepted, the villagers said that for some four months the village councilhasnotprovidedanaccurate update on the royalties collected or other finances received by the community

In addition to that, the villagers revealedthattheyonlyapproved21 dredgestooperateonvillagelands.

“However, villagers involved in goldmininghavereportedthatthere are over 50 dredges operating withoutapprovalbeingsoughtfrom the villagers at the village general meeting Villagers have also observed that members of the village council have purchased dredges, vehicles, and other assets that they could not afford prior to having access to the village finances,”theyexplained.

The situation which they described as “very alarming”, the villagers therefore call upon the ministertolookintotheseissuesso theirvillagecanmoveforwardwith accountability, transparency, and goodgovernance.

This publication understands thatsome144signaturesareonthe petition.

5 -year-old raped by teen in Region 9 ...matter under investigation

Reportsofadisturbingincident have surfaced involving a fiveyear-old girl who was allegedly raped by a 14-year-old boy in RegionNine.

Theallegationwasdisclosedby theWeInvestinNationhood(WIN) party on their Facebook page on Wednesday. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has since confirmed that the case has

investigationsinceMonday

According to the WIN party, theincidentreportedlyoccurredon October 9. The mother of the girl explained that on that day, she left her daughter and seven-year-old son

grandmother When she returned around 21:00hrs, she found her daughtercryingandbleedingwhile lyinginahammock.

“Following the incident, her mother took her to a healthcare worker'shome.Anambulancewas called to transport her to Lethem RegionalHospitalbutdidnotarrive

until between 5:30 and 6 a.m. on October10,”thepartystated, Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors confirmedthatthe girl had beensexuallymolested.

According to the party, the community described the 14-yearold alleged perpetrator as having a history of troubling behavior with previous misdemeanours, often escaping with only warnings from theToshao.Arelativealsoreported the matter but did not get any satisfaction from the community leader

Shortly after the incident was made public, the ministry issued a

statement confirming that the case was reported to the Guyana Police Force and is under active investigation. “On receiving the report from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on October 9, 2025, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) immediately intervened and has been providing continuous support, including psychosocial support and traumafocused counselling, to the child and family There has been sustained contact and monitoring, ensuringthechild'ssafetyandwellbeing at all times,” the ministry stated.

The girl has been medically examinedandclearedtospeak,and aforensicinterviewwasconducted at the child advocacy centre on Monday The case remains under investigation by the police. The ministry reiterated its commitment toprotectingeverychildinGuyana and assured that it would continue to take swift action in all cases of childabuseandexploitation.

The letter of petition which residents of Four Miles Village wrote to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs.

Theeconomyboomswhilethestockmarketwhimpers

Thereisaparadox. Overthepastfive years, the nation

has embarked on a transformative journey, fueled by the discovery, extraction,andsaleofoil.As

anticipated, this has unleashed a vast economic

expansion Money is flowing, projects are launching,andthecorporate sector, particularly the bankingsystem,isreporting historic windfalls. Several banks have announced staggering increases in profitability, a direct testament to the booming economicactivity

Yet, a strange and contradictory story is being told on the Guyana Stock Exchange. For some large companies share prices are not rising in celebration. They are falling. Anumber of listed companies are seeing substantial increases in profits accompanied by a substantial drop in their marketvalue.

This disconnect defies conventional logic. If the economy is growing rapidly

and confidently, if investment is pouring into thecountry,andifcorporate profitabilityissoaring,what could possibly explain this?

The evidence points to a single, inescapable conclusion. The mechanism that is supposed to reflect this health, the Guyana Stock Exchange, is not functioningasitshould.

A s t o c k

market's primary purpose is to be a rational and efficient discounting mechanism. It should weigh current performance against future prospectsandsetapricethat balances the two In a healthy market, soaring profitsshould,allelsebeing equal, attract investors and drive share prices up. That this is not happening indicates a profound failure in the market's core machinery

So, what is broken? The problem is not a lack of economic success, but a critical failure to translate that success into investor confidence within the exchange.Severalstructural flawsinthemarketitselfare likelytoblame.

First, there is the critical issue of liquidity and participation A stock exchange thrives on a constant flow of buyers and sellers The Guyanese market, however, is notoriously illiquid It is dominatedbyasmallnumber ofparticipants Ifahandfulof major shareholders, perhaps institutional investors, founding families, or early traders, decide to cash out theirholdingstopursueother opportunities (like direct investmentintheoilsectoror real estate), their selling can overwhelmtheentiremarket With an insufficient pool of new buyers to absorb these shares,theonlywaytofinda buy eristolowertheprice.

This creates a downward spiral, entirely disconnected from the company's profit and loss statement. Those concerned about the dip in stockpricesshouldexamine whether there has been a dumpingofsharesthatcould have led to the decline in overallshareprices.

Second, the market suffers from a failure to attract new capital. While investment is pouring into Guyana, it is conspicuously byp

k exchange. International and local capital is flowing towards private ventures, infrastructure projects, and direct service provision to the oil and gas industry These are seen as more direct, controllable, and

exchange is simply not on their radar This suggests a critical failure in marketing, accessibility, and the ability to list companies that are central to the new economy, leaving the exchange as a relicofthepre-oilera.

Finally, there is the

governance. Investors must have absolute confidence that a company's reported profits translate into real value for them. If there are concerns warranted or not abou

investors will apply a heavy “risk discount.” They will value a dollar of profit in Guyana as worth less than a dollar of profit in a more robust and transparent market.The market's failure to build this trust is a fundamental operational flaw

But to simply blame “marketforces”or“investor sentiment” is to miss the point. The sentiment is the symptom; the broken mechanism is the disease.

The Guyanese economy is performing its role, and the listed companies are doing their part The stock exchangeisnot.

For Guyana's prosperity to be fully realized and broadly shared, a functioningcapitalmarketis notaluxury;itisanecessity It allows citizens to own a pieceofthenationalsuccess, provides companies with capitaltogrow,andcreatesa virtuouscycleofinvestment and innovation. Fixing it requires a concerted effort: encouraging new listings, boosting market-making activities, enforcing worldclass governance standards, and actively marketing the exchange to a new generationofinvestors.

The falling share prices are a red flag. They are a

clear signal that while the Guyanese economy has leaped into the 21st century, itsprimarystockmarkethas failed to keep pace. The machine is broken, and it's timeforarepair

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

Missing man found dead after village fight

...Police say major progress in murder investigation

Police in Region Sixarecontinuing their investigation into the death of Cledwin Gordon called “Smokey,” a 68-year-old labourer of DeVeldt,BerbiceRiver

TheGuyanaPoliceForce reported that the incident occurred on Friday October 10,2025.

beinginvolvedinafightwith anothervillager

Several residents were interviewedduringthevisit, and subsequently, a cutlass allegedly used during the altercation was recovered.

about06:00hrsthefollowing day

His body was retrieved a n d e x a m i n e d b y investigators, then escorted to the Bath Settlement Regional Hospital where it was confirmed dead by a doctoronduty.

DEM BOYS SEH

Bai, lemme tell yuh something straight. Opening a buffet in Guyanaislikeopeningafreebar ataparty+andexpectingpeopletobehave. Yuhmadorwhat?Guyanesedon'tseebuffet as“allyoucaneat.”Demseeitas“eatalltill detableshake.”

One lil eating house in Georgetown thoughtdemwassmart.Nicelilsetup,clean tiles,colddrinks,foodsmellinglikeheaven. Demsay,“Wegonofferbuffetlunch,$2,500 flat.” Within two months, dem was flat broke.

De first day, people line up like it was Old Age Pension time. De waitress seh, “Take what you can eat.” Big mistake. Guyanese don't understand that phrase. To we, that mean take what you can balance Man pile food like he building Kaieteur Falls in rice and chowmein. Plate bending, forktrembling,tablegroaning.

Butthatwasjustthebeginning.Dereal troublestartwhenpeopleturnthebuffetinto a full-day activity Some reach 11:30 sharp with a lil prayer, “Father, bless this food I abouttoabuse.”

By 3 o'clock, dem still deh — unbutton belt, lean back, tek a nap between de pepperpot and de salad. One man so full, demhadtocalltwoboystohelplifthefrom

porate governance, the protection of minority shareholder rights,orthetransparencyof ope

ations,

Never open a buffet in Guyana!

dechair

Anothermanclaimhedidn'tleave becausehewas“digestinginshifts.”

The owner try raise the price. Didn't work.Guyanesejustseethatasachallenge: “Moremoney?

Then I gon eat more!” One lady even bringsheowncontainer—notfortakeout, no — she seh is to “help she organize de platebetter.”

Eventually, the owner couldn't tek it no more. He shut down the buffet and open a regular restaurant. Now he serve “combo mealsonly”andeventhen,somecustomers tryingtonegotiate“refillrights.”

Dem boys seh, Guyanese and buffet don'tmix.BecausewhenGuyanesehear all you can eat, dem does treat it like an Olympicevent.Anddemdoestrainhard.

One fella even tell me a story about a buffet in Berbice.The owner put up a sign: “Eat all you want, but no waste.” The next day he see a man standing with a spoon in onehandandacontainerintheother Owner ask,“Bossman,whayuhdoing?”

The man seh, “I ain't wasting, bai. I carryinghomederestofmeappetite!”

And that, right deh, is why in Guyana, buffet and profit don't ever belong in the samesentence! Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Based on enquiries, police ranks visited DeVeldt on Saturday October 11, at about 12:39, following reportsthatGordonhadgone missing after reportedly

The 49-year-old suspect, a labourer from the same community,wasarrestedand takenintocustody,whilethe cutlass was retained as evidence.

The body of Cledwin Gordon was discovered floatingintheBerbiceRiver in the vicinity of DeVeldt at

The remains were later taken to Bailey's Funeral Homeforanautopsy.

On Monday October 13, 2025 the suspect was interviewed by investigators andremainsincustodyasthe probecontinues.

H@RD TRUTHS

Miracles at midday

Minister turned adviser, Cde.RobesonBennheldthe line, took all the bad raps withasmile,andgrimace,as thesituationdemanded. The party must not be made to suffer,lookpathetic.

Hetookitontheshin,on the chin. How he still managed to spin remains a mystery to me After bending from heavy lifting, holding the line, and taking those hard blows, enter the lady in red and attired in Prada,Vera,andBalenciaga. Shegetsallthecredit. Itell everybody,lifejustisn'tfair. Fields burnt. Hundreds of millions, close to a half billion, gone up in flames. Whatawaste! Howmuchof itreallydid?

Allthisinthesmallspan oftwoweeks. Oh,andmost conspicuouslydaysafterthe electionsthatweresupposed to be a lightning bolt, but which was a dismal deadbolt. Sure, there were someexcitementscausedby

departures from the regular script, but nothing threatening. The standby Commonwealth Force took care of any September surprises. ItiswhyIlikethis country There is always a contingency ready to deal with any menacing reality

But, back to those torched fields, and a question jumps up impatiently -Hello up there! why not before the elections?

Oh, the private sector demographic would have been peeved. Business impeded. Who cares about lost business, since that could always be recovered, above the table or under it?

But somebody had to care about lost votes and the contributions that those represented. There was no way that chances would be taken. Talk about sensitivity, and attentiontodetail,therethey were Now since the elections are over, it is time

for business. Cleaning of some houses, and showing citizens that it is a different time, and the sheriffs, some new, many old, have been giventheirmarchingorders. Fields burning make for a grandmediaevent.

Athought intruded, and ittakesrightbacktosugar

Cane fields were burned for two reasons, probably more. Burntcaneissweeter, they say. And a burnt cane field send the snakes and rodents rushing for the nearest escape route. I trust that Guyanese like the picturethatisemergingwith those fields burnt by the GuyanaPoliceForce.

Like cane fields when burnt,theleftoverproductis sweeter Now, who in officialGuyanawouldbeso uncivilized, so not with the program, as not want to taste? The longer and deeperthebetter Afterall,it is a crime in itself to incinerateover$400million

worth of mind balms, and spirit soothers, and not collect a sample. Me, I am sticking to Vicks Inhalers. Don't forget that second byproduct that was part of burningcanefieldsaspartof the prep work for the next steps.

Get rid of the bad guys (rodents and reptiles), and havethewholeplaceforself. Put differently, the field is availableforasweepingtour and engaging in different levelsofself-help.

It is that old maxim at work again, only on this occasionitisreverses:when the rats are runoff, it is time for the cats to takeover It's meowtime.

This is too good to be true, like so many other things in Guyana. If the weeks since the best elections in Guyana (for the incumbents) have delivered so much, I find myself weighing what is the next areaofnationalconcernand

agitationthatcould beinforagood,ole, period of attention and correction. Men with jukeboxes and boomboxeshadbetterwatch out. Somethingtellsmethat theycouldbethenextsetof donors and contributors targeted. No more beating around the bush to make comforting noises intended to drown out the complaints about noise nuisance. It is now a national scourge, in the manner and dangers of domesticviolence. Cometo think of it, there might be a connection that links the two.

First, there was the big hullabaloohavingtodowith an anticorruption drive Meetswithmyfullapproval, if genuine. Second, there wereallthosefieldssmoked outofexistence. Onpaper,it isawonderfuldevelopment. Keep the minds of youths clear Butwhataboutonthe ground? That is, what rich

gems, and how much worth of them were left in the ashes, untouched by the blazesthatrazeddowntothe ground? Now I keep my e y e s p e e l e d f o r improvements relative to lawlessness on the roads, andearspinnedforthelevel of sound coming from all over Rome wasn't built in a day But some people in Guyana are tearing down what they built-up in five years, within that 24-hour cycle that eluded the Romans. Romans had their GoldenAge. Guyanesenow absorbtheiractionage.

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

No-case submission upheld in causing death by dangerous driving matter

A32-year-old driver who was charged in 2024 for causing the death of Andrew Adams, called “Greg,” has been freed after a nocasesubmissionwasuphelddueto theprosecution'sfailuretoprovide sufficientevidence.

In 2024, Joseph Gladwin, also known as “Menty,” was charged with causing the death of Adams, whoreportedlydiedonJanuary24, 2024, on the Citrus Grove Main Access Road, Port Kaituma, RegionOne.

Gladwin first appeared virtually before senior magistrate Dylon Bess at th Port Kaituma

Magistrates' Court, where he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving contrary to Section35(1)oftheMotorVehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. He was granted bail in the sumof$1million.

During the trial, Gladwin was representedbyattorneyBernardDa Silva. A no-case submission was later filed by the defense, and on Wednesday, the matter was dismissedafterthecourtruledthat the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence linking Gladwintothecrime.

According to the no-case submission,attheprimafaciestage of proceedings, the prosecution was required to prove: That the crime charged was committed and that the accused was responsible; thatthedeceaseddiedasaresultof

anaccident;andthatthedefendant, on January 24, 2024, at Citrus Grove Main Access Road, Port Kaituma,drovemotorvehiclePYY 8713 in a dangerous manner, therebycausingthedeathofJulius AndrewAdams,calledGreg.

Da Silva argued that the prosecution failed to factually prove that the deceased died as a result of a vehicular accident, or thatthedefendantwasthedriverof the vehicle that allegedly caused Adams'death.

“The prosecution abysmally failed to prove the elements of the chargeassetoutinSection35(1)of theMotorVehicleandRoadTraffic Act, Chapter 51:02 — to wit,

causing death by dangerous driving,” Da Silva wrote in the submission.

The defense further noted that although Gladwin was the custodian of motor car PYY 8713 onthedayinquestion,therewasno evidence suggesting he was involved in an accident No eyewitnesses were called to testify that the defendant drove dangerously, and the only statement before the court was Gladwin's caution statement, in whichheadmittedtobeingoutwith his car, but stated that he returned homesafely

The case submission further stated that the post-mortem

examination (PM #136/2024), dated January 30, 2024, listed the causeofdeathasmultipleinjuries, but did not indicate that those injuries were consistent with a motorvehicleaccident.

“Thepathologistwasnotcalled to explain his findings. However, Inferences can be drawn that; someone may have murdered JuliusAdams,”thefilestated.

Da Silva also highlighted that photographic evidence, the defect sheet, and the testimony of police showednosignsofrecentdamage, bloodstains, torn clothing, or any corroborating evidence linking the defendant's vehicle to the alleged incident.

“Premised on the above, it is respectfully submitted that the prosecution failed to prove, firstly, thatJuliusAdamsdiedasaresultof a motor vehicle accident; and secondly, that it was the defendant whocausedhisdeathbydangerous driving,”DaSilvastated.

Reports indicate that the alleged accident occurred around 03:00 hrs on January 24, a day before Adams celebrated his 30th birthday

He was reportedly found with multiple injuries about his body andwasrushedtothePortKaituma Regional Hospital, where he later diedwhilereceivingtreatment.

Family members said Adams had called a sibling earlier that night requesting a ride home, but laterdecidedtowalk.Hissistertold reporters that her brother was struckbyamanknownas“Menty,” who allegedly fled the scene after thecollision.

“Somebody else was passing and saw my brother and called the police. Then the ambulance came and took him to the hospital,” she said.

According to her, Adams was conscious when taken to the hospital but was unable to identify whohithim.

“He could not answer them becausehewasinpain.Thedoctor saidthathebleedtodeath.Hisfoot break up and he lost a lot of blood andthatiswhatcausedhimtodie,” sherecounted.

Charged Joseph Gladwin also known as 'Menty' Dead, Andrew Adams also known as 'Greg’

BV school shut down over pigeon plague

…teacher punished for speaking out

T

he BV Quamina

Primary School on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) has been closed for the remainderoftheweekasthe regional administration addresses the pigeon infestation.

This is according to a notice issued to staff by the headteacheronWednesday Kaieteur News reported Tuesday that a seven-yearoldstudentoftheschoolwas hospitalised, while at least four others fell ill as pigeon infestation and other health concerns spiraled out of control at the learning institution.

C o n t a c t e d o n Wednesday, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said theissueisbeingaddressed.

“We are looking at the infrastructure and see how we can be able to cover the holes etcetera And the children are fine, from the time the incident has been

brought to our attention and itisunrelatedbytheway We sought medical attention for them,sotheyarefine.”

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was informed that a teacherwhospokeouttothe press about the infestation was removed from the school on Wednesday with immediateeffect.

A senior education official told this newspaper that an allegation made against the female teacher ledtothetransfer

In a public statement Tuesday, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) said it wasinformedthatthepigeon infestation in the classroom and around the compound wassevere.

“The build-up of droppingsandnestingdebris makes the classroom unsanitary Pigeon waste exposes students and teachers to harmful bacteria and allergens daily,” WIN

ANSA McAL vows

Chateau Margot Chimney will stand tall amid mall project

stated The party even published images of ill students lying on chairs joined together in a classroom.

On Wednesday part executives, Hanna Mohamed, Dr Gordon Barker, Tabitha SaraboHaley and General Secretary, Odessa Primus visited the school, which alsohasasectionforspecial needschildren.

Primus told a live broadcast that the situation was“whollyacceptable.”

“It is unacceptable on so manylevelsbecausenowwe have children who already havechallengeswhetheritis psychological, physical whatever the challenges are

OnedaybeforePresidentIrfaanAliturns the sod to kickstart construction of a mega mall next to the historic, Chateau Margot Chimney, located on the East Coast Demerara, Trinidad conglomerate ANSA McALhasbrokenitssilenceinsistingthatthe heritagesitewillbeprotected.

The company made the comments in a statementissuedonWednesday,whichitsaid was in reaction to public concerns that the constructionoftheirnewcommercialmallat Chateau Margot could endanger one of Guyana's surviving colonial-era relics ANSA McAl earlier this week notified the mediaofthesod-turningceremony

In addition to allaying concerns about possible structural damage to the chimney, the company clarified that the Chateau Margot Mall is being built on a privately owned land and that the historic Chateau Margot Chimney a protected national

The historic Chateau Margot Chimney

heritage site remains under state control.

“From the outset, ANSA McAL has placed the preservation of the chimney and its surroundingsattheforefrontofthisproject,” thecompanysaidinapressrelease.

“Weareproudtoshowthatprogressand preservation can go hand in hand honouring Guyana'spastwhilebuildingresponsiblyfor thefuture.”

The company emphasised that no construction has begun, with current activitieslimitedtoclearingandlandscaping. Itsaidconstructionwillonlycommenceafter structural assessments and reinforcement measures recommended by an independent engineerarefullycompleted.

According to the release, Guyanese structural engineer Marcel Gaskin has been contracted to conduct a professional assessmentofthehistoricchimney'sstability (Continuedonpage15)

The pigeon infestation unfolding at the BVPrimary School on the East Coast of Demerara.

and now to have those (Continuedonpagechildren additionally placed in a situation where their health is compromised that is reason to worry even for those children who may not have a disability,” she explained.

The situation, she noted, is forcing parents to find additional resources to take their sick children to the hospital for medical attention.

Calling for immediate intervention, she noted that the education minister should put systems in place to ensure the school is properly sanitised and

General Secretary of WIN, Odessa Primus at the BV Primary School on Wednesday

conducive for learning.

Primus noted that the government talks about Guyana being the fastest

growing economy, yet children and teachers are exposed to “unfortunate situationslikethese.”

“Ifwearegoingtositup on social media as a government and you are goingtotalkaboutallofour infrastructural development inthiscountry

Bigcelebrationsoverthe bridge, let us be able to celebrate the way we treat with our human resources, the way we treat our children, the things that we put in place to ensure their security, to ensure that they areprotectedthatofcourseis extremely important,” she furtherexpressed.

Over$70Mworthofcannabisdestroyed bypoliceinUpperBerbiceRiver

The farms destroyed by the Guyana Police Force

Four cannabis farms were on Wednesday razed by ranks of the Guyana Police Force following a joint eradication exercise at Kuyarakuru Creek and Sabina Point,UpperBerbiceRiver,thepolicehavereported.

Ledbyofficers,ranksfromthenarcoticsbranchof RegionalDivision#6conductedtheoperationbetween 04:00hrsand18:30hrs

The report confirmed that during the exercise, four separate cannabis farms covering a total of approximately sixteen (16) acres were discovered by ranks. The farms contained an estimated 95,000 cannabisplantsrangingfromtwo(2)toseven(7)feetin height.An improvised camp measuring 30 by 20 feet was also found at the location. The camp contained approximately 90 pounds of dried cannabis.The cannabisplants,driedcannabisandthemakeshiftcamp werealldestroyedbyfire.Theestimatedstreetvalueof the narcotics destroyed is approximately $70,968,116. Of this amount, the cannabis plants are valued at GYD$32,186,000whilethedriedcannabisisvaluedat GYD$38,782,116.Investigationsarecontinuing.

Berbicewomannabbedwith massivefireworkscache

A 30-year-old woman from Number 78 Village, Corentyne, Berbice,isinpolicecustodyafter officers uncovered a large cache of explosives at her home during anoperationonTuesday,October 14,2025.

According to police reports, ranks from Regional Division #6 found 47 boxes of fireworks concealedattheresidenceduring the search exercise. The suspect was immediately detained and is assisting investigators as the probecontinues.

7Airbooststradelinks

...Miami-to Guyana cargo flights to begin on Saturday

7Air, a Miami-based FAA Part 121 certified carrier operating Boeing 737-800 freightershasannouncedthatitispartnering withAirCargoPack(Guyana)Inc.toprovide direct air cargo services between Miami and Georgetown.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said their inaugural flight is scheduledforOctober20,2025(Monday).

Accordingtotheagency,AirCargoPack (Guyana) Inc will serve as the local representative,managingallsales,bookings, and client support on the ground in Georgetown to give businesses a straightforward,reliablewaytoconnectwith globalsupplychains.

Noting the importance of their partnership, 7Air stated that it comes at a pivotal time for Guyana, where trade and logistics demand is rising in step with the country's rapid economic growth “By launching a dedicated Miami–Georgetown service, 7Air and Air Cargo Pack (Guyana)

aim to improve delivery times, support justin-time supply chains, and open new opportunities for importers and exporters acrossawiderangeofindustries.Theservice will be operated with Boeing 737-800 freighter aircraft, carrying perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, retail goods, and e-commerce shipments,” the airlineexplained.

Speaking on the new services, CEO of 7Air, Michael Mendez related that their mission has always been to connect businesses with speed, reliability, and flexibility.“This partnership with Air Cargo Pack allows us to bring that promise to Guyana at a moment when logistics are so criticaltoitsgrowth,”henoted.

Further, 7Air expressed that it would continue to expand its presence across Central America and the Caribbean, with a focus on creating scalable and dependable freight solutions that meet the needs of growingmarkets.

AG, bankers chart path to modernise financial laws

...Major reforms coming to ease doing business

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, AnilNandlallonWednesday met with leaders from Guyana's banking and finance sectors to iron out

key legislative and regulatory issues impacting the industry, as government accelerates efforts to modernise the country's

legal and business framework.

The meeting, held as a follow-up to discussions led by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, brought together senior government officials, including Housing Minister Collin Croal, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues, Finance Secretary Sukkrishnalall Pasha, and representatives from the Financial Intelligence Unit andRegistrarofCommerce.

According to the Ministry, deliberations

c e n t e r e d o n t h e implementation of three major pieces of modern legislation: the Security

Interests in Movable Property Act (2024), the Electronic Communications andTransactionsAct(2023), and the Condominium Act (2022).

Theselawsarepartofthe government's sweeping drive to replace outdated regulations and promote ease of doing business amid a surge in local and foreign investment.

Banking officials sought clarifications on operational details, including the use of digital signatures under the Electronic TransactionsAct, registrationofcondominium mortgages, and the practical rollout of movable property

security registrations. Clear timelines were set for full implementation, and the A

orney G

Chambers committed to issuingguidelinestosupport banksincomplyingwiththe newlaws.

d participants that Guyana's Anti-MoneyLaunderingand Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) rating, remains high and urged the sector to use Supervision Guideline 13, which simplifies accountopening requirements to

accessible and businessfriendly.

He further noted that the government has ordered a comprehensive review of banking requirements to further reduce red tape and support rapid economic expansion.

The meeting concluded with a joint commitment by the government and financial institutions to strengthen dialogue, close legislative gaps, and ensure smoother business operations in line with the President's national agenda.

Among the institutions represented were Republic Bank (Guyana), Citizens Bank, Scotiabank, GBTI, NewBuildingSociety,Bank of Baroda, Demerara Bank, andtheBankofGuyana.

Back in September President Ali had met with stakeholders from the financialsectorattheOffice of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive

Discussions focused on modernising the banking sector to address ongoing concerns faced by citizens,

The meeting brought together senior government officials, including Housing Minister Collin Croal, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues, Finance Secretary Sukkrishnalall Pasha, and representatives from the Financial Intelligence Unit and Registrar of Commerce

and on plans to ensure commercialbankskeeppace with the government in implementing digital transformation,theOfficeof the President had said in a briefstatement.

Sixweeksfromthattime the stakeholder group was expected to present a report outlining what the financial sector requires to realise the President's vision for a digitaleconomy

Additionally, only last week President announced that government will implement measures to encourage more citizens to openbankaccounts.

“Wehavetobeableinthe shortesttimeframetoensure everyGuyanesehaveabank account,” the president said, noting, ” even if the governmentmustincentivise theopeningupofthosebank accounts.

Hetoldtheattendeesata business breakfast that a team, consisting of Cabinet members, including the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr AshniSingh,isdraftinga documentthatwillaidinthe modernisation of the

ANSAMcALvowsChateauMargot...

Frompage11 and provide technical recommendations to safeguard the site. “All recommendations from that assessment will be implemented before construction begins,” the company assured.

The firm added that it has been in continuous consultation with the National TrustofGuyanaandotherstateagenciesto ensureheritagepreservationremainscentral to its plans. The company noted that the project aligns with the company's broader commitment to “responsible, sustainable progress”andreflectscontinuedconfidence inGuyana'seconomicfuture.

financialsector

Thepresidentsaidthatin three weeks, the report will be submitted and it will outline critical details on how the government can begintotakestepstofurther modernise the country's bankingsector.

Options that will be examined include, “The creation of a modern stock exchange and options for capital mobilisation. Many people are speaking about

diaspora bonds and all of this.”

President Ali reemphasised that as the government moves to create a modern and diversified economyby2030,itmustbe complemented by a modern financial system, one that is secondtonone.

He noted that the government aims to foster a more inclusive financial systemthatwillempowerall Guyanese to access the system and to participate in saving and investment opportunities.

To achieve this, the government intends to collaboratewithcommercial banks to expand banking services, including those in the hinterland, by simplifying the process of opening a bank account. Guyanesewillalsobeableto apply for loans and process transactions online within thenextfiveyears.

Two Indian companies vying for CJIA solar project

The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has received bids from two solar energy companies out of India for the construction of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at t h e C h e d d i J a g a n InternationalAirport(CJIA).

According to bids submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB, the companies, Oriana Power Limited ( I n d i a ) – b i d US$2,487,170 00; and Evolve Green Energies Private Limited (India) bid US$3,219,643.32

India, and the remaining 25 per cent of goods and servicesmaybeprocuredby the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outsideIndia.”

Theproposedsolarplant project is set to provide support for the energy requirementsoftheCJIAand aidsustainabilityefforts.

TheChateauMargotChimney,avestige of the once-thriving sugar plantation predated Guyana's independence. Some heritageenthusiastsinthepasthaveaccused developers of ignoring historical preservation laws and proceeding without sufficient environmental or cultural safeguards.ANSAMcALhoweverassured: “WecontinuetoworkcloselywiththeState, the National Trust of Guyana, and relevant ministries to ensure the chimney remains a safeguarded and celebrated landmark for generationstocome.”

The description of the tender is, “Design, Supply, I n s t a l l a t i o n & Commissioningofa3.0MV (AC) Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic System at Cheddi Jagan International Airport(CJIA).”

“We recognise the chimney as tangible cultural heritage and are committed to preserving it throughout the project's lifecycle,”thestatementsaid.

The project is reportedly being funded by the ExportImport Bank of India (Exim Bank).AUS$2.5millionline ofcreditwasmadeavailable to the Government of GuyanabytheEximBankto facilitate the construction of

a solar photovoltaic power plantattheairport. The agreement was signedonFebruary29,2024, but took effect on June 24, 2024. It was further reported thatthelineofcreditwillbe s u p p o r t e d b y t h e Government of India, and will allow Guyana to access funds, as well as goods and services from the South Asiansuperpower AccordingtotheReserve Bank of India (RBI) at the time, the terms of the agreement state that “goods, works and services of the valueofatleast75percentof the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from

“The 3-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project, when it begins operation, willsupplyabout4.5million units of electricity annually, whichisabout80percentof the annual electricity consumption of CJIA. The proposed solar PV power project has the potential of mitigating around 72,000 metric tonnes of CO over 2eq its lifetime operation,” said Guyana Energy Agency CEO,MahenderSharma.

The RBI statement said thatthelastdateforfundsto be withdrawn from the line of credit is 48 months after the scheduled completion date of the project. Sharma stated at the time that the project is expected to be completedin24months.

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Kenya’s veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga dies at 80

(Reuters) - Kenya’s veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga,whowasimprisoned multipletimeswhilefighting one-party autocracy and ran five times unsuccessfully for president, died aged 80 on Wednesday in India.

Odinga had been receivingmedicaltreatmentabroad and suffered a cardiac arrest, according to the hospital in the city of Kochi where he died.

He was for decades at the heartofKenyanpolitics,strikingallianceswithformerfoes, serving as prime minister for a term, and inspiring lifelong loyaltyfromhisbaseinwestern Kenya and in the capital Nairobi.

Odinga’s ability to work with rivals earned him the nickname“Agwambo”(“mysterious one”) in the Luo language.

Supporters called him “Baba”(“father”inSwahili), refusing to turn their back evenwhenhewasaccusedof exploitingethnicdivisionsfor political gain or of striking deals with opponents for the sake of personal power

Eldoret where Odinga was popular

Hislegacyasademocracy activist over the years helped seal two of Kenya’s most important reforms: multiparty democracyin1991andanew constitutionin2010.

Odinga led protests after adisputed2007voteplunged Kenya into its most serious political violence since independence.

About 1,300 people were killed and hundreds of thousandsweredisplacedinfightinglargelybetweenOdinga’s Luo tribe and then-President Mwai Kibaki’s Kikuyus, the largest and richest group.

Violencealsofollowedthe 2017vote.OdingatoldReuters then: “Each community believes that they are not safe unlesstheirmanisatthetop”.

PRISON‘AGOOD SCHOOL’

Odinga was the son of OgingaOdinga,Kenya’sfirst vice-presidentunderindependence leader Jomo Kenyatta. The fathers’ rivalry continued with their sons.

jail, six in solitary confinement.

“Detention is a good school. You learn to reflect and think,” Odinga told Reuters in 2007. “You also learn tolerance, to be forgiving,particularlyagainstyour adversaries.”

Odinga first won his parliamentaryseatin1992,which included Kibera. He held the constituency until 2013, his bright orange Hummer mobbedwheneveritbounced into the muddy lanes.

He lost his first presidential bid in 1997 against Moi. Four years later, Odinga formed a coalition government with him, a move some saw as opportunistic but he saidwaspragmatic.

“Democratisation is not like an instant coffee you brew and drink at the same time. It is a process,” he said at the time.

The pattern continued, with Odinga breaking and buildingallianceswithrivals over the next two decades.

SERVICES VACANCY

Upon news of his passing, hundreds of supporters from the Nairobi slum of Kibera,manycryingandwaving twigs to ward off bad omens, made their way in a procession to Odinga’s family home in the capital’s upscale Karen suburb.

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Crowds also gathered in the lakeside town of Kisumu and the Rift Valley town of

Despitehisfamily’sextensive business interests, Odinga spent his early years asaleft-wingfirebrand,naming his son Fidel in honour of the Cuban Communist leader FidelCastro.

Odinga was first imprisoned in 1982 after a coup attempt against then-President Daniel arap Moi, whose government jailed, tortured and murdered opponents. He served a total of nine years in

Hebecameprimeminister in 2008 in a national unity government headed by his formerfoeKibaki,aspartofa deal to end the bloodletting.

Following the 2017 election, he reconciled with his opponent President Uhuru Kenyatta in what is dubbed the “Handshake”.

He lost the 2022 election to now President William Ruto and challenged the result,whichwasupheldbythe SupremeCourt.

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister and the African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa (REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo)

TRIBUTES

Undeterred, Odinga, by then in his late seventies, launched street protests against the government, only to strike a pact with Ruto in 2024, following a familiar playbookbuteffectivelyleavingKenyawithoutanofficial opposition.

Ruto visited Odinga’s homeonWednesdaymorning and announced seven days ofnationalmourning.Deputy PresidentKithureKindikisaid a state funeral would be held on Friday

“He championed reforms that gave birth to the rights and freedoms we hold dear today, his voice spoke for the oppressed. His conviction inspired generations, and his vision shaped the course of our history,” Ruto said in an address to the nation.

Tributes to Odinga also flowed in from abroad, especiallyaroundAfricawherehe wasawell-knownfigure.

“H.E.RailaOdingawasa towering figure in Kenya’s

political life and a steadfast champion of democracy, good governance, and people-centred development,” said African Union Commissionhead,Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who defeated Odinga in the bloc’s leadership contest this year

Among Kenyans, opinions were divided over his legacy

“Mayhisfightfordemocracy continue to inspire our nation’s leaders,” said Nairobi resident Grace Mbugua.

“Hemaynothavehadthe best interests of all Kenyans at all times, and during his push for democracy, many lives were lost,” added accountant Patrick Mungai.

From page 11 andprovidetechnicalrecommendations to safeguard the site. “All recommendations from that assessment will be implementedbeforeconstructionbegins,”thecompanyassured.

The firm added that it has been in continuous consultation with the National Trust of Guyana and other state agencies to ensure heritage preservation remains central to its plans. The company noted that the project aligns with the company's broader commitmentto“responsible, sustainable progress” and reflects continued confidence inGuyana'seconomicfuture.

The Chateau Margot Chimney, a vestige of the once-thriving sugar plantation predated Guyana's independence. Some heritage enthusiasts in the past have accused developers of ignoring historical preservation laws and proceeding without sufficient environmental or cultural safeguards. ANSA McALhoweverassured:“We continuetoworkcloselywith the State, the National Trust ofGuyana,andrelevantministries to ensure the chimney remains a safeguarded and celebrated landmark for generations to come.”

“We recognise the chimney as tangible cultural heritageandarecommittedtopreserving it throughout the pro

'UK bets big on Guyana'

…says borrowing ceiling raised as economic boom impresses

High Commissioner of theUnitedKingdom(UK)to Guyana Jane Miller on Tu e s d a y t o l d t h e International Business Conference (IBC) that Guyana's economic growth

iswhatenticedtheincreased borrowingceilingto£3B. She made it clear that it wouldnothavebeendoneif it was believed that Guyana could not afford it. During a panel discussion at the conference, Miller said that, “Ithinkmanyofyousawthe last few days that we've just increased our UK export finance availability to Guyana to £3B, to huge amountsofresources.”

‘We will defend every inch’

…Pres.Ali vows unyielding protection of Guyana's sovereignty

President Dr

Mohamed Irfaan AlionWednesday deliveredaresolutemessage of peace, strength, and national resolve, declaring that Guyana will defend every inch of its territory while upholding its commitment to keep Latin AmericaandtheCaribbeana zoneofpeace.

A d d r e s s i n g t h e Commissioning Parade for Standard Officers' Course (SOC)No.56atBaseCamp

A y a n g a n n a , t h e

Commander-in-Chief

reminded the newly commissioned officers that defending peace and sovereignty requires both strength and principle “Guyana supports the aspiration of keeping Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, but equally also, we support every action and embrace every partnership to cripple transnational crime, the illicit drug trade, and any form of destabilisation that threatens the security of Guyana and this region,” PresidentAliasserted.

The head of state emphasised that Guyana's defence spending is not preparations for war, but investments in peace and protection, ensuring that the nation's prosperity, democracy, and territorial integrityremainsecure.

President Ali reaffirmed Guyana's adherence to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly regarding the ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “Guyanarejectsallformsof aggression and any attempt to impose solutions through coercion, ” he said, reiterating that peace, dialogue, and legality must definehownationsinteract.

At the same time, President Ali noted that the regioncontinuestofaceboth

traditional security threats, including cybercrime, trafficking, and terrorism.

The government's response, he explained, is to equip the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with the most advanced tools, technology, and training in its history

The United States has deployedtroopstotheregion andhaswagedawarondrug cartels, killing scores of themthusfar KaieteurNews reported a U.S. strike on a boat off the coast of VenezuelaonTuesdaykilled six suspected drug traffickers,PresidentDonald Trump said, the latest such operationinrecentweeksas the U.S. builds up military forces in the region. The strike is the most recent example of Trump's efforts touseU.S.militarypowerin new, and often legally contentious ways, from deploying active-duty U.S. troops in Los Angeles to carrying out counterterrorism strikes against drugtraffickingsuspects.

InapostonTruthSocial, Trump said the strike had been carried out against a designated terrorist organization, but he did not provideanydetailsonwhich group. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks,”

Trump said, without providing evidence A roughly 30-second video, which Trump posted, appeared to show a stationaryvesselinabodyof water being hit with a projectilebeforeexploding. The Pentagon recently disclosed to congress that Trump has determined the United States is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels. Some former military lawyers say the legal explanations given by the Trump administration for killing suspected drug traffickers at sea instead of

The High Commissioner explained that the assessment has been made on the basis of statistics on the economic status of the country, as the UK would nevergivesuchanincreased ceiling to a country that could not borrow “…so it's purely what we think is sustainable lending ” Milleradded.

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d strengthens its position as a m a j o r i n v e s t m e n t destination “The British High Commission looks forward to supporting sustainable growth and shared prosperity through this collaboration between the UK and Guyana,” the statementconcluded.

apprehending them fail to satisfy requirements under thelawofwar AlargeU.S. military buildup is taking place in the southern Caribbean. In addition to F35 aircraft in Puerto Rico, thereareeightU.S.warships in the region, carrying thousands of sailors and marines, and one nuclearpowered submarine The Trump administration has provided scant information on the previous strikes, including the identities of those killed or details about the cargo Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged that the U.S. is hoping to drive h i m f r o m p o w e r Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminalgroupsthatMaduro denies.

“We will protect every inch of Guyana's territory with vigilance and resolve. We will deploy technology to make our country more secure.Wewillbeadaptable, smart,andreadytorespond, onland,atsea,intheair,and incyberspace,”thePresident affirmed.

Dr. Ali underscored the importance of regional and international collaboration, noting that true security is built not in isolation, but thro

“The Caribbean looks to Guyana as a partner in stability, in security, and in service When one nation in the Caribbeanstandsstrong,the entireregionisfortified,”he said.Healsoreaffirmedthat Guyana's dispute is not with the Venezuelan people, but with any actions that threaten Guyana's sovereignty “Wewilldefend ourterritorialspacewithour partners,thosewhostandfor freedom, sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law,”hestated. (DPI)

OnOctober1theUnited Kingdom increased its export credit financing limit forGuyanafrom£2.1billion to£3.0billion,amovebilled by both London and Georgetown as a vote of confidence in Guyana's accelerating economic progress But amid the applause, commentators have here have sharply warned that Guyana must treadcarefully.Failuretodo so, they say, risks plunging the country into a debt trap, especially given the volatilityofoilpricesandthe nation's already heavy external and domestic obligations.

Kaieteur News reported last week that the announcement,madebyUK Export Finance (UKEF) followed a meeting with President Irfaan Ali and his finance team. In a press releasebackthentheBritish High Commission in Guyana said that the larger ceiling “reflects the UK's confidence in Guyana's economic trajectory and fiscal sustainability” and marksafurtherdeepeningof bilateral relations between thetwonations.”

For his part, President Ali,inoutlininghispriorities for UKEF support, said the announcement comes at a “pivotalmoment”asGuyana ramps up infrastructure

Guyana'stotalPublicand Publicly Guaranteed (PPG) debt stood at US$5 993 billionattheendof2024,up from about US$4.5 billion a year earlier External PPG debtloansfrommultilateral, bilateral, and other foreign creditors was roughly US$2 2 billion, while domestic PPG debt reached approximately US$3 7 billion. Debt servicing costs also climbed to US$196.1 million in 2024, up from US$177.5 million the year before. Of that, US$124.9 millionwenttoexternaldebt serviceandUS$71.2million to domestic obligations Government officials, however,frequentlypointto Guyana's declining debt-toGDP ratio, down from 47.4% in 2020 to 24.3% in 2024, as evidence that debt levelsremainwithinprudent limits and that the country has room to borrow for strategicprojects.

HeaddedthatBrexithas pushed the UK to seek new tradefootholds,especiallyin resource-rich regions like the Caribbean “Foreign policy is inseparably tied to trade policy,” Ram said “They lost access to a massive market after Brexit and have been seeking alternativeseversince.”

Ram warned that while the higher ceiling gives Guyana access to faster financing, the Government's lack of a clear borrowing policy and reliance on a “misleading” debt-to-GDP ratio are troubling “A significant portion of GDP around60% doesnotbelong to Guyana, while any debt incurred certainly does,” he said. “We are using oil as a reason for increasing our debt, both in absolute and relative terms. There is no long-term economic planning.”

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram said the UK'smove“mayappearasa gesture of confidence” but raises deeper questions about fiscal prudence, d e p e n d e n c y, a n d geopolitical influence. Ram pointed out that Britain has long sought to cash in on Guyana's oil wealth, recalling documentation in Raphael Trotman's book about the British High Commissioner's lobbying for TULLOW, a UK oil company that failed in its Guyanaventures.“Whatthe British are doing is copying theChinesemodel,givetheir people the contracts, and they'llprovidethefinancing. The unspoken message: We know you have oil; our debt is therefore safe,” Ram observed.

‘Guyana is a country in a...

Frompage6

US$192 million among otherprojects.

Minister Edghill said these developments are designed to link regions, boost commerce, and improve connectivity across Guyana.

“Guyana is a country in a hurry Somebody has describeditasaconstruction zone because everywhere yougothereisconstruction. Whatwearedoingissolving the development deficit while still having to do new things,”heremarked.

He noted that the completion of the new

Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara

River Bridge will immediately give rise to the next phase of development, including flyovers and expanded connections on both ends of the bridge, as traffic

volumes continue to increase

“Thetrafficvolumehave increased, we've got on a daily basis on the corridor that is causing the problem thatweareworkingonright now more than 28,000 trucks per day, some of themmakingtwoandthree trips per day on that same carriageway ” the

minister pointed out. He further noted that every major project is being executed with the goal of supporting both new and traditional sectors from tourism to agriculture while creating opportunities for underservedcommunities.

“From 2025 to 2030 and beyond,Guyanaistheplace to be. Bring your money, yourtalent,andyourpeople, because in some instances wherelabourisrequired,we need people so that we can build out this modern Guyana and see its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n accelerated,”Edghillnoted.

High Commissioner of the United Kingdom (UK) to Guyana Jane Miller

Israel accused of new war crimes as it kills more Gaza civilians

(AL-JAZEERA) The Israeli army continues deadlyattacksonPalestinian civilians in Gaza despite the US-brokered ceasefire with one UN agency accusing it ofnewwarcrimes.

The United Nations has accused the Israeli military of war crimes with noncombatants still being killed inGazadespitetheceasefire that came into effect five daysago.

The Israeli army

“continues to kill civilians” in areas where it has redeployed troops since the ceasefire took hold, with at least15Palestiniansshotand killedsinceOctober10,said the UN Human Rights Office-Palestine.

“Targeting civilians not directly participating in hostilities constitutes a war crime regardless of the location of the incident and its proximity to agreed deploymentline,”itsaid.

Ajith Sunghay, head of

the UN Human Rights Office-Palestine, said it's vital that the truce leads to both lasting peace and respect for Palestinians' rights.

“It'simperativetoensure that the ceasefire holds and progresses to recovery and the full realisation of Palestinians' right to selfdetermination,” Sunghay said.

Lorenzo Kamel, a professor of international history at Italy's University of Turin, highlighted a grim anniversary 77 years ago when Israeli forces began pushing out more than 100,000 Palestinians from the Negev Desert and into Gaza–doublingthenumber ofrefugeesintheterritory

OperationYoavbeganon October15,1948,andlasted for seven days “This changed the demographic balance in Gaza for good,” KameltoldAlJazeera.

On the current US-

brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Kamel described it as a “facade”

Palestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City, October 15, 2025 [Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters]

with the main players only really agreeing on the captive-prisonerexchange.

Barbados opposition questions Guyana's exclusion from free movement regime

Leader of the Opposition in Barbados, Ralph Thorne has questioned the absenceofGuyanaandother Caricom countries from that nation's free movement regime.

Earlier this month Barbados' Prime Minister MiaMottleyannouncedthat her country will “open our doors with order and with pride” as Barbados joins St Vincentand theGrenadines, Belize, and Dominica in fully implementing free movement of their nationals amongthemselves.

The countries are implementing one of the major aspects of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour, and services across theregion.

However, Thorne questioned why Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago are not listed as part of the new arrangement that allows nationals of these states to live and work indefinitely in any of the participating countries withoutaworkpermit.

“You cannot discuss CARIFTA and then

CARICOM and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy unless you

Barbadian Opposition Leader, Ralph Thorne KC

discussthosethreecountries inadditiontoBarbados,who are at the foundation of the m o d e r n r e g i o n a l institutional arrangement,” Thorne told the Parliament of Barbados recently He continued“Isayinstitutional arrangement because my reference is obviously to CARIFTA…and not a word from this government. The people of Barbados are entitled to an explanation as to whether this movement lacks its credibility for the absenceofthosethree.”

Hesaysthisappearstobe history repeating itself with thelackofparticipationfrom Jamaica, as well asTrinidad and Tobago, in the full free movement regime, which began on October 1. As of October 1, 2025, a full free movement regime became

active among countries: Barbados,Belize,Dominica, and St. Vincent and the G r e n a d i n e s T h i s arrangement allows full free movement among four nations The rest of the CARICOM members continue to use the more limited free movement of skillsregime.

The initiative, which came into effect on October 1, 2025, was approved by CARICOM Heads of Government in July 2025 under the Enhanced Cooperation Protocol of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Key benefits of the new arrangement include indefinite stay for nationals from the four countries receive a stamp or digital record allowing for indefinite stay upon arrival; contingent rights where individuals have access to emergency and primary healthcare, as well as public primary and secondary education The full free movement regime also allows nationals of these nationstoaddressshortages. With the expanded mobility of these Caribbean citizens, itisexpectedtohelpaddress labor shortages in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and construction in the participatingcountries.

This regime grants specificcategoriesofskilled nationals the right to move and work freely throughout the CARICOM Single Market.

Eligiblecategoriesunder the traditional regime includeuniversitygraduates, musicians and artists, sportspersons, media workers, registered nurses and teachers, artisans with a Caribbe

Vocational Qualification (CVQ), Holders of an associate degree and Agricultural workersandsecurityguards. For CARICOM members not participating in the full freemovementarrangement, the existing free movement of skills regime remains in place.

CARICOM leaders have nonetheless expressed hope thatothermemberstateswill join the full free movement protocol in the future. The move towards full free movement is a significant step for CARICOM, which has been discussing the free movement of all nationals foryears.Previously,atarget date of March 2024 was announced, but this was not met.Thecurrentmulti-speed approach allows a subgroup ofmemberstatestoadvance integration, potentially paving the way for wider adoptioninthefuture.

“The main actors are there to enable the war to turn the page, but then we knowthestructuralviolence will remain there precisely asitwas–andperhapseven worse,”hesaid.

U n i t e d N a t i o n s

Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcherhasurgedallparties to fully implement the Gaza ceasefire deal, asserting that “Palestinians, Israelis and people across the region wantthispeacetotakehold”.

“Earlier this week, we were able to kick off our humanitarian scale-up after months of frustration and blockages.

Food, medicine, fuel, water,cookinggasandtents got through to those who need them,” he said in a statementpostedonX.

However, Fletcher noted that on Tuesday, the organisation faced “further s e t b a c k s t o t h e implementation.”

“Wearenowtestedtosee whether we can ensure that these do not prevent the progress on which President Trump, the UN SecretaryGeneralandsomanyleaders haveinsisted,”heasserted.

IsraelnotifiedtheUnited Nations on Tuesday that it will only allow 300 aid trucks–halfofthenumberit originally agreed to – daily into the Gaza Strip from Wednesday FletchercalledonIsrael, asithadagreed,toallowthe “massive surge” of humanitarian aid, some thousandsoftrucksaweek.

“Weneedmorecrossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving

approach to removing remaining obstacles,” the UNaidchiefadded.

Nine in 10 homes across Gaza have been damaged or destroyed after two years of bombardment, according to the UN agency, leaving families returning to neighbourhoods reduced to rubble.

In Sheikh Radwan, once abustlingareaofGazaCity, UNICEF's Tess Ingram described the devastation as leaving “a skeleton of a city”.

With homes flattened, families are setting up makeshift shelters on the ruins of their former residences,waitingfortents, construction materials and the restoration of water supplies before they can b e g i n r e b u i l d i n g Meanwhile, other families are waiting for construction material so they can begin repairs.

“This is why the humanitarian response is so important,” she said “UNICEF is here, doing everything in our power to scale up support and protect children in this moment. More than anything else, they need this ceasefire to hold.”

Since the war began in October2023,Israeliattacks have killed at least 67,938 people and wounded 170,169acrosstheenclave.

The ministry's daily statis

ical repo

t on Telegram noted that a number of victims remain un

Defence teams are still unabletoreachthem.

BLUNT BLUNT

Glittering malls, empty pockets

Another foreign company is building another glitzy shopping mall at Chateau Margot on the East Coast Demerara. Cranes are swinging, concrete is pouring, and headlines boast of “development.”

But for whom? For the average Guyanese, struggling to pay bills and feed their families, these towering monuments of “progress” might as well be mirages shimmering in the desert heat.

Guyana is rich, overflowing with oil, gold, and diamonds yet most of its people are broke. The Chinese are expanding their grip on retail, foreigners are raking in profits from hotels and mega malls, while locals can barely afford a grocery trip.

The so-called “good life” has become a cruel slogan, paraded before a people shut out from their own prosperity.

A few may cling to the hope of another Christmas cash grant, but handouts are not a solution they are sedatives for a people being lulled into quiet acceptance. The malls may rise, but until Guyanese share meaningfully in their country's wealth, all that glitter will remain just that—glitter, not gold.

Raja Pooran excited to play in Pakistan at inaugural Over-40World Cup

Former Guyana youth playerRajaPooranisexcited to play in Pakistan at the forthcoming, inaugural Over-40T20WorldCup.

P

representing Cricket West Indies Masters team which will be captained by former Guyana and West Indies

h Deonarine.

Pooran, an all-rounder, stated that he looking forwardtomakeabigimpact withbothbatandball.

“I [am] delighted to be selected to represent the Caribbean side at a world stage event; I really excited to be there and to help my team win the tournament,” Pooranmentioned.

Another ex-Guyana and

We

Mahendra Nagamootoo is alsointhelineupforthetenday tournament which will havetwelveteamsvyingfor supremacy

RoystonCrandonwillbe a

International experience having worn the maroon colourstoo.

West Indies will open

their campaign against Canada when the action bowls off November 21 in Group1.

Thursday October 16, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

In a philosophical or political conversation,youdon'thesitate to offer your thoughts Your examplesmaybeextreme,but yourprinciplesaresound

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Youshouldbeinagoodmood, although you might have a hard time fully expressing yourself.Perhapsyoufeellike there is someone keeping an eyeonyoureverymove.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You may get the feeling that despite all the hard work you've accomplished, something is still missing, Gemini. There's still a long road ahead, regardless of the goalsyou'veattainedsofar.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Freedom may be a theme for youtoday You'rebeginningto question what it is you're tryingtofreeyourselffrom.A person? Job? Commitment? These may be the very things youstarttosearchforassoon asyou'refreeofthem.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You'retheliquidthattakesthe shape of its container, Leo. Even though this may seem like the most nonconfrontational way to do things, you may find that it's actually a cause of great frustrationforyouandothers

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Youmayfeellikeapuppythat has been let outside for the first time, Virgo. The air is warm and you're full of energy You're ready to run over the fields and hills Unfortunately,you'retiedtoa stake and you can't move beyondaten-footradius.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Youmayfeelastrangetension. Itseemsthatnothingyousayor do is quite right, Libra. As much as you may try to do the correct thing, you can't make thingsclickthewayyou'dlike.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

It may be hard for you to maintain your self-discipline. Your childlike nature wants to go out and play Emotionally, you're anxious to let loose and followyourplayful,instinctual nature.

SAGITTARIUS(Nov22–Dec21)

Ifyou'reunclearaboutthetopic of discussion, say so Asking questionsisanimportantpartof learning You shouldn't be afraid to ask. Communication maytakeonaserioustone,and intellectual discussions are likelytogetheated.

CAPRICORN(Dec22–Jan19)

Youmaybeshywhenitcomes to expressing your emotions today,Capricorn.Thiscouldbe a rare thing for you. Other people may wonder if somethingiswrong.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Youmaynotknowwhichway to turn,Aquarius. You may be emotionally weighed down by sentimental feelings and memories that bind you to the past You may also feel restrictedbyauthorityfigures.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Your mind may be going in manydifferentdirections,with fantastic ideas about how things should be done, Pisces. T h e d i f f i c u l t y i s communicatingtheseideasina way that makes sense. Others mayseeyouasathreattotheir authority

Frompage22

his men, losing to Demerara in round one is just another way to rebound stronger starting today against one of the stronger teams in the competition.

Savory, opener Kevon Boodie, top scorer from the last game Keemo Paul, the dynamic Quentin Sampson, who made his mark during this year's CPL as the breakout player, backed by veteran all-rounder Ricardo AdamsandAnthonyAdams, will have tons of work to do as Essequibo's most experiencedplayers.

The final is slated for December 1st. All matches tobeplayedinKarachi.

Group 1: West Indies, Pakistan, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and UnitedArabEmirates.

Group 2: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, USA, Saudi Arabia and a Rest of theWorldX1.

The full 18-member squad includes: Narsingh Deonarine, Mahendra

Pooran, Devindra Maharaj, RoystonCrandon,Lawrence Farnum,JoelLeacock,Larry Babb, Vishan Lall, Asif Chan, Antonnel Atwell, Reno Mittleholzer, Mohan Chatram, Richard Latif, Devon Clements, Hemraj Garbarran,andZaminAmin.

which will be the X-Factor for the Cinderella County boys.

Much will rest in the hands of formerWest Indies fas

ord Beaton,whohadagoodfirst game with 2 scalps, alongside Lovell who had 4 and Paul who continues to work himself back into bowlingform.

The left-arm spin duo of AnthonyAdamsandRicardo willhave20keyoversbeing

experienced slow bowling acesoverthelastdecade.

The last game showed the resolve needed for victory by the Essequibian tail-enders, as Myheim Khan, the hard-hitting Thaddeus Lovell showed their skills getting 20-odd runsapiece.

Berbice however, will need to be wary of the starstudded bowling attack

Bothteamscouldpullan upsetbutwithBerbiceriding high off a commanding victoryandtheEssequibians still seeking that first win of the season, today's match should provide the right components for an exciting battle.

The match is scheduled to bowl off from 9:00h.

(Clifton

Ross)

Raja Pooran

Rain rescues England from shock defeat against Pakistan

BBC Sport - England avoided a shock defeat by Pakistan at the Women's World Cup, being saved by heavyraininColombo.

An inspired bowling performance from Pakistan saw England slump to 79-7 after25oversbeforethefirst heavydownpourbegan.

Afteralengthydelay,the raineasedandplayresumed at 31 overs per side, with England posting 133-9 after ausefulstandof47between Charlie Dean, who topscored with 33, and Em Arlott. Pakistan were set a revised target of 113 and made a promising start by reaching34-0beforetherain resumed and denied them a historic victory, which would have been their first one-day international win overEngland. Itwasafortunateescape

for England who suffered theirsecondbattingscareof the tournament, after they recovered from 78-5 to beat Bangladesh,andabigwakeup call before their toughest challengesagainstIndiaand Australiawhichcomenext. Nat Sciver-Brunt's side wereoutplayedbyPakistan, who are winless in the tournament so far, as five w

g another failure for the openingpartnership.Tammy Beaumont was the first to fall, bowled after leaving a superb delivery from Diana Baig which nipped back sharply.

Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana then starred with three wickets,bowlingAmyJones foreight,beforeclaimingthe two vital scalps of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather

Knight, bowled and lbw for fourand18respectively

Without their two most

p

ayers, England were exposed and caught between attack and defence.

Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey were lbw sweepingandEmmaLamb's struggles at number six continuedasshewasbowled by spinner Sadia Iqbal for four Capsey and Charlie Dean withstood Pakistan's arrayofspinnersfor70balls but only added 21 runs before the pressure told on the former, but Dean was proactiveonceplayresumed byaddingvaluablerunswith Arlott. Pakistan openers Omaim

S

hail and MuneebaAliwereconfident at the beginning of their reply and England were

sloppywiththeball,butitis another heartbreak for them having reduced defending championsAustraliato76-7 before that game also slippedfromtheirgrasp.

England now travel to Indore to face India and Australia before they conclude the group stage against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, where flatter pitches are expected atbothvenues.

They will be hopeful Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell, who were left outoftheXIinColombofor Sarah Glenn and EmArlott, will recover from illness in time.

Scores: England 133-9 (31 overs): Dean 33 (51); Fatima 4-27; Pakistan 34-0 (6.4 overs): Omaima 19* (18). Match ended as a No result

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling proud of podium finish as focus turns to Brava Guyana Open

Lusignan Golf

Club (LGC)

Secretary Chet Bowling says standing on the podium at the recently concluded DSB Suriname Invitational2025isbotha personal and national achievement, marking anotherproudmomentfor Guyana's golfers on the internationalstage

Reflecting on his performance, Bowling said hispodiumfinishrepresents years of dedication and steady growth, not just for himselfbutfortheLusignan Golf Club community as a whole.

“It's an achievement for metostandonthepodiumat

an international event, it says a lot about the level of golfingattheLusignanGolf Club,”Bowlingsaid. “Our members are dedicated, supportive, and encourageeachother Ona personallevel,I'mexcited, grateful, and thankful On a club level, I'm proud of how we performed and how we represented Guyana ” He noted that LGC's strong presence at the Invitational highlights the club's commitment to raisingthestandardofgolf in Guyana “We really dominated the prizegiving ceremony, ” Bowling added “It proves

that Lusignan has some of the top players in the region, and the golf being playedatourclubistrulyat aninternationallevel.”

Bowling emphasized that the success was not just about skill but also about teamwork, unity, and shared motivation amongthemembers.

“The support and encouragement within the club drive us to do better That's what makes Lusignan special, it's not justaclub;it'safamily.”

L ooking ahead, Bowling believes the momentum from the Suriname Invitational sets the perfect tone for

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) announced a joint initiative between Ancient County and the Ministry of Culture, Youth andSports.

The move which will be undertheOneGuyanasports initiative, is set to target the 1st Division area within the Board.

With cricket being played consistently across all levels in Berbice alone, this timely piece of support should further boost the currentsituationofplay

From page 23 8, tearing through the middle order and keeping Silverbullet under six runs anover

Chasing 104, East Bank U23 showed signs of fight, with Deonarine Dindial digging in for a gritty 42 (5x4, 1x6), and

the Brava Guyana Open, scheduled for November 1–2, 2025, at the Lusignan GolfClub.

“The competition will be stiff,” he noted. “Many players used the Suriname Invitational as preparation for the Guyana Open, so I expectthisyear'seventtobe very competitive and exciting.”

Bowling also extended an invitation to the Surinamese golfers, saying he hopes they will return to Guyana to continue the friendly rivalry “After our performance, I'm sure they'll want to come back andtrytogetrevenge ”

S a y y a d L a k e r a m contributing 19, but the chase faltered under pressure.

Tight bowling from Paul Alexander (3-16) and N Bhagwadin (2-15) applied the squeeze in the death overs, eventually bowlingouttheU23sidefor 96-6, falling agonizingly shortby9runs.

In the evening clash, Clint Jones lit up the ground with a thunderous half-century to lead Sandpipers Sports Club to a commanding 27-run win overHerstellingCTI. Jones' innings was a masterclass in timing and acceleration Starting cautiously, he found his rhythm mid-way, launching five boundaries and four

Sponsorshipwillnowbe used to bowl off a 50-Over and 3-Day tournament respectively, with both competitions being played underRound-Robinformat.

The BCB, via their Facebook page following the statement, thanked Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr as well as his partner in the new Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Steven Jacobs, for their support behind cricket in Berbice.

performance. Irfan Ali also chipped in with a valuable 24, pushing Sandpipers to a robust 141 all out in 19.5 overs.

Herstelling CTI, in response, never quite found momentum While Jeremiah Hohenkick (28) andR.Kissoon(19)showed promise,theireffortsweren't enoughagainstadisciplined Sandpipers bowling attack. Ali, having impressed with the bat, returned to rip through the middle order with a game-changing spell of 4-10, sealing the win and bo

ing Sandpipers' standinginthetournament. With last Saturday's scheduled fixtures washed out due to a damp outfield, Sunday's double-header provided a crucial opportunity for teams to rack up points as the competition barrels toward itsknockoutstages.

The intensity is rising, and with more matches lined up this coming SaturdayandSunday

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. Minister within the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports Steven Jacobs.

Fatima Sana wrecked the England top order. (ICC/Getty Images)

Ronoca Concrete lays foundation for youth, joins Petra to host 2025 Republic Bank U18 SSFL

In a significant boost

for grassroots football, Ronoca Concrete Inc , a leading supplier of construction materials and aggregates, has officially cemented its partnership with the Petra Organisation to host the highly anticipated 2025 Republic Bank Under-18 Secondary School Football League.

The announcement was formalized on Tuesday

ceremony at the company's P

D

m

nd location. The event, which saw Ronoca representative Padma Seegobin facilitate t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n , underscores the firm's commitment to building a strongercommunity,notjust with concrete and aggregates, but through tangible support for young footballtalent.

This timely investment from Ronoca Concrete affirmsitsdedicatedsupport

for the upcoming sixth editionoftheRepublicBank Football League, adding a newlayerofexcitementand corporate backing to the nation's premier schoolboy footballcompetition.

The league is officially slatedtokickoffonSunday, October19th,attheMinistry ofEducationGroundlocated on Carifesta Avenue. The action will begin at 10:00 hours with a vibrant March Past ceremony, setting the stage for the intense competitiontofollow

This year's tournament will feature an elite field of eight top schools from across the country, all in pursuit of football supremacy The stakes are higher than ever, as the top two finishers will earn the prestigiousrighttorepresent Guyana at the KFC Goodwill International S c h o o l F o o t b a l l Championship this December

The schools that have secured spots in this year's

championship are a mix of regional champions and Georgetown powerhouses, this includes; Abram Zuil Secondary representing Region #2, Three Miles Secondary - Region #7, Presidents'College–Region #4,alsofromGeorgetownis SouthRuimveldtSecondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary,

Dolphin Secondary, Charlestown Secondary and defending champions Chase AcademicFoundation.

With such a diverse and talentedlineup,thebattlefor the title promises to be fiercelycontested.ThePetra Organisation has indicated thattheofficialfixturesanda team briefing exercise are expected to be finalized and communicated in the comingdays.

The action-packed RBL U18 football showdown is billed to run from October 19th to November 30th, promising six weeks of thrilling football that will showcase the future stars of thesport.

GDFsoundsearlywarninginbuild-uptoTerrence PooleIntermediateBoxingChampionships

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gym is once again setting its sights on glory as it preparestodefenditstitleat the Guyana Boxing

Association's (GBA)

Terrence Poole National

Intermediate Boxing Championships, scheduled for October 25 to 27. Head Coach Eon Bancroft has expressedconfidenceinthe team's readiness, despite some early logistical challenges.

“It's going quite fine. Training is going on,” Bancroft shared as his charges intensified their preparations.

“The only hiccup was that some of the boxers wereabitlimitedearlieron, because of activities in the force,butwe'reworkingon that.Wealsohadafewarmy activities going on, so not

everyone was able to get into the programme right away This week, though, training is expected to get tougher as we gear up for thechampionships.”

TheGDFgymentersthe tournament as a dominant force in local amateur boxing,holdingtitlesinthe n a t i o n a l n o v i c e , intermediate, and open divisions. Bancroft, who has been part of several successful campaigns over the years with GDF, remains confident in his team'sabilitytomaintainits winningtradition.

“Wearepreparedandon schedule,” he said. “Once wegeteveryoneinandtrain properly, we'll be in good shape.

My expectation is simple, perform well and

basicallyheadingtoanother victory.”

T h i s y e a r ' s championshipsholdspecial significance as they are being staged in honour of the late Terrence Poole, the long-serving Technical Director of the Guyana BoxingAssociation. Poole, who passed away in October 2024, was a towering figure in local boxing for more than four decades.

He served as a coach, coordinator, and mentor to hundreds of athletes, including many from the GDFgym,leavingbehinda lastinglegacyinthesport.

With the tournament fast approaching, Bancroft andhisteamarefocusedon fine-tuning their strategies, s h a r p e n i n g t h e i r conditioning, and ensuring the GDF maintains its reputation as a powerhouse inthering.

In picture, accepting support on the behalf of Petra Organisation from Ms. Padma Seegobin (left) of RonocaConcrete, is Co-Director, Troy Mendonca.

QueenswayMen'sSeniorSuper50Inter-CountyTournamentRound4…Berbicevs.Essequibo

Cinderella County boys seeking first win against in-form Berbicians

Senior Super50 InterCounty action resumes today, with Berbice looking to extend their win streak

against a dangerous Essequibo unit, still hunting their first win as an exciting encounterbowlsofftodayat the Lusignan Community CenterGround.

Ared-hotBerbicewillbe relying on more 'Sinclair Magic'cometoday,afterthe duo single-handedly disassembled the GCB SelectXIinthelastroundto helpscripta7-wicketwin.

Flying Stars Cycling Trifecta 4th Memorial Races start Saturday with Aubrey Gordon race in Mahaicony

This year's 4th Flying Starts Cycle Club's Memorial event will be a trifecta affair and President oftheclub,whoisaFlorida residentintheUnitedStates of America, Victor Rutherford, is here for the annualspectacleasusual.

local cyclists will face the challenge of international cyclists.”

With Junior's spin being a focal point of his team's blueprintforwinninggames, especiallyafterbagginga5fer and Kevin's Test experience coupled with his MVP half-century recently, the relatives will have much ontheirplatesfortherestof the tournament. Also with a spin-heavy unit featuring Veerasammy Permaul, Zeynul Ramsammy and Kevin backed by their frontline pacers in skipper Nial Smith and Clinton Pestano; Berbice should fancytheirchances.

Tomani Caesar and others will also need to find their groove with the bat versus a deep Essequibo bowling attack.

Adrian Sukwah, Rampertab Ramnauth,

ForKemolSavoryand (Continuedonpage19)

Speaking about it, Rutherford, a former National cycling champion himself disclosed that “…the first event is on Saturday October 18 in Mahaicony,thesecondisin the mining town of Linden andthethirdisinthecapital cityofGeorgetown.”

He indicated that, “We will be having criterium races where all the top cyclistswillbeinvolvedand also some international cyclists from the Caribbean andfromNorthAmerica.”

The opener is on Saturday at Mahaicony and starts at 7.30am outside the Mahaicony Circuit by the ball field and would go around for five laps, with the country's top cyclists in action.

According to the Flying Stars top official, they will be catering for male and female cyclists and youngsters.

Theeventthenwillgoto the mining town of Linden next Monday where he noted, “Linden we know was the Mecca of cycling. It'sMonday,DiwaliDaythe holiday, at the Amelia's Ward Circuit starting at 10 00 outside Bernard's Variety Store, and with races for all categories, includingwomenandkids,” Rutherfordsaid.

H e c o n t i n u e d ,

“Following that the action switches to Georgetown next Saturday starting outsidetheGuyanaDefence Force at 2 00 in the afternoon. Once more the

Prizes at stake throughout the trifecta include trophies and cash incentives and Rutherford said, “We are grateful to those sponsors, including Office of the Prime Minister, the National Sports Commission, RepublicBank,AnsaMcAl Trading, Linden Electricity Inc , Lorraine Darnley, Bernard's Variety Store, Maggie's, D

Silva's Optical, Sarah Parris, Singh's Family, Dr Rhonda Archer, Louis London Jr., Michael Roger's, Avery Trim, Wa

H

nry, Michelle Binning, Oscar S

e RutherfordFamily.”

The trifecta event at Mahaicony is to honour Aubrey Gordon, while at Linden those to be rememberedfortheirrolein promotingthesportinclude thelateHaslynParris,'Chex Doc' Anderson, George 'Speedy' Binning and Michael 'Brother Mike' Sampson.

The final criterium race n e x t S a t u r d a y i n Georgetown, will be in honour of the late Rudolph 'Duckie' Singh, Charles Chichester Sr., Donald RobinsonandBarryMassay Sr

Flying Stars Cycle Club President, Victor Rutherford.

Kevin Sinclair

Junior Sinclair Ronsford Beaton

Westside Golf Course Hosts Schools for 'PE Fridays'

The Westside Golf Course will now serve as a regular venue for Physical Education activities for schools across Region Three.

This exciting initiative officially began this week, followingtheintroductionof golf to educators by Regional Education Officer (REDO)Mr AkbarChintu.

The programme forms part of a broader national initiative by the Ministry of Education, under the directive of His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali, to ensure that all students actively participate in Physical Education activities.

“With its large, manicured fairways, the Westside Golf Course is the perfect facility for schools that have limited space for PEactivities.TheEducation Department is extremely grateful to Mr. Hussain for providing the venue for our

use,”saidREOMr Hardyal.

According to Mr Hussain, “The Guyana Golf Association and Westside GolfCoursewillcontinueto provideaccesstoallstudents atnocostforPEactivities.In addition,wewillteachthem the fundamentals of golf, which can be taken as an elective subject for the CSECexaminations.”

Mr Hussain added, “Westside Golf Course was designed and built by me in honorofmymother,Shafura BaghKhan-Hussain of Leguan, in collaboration with Mr Ronald Sami and hisfamily Thisisourwayof giving back to our community.”

Beyond PE Fridays, the publiciswelcometovisitthe Westside Golf Course for golf, lessons, or simple relaxation at the open-air clubhouse, which offers food, beverages, and Igloo Ice Cream in a peaceful and scenicsetting.

Jones star with bat for Sandpipers

...Silverbullet restrict East Bank U23 in EBDCA-Ryan Dookie Memorial T/20

Irfan Ali's all-round performance leads Sandpipers to 27-run victory

After a rain-induced hiatus, the Ryan Dookie Memorial T20 Cricket Competition roared back to life over the weekend, serving up drama, powerhitting, and fierce bowling duelsasSilverbulletCricket Club and Sandpipers Sports Club registered hard-fought victories in front of an energizedcrowdattheFarm CommunityCentreground.

Sunday'searlyencounter saw Silverbullet Cricket ClubedgepasttheEastBank Cricket Association Under23sideinacloselycontested battle that went down to the wire.

Ridge Rajaram top score for Silverbullet CC

Despitethemodesttotal, it wasn't all smooth sailing, Asif Roberts produced a sensational spell of fast bowlingforEastBankU23s, returningdreamfiguresof4-

(Continuedonpage20)

Opting to bat first on a freshly hardened track, Silverbullet built a solid platform,ledbyacomposed andclassyknockfromRidge Rajaram, who anchored the inningswithatopscoreof41 runs, laced with five crisp boundaries and two towering sixes. He was ably supported by Devon Paul, who chipped in with a brisk 28, guiding the team to a competitive 103 all out in their20overs.

The West Side Golf Course has seen a huge turnout by students from schools across the region, as part of Friday's Physical Education programme.

Flashback: One of the past GDF teams with Terrence Poole MS (6th from left back row) when he helped guide them to a successful title defence. (Sean Devers file photo)

Team Guyana

Guyana Open