Giveaway of natural resources to foreigners forcing Govt. to take loans
Lawyer seeks autopsy report Says more questions than answers
Israel has turned 70% of Gaza into ...MalnutritionrisesinGazaasIsraeliblockadeenters3rdmonth -GlennLall to develop country false info. on Adriana’s abduction led to postponement of burial no-go zones, in maps
APNU calls for Mandall’s arrest over 14-year-old stabbed during brawl outside Giftland Mall
Man drowns in Linden swimming pool
FormerT&TPM, StuartYoung: ‘Any gas pipeline from Guyana
to to T&T must pass through Venezuela’s waters’ ...developmentcouldbeyearsaway
When does a war stop being a war and mutate into a wipeout? What the Israeli war machine is doing has 'wiping out the Palestinians from the face of the earth' writtenonit. Historiclandsthatwerecovetedlongbefore 1948, the year of Israel's statehood. It was statehood foisted on a people, with the backing of many Western powers. Backing that tore the fabric of Palestinian existenceapart,andsentthemscatteringacrosstheMiddle East, then widerAfrica, and last to the ends of the earth. ThecatastropheforthePalestiniansthatbeganthenrages evenmorefeverishlyandbloodilytoday Whatstartedas warhasnowmarchedpastthatalreadyuglyword. What is happening today in Gaza does not fit the definitionofwar,asrecognizedbycivilizedpeople. Even intheworstwars,thereisapausesothatthewoundedcan be withdrawn to safety, hopefully nursed back to some semblanceoflife.
This standard has not been adhered to by the Israeli generals,thesoldiersontheground,orthepoliticalleaders in TelAviv Even vengeance has its limits, where blood lustsarestatedafterawhile,thegunsgosilent,thebombs stopdropping. Ithasn'tbeenso,withhospitalafterhospital bombedtopieces,thedyinghustledtoaquickerdeath,and thosewithachanceofsurvivalhavingthatplugcallously pulled. What is currently happening in Gaza, and has the land of Palestine become a shooting gallery where Palestinians are treated as target practice? Can that still qualify for the caption of war, or has it long earned the rightfuldescriptionofwarcrimes?
The parts of the world that still care have employed such scorching words as 'massacres' and 'holocausts' and 'genocides', and all have the substance of accuracy For thosehavebeentherealitiesunderwhichthePalestinians havelivedforoverayearandahalf,andwithmoreofthe same to come. When food convoys are bombed or preventedfromgoingtothosewhoareindireneedofrelief, war gets kicked into the gutter, and war crimes have the spotlightshoneonthem. Onefoodconvoybombed,orone setofreliefworkerskilled,maybetermedbythegenerous tobeanaccident. But,whowithsomesparkofhumanityin them,caninterpretsuchrepeatedbombingsandcontinuing killingsasnotpartofwhatissinisterandutterlycriminal?
War crimes are so distinctive that they are easily detected.
Noncombatants and civilians are protected, should neverbepartoffreefirezones,partofanywarplansorwar targets. But they have been, and we at this paper make it ourdutytopresentthisdirtywarfoughtbytheIsraelis,and which succeeds in finding lower and lower ground. The helpless,themostvulnerable,havealreadybeendestroyed inpropertyandfamily,butthatisnotenoughfortheIsraeli war machine. Their spirits have to be devastated and drained of any resistance, so that the horror inflicted on IsraelonOctober7,2023,willneverberepeated. So,even the refugee camps are targeted in the hunt to eradicate fighters carrying the Hamas brand and the Palestinian causeintheirhearts,deepintheirgenes.
Fromawarofself-defencetoawarofvengeance,toa warnowoverrunwiththebarbaritiesthatcharacterizewar crimes. WhatisgoingoninGazahastoomanyelementsof ethnic cleansing for that to be ignored or soft-pedalled. Like the holocaust and massacres, and genocide, ethnic cleansing is also a war crime. War, at its best, departed Gazamanylongmonthsago. Initsplacehascomewarin itsworstrendition,andsowepointtothewarcrimesbeing perpetrated against the Palestinian people in Gaza. How can such not be, when from babies to the elderly, and everyoneinbetween,arenotsparedtheremorselessrainof bombsandbullets?
Today, the Israelis are enjoying the greatest hunting gameofall. Itisthehuntingandkillingofmen,women, andchildren. Ifthatisn'tawarcrime,thennothingis.
May 5 is Indian
Arrival
Day, and nothing else
DearEditor, On Monday, we observed and in some quarters celebrated Arrival Day I remain satisfied with the absurdity of this title of ArrivalDay Therecordsare clear May 5th, 1838, is the date that our Indian brothers arrived on two ships, the Hesperus and the Whitby Earlier, I was among those whocontendedthatitwould be a historical error to designateMay5tocoverthe arrival of Chinese and Portuguese and Africans who were enslaved after the arrival in this colony by the Dutch and British imperial colonizers.
Why the PPP chose to makeMay5,ArrivalDay,to cover our foreparents who arrived or better put, were brought here, is troubling and defies logic and good sense Discussions years ago, with the likes of Pandit
Sharma, Sase Narain and others, the PNC always contended, and I so submit that May 5 is IndianArrival Day, and nothing else. The ChineseandPortuguesewho came from Madeira may wishtopursuetheircase.
The greatest tragedy, however, is that because whiteimperialismwasandis still dismissive of people with woolly hair and melanin, despite the movie 'ROOTS,' you can find no recordofwhentheAfricans, tricked, bound and brutalized, arrived on our shores.
ThisnamingofMay5as Arrival Day to cover all ethnicgroupsthatworkedon ourplantationsisyetanother trickpluckedoutofthehatof the PPP's well-oiled and funded propaganda establishment. If we are to advance as One People, we mustbewillingatalltimesto transmit to our children, all
of our history, the glorious and the damned, who must not do what we observe happening elsewhere where popular men seem determinedtoerasethetruth ofourpast.
Therelayingofthistruth, thewholetruth,willmakeus strongasapeopleand,more importantly,identifythereal enemy whose tonic, whose strategy,whosestaticremain to divide and continue to rule. When we go past the Indian Monument Site, between North Road and Church Street, bounded by Alexander and Camp Streets, how many of us know that the biggest plantation owners and slave masters, the Gladstones, instead of bargaining with theManumittedAfricansfor betterwagesandconditions, sought to bring in labour from India, Madeira and China.
Modern trade unionists
refertothisasscablabour I have elsewhere applauded my Indian brothersfortheirhardwork, sacrifice and judicious practice of deferred gratification. With what is happening currently in parts of the world, our education must not be afraid to articulate all of our colonial experience and in this regard, not to be shy to expose the enormous damage done to slaves during the horrors of the Trans Atlantic journey, where the Africans was the onlygroupwhohaditsroots completely severed from his homeland,andlikeatree, if youcutitsroots,itsgrowthin an alien environment requires supreme strength and spirituality, which those Manumitted Africans displayed.
Our Indian brothers, for example,wereabletobring (continueonpage5)
There is an obvious attempt to misrepresent press freedom in Guyana
Editor,
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, released a few days ago by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), shows Guyana improving slightly this year, moving from77in2024to73outof 180 countries. Considering the threats faced by media workers in neighbouring Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, both of which outperformed Guyana, my curiositywaspiqued.
RSF defines press freedom as: "the ability of journalistsasindividualsand collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest, independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference, and in the absence of threats to their physicalandmentalsafety."
I must express my disagreement with Stabroek News, which recently claimedthattherankingsare determined based on "the organisation's independent assessment". Permit me to explain why I believe this assertionisdeeplyflawed.
For context, the Index assigns each country or territory a score ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest possible level of press freedom This score is d e r i v e d f r o m t w o components: a quantitative
assessment of abuses committed against media personnel and a qualitative analysis based on responses f
contributors include journalists, researchers, academics,andhumanrights defenders, all of whom c o m p l e t e a n R S F questionnaire.
Thequantitativeelement relies on data concerning abusessuchasthenumberof journalists killed, detained, missing, or assaulted. It also includes instances of censorship, such as the forced closure of media outlets. I will not dwell on the quantitative aspect, as therearevirtuallynoreports inGuyanaofmediaworkers being detained, abducted, physically assaulted, or killed.
The qualitative analysis, however, is more opaque. It is based on data drawn from a questionnaire distributed among selected local media professionals, researchers, and human rights experts. This questionnaire is not widely accessible to the broader Guyanese public, including the academic community; it is only circulated among those with privileged access I participated in the survey between2015and2020.The questionnaire covers five
key domains: the legal framework, economic context, political context, sociocultural context, and safety
Legal Framework:
Guyana's legislative environment concerning press freedom has remained largely unchanged over the past five years. Notably, in 2018, RSF improved Guyana'srankingfrom60(in 2017)to55,eventhoughthe APNU+AFC government had tabled its Cybercrime Bill, which contained a draconian sedition clause.
RSF's North America Director, Margaux Ewen, publicly expressed concern that the proposed legislation "could have a serious chilling effect on press freedom in Guyana." Yet RSF nonetheless awarded Guyana a higher rating that sameyear
Economic Context: This indicator assesses economic influences on journalism, including media ownership concentration, the use of government advertising as leverage, and the financial sustainabilityofindependent outlets. It is fair to state that both public and private media in Guyana enjoy equitable access to government advertising Furthermore, there are no restrictions on media ownership. Print and online
mediaentitiesdonotrequire licences, and radio and television licences are granted by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority(GNBA). Sociocultural Context: This dimension considers social norms and cultural pressures, including genderbased discrimination and self-censorship driven by religion,ethnicity,orsocietal taboos. While journalists in Guyana may not enjoy the same prestige as their regional counterparts, they aregenerallyrespected.Ours is not a society that is inherently hostile to media practitioners Admittedly, women in the media may o c c a s i o n a l l y f a c e harassment, but such behaviourissymptomaticof deeper, entrenched societal attitudes towards women, rather than indicative of the mediaenvironmentperse.
Political Context: Criticisms have been levelled at successive governments for their control over state media – a practice consistent across political administrations Giventhatthisstateofaffairs has remained unchanged for decades, it should not influence fluctuations in the press freedom ranking. It is worthnotingthatfewerthan 10%ofallmediaoutletsin (continueonpage5)
The Struggle for Indian Arrival as a Holiday
DearEditor,
Last Monday, the country observed Indian Arrival Day, officially labelled by the government asArrival Day, as a holiday since 2004, an act preceded by a bill passed by parliament and signed into law by then President BharratJagdeo.Thedayhas significance for those of Indian ancestry and is observed (celebrated) accordingly; the observance has been delayed in some areas out of respect for the mourning of Adriana Perturbingly,the(titleofthe) holiday is the most battered in the country, a pummeling and a misrepresentation of what it actually (really) is, and that stems from the r e l u c t a n c e o f a l l governments to give it the rightappellation.
May5hasbeenobserved by Indians (in programs all over colony or country) for over a century in tribute to the resilience and forbearance of the foreparents or ancestors who came from India. It was
known as East Indian Immigration Day and then Indian Arrival Day by celebrantsnationwide.Itwas an 'Indian thing' that attracted non Indians, not dissimilar to Emancipation Day (Aug 1) being an African thing in which nonAfricans also celebrated. It was a day to recognize and celebrate the countless contributions of Indians to the country A specific date thatmarkstheanniversaryof the arrival of the first set of Indians in the then British colony -- May 5, 1838 was chosen No other ethnic group has any ties to that historical date But for whatever reason, the term 'Indian' seemingly has repulsed politicians going back for decades, except when it came or comes to getting their votes to win government Is the term 'Indian' so repugnant? If so, why are politicians campaigning in Indian communitiesfortheirvotes? It is time to right that injustice and accord it the righttitle.Indiansmustmake
The'ArrivalDay'holiday was a result of a long strugglebyagroupofIndian rights advocates, including Dr Balwant Singh, Ryhaan Shah, Ravi Dev, Swami Aksharananda, Baytoram Ramharack, and this writer, among others, going back several decades. The public owesthemadebtofgratitude
country'sofficialrecognition
indentured labourers, who, like their African brethren, laboured in slave like conditions to help build Guyana. Just like how the Africans were recognized for their resilience, the Indians sought a similar recognition for surviving indentured servitude and for their contributions to the nation.
Thestruggleanddemand by the rights activists since the 1970s was for May 5 to be declared “INDIAN
May 5 is Indian Arrival...
Frompage4 with them their holy writings,drums,andcultural paraphernalia, including their labels and names. The African who smuggled the drums and other cultural i m p l e m e n t s , o n c e discovered, on that journey from West Africa to the Americas and Guiana, were thrown overboard, severing their liberty or links with theirhomelandandwiththat void, happily gave birth to t h e s t e e l p a n , a demonstration of the resilience of the most brutalized people of this period.
OurChinese,Portuguese and Indian Brothers have, over time, been able to reconnect with their ancestral symbols The severing of roots was so cruel and severe that I know of no Guyanese nor American Blacks who have been able to identify the villagefromwhichtheywere uprooted.Soweareleftwith religion and labels of our erstwhileslavemasters.
I urge this and succeeding Governments, with boldness to teach all of ourhistory,nottoignorethe efforts of Cuffy, Quamina and Acrabee, not to ignore the work of Fowell Buxton, William Wilberforce and JohnNewton,whowrotethe wordsofAmazingGraceand
that the tune is that of an African oriented work rhythm.
For me, May 5 is Indian ArrivalDayandoughtnotto cover the arrival of others.
Forme,itisabsurd. Iclosewiththewordsof a highly respected Indo Guyanese uttered at a celebration, “ We came in differentships,buttodaywe are in one boat.” Let us paddle together to the drumbeat to the rhythm of the Congo drum, Tassa drum, the Portuguese drum, the Chinese Drum and the
Amerindiandrum,sothatas One People, we can all overcome the tricks and stratagem of the attitudes of our erstwhile masters, attitudes which are still in place and is consuming many of our ancestors in otherpartsoftheworld.
Years ago, at public rallies, one of our moderndayliberatorswouldleadthe chant,Canwedoit?Whether you are Singh, Debarros, Chin,Sydney,orPrabhu,our responseisYes,wecan.
HamiltonGreen, Elder
Arrival Day”, not 'Arrival Day', as a national holiday Initially,Dr.Jaganandother PPP politicians were supportive of it when in oppositionupuntil1992,but Burnham and the PNC, including under Desmond Hoyte, were opposed, although the latter approved aone-offholidayin1988on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in the country In government from October 1992, the PPP did not consider proposals for an Indian Arrival holiday as a priority, although Indian cultural advocates pressed
the issue The rights advocates were unrelenting on the issue and received support from the then member of Parliament, Ravi Dev (of ROAR), elected in March2001,whoforcedthe issue on the floor of the house. Facing pressure from the party's voter base, the PPP agreed to debate the issue in parliament A proposal was sent to a standingcommitteeofwhich Ravi Dev was a member for discussionandadraftbill.In a turnaround, in 2003, the PNC acquiesced to the holiday and agreed for it to becalledIndianArrivalDay
AsrelatedbyMemberof Parliament, Ravi Dev, the original bill, passed unanimouslybythestanding committee comprising of membersofallthepartiesin parliament, proposed the holiday as “Indian Arrival Day” in tribute to the immeasurable contributions Indians have made in Guyana since their first arrival on May 5, 1838. It wassenttothefullhousefor adoption Much to the chagrin of the Indian population, the then ruling party changed the recommendationofthebill (Continueonpage6)
There is an obvious attempt to...
Frompage4
Guyana are state-owned or controlled, leaving approximately 90% insulated from direct political interference. Media freedom extends to the extent that certain outlets regularly refer to senior government officials, including the President and VicePresident,inderogatory terms such as "jackasses" and"thieves"withoutfearof legalorotherrepercussions.
Safety: As previously mentioned, there are no credible reports of journalists in Guyana being detained,assaulted,orkilled. However,dependingontheir affiliation, media workers mayoccasionallyfaceverbal abuse, particularly in highly c h a r g e d p o l i t i c a l environments – a situation
notuniquetoGuyana.
Editor, it is difficult to reconcile the fact that from 2015 to 2025, Guyana has dropped 24 places in the Index, despite the operational conditions for media personnel remaining largely stable, if not improved. It becomes even more perplexing when one considers Jamaica's 2025 ranking (26), especially given that its qualitative indicators are arguably comparable to Guyana's, while its quantitative indicators are demonstrably worse. For instance: on 8 May 2024, a female journalist in Jamaica was threatened with rape by a supporter of the People's National Party (PNP); in 2024, the RJR Gleaner Group faced a public
campaign accusing it of political bias, with calls for boycotts by prominent politicians; and in September 2023, the offices of Nationwide News Network were attacked in a shooting incident It is therefore evident that the scores and rankings of this Indexarenottheresultofan "independent assessment" by RSF in the conventional sense, as the organisation does not deploy field researchers to conduct empirical assessments. Rather, the Index relies heavily on the subjective opinionsofindividuals,most of whom seem intent on misrepresenting the reality ofpressfreedominGuyana. Yoursfaithfully, RavinSingh Formerjournalist
Keith Jordon was an impactful administrator
DearEditor, I was saddened to learn about the passing of Keith Jordon.WhileIdidnotknow him personally, I was privilegedtomeethimalong with other cricketers from Essequibo who participated inthetapeballtournamentin 2005, as highlighted by CharwayneWalker'sletterin Kaieteur News dated 2025/05/06'Tapeballcricket pioneer Keith Jordon has diedatage66'.
Timehascertainlyflown, andwhileithasbeenalmost 20years,Icanstillremember that firm but gracious handshake, accompanied by cautioning words which had an element of intimidation butalsorefinedhumour Mr Jordon provided that golden
opportunity for many of us sinceitwasthefirsttimethat we had the chance to play competitive tape ball. My teammatesstilltalkaboutthe historic experience, as I regret there wasn't a reciprocal visit and a continuation of our relationship, including with Mr CharwayneWalker,who was instrumental in the preparation and facilitation ofthetour
On behalf of Team 2005 and the cricketing fraternity, Iwishtoextendourheartfelt sympathytotherelativesand friends of Mr Keith Jordon, whowillberememberedasa pioneering and impactful leader
Yoursfaithfully, ElroyStephney
The Struggle for...
Frompage5 thatcameoutofthestanding committeetotheamorphous “Arrival Day”. Since that time to now, some 25 years, Indianrightsadvocateshave been appealing to governments to make amends and right a historic wrong committed on Indian Guyanese.
Trinidad and Tobago underwentasimilardilemma whenabillwaspresentedby Opposition MP Trevor Sudama to parliament to enactIndianArrivalDayasa holiday
The then-ruling African supported PNM approved 'Arrival Day' as a holiday in 1995. When Basdeo Panday became Prime Minister, he
changed it in 1996 to the right appellation as Indian Arrival Day – celebrated annually as a national holiday on May 30 to recognize the boundless contributions of Indians since their first arrival on May30,1845.
Everycountry(including St. Vincent and Grenada) where Indians were indentured commemorates Indian Arrival Day, with somenationsdeclaringitasa national holiday They have not called it Arrival Day Guyanashoulddothesame! ThePNCandAFC,andother parties are supportive. The governmentshouldact!
Yoursfaithfully, VishnuBisram
The saddest thing of all
In a small place, where lives are thinly built and tragedyisthick,thedeathof a child—one who is a mere 11 years old—has become morethanamatterofloss.It hasbecomeakindoftheatre, and more dangerously, a kind of religion A new orthodoxy, built not on reason or inquiry, but on suspicionandemotion.
The child died, and long beforeapathologisttouched the body, a verdict had already been delivered by thecourtofthestreet:itwas murder And as in all things born of the irrational, no amount of evidence, no authority or expert, no skill of science could shake the crowdloosefromitsbelief.
This is not new The rejection of reason is not a modern development, but in ourtime,ithasbecomemore garish The facts when they come—arrive not as welcome clarity, but as intrusions upon a beloved narrative.Theautopsy,when itwasfinallydone,spokeof drowning. The pathologists, mentrainedinthediscipline of truth, delivered their findings It made no difference. The masses had found their villain, their story,andtheywouldnotbe moved The script was alreadywritten.
This is the curse of the boxed mind. People commit themselves not to discovering the truth, but to defending the position they firstoccupied.Itisakindof intellectual squatters' right they believe
something, and therefore it must be true To admit otherwise is to admit a kind of defeat, and defeat is intolerable in these fragile societies where the self is defined not by facts, but by how loudly one insists upon them.
There is something medieval in it—something primitive.Adeathbecomesa catalyst not for mourning, but for performance. People shout murder not because they have evidence, but because the sound of the word justifies everything that follows: rage, protest, condemnation, even destruction.Privateproperty is torn apart, reputations are smudged with blood, and when all is done, there is no accountabilityforthosewho stirred the pot. They vanish into the mob, sanctified by the righteousness of their falsehoods.
This is not unique to the case of the child. It is a pattern—seen in politics, in religion, in ordinary life. People pick a side and stay there, not because it is right, but because it is theirs. To switch sides, to say, “I was wrong,”istosufferakindof death. And so, they defend error as if it were an inheritance.
Reason is slow, painstaking, and often inconclusive. Narratives are quick. They give purpose, drama, and an illusion of clarity. In the age of social media, the narrative moves faster than the facts. A rumour becomes a headline,
Dem Boys Seh...
a suspicion becomes a verdict. The autopsy, the science, the cool discipline of logic—these are relics of another time. What matters now is what feels right, and in a society long trained to privilege feeling over thought, that is the end of reason.
And yet, what a fragile power it is. The narrative comforts, but it cannot resolve The questions remain What really happened to the child? We may never know But to pretendcertaintywherenone existsisaformofintellectual cowardice It is also a violence, done not only to thoseaccusedbuttotheidea oftruthitself.
There are those who clingtothenarrativebecause it serves them The accusation of murder is a weapon, and like all weapons, it needs no justification only direction. Others cling to it because they have already destroyed, already accused, and to recant would be to acknowledge guilt of a different kind. Their belief justifiestheirbehaviour The damage, once done, becomesirreversible. It is the way of weak societies—wheretruthisnot a shared commitment but a battlefield,wheretheloudest voicewinsandthecalmestis silenced.Thereisnoarbiter, no final authority to say, “Here is the fact, here is the end.” Everything becomes opinion, and opinion becomesgospel.
De East Bank Public Road crying out likeitgetbeatwithsandbag.Everybigtruck carryingmountainofsandpunitbacklikeit climbingEverest.Deweightsuhheavy,dem asphaltcrackinglikebiscuit.Demboysseh demnahpavingroadnomore,dempatching it like granny old drawers—every week a newpatch,everymonthanewhole.
Andguesswhamekitworse?Isdesame road dem bringing sand fuh fix! So sand bruk up de road, and dem use more sand to patchdeholewhadesandtruckmek.Thatis likeusingrumfuhcurehangover Decycle nah ending—sand bruk up road, bruk-up roadneedmoresand,moresandneedmore truck,moretruckbrukupderoadagain!
Dem boys seh this madness only could happeninaplacewherelogictekvacation.
Insuchaworld,thechild does not matter Only the myth of the child matters the version that each faction constructs, the morality tale they wish to tell.Thedeadbecomeprops. The living become caricatures.The pathologist, the doctor, the scientist—he becomes a villain too, because his tr
You ever hear bout conveyor belt fuh bauxite?Orbargepunriver?Ormaybeeven pipeline?Nahman,nothere!Demplanners seh truck is king And not just any truck—truck big like hotel, engine louder than open-air concert, and tyres fuh crush coconuttree.
Dem boys seh we need new plan. Not patchplan.Notmore-roadplan.Notspenduntil-it-bruk plan.We need sense plan. Use river,userail,usebrain!
But you tell dem planners dat, and dem gon tell you is “development.” Well, if development mean bruk-up road, dusty face, and twenty-hour traffic jam behind sandtruck,thenwedeveloptillwedrop!
Dem boys seh if we keep pun this path, one day de sand truck gon fall in one dem sameholeitcreate.Anddatgonbedeonly timederoadfinallygetpeace!
Sand come, road bruk. Sand go, road bruk. But planners still sleepin' on soft mattress,notpundebruk-uproad! Talkhalf.Leffhalf!
inconvenient. We pretend that justice matters, that truth matters. But what we really crave is confirmation. And so, we box ourselves in—not to protect the truth, but to protect our pride. The death ofachildbecomesthedeath ofreason,andstillweshout. Not for justice, but for victory Notfortruth,butfor vindication. And that is the saddestthingofall.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
45 Int'l forensic experts eager to review Adriana Younge's case
ByShaniaWilliams
N e w a t t o r n e y representing the family of 11-year-oldAdrianaYounge, Dr Dexter Todd, has revealed that at least 45 international forensic experts have expressed strong interest in reviewing
the circumstances surrounding the young girl's death.
In an interview with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, Dr Todd said he will be meeting with Commissioner ofPoliceCliftonHickenand Crime Chief Wendell Blanhumtoseekanswerson theinvestigationinAdriana's case and request a copy of the preliminary autopsy report.
He said international experts and the public are demanding details on the autopsy report The mysterious circumstances surroundingAdriana's death
have sparked global attention, with people expressing disgust and dissatisfaction over the manner in which the investigation is being
handled. As such, Dr Todd notedthatthereisnolackof international expertise to assistinAdriana'scase.
Intheinterview,Dr Todd shared details on his proceedingswiththecase.
Nolackof internationalexperts
Dr Dexter Todd emphasised that numerous international experts are ready to assist in the investigation into Adriana Younge'sdeath.
“There have been
countless groups, professional body groups from around the world who've been reaching out. And they have access to experts too,” Dr Todd said.
“Andso,Ithinktheideaisto reallyspeakandtoseewhere we are lacking in Guyana and where we can invite the help. People in groups are volunteering to come. Even the issue of forensic psychology, in relation to talking with the people and the family members who mightbeaffectedandsoon, we want] to be able to have an all-encompassing
approach to this matter I thinkthat'stheapproach.”
Hestressedthatthelevel ofinterestfrominternational specialists has been significant, with dozens offeringtoassist.
“So,wehaveavailableto us a number of forensic pathologistsfromaroundthe world,” he explained “I think right now, the number went up today at 45 professors who just want to have the case file and they will review it. We are not goingtolackinthiscase,by any imagination, of not havingtheexperts.Theyare available.”
Pushforanswers
Adriana Younge was reportedmissingonApril23 while on an outing with family at the Double Day International Hotel and Bar in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. Despite searches made of the pool and sectionsofthehotel,shewas not found until her body mysteriouslyturnedupinthe pool hours later Her family strongly believes she was murdered, although a post-
mortem examination concluded she died by drowning.
Dr Todd, who recently replaced attorney Darren Wade as the family's lead counsel, is taking swift action to move the case forward. “I will make a formal request for the preliminary autopsy report tomorrow (Wednesday). I have a confirmed meeting with the Commissioner of PoliceandtheCrimeChief,I am meeting them with the family,”hedisclosed.
He criticised the lack of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d communication from the authorities handling the investigation.“Ibelievethat, well, from the conduct from the Police Commissioner and the Crime Chief, they never held a press conference and they did not come out and speak. And I would think we owe the public an explanation for certain things.And there are thingsthatIbelievefromthe meeting I will be able to disclose. And so, I will be preparedtofacethemeeting
andtospeak.BecauseIdon't want to say that the police did not do X, Y, Z when in fact,wedidn'tconfirmthat,”
Dr Toddsaid.
Concernsoverpolice investigation
According to Dr Todd, key questions remain unanswered regarding the scopeandcompetencyofthe investigation “The challengeherewiththiscase is that the police force has notoutrightlysaywhoforms part of the investigative team. We don't know what wasdone.Alotofthingswe are speculating,” he pointed out. He added that part of his inquiry will focus on the
forensicprotocolsusedatthe scene. “Did we have any forensic persons on the ground? Were they able to take any samples? Even though the place was destroyed by the fire, there aresomethingsyoucanstill get,”heexplained. D r T o d d a l s o emphasised the need for internationalcollaborationif local authorities lack the tools or expertise. He said that if the police cannot gather samples and take evidence from them, they mustinviteexpertswhohave the technology He said, “I don't want to say that the policeforcehasnotreached
(Continuedonpage23)
Attorney at law Dr. Dexter Todd
Robust monitoring, measurement systems needed to track impact of petroleum activities on local resources
In the absence of baseline data, Guyanese scholar, Dr UlricTrotz,saidthereisa need for the country to i m p l e m e n t r o b u s t monitoring and measuring systems to track the impact ofpetroleumactivities.
Dr Trotz studied Chemistry at Edinburgh University in Scotland, where he later graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours Degree. He went on to achieve a Doctorate in Chemistry (organic) and was promoted to lecturer of the Chemistry DepartmentattheUniversity of Guyana (UG), which he helpedtoestablish.
Thescientistappearedon Sunday's episode of a monthly programme, 'Nation Building- Guyana 2030 and Beyond'. Senior journalist attached to Kaieteur News, Davina Bagot, participated as a cohost on the show alongside
Dr DavidSingh. Dr Trotzpointedoutthat a number of assessments have been conducted to assess the amount to inform the nation on how the environment could be impactedby2030,asaresult of the growing petroleum industry
“The question of petroleumuseisthebigissue that we address when dealingwithclimatechange. There is a lot of work done on that, I would call the generic issue that climate change, what impact it would have in Guyana, for instance, on weather patterns, our agriculture, etc.”According to him, “Thereisalotofinformation that is generated that is available at this point in time. We publish now a specific report, previously it used to be a climate impact on Latin America and the Caribbean,butourscientific group has developed to the
extent that we now have our own separate specific report.”
While this is at the generic level, Dr Trotz explained that the more specific issue about operationsinGuyanaandthe hazards the country faces as a result, it can only draw fromtheexperienceofother oil-producingstates.
Meanwhile, Dr David Singh also pointed to the importance
informationtothepublic,so thatthedatacouldbeusedto participate effectively in certainengagements.
Dr Trotzpointedoutthat Guyana,unfortunately,lacks baseline information for sectors such as its fisheries industry and highlighted the need for such systems to be implemented.
“Oneofourdrawbacksis that we are starting, unfortunately, from a positionwherewedon'thave enough of what we call
baseline information about thestatus,forinstance,ofour fisheries, about the status of several of our natural resources That baseline information (is) so that overtime,ifwehaveinplace, andIdon'tthinkwehavethat in place as yet, the proper m e a s u r e m e n t a n d monitoring facilities, so that wecanseewhatchangesare takingplaceoveraperiodof time and I think this is something that we need the Science and Technology
communitytobeatthehead of,”Dr Trotzexplained.
The former lecturer emphasised that such systems will allow the countrytonotonlytrackand measure these factors, but also draw informed conclusions.
Throughout his career Dr TrotzservedasManager of the Regional Project Implementation Unit based in Barbados for the first climate change programme, the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC); Director of the Commonwealth ScienceCouncilandScience A d v i s o r t o t h e Commonwealth Secretary General in London and held several other titles at other prestigiousorganisations.
In1984,hewasawarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement by the Government of Guyana for his services to Guyana in ScienceandTechnology
President Ali hands over 5000 new body cameras to Police Force -toaidaccountability,traceabilityincrimefight
President Irfaan Ali handed over 5,000 new body cameras to the GuyanaPoliceForceonTuesdayas part of the government's efforts to modernisepoliceoperations.
This adds to the 800 body cameras already in operation within the Force. Officers nationwidewillsoonbegintraining to use and integrate the new equipmentintotheirduties.
The President said the cameras will boost transparency and accountability, promote traceability, and enhance service delivery
The cameras are dustproof and waterproof up to six feet, with a storage capacity of 256 gigabytes. The cameras can be used for up to ten hours with extended battery packs.
Theywillbeintegratedintothe police force's national security network via Wi-Fi, LTE, and 4G cellularconnections,ensuringrealtimeaccessanddatatransmission.
President Ali stated that the devices would ensure traceability "Traceability of behaviour and conductfromthecitizenryandalso from the police There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for members of the Guyana Police Force—ourmenandwomeninthe field—not being equipped with these cameras when carrying out theirdutiesandresponsibilities."
According to the president, the governmentisfocusedonworking with the police force to improve capacity and capability, as well as
training and upskilling its human resources.
"I want to assure you that we will continue to work with the Guyana Police Force in a way in which the experience between the citizenry and the Guyana Police Forcecanbedevelopedintooneof trust and confidence, and one in which we support each other with the primary objective of keeping
our citizens and our country safe; ensuring that those who are experiencing the beauty of our country can do so in a safe environment."
By enhancing capacity and i n v e s t i n g i n s e c u r
y improvements, the government aims to strengthen public confidenceinthenation'ssafety
The president explained that
President Irfaan Ali flanked Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Andre Ally; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner Ravindradat Budram; and other key security personnel during the presentation.
safety should not be measured solely by enforcement efforts, but should also be evident in daily interactions among citizens, particularlyontheroadways.
He also reminded that the installation of speed monitoring cameras on the highway was done to minimise human error and to allow for technology-led enforcement,supportedbyofficers inbackendmonitoringroles.
"All our roadways, within the comingyear,willbeequippedwith those cameras and a full backup system that will have limited humaninterference.”
Additionally, he explained that in the approaching months, more mobile stations equipped with the
necessary resources will be placed along highways for faster responses to traffic violations, accidents, and criminal activities. To further promote enhanced security and safety, the president stressed that surveillance screens willbeinstalledathotspotsaround the country to support proactive crime prevention and response efforts.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Andre Ally, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, Deputy Commissioner RavindradatBudram,andotherkey security personnel were at the presentation.
The body cameras which were handed over by the Pres. Ali on Monday
(Left) Dr. Ulric Trotz sharing remarks during an episode of ‘Nation Building- Guyana 2030 and Beyond’
MandrownsinLinden swimmingpool
The motionless body of Henry Gardner found at the bottom of the Toucan Mall pool.
A 6 9 - y e a r - o l d
maintenance worker of Toucan Mall in Amelia's Ward, Linden, was found dead in the facility's pool Tuesdaymorning.
The deceased has been identified as Henry Gardner, who resided at the Toucan Mall, located at Toucan Drive,Amelia'sWard.
According to a police statement, Gardner drowned between20:00hrsonMonday and07:20hrsonTuesday
Preliminary inquiries revealed that around 20:00 hours, Gardner, along with the 67-year-old owner of the mall, conducted routine checks around the premises.
“The owner claimed he left thedeceasedatthepoolarea,” policesaid. However,around 07:20hrs,Gardner'sbodywas discovered in the pool, and thematterwasreportedtothe police.
Police said the body was removed from the pool and
examined, which showed no marks of violence. The body ofthedeceasediscurrentlyat the Pensioner Funeral home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, CCTV footage has shown that on Monday evening, Gardner entered the pool and began swimming toward the oppositeend.Hismovements initially appeared normal However, as he approached the far side of the pool, he suddenly began moving frantically,splashinghisarms rapidly with his head submerged.
Momentslater,hebecame motionless and sank to the bottomofthepool.
Afollow-up video posted by Joel M. Cole on Tuesday morning showed that Gardner'sbodywasstillatthe bottom of the pool around 7:00hrshrs.
Investigations are ongoing
Man wanted for murder of clothes vendor
TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) issued a wanted bulletin on Tuesday for 29year-old Calvin Daly for the murder of clothes vendor Datson Davidson called “Blackie.”
Daly, of Lot 23 Cocorite Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, is wanted for themurderofDavidson,who was fatally shot on May 1, 2025, at Cocorite and Freeman Streets, East La Penitence.
Anyone with information onthewhereaboutsofDalyis asked to contact the nearest policestation.TheGPF,inits initialrelease,hadstatedthat theyhadarrested33-year-old Colwin Marcurius, a shop owner of Freeman Street, for themurder
It was reported that Marcurius and Davidson were known to each other According to the police, Davidsonwasshotandkilled around20:45hoursduringan argument he had with the accused.
The police reported that persons nearby recalled hearing loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots. Shortly after, Davidson was discovered lying motionless. Emergency Medical Techniciansweresummoned, andhewaspronounceddead.
Clerk on $600k bail for allegedly stealing over $1.3M from employer
Aformer clerk of BeaconRotiwas p l a c e d o n $600,000 bail on Tuesday when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court for allegedly stealing over$1.3millionoveratwomonthperiod.
Theaccused,19-year-old Serena Samuels of Goed Intent,WestBankDemerara (WBD), was charged last year with embezzlement of over $1.4 million from the same employer She was charged with 12 counts of embezzlement.
However, when she returnedtocourtonTuesday, theprosecutiontoldthecourt that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that the 12 initial charges be withdrawn.
Samuelsappearedbefore
Acting Chief Magistrate FaithMcGusty,whoreadthe new indictable charges, which alleged that between March14andApril2,2024, while working at Beacon Roti located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, she stoleover$1.3M.
It was reported that Samuelswasresponsiblefor managingthebusiness'petty cash and daily sales takings whenshereportedlyusedthe business' money for her personaluse.
According to the police, Samuelsfailedtosubmitthe required daily cash reports, prompting the business owner to conduct an audit.
The audit revealed that $1,451,360wasmissingand unaccounted for Following the discovery, a report was made, and Samuels was arrested.
Additionally, the police said that Samuels confessed to stealing the money and promisedtorepayit.
Meanwhile, Magistrate McGusty informed Samuels that the $600,000 bail that wasgrantedintheinitialcase
could be transferred only if the person who posted the bailagrees.
The Magistrate said that failure to obtain the consent ofthepersonwhopostedthe initial bail would result in Samuelsbeingremanded.
In response, Samuels told the court that she does notknowthewhereaboutsof the person who posted her bail but will try to make contact Samuels is scheduled to return to court onMay23,2025.
Serena Samuels at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court
45Int'lforensicexperts...
Frompage13
outtoanyone.Itwillbeveryill-advisedformetosaythat.But these are questions, I believe that the family members have share,butnoonehasbeenabletosaytothemwhatiswhat.”
He stressed that because of police silence in the case, misinformation is being disseminated in the public “Irrespective of us saying that an international body should come and investigate this matter, it doesn't take away the fact thatthatwestillhaveaCommissionerofPolice,westillhavea CrimeChief.Andbylaw,thosearethetwopeoplewhomustbe able to give us answers in relation to this investigation, and I mustholdthemaccountable,”Dr Toddsaidfirmly Possibilityofsecondautopsy
There had been initial discussions about conducting a second autopsy by renowned Trinidadian pathologist Dr HubertDaisley Althoughthefamilylaterdecidedagainstthis, Dr.Todd revealed that the case is still open to further forensic scrutiny “It is possible, and I can tell you, it looks as though we're heading down the line of having some reviews of the autopsy,”hesaid.“Thereisalotofdiscomfort.Iamnotplacing any aspersions on those experts. As I said, there are some concerns that they raise, and we're trying to see if we can get that.Andfromthereview,iftherecommendationisthatshould be done, then that will be definitely can be put forward to the authorities.”
Dr Toddconfirmedthathisfullassessmentofthecasewill becompletedbyThursday
Israel has turned 70% of Gaza into no-go zones, in maps
(ALJAZEERA) Israel has restricted Palestinians' accessto70percentofGaza, either by declaring large areas as no-go zones or issuing forced displacement orders, according to the UnitedNationsOfficeforthe C o o r d i n a t i o n o f Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
In southern Gaza, much of Rafah governorate has been declared a no-go zone, placed under forced displacement orders by the Israeli military since late March. In the north, nearly all of Gaza City is under similar orders, with only small pockets in the northwest still exempt Entire areas east of the
‘No
Shujayea neighbourhood and along the Israeli border have been declared a restrictedzone.
Israel's Gaza occupation plan
On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahusaidGaza'smore than two million people “will be moved” in a new ground offensive that will involve Israeli troops holding on to seized territory, establishing a “sustained presence” in Gaza This follows the unanimous approval by Netanyahu's cabinet to call up 60,000 reservists and place the Israeli military in control of delivering food and other essential supplies
population.
Israel prioritising territorial control
Reporting from Deir elBalah, in central Gaza, Al JazeeracorrespondentTareq A
d Palestinians view the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza andreoccupationofmuchof its territorial landscape as a
punishment and an attempt to change the demographic and political map of Gaza.
Many P
nians
understand that Israel is prioritisingterritorialcontrol over any political solution, and many shared their fear and panic regarding the possibility of not being able
toreturntotheirhomes.
They also believe that Israel is trying not just to dismantle the military capabilities of Hamas, as t
d
Netanyahu have stated, but theyarealsotryingtoempty Gaza of its residents and to suffocate civilians Israel will do this by using humanitarian language alongside military tactics, including an expanded ground offensive and tightening its grip on the flowofaidtoGaza
But there was a general and clear sentiment of defiance among many Palestinians.Socialmediais filled with messages of
resilience and people saying they will not leave Gaza, whateverthecost.
Gaza facing ‘extreme risk of famine’
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) saysGazaisfacing“extreme riskoffamine”withnofood remaininginmarketsandaid distribution centres. Israeli
human rights group B'Tselem has accused Israel of “using starvation as a methodofwarfare”inGaza.
Half of those being starved by Israel are children, the prominentrightsgroupsaid.
“[On] the nutritional front, the population is facingonceagainanextreme risk of famine,” the PRCS said in its latest situation
update.
“There is an inability to meet even the minimum dailyneedsofoveramillion displaced people,” it said. The PRCS's food stocks allocated for displaced people are now “completely depleted”, with “limited quantitiesoflegumes”being “distributed to community kitchenstocoversomeofthe basic needs of displaced individuals”.
Since Israel broke the nearly two-month-long ceasefire with Hamas on March 18, its military has killed at least 2,459 Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the total number of confirmed killed in the besiegedStripto52,567.
food when I gave birth’: Malnutrition rises in Gaza as Israeli blockade enters third month
( B B C N E W S )
Sometimes in war it is the smallestsoundthatcanmake theloudeststatement.
In Gaza's Nasser hospital, a five-month-old girl struggles to cry Siwar Ashour is hoarse. Her voice has been robbed of the energytofullycommunicate her distress She cannot absorb regular formula milk and doctors say the Israeli blockade now in its third monthmeanssuppliesofthe food she needs are scarce. Siwarsoundsasiftheweight of the war is pressing down on her lungs. Her mother Najwa, 23, is changing Siwar's nappy She weighs just over 2kg (4lb 6oz). A baby girl of five months should be around or over 6kg.
"Therewasnofoodwhen I gave birth to her," says Najwa. "If I wanted to feed myself so I could breastfeed her, I had no nutrients to makemyhealthbetter...She now only drinks formula milk,andwedon'tknowhow we'llbeabletoprovideitfor her " Israel has banned international journalists fromenteringGazatoreport independently
A local BBC colleague filmed the unmistakable signs of advanced malnutrition on Siwar's body. The head that seems fartoobigforherframe.The stick-likearmsandlegs.The ribspressingagainstherskin when she tries to cry The largebrowneyesthatfollow her mother's every small
movement. Najwa worries about what will happen when she must leave the hospital "The hospital provided with great difficulty some milk for her, they searched all of the hospitalsbuttheycouldonly find it in one. They told me that they will give me one bottle when we leave, but it is barely enough for four days.Herfatherisblindand he can't provide a bottle of milk for her, and even if we found it, it would be expensive, and he doesn't work."According to Siwar's doctor, Ziad al-Majaida, it was her second stay in the hospital She was back
because of the border closure, the stocks have run out for a while now." The hospital is trying to find more supplies but Siwar is weak and suffering from constantdiarrhoea.
"Ifshestayslikethis,her life will be in danger, but if her milk or treatment were provided, then her state would improve," says Dr Majaida Since the beginning of the year, according to the UN, about 10,000 cases of acute malnutritionamongchildren have been identified. Food prices have rocketed by as much as 1,400%. Charity kitchens,whichhavehelped
Alocal BBC colleague filmed unmistakable signs of advanced malnutrition on baby Siwar's body
hospital is located, our journalist visited a kitchen
Siwar's mother, Najwa, is struggling to find the right kind of formula milk her baby needs to survive
because of the shortage of milk formula. "Nothing enters through the borders, no milk, food or anything. This leads to big problems here for the kids. This baby needsaspecifictypeofmilk. It was available before, but
hundreds of thousands of Gazans, are shutting as food supplies run out. Twentyfive bakeries supported by the World Food Programme havebeenforcedtoclose.
In the southern city of Khan Younis, where Nasser
run by Shabab Gaza (Gaza Youth), which delivers food directly to families. Enough for a meal a day per family
The head of the charity, MohammadAbu Rjileh, 29, said three of their four kitchens had closed due to
lack of supplies. Looting by criminal gangs, and by desperate civilians has deepened the supply crisis.
"Many of the organisations that support us had their warehouses looted. Instead
of having enough ingredients to cook 10,000 mealsdaily-ingredientsthat were expected to last us an additionalweekor10dayswe now have enough for only one or two days. If no immediate solution is implementedandtheborders are not opened as soon as possible,wewillbeforcedto stopcooking."
Israel cut off all humanitarian aid and other supplies from entering Gaza on2March,andresumedits militaryoffensivetwoweeks later, saying it was putting pressureonHamastorelease the 59 hostages the group is stillholdinginGaza,upto24 of whom are still thought to bealive.TheUnitedNations has said the Israeli blockade
collective punishment" on civilians.
The UN's humanitarian director, former British diplomat Tom Fletcher, said that international law was unequivocal "As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in... Aid, and the civilianlivesitsaves,should never be a bargaining chip," hewarned.Iputthispointto Boaz Bismuth, a leading member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likudparty.Hedeniesthere isanaidcrisiscausedbythe blockade. "There is food in Gaza... Israel wouldn't do such a restriction if the population didn't have food. I mean, I know my country perfectlywell,"hesaid. IputittoBismuththathe wasdenyingtheevidenceof people's eyes, that children werestarving."Therearenot starvingchildren.Irepeat (Continueonpage25)
Health inequities are shortening lives by decades
(PAHO) A global report published by the World HealthOrganization(WHO) highlights that the underlying causes of ill health often stem from factors beyond the health sector,suchaslackofquality housing, education and job opportunities.
ThenewWorldreporton socialdeterminantsofhealth equity shows that such determinants can be responsible for a dramatic reduction of healthy life expectancy— sometimes by decades—in high- and lowincome countries alike. For example, people in the country with the lowest life expectancywill,onaverage, live 33 years shorter than those born in the country with the highest life expectancy. The social determinants of health equitycaninfluencepeople's health outcomes more than genetic influences or access tohealth-care.
“Ourworldisanunequal one. Where we are born, grow, live, work and age significantly influences our health and well-being,” said WHO Director-General Dr T e d r o s A d h a n o m Ghebreyesus. “But change for the better is possible. ThisWorld report illustrates theimportanceofaddressing the interlinked social determinants and provides evidence-based strategies a n d p o l i c y recommendations to help countries improve health outcomesforall.”
The report underscores that inequities in health are closely linked to degrees of social disadvantage and
levels of discrimination
Health follows a social gradient whereby the more deprived the area in which people live, the lower their incomes are and they have fewer years of education, poorer health, with less number of healthy years to live. These inequities are exacerbated in populations that face discrimination and marginalization. One of the vivid examples is the fact that Indigenous Peoples have lower life expectancy
than non-Indigenous Peoples in high- or lowincomecountriesalike.
Social injustice driving inequities
The World report on socialdeterminantsofhealth equity is the first of its kind published since 2008 when the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health released its final report laying out targets for 2040 for reducing gaps between and within countries in life expectancy, childhood and maternal mortality. The 2025 World report, shows that these targets are likely to be missed.
Although data is scarce, there is sufficient evidence toshowthathealthinequities within countries are often widening. WHO data cites that children born in poorer countries are 13 times more likelytodiebeforetheageof 5thaninwealthiercountries. Modelling shows that the lives of 1.8 million children annually could be saved by closing the gap and enhancing equity between the poorest and wealthiest sectors of the population
within low- and-middleincomecountries.
The report shows that while there was a 40% declineinmaternalmortality globally between 2000 and 2023, low- and lowermiddle-income countries still account for 94% of maternaldeaths.
W o m e n f r o m disadvantaged groups are more likely to die from pregnancy-relatedcauses.In many high-income countries, racial and ethnic inequities in maternal death ratespersist,forexample,in some areas Indigenous women were up to three times more likely to die duringchildbirth.
There are also strong associations between higher levels of gender inequality, including child marriage, and higher maternal mortalityrates.
Situation in the Americas
The report shows that Latin America and the Caribbean remain the Region with the highest levels of inequality in the world. The pandemic deepened this situation: In 2020 the regional economy contracted by 7 percent the steepest decline in 120 years— with millions of people losing income and social protection.
These economic shocks translate directly into higher levelsofavoidablemortality and morbidity, due to deteriorating conditions of employment (for example, morethan60%ofworkersin Latin America and the Caribbean work in the informal sector), housing,
Canada is "not for sale...
Frompage21 anything to persuade him to lifttariffs.
“No,"hereplied."It'sjust the way it is." "This was a very friendly conversation," he added. "But we want to makeourowncars."
Trumponceagainargued that the US was subsidising Canada'smilitaryanddidnot needCanadiangoodssuchas aluminiumandsteel.
He said he and Carney woulddiscuss"toughpoints" at their meeting, but “regardless of anything, we'regoingtobefriendswith Canada”.
Trump also criticised his visitor's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, with whom he had anadversarialrelationship.
Still, he said the meeting with Carney was in stark contrast to another recent Oval Office "blow-up" - a referencetoadisastrousvisit from Ukrainian President
Volodomyr Zelensky in February
At a later news conference at the Canadian embassy in Washington DC, Carney said that he "pressed thecase"toTrumponlifting tariffs, and found him to be "willing to have that negotiation".
"I think that's the main thing That doesn't presuppose the outcome of the negotiation," Carney added. "There'll be zigs and zags. Difficult aspects to it. Buttheprospectisthere."
Carney did not speculate on timing, saying only that both leaders and their teams would speak again in the comingweeks.
Additionally, Carney said he again asked that Trump stop calling for CanadatobecomeaUSstate. He added that he believes it important to distinguish between"wishandreality".
and migratory processes, among others. The report also highlights that these effects are compounded by structural racism and the enduring legacy of colonialism, which continue to exert a significant negative impact on health and life expectancy, particularly for Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations.
The report reveals that those Latin American cities that have employed a participatory approach to budget allocation for housing, green spaces, and transportation, have also seenpositiveeffectsonboth health and social cohesion, when it comes to tackling some of these social determinants.
Breaking the cycle
WHO emphasizes that measures to address income inequality, structural discrimination, conflict and climate disruptions are key to overcoming deep-seated health inequities. Climate change, for example, is estimated to push an additional 68–135 million people into extreme poverty overthenext5years.
Currently, 3 8 billion people worldwide are deprived of adequate social protectioncoverage,suchas child/paid sick leave benefits, with direct and lastingimpactontheirhealth outcomes High debt burdens have been crippling the capacity of governments to invest in these services, with the total value of interest payments made by the world's 75 poorest countries increasing fourfold over the past decade.
WHOcallsforcollective action from national and local governments and leaders within health, academia, research, civil society,alongsidetheprivate sectorto:
address economic inequality and invest in social infrastructure and universalpublicservices; overcome structural discrimination and the determinantsand impacts of conflicts, emergencies and forcedmigration; manage the challenges and opportunities of climate action and the digital transformation to promote health equity co-benefits;
and promote governance arrangements that prioritise
determinants of health
ossg
m
nt po
icy platforms and strategies, allocatingmoney,powerand resources to the most local level where it can have g
, and empowering community engagement and civil society
SituationintheAmericas InresolutionWHA74.16 (2021), the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly requested the WHO Director-General to prepare an updated report on the social determinants of health,theirimpactonhealth and health equity, progress made so far in addressing them, and recommendations for further action This World report on social determinants of health equityprovidesanupdateto the conclusion of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health in 2008 which stated that “social injustice kills on a grandscale”.
‘No food when I gave birth...
“He's the president. He's his own person," Carney said. "He understands that we're having a negotiation betweensovereignnations."
DuringCanada'selection campaign, Carney argued he was the leader that could fight Trump's "betrayal", as wellaspushbackagainstUS threats to Canada's economy andsovereignty
Inhisvictoryspeech,the Liberal leader went as far as tosaythattheformerlytight US-Canadian relationship
was "over" and that
C a n a d i a n s m u s t "fundamentally re-imagine our economy" in the Trump era More than $760bn (£570bn) in goods flowed betweenCanadaandtheUS last year Canada is the US' second-largest individual
Mexico, and the largest exportmarketforUSgoods
Frompage24 again."Hesaidthatthere hadbeenallegationsmonths ago of famine, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza "which was crap" "Nothinghasreallychanged becausewe'reIsrael,andwe obey not only international law, but also humanitarian law." “What we want is our hostages back and Hamas out of Gaza.The war can be over in exactly 30 seconds." Israel has long accused Hamas of hijacking aid, whichHamasdenies.
The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, based in the occupied West Bank, recentlyclaimedmostofthe looting was being done by gangs associated with Hamas. He also called the movement "sons of dogs" anddemandedthereleaseof Israeli hostages Hamas
responded by saying Abbas "repeatedlyandsuspiciously laystheblameforthecrimes oftheoccupation[Israel]and its ongoing aggression on our people". Without being abletoenterGazaandreport independently, it is difficult to investigate the unfolding events. Violent criminal gangs have been heavily implicated in stealing aid. Hamas is threatening violence against groups and individuals it accuses of theft. Two people were shot outsideanUnrwawarehouse but it is not clear who killed them. A local activist who was present blamed Hamas.
"Hamas is hoarding food, depriving the hungry population of food, and selling food at very high prices.
Thepopulationprotested and demanded that the food be distributed or they would
takeitbyforce.Hamasfired live ammunition at the hungry," said Moumen alNatour, a lawyer and protest leader
Allofthisishappeningin the context of a growing hungerandthebreakdownin order that has accompanied thewarandblockade.
The Israeli cabinet has approvedanescalationofthe militaryoffensiveinGaza.It says it aims to destroy Hamas - a goal that has provedelusiveforthelast19 monthsofwar Therearealso reports that Israel plans to use private security companies to oversee the distribution of aid in Gaza, althoughnodateforthishas been made public The United Nations and major aid agencies have described this as a politicisation of aid with which they will refuse toco-operate.
Ronaldo's son gets first Portugal Under-15s call-up
BBC Sport - Cristiano's Ronaldo's eldest son has been called up to the Portugal Under-15s squad for the first time. The 14year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia with his father, who signed for the Pro League clubinDecember2022.
Portugal great Ronaldo, 40,postedapictureonsocial media of his son's name on the national team squad list along with the message, "Proud of you, son"
Ronaldo Jr has been called up for a youth tournament,
external in Croatia between 13-18 May, with Portugal
scheduled to play Japan, GreeceandEngland.
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo Sr is still a Portugal international and has scored 136 goals for his country - a world record in men's football.The 40-yearold captained Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016, although he had to agonisingly watch the majorityofthefinalfromthe sidelines after suffering an injuryinthe25th-minute.
Ronaldo also led his national side to the Nations Leaguetitlein2019.
In March, Ronaldo scored but missed a penalty asPortugaldramaticallybeat Denmark to reach the NationsLeaguesemi-finals.
Wednesday May 07, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Passionandromanceareinthe air, so make the most of the great atmosphere! Everyone seemstobeinafestivemood. You feel close to others and feelprofoundgratitudeforthe lovedonesinyourlife.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
You may receive some upsetting news from a family member today It could have you reeling for a moment,but whenyoutakethetimetothink about it some more you'll realize that things aren't as troublingastheyfirstseemed
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Youmustweighyourphysical limitationswithyourdesireto get everything done, Gemini. You run the risk of wearing yourself out and getting sick justasyoufinishyourtasks.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Todayyoucouldrealizethata friend is actually your soul mate, Cancer You've been spendingalotoftimetogether attending social events, and you've come to realize how much you look forward to eachother'scompany
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Youmayfeelatoddswiththe restoftheworldnow,Leo,as youyearnforsomequiettime alone. See if you can find a balance between spending time with your family and timealone.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Youhaveawarmandsensitive nature, Virgo, and today you could be feeling especially tuned in to the feelings of others.Romanceisverymuch onyourmind,asareallthings sensual.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Thismaybeatrickyday,Libra, as you feel the pull of conflicting demands and desires. On the one hand, you feel obligated to your career and fulfilling the demands of youremployer
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
It doesn't seem fair that your workload has increased these last few days Never mind that youstillhaveallofyournormal tasks to do, your boss expects youtofinalizeanewbudgetand writeaproposalaswell?
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
You've been extremely busy these past few months, working extra hours at the office, then going out with friendslateatnight.Thissortof behaviorisknownas"burning thecandleatbothends,"andit rarelyhasahappyending.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Expect today's planetary energies to raise your social consciousness,Capricorn.You may be distracted with thoughts of the homeless person you saw today, or the television special you saw on babieswithAIDS.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
You may be asked to swallow your pride and give in to someoneelse'swilltoday This will be difficult for you to do. Try to concentrate on your good reasons for obedience, and work out your frustration bytakingabriskwalk.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
The planetary energy makes this a good day for contemplation rather than action, Pisces. If you feel the urgetobuy,don't.
in a season during his time withItaliangiantsJuventus.
He played alongside WayneRooney'sson,Kai,in
Manchester United when Ronaldo Sr returned for a secondstintatOldTrafford.
Videos of the teenager striking Ronaldo Sr's iconic 'Siu' celebration have gone
viral while playing for AlNassr.Althoughhehasbeen called-up by Portugal's under-15 side for next
RonaldoJrisalsoeligibleto playforhiscountryofbirththe United States - or Spain due to residency when his father turned out for Real Madrid.
The ex-Manchester United forward has four other children - twins Eva andMateo,7,AlanaMartina, 7,andBella,3.
RonaldoJr'scareersofar
RonaldoJr'syouthcareer has played out in tandem with his father's journey around the world - featuring in the academies of Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United and AlNassr Reports claim, external he scored 58 goals
Yorke urges...
Frompage27 equipped and ready to go," headded.
Since taking charge last November, Yorke pointed out that he has seen measurable progress in the s q u a d , t h o u g h h e acknowledged that there is still a long way to go. He extended gratitude to the TTFA and government for their continued support and called on the private sector and the general public to play a larger role in the team'sjourney
"We're seeing what football brings to this country
It unifies the country Football has been on the decline for a number of years, but I genuinely believe we have an outstanding chance to take this team to the top," Yorke declared.
“It's not about me; it's abouttheteam,it'saboutthe country and getting the support in every aspect we can. If we can do that, I am sure the players will be uplifted and encouraged enough to perform at their highest levels. It is a level I pridemyselfon,"theformer Manchester United striker ended.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his son are both at AlNassr. (Getty Images)
Windward Islands Women edge Trinidad and Tobago in tense low-scoring clash at T20 Blaze
SportsMax - The Windward Islands Women held their nerve to secure a gritty three-wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago in a low-scoring contest on Monday at the Arnos Vale Ground in the ongoing CWI T20Blaze.
Chasing a modest target of 73, the Windwards recovered from a shaky start—losing their top four batters for just 10 runs—to reach73-7in18.2overs.The run chase was anchored by Carena Noel, who topscoredwith25from37balls, and wicketkeeper Earnisha Fontaine,whoseunbeaten11 off 30 balls provided the calm presence required to guidehersidehome.
Trinidad and Tobago's veteran spinner Anisa Mohammed made early inroads, finishing with impressive figures of 3-12 fromherfourovers.Shewas well supported by Steffie Soogrim,whoclaimed2-13, and Samara Ramnath, who added another wicket in her 3.2tidyovers.
Earlier, Trinidad and Tobago Women struggled withthebatafterbeingputin to bat first. Only Britney Cooper (20* off 46 balls) managed to provide any resistance in a laboured innings that closed at 72-8 from their 20 overs. The Windward Islands bowling attack was relentless, led by Selena Ross, who returned
figures of 2-5 from her four overs, including two maidens.
Zaida James (2-9) and Afy Fletcher (2-10) also played key roles in stifling thescoring,asnobatterother than Cooper managed to reach double figures until lateintheinnings.
The Windwards' clinical performancewiththeballset the tone for their eventual triumph, despite a scare in thechase.Thewinmarksan important bounce-back for the team as they continue their campaign in the T20 Blaze, while Trinidad and Tobagowillbelefttoreflect onamissedopportunityina match dominated by the bowlers.
Guyana men's basketball team set for French Guiana tour
Guyana's senior men's basketballteamwilltravelto FrenchGuianafromMay21 – 26, as part of the South
American territory's “Guyana Day” celebrations; a weeklong showcase of Guyanese culture through arts, entertainment, and sports.
The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has welcomed the rare opportunity to compete in French Guiana, a territory that does not participate in the Caribbean Basketball
Confederation (CBC) tournaments.
Outside of the InterGuiana Games, matches between the two nations at the senior level have been infrequent, and according to the GBF, the upcoming tour isasignificantmilestonefor thenationalprogramme.
Led by Head Coach
National Basketball team coach, Adrian Hooper.
Powerlifter Brisport-Luke supports Brisport-Luke Providence Dominoes team
Po w e r l i f t e r FranklynBrisportLukehasrendered assistance to Providence Dominoes club which is set to participate in the upcoming Prime Minister's tournament slated for Linden.
Brisport-Luke presented a quantity of jerseys to the captain of the team, Sean Davis at a simple ceremony held recently at Double D Sportsbar,Bagotstown.
Davis expressed gratitude to Brisport-Luke and expressed confidence of doing well in the muchanticipatedtournament.
The tournament was slated for Sunday last, but has been postponed to May 18thatShanghairesidence.
Sean Davis (right) accepts the jerseys from Franklyn Brisport-Luke in the presence of his team mate Marson Beaton.
Brisport-Luke,whoisan International Athlete and Official and represented Guyana with flying colours, said he is delighted to contribute to the club at this timeandwishedthemwell.
St. Cloud State University's Anish Ramlall will make his Guyana National team debut.
experience with emerging talent.
According to Hooper, whilethisparticulartour (continueonpage28)
He added that he is willing to assist them in the future.
AdrianHooperandAssistant Coach Marlon Rodriguez, the team represents a carefully selected national squad, aimed at balancing
Anisa Mohammed took three wickets in the losing cause.
