than 65,000 in nearly
...seat allocation by GECOM on RDCs gives no party super majority ...collaboration needed for election of chairman, vice chairman
Wismar/MackenzieBridgecollapse...
Linden Town Council says Govt., NICIL failed to maintain structure Cops fume as acid attacker walks on bail -demandvisitfrom Pres.Ali,AgriMinister Reg. 2 farmers in uproar over spoilt paddy falling rice price,
“It is common for political leaders to fall on their
swords” Trotman on Nigel Hughes’ resignation…
...seat allocation by GECOM on RDCs gives no party super majority ...collaboration needed for election of chairman, vice chairman
With the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) having officially released the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) resultsfromtheSeptember1 elections,ithasbecomeclear that in at least three regions, twoofthemajorpartiesmust unitetoelectachairmanand vice chairman and also pass motionsandothermatters.
As published in the OfficialGazetteonTuesday, the seat allocations for Regions 4, 8 and 10 will forcepartiestonegotiateand form alliances to elect chairpersons and vice chairpersons.
Regions4,8,and10have emerged as the most contested.Intheseareas,the
newly formed We Invest in Nationhood(WIN)party,led by businessman Azruddin M o h a m e d , h o l d s a potentially decisive role. Historically, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) controlledRegions4and10, but this year, WIN’s strong showing has turned over the traditional balance of power betweenthoseregions.
In Region 4 (Demerara Mahaica), the seat tally shows that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)wonapluralitywith 17 seats and 87,028 votes, followed by APNU with 9 seats (46,770 votes) and WIN with 8 seats (41,936 votes).TheForwardGuyana Movement (FGM) captured
General Secretary of PPP/C, Bharrat Jagdeo
1 seat with 2,689 votes. The opposition parties combined hold just one seat more than the PPP/C, meaning PPP/C cannot dominate decisions
G$87B in
ExxonMobil Guyana, on Wednesday, said that it has spentG$87Bduringthefirst halfof2025onlocalcontent. In a statement, the oil giant said that the money was spent directly with 1800 localvendors.
The company also remindedthat70%oftheoil and gas workforce is represented by Guyanese nationals.
“ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors have spent over US$2 9 billion with Guyanese businesses since operations began in 2015.Inthefirsthalfof2025 alone, US$419 million was spent directly with 1,800 local vendors, reinforcing the company’s dedication to local content development
through significant investments in local businesses, workforce training, and communitydevelopmentinitiatives,”the companysaid.
Exxondescribed2025as a significant year that marks the momentousmilestoneof in-country fabrication services at the Vreed-enHoop Shore Base Inc (VEHSI) noting that the fabricationofquadjointsand Pipeline End Terminations
Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana
(PLETs) represent a major step in supporting the development of local industrialcapabilities.
“As of mid-2025, more than 6,200 Guyanese are employed by ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors, making up 70% of the workforce. Notably, one in three employees are Guyanesewomen,and1,800 Guyanese are currently working offshore,” Exxon added.
The company boasted thatthecountry’soilandgas employees have benefitted fromreceivingover370,000 hours of leadership, in several areas including
alone, it will need coalitions tomaintainleadershiporthe opposition can unite to shut outthePPP/C.
technical and professional, health, safety, and security training.
“We are proud of the progress we’ve made in building local talent,” said AlistairRoutledge,President of ExxonMobil Guyana “SeeingmoreGuyanesetake on key roles in the oil-andgas industry is a clear sign that our commitment to c
working,”Routledgesaid.
Additionally,theGuyana Technical Training College Inc (GTTCI) having received financial help from ExxonMobil Guyana, the
Government, is preparing to welcome its first cohort of students, who will be fully trained in Guyana next month.
“ExxonMobil Guyana’s internshipprogrammeisalso yielding results. Of the inaugural class, five interns have already been hired by the company The 2025 internship programme is
y, continuing to provide
opportunities for young Guyanese professionals,” Exxonsaid.
In Region 8 (PotaroSiparuni), the results reveal aneventighterrace.Boththe PPP/C and the WIN party secured 7 seats each, while APNUmanagedtowinjust1 seat The vote totals were approximately 2,847 for PPP/C, 2,558 for WIN, and only253forAPNU.Withno party holding an outright majority, the election of a Regional Chairman will depend on alliances.APNU, holding the balance of power, will now be required toeitheralignwithPPP/Cor WINtodeterminewhotakes control of the region’s leadership.
For Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice),aformer stronghold of APNU, saw a dramatic shift, with them losing to WIN The WIN party won 9 seats with
10,262 votes; APNU followedwith5seats(5,370 votes); PPP/C got 3 seats (4,197), and FGM managed to grab 1 seat (818 votes). Withthesenumbers,WINis the favourite to lead, but again must persuade others toformacoalitionforformal leadership.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, WIN’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed statedthathispartyisopento alliances but had not c o m m i t t e d t o a n y partnership with a specified party at the time He emphasised that whichever party approaches WIN first with cooperation will likely betheonetheyjoin. Hesaid, “Wehaven’thaddiscussions as yet in relation to that. We are good in Region 10 in attaining our chairmanship. Wearestillleadingthere.For Region8,wegottoseewhat APNUwilldoiftheywantto come with us or go with the
PPP For Region 4, APNU didnotreachtous,wedidn’t reach out to them as yet nor did the PPP, so on the way forward with this, we are goingtoseeasitrelatestoif any parties reach out to us andthenwearegoingdecide wheretotakeitfromthere.” Meanwhile, APNU member Ganesh Mahipaul said his party will wait for the swearing in of the RDC councillors before deciding itsstrategy,notingthatthese situationshaveariseninpast electionsand require careful negotiation.
FGM leader Amanza Walton Desir, when contacted for a comment on collaboration, Walton-Desir refused to comment at the time. Meanwhilecontactmade with the Vice President, and Secretary General of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo for a comment on the matter provedfutile.
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
PresidentIrfaanAlibeganhissecondterminofficewith thepromiseofforgingastrongerrelationshipwiththelocal press and committing to greater access to information, an issuethatdoggedhimthroughouthisfirstfiveyears. Hevowedamoretransparent,openpresidency,onethat would give the people's representatives in the media freer rein to ask questions and hold his administration accountable. He said:"...we recognise and respect the essential watchdog role of the media, and we will ensure greater transparency by instituting mechanisms in every ministry and department that provide the facts in a timely way Additionally,andofnolessimportance,wemusthold thosewhoaretaskedwiththedisseminationofinformation accountable for their actions They must be held accountable,also."
ButifTuesday'spressconferencefiascoisanythingtogo by, the President's promise has already stumbled at the starting line. Instead of ushering in an era of greater openness,theeventhasleftthemediafraternitybruisedand thepublicaskingwhethertheOfficeofthePresidentreally understandsthemeaningoffreepressandtransparency
Duringhisfirstterm,PresidentAliwasnodarlingofthe media.Heheldfewerthanfivepressconferences,andwhen corneredbyreportersonthesidelinesofevents,hewasoften testy, combative, and visibly uncomfortable. Yet, to his credit, as time wore on, he matured. By the end of his first five years, he had grown in confidence, his command of statemattershadimproved,andwhenhewascivil,hegave detailed, even impressive responses. That growth held out hopethatinthissecondterm,thePresidentwouldembrace thepressratherthanresistit.
Whichiswhytheheavy-handednessthatwasondisplay on Tuesday is so disappointing. Instead of building on the progress he made, PresidentAli has reached back into the 18th century, dragging out Mr Kit Nascimento as his socalled media czar.With all due respect to Mr Nascimento, his old-fashioned and bizarre approach to media management has no place in a modern democracy Restricting the number of questions, curbing follow-ups, and arbitrarily deciding which media houses are allowed intoapresidentialpressconferenceunderminenotonlythe work of the press, but also the credibility of the President himself.
Itbogglesthemind,whatspecialtalentsorwisdomMr Nascimento, in the twilight of his life, is supposed to be bringingtothisrole.WhatwasevidentonTuesdaywasnot wisdombutchaos.Reporterswerecutoff,respectedmedia outlets were blanked, and the President's own stated commitmenttoopennesswasleftintatters.Iftheideawasto shield the President from uncomfortable questions, then it hashadtheoppositeeffect.Therestrictionscreatedoutrage and suspicion, casting a shadow over everything the Presidentsaid.
Thesituationwasworsenedbythetroublingpracticeof the President's press officer, Suelle Williams, contacting individualreportersdirectlyinsteadofinvitingtheireditors tosendrepresentativesorevensendingthepressinvitation directlytothemediahousesthemselves.Thisisnotonlybad form, it is dangerous. The editor, not the Office of the President,decideswhocoversanevent.
Asisbeingrightlyobserved,thisisnothinglessthanan attempt by government to dictate who covers them and to steer coverage in their favour Such meddling in the independence of the press is unacceptable and must be resistedatallcosts.Thegovernmentdoesnothavetheright todecidewhichreporteramediahousesendsonassignment. Thatisourdecisionalone.
Equally unacceptable was the blatant exclusion of severalwell-establishedandaccreditedmediaentitiesfrom the press conference. When a government cherry-picks which reporters and outlets can ask questions of the President,itunderminestheveryfoundationofafreepress. It signals not transparency, but control; not openness, but censorship.
DearEditor,
Kindly allow me to convey condolences to Mr. Mark Harper, her husband, their children, family, relatives, colleagues, coworkers, friends and thousands of acquaintances for whom the passing of AmbassadorHarperhascast a shroud of sadness; but hidden beneath is a sense of profound happiness, admiration, relief and surrender to a ravaging, incurablecancerousdisease.
Extensive has been the rangeofcommentsdepicting the outstanding and exceptional professionalism which“Lis”embodiedasthe “epitome of public service”. So, it was stated in the eruditetributebythestaffof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation That presentationoffacts,flowof languageandconcisehistory
conveyed in such calm yet compelling conviction, is truly a tribute from her Ministry conveying skill, style and knowledge that Ambassador Harper had successfully imparted to coworkers, for whom she was mentor, and as may need be an understanding but disciplinarian“mother”.
Elisabeth Harper's humanity is wide, deep and all-embracing, and will remain as a golden pillar of the self-less decades of knowledge and care that “Lis” contributed to the formation, growth and development of a public service for which Guyana maytrulybeeternallyproud.
In taking note of other tributes extended to Ambassador Harper, it was striking, and in my view, a healthy feature of our body politic that from across the political aisles, highest
regard and respect, recognition of her genuine breath of appreciation of alternativeviewshadbeenso openlyconveyed.Abovethe fray of political differences, Elisabeth stood tall with a perpetual charming smile in acknowledgement of the dignity of every human person. It was during her years as Director-General of the Ministry, 2001 -2015, when I had the honour to serve as Guyana's AmbassadortotheEuropean Union(EU)andtheAfrican, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) Group of States in Brussels, Belgium that I was able to draw upon “DG's” breath of diplomatic aptitude and brilliant grasp of details in dealing with complex issues to arrive at mutually successful negotiations These often proved successful in securing millions of development
finance from the European Development Fund for the s u g a r s e c t o r a n d construction of sea defences alongourcoastline. With many others, it is with profound gratitude and deepest appreciation I acknowledge an unpayable debt of inspiration, wise counsel and exemplary leadershipoftheMinistryof Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that I bid farewell to our beloved Director-General “Lis”Harper Restineternal peace, my dear Sister, and remain with us in living memory as with our Poet Laureate, Marin Carter, let mesay“Deathmustnotfind usthinkingthatwedie.”
P I.Gomes Ambassador (Retd.) and former Secretary-General, Organisation of African, Caribbean & Pacific States (OACPS).
DearEditor,
Although Guyana was not playing Trinidad and Tobago Tuesday night, one got the feeling from spectators and Guyanese cricketingorganisersthatthe two teams were clashing, and they were cheering for T&T opponents. It was my assessment, as I told friends and family members, that T&Twouldwinhandilyand it did by nine wickets with 2.4overstospare.Beforethe game, almost every Guyanese wanted T&T to lose so that Guyana will not havetofacethatstrongteam inqualifier2shoulditlosein
thefirstqualifierWednesday night. Guyanese spectators feel that Antigua and Barbudawillbeeasypicking inthesecondqualifierandin thefinalwereittoreachthat stage (with Guyana in the finalwithaWednesdaywin). Guyana should sail through WednesdayagainstSt.Lucia becauseithasabetterteam. Every boundary and run scored by Antigua & Barbuda Falcons were cheered by the fans. When Sunil Narine, arguably the bestspinnerinthegameand a record holder for wickets, was clobbered in his final over, there was mas
PresidentAlimustreflectonthisdebacleandrecognise that his promise of improved media relations has already beencompromised.Ifhetrulyintendstoleadagovernment of transparency, then he must reassess the role of Mr Nascimentoinhismediaoperations.ThePresidentneedsno gatekeeperwhomuzzlesthepressonhisbehalf.Heshould welcome tough questions, not avoid them. For it is in the rigorous give-and-take with journalists that the people get answers,andthattheleaderofademocracyearnscredibility
If the President wants to convince the nation that he is serious about openness, then he must ensure that his press briefings are accessible, fair, and free of arbitrary restrictions.Anythinglessisinterference.Anythinglessisa betrayalofthepromisehemadetothepeople.
Mr President,yourrelationshipwiththemediadoesnot need a throwback to colonial-style control. It needs respect for the independence of the press. It needs courage to face questionswithoutfear Anditneedsafirmcommitmentthat theflowofinformationtothepeopleofGuyanawillnotbe filteredthroughoutdated,heavy-handedtactics.
Your first press conference of this term was the worst possiblestart.Nowtheballisinyourcourt.
celebration When Russel went for 19 in his first over, there was jubilation. When the first T&T wicket fell, therewascelebration.When Nicholas Pooran came in to bat, fans felt he was bowled first ball, a spectators' dismissal; the keeper hit the bails when Pooran did not connectforwhatwouldhave beenasix. Andwhenhehita six barely over the rope, there was cheer all around the stands including in the VIPandVVIPstandsthathe wouldbeout;thefielderwas unabletoholdontothecatch over the boundary Clearly, fans feared Pooran, and wantedhimoutquickly.And who won't? Once he gets going, he can single handedlydestroyanyattack. He seems to catch form Tuesday night. He is the leading T20 player, an allroundperformer–-batswell, among best wicket keeper, among best catcher in outfield and close up to a batsman, an accurate thrower of the bowl to the stumps, and a good spare bowlertoo(althoughhedoes not bowl often). He is among the highest paid in franchisecricket.
AsitturnedoutTrinidad Tobago defeated Antigua and Barbuda in the “Eliminator” Tuesday night. So, the loser of Wednesday
night will face off T&T; the odds are in favor of T&T to prevail because of the composition of the team. There could be a GuyanaT&TfinalSundayevening,a re-run from a couple years ago.
RivalrybetweenGuyana and T&T was always very intense,notonlyinsportsbut in culture (music, cuisine, etc ) There was always respect and camaraderie during the pre-colonial days and up until the 1970s when Guyana's economy began to deteriorate, and essential items (mostly food) were banned Guyanese faced intense hardship. They went to Trinidad in droves (those who could not make it to North America and Europe andthosewhocouldnotfitin with life in Suriname or did not want to move to VenezuelaandBrazil).Trinis feltsuperior Fromthe1970s onwards, Guyanese felt violatedingoingtoTrinidad to “hustle” for a living; they were often ill-treated at the airportandinurbanareasbut welcomed in rural areas. Guyanese were great, productive workers especially on farms, construction, and in mechanics. Thousands of Guyanese found spouses in Trinidadandacquired (Continuedonpage5)
DearEditor,
It is troubling and beyond what I describe as a rational understanding, how leaders we assume to be intelligent and rational beings, who declare their interest in the people they wereelectedtoserve,yetdo things contrary to their own bestinterest.
Itismypostulationthatif the leaders everywhere could only learn from lessons history has to offer, we will avoid the many tragic circumstances we see all around us, in this socalledcivilisedworld.
This failure or inability to learn from the very powerfullessonsthathistory offers, has led to the destruction of property, the lostofpreciouslives,andas we see today, the starvation of innocent babies, and children being disfigured mentally and physically for life.Thehorrorsofallthis,is thatthispainandsufferingis endured by innocent childrenandourwomenfolk.
As I remember fifty years ago this very month, incidents of pain and suffering repeating itself in many corners of the globe. Let'sturnthepages,justfifty years ago when I was in active life, in September 1975, Egypt and Israel signed the Sinai Interim Agreement, also known as Sinai II, in Geneva. This agreement established a UN buffer zone in the Sinai and allowed for the further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Sinai Peninsula, a region they had occupied since 1967. It also included provisions for an early warning sy
ian technicians, and reaffirmed thecommitmenttoresolving disputes through peaceful means rather than military force. Yet,justfivedecades on, there is the murderous takingoflivesinthatpartof the world. And no one seen willing to engage in sane, sensible conversations I recall Shakespeare's words
in the play Julius Caesar; men have lost their reason and fled to brutish beast. I pose this question; When willpurportedcivilisedman, becometrulycivilised?
Fifty years ago, this month,theUnitedStateshad to deploy troops for the Boston integration of schools, to avoid the rightwing reaction to that decision.
Today federal troops are being deployed in certain cities to control alleged criminalactivity
Fifty years ago, this month, there was heavy fighting in Beirut, which marked an escalation of the Lebanese Civil War Today, this month, we have the situation in Nepal and elsewhere.
Having lived through, andobservedtheseandother events, I ask dear editor and citizens, when will we take counsel, from our own humanweakness,arrogance, and shear stupidity at the highestlevel.
Frompage4
nationality; several Guyanese were involved in criminalactivities.
Tensions and animosity developed over the years with Tinis complaining that Guyanese took away their jobs and their spouses and spacesatmarkets.
Over the last decade, T&T economy was in the doldrum, producing less energy During this same time, Guyana struck 'gold' (oil explored, found, developed, and extracted by Exxon) and is rapidly becoming wealthy The powerequationhaschanged.
The table has turned –T&T standard of living has been in decline and that of Guyanese is rapidly improving,andGuyaneseno longer feel the need to go to Trinidad (the Miami for Guyanese when it was hard to get visas to North America) for shopping; today Guyanese find
themselves in real Miami, Orlando, and NY and Toronto for vacation and shopping.
Bitterness remains among manty Guyanese of howtheyweretreatedduring the1970sthruthe2010s.
And that bitterness has turned into rivalry in cricket andculture.
Mashramani is no competition to Trinidad's world-famousCarnival.
Thereisnowtalkofhow Guyana produces many times more barrels of oil (thankstoExxonaccelerated production) than T&T; it won't be surprising if Trinidad begins purchasing Guyanese oil as happened from the 1960s thru 2014. And Guyanese business community accuse Trinis of using up their foreign exchange.
Since the discovery of Guyana'senergy,Trinishave become 'more humble' and displaying humility and
Our religious, national, andotherleadersmustpause totalkthingsthrough.Ifthey fail, this constitutes a curse. Whatisthesolution?
Mybeliefiswehavelost more than a generation to materialismandalostofour souls and as been noted before many of our generation see a grey and confused line between what isrightandwrong.Incandid conversations we get the impression that for many folks there is nothing really wrong with an illegal and corrupt transaction provided, as one man told me,wearenotcaught.
This means that if PresidentAliisseriousabout his inauguration statement, he needs to involve both the young and the old to first agree what is acceptable behaviour, and what is unacceptablebehaviour IfI amrightthecampaignhasto begin with a complete overhaul of our education system, where those who teachmustfirstofallhavea thorough and intimate knowledgeofallourhistory, this is an absolute. If we are to prepare the generation in our educational institutions, to be prepared for a swift changing and complex
world. In school primary, secondary and tertiary is the time for students to understandthedynamicsina changingworld.
This letter is merely to wettheappetitetodealwith a serious issue of genuine national development In closing I pose this conundrum; as a youngster we were led to belief in the statement; that the pen is mightier than the sword, beyond all the lecturers and sermons the other epithet; thatmightisright,seemtobe anuncomfortabletruth.Let's beginthedebate.
ElderHamiltonGreen
DearEditor,
Itiswrittenthat“Deathis not only the shadow of Life but a part of it.” As I muse over the wisdom of such a golden thought it sparkles like a prized jewel in my mind for tomorrow is promised to no one and 'mortals cannot be equated withthegods'asaffirmedby the Greek philosopher and stoicAristotle.
respect when dealing with Guyanese.
Althoughthereisrivalry in several areas, when the people meet face to face, they get along well especially at fetes as they have similar foods, music, and other aspect of culture. Musicians (especially Indians)frombothcountries and Suriname co-operate on chutney tunes; they re-sing each other's songs. Popular doubles and 'pepper roti' have been introduced in Guyana with the latter widely sold all over the country
But on the cricket field, the rivalry will be heated if theyclashFridayorSunday
Yourstruly,
VishnuBisram
Itisagainstthisbackdrop that I write to express my sincere condolences to the spouse, family, siblings and relatives of our beloved E l i s a b e t h H a r p e r, Ambassador and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation ofGuyana,whopassedaway afewdaysago.Myheartand prayers are with them as we mourn individually and collectively over such a devastating and irreparable loss. I first metAmbassador Harperin1984whenIjoined the staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Our first encounter was a most pleasant one and I was very fascinated by her pleasant demeanour and magnetic
personality Atthattime,she was officially designated as Foreign Officer 11. Her meteoric rise to the status of Ambassador and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, respectively, was not fortuitous; rather it was due to her charisma and dedicationtodutywhichshe had performed with diligenceandfidelityduring her brief lifespan in this temporalworld.
Moreover, she was a 'Shining Star' in the diplomatic firmament with her scintillating academic credentials and her magnificent performance on both the local and internationalstagewhereshe represented Guyana with brilliance, finesse and aplomb that won the hearts ofmanyandendearedherto them She was also the epitome of comity, humility and kindness and treated everyonewhoknewherwith
great respect and dignity
Furthermore, someone once said that “The World is a Garden; our Friendship are its Flowers.” Ambassador Harper was, undisputedly ourfavouriteRose.
As time goes by in this transitoryjourneyoflife,we shall miss her sweet smile andwarmfriendshipandour cherished memories of her shall be immortalised in the velvet chambers of our hearts for “to live in the hearts of those we have left behindisnottodie.”
So,farewellourBeloved Ambassador, goodbye our Beautiful Rose, adieu our QueenofHearts.
May the Angels in Heaven whisk your sweet soultothebosomofourLord andSaviorJesusChristuntil thatGloriousMorningofthe Resurrectionwhereweshall meetagainatHisfeet.
AndrewZamal Canada
Newly appointed
Minister of Home Affairs,
Oneidge Walrond is confident that the digitisation of services across agencies in the country is going to “battle andattack”theallegationsof corruption.
The minister made the disclosure while speaking with media operatives duringasitevisitofthenew Brickdam Police Station on Wednesday
Asked to comment on allegations of widespread corruptionwithinsectionsof the Joint Services, the formermagistratestatedthat theallegationsspreadacross the board wherever humans
are. “Letmealsosaythatthe allegations of corruption go allacross,whereverhumans are.So,it'snotjustthePolice Force,butIunderstandwhat you're saying, and that is, in my view, one of the major waysinwhichwe'regoingto battle and attack the corruption is to have more transparency, based on the use of cameras, use of the digital services,” she explained.
According to the minister, the issue of corruptioninanyagencyhas to be dealt with very carefully She noted that the government has been investingalotofmoneyinto digitizing services, so to
removethathumanelement.
“Already I can see it throughout the services that the police, and fire service andevenattheHomeAffairs ministry that we engage in, that to remove that human element and we have startedthatprogramme.The president has also announced that programme ofdigitising,”shenoted.
“At least under my administration, I've spoken to the secretary of the firearmboard.
I'm yet to speak with the chairman I will have a m
t h e chairperson,theboardhasto be renewed, and then when we do so, we're going to be sitting and setting some criteria that removes that human bias and the human element. I'm looking at it from the lens of how do we move as much as possible, the human element, from t h e s e s o r t s o f considerations, ” she elaborated.
for politicalleaderstofallontheirswords”
GAlliance For Change (AFC)
Wednesday that it is common for leaders of politicalparties“tofallontheirsword”in caseswheretherearedevastatingdefeats.
Trotmanwasrespondingtoqueriesby Kaieteur News about party leader Nigel Hughes, who submitted his resignation onWednesday.Inhisletter,Hughestookfull responsibility for the distressing loss the party suffered at the September 1, General andRegionalElections.
The AFC contested the elections and scrapedamere3,610votes,upsettingany chances of securing a single seat in the NationalAssembly Hughes, who assumed the leadership of the party in July last year, had campaigned feverishly across country on a slogan he adopted “better must come,” admittingthathehadmuchtoofferGuyana.
He said the country needed a break and was willing to pool his ideas with others to fashion a new and modern Guyana
Butwiththecrushinglossatthepolls, Trotman said the move by Hughes “is the honourable approach that is observed worldwide However, it is the party's leadership and members to accept or reject thatoffer.”
He said however, that the resignation is somewhat surprising, since there was no indication that the party leader was contemplating resigning “Recently as Saturday last, the executive met and the meetingwaschairedbyMr Hughes.
There was no hint that he was considering resigning, and no indication from within the executive that anyone wanted him to resign,” he said. Later, in a statementtothemedia,thepartyrevealedthat the general secretary received a letter on Wednesday from Nigel Hughes on his resignation as leader of the party with immediateeffect.
The party disclosed that the National Executive Committee will hold an emergency session to discuss the
ramificationsandconsequencesoftheletter andwillusetheopportunitytoencourageMr Hughestoretractit.
“Should he remain adamant in his decision, then the party's constitutional provisions will be used to guide the way forward. It was only a few days ago that the National Executive Committee met and reposed fresh confidence in Mr Hughes' leadership,”itadded.
The statement went 0n to say that the party thanks its members, and supporters for their well-wishes and courage shown inthefaceoffortitudeandchallenges.
This is not the first time Hughes has resigned from an executive position withintheparty
In 2013, he resigned from his position as party chairman. His then resignation had come on the heels of an article published in this newspaper's August 6 edition, titled “Nigel Hughes is Company Secretary for AmailaFallsHydroInc.”
Hughes tendered his resignation once again in 2016 and this had to do with an ongoing controversy involving Minister ofState,JosephHarmonatthetime.
Hughes is reportedly against the party supporting Harmon at a time when he seemed to be wrapped in corrupt practices
following a meeting on Monday, she was informed that some 1000 traffic charges have already been laid.
“What we find is that while tickets were being issued, this is traffic tickets, we were not following up. Charges were not being laid,”sherelated.
Walrond said moving forward, there will be a phased approach in terms of prosecuting those charges, making sure there is enforceability, so people understand in terms of the traffic that infractions are goingtobefollowedupon.
Turning her attention to other areas to be addressed, MinisterWalrond noted that whileseriouscrimeisona26 per cent decline, domestic crime is still an area of concern.
“What we are concerned aboutandweareaddressing isdomesticcrimethatisstill an issue, and it's a serious one And under this administration, we will be tacklingit,andtheideaisto beclearaboutwhatproblem we are addressing, and we are seeing decline in serious crime, but domestic crime whileit'snotashighasitwas inthepreviousyears,it'sstill high enough. One person being killed in a domestic crime or being seriously injuredisstilltoomuch,”she disclosed.
Speaking briefly about the traffic situation, she said
Noting that enforcement has to play a major part, she revealed that they are looking in the direction of changing the legislation, in terms of suspension of licence, and to make sure that there is a follow up to these matters. “Because you have all these laws in place, but are we following up to make sure that they are dispensarysowecangetthe impact on which we are lookingfor,”shenoted.
When asked about her policy in terms of the issuance of firearm and the illicitfirearmsonthestreets, ministernotedthatthePolice Force and other agencies have been doing work in terms of getting the illicit firearm off the street, and thiswouldcontinue.
“Being a former magistrate, I know what I know,andI'mstilldoingand speaking to the other agencies and heads of agenciesandpeoplewhoare
not necessarily heads, communities to get a full understanding of the illicit firearm - how many is still circulating.We see what the magnitude of the problem really is, and I will, in the next coming days, have a view to having those discussions to figure out what the magnitude of the problem is, where the sourcesmightbetobeableto make those decisions,” she informed.
Speaking with the head of CANU and police commissioner, in relation to getting drugs and illicit firearm off the street, the minister said her concerns remainhowthesereportsare beingprosecuted.
“Myconcernasaformer magistrate is how many of these have been prosecuted, what is the follow through. Because people are not going to, the criminals are not going to respond if it is thatyou'renotseeingthefull enforcement. And so, my question has been, and my queryhasbeen,howmanyof this has been prosecuted? Whereareweintheprocess of prosecuting and as you know, you brought them to thecourts,howmanyofyou been able to take to the full fruition? And I have asked that question, and I'm waiting for that report,” she said.
According to the minister, she is yet to meet with the various heads of agenciestocomeuptospeed with the state so as to implement policies to tackle theissues.
DearEditor,
APNU's defeat in the 2025 polls, in my view, stems from a loss of public trust built up over several years. The most damaging blow was the widely condemned handling of the 2020 General and Regional Elections—seen by many at home and abroad as an attempttosubvertthewillof theelectorate.
That episode left a lasting credibility gap that APNUneverclosed.
Voters also judged the coalition's record in office. When APNU held the majorityin2015,itscrapped the schoolchildren's cash grant—an immediate hit to
household budgets. It also introduced a range of new taxes that increased the cost of living and deepened the burden on ordinary people. Compounding this, key campaignpromiseswerenot kept, reinforcing the perception that the party's words and deeds did not align.
These choices alienated many traditional supporters, who felt they were being takenforgranted. By contrast, the ruling party led by President Ali was seen as delivering: meeting the commitments set out in its manifesto, accelerating visible development,androllingout
measures that offered relief tofamiliesandbusinesses.In a climate where tangible outcomes matter, that performance gap proved decisive.
Elections are ultimately referenda on trust and delivery APNU's perceived breaches of both—first in how2020washandled,then i n i t s p o l i c y reversals—explainedwhyso many turned away from APNU in 2025. Meanwhile, President Ali's government benefited from the opposite impression: that promises were kept and progress was real.
Sincerely, PhilipInshanally
The Guyana Police Force on Wednesday cameoutswingingat the decision by the Magistrates' courttograntbailtothesuspect accused of dousing two women with acid earlier this month.
Keron Daniels, who was remanded to prison on Tuesday for allegedly throwing the corrosivesubstanceon25-yearold Jilicia Leitch and Nirmala Sukraj, leaving Leitch visually impaired, was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of $500,000, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Faith McGusty
Livid by the decision, the policeinstatementsaid,“Inthe wake of an over-increasing attack against women, the Guyana Police Force wishes to e x p r e s s i t s g r a v e disappointment in the granting of bail by a magistrate from the Georgetown Magistrate's Court to Keron Daniels, who was charged with Throwing Corrosive Fluid with Intent, committed on Jilicia LeitchandNirmalaSukraj.”
present it to the court, despite stating that were in possession of the footage. In light in the prosecution's failure to present thefootagetothecourtintime, the magistrate granted Daniels bail; $250,000 for each of the twochargeshefaces.
Daniels is scheduled to return to court on October 22, 2025forfurtherhearing.
Meanwhile, one of the lawyersoftheaccused,Ronald Daniels, dubbed the “attack against Magistrate McGusty”
According to the police, “It is apttonotethattheaccusedandthe victim were in a relationship that had a history of conflict. The woman herself pleaded from her hospital bed that she wanted justice.
Despitetheheavyprevalenceof violenceagainstwomeninGuyana, magistratescontinuetoomittotake this crucial factor into account in exercising their discretion in respect to the granting of bail.The matter is further compounded by thehighlikelihoodofthesetypesof offencesbeingrepeated,especially when the alleged offender continues to have ready access to thevictim.”
Policeconcludedthatitpledged tocontinuetomakeeverypossible
effort in reducing, if not wholly eradicating, acts of violence being committed against the women During Tuesday's hearing, the prosecution had claimed to have video evidence linking Daniels to the crime, asserting that CCTV footageplacedhimasthedriverof the getaway vehicle on September 3. However, Daniels' attorneys, Ronald Daniels and Ronald Bostwick, argued that the footage clearly shows the attacker was masked and therefore could not be identified. They pointed out that police themselves had issued a public appeal for help identifying the masked individual, suggesting theevidencewasinconclusive.
As such, Magistrate McGusty had ordered Daniels be remanded until the CCTV footage could be reviewed.
However, during Wednesday's hearing, prosecutors informed the court that they had not yet secured the footage and were unable to
as unjustifiable and unfortunate. He argued that it was the police who furnished the prosecutor with the information and evidence it used to object to bail. He said the prosecutor told the magistrate that it had video recordingshowingtheaccused committing the offence and that he gave a video and audio confession to committing the offence.
“We disputed the existence of thevideo.Astotheconfession,we did put on record that it was the accused'swifewhowasarrestedby thepolice.
He was attending the station looking for her and he was then arrested.
He was kept in custody from Friday and was threatened that his wife who was still in custody (and his teenaged daughter) would feel the pressure unless he gave the statement and video implicating himself in the commission of the
offence,” the attorney relayed on hisFacebookpage.
Hesaidthemagistrateaskedto see the video and the prosecutor committed to producing it today
“So, the accused was remanded untiltoday Whenhewasbroughtto court today, the prosecutor said they were unable to produce the video and changed their narrative.
The new narrative became that the accused was seen in the car two hours before the incident in the general area where the incident occurred; the car was allegedly seen sometime after criss-crossing town and changing plates. This is thebasisuponwhichthecourtwas askedtodenytheaccusedbail."
AttorneyDanielssaidthatasan officer of the court, he is
constrained to condemn the 'vicious and unjustifiable attack” against the judicial integrity of Magistrate McGusty “It warrants noting that there has been some publicpushbackagainstMagistrate McGusty being at risk of being passed over for confirmation as chief magistrate in the traditional systemofappointmentbyseniority Icanonlyhopethatthisisnotsome deeperploytorenderherunsuitable andmitigateagainstanysentiments over this appointment.” Daniels, a resident of Uitvlugt Pasture, West Coast Demerara, turned himself in and confessed to police that it was hewho attackedLeitchandSukraj with a corrosive substance on September 3, 2025, along Middle andEastStreets,Georgetown.
During his first court appearance, the prosecution had strongly objected to bail, emphasising the severity of Leitch'sinjuries,asshehasbecome visually impaired, and is expected to undergo surgery The court was told, “due to the seriousness of the offence, the prosecution cannot let suchactsgolightly.”
Daniels has been charged with twocountsofthrowingacorrosive substance with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm. He was not requiredtoenteraplea.
Accordingtopolicereports,the two victims, both cashiers at Balwant Singh Hospital, were on theirwaytobuylunchwhenaman approached them and threw the liquidbeforefleeingthescene.
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday promised the rice farmers in Region Six to invest in building storage capacity to stockpile rice and new varieties to ensureincreasedyields.
During a meeting at the Skeldon Sugar Factory, Ali informed the farmers government, over the next two weeks will be engaged in a series of meetings to find a solution for the low prices currentlybeingoffered.
“You have to be involved. We have to be involved, the millers havetobeinvolved,andofcourse, the markets have to be involved. Youhavetotalktothemarkets.We agree that this is not us, anybody fightingeachother.Onethingy'all know for sure is that you got a governmentwhosupportyouanda governmentthatrepresentsyouand walk with you. So, there will be a lot of opportunists coming around now,politicalopportunists,andI'm very frank with you, who would comearoundasiftheyloveyouand care about you and they want to representyou,”hesaid.
Aliassuredthefarmersthathis administrationwillworkwiththem because they love them and genuinely want them to succeed.
However,takingintoconsideration the complex situation at hand with dumping prices, markets with outstanding monies and over supply, they must find ways to maneuver “…as government, we are trying to navigate through that programme You know, we've already said that in all of the rice producingregions,wehavetonow
build storage capacity the government, where we will stockpile also So, we can stockpile, we have to have the capacity nationally to stockpile maybe 5 million tons of rice, because we want rice to succeed,” thepresidentsaid.
Heurgedfarmersthattheyneed tocontinuetocultivatethecrop,as the government wants to continue to invest in “better variety to give you higher yield.” In order to do this, the appropriate infrastructure is needed to support it. The headof-state also promised the farmers thatexpertswillbebroughtinfrom around the world to assess how alternative crops can be incorporated on every one out of ten acres. “Whether we do case farming for crab which has high value big market, we can put a processing plant to do the crab meat.So,forevery10acresofrice farm, we have to have one acre of high yielding production,” he reasoned.
Alipromisedthefarmersthatif they agree to this plan, it will be invested in and they will get the assistance needed, as this kind of agro business diversification is importantforcashflow
T h e P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party/Civic government has turned its imaginative energies to a novel experiment in media control. It now proposes to impose not only restrictions on the scope of questions that may be asked of the President at his press conferences but also which journalists are invited to theseevents.
In this scheme, invitations to presidential press conferences are delivered like embossed summonses to a colonial ball. These invitations are bestowed not upon media houses but upon individual reportersdeemedsuitableby the court functionaries who staff the Office of the President.
The practice, one suspects, is borrowed from the White House In Washington, journalists are accredited to cover presidential press briefings as if they were nuclear facilities vetted through layers of security checks designed to assure the Republic that no errant correspondent will smuggle a bomb under his notebook. The Secret Service requires
background checks, fingerprints, and assurances of good behaviour There, the rationale is obvious. A president surrounded by enemies foreign and domestic must fear not only thenexthostilequestionbut thenextunhingedzealot.
But Guyana is not Washington, and President IrfaanAlidoesnotliveunder thethreatofharm.Ourpress conferences are not highrisk spectacles requiring body armor and retinal scans.
Theoldpractice—where
mediahousesdecidedwhich journalist to send—served not only security needs but also practical ones.Amedia house may have specific journalists for specific sectors or issues. It is the editors’ prerogative to determinewhotodispatchto a press conference and this choice may be informed by the topical issues of the moment or the issues which themediahousemayhavean interest in at the time. That prerogative it seems is now beingunderminedbyhaving certain reporters accredited, removing the discretion of the editors to decide who to send to presidential press conferences.
The absurdity deepens when the President’s press office addresses invitations not to editors but directly to reporters, bypassing the chain of editorial authority
Theeditor,whosejobitisto decide what and how news should be covered, finds himself reduced to a spectator The result is an erosionnotmerelyofmedia freedom but of the very principle that journalism is accountable to its own standards and not to the whimsofpresidentialaides.
Thencomesthepiècede résistance: the restriction of one question per media house,withnofollow-up.As though curiosity were a scarce natural resource that must be rationed to prevent depletion. As though the President were a fragile artifact who might shatter if probed more than once.The entire performance reduces the press conference to a ceremonial farce, a public ritual designed not to elicit information but a stagemanagedaffair
The joke, of course, is
that President Ali hardly needssuchprotection.Heis, if nothing else, a man confident in his own loquacity On several occasions, he has demonstrated a capacity to deflect, parry, or expound uponanyquestionhurledhis way If the President can skillfullysidestepaquestion abouttheuseofforcebythe Americans in Caribbean waters, he can certainly withstand a follow-up question about the cost of electricity To shield him from inquiry is not to safeguard the President but toinfantilisehim.
Perhapstheproblemlies not with the journalists or even with the President, but with th
propaganda.Why,onemight ask, does the President need his own press office when the Department of Public Informationalreadyexistsas the government’s in-house m e g a p h o n e ? T
suggests not efficiency but paranoia,a bureaucracythat multipliesitselftojustifyits existence.
And yet, for all this apparatus, the problem may besimplerstill:thePresident talks too much Every subject under the sun, from thepriceofriceontheworld market to his ambitious plans for a e-identification card, must be refracted throughhisvoice.Insteadof limiting himself to one or two substantive issues, he spreadshimselfthinacrossa buffetofissues. T
conference that resembles a variety show Matters that s
One of de fuss signs of senility is memory loss. So yuh gat to be on the lookout fuh people who does start fuh fuhgetwahdemsupposedtodo.
It remind dem boys of when an elderly couple went to see de doctor De doctor examinedemandtellthem,“Y’allmemory startin’toslip,betterwritedownwhahyuh want.”
De elderly couple agree to try this out. Deheadhome.Assoonasdempassthrough dedoor,deoldladyseh,“Bringmehabowl ah ice cream.” She warn she husband, “Writeitdown.”
He seh, “Nah man, me can remember—bowlahicecream.” She add, “Put lil whipped cream pon
explained by subject ministers finance, s e c u r i t y, h e a l t h , education—are hoarded for the presidential lectern, leaving the ministers themselves to serve as decorativeprops. If there is a remedy to this farce, it lies in pruning. Allow editors to send whichever journalist they deem fit; allow multiple questions and follow-ups so that curiosity can do the work democracy demands; allow ministers to speak for their own portfolios instead of burdening the President with the role of all-purpose
oracle.
Above all, retire the fantasy that Guyana’s journalistsmustbeinvitedas iftheywereguestsataroyal court.Theyarenotcourtiers; they are chroniclers. Their allegiance is not to the President’s convenience but tothepublic’srighttoknow In its attempt to choreograph curiosity, the government reveals its insecurity Thegreatironyis that in shielding the President from the press, it only makes him appear weaker,lesssureofhimself, moreinneedofhandlers.
The true measure of
leadership is not the avoidance of difficult questionsbutthewillingness to answer them, however imperfectly APresidentwho cannot withstand scrutiny is a President who cannot govern.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
top.”Sheremindheagain,“Writeitdown.”
He seh, “Nah, nah, me brain sharp like cutlass—icecreamwidwhippedcream.”
Then she seh, “And don’t forget the cherrypontop.”Shebeghe,“Pleasewriteit down.”
He puff up he chest: “Me ain’t need paper, me know whah yuh want—ice cream,whippedcream,cherrypuntop.”
He gone in de kitchen, clattin’up pots and pan fuh more than half hour When he finally come back, he hand she a plate ah baconandeggs.
De old lady watch de plate steady, then lookupathewidoneseriousfaceandseh, ”Wheredetoast?” Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Elections! The people get an opportunity to separate racehorses from carthorses. I prefer the identification of champions and the dismissal of bums.
Following the September 1 polls, the PPP is riding the crestsofsuccess. Likemany crests, there is foam in the mixture, towering to the heights, then flattening out, and last tumbling to the depths. Howtothinkofthe PPP's success at the recent polls in a different light, what has not been said, as yet? Then, what are the implications, where could this lead? There is a teaching tool for the leaders ofthePPP,andIurgethemto
taketoheart,orelsecatsare waiting to eat their dinner later
The numbers are in and the numbers don't lie. PPP ontop,andPPPallthewayto S t a t e H o u s e a n d consolidation of oil power ThenIlookatthosenumbers again, and I see the unsaid. The PPP is a minority government. Ofsorts. Ofa peculiarkind. However,this is measured, counted, extrapolated, induced, and reduced. For sure, it is first among equals, and by the longest of long heads. Of that let there be neither denial nor contention. But what else do the election numbers put in front of all
Guyanese, beginning with Excellency Ali and Vice President Jagdeo, chief strategist and chief national wiseman? What do those numbers, with a focus specifically on the PPP drill intotheheadofoneandall?
I u s e t h e P P P
Government number of 757,000 eligible voters, of which242,000votedforthe PPP Congratulations are still in order for a majority government that won a minority of the eligible votes. When two out three eligiblevotes(notvotescast) were not for the winning PPP, what message is being conveyedbythevoterstoall pols, and what message to therestofGuyana? Iassert again that the incumbents wonandbyasquaremargin. Thatshouldbetheendofthe story However, if I am Dr Jagdeo, who doesn't miss a beat, garnering only one out ofthreeeligiblevoteshasto beacauseofconcern. Grave concern, as practitioners in diplomatic circles solemnly pronounce,whenmattersare
rapidly approaching a flashpoint.
After all the budgetary provisions for the benefit of the people, this is the best that September 1 produced: 242,000Xs. Aftersubsidies here, and increases over there, and a cash grant all over,andthiswaswhatcame out of September 1 (one out of three), then there is some heavy lifting ahead. From the people's perspectivepeople who stuck with the oldopposition,orattachedto the new opposition, or simply stayed put in their homes-muchmorehadtobe done. Whatwasdonedidn't matter that much, barely made a dent in the circumstances of those who held their noses and turned their faces when that decisive Monday came cruising long It was smooth,wasn'tit?
Five more years might looklikealongtime,lullinto a sense of complacency, exaggeratedconfidence. Be careful, ladies and gents of the PPP. If that many could
have stayed away in 2025, imagine how many more could decide to take matters into their own hands and follow suit later Not a criticism,intheleast;simply a little exhortation on message embedded, and lesson absorbed. I would recommend to the new governmentthatitdoesmore thanabsorb. Itshouldlearn. Itmustdecidethatwhatever fellshortinthelastgoround has to be discarded, and some fresh new deals developedwiththepeoplein mind I am being considerate to the extent of being over tactful. The people, the people, the people. The people that stayed home. The people that rejected overtures. The peoplethatsatontheirhands andvotedwithinvisibleink. I hear that Dr Jagdeo is a smartfellow Noarguments. He, therefore, ought to be rightwhereIam;atleast,this one time. The election day numbers are loaded, and they are fraught with possibilities. Oneofthemis
peril. It is increased speed ahead in the old ways. Or overhaul of more than procurementpractices. This calls for an overhaul of the mind,andIowethatdutyto Drs.AliandJagdeo. Thisis another lease on political life. There are some new people,bustlingwithenergy, knocking at the door, and nipping at the heels. Learn something. Do something. Start some new things that inspire Guyanese across the spectrum. Thentherecanbe resting on laurels with the assuranceofhavingdonethe best, and ready for any test. Whatever the test, there is the confidence that it can be weathered authoritatively, overpoweringly Those are my two cents; it's the most I canafford.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
The Mayor and Town Council of Region 10 on Wednesday refuted claims by the government that the council had failed to m a i n t a i n t h e Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge
properly, which collapsed earlier this week injuring severalpersons.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips in a statement blamed the Linden Town Council for the unfortunate situation. “The collapse of a s e c t i o n o f t h e Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge on Sunday evening is a terrifying reminder of the failure and neglect that residentsofLindencontinue to face from the PNCR-led Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) My thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and I extend best wishes for their full recovery,” the statement said.
Phillips accused Mayor Sharma Solomon of “twisting this unfortunate event into a political talking pointbydishonestlyblaming the government and the removaloftolls.”
He said, “The LM&TC, by its own admission, has longheldlegalresponsibility under the BridgeAct for the oversight and maintenance of the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge. Tolls were collected up to July 31, 2025, providing a steady revenue stream for years The question, therefore, is not w
available, but whether they were used for their intended purposeandthatistoensure regularinspections,lighting, s
structuralmaintenance.”
The prime minister suggested that if an independent audit were conducted into the revenues
collected between August 2020 and July 2025, “it would almost certainly r
H.E.AmbassadorElisabethHarperA.A.
PermanentSecretaryoftheMinistry ofForeignAffairs andInternationalCooperation
prioritization, and misuse of fundsthatshouldhavebeen
Following the public outrage overtheexclusion ofseveralmediaoutletsfrom President Irfaan Ali’s first press conference on Tuesday, political parties have condemned the move and called for greater press freedominGuyana.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)
expresseddeepconcernover what it described as a troubling precedent set by the Administration The partycriticisedthedeliberate exclusion of several accredited media houses, stating, “When the highest office in the land begins its new mandate by handpickingwhichjournalistcan ask questions, the people of Guyana must ask: what
comes next? This is a harbinger that troubles us greatly.”
FGM also referenced recent calls by international watchdog Reporters without Borders for the Ali Administration to take concrete steps toward improving media freedom.
“Yet instead of embracing that call, the Office of the President responded with
exclusion and restriction This makes one thing clear: if international scrutiny no longer fazes those in power, then the people of Guyana mustbeevenmorevigilant,” thepartystated.
Thepartywentontosay, “To control access, to limit questions, and to dictate which voices are heard is dictatorship 101 It disrespects not only the
Working Peoples Alliance leader, David Hinds
mediabutthecitizenswhose righttotransparencyisbeing eroded.” FGM called on the Government to recommit to opennessandfairness,notto satisfy foreign entities, but because “the Guyanese people deserve nothing less.”
Similarly, Working People’sAlliance(WPA)coleader Dr David Hinds, in a press conference held on Wednesday,alsocondemned the exclusion of media houses. He described the action as an attack on democracy and a clear sign of autocratic governance “WPA condemns in the strongesttermstheactionof thepresident.Itvalidatesthe point we have been making—that elections are used not as a means of advancing the country, but aboutgettingpoliticaloffice tosettlescoreswithpolitical opponents and other civil societyorganisationsthatare deemednottobefriendlyby the Government,” Hinds said.
He continued, “despite recent statements from Reporters Without Borders making that recent speech, despite the fact that the internationalobservancehas drawn attention to the balance of power of the media,immediatelyafterthe election, the President then behaves in a way in a sense silencingpartofthemedia.It is reprehensible, it is not in keeping with democratic norms, and it further sinks Guyana into the category of anelectedautocracy.”
Dr Hinds stressed the fundamentalroleofthepress in holding government accountable and ensuring public discourse “The media is a very important element in our society In anysociety,themediaarethe institution that makes a differenceintermsofgetting the government to address issues.Whenyousilencethe media in that way, you are burying democracy, and this is just days after an election inanewcountry,”hesaid.
Reaffirming the party’s
Forward Guyana Movement leader, Amanza Walton-Desir
support for journalists, Hinds added, “The WPA stands in solidarity with the media.Wedefendtherightto functioninthissocietyandin ourcountrybecausetheyare an important plank of democracy and forward movement of our country We are not going to develop economicallyinthiscountry ifwedon’thaveafreepress. There’s a relationship between freedom of speech and economic development a n d e c o n o m i c transformation.”
Meanwhile, Stabroek News, one of the media houses excluded from the press conference, issued its own statement on Wednesday The newspaper revealed that it had not been formally invited to the P r e s i d e n t ’s p r e s s conference. Instead, an oral invitation was extended to one of its reporters by Communications Director and Press Secretary Suelle Findlay-Williams.Editor-inChief Anand Persaud criticisedthehandlingofthe invitation process, stating that the newspaper has two accredited reporters to the presidential press corps and it is the editor-in-chief’s responsibility to assign them, not individual staff members.
Persaud noted that neither he nor the official newsroom email addresses werecontactedregardingthe event. He characterised the move as an attempt to undermine both the reporter and the newspaper, saying it would not be tolerated. “We expected professionalism fromthePresident’sofficein handling arrangements for thepressconference,butthat wassorelylacking,”hesaid.
On Tuesday, the President hosted the press briefing at the Office of the President;however,sections of the local media did not receive formal invitations. While representatives of the Guyana Standard, National Communications Network (NCN),GuyanaTimes, Continued on page 16
On track to meet its June 2026 deadline, works on the new US$28 million Brickdam Police Station are currently 65 per cent complete.
On Wednesday, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond and Permanent
Secretary, Andre Ally, a l o n g s i d e d e p u t y commissioner, Errol Watts, Ministryofficialsandsenior officers visited the station where they were briefed on thestatusoftheproject.
Speaking with the media, the Ministry’s engineering consultant,
Rawlston Adams said the progress is smooth “As of today, we are just about 65 per cent complete We would like to say we are on time, so that’s our progress todate ”
He continued, “As you see the building is already enclosed, and we’re starting
The new US$28M Brickdam Police Station currently under construction in central Georgetown.
(Photos, Guyana Police Force)
the framing of the walls, we’ve already installed 90 per cent of the AC ducts, about 90 per cent of the sprinkler system, so MEPs, that is mechanically electricalplumbing,sothose are going way ahead of schedule We’ve already installed most of the wastewatersystem,that’sthe toilet pipes and the fresh watersystem.”
Addressing the media, MinisterWalrondstatedthat thefacility,whencompleted, will be the new Guyana Police Force (GPF) headquarters as well as the p o l i c e d i v i s i o n a l headquarters for ‘4A’. She noted that all the top-level leadershipofthepoliceforce and the services being conductingatEveLearywill relocatetothenewBrickdam building.
The Minister said the Government has been speaking of a high level, world-class police force and the new Brickdam Police Station is befitting of the kindofforceitexpects.
“Cutting-edge policing, removing bureaucracy, removing archaic methods of doing things, and so this building is just a metaphor for all of the things that we wouldbeexpectingfromthe police force and ultimately, also it’s to make sure the welfare of our ranks is extremely important to us. When we are requiring people to meet our worldclass services, we will have to make sure that their welfare is also well taken careofandaccommodations such as these, where they’re able to come into comfortable environment, one that speaks of professionalism and the futureofwherewe’retaking
Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond (right) alongside Permanent Secretary, Andre Ally (centre) and engineering consultant Rawlston Adams (left) visiting the project site on Wednesday.
Guyana,”shesaid.
Permanent Secretary Allysaidtheoldstructuresin the compound will be demolished the lock-ups facility will also be rehabilitated.
Kaieteur News had reported that new US$28,140,000 Brickdam Police Station is being constructed by contractor R. B a s s o o a n d S o n s Construction Company in partnership with Qing Jian Group Company (CNQC) outofChina.
Thereconstructionofthe station came following a devastating fire in 2021 whichdestroyedover80per centofthestructure.
At the sod-turning ceremony back in January 2024,itwasrevealedthatthe
new 12-storey complex will beearthquake-resistantupto magnitude 5 0, will be equipped with state-of-theart fire detection and protectionsystemsincluding detectors, alarms, hose reels and fire extinguishers. The complex will also be equipped with advanced CCTV monitoring and access to control systems, a robust telephone and data networkwhichwillfacilitate seamless communication within the facility and will have duo elevators and staircases strategically placed. Itwillalsofeaturecentral departments such as traffic, finance,theimpactbase,the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), among others.
WASHINGTON – The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Wednesday said that in 2020,LatinAmericaandthe Caribbean, (LAC) recorded more than 800 000 babies being born with premature orsmallfortheirgestational age,facingincreasedrisksof preventable conditions such as sepsis, congenital anomalies, and intrapartum complications.
Itsaidneonatalmortality accounts for more than 50 percentofchilddeathsinthe region,withprematurityand sepsis among the leading causes.
In a message marking “WorldPatientSafetyDay”, PAHO is calling on governments, health professionals, and communities across the Americas to prioritise safe and equitable care from the verybeginningoflife.
World Patient Safety Dayisbeingobservedunder the theme “Patient safety from the start!” with PAHO saying that the campaign seekstoraiseawarenessand reduce risks associated with pediatric and neonatal medicalcare.
It said that this year's focus underscores the unique vulnerabilities of newbornsandchildren,who facegreaterrisksofharmin health care settings due to
their rapid development, specific needs, and reliance on caregivers and health systems.
It also emphasises that a single error in medical care can have lifelong consequences for a child's healthanddevelopment.
“Every newborn and every child deserves safe, high-quality care from the very first moment of life,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHODirector “In our region, preventable errors such as mistakes with medications, misdiagnoses, or health care-associated infections threaten the future of the mostvulnerable.
This World Day is a call to close these gaps and strengthen the health systems that protect our children,”headded.
PAHO acknowledged that the situation regarding neonatal mortality requires around-the-clock hospital care, ongoing staff training, and active family involvement.
It said simple PAHOpromoted measures, such as h a n d w a s h i n g , administration of antenatal steroids, and skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo method), could prevent a significant proportion of deaths in prematurebabies.
PAHOrecalledthatatits
st61 Directing Council in October 2024, it adopted a resolution establishing the “StrategyandPlanofAction to reduce the burden of sepsis(2025–2029).
PAHO said that this regional roadmap includes key actions in awarenessraising, infection prevention, including vaccination
hygiene, and equitable accesstodiagnosisandcare, especially for vulnerable populations.
Globally, the World HealthOrganisation(WHO) estimates that one in ten patients suffers harm in health care settings due to
prescribing, diagnosis, or health care-associated infections. These risks also
particularly vulnerable More than half of this harm ispreventable.
To mark World Patient SafetyDay,PAHOwillhold a regional webinar on September 23 with experts from Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, the United States, and Caribbean countries, addressing best practices in child patient safety, digital health, neonatal sepsis prevention, and the role of parents as active partners in care (CMC)
ctor is undergoing a major digital transformation, with the Government rolling out electronic patient health
records and online appointment systems to improve efficiency and reducelongwaitingtimesat hospitalsandhealthcentres.
President Dr Mohamed
Irfaan Ali made the announcement on Tuesday during a press conference, stressing the importance of improving service delivery as part of building a worldclasshealthsystem.
At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the first phase of the electronic patient record system began in March 2025.
Itisexpectedtoconclude
by mid-2026. Records are expectedtogoliveatGPHC by the end of 2026 before beingexpandednationwide.
To complement this, a pilot online appointment system has already been launchedattheFestivalCity Polyclinic The system allowspatientstobookvisits digitally, eliminating the need to spend hours waiting athealthfacilities.
“We don't want the lines that you see in the hospitals andclinics.
We want to move the system into an app-based system where you have appointments so you don't havetowasteyourtimeorsit at these clinics for hours,”
PresidentAliexplained.
Phasetwoiftheinitiaitve will see the system connected to the six new
regional hospitals currently underdevelopment.
T h e p r e s i d e n t underscored that these technological upgrades will transform how patients experience healthcare, ensuring timely access, efficiency, and improved service delivery across Guyana.
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Drivers to drive Canter & Porters to work in Warehouses. Experience will be an asset. Call : 673-7373.
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fun, safe kids & adult sections, music & food. W.B.D. Call: 264-29469
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General Domestic, Apply at Keyfood Mc Doom Village next to the post office. 4 day work.
Vacancy for Hotel & Restaurant Manager and Accountant. Apply in person Lot 29 Sussex Street, Georgetown. Tele: 757-8231.
Kitchen Assistant / Cook needed. Call: 676-5534 / 6183696.
Pump Attendant / Cashier (6am-2pm & 2pm10pm).Mobil Providence E.B.D, Call: 265-7305/6. Email:Mobilramsburg@ gmai.com
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From page 12 Guyana Chronicle, Ignite News, News Source Guyana, News Room, Kaieteur News, and the Department of Public Information (DPI) received direct calls from Press Secretary and Director of Press and Publicity Suelle Findlay-Williams, several other prominent media houses, including Stabroek News, Prime News, Nightly News, News In-
Depth, Big Smith News Watch, and Capitol News, were notably absent, having not been informed about the event.
Veteran journalist Dennis Chabrol of Demerara Waves, who had received an invitation, walked out of the press conference in protest after being informed of strict restrictions on questions.
Before the press confer-
ence commenced, communications consultant Kit Nascimento instructed journalists that only six questions would be allowed in total to ask the President, with no follow-ups permitted.
Furthermore, questions were to be limited strictly to the content of the President’s address, the subject of which was not disclosed beforehand.
In response to the controversy, Kaieteur News reached out to, president of the Guyana Press Association, Iva Wharton who expressed concern.
“I have received a number of complaints on it. What I can say is that it is concerning, but we intend to write to the President’s office to find out exactly what happened,” Wharton stated.
From page 11 dedicated to keeping this vital structure safe.”
He said that the safety and maintenance of existing infrastructure are core duties of any municipal authority entrusted with public resources. “The LM&TC’s failure to meet those duties, despite collecting toll revenues up to mere weeks ago, is indefensible,” PM Phillips said noting that the government has acted “with foresight and responsibility.”
Further, the prime minister said that the age and limitations of the bridge were taken into consideration by the government and resources have been committed to the construction of a modern river crossing at Linden.
“This new bridge will replace the old structure and redefine connectivity in Region 10 by improving safety, supporting commerce, facilitating tourism, and reducing transport inefficiencies that have long stifled growth,” he said.
However, the Linden Town Council headed by Solomon said that on October 9, 2014, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government approved an increase in toll for the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge.
In its statement, the Town Council said that that decision included an announcement that a share of the revenue collected would be distributed among the Linden Mayor and Town Council, and NICIL, the entity responsible for the bridge’s upkeep.
“This order was officially gazetted, clearly stipulating a revenue split, and has been in effect since that time.”
The Town Council said, “Contrary to claims that the council bears responsibility for the neglect of the bridge, it is untrue. The maintenance of the bridge was historically managed by LINMINE, which is now under NICIL and operated by the government. The Town Council has no responsibility for the operational or maintenance aspects of the bridge.”
Further, the Council maintained that the assertion that it was responsible for maintaining the bridge is incorrect. “Historically, the upkeep of the bridge was the responsibility of LINMINE, which is now operated by NICIL, a government agency. Even with the revenue-sharing arrangement, minor repairs were consistently carried out by LINMINE, while major repairs were funded through the
Ministry of Works via yearly budget allocations.”
The Council noted that all decisions regarding toll levels, including increases or removals, were made solely by the Government of Guyana.
“The Council calls upon the prime minister to set the record straight and to acknowledge that the responsibility for the bridge’s maintenance has always lain with the relevant government agencies, not the Council.”
Meanwhile, the Linden Town Council noted with concern that the government has failed to remit its portion of the profit share to the council as agreed. This the entity said, has “adversely affected our capacity to perform our civic duties effectively.”
“We urge the prime minister to verify facts before making public statements that may impact the reputation and operational capacity of the Linden Town Council. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.”
Additionally, the Linden Town Council expressed concern for the persons injured due to the collapse of the bridge. “We extend our wishes for a complete and
swift recovery,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, representative of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Nigel London, visited the damaged area of the bridge on Wednesday. On a Facebook live broadcast published on the Amanza Walton-Desir – Forward Guyana Movement page, London showed the deplorable state of the bridge.
London who travelled to the location via boat, videoed the bridge from underneath. Several elements of the bridge appeared disconnected. Rotten pieces of wood were quite evident along with what appeared to be debris entangled with wood and steel.
He said, “the middle span is just resting...it is not connected to any part of the bridge...they are not telling us that the bridge is a disaster.” London, like the Town Council, said that the municipality never had responsibility for the bridge.
“The whole middle span is compromised. The bridge is rotten underneath...most of the metal plates are loose,” London said noting that the “bridge flexes when weight is on it”.
The advocate turned politician said the people of Linden should file a lawsuit against the government “for putting our lives at risk.”
Fa r m e r s i n
E s s e q u i b o , Region Two on Wednesday held a massive protest inAnna Regina over the prices being offered for their paddy and the huge amount that has been left to spoilontheirhands.
Kaieteur News received reports of the protest on Wednesday morning and made contact with some of the farmers to understand theirfrustration.
In a telephone interview with Mr Nazeer (only name
given), he told this publication that the protest was organised to seek reprieve, as a lot of crops havespoiledinthefieldsand farmersarelosingmillions.
“Thegovernmentsideof things are mum. They ain't have any active solutions in place, even though they knowthat'stheproblemwith the system. It's taking four days to offload the paddy trucks from the trailer to the mill and it's spoiling in the tractors because it can't get discharge,”helamented.
A rice farmer himself, Nazeer said that the demonstration will be held another day as they remain hopeful for a solution. He informed the Kaieteur News thathecontactedMinisterof
Agriculture Zulfikar Mustaphabut,“heturnedoff the phone, let me send you thevideo.”
Inthevideo,heprovided, there was a call placed to a number saved as “Minister of Agri”, due background noise, Kaieteur News could not hear what was said beforethecallended.
Thefarmerishopingthat the government will intervene,andsuggestedthat the administration rents some of the unused mills on the Essequibo Coast and purchase paddy through them.
“So, it get a lot of mill thatnotworkingandtheyare offering their facilities to rent, but the government so far has refused to rent the facilities,”headded.
Inoneofthevideosseen by this publication, a farmer bitterly complained that, “The price for one bag of paddy cannot pay a farmer, $2300 The expense to produce a bag of paddy is approximately about $3000. The mill them making the money,becausethemilleris buying a bag of paddy for $2300, and sell the rice for $2500 for a small 10kg bag, whichisnotfair Sowhyyou feel all these people deh out
The protestors at the High Bridge, Anna Regina.
here today, all body ah farmer nobody hay nah contractor If thing were going right, you feel anybody would have been here?No.”
Another farmer in a separate video said that, “If weain'tgetagoodprice,we paddy can't sell. We pay extra price and cost for the drugs we spray You could have get $2000 for a small bottle of thing now it's $3200.”
Athirdfarmerlamented, “Right now, we deh out hay concerningthispaddyprice, andweneedabetterpricefor this paddy, so we calling on the president and the Honourable Agricultural Ministertocomeandvisitus to tell us something concerningthispaddyprice. Yeah,asyoucouldsee,alot of people is out there. They are not comfortable, so pleasecomeandvisitus.”
Region Two now joins famers in Region Five in cries against the extremely low paddy prices being offered. Farmers in Region Fivearealreadyclamoringat the shockingly low prices being offered by millers for this crop, contending that if thereisnotanincrease,they will be unable to repay their loans, pay the rent on their landsandpayworkers.
This publication received reports that some millers are now offering a mere $2,800 per bag of paddy, $1200 less than what theyreceivedlastcrop,when the $400 government subsidywasadded.
Carlos Carbo, General ManagerofSAJRiceGroup in Burma Road Mahaicony, explained that the price beingofferedforpaddyisin
international market price. He said over the last two years,ricepricehasbeenon thedecline.
“So,thisisacommodity, and it depends on how the world market and the world prices are. The world price dropped in 45 per cent, and so it goes according with that, because if it doesn't drop, we cannot sell…The mill has to buy from the farmers, and the mill has to export it. And when we export,wecompetewiththe internationalprice,”hesaid.
Roopnarine Etwaroo, a ricefarmerfromMahaicony told this publication that in Region Five, millers are offering $2800 per bag of paddy, which is a big fall compared to the $4000 they enjoyedlastcrop.
“Socurrently,thepriceis set at $2800 which is like a break-even point, or even under a break-even point, because last time, our yield was higher because we hadn't much incidence of like gandi (paddy bug) and so on. Right now, at least about 80-90 per cent of the farmersarebeingaffectedby bugs which has affected the yieldoverall,”hesaid.
Speakingonbehalfofthe farmers in his area, Etwaroo saidtheloweryieldsaswell as the lower prices, will causefarmerstoleave.
He explained that at $2800, by the time farmers offset their expenses, like fertiliser, labour, harvesting and transportation and the reparation for seed paddy, they may fall into debt, as everyone has raised the prices for their services, but paddy prices ran in the oppositedirection.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, atapressconferenceheldat the Office of the President, President Ali said that this crop is yet another exciting one, however “the international market and international prices is not as exciting as the production itself. So, I wanted to give someamountofinformation
on what is happening in relationtotheglobalmarket. Now, when you look at the riceproductionglobally,isit an all-time high, with major producers,exporterssuchas India, Vietnam and Brazil, having record levels of production, not only record levels of production, but recordlevelofstockpile.”
He explained that this glut in the market is as a consequence of it being floodedhencethelowprices. The weighted average per tonofwhitericeis$450this isaccordingtoexportquotas attheendofAugust.Thisisa $14 reduction from a month ago and a $228 from a year ago.
(Al-Jazeera) At least 65,062 people have been killedand165,697wounded in attacks on Gaza after nearly two years of Israel's war, the health ministry reports.
In the past 24 hours, the bodies of seven aid seekers and87woundedPalestinians were taken to hospitals across Gaza, it said on Wednesday
The latest toll raised the number of people killed at aid sites since the establishment of the GHF at theendofMayto2,504with morethan18,381injuries.
Four deaths recorded were caused by famine and malnutrition, increasing the number of dead from the Israeli-inducedhungercrisis to 432, including 146 children.
Since the UN-backed IPCdeclaredfamineinGaza last month, 154 deaths from malnutrition have been recorded, including 31 children.
On Wednesday, at least 83 Palestinians were killed inIsraeliattacksacrossGaza medicalsourcesrevealed.
The figure included 61 people who were killed in Gaza City, where Israel is
onMonday
Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza because of the Israeli ground invasion, move southward after Israeli forces ordered their mass expulsion [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]
pressingitsgroundassault.
DoctorsWithoutBorders (MSF) says another one of itsPalestinianstaffmembers has been killed after being woundedbyshrapnelcaused by an Israeli air attack – the 13th of the organisation's employees to have been killed during Israel's war on Gaza. MSF said in a statement that Hussein Alnajjar, a nurse who
workedforitsclinicsinDeir el-Balah and Khan Younis, died on Tuesday from injuries sustained five days earlier in the attack near his tent.
Alnajjar was a father of threechildren,andhissisterin-lawandnephewwerealso wounded in the same incident.“Thisisnotatragic accident; it is yet again a demonstration that there is
no safe refuge anywhere in the Gaza Strip,” said the statement. “We are outraged that military violence continues to kill our Palestinian colleagues.” In the meantime, more than 7,500 Israelis have signed a petition urging recognition of a Palestinian state and an end to Israel's devastating waronGaza.
launched by Zazim, a Jewish-Arab grassroots movement, that said the initiative seeks to send “a clear, united Israeli message to the i
community” before the UN General Assembly meets in NewYorkCitynextweek.
Organisers said they expect the number of signatoriestoexceed10,000 before the session convenes
“The recognition of a Palestinianstateisnotmeant as punishment for Israel but as a step toward a better future based on mutual recognition and security for both peoples,” the petition said.
Zazim warned that without such recognition, Israel risks following the path advocated by far-right ministers – such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir –for “annexation, apartheid, andthecontinuationofwar”.
Saudi Arabia has joined the chorus of condemnation of Israel's ground offensive onGazaCity
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the kingdomcondemned“inthe strongest terms” the Israeli forces' assault and their continued perpetration of crimes against the Palestinianpeople. It also criticised the international community's inaction in taking effective measures to end to what it described as violations of international law and international humanitarian law
(Al-Jazeera) A bill that criticssaycouldmuzzlefree speech and the media has sparked an outcry in the Maldives after the government of President Mohamed Muizzu pushed it throughparliament,whereit enjoysasupermajority A prominent union of journalists pledged on Wednesday to defy the bill, while the main opposition party called for protests and aglobalpressfreedomgroup urged Muizzu to veto the legislation.
“The Maldivian parliament has passed a draconian bill that seeks to muzzle dissent online and offline, both on traditional media and social media,” said Ahmed Naaif, the secretary general of the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), the country's biggest union of mediaworkers.
“We journalists will stand together in defiance against this takeover of the media by the executive branch,”hetoldAlJazeera. Muizzu's government,
however, says the legislation, known as the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, only seeks to create a unified body to oversee broadcast and online media and to “safeguard the constitutional right to freedomofexpression”.
“Personal social media accounts used in a private capacity are not regulated under this legislation,”
Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel said in a statement on X. He added that it will establish “clear standards and a code of conduct” and will also “address the c h a l l e n g e s o f m i s i n f o r m a t i o n , disinformation and coordinatedmanipulationof content”. The controversy has ratcheted up tensions in the Maldives, an island nationof500,000peoplethat has struggled to consolidate itsdemocracysinceitended 30 years of one-man rule at theballotboxin2008. Itcomesmonthsafterthe president's allies in parliament and the judicial
watchdog overhauled the country's Supreme Court, suspending a judge and firing two others on allegations of abuse of power The former judges say the charges were manufactured to influence theoutcomeofseveralcases, including one challenging constitutional amendments that strip legislators of their seats if they switch political parties.
Muizzu's party, the People's National Congress (PNC), and its allies control 79 of the parliament's 93 seats.
On Tuesday, the PNC called an extraordinary sessionintheevening,while parliament was in recess, to push the new media bill through Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim ignored protests inside and outside parliament, expelling seven legislators of the main Opposition,togoaheadwith the vote. The approved bill envisions the creation of a commission comprised of seven members, three of whom will be appointed by
Maldives police scuffle with journalists protesting a controversial media regulatory bill outside the parliament on September 16, 2025 [Anoof Junaid/ Dhauru via Reuters]
parliament and four elected by registered media groups.
All members can be dismissedbytheparliament, which is formally called the People'sMajlisofMaldives.
The bill also grants the commission sweeping powers to fine, suspend and shutter news outlets. These includeforcoveragethatthe commission deems contrary to religious norms, national securityorpublicorder
Theinitialversionofthe bill had said it would not be
parliament but the president who appointed three of the membersofthecommission, which some advocates and critics alike acknowledged showed the PNC had listenedtosomeconcernsto withdrawthoseprovisions.
However, Naaif, the secretary-general of the MJA,saidthebillstillplaces t h e m e d i a “ u n d e r government control” as the president's party controls parliament and has the power to dismiss any
member who is elected by journalists.
“The PNC has ignored our calls for the media to be regulated through a selfregulatory mechanism, without government interference. Instead, it is giving these regulatory powers to a politicised commission,” he said. “This bill is all about penalising journalistsandmediagroups fortheircoverageratherthan safeguarding the freedom of thepress.”
President Ali hasn't wasted time. He's already dividing the press. Some invited to his first press conference, some not. How can that be constructive? What is democratic about that?
President Ali is already chewing on his words, swallowing hard.The media is essential, said the president. Then almost immediately, he forgets. Or changes his mind. Or plays his games.
The media is a partner, shouldn't be seen as a terror. Media independence helps leaders, governments. President Ali should see that as reality, necessity. He will be better for it. His government and record will be better for it.
No one wins when the government attacks the media. The government doesn't, the president looks pitiful. The people are blocked from receiving the whole truth. The country loses, the messages distorted, the record fouled. Warring against the media guarantees a government that will be a loser.
ByCliftonRoss
The Guyana Amazon Warriors secured their spot inthisweekend’sfinalofthe 2025 CPL, following a 14run win against the St.Lucia Kings during last night’s Qualifier played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.Warriorsposted
a modest 156 all out in the 20th over, with Ben McDermott (34), Shai Hope (32) and Romario Shepherd (21)gettingouttheblocks.
Inform opener, Quentin Sampson and pinch-striker
Dwaine Pretorius both hit identicalscoresof17,asnot much came from a pretty
ordinary Warriors batting outing. Kingshadabrilliant bowlingperformance,ledby leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi who returned 3-33, alongside pacers David Wiese (2-14) and Alzarri Joseph(2-34).
Kings had a nightmare starttothechase,losingtheir
top 3 batsmen for just 12 runs thanks to venomous starts by Shepherd and Pretorius.
Apart from bowler TymalMills’30off18balls, only Roston Chase (18) and A a r o n J o n e s ( 1 0 ) contributed with significant runs. The real star for the KingswasKharyPierrewho 50off39with5sixeswasthe highlight of the innings, whileprovidingsomemuch-
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Career matters might be very stressful today, Aries. Your generally penetrating mind is clouded by strong feelings about whatever you're doing and confused by differences of opinion among your colleagues.
TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)
Somenewconceptsinvolving thesciencesthatyou'retrying to study may be difficult, Taurus. You might be a little impatient with yourself, viewing this confusion as a symptomofmentaldullness.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Some vivid dreams could shed light on something you've been trying to find, Gemini. This could be a lost object or an obscure piece of information.Whateveritis.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Asocial event could put you in touch with a magnetic woman who has a lot of interesting stories to tell, Cancer She probably exaggerates, so don't take everydetailasfact.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Todayyoumightbetryingto do some in-depth research, Leo, but don't be surprised if what you're looking for proves difficult to find. You couldgetsidetrackedbyother interestingsubjectsrelated.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Get ready for action, Virgo, becausetodaycouldbeafastpaced adventure sure to keep you on your toes.Your desire to fight and conquer is probably much stronger than usual,
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
A decision may need to be madetodaythatrequireslogic and practicality, Virgo. You might find that your feelings get in the way Don't fight it. Sometimes it's best to step back and discern why your emotionsareinterfering.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)
Stresscouldhaveyoufeelinga littleoutofsortsbytheendof the day, Scorpio. You might have been considering going out for the evening, but it might be better if you put off thoseplansandstayhomeand rest.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Have you recently purchased something you wanted that's more of a luxury than a necessity? Today you might feelguiltyaboutit.Itmayhave temporarily strained your budget.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Attempts to balance emotions with logic may not succeed today, particularly where family is concerned, Capricorn. Members of your householdmaybeupset.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18)Youmightdosomewriting today, Aquarius, perhaps creative or letters. Whichever itis,youmightfindthatallthat comes out are gloomy accounts of whatever's happeningnow
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
A friend may have some outrageous, unworkable ideas for making money, Pisces. No matter what they involve, you'll probably start by listening just to be polite and thenend.
needed entertainmenton the way
Left-arm Gudakesh
Frompage25 the Cloud, Ben Laden, and Lion Heart Additional crowd favorites like Kiss Coco, Randy Filly, Top Ranking Dr, Dray Adapted Son, and Little Tic Tack have also confirmed participation,addingfurther depthtotheracecard.
In addition to the JClass, races will include categories such as the LOpen, Two-Year Guyana Bred, Unclassified, Small Horse, and First-Time Starters, ensuring a broad showcase of talent and thrilling moments for spectators.
Sponsorship for the event continues to grow, with contributions from Carib Beer, Lacho Cambio, Choke Gas Station, B.M. Soats Auto Sale, Ramsay and Sons Construction, M&L Construction, P&P Insurance Brokers, Cush Construction, Badal Feed Company, Fet Fab Gutters, Shacking Racing Stable, Kannard Memorial Turf Club, and Metro Office Max.
“We’d like to thank the Kennard Memorial Turf Club for their generous donation,” Sims added. “It willdefinitelygoalongway. At this time, several other donations are being made, and we extend sincere gratitudetoallourdonorsas we aim to host an electric raceday.”
As the countdown continues,alleyesareonthe GTC With upgraded facilities,top-tiertalent,and strong community backing, September 21 is shaping up to be a standout moment in Guyana’s horse racing calendar
Motie followed his 5-Fer a few games ago with 4-30 while Imran Tahir (2-22), Shepherd (1-15) and Pretorius(2-24)playedhuge supportingroles.
Warriors had a tough start as they found scoring
difficultbytheteam10overs ended,beingreducedto77-2 following a decent first power-play
Thankstothebig-hitting abilitiesoftheirall-rounders in Shepherd and Pretorius, the Warriors were able to salvage a difficult final half oftheinningsontheirwayto apsychologicallygoodtotal.
ByRawleToney
For the first time in history, Guyana’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport nowhastwoMinistersatthe helm. To some, that might sound excessive. To me, it waslongoverdue.
Theportfolioismassive. Culture. Youth. Sport. Each one on its own could keep a Minister fully occupied, but for years we expected one person to wear all three hats and somehow failed to deliver It hasn’t worked. And while Minister Charles Ramson Jr gave it a solid shot over the last five years, the truth is he was overwhelmed.
Now, with President IrfaanAli returning Ramson to the Ministry and appointing former national cricketer Steven Jacobs as MinisterwithintheMinistry,
thestageissetforsomething Guyana’s sports sector has been craving balance, accountability, and hopefully,results.
In my last column, I dissectedMinisterRamson’s tenure. I gave him credit where credit was due; accessibility and funding.
Two things Guyanese sport hadneverseenonthisscale. You could call Ramson at
almost any time, and he would answer, or at least return your calls or messages.
Associations finally felt heard And thanks to a record-breaking G$21 61 billion pumped into sport during his five years, federations were no longer begging government for scraps to send teams abroad or to run grassroots programmes.
Thatwastheupside.But the downside? Brutal Unforgivable, even Infrastructure Or more precisely,thelackofit.
With all that money flowing into the sector, Guyana should’ve seen world-class facilities mushrooming across the country Instead, we saw plans delayed, projects abandoned, and excuses
recycled.
The Achilles’ heel of Minister Ramson is that he had the cash. He had the platform.ButheleftGuyana withoutthelastinglegacyof infrastructure that our athletes deserve.And that is where his tenure fell apart. Atleasttome.
Now enter Steven
Jacobs.Thisisnewterritory Guyana has never had a Junior Minister in this Ministrybefore.
That’s not just historic, it’sstrategic.
Jacobs isn’t some career politician with no connection to sport. He’s lived it. He’s represented Guyana on the cricket field. He’s worked at the grassrootslevel.
And his time at the MayorandCityCouncilhas givenhimthekindofhandson experience with communitiesthatmakeshim anasset.
If used properly, Jacobs can plug the gaps Ramson couldn’t cover, and his presence could stop the Ministry from sinking under the weight of its own bloated portfolio
But honestly, none of this will matter if the Ministry continues to fumble the basics, like communication
To date, there’s been little clarity on how the two Ministers will divide their roles. What’s J a c o b s ’ s p e c i f i c mandate?
Wi l l h e d r i v e infrastructure? Oversee community sport? Handle youthdevelopment?
The public deserves answers Instead, there’s beensilence,andthatsilence only feeds the perception that the Ministry lacks proper public relations and direction.
Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs.
M y t h i n g i s , appointing two Ministers is one of the smartest moves President Ali has made for sport in Guyana.
But if Ramson and Jacobs don’t clearly define their roles, if they don’t finish the projects already started, and if they don’t move urgently to address the infrastructure crisis, then this bold step will end up as nothingmorethanapolitical gimmick.
History offers an interesting twist
The last time a national athlete served as
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport was the legendary cricketer, the late Roy Fredericks, who won the World Cup in 1975 with the West Indies
I can’t judge the
weight of his tenure decades ago, but I can say that the opportunity before Ramson and Jacobs is enormous. They have the resources.
They have the attention of the sporting community.
They even have the symbolism of blending politics with lived athletic experience.
The question is whether they will seize thismoment,orwasteit.
Because Guyana doesn’t need more ribbon-cuttings, promises, andphoto-ops.
What Guyana needs is infrastructure.Guyananeeds transparency Guyana needs leadership that matches the billions being poured into thesector
Two Ministers One Ministry No excuses
Frompage25 bagged his brace in the 21st, Bounty GCC replied with two more goals in the 24th and 32ndminutes.
The Outlaws added a third through Tariq Nelson,butitwasn’tenoughtostoptherout. Dwayne Scott capped off the scoring in the dyingmoments,sealinganemphatic8–3win forBountyheadingintoDay2.
Inthefinalmatchoftheevening,OldFort Men overwhelmed Saints Men with a convincing 6–2 victory Shaquon Favorite
was the difference-maker early, netting a quickfirebraceinthe12thand14thminutes togiveOldFortasolidcushion.
Keeland Cummings got one back for Saints in the 18th, but Simeon Moore and JasonDeSantosrespondedtoextendthelead to4–1.
Saints managed a second consolation goal,butOldFortkepttheirfootonthegas. Quinn Tobin and Donnell Alleyne each added a goal to round off a commanding performanceandacomfortable6–2win.
Hikers
The 2025 edition of the Igloo Ice Cream/Sunshine Snacks National Juniors Indoor Hockey tournament got off to a lively start on Tuesday at the National Gymnasium, with several hard-fought battles setting the tone for what’s expected tobeathrillingcampaign.
The opening fixture saw a no-show from the Hikers, whichhandedGCCSpartans
a walkover victory to start the tournament on a quiet note.
But the action heated up quickly in Game 2, as the Hikers Hatchets and Old Fortlockedhornsinatightly contested Boys’ U17 matchupthatendedin a 1–1 stalemate.Bothsidesplayed structured defense, with their backlines holding firm throughout.OldFortopened
the scoring via a penalty cornerconversioninthe14th minute Jhander Carpio steppedupandrippedashot past the keeper’s gloves to give his side the early advantage. But the Hatchets a n s w e r e d a l m o s t immediately—just a minute later when Elijah Belle broke through the defense and slotted home a welltaken field goal to level thingsup.
From there, it was a defensive chess match as bothsidesduginanddenied each other any further breakthroughs.
In the Women’s Open division, GBTI GCC and OldFortdeliveredoneofthe games of the day. Old Fort drew first blood in the 11th minute when Keitanna Percival found the back of thecagewithaclinicalstrike past GCC’s netminder, Isabella Ramjohn. Carolyn Dean doubled the lead before halftime with a powerful shot from outside the circle to put Old Fort
Three Men Promotion receives boost from Trophy Stall as anticipation builds for six-race showdown at GTC
With just days to go beforethehighlyanticipated HorseRaceMeetonSunday, September21,theorganisers (Three Men Promotion) have welcomed a major boost in support as Trophy Stall, Guyana’s premier trophy store, joined the event’s growing list of sponsors.
Inabriefbutmeaningful handing-over ceremony at TrophyStall’sBourdaStreet location yesterday, representatives from the popular store pledged their supporttowhatisshapingup to be one of the country’s most electric last quarter sportingevents.
Set to take place at the rejuvenated Georgetown Turf Club (GTC), the event promises a thrilling day of competition across six action-packed races The organising trio; Michael Sims,ComptonSancho,and JoelPremohavebeenhardat workpreparingthetrackand setting the stage for a show-
stoppingreturnofturfaction tothecapital.
“Come next Sunday, horse racing lovers can expect a new GTC experience,” Sims stated during an update. “Massive rehabilitation works have beencompletedatthevenue. The track is currently in its best-evershape.TheGTCis readytoroarbacktolifewith what promises to be a highoctane return to form for Guyana’sracingscene.” TheJ-Classfeatureevent
ahead2–0.Thethirdquarter exploded with five goals. Percival notched her second of the match in the 22nd minute with a dazzling solo effort to make it 3–0. But GCC came roaring back. Abosaide Cadogan pulled onebackviaapenaltycorner inthe23rdminute,injecting life into her squad. The momentum swung fully in GCC’s favor as Kristen Gomes capitalized in the 28th minute with a slick finish, before Rebecca Ferreira completed the
comeback just one minute laterwithacheekystrikethat knotted things at 3–3. Neither team could find the winner, and the final horn blewwiththescoreslevel.
In another Women’s Open clash, GBTI GCC and SaintsWomenalsobattledto a 2–2 draw in an evenly matchedcontest.
TheMen’sOpendivision brought the fireworks. In Match#4,BountyGCCMen dismantled GCC Outlaws 8–3 in a dominant performance Kareem
McKenzie opened the scoringinthe7thminute,but the Outlaws responded quickly through Luke Sargent to make it 1–1. BountyGCCthentookover, with Mark Sargent restoring the lead, followed by goals from Kevin Spencer and MarcusFiedtkouinthe10th and 11th minutes, respectively McKenzie struck again in the 17th to push Bounty GCCahead5–1atthebreak. ThoughLukeSargent (Continuedonpage24)
willtakecenterstage,witha grand prize of $300,000 up for grabs. Second place will walk away with $150,000, third place earns $75,000, andthefourth-placefinisher willcollect$37,000.
The competition is fierce, with several wellknown names in the racing circuit expected to compete. Among the headliners are TopGun,lookingtosecurea crucial late-year victory, alongwithNiceTime,Topof (Continuedonpage23)
In the world of martial arts, where discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance reign supreme, the story of Verney Max Massiah, known globally as Maxido rises above even the most legendary It beganin1972,whenan11-year-old boyfromGuyanadaredtodream.
Adreamthatwouldburnbright for over five decades, unwavering through injury, doubt, and unimaginablepain.Adreamthat,in Augustthisyear,culminatedinthe ultimate honour, being crowned a 9th Degree Grand Master at the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) MartialArtseventinDallas,Texas.
“Absolutely nothing, no one, not even severe discomfort, unbearable pain, or haters... would havebeenallowedtostopmefrom realizing that dream of becoming thebestatwhatIdearlylove.”
These are the words of a man who refused to quit. Through it all—broken bones, a 26-year-old back injury, naysayers, and nearc r i p p l i n g t r a v e l conditions—Massiahkeptgoing.
Pain Is Temporary, Legacy Is ForeverItwasn’taglamorousleadup to the G.O.A.T event. On his way to the airport, Max and his team suffered a jarring vehicle incident, hitting an unmarked speed bump in the dead of night. Already in pain, the compression fromtheimpactonlyworsenedhis condition.
“Ihadtobewheelchairedinall airportsfromGuyanatoDallas,”he recalled. Yet his spirit remained unbroken The G O A T event wasn’t just another martial arts meet, it was the platform to test, prove, and earn a place among the world’sgreatest.Itfeaturedapanel of high-ranking Grandmasters from as far as Australia and Germany, all there to judge, witness, and validate martial arts excellence.
Max Massiah had applied to testandshowcasetheeffectiveness of the MAXIDO Street-Defense System,asystemhefoundedinthe USA in 2017. Despite warnings fromhiseliteteamwhichconsisted
Grand Master Maxido during his technique testing at the G.O.A.T event
of decorated martial artists and professionals including former Magistrate and Army Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Sobers, as well as Kojo McPherson, Sean Thomas, and Floyde Rudder—Max would notbackdown.
“I either listened but didn’t hear, or heard but didn’t listen,” he said, laughingoffthepain Barelyableto stand, he insisted on demonstrating four techniques When the moment came,thepaindissolved,replacedby adrenaline, applause, and sheer willpower Sittingonachairwhilethe othertestingMastersstoodtall,Max performed with such force and precisionthathepushedthroughtwo moretechniques Histeampickedup the rest, stunning the crowd with their synergy and the undeniable effectiveness of the system they represented.
“Atthattimemybloodwashot, andIwantedtodomore,butthelook Kojogavemewarnedmeotherwise” Before an audience of nearly 200 spectators, including some of the mostelitemartialartistsontheplanet Maxidodidwhatfeweverachieve:he tookapersonalvisionborninasmall SouthAmericannationandetchedit intoglobalhistory
The crowd rose. The judges applauded. And Max Massiah’s childhood dream of being acknowledged among the world’s besthadbecomereality
“That a small country like Guyana could produce such an effective, unique, realistic selfdefense system... he reflected. “It fulfillsalittleboy’sdream.”
ALegacyCemented
Recognition at the G.O.A.T event marked not only a personal t r i u m p h b u t a l s o t h e immortalization of the MAXIDO system. Like Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, or Wing Chun, MAXIDO now takes its place among the pantheon of global martial arts systems; respected,
Verney Max Massiah promoted to 9th Degree Grand Master last month at the G.O.A.T Meet in Dallas, Texas
proven, and enduring.What began as one boy’s dream in 1972 has become a generational gift to the world. A system that, Massiah believes, will live hundreds of years beyond him. “The legacy of MAXIDO is earthed ” With gratitude, Massiah extended heartfelt thanks to the companies and individuals who believed in himenoughtosupportthishistoric
journey Their faith helped ensure that this extraordinary moment wasn’t just witnessed but remembered Maxido’s journey reminds us all that greatness doesn’tcomeeasy,nordoesitcome fast. But for those who are willing to fight through the pain, the doubts, and the years it eventually comes. And when it does,itroars.
Frompage27 his death sending shockwaves through Guyana’s sporting community and the wider Caribbean boxing fraternity, where he was widely regarded as one of theregion’sfinesttechnicalminds.
AformermemberoftheGuyana DefenceForce(GDF),Poolewasthe recipientoftheMedalofService(MS) forhisoutstandingworkinsportand nationaldevelopment Poole made history in 2014 when he became Guyana’s first International Boxing Association
(AIBA) Three-Star Coach after completing the elite coaching course inAlmaty,Kazakhstan
The Three-Star certification is the highest level attainable for amateur coaches, and at the time of his death, only Sebert Blake had joined him in Guyana with that distinction
Poole’s qualifications often saw him assisting Caribbean nations at international tournaments, particularly those without coaches certified to at leasttheOne-Starlevel
Barbados Royals wentunbeatenin the 2025 Massy Women’sCaribbeanPremier League (WCPL) to retain their title after beating the GuyanaAmazonWarriorsby three wickets with two balls tospareinanail-bitingfinal atProvidence.
Asked to bat first, the Warriors reached a score of 136/3 with opener Amy Hunter scoring 29 from 36 balls. The rest of the top order supported but could not muster enough
boundaries to put on a truly challengingtotal.
Dane Van Niekerk and captain Shermaine Campbelle joined forces to puttogetheranunbeaten56runpartnershipforthefourth wicket after Stafanie Taylor wasforcedtoretirehurtjust when the Warriors were looking to accelerate the scoring.
In reply, the Royals lost two wickets in the powerplay including the inform ChamariAthapaththufor25. However, Kycia Knight and
C o u r t n e y W e b b consolidated to set up the push for a third consecutive title but not before a late fightbackfromthehosts.
The champions were on course at 108/4 in the 17th before losing three wickets fortheadditionoftworuns.
With 19 needed from 12 balls, Aaliyah Alleyne hit seamer Molly Penfold for a six then a four as 15 runs were wiped off leaving Laura Harris with a difficult assignment of defending four in the final over In the
The dates for the
m e d i a t e Championships have been set according to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) as this year’s edition will f e a t u r e a s p e c i a l significance.
The three-day event has been renamed in honour of the late Terrence Poole, the revered coach and administratorwhodedicated morethan40yearsofhislife to the sport. The Terrence Poole National Open and I n t e r m e d i a t e Championships will be staged from October 25–27 attheNationalGymnasium, GBA President Steve Ninvalle explained that naming the championship after Poole was both fitting andnecessary
“It is important that we honour him through this tournamentbecausethiswas his ‘baby’,” Ninvalle said.
Terrence Poole (Photo: Newsroom)
“Heputinalotofextrawork to ensure it provided a platformforemergingtalent. Development was always at theheartofeverythingPoole did.”
AsTechnicalDirectorof the GBA, Poole was instrumental in successfully organising the National Open and Intermediate Championships during his tenure Ninvalle noted, “Given that he passed away in October, we felt it was mostappropriatetokeephis name and legacy alive
through this event ” In addition to this year’s National Open and I n t e r m e d i a t e Championships, the GBA will also host the Terrence P o o l e M e m o r i a l Tournament, which will be an international fixture featuringboxersfromacross the Caribbean. “Poole was anirreplaceablefigureinour association, and to this day we continue to feel his absence, especially around this time when we are putting together such important events,” Ninvalle said. Ninvalle pointed out that the upcoming championships are highly anticipated, with several boxers who excelled at the Novices eager to showcase their skills on the bigger stage. October 2 will mark one year since Poole’s sudden passing at a medical facilityinGeorgetown,with (Continuedonpage26)
end,Alleyne and Shreyanka Patil avoided further drama with a 27-run partnership from 14 balls to spark wild celebrations among the ladiesinpinkandheartbreak and tears for the spirited Warriors. Athapaththu scored the most runs in the tournament and along with seven wicketswasnamedPlayerof theSeries.AshminiMunisar and Laura Harris of the Warriors each bagged eight wickets to share the Most Wicketsprize. Withthewin,theRoyals have now extended their dominanceovertheWarriors to9-0.
