Kaieteur News

move extradition matter to CCJ

ExxonM seeks Govt.

Modern laws key booming future

Child dies as $7 million lifeline slips

Gas station bomber confesses

‘Stock up now or pay later’

-CCICEOurges

As tensions in the Middle East rattle global markets, the head of Caribbean Container Incorporated is urging businesses to act decisively, butnotpanic.

Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Bacchus told a forum on the crisis’s impact on global trade that companies must focus on strategy over headlines, warning that emotional reactions could lead to poor decisions. “Let us be guided by facts… not get caught up in the headlines,” Bacchus said, stressing that while the situation is serious, overreaction can undermine preparedness.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caribbean Container Incorporated (CCI), Patricia Bacchus

Bacchus clarified that alarmshouldnotbeconfused withbeingconcernedasthey aretwoverydifferentthings. She explained that being alarmed would cause someone to react very reactionary, therefore not being proactive to their approach in a situation. “So, my caution to everybody in the industry and everybody

inthisroomistojustletusbe guided by facts. Let us be guidedbytherealityandnot get caught up with the headlines Headlines are there for us to read, well the youthstoclick,butmypoint is, it’s not that what’s happeningisnotserious.It’s not for us to underestimate the effects of what’s happening…”shesaid.

The CEO reminded that what really needs to be understood is how the circumstances “will affect us, what needs to be done in themeantimeandkeepingup to speed with what is happening, continuously

monitoring the situation and adjusting accordingly.” “It’s always strategic to plan so shippingcompanies,persons thatactuallyhavebusinesses and further business owners intheroom,it’simportantfor us to have a healthy inventory It’s important for us to look at the parameters thosebeingaffected,because ultimately, consumers need the products that we’re selling,”sheexplained.

Rawmaterial priceincreases

Bacchus went on to say that she was not necessarily referring to products that were going on a shelf but in hercase,itwasthepaperthat goes into manufacturing packaging.

Where raw material is concerned,therewillsoonbe

movement in prices in the comingdays.

“We’llstarttoreceivethe emails and the notifications from suppliers So it becomescriticallyimportant to place orders. Now, your suppliers may not even take your orders because they’re stillmeasuringtheimpactof the price increases on their own operations, but where rawmaterialisconcernedfor productive activities, we have to move very swiftly, because in the coming weeks, and as long as the conflict continues and it continuestoescalate,andwe have scenarios now where gasfieldsarebeingbombed, aslongasthingscontinueto escalate, those prices will continue to increase,” she added.

‘WetWeekWarning’

— HEAVY RAINS, THUNDERSTORMS TO LASH GUYANA FOR SIX DAYS

Satellite Image (14:30 hrs) and a six-hour (6 hrs) radar-generated precipitation accumulation, March 23, 2026.

Guyana is bracing for six consecutive days of unstable and potentially dangerous weather, with forecasters warning of widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and possiblefloodingacrossthecountry

The Hydrometeorological Service of Guyana has issued an alert for the period March 23 to 28, 2026, cautioning that persistent downpours could trigger new flooding and worsen existing conditions, especially in low-lying and poorly drained communities.

Meteorologists say the current weather pattern is being driven by a powerful combination of atmospheric forces, creating idealconditionsforprolongedrainfall.

Inastatementthehydrometofficesaidthe current weather conditions are being influenced by strong low-level convergence, supported by moisture transport from the trade winds. This is further enhanced by upper-level divergence, creating a highly unstable atmospheric environment. These combined factors are contributing to increased cloudiness, frequent showers,

periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, and isolatedtoscatteredthunderstorms

FORECAST OUTLOOK

These unsettled conditions are expected to persist throughout the week, as forecast models indicate that the current atmospheric pattern will remain in place, the hydromet officesaid.

WHAT TO EXPECT

-Widespreadrainfall,attimesheavy

-Thunderstorms, particularly during the morningintoearlyafternoonperiods

-Reduced visibility during intense showers

Potentialimpacts

-Localized flooding, especially in floodproneandlow-lyingareas

-Water accumulation on roadways leads tohazardousdrivingconditions

-Disruptionstooutdooractivities

-Lightning and gusty winds associated withthunderstorms

The National Weather Watch Center will continuetocloselymonitorthiseventandwill issuebulletinsastheneedarises.

Gasstationbomberconfesses ...says was given device by Guyanese ...but claims sole responsibility for crime

Whatwasexpectedtobe a routine paper committal hearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court took an unexpected turn Monday, whenthemainaccusedinthe Regent Street gas station bombing openly confessed to the crime, claiming full responsibility and insisting thatheactedalone.

The accused also signalled his intention to cooperate fully with the prosecution in an effort to bring the matter to a swift conclusion.

The development unfoldedduringproceedings

before acting Chief

Magistrate Faith McGusty, w h e n 3 3 - y e a r - o l d Venezuelan national Daniel

Alexander Ramirez

Poedemo, previously identifiedbyinvestigatorsas the alleged mastermind behind the deadly attack, made the admission through his attorney, Shellon Boyce. Boyce informed the court thatduringarecentvisitwith her client, he made significant disclosures regarding the incident. As a result, she reached out to prosecutorMandelMooreto explore the possibility of taking a different legal approach based on her client’s statements However, she declined to disclosethespecificsoftheir conversationinopencourt.

Poedemo is currently

facing a charge of

committing an act of terrorism, stemming from the October 26, 2025 bombing at the Mobil Gas StationlocatedatRegentand KingStreetsinGeorgetown. The prosecution alleges that the explosive device was used to threaten Guyana’s sovereignty and security or instil fear among the population The explosion tragically claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and left several others traumatised.

Monday’s hearing had initially been set to commence paper committal proceedings involving

several co-accused, including 44-year-old Venezuelan Alexander Betancourt, Venezuelan nationalKrystalLaCruz,and GuyanesetaxidriverJohnny Boodram Also before the court were Wayne Correia, 44, Ramesh Pramdeo, and Jennifer Rodriguez. All six individualshadbeencharged

with aiding and abetting Poedemo in carrying out the attack, with the prosecution maintainingthattheyplayed variousrolesintheplanning and execution of the operation. However, in light of Boyce’s disclosure to the court, the proceedings were halted.

When questioned by the magistrate, through a translator, about his intentions moving forward, Poedemo responded that the decision rested with his lawyer and the court.At the same time, he firmly maintained that the other individuals charged in connectionwiththeincident were innocent Pressed further by the magistrate to clarify his position, he confirmedhiswillingnessto cooperate with authorities Through the translator, the court was told, “Yes, he speaks with his lawyer, he explained everything and he wants to continue like that. He wants to finish off the matterasquicklyaspossible so that the innocent persons comeout.”

In a further exchange, Poedemo made a direct admission of guilt, stating that he “want to admit everything, ” thereby confirming his involvement inthebombing.Hedisclosed that he had received the explosive device from a Guyanese-Venezuelan individual but added that he “did what he had to do ” Despitethis,hecontinuedto insistthatheactedaloneand that none of the other accused persons should be held responsible for the crime.

In light of these significant developments, the case is now expected to be reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who will determine the appropriate course of action moving forward Prosecutor Moore told the court that he will require a formal proposal from the defence before presenting the matter to the DPP’s chambers, noting that the review process could take approximately two weeks. The matter has since been adjournedtoApril20.

DuringPoedemo’sinitial

court appearance on November 5, 2025, the prosecution had outlined a very different narrative, alleging that all seven

accused individuals acted in coordination, with Poedemo serving as the primary orchestrator of the attack

Accordingtothestate’scase, theotheraccusedwereeither awareoftheplot,assistedin itsexecution,orplayedroles in transporting Poedemo b

ver, attorneys representing several of the co-accused strongly rejected these claims.

Attorney Mikel Puran, representing taxi driver Johnny Boodram, argued that his client had no knowledge of the alleged plotandwassimplyhiredto t

Similarly, attorney Bernard Da Silva, who represents Guyanese nationals Wayne

Correia and Ramesh Pramdeo,maintainedthathis clientswerenotconnectedto the bombing in any way He explainedthatCorreia,alsoa taxidriver,wasinPomeroon

at the time and had merely contacted Pramdeo to assist in transporting two Venezuelanmen,believedto be gold miners, to a hotel in Essequibo.According to Da Silva, Pramdeo carried out the request without any knowledge of the men’s intentions.

The prosecution, however, disputed these assertions, arguing that the accused were aware of the plan.Investigatorspointedto alleged communication between Poedemo and LaCruz following the explosion, claiming that she assistedhimaftertheattack. ItisallegedthatLaCruz,who isreportedlyinarelationship with Poedemo, picked him up, transported him to her home, and later took him to the residence of Jennifer Rodriguez.Duringthistime, Poedemo allegedly used LaCruz’s phone to contact individuals in Venezuela to request money before she

suspect in the

returnedtowork. Further details from the investigation, previously disclosed by Crime Chief WendellBlanhum,indicated that the suspects may have used a food purchase at a nearbyKFCoutletasacover to scout the gas station prior to carrying out the attack. According to a senior police officer, the prime suspect and an accomplice traveled to Georgetown along with a female accomplice and a

hired taxi driver. “They parkedthecarinthevicinity ofthegasstation.Thefemale accomplice then exited the vehicleandwenttotheKFC outlet where she purchased food for the two Venezuelans,” the officer explained “It was during t h a t t i m e t h a t t h e Venezuelans took the opportunity to conduct surveillance of the fuel stationbeforeexecuting

Continued on page 19

Main

Mobil Gas station bombing attack, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Whither the AFC

Once touted as a political force capable of bridging divides and holding power to account, the Alliance For Change now appears to have faded into near-total irrelevance.Itssilenceisdeafening.

Followingitscrushingelectoraldrubbing,theAFChas not only lost ground it has virtually disappeared from the national conversation. There is no clear leadership voice, no sustained public engagement, no visible attempt at rebuilding. For a party that once prided itself on being a thirdforceinGuyanesepolitics,thisretreatisbothstartling anddeeplydisappointing.

The resignation of Nigel Hughes as leader only deepenedtheuncertainty Leadershiptransitions,ifhandled properly, can signal renewal and fresh direction. In the AFC’s case, however, Hughes’stepping down has instead reinforcedtheperceptionofapartyindisarrayuncertainof its path, unsure of its purpose, and struggling to define its future. But the problems run deeper than leadership. The AFC’selectoralcollapsewasnotsymbolicitwassweeping. ThepartysufferedatotalwipeoutfromParliament,losing any formal voice in the National Assembly Even more telling was its absence from the Regional Democratic Councils,whereitonceheldpresenceandinfluence.That kind of rejection cannot be brushed aside as a temporary setback.Itisaclearmessagefromtheelectorate.Andyet, there has been little indication that the party has truly absorbedthatmessage.Whereistheintrospection?Where isthehonestaccountingofwhatwentwrong?TheAFCrose to prominence on a platform of accountability, transparency, and national unity. It positioned itself as an alternative to the entrenched political divisions that have long defined Guyana. For a time, it succeeded. It held the balance of power It influenced national direction. It mattered.Butsomewherealongtheway,thatpromisewas lost. Its time in government left lingering questions about whether it compromised too much, whether it abandoned itsprinciples,andwhetheritbecametoocomfortableinthe very system it once sought to challenge. Voters, it seems, reachedtheirownconclusions.Now,inoppositionorwhat should be opposition the AFC has failed to mount any meaningful response It has not reconnected with disillusionedsupporters.Ithasnotarticulatedacompelling visionforthefuture.Ithasnotevenmadeitselfvisible. Inpolitics,absenceisdangerous.Apartythatisnotseen is quickly forgotten. A party that is not heard loses relevance.Andapartythatdoesnotfightforitsplaceinthe nationaldiscourseriskspoliticalextinction.Thecountryis undergoingrapidtransformation,drivenbyunprecedented oilwealthandthecomplexchallengesthatcomewithit.At suchatime,theneedforstrong,crediblevoicesespecially outside of government is greater than ever Democracy dependsonscrutiny,debate,andalternativeperspectives. TheAFC once helped to provide that balance. This is not merely a critique of one party It is a concern for the health of the broader political landscape. When a party collapsesintosilence,itweakensthediversityofideasand reducesthespaceformeaningfulaccountability TheAFC mustdecidewhetheritintendstoremainapartofGuyana’s future or fade into its past. Rebuilding will not be easy It will require more than statements and sporadic appearances.Itwilldemandhonestreflection,internalreform, andawillingnesstoreconnectwiththepeople,notjustduring electioncycles,butconsistentlyandcredibly Itwillalsorequire leadership,notjustintitle,butinaction Whowillstepforward? Whowillchartanewcourse?Whowillrestoreconfidenceina party that once inspired hope? These are questions theAFC mustanswerandsoon Thepoliticalspaceitonceoccupiedis notwaiting Votersarenotwaiting Thecountryisnotwaiting If theAlliance For Change does not re-emerge with clarity, purpose, and conviction, it risks becoming exactly what manyalreadysuspectithasbecome:Apartythatnolonger existswhereitmattersmostinthehearts,minds,andtrustof theGuyanesepeople.

Aperformance worthy of a Hollywood Oscar and a NewYork Broadway Venue

DEAREDITOR, Last night (22nd March, 2026) I attended an absolutely magnificent performance presented by the National Drama Company (NDC) of the National School of Theatre, ArtsandDramapromotedas “Musings of a Poet IV”, described as an “evening of wineandtheatre”.

The top floor of the National Cultural Centre, usually used for the purpose of holding receptions for stage performances, was converted into a small stage for a seated audience, the intended and successful purpose was to create an intimatesetting,bringingthe audience closeup to the actors.

“Musings of a Poet IV”, in my view, was misleading asadescriptionofwhatIwas privileged to witness. This was not actors reciting

poetry, anything but. The Executive Director, Al Creighton Jr., describes the show as “a unique form of theatreperformance”.Itwas most certainly that. The poems, conceived and written by the performers themselves, were presented in drama, music, song, dance,intriguingsetdesigns and theatre in all its forms, bytheverybestofourartists, manyyoungandsomenotso young, but each one quite brilliant.

Though presented as “Musings of a Poet IV”, what I saw and immensely enjoyed, was storytelling in poetry, dramatically expressing the thoughts, the emotions, the joy, the anger, the frustrations and the disappointments of ordinary people living everyday ordinary lives but displayed withextraordinaryforceand fire. These were stories in

verse about “life in de country”, about being born intopovertyandaskingwhy and who is to blame, about blasphemy, about having an opinionandnotbeingafraid toexpressit,aboutamnesia, not knowing who I am but knowing what I am, about the death of masquerade, about sin and about games we shouldn’t play In the Director’s Mark LukeEdwards’words“atheatrical experiencethatrepresentsan intriguing journey fueled by a roller coaster of emotions morphedintoaspectacle.”

Credit for this truly tremendous show must also gototheConfuciusInstitute of UG, whom Al Creighton Jnr incorporated into the performance.

It is not my practice nor myprofessionasawriter,to write about theatre, even though I am married to a Theatre Producer of no ordinary means. I, however, decided to write this letter, not only because the exceptional performance deserves public recognition, but,sadly,becauseitwasnot recognized nor attended at thelevelitshouldhavebeen by the leadership of our country,bothingovernment and in the opposition. An entirefrontrowofchairswas reserved for Ministers and VIPs. None came. This was extremely disappointing to me, most especially, now that our President himself has embraced Guyana the “OrangeEconomy”.

WhatIandallthosewho weretherelastSundaynight were privileged to attend, was a performance on stage by all who were involved, worthy of a Hollywood Oscar and a New York BroadwayVenue.

Yourssincerely, KitNascimento

Hollow Call of ‘One Guyana

DEAREDITOR

Letusbeblunt:thelatest pretenceatscholarshipfrom the Guyana Times masqueradingasaneditorial —isnotanargumentbutan exercise in diversion Dressed in the borrowed robesofpoliticalphilosophy, it sermonises about “assimilation,” “melting pots,” and “salad bowls” in theUnitedStatesandFrance, while breezing past the very soil it pretends to till. One would think Guyana’s deepseated fractures and inequitiescouldbesolvedby philosophical namedropping, rather than by confronting the raw imbalance of power that keepsonehalfofthecountry subjugated beneath a carefullypolishedslogan.

The essay’s premise — that the government’s “One Guyana” vision strikes a noblebalancebetweenunity and diversity — collapses the moment it meets reality Thereisnobalance.Thereis a hierarchy Beneath the glitteringrhetoricof“unity,” a two-tier system thrives — one that determines opportunity, voice, and belonging not by merit, but by ethnicity, political loyalty,andproximitytothe ruling cabal The lived experience of ordinary Guyanese, from the sugar belt to the hinterland, bears no resemblance to the sanitized utopia painted by thepropagandists.

To speak of “One G u y a n a ” i n s u c h circumstancesistomockthe intelligence of the citizenry Unity cannot be decreed by slogans or government campaigns.Itmustbeearned through justice — through equitable participation in governance,throughthefair distribution of resources, through the dismantling of the invisible wall that divides one citizen’s birthright from another’s daily struggle. Until those foundationsarelaid,thecall for “oneness” will remain what it is: a cynical tool for power consolidation, not nationalcohesion.

What the Times article willfully ignores is that Guyana’s unfinished nationhood was never a result of cultural plurality, b u t o f p o l i t i c a l manipulation The “bricolage” of peoples who came to these shores could well have forged a vibrant andinclusivenation,hadthe state not been captured by a ruling class intent on weaponising difference for partisan survival In this context, “One Guyana” is little more than a public relations costume a convenient veil for an unrepentantsystemofethnic favoritism and social exclusion.

No one is opposing unity; we are opposing hypocrisy When genuine equality of opportunity is

still a mirage, when cultural dignity is still contingent upon political alignment, and when half the country still feels like outsiders in theirownhomeland,thenthe nation must not be lulled by slogans. Guyanese citizens deserve a real reckoning — not another state-sponsored sermonaboutwhoweshould be, but a forthright conversation about how we

are being kept from becoming one people at all. In the end, the “One Guyana”ideologywillstand or fall not by what it preaches, but by what it practices. And so far, its practice reeks not of unity, but of division wrapped in poetry — the oldest con in thebook.

Regards

HemduttKumar

Deja Vue

DEAREDITOR

The debates in our country, region and the worldresemblequiteabitof the debates that were taking placein1938,justontheeve oftheSecondWorldWar

At that time the main issue was how to deal with Hitler’sGermanywhichwas displayingaveryaggressive and expansionist policy He was making bold moves in Europe, taking over Austria and in Africa. The powers that be then took a very conciliating approach to him, speaking softly and quietly hoping to dissuade himfromgoingtowar

The Soviet Union had a different view It was trying to forge anAnti-Hitler front inthe1930swiththeUnited Kingdom and France. It had argued that if not stopped quickly Hitler was going to go to war The Soviet argumentwasrejected.

Hitler sensing the reluctancy of the powers, UKandFrance,inparticular, to stop him and noting that the rising power, the United States adopted a neutral position,feltemboldened.In 1938 Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia,whichsoon after led to the invasion of France and most of Europe and then the Soviet Union, whenthewarstarted.

Today we see many similaritiestotheaggression of the United States and by extension Israel, coming fromvariousquarters.

Many feel that to save themselves from the US frowning on them and to avoid sanctions they must sacrifice Cuba. More than that they attack Iran, the victim of US and Israeli aggression,fordefendingitselffromtheblatantattacks. Theyhavehardlyuttereda (Continuedonpage05)

Decades of deaths and injury at Huntley’s bend

DEAREDITOR

It is with great sadness that I write regarding the deathsofthetwoadultsand injuryofthefourchildrenin the car accident at the sharp bend in the road/highway at theeasternendofthevillage ofHuntleyMahaicony,East Coast Demerara (“Taxi driver, passenger die in Mahaiconycrash”,Kaieteur News,March22,2026).My deepest sympathy to the families, relatives, and friends of the deceased; and my wish for a full and speedy recovery of the children.

Igrewupinthevillageof Huntley as a child in the 1950s and that bend in the road/highway has been a death trap for drivers and theirpassengersonaregular basisoverthedecadessince my childhood years. Many years ago, government took actiontoeliminateanumber of dangerous bends (turns) and straighten the road/highway in parts of East Coast Demerara Unfortunately, the sharp bend (almost a 45-degree angle) at the meeting point oftheeasternendofHuntley and the western end ofAiry Hall, where this accident took place, was never addressed.

In the 1950s when the now called highway was a burnt-earth brick road and the speed of motor vehicles

was significantly slower, manydriverswereunableto handlethisbend.Oftentheir vehicle would run off the road, ending up in the roadsidetrenchandresultin one or more deaths. Now with the paved road called highway and an incredible increase in the volume of motor vehicles travelling at veryhighspeed,thisbendis anevenworsedeathtrap.

From my personal knowledge as a driver in Guyana, the Huntley-Airy Hallbendisoneofthemost dangerous turns on the East C o a s t D e m e r a r a road/highwaythatrunsfrom V l i s s e n g e n R o a d , Georgetown, in the west to theAbaryRiverintheeast,a distance of around 35 - 40 miles According to DriverAbroad com, “the definitive guide to selfdriving in every country of the world”, the speed limits in Guyana are “100 kmh on highways, 80 kmh on rural roads and 50 kmh in urban areas”. I believe the speed limit of 80 kmh through the villagesfromHuntleyinthe west to Abary in the east is far too high when one considers the population density lining both sides of the road/highway through thesevillages.

Asnoted,ruralroadsare now called highways in Guyana and during my last visit to Guyana in 2014, I

observed drivers racing through these villages with impunity at speeds exceedingthe80kmhlimit. Inanearlierlettercaptioned “Death does not give a second chance” (Kaieteur News,July28,2024)Iwrote “itseemsthatthemajorityof road fatalities are caused by irresponsible drivers who are often males under the age of forty with a significant number being in their late teens or early t w e n t i e s … T h e s e individuals often lose controloftheirownvehicle, killing themselves or causing the deaths of others”. According to news reports, the driver in this accidentwas24yearsofage and was speeding to overtake a line of vehicles when he lost control of his vehicleattheturn.

During my 2014 visit to Guyana, I cannot recall seeing any highly visible sign posted on the Huntley roadside warning drivers proceeding east to “slow down, dangerous, sharp bendahead”orasimilarsign on theAiry Hall roadside to warn drivers proceeding west. If there is no such warning sign on the roadside, this driver from far-off Tuschen, Essequibo, who is now deceased, was likely caught by surprise at suddenly encountering the bendwhiledrivingatahigh

Deja Vue

speedandhencelostcontrol of his vehicle thereby resulting in two deaths and fourinjured.

I hope Guyana’s

Minister of Public Works, The Honourable Bishop Juan Edghill, and his roads engineers will look into this accident and take the necessary corrective action topreventanyfurtherlossof lifeatthisbend.Inmyview, if there is no appropriate warning sign in either direction leading up to this bend, such signs should be installedimmediately. Also, from my reading of the Guyanadailynewspapers,it seems that possibly one in three accidents is caused by a driver losing control of his/her vehicle. Apart from stricter driver certification and greater traffic law enforcement, another early step to address the high rate

of traffic fatalities throughout the country is to reduce the speed limit on rural roads from 80 kmh to 60 kmh or less especially in villages with high population density on both sides of the road/highway G u y a n a ’ s r u r a l roads/highways, now with nodistinctelevatedfootpath or sidewalk, is a hazard to pedestrians. Current speed limit of 80 kmh simply increasesthedanger

Yourstruly, HarryHergash

The

Ounce

DEAREDITOR

Today’s report on Aris Mining Corporation’s strategy to reach the onemillion-ounce league, anchored by the Toroparu projectinRegion7andSoto Norte in Colombia, is a watershed moment for Guyana.

The numbers are consequential: US14.7 billion in projected gold sales over Toroparu’s 21year mine life and US3.4

ected government earnings As Aris moves toward a 2027 construction decision, the marketmustlookbeyondthe financial projections and examine the shifting legal groundbeneaththesector

The 2025 High Court rulinginMorrisandMarcus v Environmental Protection Agency changed the risk profile for every mining major operating in this country Byestablishingthat Scope 3 emissions must be identified and evaluated in all Environmental Impact

Assessm

s, and by confirming that private citizens have legal standing

transformed environmental complia

ce from a regulatory formality into a primaryfinancialliability A single successful legal challengecanstallabilliondollar project. That is not a theoretical risk. It is now Guyanese judicial precedent.

capital. It is the Governance Gap. The distance between a TSX filing in Canada and the regulatory reality of the GGMC and the EPA in Georgetown is where value leakage occurs, where permitted projects become vulnerable, where Local Content Act obligations g

community standing to challenge EIAs creates litigation risk that no financial model currently prices.

This is not an argument against Guyana’s mining sector Quite the opposite. Thecompaniesthattreatthe Morris ruling, the LCA compliance architecture, and the GGMC’s evolving technical standards as governance opportunities rather than bureaucratic obstacles will secure their Social License to Operate fasterandmoredurablythan those that do not. In an era where a single legal challenge

derail US$14.7billioninprojected sales, go

Frompage04

word of support for the people of Palestine and Lebanon that are being carpet bombed and the blatant murder of babies, children and women, journalist, medical personnel and civilians by Israel whose aim is to expanditsterritory

The deafening silence by so many is directly related to thesupportthatIsraelenjoys fromtheUnitedStates.

No doubt it is that kind of “support” that has emboldened the US and Israel to murder thousands of Iranians including many of its leaders. Now we are endangering the whole world since the situation in the Middle East can easily develop into a worldwar!

Already hints of Israel and US using nuclear weapons against Iran have emerged

The real friends of the United States will tell them that their policy is creating unbelievable sufferings What miseries are being created in our world

This is nurturing great hatred and distrust that can last long into the

It was sad to see that some “democrats” supportingtheUSactionsin Venezuela.Oneletterwriter, Mr Hydar Ally published a piece in three daily newspaper (and continuing for an entire week in the Guyana Chronicle, as at 23 march), and described the kidnapping of the Venezuelan President and hiswifefromtheirbedasan “extradition”.

future We must condemn these unnecessary wars We must stand-up for International laws and for principles that have been laid down in the United Nationsfordecades

The Right of Nations to Self-Determination is a fundamental right and should be upheld and respected! Life has taught us that any change ofgovernmentmustcome

from the peoples of a country

It cannot be imposed fromoutside I consider myself a friend of the great people of the United States and therefore urge that nation to use their enormous power for good, for life and not for death and sufferings!

Sincerely

RameshRamkirat

FortheVancouver-based boardroom of Aris Mining and the Montreal-based leadership of G Mining Ventures, whose Oko West project received its mining licence from the GGMC in December 2025 and is targeting first gold in H2 2027, the challenge is no longer solely geology or

ernance intelligence is not a soft metric. It is the definitive operational protection for every dollar committed to theGuianaShield. Emerging Markets Governance Advisory Inc. (EMGA) was established specificallytoclosethisgap. EMGAisaVancouver-based strategic intelligence and governance advisory firm foundedbyaGuyanese-born Canadian specialist with deepexpertiseintheGuiana Shield’s political economy EMGA provides the intelligence bridge between Vancouver’s capital standardsandGeorgetown’s regulatory requirements, from LCA compliance frameworksandEIA (Continuedonpage06)

Govt. to use IDB loan to help furnish hinterland maternity waiting homes

The government

through the

Ministry of

Healthwillbeusingpartofa US$97millionloanfromthe I n t e r - A m e r i c a n Development Bank to furnishthreenewhinterland maternitywaitinghomes.

According to a recent invitation for bids issued by the ministry, the Guyana Government received financing from the IDB toward the Health C a r e N e t w o r k Strengthening Programme inGuyana

Under this project title, the supply and delivery of

furnishing is for the maternity waiting homes at MorucainRegionOne,Kato inRegionEightandLethem inRegionNine.

As previously reported by the Health Ministry, waiting homes are being built to provide expectant mothers from remote communities with a safe a n d c o m f o r t a b l e environment to stay both before and after delivery. Some features of such facilities would include c o n s u l t a t i o n a n d examination rooms, as well as a fully equipped laundry area and kitchen,

ensuring both medical c

ay convenience are readily available

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had noted t

e impor

of maternal waiting homes close to hinterland hospitals, stating that it will help eliminate the challenges mothers from far-flungvillagesface.

D u r i n g t h e commissioning ceremony of the maternity waiting home at Kumaka back in December, he noted the G o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to reducing

NYGuyaneseHindusintraditional ObservanceofNavratri

DEAREDITOR

, Guyanese Hindus in New York and elsewhere in USA are observing the auspiciousHindufestivalof Navratri, nine nights of worshipping the Goddess

D u r g a a n d h e r reincarnations Mandirs around the USA and

throughout Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname have beenholdingnightlyservice since the festival began last ThursdayeveningMarch19 and will conclude on Friday evening.

It concludes on Friday evening March 27. Temples

throughout the NY metropolitanareahavebeen packed nightly with devotees.The services are a mirrorofthoseinGuyana.

Navratri is one the holiest periods for Hindus during which they fast. The festival concludes with the celebration of Ram Naumi (the appearance of Lord Rama thousands of years ago in the holy city of Ayodhya) And not surprisingly, temples have been holding Ramayan or Devisessionsnightlyduring this period; many persons have also been conducting poojasattheirhome.

During Navratri, devotees worship the feminine aspects of the lord

— Goddess Durga and her reincarnations, Laxmi and Saraswati. Goddess Durga is also the collective manifestation of Brahma ( c r e a t o r ) , Vi s h n u (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer) As pandits explained, when devotees worship Durga, they are worshipping the other manifestations of God

People worship for protection,loveandcomfort and Goddess Durga offers divine protection and removalofdiseases.

The celebration is held over nine days b e c a u s e n i n e h a s significance for them Nav means nine and ratri means night It is a festival that is celebrated during the night with prayers and spiritual dancing and a discourse Each Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati is worshippedforthreenights to offer protection (Durga), provide wealth (Lakshmi) and guide the devotee to knowledge (Saraswati) respectively Durga means fort or a place that is protected.SheistheGeneral in charge of security of the nation.PeoplepraytoDurga for protection, strength and shakti (power) in defense againsttheirmanyenemies.

When people worship D u r g a , t h e y a r e worshipping the other manifestationsofGodand are seeking divine protection and removal of disease A devotee prostrates to Mother Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity, so that he or she can become wealthy, kind and generous towardsothers And a devotee worships Mother Saraswati for wisdom.

People fasting, visit mandirs, and perform pujas as well as invite pandits to conduct special services at theirhome.

Theyarewellattiredfor the mandir service in beautifulcolorfultraditional

m a t e r n a l d e a t h s nationwide, particularly in hinterland regions including Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine

The minister stated that, historically, pregnant women from remote villages often embarked on long and challenging journeys to hospitals only after labour had begun, sometimes resulting in deliveries en route and p r e v e n t a b l e complications

“Most maternal deaths arepreventable,andwemust take deliberate actions to avoid them,” Dr Anthony stated, emphasising the importanceofearlyaccessto care.

or residing in remote areas, to travel to the ho

Indian outfits. Fasting is for purificationofthemindsand bodies. Devotees pray with intensedevotion.

During Navratri, devotees normally hold special prayers in the mornings and in the eveningstopayobeisanceto theuniversalmother

As noted, the mother provides her children with sustenance and as such she must be propitiated

During this time worshippers tend to fast for the entire period, avoiding meat, sex, fish, eggs and maintain cleanlinessinthehomesfor almosttwoweeks.

During Navratri, a devotee becomes conscious of his/her faults, limitations andinternalenemiessuchas lust,hatred,greedandanger and want to reform his life. People make sacrifices in theirfastsotheycanbecome consciousoftheirfaultsand c o r r e c t t h e m B y worshipping Durga and her sisters, these internal enemies are destroyed and are replaced by love, cheerfulness, compassion, and devotion In the mornings, Guyanese Hindus offer jaal or dhar which is a mixture of curd, milk, honey, sugar, neem, cloves, hardi (turmeric), tills, and other sweet spices, and they also make other offeringslikeclothing

ThefamedLordRamais associated with Navratri — his appearance at the end of the nine nights He is glorifiedbyHindus.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

To address this challenge, the ministry has been constructing Maternal Waiting Homes at interior hospitals

These facilities allow p r e g n a n t w o m e n , particularly those at risk

ss professional care when labourbegins. A number of these waiting homes have been c o n s t r u c t e d a n d commissioned in several hinterland communities

As it relates to the furnishing of the

Lethem, Kato and Moruca maternity waiting homes, these

f a c i l i t i e s w i l l complement the new state-of-the-art hospitals that are currently under construction in those communities.

The construction of those hospitals is being funded through financing b y t h e I D B a n d government The US$97 million ID loan which is touted to strengthen the country’s health services wassecuredbytheGuyana Governmentbackin2022

Our Motto says it all

DEAREDITOR

Our Motto says it all. We’re One People, One Nation, One Destiny Aland of six peoples. Yet, we face challenges in forging a united nation. A Guyanese Nation Challenges like while our economy is performing well this still needs to translate into real social improvements for the vastmajorityofourpeople.

Yes , the P P P /C Government has this plan to reducethepriceofelectricity

with the hope that manufacturing will take-off. Ihopeitworkssothatmany more jobs will be created so

that people can see improvements in their lives.

Improvements like affordable stable electricity

supply Like clean continuous water Like better sanitation. Like better educated and healthy Guyanesepeople.

Once a remedy is found for our social situation our

political problems will be practically non-existent That’s not to say that everything will be okay There will still be new challenges But least we forget, we are a nation that have already overcome challenges For example, some of our ancestors overcame slavery; some of our ancestors overcame indentureship.

We’ve overcome economichardship,political and social instability This has made the Guyanese Nation into a more resilient people. Yes, some of us chose to migrate abroad for better economic, political andsocialstability

Many of us who have donesostillthinkofGuyana as our homeland Even beforeoilwasdiscoveredwe were getting involved in localdevelopments.

I live in the UK I personally believe that the PPP/C idea of development

is not what Guyana needs because it is spending billions of US dollars to get electricity which in the end willneedtobesubsidisedto be cheap. As well as, the manufacturingjobswillonly be concentrated in a few areas causing population drifttothoseareas.Whenwe needtobelookingtogetting manufacturing jobs in every region and into the towns and villages in Guyana. Not just one or two areas. They will have to build new houses and infrastructure in those areas costing billions of dollars while the rest of the country gets neglected. As well as, the plan that the PPP/C Government has is outdated.

I say this because it reliedonwagesnotrisingby much. But the cost of living hasincreased.Thechallenge forthePPP/CGovernmentis toreducethecostofliving.

Sincerely

SeanOri

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Mohameds move extradition matter to CCJ

— seek urgent stay of proceedings

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, NazarMohamed,haveescalatedtheirlegalchallengeagainst extraditionproceedingsbymovingtotheCaribbeanCourtof Justice(CCJ),seekingspecialleavetoappealarecentCourtof Appeal decision that dismissed their claims of bias in the handlingofthecase.

The application, filed on Friday by attorney Siand Dhurjon,alsoseeksanorderfromtheCCJtostaytheongoing extradition proceedings currently before the Georgetown Magistrates’Court, pending the outcome of the appeal. The regional court has already responded, scheduling a case management hearing for Wednesday morning via video conference.

AtthecentreoftheapplicationisachallengetotheCourt of Appeal’s decision, which upheld an earlier High Court ruling dismissing claims that Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond acted with political bias when issuing the AuthoritytoProceed(ATP)intheextraditioncase.Bothlower courts found that the Minister acted in an administrative capacity and that allegations of bias were not substantiated. However,theMohameds’legalteamhasmaintainedthatthe decision was flawed and have now taken the matter to Guyana’sfinalappellatecourt.

The Mohameds are currently facing a federal indictment inMiami,UnitedStates,followingtheunsealingofa25-page document on October 2, 2025. The indictment outlines allegations of a large-scale fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and theevasionofmillionsofdollarsintaxesandroyaltiesowed to the Guyanese state.Acting on a formal request from U.S. authorities, Minister Walrond signed the ATP, thereby initiating the extradition process. Should sufficient evidence bepresentedduringthecommittalproceedings,thepresiding magistrate could order their extradition to face the charges abroad.

The legal challenge stems from a High Court ruling delivered on February 4, 2026, which dismissed the Mohameds’ judicial review application contesting the ATP and raising constitutional issues regarding provisions of the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act 2009. That decision wassubsequentlyupheldbytheCourtofAppealonMarch17, 2026,inarulingdeliveredbyChancellor(Ag)JusticeRoxane GeorgeandsupportedbyJusticesofAppealRishiPersaudand NareshwarHarnanan.Theappellatecourtfound“nomerit”in the claims of bias, affirming the earlier findings of Chief Justice(Ag)NavindraSinghthatthemerefactthatMohamed is Opposition Leader and the Minister is a member of the governmentdidnotestablishbias.

IntheirapplicationtotheCCJ,theMohamedsareseeking severalorders,includingspecialleavetoappealtheCourtof Appeal’sdecision,astayoftheextraditionproceedingsbefore PrincipalMagistrateJudyLatchman,andareversalorsetting asideoftheappellatecourt’sruling.Theyarealsoaskingthat theiroriginalFixedDateApplication,filedinDecember2025, be granted and that the CCJ treat the application for special leave as the substantive appeal, given the urgency of the matter

ThedefencearguesthattheCourtofAppealerredinlaw and that its decision amounts to a miscarriage of justice. In theirsubmissions,theycontendthattheissuesraisedareof Continued on page 16

Businessman Nazar Mohamed and son Opposition leader Azuddin Mohamed

Every child deserves a fighting chance

Thedeathofachild is one of the hardest things a societycanface.Itshakesus. It leaves us with pain that words cannot fully express. But when a child dies while awaiting critical medical intervention, the grief becomes even heavier It is nolongerjustaboutloss.Itis also about questions-painful questions that do not go away

Could that child have been saved? Would things have been different if help came sooner? Did we, as a society,doenough?

In the case of the 12year-old who needed a bone marrow transplant, we may neverknowtheanswertothe m o s t i m p o r t a n t question whether the surgery would have saved his life. Medicine is not certain Even the best doctors cannot guarantee outcomes. But that is not the point. The point is that that child deserved a fighting chance.Everychilddoes.

What makes this situation even more troubling is that the cost of the surgery, G$7 million, was not beyond reach. It is a largesumforanyonefamily But for an entire country, for

a united public, it is not impossible. In fact, it is the kind of figure that could have been raised quickly if enough people acted together

Yet, by the time of the child’s death, only about G$3 5 million had been raised. That reality should troubleusdeeply

It is easy to turn immediately to the government and ask why it did not pay the full amount.

T h a t r e a c t i o n i s understandable, especially in a country that is now described as oil-rich. But we mustalsobefair

The government cannot pay for every single e x p e n s i v e m e d i c a l procedureforeverycitizen. There are many people in need. Resources, even when they grow, are still limited.Assistance has to be spread across thousands of cases.

This is not a perfect system.Itisfarfromit.Butit is the reality we live in. The more uncomfortable question, therefore, is not what the government did or did not do. The real question is why did the public not raisethemoney?

In today’s world, people

mobilise funds quickly for manythings.Weseeitallthe time.Fundraisersforparties, events, and even personal projects can gain traction in hours.

Socialmediagivesusthe power to reach thousands of people instantly A single post can travel far and wide. So why did that same energy not cometogetherfor a child fightingforhislife?

W a s i t l a c k o f awareness? Perhaps not enough people saw the appeal. That is possible. But in a small society like ours, news travels quickly, especiallywhenitinvolvesa childinneed.

Or is it something deeper?

There is a growing habit in our society Many people are quick to speak. They are quicktocriticize. They are quick to point out what is wrong. But when it comes time to act; when it comes time to give, even a small amount, many remain silent It is easier to complain than to contribute. Butasocietycannotfunction on complaints alone. It must also be built on compassion, responsibility, and action. If just 7,000 people had given G$1,000 each, the full amount would have been

DEM BOYS SEH

Rain falling and sun shining

Yesterday, the weatherman announce, with big confidence: “Current weather conditions are being influenced by strong low-level convergence, supported by moisture transport from trade winds. This is further enhanced by upper-level divergence, creating a highly unstable atmosphericenvironment.”

Nowlehwebehonest.Whendemboys hear that, it ain’t weather forecast no more, it sound like a science exam paper that nobodystudyfor Demboyssehbythetime he reach “upper-level divergence,” dem boys done decide fuh carry umbrella, sun shades, raincoat, and one small towel, just in case all them big words mean “yuh gon getsoak.”

Because what really is “low-level convergence”? Dem boys seh it sound like whentwominibusdrivermeethead-upand refusefuhreverse.And“moisturetransport from trade winds”? That does sound like rainhitcharideponbreezelikeitcatchinga liftintotown.Butthebestpartisalwaysthe confidence.The weatherman does talk like he personally arrange the clouds. Yet, five minutes later, sun blazing like midday fire, andnotonedroprainfall.

Dem boys remember another forecast: “A trough interacting with an upper-level cyclonic circulation will generate convective activity with intermittent precipitation.”

Translation, according to dem boys: “It might rain… or it might not. Leh we see howthingsgo.”

One time, dem boys actually plan dem whole lime based on forecast. Man cancel cricket match because “heavy showers expected.” Whole afternoon pass—sun shining bright, pitch dry, and not even one suspicious cloud. But the minute dem boys pack up and go home—boom! Rain start fall like it been waiting fuh embarrass everybody

Dem boys seh weather forecast got commitment issues. It does promise rain and bring sunshine, promise sunshine and bring flood.And leh we not talk bout when dem say “scattered showers.” Scatter where?Becausewhenitreachyuhhouse,it ain’t scattered—it focused, determined, andpersonal.

So now dem boys strategy simple: if forecast say rain, carry nothing. If it say sun, carry umbrella. And if the man start talk bout “atmospheric instability,” dem boys seh that just mean the weather confused same like everybody else Because in the end, dem boys seh the only accurateforecastisthis:anytimeyuhforget yuh umbrella, that is the exact time rain go fall.Guaranteed. Talkhalf…Leffhalf!

raised. That is not an impossible task. In fact, it is quiteachievableinacountry of this size. Even smaller contributions, if given by more people, could have madethedifference.

This is why this situation should serve as a wake-up call. We cannot always rely oninstitutionsalone.

Therearemomentswhen the strength of a society is measured by how its people respond to urgent need. This was one of those moments. And we must ask ourselves honestly whether we rose to

theoccasion.

Because at the heart of this is not just one child’s story It is about who we are as a people. Do we care enough to act quickly when itmattersmost?

Do we see someone else’s suffering as our responsibility too? Are we willing to give, even a little, tosavealife?

We will never know if that surgery would have changed the outcome. That uncertainty will always remain. But what should not remain is the doubt about

whether we did everything we could. A child needed help. The cost was known. Time was limited He deserved a fighting chance. Nexttime,wemustdobetter (The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Fisherman who couldn’t swim missing at sea

...wife clings to hope

to head out to sea at Orealla over theweekend.

Avinash Alladin Dookie of No 77 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was onboard a vessel with several crew members when the incident occurred. He reportedly fell into the wateranddisappeared.

His wife, Amrita Dookie, recalled their finalconversation.

“Saturday around lunchtime I spoke with him. When we finished, he told me he would call back later Around 5:30 pm, I got a call saying he had fallen overboard,” she told this publicationonMonday Dookie,afatheroffour,hasnotbeenseen since. While fears grow that he may have drowned,hiswiferemainshopeful.

“I believe my husband is alive. He is holdingontosomething,”shesaid.

His cousin, Haresh Dookie, said the familywasinformedoftheincidentSaturday evening.

“Igotacallaround7:20pmfrommyaunt tellingmewhathappened,”heexplained.

According to information relayed by the

boat’scaptain,thecrewhadbeenpreparingto venture further out to sea after the tide when Dookiebentovertoadjusttheengineandfell intothewater

Family members were told he surfaced brieflyseveraltimesbeforedisappearing. Search efforts have been ongoing since Saturday, and a report has been made to the police.

ItwasalsoconfirmedthatDookiewasnot wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. Relatives noted that he had been working at sea for approximately seven years.

His family is now appealing to the public foranyinformationthatmayassistinlocating him.

A 28-year-old Corentyne fisherman who was unable to swim has been reported missing after falling overboard while preparing

Feared dead: Avinash Dookie, 28

H@RD TRUTHS

ThegiftthatIgivetoNigelDharamlall

I may be barking up the wrong tree. It’s the story lived, with no fear of continuing. This time, a flicker of success may illuminate the dark. And, if it doesn’t, then trying is what’s left. To Mr Nigel Dharamlall of the PPP, of Guyana,Ispeak. WithNigel Dharamlall, the man, and brother that is not a friend, I walk. If it wasn’t he that went after attorney, Ms Melinda Janki, then my unqualified apology is extended.

Troubles came before, therealingredientsofwhich are not known. The system worked wonders for Mr Dharmalall. Since a new lease was granted, approaching life differently, managing instincts better, should have taken over Backsliding should be past and gone, avoided with the strongestspirit,thoughflesh can be weak. Such must be the new religion In American: a speeding, avenging bullet was sidestepped. In Guyanese: seize the redemptive moment. Stay away from certain company, avoid temptationsthatdepositinto pitfalls. Turn a new leaf, beginafreshjourney

GoingafterMs.Melinda Janki is not of a man who, during his time of national ordeal, I recalled said: and thistooshallpass. Sincethat has passed somehow, now there should be determined efforts on your part to conquer raging impulses to wound others Distance from dipping toe in the swamp, from plunging into the deep with reckless headlong abandon. When a Nigel Dharmalall, PPP Central Executive luminary can rear back for extra leverage to lash out at a woman of emboldened steel in this country, what’s the reward? A moment of applause? A flurry of ‘likes?’ A sense of good feeling? Not worth it, sir It’s held that nothing ventured, nothing gained Having ventured Mr Dharamlall, I share this probably unwanted courtesy aboutwhatisgained. Some PPP women I know are repulsed. Some PPP men convulsed.

Just as vital, President Ali could be stained in the eyes of watchers. He can’t afford to be seen as a leader that tolerates such conduct, standards, from a ranking PPP member, any in his party’s senior membership.

For if he is unable, or unwilling, to call in Nigel Dharamlall and manifest his displeasure at what dishonors all Guyanese women, then what kind of presidentisMohamedIrfaan Ali? I quietly submit to Excellency Ali that when insults are hurled at one Guyanese woman, then all thewomeninthePPP,inthe local environment, are undressed by that action. When they are afraid to speak. Whentheyarefearful of breaking ranks. When theyrepresentthethunderof streaking, dazzling, warming, words, and yet possess nothing but the whimper of a cracked bell. One that sounds dreadfully, thereafterhangspitifully Separately, I understand that Nigel Dharmalall has been empowered by the

powers in the PPP hierarchy Theremustbea limit, though. He must refrain from diving into raw sewage face first, seemingly liking it For such is distasteful, definitely revolting. Then there are thoseothertimes,thoseother actions that are despicable, because of the utter vileness oftheircontent. BeforeMr Dharamlall, this offering is placed. You,sir,arealready a star of immense proportions One from whichtheUSambassadorto Guyana, the British High Commissioner in Guyana, and the resident Secretary General of CARICOM may feelbetteriftheyhavelessto dowithit. Toavoiditsrays, recoil from any touch reachingforthem. Itshould not escape the attention of the keen-eyed and levelminded in Guyana that all three dignitaries are of the female gender Ms. Janki is notanunknown. Sowhygo to those lengths to make yourself known again in the

same light that darkens so much of Guyana? What prevails within PPP gatherings, where authority hasbeengiventowieldabig stick, has to stay right there. Whichever the woman there that is comfortable taking thoseexpressionsofpolitical affection in stride, they should know that they pave the way for other women to be maligned first, runover next. Wherever they are, whoevertheyare.

I leave Mr Dharamlall with this: when you speak, you speak for PPP women. Though complacent, I doubt that they wish to be seen in thisway Startfresh,fellow citizen. Be a man that all women would be proud of, hailasachampion.

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

Guyana emerging as key gateway in shifting Cuban migration patterns - IOM report

GuyanahasbeenidentifiedasoneoftheCaribbeanand South American countries growing in importance as a primary entry point for Cuban migrants, as new migration dynamicsreshapemovementacrossLatinAmerica.

RecentfindingsfromtheInternationalOrganizationfor Migration(IOM),throughitsDisplacementTrackingMatrix (DTM), show that Cuban mobility between 2025 and early 2026hasbecomemorecomplex,withmigrantsincreasingly utilising both regular and irregular routes. Among the countries gaining prominence are Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil, signalling a notable southward shift in migration pathways. According to the report, while northbound movement toward Central America and ultimately North Americacontinues,thereisacleardiversificationinroutes. Migrantsarenolongerrelyingsolelyontraditionaloverland corridors but are also travelling by air into SouthAmerica, with Guyana emerging as a strategic point of entry “These trendsshowthatLatinAmericaisnolongerjustacorridorfor Cubanmigrants,butisincreasinglybecomingtheirintended home,” said María Moita, IOM Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean “Behind these numbers are peoplemakingdifficultdecisionsaboutwheretheycanrebuild their lives Data collected on the ground every day helps governments respond with practical, evidence-based migrationpoliciesthatreflecttheserealities.”

Thefindings,coveringtheperiodfromJanuary2025to February 2026, draw on three complementary sources: IOM’s DTM, which conducts systematic field surveys of migrants at key transit and destination points across the region; irregular migration statistics compiled by the governments of Honduras and Guatemala; and official regularmigrationfiguresfromBrazilandUruguay

According to the IOM, the DTM survey, conducted among Cubans in Costa Rica during January and February 2026,foundthat94percentintendedtostayinthecountry, Continued on page 16

ExxonMseeksGovt.approvaltorampupproduction

ExxonMobilGuyanaisseeking approval from the Government of Guyana (GoG) to increase oil production at its fourth project, Yellowtail, from 263,000 barrels perday(bpd)to290,000bpd.

On Thursday, the company’s President, Alistair Routledge revealed that an application has been filed with the GoG which is currently reviewing the technical details.

He said that the initial capacity of the project was 263,000 bpd, althoughtheEnvironmentalImpact Assessment (EIA) states that the vessel was designed to produce 250,000bpd.

“So that initial capacity was 263,000 barrels per day So, what we’d say is the, including allowance for reliability, 250,000 barrels per day was the initial production rate, but it was recognizing a capacity of around $263,000 a day,” Routledge told reporters The company has completed a number of studies analyzing the operation of the facilities for existing bottlenecks while safety analysis was conducted on the production facilities to minimize or reduce bottleneckstoincreaseproduction.

Any increase to the daily production levels will be done in a phased manner for safety purposes accordingtotheCountryManager Heexplained,“Wewillonlydoitin

steps that we’re convinced that are safe. So we outlined and proposed the government a number of steps that we could take, but all of them would be dependent upon how the first step goes, and how the equipmentresponds.”

The first step would increase daily production by “a few thousand barrels per day” but the company is confident that Yellowtail can produce around 290,000bpd.

“Wethink(its)feasiblethatthis facility could produce a size 290,000 (barrels) per day that is sustainable, you know, because thenwhatwerecognize,youstartto get into the lifting frequency You have a million barrels to lift if

you’re at 250,000 barrels a day, that’s four days, and you fill the tanks again, and you have to have anothertankerlift.Yougoupcloser to 300,000 you’re getting closer to threedays.So,westarttocomeup again, some other, sort of, just challenges and managing an operation at that level,” he reasoned.

To date, ExxonMobil has conducted debottlenecking activities on the other three Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) in the StabroekBlock.

Payara, Exxon’s third project which commenced production on November 14, 2023, was designed to produce 220,000 (bpd) but

Exxon has increased production to over260,000bpd.

Similarly, both Liza One and Liza Two are producing above the

Assessments (EIAs) for the two projects indicate that the Liza One and Liza Two projects were designed to safely operate at 120,000 and 220,000 barrels of oil perday(bpd),respectively Recent data on the Ministry of Natural Resources website indicates that the two projects are producing about 130,000 bpd and 263,000 bpd.

Stakeholders have often raised concern over the increased production activities being

conducted by the operator, touting theincreasedriskofanoilspillasa result. Beyond the environmental concerns, Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram also pointed out previously that insurance companies will refuse to offer compensationintheeventofaspill, since Guyana allowed Exxon to breachthesafetylimits.

Ram cautioned, “In petroleum production,thereisasafetymargin belowtheratedproductivecapacity of a well. Not only is there an increased risk that something can gowrong,butthatwhenitdoes,the insurance companies will refuse to paybecauseyouhavebreachedthe safetylimit.”

Meanwhile, for its part, GoG said debottlenecking is safe, as technical officers attached to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources carefully examine the plans of the operator beforeanyincreaseoccurs.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressed the subject at press a conference in May 2024. He said that“TheMinistryassuredmetheir technical officers examined it, I spokewiththeEPA,theysaidthey had examined it carefully too so theyareawareanditwasdonewith their approval. Both agencies the Ministry of Natural Resources and the EPA and they believe it was doneandit’ssafe.”

US, UK back anti-corruption drive police

The Guyana Police Force on Mondayrampedupitsfightagainst corruption with the launch of a high-level training programme backedbytheUnitedStatesandthe UnitedKingdom,signallingapush tostrengthenaccountabilitywithin the country’s top law enforcement body

TheAnti-CorruptionWorkshop 2026 opened at the Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, bringing together 23 ranks for intensive, specialised training

under the U S -U K Criminal Justice Reform Programme. The initiative is being executed in collaboration with the United States Embassy and the British HighCommissioninGeorgetown.

In a press release, the Guyana Police Force, said in brief remarks at the opening, Commissioner of Police,CliftonHicken,emphasised theimportanceofethicalleadership and accountability within the Force He quoted Abraham Lincoln, stating, “Nearly all men

canstandadversity,butifyouwant to test a man’s character, give him power.”Thestatementunderscored theresponsibilityplacedonofficers who operate in positions of authority, and the need for sound decision-making,thepolicesaid. The workshop is being facilitated by regional and international experts, including Sirah Abraham, Advisor to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, along with Alex Ferguson, and Nigel Parke, of

Participants and facilitators of the training programme.

Jamaica’s Major Organised Crime andAnti-CorruptionAgency

Participants will engage in a structured programme covering key areas such as anti-corruption practices, Guyana’s legal framework for investigations and offences, and asset recovery The sessions are designed to enhance bothoperationaleffectiveness,and investigativecapacity

TheU.S.-U.K.CriminalJustice ReformProgrammeisamulti-year initiative focused on strengthening

criminal justice systems across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, with particular emphasis on policy development, legislative support, and institutional reform The AntiCorruption Workshop 2026 forms part of ongoing efforts by the Guyana Police Force to improve transparency, accountability, and professionalism through strategic international partnerships, and targeted capacity-building initiatives.

The Yellowtail EIAindicates that the project was designed to operate at 250,000 bdp.

Childdiesas$7Mlifelineslipsoutofreach

- Opposition leader hammers government over situation

Twelve-year-old Marlon Jupiter whose parents were appealing for public donations to secureabonemarrowtransplantin Brazilhasdied.

Multiple sources close to the ailing child confirmed his death.

Jupiter was a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma,anaggressiveandlifethreateningbloodcancer Boy, 12 dies before securing funds for urgent bone marrow transplant.Hisdoctorshadadvised thathisbestchanceofsurvivalisan urgent bone marrow transplant. However, the reality is that the treatment is not yet available in GuyanaandcancostUSD$35,000 or$GYD7,325,000.

US-based medical Charity Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) had stepped in to assist in raising awareness about his case andhelpraisefundsneededforhis travel overseas. The charity had opened a GoFundMe in the child’s name and had shared his story on social media platforms, appealing to the public “to help give Marlon the chance to grow up, chase his dreams,andlivethelifeeverychild deserves.” However up to last Thursday,SHEAhadnotraisedthe funds.

Meanwhile, in a scathing statement, Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed said it is a disgracethatwith$161Bbudgeted this year for the health sector, a child would die due to the lack of $7M “The PPP government

allocated a staggering $161 1 billiontothehealthsectorin2026, boasting state-of-the-art hospitals, equipment, and system upgrades. Yet,12-year-oldMarlonJupiterlost his l

after

ng Tlymphoblastic lymphoma The required treatment is not available in Guyana. At the time of his passing, his family was struggling to raise just US$35,000 (approximately $7.3 million) to have the surgery abroad,” Mohamed said. “This is a national disgrace. In a budget of over $161 billion, the government could not guarantee $7 million to save a child’s life. The Office of the President received 300 million dollars, while Men on a Mission received 900 million dollars for humanitarian works, and little

Marlon’s family was soliciting publicgenerositytoraise7million.

Millions are routinely spent on conferences, travel, consultations, and questionable procurement whereministers’kickbacksareway more than 7 million, families are left to beg the public for help in moments of desperation, ” Mohamedstated.

Hequestionedwhatisthevalue of building hospitals if critical treatments remain out of reach.

“What is the purpose of recordbreaking budgets if they cannot save lives? Where services do not existinGuyana,thestatemuststep in and fund overseas medical treatment, without delay, without bureaucracy, and without families being forced into public fundraising. WIN longs to see a

government that will truly put peoplefirstandvalueserviceabove itself. Rest in peace little Marlon. Ourcondolencestohisfamily,”the statementended.

Iran denies talks with U.S. after Trump postpones strikes on power grid

(Reuters) - Iran denied on Monday that it had engaged in negotiationswiththeUnitedStates, after President Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb Iran’s power grid, because of what he described as productive talks with unidentifiedIranianofficials.

Trump wrote early in the U.S. morning on his Truth Social platformthattheU.S.andIranhad held “very good and productive” about a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the MiddleEast”.

As a result, he said, he was postponing a plan to hit Iran’s energy grid for five days. His announcement sent share prices sharply higher and oil prices sharplylower,asuddenreversalto a market swoon caused by his weekendthreatsandIran’svowsto respond.

He later told reporters that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-lawJaredKushner,whohad been negotiating with Iran before thewar,hadhelddiscussionswitha topIranianofficialintotheevening on Sunday, and would continue on Monday

“Wehavehadvery,verystrong talks.We’llseewheretheylead.We have major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement,” he told reporters before departing Florida for Memphis.

InMemphishesaidWashington hadbeennegotiatingwithIran“for alongtime,andthistimetheymean business,”adding:“Ithinkitcould verywellendupbeingagooddeal foreverybody.”

He did not identify the Iranian official in touch with Witkoff and Kushner, but said: “We’re dealing with the man who I believe is the mostrespectedandtheleader.”

“We’re dealing with some

people that I find to be very reasonable, very solid. The people withinknowwhotheyare.They’re very respected, and maybe one of them will be exactly what we’re lookingfor.”

‘FAKENEWS’, SAYS IRAN

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Iran’s powerful parliament speakerMohammadBaqerQalibaf said on X that there had been no such talks with the United States, and ridiculed the suggestion as an attempttorigfinancialmarkets.

“No negotiations have been heldwiththeU.S.,andfakenewsis used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israelaretrapped,”hewrote.

“Iranian people demand complete and remorseful

Streaks of light illuminate the sky during an interception attempt amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A European official said there had been no direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran but Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf states wererelayingmessages.

MARKET RESPITE

Trump’s announcement that he was holding off on his plan to hit Iran’s grid abruptly reversed a plunge in global markets, which had shuddered on Monday inAsia andEuropeandhadbeenoncourse toopensharplylowerintheUnited States following the weekend threats.

IranhadrespondedtoTrump’s threatsbysayingitwouldhammer the infrastructure of U S allies in the Middle East, raising the prospect that an extreme disruption to global energy supplies could last longer than previouslyexpected

TherespitesenttheBrentcrude oilbenchmarktumblingaround8% toabout$103abarrel.

punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and peopleuntilthisgoalisachieved.”

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said they were launching fresh attacks on U.S. targets, and described Trump’s words as “psychological operations” that were“wornout.”

“The contradictory behavior of theU.S.presidentdoesnotcauseus any negligence on the war front or the continuation of the battle with thehostileenemy,”theGuardssaid inastatement.

Although there was no immediate confirmation that talks had already taken place as described by Trump, there were indications of outreach, with third countries acting as potential

mediators or helping to set up contacts. Iran’s foreign ministry described initiatives to tensions, withoutgivingfurtherdetails.

A Pakistani official and a second source said talks on ending thewarcouldbeheldinPakistanas soonasthisweek.

ThePakistaniofficialsaidU.S. VicePresidentJDVance,aswellas Witkoff and Kushner, were expectedtomeetIranianofficialsin Islamabad A second Pakistani official said Islamabad was relaying messages between the UnitedStatesandIran.

AnIsraeliofficialandtwoother sources familiar with the matter said the interlocutor on the Iranian side was Qalibaf, the parliament speaker, who has become increasinglyinfluential.

Iran has effectively closed the key Strait of Hormuz, through whichaboutafifthofglobaloiland liquefied natural gas flows. Trump has demanded Iran open the strait, but Tehran says it will not do so until the United States and Israel callofftheirattacks.

One of the sources, briefed on Israel’swarplans,saidWashington had kept Israel informed of its contacts with Tehran, and that it waslikelytofollowWashingtonin suspendinganytargetingofIranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment on talks or on Washington’s decision to suspend strikesonsometargets.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in the war the U.S. and IsraellaunchedonFebruary28.

Marlon Jupiter

Guyana to host 7th IUF regional confab

The Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) has announced that the 7th International Union of Food, Agricultural,Hotel,Restaurant,Catering,TobaccoandAllied Workers’ Associations (IUF) will be held in Guyana this week.

Inastatementtothemedia,theunionsaidthattheconference willbeheldfromMarch26–27,2026,inGeorgetown TheIUF,a global trade union federation representing approximately 10 millionworkersacross119countries,willbringtogethersome50 tradeunionistsfromacrosstheCaribbeanregion Theconference will serve as a key platform for reviewing the regional committee’sworksinceitslastConferencein2022,whichwas held inAntigua and Barbuda, and for setting priorities for the periodahead,”itsaid FirstVicePresidentoftheUniversityand AlliedWorkersUnion(UAWU)ofJamaicaCliftonGrantwillbe presentingtheRegionalSecretary’sreport,whichisdescribedasa centralfeatureoftheconference Therewillalsobediscussionsby delegatesinrelationtostrengtheningregionalcollaborationand advancing workers’ rights in the Caribbean context IUF’s General Secretary (a.g.), Kristjan Bragason, who will be

visitingGuyanaforthefirsttimesinceassumingoffice,will also be in attendance, and his participation signifies the importance of the Caribbean region in the labour movement globally “Anothermajoragendaitemwillbetheelectionofa new IUF Caribbean Regional Committee, comprising representatives from affiliated unions across the region In the lead-up to the main Conference, several preparatory meetings have already been convened These include sessions of the IUF YoungWorkersCommittee,Women’sCommittee,andtheCaribbean Regional Committee Notably, the Young Workers Committee ConferencewasheldonMarch23,2026,atGAWU’sConference Room in High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, where young trade unionistsexaminedthecurrentstateoftheregionallabourmovement andoutlinedstrategiesforfutureengagement,”GAWUadded

Theunionextendsawarmwelcometoalloftheobservers and delegates and expresses its honour in hosting the significant event, as it views the conference as a strong demonstration of regional solidarity and international workers fraternity, reinforcing the shared commitment to advancingtherightsandwelfareofworkingpeople.

Guyana emerging as key gateway in shifting...

Frompage10 citing better economic conditions, po

ical stability, and access to international protection IOM data also suggests that demand for immigration regularization and asylum procedures is likely to remainhigh.

At the same time, northbound movements through parts of Central America are declining sharply InHonduras,Cuban irregular entries from Nicaragua fell by around 75 per cent, from 64,000 in 2024 to 17,000 in 2025. In thefirsttwomonthsof2026, only 1,500 arrivals were recorded–lessthanaquarter ofthefigurereportedduring the same period in 2025. In Guatemala, all Cubans

surveyed identified economic reasons as the maindriverforleavingtheir country

South America is also emerging as an increasingly important destination for Cubans In Brazil, net regular Cubanmigrationnearlytripled between2024and2025,rising from roughly 2,100 to 6,400 people, with no single month in 2025 recording a negative balance. Cubans typically enter through Venezuela or Guyana, where no visa is required, before crossing into Brazil’s northern state of Roraima A similar trend is visible in Uruguay, where the average monthly net migrationbalancemorethan doubled, from around 500 Cubansin2024toover1,200 i n 2 0 2 5 , f u r t h e r

underscoring the region’s growingroleasadestination rather than a transit route. Drawing on data from more than 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean,theanalysistracks evolving routes, motivations, and settlement trends This mixed-method approach provides governments with a timely,evidence-basedpicture of how and why these dynamicsarechanging DTM is the most comprehensive human mobility data infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean, with operations in more than 20 countries Its data informs migration policy design, regional migration governance coordination m e c h a n i s m s , a n d humanitarian response

planning, the IOM report stated.

TheCNNrecentlywrote, that Cuba may be experiencing the most profound moment of economic uncertainty that the island’s residents have endured in decades if not over their entire lives Through military action in Venezuela and threats of tariffsonMexico,theTrump administration has shut off the flow of oil to Cuba, attemptingtostrong-armthe communist-run island into making significant political andeconomicreforms.Cuba does not appear to have any remaining allies willing to supply the hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of fuel needed to power the economy

Mohameds move extradition matter to CCJ...

Frompage8 significantlegalimportance, particularly regarding whether theATPdecision is “incapable of attracting any actual,perceivedornotional bias,” and whether the

Fugitive Offenders Act allows for the delegation of such authority. They also question the applicability of Section 27 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, arguing that it wasnotintendedtoapplyto individual decisions such as theissuanceofanATP

The defence further

argues that Minister Walrond had a direct and personal interest in issuing the ATP, given the political implications of the case.

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e application, the Minister, as a m e m b e r o f t h e government,stoodtobenefit politically from initiating proceedingsagainstwhatthe defence describes as a key politicalrival.

“The Minister… stood to benefit directly from her decision to trigger a process leading to the arrest and extradition of her and her association’s main political rival and his father,” the filingstates.

It goes on to argue that had the Minister refused to

issue the ATP, she would likely have faced criticism and condemnation from within her own political ranks.

This, the defence contends,createdasituation in which the decision could not have been made impartially “She stood to s u f f e r p o l i t i c a l consequences if she refusedtoissuetheATP,”the applicationadds. In pressing for a stay of the extradition proceedings, thedefencewarnsofserious consequencesifthematteris allowed to continue in the Magistrates’Court. They argue that if the committal proceedings are completed and the applicants are remanded to prison pending extradition, the magistrate would have no jurisdiction to grant bail, leavingthemdetainedwhile the appeal process unfolds.

“Fortheappealsoughttobe meaningful,theproceedings before the learned magistrate ought to be stayed,” the defence argues,

noting that failure to do so could result in irreversible prejudice.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of LegalAffairsAnil Nandlall, SC, has confirmed that the State has received the CCJ application and is preparing to defend the matter Speaking to members of the media,Nandlallemphasised that while the applicants have the right to approach the CCJ, the rulings of the lower courts were clear and decisive.

“They have a right to do so. The Attorney General’s Chambers and the Minister of Home Affairs will definitely be defending the case at the Caribbean Court ofJustice,”hesaid.

He pointed to the Court ofAppeal’s strong language in dismissing the case, noting that it found “absolutely no merit” in the appeal. “That was a very deliberateandverypowerful statement. You get leave to appeal if the appeal has merit,”Nandlalladded.

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC

Attorney General Anil

Nandlall on Monday declared that accessible, modernised laws are not a luxury but a necessity for G u y a n a ’ s r a p i d

transformation, as Government officially launchedtherevisedLawsof Guyana 2022 and the Law Reports spanning 2008 to 2021.Deliveringasweeping address that traced over two

centuries of legal development, Nandlall said the initiative comes at a “pivotaltime”whenGuyana i s e x p e r i e n c i n g unprecedented economic expansion driven by oil p r o d u c t i o n a n d infrastructure growth He warned, however, that without a strong legal framework, such progress could falter “Without the rule of law, there can be no economicprogress,nosocial advancement, and no democratic governance,” he stressed, underscoring that accesstoupdatedlawsisthe “sine qua non” for justice andnationaldevelopment.

Citing projections of double-digit economic growth, the Attorney General argued that Guyana’s legal architecture mustkeeppacewithitsfastevolving economy. He described legislation as the mechanism through which governments translate policies into enforceable action,whilealsobeingheld accountable by citizens “These laws are enacted by

Modernlawskeytojustice,Guyana’sboomingfuture

- Nandlall says as government launches $178M revised law reports

t h e p e o p l e ’ s representatives for the people’s benefit,” he said, adding that they must reflect national values and aspirations.

Nandlall placed heavy emphasis on access to justice,warningthatcitizens cannot enforce rights or challenge wrongdoing if laws are outdated, scattered, or inaccessible. “Access to justiceisabasicprincipleof the rule of law,” he noted, pointingoutthattheabsence of accessible legal systems silences citizens and weakens democracy The new project, he explained, consolidates statute law and judicialdecisions—bringing together legislation and court interpretations in a coherent, user-friendly format In a detailed historical overview, Nandlall revealed that Guyana’s legal system has long struggled with disorganisation.

From handwritten laws in Berbice to scattered publications in the 1800s, and incomplete official revisions,thecountry’slegal records were often difficult toaccess.Henotedthateven early efforts in the 19th century failed to produce a complete, systematic body oflaws,leavingcitizensand practitioners grappling with fragmented information “An obligation rests on the State to present its laws in a form that is convenient and accessible,”hesaid,echoing a position advanced as far backas1890.

Meanwhile, Nandlall said the reports is the culminationofaprojectthat willalloweasyaccesstotwo

primarysourcesoflaw:first, statute law (legislation) and its interpretation and application by the judiciary and, secondly, judge-made law He continued “the law revision component of the project involves the consolidation as well as the revision of all current legislation.Thisis a process of combining the legislative provisions on a single topic into one coherent enactment.”

As part of the process, Nandlall stated that the repealed provisions are removed and replaced with the new ones and principal Acts are reorganised. “This process also includes the changing of language of enactments so as to bring them in line with current usage, without making any change to the substance of the enactments, as well as, incorporating into principal Acts new or amended subsidiarylegislation.”

The Attorney General (AG) explained that Guyana’s legal system is primarily based on the common law of England which has the doctrine of precedent as one of its cardinal principles. He continuedthat“thisdoctrine is captured in the Latin maxim: stare decisis et non quietamovere,whichmeans standing by decisions and notdisturbingsettledpoints, often simply translated as ‘letthedecisionstand’.

“The principle of stare decisis (to stand by things decided) requires courts to follow the precedents established in previous judicial decisions when ruling on similar cases. The

principle promotes c

predictabilityinthelaw.”

The doctrine of precedent, or stare decisis, dictates that courts lower in the hierarchy are bound by the previous decisions, or precedents, of the courts above them, when the facts of the cases are sufficiently similar. The ratio decidendi or reason for the decision forms the binding precedent of a judge’s decision, for futurejudgestofollow.”

Apartfromitsusefulness from the standpoint of precedent,theAGnotedthat law reporting contributes to development of a country’s jurisprudence. Where there is no proper law-reporting system, a country’s jurisprudence becomes stagnant This stymies judges, legal practitioners and law students in their academic,researchandother pursuits,hesaid,addingthat italsostiflesthegrowthand

development of the law, which in turn negatively impactseconomicandsocial progressinanysociety

The last sets of reports are the 2012 Edition of the Laws of Guyana that was published in 2014. Those reportsknownasthe“purple volumes” was financed through a loan from the I n t e r - A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) under the Modernisation of Justice Administration SystemProject.

Nandlall said in October 2024,adecisionwasmadeto addtotheprojectsubsidiary legislation. To this end, he

said the subsidiary legislation made under the selected revised and consolidated laws became subject to the law revision process.Approximately 325 pieces of subsidiary legislation were revised Fundingforthisportionwas providedbytheGovernment of Guyana at a cost of US$130,000. “Printing of the revised Laws of Guyana was financed by the Government of Guyana at a cost of GY$178,640,000

The law revision process involved the Staff of the Attorney General’s Chambers providing the electronic files of the last RevisedEditionoftheLaws of Guyana and the Gazette publications of the Laws of Guyana for the revision period,”hesaid.

Investorconfidence

Meanwhile, in his address,PresidentIrfaanAli

said Guyana’s rapid economic transformation is placing new demands on its legal system, warning that accesstojusticeandinvestor confidence depend on laws that are modern, clear and easilyaccessible.

Speaking about the

launch’s importance,

President Ali stated that when laws are disorganised, old, or hard to find, it puts a strain on the legal system.

Lawyers experience uncertainty, judges struggle to make decisions, and citizens are confused about t h e i r r i g h t s a n d responsibilities.“Whenlaws are consolidated, confusion is reduced. When confusion is reduced, disputes are minimised. When disputes are minimised, justice is strengthened,” the president underscored.

In addition to statutory reform, President Ali highlighted that the publication of law reports is critical to ensuring consistency in judicial decisions These reports preservelegalreasoningand guide future cases, reinforcing the doctrine of precedent “A judgment unrecorded is a lesson lost…andwhenprecedentis uncertain, justice becomes unpredictable,”thepresident said.

L o o k i n g a h e a d , President Ali signalled a shift toward greater digitisation of legal resources, including more interactive and technologydriven platforms to improve public access to laws. He alsoemphasisedtheneedfor continuous updating of legislation, warning that delays in reflecting legal changes can create uncertainty and undermine effectivenessamidGuyana’s evolving economic landscape.“Investorsdonot invest in uncertainty; they invest in clarity; they invest in predictability; they invest inthelaw Confidenceinthe economy begins with confidence in the law,” the presidentstated.

President Ali flanked by the Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C. and Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Roxane George and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

Trump approved Iran operation after Netanyahu argued for joint killing of Khamenei, sources say

WASHINGTON/JERUS

ALEM,March23(Reuters)Lessthan48hoursbeforethe U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to President Donald Trump about the reasons for launching the kindofcomplex,far-offwar the American leader once hadcampaignedagainst.

Both Trump and Netanyahu knew from intelligence briefings earlier in the week that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his key lieutenantswouldsoonmeet at his compound in Tehran, makingthemvulnerabletoa “decapitation strike” – an attackagainstacountry’stop leadersoftenusedbyIsraelis but traditionally less so by theUnitedStates.

But new intelligence suggested that the meeting had been moved forward to Saturday morning from Saturday night, according to three people briefed on the call.

Thecallhasnotbeen previouslyreported.

Netanyahu, to move forwardwithanoperationhe had urged for decades, arguedthattheremightnever be a better chance to kill Khamenei and to avenge previous Iranian efforts to assassinate Trump, these people said. Those included a murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran in 2024, when Trump wasacandidate.

The Justice Department has accuseda Pakistaniman of trying to recruit people in theUnitedStatesintheplan, meant as retaliation for Washington’s killing of the IslamicRevolutionary GuardCorps’top commander,Qassem Soleimani.

By the time the call took place, Trump already had approved the idea of the United States carrying out a military operation against Iran but had not yet decided when or under what circumstances the United States would get involved, said the sources, who spoke onconditionofanonymityto discuss sensitive internal deliberations.

TheU.S.militaryhadfor weeks built up a presence in the region, prompting many within the administration to concludeitwasjustamatter ofwhenthepresidentwould decidetomoveforward.One possibledate,justafewdays earlier, had been scuttled becauseofbadweather

Reuters was unable to determine how Netanyahu’s argument affected Trump as he contemplated issuing orders to strike, but the call amounted to the Israeli leader’s closing argument to his U.S. counterpart. The three sources briefed on the call said they believed italong with the intelligence showingaclosingwindowto kill Iran’s leader - was a catalyst for Trump’s final decisiontoorderthemilitary on February 27 to move ahead with Operation Epic Fury

Thedaybefore,Israeli forcesstruckthekey bridgeovertheLitani River

Trump could make history by helping eliminate an Iranian leadership long ‘reviled by the West and by many Iranians, Netanyahu argued. Iranians might even take to the streets, he said, overthrowing a theocratic systemthathadgovernedthe countrysince1979andbeen a leading source of global terrorismandinstabilityever since.

Thefirstbombsstruckon Saturday morning, February 28. Trump announced that evening that Khamenei was dead.

In response to a request for comment, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not directly address the call between Trump and Netanyahu but told Reuters the military operation was designed to “destroy the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile and production capacity, annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Neither Netanyahu’s office nor Iran’s U N

representative responded to comment requests

Netanyahu in a news conference on Thursday dismissed as “fake news” claimsthat“Israelsomehow dragged the U S into a conflict with Iran Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.”

Trumphassaidpublicly thatthedecisiontostrike washisalone.

Reuters reporting, with officials and others close to bothleadersspeakingmostly on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of internal deliberations, does not suggest that Netanyahu forced Trump to go to war Butthereportingshows that the Israeli leader was an effective advocate and that hisframingofthedecision–including the opportunity to kill an Iranian leader who allegedly had overseen efforts to kill Trump – was persuasivetothepresident.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in early March suggested that revenge was at least one motive for the operation, telling reporters, “Iran tried to kill President Trump,andPresidentTrump gotthelastlaugh.”

JUNEATTACK

TARGETEDNUCLEAR, MISSILESITES

Trump ran his campaign in 2024 based on his first administration’s foreign policy of “America First” and said publicly that he wanted to avoid war with Iran, preferring to deal with Tehrandiplomatically

But as discussions over Iran’snuclearprogramfailed toproduceadeallastspring, Trump began contemplating a strike, according to the three people familiar with WhiteHousedeliberations.

U.S.andIsraeliofficialsand diplomats.

The U.S. operation on January 3 to capture Venezuela’s President NicolasMaduroinCaracaswhich resulted in no American deaths while removing from power a longstanding U S foedemonstrated the possibility that ambitious military operations could have few collateral consequences for U.S.forces.

Marco Rubio told a small group of top Congressional leaders on February 24 that Israel was likely to attack Iran,whetherornottheU.S. participated, and Iran would then likely retaliate against U.S. targets, according to three people briefed on the meeting.

A first attack came in June, when Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile sites, and killed several Iranian leaders. U.S. forceslaterjoinedtheattack, andwhenthatjointoperation ended after 12 days, Trump publicly reveled in the success, saying the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Yet months later, talks began again between the U S and Israel about a secondaerialattackaimedat hitting additional missile facilitiesandpreventingIran from gaining the ability to buildanuclearweapon.

The Israelis also wanted tokillKhamenei,alongtime, bitter geopolitical foe who had repeatedly missiles into Israeland‘supportedheavily armed proxy forces encircling the nation. That included the Hamas militant group that launched the surpriseattackonOctober7, 2023, from Gaza, and Hezbollah, based in Lebanon.

TheIsraelisbegantoplan theirattackonIranunderthe assumption they would be acting alone, Defense Minister Israel Katz told Israel’sN12NewsonMarch 5. But during a December visittoTrump’sMar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu told Trump that he was not fully satisfied with the outcome of the joint operation in June, said two people familiar with the relationshipbetweenthetwo leaders, speaking on conditionofanonymity

Trump indicated he was open to another bombing campaign,thepeopleadded, but he also wanted to try another round of diplomatic talks. Two events pushed TrumptowardattackingIran again, according to several

Later that same month, massive anti-government protests erupted in Iran, prompting a vicious response by the Islamic RevolutionaryGuardCorps, killing thousands. Trump vowed to help the protesters but did little immediately thatwaspublic.

Privately, however, cooperation intensified between the Israel Defense Forces and the U S military’s Middle East command, known as CENTCOM, with joint military planning conducted during secret meetings, according to two Israeli ‘officials, speaking on conditionofanonymity

Not long after, during a FebruaryvisitbyNetanyahu to Washington, the Israeli leader briefed Trump on Iran’s growing ballistic missile program, pointing outspecificsitesofconcern. He also laid out the dangers of the ballistic missile program, including the risk that Iran might eventually gain the ability to strike the American homeland, said three people familiar with theprivateconversations.

TheWhiteHousedidnot respond to questions about Trump’s December and February meetings with Netanyahu.

TRUMP’SCHANCEAT

HISTORY

By late February, many U.S. officials and regional diplomats considered a U.S. attack on Iran very likely to proceed, though the details remained uncertain, according to two other U.S. officials, one Israeli official and two additional officials familiarwiththematter

Trump was briefed by Pentagon and intelligence officials on the potential advantagestobegainedfrom a successful attack, including the decimation of Iran’s missile program, according to two people familiarwiththosebriefings.

Before the phone ‘call between Netanyahu and Trump, Secretary of State

Behind Rubio’s warning was an assessment by American intelligence officials that such an attack would indeed provoke counterstrikes from Iran against U.S. diplomatic and military outposts and U.S. Gulf allies, said three sources familiar with U.S. intelligencereports.

This prediction proved accurate. The strikes have ledtoIraniancounterattacks on U.S. military assets, the deaths of more than 2,300 Iranian civilians and at least 13 U.S. service members, attacks on U.S. Gulf allies, the closure of one of the world’s most vital shipping routesandahistoricspikein oil prices that is already being felt by ‘consumers in the United States and beyond.

Trump had also been briefed that there was a chance, even if small, that the killing of Iran’s top leaders could usher in a government in Tehran that was more willing to negotiate with Washington, said two other people familiar with Rubio’s briefing.

Thepossibilityofregime change was one of Netanyahu’s arguments in thecallshortlybeforeTrump gave final orders to attack Iran, said the people briefed onit.

That view was not held by the Central Intelligence Agency, which had assessed in the weeks prior that Khamenei would likely be replaced by an internal hardlinerifhewaskilled,as Reuterspreviouslyreported.

The CIA did not immediately respond to a requestforcomment.

Trump repeatedly called for an uprising after Khamenei was killed. With thewarinitsfourthweekand the region engulfed in c o n f l i c t , I r a n ’ s Revolutionary Guards still patrol the nation’s streets. Millions of Iranians remain shelteredintheirhomes.

Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, considered even more harshly anti-American than his father, has been named the new supreme leaderofIran.

President Donald Trump points toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they shake hands during a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2025. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Trump halts Iran strikes for 5 days

‘real possibility’ of deal with Iran ...but Iran denies talks with U.S.

( A L - J A Z E E R A )

President Donald Trump says the United States and Iranwanttomakeadealand the two sides have “major pointsofagreement”afterhe ordered the US military to postpone strikes against Iranian power plants and energyinfrastructureforfive days.

“I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump posted on Monday in all caps on his TruthSocialplatform.

“I have instructed the Department of War to postponeanyandallmilitary strikesagainstIranianpower plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period,subjecttothesuccess oftheongoingmeetingsand discussions ” Speaking to reportersataFloridaairport, Trump said Iran wanted “to makeadeal”andUSenvoys havebeenholdingtalkswith a “respected” Iranian leader but not Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei He asserted that Iran must give up its enriched uranium stockpileforadeal.

The US president also said the Strait of Hormuz wouldbeopenedverysoonif anagreementisreached.

“If a deal happens, it’s a great start for Iran and the

region,” he said, adding that hecouldnotguaranteeadeal with Tehran The US president claimed that the Iranians called him for talks andnottheotherwayround.

Earlier, Trump told the Fox Business Network that Tehranwantstomakeadeal badly and it could happen withinfivedays.Hesaidhis envoys Steve Witkoff and JaredKushnerwereengaged in talks most recently on Sundaynight.

Trump’scommentscame astheUS-IsraeliwaronIran hasspurredawideningcrisis acrosstheMiddleEast,with Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting countries across the region and sending global oil prices soaring.Inanefforttolower energy prices, Trump on Saturday gave Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, warning that otherwise the USwould“obliterate”Iran’s power plants Trump’s ultimatum was aimed at ending Tehran’s chokehold on the Gulf waterway, through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied naturalgassuppliespass.

WallStreetstocksmostly rose early on Monday after Trump said Washington and Tehranhadheld“verygood” talks. Oil prices – which have spiked since February 28,thedaytheUSandIsrael launched their war on Iran –were down sharply on Monday But Iranian officials

denied that any talks had taken place between Washington and Tehran Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday that “no negotiations have been held with the US”, accusing Trump of trying to “manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the USandIsraelaretrapped.”

Foreign Ministry spokesmanEsmaeilBaghaei also denied that any discussions had taken place, sayingthatTehran’sposition on the Strait of Hormuz and conditionsforendingthewar have not changed In comments shared by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Baghaeisaidthat“messages have been received from some friendly countries regarding the US’s request for negotiations to end the war.”

Lookingforanoff-ramp?

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid said that with his announcement, Trump may have opened a potential offramp on the war on Iran. “This is the breaking news that everybody in the region andbeyondhasbeenwaiting for, that Donald Trump, who declared this war unilaterally without legal backing, can end it unilaterally without any preconditions,”hesaid.

R e p o r t i n g f r o m

Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’sAlan Fisher said it seems Trump might be

lookingforanoff-ramp.“He has set a five-day deadline. We will see where the talks go at that point But remember, Donald Trump’s deadlines tend to be elastic. They have been in the past, and it could well be, come Friday, there won’t be a resolutiontothisquestion.”

Analyst Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies said Trump’s announcement may be “his wayofsortofgivinghimself adignifiedexit”.

“But the question that people need to ask is what the Iranians are going to do and what the Israelis are going to do and to what extent might they be willing to continue the war effort against Iran without US backing if that’s what ends uphappeninghere.”

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall said the Iranians will possiblyclimbdowndespite three weeks of war “The likelihood that they will refusethisofferfromTrump isremote,”hesaid.

“The Iranians do not want to continue this war They say it was imposed on them and the region. “They have said that if there are guarantees and further negotiationstakeplaceandif thereisnorepeatofthesame type of aggression or any kind of aggression against Iraninthefutureandifthere is a willingness to find a lasting deal, then I am sure

U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran five more days to fulfil his demand to open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping.

[File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

theIranianswillnotsayno.”

‘Initiative’by countriesinMiddleEast

Iran had previously said that if Trump carries out his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, it would completely shut down the strait in retaliation. Tehran alsopledgedtoattackenergy facilities in Israel and Gulf countries.

Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a spike in global oil prices and a shortage of cooking gas in Asian countries. Fatih Birol, the head of the International EnergyAgency, on Monday warned that the situation in the Middle East is “very severe”andisworsethanthe two energy crises of the 1970s and the fallout of the Ukrainewarputtogether

On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

r e s p o n d e d t h a t i f

Health ministry seeks housing for medical professionals near new regional hospitals

The Ministry of Health is inviting expressions of interest(EOI)fromreputable localhomeownerstoprovide fullyfurnishedlivingquarters for medical professionals working at the new regional hospitals in Diamond, Enmore, Bath, No 75, De Kinderen,andLima

According to the tender notice, applicants must be registered homeowners in Guyana with property ownershipwithinafour-mile radius of the hospitals Homeownersarerequiredto presentavalidTIN,national ID, and proof of ownership whensubmittingtheirEOI.

The ministry specified that the accommodations must be fully furnished and

equipped,including: Dining: Table, chairs, kitchen utensils, silverware, pots,andpans.

Living room: Sofas, curtains,carpeting,andrugs.

Bedrooms: Bed, mattress,andclosets. Appliances: Television and stand, refrigerator, w a s h i n g m a c h i n e ,

microwave, stove, fan, iron, andironingboard.

Fixtures: Lighting, kitchen sinks, cupboards, counters, windows, and a fully equipped bathroom withbath,sinks,andtoilet. Additionally, properties must provide essential utilities and services, including garbage collection, electricity, potable water, gas supply, andinternet.Securityisalso a priority; accommodations must be fitted with grilled doors and windows, wellmaintained, and subject to ongoingupkeep.

EOIs must be submitted onorbeforeApril3,2026,at the Ministry of Health’s Brickdam,Georgetownhead officetenderbox.

The six new regional hospitals, commissioned in 2025 across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six, are part of a transformative GY$39billioninvestmentto expand high-quality tertiary healthcare outside of Georgetown. Each facility offers 24-hour emergency services, advanced diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, modern operatingtheatres,aswellas intensive care and neonatal units “By decentralising specialised healthcare services, the regional hospitals greatly reduce the need for patients to travel to Georgetown, ensuring timely, efficient, and equitableaccesstocare,”the ministrystated.

Washingtonwentaheadwith Trump’s threat, Iran would target power plants in all regions that supply electricity to US bases “as

well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americanshaveshares”.

In addition, the Defence Council warned that any attack on Iran’s southern coast or islands would prompt the laying of sea mines that would sever Gulf shippingroutes,accordingto statemedia.

Al Jazeera’s Bin Javaid, citing conversations with diplomats, said even during the Eid holiday, “multiple countries at different levels have been holding conversations with embassies or directly with theWhiteHouse.”

“Peoplehavetoldusthey havebeentellingTrumpthat this process of escalation doesnotbodewellforIranor forIsrael,”hereported.

“There are multiple factors to take into account. One is the threat Trump issued about hitting power plants and energy infrastructure and Iran’s response in a tit-for-tat escalation.” ...says

Gasstationbomber...

Frompage3 theiracttobombthestation.”

BlanhumhadalsorevealedthatPoedemoandanalleged accomplicewerebelievedtohavelinkstoaVenezuelangang known as “R,” which is associated with the Sindicato criminal network, a group reportedly involved in several violent cross-border activities Investigators further determinedthattheexplosivedevicewasactivatedmoments afterPoedemoexitedavehicleandenteredthegasstation.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured Poedemo, clad in a blue jersey, black trousers, and a khaki hat, entering the gas station with a bulky black bag. The footagereportedlyshowedhimattemptingtoplacethebagin a bin at one of the fuel pumps, but he was stopped by an attendant.Hethenmovedtowardanareawherecookinggas cylinderswerestored.Momentslater,thedeviceexploded. Atthetimeoftheblast,avehiclecarryingyoungSoraya Bourneandherfamilywasseenreversingoutofthestation. The explosion hurled the occupants into the air, killing the child The tragic incident sent shockwaves across the country,andthemotivebehindtheattackremainsunknown.

Members of the women’s team off to Nottingham.

Guyana Hockey Masters wing off to Nottingham to compete at World indoor Championship

The World Masters HockeyIndoorWorldCupis a global tournament that brings together veteran field hockey players from around the world, offering athletes aged 35 and above the chance to compete on an internationalstage.

Sanctioned by World Masters Hockey, the event fosters camarader

, competition,andcelebration of hockey at all levels. This

year, the tournament is scheduled to take place in Nottingham, England, between March 26th and 31stattheDavidRossSports Facility on the Nottingham Universitycampus.

In 2024, Guyana made a remarkabledebutintheOver 45 Men’s Division, entering the event with little to no expectations The team delivered impressive performances, remaining

undefeateduntilthegripping final, where they narrowly losttohostnationEngland54, thus securing the silver medal This success impacted participation this year, with Guyana entering fourteamsintheMen’sover 40, 50, and 55 divisions, as well as the Women’s Over 40.

President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Philip Fernandes, said, “In

my opinion, the strongest contenderwouldbetheover40 Men’s team; we have some guys who have managedtokeepthemselves fitandareveryskillful,andI thinkthatisateamthatcould pullsomesurprises.”

Tuesday March 24, 2026

ARIES

You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries. Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.

TAURUS

When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.

GEMINIS

Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.

CANCER

If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.

LEO

Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.

VIRGO

Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.

Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.

opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.

SCORPIO

Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.

SAGITTARIUS

Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.

CAPRICORN

Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.

AQUARIUS

Mix your reality with a bit of fantasytoday,Aquarius.Allow your feet to come off the ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.

PISCES

Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.

“Last outing, the pace of some of our players is what gave us the edge, and we havethatkindofspeedinour over-40 group,” Fernandes shared.

Heexplained,“Theover50s have good intelligence and maturity, and we are hopingthatcouldgiveus an advantage, but you find that atthislevelandattheworld levelyouhavealotofteams with that experience and understanding of the game, and then in the over-55s it’s an unknown division because you never know what other countries will haveinthatagegroup.”

The hockey president disclosedthat:“thelasttime we were the unknowns, and teams were not really looking out for us to cause anydamage,wecaughtthem off guard. This time, they willbelookingforGuyana.”

ThePresidentwentonto say that he was particularly happy that Guyana has a female team representing Guyanathisyear Theladies comprisemostlyofacoreof players who represented Guyana from the mid 2000s for several years, some of whom continue to play a competitivebrandofhockey today

Preparation for the 2026 campaignhasbeenthorough and strategic. Teams have benefited from improved access to the sports hall, which now features upgradedfacilities,allowing for regular training sessions and practice matches Limited use of the facility was a shortcoming in 2024 becauseoftheactivitiesthey had; this year, due to its availability, practice sessions have been more realistic.

ThesuccessofGuyana’s masters’teamswouldnotbe possible without the

sponsors.Thewomen’steam receivedmajorbackingfrom C E V O N S W a s t e Management and Guinness, as well as successful fundraisersmadepossibleby community participation.

TheOver55Men’steamwas sponsored by A&D Elevators(USA),LyftGym, Caribbean Sea Waves, and CSS - Integrated Maritime Solutions. All teams were provided with winter jackets by Rockhard Cement The Guyana Hockey Board and all participating players extend their deepest gratitude to every sponsor, donor, family member, and friend who has supported theirjourney.

The Guyana Masters teams are set and ready to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the 2026 World Masters Hockey Indoor World Cup. Their journey is a testament to the power of preparation, teamwork, and community support. With a foundation of experience, new talent, and unwavering backing from sponsors and supporters,theyaimtomake theirmarkonceagainonthe worldstage.

LIBRA

Agricola storm back into contention by downing Mocha, Friendship jerk Kaneville’s run MCYS/East Bank Inter Village Football

Stillnotoutofthewoods, Agricola made a huge statement that they are not givingupwhentheystormed back from their opening gamedefeattoKuruKururu with a big win over a star studded Mocha, 3-1, when the battle for quarterfinal berths continued in the inaugural MCYS/East Bank Inter Village Football TournamentonSundaynight at the Eccles EE Ground. Sunday’s opening game, a group D contest saw Friendship contesting their first match, halting the

winning streak of Kaneville which had downed Timehri in their first match a week before, beating them 3-2.

Agricola came into the contest with Mocha knowing that defeat would havesentthempackingfrom thetournamentandfromthe first whistle, looked a determined unit against a side that came into the contest as a favourite to win t h e t o u r n a m e n t

Despitethisbilling,Agricola were not intimidated and 10 minutes into the match, found the back of the nets

through a Shamar Sampson strike which gave the Agricolaladstheconfidence needed to believe in t h e m s e l v e s

One could have felt a heavy pressure easing off the team but there was still lots of work to be done. Their play saw a fluidity that was missing against Kuru Kururu.Thehalfendedwith the slim 1-0 advantage for Agricola which doubled in the 40th minute with a goal off the boot of Demanie C o r t

The goal added even more

flair toAgricola’s play even asMochastillcouldnotfind a consistent rhythm. Three minutes after Cort’s goal, Agricola increased the tally to three when Jamal Fiffe added his name to the scoresheet, effectively stifling any inkling of a comeback by Mocha Even Kelvin Gordon’s 60th minutestrikeforMochawas not enough to jolt the progression of Agricola as there was no denying them, fullpoints.Theynowsitjust behindKuruKururuonthree points but have exhausted their full quota of two m a t c h e s Mocha will have to defeat Kuru Kururu heavily when they tangle to displace Agricola, Kuru Kururu will aimtoendwithawintostay a t o p g r o u p A Friendship took the early leadagainstKanevillewhen Jomlin Scott netted the first of his double in the 8th minute. But that advantage wascancelledoutinthe17th

minute when Kaneville’s Tyequan Robinson levelled t h e s c o r e Just before the half time whistle, Friendship restored the advantage with Scott’s second goal in the 34th minute. Three minutes into the second half, the advantage was doubled, compliments of Michael C o r r e i a ’ s g o a l Kaneville tucked in another in the 65th minute off the boot of Hermon Gill but couldn’tfindanequaliseras time ran out. The win for Friendship has catapulted them to the top of Group D with a game in hand against

the pointless Timehri It’salltoplayforastheonly two villages that have q u a l i

d f o r t h e quarterfinals are Group C’s Grove and Upper Soesdyke. The final group match between the two will decide who will end as group

r The tournament will take a breakfortheEasterholidays andrestartwiththefinalfour group matches. Swan are

L

r Soesdyke, Mocha take on Kuru Kururu, Friendship opposeTimehriwhileGrove and Upper Soesdyke will lockhorns.

Michael Correia (left) and Jomlin Scott – Friendship.

Alcaraz stunned by Korda at Miami Open

(Reuters) - World

number one Carlos Alcaraz was stunned by Sebastian Korda6-35-76-4inthethird roundoftheMiamiOpenon Sunday,givingtheAmerican thebiggestwinofhiscareer

It appeared Korda had blown his chance to beat the Spaniard when he failed to serve out the match in the second set but he maintained

composure, breaking for 4-3 in the third set

a n d c l a i m i n g t h e v i c t o r y w i t h a n unreturnable serve on match point

“It feels great. I took the scenicroute,that’sforsure,” Korda said in an on-court

interview

“It was a `little more stress than I would want but I’m happy with how I played, happy with how I stayedwithit.

I got myself into some nasty situations and I kept going, kept believing and I played really well at the end.”

Korda smacked one of his 12 aces to capture the first set and was on the doorstep of victory when serving for the match in the second with a 5-3 lead butwasbrokenatlove.

T h e m o m e n t u m

appeared to swing decidedly in Alcaraz’s favor from there and he

overpowered Korda with a forehand to level the match at asetapiece.

But the 25-year-old from Florida refused to back down, going up a break ‘the decider when Alcaraz’s forehand went wide, consolidating the break for a 5-3 lead with an overheadandsealingthewin on his second match point opportunity

Korda, ranked world number 36, mixed up his game nicely, effectively using a serve and volley to notch his first win ever over a top-ranked player whilealsobenefitingfroman uncharacteristically sloppy Alcaraz.

2026SherwinWilliams SecondDivisionT20Cup...

Contrasting wins for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and GYO Mystic Marvels headlined the latest roundof2ndDivisionaction thispastweekendacrossthe city

In a lopsided affair, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) handed the University of Guyana (UG) an 8-wicket defeat, after knocking over their opponentsforapaltry32all out inside 13 overs; before racingto36-2in6overs.

Only Yeshua Hutson (10) got into double figures forUG,astheduoofspinner NigelDeodat,whobagged4 wickets and Shamal Angel, whoclaimed3wickets,stole the show to help set up an easywin.

In the other match, the hometeamGNIC,suffereda

16 run loss at the hands of GYO Mystic Marvels who were bowled out for 134 in 16 1 overs with Dequan Wray (28) and Kevon Hooper (25) leading the batting. It was a collective effort from the GNIC bowling attack which saw 3 wickets apiece coming from

Chandrika

Persaud, David DickandJamainGrosvenor

However, GNIC could only muster 118 in the 20th over with Persaud returning tohit5foursinhistopscores of 27, while Grosvenor also chippedinwith18.

Mystic Marvel bowling was led byAmir Khan who returned4-20.

CARLOS HEADS TO THE CLAY Alcaraz ‘began the year by winning his seventh major title and completing the career Grand Slam with a triumph at the Australian Open He did not suffer his first loss of the season until he fell to Daniil

Medvedevinthesemi-finals of Indian Wells ‘and is now 17-2ontheyear Alcaraz, who won the Miami Open in 2022 when he was 18 years old, also exited the tournament early last year when he fell to unseeded David Goffin of Belgium in three ‘sets in the second round.

As he did last year, Alcaraz will now have extra time to prepare for the clay court season, which begins with next month’s Monte-Carlo Masters.

Korda, seeded 32nd, will next play either Karen Khachanov or Martin Landaluce in the roundof16

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reaches for a forehand against Sebastian Korda (USA) (not pictured) on day six of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Nigel Deodat Shamal Angel

Sebastian Korda (USA) serves against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) (not pictured) on day six of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Hamilton Green Cup moves to exciting quarterfinals shakedown; semifinalists to be decided tomorrow

Following three nights of fastpaced nine-a-side footballaction,theHamilton Green annual Inter-ward knockout tournament is poised for a pivotal quarterfinalsshakedown.As the race for the 2026 title intensifies, the field will be whittled down from eight teams to four Wednesday night with the ultimate door-die encounters billed for thePlaisanceGround.

The remaining eight teams have weathered the pressureofthisunique30minutes format that offers no second chances Despite the absence of the off-side rule, a feature designed to encourage attacking play, goal storms advantage along with clinical finishes In a quest for goals, defensive precision ruled the pitch more times than fans expected. The action have seen giants turned into stones. Many wins came through small margin as narrow wins became the hallmark of these surviving outfits.

Itisa“winorgohome” scenario for all involved. The quarterfinal stage is notorious for its heavy burden,wherematchesare often decided by crucial mistakes or moments of

o v e r w h e l m i n g dominance Four clashes will determine which teams advance to the semifinals Action kick off tomorrow at 8:00 pm, with West Side Alliance, Plaisance, Golden Stars, Mahaica,Zeelugt,Orderand Discipline, Victoria and Mochavyingforsemifinal’s berths.

Beyond the prestige, substantial prizes await the top four finishers The tournament champion will takehome$500,000incash,

while the second, third, and fourth-place teams will receive$200,000,$100,000, and $50,000 respectively Medals and trophies will also be awarded to the top foursides.

The tournament, conceived nearly three decades ago by former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, continues to receive steadfast support from the corporate community Ricks and Sari will contribute to the winner’s package by donating hampers to the

eventualchampions. Individual excellence will also be celebrated. The tournament’s Most Valuable

Player (MVP) will be awardedatrophydonatedby Minister of Public Works, BishopJuanEdghill.

T

success is further bolstered by a wide array of corporate contributors, including ENet, Toolsie Persaud Ltd, Star Rental, Aurora, Kings Liquor Store, Busta Soft Drink, G MIN Ventures, C

, BK International, IPA, Gafoors, B

Company,andNewThriving

R

recognitionwasalsogivento Dr.MichaelSue,Dr.Linden Dodson, Edmond Veira, Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton, and Ronaldo Alphonso for their commitment in making this year’sevntasuccess.

Wednesday, March 25 Fixtures

WestSideAlliancevs Zeelugt 8:00pm Plaisance vs Order& Discipline 8:30pm GoldenStars vs Victoria 9:00pm

Three-Way tie at the top sets stage for exciting finale in Promotech

National Top Flight Golf League

The Promotech National Top Flight Golf League is heading for a thrilling finish after six rounds of competition, with the latest round producing strong performances, a pointsshake-up,andathreeway tie at the top of the leaderboard.

With only two rounds remainingintheeight-round league, the competition is nowfinelybalanced,paving thewayforwhatpromisesto beanexcitingfinale.

The sixth round got underway with impressive scoring on the front nine. FazilHaniffandArnoldDeo both returned net scores of 33, while Ian Gouveia bettered that with a net 32. The standout performance on the front nine, however, camefromJosephSzeplaki, whofiredanexcellentnet31 tocapturethefrontnineand securetwoimportantleague points.

The back nine proved just as competitive, with players battling not only for round honours but also for crucial points in the overall

standings Fazil Haniff delivered when it mattered most, carding a composed net 33 on the back nine to finish with an outstanding overall net score of 66. His consistent performance across both halves earned him the overall net victory on a tie-breaker and maximum points for the round.

JosephSzeplakifinished secondoveralltocollectfive points,whilePaytonGeorge produced a solid net 69 to earn three points Brian Hackett returned a net 72 to secure two points, while ChetBowling,alsofinishing onanet72,claimedthefinal pointposition.

Oneofthekeymoments of the round involved Patrick Prashad, who recordedanet71thatwould have earned him valuable points.

However, due to an incorrectly marked and signed scorecard, his score was disqualified from the points allocation This resulted in a shift in the points standings and allowed Brian Hackett to

gainimportantgroundinthe overallleaguetable.

As has been the pattern inrecentrounds,manyofthe leading players were grouped together, and the pressure of direct competition was evident as no one was able to break awayfromthepack.

After six rounds, the standingsarenowextremely tight, with Fazil Haniff, Videsh Persaud, and Joseph Szeplakialltiedatthetopof theleaderboardon17points each. Brian Hackett sits just one point behind on 16 points, while Patanjilee Persaudremainscloseon15 points. Mike Mangal and KeshanBacchusarebothon 10 points, with Chet Bowlingstillwithinstriking distance heading into the finalrounds.

With the leaderboard so close and multiple players still in contention, the Promotech National Top Flight Golf League is now perfectly poised for a dramatic and exciting finish as the battle for the title heads into the final two rounds.

The action promises to be intense tomorrow as teams look to enter the money round.

PSC, Police A team notch up wins in Sherwin Williams T20/ACS Goodwill Tour series

TheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) cricket teams continued to shine with a couple of wins this past weekend when action in the American Cricket Society and the Sherwin Williams T20competitionscontinued.

AtLusignanSportsClub on Sunday, Guyana Harpy

Eagles wicketk

perbatsman Kemol Savory spanked a clean 76 which propelledPoliceSportsClub to199for9from25overs. Help came from Kyle Michael (31) and Kanhaiya Ramkarran (24) who added tothetotal.

However, the American

Cricket Society surged to 203for7despiteWestIndies

Q

n Sampson bagging 3-36 Harpy Eagles opener

Raymond Perez scored 65 while Aldane Thomas (47) did and Bhaskar Yadram (31*) help set up the 3wicketvictory

Meanwhile, Police A Team recorded a 163-run victory over the University

’s (GCA) Sherwin Williams T20 2nd Division Tournament, playedonSunday,March22, 2026 at the Police Sports ClubGround,Eve-Leary.

PoliceATeamrackedup an imposing 258-4 from their20oversafteraberserk knock of 140 off 58 deliveriesfromDwainDick.

Dickhammered17fours and 8 sixes, alongside Andrew Lyght Jr who cracked a 29-ball 54 (7x3 3x6), which put University ofGuyanaunderpressureas

they folded for 95-7 by the endoftheir20overs.

Yeshua Hutson led the University scoring with 51 from 66 balls, despite the loss, as Police A Team’s

K

C

deen bagged2wicketsalongwith help from Mark Jeffers and Ameer Mohamed who claimedawicketeach.

Raymond Perez scored a match winning fifty for the ACS. (FL sport photo)

Kemol Savory hit a classy fifty despite the loss. (FL sport photo)

Dwain Dick spanked a brutal century. (GPF Photo)

GuyanaHockeyMasterswingofftoNottingham Nottingham tocompeteatWorldindoorChampionship

MCYS/East Bank Inter Village Football

Agricola storm back into contention by downing Mocha, Friendship jerk Kaneville’s run

Fazil Haniff may have won round 6, but he is currently tied with Videsh Persaud, and Joseph Szeplaki on 17 points. Three-Way tie at the top sets stage for

Agricola goal scorers from right, Domine Cort, Shemar Samson and Jamal Fiffe.