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military action in Venezuela

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Trump: U.S. to ‘run’ Venezuela until ‘safe transition’ …as Nicolás Maduro and wife captured, transported to U.S. for prosecution …says U.S. has big 03 plans for Venezuelan oil PAGE

President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Venezuela accused the United States of ‘an extremely serious military aggression’ after explosions rocked the capital Caracas. (Luis Jaimes – CBS19))

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.

(The White House)

Guyana must prepare for any eventuality after U.S. strike on Venezuela – APNU …WIN warns of consequences; FGM calls for information on protective measures

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Sunday January 04, 2026

Guyana must prepare for any eventuality after U.S. strike on Venezuela - APNU …WIN warns of consequences; FGM calls for information on protective measures Guyana's opposition parties have called on the Irfaan Ali-led administration to ensure protective measures are in place, maintain transparency, and involve all stakeholders in preparing the country for potential crises following the capturing of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on Saturday morning.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) urged the government to immediately activate contingency plans, particularly to address the potential humanitarian and security crisis along the western border.

The party outlined that Guyana has find itself in a very precarious position emphasizing the need to think and act strategically.

“While our position on the territorial controversy remains fixed on the International Court of Justice (ICJ), process and

Leader of We Invest in Nationhood Chairman of A Partnership for Leader of Forward Movement (WIN) Azruddin Mohamed National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton Guyana (FGM) Amanza Walton-Desir i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w, t h e unfolding situation demands a pragmatic, and comprehensive national response to a probable immediate movement of displaced persons seeking refuge,” the party said in a statement on Saturday.

To this end, APNU outlined four suggestions to the government which includes: formalize a humanitarian task force; designate and prepare reception areas; and enhance border monitoring & security protocols. APNU

also called for government to engage regional & international partners proactively.

“Formally alert CARICOM, the UNHCR, and the Red Cross to the potential need for logistical and financial support, ensuring Guyana is not left to bear a disproportionate burden as a result of the influx of Venezuelans,” the party said.

APNU stressed the importance of inclusive decision-making during this period, in the face of a

potential emergency.

“There is need for an approach that transcends partisan politics. We stand ready to lend our full support to the promotion and protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We offer our cooperation in developing legislative measures, mobilizing communitybased support networks, and providing bipartisan political backing for the necessary resource allocations to protect both vulnerable people and our

nation's stability,” APNU stated.

T h e We I n v e s t i n Nationhood (WIN) echoed the call for preparedness, noting that the U.S. action in Venezuela fundamentally alters the geopolitical and security environment in which Guyana operates.

“This moment demands national unity, institutional maturity, and responsible leadership. Guyana has had to continuously contend with sustained pressure and micro-aggressions from Venezuela arising out of its

Former President Donald Ramotar unlawful claim to Essequibo. Those tensions do not disappear because of regime change; in fact, they may intensify in unpredictable ways,” the party said.

Further, WIN made a call for peace in the region. It stated that stability in the Caribbean and South America serves the interests of all peoples and must be pursued through diplomacy, international law, and mutual respect.

The party highlighted (Continued on page 32)

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

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U.S. to ‘run’ Venezuela until ‘safe transition’ - Trump …as Nicolás Maduro, wife captured, transported to U.S. for prosecution …says U.S. has big plans for Venezuelan oil The United States of America is gearing-up to “run” Venezuela, now that the country's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by the U.S. army and transported to America to face narco-terrorism charges.

Maduro and Flores were apprehended by U.S. forces early Saturday morning and were flown to the United States, where they are to face multiple criminal charges.

The announcement of the successful operation by the U.S. military was made on Saturday morning by

President Donald Trump.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter) the American president said, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out o f t h e C o u n t r y. T h i s operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”

With Maduro now in U.S. custody, the country's Attorney General Pamela Bondi disclosed that Maduro and his wife have been

indicted in the Southern District of New York.

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said in a post on X. Maduro is expected to face the court on Monday. He has been c h a r g e d w i t h NarcoTerrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.

Following the military

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.

(The White House) operation, President Trump held a press conference where he disclosed plans for the U.S. to “run” Venezuela until, “we can do a safe,

p r o p e r, a n d j u d i c i o u s transition.”

He also disclosed America's ambitious plans for the oilrich nation resources.

RUN Venezuela Trump said the U.S. would assume control of Venezuela's governance until the proper transition to prevent the emergence of

U.S. ‘kidnapped’ Maduro, wife

another hostile administration.

He added, “So we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. And it has to be judicious because that's what we're all about. We want peace, liberty, and justice for (Continued on page 34)

- Former President Ramotar

…says small, medium sized countries have become meaningless; U.S. emerged as Super Colonial Power Former President of Guyana Donald Ramotar on Saturday described the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores as “kidnapping”.

In a brief statement on the situation in Venezuela, Ramotar said, “The bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of that country's president and first Lady has taken us back to the days of gunboat diplomacy.”

The former Guyanese leader said “International laws are being trampled on and totally disregarded.”

He noted that the sovereignty of small and medium sized countries “have become meaningless and the US has emerged as a Super Colonial power.”

“Countries in the region have become terrified and many will soon have to express “support” for the US action. What has happened early this morning is a continuation of the US and Israel's action in Palestine and unless the peaceful and democratic forces of our world unite we will see more of the same Cuba and Iran may be next,” he said.

At about 10:46pm on

Friday U.S. President Donald Trump gave final approval of the country's mission to capture Maduro.

Throughout the night, aircraft launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere toward Venezuela. The mission, named Operation Absolute Resolve, involved more than 150 aircraft.

"As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water,” Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told reporters Saturday during Trump's news conference at Mar-aLago. Caine.

CBSNEWS reported that as the helicopters approached shore, they were protected by other aircraft, including drones, bombers and fighter jets. The U.S. dismantled and disabled Venezuela's air defense systems as the helicopters neared Caracas, according to Caine, who also said they deployed weapons "to ensure the safe passage of the helicopters into the target area."

Once at the compound, the helicopters came under fire but remained operable, Caine said.

U.S. forces and the FBI eventually entered the compound, where Maduro and his wife "gave up" and were taken into custody, Caine said.

Mr. Trump said that Maduro tried to escape during his capture.

"He was trying to get into a safe place," Mr. Trump told reporters. "The safe place is all steel, and he wasn't able to make it to the door because our guys were so fast." After their capture, Maduro and his wife were flown out of Venezuela to the United States. Saturday evening, they arrived in New York.

President Trump has since said that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela on a temporary basis during its transition and “get the oil flowing”.

Maduro was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from what prosecutors said was his role in a scheme to import "thousands of tons" of cocaine into the United States and enrich himself, his family and senior

members of the Venezuelan government.

The indictment was unsealed Saturday after the Venezuelan leader and his wife were taken into custody. Maduro, Flores and four others are named as defendants in the indictment, including Maduro's son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro; Ve n e z u e l a ' s i n t e r i o r minister, Diosdado Cabello; its former interior minister, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín; and a leader of the gang Tren de Aragua, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.

It's unclear whether the U.S. has arrested Maduro's son. The other three defendants were not taken into custody.

The case was brought in the Southern District of New York, where Maduro and 14 others were first indicted in March 2020, during the first Trump administration. The Ve n e z u e l a n l e a d e r i s expected to be arraigned at the U.S. district court in the Southern District of New York next week, two sources told CBS News.

Prosecutors place Maduro at the "forefront of the corruption," and say that

Former President Donald Ramotar he and his associates worked with drug traffickers and narco-terrorists to flood the U.S. with "thousands of tons of cocaine." This drug trafficking, according to the indictment, enriched Maduro, his family and members of Venezuela's political and military elite.

"This cycle of narcoticsbased corruption lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil and who help produce, protect and transport tons of cocaine into the United States," the indictment states.

Maduro faces four charges: narco-terrorism conspiracy; cocaine importation conspiracy; possession of machineguns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices.

The indictment alleges that Maduro has used his

various positions in the Venezuelan government to transport cocaine.

Prosecutors said that as minister of foreign affairs, Maduro sold diplomatic passports to known drug traffickers to help them move drug proceeds from Mexico back to Venezuela under diplomatic cover and facilitated the movement of private planes under diplomatic cover to evade law enforcement scrutiny.

Maduro and his wife also allegedly worked together between 2004 and 2015, with the help of military escorts, to traffic cocaine seized by Venezuelan law enforcement. Prosecutors said the two maintained their own groups of statesponsored gangs to facilitate and protect their drugtrafficking operation. They are accused of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders against people who owed them money or who undermined their drugtrafficking operation.

Kaieteur News

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Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

One-sided, one-sided in every way imaginable Guyanese, with few exceptions, have known for about 10 years that the ExxonMobil 2016 oil contract was so one-sided in the company's favor that Guyana would come out on the wrong end of the stick repeatedly. This is what has emerged in glittering terms for the US oil supergiant, while Guyanese creep and crawl to get their hands on the leftover crumbs.

Recent news is that ExxonMobil has its eyes set on a windfall of US$25B in the next five years, with Guyana's Stabroek Block featuring as a major contributor in the push for 5.5 million barrels of oil equivalents per day by 2030. The company has its visions set on that US$25B windfall, while in this season of peace and joy, Guyanese have their hearts set on a paltry cash grant, of which less has been said, since this year's elections were done and delivered.

The leaders of ExxonMobil can program their minds for the further enrichment of tens of billions by 2030 from an increasing level of production from Guyana, high-quality, low-cost, oil. In the interim, the Guyanese owners of this great national gift are scrambling to see their way all year long, and with an even more difficult spirit during this holiday season. In fact, since oil has been discovered, the bonanzas that Guyanese have been expecting, owing to their right as ownersshareholders, have been part dream, part mirage, what have eluded them. The one-sided nature of the GuyanaExxonMobil is so glaring, that its Chief Executive Officer, Darren Woods, can speak confidently of a US$25B billion windfall by the beginning of the next decade, while Guyanese will consider the receipt of GY$25,000 before the holiday, as a small windfall, but still a windfall to be grabbed at.

ExxonMobil can project into the future, with every confidence in its Guyana treasure. At the same time, rankand-file citizens of one of the most applauded country in the world know that they are unable to put enough food on the table for their families. A windfall estimated for ExxonMobil, and nothing but woe and daily misery for anywhere between 40% and 65% of Guyana's population forced to exist close to an impoverished condition. What can be more conspicuous and sickening in how one-sided that picture is? A picture that represents the true state of many Guyanese, who are frequently overwhelmed with reports that they are among the richest people in the world. It was once inspiring and exciting to read that on paper, but it has now proven so unreal to a great many citizens of Guyana that it is depressing.

The 2016 contract was one-sided as one-sided can be imagined. One-sided in its terms and conditions, and with results in the years since that are one-sided in how ExxonMobil has benefited handsomely, and Guyanese have had the breath of their expectations sucked dry from them.

The management of this nation's oil wealth has been a model of what one-sided is, with Guyana's oil partner calling all the shots, and the elected of Guyana dragged along for the ride.

How much say does the Guyana Government really have in its power over the nation's oil, and how does that compare to the power of ExxonMobil? The two couldn't be farther apart, with the likes of ExxonMobil's Guyana Country Head, Alistair Routledge in the driver's seat, and Guyana head of state, carried along as a passenger. As the president and the government go, so goes Guyana.

ExxonMobil can compute present profits and future prosperity in the billions with utter surety in the power of the one-sided dominance that it holds over Guyana's oil. The Government of Guyana and Guyanese are busy going backand-forth over a measly $50,000 or $100,000 cash grant. Five hundred US dollars (or US$250) per eligible Guyanese or family, should emphasize the one-sided monetary elements in the Guyana-ExxonMobil contract and relationship.

Whenever CEO Woods speaks of the promise of Guyana's oil, it is in a super confident manner. When Guyana's president and vice-president mention oil, it is of men who are so labored that the sense is that they live in a fog. Whenever one-sided needed to be seen at its worst, Guyana's oil is the best representation.

Sunday January 04, 2026

Kaieteur M@ilbox Who Does the Oil in Guyana Belong To? Dear Editor, The oil in Guyana belongs to the people of Guyana. It does not belong to the United States, to ExxonMobil, or to any group of elected officials acting beyond their constitutional trust.

On December 17, 2019, then U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela had taken what he described as “our oil,” stating: “They took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago.

And we want it back.”

Before this, he linked this claim to allegations of drug trafficking and criminal activity as justification for

escalated U.S. action against Venezuela. This is classical smokescreen PR, tell them one thing, but do it for another reason.

And the Government of Guyana repeated these exact reasons as recent as President Ali on January 3, 2026. It is like they are reading the same playbook or being coached on what to say.

That framing is legally false. Under international law, natural resources belong to the sovereign state and its people. No foreign power acquires ownership through sanctions, corporate contracts, or political alignment.

Guyana should take note.

Maduro's exit does not end Guyana's challenges Dear Editor, Some are saying what we saw in Venezuela this morning, "as begun and ended." Complacency is not an option at this moment for Guyana.

The first truth is that the Maduro government still exists, and its claims to our Essequibo. Him being removed does not mean the collapse of the Venezuelan

state. The machinery of governance remains intact, with ministers, regional authorities, constitutional bodies, and, more importantly, a military that has been ideologically liked to Venezuela's politics for more than two decades.

Guyanese should be cautious, calling this an early end to our many troubles (Continued on page 5)

When Guyana aligns itself uncritically with U.S. geopolitical positions in Latin America, particularly against regional neighbours, it exposes itself to the same logic. If Venezuelan oil can be called “U.S. oil,” then Guyana's is already US oil.

Guyana's decision to grant extraordinary control over its petroleum sector to ExxonMobil, a corporation deeply intertwined with U.S. strategic and economic interests, compounds this risk. Effective control has been transferred in ways that weaken Guyana's bargaining power and regional independence.

Guyana occupies a uniquely vulnerable position

as the only English-speaking country in South America.

That position requires restraint, regional balance, and respect for Caribbean and Latin American solidarity, not alignment that places Guyana at the front line of external power struggles.

Guyana's oil belongs to the people of Guyana. The State holds it in trust. No foreign government, corporation, or temporary administration has the authority to redefine that fact.

History shows that when sovereignty over resources is diluted in language, it is soon challenged in practice.

A. Ositin

Sunday January 04, 2026

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain a paramount national priority Dear Editor, A s a p u b l i c communications analyst, I wish to express measured concern regarding Guyana's border security in light of rapidly developing international events involving Venezuela. Recent reports circulating in global media underscore the need

for heightened vigilance, strategic preparedness, and responsible national dialogue, particularly as regional dynamics continue to evolve International news outlets have reported that United States President Donald Trump stated that U.S. forces launched a

military operation in Ve n e z u e l a a n d t h a t Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured during the operation. While these reports are still unfolding and details remain subject to verification, their potential implications for regional stability cannot be ignored.

Against this backdrop, Guyana's sovereignty and t e r r i t o r i a l integrity—especially along its western border—must remain a paramount national p r i o r i t y. G u y a n a h a s consistently demonstrated its commitment to international law, peaceful coexistence, and diplomatic

Confronting a changing advocacy landscape in Guyana Dear Editor, Politics and governance in Guyana over the past year were entirely dominated by national elections, which in turn were dominated by the rise of the new political p a r t y, We I n v e s t I n Nationhood (WIN), financed by the Mohameds.

Post elections politics, in turn, have also been dominated by the Mohameds, specifically how to extradite them before they can tell their side of their relationship with the ruling party. This singleminded search for a political rather than a legal solution to the Mohameds has required Byzantine levels of legal and judicial irregularities, postponement of the Parliament, and meddling with the tax system in order to favour extradition rather than a domestic trial.

Operations of the new Parliament have been postponed for months to avoid swearing in of Azruddin Mohamed, the leader of WIN, as Leader of the Opposition. Nonappointment and its knockon effects for all matters requiring consultation with the Opposition Leader is the most glaring instance of shrinking political space in Guyana since the current Constitution was introduced in 1980, to provide legal cover to the dictatorial powers accumulated in the person of President Burnham. Mansion-building appears to be the only permitted distraction from the Mohameds saga, for the upper echelon of the ruling party.

While avoidance of calling Parliament has generated criticism across all Parliamentary parties, no united strategy has yet emerged to counter this major infraction. Opposition parties seem focused on a range of party priorities

rather than subordinate them to re-convening Parliament.

The failure of the opposition political parties to rally together around the pivotal issue of a prolonged suspension of Parliament sets the scene for future uses of this tactic whenever a ruling party finds it convenient. Moreover, none of the issues opposition parties are embracing - the Natural Resources Fund, corruption, women's rights, for example - can be addressed in isolation. They all need a parliamentary opposition to be unified.

While shrinking political space has been underscored more dramatically by the suspension of Parliament the contraction process itself has been steadily implemented since 2020. The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, chaired by the Opposition, for example, has been stalled from meeting by the ruling party raising the quorum needed for a meeting to take place, then ensuring the failure of the ruling party members to attend. The catalogue of offences to the Representation of the Peoples Act documented in the EU Elections Report tell a tale of systematic contraction of political space. Non-confirmation of a range of key office-holders such as Chief Justice and Chancellor confer illegitimate powers in the Presidency. The political independence of the Guyana

Police Force has been fatally undermined by party manipulation of appointments.

Unrelenting reduction of civic space for civic bodies to participate in public life without fear of retaliation has mirrored reduction of political space over the past five years.

However, this process has sharply accelerated in recent months. Replacing the civic component of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) constitutes, for civil s o c i e t y, w h a t t h e Mohammed saga represents in the political sector – namely, the most highprofile example of institutional contraction of civic space. GYEITI Reports must now be read as Government-approved, rather than independent publications.

Authoritarianism and growing constraints on civil society space is by far the biggest challenge facing the society since it also fosters growing discontent with representative democracy. In response, focusing on the larger narrative of shrinking space, rather than simply contesting specific additional examples of abuse is an urgent national priority. It is a response required from both political and especially civil society.

One strength in this general area of weakness that needs

to be recognized is the systemic and inter-related nature of the crises facing Guyana, namely climate, food, equality and corruption crises. Over-all, the impact of autocratic influence must encourage campaigning organizations to tackle such injustices more holistically and to address their shared root causes more systemically.

How to galvanize higher levels of collective governance action within civil society, including the broader professional, philanthropic, sports, cultural and religious bodies, as well as NGO advocacy organizations, is the first step. This implies that civil society avoid the dilemma in which opposition political organizations find t h e m s e l v e s , n a m e l y, focusing on specific troubling facts, rather than the over-all problematic governance framework supporting individual abuses.

Without collective action on clear and glaring institutional abuse how can Guyana hope to confront the real political challenges facing the societies, such as the plundering of natural resources; reparations; monetary and inheritance inequalities; seeking electoral and media systems that cannot be controlled by money.

Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association

engagement, and it is within this framework that vigilance and readiness must continue to guide national security policy.

It is therefore reassuring t h a t P r i m e M i n i s t e r, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, is currently in (Continued on page 7)

The ICJ process must continue Dear Editor, With the announced capture of Nicolas Maduro Guyana must not drop its guard. Venezuelans have been taught that Essequibo is theirs and we must continue to safeguard against any hostility from a new administration in Venezuela.

The ICJ process must continue, and the resulting verdict respected.

The parliamentary committee that addresses national security issues must be urgently convened and a clear plan of action communicated to the public.

Our approach must

remain the same and we must continue to ensure that our allies, specifically the U.S., China and the UK, are aligned on how we address our national security.

We must insist that the military buildup along our western border be diminished and that all Venezuelans within our country be provided assistance as they venture to return back to their own country.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Maduro's exit does not...

From page 4 with Venezuela. Guyana's real danger now is an intact but leaderless regime and what it may do next.

The second truth is that internal stability remains unpredictable.

The history of Latin America has shown us before where the fall of entrenched governments is rarely swift or orderly. Such instability carries real spillover risks, including refugee movements, border pressure, smuggling, and other threats that directly affect our national security.

Again, to President Ali,

this is a moment for clarity.

No one is asking for military secrets.

All of Guyana must now be prepared for a Venezuela that is both governed and "ungoverned." I would like to advise that our response must be measured, constitutionally informed, and nationally unified.

Parliament must be engaged.

Guyanese, our watchfulness is now as critical as any military readiness. At this time, Iet us all remain alert, informed, and vigilant.

K. Sharma Solomon Member of Parliament.

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Sunday January 04, 2026

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Sunday 2026 MondayJanuary May 02,04, 2022

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

MONDAY – DECEMBER 29, 2025 The Christmas holidays, alcohol and Crime As the Christmas holidays unfold in Guyana, the familiar mix of festivity and folly is again on display.

While many families gather in peace, the season also ushers in a troubling spike in alcohol consumption, often followed by crime, domestic violence and fatal road accidents. Every year, police reports tell the same grim story: drunken arguments escalating into stabbings, reckless driving ending lives, and homes turned into scenes of trauma. Rum shops operate at full throttle, yet personal responsibility seems in short supply. The question must be asked: when will we learn?

Celebration does not require intoxication, and culture cannot excuse chaos. Law enforcement has a role to play through visible patrols and enforcement, but

citizens must accept greater accountability. Christmas should be a time of goodwill, not grief. If Guyanese truly value life, then moderation, discipline and respect for the law must become as much a tradition as pepperpot and ginger beer.

TUESDAY – DECEMBER 30, 2025 The corruption cancer Corruption remains one of the most corrosive forces undermining Guyana's democracy, governance and development. Despite repeated pledges by successive administrations to root out graft, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

Allegations of misappropriation, illicit enrichment and abuse of office continue to surface, often involving high-ranking officials, yet prosecutions remain rare and accountability elusive.

While low-level

functionaries are occasionally charged, the politically connected appear insulated from the reach of the law.

This entrenched culture of impunity has severe consequences. Public funds are diverted from critical sectors such as health, education and infrastructure, worsening the cost of living and deepening inequality.

International bodies, including Transparency International and the United Nations, have warned that Guyana is losing ground in the fight against corruption, particularly in the management of its vast natural resources.

Until corruption is confronted decisively and impartially, public trust will continue to erode and the promise of shared national prosperity will remain unfulfilled.

WEDNESDAY – DECEMBER 31, 2025

Fully respect international law and the applicable inter-American legal framework – OAS Secretary-General on U.S. strike in Venezuela Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Albert R. Ramdin on Saturday called on all actors to “fully respect international law and the applicable interAmerican legal framework, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for human rights, and the protection of civilian life and critical infrastructure.”

Referring to the situation in Venezuela which resulted in the United States (U.S.) military strikes and the capturing of president Nicholas Maduro and his wife by the U.S. Ramdin said, “I am following closely the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela.

Today, I have spoken with several governments of OAS Member States, and I recognize both the depth of concern and the d i ff e r i n g p e r s p e c t i v e s a c r o s s t h e Hemisphere.”

He said that as details continue to emerge, “the priority of the OAS General Secretariat is to help prevent further escalation and to support a peaceful way forward.”

“Whatever the circumstances, all actors must fully respect international law and the applicable inter-American legal framework, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for human rights, and the protection of civilian life and critical infrastructure,” Ramdin said.

Further, the OAS Secretary-General said

Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Albert R. Ramdin it is critical that Venezuela's path forward be grounded in governance based on the will of its people. “Existing institutional arrangements—including the country's constitutional order—provide an important basis on which to build. Sustainable stability and democratic legitimacy can only be achieved through peaceful means, inclusive dialogue, and strong institutions.”

He assured that the OAS General Secretariat stands ready to assist efforts toward deescalation and a peaceful, democratic, and sustainable solution to the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

“I call on all Venezuelan actors to act with unity of purpose and to play a constructive role in safeguarding peace, the rule of law, and democratic coexistence,” he said noting that a meeting of the Permanent Council will be convened to discuss the recent developments in Venezuela and consider next steps.

New Year's promises As the new year dawns, citizens can expect a familiar ritual from their political leaders: a cascade of promises.

Just as on the election campaign trail, politicians will unveil grand plans and lofty assurances, packaged as New Year's resolutions for the nation. Promises, after all, are the currency of politics.

Without them, a politician or political party would have little to sell.

These pledges are designed to energise supporters and project optimism through polished statements and attractive soundbites.

Today both government and opposition will seek to outdo each other, each claiming to hold the key to a brighter tomorrow. But history urges caution.

Guyanese need no reminder of the promised Christmas cash grant that never materialised, or the much-touted 50 per cent cut in electricity tariffs that remains elusive. As the calendar turns, citizens must listen carefully, remember clearly, and remain wary.

Promises are easy; delivery is not.

THURSDAY – JANUARY 01, 2026

Happy New Year As Guyana steps into a new year, the glow of oil wealth continues to mask a harsh and unsettling reality.

Corruption remains deeply embedded in public life, draining confidence in government and widening the gap between the powerful and the poor.

While billions flow into state coffers, too many Guyanese still struggle to put food on the table, find decent work, or access basic services with dignity.

Even more troubling is the unrelenting tide of sexual and domestic violence.

Wo m e n a n d c h i l d r e n continue to suffer in silence, failed by weak enforcement, slow justice and a culture that too often looks away.

These are not isolated tragedies; they are national emergencies.

President Irfaan Ali has repeatedly spoken of good governance and transparency. The new year demands more than speeches. If the President is serious about clean governance, he must urgently confront corruption, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that Guyana's wealth uplifts all, not just a connected few. The country deserves nothing less.

SATURDAY – JANURAY 03, 2026 Secrecy in government When a government makes secrecy a governing principle, suspicion becomes inevitable. Under the PPPC administration, concealment has evolved into routine practice, reinforced by propaganda, silence, and, when pressed, abuse. Nowhere is this more glaring than in the continued withholding of the completed ExxonMobil audit covering US$19.6B in cost recovery claims.

Nearly two-thirds of a year has passed since the VHE Consulting consortium completed its work, yet Guyanese remain locked out of information that belongs to them. What findings are so troubling that the report must remain sealed? What requires massaging, negotiation, or doctoring before public release?

Excuses about “technical reviews” and GRA staffing shortages wear thin against the scale and importance of this audit. Delay breeds distrust. President Ali's conspicuous silence only deepens public unease. With an access-to-information law long in force, this hideand-seek governance is not just unacceptable—it is disgraceful.

CARICOM monitoring U.S. military action in Venezuela …T&T says 'we played no part' The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said it is actively monitoring the Saturday morning United States (U.S.) military action in Caracas, Venezuela which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter) U.S President Donald Trump announced, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.”

Following the U.S. announcement, CARICOM said its Conference of Heads of Government met. In its statement, CARICOM warned that the situation could have implications for neighbouring countries.

“CARICOM is actively monitoring the situation which is of grave concern to the Region with possible implications for neighbouring countries. CARICOM will continue to update the people of the Region as

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar more information is received,” the regional body said.Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar distanced the twin-island state from the U.S. military operations within Venezuelan territory.

“Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” the PM said in a post to X.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 09

Juman Yassin’s letter collapses under its own logic Mr. K.A. Juman-Yassin S.C. wrote a recent letter to the Stabroek News, entitled, “In the absence of any other information, I have come to the conclusion that a plan was hatched by the gov’t to have Justice CummingsEdwards removed as Chancellor.”

The letter is framed as a s o b e r, d i s p a s s i o n a t e intervention by a senior member of the legal profession concerned with the rule of law. In substance, however, it is, in my considered opinion, an object lesson in how conjecture and inverted logic can be dressed up as constitutional concern and presented as near-fact.

The letter does not merely speculate. It constructs a serious allegation of possible interference while implicitly making an invitation for this allegation to be disproved.

This alone is fatal to the letter’s credibility.

At the heart of the letter is the thesis – never proven, never supported by direct evidence—that Acting C h a n c e l l o r Yo n e t t e Cummings-Edwards may have been forced or enticed into pre-retirement leave by the government. This is not a minor assertion. It opens the door to speculation about

possible political interference in the judiciary, one of the gravest suggestions that can be made in a constitutional democracy.

Yet the author offers no documentary proof, no testimony, no statement from Justice CummingsEdwards herself, and no act attributable to the Executive that compels such a conclusion. Instead, he relies on what he calls “reasonable conclusion.”

Labeling a claim, a “reasonable conclusion” does not make it logically valid. In formal logic, a conclusion is reasonable only if it follows necessarily or probabilistically from established premises. Where the premises are unproven, incomplete, or speculative, the conclusion—however confidently expressed—has no logical force.

Also, circumstance is not causation. This means that the mere existence of surrounding facts or events does not establish that one caused another. Things happening around an event do not necessarily explain why the event happened.

Context may raise questions, but only evidence can answer them. This is a reminder that coincidence, timing, and surrounding

facts do not equal proof of cause.

The letter treats the lack of a public explanation by Justice Cummings-Edwards not as a neutral fact, but as affirmative support for the thesis that she was pressured. This is a classic logical fallacy.

A classical logical fallacy is based on the assumption that a claim is true because it has not been proven false. In other words, it treats the absence of evidence as evidence itself Worse still, the author acknowledges that he does not know when Justice Cummings-Edwards was due to retire, how long she had left in service, or why she chose pre-retirement leave—yet proceeds to speculate about possible coercion anyway.

Most troubling is the letter’s wholesale inversion of the burden of proof. The author openly declares that he has drawn conclusions and that “if I am wrong, then I will apologize.”

In law, the accuser bears the burden, not the accused.

Yet here the government is implicitly required to prove that it did not force a judicial officer to demit office. This reversal of first principles is especially jarring.

The same inverted logic

DEM BOYS SEH

When a car change turn crime scene

D

em boys seh if you blink too fast these days, you might accidentally launder money without even knowing you had any. Dem Boys nearly spill we tea when dem hear that the simple, time-honoured Guyanese tradition of selling or transferring a motor car now apparently flirting with the long arm of anti-money laundering law. Imagine that. You sell yuh old Corolla and next thing you know you feel like Pablo Escobar accountant.

As far as dem boys know, changing ownership of a vehicle was always one of the few things in this country that actually worked. You fill out a form, show yuh agreement of sale, pay a small fee have the vehicle engine and chassis number verified and ten minutes later—voilà—new owner, new registration, no drama.

Plenty people used to boast that transferring a car faster than renewing a driver’s licence was proof Guyana still had hope.

Now we turning a simple process into a legal maze. We now hearing whispers about anti-money laundering requirements hovering over the process like a bad jumbie.

Dem boys seh since when a man selling he pick-up to pay school fees become a financial crime? Since when a woman transferring a car to she daughter turn into an international banking risk?

Yes, dem boys understand big money got dirty ways, and yes, money laundering is a serious thing. But common sense must still have a seat at the table.

Because if selling a car for a few million dollars or transferring a car to a relative now requires the same suspicion as wiring funds to an offshore haven, something gone off track.

People starting to ask questions, and dem boys asking too. Is this really about protecting the system, or is it another case of using a sledgehammer to crack a mauby seed? Is this prudent oversight—or a witch hunt where every ordinary citizen suddenly feel like a suspect?

Dem boys seh all we know is this: if buying and selling a car now need antimoney laundering vigilance, then next thing dem might want AML clearance to sell a bicycle. And if that happen, plenty people gon be walking.

Talk half. Leff half.

infects the discussion of Justice Navindra Singh’s acting appointment and the episode involving office access. From a single incident—reported in a newspaper—the author leaps to an elaborate theory of possible prior instruction. direction. He insists that Justice Singh “would never, never” have remained in the office unless instructed to do so. This is pure speculation.

The author substitutes his personal belief about what a judge would or would not do for actual evidence of what was done or ordered.

Courts do not operate on “the only reasonable conclusion”; they operate on proof.

Equally flawed is the suggestion concerning the

view about the bypassing Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud.

But the letter writer needs to be reminded that custom is not always law. Long-standing practice, tradition, or habit does not automatically acquire legal force, especially where there is a written constitution or statute that governs the matter. Custom may inform the law, but it does not override it Furthermore, past practice does not constitutionalize entitlement. Article 127 (2) allows the President, subject to consultation, the discretion to make acting appointments. And this discretion does not mandate seniority. To argue otherwise is to elevate convention into

veto power.

In the end, the letter implicitly invites the public to accept as fact what the author concedes he cannot prove, and then implicitly challenges the government to disprove a claim that was never properly established.

That is not vigilance in defence of the rule of law. It is its distortion.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Sunday January 04, 2026 Monday May 02, 2022

BY GHK LALL

H@RD TRUTHS Reflections on an oil rich Xmas C S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

L

LAL

hristmas Eve saw an intensifying of the crushed streets and shops. It's that time and space that is not just a day, didn't begin on D e c e m b e r 2 4 t h .

Expectations vested in a promise.

Only for the promise to turn-out to be a put-on and pretense at best; a pathetic gimmick in the end. On that usually bustling, a thousandthings-to-do, day, the intrusive thought was of the inside of a home, and what went on in the hearts of many Guyanese there.

Those are not the kind of residences that make a statement, or speak of more than the ordinary. Merely, a humble home, with weighty mortgage, not infrequently a monthly car payment, and more. The occupants would prioritize some extra cleaning, the sighing thought

of a helping hand. Where is the money to be had to make either the extra cleaning stuff and the human help to put just that special touch and sheen to this place called home, this castle.

The public servant may be able to harbor those forlorn ideas. But of the $60,000 per month minimum wage worker, and single-mother, what can they think? How does that home feel, exist? Or that of a pensioner whose offspring have moved on, rarely look back? It has to be especially hard for these Guyanese at a special time, the forerunner to Guyana's most cherished, most celebrated, holiday.

A holiday that is more than a day for both believers and nonbelievers.

Up to now, the sketch drawn has flitted over walls and windows, floors and blinds and carpets. All of

which are out of reach, because there is little to nothing in the hand as spare change. Spare change is where many Guyanese are, and where their country is spoken of in the most awed terms all over the map.

Nowhere is that lil spare change to be found, for there was never any extra left back to squirrel away for a rainy day.

Things are truly bad, when every day is a raindrenched day in oilswamped Guyana.

And worse still, when there isn't the comfort of a familial cushion, no matter how thin.

Nada for a financial cushion. It is why that promise came to mean so much, was so closely watched, was thought to be as good as done and delivered. Look who said it was going to happen! Not some junior.

Not some

incompetent or drunk.

Because of who gave that promise, a world of trust was placed, a lot of hope inspired. Now that faith has crumbled, smashed with hopes dashed. Bad enough that the promise collapsed for the simple reason that it was less of a promise and more of a ploy. All of that is now so, with the grandest of times now degraded to lines of anxiety, lines of fear and sorrow, imprinted on the faces of Guyanese who only count for their vote, and that time only.

The biggest worry, the toughest challenge, is still unsaid. Food. What to do about that trial?

When supermarket carts are loaded to overflowing, and market baskets are weighed down, spare a thought for those who think of inviting supermarket aisles and shelves, and lush market

stalls. A thought for those forced to come to a dead stop right there. Been there.

Where is the money? Been there, too. Where the extra money to tide over, provide a 'nice' holiday? Yes, that promised money, sum unstated, but on which so much was planted? Like hopeful, trusting farmers, Guyanese know what it is to be shattered. I like farmers, for what is seen is neither combine nor conglomerate, but a man or woman with a shovel, a handful of seeds, and a can of water. And an unsung prayer, too.

Food.

Even before Christmas prices kicked in, adding to the already excruciating human bondage, poor and poorer Guyanese were fighting a losing battle. Daily, weekly.

Possibly hourly. On Xmas Eve day, there was the savaging irony of big trucks

rushing by, bigger speeches being readied to be made by the greatest pretenders and deceivers ever found, and half of Guyana hungry.

Beaten to different states of that wretched condition.

The bloated callous may see and say: politics! Take some damn shame off faces and farces. See pain. See that mot enough food is pain.

See also how a little something could have inspired the different on a season that is timeless, but what decisions and policies have made into intolerable, unpardonable pain.

The unacceptable that should not be.

Celebrate that, my fellow Guyanese.

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

$2B loan for Hospitality Institute flagged “at risk” by Caribbean Development Bank ...report cites increased cost due to site relocation, other issues G

uyana is listed as one of four countries with projects “at risk” in the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) 2024 Annual Report of the Special Development Fund (SDF).

According to the document seen by this newspaper, the construction of the Guyana Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute, pegged at around $2B and being funded by the CDB was “at risk” for two reasons.

It was explained that there was an increase in the cost of the development due to a change in the project site and redesign.

Furthermore, the Bank stated that the “potential redesign” was not approved, since it omits key childcare facilities.

The report states that the project is valued at US$9,780,000 or approximately GY$2B. As at December 31, 2024, 31% of the loan amount or US$3B was disbursed by the Bank for the initiative.

I n S e p t e m b e r, t h e Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues visited the construction site for the institute at Port Mourant,

Corentyne, Berbice. She expressed concern about the pace construction as the project nears its June, 2026 deadline.

Rodrigues said, “This world-class facility, with the capacity to train 200 persons per cohort, will offer C a r i b b e a n Vo c a t i o n a l Qualifications in areas ranging from mixology to cosmetology.

We recognise that a growing sector requires a skilled workforce, and as a proactive government, we are ensuring that Guyanese are well-positioned to benefit from this expanding industry, while simultaneously building national capacity.”

Notably, the project is being executed under the Ministry of Education. It is the country's first Hospitality a n d To u r i s m Tr a i n i n g Institute.

It was reported that Kares Engineering Inc. and the architectural engineer, Deen and Partners, were awarded the contract for the facility under construction.

Kaieteur News reported that the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute, when completed, is geared at training personnel to ensure

Construction of the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge that are necessary to staff and manage the growing tourism and hospitality sector in Guyana.

At the sod-turning ceremony in February 2024, the then Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, said the institute is aimed at equipping students with hands-on training in a world-class facility that would enhance their knowledge of the sector, including modern approaches required to operate at international industry standards.

Guyana supports efforts that uphold democratic norms - President Ali ….Welcomes leadership of President Trump on democracy and regional security. …looks forward to constructive engagement in Venezuela's next chapter President Irfaan Ali on Saturday night said that the Government of Guyana is continuing to monitor the developments in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States of America in Venezuela. Maduro and his wife were captured by the U.S. military early Saturday and transported to the United States where they will face criminal charges.In a statement posted on his social media platforms, the Guyanese leader said that, “Stability, respect for law, and democratic transition are critical

to the future of Venezuela and the broader Americas. In this regard, Guyana supports efforts that uphold democratic norms and ensure that the region remains a Zone of Peace.”He said that Guyana welcomes the leadership of the President of the United States in reaffirming shared commitments to freedom, democracy, and regional security.

“We look forward to constructive engagement in Venezuela's next chapter in the interest of all Venezuelans,” the head of state said.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 11

CARICOM at the Crossroads of Pressure

By Sir Ronald Sanders As 2025 draws to a close, the Caribbean Community stands at a moment that calls for less rhetoric and more realism. CARICOM is experiencing a period in which external pressure is intensifying, new norms are hardening among powerful states, and the need for small states to navigate emerging demands is growing.

The central challenge before CARICOM is not disagreement between governments. Diversity of view is inevitable among governments, which are transient by nature and whose policies are shaped by domestic political cycles.

The deeper question is w h e t h e r a l l governments—acting as a c o m m u n i t y o f interests—can strengthen collective planning and coordination in a world where economic, political and security shocks increasingly spill across borders.

Economic stress in one CARICOM country never remains confined. The region’s economies are interlinked through trade, investment, labour movement, tourism and financial flows. IntraC A R I C O M exports—particularly from the more industrialised C A R I C O M economies—have direct implications for revenues, employment and growth across the Community. A downturn in any one economy translates into lost income and reduced demand across regional supply chains.

Political stress behaves similarly. When a member state faces external pressure or coercion, even wellintended but qualified support within the Community can dilute deterrence, signal hesitation and encourage further testing of regional resolve.

Therefore, CARICOM’s unity must be expressed not only in declarations, but in timely, consistent and

unambiguous collective action.

This reality applies equally to Guyana. Oil and gas revenues have transformed its national prospects, but wealth does not confer immunity from geopolitical risk or diplomatic pressure. Guyana looks to all CARICOM governments for political and diplomatic support on matters touching its territorial integrity—just as Belize has long relied on the Community’s consistent backing in defence of its borders and independence. A weakened Community would be less persuasive in defending its members when pressure mounts. That is why Guyana and Belize, no less than others, have a stake in helping to bolster the economic resilience of all CARICOM countries.

Against this backdrop, recent public questioning of CARICOM’s reliability misses the larger point. For more than 50 years, CARICOM has provided a framework for cooperation in trade, security, health, disaster response and diplomacy. The record is imperfect, but the outcomes are real—and without them, individual states would be far more exposed.

In security, the facts are clear. CARICOM does not support drug trafficking, organised crime or illicit enterprise. On the contrary, the Community has worked closely with each other and with international partners, including the United States, through intelligencesharing, law-enforcement coordination and maritime security mechanisms. These arrangements are professional, active and indispensable.

Similarly, CARICOM’s advocacy of the Caribbean as a zone of peace reflects respect for international law, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the recognition that stability is the foundation of economic survival. For small states, peace is a necessary condition for prosperity.

What distinguishes this moment is the accumulation of pressures that now require greater collaboration, not less.

Storm clouds are forming over the citizenship-byinvestment (CBI) programmes operated by five CARICOM states. The European Union has signalled a decisive hardening of its position, suggesting that the existence of such programmes may, in itself, justify the suspension of visa-free travel to the Schengen area, regardless of reforms undertaken—a shift from conditional scrutiny to structural opposition.

At the same time, the United States has made clear that CBI programmes across the region are under close scrutiny, with particular focus on identity verification, security vetting and the integrity of passport issuance. If these pressures intensify, the consequences will extend beyond the five states involved, affecting investment flows, fiscal stability, financial services and confidence across the region.

This is why the countries that operate CBI programmes must redouble their efforts to ensure that applicant vetting meets the highest international standards; that jointly agreed regulatory and oversight frameworks are fully and consistently implemented; that breaches attract prompt sanctions; and that the systems are insulated from corruption or political interference. Every reasonable step must be taken to reassure international partners that Caribbean CBI programmes are secure, credible and effectively enforced.

Visa policy has also become a sharper instrument of leverage in international relations. Measures applied to one country can widen unless concerns are addressed early and collectively. The economies of all CARICOM states depend on mobility for tourism, education, business

travel, remittances and diaspora engagement. No government can afford a fragmented response.

Another pressure point has emerged around the Cuban medical cooperation programme, which in 2025 became a central issue in US policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean.

Governments face a genuine dilemma: health systems rely heavily on these medical personnel, yet geopolitical realities and international conventions cannot be ignored. Responsible governance requires preparation—developing alternatives to protect public health services—while engaging candidly with all partners, including Cuba.

These challenges share a common feature. Each reflects the asymmetry of power between small states and larger partners. None can be managed effectively by individual countries acting alone. All underscore the need for reciprocity in international relations.

Cooperation, however, cannot mean acquiescence

without regard to consequence. If small states are expected to alter policies that affect livelihoods, revenues and s o c i a l s t a b i l i t y, t h e n powerful partners must recognise the costs imposed and engage in solutions that preserve viability, not merely compliance.

Reciprocity must be negotiated and agreed—not imposed.

For the Caribbean, strong and predictable relations with the United States remain indispensable. The region’s objective must be partnership that recognises the constraints small states face and the shared benefits of stability, growth and democratic resilience.

CARICOM’s task is clear. The Community must move from coordination after the fact to planning in advance: shared risk assessment, early consultation and collective strategies that prevent external pressures from forcing unilateral decisions.

As 2026 begins, CARICOM faces a choice. It

Sir Ronald Sanders can treat each challenge as a national problem to be managed alone or recognise that the future resilience of the Caribbean depends on planning together, speaking with discipline and acting with foresight.

In a world where power is impatient and rules are applied unevenly, small states endure not by standing apart, but by standing together—clear-eyed about risks, prepared for change and united in purpose. That should be the work of every CARICOM government in the year ahead.

(The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

President and the Minister of Finance over interpretation of Section 16 of the Act,” he added.

Campbell has since tendered his resignation and filed legal proceedings against the lack of transparency in the use of oil revenues.

WEEK-IN-REVIEW SUNDAY ‘$24M for doing nothing’ …NRF Investment Committee paid while oil money sat idle In just over three years, $24M has been paid to members of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Investment Committee although there was no special investment of the oil revenue generated from the Stabroek Block.

An analysis of the past three NRF Annual Reports by Kaieteur News found an almost identical explanation of the ‘Investment Mandate’ for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Notably, the oil fund was established following the passage of the NRF legislation in 2021.

Subsequently, President Irfaan Ali appointed the various Boards and Committees to govern and oversee the fund in August 2022.

It was reported that several distinguished Guyanese were appointed to serve on the respective bodies including the NRF Board, the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, and the Investment Committee.

While some argue that the legislation watered down the guardrails previously set by the APNU/AFC administration, the government maintains that the oil fund is now better managed through the new bodies compared to the former arrangement that allowed the minister of Natural Resources sweeping powers.

The NRF Reports indicate that six members were appointed to the Investment Committee of the oil account, including a chairperson.

Since those persons were appointed, Kaieteur News learnt that $24M has been paid, although no special investment of the fund was ever facilitated or decided upon. In fact, the NRF Annual Reports seen by this newspaper state that the revenue from oil remained in an account in the United States, currently accumulating interest.

The 2024 NRF Report explained that the Board of Directors of the NRF (a separated body) met on May 16, 2024 to approve the Investment Mandate of the Fund. “It was mandated that the funds be maintained in overnight deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was agreed that the Bank will continue to monitor the overnight interest rate and related market developments and inform the Chairman of any key changes to consider the feasibility of rebalancing the Portfolio items,” the document said.

Further, it was explained that towards the end of the year, a proposal was under consideration by the Board of Directors to revise the current investment mandate.

However, at the end of the financial

Sunday January 04, 2026

Toddler drowns in Pomeroon River

President Irfaan Ali (right) with Chairperson of the NRF Investment Committee Ms. Shaleeza Shaw and member, Richard Rambarran year there was no change to the Investment Mandate as the federal funds rate remained relatively high.

Section 9(1) of the Act stipulates that the Investment Committee shall be responsible for advising the Board of Directors on the Investment Mandate for the Fund.

The six Investment Committee members, as outlined by the 2024 NRF Annual Report include Ms. Shaleeza Shaw (Chairperson), Mr. Lauris Hukumchand, Mr. Michael Munroe, Mr. Richard Rambarran, Mr. Terrence Campbell and Mr. Ganesh Sugrim.

This newspaper was informed by a credible source that each member is paid about $100,000 monthly.

It was reported in February this year that businessman turned politician, Terrence Campbell, a

former member of the NRF Investment Committee raised serious concerns relating to transparency in the use of oil revenue.

At the time Campbell even vowed to donate his portion of earnings from the Committee to charity as he referred to the NRF Board and Public Accountability and Oversight Committee as a mere rubber stamp.

He explained, “In essence, the Board signs a blank cheque with each withdrawal. This effectively reduces the Board to a rubber stamp and the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, which is supposed to provide oversight, to a white elephant.”

“I’ve stayed on the inside to continue paying attention to what’s happening and externally, to avoid the back and forth with the Vice

A two-year-old girl drowned on Christmas Day at Grant Atlas, Lower Pomeroon River, Essequibo.

The toddler has been identified as Zoria Seegobin of Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Reports are that the child was staying with relatives at Grant Atlas for the Christmas holiday when tragedy struck.

“In the early hours of December 25, 2025, she was discovered missing from the home and was subsequently found submerged in a nearby trench,” police said in a statement.

Seegobin was taken to the Charity Cottage Hospital by relatives where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body was subsequently taken to the Suddie Hospital Mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

MONDAY Canadian firm inks deal to acquire almost 5,000 acres of mining lands in Guyana Alerio Gold Corp. has entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire a 100 per cent interest in the

Highlighted area shows mining lands to be acquired by Canadian firm

Aurora NW gold project in Guyana.

The letter of intent, dated December 3, 2025, provides the Canadian firm with an option to acquire full ownership of the Aurora NW property, which comprises four Prospecting Permits Medium Scale (PPMS) under Guyana’s Mining Act. The permits cover a total area of 4,799 acres, or 1,942 hectares, in the Cuyuni–Mazaruni district, Region Seven.

The Aurora NW property is located within the Cuyuni greenstone belt of the Guiana Shield, an area considered prospective for gold mineralisation. It lies approximately three kilometres from the Aurora Gold Mine concessions and about seven kilometres from the Aurora mine itself, the largest active gold mine in Guyana, which is owned and operated by Zijin Mining Group Corporation.

Alerio Gold is a mineral exploration and development company in the business of acquiring, and exploring gold properties, with a focus in Guyana, South America. The company currently has 100-per-cent interest in two properties located in Guyana.

According to Alerio, the geological setting of the area includes metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks intruded by granitic and tonalitic bodies, and affected by strong deformation and greenschist-facies metamorphism.

Under the terms of the letter of intent (LOI), Alerio will have the Continued on page 13

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

From page 12 option to acquire a 100 per cent interest in the property over a threeyear period. The consideration includes US$50,000 in cash, of which US$10,000 is payable upon signing the LOI and the balance upon execution of the definitive agreement, along with an additional US$50,000 payable six months after the effective date.

The transaction also includes the issuance of two million common shares to the vendor on the effective date.

In addition, a net smelter royalty (NSR) will be granted based on annual production levels as defined under the Guyana Mining Act and its applicable regulations, comprising a 1.5% NSR on large-scale production, and a 5.0% NSR on both medium-scale and small-scale production. The company retains the right to repurchase the NSR for a total of US$500,000, calculated at US$125,000 per permit across four permits.

The company said it is also negotiating potential additional acquisitions in neighbouring areas and is preparing a geological work programme for the first half of 2026.

Ram slams President, Finance Minister over delay in release of census data Intolerable and inexcusable.

Those two words best describe the years-long delay in the publication of the 2022 national census data which remains pending without a clear timeline for publication- a failure that falls squarely at the feet of President Irfaan Ali and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh.

This is according to chartered a c c o u n t a n t a n d a t t o r n e y, Christopher Ram. In his most recent column published Sunday by Stabroek News, the lawyer referenced comments reported by the newspaper where the minister said he was “still awaiting a clear update” on the long-delayed 2022 Population and Housing Census, that he was unsure what caused the delay, and that he intended to raise the matter with the chief statistician “very soon.”

Ram pointed out the issue may have been excusable were it routine, and tolerable if the delay was brief. To this end, he noted that as finance minister, Dr. Singh carries the responsibility of presenting annual budgets exceeding one trillion dollars, allocating resources across ministries, departments, agencies, regions, and sectors; a task which demands the most current and reliable demographic and socioeconomic data available.

“It cannot responsibly and properly be discharged by guesswork, political preference, or incremental increases carried over

PAGE 13

distort priorities, misallocate resources, and entrench inefficiencies.”

Ram said if the 2022 population and housing census is to retain any value, the president and the senior minister responsible for finance must act decisively: appoint a new board without delay, with a clear and public mandate to bring the exercise to publication within a fixed timeframe.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r. A population and housing census is precisely the dataset that anchors such decisions. For the senior minister responsible for finance to accept – assuming his account is accurate – a state of affairs in which that foundational data is unavailable, unexplained, and unmanaged is not merely regrettable. It borders on incredible,” the lawyer argued.

Furthermore, he said the explanation is not merely puzzling in a political sense but difficult to reconcile with the statutory framework governing official statistics in Guyana. Ram pointed out that the Statistics Act does not contemplate an open-ended census process, nor does it permit foundational national data to drift indefinitely without explanation or accountability.

Shifting his attention to the Bureau of Statistics, the Chartered Accountant highlighted that the body is governed by a board chaired by the finance secretary – who operationally reports direct to the minister – with the chief statistician as vice-chair, and comprising senior public officials.

Notably, oversight of the bureau therefore sits squarely within the financial and administrative architecture of the state. “Delays of this magnitude cannot occur unseen, unexplained, or unmanaged at that level. Nor does responsibility end with Dr. Singh,” Ram said.

The Lawyer reasoned that President Ali in an unprecedented, unexplained move which is yet to be clearly understood has not allocated finance to its own minister.

To this end, he contended, “Under our constitutional framework, Finance is retained within the Office of the President, and responsibility for Statistics has been allocated to no other minister.

In such circumstances, prolonged non-delivery cannot be treated as an operational mishap. It becomes an executive failure that points directly to Dr. Singh and indirectly to President Ali.” Further deepening the worry

President Irfaan Ali

Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram

over the census data is the fact that the public has been fed with a mixture of excuses and promises offered by the minister, according to Ram. The lawyer also pointed out that this is no longer a single lapse, but a pattern, as years have passed and another beckons, with the board of the Bureau of Statistics also close to expiring. To this end, he said, “A governing body chaired by the finance secretary, with the chief statistician as vice-chair, and populated by senior public officials, will have completed its term without delivering the most important statutory function of the decade. Boards are appointed to govern, to supervise, and to ensure delivery. When a board’s term expires without results, responsibility gives way to accountability – not excuses.”

With just a few more days before the year ends, Ram urged that the responsibility for the census cannot be deferred any further but must be owned and acted upon as he underscored the crucial role of the data to the country.

“What makes this failure even more troubling is that the statistics act does not contemplate a single, isolated census. It provides for several distinct censuses and largescale statistical exercises – including population and housing, labour force, household expenditure and other socioeconomic surveys – each separate

in scope, but all essential to decision-making, public administration, and management applying evidence-based governance. The act also gives the bureau latitude, with ministerial approval, to undertake additional censuses and surveys as circumstances require. In other words, the population and housing census is not the sole output of the statistical system, but the cornerstone upon which the others rest.”

Planning on social and physical infrastructure, skills requirements a n d a v a i l a b i l i t y, p o v e r t y measurement, household consumption analysis and intercensal estimates all depend, directly or indirectly, on the population baseline. As such the failure to publish the 2022 census casts a shadow on the entire system of official statistics and weakens the informational foundation on which policy decisions are made and national finances are allocated, Ram noted.

Regarding the consequences of the prolonged inaction, the lawyer said, “In the political sphere, the absence of inconvenient data may be tolerable, even advantageous. It allows narrative to substitute for evidence, delays scrutiny, and permits claims of progress to go largely untested. In management, however, the same absence is dangerous. Decisions made without reliable baseline data

Tourism Minister, Susan Rodrigues (right) and WIN Leader, Azruddin Mohamed in happier times.

TUESDAY Tourism Minister denies accusations of land grabbing …admits to owning multiple properties through private sales Former Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water and now Minister of Tourism, Susan Rodrigues has been accused of grabbing prime lands for investment purposes by Opposition party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).

The party’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed on Sunday released a video on social media, showing a newly constructed massive apartment complex in Peter’s Hall just off the Heroes Highway, East Bank Demerara.

The Opposition Leader in waiting said the building features modern amenities and luxury finishes including a roof garden and large parking lot and is owned by the Minister Rodrigues- a claim which the government official flatly denied.

Further, Mohamed argued that there appears to be a two-tier system in Guyana: one for ordinary citizens, and another for government ministers and their families as he detailed the struggles faced by an ordinary citizen in acquiring a plot of land.

In addition to the exhausting waiting time, which often stretches for years, or even decades, when land allocation finally occurs, citizens are forced to deal with lack of access to basic infrastructure needs such as roads, water, electricity and drainage.

“The PPP believes Guyanese are foolish and will accept this explanation that this multimilliondollar building was financed through a loan or mortgage,” the leader said. In fact, he questioned the collateral used by the minister to secure financing of such magnitude and the repayment terms to lawfully finance the project on a minister’s salary of around $1.2 million monthly. Mohamed pointed out the project likely costs hundreds of millions or even more than a billion dollars, all built during her tenure as Housing Minister.

In addition to the apartment complex, Mohamed also released evidence of another property reportedly owned by the minister, located at 946 Herstelling, East Continued on page 14

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PAGE 14

From page 13 Bank Demerara. “This situation helps explain why Guyanese cannot get house lots, why families are stuck renting and why applications gather dust, waiting year after year. Because while tens of thousands of Guyanese have none, this Minister has two prime parcels and even more,” the leader argued.

Minister denies Meanwhile, in response to the damning allegations levelled against her, the minister denied ownership of both the apartment complex and the Herstelling property, although documents shared with this newspaper suggests otherwise.

Rodrigues explained that while she is owner of multiple properties, none was acquired from the government of Guyana. She noted that she never received, nor applied for any house lot through the Central Housing and Planning Authority or any other government agency.

As such, she clarified, “The Certificates of Title bearing my name were all bought by me from a private individual, executed through an Agreement of Sale, and are not the lands upon which that apartment building is located. I can produce evidence of this at any time. The owner of that building should sue you (Azruddin Mohamed). I am also not the owner of the second building…but I will have you know that that property was acquired in the year 2016, long before I entered government and my party was not even in power during that time.”

Addressing concerns about her salary as a minister, Rodrigues said “I come from money.” Aside from her “rich background” she pointed out that she holds shares in several companies, locally and internationally, all of which have been declared to the integrity commission.

New tint rules set limit at 2025% …as Govt. admits tint regime had collapsed After years of confusion, selective enforcement and widespread abuse, the Government has finally conceded that Guyana’s vehicle tint regime had collapsed, with more than 70 per cent of vehicles operating illegally under an outdated and unrealistic law.

And the administration on Monday walked back on its 35 percent tint policy to now 20-25 percent, even as it announced a three-month window for motorists to get in line.

Government last month had announced that a new 35 percent tint regime was coming into force on December 31, 2025, but Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Wa l r o n d o n M o n d a y s a i d adjustments have been made and the new regulation will now come into force on Thursday, but citizens will get another three months comply.

According to Walrond, when she assumed office, the law technically amounted to a neartotal ban on tinted windows, permitting tint only by exemption and even then limiting it to a minimum 65 per cent Visible Light Transmission (VLT). “Despite this clarity, the reality on our roads reflected widespread noncompliance, with over seventy percent (70 %) of vehicles operating far outside the legal limit.

It was evident that our country had outgrown what was, in effect, a ban on tint, and that a more progressive, practical, and enforceable legal framework was necessary to reflect modern realities while safeguarding public safety,” the minister stated.

She said it is against this background that “I have moved to have enacted the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025, which will come into force on January 1, 2026, as part of our

continued efforts to strengthen p u b l i c s a f e t y, e n h a n c e t h e effectiveness of law enforcement, and provide greater clarity, consistency, and fairness for all r o a d u s e r s . ” Wa l r o n d s a i d Guyanese will be pleased to know that the new Regulations allow all vehicles to carry some level of tint without the need for an exemption; introduce new clearly set permissible VLT standards; and establish a modern policing regime using approved tint meters, removing ambiguity and s u p p o r t i n g f a i r, c o n s i s t e n t enforcement nationwide.

“Following my initial announcement earlier this month, we received public feedback and, in keeping with the hallmark a p p r o a c h o f t h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, we listened carefully and made further adjustments.”

“Therefore, with effect from the commencement of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025 on January 1, 2026, the following will apply: Front windscreen: No tint is permitted, except for a visor which must not exceed 6 inches measured from the top of the windscreen.

Front side windows (driver and front passenger): Minimum 25% VLT Rear side windows: Minimum 20% VLT Rear windscreen: Minimum 20% VLT The use of mirrored or reflective tint is prohibited under the new regulation.

Exemptions and Application Process Recognising that certain categories of vehicles require enhanced protection or accommodation, exemptions are in place for: Ÿ Ve h i c l e s u s e d b y t h e President and Prime Minister

The apartment complex reportedly owned

by Tourism Minister, Susan Rodrigues.

Sunday January 04, 2026

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond Ÿ Designated senior government officials Ÿ The Police Force, Defence Force, Fire Service, and Prison Service Ÿ Emergency services, including ambulances Ÿ Diplomatic and consular missions Ÿ Licensed private security agencies Ÿ Individuals with certified medical conditions requiring reduced exposure to sunlight Ÿ Businesses engaged in highrisk cash handling or security-sensitive operations Exemptions Meanwhile, the minister said applications for exemptions must be submitted using the prescribed system to the Minister of Home Affairs who shall consider the application and may issue or refuse to issue an exemption certificate.

She said in the case of exemptions on medical grounds, applications must be supported by certification from a registered medical p r a c t i t i o n e r. A l l a p p r o v e d exemptions will be recorded in a digital national tint registry.

Updated Fines The new regulations also provide for adjusted fines of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for offences related to the installation or use of noncompliant tint, including for vehicle operators and businesses engaged in applying tint contrary to the law.

These fines were carefully calibrated to serve as a deterrent without being punitive or excessive, and to reinforce compliance rather than create hardship.

Government will closely monitor compliance, enforcement patterns, and public impact during the implementation phase, and w h e r e n e c e s s a r y, f u r t h e r adjustments, including increases to fines, will be considered.

Amnesty Period Additionally, the minister

announced that to support an orderly and fair transition, a threemonth amnesty period will take effect from the commencement of the regulations. “During this period, the Guyana Police Force will establish voluntary tint testing sites across the country, allowing vehicle owners to test their vehicles and make adjustments where n e c e s s a r y w i t h o u t p e n a l t y.

Information on the locations and operation of these testing sites will b e r e l e a s e d s h o r t l y. A t t h e conclusion of the amnesty period, full enforcement will commence.”

“I encourage all motorists to take full advantage of the amnesty period and to ensure compliance with the new standards as we move forward together in the interest of safer roads and stronger public trust. The Government remains committed to safeguarding public o r d e r, p r o t e c t i n g l i v e s , a n d strengthening confidence in our road traffic and public safety systems as Guyana continues its national transformative development,” the minister stated.

APNU concerned Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the minister’s announcement, APNU Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan said the explanations provided by the minister confirmed the concerns raised, the party had raised back in November regarding the tint enforcement regime. “The minister has now acknowledged that the previous system lacked structure, was widely non-compliant, and required formal regulations, calibrated standards, and safeguards to correct what she herself described as a lawless environment. The introduction of clear VLT thresholds, a defined commencement date of January 1, 2026, a three-month compliance period, certified equipment, and a digital registry underscores that regulatory clarity was essential before enforcement could be fairly applied,” Duncan noted in a statement.

He said while APNU welcomes the movement toward structure, transparency, and reduced punitive emphasis, the sequence of events reinforces our central point: enforcement must follow law, not precede it. He said citizens should not be subjected to policing practices before rules are clearly gazetted, communicated, and uniformly understood. “The minister ’s explanations also highlight areas that still require parliamentary attention, including the scope of discretionary exemptions and the mechanisms to ensure equality before the law.

APNU will continue to support measures that enhance public safety while insisting that all enforcement initiatives remain grounded in statute, applied consistently, and subject to Continued on page 25

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Sunday January 04, 2026

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Towards a better life with your psychologist

Making 2026 Count Gone are the years of New Year’s resolutions 75% of these regulations are abandoned, forgotten and unmotivated by May. Mainly based on the fact that, most of it is emotional based rather than logical base.

Resolutions cannot start on the 1 January and make it to the December 31.

Resolutions must start building into one’s system by October, so that’s 90 days.

Rewiring the brain is stronger than will power.

After 1 January we are fully in committed, functional system that is now not only a pattern, but the brain is now rewired to facilitate the new life adjustments. In the place of resolutions, I would like to suggest to you a “theme” for the year “Mental Health”.

Better mental health will improve your financial capacity, relationship, sound decision making, better quality of life.

What is your theme this year?

For 2026, effective mental health goals should be focused on building sustainable habits like mindfulness, strengthening connections, setting boundaries, prioritizing sleep, and seeking therapy, moving from overwhelming resolutions to small, consistent wins for overall emotional well-being and happiness. Key strategies include journaling, spending time in nature, consistent self-care, limiting screen time, and celebrating small achievements to create a supportive foundation for other life goals.

Foundational Habits Prioritize Sleep: Establish a consistent bedtime routine to support overall well-being.

Mindful Movement: Incorporate daily activities like walking in nature, yoga, or stretching to reduce stress.

Healthy Nutrition: Support brain health with a nutrient-rich diet.

Limit Tech: Create techfree zones or times to foster relaxation and focus.

Emotional & Cognitive Goals Practice Gratitude: Write down 3 things you are thankful for daily to shift your mindset.

Self-Compassion: Release past guilt and acknowledge you did your best.

Mindful Presence: Eat meals without screens, focusing on the experience. st of

st

Set Boundaries: Learn to say “no” and protect your peace, even when saying “yes” to new experiences Connection & Support Strengthen Social Ties: Schedule Strengthen Support: Schedule regular check-ins with friends/family or join support groups Be present for your children and partner. Most importantly, be there for yourself.

Self-Reflection & Growth Journaling: Track moods, practice gratitude (e.g., 3 good things daily), or reflect on challenges.

Seek Support: Normalize therapy as a powerful tool for wisdom and self-love, not weakness.

Cultivate Joy: Schedule one fun activity weekly or try a low-pressure hobby (gardening, puzzles).

Digital & Mindset Boundaries Implement a “Digital Sunset”: Put phones away at least 60 minutes before bed to reduce blue light and comparison-induced anxiety.

The “One-In-One-Out” News Rule: For every 10 minutes of news consumption, spend 10 minutes reading something uplifting or educational to avoid “doomscrolling”.

Practice “B-Minus” Work: Purposefully let go of perfectionism. Treat a missed therapy session or a bad day with the same compassion you would offer a friend.

2. Daily Biological Support Morning Sun and Hydration: Spend ten minutes outside within an hour of waking up to help regulate your circadian rhythm and boost serotonin and drink a glass of water before your first coffee to potentially reduce morning cognitive sluggishness.

Mindset for Success Start Small: Break goals into manageable steps to build momentum.

Be Realistic: Accept that some days will be better than others; progress, not perfection, is key.

Create a System: Schedule goals like appointments and track progress.

Implementation Strategy: The SMART Approach To a v o i d f e e l i n g overwhelmed, I suggest focusing on 2–3 goals at a time. The SMART goal

framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can help you create sustainable habits. For example, instead of a general goal like “Be less stressed,” a SMART goal would be “I will practice guided breathing for 5 minutes each morning for the next 30 days”.

If your theme is to build a better version of yourself; here is a six-way process towards achieving them in 2026.

1. Clarify Your Values and Vision Spend time reflecting on what matters most to your family, career, creativity, health, contribution, etc.

Write down your long-term vision and the kind of person you want to be. This clarity

gives direction to every choice you make.

2. Set Measurable, Realistic Goals Break your vision into smaller, achievable goals.

For example, instead of “get fit,” we aim for “exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week” or “save 10% of income monthly.” Specific targets help track progress and keep motivation high.

3. Invest in Continuous Learning Read books, take courses, or learn new skills relevant to your goals.

Lifelong learning keeps your mind sharp and helps you adapt to new opportunities, making you more confident and capable.

4. Take Care of Physical and Mental Health

Exercise regularly, eat nutritious meals, get enough sleep, and practice stressm a n a g e m e n t By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, techniques like MSc. Postgrad, BSc. m i n d f u l n e s s o r Clinical and Developmental journaling. A healthy Psychologist - Psychoanalyst body and mind give you Unwrapping Gift -Clinic the energy and resilience to pursue Your daily habits shape your goals. your identity. Establish 5. Surround Yourself m o r n i n g a n d e v e n i n g with Positive Influences routines, schedule time for C h o o s e s u p p o r t i v e deep work, and replace f r i e n d s , m e n t o r s , a n d unhelpful habits (scrolling c o m m u n i t i e s . L i m i t late at night, skipping meals) exposure to negativity or with healthier ones (reading, people who drain your meal prepping, exercise). e n e r g y. A p o s i t i v e From Unwrapping Gifts environment accelerates and my self Co-founder and your growth and helps you Clinical Psychologist I with stay on track. you and yours a graceful, 6. Build Positive Habits progressive and healthy and Routines 2026.

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Sunday January 04, 2026

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

For Children, Falling Behind Starts Early.

Getting Back on Track Can Start Tonight

I

n working on my dissertation, I am immersed in research t h a t a n s w e r s d i ff i c u l t questions: why children fall behind, how early it begins, and what actually brings them back on track. I write this week knowing that many of the parents who most need these words may never read them. Some are still learning to read themselves. Some are busy surviving.

Some have no data or device. If you are reading this, I ask you to share it. Our children cannot wait for perfect conditions. They are falling behind early, and the longer we pretend the problem starts in Grade 6, the harder it becomes to

reverse.

When educators say a child is “behind,” we are not talking about intelligence.

We a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t foundations. A child may struggle to recognize letters and sounds, blend words, understand numbers, or grasp simple relationships like more and less. These gaps appear quietly in nursery and early primary, then grow louder with each grade. What begins as difficulty with letters and numbers becomes frustration, low confidence, avoidance, and fewer options later on.

This pattern is not unique to Guyana. International research shows that learning

gaps exist before formal schooling begins and persist without early support. Even in toddlerhood, children who hear fewer words and have fewer back and forth conversations develop smaller vocabularies and slower language processing.

Once school starts, the gap widens.

Strong readers read more and improve. Struggling readers read less and fall further behind. By around Grade 4, when schooling shifts from learning to read to reading to learn, children who are still decoding every word begin to sink. Long holidays without books or enrichment add to these losses.

Guyana’s data tell the same story. Early childhood and primary assessments show weaknesses in phonological awareness, vocabulary, decoding, and number sense.

These gaps appear in PreK screenings and remain visible in Grades 2, 4, and 6 for far too many learners, with consequences that extend into secondary school and affect who ultimately matriculates. There are clear regional and socioeconomic patterns. Children in households with fewer books, inconsistent attendance, or limited access to early childhood education struggle more. Learners in hinterland and riverain

communities face added barriers of distance, language, electricity, and connectivity. This is not about ability. It is about exposure, time, and whether teaching meets children where they are.

The good news is that we know what works. Earlier is better. Warm, frequent, interactive experiences matter. Daily reading aloud.

Conversations that explain and wonder, asking why do you think that and giving children time to answer.

Songs, stories, sound games, playful work with letters, counting everyday objects, comparing sizes and shapes.

This is not expensive or complicated. It is consistent, responsive, and human.

For children already behind, guessing is not enough. Quick assessments are needed to identify specific gaps in sounds, d e c o d i n g , v o c a b u l a r y, number sense, or word problem language, followed by explicit daily instruction.

Small group or high dosage tutoring delivered in short, frequent sessions produces strong gains in reading and math. Building background knowledge through science and social studies strengthens comprehension because learning is easier when children have context.

Attendance matters. Lost d a y s a d d u p q u i c k l y.

Motivation matters too.

Children work harder when success feels possible and when adults notice progress.

I learned this long before I read the research. I do not know where Ms. Blair, my Second Form French teacher at St Roses, is today, but I remember her clearly. She passed me at recess and told me she knew I would do well on the quiz. She believed in me, even though I had no track record to support it. I spent lunch cramming French vocabulary and scored nine out of ten.

Inspirational teachers change trajectories.

For Guyana, the policy path already exists.

Strengthen early childhood quality and reach. Align the renewed Grade 3 and 4 curricula with frequent checks teachers can act on immediately. Expand small group tutoring in literacy and numeracy in the earliest

grades. Ensure timely remediation as children approach Grade 6 so no one enters secondary school already struggling to stay afloat. Where connectivity is limited, blend paper-based practice with short, targeted digital sessions when bandwidth allows. Where language and culture differ, honor home language while systematically teaching the language of schooling. This is inclusion. The challenge is not the plan. It is execution.

Parents, here is the hard truth with a hopeful ending.

Children who hear fewer words, own fewer books, and spend less time in conversation often start behind, but they do not have to stay behind. Ten minutes of reading aloud each day.

Five minutes of sound games. Counting while you cook. Naming what you see on the minibus. Asking how do you know when your child answers. This is curriculum.

If you can, enroll your child in programs that diagnose specific gaps and teach directly to them. At Pathway Online Academy, our assessments show parents exactly why a child is struggling, and our personalized lessons target those root causes. Students in our online K to 12 programs are already seeing meaningful improvement because focused practice, feedback, and consistency work.

If reading is the barrier, we start with success a child can feel. If fractions are the problem, we rebuild number sense. If attention is the challenge, we shorten tasks and build stamina. The goal is not to work harder in the dark. It is to work smarter with the problem clearly visible.

We cannot wait for perfect internet or a shelf full of books in every home. We can start tonight with one story, one conversation, one small skill made solid.

Matched with systems that find gaps early and fix them quickly, this is how we stop the slide that begins before school and accelerates by Grade 4. This is how more of our children reach the end of secondary school ready to choose their future, rather than have it chosen for them.

Kaieteur News

2202 ,2 0 yaM y04, adn2026 oM Sunday January

Businessman remanded for possession of unlicensed firearm, ammo A 38-year-old businessman was on Friday remanded to prison for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Lawrence Joseph called 'Tuggy' of Republic Gardens, Georgetown made his first court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse where he was charged with the offences.

According to information provided by the police, the accused pleaded not guilty to both charges and bail denied.

The matter was adjourned to February 20, 2026.

Police in their initial report said that following an operation conducted on January 1, 2026 about 0 6 : 3 0 h r s a t t h e Sparendaam/Plaisance Railway Embankment Area, East Coast Demerara, the firearm and ammunition were discovered. “Acting on information received, ranks intercepted a motorcycle driven by a 38-year-old

Remanded: Lawrence Joseph Businessman of Republic Gardens, Georgetown. A search was conducted on his person during which one (1) suspected .40 Smith & Wesson pistol was found tucked in his waist along with a magazine containing one (1) live suspected .40 round of ammunition,” the police reported.

Joseph was arrested and taken into custody and an investigation launched.

Vryheid's Lust man on $400k bail for possession of gun, ammo A 47-year-old Chief Security Officer was on Friday charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition offence.

The accused, Edward McCollin called 'Butler' of South Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse where the charges of Possession of a Firearm without a Licence and Possession of Ammunition without a Licence, contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05, were read to him.

McCollin pleaded not guilty to both charges and was granted $400,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to February 18, 2026.

According to initial police reports, during an operation on January 1, ranks of Regional Police Division 4 'C' observed the 47-year-old man standing among several individuals at the Sparendaam/Plaisance Railway Embankment area.

Upon noticing the police, he moved away from the

Charged: Edward McCollin

location in a hurried manner and was subsequently intercepted.

“A search was conducted on his person, during which ranks found one (1) suspected 9mm Taurus pistol along with a magazine containing five (5) suspected 9mm rounds of ammunition,” police reported.

M c C o l l i n w a s subsequently taken into custody and an investigation was launched.

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Sunday Monday January May 02, 04, 2022 2026

UN Security Council to meet Monday over U.S. action in Venezuela SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations Antonio Guterres attends an interview at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 11, 2024.

REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Monday after the U.S. attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving autocratic President Nicolas Maduro, a move that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres views as setting "a dangerous precedent."

Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15member council, diplomats said. The U.N. Security Council has met twice - in October and December - over the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington would run Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." It is unclear how Trump plans to oversee Venezuela.

'A COLONIAL WAR': VENEZUELA "This is a colonial war aimed at destroying our republican form of government, freely chosen by our people, and at imposing a puppet government that allows the plundering of our natural resources, including the world's largest oil reserves," Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada wrote to the U.N. Security Council on Saturday.

He said the U.S. had violated the founding U.N. Charter, which states: " All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force

against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

The U.S. military action overnight constitutes "a dangerous precedent," Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect - by all - of international law, including the UN Charter.

He's deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected," Dujarric said.

T h e T r u m p administration has for months targeted suspected drug trafficking boats off the Venezuelan coast and the Pacific coast of Latin America. The U.S. ramped up its military presence in the region and announced a blockade of all vessels subject to U.S. sanctions, last month intercepting two tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude.

In October, the U.S. justified its action as consistent with Article 51 of the founding U.N. Charter, which requires the Security Council to be immediately informed of any action states take in self-defense against armed attack.

"This is not regime change this is justice," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz posted on X on Saturday. "Maduro was an indicted, illegitimate dictator that led a declared Narcot e r r o r i s m o rg a n i z a t i o n responsible for killing American citizens."

Sunday January 04, 2026

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Sunday January 04, 2026

Total Energies commence application process for US$25M oil exploration French oil major, Total Energies have commenced the application process for a US$25 million exploration campaign in Block S4, a shallow water concession, offshore Guyana.

Total said the seismic acquisition project is anticipated to last about 70 days, including mobilization and demobilization. It is expected to start in August 2026 and last till October 2026 though vessel availability could result in a

one-month delay. Further, the processing of seismic data will commence after the data reaches the processing centre and take around 12 months to complete.

The Project Summary, seen by Kaieteur News, indicates that the company intends to invest around US$25M for the activities but will have the final number upon completion of tender processes.

With regard to local content, TotalEnergies

...granted EIA waiver anticipates that 50-60 persons will be onboard the seismic vessel. The workforce, it said, must be highly skilled to manage the advanced technology of towing systems of the cables and source arrays.

As such, maritime positions can be occupied by local employees for roles such as marine mammal

observers, passive acoustic monitoring operators, galley staff, and able-bodied seamen.

On November 11, 2025 the government of Guyana signed an exploration and production pact with Total Energies which holds 40% interest in the block, along with, Qatar Energy and Petronas with 35% and 25%

respectively.

As the operator, Total said the 3D survey will be conducted in waters measuring 20 to 30 meters deep, covering an area of 2000 square kilometers (km).

The location of the survey is about 40km from shore. The company noted that the latest seismic processing technology will be used to process the data acquired with geophysical and geological studies to develop new prospects for drilling during the first exploration period.

During the acquisition, gravity and magnetic recordings will be undertaken as well on the 3D seismic vessel. A marine seismic survey is a method of determining geological features below the seafloor using a technical process which involves sending sound waves into the rock layers beneath the sea floor and then recording the time it takes for each wave to bounce back as well as measuring the strength of each returning wave.

The company explained, “The sound waves are generated by an acoustic pulse at regular intervals, and the energy penetrates the subsurface geological layers and reflects back to the surface where the seismic signal is digitized and recorded on a seismic cable.”

These sound waves are likely to have an impact on marine life, especially fish, according to the document.

“Potential impacts on fisheries of seismic survey activities are disturbance and avoidance reactions by fish due to underwater noise from airgun arrays, potentially causing temporary displacement and reduced catches of fishes in the vicinity of the survey area.”

The company however noted that disturbance to fish can be minimized by using the lowest practicable airgun source strength necessary to achieve the seismic survey objectives.

In addition to the impact on fish, the company said temporary disturbance and interferences with shipping routes may occur due to the physical presence of the seismic survey vessel while “potential accidents during the project could include a small volume spill due to

Vice President of Total Energies, Daniel Larranaga collision or a fueling accident”. The possibility of such an event it said was considered negligible.

No EIA In a decision published on January 2, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the project will not significantly affect the environment and is therefore exempt from the requirement to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The regulator pointed out that the proposed project is a temporary marine geophysical research survey, anticipated to last approximately 70 days, or just over two months and does not include the construction of permanent infrastructure, drilling, or seabed excavation.

Additionally, it said that the project will utilize a specialized seismic vessel equipped with advanced technology for towing systems, source arrays, and digitized recording cables.

Meanwhile, “potential impacts, primarily underwater noise and waste, are well-understood and will be effectively managed through a project-specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP). All vessel d i s c h a rg e s a n d w a s t e generation will strictly comply with MARPOL international standards,” the EPA stated.

Although the company will not be required to conduct an EIA, the project has not yet been approved, pending the submission of an EMP. In the meantime, persons may object to the EPA’s decision within 30 days from the publication of the notice and should be addressed to the Chairman of the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB).

Sunday January 04, 2026

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Sunday January 04, 2026

GDF, security forces mobilised amid U.S. military action in Venezuela Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and other officials during one of the meetings held across border communities and bases.

Members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and other security forces have been mobilised following reports of a United States (U.S.) military operation early Saturday in neighbouring Venezuela, which resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Early Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he described as the successful capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a “large-scale” military operation in Caracas.

The arrest of Maduro who have been indicted in New York for narcoterrorism charges, follows months of heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, after the Trump administration deployed military assets in the Caribbean and Latin America region; and conducted several fatal military strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali in a social media post on Saturday morning said he met with the Defence Board, the National Security architecture, regional commanders, and other senior security officials amid the unfolding situation in Venezuela.

GDF in its statement, disclosed that a series of routine leadership engagements are currently underway across border locations and military bases nationwide, in keeping with its standing responsibilities and ongoing commitment to national security and operational readiness.

These engagements include

visits by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, to several border locations, as well as meetings between commanders and troops across all bases.

According to the GDF, the engagements across border locations form part of standard command oversight and are intended to assess readiness, engage directly with ranks, and ensure that established operational, welfare and professional standards continue to be upheld.

“In keeping with the posture articulated by His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Guyana Defence Force continues to operate in a calm, disciplined, and measured manner,

fully aligned with national policy and Guyana’s longstanding commitment to peace, stability, and lawful processes,” the Force said.

GDF underscored that it remains vigilant and prepared to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities to safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity, while supporting decisions taken at the national level. “The Guyana Defence Force reassures all Guyanese that these activities reflect routine leadership engagement and responsible military management,

as the Force continues to serve the nation with professionalism and resolve,” it further stated.

Moreover, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, in a post on his Facebook page, attributed comments to President Ali in relation to the military operation.

Persaud said the president noted, “We have been monitoring the situation in Venezuela all morning.

The priority is the safety and security of our Country. The Defence Board, the leadership of

the GDF and our security forces are fully mobilised in accordance with our security plans. We have spoken to the SG (Secretary General) of Caricom and as more information becomes available, we will further update the population.”

The U.S. military actions come at a time when Guyana and Ve n e z u e l a a r e b e f o r e t h e International Court of Justice (ICJ) over Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, the resourcerich Essequibo.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali during the meeting with the Defence Board, the National Security architecture, regional commanders, and other senior security officials early Saturday morning

Members of the Guyana Defence Force mobilised

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Sunday January 04, 2026

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GNBS RECORDS MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2025 AND UNVEILS EXPANDED VISION FOR 2026 The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has concluded a successful 2025 with notable achievements across its certification, compliance, standardisation, metrology and business development programmes, while positioning itself for major expansion in 2026.

This year, the GNBS certified thirty (30) companies, which include six (6) new laboratories certified under the GNBS Laboratory Certification Programme to ensure reliable medical and non-medical testing services.

The certified companies also include fifteen (15) businesses that were Made in Guyana certified allowing them to use the GNBS approved mark on their locally manufactured products. Meanwhile, two (2) new gold Jewelers and one (1) Bed and Breakfast Provider were certified by GNBS under the Product Certification and Bed and Breakfast Programmes, respectively.

Additionally, in 2025, for the first time, six companies were awarded the new GYS 901 certification, which helps businesses to improve the quality of their management systems. This programme is based on the National Standard GYS 901:2024 – Requirements for a Quality

Management System for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

In the area of training, a total of 949 stakeholders from the public and private sectors were trained by the GNBS on the application of standards to improve their companies and businesses. The Business Development Department, through its Technical Assistance programme, also assisted thirty-eight (38) companies in improving their operations to meet the requirements of national and international standards. For Standards Development, as the National Standards Body (NSB), GNBS continues to develop standards for the various sectors. Thirteen (13) New Work Item Proposals were approved by the National Standards Council (NSC) to develop standards aimed at improving consumer products, cooking appliances, foods and jewellery.

This amount is expected to increase in 2026 with the implementation of the National Standardisation Strategy (NSS) which was completed in 2025. The NSS is a strategic roadmap through which the GNBS will be developing or adopting standards to support trade facilitation,

environmental stewardship, and technological advancement.

In the areas of measurement calibration and testing, the demand for these services increased during 2025. The GNBS Industrial Metrology and Testing (IMT) Department completed over 2,500 calibrations and 1,204 tests, supporting accuracy and reliability across sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and energy.

To protect consumers from substandard products, under its Product Compliance Programme, GNBS continued to play a key role in monitoring several products, imported and locally manufactured. The Product Compliance Department significantly expanded its monitoring activities, conducting 9,541 inspections, covering 24,936,460 products during 2025.

This ensured that several categories of products entering and circulating in the local market were meeting established labelling and quality requirements.

In Legal Metrology, to ensure measurement accuracy in Trade and Law Enforcement, 38,367 verifications of measuring instruments and 711 verifications of pre-packaged goods were

conducted countrywide this year.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,663 vendors and retailers were sensitised on the use of metric units.

The Bureau also verified 43 speed cameras in Regions Three and Four and successfully witnessed 233 crude oil lifts.

This year, GNBS hosted its fifth National Quality Awards (NQA), attracting over 100 participants, the largest turnout to date, and establishing it as the biggest event of its kind in the CARICOM Region. Thirty-five local companies were awarded.

Meanwhile, the GNBS also received the President’s Award from the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) for its contribution to strengthening local manufacturing capacity and advancing excellence across industries.

Educational outreaches continued through 19 school engagements, reaching 1,244 secondary and tertiary students, who were educated on GNBS functions, career opportunities, the importance of the International System of Units (Metric System) and more.

Beyond the delivery of its services, GNBS remained committed to community

engagement. Through its ‘Like and Share’ social media competition, three participants were awarded cash and other prizes. The Bureau also hosted a Christmas tree lightup, welcoming children from the Joshua House Children’s Centre, employees’ families, and guests for an evening of gifts, treats, and holiday cheer.

As 2026 approaches, the Bureau will pursue continued growth through the expansion of its services to support emerging technologies and industries.

Planned initiatives include the verification of electric vehicle charging stations, further strengthening of the Made in Guyana Certification Programme, implementation of the National Standardisation Strategy, and the introduction of new calibration and testing services. Through these efforts, the GNBS will reaffirm its commitment to quality, safety, t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d n a t i o n a l development, ensuring that Guyana’s products, services, and systems continue to meet recognised standards at home and abroad. For more information on GNBS services and initiatives, visit www.gnbsgy.org, follow GNBS on social media, call 219-0062–66, or WhatsApp 692-4627.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

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Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 25

be given the opportunity to be promoted. Promotion means higher salary, additional benefits, and, of course, retiring at the higher level of tension,” the president emphasised.

From page 14 legislative oversight,” Duncan stated.

WEDNESDAY Linden businessman gunned down at home Linden business man Amar Jones was gunned down Tuesday afternoon at his home hours after another man from neighbouring Bamia was killed in similar fashion.

Jones, according to reports was executed by two masked gunmen.

Reacting to the killings, Regional Councillor, Mark Goring said “we are shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of two young lives, Amar Jones and Dion Ramdyhan in Linden within a span of 12 hours. Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and loved ones.

This senseless violence is unacceptable and demands immediate attention and action from our law enforcement and policy makers.”

Goring who is tipped to be the chairman of Region 10 said the recent incidents in Linden, highlight the urgent need for change and a safer community. “We echo the call for reelection and action to address the root causes of this violence and ensure justice for the victims and their families.”

Providence woman killed by speeding car Police are investigating a fatal road accident that claimed the life of a 38-year-old Providence, East Bank Demerara woman in the early hours of Tuesday morning along the Providence Public Road.

The accident occurred around 01:30hrs on the western carriageway, police said in a press release. It involved motor car PAM 8305, driven by a 33-year-old man of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and pedestrian Leslyn Cupidore of Providence, who died at the scene.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle was travelling north at an allegedly high rate of speed when Cupidore attempted to cross the roadway from east to west and was struck.

The impact flung her onto the road, causing severe head and body injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation who arrived with EMTs. Her body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home pending a post-mortem. A breathalyzer test showed the driver was .04 and .08 micrograms which are below the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms.

CCTV footage has been identified for review. The driver remains in custody as investigations continue.

Wales gas project pushed back again …Govt. now targets end of 2026 completion

Dead: Dion Shawn Ramdyhan THURSDAY Pres. Ali swears in TSC …promises fast-tracked promotions for teachers Seven members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) returned to office on Wednesday, after being officially sworn in for another term by President Irfaan Ali. The swearing in ceremony was held at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

The returning officials, who will serve on the commission for the next three years, include Doodmatie Singh, who previously chaired the commission, former Deputy Chairperson Shafiran Bhajan, as well as Joan Ann DavidMonkhouse, Lancelot Baptiste, Satti Jaisierisingh, Maydha Persaud, and Mohammed Saddam Hussain. At their first meeting, the commissioners will elect a new chairman and deputy chairman to lead the commission. The TSC was last appointed in December 2022.

During the ceremony, President Ali emphasised the critical role of the commission. “The teaching service commission is one such institution entrusted with s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y, professionalism and fairness of the

Dead: Businessman, Amar Jones teaching profession. Its members are vested with a solemn constitutional responsibility that reaches into every school, touches every teacher, and ultimately shapes the character and capacity of the nation itself.”

He further urged the members to take up their positions effectively. “I therefore encourage you to undertake your duties with seriousness, be guided at all times by the principles of fairness and merit. Doing so, will honour the intent behind the establishment of the teaching service commission and make a lasting contribution to the development of education and society in Guyana,” he said.

Turning his focus to teachers, President Ali said the government is committed to ensuring they are promoted before reaching the age of retirement. He highlighted the creation of over 800 new teaching positions to facilitate this goal.

“Not only are we concerned about the improvement and the welfare working environment for our teachers, but we want to see them having access to accelerated opportunities. That is why we’re investing to ensure 100% of our teachers are trained and trained graduates,” he said.

The president also discussed the government’s plans to fill 2,700

senior vacancies within the education system. These new roles, he explained, are designed to improve the overall quality of education rather than filling traditional positions. He added that several new positions have been created to facilitate the faster upward mobility to teachers, many of whom had to wait until near retirement to become head teachers. “ The Minister of Education has advised me that a second deputy head teacher in grades A and B secondary school, that position was created, and 60 newly created positions are in this category, a deputy head teacher in Grade C, primary and secondary schools, creating the opportunity for 101 newly created positions for upward mobility, additional senior master/ mistress in all schools to improve accountability, creating opportunity for another 408 new positions for upward mobility, senior masters/mistresses in grade E schools, creating the opportunity for 254 new positions for upward mobility,” the president said.

In total, 823 new positions have been added to the teaching service structure to facilitate career advancement for teachers. “These positions did not exist previously.

This means more teachers will be promoted, and more teachers will

The long-awaited Wales Gasto-Energy (GTE) project is now expected to come onstream by the last quarter of 2026, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said, pushing the timeline further back from earlier projections of mid-2026.

“We’re hoping by the last quarter in 2026 the gas energy project will be in a position to deliver but that too is a problem if the transmission and distribution is not completed…” President Ali said during an interview with five female journalists on Tuesday.

The president’s comments come weeks after Minister of N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s Vi c k r a m Bharrat disclosed that government was engaging the contractor on a revised timeframe for completion of the project in 2026, following a series of delays.

Minister Bharrat said the administration was dissatisfied with the setbacks but noted that outstanding issues with the contractor had been resolved and that additional work hours were being added to accelerate progress.

Government officials had previously indicated that the project was expected to be completed by mid-2026. The GTE project, located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, comprises a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant, which government has said is expected to cut consumers’ electricity bills by 50 percent. The project involves transporting natural gas from the offshore Stabroek Block’s Liza field via a 12-inch pipeline to the Wales site, where 50 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) is to be Continued on page 26

President Irfaan Ali (5th left) along with the newly sworn in members of the Teaching Service Commission.

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From page 25 converted into electricity.

Back in 2022, government hired CH4 (Texas) and Lindsayca (Puerto Rico) for the construction of the power plant and NGL facility at a cost of US$759 million.

However, the companies have splitup and Lindsayca is completing the project.

The GTE project has faced significant delays due to ground i n s t a b i l i t y. C h a i r m a n o f Lindsayca, Nelson Drake, had revealed that a staggering US$100 million was spent to stabilise the unstable soil at the project site, a challenge that set the massive undertaking back by 14 months. He had outlined that the project’s timeline was severely impacted by unexpected ground liquefaction at the West Bank Demerara site.

Ahead of the completion of the Wa l e s G T E p r o j e c t , t h e government awarded a US$422 million contract for the extension of transmission lines for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). The transmission lines are being constructed along the eastern corridor of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

SATURDAY Foreign gold miners given 24 hours to up declarations – President Ali …illegal operators to face prosecution, expulsion …MNR, GGMC to enforce declarations, deregister non-compliant dredges Foreign gold miners, particularly Brazilian nationals, operating in Guyana’s mining sector, who have had low to zero declarations have been given 24hours to fully comply with local laws and the requirements surrounding gold declaration.

Those operating illegally will also face prosecution and expulsion, President Irfaan Ali announced Friday.

In a Facebook post, the president said he met with the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana

Sunday January 04, 2026

Scenes from the meeting President Irfaan Ali held with officials from MNR, GGMC and GGDMA Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at state house, where instructions were given to immediately ordered to address non-compliance in the gold mining sector.

According to the president, all gold miners must fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025. He further directed that all registered dredges with no declarations will be deregistered. “All foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion. It was also noted that some Brazilian miners operating in Guyana have had very low or no declarations. These miners have 24 hours to comply fully with the laws of Guyana and the requirement to declare to the Guyana Gold Board,” the post stated.

Moreover, it was also announced that the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the MNR will work together to ensure that all miners, a c r o s s e v e r y c a t e g o r y, a r e registered with the ministry and have a local bank account.

President of GGDMA Ronaldo Alphonso, who was also present at the meeting, urged miners to adhere to the laws and only sell their gold through legitimate channels to protect the long-term viability of the sector. “It is our responsibility as miners to ensure the sustainability of the industry. We need to make it compliant, and we need to declare gold. Make 2026 the year of compliance and declaration,” Alphonso said.

This meeting with officials of MNR, GGMC and GGDMA follows a recent announcement by

President Ali that there will be a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s mining sector to be completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to strengthen accountability, environmental protection and production compliance across the industry.

President Ali had explained that the assessment will review every mining licence, claim, and operational decision, with firm action to follow where miners fail to declare production or hold lands without productive use.

The head of state also announced that gold declarations will now be linked to mercury p u r c h a s e s t o r e d u c e u n d e rdeclaration, environmental harm, and illegal activities in the industry.

“We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations. If they have land that they are working on and there is no declaration, those lands will be repossessed,” the president stated.

He stressed that environmental destruction without production will not be tolerated. “There is no sense destroying the environment if there is no production,” President Ali added.

He observed that the mining sector, which faced a serious decline, has recovered, thanks to significant financial incentives that have helped protect miners and workers during global crises and supported communities near rivers and in remote areas.

This publication had reported that Guyana’s gold industry had experienced a steady decline in declarations between 2019 and 2023, falling by approximately

209,000 ounces, according to the Bank of Guyana’s annual reports.

However, 2024 saw a modest increase of 1,954 ounces — from 432,113 ounces in 2023 to 434,067 ounces in 2024. Despite the marginal rise in output, gold revenue for 2024 climbed to US$989.9 million, a US$180 million increase over the previous year, largely due to higher global gold prices. According to the 2025 Mid-Year Report, Guyana’s gold sector showed stronger signs of recovery in the first half of 2025, with a 10.9% increase in output driven by higher declarations from the only large scale gold producer in Guyana, Aurora Gold Mines and small-and medium-scale miners.

GRA staff under probe for alleged illegal transfer of Mohamed’s vehicles …AZ maintains all regulations were followed Several employees of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are being investigated by the agency for allegedly aiding and abetting businessman and leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Azruddin Mohamed’s illegal transfers of several vehicles.

However, the businessman maintained his innocence stating that all regulations were properly followed.

The alleged transfers occurred between November 27, 2025 and December 5, 2025.

According to GRA, the vehicles were in breach of both regulations associated with the transfer of motor vehicles and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.

According to GRA, “A perusal of the authority’s records reveal that the identical employees were responsible for the off premises examination of the vehicles, lodgement, approval of the transfer documents, and the dispatch and receipt of payment to effect the said transfers, with many of the transferees residing at similar addresses in Republic Park and Atlantic Gardens, and Hill Top, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.”

So far, investigations have r e v e a l e d 11 s u c h t r a n s f e r s , including luxury vehicles.

The institution explained that all employees involved in such illegal transfer will be arrested and prosecuted before the courts.

“Investigations are ongoing, and the authority’s international partners have been apprised,” GRA stated.”

Meanwhile, Mohamed in an interview with Kaieteur News maintained his innocence stating that all regulations were followed.

He said, “I never knew it was a crime to sell vehicles. I sold those vehicles at an agreement of sales, we went through the right process, we paid for the transfer of the vehicles, for each and every vehicle we paid.”

The businessman further stated that he’s surprised that his transfers are being investigated. “I don’t know what they are coming for. All I have to say is that I don’t know if I want to sell a vehicle of mine is it a crime. I went through the right process, I submitted the agreement of sales, we submitted the relevant documents. The staff of GRA checked off each vehicle to ensure that the vehicles, the registration that they are intact, and that they are not stolen vehicles, and all regulations were followed,” he said.

The businessman further added, “This is just political prosecution, it’s like I’m a prisoner in my own country.”

Mohamed clarified too that none of his luxury vehicles were sold, a claim made by the tax authority body. “The Lamborghini is still in my possession,” he said.

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World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela, ‘capture’ of Maduro Aljazeera - United States President Donald Trump has said the US has carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and “captured” t h e c o u n t r y ’s l e a d e r, President Nicolas Maduro.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country” following the operation, which the US leader said was conducted “in conjunction with US law enforcement”.

Washington had carried out strikes inside Venezuela early on Saturday, in a dramatic escalation that Venezuelans had feared for weeks.

In a statement on X, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Venezuela was experiencing a “new dawn”.

“The tyrant is gone. He will now – finally – face justice for his crimes,” Landau said.

In a statement shortly after the US bombings, M a d u r o ’s g o v e r n m e n t accused Washington of an “extremely serious military aggression”. “ Ve n e z u e l a r e j e c t s , repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” the Venezuelan government said.

Here’s a look at how other countries are also reacting to the US attack and “capture” of Maduro.

Colombia “Alerting the whole world that they have attacked Venezuela,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote in a series of statements posted on the social media platform X. “The Republic of Colombia reiterates its conviction that peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation,” Petro said.

In a separate post, he said Colombia “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America”.

Petro later announced the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border.

Cuba President Miguel DiazCanel issued a sharply worded condemnation on

social media, accusing Washington of carrying out a “criminal attack” against Venezuela and calling for an urgent international response.

In a post on X, DiazCanel said Cuba’s so-called “zone of peace” was being “brutally assaulted”, describing the US action as “state terrorism” directed not only at the Venezuelan people but at “Our America” more broadly.

He ended the statement with the revolutionary slogan: “Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome.”

In a statement posted by various Cuban embassies around the world, Havana said it “denounces the US military attack against Venezuela”.

The statement also “demands an urgent reaction from the international community”, describing the attack as “state terrorism”.

Chile In a statement posted on X, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font expressed his government’s “concern and condemnation” of the US military actions in Venezuela.

“We call for seeking a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting the country,” he said.

“Chile reaffirms its commitment to basic principles of International Law, such as the prohibition of the use of force, nonintervention, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the territorial integrity of States. The Venezuelan crisis must be resolved through dialogue and the support of multilateralism, and not through violence or foreign interference.”

Mexico In a statement on X, President Claudia Sheinbaum said, “Mexico condemns the military intervention in Venezuela.

She also included in her post an article in the UN Charter which states: “The Members of the Organization, in their international relations, shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

Brazil Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

condemned the US bombings and capture of Maduro as crossing “an unacceptable line”.

“Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism,” Lula wrote on X. He added that the US attacks recall the “worst moments of interference” in Latin American politics, threatening peace across the region. “The international community, through the United Nations, needs to respond vigorously to this episode,” he said.

Bolivia B o l i v i a ’s f o r e i g n ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook that the country “expresses its firm and immediate support for the Venezuelan people in the ongoing process of restoring their democracy, reinstating constitutional order, and fully guaranteeing human rights.”

“Bolivia reiterates its commitment to peace, democracy, and coordination with the international community for humanitarian assistance, the protection of the civilian population, and support for a credible and lasting process of institutional reconstruction,” it said.

Guyana “The Guyana Defence Force and the security forces are monitoring the situation [in Venezuela] and Guyanese should be reassured that the government is working to ensure the safety and security of our citizens,” Guyanese President Irfan Ali commented to local reporters, according to Guyana’s independent news outlet News Room.

“The security architecture is fully active,” Ali said.

Trinidad and Tobago “Earlier this morning, Saturday 3rd January 2026, the United States commenced military operations within the territory of Venezuela.

Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations.

Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said in a statement.

Ecuador

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Azin called on Venezuelan opposition leaders and the public to “reclaim your country”.

“The time is coming for all the narco-Chavista criminals. Their structure will finally collapse across the entire continent,” he wrote on X. “To Corina Machado, Edmundo Gonzalez, and the Venezuelan people: it is time to reclaim your country. You have an ally in Ecuador.”

Uruguay U r u g u a y ’s f o r e i g n ministry said the government is “ following with close attention and serious concern the events that have been reported from Venezuela in recent hours, including US air strikes against Venezuelan military installations and civilian infrastructure.”

“Uruguay rejects, as it always has, military intervention by one country in the territory of another and reaffirms the importance of respecting international law and the UN Charter, in particular the basic principle that States must refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations,” it said in a statement.

Argentina Argentina President Javier Milei said in a media interview following the US attack on Venezuela that this is “the collapse of the regime of a dictator that was rigging elections, that in the last election was badly defeated and, despite that, he clinged on to power.”

“That’s why I’d say that today’s news is excellent news for the free world.” “[Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia] should assume power. He won the elections, he has a term to fulfil. The president-elect is Gonzalez Urrutia,” Milei said.

Panama Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino said, “Respect for the popular will shall prevail over hatred and persecution. Venezuela must be free and democratic again.”

“My government reiterates its support for the democratic process and for respecting the legitimate wishes of the Venezuelan people, expressed decisively

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. (The White House) at the ballot box, where Mr. Edmundo González was elected,” Mulino wrote on X. “Panama will always stand in solidarity with peace and with an orderly and legitimate transition process.”

China China’s foreign ministry said Beijing was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country.”

“China firmly opposes such hegemonic behaviour by the US, which seriously violates international law, v i o l a t e s Ve n e z u e l a ’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We urge the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries,” it said.

In a statement posted on X, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote, “What’s important is when one realises an enemy wants to force something on one’s govt. or nation with

false claims, they must stand firmly against that enemy.”

“We won’t give in to them. With reliance on God & confidence in the people’s support, we’ll bring the enemy to its knees,” he added.

In a separate statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”.

Russia Moscow is deeply concerned and condemned an “act of armed aggression” a g a i n s t ` Ve n e z u e l a committed by the US, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “In the current situation, it `is important … to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said, “ Ve n e z u e l a ` m u s t b e guaranteed the `right to determine its own destiny `without any destructive, military intervention from outside.

Continued on page 33

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Sunday January 04, 2026

Building a strong foundation for your New Year BEYOND THE RUNWAY By: Sonia Noel I invested the last few hours of 2025 walking on the sand along the lake at Splashmins Resort at Madewini on the highway. I reflected on the 365 days that had just passed. There were many mountaintop moments and also many days in the valley. A new calendar does not automatically change your life. A new year offers an opportunity for transformation only if you intentionally engage the year.

This was the first time in fifteen years that I did not go to church at Love and Faith. I watched the service online instead, and Pastor Brooks always brings a message that is relevant in this season. Not every year is about massive expansion. Some years are about correction, healing, pruning, and rebuilding.

Whatever the goals may be, everything requires a solid foundation.

My intention was to watch the last sunset of 2025,

but I received a double blessing. In front of me the sun slowly slipped away. To the right the almost full moon appeared, smiling as if to say, I know how much you love the moon, so I came a little early for you. I sat on the sand after the sun disappeared and turned my attention to my thoughts.

I began asking myself the questions I mentioned in last week's column. What worked for me this past year.

What did not. Where did I grow up? Where did I hold back? How did I invest my time, my energy, and my emotional currency? Who did I become along the way?

These are powerful questions, but I felt called to go deeper. The foundation for what God is building in me and through me is not an ordinary foundation.

The next morning after breakfast I went deeper. I imagined myself like an excavator digging into the earth to prepare the ground before construction. These were the questions that

followed. Ÿ Who was I called to be this year, and how close did I come to that truth? Ÿ Which version of myself am I most proud of? Ÿ What parts of me are asking to be released, healed, or refined? Ÿ Where did I trust God fully and where did I try to control the outcome? Ÿ Where did I say yes when my spirit needed to say no? Ÿ Who had access to my time, my heart, and my vision, and was the impact? Ÿ Where did my work feel aligned with my calling? Ÿ What impact did I make that mattered? Ÿ Where did I play small even when I knew I was capable of more? Ÿ How did faith and gratitude carry me when certainty was absent?

Ÿ Who truly saw me this year and who did I truly see? Ÿ What relationships deepened, evolved, or completed their season? Ÿ How did I practice forgiveness toward others and toward myself? Ÿ What did my calendar reveal about my priorities? Ÿ Where did I invest deeply and where did I scatter my energy.? Ÿ If I could relive one moment differently, which moment would it be and why? Ÿ What must remain with me as I enter this new year? Ÿ What requires more discipline and devotion? Ÿ What does success mean to me now after all I have learned? Ÿ Who am I becoming next, and what kind of life will that version of me require?

Your honest answers to these questions create a strong foundation. A strong foundation is built long before anyone sees the structure. It is the quiet work that allows our life to stand when the storms arrive. The answers to these questions create alignment.

Misalignment can make us look busy but unproductive.

God uses alignment to r es to r e f o cu s f o r o u r assignment.

Just like a building, a business, a marriage, or a dream, a strong foundation determines whether it can stand when challenges come. Strong winds will come. Storms will come.

Floods will come. The question is not if. The question is whether your foundation can hold.

We often run into the new year excited to build higher without checking what we are building on. The foundation is built through reflection, self-awareness, gratitude, healing, discipline, priorities, boundaries, and faith. It is the unseen work that supports everything people eventually see.

Our review guides us to what the year is about.

Discipline helps us to achieve our goals. As I was journaling, two words kept rising to the surface. Destiny and Discipline. Destiny is the vision, purpose, or future

that God has placed inside you. It is the promise of what you can become or achieve.

Discipline is the daily commitment, the habits, the consistency, and the choices you make. It is the path you must actually walk to reach that promised future. This inspired a quote I created.

Destiny is the promise and discipline is the path. With each intentional step, you turn dreams into reality. I am anticipating the manifestation of some of the dreams in my Vision Life Book in the near future.

We were intentionally released into 2026 for a divine appointment. Many people died just minutes before the new year arrived.

We are still here. That alone is a calling. Gratitude is the bridge between awareness and purpose. It opens doors even when circumstances suggest they should remain closed. Awareness awakens you. Gratitude empowers you. When you combine the two, you step into a life that cannot be ordinary.

Faith transforms our hopes into something we can hold inside before we hold it in our hands. It becomes an inner substance. It is not seen with the eyes first. It is felt and known in the spirit. Faith allows you to walk into 2026 believing that what is for you is already on its way.

You have an incredible assignment this new year.

That is why you made it here.

Never take that lightly.

Slowing down may feel unproductive in a world that celebrates rush and noise.

But foundations take time.

Unlearning takes time.

Rebuilding can get messy.

Growth is not always loud.

Some of the most powerful growth happens in private.

We live in a world that

celebrates outcomes but not endurance. People cheer results, but few ask about the tears, the faith, the waiting, and the sacrifices.

Do not worship exhaustion. Overworking is not a badge of honor. Being tired all the time is not a personality type. I used to feel guilty when I rested because I thought rest was unproductive. Now I understand rest is part of growth and progress. You do not have to prove yourself to anyone. Many people are chasing attention and external validation. True peace does not live there.

As you create your blueprint for 2026, do not abandon what is already working. Build on it.

Strengthen it. Honor it.

Influence without inner peace is dangerous. Impact without foundation is fragile. God is more invested in who you are becoming than in what you are producing.

Here is my gentle challenge to you. Do not rush past this moment. Choose one question from this article and sit with it. Write. Pray.

Reflect. Allow God to speak to you about your foundation. Powerful years are not accidental. They are built.

I also have a gift for you.

It's a complimentary virtual New Year Strategy Session scheduled today, Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 1PM to 2PM Guyana time.

I want to support you right now to build and strengthen your foundation for 2026.

Interested in joining us?

WhatsApp me at 592 684 8429. We will continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life Beyond the Runway.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 29

From where I stand...

History Will Not Forgive Our Limited Imagination Lately, Guyana feels trapped in a constant spectacle.

Ministers trading accusations with opposition figures who are posting exposés on social media.

Videos of houses, cars, lifestyles, friendships turned feuds. Social media buzzing, sides forming, timelines consumed. And yet, when the noise settles, what has actually changed?

Nothing that touches the daily reality of the poor.

Nothing that expands dignity.

Nothing that shifts the structure.

Like I said, a spectacle; loud, emotional, consuming but ultimately hollow.

And I don’t say that to dismiss people’s frustration or curiosity. In many ways, the spectacle has become the only remaining entry point for accountability because institutions feel distant, unresponsive, or captured.

So it tracks that citizens will engage with what they can see and confront because in many ways it feels like action.

I joked recently that this was “above my income bracket,” but frankly there is truth in that humour.

We are watching the corrupt argue with the corrupt about who is more corrupt and calling it accountability. Meanwhile, the structures that make corruption easy remain very much in place. If institutions do not change, it will not matter who occupies office next. The outcomes will look painfully familiar.

Because while they quarrel, the living conditions for the majority of Guyanese remain unchanged. When the dust settles, public servants will still be earning wages that barely stretch to the end of the month, if so far.

Children will still be struggling with literacy long before “free university” ever becomes an option. The cost of food is still through the roof as families prioritise survival over dignity.

And yet, this spectacle consumes us. But why?

As Marxist Theorist Guy Debord observed in his 1967 work The Society of the Spectacle, observed “The spectacle is not a collection of images, but a social relationship between people mediated by images.” In other words, what we are witnessing is not merely a distraction. It is the substitution of structure, governance and justice with

performance, visibility, and exposure.

We seem to have a thin appetite for structure and a massive one for spectacle as a people. Structure is boring and slow work. It speaks to institutions that function regardless of personalities and policies with criteria and timelines and reforms that take years surviving election cycles. It rarely produces heroes. The spectacle on the other hand, looks an awful lot like elite quarrels and public ‘buse outs’, viral accusations, outrage cycles that feel like accountability, personalities replacing processes and performance standing in for progress.

So, a spectacle gives the illusion of movement; while structure is what actually moves societies. Maybe we keep choosing the former because the latter asks more of us.

But beneath the noise, something deeper is at work.

What we are witnessing is not just corruption, conflict, or distraction. I find it likely the consequence of a society that has lost its capacity to think structurally. When institutions feel unreachable and reform feels unimaginable, performance becomes politics. Exposure replaces accountability.

Noise stands in for change.

I landed on the “poverty of imagination shaped by the system we inherited”. You see, state we inherited was designed to manage people, distribute resources, and to maintain order, which still shapes how we govern, imagine solutions, and even how we campaign politically.

The latter is evident when you read the various political manifestos.

Election after election, they read like variations of the same document with slightly different figures and branding. That sameness is not accidental. It reflects the limits of our political imagination and narrow space the systems allow our leaders to operate in or they have bound themselves to.

Take Silica City, for example. On paper, it sounds visionary; a smart, modern city built for the future. The language is ambitious.

But when you look at what is actually being proposed it clearly reveals the limits of our imagination.

There is nothing fundamentally new or extraordinary about it. It does not reimagine how ordinary Guyanese live,

move, learn, or work. It does not challenge inequality. It does not democratise opportunity. It simply relocates comfort for those already positioned to afford it.

It boils down to replication with better marketing.

The same applies to our preferred policy tools like cash grants. Yes, they provide relief, and for many families they matter deeply.

However, universal and untargeted cash grants are a lazy and unimaginative response to the inequality we face.

As I reflect on what does bold leadership look like, I couldn’t help but reflect on some of forefathers.

Whatever one thinks of Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, or Walter Rodney, they were not small thinkers.

Burnham imagined economic independence and state-led development. Jagan envisioned social justice rooted in labour and equality.

Rodney challenged inherited class and racial hierarchies altogether. Their visions were highly contested, and in some cases deeply flawed.

But they shared one thing we seem to have lost: the courage to imagine Guyana as something fundamentally different, not merely better managed.

What we have instead is a politics of immediacy. Short electoral cycles. Short attention spans. Policies designed to show movement rather than create transformation. And a public discourse so consumed by spectacle that we rarely stop to interrogate structure.

Guyanese are absolutely capable of more — but we have to first believe that. And then we have to understand the structures and inherited systems that shape our beliefs and quietly limit our expectations, and dismantle them without apology. I often return to education because it is one of our earliest sites of socialisation.

When my son was just six years old, he got lashes in school for doing his “homework” at school. He had finished all of his assigned work and, quite impressively, decided to complete the rest so he could maximise his time for play.

When I spoke to the teacher, she told me, “It’s called homework for a reason.”

Could you imagine a system that punishes out-ofthe-box thinking so early?

What kind of adults do we

think that produces? And so, when we speak about “reform,” we must ask ourselves whether tweaking a system like this is enough or whether we should be rebuilding it entirely for the Guyana we claim to envision.

Continued on page 32

By Janelle Persaud

PAGE 30

Sunday January 04, 2026

Eve at the North New Year Pole essage

m e l t t o b in a

Mistakes can become magic if handled with heart Christmas was finally over at the North Pole. Santa was resting in his favorite rocking chair, the reindeer were in fuzzy slippers, and the elves were cleaning sprinkles out of their hair after weeks of cookiepowered chaos.

But the North Pole wasn't quiet for long.

Because when Christmas ends… t h e N e w Ye a r ' s celebration begins!

Every year, the elves prepared the most spectacular fireworks show in the world. It was the only night Santa allowed glitter explosions. Snowflakes shimmered like diamonds, music floated through the a i r, a n d t h e n i g h t s k y sparkled brighter than a

million Christmas lights.

In the middle of the workshop stood Finn, the tiniest elf of all. His hat flopped over his eyes, and his ears wiggled when he was nervous—which was often.

This year was special.

For the first time ever, Finn had been trusted with a real job: He was in charge of guarding the fireworks.

He repeated Santa's instructions over and over: “No touching the big red button until midnight.”

Easy. Simple. He could definitely do that. …probably.

All morning, elves hammered, stitched, polished, and decorated.

They built ice sculptures shaped like fireworks, snack tables stacked with

Do Better in the New Year It is now a brand new year, And I think this tells me something – That I should try to start again, And do better in everything.

I need to improve in all my work, Whether at home or school, Try to be right in all I do, And with everyone act nice and cool.

But what I think is most important, Even more than work and play, So that God will always help me, I must find more time to pray.

marshmallow mountains, and hot cocoa fountains taller than trees.

Finn stood beside the fireworks crate, guarding it like a knight.

He even made up a song: “Don't touch the button, no matter what.

Not even a little, not even a—SNEEZE!” A-ACHOO! Finn stumbled backward.

His elbow hit the big red button.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Fireworks shot into the sky like rockets. Colors burst everywhere—golden comets, sparkling blue stars, rainbow rings. It was beautiful… but it was noon.

Not midnight.

Not even close.

Elves froze. Reindeer jaws dropped. Mrs. Claus spilled her hot cocoa.

Finn covered his face.

“Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no…”

Santa hurried over, boots crunching in the snow.

“Finn,” he said gently, “what happened?”

“I sneezed,” Finn whispered, ears drooping.

Santa didn't yell. He put a warm hand on Finn's shoulder. “Mistakes happen.

But we must fix this before the New Year. The fireworks are gone—we need new ones.”

“But there's no time!” an elf cried.

Unless…

Finn gulped. “I know someone who might help. A human child.”

Santa's eyes twinkled.

“Then go. Quickly!”

Finn hopped into a tiny sleigh powered by one baby reindeer named Noodle, who flew like a bouncy rubber ball. They zipped through the night sky and landed in a quiet suburban backyard.

To be continued...

Materials Needed: Clear glass or plastic bottles (recycled jars work great!)

Sand, small pebbles, colorful beads, glitter Small rolled-up paper or colorful paper strips Markers, crayons, or paint Twine, ribbon, or labels for decoration Funnel (or make one from paper) Glue or cork/cap for sealing How to Make It: 1. Gather & Decorate Bottles: Have kids collect clean bottles from home or use new ones. They can decorate the outside with stickers, paint, or twine, or focus on decorating the inside.

2. Add Fillers: Use a funnel to add sand, colored beads, or small shells to the bottom of the bottle for a beachy feel.

3. Write the Message: On a small piece of paper, have kids write or draw: a. Their hopes/goals for the new school year. b. A favourite memory from last year. c. A positive affirmation or a fun story.

4. Assemble: Roll the paper tightly and use a pencil or stick to push it into the bottle.

5. Seal & Personalize: Secure the bottle with a cork or cap, adding a ribbon with the student's name or the date.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 31

Adopt the Values to enrich your life in this New Year and onwards In all times and in most places, mankind has looked up to and revered certain values. They are what make the difference between a barbarian and a cultured person, between chaos and a civilised society.

They are called virtues, and are simply the qualities adopted by each of us by which we reject the bad and adopt the intention to do good.

Values represent the very essence of what is most important in life. When you identify them, you begin to reconnect with yourself in a deep and meaningful way. Life starts to make sense as a direction begins to reveal itself.

You feel a sense of realignment that helps you to see where you should be

spending your precious time and energy. As you continue to explore your inner landscape, clarifying your values can help you to understand yourself on a much deeper, more spiritual level.

Each religion has encouraged some set of virtues in its tenets, so look for these, examine them objectively, and start by adopting those in which you feel you are lacking.

Christianity has always cherished and promoted the following, which you would do well to emulate and practise: Prudence (wisdom to act in the best interest of all), Temperance (selfcontrol in all your actions), Fortitude (the courage and strength in reacting to all situations), Justice (a sense of

S E G D I BR Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number.

You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not cross.

There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two.

Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.

fairness an honesty), which, along with Faith (belief in an Almighty which results in self-confidence), Hope (an optimistic view in all your doings) and Charity (love and willingness to give help where it is due), have been termed the Cardinal Virtues.

Among those added to these by other groups are: Courage, Wisdom, Generosity, Respect for others, Courtesy, Open-mindedness, Selfcontrol, Love, Appreciation, Service, Excellence, Potential, Patience, Persistence and Decisiveness.

We will be discussing some other values in our next article, so until then please take the time to think on the foregoing and explore how they can impact your own life.

WHAT A

Wonderful World God gave this world to you and me, It's priceless, yet it's also free; It is beautiful beyond compare, And he has left it in our care.

Everything begins anew, Like a rose sparkling with the dew; They blossom in the morning sun, And bloom until the day is done.

A little seed becomes a tree, And gives its shade for you and me, Every creature large and small, The Lord above has made them all.

The bear, the bee, the kangaroo All share this world with me and you; High above us in the sky, We watch the silver clouds go by.

They bring the gentle rain our way, And a rainbow brightens our day; As we watch the setting sun go down, Another perfect day is done.

God gave his world to you and me, He lit the stars above; By seeing all the things He made, We know that God is love.

Make use of this fresh opportunity to develop yourself by inculcating worthwhile values into your personality.

Solutions to last week’s PLANNING FOR

New Year's Resolutions

PAGE 32

Sunday January 04, 2026

Kaieteur News

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ture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Speaking at a press conference, Trump said Maduro and Flores were taken aboard a U.S. military vessel and would be transferred to the United States to face criminal charges.

Trump also stated that Venezuela’s vice president, a Maduro loyalist who had previously been highly critical of the United States, has been sworn in as acting president.

According to Trump, she is “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” after discussions with U.S. officials.

“The purpose of running the country is to make Ven-

Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez ezuela great again,” Trump said, framing the intervention as benefiting both the Venezuelan people and U.S. business interests, particularly in

the oil sector, which he claimed has been exploited under Maduro’s government.

Trump emphasised that the U.S. intends to oversee

the country to prevent any leadership vacuum or the rise of forces that do not act in the interests of the Venezuelan people. He described the move as part of a broader effort to restore stability, secure resources, and ensure that the country’s political and economic structures are realigned.

The remarks mark an extraordinary declaration of U.S. authority over another sovereign nation, sparking concern among international observers and regional governments. Venezuela has condemned the U.S. action as illegal and a violation of international law, while CARICOM and other regional bodies are closely monitoring developments.

History Will Not Forgive Our Limited Imagination...

From page 29 The greatest risk facing Guyana is not corruption scandals or political theatrics. It is the quiet acceptance of smallness in a moment that demands boldness.

I often ask myself what history will say about this moment.

Of course, how fast our economy grew but significantly, I think it will ask whether we used this rare window to reimagine our so-

ciety. If we fail, it won’t be for a lack of resources or opportunity.

It will be because we settled for relief, spectacle and comfort over transformation, structure, and courage.

From where I stand, his-

tory will not forgive us for thinking small when we had every reason to think boldly.

Next week, I will turn to what bold imagination actually requires: the institutions, policies, and courage we have so far avoided.

Guyana must prepare for any eventuality after U.S....

From page 2 potential risks, including cross-border movement, refugee flows, retaliatory actions

by Venezuelan actors within Guyana, and threats to citizens, infrastructure, and economic stability.

It also stressed the need for regional peace and adherence to diplomacy and international law. “In circumstances such as these, no responsible government governs alone.

Yet the Guyana government has chosen a path of unilateralism.

It has refused to meaningfully engage the Opposition on matters of national security and effectively sidelined Parliament. This deliberate exclusion undermines Guyana’s ability to present a coherent, national response to a regional crisis. National security is not a party matter. It is not a PPP matter or an opposition matter. It is a Guyana matter,” WIN said. The party called for an immediate meeting with the Opposition to

discuss security, humanitarian, and diplomatic implications and urged a briefing to the nation on risks, preparedness, and Guyana’s stance.

WIN also called for the Opposition Leader to be elected so that the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector can collectively review policy.

WIN added, “Silence, exclusion, and executive control are not strength. In moments of regional instability, unity is strength, transparency is strength, and constitutional governance is strength.

Guyana cannot afford division or democratic paralysis at a time when regional tensions may spill across our borders. Leadership now requires engagement, not avoidance; consultation, not control; and nationhood, not partisanship.”

Meanwhile, Forward Movement Guyana (FGM) warned that the removal of Venezuela’s president marks a dangerous turn for the re-

gion. “Moments like this test the resolve of governments and expose whether leaders are prepared to defend national interests with clarity, competence, and courage.

Small states do not have the luxury of complacency.

We must be deliberate, strategic, and fully informed,” the party stated. FGM also called on the government for transparency, stressing that limited or disjointed information undermines public confidence. “The Government of Guyana has a duty to speak plainly, to brief the nation honestly, and to make clear what risks are being assessed and what measures are already in place to protect our borders, our citizens, and our national assets,” FGM said.

Further, the party urged immediate briefings to Parliament and the nation on the situation in Venezuela, protective measures in place, and contingency plans for potential escalation.

Meanwhile, former Presi-

dent Donald Ramotar condemned the U.S. action, saying it violated international law.

“The bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of that country’s president and first Lady has taken us back to the days of gunboat diplomacy.

International laws are being trampled on and totally disregarded Sovereignty of small and medium sized countries have become meaningless and the US has emerged as a Super Colonial power,” the former president said,” he said. The former president warned that regional countries are being pressured to support the U.S. and linked the action to broader U.S. and Israeli interventions.

He said, “What has happened early this morning is a continuation of the US and Israel’s action in Palestine and unless the peaceful and democratic forces of our world unite, we will see more of the same Cuba and Iran may be next.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 33

Bids opened for construction of Central Monitoring Room at GRA The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) plans to spend approximately

$30,841,650 to build a central monitoring room at its headquarters located at Camp

Street. Ten contractors bid for the project the National Procurement and Tender

Administration Board (NPTAB) office has disclosed.

Additionally, the Revenue

Authority intends to construct a parking lot at its Integrated Regional Tax Office located at

Corriverton, Region Six. This project is estimated to cost $23 million.

Below are the companies and their bids: Ministry of Public Works Consulting Services for Strengthening of Axle Load Control – Linden-Mabura Hill project.

Bidder IT transport Limited UK in SRKN'gineering and Associates (Technical Score 77.91 Points) CB and Associates Inc . (72.13 Points)

Amount Tendered US$ 224,319.75 US$ 822,225 Inc luding all Direct Local Taxes US$ 100,975 Including all Indirect Local Taxes

Guyana Water Inc. Rehabilitation Works for Friendship Water Treatment Plant.

Bidder Amount Tendered K. Kissoon Contracting Service $24,890,000 Inspire Investment $20,086,000 Gilpin Enterprise $21,380,000 GM Futuristic Development $17,900,000 Expert Builders & Supplies Contractors $24,840,000 VRP Investment $20,300,000 A.M.I.C General Contracting Services $17,895,000 Superior Farms $18,256,0 00 Engineer’s Estimate $17,340,000.

Construction of Parking Lot Integrated Regional Tax Office, Corriverton.

Bidder AR Copy Centre and Contracting Service Naseeb Ally Poultry Establishment WGS Construction King of Hardware Trinity Building Services VR Enterprise Sovereignty Investments Construction Services (SICS Builders) Sukram Contracting D&D Contracting G&B Sugrim Enterprise Holictic Contracting and Procurement Inc. Delon J . Bagott Construction a nd Drainage Development Major Construction and Supplier Westbrook Caribbean Inc .

Yhadram & Sons Construction Establishment Chandradat's Construction J&D Swift Contracting Gopie Investment Inc. D. Chowkai and Son Construction AL Ghafa Engineering Inc FN Electrical and General Contracting Sharda Narine Construction Jalil and Daughters Business Establishment Nitesh Contracting Destiny Builders Contracting Icon Construction and Maintenance Services DG Enterprise Caribbean Construction Consultancy and International Suppliers Inc .

Dundas Construction Inc. Ramsarran Business Enterprise Engineer’s Estimate

Amount Tendered $37,529,0 00 $37,640,080 $22,933,570 $31,399,170 $45,624,304 $22,608,080 $33,701,437 $34,715,560 $38,073,420 $36,134,670 $41,895,150 $32,158,170 $22,361,405 $30,924,718 $22,844,910 $42,471,260 $36,813,920 $29,876,220 $38,817,900 $35,262,524 $34,323,080 $30,629,170 $26,980,112 $40,720,110 $32,948,234 $22,476,080 $43,433,940 $47,745,594 $44,980,045 $22,946,550 $23,517,670

Relocation of 300mm Mains around Proposed Area of Utility Pole at Guyhoc, Georgetown, Region 4.

Bidder Agrex K. Kissoon Contracting Service GMFuturistic Development VRP Investment Expert Builders &Supplies Contractors Superior Farms Nand NConstruction Services Engineer’s Estimate

Amount Tendered $18,664,500 $18,999,725 $19,274,230 $17,321,875 $19,022,725 $17,744,500 $19,136,460 $18,664,500

Guyana Revenue Authority Construction of Central Monitoring Room GRA – Headquarters Bidder Am ount Tendered DG Enterprise $39,118,695 Dundas Construction Inc. $44,313,045 W estbrook Caribbean Inc. $18,531,481 A2 Buildtech Construction Service $58,588,635 D. Chowkai and Son Construction $78,195,075 FN Electrical and General Contracting $38,707,830 AL Ghafa Engineering Inc . $38,939,880 Holictic Contracting and Procurem ent $80,279,325 Inc. M ajor Construction and Supplier $25,014,150 King of Hardware $21,864,780 Engineer’s Estim ate $30,841,650

World reacts to US bombing of Venezuela...

From page 27 “We `reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan `people and our support for its leadership’s policy `of defending the country’s national interests and sovereignty, “ it added.

The ministry also said it was “extremely concerned” about the capture of Maduro and his wife, adding that if such actions took place “constitute an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state.”

United States In a statement posted on X, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

“Nicolas Maduro has been charged with NarcoTe r r o r i s m C o n s p i r a c y, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she said.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Mike Lee said the US has completed its military action in Venezuela after capturing its leader, Maduro.

“He anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody,” Lee wrote on X after what he said was a telephone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

United Kingdom British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country was not involved in the United States’ strikes on Venez u e l a a n d t h a t h e wanted to speak with Trump and find out the full facts of what had happened.

“I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies.

I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved … and I always say and believe we should all uphold international law,” he said in a statement to British broadcasters.

European Union EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said she has spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas regarding the latest developments in Venezuela.

“The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” Kallas said in a statement on X. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks

legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition.

Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected.

We call for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority.”

Spain Madrid called for deescalation, moderation and ‘respect for international law in Venezuela, the Spanish ‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It also offered itself as a negotiator to help ‘find a peaceful solution in Venezuela.

Germany In a statement to the AFP news agency, Germany’s foreign ministry said it is “monitoring the situation in Venezuela very closely and following the latest reports with great concern.”

“The Foreign Ministry is in close contact with the embassy in Caracas,” Berlin said adding that the government’s crisis team was in session and is “coordinating closely with our partners.”

Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela”, also with `an aim of “gathering information about our fellow citizens” in the country. Meloni added

she was in constant contact with Italy’s Foreign Minister A n t o n i o Ta j a n i . A b o u t 160,000 `Italians currently live in Venezuela, most of them with dual citizenship.

France Foreign Minister JeanNoel Barrot said the US operation in Venezuela undermined international law.

“The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro violates the principle of not resorting to force, that underpins international law.

France reiterates that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that only sovereign people themselves can decide their future,” he wrote on X. Indonesia Indonesia is monitoring developments in Venezuela to ensure the safety of its citizens, Foreign Ministry s p o k e s p e r s o n Yv o n n e Mewengkang said.

“Indonesia also calls on all relevant parties to prioritize peaceful resolution through de-escalation and dialogue, while prioritizing the protection of civilians.

“Indonesia emphasizes the importance of respecting international law and the principles of the UN Charter.”

Kaieteur News

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Sunday January 04, 2026

Severe weather in Gaza hits vulnerable and wounded most in Israel’s war As harsh weather conditions batter the besieged enclave once again, Palestinians with shattered limbs in Israel’s genocidal war suffer the most.

Aljazeera - The winter has made a life of relentless suffering worse for the people of Gaza, particularly for the wounded, children and elderly, with hundreds of thousands in the Palestinian territory displaced by Israel’s genocidal war desperately trying to survive on the scant humanitarian aid Israel is allowing in.

Nine-year-old Assad alMadhna lost his left hand when Israeli fire hit a group of children playing in alZuwayda in central Gaza.

The same attack also wounded him in the leg.

Now, as winter envelops the besieged enclave, Assad’s pain increases as the metal rods and pins holding his leg in place stiffen in the cold, making every step slower and agonising.

“I can’t play with other children as in winter, my legs and hands hurt a lot,” he told Al Jazeera.

“I haven’t received any prosthetic, struggle to change my clothes, and going to the toilet in this cold is a real challenge,” he said, a d d i n g : “ Wi t h o u t m y parents, I can’t manage it. At night, the severe cold becomes unbearable.”

A truce between Israel and Hamas since October 10 has been fragile, a ceasefire

Palestinians, whose homes were destroyed and who are unable to return to them, take shelter in the Furkan Mosque in Khan Younis, Gaza [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu]

in name only, according to Palestinians and rights groups, after two years of destructive war.

Despite the truce, Palestinians in crowded camps – often in damaged tents and surrounded by mud – still face severe humanitarian conditions, trying to survive with few or no resources, making life the hardest for the most vulnerable.

‘No heating at all’ Eighteen-year-old Waed Murad survived an attack that wiped out her entire family – seven relatives in

one strike.

She now lives with a lifealtering injury, and when the temperatures drop, her nerve pain intensifies, sleep slips away, and the little recovery she had is threatened.

“I can’t keep myself warm because of the severe cold with the metal bars and pins always freezing,” she told Al Jazeera.

“I am living in a tent with no heating at all. Every time I hear the wind, I feel the pain will get worse, as the cold will affect the metal fixation devices even more.”

In the enclave,

temperatures at night have ranged between eight and 12 degrees Celsius (46 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days.

Nearly 80 percent of buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or d a m a g e d b y t h e w a r, according to United Nations data.

About 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have lost their homes, said Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza.

Of more than 300,000 tents requested to shelter

displaced people, “we have received only 60,000,” Shawa told the AFP news agency, pointing to Israeli restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory.

Israel slammed for banning NGOs Meanwhile, the international community has condemned Israel’s recent announcement of a suspension of the operations of several i n t e r n a t i o n a l nongovernmental organisations in the occupied Palestinian territory.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned and called for the measure to be reversed.

“This announcement comes on top of earlier restrictions that have already delayed critical food, medical, hygiene and shelter supplies from entering Gaza.”

“This recent action will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said in a statement.

Several countries in the Middle East and Asia called on Israel to allow

“immediate, full, and unhindered” deliveries of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as winter storms lash the bombarded Palestinian enclave.

In a statement on Friday, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia warned that “deteriorating” conditions in Gaza had left nearly 1.9 million displaced Palestinians particularly vulnerable.

“Flooded camps, damaged tents, the collapse of damaged buildings, and exposure to cold temperatures coupled with malnutrition, have significantly heightened risks to civilian lives,” the statement read.

Earlier this month, Gaza experienced a similar spell of heavy rain and cold.

The weather caused at least 18 deaths due to the collapse of war-damaged buildings or exposure to cold, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.

On December 18, the UN’s humanitarian office said 17 buildings collapsed during the storm, while 42,000 tents and makeshift shelters were fully or partially damaged.

U.S. to ‘run’ Venezuela until ‘safe transition’...

From page 3 the great people of Venezuela.

We can’t take a chance at somebody else takes over Venezuela, that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind. Had decades of that. We’re not going to let that happen.”

Trump said a designated group, to be named at a later date, will be tasked with m a n a g i n g Ve n e z u e l a ’s affairs until the transition.

While he expressed a desire for elections to be held “quickly,” he said the country’s deteriorated oil infrastructure would first need to be addressed, noting the task of rebuilding the country’s oil infrastructure will take some time.

“We have to rebuild their whole infrastructure. The

infrastructure is rotted. It’s actually very dangerous...

Oil is very dangerous. It’s a very dangerous thing to take out of the ground, can kill a lot of people…the infrastructure is old, its rotted.

Much of it is stuff that we put there 25 years ago and we’re going to be replacing it and we’re going to take a lot of money out so that we can take care of the country,” he responded.

‘Take back our oil’ – Trump During the press conference, President Trump outlined the U.S. plans for Venezuela’s oil sector, claiming previous Venezuelan governments unlawfully seized American-built oil assets.

“We built Venezuela oil

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores industry with American talent, drive, and skill and the socialist regime stole it from us during those previous administrations, Venezuela unilaterally seized and sold American

oil, American assets, and American platforms, costing us billions and billions of dollars. They did this a while ago, but we never had a president that did anything about it. They took all of our

property was our property…

We couldn’t let them get away with it.

You know, they stole our oil. We built that whole industry there and they just took it over like we were nothing,” Trump said.

He described the seizure as “one of the largest thefts of American property in the history of our country.”

According to him, now that the U.S. is in control, large American oil companies would be heading to Venezuela to repair infrastructure and restore production.

He noted that the oil companies’ investment will be covered by oil revenues rather than U.S. taxpayers’ dollars.

Moreover, in a message directed to Venezuelan

civilians, Trump promised peace, security and economic prosperity.

He insisted the proceeds from oil production would be used to support Venezuelan citizens and those who fled the country.

“We’re going to make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of,” he said.

When asked about China, Russia and Iran’s interests in Venezuela, Trump said oil would continue to be sold internationally once production increases.

He also noted, “We have tremendous energy in that country. It’s very important that we protect it.

We n e e d t h a t f o r ourselves. We need that for the world and we want to make sure we can protect it.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 35

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Modeling the median or masking the mainspring?

A critique of our current fiscal narrative Dear Editor, Recent public statements

by President Irfaan Ali regarding Guyana's

economic "modelling" deserve closer scrutiny than the high-level jargon of "median prices" and

"upside/downside" risks might initially invite. While the President's intent to project fiscal prudence is

The unilateral swearing-in of the Teaching Service Commission Dear Editor, It is with profound dismay that one observes President Irfaan Ali's recent unilateral swearing-in of the Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e Commission—an act executed without the constitutionally requisite consultation with the parliamentary opposition, notably the WIN Party, whose representation is essential to this process as the incoming Leader of the Opposition. This is not merely a procedural oversight; it constitutes a flagrant and contumelious and scornful violation of the Guyana Constitution. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? If the highest office in the land o p en ly d is r eg ar d s th e supreme law, what recourse remains for the citizenry, and what example is thereby set?

Of equal, if not greater, concern is the deafening silence from certain quarters of civil society, particularly the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA). This same body voiced unequivocal, principled condemnation in October 2017 when President G r a n g e r, m a l a f i d e , subverted the prescribed process to install Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman.

The GHRA rightly decried the abandonment of the “constitutionally-agreed process” crafted to ensure

bipartisan legitimacy for a pillar of our democracy.

Where, one must inquire, is that clarion voice today?

Does their commitment to constitutional propriety apply only ad hoc, rather than as a universal principle?

The parallel is both glaring and odious. Then, as now, the executive has engaged in a sui generis reinterpretation of constitutional mandates, bypassing mandated consultation to effect a de facto appointment. To deem this TSC process anything other than a pro forma “kangaroo” court would be an exercise in sophistry.

The core principle remains immutable: democratic integrity is inextricably linked to scrupulous adherence to processes designed to ensure cross-party consensus, particularly for bodies wielding significant public authority.

President Ali's actions represent a perilous modus operandi. This precipitous, extra-constitutional imposition of a Commission—a veritable fait accompli—not only undermines the rule of law but also sow the seeds of future institutional crisis. All subsequent actions of this illicit body will stand under a cloud of illegitimacy, inevitably requiring future remediation by a properly

constituted commission.

This in jects profound uncertainty and injustice into the heart of our education system, doing a grave disservice to the teachers of Guyana.

This is not a minor transgression. It represents an identical, brazen breach of constitutional protocol and poses an existential threat to good governance and the very integrity of the Office of the President. To countenance such an act is to normalize constitutional erosion.

Therefore, it is not merely advisable but imperative that the WIN Party and its allies initiate immediate legal proceedings to challenge this hijacking of our constitutional spirit and intent. Our foundational document was conceived as a bulwark against executive overreach, a system of checks and balances. Failure to act decisively now begs the question: are we embarking on a path toward quasi-dictatorship, which can lead to full blown dictatorship, where the executive operates supra legem, and independent institutions risk becoming mere instrumenta regni?

The nation awaits a robust defense of its Constitution in the Court of Law. Yours faithfully, Surujdai Juglall

Guyana's sovereignty and territorial...

From page 5 Region One engaging ranks of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force. Such leadership presence reinforces morale, coordination, and preparedness among the country's security institutions at a time when situational awareness is particularly important It is also prudent to anticipate possible humanitarian and migration pressures arising from

instability in Venezuela, including the movement of persons seeking asylum or temporary refuge in Guyana and other CARICOM states.

Guyana must be prepared to manage any such developments in a structured, lawful, and humane manner, balancing compassion with national security and resource capacity At this critical juncture, political parties and national stakeholders must place the

national interest above partisan considerations.

Unity, clear communication, and steady leadership send a powerful message that Guyana's sovereignty transcends political differences and that the nation remains calm, cohesive, and prepared in the face of regional uncertainty.

Sincerely: Mr. Blane R. Bunbury Public Communications Analyst & community advocate

c l e a r, t h e u n d e r l y i n g numbers suggest we are building an edifice on a foundation of black gold, while the traditional pillars of our house are being left to the elements.

The President correctly identifies the danger of tethering recurrent expenditure to "futuristic prices."

However, this is a narrow view of economic health.

While we may not be using oil to pay every civil servant's salary today, we are using it to fund nearly the entirety of our massive capital expansion.

The IMF recently pointed out that our non-oil primary deficit has widened to nearly 38% of non-oil GDP. This means the "nonoil economy" we boast of—which grew 13.1% last year—is essentially a subsidiary of the oil sector, fueled by construction and services that would evaporate the moment NRF withdrawals are curtailed.

Furthermore, the focus on the "median" price of oil i s a d a n g e r o u s

oversimplification. In a world hurtling toward an energy trans ition, the "median" is a moving target.

Even more pronounced now that the developments in Venezuela would result is a vast paradigm shift in oil markets around the globe. To claim a model is robust because it avoids "guesswork" is to ignore the reality that all commoditydependent planning is, by definition, an educated guess.

The "pros" of the current approach are undeniable: visible infrastructure and record-breaking headline growth. But the "cons" are becoming impossible to ignore.

We see a sugar industry in a 21.8% contraction, a rising cost of living driven by non-tradeable price hikes, and a growing dependency on a single variable: the price of a Brent barrel. This is not diversification; it is a highspeed pursuit of the Dutch Disease.

A truly nuanced approach would involve: 1. De-linking the Budget

from Discretionary NRF Withdrawals: We need a rigid, law-bound ceiling on how much oil revenue enters the budget, regardless of "median" projections, to force the non-oil sector to become self-sustaining.

2. Tradeable Sector Incentivization: Instead of just funding construction (which is temporary), we must aggressively subsidize the competitiveness of export-oriented agriculture and manufacturing.

3. Radical Transparency: "Careful design" should be proven with public access to the stress-test models the government claims to use.

If we continue to preach diversification while our ledger shows an increasing addiction to the NRF, we aren't avoiding the "tank"; we are simply building a faster car with a smaller fuel tank.

It is time to move past the jargon and admit that without a stronger non-oil tax base, our economy remains a hostage to fortune.

Sincerely, Hemdutt Kumar

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Kaieteur News

Arsenal move six points clear after win at Bournemouth (BBC Sport) - Declan Rice scored twice as Premier League leaders Arsenal came from behind to beat Bournemouth.

Gunners centre-back Gabriel played a blind pass across his box to gift Evanilson the opening goal for the Cherries.

But he made up for that with the equaliser as he lashed in a rebound after Gabriel Martinelli’s shot had been blocked.

Bournemouth had chances to go ahead but Rice’s shot from the edge of the box, from Martin Odegaard’s lay-off, gave Arsenal the lead.

The England midfielder, back from a knee injury, netted again following a cutback by substitute Bukayo Saka.

Teenager Eli Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth renewed hope with a fine strike from outside the area -

but they could not find a leveller.

Antoine Semenyo, playing perhaps his final game for Bournemouth before a £65m move to Manchester City, was quiet throughout.

The victory takes Mikel Arteta’s team six points clear of second-placed Aston Villa, although Manchester City can close the gap back to four points when they host managerless Chelsea on

Sunday January 04, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Tension may arise today, Aries. It's possible that you're either too dreamy or too practical to deal effectively with the issue. It's important to strike a balance. The toughest part will be finding others who agree with you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There may be dreaminess about your emotions today, Scorpio, which could keep you from focusing on the task at hand. The aspects dictate that people may be stubborn and confused - and you're likely to be one of them.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Yesterday's trajectory may run into trouble today, Taurus.

Your intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated. This conflict could create tension that will be difficult to resolve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Little voices whisper in your ear and ask you to take flight and join them in the clouds, Sagittarius. There's tension between what your heart and mind tell you. They're pulling you in very different directions.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try to align your mind with your emotions today, Gemini.

It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly pulling you off track.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Recent spiritual breakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) An emotional issue could be rubbing you the wrong way, Cancer. Your impulse is to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner. Go see a movie or read a book. Don't fall prey to the temptation to indulge in alcohol or food.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your artistic side wants to take to the airwaves in some way, Leo. Perhaps you should consider building a website or becoming a commentator on a local radio show.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) It may be apparent that what was so light and active yesterday is running into a few roadblocks today, Virgo.

You're suddenly heading into a brick wall with some of the projects you've been working on.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Capricorn. It may be best if you beat them to it and motivate yourself. Break away from the herd and go wherever you want to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion, Aquarius. There's a debate brewing inside you, and you're having a hard time deciding whether to be practical or more fanciful.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It will be a challenge to keep your emotions on an even keel today, Pisces. Conflict may be brewing and you might fear it could get out of hand.

Everything will work out.

Sunday.

Villa up to second…

Ollie Watkins continued his revival as Aston Villa bounced back from defeat to punish careless Nottingham Forest.

The England striker’s fourth goal in three games helped earn Villa an 11th straight home win - their best run in 36 years - the perfect response to the loss at Arsenal four days ago.

John McGinn’s double helped Villa move up to second in the Premier League and 12 points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, despite Morgan GibbsWhite pulling a goal back.

The hosts added to Forest’s woes as they suffered a fourth straight league defeat for the first time in over two years, part of a run which saw Steve Cooper sacked.

Sean Dyche’s men are four points above the relegation zone and travel to third-bottom West Ham on Tuesday for a crucial reunion with former manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Aside from an Omari Hutchinson effort Dyche’s sloppy side rarely threatened and could have been behind early when John Victor brilliantly denied Watkins.

Yet Watkins - who scored just once in his opening 19 games this season - fired in from 20 yards in first-half stoppage time before McGinn made it 2-0 soon after the break.

Gibbs-White coolly made it 2-1 but goalkeeper John went walkabout and McGinn restored Villa’s two-goal advantage when he found the empty net from 35 yards.

Wolves win at last…

Wolves finally secured a first Premier League win of the season at the 20th attempt as they made light work of fellow strugglers West Ham at Molineux.

This was Rob Edwards’ first win as Wolves head coach and the team’s first league victory since beating Leicester City on April 26, 2025.

At a stroke, the league’s bottom side doubled their points tally for the season to six, thanks to first-half goals from Jhon Arias, Hwang Hee-chan and Mateus Mane.

A sorry West Ham side failed to muster a response

Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard in action with AFC Bournemouth’s James Hill (Reuters) worst defences in action, goals were always likely and it only took the hosts four minutes to make a breakthrough.

after the break and remain 18th with 14 points - four fewer than Nottingham Forest above them.

With two of the league’s

Berbice River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic Sunday January 04, 2026

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 05:10hrs Monday January 05, 2026

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 06:40hrs For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs DATE: 01/02/2026

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DATE: 07/19/2025 Afternoon

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G.L.C. 357 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel:226-0753. While every effort is made to ensure numbers are correct, please call the hotline for confirmation, The G.L.C. and Kaieteur News cannot be held responsible for printing errors.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Sunday January 04, 2026

UDFA/ Banks DIH Christmas Futsal Tournament…

Atkins’ last gasp goal seals title for Capital FC With seconds remaining and the game locked at 5-5, a last-gasp goal by captain Emmanuel Atkins, landed Capital FC the winning goal seconds before time on the clock elapsed, when the final of the Upper Demerara Football Association promoted its fourth Banks DIH year-end futsal Christmas tournament ended New Year’s night at the Community Hard Court in Retrieve. Linden.

It was a fitting end to a competitive final, as both teams enjoyed lead changes.

With a first prize of $1M guaranteed for the winner, both teams came armed, as their supporting fans were very much involved in the encounter.

Botafago would gain the first initiative when Botafago’s Malachi Todd netted for a 1-0 score, but soon after Botafago got on even terms to lock the scores

1-1 through Devonte Tappin.

Botafago would take the lead once more through Shemar Caesar making it a 2-1 score in favour of the west of Linden unit, before Leyland tied the scores 2-2; and just before the first period ended Capital FC gave fans much to shout about when Omarion Ramsammy tilted things in favour of the east of Linden team, Capital FC 3-2.

As play resumed in the final session, Caesar registered the second goal for Botafago to knot the scores 3-3.

However, Ramsammy responded with his second goal to send Capital FC ahead once more, then it soon was 5-3 for Capital FC through an Emmanuel Atkins strike.

It was seemingly over bar the shouting as Donovan Francis nailed home his first goal of the night for

Botafago, reducing Capital FC’s stranglehold 5-4, as he doubled his scoring under two minutes to have time to tie the game 5-all.

By now, the tension was evident, but it would be a classic pass from Devonte Tappin to Atkins in from the goal, where Atkins banged home the winner with less than a minute remaining, sending fans into a frenzy.

That 6-5 score would be the final score for this exciting final as Capital FC copped their $1M, c h a m p i o n s h i p t r o p h y, medals and bragging rights for a year.

Banks Outdoor Supervisor Omari Gordon was there to help with the presentation to the winners, Capital FC, whose Omarion Ramsammy was adjudged the Most Valuable Player.

For their efforts, Botafago received $500,000, with Topp XX

collecting $200,000 for beating Blueberry Hill in theCaptial FC are the UDFA/ Banks DIH Christmas Futsal Champions. third-place scrap after a 1-1 stalemate, while the latter received $100,000 after failing to complete the shootout.

J’s Horse Racing Stable is looking to create more impact at today’s Rising Sun Turf Club meet J’s Racing Stable’s Companheiro Lea

By Samuel Whyte Fresh from its dominant performances at the recently held Boxing Day horse Race meet at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, the J’s Horse Racing Stable will be looking to continue its dominance in the horse racing arena at the Rising Sun Turf Club today.

Amidst the talk of the clash between Data Man and Olympic Kremlin in the feature event, J’s Racing Stable says it has all the ingredients to seize the initiative and run away with the crown.

According to sources, the stable is throwing down the gauntlet against its competitors in its quest for victory.

Apart from the recent feature race winner, Mapa Do Brasil, the J’s Racing Stable is expected to throw top horse, Companheiro Lea, in the feature event. Recent sprint classic winner, Mulan, Three D Move and a few other new imports are expected to turn out for the stable whose owners hail from New

Amsterdam. Nine races are carded for the day. The feature event is the New Year’s Day Stakes over one mile, which is open to all horses in Guyana. The winner is set to race away with a pleasing $ 2M and a trophy. A keen battle is anticipated.

Among the other races set for the day are the Sprint Classic, the two-year-old event for imported horses and the three-year-old Guyana-bred Derby. The F-Class event for three-year-old imported maidens in Guyana is also open to first-time starters and Brazilian-bred horses imported on or before September 2025.

There is also the H2 and Lower, open to three-year-old West Indian bred and the L Class non-winners of 2025, The I-Class and Lower is open to two-year-olds. There is also the H2 and Lower event, Open to three-yearold West Indian bred animals and the L-Class non-winners for 2025. The I-Class and Lower race is open to two-year-old horses.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 41

KKR release Mustafizur from IPL 2026 squad following BCCI instructions p l a y e r s a r e o u r responsibility, so we will do everything to ensure that.”

Mustafizur, who has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals

Mustafizur Rahman is an IPL veteran, having played for multiple teams since his tournament debut in 2016 (Associated Press) (ESPN Cricinfo) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have released Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026 after the BCCI “instructed” them to do so because of “recent developments”, possibly referring to geopolitical developments in the region.

“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, told news agency ANI on Saturday morning.

Though Saikia didn’t specify what the reason for the BCCI’s decision was, Indian news outlets over the past few days have reported Indian spiritual and political leaders as criticising KKR and their owner Shah Rukh Khan for including Mustafizur in their line-up at a time when, reportedly, Hindu minorities are being attacked in Bangladesh.

Within a few hours, KKR

issued a statement confirming that “the release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India”.

Meanwhile, just a day before Saikia’s statement on Mustafizur, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced their home season, starting March 2026, and that includes a whiteball tour of three ODIs and three T20Is by India, a series that was originally planned for 2025 but was rescheduled. Bangladesh are, of course, scheduled to be in India for the T20 World Cup earlier, in FebruaryMarch.

The BCB, however, indicated that decision around venues and security for the upcoming T20 World Cup lie with the ICC. “The ICC is organising the World Cup; the host is India. If we have to contact anyone, we have to speak to the ICC,” BCB president Aminul Islam said, with media committee chairman Amzad Hossain adding, “ICC will decide which is the appropriate venue. Our players’ security is our first priority. The

Has Western Tigers restored...

From page 43 have proven good enough for second place as they finished this season. They remain a club searching for that missing ingredient to become true title contenders.

G u y a n a ’s f o o t b a l l landscape needs parity to be taken seriously. It needs more than two clubs with resources and belief. It needs consistency from Western

Tigers, evolution from Police FC, and ambition across the board.

Western Tigers’ Super 16 Cup win was a reminder, not a revolution. The question now is whether they can turn one magical night into a season-long statement, because only then does parity stop being a talking point and start becoming a reality.

(DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the past, has picked up 65 wickets in 60 matches overall in an IPL career that started in 2016.

He was acquired by KKR at the IPL auction late last year for INR 9.2 crore as the

team refreshed their line-up, also adding Akash Deep, Sri L a n k a ’s M a t h e e s h a Pathirana and Australia allrounder Cameron Green, among others.

Mustafizur, the only Bangladesh cricketer to find

an IPL team ahead of the 2026 season, is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Rangpur Riders.

The BCB is expected to make a statement on the matter soon.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

Sunday January 04, 2026

Third Annual President’s Futsal C/ship…

Road Warriors run riot to capture crown; …Lady Kanaimas wrap up Bent Street finish second impressive title defense Tournament MVP, Seon Grant (with ball) starred with opening first-minute goal for Dolphin Secondary, as they conquered West Ruimveldt 4-3 in the Schoolboy’s final

I

t was an absolute carnage as Road Warriors delivered a ruthless display of attacking futsal on Friday night, dismantling Bent Street 13–6 to lift the Kashif and Shanghai ‘One Guyana’ Third Annual President’s Futsal Championship title

and pocket the $3 million top prize.

Playing before a packed Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the Brazilian side, Road Warriors wasted little time asserting dominance.

Erlison Cadette and Daniel Da Silva struck early in the seventh and ninth minutes to

give the champions a 2–1 edge, cancelling out Colin Nelson’s eighth-minute equaliser for Bent Street.

From there, the Georgetown side struggled to contain the Warriors’ relentless pace and precision. Dionathas Pereira extended the lead in the 13th

minute, finishing a lightning-quick exchange to make it 4–1. Bent Street showed brief resistance when Jemar Harrigan produced a powerful solo effort from center court to reduce the deficit to 4–2.

A spirited late first-half push saw Beverney McGarrell (21’) and Tyler Lyle (24’) find the net, drawing Bent Street level at 4–4 and briefly reigniting hopes of an upset. However, Da Silva extinguished those hopes almost immediately, scoring twice in the 25th and 26th minutes to complete a sensational hat-trick and swing momentum firmly back to Road Warriors.

Goals then came in quick succession as Pereira and Arckson added to the tally, before Wendrecky De Souza struck in the 27th minute to push the score to 9–4. Adrian Aaron attempted to rally Bent Street with a quick brace in the 28th and 29th minutes, but further strikes from Arckson (32’) and Wesley Ferreira (35’), coupled with two Bent Street own goals, sealed a commanding 13–6 victory.

The emphatic win crowned Road Warriors as 2025/2026 champions, underlining their status as the competition’s dominant force.

Lady Kanaimas defend Women’s title Earlier in the evening, Lady Kanaimas successfully defended their Women’s Division crown with a convincing 4–0 win over Lady Royals. Sandra Johnson opened the scoring in the third minute before leading goal-getter Glendy Lewis netted a superb hattrick in the sixth, ninth and 26th minutes. Despite a late defensive effort from the Royals, Lady Kanaimas remained composed to secure another President’s Futsal title.

Dolphin Secondary also claim first-ever Schoolboy’s crown In the inaugural Schoolboys’ Championship final, Dolphin Secondary edged West Ruimveldt Secondary 4–3 to claim the title and $750,000 in kind.

Dolphin burst out of the blocks, with Seon Grant

Lady Kanaimas did it again! Glendy and Glengy Lewis (in photo) sealed a convincing title defense for Lady Kanaimas with an absorbing 4-0 win over Lady Royals in the final scoring in the opening minute, followed almost immediately by Christenson Daudinot brace to make it 3–0 inside two minutes.

We s t R u i m v e l d t responded through Okel Robert in the eighth minute, before Joel Griffith struck twice in the 11th and 13th minutes to level the match at 3–3.

The tense contest remained evenly poised until Tyler Abrams nodded home from a well-directed corner to seal a historic first Schoolboys’ title for Dolphin Secondary.

Meanwhile in thirdplace action, New Central High defeated West Minster Secondary 6–3, led by a five-goal haul from Trevor Gordon. New Central earned $250,000 in kind, w h i l e We s t M i n s t e r collected $150,000 and a trophy.

We s t s i d e B a l l e r s claimed third place in the Women’s Division with a 2–1 win over Street Vybz, earning $200,000, while Street Vybz settled for $100,000. In the Men’s Division playoff, Sparta Boss edged Bomb Squad 5–4 to secure $500,000 and third-place honours, with Bomb Squad taking home $250,000.

At the closing

ceremony, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation rewarded the top performers across all divisions.

R o a d Wa r r i o r s received the $3,000,000 championship prize, while Matheus Henrique claimed both MVP and Highest Goal Scorer honours after netting 19 goals. Erlison Cadette was named Best Goalkeeper.

Bent Street depite the loss to Road Warriors secured a $1,000,000 second-place prize for their valiant effort in the final.

In the Schoolboys’ c a t e g o r y, We s t R u i m v e l d t ’s J e r e m i a h Griffith topped the scoring charts with 27 goals, while Dolphin Secondary’s Seon Grant was named MVP. The Women’s awards saw sisters Glendy Lewis (Highest Goal Scorer) and Glengy Lewis (MVP) dominate the honours, with Christine Henrito (mother of junior national female footballer) was named Best Goalkeeper.

As the curtain closed on another successful edition of the Kashif and Shanghai ‘One Guyana’ President’s Futsal Cup, champions Lady Kanaimas, Dolphin Secondary and Road Warriors fittingly stood atop their respective divisions.

Kaieteur News

Sunday January 04, 2026

PAGE 43

Hear Me Out

Has Western Tigers restored parity in Guyana’s football?

By Rawle Toney Has Western Tigers Football Club, with one defiant swing of the sword, restored parity in Guyana’s football?

That question is not rhetorical. It is born directly f r o m We s t e r n Ti g e r s ’ stunning 1–0 victory over Slingerz Football Club in the Super 16 Cup final, a result that shook assumptions, unsettled comfort zones, and briefly reminded us why football, at its best, remains gloriously unpredictable.

On paper, this was a David versus Goliath encounter. And not the exaggerated, media-made version either.

Despite being around almost four decades longer than Slingerz FC, Western Tigers walked into that final on January 1, as the underdogs. History, recent form, investment, squad depth, and momentum all leaned heavily in Slingerz FC’s direction.

Slingerz FC are not just another club. They are the current two-time Elite League champions and, by any fair measure, one of the most dominant and decorated football institutions in Guyana. Their return to top-flight football reignited old hierarchies.

Against Western Tigers, they paraded a star-studded lineup of national players, proven winners, professionals in approach and execution. A club engineered to dominate, not

merely compete.

Western Tigers, by contrast, showed up with heart. And heart, when paired with discipline and belief, can be dangerous.

They had sprinkles of talent, not overwhelming, not glamorous, but on the night, those pieces aligned into something magical.

They matched the country’s top club stride for stride, refused to blink under pressure, and struck decisively when it mattered most, in the 89th minute, thanks to Kevon ‘Showtime’ Woodley.

That singular result forces us to zoom out and ask a larger, more uncomfortable question…what does parity really look like in Guyana’s football?

For context, the local football landscape, especially with the return of Slingerz FC, has been largely centred around four teams; Guyana Defence Force FC, Guyana Police Force FC, Western Tigers, and Slingerz FC. However, even within that group, balance has been an illusion.

There has been no real parity in the league over the past two seasons. GDF FC and Slingerz FC have won the last two Elite League titles, both completing their campaigns unbeaten. That is dominance, not competition.

Slingerz FC, in particular, have not lost a single match since January 8, 2024. The Vergenoegenbased club functions as a

Jamaican Carden Benbow closely guarded during the GFF Super 16 Cup Final

professional side in every sense. Last season, they finished second only to GDF FC, separated by the slimmest of margins, four draws to the Army’s two.

Western Tigers are not, and have never been, a bottom-feeder system club.

Their pedigree matters, winning the National League in 1994 and represented Guyana in the 1995 Caribbean Club Championship. However, since the Elite League era began, their league footprint has been modest at best.

They first featured in the Elite League in 2019, a oneround competition, finishing second to Fruta Conquerors.

In 2023, another one-round format, they finished behind GDF FC. In 2024 and 2025, they placed fourth in both seasons in performances that were far from genuine title challenges.

Then came the return of Slingerz FC in 2022 (2024 they returned to the Elite League), after an hiatus following their ban from the GFF despite winning the 2015 Elite League title.

Their comeback restored the presence of a club that, along with Alpha United in earlier years, ruled domestic football with authority.

Though younger than Western Tigers, Slingerz boast one of the most impressive trophy cabinets in local football.

Their resurgence also shifted the balance of power.

Investment followed ambition, and ambition followed vision. The best players available in Guyana were recruited to fit a system designed to win now, and in the long term.

We s t e r n Ti g e r s , meanwhile, remain a club rich in community roots and representation, but poor in sustained investment. Too often, they appear content with the label of “Elite League club,” rather than acting like genuine title contenders over a full season.

H o w e v e r, k n o c k o u t football is where Western Tigers find their soul. It is where history whispers confidence. They are dark horses by design.

They won the prestigious Kashif and Shanghai Tournament in 2009/2010, defeating a dominant Alpha

Slingerz FC’s guest player, Omari Glasgow, swarmed

by Western Tigers players in the Super 16 Cup finals

United 2–0 in the final, at a time when Alpha ruled domestic football with an iron fist. They finished second in the 2002/2003 edition, losing narrowly to Fruta Conquerors.

So, has parity been restored? Not yet. One cup

final does not fix a system.

But it reminds us of what football desperately needs.

Football thrives on uncertainty. Parity keeps fans engaged, forces clubs to innovate, sharpens standards, and makes championships mean

something. Without it, we risk watching the same script every year, Slingerz FC versus GDF FC, title after title, while the rest play supporting roles.

No disrespect to Police FC, but at their best, they (Continued on page 41)

Third Annual President’s Futsal C/ship…

Road Warriors run riot to capture crown; Bent Street finish second

Minister Charles Ramson Jr., and Minister Juan Edghill share photo-op with the Men’s Divisional champions.

…Lady Kanaimas wrap up impressive title defense

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J’s Horse Racing Stable is looking to create more impact at today’s Rising Sun Turf Club meet

J’s Racing Stable’s Mapa Do Brasil in action

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