Kaieteur News

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Dr. Godwin Friday of NDP

Policeprobingdeathofelderly manfoundatBourdaMarket

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is

investigating the death of an elderly man of mixed-race whose body was discovered on Monday in the vicinityoftheBourdaMarket.

Reports are that the man’s motionless body,cladinagreytopandblueshortpants, was found at around 08:00h on the western side of the Bourda Market. No marks of violencewereobservedonthebody

“The deceased is a male of mixed ancestry, believed to be about 60 years old

and of no fixed place of abode. Initial investigationsrevealedthathewasknownto frequentandsleepwithintheBourdaMarket area. On the morning in question, ranks responded after receiving information that the man was seen lying motionless at the location,”policesaid.

EmergencyMedicalTechnicians(EMTs) were summoned and upon arrival, the man waspronounceddead.Thebodywastakento theMemorialGardensFuneralHome,where itawaitsapost-mortemexamination.

‘Govt. must reveal all oil finds, big or small’ -WINsays

Since Guyanese are footing the full cost of all

exploration activity currently taking place in the Stabroek Block, it is i n c u m b e n t o n t h e government of Guyana (GoG) to publicly announce all oil discoveries made by ExxonMobil, whether commercialornot.

This is according to Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party, Azruddin Mohamed The Leader of the Opposition in waiting told this newspaper in an invited comment that Guyanese deserve to know what their resources are beingusedfor He said, “There is no justifiablereasontokeepita secret(oildiscoveries).Even if the amount of quality d i s c o v e r e d i s n o t commercially viable, the Guyanese public deserves full transparency since

Guyana pays for the exploration.”

The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil and its partners allow for the full costofexplorationtobepaid forbyGuyanathroughitsoil. In this manner, Exxon takes theoilproducedeachmonth tocoveritsexplorationcosts and other development related expenses In fact, more than half of the oil produced each month is swallowed up by the co

expenditure.Inkeepingwith thetermsofthePSA,75%of oil monthly production is recovered, with the remaining 25% split evenly betweentheGoGandExxon asprofit.

Mohamed therefore pointed out, “Under our c u r r e n t p e t r o l e u m agreement,explorationcosts are recoverable. If the state

pays, we deserve to know about all discoveries ” He was keen to note that the GoG already faces criticism over its management of the sector, with public trust continuouslyeroding.

To this end, the leader noted, “Transparency

Pres. Ali sidesteps question on Christmas cash grant

shouldn’t be a tussle at this point.Wearecallingforfull disclosure of all oil discoveries made by Exxon.”

In addition to the discoveries, Mohamed cited the need for government to alsoreleasequarterlyreports submitted by Exxon He said, “The government must release the quarterly reports required by the contract that are submitted by Exxon that would contain these up-todateinformation.Whyisthe Government hiding this

information from its people that owns these resources?

The resources and information therewith belongstothepeople,notthe PPP.”

Notably, oil-producing states around the world, including neighbouring Suriname have blocked oil companies from recovering costs spent to hunt for oil.

Guyanaontheotherhandnot onlyallowsExxontorecover costs for wells successfully drilled, but even dry holes encountered in the process. Before production activities commenced, Exxon claimed US$1 6B for exploration activity in the Stabroek Blockduringtheperiod1999 to 2017 Additionally, the company’s Annual Reports and financial statements for the period 2020 to 2024

s h o w t h a t a n o t h e r

US$666.1M was racked up

again for exploration activity

This means Guyana has received a whopping

US$2,266,100,000 for exploration works by the oil major Despite the hefty bill being handed to Guyana by the contractor to explore the

basin,thediscoveriesarenot being announced and the country’s oil reserves have stagnatedsince2022.

In April 2022, Exxon said the reserves in the Stabroek Block totaled 11 billion barrels Two years and eight discoveries after the last resource update, governmentin2024saidthe reserves grew to 11 6B Notably, although Exxon supplies government with data, the company said its estimateoftheresourceswas lowerthan11Bbarrels.

On Sunday, Kaieteur News reported that no new oil discoveries were a n n o u n c e d b y t h e government for the year or itsenergypartner.Bethatas it may, the Mid-Year Report publishedbytheMinistryof Finance made a bombshell disclosure,awhoppingthree oil discoveries reportedly made by the contractor for 2025. The Mid-Year Report states, “Moreover, three discoveriesweremadeinthe Stabroek Block in 2025, includingtwointhefirsthalf oftheyear.”

Exxoninastatementto

Continued on page 8

A m i d g r o w i n g

anticipation for the Christmas cash grant promised during the recent elections, President Irfaan AlionThursdayappearedto sidestep the issue, emphasising that his administration plans to roll out a suite of initiatives aimedatimprovingthelives of Guyanese beyond a oneoffhandout.

Answering a reporter’s question on the cash grant, which citizens had hoped would assist with holiday expenses, President Ali s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e government’s focus is on long-term development and prosperity He said government will shortly roll out several significant initiativesthatwillbetterthe lives of citizens. “Our government always delivers,”whenaskedforan update on a commitment to distribute a cash grant to Guyanese in time for Christmas.In fact,President Ali said there will be a suite of initiatives that will be

announced in the coming days.

“And whilst you may restrict your thoughts to just a cash bonus, this government has a very elaborate agenda for the upliftment of your life—for the improvement of your life, for building prosperity for you, for bu

community,forempowering you, for giving you the opportunity to live a life in

whichyouhaveaccesstothe best health care, best education, home ownership, reducedinterestrates,access to low-interest business development loans and grants with no collateral, access to textbooks, expanded school feeding programmes, expanded infrastructure, community infrastructure, building out facilitiestosupportwomen’s health,(and)…cancer

Continued on page 14

WIN Leader, Azruddin Mohamed

President Irfaan Ali

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Access to info – step up and deliver, or scrap the Act

The PPPC Government has to make up its mind relative to providing Guyanese petitioners with access to vital information, in keeping with the provisions of the AccesstoInformationActnowexistingforover14years. There is the law and its provisions, which clearly states what can be requested, what should be released, and what couldbedenied. Yet,thereisalineofGuyanesepetitioners who have repeatedly written to the Office of the Commissioner of Information, some as long as several years ago, and getting nowhere. When they have been favoredwithareply,ithasbeenoftencondescending,and evenderogatory,attimes. Itseemsthatthereisnoconcern about mocking those requesting information, and disdainingwhattheaccesstoinformationlawaffordsthem.

The PPPC Government has a few choices, one of which is to enlighten the Commissioner of Information thatthedutiesofhisofficemustbehandledbetter.

The best evidence of that would be to deliver the documentsrequestedandlongoutstanding,ordisapprove of such requests with the reasonsclearlystated. Another choice available to the government is to replace the commissioner, if he proves to be intractable and unresponsive.

Ifthejobisprovingtoodrainingonhisconstitution,or tooburdensomeonhistime,thenthegovernmentshould initiate the appropriate relief measures, of which there is only one. Send the Commissioner of Information home, which means that he doesn't have to travel much of any distance,circumstancesconsidered.

An office that holds such a crucial role, that receives an annual budgetary allocation of $40M is not properly served by someone peeking through the curtains, or findingnewwaystostonewalldeliveryofinformationthat Guyaneseneed. Anoptionthatisnotpresentedcasuallyis forthePPPCGovernmenttostopthecharadewithaccessto information being the law and that information on how nationalbusinessismanaged(andreadilyavailable),when such is furthest from lived reality Guyanese who have communicatedtotheCommissionerofInformation'soffice areavailabletosharetheirnegativeexperiences,andallof whichcaststhatofficeandthelawintheworstlight. Itmay beanextremestep,butitistimetoceasewiththepretenses, andeitherproducerequestedinformation,orscrapthelaw andthatofficethathaszeroutility

Why have a law when it is routinely made fun of, remade into the toy of a bureaucrat? Why continue with thefarceofgivingGuyanesehope,whilesendingthemon whatisnothingbutongoingwildgoosechases? Whywaste taxpayers' dollars to pay the commissioner of information to engage in opaque verbal wizardries, with the result usually being little to no information of significance delivered? Could it be that he may have been given assurancesfromthehighestgovernmentlevelsthathisjob istoholdtheline,andnotdeliver?

Wedon'tknow,butgiventheexperiencesofGuyanese petitionersforinformation,fewaretheinterpretationsleft to thinking citizens Inotherwords, themaninchargeis simplyfollowingordersfromhissuperiors.

Those same superiors made a commitment in their political manifesto of 2025 to enforce access to information provisions That PPPC manifesto commitment is a backhanded way of acknowledging that thelawhasbeenignoredinthepast,andthatitistimeforthe gamestobeover OnePPPCGovernmentleaderadmitted publiclythat'somethinghastobedonesothatinformation ismoreeasilyaccessed,andthatchangesareontheway.'

Political leaders have made big promises involving pivotal national issues in the past, only for their delivery record to be found woeful. Oneofthemorebafflingand unpardonable missteps of the current government was to turnitsbackonanInterAmericanCommissiononHuman Rights hearing relative to access to information. In what

Minister's tint directive misses the real danger police face daily

DearEditor,

We note the recent directive issued by the Honourable Minister of HomeAffairs instructing all police ranks to remove tint from their private motor vehicles unless they possess avalidtintpermit.

While the principle that thelawmustapplyequallyto everyone is understood, the directive does not consider the real dangers that police ranks face daily nor does it reflect the long-standing relationship between the Government and the Joint

Services.

traditionally maintained a strongrapportwithmembers of the Disciplined Services. Year after year ranks are publiclyrecognisedfortheir contribution to national security and during every election cycle, officers are

Government values their work, their sacrifice and their vote Police ranks consistently support the country's stability, serve in every region without

hesitation and stand firm in the face of criminal threats that many will never fully appreciate. It is therefore disappointing that the very people who are expected to uphold the law and protect the nation are now being placed in positions that compromise their own safety.

Tint on a police rank's privatevehicleisnotamatter of privilege, it is an issue of personal security and operationalnecessity

Ranks routinely arrest dangerous individuals,

networks,seizeweaponsand narcotics and carry out operations that make them targetsbothonandoffduty

Without tint, officers become highly visible and easily monitored by those who may wish to retaliate. Criminals can track their movements, identify their vehicles, observe their families and compromise their safety with alarming ease. Noofficershouldhaveto choosebetweenprotecting

(Continuedonpage5)

Safety on the Linden Highway is needed

DearEditor,

I respectfully write to bring to your attention an urgent safety concern currently affecting motorist along the Linden–Soesdyke Highway, particularly in the vicinity of Long Creek, where the contractor Namalcoisundertakingroad construction works. It has beenobservedthatanumber o f h i g h - i n t e n s i t y construction lights have been positioned in a manner thatcreatessignificantvisual impairment for road users during nighttime travel. The glare produced by these lights severely reduces drivers' visibility and situational awareness, thereby elevating the risk of collisions and other potentially catastrophic incidents This situation

represents a clear and present danger that warrants immediate corrective action to prevent loss of life, limb, andproperty

F u r t h e r m o r e , I respectfully request that all contractors operating along this critical roadway be required to install and maintain adequate and clearly visible signage to alert motorists to ongoing works, altered traffic patterns, and evolving road conditions.

Given the extensive upgrades currently in progress, it is essential that roadusersreceivetimelyand accurate information to navigatetheseareassafely

Additionally, I wish to highlight the pressing need forenhancedpolicepresence

along the highway,

particularly during the early morninghourswhenthereis heavy vehicular movement especially by large trucks is most prevalent. Numerous reports and firsthand observations indicate that some drivers engage in reckless and negligent behavior during these p e r i o d s , f u r t h e r compoundingtherisksfaced by other road users

S t r e n g t h e n e d l a w enforcement visibility and targetedinterventionswould play a crucial role in promoting responsible driving practices and deterring dangerous conduct.

The Linden–Soesdyke Highwayhasbeenthesiteof fartoomanytragicincidents over the years As the government continues to

undertake these much needed and essential upgrades to this vital transportation artery and elsewhere, it is imperative that safety measures be intensified to ensure that motorists remain protected throughout the construction period.

Proactive action at this time will not only safeguard lives but also reinforce public confidence in the ongoing development works.

Ithereforeappealforthe urgent attention and coordinated response of the relevant authorities to address these issues without delay

Yoursrespectfully, JermaineFigueira former Member of Parliament.

The Speaker must summon a meeting of the non-govt. members to identify leader of opposition

DearEditor,

As a youngest a popular featurecolumninoneofour newspapers was titled “Believe it or Not” by Ripley, it reported many occurrences which to the reader seems bizarre and unbelievable, but true Elections were held on September 1st, almost three months ago, yet in keeping with tradition and expectations of Guyanese everywhere we do not have in place a leader of the opposition, reminiscent of

attemptingtodriveacarwith only three wheels functioning.

Weheardstatementsbya number of political pundits most of them non-sensical and ill-informed, the erudite dissertation by Neville J Bissember Jnr as published inWednesday26,November independent media is instructive and necessary reading.

If some of the misguided statements on this matter,oftheappointmentof the leader of the opposition,

has become the norm in Guyana, top government officials say one thing in public, incorporate commitments in their manifestoes, and then carry on as usual by doing the opposite.

TheAccesstoInformationlawenshrinesmuchthatcan bebeneficialtoGuyanese ThePPPCGovernmenthasto deliverorrepealthatlaw

emanate from within

segmentsofthePNC,letme make it clear, I remain an unwavering, unshakable, and solid supporter of the People's National Congress, the party founded by our visionary Forbes Burnham. For me, there can be no vacillation, no sand-dancing all of us who believe that parliament is one of the pillars upon which our free and democratic society rest, must speak up and make noises, we must inveigh against having an incomplete parliament, for without the appointment of the leader of the opposition, our parliamentary system, our proclaimed democracy, isdisabled.

Guyanese everywhere must join in a clarion call to

require the speaker to summon a meeting of the non-governmentmembersto have the leader of the opposition identified w i t h o u t f u r t h e r procrastination.

Our ancestors who foughtforfreedomandthose who navigated the turbulence of that stressful and dangerous Cold War, and those who survived the oil crisis, must be shedding tears of this near threemonth hiatus with an incompleteparliament. Mr.Speakercarryoutthe duties as required by the constitution without fear or favourable, and save us Mr Speaker from any further embarrassment.

Sincerely, ElderHamiltonGreen

Clear windows, safer streets: Why Guyana should remove dark vehicle tints

DearEditor,

Guyana is facing serious issues in public safety and crime prevention. Despite the array of countervailing considerations in comfort, fashion, and heat, the preponderance of safety, policing, and public trust indicates that dark tints should be removed from vehicles A policy of transparency and clarity aroundvehiclevisibilityisa low-cost, achievable reform that can help to make our r o a d s s a f e r , o u r neighbourhoods more secure, and our policing moreeffective.

Visibility is a core principle of road safety Clearwindowsallowdrivers toseeandbeseen,andinthat simple fact lies much of the meaning of the word 'communication' Humans canmakequickassessments of one another's behaviour through a language of eye contact at a T-junction, a raised hand to yield at a driveway, a quick look that canmeanletmepassorwait yourturn.

Misunderstandings and abrupt manoeuvres, the root causeofmanycollisions,are lesslikelywherewecansee andbeseen.Thatiscritically important in built-up areas and at school zones, where pedestrians and cyclists, the most vulnerable road users, are making constant rapidfire judgements about each other and surrounding vehicles. Dark tints cut that communication in half. Whendriverscannotseeand be seen, pedestrians and cyclists are far more vulnerable, particularly in the hours of darkness or in bad weather when risks are already increased. In the eventofacollision,seconds arealsocritical.

Emergency services need to assess injuries, contact hazards, and determine if there are passengers in the vehicle. Opaqueglassnotonlymakes this more difficult; it delays rescueandtreatmentwhenit i

Crime prevention and investigation are similarly

anonymity that obscures faces, activity, and goods fromwitnessesandcameras, reducing the quality of witness descriptions by CCTVandbystanders.

That not only hampers investigations, it means that swift arrests are less likely When the police lawfully stop a vehicle, visibility is alsokeytoofficersafetyand

Transparency reduces uncertainty and helps

miscommunicationsthatcan escalate into conflict when neitherpartycanseewhatis happening in or around the vehicle. If offenders know they will be unable to hide behind dark windows, a simp

w

rful deterrence is put in place. Visible and unambiguous transparency on the roads can shift the behaviour of opportunistic criminals at lowcosttootherroadusers.

Legitimate concerns about heat, ultraviolet radiation, and privacy

should be addressed. The existing windscreen already filters out a large portion of UV radiation and there are clear, reputable aftermarket films available that reduce heat while minimising impactsonvisibility

Air-conditioning, properly maintained and refilled, when necessary, along with reflective sunshades when parked and ceramic films within strict, measurable legal limits can provide heat and ultraviolet protection without adding cost and uncertainty around opacity.We can also respect theneedsofindividualswith medicalconditions.Narrow, w e l l - d o c u m e n t e d exceptions can be made available to residents with a legitimate need that are clearly identified with certification that can be easily verified at the roadside,includingclearand measurable standards of lighttransmission.

Privacyisalsoimportant butitisabalance,andinthis case transparency on the roads should outweigh the

Minister's tint directive misses the...

From page 4 the public and protecting themselves and their loved ones.

It is also important to a c k n o w l e d g e t h e environmental realities of policing in Guyana. Ranks spend long hours in the sun directing traffic, conducting investigations, working at scenes and responding to emergencies.

Tint provides basic protection against the harsh heat and glare, reducing fatigue and enhancing alertnessontheroad.

These are not trivial concerns; they directly affect officer performance, well-beingandsafety

Given the longstanding relationship between the current administration and the Joint Services, one

would expect that decisions impacting officers' day-today safety would involve consultation, understanding andfairness. Instead, many ranks now feel dismissed, undervalued and sidelined byadirectivethatappearsto overlook the realities of policing.

It sends the unfortunate message that officers are to berelieduponwhenneeded, yet disregarded when their own protection and comfort requireconsideration. The solution is not to e x p o s e o f f i c e r s unnecessarily, but to implement a structured, transparent and fair tintpermit system specifically designedforallpoliceranks. Suchasystemwouldensure fullcompliancewiththelaw

whilerecognisingtheunique risksthatofficersface.Equal application of the law does not mean ignoring the unequaldangersofthejob.

Police officers deserve apolicythatprotectsthemas they protect the public Respect for the Disciplined Services must be reflected not only in speeches but in decisions that safeguard theirlives,theirfamiliesand their ability to serve effectively

I n c l o s i n g , w e respectfully call on His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali to consider the concerns of the men and womenoftheGuyanaPolice Force.

Rankscontinuetoserve this nation with loyalty, discipline and sacrifice, often under dangerous and

thanklesscircumstances.

We are simply asking for a policy that reflects the realities of our work and protectsusasweprotectthe public.

A fair and regulated tint-permitsystemforpolice rankswouldgoalongwayin restoring confidence, improving safety and reaffirmingthevaluethatthe Government has always claimed to place on its Joint Services.

R e s p e c t f u l l y submitted, Concerned Police Ranks

comfort of the individual driver Visibility helps protect pedestrians, enables effective deterrence against crime,andsupportsthework of law enforcement agencies.

Guyanaisatacrossroads on this issue. The important questions are not about comfortorprivacybutabout accountability and whether we are willing to accept the

Removing dark tints from vehicles is a practical and achievable measure with immediate and visible benefits. The logic of the

road is also about prevention,andifwebelieve that these simple steps can reduce collisions caused by miscommunication, increasethespeedandsafety of police stops, deter opportunist crime, and create a fairer society in whichtherulesareclearand appliedconsistently,thenwe have an obligation to act.

Safeguardingourpeopleand strengtheningtheruleoflaw is a national commitment, and transparency on our roads is no longer a metaphor—itisamandate.

Sincerely,

Philip

Inshanally

SHOW THE CONTRACTS!

DearEditor, The President's announcement in July, now repeatedonNovember26by the Minister of Finance that two major large-scale gold mines will come on stream by2026and2027onceagain exposesafundamentalissue this government refuses to c o n f r o n t : TRANSPARENCY

These pronouncements represent new investments from G Mining Ventures, Mako Mining Corp, and other multinational operators. Yet, despite the fanfare, the government continues to hide the very contracts governing these projects. These agreements weresignedoverayearago, buttothisdaytheGuyanese peopleremaincompletelyin thedark.

In the press, not Parliament, the government has issued glowing public statements about the expected revenues from these investments But public statements are not accountability This administration has already

demonstrated that it cannot be trusted with our oil revenues, it has failed to properly account for the national census, it presides over irregular public procurement practices, and high-profile corruption matters go unattended Meanwhile, key oversight bodies such as the Public Accounts Committee are sidelinedorignored.

This secrecy is especially alarming because gold,likeoil,isadepletable naturalresourcewithafinite economic life. The same applies to bauxite, manganese, and every other mineral Guyana relies on. Decisions taken today will determine whether these sectors build long term national wealth or whether future generations inherit nothing but empty pits and environmentalscars.

Mining, like oil extraction, inflicts severe and lasting environmental damage

n t o deforestationandthe (Continuedonpage6)

‘Payuporhaveyourlicense suspended’-PresidentAliwarns

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday evening warned drivers with outstanding parking tickets to pay up within 48hrs or have their license suspended. The president was speaking at a reception held at the residence of the High CommissioneroftheUnited Kingdom to Guyana for the th5 EuropeanMission.

The head-of-state said that so far, 42,000 tickets have been issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for traffic related offences. He said that close to 10,000 personshavepaidtheirfines electronically

“… in another few days, you will see the top offenders published in the newspaper with their outstanding amounts in terms of tickets, and I use this forum to calmly appeal to those who have outstanding payments, to do so within the next 48 hours, or the license will be suspended,”Aliwarned.

The president made it clear that the systems investedinandimplemented by the government must yield benefits. Additionally,

PresidentAlisaidthatbythe end of this year police cars will be equipped with smart

meters and ranks will be providedwithsmartcars.

The aim, he said, is to h a v e t h i n g s d o n e electronically, recorded and stored therefore removing the human interface and allowing technology to help peopletodobetter,“because wehaveitinustodobetter.”

On November 20, 2025 KaieteurNewsreportedthat Guyana'sroadshavebecome a danger zone, and the numbers exposed by Traffic ChiefMahendraSinghshow justhowoutofcontrolsome motoristshavebecome.

Singh revealed that almosthalfofthestaggering

One arrested as CANU nets 66lbs of ganja, cocaine

Officers of the Customs Anti-narcoticsUnit(CANU) on Thursday arrested one personforpossessionof12.1 grams of cocaine and 30 kilograms of cannabis near Sandaka Dam, Corentyne, Berbice.

In a statement, CANU said that its officers, “acting on received information, conducted an operation near Sandaka Dam, Corentyne, Berbice, where they intercepted a suspect on a motorcycle. A subsequent search of the suspect revealed a parcel containing aquantityofcocaine.”

Two bulky parcels containing a quantity of cannabis were found during a separate search of the area

where the suspect was stopped.

“The suspect was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters, along

with the suspected narcotic, which weighed 12.1 grams (cocaine) and 30 kilograms (cannabis) Investigations areongoing,”CANUstated.

32,768 speeding tickets issued for the year came directly from the Road Intelligence System, which has been quietly capturing drivers tearing across the countryatinsanespeeds—as highas180km/h.

“I think the only thing left for some of them is to pullthegearshiftandflythe vehicle into the air,” Singh said, disgusted by the level of recklessness being recorded.

T h e r e w e r e approximately 47,000

President Irfaan Ali speaks at the reception th held for the 5 European Mission

tickets issued for traffic related offenses this year, fromJanuary1tothetimeof hispresentation.

In a shocking revelation Singh said that, “21 driver's license would have been suspended for the period from January 1 to present day, for drivers who would have been involved in accidents, most of them causedbydangerousdriving charge.”

SHOW THE CONTRACTS...

Frompage5 disruption of Indigenous c o m m u n i t i e s Environmental safeguards must be clearly detailed in the contracts. But the public cannot scrutinise these protections if the contracts remainhidden.

Across all extractive industries, the implications for Guyanese labour, institutions, and regulatory bodies are enormous Workers' rights, safety conditions, training, and community protection should all be secured through binding agreements agreements the government refusestorelease.

At the same time, gold, bauxite, manganese, and oil are major contributors to Guyana's foreign exchange earnings and public revenues.

With the gold mining

sector projected in the Minister of Finance's MidYear Report to grow by 17.2%, the public has an even stronger right to know thefiscaltermsunderwhich thesecompaniesoperate.

Beyondthetwoheadline projects, at least three other companies control an estimated 15 5 million ounces of gold, in Omai Gold Mines, Aris Mining's Toroparu Project, G Mining Ventures' Oko West, and Mako Mining's Eagle Mountain.

These companies publicly describe Guyana as “mining friendly” and boast of impressive returns for their shareholders. Yet the citizens of this country cannot evaluate whether Guyanareceivescomparable benefits.

It is worth remembering that when the PPP was in

opposition, they loudly demanded the release of the ExxonMobil oil contract, arguing correctly that transparency was necessary to determine whether the deal benefited the Guyanese people. Today, however, undertheirleadership,andin a mining, sector expanding evenfasterthanoildidinits early phase, not a single mining contract has been released.

If these deals are as beneficial as government officials claim, then why hidethem?

Ifthesectorispoisedfor massive growth, then why feartransparency?

This government offers promises.Guyanesedeserve thecontracts.

Release the contracts now!

SharmaSolomon MemberofParliament.

The narcotics that were seized.

Increasedoilproductionbeingdonesafely- EPA

The Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA)on Thursdaysaidthatincreased oil production in the Stabroek Block is being donesafelybyExxonMobil, follo

o optimize the Floating Production Storage and Offloadingvessels(FPSOs).

The regulator was responding to an article publishedbyKaieteurNews on November 25, 2025 under the headline 'Govt. greenlights Exxons 60,000barrel surge This publication reported that government approved Exxon's request to increase productionontwoFPSOsby 30,000barrelseach,pushing the projects to produce a totalof60,000barrelsabove theirdesigncapacity

This was revealed in the mid-year report which states, “These scopes,

largely entailing topside debottlenecking activities, will continue to enable production rates averaging beyond 250,000 (barrels per day) bpd at Unity and Prosperity into the second half,respectively.”

Notably, Kaieteur News pointed out that the Liza Unity FPSO, which producesoilattheLizaTwo development, has a design capacity of 220,000 bpd, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) The document also states that “the facilities will have the potentialtosafelyoperateat sustained peaks of oil p r o d u c t i o n u p t o approximately 250,000 bopd”.

Similarly, the Prosperity FPSO which produces oil at the third deepwater development offshore was designedtoproduce220,000

bpd, according to the EIA.

(Seetablesattached)

In a statement to the media,theEPAmadeitclear that the FPSOs are not operating above safe limits. The regulator pointed out thatapprovalwasgrantedfor both vessels to safely produce above the design rates.

It said, “all production optimization tests are done undertheclosecollaboration betweentheEPA,alongwith the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Additionally, the EPA issued its formal "No Objection" for these ratestothePayaraandUnity F P S O s o n l y a f t e r independent verification confirmed that operations r e m a i n s a f e a n d environmentallysound.”

Regarding Liza Unity, EPA said, “Authorization

was granted to maintain a targetof270,000barrelsper day (KBD), an optimization from the previous steady stateof252KBD.”

Meanwhile, on the Prosperity FPSO, it noted, “Authorization was granted to maintain a target of 2 6 5 , 0 0 0 K B D , a n optimization from the previous steady state of 252 KBD.”

EPAhighlighted that the increases were not arbitrary but were achieved through strategic "Production OptimisationTests" (POTs), which involved the gradual incremental increase in p r o d u c t i o n w h i l e simultaneously verifying system stability at every increment.

Further,itsaid,“ForLiza Unity, the approved EIA assessed potential

environmental impacts for production rates up to 300,000barrelsperday The current production level of 270,000 bpd is well within the safety envelope already studied and approved by the EPA ” Additionally, “For Payara Prosperity, the EIA assessed impacts based on

ully accommodate the current peak targets of 265,000 bpd w

environmentalthresholds.”

Tothisend,theregulator arguedthattheassertionthat the vessels are operating "above safe limits" ignores the engineering upgrades mandatedbytheEPA.

Similarly, it noted that

tions confirmed the Prosperity FPSO “possessed inherent design capacity to safely handle 265 KBD without majormodifications.”

Meanwhile, regarding environmental safely, the regulator assured, “Data submitted to the Agency during the testing periods confirmsthatenvironmental safeguards remain intact: flaring re

s at background levels, strictly for safety; produced water discharges remain fully

he regulatory limit of 29 mg/L (monthly average); (and) vibration and Corrosion monitoring show all piping systemsareoperatingwithin safeintegritylimits.”

It pointed out that the Operator was required to install physical upgrades to crude oil heaters, coolers, and control valves to safely increase capacity to 270 KBDontheUnityFPSO.

Govt.unveils landmark gender equality

seal - becoming Caribbean trailblazer in safe, inclusive workplaces

In a historic stride toward advancing workplace equality, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Wednesday launched the National Gender Equality and Empowerment Seal, a landmark initiative aimed at creating safe, inclusive, and e q u i t a b l e w o r k environments across Guyana's public and private sectors.

The launch, held at the Roraima Duke Lodge, brought together senior government officials, private-sector leaders, and representativesoftheUnited Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

ThisincludedMinisterof Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith and Minister of Public

Service, Government

E f f i c i e n c y a n d Implementation, Zulfikar Ally and various Permanent Secretaries, members of the Women's Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chamber of CommerceandIndustryand UNFPA Guyana now becomes the first country in the Caribbean to receive UNFPA's support in addressing Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) through a national workplace certification programme.

Delivering the feature address, Minister of Human ServicesandSocialSecurity, Hon. Dr Vindhya Persaud, underscored that advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence require unified commitment acrossallsectors.

She emphasised that the sealgoesbeyondpolicyand translates into measurable, actionable standards that organisations must meet “This gender seal is not merely a policy; it is an actionable programme where there are measurable indicators.

We had to ensure that what we were doing would betailoredtoboththepublic and private sectors, understanding the nuances that differentiate them. But atthesametime,keepingthe essence of the programme that would make every workplaceasafespace,”the Ministerexplained.

She went on to say, “We havetakenamegasteptoday becausewehavemanagedto bring together two critical driving forces in our country- the private and publicsectors.”

Meanwhile, the Minister stressed the need for meaningful engagement

w i t h i n d i v i d u a l s , acknowledging the diverse experiencesofwomen,men, and boys. “We need to have our boys equally walk this path,too.

When we speak of empowerment,andtheyhear it [empowerment], they should not only hear

females So, this is an extraordinarily powerful moment.And as we embark on this journey, it will change the way we assess ourselves,” the Human ServicesMinisternoted.

Minister Persaud further urged all participating sectors to embrace the seal w i t h s e r i o u s n e s s , consistency, and genuine commitment, noting that workplace transformation cannot occur without

continuouseffort.

Turning to the broader issueofviolenceinGuyana, the minister cautioned a g a i n s t p l a c i n g responsibility solely on any one agency or group. She called instead for a unified nationalapproach.

“There is an expectation that the responsibility is entrusted to a particular agency or specific people. I wanttosayno.Itcannotand must not be seen as this. It

requiresustore-educate,reimagine, and re-dedicate ourselves.

Weneedtoworkinunity to counter violence,” MinisterPersaudaffirmed.

The National Gender Equality and Empowerment Seal marks a major step in Guyana's ongoing efforts to promote dignity, safety, and equalopportunityforall,and positions the country as a regionalleaderinworkplace genderjustice.(DPI)

‘Govt.mustrevealall...

Frompage3

the media on Sunday clarified that the discoveries did not meet the required threshold to be considered viable.

The company said, “We arelegallyobligatedtofilea NoticeofDiscoverywiththe M

hydrocarbonfind,regardless of size or commercial viability, and we have fully

requirement.”

It continued, “The three wells referenced in the Ministry of Finance’s MidYear Report were disclosed

n

n accordance with these obligations.Thatishowthey ended up in the Report EMGL publicly announces all significant discoveries –those that materially impact

development plans The threewellsmentionedinthe report do not meet this threshold,whichiswhythey were not included in our public announcements,” the s

ead The American oil giant pointed o

hat so far it has announced more than 30 significantdiscoveriesinthe StabroekBlock,whilefiling 51 Notices of Discovery withtheMinistry

The Liza Two EIA showing the design rates of the Unity FPSO

The Payara EIAshowing the design rates of the Prosperity FPSO

Georgetown has long been disfigured

Iwas recently

scrolling social

media when I

encountered a young lady who had achieved the rare Guyanese feat of turning v i c t i m h o o d i n t o performance art. With great passion and the conviction of someone unveiling the Unified Field Theory, she lamented that people like to give you a fight down when you go and sell in front of theirplace.

She was genuinely outraged that homeowners objecttostrangerssettingup fullretailenterprisesinfront oftheirproperty

This young philosopher seems to have discovered very late that Guyana is apparentlynottheWildWest sheimagined.

Sheneededtobeadvised a long time ago that there is no legal right to plant a stall anywhere gravity permits. After all, every country is supposedtohaverulesandis notafree-for-all.

But who can blame her?

Fordecades,illegalvending has been not merely tolerated but nurtured like a national hobby The PPPC government, among others, h

citizens genuinely believe the Constitution contains an Article 23C titled: The Inalienable Right to Sell WhereverYuhFeelLike.

We have created a culture where it feels p

someonetoclaimhereditary rights to a piece of pavement, as if their greatgreat-grandfather fought the Dutch for that specific spot infrontofDemico. And this is how c i v i l i z a t i o n s collapse—slowly,thenallat once, then with someone erecting a snow-cone stand inyourlivingroom. Markmywords:oneday, someone is going to stride boldly into a homeowner’s

yard, drop a tent, prop up a table,andinformthestartled resident that they are opening a shop. “I used to sell here,” they will announce with historical authority

It won’t matter that they have never been within 50 feet of the yard That’s irrelevant detail What matters is the sacred principle: I feel like selling here. And feelings, as we know,arethehighestformof law in the land of the lawless.

We have arrived at this moment because lawlessness has been t r e a t e d n o t a s a problem butasacceptable conduct.

Ifsomeoneparksatruck in the middle of the pavementandsellsmangoes with the confidence of a diplomat,you’reexpectedto a p p l a u d t h e i r entrepreneurialspirit.Ifyou object, you are labeled antipoor, anti-business, anti-

DEM BOYS SEH

A poor man Christmas might save we soul

Dem boys seh if Jesus had to come back fuh one quick anniversary check-in this December, is purevexationhewouldguh backwith.Imaginetheman born in a manger—yes, a cow pen wid scent and all—only to find out two thousand years later people racing down Regent Street fuh buy tinsel, inflatable Santa, and a Christmas tree thatcostmorethanamonth rent. Is enough fuh mek He call fuh a recount on humanity

Dem boys seh we lose theplot.Christmassuppose to be simple—bread, ham, lil ginger beer, and a whole lotta love. But nowadays peopledecoratinglikeifthe T h r e e W i s e M e n announcing a surprise visit.

Andisnotfrankincenseand myrrh dem looking for—dem boys see people tek out loan fuh buy artificial snow! A man nearly freeze he bank accountsolid.

So dem boys launching anewcampaign:“ThePoor ManChristmasChallenge”. The rules simple: choose one weekend and fling out all the fancy Christmas demands—no flashy lights, no 73-dish menu, no shopping until you feel faint. Instead, gather the family, sit down, and actuallytalk.Tryit—words free. Play some old parang, sing two off-key carols, share a plate of anything that didn’t require three tripstothesupermarketand twolifetimesofstress.

Dem boys seh light a

singlecandleinsteadof400 LED bulbs. Call a friend you ain’t speak to all year Visit an elderly neighbour Give away something nice—yes, NICE, not the old toaster that spark when youplugitin.Dooneactof generosity that cost you nothing but mean everything A simple Christmas might shock some people, but dem boys believe is exactly what Jesus had in mind: less glitter, more goodness; less spending, more sharing; lessnoise,moreheart. Try the Poor Man Christmas Challenge. You mightjustsavemoney,save s t r e s s , a n d w h o knows—save yuh soul too. Dem boys seh Jesus would approve.Whatyouthink?

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

Guyana, and anti-whatever thespeakerinventsnext.

The government, meanwhile, is clinging to the delusion that it c a n b e a u t i f y G e o rg e t o w n while

s i m u l t a n e o u s l y accommodating every stall, booth, table, cart, bucket, cooler, tarp, tent, and wandering mobile haberdashery that pops up onthepavementandstreets. This is magical thinking of thehighestorder Itisonpar withbelievingyoucanclean your house while 200 relatives are throwing a wedding reception in your livingroom.

Georgetown, let’s face it, has already been permanently disfigured by illegal vending

The beauty we seek is somewhere underneath, like afossilofadinosaurnoone isquitesureexisted.Andthe garbage—oh,thegarbage!If illegal vending were a factory, its main output would be litter The city is drowning in Styrofoam containers, chicken-bone sculptures, and an archaeological layering of soda bottles dating back to theearlyJagdeoera.

And then there is the

Ministry of Local

Government’s bright and bold new design for the StabroekMarketSquare.

A design so mindboggling,soavant-garde,so absolutelydetachedfromthe realities of Georgetown that it could only have been drawn by someone who has never set foot in the place.

The truth is simple: the design should never have been conceived, far less unveiled.

What Stabroek Square needs—what it has always needed is not another design, but a miracle. Or failing that, a bulldozer

Clear the entire space

Remove every single illegal vendor, hire-car operator, minibus driver, and the dozen people who always seemtobeleaningagainsta post doing nothing yet somehow blocking traffic.

Levelit.Scrubit.

Turn it into a pedestrian zone where humans can, for once, walk without being wedgedbetweenaram-goat, ataxi,andapotoffoodbeing cookedonsite.

But this will never happen.

Because the PPPC believes in placating vendors the way parents placate toddlers yes

darling, you can have the knife, but don’t run with it Now that the WIN leader has visited the disgruntled vendors upset about a protective wall that screens them from the street, the government will appease them even more. Thereisnoappeasementtoo large, no rule too sacred, no civicprincipletoonecessary to sacrifice on the altar of politicalconvenience.

And so, Georgetown will continue, as it has for decades, to remain the same: a chaotic, aromatic, aesthetically adventurous l a n d s c a p e a n unintentional installation ofdisorder

Amonumenttothefact thatwheneveryonegetsto sell wherever they please, nobody gets a city worth livingin.

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

H@RD TRUTHS

Gold,drugsmugglers,taxevaders–whoknewthem,nowdon't

G u y a n e s e a r e

eyewitnesses to an astonishing spectacle. The main performers are a former president, and a current one Both are doctors. Both stand in a sanitarium of their own making, to their own

dimensions What Guyanesearegettingserved on a platter is history being revised or wiped clean right

before their eyes. Enter Dr. Bharat Jagdeo from stage left. Enter Dr. Irfaan Ali fromastagefartherleft. Gold smuggling? What is that? Drug smuggling? Who is doing that? In both instances,itcanonlybePNC supporters in those types of dirty businesses Then, there is tax evasion? Yeah, what about it? A stranger listening to Drs. Ali and

Jagdeo would believe that they never heard of gold smuggling, drug smuggling, and associated tax evasions. Both bosses are doing their best to deliver this message: who is de kine ah peeple invalve in dem kine ah business? Whoever is the kind of Guyanese citizens that deal in those dirty businesses are not known to them, never spoken to by

them, and never any commerce of any kind done with them. Nevah, nevah, nevah. Itpainsmetosayto both of these illustrious and elusive Guyanese brothers of mine, that those lines are mine. But there are the grace-filled and cleanhandedExcellenciesAliand Jagdeo pretending that they

diligently to put as much

themselves and the people alleged to have committed seriouscrimes.

Inabsorbingthemantras of Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the only Mohamed that he knows, ever have any truck with, is the one who came out in a blaze of glory from the Arabian wilderness, and himself, with the first name to prove. 'Somewhere the sunisshining,sohoneydon't you cry There are sunshine friends, and there are friends for storm-tossed times. Dr BharratJagdeo,in his infinite political wisdom (he has no other kind), nominated me to be the Mohameds' friend when the winds turned foul, and the clouds became dark. Why do I get all the dirty jobs aroundhere,PPPorPNC?

In paying some more attention to Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, he never had the Mohameds as patients. Or consultants Or fellow pilgrims. Or supplicants. Orattheheadofthepackof those coming to get a prescription (or a dozen)

filled. I am aware that the president has fellow travelers of extraordinary pedigree,oneofwhomisso versatile that his history is similar to a famous Russian foreign minister But how does a president with a PhD cametothatdistinctionwith such a conveniently shaky memory? Relative to my good friend Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, he can stakeout someclaimaboutnothaving any intimacy with gold smugglers, drug smugglers, and tax evaders, as all alleged, with some still u n s a n c t i o n e d a n d unindicted. Recall how he was smart enough to attend the 2020 presidential inauguration on his own steed and at his own speed. Nospecialarrangementsfor the grandmaster, and no special relationship with smuggling masterminds So,heasserts,sohepretends tobe. If Jagdeo is to be believed, he never so much as shook the hand of any smugglers, nor touched anythingthattheyhadrolled up in their palms. Checks arenotaccepted. Today,the new Bharrat Jagdeo is a missionary, and just about everybodyelseisengagedin roguery This is how Guyanesepoliticalhistoryis rewritten right under their noses. Take the matter of that Lamborghini. Even someone with as much power and authority as the Commissioner General, Mr Godfrey Statia, would have

raised his hands above his head, and said: take me out ofthatone. Sincehestepped back, who stepped up and made that Lamborghini tax waiver come to pass? Who has that kind of reach and power? And, about gold smuggling, who was it that saidthat'thereisnoevidence ofgoldsmuggling?' BJand GHKL are very different letters in the alphabet. Mr Jagdeo and I disagree on numerous matters, but on that one, we are closest to Siamese twins. Suddenly, Bharrat Jagdeo is not a 'governmentofficial.' When

O FA C m e n t i o n e d 'government officials', Big Boss Bharrat became a retiree. Ifthisisnotlunacy, thenithastobebacteriology (or lack of memory capacity) Consider the forcedkind.

The PPP mafiosi crowd came out and banged their drums They all claim forgetfulnessatwhohadthe Mohameds as benefactors, andhadtheirhandsstretched out. The EU spoke of politicaldonations. ThePPP said that those are regular collection plate practices Guyana is not a country Guyana is a lawless crab barrel,whereanythinggoes. Nobodyownsit.

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

Govt. to establish state-of-the -art PWD farming facility

A state-of-the-art farmingfacilitydesignedfor Persons Living with

Disabilities (PWD) will be established, as part of the national push to make the agriculture sector more accessibleandinclusive.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, announced this during his visit to Karaudarnau, in the Deep South Rupununi, on Wednesday. The minister said the new facility, currentlyunderdevelopment through the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), is unlike anything Guyana has everhadbefore.

A farmer harvesting her crop

Itwillbeamodern,fully outfitted farm dedicated to providing persons with disabilities the opportunity to earn a livelihood in agriculture. He emphasised that the facility is not a welfareinitiative,butalongtermempowermentstrategy, notingthattoomanypersons living with disabilities are skilled but unable to find meaningfulwork.

This project will ensure PWD are not left behind as the agriculture sector modernises. The farm will operate entirely with disability-friendly infrastructure and tools, creatingasafeand (Continuedonpage20)

Tropical Shipping boosts youth, education with donation to Rotary Club Georgetown

Tropical Shipping, Country Manager, Glenis Hodge handing over check to Rotary Club of Georgetown, Central, President, Lloyd David

Tropical Shipping, the U S -based transportation and logistics company with over 60 years of global service, has made another impactful contribution to the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central(RCGC).

The donation was presented during a brief ceremony at Tropical Shipping's Georgetown office on High Street, Kingston

Mrs Glenis Hodge, Country Manager for TropicalShippinginGuyana, handed over the contribution alongside her local team, emphasising that the initiative is part of the company's long-standing

community relations program, which supports sustainable youth and educational projects and strengthens resilience across the more than 30 regions it serves

“TropicalShippingviews communityengagementasan essentialpartofourmission,”

Mrs Hodge said “Our community relations program provides continued support for the countries and islands where we serve,

contributingtosustainability, growth, and development

Good partnerships are requiredtomakethishappen, a

w

h organisations like Rotary GeorgetownCentral.”

Shefurthernotedthatthe companyremainscommitted to investing in youth development initiatives that help young people build skills, access opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to society “Our donation today demonstrates that our commitment to youth development in a rapidly growingGuyana,”sheadded “We hope this contribution helps more young people benefit from educational and developmental activities, openingdoorsofopportunities and supporting Guyana's continuedprogress”

LloydDavid,presidentof the Rotary Club, expressed hisappreciation,noting,“The Rotary Club of Georgetown Central is extremely grateful to Tropical Shipping for the fundingprovidedoverthelast threeyears

Thesefundshaveenabled the Club to deliver on its

annual projects, particularly thoserelatedtoeducationand literacy in Guyana RCGC will continue to collaborate with donors like Tropical Shipping to impact lives and change communities across ourcountryforgood.”

Formorethan30yearsin Guyana,andoversixdecades globally, Tropical Shipping has supported programmes aimed at strengthening communities and fostering long-termdevelopment

The company reaffirmed itsintentiontocontinuethese efforts as it expands within the dynamic shipping industry Tropical Shipping provides reliable cargo transportationservicesacross theUnitedStates,Canada,the Caribbean, and South

America, offering refrigerated and dry cargo, Less-than-Container Load (LCL),Full-Container-Load (FCL), consolidation, inland transportation, and global logistics solutions Weekly sailings include seven-day transit from Florida to Guyana,sixdaysfromPuerto Rico, two days from Barbados, and one day from GuyanatoSuriname

Tropical Shipping and Rotary Club members

PFGofficesvandalisedagain - coordinator believes attack part of intimidation attempt

The offices of Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) were once again vandalised, following an earlier attempt on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Although full entry into the building was restricted bysubstantialgrill-workand the MMC Security alarm system, the intruder(s) were able to twist and break sections of the grill to push their hands into the Coordinator's office, PFG saidinastatement.

Upon opening the office at approximately 9:49 a.m. on Thursday, the PFG Coordinator discovered that herofficehadbeentampered with again. The desk was shifted, drawers were opened and rummaged through, and documents from shelves and work surfaceswerepulledoutand dumpedontheground.

Importantly,thebuilding layout shows multiple windows along the groundfloor corridor During the first breach, two windows werebypassed,andonlythe third window—directly in front of the Coordinator's desk—was tampered with. During the second breach, the intruder(s) targeted only

the third and fourth windows,bothclosesttothe Coordinator's desk, again bypassingotherareas.These windows are fully opaque with grey metal coverings, preventing any view from outside.

“The repeated targeting of the same office and specific windows within such a short time period is cause for serious concern, suggesting that the intruder(s) were not acting randomly and may have

beensearchingforparticular files or attempting to intimidatetheCoordinator,” PFGsaid.

As with the first breach, only the Coordinator's work area was affected. Valuable itemssuchasmobilephones andtheinternetmodemwere notstolen,eventhoughthey were within reach of the window.Instead,foldersand files were opened and examined, reinforcing the viewthatthemotivewasnot robbery “These incidents occur during heightened public scrutiny of the Ministry of Natural Resources' recent attempts to interfere in the selection of civic representatives to the Guyana chapter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), a process in which PFG has played a prominent role Police investigatorsfromtheAlbert T o w n C r i m i n a l Investigation Division have visited the premises and are conducting follow-up investigations.”

“The pattern of these break-ins,thefactthathighvalue items were left untouched, and the repeated targeting of the same office andspecificwindowswithin a short time period suggest thatthiswasnotacasualact of theft, ” said the Coordinator of PFG. “We view this as a direct attempt to intimidate us or access sensitive materials” The PFG board condemns any effort to compromise its work and will continue to monitor and report on developments Further updates will be issued as more information becomes available.

Scenes at the PFG offices that were vandalised Thursday night

Damage done to window

Road works between Supply to Good Success to begin in two weeks

R o a d u p g r a d e s scheduled for Section 'A' of the East Bank Demerara

(EBD) Improvement

Progress– Supply to Good Success – will begin in two weeks,theMinistryofPublic Works said on Wednesday d

WednesdayattheFriendship SecondarySchool

Residents, businesses and other key groups were briefed on the technical scope of the upcoming works which will begin in two weeks and include utility relocation, extensive drainage upgrades, bridge reconstruction, and the installation of shared-use footpaths.

K a i e t e u r N e w s

understands that Section 'A' forms part of the wider East Bank Demerara Road ImprovementProject,which spans Good Success to Timehri.Sections'B'and'C' are already underway Section 'C' is nearing completion.

The Ministry of Public Works said that works will be executed in an efficient mannerthatwillalsocaterto the high volume of traffic alongtheEBDcorridor

“This is to facilitate the high volume of traffic that traverses the East Bank corridorandwillseeramped up night-time operations Thiswillinvolvetheclosure ofonelanebetween8pmand 6am to safely facilitate construction works to meet the contractual timeline(s),” theministryexplained.

Also, stakeholders were a s s u r e d o f t h e comprehensive traffic management systems, clear signageandon-siteguidance which will be implemented throughout the construction p

supported by the Guyana

PoliceForce.

Subject minister Juan Edghill told residents and business operators that the works will be carried out promptly and in a safe manner

“Thedevelopmentisnot adhoc. So, while we solicit and encourage your patience,wewanttobeable togetthisdoneasquicklyas poss

residents of the East Bank

Corridor will have

significant improvements in their transits and their movement for example we will have an upgraded twolane road and, in some sections, the four lanes,” he stated.

MinisterEdghillsaid“no sloppy work” will be accepted and that the government will not encourage the abuse of citizens while construction isbeingdone.

Meanwhile,amajor (Continuedonpage19)

An artist's impression of the East Bank of Demerara corridor when completed.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

Police seize phones, ganja in Mazaruni Prison raid

Police in Regional Division #7

carried out a targeted joint operation on Thursday, November 27, 2025,attheMazaruniPrison between 06:30 and 08:15 hrs, as part of strengthened securitymeasurestocurbthe flow of contraband and enhance safety within the facility

The early-morning sweep led to the discovery and seizure of several prohibited items, including 66.6 grams of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Officersalsoconfiscated five improvised weapons, thirteen lighters, ten cellular phones, one SIM card, three pairs of scissors, and a cellularphonebattery

Pres.Alisidestepsquestion...

Frompage3 treatment detection|,” the president confidently stated

President Ali appeared unfazed in his conviction that Guyanese will benefit not only from development but also from additional investments that will drive their overall economic growth.

“So, it’s beyond — beyond. Don’tnarrowyourthinking.

Don’t narrow your approach to life to just one f a c e t o f w h a t t h e government will deliver There are many facets of what your government will deliver to you ” the presidentinsisted

Back in October when he was asked for an update

o n t h e c a s h g r a n t distribution Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that whatever President Ali promisedhewilldeliver

People’s Progressive Party (PPPC) was re-elected to office, Jagdeo sought to

assure reporters that

“Whatever the President said on the campaign trail willbedone ” Jagdeo declined to state whether the cash grants willbedistributedintime

for Christmas only stating that his party makes good on all its promises Back in Octoberas well

Minister of Natural

ResourcesVickramBharrat said that giving citizens cash transfers from oil fundsisafailedmodel,and if the government focuses on this Guyana will end up

poorerthanitstarted

“It’s a failed model It’s a model that does not work in any part of the world Now let’s look at a few countries Let’s look at the US

Many of these people who have called for cash transfer,mostsomeofthem liveintheUS.”

He explained that a lot of these persons live in the UnitedStates,andhewould like them to tell him if cash transfers are offered to citizens in the US, even though it is one of the most powerfulcountriesonearth.

“The US produces probably the most oil in the world among oil producing countries.

I’ve never heard of any cash transfer in the US, Qatar I’ve never heard of any cash transfer in Qatar, the UAE, which is Dubai I’veneverheardof any cash transfer given Look at Ghana, look at Angola, and those African countries that produce oil,” hesaid.

“Who will go to school after that? Because if I’m a s t u d e n t a n d I ’ m a Guyanese, I would say I’m collectingourmoney

Why should I go to school? Why should I study? Why should I get degree? Why should I go work? Because I’m collecting this money So, it’stheculture,istheculture thatwecreate,ortheculture behind that,” the minister reasoned.

Minister Bharrat explained that it will not be an incentive and it will be short-lived, resulting in the

country being in a worst state than when it started producingoil

“OilandGaswillendat somepointintime,andthat is why we have used the revenue from oil and gas sector to continue building out forestry, mining, manufacturing, ecotourism, construction and the new sectors that are emerging now, agriculture expanding becauseweknowwehaveto prepare for after-oil, like Dubaidid,andwehaveseen their success. So, these are resources that don’t last forever,” the minister reminded.

“We will end up poorer thanwherewestartfrom It simply means that we will end up with a country with people who are not educated because they didn’t see the need to go to school and for their education and to study and to build a professional career, because they’re receiving these cash transfers, and the people who have not invested in businesses and who are not working,andwewillsimply haveacountrywhereexpats and foreigners will dominate, obviously, because our locals are just sitting back and waiting on theircashtransferattheend of the month,” Bharrat stressed.

Notwithstanding, the minister clarified that the government does intend to provide cash transfers, but emphasised that, as President Irfaan Ali has stated, this is not the only way the administration planstospendoilrevenues

The items that were seized during the prison raid

“The Jingles of Freedom”

by WIST Ministries set for tomorrow at the National Cultural Centre

WIST Ministries International Inc. is set to grace the stage of the National Cultural Centre on November 29th, 2025, with their highly anticipated a n n u a l C h r i s t m a s production, “The Jingles of Freedom.” The event, scheduled for 7:00 PM, marks the continuation of a beloved tradition that has captivated audiences for overadecade.

This year’s production promises to be a powerful celebration of faith and artistic excellence, as WIST Ministries brings together over 100 students and volunteers in a spectacular display of worship through dance.

The performance will feature choreography that blends spiritual ministry with professional artistry, s h o w c a s i n g t h e

organization’s commitment to using the performing arts asavehicleforspreadingthe Gospel.

“The Jingles of Freedom” represents the latest chapter in WIST’s impressive lineage of Christmasproductionsatthe National Cultural Centre, a tradition that began in 2013 with“MaryDidYouKnow.” Over the years, audiences have been moved by performances including “The King is Born” (2016),

“ B e h o l d ” ( 2 0 1 8 ) ,

“Immanuel”(2019),andlast year’s“TheLight”(2024). Founded in 2002 by Sandia Rebekah Ramnarine (née Harold), WIST, which stands for Worship In Spirit & Trust, has grown from a single dance class at the Lusignan Community Center to a registered nonprofitorganizationoperating four branches across Guyana. The organization’s expansionincludeslocations

Continued on page 19

WIST dancers performing at the National Cultural Centre.

‘PLYWOODWALLS,NONOTICE’

Stabroek Market vendors cry foul as Govt. blocks them for beautification project

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand at the Stabroek Market Square with vendors.

Abeautification project spearheaded by the

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development at the Stabroek Market Square has sparked tension as vendors say they were blindsided by the initiative,whichtheyfearwillaffecttheirChristmassales.

One vendor, Ms. Osborne, said when she arrived on Thursdaymorningtoplyhertrade,shewasconfrontedbytall plyboard walls erected around the Stabroek Market tarmac. She recounted that after approaching the contractor, he told hertheywerecarryingoutaprojectfortheministry

“We were not informed by no government minister, the constable…nobodytoldusanythingthatwegottomovefrom here,ornothing.Theyjustcomejustsoandtheyjustoperate thismorning…”shesaid.

The woman said that Minister Priya Manickchand had visited two weeks earlier and told them she intended to beautify the area. “She did not say that she moving us or anything,shesaidshegivingusstallandthatwasaboutit…” shenoted.

“ItoldthemIamnotmovingfromhere,Igotmechildren themtosendtoschool,Igotinstallmentstopay,Igotboxhand to pay…so I want to know what’s the next move for we as vendors,”shesaid.

VendorCorwinBaksh,whohasbeeninthebusinessfor25 years said, “I real upset too…last two weeks they went out here and keep meeting. Wam this morning? Why they can’t come back and say something bout we? We is vendors, we doingsmallbusinessallthemyearsnowwegettingproblem withthisgovernment.Itaintsupposedtohappeninglikethis.”

“We got children to feed and family, Priya Manickchand comeandtalktomeamonthago,shesaidtheplacelildirty, we say man we gotta get bins to keep this place clean, they bringthebins,weseeimprovement…weaintgettingproblem withthebinsthemnomore,”headded.

While he welcomed the development, Baksh said the project should have been implemented with proper notice, especiallyduringthepeakChristmasseason.

Another vendor, who sells mobile credit, criticised the absence of communication. “I just come out to take my daughtertoschoolandthisiswhatIcometo,notevenanotice notevenanothing,howPriyacouldworklikethat…people

Continued on page 23

An artist’s impression of the Stabroek Market Square beautification project

Vendor: Ms. Osborne

Vendor: Corwin Baksh

$397MParuimaAirstriprepairscompleted

- community receives $160M in equipment

The Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation has confirmed the completion of repairs on the new $397 millionParuimaAirstripinRegionSeven.

SubjectMinisterDeodatIndarandotherofficialsvisited theAmerindianvillageonWednesdaytoinspectthenewly remediedairstrip.Thefacility,commissionedinJuly2024 by the Ministry of Public Works and constructed by InternationalImportandSupplies,hadfacedearlyconcerns fromusersaboutsurfacedefects.Worksontheairstripwere completed on April 14, 2024, and the project site handed over to the Ministry of Public Works on April 15. The ministry’s representatives along with the contractor had conducted a joint site visit on June 19, 2024, following reports from aircraft operators that the runway was in distress.

During the inspection, several surface defects were highlighted,andthecontractorwasgivenclearinstructions tohavethesedefectsremedied.Nowthatworkshavebeen completed, the ministry stated that this new airstrip will enhancetourismandcommerceandlinkmorecommunities acrosstheregion.“ThiscommunityofParuimaisaremote areawithnoroadsconnectingit;thus,theairstripisthemain accesspoint,ensuringthatcriticalmedicalandagricultural supplies can be delivered promptly to the community’s residents,” the ministry reported. On Wednesday also, the ministry distributed four excavators, one roller, two jackhammers,oneasphaltkettle,onetractortiller,andtwo plate compactors, valued $160 million to residents. The ministry informed that the equipment was donated by the contractorwhocarriedouttheupgradestotheairstrip.

Linden man killed in drunkdriving crash

Police in Regional Division #10 are investigating a fatal accident which occurred on Sunday November 16, 2025, about18:45hrsontheSpeightlandAccessRoad,Mackenzie, Linden, which resulted in the death of 53-year-old Cecil BostonofCentralAmelia’sWard,Linden.

Initialinvestigationsrevealedthatamotorcar,drivenbya 28-year-oldLabourerofCentralAmelia’sWard,Linden,was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane of the Speightland Access Road at a normal rate of speed. At the sametime,pedestrianBostonandhiswifewerewalkingone abreastalongtheeasternsideoftheroadway,headinginthe samedirection.Asthevehicleapproachedthepedestrians,the leftfrontportionofthemotorcarcollidedwithBoston,who was flung onto the windscreen before falling onto the roadway and sustaining injuries about the body Boston was picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizensandtakentotheLindenHospitalComplex,wherehe was seen and examined by a doctor on duty and admitted a patient.

He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for further medical attention.At about 01:05hrs on Monday, November 17, 2025, Boston was pronounceddeadbyadoctoronduty.Abreathalyzertestwas administered to the driver of the motor car and the results showed a reading of 0.62% BAC, which is above the prescribed limit. He was subsequently placed into custody, and the vehicle was lodged at the Mackenzie Police Station pendingexamination.Investigationscontinue.

The $397 million Paruima Airstrip in Region Seven.

Traffic Chief orders crackdown on rogue ranks

Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner, Mahendra Singhhasissuedasweeping directive calling for an immediate cleanup of the Traffic Department, citing widespread misconduct, l a w l e s s n e s s , a n d unprofessionalbehaviourby traffic ranks across the country

Thedirectivewasissued byDeputyCommissionerof Police, Errol Watts, but was communicated through Singh to regional traffic officers, inspectors, and subordinate ranks The directivefollowswhatSingh described as a “drift of public trust” caused by rogue ranks abusing their authority and openly violatingtrafficlaws.

Inthememoseenbythis newspaper,theChiefTraffic Officer warned that traffic ranks have become increasingly complicit in lawlessness, displaying

...sayspublictrustat“breakingpoint”

selective enforcement, undue familiarity with motorists, and unacceptable levels of bias and unprofessionalconduct.The document notes that some ranks are undermining the department's credibility by driving tinted vehicles next to motorists they are charging for the same offence, consuming alcohol inpublicplaces,andposting inappropriate content online whileinuniform.

“Wecannotbullypeople

in a modern and informed society,” the Chief Traffic Officer wrote, urging ranks toleadbyexampleinsteadof eroding confidence He stressedthattoomanypolice commandersandofficersare operating vehicles with illegal tints, even while aggressively enforcing tint lawsonthepublic.

The officer outlined several major problems within the department, including poor deployment strategies, lack of visibility,

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Frompage16 in Cotton Tree, Berbice; Best, West Coast; Grove, East Bank Demerara; and their central Georgetown location at Lamaha and OronoqueStreets

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Road works between Supply...

Frompage13 component of the project includes the demolition and reconstruction of the Khofi CanalKoker,whichisatenm o n t h c

scheduled to begin in February2026.

nts welcomed the planned improvements to their roadway and drainage network, they also encouraged the ministry to have strong oversight to reduce disruptions during theconstructionphase. China Road & Bridge

and an unwillingness by some ranks to perform their duties. To address these problems, he issued a series of immediate instructions: supervisors must visit ranks at their points rather than simply dispatching them; weeklyreviews,stricttraffic enforcement, instruction classes must resume; ranks' personal vehicles are to be audited for compliance with trafficlawsandofficersmust maintain proper records of

cases until final disposition and all ranks must lift their standards and align their performance with the Guyana Police Force's strategicplan.

The Traffic Chief stressed that the department must “set the right examples,” noting that selective enforcement and corruptionaredamagingthe public's trust. He urged all officers especially those with tinted vehicles, to

comply with the very laws they enforce. “We cannot c h e r r y - p i c k o u r enforcement.Letusstriveto set the right example, and only then will we see better c

he public,” the memo stated. The directive follows increasedpubliccriticismof traffic ranks, particularly re

ding se

ec

ve enforcement of tint laws, harassment, and abuses capturedonsocialmedia.

Corporation has been awarded a US$75,887,907 contract to execute the works along the East Bank roadway. The Ministry of Public Works project is being funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank(IDB).

Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh

President swears in nine out of 10 regional chairmen and vice chair

President Irfaan Ali on Thursdayofficiallysworein nine out of 10 regional chairpersons and vicechairpersons at the Arthur ChungConferenceCentre.

b

The event was attended

s , chairpersons, and vicechairpersons.Thisswearingin ceremony followed the R

Council (RDC) elections held on October 10, where the People's Progressive

leadershipineightoutofthe ten RDC offices across the country

The only exception was Region Seven, where the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party took control, and region 10 which ended a tie between APNU representative and WINrepresentative.

Following the elections, in Region One, re-elected

President Irfaan Ali and some of his cabinet members and the newly sworn-in Regional Chairmen and Vice Chairs

Brentnol Ashley will be joined by newcomer Paul Pierre as Vice Chairman. Region Two has elected Devin Mohan as Regional Chairman, with Humace Oodit re-elected as Vice Chairman. In Region Three, Sheik Mohamed Inshan Ayubehasbeenre-electedas Chairman, with Anjanie Narine elected as Vice Chairperson In Region

Four, Clemsford Belgrave and Deoraj Nauth were elected Chairperson and Vice Cha

respectively

RegionFivewillnowbe led by Regional Chairman Recardo Phillips and Vice Chairman Kleon Lindey, while in Region Six, Junior B

Chairman with Sahid Khan as Vice Chairman. Region Seven will be led by

Chairperson June ShurlandGittens and Vice Chairman Alden Marslowe Region Eight has chosen Tarcellia John as the new Regional Chairperson,withSamantha Edwards-John of theAPNU as Vice Chairperson In Region Nine, PPP/C'sVania Albert was sworn in as Regional Chairperson, with Daniel Aguilar serving as ViceChairman.

l l t h e a b o v e

representatives were sworn inbythepresident. Despite the swearing-in of these officials, the leadership for Region Ten has yet to be determined.

Inhisremarks,President Ali underscored the importance of the roles undertaken by the chairpersons and vicechairpersons,urgingthemto carry out their duties effectively “Before the

president is clearly outlined in the local democratic organs Act, Section 75 9f that legislation stimulates thateverychairmanandvice chair shall take the prescribed oath before entering upon the duties of hisoffice.

This requirement underscoresthefundamental principle of our governance architecture that the decentralized urbans of the state, while elected and autonomous within their spheres, remain part of the Unified Republic guided by constitutional borders,” he said. The President added, “Therationaleisclear The old binds you, publicly and solemnly to Fidelity, impartiality, integrityandservice.Itisnot a ritual. It is a contract, a contract between you and your constituents, between you and the state, between youandyourconscience.”

Largest cohort of midwives graduate from HSE training programme

A new cohort of 113 midwives g

d yesterday from the Ministry of Health's Health Sciences Education(HSE)Midwifery

Training Prog

mme, marking a significant milestone in strengthening maternal and newborn care acrossGuyana. T

instruction with hands-on clinical practice, ensuring graduates are fully prepared to enhance midwifery services and improve health outcomes for women of childbearing age and their newborns, the Ministry of Healthsaidinapressrelease.

The Government of Guyana continues to offer the programme through full scholarships, with two pathways available: Single Trained Midwifery (Urban Midwives Programme): A 24-month course designed forindividualswithnoprior health sector experience or recent secondary school graduates Post Basic Midwifery: A pathway for Nursing Assistants or Registered Nurses to advance their professional training Throughout the programme, students

competencies essential to

proficiency, effective communication, and critical thinking.

Key subjects included: Obstetrics Maternal and C

d H

y Planning Health Promotion andEducationPublicHealth and Community Care

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, congratulated the graduates and hig

d the government's ongoing investment in expanding health infrastructure and building a skilled workforce to improve nationwide

s

y. “In institutions where certain servicesareinhighdemand, you must ensure the highest quality of professional care is delivered,” Minister Anthonystated. He further emphasised

the importance of

continuous learning: “Medicine is a field where newknowledgeisgenerated every day Always seek opportunities to improve yourself. Without this, what you learned in this course

can quickly become

outdated.” Director of the Health Sciences Education Division, Ms. Chandroutie Persaud, noted that this year'sgraduatingclassisthe largest in the programme's history, crediting the midwifery coordinator, nursing school faculty, hospital staff, and the wider HealthSciencesDivisionfor their dedication. Graduates also reflected on their journey. Wazim Sharma described the programme as transformative, praising the commitment of nursing tutors who supported each student'sgrowth.

Stephanie Frank highlighted the joy of midwifery, particularly witnessing the happiness of mothersafterchildbirth,and encouragedfutureapplicants topursuetheprofessionwith

love and compassion to ensure the best care for mothers and babies The ceremony, held at Pegasus Corporate Suites, was also attended by Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh, Health Education Officer Ms Himwatie Persaud, Senior Health Education

Officer Ms Georgel Abrams,NursingOfficerDr Nicola Nero, and other officials. The Ministry of Health extends heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class and looks forward to the positive impact they will make in healthcare delivery across Guyana.

Govt. to establish state-of-the-art...

Frompage10 empowering environment where individuals living withdisabilitiescanproduce crops, acquire skills, and build independent income streams. “This will be a modern farm for people withdisabilitiessotheycan earn for themselves,” the ministersaid.

The minister noted that, “Itwillbeoperatedonlyby persons with disabilities, giving them meaningful economic participation and dignity.” The ministry is collaborating with internationalpartnerstoturn GSA into a Centre of Excellence, featuring a modern situation room for climate and weather forecasting, advanced technologylabs,andtraining spacesfornewandemerging farmers. These initiatives align with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali's national mandate that every agriculture project must include at least 35% women and youth, and must create pathways for vulnerable groups to participate in Guyana's growing food production sector. “We want everyone to have the chance to participate,” Minister Mustapha told attendees at the South Rupununi District Council meeting, stating that, “This farm will give persons living with disabilities the opportunity to learn, to work, and to earn…just likeanyoneelse.”(DPI)

WIN,APNU condemn govt.'s approach to Stabroek Market vendors

Oppositionparties

We Invest in

Nationhood (WIN)andAPartnershipfor National Unity (APNU)

have condemned the Government of Guyana's

h a n d l i n g o f t h e beautification works at the Stabroek Market Square,

saying the abrupt barricading of the area has disruptedvendorsduringthe

height of the Christmas shoppingseason. Both parties issued separate statements on Thursday, noting that while they support development, theworksshouldnotimpede theabilityofvendorstoearn, nor should they proceed withoutproperconsultation.

Vendors on Thursday disclosed that although they welcome the project, the

government should have held a meeting to clarify the plans or considered commencing the exercise after the Christmas period, given their investments in theseason.

In its statement, WIN said the erection of barricades without prior notice was unjustifiable and harmful to working-class families.

The party's leader and MemberofParliament(MP) Azruddin Mohamed stated, “I am horrified by the way the ordinary people in this country are being treated. This government is heartless. They do not care abouttheeverydaystruggles ofthepeopleofthiscountry, how they eat, how they survive, how they make an honestliving.”

dialoguetofindapermanent solution. He cautioned that thecountryurgentlyneedsa wider, more humane vision foritspeople.

While the Regional Chairpersons and vicechairpersons for nine regions were sworn in on Thursday by President IrfaanAli,Region10(Upper Demerara–Upper Berbice) remains without elected leadership.

Region Ten's Regional Democratic Council (RDC) election was held since October10,butendedinatie with nine votes each for candidates for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). This led to the elections being suspended by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council, Dwight John and referred themattertotheMinisterof Local Government, Priya Manickchand.

Despite an ultimatum and legal actions threatened by WIN for the elections to be reconvened, to date this hasnotbeendone.

Following the swearingin ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, President Ali addressed concern

unresolved leadership in Region10.

On the sidelines of the event, when asked whether he was concerned that the regionhasnoChairorViceChair,hesaid,“I'msurethat within the ambit of the Constitution, and within the ambitoftherulesgoverning the elections, that the Chair andVice-ChairofRegion10 will be sworn in at the appropriate time when they conclude their elections. As you know that is a process thatisstillongoing.”

ThePeople'sProgressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained leadership for all other regions expect Region

Seven, which was secured by newcomer We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, l

AzruddinMohamed.

stronghold of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR).However,thePNC ledAPNU was dethroned at the 2025 general and regional elections by newcomerWIN.

Forthisregion,atotalof 18councilorswereswornin: nine for WIN, five for APNU, three for PPP, and onefortheFGM.

There we

e two nominations for regional chairman, WIN's Mark Goring and APNU's Dominque Blair Both men receivedninevoteseach.

SincetheRDCelections, WIN has been complaining bitterlyabouttheabsenceof theChairandViceChairand has noted that the absence has created a serious governance vacuum within the RDC and is now impeding the statutory and developmental functions of the region's highest decision-makingbody

He continued, “Over the pastyear,Ihavetravelledthe length and breadth of this countryandIhavewitnessed first-hand the level of deprivation facing the people Across all races, cultures and communities, Guyanese are suffering under an increasingly heartless and authoritarian government.”

Mohamed called on citizens“tostandupfortheir rights against a dictatorship government that continues to take advantage of them andignoretheirsuffering.”

On the need for an immediate and long-term resolution, Mohamed called on government to allow the vendors to remain and conducttheirbusinessatthe Stabroek Market Square untiltheNewYear

Thenewpoliticianurged the government to engage the vendors in meaningful

The MP stated, “We do not need these band-aid solutions. What Guyanese need is a long-term, holistic approach to their welfare, one that improves living conditions, creates real employment, and gives peopletheadequatetraining and skills to earn valued work, a reasonable income, andadignifiedlife.”

Meanwhile, APNU also criticised the government's execution of the works, arguing that the affected vendorswereneverproperly engaged The party said while the concept of the projecthadbeensharedwith City Hall, essential details werenotcommunicated.

Further, APNU said that no meaningful consultation was conducted with the many ordinary Guyanese whoearntheirlivelihoodon the Stabroek Market tarmac area.

“We support national development and initiatives that improve public spaces. However,developmentmust not come at the cost of people's livelihoods especially during a period when economic hardship is

already being felt across the country Good governance means engaging people, not displacing them; uplifting families,notdisruptingtheir ability to provide for themselves,”APNUstated.

The party also noted, “These citizens do not have accesstotheresourcesofthe State to feed, clothe, and shelter their families. They depend on their daily earnings to survive. This project, as currently being executed, directly threatens their income and stability, particularly at a time when many look forward to increased sales to meet holiday and year-end expenses.”

A P N U u r g e d government to halt all actions that disrupt livelihoods and adopt a “people first” approach grounded in full and transparent consultation with all stakeholders, especially the affected v e n d o r s , c l e a r communication of project timelines, implementation phases, and relocation or supportplans.

The party also called for a consensus-building process that ensures buy-in and cooperation from the very people the project will impact.

Pres. Ali: Opposition Leader's election must wait for Speaker's return

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday said that Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, is currently out of the country, and as a result,themeetingtoelecta Leader of the Opposition cannot be held until he returns.

St. Vincent Times - Ina landmark political transformation, the New Democratic Party (NDP) has secured victory in the 2025 national elections, concluding a quar ert century period outside the government's central leadership.

Dr Godwin Friday, the party leader, will become the island's seventh prime minister since its 1979

Gonsalves, who has led the countryfor25years.

The NDP's strategic campaign culminated in an early securing of (9)

His comment comes amid threats of legal action from the We Invest in Nationhood(WIN)party,led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, over the Speaker's failure to convene the meeting with opposition MPstoelecttheleaderofthe opposition.

S

h

sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), President Ali said: “From what I've seeninthenews,thespeaker istravelingnow,soyoudon't expect the speaker to convene a meeting while he's traveling or he's on his overseas trip. So I'm sure that the speaker and the National Assembly, would convene a meeting at the appropriate time and have thatprocesscompleted.”

Followingtheconvening of parliament earlier this month,ClerkoftheNational

Assembly Sherlock Isaacs explained that while the constitution outlines the process for electing the oppositionleader,itdoesnot specify when the meeting mustbeheld.

“Theconstitutiondoesn't saywhenthemeetingistobe held,ifit'satthefirstsitting orthesecondsittingorthird sitting; it's at the discretion of the speaker,” Isaacs told reporters.

WIN in a statement following the convening of parliament expressed concernthattheSpeaker's (Continuedonpage22)

winning a tightly contested electoral race against longserving Prime Minister of

the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Prime Minister

political tenure.As the new prime minister prepares to assume office, national attention will focus on his proposed policy initiatives and potential strategies for addressing the island's economic and social challenges.

Dr. Godwin Friday of NDP

President Irfaan Ali

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Army General named new GuineaBissau leader a day after coup

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Gen. Horta N’Tam becomes the transitional president for a period of one year. He took the oath on Thursday, in brief and muted proceedings at army headquarters.

N’Tam, who until a day earlier had been head of the presidential guard, barely cracked a smile during his swearing-in or while stood outside flanked by officers while for cameras.

Some civil society groups in Guinea-Bissau have accused outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of masterminding a “simulated coup” against himself with the help of the military, saying it was a ruse to block election results from coming out in case he lost.

“This manoeuvre aims to prevent the publication of the electoral results scheduled for tomorrow, November 27,” the civil society coalition Popular Front said in a statement on Wednesday.

His closest election rival Fernando Dias has also echoed these claims.

But Embaló has not responded to the allegations.

He has said he has survived multiple coup attempts during his time in office. However, his critics have previously accused him of fabricating crises in order to crack down on dissent.

The military has already suspended the electoral process and blocked the release of the results of Sunday’s presidential election which were expected on Thursday.

An unnamed military source has told the AFP news agency that Embaló is being held by the army at its staff headquarters, where he is being “well-treated”.

In response to news of the apparent coup, the chair of the African Union (AU) Mahmoud Ali Youssouf demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of President Embalo and all detained

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló officials”.

He also reminded GuineaBissau’s leaders of “the imperative of respecting the ongoing electoral process”.

Sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, the West African country is known as a drug-trafficking hub where the military has been influential since independence from Portugal in 1974.

Guinea-Bissau has witnessed at least nine coups or attempted coups over the last five decades. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has not commented on claims he helped to stage the coup against him

peared on state TV, saying they had suspended the electoral process. They said they were acting to thwart a plot by unnamed politicians who had “the support of a wellknown drug baron” to destabilise the country, and announced the closure of its borders and imposed a nighttime curfew.

The election results were expected on Thursday - both Embaló and his main challenger, Dias, had claimed victory.

Dias was supported by former Prime Minister Domingos Pereira, who had been disqualified from running. Late on Wednesday afternoon, Embaló told France 24 in a phone call: “I have been deposed.”

Government sources later told the BBC that Dias, Pereira and Interior Minister Botché Candé had also been detained. The same sources said the putschists had taken army chief Gen. Biague Na Ntan and his deputy, Gen Mamadou Touré, into custody too.

They said the country had been prepared for the announcement of the election results after what it described as an “orderly and peaceful” process.

“It’s regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people,” they said.

Portugal, the country’s former colonial ruler, has called for a return to constitutional order, with its foreign ministry urging “all those involved to refrain from any act of institutional or civic violence”.

The latest of these, on Wednesday, saw a group of military officers announce they had seized control of the country.

Earlier, government sources told the BBC that Embaló had been arrested.

Gunshots were heard in the capital, Bissau, but it was not immediately clear who was involved in the shooting or if there were any casualties.

The officers then ap-

In a joint statement, leaders of election observation missions from the African Union and the West African bloc Ecowas expressed “deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’etat by the armed forces”.

N’Tam,

As of Thursday, the AFP news agency reported that Guinea-Bissau’s borders had reopened. Embaló, 53, had wanted to make history as the country’s only president to secure a second consecutive

mandate in the last 30 years. He had initially said he would not seek a second term.

Prior to the delayed polls, his legitimacy was questioned, with the opposition saying his term should have officially ended in February 2025.

Guinea-Bissau is one of

the poorest countries in the world with a population of more than two million people. Its coastline has many uninhabited islands, making it ideal for drug traffickerswith the UN dubbing it a “narco-state” as it has been a key transit point for cocaine coming from Latin America to Europe.

Pres. Ali: Opposition Leader's election...

From page 21 silence calls into question the impartiality of the parliamentary process. “This unexplained silence stands in contrast to the Speaker's public oath to execute the functions of his office 'without fear or favour, affection or ill will,'

and raises legitimate concerns regarding the impartial administration of parliamentary processes,” the party said.

The party said that while the President was swiftly sworn in following the elections, the same urgency should have been applied to

the election of the Opposition Leader. As such, the WIN party further accused the administration of deliberately stalling the process. “The Leader of the Opposition is not symbolic; the Constitution requires that the holder of this office be consulted on major

appointments, including the Police Commissioner, Chancellor, Chief Justice, and members of the Judicial Service Commission. Delaying this office undermines the balance of power and signals a disregard for constitutional governance,” the statement added.

Gen. Horta

center, becomes the transitional head of state for one year. (AFP via Getty Images)

‘PLYWOODWALLS,NONOTICE’

Stabroek Market vendors cry

foul as Govt. blocks them for beautification project

Frompage17 gah live is Christmas time…”shesaid.

Another vendor added, “this is very ridiculous, I havebillstopayandifIcan’t sell what gon really happen…Januarytheycould do it, they can’t do it now peopleinvestalotofmoney to do their business out here andit’snotfairtoinvestnow Christmas time and they didn’t even notify people, wellthisthinggonhappenso people won’t invest their money…”

Georgetown Mayor AlfredMentore,speakingto reporters on Thursday said he was only aware of the displacement via media reports.

While he supports peoplebeingabletoearn,he expressedconcernaboutthe implementation of the projectwithoutpriornotice.

He said the concept of a

Scenes from the Stabroek Market square on Thursday

Other vendors who spoke to members of the media

beautified Stabroek Square and Christmas tree was presentedtothecouncil,but “

notification,iswhatIhavea problem with and the timing… at Christmas time tobeabletohavethisdone.”

Mentore said he is now working to determine how many vendors are affected and how they can be accommodated. “If it is that this development has to be suspended, we will have to doso,”hestated.

Mentore said he was troubled that works began during the night without allowing city authorities to notifyvendors.

“I am uncomfortable as the mayor, understanding whatishappeninghereandI will have the necessary discussions w

th the Ministry of Local Government so we can

find a common ground and find a way in which we can addressthisissue,”hesaid.

He acknowledged the vendors’ concerns, adding, “It’s my responsibility to be able to find, the most compromising arrangement so that I can address this issuemovingforward.”

In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, Minister Manickchand contended that no vendors are being displaced,andtheworksare being carried out only in areas where vending does notcurrentlyoccur

She said, “The Ministry of Local Government is beautifying the Stabroek area by creating a space similartothespaceopposite Parliament Buildings that will be wholly accessible to the public, including vendors, shoppers and commuters.Thefloorwillbe raised, park benches will be

put down, decorations will goupandaspaceforartistes toperformwillbeavailable. To be clear, NO vendor is being moved from the Stabroek Market area at this pointandforthisreason.”

However, Thursday n i g h t , M i n i s t e r Manickchand in follow-up statement on her Facebook pagesaidthatshevisitedthe Stabroek Market vendors “who understand what is about to happen but had justified reservations b e c a u s e o f miscommunication and because opportunists looking for some relevance and relying on the ever-old bigoted language, tried to stokedivisions.”

On Thursday also, the Ministry of Local Government issued a statement defending the project and detailing prior engagements. The ministry

saidthatMayorMentoreand severalcitycouncillorswere shown a video of what the StabroekSquarewouldlook like and what that would entail and involve The ministry said the council’s response was, “lovely, lovely This is what is needed.”

The ministry added that the concept was also shared at a public engagement with stakeholdersandnoted,“We u n d e r s t a n d a n d acknowledge that the erection of the ply board around the area may have caused some alarm, but we are advised that this is necessary for the safety of those in the vicinity and is commonpracticewhencivil works of this nature is ongoing.”

According to the ministry, the construction will finish in under two weeks and despite several

vendors complaining of being displaced, “We are further advised that two vendors could be displaced

d instructionshavebeengiven that will minimize that effect.”

Itwasalsostatedthatthe ministry will also engage thosevendorsdirectly “We ask that parties external to this process not be opportunistic and stoke divisions for narrow politicalgain.

Attheendofthisprocess will be a place where vendors, shoppers and commuters alike will benefit. Where families and children, tourists and artistes, can enjoy their shopping experience and where more sales are likely to happen Toward an improvedStabroekSquare,” itwasstated.

PeruviancourtsentencesformerPresident Castillotoover11yearsinprisonforrebellion

L I M A , N o v 2 7 (Reuters) - Peru’s judiciary on Thursday sentenced former leftist President Pedro Castillo to 11.5 years in prison for rebellion and conspiracy against the state at the end of 2022, when he unsuccessfully attempted to dissolve Congress and assumebroadpowers.

Castillo’s sentencing comes a day after another former president, Martin Vizcarra, was handed 14 years in prison, opens new tabafterhewasfoundguilty oftakingbribesyearsbefore hetookoffice.

Castillo,whohadbeenin detention as the case played out, was removed from office in December 2022 after he attempted to dissolve Congress The

move triggered violent protests against the government that replaced him and left dozens of people dead, mainly in poorer regions where he enjoyedgreatersupport.

During his final defense statement at the trial last week, the former president rejected the rebellion chargesagainsthimandsaid that when he attempted to dissolve Congress a movewhichwasnotbacked by the country’s security forces—hemerelyreadout “a document without consequence”.

Prosecutors had requested a 34-year prison sentenceforCastillo. The names of Castillo andVizcarra join a growing list of former leaders jailed

in the South American country, which has placed five former presidents behindbars.

Peru has had six presidentssince2018dueto a series of impeachments and resignations, often driven by corruption scandals.

Following Castillo’s removal, his then-Vice President Dina Boluarte assumedpower She was ousted in early October after Congress declaredher“morallyunfit” togovern.

Boluarte was replaced by Jose Jeri, who is due to complete the presidential term through July 2026 Peru’s presidential elections are scheduled forApril next year

Former President Pedro Castillo

Amnesty warns ‘genocide not over’ as Israel strikes across Gaza

There is ‘no evidence’ that Israel’s genocidal intent has changed, says the rights group.

Aljazeera-Rightsgroup

Amnesty International has warned that “Israeli authorities are still committing genocide” in Gaza, waging new attacks and curbing critical aid access, despite the declared ceasefire.

Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire deal –morethan500timesinseven weeks – killing at least 347 Palestiniansandinjuring889 people since the deal that was meant to end its genocidal war came into effectonOctober10.Nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began more than two years ago. The rights organisation issued a statement on Thursday, as Israeli forces carried out a series of air strikes in southern and central Gaza, including in areasbeyondtheyellowline where they are supposed to remain withdrawn under the agreement.

“So far, there is no indication that Israel is taking serious measures to reversethedeadlyimpactof its crimes and no evidence that its intent has changed,” said Amnesty’s Secretary-

General Agnes Callamard.

“In fact, Israeli authorities are continuing their ruthless policies,restrictingaccessto vital humanitarian aid and essential services, and deliberately imposing conditions calculated to physically destroy PalestiniansinGaza.”

“The world must not be fooled. Israel’s genocide is notover,”shesaid.

SomeofIsrael’sstrikeson Thursday morning targeted buildings in central Gaza’s Bureij camp and eastern KhanYounis,accordingtoAl Jazeera’s correspondents on the ground They add to hundreds of attacks that Gaza’s civil defence says are brazen violations of the fragileseven-weekceasefire They also come as Israel’s military carried out another wave of raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank, including in the areas of Qalqilya, Tubas, Hebron, TulkaremandNablus During their raid in Tubas, Israeli forces conducted field interrogations and assaulted at least 25 people who required medical treatment, according to a local Palestinian Red Crescent

official quoted by the Wafa newsagency

More Palestinian

prisoners released The first stage of the Gaza truce moved closer to completion on Wednesday after Israel transferred the bodies of 15 PalestinianprisonerstoGaza authorities, a day after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad handed over the body of another Israeli captive. Palestinian armed groupshavenowreleasedall living captives and returned the remains of 26 of 28 captives stipulated to be transferredunderthedeal.

n Hazem Qassem said the latest handover shows the

y complete the exchange process and its ongoing efforts to finalise it despite significantdifficulties”.

Israel, for its part, has fre

ly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of 345, manyofwhomshowedsigns of torture, mutilation and execution.But the ceasefire continuestofacemajorhurdles, including the presence of dozens of Hamas fighters

trappedintunnelsontheIsraelioccupiedsideoftheyellowline insouthernGaza–20ofwhom Israelsaysithaskilledoverthe pastweek

On Wednesday, Hamas urged ceasefire mediators to pressure Israel to allow the Hamas fighters safe passage The group accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire by targeting the fighters who are “besieged in the tunnels of Rafah”

“We hold (Israel) fully responsibleforthelivesofour fighters and call upon our mediators to take immediate action to pressure (Israel) to allowoursonstoreturnhome,” Hamassaidinastatement.

Willtheceasefireprogress to phase two? Meanwhile, discussions are under way on howtotransitiontothesecond phaseoftheceasefire,whichis

toincludedeployinganarmed internationalstabilisationforce, tasked with demilitarising Gaza, and developing an international body to temporarily govern the Gaza

Strip and oversee reconstruction

Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian mediators met in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the second phase, reported Reuters.Butmajorquestions hang over nearly every part oftheplan,aswellasIsrael’s commitment to seeing it through.

“Until this moment, Israelhasnotgivenuponits plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza,” said Muhammad Shehada, visiting fellow with the European Council onForeignRelationsMiddle East and North Africa programme, toldAl Jazeera.

“Either Gaza stays permanently as a refugee camp in ruins that is unlivable, uninhabitable, and that sustains conditions that are designed to bring about collapse to life there or Hamas retaliates and Israel uses it as an excuse to resumethegenocide.” Amnesty’s Callamard urged for continued global pressureonIsraeltoabideby international law and to not allow the ceasefire to serve as a “smokescreen for Israel’songoinggenocide”.

“The international community cannot afford to be complacent: states must keepuppressureonIsraelto allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid, lift its unlawful blockade and end its ongoing genocide,” said Callamard.

Venezuelasuspendsflightrightsforsixforeign airlinesamidUStensions

Aljazeera - Venezuela has pulled the operating rightsforsixforeignairlines that paused flights to the South American country amidrisingtensionswiththe UnitedStates.

But on Thursday, foreign officials and airline representatives blasted that d e c i s i o n a s a “disproportionate” response.

AirlinesincludingIberiaandTAPhadpausedflightstoVenezuela afterwarningsabout‘heightenedmilitaryactivity’inthearea.

The Venezuelan government has been on edgeinrecentmonths,amid speculationofapossibleUS militaryattack.

TheUSFederalAviation Administration (FAA) had warnedairlineslastweekof “potentially hazardous situation” in Venezuelan airspaceduetoa“worsening security situation and heightened military activity”.

That, in turn, prompted some airlines to cancel flights.

But on Thursday, officials like Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo

A d a y e a r l i e r , Venezuela’s civil aviation authority announced it had revoked permits for air travel companies, including Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Colombia’s Avianca, Brazil’s GOL, Turkish Airlines and LATAM, which has headquarters in ChileandBrazil. Itaccusedtheairlinesof joining “actions of state terrorism promoted by the UnitedStates”.

Rangel criticised Venezuela’s response to the cancellations.

Rangel said his country’s embassy would reach out to the Venezuelan government and emphasise that flights had only been temporarily paused due to securityconcerns.

“What we have to do is, through our embassy, make the Venezuelan authorities aware that this measure is disproportionate, that we have no intention of canceling our routes to Venezuela,andthatweonly did this for security reasons,”hesaid.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have beenatahighpointsincethe return of US President Donald Trump for a second termintheWhiteHouse.

T h e T r u m p

administrationhasoverseen an enormous buildup of military forces in the Caribbean region, on the premise of combatting illegaldrugtrafficking.

But Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decried the US troop movementsasaprecursorto a t t a c k s a i m e d a t d e s t a b i l i s i n g h i s government, and he has responded with military preparationsofhisown.

TheUSgovernmenthas long opposed Maduro for his record of human rights abuses,recentlyrecognising the Venezuelan opposition astherightfulwinnerofthe 2024 presidential election, despite Maduro’s claims otherwise.

SinceSeptember,theUS

has carried out at least 21 lethal air strikes on boats and other nautical vessels it accuses of transporting drugs An estimated 83 peoplehavebeenkilled.

T h e T r u m p administration has claimed, withoutevidence,thatsome of the people killed were linked to criminal groups in Venezuela. International rights officialsandlegalscholars considerthosestrikestobe extrajudicial killings, in violation of international law

After the US warned airlines last week of security risks over Venezuela, flights were abruptly cancelled, amid fearsofmilitaryaction

The International Air

Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday t h a t Ve n e z u e l a n authorities had given airlines48hourstoresume flights to the country or facethesuspensionoftheir operatingrights.

“Keepyourplanes,and we will keep our dignity,” Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabellosaidinresponseto thecancellations

The news service AFP quoted an anonymous source from Iberia who explained that the airline hoped to resume flights “as soon as possible, as soon as full security conditionsaremet”

But the source added thatIberiacouldnotoperate inareasofhighrisk.

People walk through the damaged gate ofAl-Aqsa University surrounded by tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on November 24, 2025 [HaseebAlwazeer/Reuters]

BLUNT BLUNT

The swearing in of regional chairs and vice chairs

President Irfaan Ali's decision on Thursday to swear in chairpersons and vice chairpersons for every Regional Democratic Council except Region 10 is yet another glaring display of the administration's selective governance.

Region 10 remains in limbo because the government—acting through the Regional Executive Officer—has simply refused to reconvene the lawful meeting required to elect its chair and vice chair. This is not an oversight; it is a deliberate political maneuver.

Successive governments have treated these constitutional offices as personal property, but the present administration has taken that disregard to new heights. Even more troubling is the muted response from political parties that once fiercely defended the region, including the PNC, which has historically held strong influence there.

The PPP/C's open disdain for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and its leader is now manifesting in actions that skirt the law and disrespect the constitution—much like the brazen handling of the Opposition Leader appointment.

The tie in the initial vote has a clear legal remedy, yet the government refuses to follow it. Region 10 deserves better. Its people must stand firm, and WIN must press its case vigorously through every lawful avenue of public pressure and protest.

Quarterfinals and Semifinals set for tomorrow in MVP Sports U11 Girl’s Football

ThePetraOrganisationis set to decide its 2025 finaliststomorrow(Saturday November 29) when the ninth Annual MVP Sports Girls Under-11 Football Tournament enters its most intense stage yet; the quarterfinals and semifinals at the Ministry of Education Ground.

MVP Sports, along with support from Demerara Mutual, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Soft & Pretty Toiletries, the MinistryofCulture,Youth& Sport, and Sterling Products Limited,thecompetitionhas deliveredthreeweeksofgrit, flair and growing rivalries. Now the road to the finals narrowssharply

After three rounds of play, three teams have set themselves apart, going undefeated so far in the competition Marian Academy, Santa Rosa Primary and Waramuri Primaryarelikelyfavourites totakethe2025crown.Their cohesion,speed,andscoring efficiency have made them the teams to beat heading

MVP Sports Girls’U11 Schools Football Championship continues with quarterfinal and Semifinal’s action tomorrow at MoE ground.

Friday November 28, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Youshouldenjoytheintense energy of today, Aries. The mud is finally beginning to clearaway Exposethetruthin every issue and get ready for the gremlins that may be unearthed.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Todaymarksthebeginningof a new cycle for you, Taurus. Collect and consolidate your recent ideas and focus them outwardly The time is right foryoutoact.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Take a cold shower to jumpstart yourself today, Gemini. It'sfineifyoulazearoundabit in the morning, but by evening, you should be working at full capacity. You will be called into action whetheryouwanttobeornot.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Today may start out sluggish foryou,Cancer,butbytheend of the day the energy will move fast and furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing around your head like bees aroundahive.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Enjoythecalmmorning,Leo, because things are going to getcrazierandmoreenergetic as the day goes on. Emotions willrunhigh,andpeoplewill be more opinionated than usual.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

You will experience an intense amount of energy today,Virgo.Yourdreamstate willbemoreactivethanusual, and you will find that people aredrawntoyoulikemothsto light.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

It's time to get up and get moving, Libra You have tremendous ideas and vision forthefuture.Youhaveallthe informationyouneed.Nowall youhavetodoisact.Stepupto the plate and hit one over the fence.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Theearlypartofthedaymight find you sluggish and indecisive, Scorpio, but later youshouldbepsychedupand ready to go. Today marks the beginning of a new period in which you should set your ideasinmotion.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Today's energies will get progressively more intense as the day goes on In the morning, you may be in an easygoing, dreamy state, Sagittarius.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

For the past several weeks you've felt like you've been dragging your heels, Capricorn Decisions may have been hard to make and people may have seemed wishy-washy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The morning might find you sitting like a stick in the mud, Aquarius. People might begettingdownonyoufornot contributing, but tell them to bepatient.Youwillberaringto gobynightfall.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

Things are moving your way, Pisces.As the day progresses, you will find that the energy intensifies.Conflictsmayarise nearsundown,butdon'tworry aboutittoomuch.

into Saturday’s elimination rounds.

But several determined challengers, including West Ruimveldt, St John the Baptist, and Georgetown International Academy, still have a fighting chance to break into the final four With the stakes rising, anythingremainspossible.

Before the main slate begins, a crucial playoff between Genesis Academy and Potaro Primary will determine the final quarterfinal berth. Only one will move forward to face unbeaten Waramuri, an immediate test of their resilience. The quarterfinal lineup includes; St John the Baptist taking on Agatash Primaryat10:30am.StJohn the Baptist brings discipline andpace,butAgatashhasthe stamina to cause an upset.A matchup that promises early fireworks.

On the other pitch, see Santa Rosa Primary battle with St Alouysius Primary for a spot into the semis. Santa Rosa, one of the tournament’s dominant forces, will look to maintain their unbeaten streak St

Alouysius enters as underdogs but has shown flashes of attacking potential.

Following that, West Ruimveldt will match skills with Marian Academy, perhapsthemostanticipated clash of the round. Marian Academy has been nearly flawless, but West Ruimveldt boasts one of the toughest defensive units in thetournament.

In the final matchup in the quarterfinal stage, see Waramuri Primary versus Winner of Potaro/Genesis. Waramuriwillenterasheavy

favourites,butamomentumcharged Potaro or Genesis teamcouldbedangerous.

In the semifinal scenarios, winners of the quarterfinals will advance immediately into the semis, while the losing sides will play for final-eight placement.

Semifinal #1, will see winnersbetweenStJohnthe Baptist and Agatash taking on the winners of the WaramurivsPotaro/Genesis clash. Right after that, the winners between West Ruimveldt and Marian

Academy will battle against the winners of the Santa Rosa versus St Alouysius matchup Tomorrow, the journey to crown the 2025 MVP Sports champions trulybegins.

With the strongest field in years, the ninth edition of this celebrated U11 girls’ tournament is poised for a thrilling finish. A doublewin tomorrow guarantees a spot in the championship match, but surviving the pressure of back-to-back knockout games will test eventhebestteams.

Backed by title sponsor

Government’s backing spiking Volleyball’s expansion, Gala was spectacular

President of the Guyana VolleyballFederation(GVF)

John Flores has described 2025asaverygoodyearfor the growth of the sport sharing that it has expanded with more teams playing nationally, and especially more women teams becomingactive.

This he notes is as a

direct result of the investment being made by the Government of Guyana as well as Republic Bank in the nationwide B Division championshipsfor maleand femaleteamswhichsawone thousand players from nine of Guyana’s ten regions competing.

The grand national playoffs and finals took place at the Cliff Anderson SportsHallandtheNational G y m n a s i u m w i t h simultaneousmatchesonthe firstofthetwodayspectacle, afirstforthesport.

Flores posited that this level of partnership (government/private)augurs well for the future of the sport and is ecstatic that the gameisonitswayforfurther expansion especially with the academy programme ongoing in Berbice and Georgetown, led by the MinistryofSport. This year’s inaugural black tie gala for the

recognition of our top sportsmen, women, officials and corporate community is a special way to give recognition to these persons andisagoodinspiringevent tolookforwardto.

”The Government’s continued support to volleyball is really appreciated as more rural communitiesarebeinggiven the opportunity to showcase their skills and this will motivate the expansion of thegamecountrywide.With the incoming infrastructure around the country, athletes willbeabletotransformand develop their skill levels, and this will allow us to be much more competitive against neighboring countries who we intend to invite more here to help us improve The volleyball Federation looks forward to a massive 2026,” Flores stated.

MCYS/NSC’sclassygalawas amazing–DavidFernandes

President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA)

David Fernandes has commended the Ministry of Culture,YouthandSportand the National Sports Commissionforrecognising the exploits of the nation’s top sports performers for 2024intheformofblack-tie gala.

He said an amazing evening was had by all in a t t e n d a n c e w h i c h underscored the high premiumtheMinistryandby extension the Government ofGuyanahaswhenitcomes to sports and the heroes of sportsinGuyana.

”This wonderful opportunity allows for the improvement social cohesion, improving the understanding of the importance of sports heroes in national development, nationalprideandpatriotism toacertainextent.”

Hosting such an event, Fernandes shared, displayed the Ministry and Sports Commission’s potential of executing an unbelievable event,becauseitwas.

”I think that the athletes appreciatedit,andIknowfor sure,moreofthemwillwant to be present going forward once these types of quality events are put on. I have no doubt that the next one will

be even better Timing is critical in order to get the overseas nominees to come and I think even the nominees will want to be a partofthataswell.”

Looking at the surge in the construction of new facilities and the refurbishment of others, nationwide, the Head of Squash in Guyana and the Caribbeanpositedthatthisis the right move by the MinistryandGovernment.

”When we look at the investment in sports facilities, it’s remarkable because I travel all over the country and I’m seeing admirableprogress.Thosein

Berbice, on the East Coast with the lights, the stadium in Essequibo, and Linden, I seethatthereisevidencethat avelodromewouldbedone, the hockey facility, the facilities done for racquet sportsaswell,alladdasupto amazing times for our athletes and fans. This is hugeforthisnation.”

”The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall looks unbelievable,recentlyIwent to it and it’s a very comfortable environment withtheair-conditioningand I know for sure that the athletes would have appreciated that level of comfort.”

Cevon’s Waste Management donates motorcycle for ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal MVP

Cevon’s Waste Management has

t h r o w n i t s

support behind the

ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal

Tournament with the generous donation of a brand-new motorcycle, whichwillbeawardedtothe competition’seventualMost ValuablePlayer(MVP).

The presentation took place ahead of tomorrow’s highlyanticipatedfinalatthe Retrieve Tarmac in Linden, marking another significant moment in the tournament’s continued growth and communityimpact.

New Era Entertainment Co-Director Andrew Major was on hand to receive the motorcycle on behalf of the tournament organisers Duringthebriefpresentation ceremony, Major expressed

sincere gratitude to Cevon’s Waste Management for its meaningful contribution to theevent.

He noted that such partnershipshelpelevatethe level of competition while rewarding athletes for their c o m m i t m e n t a n d outstanding performances throughoutthetournament.

Tomorrow’s climactic encounter is set to feature defending champions YMCAastheyseektoretain

a determined Silver Bullets lineup Both teams have delivered impressive performances throughout thetournament.

Withtheaddedincentive ofamotorcycleawaitingthe eventual MVP, individual players will also be eyeing the opportunity to etch their

names into the tournament’s history

Meanwhile, Hardknocks will battle DC Ballers in the earlier thirdplaceplayoff.

The winner of the event will pocket $1,500,000, while the eventual second, third, and fourth place finishers will receive $750,000, $350,000, and $200,000, respectively, and thecorrespondingaccolade. On the individual level, the eventual Most Valuable Player will ride away with a motorcycle It was also disclosed that a $300,000 economic grant will be awardedtoaplayerorfanto aid their academic development. Each team must put forward a candidate for the aforesaidscholarship.

John Flores - GVF President

David Fernandes – GSA President

GFF ends Dooley inquiry but offers no clear way forward

Th e G u y a n a

F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) has wrapped up its inquiry into concerns raised by several domestic players of the Golden Jaguars senior men’s national team, following contentious comments made by Head Coach Thomas Dooley during a recent team meeting.

ButwhiletheFederation detailed the findings of its investigation, what happens next was one major element thatremainedunclear.

Initsstatement,theGFF confirmedthatitinterviewed domestic players, members

of the technical staff, and Dooleyhimself.

The locally-based players reported feeling “disrespected and embarrassed”afterthecoach compared local players to their overseas-based counterparts, drawing attention to issues of professionalism, conduct, andperformancestandards.

Accordingtotheplayers, suchcommentsshouldnever have been made publicly, especially in front of the foreign-basedcontingent.

The inquiry also highlighted that Dooley had implemented new rules intended to strengthen

Golf, Good Food, Great Vibes: Romel Tournament & BBQ set for November 30

The Lusignan Golf Club will host the Romel Golf Tournament & BBQ on Sunday, November 30, 2025,offeringacompetitive and festive day for golfers andsupportersastheholiday season approaches. The event is designed to bring together players of varying skill levels for a welcoming and enjoyable experience bothonandoffthecourse.

The tournament is scheduled to tee off at 9:00 a.m., adopting a Medal Play format over 9 holes with a shotgun start. This structure promotes an engaging and cohesive pace of play, allowing all groups to begin s i m u l t a n e o u s l y Competitors will be placed

into three handicap flights 0–9, 10–18, and 19–28—ensuring a fair and balanced contest for every participant. There will also be a separate category for b e g i n n e r g o l f e r s , encouraging newcomers to enjoy the sport in a relaxed andsupportiveenvironment. Prizes will be presented for Best Net in each flight (1st, 2nd, and 3rd), Overall Best Net, Best Gross, Most HonestPlayer,Nearesttothe Flag on #9 Green, and LongestDriveonHole#9. Beyond the tournament itself, attendees can look forwardtoavibrantBBQon theclubgrounds.Thesocial component of the event is expected to capture the warmth, camaraderie, and festivecheerassociatedwith the Christmas season Families, supporters, and

discipline and unity within thesquad. These included bans on mobile phones during meals and technical meetings and stricter guidelines for dress and player conduct during officialactivities.

Golf enthusiast Romel Bhagwandin

g

anticipated to create an atmosphere of fellowship that extends the day’s enjoyment beyond the final putt.

Golf enthusiast Romel Bhagwandin, in whose honour the tournament is named, shared his appreciation for the event and the community that surrounds it. “It is truly inspiringtoseegolferscome togetherinthespiritofunity and sportsmanship Golf teaches discipline and integrity, but above all, it strengthensrelationships.As the Christmas season draws near, I hope this tournament encouragesadeepersenseof togethernessandremindsus of the joy that shared experiences bring. I extend my best wishes to every participant for a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling round.”

Golfers wishing to participateareencouragedto register by contacting the Lusignan Golf Club at 2205660. Registration closes at 5:00 p m on Saturday, November29,2025.

notbelievehisintentionwas toinsultanyone.

After domestic players e x p r e s s e d t h e i r dissatisfaction, Dooley met with them separately, where they explained how the comments had affected morale.

The coach clarified that his remarks were meant to reinforce professional standards rather than demeanlocalplayers.

The matter, according to the GFF, was resolved amicably.

to the cultural dynamics of a squad composed of players from diverse b a c k g r o u n d s a n d environments

T h e f e d e r a t i o n expressed regret that the episode overshadowed a s t r o n g o n - f i e l d performance and restated its commitment to fostering a disciplined, ambitious national-team culture

Several breaches reportedly occurred, prompting Dooley to convene a meeting to address the growing concernsoverdiscipline.

Players and staff acknowledgedthatthecoach displayed frustration during thatsession,thoughtheydid

The team went on to demonstrate renewed unity, reflected in their dominant 4–1 victory over AntiguaandBarbudainthe inauguralConcacafSeries

The GFF noted that international staff often facechallengesinadapting

However, despite outliningwhathappened,the GFF provided no indication ofthenextsteps. Whether any further action, oversight, or policy adjustments will follow remains unknown, stakeholders,andevensome players wondering how the federationintendstoprevent similarissuesgoingforward.

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Thomas Dooley

AbigailScottslams150notoutas4RLionessandInvadersthrough toOneGuyanaInter-Region

Ten10SoftballCricketCupPlayoffs

As a c t i o n continues in the 2nd edition of the “One Guyana InterRegion Ten10 Softball CricketCup”,Abigail Scott of 4R Lioness slammed a whopping 150 runs not out

against Kuru Kururu female softball team as 4R Lioness won the regional female title for region 4 and earned a place into the national playoffs which will be played on 6th and 7th December at the Strathavon Sports Ground in Mahaica, EastCoastDemerara.

Inadecidingmatchatthe Kuru Kururu sports ground on the Linden highway last

Sunday, 4R Lioness defeated the home team Kuru Kururu by a whopping 126 runs 4R Lioness batted first and scored 195 in their allotted 10 overs, withAbigail Scott blasting 150 not out in 46 deliveries, and was supportedbyAnisaPersaud, who scored 22 not out in 16 deliveries.

In reply, Kuru Kururu ladies managed to score 69 for 4 in their 10 overs, with Kellytopscoringwith35off 27 balls Haseena Mohamed picked up 2 for 10, while Matana Cambridge grab 1 for 13 andAnisaPersaud1for14

Playerofthematchwent to Abigail Scott for her brilliant150notout. While over in region 2, Invaders have earned their spot in representing that region by defeating Royal QueensandLuckyLadiesat the Reliance Sports Ground inEssequibo.

In game 1, Invaders got past Lucky Ladies Lucky ladies batted first and made 44 for 10 in their allotted 10 overs with Tramaine Marks picking up 3 for 10,Adina Smith2for10,andKelhesha Smith 2 for 15 for the star bowlers. In reply Invaders made 45 for 6 in 5.2 with

TramaineMarkstopscoring with 18. Bowling for Lucky Ladies, Sumindra bagged 3 for13,andAleenapickedup 2for12in1.2overs.

In Game 2, Royal Queens won over Lucky Ladies Lucky Ladies batted first and scored 83 for 3 off their 10 overs, with Renola Schenectady topscoringwith15 Royal Queens in reply made 84 for 1 off 8 overs withLorettaPearsonscoring 44andCrystalMarioe29not out.RoyalQueenswonby9 wicketsInGame3,Invaders edged past Royal Queens. Invaders batted first and scored 85 for 5 in 10 overs,

with Kareena Smith top scoring with 27, and Adina Smith supported with 18. Nikisha George picked up 3 for18.

Royal Queens were restricted to 79 for 8 in their 10 overs, with Crystal Marioe making 19 T

p 4 for 14 Invaders won by 10 runs.

Accordingtotheorganisers, duetothebadweather,some oftheregionalgameshadto becalledoff.

Action continues this Saturday and Sunday in Region 2 at the Affiance Number 1 Sports Club

Ground in the male category Thegamestartsat 2 pm on Saturday and goes onunderlights. OnSunday, the games continue from 10 am.

On Sunday, the male and female teams in Region 6 will take to the field at Whim Community CentreGroundfrom9am

While teams in region 9 will get into action from 9 am at the Annai Sports Ground

The organisers said that plans are being put in place to stage the playoffs the following weekend at the Strathavon Sports GroundinMahaica.

GBA to close off 2025 with National Open Championships December 19-21 at Gymnasium

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will close out what its President, Steve Ninvalle describes as “a busy and productive year for amateur boxing in Guyana” when the National OpenChampionshipspunch offfromDecember19–21at theNationalGymnasium.

T h e t h r e e - d a y tournament, the GBA’s final statutory event for 2025, is expected to bring together the country’s best gyms and top amateur fighters, all vyingforthecovetedtitleof

“nationalchampion”intheir respectiveweightclasses. With competition at the elite, youth, and junior levels, the National Open is widelyregardedasoneofthe mostimportantshowcasesof localboxingtalent.

According to Ninvalle, this year’s tournament carries added significance, particularly for the senior boxers.

“The Senior National Championshipisconsidered the stepping stone for those aspiring to move into the professional ranks. It gives us and the wider boxing fraternity a clear picture of

who is ready for that next stage,”Ninvallesaid.

The GBA president pointed out that 2025 has beenalandmarkyearforthe sport’s development, h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e association’s work in expanding opportunities for young,boxersstrengthening coaching programmes, and ensuring more frequent competition.

“We’ve focused heavily on development throughout the year,” Ninvalle noted, adding, “from grassroots to

senior levels, we’ve seen improvement, commitment, andgrowthacrosstheboard. Thisfinaltournamentallows us to bring everything together and close out what has truly been a successful yearforamateurboxing.”

Gyms from across the country, including the Guyana Police Force, ForgottenYouthFoundation, Andrew Lewis Gym, Guyana Defence Force, and several others, are expected tofieldfull-strengthteams.

Ninvalle said the

association is eager to end theyearonahighnoteandto set the tone for its 2026 programmes.

“We’re looking forward to three exciting days of boxing,” he added. “The National Open is where championsaremade,andwe expect this year’s edition to deliver quality action and reaffirm the progress we’ve workedsohardtoachieve.”

TheGBAwillreleasethe full list of registered boxers and matchups in the coming days.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle Region 4 Winner 4R Lioness

Abigail Scott inset

Region 2 winners Invaders.

Arsenal stun Bayern Munich to seize Champions League top spot

LONDON, (Reuters)ArsenalbeatBayernMunich for the first time in a decade to maintain their 100% record in this season’s ChampionsLeaguewitha31 home win sending Mikel Arteta’s side clear at the top ofthegrouponWednesday Jurrien Timber headed Arsenal in front from a cornerafter22minutesonly for teenager Lennart Karl to equalise for the six-time European champions before halftime.

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Arsenal dominated the second half though and displayed their enviable squad depth as substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelliscoredthegoalsto makeitfivewinsfromfive.

Itprovedaquietreturnto north London for prolific BayernstrikerHarryKaneas his side suffered their first defeat of the season in all competitions.

With Inter Milan losing, Arsenal are now the only teaminthecompetitionwith a maximum 15 points and lookallbutassuredofaplace inthelast16.

“We went man to man

withtheminthesecondhalf and I thought tonight we were outstanding,” Declan Rice, who covered every blade of grass in midfield, said.

“The manager is so happy It was a special Europeannight.”

Sixpointsclearatthetop of the Premier League and Bundesliga respectively and boasting flawless records after four games in the Champions League,Arsenal and Bayern Munich have been Europe’s stand-out teams this season. The sides

metinthequarter-finalstwo years ago with Bayern edging it, but Arsenal have reached another level since that clash and went into Wednesday’s game on a 15match unbeaten run in all competitions.

While the 15th meeting between the clubs lacked jeopardy, given their strong positions in the group, bragging rights and psychologicalblowswereup forgrabs.

It was Arsenal who emergedwithboth,thanksto a statement win that will

reverberatearoundEurope. MASSIVEVICTORY

“Individually, we were immense,” Arteta said “Today is another massive victory, now we go home, have a nice dinner and go to Stamford Bridge (to face Chelsea in the Premier League). The energy again we created in the stadium, it’sincredible.”

Bayern, backed by a vociferous travelling army, oozed confidence early on butwerestunnedinthe22nd minute by the sort of devastatingly simple goal

Arsenalhavetrademarked.

Kurtz is taking 15% of the one-third stake held by principal Toto Wolff, both parties announced on Thursday

BukayoSakaswungina corner, Myles Lewis-Skelly made himself a nuisance in front of Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and Timber was free to glance a header intothenet.

The lead lasted only 10 minutes though as Bayern responded with another move right off the training ground.Afteralongpassing s e q u e n c e , J o s h u a Kimmich’s raking diagonal pass found Michael Olise whose volleyed pass across thegoalwasmetby17-yearold Karl who became the first player to score against Arsenal in the Champions Leaguethisseason.

WhileKane,scorerof26 goals for club and country this season, was largely shackled and taunted by the home fans, Karl was a livewire and should have scored again early in the second half when he burst through but shot straight at David Raya After that ArsenalsweptBayernaside.

Mikel Merino nodded a header down and just wide

fromaRicecorner,Cristhian Mosquera forced Neuer into a desperate block and the keeperthensavedfromRice after the midfielder’s maraudingrunintothearea.

Bayern’s defence was creaking though and Arsenal’spressurepaidoffin the 69th minute when Riccardo Calafiori fired in a cross from the left that fellow substitute Madueke turned in for his first goal sincejoiningfromChelsea. Eight minutes later Neuer had a moment to forget when he charged out of his goal trying to cut out Eberechi Eze’s pass but got nowhere near the ball and Martinelli was left with the simple task of shooting into anemptynet.

Bayernslippedtothirdas one of four clubs on 12 points although with home games against Sporting and Union Saint-Gilloise next theyareingoodshapetoseal atop-eightspot.

“I have to congratulate Arsenal, in the end it was a deserved win for them,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompanysaid.

“The first half I felt we couldedgeitbutweallowed them to control the second half.”

AMMA seeks Olympic inclusion for MMA with launch of new global body

(Reuters) - The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) on Thursday announced the founding of a global governing body for amateur MMA, with the goal of the sport’s inclusion in the OlympicGames.

The body, called the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA), is the latest attempttobringtogetherthe often-fractured MMA landscape and comes after theOlympicCouncilofAsia announced earlier this year that MMA would debut at the2026AsianGames.

“Amateur MMA for too long has been divided. It’s time to unite our sport and bringitoutoftheshadowof i t s p r o f e s s i o n a l counterpart, ” AMMA president Gordon Tang told reportersinSingapore.

“FIMMAwill stand as a unifyingforce.Weareready to collaborate with any and all organisations that share our commitment to protecting and promoting theglobalinterestsofMMA anditsathletes.”

MMA, a sport with popular professional

promotionsliketheUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), also has multiple global organisations which o r g a n i s e a m a t e u r competitions,withdifferent, often rivalling, national federations affiliated to them The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) organises annual world championships and is recognised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the governing bodyofthesport.

Though athletes train togetherinteams,MMAisa

notoriously individualistic sport, and not everyone believesthatitbelongsinthe OlympicGames.

Several Olympians in judo, wrestling and other martial arts have made the jumptoMMAastheysought out professional careers, but former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier saidhewasnotsurethesport wassuitedtotheGames.

“Idon’tbelievethatthere is a safe way to have the sportthatweviewasMMA, to see that in a tournament formatwith24guys,yougo through four guys in one

week, I don’t think it’s right,” he said in 2024. The powerinthesportliesfirmly in the hands of major professional promotions such as the UFC in the United States, with the British-basedCageWarriors organisation and Polish promotion KSW also exerting considerable influence.

However, Asia is the spiritual home of many martial arts, and it also boasts the popular ONE Championship,whichdraws fans from across the continent.

putting athletes first and buildingatrulyglobalsport. We’re creating world-class competition platforms, focused on safety,” AMMA director general Galastein Tansaid.

FIMMA will adopt the AMMA’s rule set, which bansmoveslikeheadstrikes after knockdown, to make the sport safer for athletes, the Asian body said in a statement.

The first meeting of FIMMA will take place in AthensonDecember1,Tang added.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber scores their first goal. (REUTERS/David Klein)

NBA roundup: Celtics snap Pistons’ 13-game winning streak

Reuters - Jaylen Brown had 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help host Boston deny Detroit a franchise-record 14-game winning streak with a 117114 victory in an NBA Cup game.

After Anfernee Simons extended Boston’s lead to 115-112bymakingtwofree throws with 6.3 seconds on theclock,CadeCunningham was fouled attempting a 3pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining,buthemissedthe third free-throw attempt afterhemadethefirsttwo.

Boston’s Payton Pritchard made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left andthentheCelticscameup withastealonDetroit’sfinal possession.

Detroit would have set a franchise record by winning its 14th straight game. The Pistons also won 13 straight games in 1989-1990 and 2003-04. Detroit won the NBAtitlebothseasons.

Derrick White added 27 points and seven rebounds for Boston. Pritchard made four 3-pointers and finished

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) makes the basket against Detroit Pistons in the second half at TD Garden. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)

with16points.Cunningham scored a game-high 42 points and collected eight reboundsandfiveassists.He made 14 of 16 foul shots in theloss.

Knicks129,Hornets101 Jalen Brunson scored 33 pointsaspartofNewYork’s efficient offense in a romp pasthostCharlotte. Josh Hart poured in 22

points,Karl-AnthonyTowns and Miles McBride each posted19andMikalBridges had18astheKnicksfinished afive-gameroadstretchwith a 3-2 mark The result eliminated Charlotte from NBA Cup contention. The Hornets have lost seven games in a row, hurt by Wednesday’s 41 2% shooting(35of85)fromthe

field and 17 turnovers Brandon Miller led the Hornetswith18points.

Heat106,Bucks103 Tyler Herro scored 29 points and dished seven assists as Miami survived a late rally to beat visiting Milwaukee.

TheHeatimprovedto31inNBACupEastGroupC, while the Bucks fell to 2-1.

Only Ronaldo worth his pay, says Saudi ex-sports chief

(Reuters) - Former

SaudiSportsMinisterPrince Abdullah bin Mosaad said Cristiano Ronaldo – who joinedAlNassrinDecember 2022 – is the only foreign player in the Saudi Pro League who truly deserves his multi-million-dollar salary

Prince Abdullah, who wasinthepostfrom2014to 2017-beforethehugeinflux of foreign players that has transformedtheleague-also warned that the influx is sidelining local talent and threatening the national team’sfuture.

In an interview with the Fi Al-Marama TV program on Al-Arabiya, Abdullah called for urgent reforms to protect Saudi players and ensure competitiveness ahead of the 2034 World Cup,whichthekingdomwill host.

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

“Ronaldo is the only foreignplayerworthwhathe earns because of the global exposure he brings to the league and the country,” he said of the Portuguese forwardwhoseannualsalary has been estimated at $211

million-$4millionaweek.

“Manyothersarepaidfar morethantheydeserve.”

Prince Abdullah said Saudi players have become “extras”sincethenumberof foreign players per team on

Botharestillincontentionto advance to the knockout rounds.

Bam Adebayo paired 17 points and 11 rebounds in Miami’s sixth consecutive win.RyanRollinsposted26 pointsandMylesTurnerhad 24 as Milwaukee, without GiannisAntetokounmpo for afourthsuccessivegamedue toaleftgroinstrain,tookits sixthstraightloss.

T h u n d e r 1 1 3 , Timberwolves105

S h a i G i l g e o u sAlexander scored 40 points to lead Oklahoma City to a homewinoverMinnesotain an NBACup West GroupA game. The Thunder have won 10consecutivegamesand18 of their first 19, the best 19gamestartintheleaguesince Golden State began 24-0 in 2015-16.Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his team-high 31 points in the fourth q u a r t e r f o r t h e Timberwolves, who have lost three consecutive games.At 2-2, Minnesota is eliminated from NBA Cup contention.

Raptors97,Pacers95 Brandon Ingram hit a game-winning pullup jumperinthefinalsecondas Toronto defeated visiting Indiana in an NBA Cup game for their ninth straight win.

Ingram finished with 26 points and Scottie Barnes added 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors finished first in the East Group A at 4-0. Immanuel Quickley scored 15 points and dished six assists for Toronto,andJa’KobeWalter contributed13points.

T.J. McConnell scored 16pointsforthePacers,who are 0-3 in the NBACup and have dropped three straight overall. Bennedict Mathurin added15pointsandmisseda last-second 3-point attempt toendthegame.

Inotherresults: Grizzlies133,Pelicans 128(OT)

Spurs115,TrailBlazers 102 Suns112,Kings100 Rockets104,Warriors 100 (FieldLevelMedia)

3rd President’s Futsal Championship Genequip is latest corporate entity to support

matchdays rose to eight, urging a cut to seven and more investment in youth development.

“Right now, building a strong league is coming at the expense of the national team,” he said. “We need a clear plan to prepare for 2034.”

Healsocalledforhiring elite coaches for youth categories and warned that without structural changes, Saudi players will struggle toregainprominence

Prince Abdullah, whose concerns about refereeing standards during his tenure led to him appointing former English referee HowardWebbasdirectorof referees for the Saudi

A r a b i a n F o o t b a l l Federation, also suggested scheduling big matches on Thursdays to enable top European referees to take charge.

With action set to kick off on December 9 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, corporate Guyana continues to lend support towards the hosting of the 2025 edition of the President’s Futsal Championship which will see some 70 teams (senior, junior and women) competing.

Yesterday, Harold Baboolall, Senior Sales Accounts Manager of Genequip handed over their sponsorship cheque to CoDirector of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation MS, KashifMuhammad.

Baboolall said that the companyhasbeenfollowing the progress of the tournament since it started and is happy to see that it is growing.

”Weareveryhappyhere atGenequiptobesupporting thistournament.Itisgreatto seetheKashifandShanghai group being the organiser and bringing back yearend entertainment for Guyanese

here and the thousands who will be coming home for Christmas.Thisisoneofthe ways our company fulfills our corporate and social responsibility.”

B a b o o l a l l a l s o commended the organisers for adding a schoolboy’s segment to the tournament which will see a total of 20 schools competing for supremacy Muhammad in response thanked Baboolall and Genequip for their contribution which he said will aid in pulling off a qualitytournament.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e contesting schools will on Fridaymorningbereceiving their uniforms for the tournament, they have all already received a competition ball to aid in their preparations. Friday’s activitywilltakeplaceatthe Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from11:00hrs. The competition rules willalsobediscussed.

2025 CWI Regional Super50 Cup Round…GHE vs BP

Damp end to season as Harpy Eagles/Pride match abandoned

It was another rainaffected round, most notablyfortheHarpy Eagles who had their encounter versus the Barbados Pride abandoned withoutaballbeingbowled, likely wrapping up this year’s campaign for the Guyanese whose entire Super50 season was determinedbytheweather

Over at the Queen’s Park Oval, Leewards were bowled out for 213 in the 49th over, led by veteran Jahmar Hamilton who struck71(6x4)(2x6) Hurricanes skipper

Karima Gore chipped in with 39, with all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall (20) beingthenextbestscorer M e d i u m - p a c e r Terrance Hinds (3-50) and left-arm spinner Ricky Jaipaul (3-32) for the second successive game, carried the Red Force bowling attack, as four other bowlers picked up a wicketapiece Red Force opener Tion Webster dazzled with a match-winning 83 off 110 balls (10x 4 1x6) before Amir Jangoo hit a classy 72 not out with 8 fours to help

- Red Force beat Hurricanes by 8 wickets

solidifyacommandingwin.

Cephas Cooper chipped in with 28 (3x4 1x6) while Jyd Goolie finished with a run-a-ball23*(3x4).

OnlyNathanEdward(137) and Cornwall (1-12)

managedtomakeinroadsfor the Leewards, who saw curtainscomedownontheir season.

Meanwhile, the Harpy Eagles suffered another game being abandoned withoutaballbeingbowled, astheirseasontoocametoa damp end yesterday versus theBarbadosPride.

The Eagles, apart from one loss and a half of an innings being played in the firstround,werefacedwitha string of No Results or abandonments to their other games,makingthisSuper50 season arguably one of the worstwithinthelastdecade.

(CliftonRoss)

Amir Jangoo and Tion Webster steered the Red Force to an easy 8 wicket win yesterday.

Amir Jangoo and Tion Webster steered the Red Force to an easy 8 wicket win yesterday.

Harold Baboolall, Senior

Manager of Genequip hands over cheque

MarianAcademy to tackle West Ruimveldt for semifinal

New Era Entertainment Co-DirectorAndrew Major (left) receives the MVPprize of a motorcycle from Cevon’s Waste Management representative MorrisArcher Jr.