July completion for 1st 25 Yarrowkabra Homestead Programme units P18
“Don’t panic… still room to discuss” – Jagdeo on US 38% reciprocal tariff on Guyana
...oil, gold, aluminium exempted
Govt won’t let bureaucrats act like "little lords", stall development – Vice President
Chief Justice throws out PNCR’s scrutineer case on voter address verification …says such requirement would violate Guyana’s Constitution ...Chief Justice robustly defended people’s right to exercise franchise freely – Jagdeo
President Ali receives Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation
PPP to create business opportunities for smaller investors – can invest in oil sector starting with $50K
“Let the AFC go to 2025 elections alone, prove its worth” – Charrandas tells Norton
Former Commerce Minister urges PSC to exercise caution in public statements
Former cop jailed for 12 years over brutal attack on family
SOCU disrupts another major gold smuggling operation; over $60M in cash, gold seized
Labourer slapped with attempting to obstruct justice charge
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 4 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, April 5 – no retraction.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 4 – 08:10h-09:40h and Saturday, April 5 –09:30h-11:00h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Light to thundery rain showers are expected throughout the day and night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 08:33h and 21:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.08 metres.
Low Tide: 14:48h reaching a minimum height of 0.92 metre.
Chief Justice throws out PNCR’s scrutineer case on voter address verification
…says such requirement would violate Guyana’s Constitution
Chief Justice (ag)
Roxane George on Thursday threw out a case brought by Chief Scrutineer of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Carol Joseph, who had asked the court for mandates to not only verify that an address given when registering to vote exists but also that the applicant has connections to that address.
The case sought to repeal amendments made in 2022 to the National Registration Act, which removed the requirement of residency for citizens to vote in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.
In her December 2024 application, Joseph had asked the High Court to issue an order mandating the verification of registrants’ addresses for the general and regional elections.
But the Chief Justice, in delivering her ruling virtually, reaffirmed her decisions in previous cases that there is no residency requirement to vote.
“The order sought by the applicant would mean that she’s asking the court to introduce a residency requirement, about which this court ruled [previously]… and which would, importantly, be in violation of Article 159 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana,” she noted.
Article 159 outlines the qualifications, and disqualifications, for persons to register to vote in Guyana.
Joseph had argued, through her lawyers, that since the residency requirement was removed, there
failed to provide “a
of evidence” to show this as well as outline how such a verification that she is seeking could be undertaken.
“If a person presents themselves for registration and gives an address for what turns out to have a dilapidated or abandoned building, or it's the name of a village, or it is the High Court, for that matter, or none of the neighbours knows that person, none of the neighbours knows that the person lives in the area, the fact that the registration officer does not think they are connected the address claimed does not mean that the person cannot be registered, or that their names must be deleted from the National Register of Registrants and by extension, the voters’ list,” the judge noted.
According to Justice George, in effect, Joseph is
was a need now for a system to not only verify the addresses of persons but also establish their connection to the address. This, according to Joseph, is because some addresses either do not have buildings or have dilapidated or abandoned buildings, raising concerns that the absence of such a connection could contaminate the voters’ list for the upcoming elections.
Not a shred of evidence
The Chief Justice said
asking the court to sanction the ability to remove the names of persons whose addresses have not been verified by making a connection to them. This, the Judge noted, would be a breach of the separation of powers.
“The applicant [Joseph] thereby seeks to deprive persons of their constitutional right to vote,” the acting Chief Justice declared.
Attorney for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Kurt Da Silva, had argued in court that
those registering to vote at Local Government Elections, as well as regional elections, under Article 73 (1), are required to be residing in the region in which they are voting thus the removal of the residency requirement “cre-
source list for all elections…”
The Chief Justice added that the Constitution does not support the disenfranchisement of citizens, hence, a person cannot be removed from the List of Electors because there was no connection to their address.
The Chief Justice further contended that if the legislature wanted to include a requirement for the verification of a person's connection to an address, it would have said so.
“One cannot remove a person from the list because they happen to no longer live at a particular place, or it is not proven that they live at a particular place, or that the place has become derelict. The Constitution doesn’t so permit. And the Constitution does not permit a disenfranchisement of persons, because the address they provided does not
ates problems”.
The GECOM Counsel had noted that traditionally, general and regional elections have been held simultaneously in Guyana and prior to the 2022 amendments, there were systems in place to verify the addresses of persons wanting to register to vote.
Minimal restriction
While she agreed with arguments that persons’ residences and addresses may not be the same, Justice George pointed out that in the context of the Constitution and the legislation, when read as a whole, a person's residence will be determined from the address they give at registration and this will have to be used for all elections.
“Election laws of Guyana are clearly meant to provide minimal restriction on the eligibility of Guyanese regarding the right to vote. It simply places the onus on persons to get registered in the place of their choice regarding where they want to vote, so that the names can be included in the Official List of Electors, which is clearly meant to be the
meet with the approval of the registration officer.
“Therefore, I stated earlier, there's no conflict between Articles 73 (1) and 159 (1)… Article 159 (1) is about the right to vote, while Article 73 (1) is about where a person would exercise this right. So, the application is dismissed,” Justice George indicated.
In dismissing the case, the Chief Justice concluded that the issues raised in this case were similar to a previous case filed by Joseph in 2022. Taking this into consideration, the Court will assess costs.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall welcomed the ruling in court and lauded the clear reasoning of the court. He added that the court has guided the country at “a very important juncture on a very crucial issue”. In response, the Chief Justice pointed out that the elections laws are all over the place and there is definitely “work to be done.”
Meanwhile, according to the PNCR following Friday’s ruling, Joseph has already instructed her lawyers to appeal the High Court’s decision.
The integration of technology into education is no longer a futuristic concept, but is a present-day necessity. As classrooms evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, teachers must be equipped with the tools and skills needed to engage students in dynamic and meaningful ways. In a significant step towards digital transformation in education, teachers from Leguan, Region Three, as well as Abram Zuil and Anna Regina Secondary schools in Region Two, participated in a hands-on training session facilitated by the IT Unit of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) under the Education Ministry.
The training, which spanned three days, focused on the effective use of Smart Boards and Office 365 to foster greater classroom engagement and streamline digital teaching practices. Educators are being introduced to practical applications of these tools in order to ensure that students benefit from interactive and enriched learning environments. The initiative is timely and crucial, as it aligns with global educational trends that emphasize the integration of technology in pedagogy.
Traditional teaching methods, while valuable, often rely heavily on passive learning —lectures, rote memorization, and limited interaction. The incorporation of Smart Boards changes this dynamic by offering teachers a platform for interactive and visual learning experiences. These digital boards allow educators to present lessons in a more engaging format, incorporating videos, animations, and real-time annotations. With these tools, abstract concepts become more tangible, and students can interact with lessons in ways that were previously impossible with conventional chalk-and-talk methods.
One of the persistent challenges in education, particularly in developing regions, is the digital divide. Many schools lack access to modern educational tools, limiting both teachers’ effectiveness and students’ learning experiences. The initiative spearheaded by NCERD is an important step in addressing this gap. By providing teachers with hands-on experience and training, the Ministry of Education is ensuring that digital resources are not just available, but are also effectively utilised in the classroom.
This intervention is particularly significant in rural areas, where access to technological infrastructure has historically been limited. By equipping teachers with the skills to navigate and implement digital tools, students in these regions are being afforded the same opportunities as their peers in more urbanised settings. This approach to education fosters inclusivity, and ensures that no student is left behind in the march towards technological advancement.
Research has consistently shown that technology-enhanced learning environments lead to better student outcomes. Interactive digital tools cater to various learning styles —whether visual, auditory, or kinesthetic — ensuring that all students can grasp and retain information more effectively. The ability to integrate multimedia elements into lessons also makes learning more relatable and stimulating, increasing students’ motivation and participation.
Additionally, with platforms such as Office 365, students can collaborate on projects remotely, access learning materials at any time, and receive immediate feedback from their teachers. This flexibility creates a more student-centred approach to education, where learners are not confined to traditional classroom settings, but can instead engage with content in ways that best suit their individual learning needs.
While the advantages of technology in education are evident, its successful implementation depends heavily on teachers’ ability to use it effectively. Professional development initiatives such as the training facilitated by NCERD are vital in ensuring that educators are not left behind in this digital shift. Teachers who are confident in using technology can integrate it seamlessly into their pedagogical strategies, enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness in the classroom.
Further, digital tools alleviate many of the challenges teachers face, such as large class sizes and diverse learning needs. With technology, educators can personalise instruction, monitor student progress in realtime, and adapt their teaching methods based on data-driven insights. This not only improves student learning outcomes, but also enhances job satisfaction among teachers, as they can witness the tangible impact of their work more readily.
As Guyana continues its push towards digital transformation in education, it is imperative that efforts such as these are sustained and expanded. Investing in continuous professional development, ensuring access to technological infrastructure, and fostering a culture of digital literacy among educators and students would be key to achieving longterm success.
Education is the foundation of national development, and in an era where technology is transforming every sector, the education system must keep pace.
Receives over 300 reports of general abuse, not sexual abuse, on a monthly basis
Dear Editor, The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) wishes to clarify information shared during the opening of Sexual Awareness Month at Umana Yana.
During the address, a misstatement occurred regarding the reported frequency of sexual assault cases. To clarify, the SO&DVPU receives over 300 reports of general abuse on a monthly basis. Specifically, the yearly figure for reported sexual abuse cases exceeds 300.
We appreciate the opportunity to rectify this information and ensure accurate public understanding of the statistics related to abuse reporting.
The SO&DVPU remains committed to providing precise data and effective services to those affected by abuse.
Kind regards, Public Relations Department
One Communications needs a big revamp in customer service
Dear Editor,
Recent experiences with One Communications (OC), formerly GT&T, show that they need to revamp their Customer Service design to become more efficient and highly responsive when a customer is having poor service.
What they have now is a bad design that leads to poor customer service when you have a problem. I am not a cussing man, but this phone company pushes you to the brink. Others have told me the same. The poor service here shows that the Government needs to invite other providers who can offer a better Internet/phone service.
These folks may have changed their name, but their nature has not been changed. The service is still poor.
My Internet stopped working on Saturday morning, and OC said they don’t fix things on the weekend. That’s a bad design right there. They should change that. Have people on standby to do troubleshooting “24/7.”
Maybe their competitors should say, “We are not like the OC guys, we respond to you 24/7. We are there when you need us.”
So, name change and new billboards mean nothing if you are not designed to respond with utmost speed.
The OC guys said they would come on Monday, but they never came. When one stays home waiting for the OC guys to come and they never showed up, that’s a wasted day. That shows disrespect for the customer. PUC should make them
pay a day’s wages for “noshow.”
I also had a ticket number to speak to a supervisor; they said a supervisor would call within an hour. That call never came. When I called on Monday, the apparently young, inexperienced operator said they have a high call volume right now, someone will call you back. No one called back.
That seems to be a way to put you off, and your problem does not get solved.
When the reps do talk to you, they ask for all the info. you already gave them when you signed up for service. That’s a waste of time, when they designed their process like that, to ask for information already in their system. You would think they would ask you for your blood type next.
The worst part is they have a 3-question survey of how well they did. Do they ever think they would get a rating above zero if the customer’s issue has not been resolved?
My cellphone service is bad too. Sometimes you are in an area and you don’t get OC signal, but your friend with another company gets signal.
My thanks to Supervisor Rhonda, who did respond and got the technicians to visit. The Internet worked for 2 days, and is off again. So, I have contacted the PUC, since I cannot talk to a supervisor. This letter is free, honest, no-cost feedback to OC to revamp its customer service to stay competitive. Please listen.
Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall
Empowering educators: Teachers of schools in Leguan, Abram Zuil and Anna Regina received hands-on Smart Board & Office 365 training (Education Ministry photos)
Ruling on registration verification case
Chief Justice robustly defended people’s right to exercise franchise freely – Jagdeo
General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, says that Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George robustly defended persons’ right to vote when she ruled on Thursday there is no legal requirement for a Guyanese to be resident at a particular address in Guyana in order to be registered or to vote.
The decision was in relation to a case brought by Chief Scrutineer of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Carol Joseph, who had been seeking court orders to not only verify an address given when registering to vote, but also to prove the applicant has connection to that address.
In dismissing the case, the Chief Justice said Joseph was asking the court to violate the constitutional provisions that speak to citizens’ right to vote. She said a person cannot be removed from the voters’ list because no connection was established.
Speaking at his week-
ly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo said the ruling showed “…how robust she [Chief Justice] was in defending the right of people to exercise their franchise freely in accordance with the Constitution.”
Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Vice President, went on to lament what he described as an ‘ongoing saga’ by the PNCled A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition to disenfranchise Guyanese.
“Even as though they speak about democracy and
voters list, APNU is trying to take away people's rights to vote,” he posited. “[Their] core contention is that if they come to your address today, you're on the voters list and they can't find you there, you lose the right to vote. That is what they're saying to people… That is what APNU is trying to secure now; trying to steal people's right to vote… [But] the Chief Justice said no;
the Constitution is quite clear.”
According to the PPP General Secretary, this is what his party had cautioned against when they objected and pushed back against the Opposition’s insistence to introduce their version of biometrics into the voting process.
The Opposition has been advocating for the implementation of biometric fingerprint identification for voting in order to prevent voter fraud at the 2025 polls, which is slated for later this year – a proposal that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already rejected, citing the legal, technical, security and infrastructural challenges its implementation could pose in such a short time span.
“We argued that there are already biometrics on the list, but they wanted to give the determination
of your right to vote, they wanted to give that responsibility to 2,500 presiding officers; take it away from the Constitution of Guyana that protects all of us [and give it] to 2,500 presiding officers,” Jagdeo stated.
The General Secretary noted that while the PPP/C is willing to work with the Opposition, there needs to be a common platform, and elections rigging will have
no place on such a mechanism.
“You have to have a platform on which to work together…Two of the essential things that APNU needs to move away from before you can even start talking about a joint programme; not sharing positions, but joint programme: one, is their repudiation of rigging of elections and violence. We must condemn that. Even now, they can't move away from that. Look at what they are trying to do now…,” he declared.
“And the second precondition was stop the racism. Two things we said, if you can move publicly away from that, and we see it, then we can talk about a programme to work together for the interests of Guyana. But if you keep with those things, those are the defining things of your party…those are the defining characteristics,” Jagdeo posited.
12:05 Indian Movie - 14 Phere (2021) 14:05 Wheel of Fortune
14:30 The Fiarly Oddparents
15:00 When Calls the Heart S9 E5 16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Aljazeera 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Movie - King Richard (2021) 23:00 Yellowstone S5 E13
PNC’s Chief Scrutineer, Carol Joseph
Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George
Page Foundation
1. 5 in the number 7528 represents?
(A) 5
(B) 5000
(C) 500
(D) 50
2. Which is not a proper fraction?
(A) 7/5
(B) 7/10
(C) 7/15
(D) 7/20
3. 84 x 102 = (A) 840
(B) 8400
(C) 84,000
(D) 84
4. What operation undoes addition? (A) division
(B) subtraction
(C) addition
(D) multiplication
5. The unit for measuring time is the (A) kg
(B) m
(C) °C
(D) second
6. Which is the symbol for 'is a subset of? (A) (B) (C) (D)
7. If a dress that costs $3500 is discounted $500, what is the percentage of the discount?
(A) 14.3% (B)20.3% (C) 15.3% (D) 7.3%
8. (a) Divide 9.13 by 5.7 (b) Find the value of 44 x 6.9. Round your answer to the nearest whole number
By Olive SeniOr
Birdshooting season the men make marriages with their guns My father’s house turns macho as from far the hunters gather
All night long contentless women stir their brews: hot coffee chocolata, cerassie wrap pone and tie-leaf for tomorrow’s sport. Tonight the men drink white rum neat.
In darkness shouldering their packs, their guns, they leave
We stand quietly on the doorstep shivering. Little boys longing to grow up birdhunters too Little girls whispering: Fly Birds Fly.
Questions
1. Summarise the poem
2. What type of poem is it?
3. Describe the tone, mood, atmosphere, and persona
4. List two examples of imagery, metaphor/simile and all the figures of speech found in the poem
5. Describe how the poem makes you feel
6. Suggest an alternative title for the poem and
“Don’t panic… still room to discuss” – Jagdeo on US 38% reciprocal tariff on Guyana – oil, gold, aluminium exempted
Amidst unease over
the United States’ re-
cent imposition of a 38 percent reciprocal tariff on products from Guyana, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has assured of Government’s commitment to engaging the US Administration on this issue, and is urging local exporters not to panic.
“There is no need to panic or to get shrilled about this issue,” Jagdeo said to Guyanese exporters at his weekly press conference on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Global Reciprocal Tariffs will be imposed on a number of countries on all goods that the United States imports.
Guyana is among several Caribbean and South American countries on the list. The 38 percent tariff rate that would be applied to all local exports to the US is in response to a 76 percent tariff that Guyana has been listed as imposing on US products.
According to the Vice President, the Guyana Government would engage the US to show that there was no built-in discrimination to US products coming here.
“We do not put high tariffs or non-tariff barriers to US exports, so we’re look-
ing forward to having that (engagement) with the US Government. I want to assure all of our exporters that we’ll work with them. As we learn more of the issue, we will be meeting with them, working with them to ensure that they can continue to access the US market,” the VP explained.
Jagdeo noted that the Guyana Government would continue to support the business community to ensure that the welfare associated with the loss of economic output, such as jobs, is not affected.
The US’ reciprocal tariff carries exemptions on certain products, including the top three commodities that Guyana exports to the North American nation. Based on an Annex to the Executive Order signed by President Trump in instituting various percentages of tariffs on countries around the world, petroleum crude, aluminium ore and gold are exempted.
According to the Vice President, these are the highest exports to the US, with figures from 2024 showing that crude export totalled US$3.1 billion; aluminium exports totalled US$36.9 million, and gold exports totalled US$16.6 million.
Other major exports to the North American coun-
try include fish: at US$19 million; molasses, sugar and honey: at US$8.7 million; alcoholic beverages: at US$6.5 million; measuring/checking instruments: at US$5 million.
Room for discussion
Against this backdrop, the Vice President believes that there is room to work with the US Government on the reciprocal tariff that is slated to be instituted on Guyanese products from April 9, 2025.
“From what we looked at and all we have read, it seems as though all of the countries that have higher reciprocal tariffs are countries exporting more to the US than they are importing,” he explained.
However, Jagdeo pointed out that the UN Comtrade reports, which are submitted by each country, show there are discrepancies between the US figures and the Guyana figures.
In 2024, Guyana reported that it exported US$3.3 billion in products to the US while importing US$2.56 billion, leading to a surplus of $799 million. But the US report to UN Comtrade shows that Guyana exported US$5.5 billion in products to the US and imported only US$1.3 billion, leading to a surplus of over US$4 billion.
According to the Vice President, based on calculations, this excessive trade surplus, which has only been recorded in recent years, was used to calculate the tariffs.
“Clearly, there is room for us to work with the US partners to clarify this infor-
mation… We want to point out to the United States of America, because we have good import data, that we are importing much more from the [US] than what is reported by the US to the UN Comtrade system,” Jagdeo said.
The Vice President noted that a revision of these figures could lead to a “significant reduction” in the trade surplus. This could potentially see a reduction of the 38 percent tariff instituted on Guyana’s exports to the US.
Moreover, another negotiating factor to be used is the fact that Guyana’s largest export, crude, is being produced by two US oil majors: ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation, which are operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.
“Our trade surplus is largely because of our export of oil in the last four years… So, we can clearly make that case… I think there is still room to discuss a lot of these issues with the United States,” the VP stated. The Vice President went on to note that while Guyana and the US share strong ties, this reciprocal tariff is part of the Trump Administration’s policy to re-balance their trade, and is in no way a breakdown of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
“I see some people try to make it political, that Guyana alone facing this tariff and we are friends with the US…but this is their policy to rebalance their trade, and it applies to everyone, friend or foe,” Jagdeo contended.
PPP to create business opportunities for smaller investors – can invest in oil sector starting
with $50K
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has unveiled an ambitious plan to make the country’s booming oil and gas sector more accessible to small investors, with investments starting as low as $50,000. The announcement was made during the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference, where Jagdeo outlined several initiatives aimed at ensuring that ordinary citizens, particularly small business owners, can share in the wealth generated by the oil industry.
“We’ve identified at least three major business opportunities in the oil and gas sector that will be tailored specifically for small people in the economy,” Jagdeo stated. He emphasized that the goal is to provide smaller investors with a chance to participate in this lucrative sector by offering affordable investment opportunities. “Investments can start in increments of $50,000 or $100,000, giving regular people a chance to access business opportunities in a sector traditionally dominated by larger players.”
The Vice President explained that these initiatives are part of the broader goal to create more inclusive growth. The PPP administration wants to ensure that smaller, local businesses and individuals aren’t excluded from the country’s oil boom. He noted
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
that this initiative would involve “exclusive investment vehicles” for small-scale investors, keeping larger corporations and players out of these opportunities, which will allow for a more equitable distribution of wealth.
“This is a huge step forward,” said Jagdeo. “It’s something we’ve been discussing for a while now, and we’re now ready to move forward with the concrete steps necessary to make this happen. Small people too, small businesses—this is what we are focusing on.”
One of the key components of the PPP’s strategy to support small investors is a simplification of bureaucracy. Jagdeo emphasized that setting up and running small businesses in Guyana need to be easier, with a focus on reducing red tape. This includes simplifying processes
related to government permits, company incorporation, and even adjusting tax rates for small businesses to encourage growth.
“We need to create more opportunities for small businesses through public procurement and other government policies,” said Jagdeo. “We already have thousands of new contractors, but we’re going to expand that pool even more.”
Supporting small farmers and miners
Jagdeo also spoke about the government’s plans to support other small sectors, including agriculture and mining. He noted that small farmers, particularly those with limited land holdings, often struggle to grow wealth from their land due to insufficient support. He pointed out that the government is work-
ing on policies that will provide these small farmers with additional support and access to new opportunities.
For example, the government is examining ways to assist farmers with access to new land, particularly land that has been reclaimed and drained to avoid flooding. The government’s plan to build two large drainage canals in Berbice will help address these issues by draining tens of thousands of acres of previously unusable land. “These are lands that have been unoccupied for a long time. Now, they will be opened up
for distribution to farmers, especially small farmers,” Jagdeo said.
“There are complaints from small farmers about leasing government land. They say that the people leasing the land to them – often living abroad – are charging them $40,000 per year to lease an acre, which cuts into their profits,” Jagdeo explained.
He stressed that the government is addressing this issue by reducing lease rates and opening up more land for cultivation.
With new drainage canals in the works, Jagdeo believes this initiative will dramatically increase the availability of arable land for small farmers, further boosting the sector and creating new opportunities for growth.
Small miners, too, are a focus of the government’s development efforts. Jagdeo acknowledged that many small miners face challenges related to recovery rates and access to land, and he assured that the government is working to address these issues by improving infrastructure for miners and giving them better access to land.
Labourer slapped with attempting to obstruct justice charge
Tyrone Tyrese Tryell of Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2 (PomeroonSupenaam) appeared on Wednesday before Suddie
Magistrate Tamieka Clarke to answer a charge of attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The court heard that, on March 30, the 20-year-old la-
bourer attempted to remove motorcycle CK 5817 from Police Headquarters at Anna Regina while it was being held as an exhibit in a case in which he is the accused.
His actions were deemed to be in violation of Section 330 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01, and he has been slapped with a charge of attempting to obstruct justice.
Tryell was initially not required to plead to the charge, but after the prosecution had successfully applied to have the matter disposed of under the Administration of Justice
Act (AJA), the charge was reread to Tryell, and he pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Clarke has placed him on $250,000 bail, and adjourned the case to April 17.
Welcome…
…to the real world
Well…well…well!! Here it was your Eyewitness thought we and the Yanks were besties in the wake of Secty of State Marco Rubio’s effusive comments after his visit to our dear ole Mudland!! Apart from channelling Dirty Harry to warn off Mad Maduro“It’s gonna be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana” – he praised us to the sky!! “There’s no other place with the kind of horizons you have over the next five to ten years! We’re neighbours, we’ll always be neighbours, and we want to build on that partnership in a way that’s mutually beneficial.”
But your Eyewitness is reeling from Pres Trump’s announcement that our exports to the US will now be hit with a “reciprocal tariff” of 38%!! “GUYANA” was smack in the middle of the America’s “Day of Liberation” chart of countries accused of slapping tariffs on American imports!! The chart declared we were applying 78% tariffs on their goods, so whatever goods we export to the US will now have a 38% markup to US customers, since importers certainly ain’t gonna swallow their govt’s tariff, which they have to cough up!! The said customers would almost certainly then buy less of our exported goods, and we won’t earn as much of the greenbacks as we need to run our economy!! Not good…not good at all from a friend!!
But hey!! Pres Trump did warn us about this move, and he wasn’t just picking on us. Even Britain - which for a century had a “special relationship” - had tariffs slapped on their exports to America. But the second thought that hit your Eyewitness – after the shock of seeing us on the list –was “what the heck do we import from the US that we slap on a 78% tariff??” With Google at his fingertips, he saw that out of US$2.57 billion imports during 2024, right on top of the list for 2024 were “machinery, boilers - $705.8M; mineral fuels, oils, distillation products - $558.05M; articles of iron or steel - $353.96M; electrical, electronic equipment $217.84M; aircraft, spacecraft - $86.19M; optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus - $76.24M!! So, did the equipment for the Wales gas-to-shore power plant earn a 78% tariff? But since we’re taking a US$526 million loan from the US ExIm Bank to pay for the said machinery, why would we slap a tariff on top of the price?? Doesn’t make sense!!
Then there’re the petroleum products like gasolene etc. The Government has assured us it’s been trying to keep down the cost of these products - and as a matter of fact, has REDUCED taxes on them. Doesn’t make sense again!!
Did we slap tariffs on US fish for banning our Gillbacker? …pipsqueak
So, what do we export to the US that’s gonna now cost 38% more? Back to old, reliable Google – while your old-fashioned Eyewitness gets used to Microsoft AI “copilot”, which he studiously avoids. Trust issues!! Now, on top of THAT list of US$3.37 billion “Exports to United States in 2024” was $3.18 billion of petroleum products!! That’s the oil ExxonMobil ships from our Stabroek Block to its Louisiana refineries!! Since Trump’s goal is to get gas prices down at the pumps, is he gonna slap a 38% tariff on Exxon’s oil??
On the matter of that Gillbacker ban, under the category of “Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatics invertebrates”, we ship in a mere US$22.27 million of Banga Mary, Snapper, Snook etc, along with white-belly shrimp that qualifies in the “crustaceans” category!! Guess those Guyanese who live in Reg 11 – documented and undocumented! - gonna have to dig deeper in their pockets.
Your Eyewitness thought that “wood” might be big, but that’s a mere $7.1M - compared with $19M “aircraft and spacecraft”!!
…to doublespeak
The GHRA’s bawling about alleged “attacks” by the PPP government against it and other NGOs - because they’ll be reviewing the funding of such organizations.
Isn’t the PPP merely following its democratic model in the US Govt??
Tyrone Tyrese Tryell
Misconduct charge
Jagdeo slams PNC's ‘malicious’ claims, says APNU/AFC's land deal was blatantly illegal
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has weighed in on the misconduct court case involving former Finance Minister Winston Jordan and the alleged “illegal” transfer of land worth millions of dollars shortly before the March 2020 General Elections.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo strongly pushed back against claims being made by the opposition People's National Congress (PNC) party that the charge is “malicious”. Pointing instead to what he described as clear evidence of illegality, he explained that the agreement signed by the APNU/AFC administration stipulated that the land was to be sold for $150 million, and the purchaser was expected to make a 10 percent deposit.
However, only $2.4 million was paid, but Jordan nonetheless signed the vesting order handing over the land to the private company.
“What actually took place… there was an agreement signed by APNU to sell the land at $150 million. The agreement says you have to make a deposit of 10%; so, that's $15 million…Jordan then signed a vesting order transferring the property to the company and they only paid $2.4 million. Now, you can only vest a property or give transport or title upon the full payment, not the 10% deposit, that's a law; but the full payment of $150 million. He did not even collect the $15 million for the deposit. He transferred the land through a vesting order to the ownership of the company. Now they own the land. That is illegal. So that was the issue. It had nothing to do with valuation,” Jagdeo said.
The Vice President’s criticism came on the heels of Jordan being once again slapped with charges for misconduct in public office.
The charge, brought by the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), alleges that Jordan signed Vesting Order #69 of 2020, transferring the land at Plantation Goedverwagting and Sparendaam to a private company for just $2.4 million despite the property’s estimated market value of $150 million. The transfer occurred during a politically sensitive period — between February 25 and
June 11, 2020 — when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government was operating in a caretaker capacity following the December 2019 no-confidence motion.
The Vice President also used the opportunity to revisit previous allegations of land mismanagement un-
der the former administration, accusing them of engaging in a broader pattern of misconduct during their final months in office.
“There are several others… where this happened…. Now, you think if you transfer the Government ownership, then the person owns the land. They have the ti-
tle for the land now, and you know title confers some certain rights. So that is what he did here. And so, it wasn't malicious. In fact, he did this. This was the order of the day. I can go back and point it out. All the illegal things they did with land, but they don't want us to talk about that now,” he explained.
Jordan, who appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, was not required to enter a plea, given that the charge is indictable.
He was represented by attorneys Roysdale Forde and Dawn Holder-Cush, who argued that Jordan poses no flight risk and has
consistently complied with court procedures in previous legal matters. They also referenced a previous similar charge that was dismissed, suggesting the current charge may be politically motivated.
The court has granted Jordan $150,000 bail, and the matter has been adjourned to April 23.
“Let the AFC go to 2025 elections alone, prove its worth” – Charrandas tells Norton
Former executive member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Charandas Persaud, in proffering a word of advice to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has suggested that that party should refrain from coalescing with the Alliance for Change to contest the 2025 General and Regional Elections of 2025, and instead let the AFC contest alone and prove its worth before any alliance is formed.
APNU and AFC are deadlocked over power-sharing terms, and Persaud is querying what APNU would gain by conceding to the demands of the AFC. In a statement released on Sunday, the AFC has requested a 40-60 power-sharing split with APNU, while reports have indicated that APNU countered with 30-70 ratio.
Persaud is arguing that 30 percent is even more than AFC deserves, given its declining electoral influence.
“What can the AFC give you? They want 40 percent, you are suggesting 30 [percent]…even if they agree to the 30, [that is] way more than they could ever dream
of getting in Parliament as far as seats are concerned. Why are you doing that?” the former Parliamentarian queried.
Addressing APNU leader Aubrey Norton, Persaud urged the party to let AFC prove its relevance before forming any alliance. Directing his comments at Aubrey Norton, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which is the largest faction in APNU, Persaud urged that the APNU let AFC prove its relevance before forming any alliance.
“Let the AFC campaign on their own. let them show what kind of clout they have. If they get any seat in Parliament, then you and the AFC, as Opposition, can become an effective Opposition,” Persaud has said.
Persaud has warned that APNU risks alienating its support base by conceding too much to the AFC. He said, “Do not sell the PNC votes to the AFC. People will not vote for AFC, they will vote for the PNCR…you are going to upset a lot of the
young PNC supporters; does not have a lot of young supporters…Let the AFC run by themselves. Allow the party to show if they have any kind of clout, and then be an effective Opposition.”
Persaud, an AFC MP in 2011 and 2015, broke ranks in 2018 by casting the deci sive no-confidence vote that toppled the APNU+AFC government.
Persaud has spoken openly about how he became disenchanted with the AFC during his time as a parlia mentarian, after the party lost its way over the years and had compromised its in tegrity.
He maintains the AFC has not changed, predicting it would struggle to win even three seats in 2025, and has also raised concerns over the role of AFC leader Nigel Hughes in the 2019–2020 election crisis, when the APNU+AFC government delayed both the election and the results.
“The AFC has self-destructed… I’ve said that so many times… they will not even make three seats in Parliament,” Persaud has
Persaud is a for mer Alliance For Change member and a former Parliamentarian under the previous Coalition Administration. He rose to prominence following his “yes vote” on a PPP/Csponsored no-confidence motion against the APNU/AFC government on the night of December 21, 2018. He had immediately departed Guyana for Canada on the night the coalition government was toppled, out of fear for his life, after he had received death threats.
SOCU disrupts another major gold smuggling operation; over $60M in cash, gold seized
Acting on intelligence received, officers of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on Thursday intercepted an alleged gold smuggling operation in Georgetown, and detained two Brazilians, a Cuban and a Guyanese. SOCU officers have also seized gold valued in excess of $30 million, more than $31
million in Guyana currency, and a quantity of electronic equipment.
This latest bust follows a similar enforcement action conducted on March 5 at Lethem in Region 9, where two persons have been arrested. The four persons are currently assisting with investigations.
Charrandas Persaud
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton
AFC Leader Nigel Hughes
Pres Ali receives Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation
resident Dr Irfaan
PAli has been awarded the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation for 2024.
The University of California, Berkeley on Thursday presented the award to President Ali at the NASA Ames Research Centre, where the Berkeley Innovation Forum 2025 is currently underway.
The Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation is conferred upon distin-
Govt
guished political leaders, reformers, statesmen, and business figures who have played a pivotal role in national and global economic growth. Past recipients include former U.S. President Barack Obama (2016), Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen (2014), and Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Patricia Scotland (2022).
President Ali has been recognized for his visionary leadership, particularly
in environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth. Under his stewardship, Guyana has advanced its role in global environmental conservation through innovative carbon trading mechanisms and strides made towards establishing an International Centre for Biodiversity in collaboration with Yale, Harvard, and Oxford universities. These efforts aim to create a stable and attractive marketplace for carbon
won’t let bureaucrats act like “little lords”, stall development – VP
ice President Bharrat
VJagdeo has issued a strong warning to bureaucrats and public officials, whom he says are hindering government services and frustrating citizens through inefficiency and unaccountability.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Jagdeo made it clear that Government would not tolerate public servants acting like “little lords” by arbitrarily making decisions that negatively impact people’s access to essential services.
According to Jagdeo, some officials in various regions have displayed attitudes that are inconsistent with the Government’s vision of effective and people-centred governance.
“I’ve had to speak to some people on the ground about their attitude. And so let me say that again here - this is a party’s press conference - that these officials in many of the regions, etc., they sometimes…behave like little lords…that that’s not tolerated. They show no humility in the exercise of their functions or their jobs,” the Vice President has said.
Jagdeo emphasized that all Government officials, whether or not they personally support the party, must treat citizens fairly and with respect, even if they are unable to meet every demand.
On this point, he highlighted public assistance and
National
Insurance Scheme (NIS) services as two areas where bureaucratic interference had caused unnecessary distress. Noting that some public servants had removed eligible individuals, including persons with disabilities, from public assistance programmes without any directive from the government, the Vice President explained that such actions have led to significant hardships for many vulnerable citizens, forcing them to appeal their cases after being unfairly removed.
“There’s been no instruction whatsoever for that to happen. I’ll just give one example of the numerous things I face when I go out. And the same thing with NIS issues. These are two things that I’ve encountered a lot, where, contrary to the policy of the Government, people don’t implement it in a fair manner or in a help-
credits, positioning Guyana as a leader in sustainability initiatives.
Domestically, President Ali has prioritised economic inclusivity, implementing policies that have bolstered household disposable incomes and mitigated the effects of global cost-of-living challenges. His administration has also introduced targeted support programmes for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, small business owners, dialysis patients, and Indigenous communi-
Regionally, President Ali has been instrumental in strengthening the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
As Chairman of Caricom, he has championed a Haitian-led resolution to the crisis in Haiti, advocating for regional cooperation and stability through collaborative dialogue.
ful manner. So, I want to make it clear that these things must not happen, attitude-wise,” Jagdeo said. While addressing these governance concerns, Jagdeo reaffirmed that the PPP/C government remains committed to ensuring that public servants adhere to policies designed to improve the lives of citizens. He warned that officials who fail to comply would be held accountable.
One of President Ali’s initiatives, Silica City, has been lauded for its innovative approach to urban development. Designed as a smart city integrating advanced technology and sustainable practices, Silica City aims to enhance residents’ quality of life while serving as a global model for environmental conservation and technological integration.
The project represents a bold vision for harmonizing technology and nature through innovative energy solutions, waste management systems, and urban planning.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali, along with officials of the University of California, Berkeley
Berbicians urged to participate in ICT training initiatives
The Industry and Innovation Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister, has been providing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training in all ten administrative regions, aimed at equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge to effectively use and manage technology for information handling and communication, encompassing hardware, software, and related applications.
The unit has been running several programmes to achieve that objective.
Outreach Officer with the Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) Unit, Keisha Hamad, says that programmes have been held in different communities, with the next billed at Sandvoot, West Canje. That programme starts on Monday and goes until Thursday from 16:00h to 18:00h each day.
There, persons will be exposed to basic ICT, which, according to Hamad, is vital in
today’s technological world.
“The ICT training it’s basically a basic training for persons who may not have any prior knowledge to operate on the computer and so forth. So what we aim to do is to teach those persons the basics in it. We teach you hardware, software, storage; we touch a little bit on AI and cyber-security, and our main focus is on three applications: the Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. We teach you how to create the slide in PowerPoint; we teach you all the designs animations in Word Microsoft Word; we teach you how to write a letter; we teach you different fonts and size, and so, that you can use when writing a letter. And in Excel we teach you basic calculations and how you can go about preparing an excel sheet; maybe a budget and so forth; we teach you basic formulas, and those kind of things,” Hamad explained. Anyone over 14-years-old
can apply for training. Hamad said they have had up persons to 79-years-old applying and benefiting from the training. She explained how vital the knowledge gained from the four-day programmes being held countrywide is, as it equips persons with the skills to effectively function in a technology driven world.
“We recognise the need for this basic training, because we understand that a lot of persons may not have had the
experience or may not have had the opportunity to learn these as a child or, you know, in their adult age, because of circumstances; persons would not have had the opportunity, and with how our country, and the world in fact, is heading to a digital landscape, there we are evolving technologically; we recognize that [with] everything, you need to have some sort of computer skill: you go to the bank, you go to the ATM, as simple as going to the air-
port now, and all these initiatives that we have implemented in the country[are because] persons have to have some sort of ICT skills,” she added.
Following the training at the Sandvoort Primary School next week, Baracara will be next, followed by the Black Bush Polder, Maida-Tarlogy NDC area; Number 52 Village and Albion during the month of May.
The training is free and computers are provided for
persons to receive their training.
“It’s from the government of Guyana, and we would like as much persons to benefit as possible. We are coming to your area, we are providing the necessary resources in terms of the computers, we will be bringing those. So, even if you don’t have a computer you don’t have to stay away, we will provide that for you to do the practicals with,” Hamad pointed out.
ICT training at Fort Ordnance
Reg 6 agriculture, industry see production increases
...Better yield for Black Bush Polder rice farmers than rest of Berbice – Region 6 Chairman
Rice farmers in the Black Bush Polder are getting a better yield when compared with other rice farmers in Region Six East BerbiceCorentyne). This is according to Regional Chairman David Armogan as he presented the region’s agriculture report to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday, where he also presented the fishery and sugar sectors’ reports..
Region Six is currently experiencing a robust cultivation of rice, with approx-
imately 72,000 acres under rice cultivation. Harvesting is currently taking place.
According to Armogan, the Black Bush Polder, where about 20,000 acres are under rice cultivation, about 83 percent has been harvested, and an estimated 65 percent harvested elsewhere in the region. In the Black Bush Polder the yield is about 42 bags per acre, while elsewhere in the region it is about 38 bags per acre.
“So in Black Bush, you are getting better yields
that in the front land areas. With the heavy rains, some of the dams are in a bad state, but we are working on them to ensure that all of the paddy can come out of the fields in a timely manner, so that nothing is left in the field.”
Focusing his attention of the fishery sector, Armogan noted that production has been on the increase.
“Especially the shrimp industry, whereby a lot of shrimp is being exported. I noticed that the US has now put on a 38 percent tariff on exports coming out of Guyana. That would make our products more expensive in America. We don’t know as yet how that will affect the exports of our agricultural produce coming out of Guyana,” the Chairman said.
Meanwhile, the two grinding sugar estates in the region are set to surpass their targets. With the
sugar crop expected to last another six weeks, both the Rosehall and Albion sugar estates have been having a good crop so far.
Albion has a projection target of 14,886 tonnes for this crop, while Rosehall has a target of 7,418 tonnes.
“Rosehall continues to do well with their production and Albion too is doing well at the moment,
and so we should be able to make very close to the target in terms of sugar production. In terms of other crops, NAREI [National Agricultural Research Extension Institute] has been distributing plants to farmers within the various communities within the region, to ensure that plants are readily available for farmers do their farming,” Armogan noted.
He pointed out that the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) extension officers have been visiting livestock farmers to ensure that their animals are healthy. “So that when the meat is killed it is fit for the market place. So, all of the agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture has been working,” Armogan noted.
Some 83 per cent paddy has been harvested in Black Bush Polder
Albion and Rose Hall Estates continue to do well
US 38% reciprocal tariffs on Guyana Former Commerce Minister urges PSC to exercise caution in public statements
Former Minister of Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, who also served as Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), has advised the organization to adopt a more measured approach when issuing public statements on economic and trade matters in light of the United States's 38% reciprocal tariffs on Guyana.
In a statement, the former minister urged the PSC to avoid making "knee-jerk, rash, and ill-advised state-
ments" without conducting thorough studies and consultations. He emphasized the importance of carefully analyzing issues and sharing relevant information with sectoral and corporate members before taking a position.
"Let this be discussed at length with the Finance and Economic Subcommittee of the PSC, as well as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and other stake-
holders," he stated.
The former minister also stressed the need for collaboration with government agencies, particularly the ministries of Finance and Foreign Trade, to gain a comprehensive understanding of economic and trade implications. He suggested that, if necessary, a meeting at the highest level should be pursued to address the matter tactfully.
Guyana is on a list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs from the United States (US), a measure that if implemented could see the cost of doing business increase, has resulted in the Government of Guyana reaching out to its partners in the US, seeking answers.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced Global
Reciprocal Tariffs that will be implemented against a number of countries, on all goods that the United States imports. Guyana is among several Caribbean and South American countries on the list.
According to a chart the US President read from, Guyana will have a 38 per cent reciprocal tariff rate applied to its exports to the US, in response to the 76 per cent tariff that Guyana was listed as imposing on US products.
In an invited comment, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh indicated that they are in contact with their American partners on the issue.
“The Government of Guyana has taken note of the reciprocal tariffs announced by the US Government earlier today. Our government is closely engaged with our US partners to better understand the issue and have it addressed as appropriate,” Dr Singh said.
Former Minister of Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad
PSC Chairman Komal Singh
Former cop jailed for 12 years over brutal attack on family
Facing four counts of attempted murder and four counts of felonious wounding in the Demerara High Court of Justice Damone Younge, former police rank Sean Fordyce opted to plead guilty to the charges, and has thus been sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment: 10 years for the attempted murder charges and 12 years for the felonious wounding charges.
The court has, however, ordered that the terms be served concurrently, and as such, Fordyce would be subjected to 12 years’ incarceration.
Defence attorney Ronald Bostwick had asked the court to meet Fordyce’s guilty pleas with a measure of mercy. However, state prosecutor Muntaz Ali, highlighting the prevalence of domestic violence and the necessity that deterrent sentences be imposed, had described Fordyce’s actions as a near-massacre, and had urged the court to impose a harsh sentence.
He stressed that not only had the attack been premeditated, but it had also been mercilessly executed by Fordyce against his own family.
During the sentencing, Justice Younge reflected on the gruesome nature of the assault and its devastating impact on the vic-
tims. She disclosed that she had initially considered a 16-year sentence, but had made deductions after reviewing probation and prison reports which painted Fordyce as a quiet inmate who had not caused any trouble behind bars.
The court heard that Fordyce had dropped out of school due to financial constraints, had no formal training, and had not participated in any rehabilitation programmes.
Justice Younge noted that while Fordyce reportedly had expressed remorse for his actions and had claimed he had never intended to harm his wife, ‘whom he love’, his actions spoke otherwise.
Defence attorney Ronald Bostwick, in his final plea, asked the court to consider that his client had neither wasted the court’s time nor caused the victims to endure the trauma of reliving the attack through a trial.
He argued that Fordyce, whom he said had come from a loving family, had been viewed positively in his community before the incident; and that even his wife Dorothy had once admitted that she was shocked by his behaviour that night.
Bostwick contended that his client was not a bad man, but had commit-
ted a terrible act under circumstances he himself did not fully understand. He emphasized that Fordyce, now 55, could still benefit from structured rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
Impact
Statements
The victims' impact statements tendered in court also painted a harrowing picture of their suffering.
Magistrate Wanda Fortune, in an emotional statement, recalled the trauma of witnessing her mother’s skull exposed and believing her family would perish that night.
Donette spoke of years of nightmares, the physical pain she continues to endure, and the cruel taunts she faced from people who mocked her disability, calling her "one hand."
Her mother Dorothy said she “has no feelings for Fordyce”, and could never forget the pain he inflicted on her and her daughters. She accused him of attempting to kill her twoyear-old granddaughter, and said the attack had changed their lives forever.
Latoya Wilson, the other victim, revealed that she had spent years hiding her scars, ashamed of the visible reminders of the attack. She described the incident as an unforgivable act, and
Essequibo Coast driver fined $180,000 for DUI, other traffic offences
Kellim Benjamin, a 29-year-old driver from Lima Sand on the Essequibo Coast, was on Wednesday fined $180,000 after pleading guilty before Suddie Magistrate Tamieka Clarke to contravening three sections of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. The court was told that police intercepted Benjamin on January 25 as he drove a vehicle on the Anna Regina Access Road while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. Thus, the charge he faced for this offence was laid under section 39(A)(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Act 17/2022.
Further checks done by the police revealed that Benjamin was not a licensed driver, and was operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Thus, appropriate charges were laid against him for contravening Section 23(1) and Section 11 of the said Act.
Benjamin had pleaded not guilty as charged in his initial arraignment in court, but on Wednesday he changed his plea to guilty. He has thus been fined $150,000 for driving under the influence, with a default penalty of three months' imprisonment.
For the charge of unlicensed driving, he has been fined $20,000, with a default penalty of one month’s imprisonment; and for the charge of operating an unregistered motor vehicle, he has been fined $10,000, with a default penalty of two weeks' imprisonment.
expressed her ongoing fear that Fordyce might return to harm her.
Sorrow and gratitude
Given opportunity to speak, Sean Fordyce expressed 'sorrow and gratitude’, stating that he deeply regretted the pain he caused, and assuring the court that there would never be a recurrence of such an incident.
However, prosecutor Ali countered that Fordyce’s remorse did not erase the severity of his crimes. He underscored that Fordyce had not only fled the scene, but had also attempted to manipulate the judicial process even after his arrest.
Judge’s ruling
In her final ruling, Justice Younge noted that the crime involved a dangerous weapon, and had left multiple victims permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally. She emphasized that the attack had not only been an act of domestic violence, but had also been an attempt to slaughter an en-
tire family.
While considering the time Fordyce had already spent in prison, she ultimately sentenced him to 10 years for felonious wounding and 12 years for attempted murder, and ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
RECAP
The brutal attack, which nearly claimed the lives of Fordyce’s then-wife, Dorothy Fordyce, and her children, occurred on the night of August 1, 2013.
Dorothy Fordyce was preparing to leave her home in Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara when Fordyce confronted her with the assertion that she was not allowed to go. Moments later, as she stepped outside with her children and grandchild, he doused her with dirty water and ominously declared, "I gon' finish tonight! I gon' finish tonight!!"
In the next instant, he brandished a 20-inch cutlass from his waist and swung the blade at Dorothy, hacking into her shoulder,
face and head.
Dorothy’s daughter Latoya Wilson, who attempted to shield her child from the attack, suffered multiple slashes across her head, neck, back and hands, but the two-year-old child she was holding managed to escape with injuries.
In a desperate attempt to defend herself, Dollette Fordyce, then 12, sustained deep wounds, including one that nearly severed her wrist.
Wanda Fortune, daughter of Dorothy Fordyce and now a magistrate, was also attacked as she fled to a neighbour’s house, almost naked and bleeding from deep lacerations she had sustained.
After this attack, Sean Fordyce fled the scene and remained on the run for over two years, until his capture on October 20, 2015.
Even after his arrest, he attempted to pervert the course of justice by offering financial compensation to one of the victims in exchange for halting legal proceedings.
Kellim Benjamin
July completion for 1st 25 Yarrowkabra Homestead Programme units
The first 25 homes under the Government’s Homestead Programme are set to be completed by July 22 at Yarrowkabra, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Construction is progressing on the first low-income homes under the government’s Homestead Programme, as Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, conducted a site visit on Wednesday to inspect ongoing works.
The 20-foot-by-30-foot houses under construction by DuraVilla Homes would feature two bedrooms, one bathroom, a patio, and a kitchenette. These homes are part of the Government’s initiative to assist single mothers. The project would eventually see 500 homes being built across 100 acres.
Speaking with reporters, Minister Croal ex-
pressed satisfaction with the progress thus far, and revealed that the road network, covering 800 metres of concrete, is being developed by nine contractors.
“The first 25 homes have begun. As you can see, they are currently working on the foundations; and
once that’s completed, they will move on to the prefab stages. By and large, the land clearance for the homes has already been completed, which is why construction has now commenced. We have also started a new well for this area,” he revealed.
“The final aspect of what
Plans advancing for regional ferry service – Caricom
Approximately one year after plans had been announced in regard to the establishment of an inter-regional ferry service that would connect Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, Caricom officials have revealed that plans are still being advanced for this service to be launched.
These plans are being spearheaded by Caricom Heads of Government who are prioritizing the development of the passenger/cargo regional ferry service, and this information was revealed by Caricom officials in a recent exclusive interview with Guyana Times
In regard to the necessary regulatory and operational systems to facilitate the service, Caricom officials have disclosed, “The necessary regulatory and operational systems to facilitate the service are being put in place. This includes establishing the Board of Directors of CARI-CARGO, acquiring an appropriate vessel, and developing a harmonised approach to vehicle insurance across different jurisdictions.”
It has also been disclosed that the TT vessel Galleon Passage is being reviewed as part of the process of identifying an appropriate vessel to undertake the task, and that this initiative would enjoy priority support, particularly in regard to the movement of food across the region in line with efforts to bolster food
and nutrition security in the Caribbean.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had, in October 2024, relayed that trials were ongoing in Trinidad for the launching of the inter-ferry regional service. He had mentioned then of being optimistic that the service would soon be operational, since the board had already been formed, and he had expressed hope of getting an expected commencement date from the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) during that time.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali had by then already revealed that, from Guyana’s end, the vessel would operate out of Parika in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).
The Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet has approved the use of the Galleon Passage vessel to operate the ferry service. The vessel can accommodate 400 passengers and 60 cars. Among its onboard facilities are a cafeteria, a bar, and a VIP lounge.
CariCargo Incorporated, the company that would be operating the service, has been incorporated in Guyana. It comprises directors from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.
Intra-regional transport
The difficulty in transporting agricultural goods and people intra-regionally remains a major one of the many challenges iden-
tified by Caricom Heads of Government in their goal to reduce the regional food bill by 25 percent by 2025, as outlined in their ‘25 by 2025’ initiative.
Each country’s position on this issue, along with the commitment of each minister from the respective CARICOM states, emphasizes their dedication to implementing the transportation system, while promoting regional food security without compromising public health, security, and safety.
It has been determined that Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana are on the verge of forming a company to drive the process of introducing the regional ferry service.
An inspection of the Galleons Passage in Port of Spain was conducted in early 2024 by ministers and technical officials, followed by discussions on other important aspects of the proposal, such as plant quarantine, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters, and immigration and customs procedures for the movement of people and goods for trade. A system for pre-clearance was also proposed for implementation.
A team of technical officials from Trinidad and Tobago visited Guyana and Barbados to inspect port infrastructure and ensure it can accommodate the proposed ferry service.
we’re doing is the development of internal roads, for which we’ve already awarded contracts worth about $163 million. Everything is progressing simultaneously, and while we faced some initial setbacks, the contractor has already shipped the necessary materials required for the homes.”
Despite minor setbacks, Minister Croal expressed satisfaction with the progress. He emphasized that work is continuing to ensure
essential infrastructure, including water supply and road networks, is in place.
He also mentioned that things would progress smoothly from here on out.
"Moving forward, everything will move quickly. We already have a list of potential beneficiaries, and we are engaging them to proceed with the prequalification process," Croal disclosed.
The minister has described the project's innovative aspects as a "win-win" scenario for everyone involved. "We now have over 30 workers here, and as the project expands, that number will increase. It will also benefit those from nearby communities, and contractors who are mainly from the vicinity of the highway and the East Bank. This is part of the economic generation that comes with construction and infrastructure development. The final beneficiaries will be the ultimate winners."
Meanwhile, the ministry has begun engaging potential beneficiaries to begin the prequalification process,
while construction of a new well is underway to provide potable water to residents. Government aims to replicate this model across the country, pending the project's success.
The $6 billion Homestead Project was unveiled by the Government in August 2024. Under the project, each house would be equipped with coconut or breadfruit trees in the front yard and a 20-foot-by-40foot shade house at the rear, allowing single mothers to cultivate crops for income generation and loan repayment. The homesteads would also incorporate solar energy to reduce electricity costs. The project is being executed in a collaboration between the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministries of Housing and Water, Agriculture, Human Services and Social Security, and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. At the recent site visit, Minister McCoy emphasized that the administration would continue to deliver on its promises to the public.
GGDMA donates vehicle, equipment to small-scale miner
Small-scale miner
Sherwin McAlmont on Wednesday received a D-MAX 150 off-road motorbike along with two fourinch dredge engines from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to help facilitate his return to mining.
McAlmont, who requested assistance to help get back into mining after suffering a series of setbacks and difficulties, has returned to his business. He explained that he had suffered a series of losses, and needed some assistance to restart his operation at 14 Mile.
A small handing-over ceremony was held on Wednesday during the GGDMA’s Open Day, and when GGDMA President Ronaldo Alphonso and members of the Executive Committee met
with McAlmont, Alphonso relayed that this Open day provides all miners with an opportunity to engage directly with the association to discuss mining-related concerns, seek guidance, and access support.
Adding that it is the mission of the GGDMA to assist miners to get back into operation and to help maintain and improve the mining sector in Guyana, Alphonso noted that it is very heartening when a small-scale miner can move up to being a medium scale miner as a natural evolution.
Pointing out that the majority of the executives had started as small miners, Alphonso declared, “We understand the difficulties small miners face, and we will continue to support them in any way we can.”
McAlmont thanked the
GGDMA for the assistance, and reiterated his commitment to keeping detailed books and paying all royalties and taxes due to the Government.
Alphonso said the GGDMA was pleased to assist McAlmont and provide him with the necessary tools to resume his mining operations.
The GGDMA has said that the main purpose of the Open Day is to assist miners with issues that are affecting them and their ability to advance in the industry. When the issues are raised, the association would review and offer assistance where it is appropriate.
The GGDMA has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting miners and fostering the growth of Guyana’s mining sector.
A section of the project where works are being done
Officials from the GGDMA providing a D-MAX 150 Off-Road Motorbike along with two four-inch dredge engines to small-scale miner Sherwin McAlmont
Around the World
OIL NEWS
OPEC+ unexpectedly speeds up oil output hikes, oil drops
Eight OPEC+ countries unexpectedly agreed on Thursday to advance their plan to phase out oil output cuts by increasing output by 411,000 barrels per day in May, a decision that prompted oil prices to extend earlier sharp losses.
Oil, which was already down over 4% on U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on trading partners, extended declines after OPEC updated its plans in a statement, with Brent crude dropping over 6% to below $70 a barrel.
Eight members of OPEC+, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, had been scheduled to raise output by 135,000 barrels per day in May as part of a plan to gradually unwind their most recent layer of output cuts.
But after a meeting of the eight countries held online on Thursday, the group announced it would boost output by 411,000 bpd in May. OPEC cited “continuing healthy market fundamentals and the positive market outlook.”
“This comprises the increment originally planned for May in addition to two monthly increments,” OPEC said in a statement referring to the volume. “The gradual increases may be paused or reversed subject to evolving market conditions.”
The increase will reduce fears arising from any disruption to Iranain supply as Trump restores maximum pressure on Tehran, also an OPEC member. The U.S. President, who has called on OPEC to lower prices since starting his second term, may visit Saudi Arabia as soon as next month.
The May hike is the next increment of a plan agreed by Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman to gradually unwind their most recent output cut of 2.2 million bpd, which came into effect this month. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Trump Administration sued over Chinese import tariffs
New Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, on Thursday filed what it said was the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, alleges that Trump lacked the legal authority to impose the sweeping April 2 tariffs as well as duties authorized on February 1 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
White House representatives did not immedi-
Caribbean countries respond to sweeping US tariffs
Caribbean countries were on Thursday sizing up the magnitude of the sweeping tariffs announced by United States President Donald Trump on their respective economies, with some indicating that they would be seeking to hold talks with Washington on reducing the impact of the new taxes.
Trump on Wednesday announced far-reaching new tariffs on nearly all US trading partners, ranging from a 34 per cent tax on imports from China and 20 per cent on the European Union, among others, in a move economists and other traders say is designed to dismantle much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars.
In the case of the Caribbean, Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff on most regional countries, while in the case of Guyana, the tariff is as high as 38 per cent.
Trump said that the tariffs were designed to boost domestic manufacturing.
The Guyana government said it is engaging the United States on the 38 per cent reciprocal tariffs, with Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh saying “the government of Guyana has taken note of the reciprocal tariffs
announced by the US government… our Government is closely engaged with our US partners to better understand the issue and have it addressed as appropriate”.
The Trinidad and Tobago government said it intends to negotiate responsibly with the Trump administration.
Prime Minister Stuart Young, speaking at a public meeting of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) on Wednesday as it prepares for the 28 April general election, told supporters that they could trust the PNM to act responsibly to negotiate its best interest in light of new tariffs imposed by the US.
Young said he is “prepared to sit across the table and negotiate regardless of who is on the other side”.
Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said “we are concerned that spiralling instability in global trade and economic policy will have significant negative repercussions, particularly for smaller nations.
“Our country, and much of CARICOM, fortunately, is in a relatively low tariff bracket and the government as always will be consulting and working with
all key stakeholders as together we navigate the challenges of our times,” he told the Newsday newspaper.
Antigua and Barbuda
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, noting the new tariffs by Washington, posted on his Facebook page a newspaper article that read “under the arrangement, Antigua and Barbuda maintains its existing 10 per cent tariff on US goods, while receiving a matching 10 per cent discounted reciprocal tariff from the United States”.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance in Barbados, Ryan Straughn, said the reality is that everything including goods will be impacted associated with the tariff increase.
He said producers will now have to find the most efficient way to produce their products “which could mitigate the increase in tariffs or take the bold step and move as a cooperative to be able to invest directly in the United States… in order to avoid paying the tax.
“The options are available now and I suggest to persons that we have to utilise the full global supply chain in relation to our responding to issues like this, but equally we must
ensure that we look at other markets,” Straughn told the state-owned CBC television.
Straughn said that CARICOM countries should seek to take further advantage of intra-regional trade, particularly given the fact that Common External Tariff (CET) provides for “mostly duty free” entry in regional markets among member states.
“We have put these tariffs in place as a measure to protect domestic and regional businesses as we try to ensure that issues relating to food security as well as jobs… and therefore to the extent that CARICOM, as a body, as a group in relation to these matters we have the Common External Tariff in place of which the United States would be one of those countries that apply as one of those countries out of CARICOM and therefore I think from a regional perspective we all will have to ensure that we focus on how do we get support for our producers in being able to access the full global supply chain and be able to start to do more trade with each other.” He said CARICOM should also not miss looking at the Latin American market. (Excerpt from Loop News)
Zambians protest over heinous child rape reports
Aprotest march has been held in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, against a recent spate of reports of men raping children.
Over the last two months, Zambians have been shocked by several cases of child rape, some of which resulted in death.
Among the most horrific reports was that of a father allegedly raping his sevenyear-old daughter while she was admitted to hospital for cancer treatment.
There have also been reports of a five-year-old allegedly being raped by a gang of four men, while another father was jailed for raping and infecting his six-year-old with a sexually
ately respond to an email seeking comment.
“By invoking emergency power to impose an across-the-board tariff on imports from China that the statute does not authorize, President Trump has misused that power, usurped Congress’s right to control tariffs, and upset the Constitution’s separation of powers,” NCLA senior litigation counsel Andrew Morris said in a statement.
The lawsuit asks a judge to block implementation and enforcement of the tariffs and undo Trump’s changes to the US tariff schedule. (Reuters)
transmitted infection. Zambia’s Justice Minister Princess KasuneZulu has called for the castration of child rapists as an extreme measure to deter perpetrators and protect children from abuse.
“How low can we go as a nation? How low can we go as a society? What is hap-
pening is sickening. It is beyond laws now - it is up to us as Zambians to interrogate why our morals have decayed,” she recently told parliament.
Following the reports, civil society organisations, musicians, and individuals held a protest march on Thursday, calling for the
government to amend the law to introduce tougher punishments for child rapists.
In a petition handed to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, they demanded the law be changed so that those accused of child rape are not granted bail. In response, Nalumango said the issue concerns everyone and that Zambians must take a stand.
In just the last three months of 2024, Zambia recorded more than 10,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) involving children, according to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. These were mostly in the capital, Lusaka. (BBC News)
Brazil may emerge as winner from sweeping US tariffs, economists say
Sweeping US tariffs could prove relatively advantageous for Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, despite President Donald Trump’s move to impose a 10% levy on its exports to the United States, economists said on Thursday.
Local markets reacted positively to the highly anticipated announcement on Wednesday, with the Brazilian real strengthen-
ing past 5.60 per US. dollar and reaching its highest level since October 2024.
Meanwhile, the benchmark stock index edged up 0.23%, with many pointing out that Brazil’s comparatively lighter tariff burden could shield it from major trade risks while also attracting capital flows shifting away from the United States.
XP’s research team said Trump’s tariff policy is “bad
in the absolute, potentially net positive for Brazil,” as a trade war could bring gains for the commodity powerhouse while also accelerating Chinese investments in infrastructure across the country and Latin America more broadly.
Iana Ferrao, partner and economist at BTG Pactual, said the tariff imposed on Brazil came as a relief to those fearing steeper penalties.
“As tariffs on other countries increased more sharply, certain Brazilian sectors could gain a relative competitive edge,” she said.
Luis Stuhlberger, chief investment officer at Verde Asset Management, said Brazil’s balanced trade relationship with Washington meant it had “highly benefited” under the worldwide tariff package. (Excerpt from Reuters)
SUDOKU
Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. Gather information first before you address issues based on halftruths. Focus more on verifying facts.
Stick to the facts and keep explanations short and to the point, and you’ll maintain a steady pace forward with little interference. Make social plans with someone you love.
Take a load off. It’s time to create opportunities and utilize your attributes to gain recognition and rewards. You’ll get a unique perspective when conversing with someone from a different background.
Put your emotions aside and your energy into something positive and constructive. How you choose to use your time and talents will determine your success. Focus on what brings the highest returns.
Concentrate on something you enjoy doing. Let your creative imagination take the lead, and see what develops. Touching base with past associates will help put different lifestyle changes in perspective.
Participating in an event, meeting or pastime that encourages positive change or helps you get the backup you require to reach your goals is in your best interest. Trust in your instincts and do what feels right.
Leave your comfort zone and venture into unknown territory. It’s up to you to make things happen. Invest more time and money into developing what excites you most.
Diversify, try something you’ve never done before and engage in conversations that offer a unique perspective. Question your long-term plans and consider what it takes to reach your destination.
Listen carefully and devise a plan to help you take the road less traveled if it will help you reach your destination. Become the mastermind of your success.
Separate feelings and money. Buying things you don’t require to service an emotional need will leave you in the lurch. Success comes to those who put in the work and effort.
Declutter your space and make room for something you want to pursue. Having a place that facilitates your dreams, hopes and wishes will be the pick-me-up you need.
Explore activities and pastimes that interest you. Socializing, networking and interacting with people searching for something new and exciting will not disappoint you.
ARCHIE
Indian Premier League 2025...
Venkatesh and Arora consign SRH to their biggest-ever defeat
While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) regained the dazzling batting form they had lost somewhere on their trip to Mumbai, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting continued to be lacklustre as they slumped to their third loss in a row after starting Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a mammoth 286.
Four days after being skittled for 116 by Mumbai Indians, KKR posted a stiff 200 for 6, led by a 29ball 60 from Vice Captain Venkatesh Iyer and an unbeaten 17-ball 32 from Rinku Singh. Venkatesh and Rinku enabled KKR to finish with a bang -- they scored 78 runs in their last five overs -- after Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set things up with a third-wicket stand of 81.
SRH were punished for being sloppy in the field more than a few times, and managed just 120 in reply after the KKR quicks took their mighty top three down in just 13 balls. Last year's runners-up slumped to the bottom of the table while the defending champions jumped five places from last to fifth.
Travis Head fell for his second duck in a row against Vaibhav Arora, as in the IPL final last year, while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan managed just two each. The eight runs scored by SRH's top three was their second-worst start in the IPL. In last year's final, their top three -- though Kishan wasn't part of it -had managed just 11. SRH barely recovered from 9 for 3 and slipped to 66 for 5 and eventually suffered their biggest defeat by a runs margin in the IPL.
Travishan flop in big chase
There was no venom in the pitch, no unplayable bounce or movement either, but the SRH top order had no answers for the KKR pace attack, even though Mitchell Starc is no longer part of it. Head skied the second ball to mid-off, Abhishek edged a slower one from Harshit Rana in the second over to slip, and Kishan smashed one to cover where Rahane pouched a sharp catch on the tumble to delight the home fans. Nine for 3 could have become 9 for 4 had Andre Russell held on to an ondrive from Kamindu Mendis at mid-on and made it a double-wicket maiden for Arora.
Russell, however, redeemed himself when he got the next wicket as soon as the powerplay ended, having Nitish Reddy caught at long-on. Arora picked up his third eventually, getting the big scalp of Henrich Klaasen for 33 when he returned for his second spell.
In between, Reddy showed glimpses of his ball-striking talent, Mendis heaved a couple of sixes on the leg side off Russell, and Klaasen tried to take the game deep even as the asking rate climbed past 15 an over. Rahane stifled SRH with five overs in a row from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, from the eighth to the 12th, which went for just 33 and brought two more wickets, before Arora removed Klaasen and Varun nearly scalped a hattrick in the 16th over. SRH were eventually bowled out for 120, again raising question marks over their batting approach.
Narine, de Kock fall cheaply again
Even though the Eden pitch didn't have the spice that was offered by the Wankhede's in KKR's last game, they lost their openers cheaply again. Narine fell to another yorker, edging one behind this time, for 7, and Quinton de Kock pulled a short ball to deep square leg for 1 off 6 as KKR crawled their way to 17 for 2 after three overs. They got a lift thanks to the Mumbai duo of Rahane and Raghuvanshi, who between them struck four sixes in 14 balls to help KKR end the powerplay on 53 for 2. Rahane smashed three of them, even before
hitting his first four, peppering the leg-side boundary with two pulls and a majestic flick behind square.
Ansari pulls things back Pat Cummins brought on spin as soon as the field spread out and rookie legspinner Zeeshan Ansari rewarded his captain by stifling the set batters with
turn, flight and different lengths to concede just 25 runs in three overs on the trot while the quicks continued to leak boundaries from the other end. Ansari conceded just one boundary off his first 14 deliveries, that too off a misfield from Reddy, before Raghuvanshi carted him for a six and four when he erred too full. Ansari,
however, fought back with Rahane's wicket for 38.
Venkatesh, Rinku power KKR to 200 SRH could have had two in two had Reddy not put down Raghuvanshi at the rope on 43. Raghuvanshi made them pay with a cover drive for four later in the over and brought up his second IPL fifty in the next. His luck finally ran out against the ambidextrous Sri Lanka spinner Mendis, and when Harshal Patel held onto an excellent catch that he dived for after running in from deep point.
KKR were going at just over eight an over after 13 overs, with two new batters in the middle. Harshal and Simranjeet Singh slowed them down further by taking the pace off the ball, but
the trick didn't work for too long. Rinku and Venkatesh took off once they got their eyes in and powered KKR to their first 200 total of this campaign. Rinku started the carnage with three consecutive fours off Harshal in the 17th while Venkatesh reeled off two in the next over, which Rinku finished with a towering six over long-on. Venkatesh then turned his purr into a roar in the penultimate over. Even though Cummins tried his cutter, a slower bouncer and a yorker among other things, Venkatesh went 4, 6, 4, 4 and brought up a 25-ball fifty before blasting Harshal for a six and a four at the start of the final over. He holed out next ball, and Harshal conceded just three off the last three, but the damage had already been done. (ESPNcricinfo)
b Harshit Rana 2 Ishan Kishan c Rahane b Arora 2 Nitish Kumar Reddy c Narine b Russell 19 Kamindu Mendis c sub (AS Roy) b Narine 27 Heinrich Klaasen † c Ali b Arora
Vaibhav Arora came in as an Impact sub and picked up three wickets
Varun Chakravarthy had figures of 3 for 22
Venkatesh Iyer made 60 off 29 balls
Sunrisers Hyderabad suffer another defeat
DCB U19 Inter-Association Cricket Tournament bowls off this weekend
The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has revealed the launch of the highly-anticipated Under-19 Inter-Association Cricket Tournament 2025.
The competition will run from April 5 to April 11, 2025, and will showcase the cricketing talent of players across the Demerara region.
The tournament will feature competitive matches played across premier venues including LBI, Transport, Farm, and Meten-MeerZorg Grounds. Five teams representing the East Coast, Georgetown, East Bank, West Demerara, and Upper Demerara Cricket Associations will vie for top honours in what promises to be a thrilling display of cricket.
Participating teams and squads:
Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA): Russel Anderson (Captain); Elizah Bowen (Vice Captain); Rusco Anderson; Triston Peters; Errol Alder; Jamel Courtman; Rohit Ramnauth; Marvin Ford; Andy Ramgoola; Raphael Tappin; Jayshawn Clark; Colis Chu; Randy Jason and Tyrick Henry. East Bank Cricket Association (EBCA): Deonarine Dindial (Captain); Sayyad Lakeram (Vice
Barbados names record 53-member squad for CARIFTA Games
Barbados will send its largest-ever CARIFTA Games contingent to Trinidad and Tobago for the 52nd edition of the Region’s premier junior athletics championship, which takes place from April 19-21, 2025, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
The Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB) has confirmed a 53-member squad, led by former CARIFTA champions Fynn Armstrong, Ashlyn Simmons, and rising star Aniya Nurse. The team features a strong mix of returning medallists and inform domestic performers across sprint, middle-distance, and field events.
The squad includes 14 Under-17 girls, with Krystal Bentham, a standout at this year’s BSSAC Championships, among the athletes expected to lead the charge in the sprints and jumps.
The Under-17 boys’ team includes 10 athletes, with sprinters Jahkye Brewster, Dahrion Belgrave, and Jakobi Browne-Smith anchoring Barbados’ hopes in the short sprints.
Barbados will also field a strong Under-20 girls’ team of 15 athletes, including overseas-based talents Kadia Rock and Maya Rollins, alongside local stars Simmons, Nurse, and Tia Applewhaite.
The 14-member Under-20 boys’ squad features accomplished quarter-miler Aaron Morris, middle-distance ace Fynn Armstrong, and sprinter Jayden Green.
The squad’s preparation has included national trials, development camps, and BSSAC performances— all of which have pointed
to a promising medal campaign for Barbados in Port of Spain.
Full Barbados Team –
CARIFTA Games 2025:
Under-17 Girls
Alexis Mascoll
Chanecia Bryan
Chloe Blackman
Eboni Brathwaite
Jahzara Innis
Kiami-Rae Orford
Krystal Bentham
Lashay Wilkinson
Leemiah London
Taylor-Rai Wiggins
Tazaria Joseph
Savannah Thorne
Shania Mottley
Under-17 Boys
Aidan Moore
Dahrion Belgrave
Jahkye Brewster
Jakobi Browne-Smith
Jayden Walcott
Jazzair Best
Kodi Small
Nathan Cumberbatch
Rashawn Holder
Zachary Wall
Under-20 Girls
Alika Harewood
Aniya Nurse
Ariel Archer
Ashlyn Simmons
Danya Skeete
Isis Gaskin
Kadia Rock
Kelia Bentham
Kyesha Bentham
Maya Rollins
Nailah Browne
Nyeema Taylor
Shayla Clarke
Tia Applewhaite
Zakaiya Hunte
Under-20 Boys
Aaron Massiah
Aaron Morris
Fynn Armstrong
Jayden Green
Jule O’Garro
Keiron Haynes
Kevion Newton
Luke McIntyre
Makai King
Nathan King
Rashad Gibson
Shamari GreenidgeLewis
Tarrell Johnson-Rouse
Teon Haynes
Jayden Dowlin; Riyad Latif; Shiloh Adams; Ryan Latif; Shamar Apple; Emmanuel Lewis; Wavell Allen; John Persaud; Renaldo Grenville; Dhanesh Persaud; Ravaldo Pereira; Feyaad Leakraj; Romeo Deonarain and Shane Prince. Reserves: Kaylon Callender, Trilok Nanan, Jonathan Mentore, Stephon Sankar and Bijan Embleton. East Coast Cricket Association (ECCA): Nicholas Shiopersad (Captain); Vickash Wilkinson (Vice Captain); Suresh Sugrim; Neeran Bani; Arun Gainda; Saif Ragbeer; Marcel Nandu; Tyriq Walters; Alex Datterdeen; Munesh Outar; Nityanand Mathura; Moin Persaud; Lakeram Sukdeo and Josh Behari. West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA): Sachin Balgobin (Captain); Parmeshwar Ram (Vice Captain); Christopher Persaud; Patricce Fraser; Navendra Sankar; Udesh Seetaram; Arvin Suknanand; Tashant Argyle; Joshua Kishundial; Murali Seodat; Chetram Shivpersaud; Kelvin Raymond; Davindra Khan; Shankar Ramesh and Joshua Isaac Williams. Reserves: Ryidwan Mahase, Shazad Ally and Andel Austin.
Fixtures and Venues:
The Demerara Cricket Board has made a call for cricket enthusiasts to come out and support “the future stars of Guyana cricket as they battle for supremacy”, noting that “this tournament is an excellent opportunity to witness the future stars of cricket in action”.
April 5, 2025: Georgetown v East Bank (Transport); West Demerara v East Coast (MMZI); Upper Demerara (Bye).
April 6, 2025: East Bank v East Coast (Better Hope); West Demerara v Upper Demerara (MMZ); Georgetown (Bye).
April 8, 2025: Georgetown v East Coast (LBI); Upper Demerara v East Bank (Farm); West Demerara (Bye).
April 9, 2025: Georgetown v Upper Demerara (LBI); West Demerara v East Bank (MMZ); East Coast (Bye).
April 11, 2025: Georgetown v West Demerara (MMZ); East Coast v Upper Demerara (LBI); East Bank (Bye).
DCC take on GCC in 1st Division final tomorrow
The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) DDL Pepsi
First-Division 50-over tournament is finally scheduled to come to a conclusion on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The final will be contested by the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), bowling off at 09:30h at the home of GCC.
Both teams had convincing victories in the semi-finals of the competition and will be hoping to carry the good form into the final. DCC won their semi-final match-up against the Malteenoes Sports Club by 60 runs (D/L) despite Marcus Watkins’ 113 of 109 balls. Christopher Barnwell led the bowling unit with an impressive 5 for 36 in 7.5 overs, while in the batting department, national player Tevin Imlach contributed with 80 not out. DCC will
be hoping for similar performances from Barnwell with the ball, but the services of their key batsman, Imlach, are currently in doubt as he is currently on national duty with the Guyana Harpy Eagles. Eighteenyear-old Jonathan Van Lange will aim to provide runs to support Barnwell, while Ezekiel Wilson will want to perform well in his bowling spell.
In contrast, GCC defeated the Muslim Youth Organisation handily in their semi-final match. Akshaya Persaud (88); Leon Johnson (40) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (67) all helped GCC reach 324 for 8 in their 50 overs. Joshua Wade will want to have the same impact in the final with the ball as he did in the semis, claiming four wickets.
With both historically significant teams hoping to compete and win the DDL
Pepsi First-Division trophy at the renowned Bourda Ground, Saturday’s final is expected to be a thrilling event with some of the best First-Division talent on show.
The faces expected to compete for Barbados at CARIFTA
The Demerara Cricket Board will bowl off its Inter-Association tournament this Saturday
The venue at which the final will be played
Van Lange (Captain); Dave Mohabir (Vice Captain);
West Indies Championship… Alimohamed, Nandu, Perez put Harpy Eagles back in the game
Another five-wicket haul from Ronaldo Alimohamed and an impressive after-lunch session from the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) pacers pulled the visitors out of hot water at Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis on Thursday afternoon.
The Harpy Eagles batters then made efforts to seize control of the contest, cutting down the Leeward Islands deficit in no time.
The Leeward Islands Hurricanes resumed Day Two of the sixth-round West Indies Championship clash on 143-4, piling on 137 runs in the first session, without losing a wicket.
Both Keacy Carty and Jahmar Hamilton slammed half-centuries as the runs flowed freely, getting Leewards to 280-4 at lunch.
However, the Harpy Eagles rebounded after the lunch break, reintroducing
a full-on pace attack, as the spinners were taken to the cleaners prior to the break.
After a treble of fours, Nial Smith struck just four overs after the lunch break; resulting in Carty missing out on his century. Improving on his overnight score of 20, Carty hit 92 off 182 balls, laced with 12 boundaries. On the other hand, Hamilton hit 80 off 124 balls but similarly fell short of the bigger mile-
Karatekas upgrade ranks at recent grading
On Sunday last, head of the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), Shuseki Shihan Dr Frank Woon-A-Tai (10th Dan) assisted by Shihan Amir Khouri (8th Dan); Sensei Clinton Moriah (6th Dan) and Sensei Hazrat Ali (6th Dan) examined students for Kyu & Dan levels at the YMCA, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
The ASK-G described the Karate grading session as a successful one, congratulating those who skipped and the New Dan Rank. It also highlighted that a large number of parents and supporters were on hand on Sunday to witness their children and friends performing for the examiner.
8th Kyu to Orange Belt 7th Kyu: David McEwan, Nailah Lewis, Dezion Sears & Erin Hopkinson
7th Kyu to Green Belt 6th Kyu: Ashton Lall, Jihanna Smith, Alvita Forrester, Tanveer Ramcharitar, Devanie Brijbhukan, Liam Jaisingh & Rahul Brijbhukan
7th Kyu to Blue Belt 5th Kyu: Kaiden Jerrick
6th Kyu to Blue Belt 5th Kyu:
Kristian Richards, Asim Hamilton, Kyron Huntley, Afeerah Ali & Soofian Guptar 5th Kyu to Purple Belt 4th Kyu: Ejaaz Ali, Malachi Argyle, Runako Delph, Nathan Henry & Radane Bissessar 5th Kyu to Brown Belt 3rd Kyu:
Cattleya Oscar 4th Kyu to Brown Belt 3rd Kyu: Frank Persaud, Devraj Ramgobin, Ariana Anamayah, Adam Baksh, Miah Rajkumar, Eshaan Ali, Ameena Zaman, Otavia Bobb & Kayden Hackett
3rd Kyu to Brown Belt
2nd Kyu: Erik Lynch, Wayne Browne, Aaron Anamayah, Nathaniel Supaul & Noorisha Harrinarine
Tremiyah Lake, Lukas Singh, Ashton Chang, Christopher Cooblall, Mariah Francis, Jad Narine, Mariam Browne, Gary Thompson, Al’lure Thompson, Adi Persaud, Alisha Moideen, Wyatt Fraser, Josiah Clinken, Kayden Savory, Sachin Mulchand, Pretti Sukdeo, Ethian Anamayah, Ronald Arjune, Basdeo Bissessar, & Moonindra Seenarine
NIDAN (2nd Dan Black Belt): Teshana Lake, David Melville, Mahir Rajkumar, Omar Shariff & Chelsea
Benjamin
YONDAN (4th Dan Black Belt):
Andy M. Sam-Reddy (Berbice)
GODAN (5th Dan Black Belt):
Parmeshwar Persaud (Canaan)
SHICHIDAN (7th Dan Black Belt):
Clinton Orville Moriah (Berbice)
Keacy Carty came within a stone’s throw of a First-Class century
stone in the subsequent over to Alimohamed’s bowling.
Rahkeem Cornwall was the only other batter to eke out some runs against the Guyanese pace, pitching in 26 to his team’s eventual score of 335 all out in 79.3 overs. Impressively, it only took the Harpy Eagles 13 overs after lunch to gather up the remaining Leeward wickets.
Alimohamed claimed 5-91 from 19.3 overs while Smith picked up 3-62 from 15 overs and Keemo Paul 2-61 from 18.
As such, the Hurricanes had a 142-run lead after the first innings.
The Harpy Eagles, this time around, had little trouble accumulating the runs and came within five runs of the total set by the Hurricanes by the close of play.
Raymond Perez was quick out of the blocks while Matthew Nandu had no trouble playing the patient hand. Eventually, their 78run first-wicket partnership came to an end when Perez tried to hit consecu-
tive sixes off Cornwall, but came up short, caught on the boundary by Mikyle Louis.
Perez, agonisingly, fell for 49 off just 73 balls. Kevlon Anderson came out to the crease and combined with Nandu to take the Harpy Eagles safely to the end of the day’s play.
Nandu managed to bring up his 50 – off 122 deliveries – before the day was called,
SCOREBOARD
Int’l teams touch down for “One Guyana” 3x3 Quest
The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) is expected to be a hive of activity over the weekend when the inaugural “One Guyana” 3x3 Quest hosts 20 teams from around the world in the first FIBA Quest competition to be hosted in the Englishspeaking Caribbean.
As preparations went full steam ahead for this weekend’s activities, the competing teams began arriving in Guyana on Thursday.
Mexico’s team “Ball So Hard” out of Puebla City and Switzerland’s Lausanne team touched down on Thursday morning alongside the Dominican Republic’s Distrito Nacional squad.
The majority of the remaining participating teams will be making their way to the Land of Many Waters today. The basketball action will jump off at 10:00h on Saturday with a mouth-watering clash between Mexico’s “Ball So Hard” and Guyana’s Untouchables.
The Nidans
The Godans
Raymond Perez missed his half-century by one
The Dominican Republic team prior to their arrival in Guyana
