Govt phasing out analogue imaging with new digital x-ray systems
Health Ministry, Dr Frank Anthony has revealed that the Government has taken a decision to ensure that only digital x-ray machines are available in the public health system across the country.
He noted that up to four years ago, there was a combination of digital and analogue machines.
“No longer should we be trying to wash films and then holding it up to the light and that sort of thing, because in some ways, that’s not very useful,” the Health Minister said during an event on Wednesday.
and Philips.
“So, these are the three major brands that we’re using. And as you would recognise by those names, they are among the top brands globally,” Dr Anthony was keen to point out.
would be operational,” the Minister noted. The Government is also installing at least four new MRI machines in the public health system, Dr Anthony noted. “We’ll be putting an
MRI at the new Paediatric Hospital in Ogle, one at New Amsterdam, and one at West Demerara. And Georgetown Hospital is in the process of also putting in an MRI,” he explained.
With the new digital systems that the Government has been introducing, the Minister noted that “we can take the image, we can enhance these images, and we can look for different things
“And when you are using analogue systems, sometimes if you don’t get the right image, you have to go back, call back the patient, and a whole host of things,” he added.
that we need to try to visualise so that we can make better diagnoses for those patients.”
The digital x-ray machines that are installed across the country are manufactured by world-class companies Siemens, GE,
Over the weekend, the Health Ministry commissioned a state-of-the-art $60 million GE digital x-ray system at the Kumaka District Hospital. Dr Anthony said in the next few months, the Government plans to install 14 additional systems across the country.
They are being installed at facilities in Port Kaituma, Charity, Leonora, Leguan, Bartica, Mahdia, and villages in Regions Nine and 10.
“So, in a matter of months, we’ll have at least 14 new digital x-rays, that
Man charged after break-in, theft at Home Affairs Ministry
Neil Medas, also known as “Shoulders”, of no fixed address, has been charged with five counts of breaking and entering, and larceny.
Medas, 48, appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the charges, relating to incidents at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, and three private individuals, committed on December 8, were read to him. He pleaded guilty to all the offences and was remanded to prison. The matters were adjourned to January 7, 2026.
The charges follow an incident reported on December
9, when the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that an intruder entered its Brickdam, Georgetown building around 04:00h on Monday. According to the Ministry, security personnel detected the individual on CCTV and raised an alarm. A security officer attempted to pursue the suspect but was unable to detain him. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) was notified and launched an investigation.
In its statement, the GPF said several electronic devices – including laptops, tablets and digital cameras – and personal property belonging to a staff member were reported stolen. Investigators found sections of the middle and lower flats ransacked and an open washroom window on the eastern side of the lower flat, which is believed to have been the entry point. CCTV footage was reviewed, leading to the arrest of the 48-year-old suspect and the recovery of several items.
The Ministry recently stated, in response to another security breach at a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit building, that it remains committed to maintaining high security standards across its agencies.
The items which were stolen from the Home Affairs Ministry and later recovered
Charged and remanded: Neil Medas
BRIDGE OPENING
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 12 –11:00h–12:30h and Saturday, December 13 – 12:00h–13:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected during the day and evening, and will clear to cloudy skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.
Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.36 metres.
High Tide: 10:31h and 22:58h reaching a maximum height of 2.17 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 16:28h reaching a minimum height of 1.06 metres.
Focus on concerns, needs of communities – Jagdeo tells NDCs during ECD engagement ...shints
at further increase in subventions next year
ice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday instructed officials at the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to ensure that they implement projects that address the needs of their respective communities and their residents.
He gave this direction during an engagement host-
ties,” Jagdeo stated. He went on to note that the NDCs now have the financial resources to adequately meet the needs of communities, following the sweeping increase in subventions for municipalities and NDCs earlier this year.
Back in April, the VP had announced an increase in the annual subventions
to NDCs from $5 million to $30 million and $18 million to $50 million for municipalities across the country.
On Thursday, Jagdeo hinted that these sums could go up even further come next year.
“So, you have more money now, and in the next budget [2026], we’ll keep it at that level or maybe increase
ed by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development with NDCs along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). The indepth meeting focused on improving the quality of local governance and advancing community development.
Recalling a previous engagement he had with ECD residents, Jagdeo noted that they had raised concerns relating to drainage, garbage disposal, security, and various disturbances within the communities.
According to the VP, these are the issues that the NDCs must focus on tackling and not invest in projects that would not bring any relief to residents.
“Sometimes the priorities are to build a bus shed, which people hardly use. At the NDCs, they want to take $30 million to build a bus shed. The bus shed is not the priority at this stage. We can get that built from somewhere else. The concerns of the people – we should focus on their concerns first of all, and often it’s [things like] drainage in these communi-
it,” he revealed.
Community focus
The VP also used to opportunity to caution NDC officials that the equipment they purchase with these monies must be used for community businesses, as he cited complaints received regarding equipment not doing the work they were intended for.
He also instructed that the NDC buildings be kept up to look professional, describing the state of some of these office buildings as “slums”. In addition, VP Jagdeo ordered that the NDCs as well as the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officials, especially in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) controls for the first time in history, get out and be active in the fields.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo addressing NDC officials along the East Coast of Demerara at Thursday’s engagement session
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand
Stakeholders at the engagement hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development with representatives from NDCs along the East Coast Demerara corridor
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Medical technology & the new era of public health
Guyana’s health sector is undergoing one of the most consequential transformations in its history. The integration of advanced digital tools, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), modern imaging systems, and soon, roboticassisted surgery, is reshaping national healthcare delivery in ways that are efficient, sustainable, and forward-looking. This shift is an upgrade in medical infrastructure as well as a recalibration of how healthcare is conceptualised, delivered, and expanded across the country.
The utilisation of artificial intelligence at the Enmore Regional Hospital underscores how technology is becoming an active partner in clinical decision-making. The hospital’s adoption of AI-powered interpretation for x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds marks a significant advancement in diagnostic efficiency. The system’s ability to flag abnormalities within seconds and highlight areas requiring clinical attention provides a crucial layer of support for medical professionals. This does not replace clinical judgement; instead, it enhances accuracy, accelerates response time, and strengthens overall diagnostic capacity.
Equally notable is the software’s capability to produce preliminary diagnoses and generate detailed medical reports through voice-enabled dictation tools. This feature directly addresses longstanding delays that burden busy imaging departments. Automated measurement of abnormalities, improved visualisation, and streamlined reporting contribute to a stronger, more reliable national imaging service. These improvements also standardise care across regions, ensuring that patients in any part of the country receive timely and high-quality evaluations.
The Enmore Regional Hospital is one of six modern healthcare facilities recently brought into operation, with others situated at Diamond, Lima, Bath, Skeldon, and Number 75 Village. These hospitals were commissioned with a clear mission: to decentralise advanced medical services and expand access to precision diagnostics and emergency care. Outfitted with digital x-rays, CT scanners, and emergency support systems, these institutions form the foundation of a healthcare network designed to meet contemporary standards and future demands.
The transition away from analogue imaging is one of the clearest indicators of this national shift. The longstanding challenges associated with outdated film-based x-rays – such as repeated exposures, inconsistent image quality, and logistical delays – are steadily being eliminated. The adoption of digital systems from globally recognised brands such as Siemens, GE, and Philips ensures not only reliability but also long-term compatibility with evolving medical technologies.
The upcoming introduction of robotic-assisted surgery represents a major leap for the national health system. The ability to facilitate procedures guided by internationally stationed surgeons’ positions Guyana as a regional innovator and expands the spectrum of specialised care available locally. It also lays the groundwork for knowledge transfer, skill development, and the long-term strengthening of local surgical capacity.
Plans to install at least four new MRI machines across the public system at the new Paediatric Hospital at Ogle, New Amsterdam, West Demerara, and the Georgetown Public Hospital are another vital step forward. The country’s reliance on a single public MRI facility has long posed limitations for diagnostic timelines. Increasing capacity will alleviate pressure on the current system and provide timely answers to patients across multiple regions.
Collectively, these investments reflect a coherent national strategy to build a healthcare system that is technologically competent, geographically inclusive, and prepared for the challenges of a rapidly developing nation. The integration of artificial intelligence, digital diagnostics, and remote surgical capabilities is not merely a response to present needs. It is an anticipatory approach designed to position Guyana as a regional leader in smart healthcare.
The steady rollout of modern systems, combined with infrastructural expansion and policy-level commitment, signals a future in which innovation becomes a defining feature of public health delivery. Guyana’s embrace of technology reflects confidence in a future where accessible, reliable, and data-driven healthcare is the national standard.
Gen Z know the social contract is broken
By GaBy Hinsliff
Bonnie Blue, the porn actor who recently made headlines for her antics in Bali – which you probably shouldn’t Google – has come out in support of Nigel Farage.
And in not unconnected news, “rage baiting” – saying deliberately annoying things to get attention – is the Oxford University Press’ word of the year. Bonnie’s most effective way of advertising her X-rated content to the masses now is by generating enough controversy to get her publicly talked about, and she’s very good at making just enough noise (this time in the Spectator, of all places) to drum up a bit of traffic.
But to say that diversifying into hard-right politics makes her an outlier for her existing young fanbase is nonetheless an understatement, given Reform is now polling at just five per cent among under-24s. If Bonnie is selling something young men want, it ain’t her take on inheritance tax policy.
What a lot of lost teenagers actually want from the Government, according to research launched this week by the culture secretary Lisa Nandy, is heartbreakingly simple: a trusted adult outside the family with time for
them (one in five can’t identify anyone who fits this category, with boys twice as likely as girls to lack such a figure); something fun to do that gets them off the phones with which they have a lovehate relationship; a secure job; better mental health support.
The national youth strategy unveiled this week was Labour’s attempt to reach out to Gen Z, with a thoroughly welcome £500m investment in youth workers (to provide those supportive trusted adults), plus more youth apprenticeships and a review of what is undermining their mental health that may prove a lot more thoughtful than headlines about overdiagnosis suggest. (I’d be very surprised if Peter Fonagy, the psychologist leading the review for Wes Streeting, doesn’t dig deep into the societal shifts affecting teenagers, from the pandemic to parenting, social media and academic pressures at school.) But it will take more than Keir Starmer joining TikTok to get all this across to young people and more than this rather thin strategy to bring it together coherently.
Like Bonnie, politicians live or die now by their ability to reach an audience increasingly getting its news from what goes viral on so-
cial media. Streeting instinctively gets the need for drama and controversial talking points, which is why his bit of the package is arguably the most likely to reach Gen Z ears. Reconciling the showmanship with serious policymaking, however, appears to be a work in progress.
So here’s a talking point to consider, and it’s rethinking the generational contract between old and young. A report this week from rightwing think tank the Centre for Social Justice, authored by former Tory MP Miriam Cates, argued for scrapping the pension lock that has been boosting pensioner incomes ever since her party introduced it back in 2011 and investing the money in children. She joins a groundswell of right-wing voices saying surprisingly loudly what a Labour Government daren’t: that too much of the welfare bill goes on elderly people, painfully squeezing what is available to the young. As young children, this generation of teenagers endured a lockdown that disrupted their education and kept them from their friends, mostly to protect the lives of elderly people. Now they’re trying to spread their wings in a world that won’t make space for them. They’re berated
for not getting jobs even as well-intended rises in the minimum wage and in employers’ national insurance make them more expensive to hire, and nagged to get off their phones even when there’s precious little else to do. (Nandy’s research on the gap she is trying to fill showed a quarter of teenagers didn’t know of anywhere nearby offering opportunities to do something more sociable, from youth clubs to sports clubs to the kind of arts and music provision that councils have had to cut in the austerity years.) Bans on teenagers congregating in shopping malls and fastfood joints, often introduced post-pandemic amid fears about antisocial behaviour, froze them out of the few remaining places they could hang out independently with friends.
Though Nandy’s new youth clubs are a good down payment on a new deal for the young, tackling their unhappiness at the root will require less blaming them for their own troubles, more money, and more honest reflection by adults on whether as a society we’ve got the balance between maturity and youth right. If it takes a village to raise one child, then raising everyone’s children takes a country. (The Guardian)
Students from several schools explore special cultural exhibitions during a visit to Georgetown’s museums on Thursday (Education
Ministry photo)
M&CC teams up with E&A to construct modern East La Penitence Market
Through collaborative efforts from Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore and the Councillors of the City of Georgetown, the municipality is working closely with E&A Consultancy, the firm contracted by the Government of Guyana to work on the market project, to spearhead the construction of a modern new market for the East La Penitence community.
As an in-depth analysis
of the La Penitence Market structure proceeds, Mayor Mentore expressed satisfaction with the proposed upgrades and reaffirmed the Council’s willingness to collaborate for the benefit of stallholders and vendors.
Mentore noted that as Guyana is now an oil-producing nation, the systems and infrastructure being implemented must reflect this new era of development and embrace forward-thinking approaches to city and nation
building.
“Guyana can’t be operating in such a tardy fashion in an economy that has so much wealth and so many resources. So I guess some of those resources from an oil perspective, from central government, have to come to these markets and to these general infrastructure developments,” he stated.
He underscored that the site visit to La Penitence Market originated from the Government of Guyana’s
Tain murder trial
push to place greater emphasis on upgrading the facility. According to the Mayor, the current Minister – Priya Manickchand – is highly active and engaged; he noted her involvement in citywide garbage management and now the redevelopment of the market through E&A Consultancy.
“We know the challenges of the background of this market – the drainage, etc. This is an old market that needs financial investment. It has really and truly outlived its usefulness over the years, and we need to put significant investment into it. We have addressed this issue for a number of years,” he said.
The mayor also explained that rehabilitating the existing structure would cost nearly the same as reconstructing it entirely.
Rebuilding and displacement
“Even if you remodel or rehabilitate this market, it will cost you the same amount of money, technically. So the common position we’ve taken is to take it down
Former co-accused admits role in robbery as defence challenges credibility
ormer co-accused
FKevin Mangar, called “Chubby”, who turned state witness, delivered dramatic testimony on Thursday at the Berbice Assizes in the Tain murder trial for the 2020 killing of 82-year-old Chandarie “Aunty Dayo” Budhoo.
The witness, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, told the court that he was involved in planning a robbery at Budhoo’s Tain Settlement home but insisted that the three accused now on trial, Dhannyram Ramdhanny, Kumar Bhagwandin, and Narvindra Chillu, are the ones who murdered her during the home invasion.
The trial is being presided over by Justice Sandil Kissoon, with Attorney-atLaw Cicela Corbin leading evidence on behalf of the State. The accused, Ramdhanny and Bhagwandin, are represented by Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan, while Chillu is being represented by attorneys Vinay Punwa and Chandra Sohan.
In 2022, Mangar was charged along with the three but was set free at the Magistrate’s Court. The trio was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of the pensioner.
In presenting its case that the three murdered the pensioner during a robbery be-
ing carried out at her home, the State called several witnesses, with Mangar the key witness.
In his evidence, Mangar told the court that he served as a lookout while the men entered the house and later received money to remain silent.
He detailed how the accused entered the house and where his position was, and also of hearing the old lady screaming for “a long time” before going silent.
Under questioning by Punwa, the witness admitted to being involved in “oth-
er criminal activity”, including a break-in at Clifton Settlement, where he and others stole $1.3 million in jewellery and $235,760 in cash from the home of Rohan Persaud.
He pleaded guilty in that matter and is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.
He also acknowledged that he had smoked marijuana for the first time on the night Budhoo was killed, a detail that defence attorney Sohan used to question the reliability of his recollection.
During a forceful cross-ex-
amination, Sohan pointed out inconsistencies in the witness’s version of events.
Sohan asked him why it is that he is now giving evidence against the accused, with whom he was charged alongside.
Mangar said at the time he was a juvenile, and he was released at the Magistrate Court.
“Me na snitch on them,” Mangar said, indicating that he had not turned against those he once was involved with.
Budhoo’s body was discovered on June 17, 2020, bound and bearing injuries consistent with a violent attack inside her Lot 83 Tain Settlement home. After months of investigation, the three accused were arrested and committed to stand trial.
Initially, Police arrested Mangar and Chillu but released them after 72 hours.
However, two years later, Police were able to find Ramdhanny and Bhagwandin, resulting in the quartet being charged and placed before the court. However, Mangar was subsequently freed and eventually became a witness for the prosecution.
On Thursday, the prosecution closed its case, and the matter has been adjourned until Monday, when the accused will be required to lead a defence.
and rebuild the market,” he explained.
He added that systems will be put in place to assist those who may be displaced during the construction period.
“We know we’ll have to put systems in place as to how we can adjust and make arrangements for people here who will be displaced so they can continue to do their business. But at the end of the day, like I’ve always said, there’s some amount of inconvenience you have to accept in order to have development. With inconvenience comes progress. So some portions will have to shift around, and we’ll seek to find a piece of property nearby.”
Mayor Mentore noted that the Council is also assessing additional properties in the area to determine how adjustments can be integrated as redevelopment moves forward.
“We also have some other properties here that we’ll look at to see how we could fit those adjustments in place
while we address this market and bring about the necessary changes,” he said. He reiterated that Guyana, now a booming oil economy, must invest in markets and public spaces that reflect that growth.
The team has agreed to review the overall redevelopment plan for the market, with E&A Consultancy expected to submit a design proposal. That proposal will be refined where necessary, with considerations for a ground floor and a partial second floor to accommodate more vendors. The aim is to have the new market operational within roughly a year and a half.
The Mayor said the restored market will be a major source of pride for the community, especially in light of recent events at the site.
“So today we’ve established that we will look at the overall plan. The team from E&A Consultancy will provide us with a design proposal, and we will tweak it here and there to see how we can have a ground floor and some aspect of a second floor to accommodate more people and have this market up and running maybe in another year and a half. It will be a pride and joy for this community to have the market restored. And we all know what happened here on Sunday – we have the green-barrier people who come to sell produce and all that,” he explained. He added that the upgraded market will help restore vibrancy to the area and support the continued commercial transformation of Georgetown.
Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore
The current state of the market
The three accused being led away from the court
Page Foundation
Circumference
The circumference of a circle is the distance around the circle and can be found by multiplying the diameter by π. Therefore, the below formula is for the circumference of any given circle:
π × d.
As the diameter of the circle is twice the radius we can also use the below formula:
2 × π × r.
Which formula you use will depend on whether you know the diameter or the radius of the circle.
Example
• Cardboard
• Black Paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Rubber Bands
• Plastic Wrap
• Aluminium Foil
Instructions
1. Cut your cardboard so it looks like this shape.
The radius of this circle is 3cm.
Circumference =2 × π × r
=2 × π × 3
=6π =18.8cm OR Circumference = π × d
= π × 6
=6π =18.8cm
Practice
Find the circumference of the following circles
Solar Oven
By E. E. Cummings
little tree
little silent Christmas tree you are so little you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest and were you very sorry to come away? see i will comfort you because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark and hug you safe and tight just as your mother would, only don’t be afraid look the spangles that sleep all the year in a dark box dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine, the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads, put up your little arms and i’ll give them all to you to hold every finger shall have its ring and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you’re quite dressed you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see and how they’ll stare! oh but you’ll be very proud and my little sister and i will take hands and looking up at our beautiful tree we’ll dance and sing “Noel Noel” Materials
the flaps.
You spot a shooting star and make a wish – but the star looks like it’s getting bigger and bigger. Suddenly you realise it’s actually falling straight to earth.
2. Lay your cardboard along the edge of a table and fold
3. Cut the black paper and lay it on the cardboard. Wrap a rubber band around each of the large outside flaps to hold it in place.
4. Wrap a rubber band around the small flaps, crossing it on the back.
5. Slide the aluminium foil under the rubber band you just added.
6. Close up the larger flaps and wrap a rubber band around the base of your new box.
7. Use plastic wrap to make your oven airtight.
8. Place it in a warm spot and see how it works!
(Children's Science Center Lab)
ExxonMobil Guyana inks 5-year maritime support deal with French offshore operator
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has signed a major fiveyear contract with French offshore operator Bourbon to provide maritime services as the United Statesbased oil giant expands operations in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.
This new deal, which contains extension options, was announced by Bourbon in a statement on Wednesday.
Back in April 2023, Bourbon Marine & Logistics partnered with Guyanese company Tethys Marine & Logistics to establish Bourbon Guyana Joint Venture, becoming the first indigenous offshore support vessel operator.
According to the French company, this new maritime support deal with EMGL will commence in the first quarter of 2026 and will see the deployment of its platform supply vessel (PSV), Bourbon Calm, to transport products essential to offshore operations in one of the world’s most dynamic oil basins.
Bourbon said this contract with EMGL marks a major step forward for the Guyanese oil sector, as it allows the transport of chemicals in Guyana by a PSV for the first time in compliance
with the OSV Chemical Code.
It added that adjustments and upgrades have been made on board the vessel in a targeted manner, including modifications to the pumping systems, enhanced tank cleaning and strengthened operational procedures, after validation by the maritime authorities and DNV classification society.
The solution proposed by Bourbon is both competitive and sustainable and imme-
diately operational, thus consolidating the group’s position in the Guyanese oil and gas market. Bourbon Calm thus becomes one of the few offshore vessels in the world authorised to carry out this type of operation.
“This new contract illustrates ExxonMobil Guyana’s confidence in Bourbon’s ability to offer safe, innovative, and economically efficient maritime solutions that comply with the highest regulatory standards,” Chief Commercial
Guyana joins Amazon States to launch Indigenous dialogue mechanism
Gtion, storage, and offloading units).
Since 2019, Bourbon, through its local subsidiary, has been supporting the development of this industry thanks to the technical quality of its fleet and the expertise of its local teams.
With a fleet of six vessels (large PSV, AHTS & tugs) and the full range of marine services, Bourbon Guyana has been successfully supporting ExxonMobil Guyana and Saipem Guyana for the development of the Stabroek field, promoting local employment with more than 70 Guyanese seafarers onboard its vessels.
Officer of Bourbon, Karim Mebarek, said.
He added, “Thanks to its high-quality design and above-average liquid storage capacity, the Bourbon Calm meets high technical and environmental standards while ensuring optimal operational safety.”
Bourbon said the discovery of oil fields in 2015 has made Guyana one of the fastest-growing offshore operations, with the planned commissioning of additional FPSOs (floating produc-
The five-year deal with EMGL comes months after Bourbon won another five-year contract with the US-based ExxonMobil in Angola.
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited is the operator and holds a 45 per cent interest in the oil-rich Stabroek block, offshore Guyana, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The co-venturers are currently operating four projects offshore – Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, Payara and Yellowtail.
In fact, only last month, they reported the achievement of a new production milestone of 900,000 barrels of oil daily. This comes just a few months after the successful start-up of Guyana’s fourth offshore project, which has now achieved its initial annual average production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).
The Stabroek co-venturers have committed more than US$60 billion to develop seven government-sanctioned projects on Guyana’s offshore Stabroek block, including Uaru, Whiptail, and Hammerhead.
The Uaru and Whiptail projects, Guyana’s fifth and sixth projects, are each expected to produce approximately 250,000 bpd when operations commence in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Hammerhead, the seventh project, is expected to add approximately 150,000 bpd, with production slated to begin in 2029. Additionally, the eighth project, Longtail, is currently undergoing regulatory reviews, and once approved, will take the total production capacity up to 1.7 million bpd from the eight developments offshore Guyana.
the Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s social media page, the Guyanese delegation includes Eliza Bascome, Management Development Officer at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; Sonia Latchman, Director General and Vice-Chair of the National Toshaos Council (NTC); and Shane Cornelius, Secretary of the NTC. Delegates from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela are also attending.
The session aims to formally establish the Amazon Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples. The mechanism is intended to support structured dialogue between Governments and Indigenous communities across the Amazon region, with a focus on managing and coordinating issues relevant to Indigenous Peoples.
The Bourbon Calm platform supply vessel
uyana is participating in the First Session of the Amazonian Mechanism of Indigenous Peoples under the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), alongside representatives from eight other Amazonian nations. According to a post on
Guyana’s delegation at the first session of the Amazonian Mechanism of Indigenous Peoples
Toshaos Council, IPC condemn intimidation tactics by WIN targeting Amerindian Affairs Minister
The National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Thursday condemned what it described as an act of intimidation by members of the WIN party, led by Azruddin Mohamed, outside the Amerindian Hostel on Princes Street, Georgetown, on Sunday, December 7. The demonstration, the Council said, appeared to target Amerindian Affairs Minister and ex-officio NTC member Sarah Browne-Shadeek.
According to the NTC, such behaviour toward a sitting Minister, entrusted with the welfare and development of Indigenous peoples, is unacceptable. The Council noted that intimidation undermines the respectful engagement necessary to address national issues and contributes to ethnic tensions, particularly amid a rise in racially charged online attacks. The NTC expressed full solidarity with Minister Browne-Shadeek, praising her composure in the face of provocation.
The Amerindian Hostel, the Council emphasised, serves as a vital facility for Indigenous people accessing healthcare, education, and Government support in the capital. The protest outside its gates, marked by shouting and aggressive behaviour, transformed a place of refuge into a scene of intimidation.
The Council acknowledged ongoing concerns regarding the current hostel and urged the Government to address them as a priority. It also welcomed plans for a new, state-of-the-art Amerindian Hostel, describing it as an important step toward providing Indigenous persons travelling to Georgetown with dignified and reliable accommodation. Discussions about the new facility were recently held during the NTC’s executive meeting in prepara-
tion for the proposed 2026 national budget.
Policy issues not personal attacks In a related statement, the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) addressed recent public commentary concerning Minister Browne-Shadeek. The IPC stressed the importance of civility, factual accuracy, and fairness in public discourse, noting that healthy debate is vital in a democracy but must remain grounded in respect for individuals and the communities affected by their decisions.
The IPC emphasised that critiques should focus on policy issues and avoid personal attacks or speculative assertions.
“Personalising debates detracts from the real issues that require collective atten-
tion and thoughtful engagement,” the Commission said. It urged all participants in ongoing discussions to maintain a responsible and measured tone, warning that inflammatory rhetoric risks overshadowing the urgent needs of Indigenous communities.
Both the NTC and IPC reaffirmed their commitment to fostering respectful dialogue and collaboration. The NTC highlighted the importance of working with Government, opposition, civil society, and village leaders to advance the welfare of Amerindian communities, while the IPC called for engagement that contributes to understanding, policy development, and the advancement of Indigenous rights and well-being.
On Sunday, Mohamed turned up with an entourage
outside of the Amerindian Hostel. The confrontation occurred as Minister Browne-Shadeek visited the hostel to assess the facility and discuss plans for a new Amerindian hostel. The Minister disclosed that the design for the new facility is being finalised, land has been identified and proposals for funding have been submitted for the 2026 national budget. She has been working with the Central Housing and Planning Authority, whose engineer and architect have collaborated on the design.
Browne-Shadeek also acknowledged the need to continue supporting the existing hostel on Princess Street, Georgetown. The facility accommodates Amerindians travelling to Georgetown for various reasons, including medical treatment, and provides free meals and assistance. She stated that over 1275 persons have used the hostel this year alone.
Not activism but “bullyism”
The Minister said the opposition’s actions were not activism but “bullyism”, noting that the behaviour took place while sick persons were at the hostel. She said she would not be intimidated and emphasised that proper leadership does not involve confrontational behaviour or using Indigenous people as pawns for political agendas. WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, are currently facing extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to fraud and money laundering indictments linked to gold smuggling in the United States (US).
The indictment follows sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Government on the Mohameds and their businesses in relation to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) noting that between 2019 and 2023. Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana. The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed purchasing and importing a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes. If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property.
Arguing…
…for the money
Listening to the arguments of Sanction Man’s legal team in front of Magistrate Judy, your Eyewitness was reminded of an anecdote about JP Morgan – the man the largest bank in the US of A is named after – who made his original fortune (rather ruthlessly) in railroads and steel during the 19th century. It seems on one occasion, a lawyer told old man JP that there was no legal way to do something he wanted!! Morgan looked bleakly at the lawyer and said, “I don’t know as I want a lawyer to tell me what I CANNOT do. I hire him to tell me how to do what I WANT to do.”
The lesson was clear. As one of the richest men in the world, JP could hire any lawyer he wanted – since he could pay more than anyone else. If this lawyer didn’t want to do the job, he could find someone else who did. He felt –based on his experience – that law was no different from any other field in which he’d made his money. The Golden Rule applies: “Whoever has the gold makes the rules”!! But Sanction Man and his shills are discovering that while lawyers can be bought and sold – it ain’t necessarily so with the law!!
Basically, what Sanction Man’s shills have come up with to get him off the US (sanction) hook is to argue, as lawyers say, “in the alternative”. Meaning they throw out all sorts of “reasons” – even contradictory ones like the kitchen sink!! – as to why the court should rule in their client’s favour!! One famous example of arguing the alternative had to do with a fella accused of borrowing a kettle and returning it broken. His defences were: (a) I never borrowed it; (b) it was broken when I borrowed it; and (c) it wasn’t broken when I returned it!!
In Sanction Man’s extradition proceeding, his shills argued (a) that there’s no extradition treaty between the US and Guyana, (b) there’s a valid extradition treaty, but its amendment is unconstitutional, and (c) Guyana’s GRA was defrauded by Sanction Man, not the USA – and he should be tried in Guyana, where he can drag it out in the courts for decades!! Well, Magistrate Judy – being the nononsense woman she is – would have nothing to do with any of those Hail Marys!
The matter before her is simply to determine whether there’s enough evidence presented to show he MIGHT’VE broken some American laws – and that if he’d broken those laws in Guyana, he COULDA been tried for the crime!!
If Sanction Man really wants true justice, he should be tried for breaking Guyana’s laws after he serves his time stateside!!
…for orderly oil sanctions
Back in the 19th century what was called “The Great Game” was played by Britain asserting her sphere of influence in Western Asia vis-à-vis Russia. Today, a week after the US unilaterally declared the Western Hemisphere to be within ITS sphere of influence, Guyana was smeared in a demonstration of that policy. The US seized a super tanker that was transporting oil from Venezuela – violating their sanctions!!
It seems that the tanker – known as Adisa in 2022 when it was first cited for violations and controlled by Nigeria-based management company Thomarose Global Ventures LTD and owned by a Russian oligarch – was flagged as Guyanese!! FALSELY, according to MARAD!! The operation to seize the tanker was one for the movies – an elite boarding team from the US Coast Guard’s Maritime Security and Response Team, along with Marines deployed by helicopters from the USS Gerald R Ford!!
Your Eyewitness believes the two million barrels of oil in the tanker are Guyana’s – because of the false flag crime!!
…for human rights
On Human Rights Day your Eyewitness thanked God we weren’t in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, or Congo – or closer home – Haiti and Venezuela. In the latter, one-quarter of the population had to flee.
Like us under Burnham!!
Amerindian Affairs Minister Sarah Browne-Shadeek being confronted by WIN Leader Azruddin Mohamed outside the Amerindian Hostel on Sunday
Enmore Hospital launches AI imaging to interpret medical images
As the Guyana Government continues to build out a modern and digitally integrated health ecosystem that is supported by advanced technology, the Enmore Regional Hospital is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in the interpretation of medical images, x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony during an event on Wednesday, where he spoke of the Government’s continued investment in developing a world-class healthcare sector.
“We have now added a system where images that are generated at Enmore, we can read them using this AI technology,” Dr Anthony disclosed. “When you put the image into this AI system, within 14 seconds, it would tell you whether it’s normal or whether it has a pathology. And if it has a pathology, it would be able to point out
the area where that pathology exists. And then the doctor would be able to read the image.”
The software also has the ability to provide a preliminary diagnosis, he further noted. “Because we have
trained the AI using multiple sets of data. And so, you would be able to get that, and that can then be verified by the radiologists.”
The Health Minister emphasised that this system will result in much efficiency
in the operation of the imaging department, noting that “when the doctor got to prepare the report, they’ll take quite some time to do that. With this system, you can actually dictate what it is that you want. And then you
press a button. And it would give you a very detailed report.”
“And depending on how detailed you would like to have it, they would be able to do that. If you see a pathology on the image, it would measure it automatically and give you all the dimensions of it. So, we are moving in that direction as well,” he added.
The Enmore Regional Hospital was one of six new health facilities that were recently commissioned across the country. The other hospitals are located at Diamond, Lima, Bath, Skeldon, and Number 75.
The hospitals are all equipped with advanced medical facilities, including CT scanners, digital x-ray systems, and mobile emergency devices; and they offer a full range of services from basic examinations and precision diagnosis to specialised treatment and emergency care.
Speaking during the
opening of the Enmore Regional Hospital in July, President Dr Irfaan Ali spoke about the need to deploy advanced technology in healthcare. “Guyana will emerge as a regional leader in smart care health services through a bold and forward-thinking health agenda. The country is rapidly integrating digital technology into public health infrastructure. We’re ushering an era where data-driven decisions, telemedicine, electronic health records and AI-assisted diagnostics are no longer futuristic ideas but everyday realities,” he had posited.
Just a week ago, President Ali announced that Guyana is set to break new medical ground next year with the nation’s first robotic-assisted surgery. The breakthrough will see highly specialised surgeons based in the United States performing procedures in Guyana using advanced robotic technology.
OPR
records
10.7%
drop in complaints against Police ranks …eyes 2026 with new training, cybercrime focus
Ranks from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) were on Thursday recognised for their exceptional service throughout the year. The Annual Christmas Luncheon and Award Ceremony was held at the Police Officers' Mess Annexe.
The event was chaired by Head of Department Superintendent Elton Baird, who noted that the awards had significantly boosted morale across all regional divisions. He expressed appreciation to the ranks for their dedication and for set-
ting high standards that contributed to the department’s overall success.
“While there’s still work to do, this progress reflects our commitment to accountability and excellence,” he said, adding that the department aims to maintain momentum in the coming years.
2025 performance overview
Superintendent Baird highlighted that complaints against the department saw a decrease in 2025, with 340 reports received compared to 381 in 2024, representing a 10.76 per cent reduction.
Of these, 285 investigations were completed and submitted for legal advice, 45 complaints were unsubstantiated, and 55 remain under investigation, resulting in an 83.2 per cent completion rate.
The department also recorded an increase in departmental and criminal charges, reflecting stricter enforcement of regulations and accountability measures. Training remained a key focus, with ranks receiving development opportunities both locally and overseas.
Ranks from OPR at the Annual Christmas Luncheon and Award Ceremony held at the Police Officers' Mess Annexe
MoE condemns “inappropriate and vulgar behaviour” at school’s annual Christmas party
...teachers instructed to properly supervise all socials – Minister Parag
The Ministry of Education has condemned the be-
haviour of students seen in a now-viral video that captured minors dancing inap-
Mechanic remanded on attempted murder charge
Arcino Richards, called “Horseman”, a mechanic of Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, was charged with the attempted murder of Hector Massiah, which occurred on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Spice Garden Restaurant and Bar at Aurora Old Road, Essequibo Coast.
Richards appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir, who read the charge to him. He was not required to plead.
The prosecutor objected to bail, and Richards was remanded to prison.
The case was then adjourned to December 23, 2025, for disclosure of statements.
propriately with each other during what appears to be a Christmas social at a Georgetown secondary school.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, Minister of Education Sonia Parag said she was “deeply concerned” about the content circulating online, which shows students – suspected to be in Grades Seven to Nine – engaging in “inappropriate and vulgar behaviour” while dressed in school uniforms.
“I have seen several videos circulating on social media involving students of a particular school clearly engaged in what can only be deemed inappropriate and vulgar behaviour,” Minister Parag said. “Let me be very clear: the Ministry of Education DOES NOT condone such behaviour or conduct by students, whether it is a Christmas social or otherwise.”
The video shows female students dancing inappro-
Charity, Campbellville men fined for multiple traffic charges
Akeem Williams, a 20-year-old gold miner of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast; Fernando Johnson, a 20-year-old labourer of Lot 572 Charity Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast; and 35-year-old Budhu Persaud of Campbellville, Georgetown, were charged and fined separately this week for several separate traffic offences.
Williams was charged and fined after pleading guilty to the offences of being an unlicensed driver, breach of insurance, and obscured ID marks on the front and rear of a motor vehicle.
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the charges were read to the defendant, where he pleaded guilty and was fined a total of $220,000.
He was fined $75,000 for having an obscured ID mark on a motor vehicle (rear); in
default, three months’ imprisonment; and $75,000 for having an obscured ID mark on a motor vehicle (front); in default, three months’ imprisonment.
He was also fined $40,000 for the breach of insurance charge, in default three months imprisonment, and $30,000 for being an unlicensed driver, in default three months imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Johnson was charged with the offence of obscured ID mark on motor vehicle (front) and obscured ID mark on motor vehicle (rear), which occurred Friday, December 5, 2025, at Lima Public Road, Essequibo Coast.
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the case was also heard at Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir, where Johnson pleaded guilty to
both charges and was fined $75,000 for each charge; in default, three months’ imprisonment. For a total of $150,000.
Then, on Thursday, December 11, Persaud appeared before Magistrate S Lallaram at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after he was charged for failing to display an identification mark at the front of his vehicle and for operating an uncertified motor vehicle along Sandy Babb Street, Georgetown.
Persaud pleaded guilty to both offences and was fined $150,000 for failing to display an identification mark at the front of his vehicle or face six weeks’ imprisonment and $40,000 for operating an uncertified vehicle or face six weeks’ imprisonment. A total fine of $190,000.
priately with male students in various parts of a
classroom while loud music plays and their peers cheer them on. The incident has sparked concern among parents, educators and the public regarding supervision at school-hosted activities and during school hours.
Parag reminded that the Ministry had already issued clear directives to heads of schools regarding Christmas events.
“I am aware that our Deputy Chief Education Officer (Admin) sent a specific message to HMs and Head Teachers of various schools to properly supervise and control any Christmas social being held. It there-
fore follows that those who should have been supervising these socials must be held accountable.”
The Minister urged students to desist from such conduct and emphasised that adults responsible for supervision must take their duties seriously.
“It DOES take a village to raise a child,” she added. “Therefore, it must be incumbent on us at every level to ensure that we do our part in discouraging negative behaviour and conduct.”
The Ministry did not specify whether disciplinary action will be taken but said investigations are ongoing.
OPR records 10.7% drop...
Plans for 2026
Looking ahead, the department plans to continue training in critical areas, including photography, videography, and cybercrime investigation, to enhance operational effectiveness. Public engagement will also remain a priority, with outreach programmes across all regional divisions and continued use of radio, television, social media,
and public forums to foster transparency and trust.
Deputy Commissioner of Administration Ravindradat Budhram recognised the critical role the department plays and emphasised the importance of the OPR in ensuring accountability. He also acknowledged the best-performing ranks at OPR headquarters.
Inspectors Quinn Sandy, Chaitram Sewsankar,
and Corporal Annamaria Hercules received cash awards of $25,000. In total, nine ranks were awarded cash incentives and gifts for their diligence, while others received plaques and monetary awards for going beyond the call of duty. Budhram, on behalf of Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all ranks.
Akeem Williams
Budhu Persaud
Remanded: Arcino Richards
Fernando Johnson
Education Minister Sonia Parag
InterCaribbean Airways Ogle operations to strengthen Guyana’s regional connection
– new Barbados-Guyana route marks major boost for tourism, trade, and regional mobility
InterCaribbean Airways officially commenced operations at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Thursday, emphasising Guyana’s expanding aviation links and deepening its regional integration.
The inaugural flight from Barbados was welcomed by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce
Susan Rodrigues, alongside Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director-General Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and Private Sector Commission Chairman Capt Gerry Gouveia Jr.
The event – held against the backdrop of active construction works at the Ogle
Labourer jailed for 58 months for larceny
Thirty-year-old Michael Singh, a labourer of Lot 28 Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, who was charged with the offence of simple larceny, was found guilty on December 10 and sentenced to 58 months’ imprisonment.
Singh was charged for the offence committed on Hubert Griffith, a 36-yearold boat captain of Santa Rosa Island, Moruca, Region One, which occurred on April 28, 2025, at Charity River Dam, Essequibo Coast.
Jailed: Michael Singh
Charged under Section (164) of the Criminal Law Offences Act, chapter 8:01, the case was heard at Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir on Wednesday, December 10.
airport – was described by officials as symbolic of Guyana’s broader national transformation.
In her feature remarks, Minister Rodrigues said the airline’s expansion into Ogle aligns squarely with the Government’s agenda to improve airlift, expand tourism pathways, and support the country’s rapid economic growth.
She noted that the inaugural flight represents a concrete step in expanding Guyana’s regional footprint.
“Today marks a significant milestone as we welcome the inaugural InterCaribbean Airways flight from Barbados to this hub. This moment reflects the steady progress we continue to make in expanding
to move. It also strengthens our connection with the region. Flights like these enable more people to travel to our beautiful country
the Minister said. Minister Rodrigues announced that tourism performance continues to show historic growth. The
Guyana’s regional presence and strengthening the links that support our tourism sector and broader economy. Today carries special meaning for Guyana.”
“The arrival of this aircraft proudly carrying the Guyana flag and the ‘Spirit of Guyana’ tagline represents the confidence in our country and the direction in which we continue
for business, leisure, or to spend time with their families. They also create opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment. The Government of Guyana remains fully committed to strengthening regional and international connectivity. Investments in airport development, new routes, and aviation partnerships continue to support this goal,”
Caribbean is now Guyana’s second-largest visitor source market, a trend she said underscores the need for improved airlift, such as InterCaribbean’s new service.
She noted that the Caribbean Tourism Organization has recognised Guyana for having the highest percentage increase in visitor arrivals from
January to July this year. Rodrigues emphasised the importance of the Guyana–Barbados relationship, calling Barbados a “reliable gateway” for regional and international travel.
“The Caribbean Tourism Organization has also recognised our growth. Their recent report highlighted that Guyana recorded the highest percentage increase in visitor arrivals in the region for the period from January to July of this year. This recognition reinforces the positive work taking place across the tourism sector and the growing interest in Destination Guyana. Based on current trends, Guyana is expected to close December 2025 with at least a 20 per cent overall increase in arrivals, which would mark the highest annual total in our entire tourism history. The connection between Guyana and Barbados is a significant one. Our two countries continue to build a strong partnership in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. Barbados has long served as a reliable gateway for regional and international travel, and this service strengthens that role,” she added.
Focus on concerns, needs of...
“I expect you and the team, all of our councillors, to be in the field. People must know you from up the [Soesdyke-Linden] Highway all the way to Cane Grove. They must know who you are,” Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the PPP, stated.
The VP pointed out that in the past, residents in the region go multiple years without even meeting the regional chairman once or even knowing who the individual is – something which he contends must not happen under the PPP’s rule.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand during Thursday’s engagement
session that brought together Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons, Overseers, Councillors and other key personnel from the various ECD NDCs to discuss the pressing issues facing their communities.
The Minister underscored the need for closer collaboration with residents to ensure that community concerns are addressed promptly and that development initiatives are aligned with local needs.
Manickchand further stressed the importance of stronger administrative systems, enhanced accountability, and more responsive service delivery, noting that the performance of local democratic organs directly affects the daily lives of residents.
During the engagement, discussions were centred on improving infrastructure and community facilities, strengthening drainage and irrigation systems to reduce flooding, and ensuring that waste management practices are efficient and environmentally responsible. Emphasis was also placed on improving financial management and budget planning within the NDCs, particularly in areas such as revenue collection, record-keeping and transparent spending.
In this regard, Minister Manickchand reaffirmed Government’s commitment to empowering local democratic organs and providing them with the support needed to carry out their
mandates effectively. She highlighted that strong, people-centred local governance is essential to national growth and that the Ministry will continue to work closely with NDCs to improve service delivery and accelerate development.
Thursday’s engagement forms part of a wider series of meetings being conducted countrywide, aimed at assessing the performance of local bodies, identifying challenges on the ground, and mapping out strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond.
According to the Ministry, it remains committed to ensuring that every community benefits from efficient, proactive and accountable local governance.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce
Minister Susan Rodrigues
UGBC’s hands-on plant disease workshop empowers farmers, students, regional researchers
…Guyana, Suriname
participants say training will directly improve field diagnosis,
crop management
For four days this past week, 40 participants – from teachers and agricultural students to regional researchers and farmers – immersed themselves in the science of diagnosing and managing plant diseases at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC).
Led by Director of UGBC, Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian, the workshop blended practical fieldwork with laboratory analysis, giving participants the rare opportunity to observe, test, and compare plant pathogens in real time.
Professor Subramanian said the goal of the programme was straightforward but critical for any tropical agricultural system.
“The main aim is to spot a diagnosis and disease. That means the people who see the field see what kind of disease – whether it’s caused by fungus or bacteria or nematodes or protozoa,” he said while explaining that over the four-day session, held from December 8 to 11, participants worked through a structured curriculum designed to help them match symptoms to their correct causal agents.
He emphasised that misdiagnosis is one of the most common and costly mistakes farmers make.
“Suppose the plants are yellow in colour… People start using urea. That’s not correct. At the end of the day, the disease is not cured,” he pointed out.
His intention, he stressed, is to ensure learners return to their farms or institutions with the confidence to diagnose issues properly and manage them with the right tools, chemicals or culture methods.
The workshop attracted attendees from several in-
stitutions across Guyana, including the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), teachers and students from technical institutes, farmers, and notably, participants from Suriname and the Kuru Kuru Co-operative College. The diversity, Prof. Subramanian said, reflects the mounting regional demand for science-based plant health training.
“So far, I have conducted 20 workshops. If you put the advertisement within 10 minutes, the people will submit applications…
Her comments echoed a recurring theme throughout the training: the urgent need for correct, science-driven identification before treatment.
From Suriname, Nurinda Jamin, who works at the Anne Dyk Ryst Onderzoekscenturn Nickerie (Rice Research Institute), said the workshop provided crucial cross-border insights.
“We find it really learnable. We learn a lot about microorganisms… Everything, because the Professor is
It’s expanding, grow, grow, grow,” he said proudly, adding that even participants as old as 81 have benefited from the sessions.
Among the attendees was Ruthann Williams from the Guyana School of Agriculture’s Crop Management programme. She said her motivation stemmed from wanting to better guide farmers and communities.
“What we are hoping to achieve is to let farmers know about the disease that affects their plants… not just about the bacteria and the fungus, but also some of the beneficial bacteria,” she explained. The workshop, she added, strengthened her ability to identify pathogens.
“The programme here is letting people be aware of the fungus… how it’s harmful to the plants, and how we can identify it… so that when I see it, I can [say,] ‘Okay, this is what type... on this farmer’s crop?’”
someone who learned everything step by step, and that was amazing,” she said.
She was particularly impressed by the hands-on approach.
“We just went for a field trip, and we collected some diseased plants… We bring it into the lab, and we just research for the fungus, all the bacteria.”
She intends to take her new knowledge back home:
“With this knowledge, I will bring it back to the organisation I work for… and we will see what kind of fungus we can get in our fields.”
Meanwhile, for Kevin Baird of the Guyana School of Agriculture’s Essequibo Campus, the workshop provided clarity on issues he encounters daily.
“One problem we have at the campus in Essequibo is stunted growth… mostly that’s caused by nematode and also leaf blight,” he said.
Through the workshop, he learnt how to test soil, interpret cultures and apply
corrective measures.
“We learned about the culture; see if the soil has the nematode… So you could go and check the soil; you could be able to know what to treat, where to treat for.”
Baird pointed out that he was grateful for techniques relating to fermentation and beneficial microbes.
“We learned something about the fermentation, which can use the beneficial microbes to kill out the bad ones… I will share what I learned with the students also in the community, so [we can] better the agricultural production.”
Throughout the training, the lab buzzed with activity as participants captured images and compared fungal structures, nematode movements, bacterial colonies, and protozoa. According to Prof. Subramanian, this is exactly how learning should happen.
“Whatever learning, it has to go practical… handson experience… When you reach the field, reach the home, the use of this practice, I’m more than happy,” he said.
He added that the workshop’s success is reflected in the enthusiasm of the learners themselves.
“Even if they finish the workshop, the next day they call me… ‘Next workshop, when?’ They’re so interested… That means interest,” he said.
As the four-day programme closed, participants left with not only certificates but also the skills to diagnose, understand, and manage plant health challenges in a way that directly supports agricultural resilience in Guyana and Suriname.
sUGBC officials say the university will continue to expand technical training initiatives in 2026, ensuring that Berbice remains a hub for practical, science-driven agricultural education—exactly the kind of knowledge Professor Subramanian believes can transform the region’s farming landscape.
Prof Gomathinayagam Subramanian
Participants in the laboratory during the workshop
UNESCO recognises Deepavali as intangible cultural heritage
Deepavali has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It has been inscribed under the “Social practices, rituals and festive events” domain and marks the 16th element on UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage from the Republic of India.
Deepavali is celebrated annually as one of the most popular festivals, uniting communities, families and individuals across the length and breadth of India and the diaspora.
Within communities, elders –inclusive of all genders – play a vital role as custodians of Deepavali and the conduits of intergenerational transmission, while the young adults and children inherit this living heritage. This living heritage provides livelihood support to creative communities and cultural practitioners who continue to enrich it through their diverse artistic expressions.
“Deepavali commemorates the
victory of good over evil, the triumph of light, and the unity and diversity of the Indian diaspora around the world, as well as all those who appreciate Indian culture. In the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the Indian belief that the whole world is one family – this festival celebrates our shared identity as a global family,” said Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
“Deepavali is more than just a festival – it is deeply rooted in Indian culture and celebrated across India and all around the world. It unites people across India and the global diaspora. This inscription is a recognition for all people who keep this heritage alive – the elders who safeguard and pass on this knowledge and young people who carry it forward with creativity and pride,” said Tim Curtis, Director & Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia.
The twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is taking place from Monday 8 to Saturday 13
December 2025 in New Delhi, India. The session is chaired by H E Mr Vishal V Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO.
To enrich and complement this session, a series of exhibitions and side events on the theme of living heritage safeguarding are being organised at the Red Fort, or Lal Qila, the official venue of the intergovernmental meeting.
To safeguard the living heritage transmitted by communities across generations, UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003. Intangible Cultural Heritage, or living heritage, includes oral traditions and languages, performing arts, social practices such as rituals and festivals, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge
about nature and the universe.
From the triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – to rapid social change, living heritage faces growing threats. Safeguarding it is vital, as it is central to maintaining our cultural diversity.
Understanding and sharing the living heritage of different communities also builds mutual respect.
To advance implementation of the 2003 Convention, UNESCO convenes an annual meeting of Member States and cultural bodies. The Intergovernmental Committee oversees the Convention’s implementation by reviewing nominations, guiding best practices, recommending safeguarding measures, and managing international assistance and the Convention Fund. India ratified the Convention in 2005, marking two decades of engagement. With its vast array of festivals, oral traditions, crafts, performing arts and knowledge systems, India plays a dynamic and active role in promoting community-led safeguarding and in reflecting on the future of living heritage.
Sarwans’ Three Hearts Foundation takes Christmas cheer to Wakenaam children
The Sarwans’ Three Hearts Foundation conducted a Christmas Toy Drive on Wakenaam Island over the weekend, distributing gifts to approximately 250 children.
Volunteers travelled to the island with boxes of toys and were met by eager children who gathered for the annual outreach activity.
Each child received a gift as part of the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that young people in rural communities are included in the holiday season.
The Foundation, launched earlier this year by Ramnaresh Sarwan and inspired by his three children, focuses on improving the lives of young people through charitable initiatives. Since its estab-
lishment, it has provided support to more than 400 children nationwide through various programmes aimed at addressing educational needs and basic essentials.
While the Christmas Toy Drive is one of its more visible activities, the
Foundation noted that its work extends beyond seasonal events. Plans are underway to introduce additional initiatives designed to assist children on Wakenaam and in other regions as part of a long-term effort to expand its outreach. As the organisation looks to the year ahead, it reiterated its commitment to further broadening its programmes and creating opportunities that offer lasting benefits for young people.
Christmas cheer at Wakenaam over the weekend by Sarwans’ Three Hearts Foundation
DECEMBER 12, 2025|
Local Govt Minister urges continued fight against gender inequality as “16 Days of Activism” end
As the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence came to a close on December 10, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand urged Guyanese to remain vigilant and committed to ending all forms of gender-based abuse.
Speaking during a Facebook Live on Human Rights Day, Manickchand said she was “pleased and relieved” to have fulfilled her promise of sharing daily insights throughout the 16-day campaign, aimed at raising awareness about gender-based violence and educating the public.
Coupled with this, Manickchand emphasised that gender inequality – not clothing, provocation, or re-
lationship conflicts – remains the root cause of gender-based abuse.
“My friends, that is the basis of gender-based abuse; it is the inequality between the genders. There’s no other reason; it’s not a triangular love affair. It’s not because she wore a short skirt. It’s not because she provoked him. It’s the gender inequality that prevails around the world. And that’s what we have to change.”
The Minister highlighted that progress cannot be made unless women and girls are given equal access to education, opportunities, and autonomy over their own bodies.
“We have to make sure girls and women are educated. We have to make sure opportunities are available,” she said. “And we have to
Local Government and Regional Development
stand up against the idiotic, silly conversations that push us back into this place
where we have no autonomy over bodies, over minds, over spirit, over our beings.”
Reflecting on historical
injustices, Manickchand reminded viewers that it was not long ago when women were viewed as property and, denied control over contraception, choices, and basic rights.
“You were your father’s property to sell for a dowry or a husband’s property to do with as he pleased – emotionally, financially, sexually, physically,” she said. “We were not seen as equal to men, and all of that is the foundation of gender-based violence.”
She also called out recent public discourse, including commentary about women’s bodies and appearances, which she said reinforces harmful stereotypes and undermines women’s autonomy.
“These conversations might sound like a little
giggle and a little laugh, but they have serious consequences,” she warned. “I expect at least our leaders in Parliament – the executive, the judiciary – to make themselves aware of these issues so that understanding can filter down to the population.”
Manickchand reaffirmed her personal and professional commitment to advocating for gender equality beyond the campaign period.
“Today, at the end of our 16 days of activism, I may stop my daily conversations with you,” she said. “But I promise you I’ll never stop fighting to end gender inequalities because it is just so harmful to all of us, including men, who will never get the best of us if they keep treating us like we are not their equals.”
PSC local content submissions reflect Guyanese business growth – Gouveia
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) says its latest recommendations for local content reform are grounded in the significant expansion and rising capabilities of Guyanese businesses across multiple sectors.
PSC Chairman Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, said the organisation’s submission to the Government reflects how rapidly local companies have grown since the Local Content Act was first introduced in 2021.
Gouveia noted that the PSC has been integrally in-
volved in the local content framework from its inception, confirming that the PSC was once again invited this year to offer recommendations on expanding and strengthening specific sections of the legislation.
“The Private Sector Commission is proud to have been part of the development of the local content legislation from day one. We have been included and critical in every step of the local content legislation and development of the local content Secretariat since 2021, and this year we were invited to contribute with our suggestions for expanding or
elaborating parts of the local content legislation, which we’ve made our submissions. We also met with the local content Secretariat to discuss some of the submissions and some of the contributions that we did. And we are eager to see them being implemented in the new draft of the local content legislation,” the Chairman said.
The Guyana Government has committed to reviewing the Local Content Act and expanding the 40 service areas set aside for locals.
There are 40 areas in which oil companies have to seek services from local
providers, to varying degrees. For instance, 100 per cent of immigration support, work permit and visa applications, customs and ground transportation, as well as insurance have to be sought from local service providers by the oil companies.
Meanwhile, other targets include 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent of janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent of pest control services; 75 per cent of local supply of food; and 90 per cent of local accounting services.
In November 2024, it was reported that 1,032 companies were registered with the Local Content Secretariat, meaning they are in possession of a Local Content Certificate to confirm they are a Guyanese company and are eligible to supply oil and gas operations.
Gouveia explained that Guyana’s private sector has been rapidly transforming, with businesses actively reinvesting, forming partnerships, and scaling up their technical capabilities.
He explained that the PSC’s recommendations are carefully aligned with these demonstrated improvements.
“When it comes to local content reform, a lot of it has to do with every year, Guyanese businesses are innovating, Guyanese businesses are forming partnerships, both local and international. Guyanese businesses are reinvesting in their companies to increase their skills, increase their capabilities. So, this year, what we have done is that we have canvassed the business community to find out what have our capabilities grown to. It could be in different
industries, it could be in more advanced industries, it could be maybe we are taking a bigger share of an existing industry. So, it really came down to us making sure that when we make our recommendations, it matches the capabilities demonstrated by the private sector here in Guyana,” he went on to state.
Support for SME development
Gouveia also welcomed the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s (GMSA) new business incubator initiative, noting that it complements the PSC’s own efforts to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
He highlighted several mechanisms already in place to help small businesses scale up, including the Government’s Zero-Interest Development Bank, PSC’s own Business Support Desk, offering guidance on business plans, feasibility studies, and project development, and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s new Women and Agriculture SME Desk.
Gouveia said the PSC sees the continued strengthening of SMEs as essential to broad-based national growth and reinforced that
the private sector remains committed to ensuring local businesses secure a growing share of opportunities within Guyana’s fast-expanding economy.
“SMEs make up over 60 per cent of most of the business support organisations, so we have to figure out ways of supporting these SMEs and the continued growth of these small businesses. We have to commend the Government on the development of the Zero Interest Development Bank, but in the private sector we have operations and incentives, for example, GMSA’s incubator. We also have here at the private sector commission a business support desk that is offering consultation for business plan development, feasibility studies, and so on,” Gouveia said.
“So, the intention is that the incubator that GMSA has launched is one of many private sector operations to promote small businesses, and keep in mind that we are going to be working hand-inhand and leveraging what the Government is offering, especially through their development bank and other incentives that they will be offering, for example, the Small Business Bureau,” he finished.
PSC Chairman, Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr
Minister Priya Manickchand
83 women receive Govt, IDB grants to help build, expand businesses
Some of the women who received grants alongside officials from the Ministry of Social Security and Human Services
Eighty-three women across Guyana have each received a $300,000 grant through a partnership between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Government of Canada and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) aimed at enabling them to build and expand their businesses.
According to the Ministry, many of the beneficiaries were women who had been assisted in escaping domestic violence or trafficking situations. The grant, officials noted, was designed specifically to help them rebuild
their lives. All the women underwent training through the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, which remains open for new applicants.
The distribution, held Wednesday at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) on the East Coast of Demerara, amounted to roughly $25 million in direct support. Beneficiaries included WIIN graduates, survivors of gender-based violence, and women assisted by the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit – representing nine of the 10 administrative regions. Delivering the feature
address, Minister of Human Services and Social Security
Dr Vindhya Persaud said the initiative marks a significant step in transforming women’s economic futures, building on months of training under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network.
“We have not just trained you through WIIN in a particular skill; we have engaged with you so that you can see how your skill can lead you to financial independence and stability,” she said. “You will understand what it means to not only put money into the business but to constantly reinvest it.”
She stressed account-
ability, reinvestment, and sustainability as key components of building lasting, successful ventures, noting the growing presence of women entering non-traditional sectors such as construction, logistics, technology, and oil and gas services.
Highlighting the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to female entrepreneurship, Dr Persaud said this latest support adds to Guyana’s rapidly expanding network of women-led businesses.
“Every year, we host the largest women’s expo in Guyana, and what we are doing here is adding you to the more than 300 women who lead and own businesses,” she added.
IDB Country Representative Lorena Salazar encouraged the women to harness the opportunity to drive personal and family upliftment.
“With business, you will help to improve the condition of your families – or more so, the entire ecosystem of your family – and this includes better health and education,” she said.
As Trump cranks up pressure
Representing the High Commissioner of Canada, Tariq Williams said Canada remains committed to supporting women’s economic empowerment in Guyana.
“We are extremely honoured to be part of this initiative to economically empower women through the provision of training,” he told the gathering. “But we also recognised that training wasn’t
enough and that it was necessary to provide capital in the form of business grants.”
The partnership forms part of the Social Safety Nets and Gender Empowerment Programme, which aims to provide women with tools, resources and financial support to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen gender equality across the country.
Putin calls Maduro, Lukashenko meets Venezuela envoy; Lula, Maduro speak about situation
...US issues fresh sanctions targeting Maduro’s family, Venezuela-linked oil
Russia and its close ally Belarus reached out to Venezuela’s embattled leader, Nicolas Maduro, on Thursday as US President Donald Trump ramps up pressure for his removal, raising the possibility he could seek refuge abroad.
Maduro told Trump in a phone call on November 21 that he was ready to leave Venezuela, provided that he and his family had full legal amnesty, sources have told Reuters.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday held his second meeting in 17 days with Jesus Rafael Salazar Velazquez, the Venezuelan ambassador to Moscow.
According to Belarusian state news agency Belta, Lukashenko told the envoy on November 25 that Maduro was always welcome in Belarus and it was time for him to pay a visit.
On Thursday, Belta quoted Lukashenko as reminding Velazquez they had agreed at the first meeting to “coordinate certain matters” with Maduro.
“We agreed that, after resolving certain issues, you would find time to come to me and meet again so we could make the appropriate decision, which is within our competence. And if necessary, we will then involve the President of Venezuela.”
Reuters requested com-
ment from Lukashenko’s office on the significance of the meetings and whether Belarus would be willing to offer sanctuary to Maduro if he stepped down. It did not respond.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call to the Venezuelan leader on Thursday, “reaffirmed his support for the policy of N Maduro’s Government, aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure.”
Lula, Maduro spoke about the situation in the Caribbean and South America Meanwhile, the Brazilian Government said on Thursday that Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke last week with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro about the situation in the Caribbean and South America.
The two leaders held a “quick call” on December 2, the Government said, adding that there were no further developments after the call.
The call was their first since before last year’s Presidential election in Venezuela. At the time, the Brazilian Government and international observers contested Maduro’s self-proclaimed re-election.
Brazilian newspaper O Globo, citing sources, was the first on Thursday to report
the call. Its report said Lula expressed concerns about the growing US military presence in the Caribbean as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro’s socialist Government.
In previous talks with Trump, the leftist Brazilian leader has offered to act as a mediator in negotiations between the US and Venezuela but has not received a response from Washington.
Fresh sanctions
The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro’s wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The action came as the US executes a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean and as US President Donald Trump campaigns for Maduro’s oust-
er. On Wednesday, Trump said the US had seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The US Treasury Department, in a statement, said it imposed sanctions on six shipping companies moving Venezuelan oil, as well as six crude oil tankers that it said “have engaged in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices and continue to provide financial resources that fuel Maduro’s corrupt narco-terrorist regime.”
Four of the tankers, including the 2002-built H. Constance and the 2003-built Lattafa, are Panama-flagged, with the other two flagged by the Cook Islands and Hong Kong.
The targeted vessels are super tankers that recently loaded crude in Venezuela, according to state oil company PDVSA’s internal shipping documents.
Franqui Flores and Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, nephews of Venezuelan first lady
Cilia Flores, were also hit with sanctions. The two were dubbed the “narco nephews” after their arrest in Haiti in 2015 in a US Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation.
They were convicted in 2016 on charges that they tried to carry out a multimillion-dollar cocaine deal and sentenced to 18 years in prison but were released in a 2022 prison swap with Venezuela. A third nephew, Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, who the US says was involved in a corruption plot at the state oil company, was also sanctioned.
The Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles press enquiries for the Government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maduro and his Government have vehemently denied links to crime and say that the US is pursuing regime change in order to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
“The imperialists thought that our people would falter, but here no one faltered and no one will ever falter,” Maduro said in reference to previous sanctions, as he cheered local production of goods during a visit to the Pinto Salinas neighbourhood in Caracas.
David Goldwyn, a former energy diplomat at the US State Department and the President of consultancy
tankers
Goldwyn Global Strategies, said the sanctions on the six vessels could lay the groundwork for the US to try and seize them.
“This is a powerful intimidation tactic. Certainly, any sanctioned vessel owner will think twice about lifting Venezuelan crude for fear of losing the vessel entirely. And those that are not sanctioned will certainly be concerned about being boarded or designated going forward,” Goldwyn said.
Francisco Monaldi from Rice University’s Baker Institute said the impact of the seizure and further sanctions will depend on US enforcement.
The Trump Administration has said it does not recognise Maduro, in power since 2013, as Venezuela’s legitimate President. He claimed to have won re-election last year in a vote dismissed as a sham by the US and other Western Governments. Independent observers said the opposition had won overwhelmingly. In recent months, Trump has intensified pressure on Venezuela, not least with a massive military build-up in the Caribbean.
In an interview with Politico this week, Trump said Maduro’s “days are numbered”, while declining to say whether he would be willing to send US troops into Venezuela.
(Source: Reuters)
Social Security and Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud alongside a recipient
J’ca approves J$200,000 income tax break for workers hit hard by Melissa
The Jamaica Cabinet has given approval for the Income Tax Act to be amended to facilitate the payment of a tax-free honorarium of up to J$200,000 to employees affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The amount can be paid by employers in one tranche or in several payments up to March 31, 2026.
This is the first of its kind in Jamaica, and, according to Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams, it will become policy during periods of natural disasters.
Williams, who made the announcement during Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, explained that Cabinet approved the proposed amendment to the Income Tax Act to “facilitate a relief support regime that allows for a non-taxable treatment of disaster relief honorarium made by employ-
ers to employees during periods in which a declaration of disaster has been issued pursuant to Section 20 of the Constitution of Jamaica and/ or Section 26 of the Disaster Risk Management Act”.
She noted, “In the absence of an explicit statutory exemption, such payment risks being classified as taxable emoluments in future periods, resulting in legal ambiguity, administrative inconsistency, and inequitable treatment across employers and sectors. As a result, a
legislative amendment is required to provide appropriate statutory provisions for the treatment of these payments.”
Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica’s southwestern parishes at Category 5 strength on October 28, devastating businesses, destroying homes, and throwing thousands out of work. It left behind an estimated US$8.8 billion in damage, while at least 45 persons were killed. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Venezuela Justice Minister: T&T is Venezuelan territory
As tensions be-
tween the US and Venezuela continue to rise, Venezuelan Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello is accusing both T&T and Guyana of allowing themselves to be used by the Americans to launch an attack against Venezuela.
Referring to historical territorial disputes, he also claimed that both T&T and Guyana have been “Venezuelan territories”.
Venezuela claims the oil-rich Essequibo region of Guyana, which is roughly two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
“There are those countries, our neighbours, who want to get into a fight with Venezuela. And I speak specifically right now of Trinidad and Guyana.
They lend themselves to the Americans to launch an attack. Take it as you want. Guyana is truly Venezuelan territory. Trinidad has always been Venezuelan territory,” he said. He made these startling claims on his weekly TV programme, Con El Mazo Dando, on Wednesday night.
Observers around the region quickly took notice of Cabello’s threats.
Eduardo Menoni, a journalist and editor at Libertad Media based in El Salvador, on his X platform, uploaded a video clip of Cabello’s reference to T&T in which Menoni called it a “threat” against T&T, and he also predicted that Cabello and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s days are numbered.
Cabello also warned that the American presence in the Caribbean is not only about Venezuela but also about the rest of the Caribbean and the Latin American region.
“Any President who thinks this is only about Venezuela is a fool,” he said while citing the example of former Bolivian President Luis Arce, an ally of Venezuela who was arrested on Wednesday on corruption charges.
In October, T&T’s Government, in a joint statement with the US, congratulated Bolivia’s new pro-American Government.
Cabello also condemned the US Government for seizing Venezuela’s oil tanker earlier on Wednesday evening. (Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Haiti sets August 2026 date for 1st general elections in nearly a decade
Haiti’s transitional authorities last week released a long-awaited electoral timetable, announcing that the crisis-stricken nation plans to hold its first general elections since 2016 next summer. The announcement marks a major step toward restoring democratic governance, though officials cautioned that worsening gang violence could still threaten the process.
According to the decree issued by the Provisional Electoral Council, general elections are due to be held in Haiti in two rounds on
August 30 and December 6, 2026. The presidency, all seats in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and local and municipal offices will be contested. The President of Haiti is elected using the two-round system, with a second round held if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in the first round.
Jacques Desrosiers, President of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, stressed that the vote cannot proceed unless security conditions improve dramatically.
The country has not
held elections since October 2016, and its last elected President, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in July 2021. Haiti is currently governed by an interim authority, the Transitional Presidential Council, whose mandate ends in February 2026.
Despite the challenges, transitional authorities say the electoral calendar provides a roadmap for Haitians to return to the polls – something many see as critical to restoring stability and international confidence. (Excerpt from Caribbean National Weekly)
US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast, sources say; Machado backs seizure
The US is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The seizure was the first interdiction of an oil cargo or tanker from Venezuela, which has been under US sanctions since 2019. The action came as the US executes a large-scale military build-up in the southern Caribbean and as US President Donald Trump campaigns for Maduro's ouster.
It has put shipowners, operators and maritime agencies involved in transporting Venezuelan crude on alert, with many reconsidering whether to sail from Venezuelan waters in the coming days as planned, shipping sources said.
Further direct interventions by the US are expected in the coming weeks targeting ships carrying Venezuelan oil that may also have transported oil from other countries targeted by US sanctions, such as Iran, according to the sources familiar with the matter who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The US has assembled a target list of several more sanctioned tankers for possible seizure, according to one of the persons familiar with the matter.
The US Justice Department and Homeland
Security had been planning the seizures for months, according to two of the persons.
The seizure of the tanker, carrying the name Skipper, caused at least one shipper to temporarily suspend the voyages of three freshly loaded shipments totalling almost six million barrels of Venezuela's flagship export grade, Merey, sources said.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has backed the US seizure of the oil tanker, saying that the action was a “very necessary step” to confront Nicolás Maduro’s “criminal” regime.
Speaking in Oslo on Thursday, a day after she was honoured for her “tireless” struggle for democratic change, Machado praised the US Navy and Coast Guard helicopter raid on the vessel.
Machado said the huge oil wealth of Venezuela –which has the world’s largest proven reserves – had
not been used by Maduro’s dictatorship to fund hospitals or feed impoverished teachers or improve security. Rather, his regime had used it to buy weapons that were used to repress its opponents.
“So yes, these criminals have to be stopped, and cutting the resources of illegal activities is a very necessary step,” Machado told reporters.
Asked whether she supports US military intervention in Venezuela, she said the country had already been invaded. “We have Iranian agents and terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, who operate together with the regime.” Drug cartels had, she said, “made Venezuela a criminal centre”. It was Machado’s first public appearance in almost a year, after the July 2024 Presidential election, which Maduro was accused of stealing. (Source: Reuters, The Guardian)
Prime Minister Mia Mottley named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women for 2025
Jamaican Prime Minister Mia Mottley has once again earned international recognition, securing a spot on the 2025 Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list, where she ranks No. 99 among the globe’s most influential political, business, and philanthropic leaders.
Forbes highlights Mottley’s continued global impact – particularly her forceful advocacy on climate change, her diplomatic leadership, and her role in steering Barbados’ constitutional transition.
The profile also notes her rise as a global leader on climate issues, referencing her 2021 address to the United Nations General Assembly, where she delivered an “impassioned speech” calling for urgent action.
That same year, the United Nations Environment Programme named her a “Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership”.
Forbes further underscores her role in Barbados’ historic constitutional shift: “Under her leadership, in November 2021, Barbados officially became a Parliamentary republic and removed the Queen of England as its head of state.”
Mottley’s inclusion places her among a global cohort of women shaping economies, diplomacy, technology, philanthropy, and cultural influence. She joins a 2025 Power Women list dominated at the top by political heavyweights – European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at No. 1, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde at No. 2, and Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, at No. 3. Forbes’ 22nd annual ranking evaluates women across four metrics: money, media, impact, and spheres of influence. This year’s list spans 100 women from 17 countries, collectively commanding an estimated $37 trillion in economic power and influencing the lives of more than a billion persons.
(Source: Barbados Today)
US forces board an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a still taken from a video posted online by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday (CBC photo)
OIL NEWS
Oil retreats as investors' focus returns to Ukraine peace talks
Oil prices fell more than US$1 a barrel on Thursday as investors shifted their focus back to Russia-Ukraine peace talks and saw no fallout from Ukrainian drone strikes or a US seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Brent crude futures were down US$1.18, or 1.9 per cent, at US$61.03 a barrel at 11:37h, hovering near the lowest price since October 21.
US West Texas Intermediate crude fell US$1.14, down 1.95 per cent, to US$57.32 a barrel, its lowest price in more than two weeks.
"There was a little bit of support following news of the drone strikes," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. "But there seems to be some movement on a possible path to peace between Russia and Ukraine. That took the support out of the market."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that a visit to Moscow this month by US envoy Steve Witkoff had resolved misunderstandings between the two countries.
Lavrov added that Moscow had handed over Russia's proposals on collective security guarantees to Washington.
"So far, the seizure has not trickled down to the market, but further escalation will impose heavy crude price volatility," said Emril Jamil, a senior oil analyst at LSEG.
"The market remains in limbo, eyeing the Russian-Ukraine peace deal progress."
Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency upgraded its 2026 global oil demand growth forecasts while trimming its supply growth predictions in its latest monthly oil market report on Thursday, implying a slightly narrower surplus next year.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which also released its monthly report on Thursday, kept its forecasts for 2025 and 2026 world oil demand growth unchanged. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Fate of 11 Nigerian troops unclear after “unauthorised” plane landing in Burkina Faso
Eleven Nigerian military personnel are reportedly still in Burkina Faso days after their plane made an “unauthorised” landing in the south-west city of Bobo Dioulasso, despite earlier suggestions they had been freed, deepening confusion about the diplomatic standoff.
Burkinabé authorities told the BBC on Tuesday that the troops had been released and given permission to return to Nigeria, but officials in Abuja have said the matter is yet to be resolved.
Nigerian daily newspaper The Punch quoted Kimiebi Ebienfa, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, as saying late on Wednesday that the Nigerian embassy in Ouagadougou was “engaging with the host author-
“He’ll
Around the World
be next”: Donald Trump threatens Colombian President Gustavo Petro
United States President Donald Trump has renewed his threats against his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, warning that the South American leader could be the next target for his anti-drug campaign.
On Wednesday, at a White House roundtable with business leaders, one reporter asked Trump if he had spoken to Petro. That touched off a fiery response from the Republican leader.
“I haven’t really thought too much about him. He’s
been fairly hostile to the United States,” Trump began, before going on the offensive.
“He’s going to have himself some big problems if he doesn’t wise up,” Trump continued.
“Colombia is producing a lot of drugs. They have cocaine factories. They make cocaine, as you know, and they sell it right into the United States. So he better wise up, or he’ll be next. He’ll be next. I hope he’s listening. He’s going to be next because we don’t like people when they kill people.”
The remarks came shortly after Trump addressed a US military operation to seize an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea in an effort to punish Venezuela and Iran for alleged sanction violations.
Colombia is the world’s largest producer of coca, the raw material for cocaine and other products. Nearly 253,000 hectares, or 625,176 acres, are devoted to its cultivation, according to United Nations estimates.
ities to secure their release”.
The saga began on Monday when a Nigerian military cargo plane, a C-130, travelling from Lagos to Portugal, was forced to land in Burkina Faso. Authorities in the country, which is part of the three-member Alliance of Sahel States (AES), called the landing an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law” in a statement that evening.
The Nigerian air force said technical concerns had forced the plane to divert to the nearest airport “in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols”. The Burkinabé authorities had treated the crew courteously, and plans were under way to continue the mission, it said. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
The Government of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has resigned after protesters took to the streets in cities across the country and filled the centre of the capital, Sofia, on Wednesday night.
Zhelyazkov's dramatic move came ahead of a vote of no confidence in Parliament and 20 days before Bulgaria joins the euro.
Protesters had accused his minority centre-right Government, in power since January, of widespread corruption. The Government had already scrapped a controversial budget plan for next year in response to the demonstrations last week.
"We hear the voice of citizens protesting against the Government," Zhelyazkov said in a TV address.
"Both young and old have raised their voices for [our
Instead, Petro’s Government has focused on attacking the criminal networks that convert the leaf into drugs.
But Trump and his allies have accused Petro of failing to take more aggressive action to stop cocaine production in Colombia.
The US president has repeatedly hinted he could take military action against Colombia over the issue.
Critics argue that coca eradication efforts largely disadvantage rural farmers without offering an alternative means to earn a livelihood.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Bulgarian PM, Government resign after mass protests
resignation]," he added. "This civic energy must be supported and encouraged." A statement on the Government website said Ministers would continue in their roles until a new cabinet was elected.
Between 50,000 and 100,000 people turned out in Sofia's central Triangle of Power and Independence Square on Wednesday evening, calling for the
Government to go. The words "Resignation" and "Mafia Out" were projected onto the Parliament building.
They were backed last week by President Rumen Radev, who had also called on the Government to stand down.
Many of the protesters have been angered by the roles of two figures, oligarch Delyan Peevski and ex-Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov, and Wednesday's rally was organised under the slogan "Resignation! Peevski and Borissov Out of Power," Bulgaria's BTA news agency reported.
Peevski has been sanctioned by the US and UK for alleged corruption, and his party has helped prop up the Government.
Borissov was Prime Minister when anti-corruption protests brought down his Government in 2020, and there have been seven elections since.
Despite the political drama in Sofia, Bulgaria's move to join the euro is not seen as under threat.
Bulgaria ranks among the highest in Europe in terms of the public's perception of official corruption, according to Transparency International. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Kilmar Ábrego García ordered released from ICE custody in fight over Trump immigration
Afederal court in Maryland has ordered the release of Kilmar Ábrego García from ICE custody on Thursday, and he will be advised on his release conditions in his separate Tennessee criminal case.
The case of Ábrego, a Salvadorian national who was a construction worker in Maryland, has become a proxy for the partisan struggle over Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration policy and mass deportation agenda.
Trump Administration officials have waged a relentless public relations campaign against Ábrego, repeatedly referring to him as a member of the MS-13 gang, among other things, despite the fact he has not been convicted of any crimes. His attorneys have denounced the criminal charges. Ábrego has said that, while imprisoned in El Salvador, he endured beatings, sleep deprivation and psychological torture.
US District Judge Paula Xinis stated in her
Thursday order, “Since Ábrego García’s wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been redetained, again without lawful authority.”
Xinis indicated the lack of a valid removal order means the Government cannot legally deport Ábrego from the US.
Earlier in the month, federal prosecutors asked the Maryland judge overseeing Ábrego’s immigration case to lift the restriction on deporting him to Liberia. They said Liberia had pro-
vided assurances that he would not face persecution or torture there.
Ábrego, a native of El Salvador who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported in March to an El Salvador mega-prison. The deportation happened despite a 2019 court ruling that prohibited his deportation to El Salvador due to credible fears of persecution.
His mistaken deportation to the prison in March
set off a prominent legal fight over his return – emblematic of the Trump Administration’s hard-line immigration policies. Government lawyers later acknowledged that his removal resulted from a procedural mistake. Multiple federal judges and a unanimous Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate his return after determining his arrest was “illegal”. In June, Ábrego was brought back to the US to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee, where he entered a not guilty plea. Since then, the Trump Administration has sought to deport him to several nations, including Ghana, Liberia, and Uganda. After being released to his brother’s custody in Maryland while awaiting trial, he was again taken into custody by immigration officials and is now detained in Pennsylvania. In August, Xinis issued an order preventing his immediate removal from the US. (The Guardian)
Kilmar Ábrego García
The centre of Sofia filled with tens of thousands of protesters on Wednesday night calling for the Government to go
Focus on gaining experience and knowledge. Participate in events that address causes and concerns you are passionate about. Socializing with the wrong people will cost you.
You are overdue for a change. Consider how you can use your space to help develop new skills or pursue a project that can bring in extra cash. Be compassionate and understanding.
Don’t sit back when interacting with others; it will spark your imagination and get you moving in a new direction. Be a good listener, observer and communicator.
Use your connections wisely and share your ideas only with those you trust. Avoid anyone who tends to dominate or bully. Discuss budgets, shared expenses and domestic matters to avoid financial setbacks.
Engage in activities and conversations that offer insight into what those close to you want to do. Participating in social events and physical activities can connect you to someone special.
You may desire change, but you are likely to meet with opposition if you move too quickly. Ask an expert, verify information and consider less risky alternatives.
Scout around your neighborhood, ask questions, gather information and make domestic choices that improve your living space or arrangements. Know when to say no and walk away.
Chase knowledge and life experience. What you learn will offer greater awareness of the possibilities. Discipline regarding the use of money will be necessary.
Hasty choices will backfire, leaving you in a quandary that can cost you if you aren’t careful. Ease into situations, mull over information and consider what works best for you before making a move.
Reach out to those you look up to for information with caution. Ask questions and listen carefully, but when it comes time to make a choice, rely on your instincts.
Participating in something you enjoy will help you relax. Distancing yourself from stress will help you gain perspective on what’s meaningful to you and how to cope with life’s little challenges.
Stick close to home and engage in something creative. Make positive changes to your routine and revamp your plans to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.
Quinton de Kock's 90 powers SA to massive win
If India defied losing the toss and getting the worst of the conditions, theoretically, in Cuttack, South Africa did the same in New Chandigarh to come roaring back into the T20I series, which is now locked 1-1 with three matches to go.
India’s Captain Suryakumar Yadav noted at the toss that the outfield was already dewy when the players were going through their pre-match warm-ups. It was a no-brainer to chase. But Quinton de Kock put India under pressure with a 46ball 90 studded with seven sixes, and Donovan Ferreira finished brilliantly with an unbeaten 16-ball 30, taking South Africa to an imposing total of 213 for 4.
Imposing, but not dewproof; certainly not, given how India's bowlers had struggled with the conditions and bowled 15 wides – including seven in one Arshdeep Singh over – and 13 full tosses.
But the dew never got a chance to test South Africa, as their new-ball bowlers made the best possible use of early movement to take three wickets in the first four overs. These included the Test-match-style dismissals of both India openers.
It was all steeply uphill from 32 for 3, and India never really challenged the visitors, with Tilak Varma's 34-ball 62 standing out for its fluency and enterprise on a difficult night for his team. South Africa bowled India out with five balls
still remaining, with Ottneil Baartman hastening their end with three wickets in the 19th over.
De Kock keeps clearing the ropes
This pitch wasn't a complete featherbed, with the ball occasionally stopping on the batters and making them mistime shots. Two members of South Africa's top three, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, scored 37 off 36 balls between them.
The other member, however, was in an entirely different mood, taking full toll of anything remotely too short, too full, or especially
too straight. De Kock kept clearing the ropes whenever he had half a chance, particularly with his pulls and pick-up shots square and behind square on the leg side.
South Africa at a critical stage of their innings. But Ferreira and David Miller made sure they cleared 200 by a good margin, putting on an unbroken 53 off 23 balls
This put India's bowlers under tremendous pressure. They could not attack de Kock's stumps because that ran the risk of being whisked over the leg side, and they could not afford to give him width either. This pressure led India to attempt yorkers and wide yorkers frequently, and the pressure combined with the dew to produce errors in the form of wides and full tosses.
Arshdeep suffered the most from this, sending down seven wides in the 11th over – all to de Kock –and nine in all.
Jitesh Sharma's alert run-out of de Kock – who wandered out of his crease instinctively after bottom-edging the ball towards the keeper – in the 16th over, followed by Axar Patel's dismissal of Dewald Brevis in the 17th, threatened to stall
for the fifth wicket.
The highlight of the partnership was an 18-run final over during which Ferreira hit Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes: a full toss drilled straight and a good short ball that followed the batter's premeditated movement pulled authoritatively over the leg side.
In all, Bumrah conceded four sixes, the most he has gone for in a T20 International (T20I).
Ngidi and Jansen make the new ball talk
Given all the dew around, it was imperative that South Africa made the new ball count. They did that emphatically. Lungi Ngidi set things in motion with a firstover jaffa to Shubman Gill, squaring him up in defence with one that straightened from a good length and hav-
the openers to the dressing room in the fourth over, sending a thin edge to the keeper – confirmed after South Africa reviewed the not-out decision – while looking to steer Jansen behind point.
Tilak stands out in the rubble
India never threatened to make a match of it, particularly with Axar Patel –promoted to number three – and Hardik Pandya struggling for fluency, scoring 41 off 44 balls between them.
But there was one bright spot for the home team in the form of Tilak, who looked in excellent rhythm right from the time he walked in and combined that with his awareness of the field to
South Africa (20 ovs maximum)
Quinton de Kock † run out
(†Sharma) 90
Reeza Hendricks b Varun 8
Aiden Markram (c) c Patel
b Varun 29
Dewald Brevis c Tilak Varma
b Patel 14
Donovan Ferreira not out 30
David Miller not out 20
Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 16) 22
Total 20 Ov (RR: 10.65) 213/4
Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Reeza Hendricks, 4.1 ov), 2-121 (Aiden Markram, 11.6 ov), 3-156 (Quinton de Kock, 15.1 ov), 4-160 (Dewald Brevis, 16.1 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Arshdeep Singh 4-0-54-0
Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-45-0
Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-29-2
Axar Patel 3-0-27-1
Hardik Pandya 3-0-34-0
Shivam Dube 2-0-18-0
India (T: 214 runs from 20 ovs)
Abhishek Sharma c †de Kock
b Jansen 17
Shubman Gill c Hendricks
b Ngidi 0
Axar Patel c Hendricks
b Baartman 21
find the boundary frequent ly even while his partners got stuck. Against Ferreira's 110 km/h off-spin rockets, for example, he made room to use the pace and steer him behind point, off the stumps. Then, against George Linde's left-arm spin, he collapsed his back knee smartly to reverse-sweep over backward point for six. A slog-swept six off an Ngidi slower ball took him to a 27ball half-century in the 14th over.
Jitesh, who came in at number seven, also made good use of the V behind the wicket, scoring 27 off 17, but the result was already certain by the time he walked in, with India needing 96 off 34 balls at that point. (ESPNcricinfo)
Suryakumar Yadav (c) c †de Kock
b Jansen 5
Tilak Varma c Markram
b Ngidi 62
Hardik Pandya c Brevis
b Sipamla 20 Jitesh Sharma † c Baartman
b Sipamla 27
Shivam Dube b Baartman 1
Arshdeep Singh c Miller b Baartman 4 Varun Chakravarthy c Markram b Baartman 0
Jasprit Bumrah not out 0
Extras (b 3, lb 1, w 1) 5 Total 19.1 Ov (RR: 8.45) 162
Fall of
Tilak Varma reacts after scoring a half-century
Ottneil Baartman took four wickets
South Africa tie the series 1-1
Quinton de Kock celebrates after scoring a half-century
GPF honours Sampson as 2025 Sportsman of the Year
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has honoured 25-year-old Quentin Sampson as its 2025 Sportsman of the Year, celebrating the remarkable rise of a young cricketer whose journey began in the quiet village of Caria Caria along the Essequibo River.
In a social media post, the GPF said, 'Quentin is 25 years old and the eldest of three children, with one
younger brother and one younger sister.'
From the time he was six years old, Quentin loved cricket. His father believed in him so much that he even formed a softball team just so Quentin could have more chances to play. When Quentin went to Aurora Secondary School, he had to live in the dorms because he had no family nearby. One day, while playing cricket
on the school tarmac just for fun, a teacher saw how hard he could hit the ball. Right away, the teacher signed him up for the school’s cricket team. At that time, Quentin also played foot ball and was on the school’s football team, but soon he had to make a choice. He chose cricket, the sport he loved most. After finishing school, Quentin moved to the East Bank to follow his
cricket dreams. He joined the Parika Salem Cricket Club, where he met Ryan Hercules, a national cricket coach and coach of the Police Cricket Team.
Trans Guyana Airways was on Thursday announced as a supporting sponsor of the KFC Goodwill International Schools’ Football Tournament, set to get underway this weekend.
With Jose Vieira de Sales Guerra School of Roraima State, Brazil, and Annai Secondary from Region Nine
ready to compete, the entity is said to be supporting their travel to the capital city.
Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca, during a simple presentation ceremony on Thursday afternoon, thanked the company for its support.
“The Petra Organisation is very pleased, once again, to accept support from Trans Guyana Airways. Ever since we started bringing out teams from Region Seven and Region Nine, specifically, they were in support of assistance with the team from Region Seven. This time around, we’re bringing a team from Brazil,
and again they’re extending some support to us, and we’re very grateful and thankful,” Mendonca shared.
In turn, Trans Guyana’s Commercial Operations Officer Pooja Jagroo highlighted the company’s elation at being part of the initiative.
Jagroo briefly stated, “We at Trans Guyana Airways, we’re very happy to be a part of the sixth annual KFC Goodwill football tournament.”
Eight teams from Guyana, Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago will compete from December 14 to December 21 for top honours and other prizes in the KFC Goodwill tournament.
Guyana’s Chase’s Academic Foundation is the tournament’s defending champions.
Aside from title sponsors KFC, NEW GPC’s Limacol, ANSA McAL’s Lucozade and Royal International Hotel are some of the tournament’s corporate sponsors.
Hercules taught Quentin many important skills that helped him grow stronger as a player. Things were not always easy for Quentin. He did not have a permanent job, so he sometimes had to work in the interior to earn money to travel to his weekend cricket matches. But he never gave up. Quentin joined the Police Sports Club at the age of 17, and at 19, he officially became a member of the GPF. Being a Police Officer helped him become more disciplined and fo-
cused, both in life and in cricket. Throughout his journey, Quentin received strong support from the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram, a cricketer he always admired; and the entire Guyana Police Force administration.
Quentin’s hard work paid off in a big way. This year, he was honoured as the Best Emerging Player in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He was also named the Best Sportsman of the Guyana Police Force for 2025, and he is now a franchise player in the Abu Dhabi T10 Tournament.
Sideline sweep BV Inter-Block Futsal titles
The Beterverwagting
Tarmac came alive over the weekend as the third Annual BV InterBlock Futsal Competition delivered a thrilling night of fast-paced football, vibrant music, and community spirit. The event – hosted in collaboration with Team C Promotions and DJ Harry –attracted large crowds who witnessed standout performances across both the U17 and senior divisions.
In the U17 final, Sideline U17 produced a commanding display to defeat Gulf U17, securing the championship title with clinical finishing and disciplined play. Goal-scorers Tyrell Walcott, Mark Glasgow, and Quason Price each found the back of the net to seal the victory and spark celebrations from the youthful squad and their supporters. Glasgow, who proved lethal in front of the net, walked away with the Most Goals award in addition to lifting the championship trophy with his teammates.
The excitement carried into the senior division, where the rivalry remained within the same community. In an all-Sideline showdown, Sideline A outplayed Sideline B to claim the senior title with a solid 3-1 win. The match showcased
sharp passing, tactical control, and moments of individual brilliance that kept spectators roaring from start to finish.
Earlier, in the battle for third place, BV Police pushed past Gulf B with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Their resilience and defensive organisation earned praise from fans and organisers alike.
The night culminated with the announcement of Shemar Fraser as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the BV Inter-Block 2025 tournament – an honour celebrating his consistency, leadership, and exceptional skill throughout the competition.
Shemar Fraser, MVP of BV Inter Block 2025
Mark Glasgow being awarded the Most Goals and the champion trophies
Trans Guyana’s Pooja Jagroo makes a presentation to Petra’s Troy Mendonca in the presence of Trans Guyana’s Brittany Isaacs and Petra’s Troy Peters
Trans Guyana Commercial Operations Officer Pooja Jagroo
Quentin Sampson earned the GPF Sportsman of the Year award
N(Hay 61, Phillip 3-70) and 57 for 1 (Conway 28*, Williamson 16*, Phillip 1-17) beat West Indies 205 (Hope 47, Tickner 4-32) and 128 (Hodge 35, Duffy 5-38, Rae 3-45) by nine wickets
Jacob Duffy, who had to wait until his 31st birthday for a Test debut earlier this year, claimed his second five-wicket haul of the series as West Indies folded tamely on the third day in Wellington. Bowled out for just 128, West Indies left New Zealand a target of 56, which was knocked off before tea for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with one game to go. It was New Zealand's first win of the 2025-27 World Test Championships (WTC) cycle. West Indies, meanwhile, have now lost six of their seven outings in this
Duffy 5-for triggers West Indies slide to give New Zealand 1st win of WTC cycle
strokes through the covers and square leg. But in the 31st over, one of those wellstruck pulls picked out substitute fielder Will Young, who held a superb rebound
cycle and remain winless. The collapse began with Brandon King's run-out for 22 in the morning session. After a careful start with overnight partner Kavem Hodge (35), King set off for a risky single in the morning's eighth over. Sent back and left stranded, he was gone once substitute Michael Bracewell's sharp throw was relayed on to the stumps by debutant wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay.
Shai Hope fell in the same over after closing the bat face in an attempt to work Michael Rae to the leg side, offering a simple return catch. Roston Chase, averaging under 16 as Test Captain, then nicked a rising delivery from Duffy through to the keeper.
Hodge and first-Test hero Justin Greaves (25) attempted to stabilise things, with Hodge unfurling crisp
At 88 for 6, with the lead still below 20, the match was effectively gone, and Duffy accelerated the finish. He trapped Greaves lbw with a full delivery that jagged in, a decision first turned down, but later overturned on review. In his next over, Duffy drew Tevin Imlach into a loose drive away from his body for an edge to second slip. Rae added his third by removing Jayden Seales caught behind, before Duffy completed his five-for by going short to number 11 Ojay Shields, who miscued a leg-side swipe to fine leg.
Duffy walked off to applause with the innings ball raised, and openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway dashed away to pad up with an hour left before tea and a small target in front.
Chase said West Indies'
batters did not make the most of the conditions on offer. "Batting is a bit of a concern, after coming from the first Test, that beautiful second innings [in Christchurch]," he said. "But we came here and our batters never really capitalised. Initially, we thought the pitch would be similar to Christchurch. But this pitch was a lot easier for batting. The scores didn't reflect that. There is still one Test match left and we can still level the series. That can help motivate the guys further."
The pair added 26 in seven overs before Latham got a leading edge off Anderson Phillip to third slip. Conway held fort, attacking with six fours in his unbeaten 22-ball 28. Kane Williamson, with 16 off 12 balls, wrapped up the match with back-toback boundaries in the 10th over.
Earlier in the Test, Blair Tickner's first-innings fourfor and Rae's three wickets dismissed West Indies for 205. New Zealand replied with a disappointing 278 for 9 declared, with Tickner unable to bat after picking up a shoulder injury. But half-centuries from Conway (61) and Hay (60) ensured a meaningful lead, which, combined with West Indies' limp second-innings effort, set up a comfortable win.
After the game, New Zealand Captain Latham said they got "better and better" as the game progressed. "We took a little bit to get into the game, morning of day one, potentially some heavy legs. But we adjusted things and we bowled better and better in the second innings. And obviously Duffy on the back of that [five-wicket haul] and some of our substitutes
coming on and getting on the board [was pleasing].
"Mitch Hay played beautifully in the first innings coming under pressure. The way he played was pretty much the way he plays for Canterbury and that's what we asked of him. And Michael Rae picked up some really im-
New Zealand 1st Innings
Tom Latham (c) b Roach 11
Devon Conway c †Imlach
b Greaves 60
Kane Williamson b Phillip 37
Rachin Ravindra c †Imlach
b Roach 5
Daryl Mitchell c †Imlach
b Phillip 25
Mitchell Hay † c Roach
b Shields 61
Glenn Phillips c Phillip
b Chase 18
Zak Foulkes not out 23
Jacob Duffy c Roach
b Phillip 11
Michael Rae b Seales 13
Blair Tickner absent hurt
Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 8) 14
Total 74.4 Ov (RR: 3.72, 381 Mins) 278
Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Tom Latham, 13.2 ov), 2-103 (Kane Williamson, 30.5 ov), 3-117 (Rachin Ravindra, 34.4 ov), 4-117 (Devon Conway, 35.1 ov), 5-190 (Daryl Mitchell, 54.6 ov), 6-213 (Mitchell Hay, 60.4 ov), 7-233 (Glenn Phillips, 66.4 ov), 8-257 (Jacob Duffy, 70.3 ov), 9-278 (Michael Rae, 74.4 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Kemar Roach 16-6-43-2
Jayden Seales 17.4-3-72-1
Ojay Shields 14-1-50-1
Anderson Phillip 13-0-70-3
Justin Greaves 12-4-28-1
Roston Chase 2-0-9-1
West Indies 2nd Innings
John Campbell b Rae 14
Brandon King run out (sub [MG
Bracewell]/†Hay) 22
Anderson Phillip lbw b Duffy 0
Kavem Hodge c sub (WA Young)
b Foulkes 35
Shai Hope c & b Rae 5
Roston Chase (c) c †Hay
b Duffy 2
Justin Greaves lbw b Duffy 25
Tevin Imlach † c Latham
portant wickets on day one, trucked into the wind all week. All those efforts do not go unnoticed. We probably weren't where we wanted to be with the bat, but we can look into that over the rest of this week."
The third Test begins on December 18 in Mount Maunganui. (ESPNcricinfo)
b Duffy 5 Kemar Roach not out 5 Jayden Seales c †Hay
b Rae 0 Ojay Shields c Rae b Duffy 9
Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 6
Total 46.2 Ov (RR: 2.76, 214 Mins) 128 Fall of wickets: 1-24 (John Campbell, 6.5 ov), 2-25 (Anderson Phillip, 7.4 ov), 3-50 (Brandon King, 17.1 ov), 4-58 (Shai Hope, 17.6 ov), 5-70 (Roston Chase, 22.1 ov), 6-88 (Kavem Hodge, 30.4 ov), 7-113 (Justin Greaves, 42.6 ov), 8-114 (Tevin Imlach, 44.1 ov), 9-119 (Jayden Seales, 45.4 ov), 10-
Jacob Duffy completed his second Test five-for
Michael Rae picked up six wickets on Test debut
Devon Conway made an unbeaten 22ball 28 to wrap up New Zealand's win
KFC unveils new grandstand at MoE Ground
Teams, parents, and fans alike will now enjoy the comfort of better, sheltered seating accommodations at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, following the commissioning of the KFC stands at the venue on Wednesday evening.
A $25 million commitment was made by the fast-food giant back in October so as to ensure elevated seating for the upcoming KFC Goodwill tournament; the stands at the venue were erected in a matter of weeks.
During the pavilion’s commissioning ceremony, KFC Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Subryan described the project as KFC’s commitment to Guyanese sport and arts.
Subryan highlighted KFC’s ongoing nine-year stint in Guyana, expressing, “And for a young company such as ours, we’re able to do fantastic things
like this; it’s a demonstration of our commitment to the development of infrastructure for sports, for local arts. We’re very, very committed.”
“KFC is a brand that has embedded itself throughout Guyana, and in whatever way we can support our communities, we want to do that. It also depends on a budget, but with Guyana’s continued support for KFC, I think we can make it happen,” the KFC CEO added.
Coordinators of the KFC Goodwill tournament, the Petra Organisation, oversaw the project, as Co-Director Troy Mendonca was moved to reflect on how the idea was born. He also gave credit to the Government, highlighting the need for public-private partnerships.
“Every time, it was a set of tents we had to deal with, and we kept asking sponsors, ‘Look, we want to make these parents and players comfortable.’ Fortunately, we
had a conversation with KFC, who I presume at the time were looking for how they can contribute to society, and so, this idea was mentioned to them, and they understood exactly what our plea was. And they fulfilled, thank you KFC,” he said.
Mendonca shifted his focus, stating, “It doesn’t only got to say KFC; this space here had to be provided by the Government, and the Government had to also support the idea of us putting lights here. So, the Ministry of Education has demonstrated how Private Sector and Government relationships can be built and nurtured in a way that supports our society and our nation as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer (CEO) for Hinterland, Marti DeSouza, labelled KFC’s move as the definition of exercising corporate social responsibility.
“Now this is what corporate social responsibility looks like.
It’s not all about taking; it’s not all about eating. It’s about giving back to our people, more importantly, giving back to our young people and what you have done in collaboration with Petra, I think, we at the Ministry of Education recognise, and as such, I want to give you a round of applause,” DeSouza
articulated. Fans will not have to wait too long to utilise the new KFC grandstand, as the Goodwill international tournament is set to kick off this Sunday, December 14, at the venue.
Defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation, Guyana’s qualifiers West Ruimveldt Secondary and
Nickerie will be competing in the upcoming Goodwill tournament.
Nine young chess players will be heading off to Puerto Rico to compete in the 20th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Festival in the city of Dorado. The competition, a collaboration between the Puerto Rican Chess Federation (FAPR) and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas (CCA), is scheduled to take place from December 14 to December 21, 2025.
This event, now in its 20th edition, is a celebration of the young talent within the region and provides a valuable
Guyanese youths off to CAC Youth Chess Festival
opportunity to continue strengthening the bonds that unite the chess community. All member federations within the Caribbean and Central America are invited to participate in the U-8, U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-18 Absolute and Girls' Categories.
Guyana will be represented by the talented youths of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in the various categories. National Junior Chess Champion Kyle Couchman in the U-18 Absolute Category, Ciel
Clement in the U-18 Girls, National U-16 Champion Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber in the U-16 Absolute, National Women’s Champion Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi in the U-16 Girls, National U-14 Girls’ Champion Emma John in the U-14 Girls, National U-14 Open Champion Nicholas Zhang in the U-14 Absolute, National U-12 Open Champion Abel Fernandez in the U-12 Absolute, National U-12 Girls' Champion Kataleya Sam in the U-12 Girls, and Vir Narine
will play in the U-10 Absolute Category.
In addition, two of these players have been sponsored by the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, through the Pegasus Chess Club and its new Pegasus Youth Development Programme (PYDP).
Couchman and Joshi are now ambassadors of the Pegasus Chess Club and part of the upcoming PYDP initiative, which will formally launch in 2026. The two youths have officially signed sponsorship agreements with
Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre and will be provided with support for travel and competition readiness.
Couchman, age 16, is one of Guyana’s strongest rising competitors and is the 2025 National Junior Chess Champion. He holds a careerhigh ELO rating of 2004, placing him among the top youth players in the country, while Joshi is Guyana’s top female chess performer and holds the distinguished title of WCM and National Women’s Champion for 2025. Joshi has earned national and regional recognition for her strategic maturity, composure, and strong performances against elite competition.
“Pegasus is deeply committed to the growth and development of young Guyanese talent. Kyle and Aditi have demonstrated exceptional discipline, integrity, and competitive excellence. We are honoured to support their journeys as they continue to represent Guyana at the highest levels,” said Brandon Badal, Director
of Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre.
“PYDP will play a key role in creating more opportunities for youth across multiple fields, and this sponsorship is the first step in that mission. This initiative also provides a streamlined approach for domestic and international companies to exercise their corporate social responsibility (CSR), and we encourage any organisation that wishes to get involved to contact us.”
The GCF noted that it was pleased to have the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre on board as a sponsor for the two young chess talents and hope that more companies can recognise the need for sponsorship of other rising talents within the chess federation.
The Guyana team will be accompanied by a few parents, with Mrs Tanya Clement as Head of Delegation. The GCF has wished the team a safe and successful trip as they continue to grow and develop in their chess careers.
Annai Secondary, Trinidad and Tobago’s St Benedict’s College, Jamaica’s Kingston College, the Bahamas’ Anglican Central Education Authority (ACEA) Select, Jose Vieira de Sales Guerra School of Roraima State, Brazil, and the Suriname Technical School in
Brandon Badal, Director of Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, with Aditi Joshi (left) and Kyle Couchman (right)
Kyle Couchman and Sachin Pitamber
The ribbon is cut to officially open the KFC Grandstand in the presence of KFC Guyana CEO Paul Subryan, Petra Co-Directors Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole and other stakeholders