ICJ orders Venezuela to halt unlawful election plans in Guyana’s Essequibo
…Guyana’s Govt welcomes decision, calls on Venezuela to comply
Younge’s drowning
Cops fired; hotel owner released from custody, blacklisted from leaving Guyana
to
Labour Day 2025
Workers can look forward to improvements, real income growth, equitable benefits – Pres Ali
On the occasion of Labour Day 2025, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his Administration’s unwavering support for Guyanese workers, assuring that “workers have a friend, not a foe, in my Government”. In a stirring message of solidarity, the President saluted the contributions of labour to national development and vowed to ensure “real income growth and equitable benefits” as the country’s economy expands.
Ali hailed the day as a time to “reflect on the heroic and historic struggles of workers” and celebrated the gains achieved through “working-class solidarity and working-class parties and Governments”. He stressed that improvements in wages, conditions, and social welfare came through decades of sacrifice and unity.
Looking ahead, the President said Guyanese workers can expect more –including access to quality healthcare and education, improved housing and utilities, social protection, and
economic empowerment opportunities.
On this point, he emphasised that these would be delivered in a more inclusive and equitable economic framework, ensuring no worker was left behind.
“They can look forward to investments that generate personal, household, and inter-generational wealth. They can envision a future with assured access to world-class education and health care, along
with advancements in human well-being. Workers of Guyana will continue to benefit from improvements in housing, water, sanitation, lower energy costs, better social security, transformative infrastructure and meaningful opportunities for economic empowerment.
“Workers in Guyana stand to benefit equitably from our growing economy. My Government will ensure that the fruits of prog-
ress are shared by all, by fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for everyone,” Dr Ali said.
Calling on unions and the wider workforce to stay united, he underscored that solidarity remained the key to achieving even greater progress.
“Let us use this occasion not only to celebrate working-class achievements but also to renew our commitment to recognising the indispensable role of labour in national development and to ensuring greater dialogue and cooperation to secure workers’ rights and expand opportunities for working-class empowerment,” he added.
Strides
On Wednesday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had reminded that over 60,000 more persons were working today compared to when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office, a testament to the Government's commitment to job creation and economic revitalisation.
He contrast-
ed this with the previous Administration’s record, noting that during the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s five-year tenure, thousands of jobs were lost across major sectors including sugar, bauxite, gold mining, and forestry. Jagdeo pointed out that during that period, business slowed and cash flow diminished, leading to widespread unemployment.
The Vice President further outlined key programmes such as the parttime job initiative, which currently supports over 14,000 persons – primarily women – with flexible employment. He also highlighted the reinstatement of Community Support Officers (CSOs) in Amerindian communities, with nearly 3000 now employed, reversing job cuts made under the previous Administration.
Jagdeo linked job creation with upskilling. Over 30,000 scholarships have been awarded under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, with an addition -
al 20,000 trained through Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). These efforts aim to boost the quality and earning potential of the workforce.
He noted that under the APNU/AFC, only 1000 scholarships were awarded, “mainly for friends and family”.
Jagdeo also touted the restoration and strengthening of collective bargaining, noting that multi-year agreements were signed with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU); the Guyana Teachers’ Union, and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). Further, significant tax relief measures were implemented, including a $50,000 monthly tax-free allowance on overtime; an additional $50,000 exemption for income earned from a second job; tax thresholds were raised, with allowances for dependants; restoration of the Joint Services' one-month tax-free bonus at a cost of nearly $2 billion.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 2 – 20:55h-22:25h and Saturday, May 3 –22:55h-00:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 2 – 07:00h-08:30h and Saturday, May 3 – 08:00h-09:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery to light rain showers are expected during the day and at night, with intermittent sunshine in the daylight hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.79 metres and 4.02 metres.
High Tide: 07:25h and 20:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.23 metres.
Low Tide: 13:36h reaching a minimum height of 0.76 metre.
ICJ orders Venezuela to halt unlawful election plans in Guyana’s Essequibo
…Guyana Govt welcomes decision, calls on Venezuela to comply
he International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered that Venezuela must refrain from conducting or preparing to conduct elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region – two thirds of the country’s landmass.
Back in January, the Nicolás Maduro regime announced plans to elect, on May 25, 2025, a governor and legislative council of “Guayana Esequiba State”, which is the name Venezuela has given to Guyana’s Essequibo region.
In a majority order of 12 to three on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the ICJ issued provisional measures, stating that “…pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections, in the territory in dispute, which the Co-operative Republic of Guyana currently administers and over which it exercises control”.
This was in response to the Guyana Government’s March 6, 2025 request that the court block attempts by Venezuela to hold elections in the Essequibo region. Guyana had contended that this action by the Spanishspeaking nation “flagrantly violates” provisional measures previously issued by the World Court back in December 2023 and asked the court to reaffirm those measures.
In Thursday’s orders, The Hague, Netherlandsbased World Court “… Unanimously, reaffirms the provisional measures indicated in its Order of 1 December 2023, which should be immediately and effectively implemented…”
The March request is the second time that Guyana has had to write the ICJ over Venezuelan’s aggression even as the court is hearing the case to settle the decades-long border controversy between the two South American neighbours.
Back in December 2023, Guyana had approached the World Court after Venezuela's threat to seize and annex Guyana's Essequibo region. In response, the ICJ had or-
dered Venezuela to refrain from any actions to disturb Guyana's administration and control of the territory pending the conclusion of the case.
In that December 1, 2023
ICJ order, it was noted “… Unanimously, Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situa-
tion that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area; and (2) Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”
Welcome decision
Meanwhile, the Guyana Government has welcomed the court order, with President Dr Irfaan Ali declaring that Guyana’s position has always been consistent with international law.
“Once again, Guyana’s position has prevailed. Once again, it has been demonstrated that Guyana’s position accords with international law. The Government of Guyana welcomes this decision,” the Head of State said in a social media post.
TURN TO PAGE 8
Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro
Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Celebrating workers
Labour Day stands as an important and significant moment to salute the indelible contributions of workers to national development. In Guyana, this day is marked with deep reverence and a renewed commitment to advancing the cause of labour. The message from President Dr Irfaan Ali, and the remarks by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips underscore not only the historical legacy of the working class, but also the unwavering support that the current administration pledges to the nation's workers.
The President’s message is clear, that is: workers have a steadfast ally in the Government of Guyana. This assurance is grounded in an acknowledgment of the monumental struggles and sacrifices that have shaped the landscape of workers’ rights — not just locally, but globally. The historical journey of workers, characterised by relentless advocacy for fair wages, dignified conditions, and social justice, forms the bedrock of the freedoms and protections that are now enshrined in law and practice.
Importantly, the President has emphasised that these gains are the direct fruits of labour solidarity and the perseverance of working-class movements. In Guyana’s context, the names and legacies of pioneers such as Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow continue to inspire successive generations. Their vision has laid a solid foundation, but as both the President and Prime Minister caution, the work is far from complete.
The contemporary economic landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. Guyana’s economy is undergoing transformative growth, powered by significant investments and a surge in infrastructural and social development. This growth promises not just improvements in real incomes, but also broader opportunities in education, healthcare, housing, and other critical areas. The Government’s commitment to ensuring that all workers benefit equitably from this progress is a critical reassurance, particularly at a time when rapid economic expansion could sometimes risk leaving sections of the population behind.
The Prime Minister’s remarks further highlight that Labour Day is a call to action. The struggles of the past — fighting for safer workplaces, better hours, and fairer pay — remain relevant, albeit in evolving forms. The Government’s investments in training, stronger protections, and a Labour Ministry are tangible indicators of some of the present-day challenges being addressed. Yet, as noted, true progress is forged not merely through policy, but through a culture of mutual respect, dialogue, and unity.
Labour Day also serves as a reminder of the need for sustained solidarity. Workers must continue to draw strength from collective action, resisting forces that may seek to sow division or weaken their cause. In an era of globalisation and economic recalibration, there is growing recognition that the old adversarial model of industrial relations must give way to more collaborative approaches. Workers and employers alike share a vested interest in the country’s prosperity, and constructive partnerships are crucial for ensuring progress is both inclusive and sustainable.
This is not to suggest that workers should relinquish their rights to demand fair treatment. On the contrary, the current environment requires a sophisticated balancing act, wherein advocacy is coupled with pragmatism and demands are framed within the broader context of economic realities. The Government’s explicit support for workers' rights affirms that space exists for such advocacy to be conducted robustly yet responsibly.
The reflections shared by the President and Prime Minister encapsulate a vision of unity, progress, and mutual respect. It is a moment to honour those who have built Guyana and continue to propel it forward: teachers, nurses, miners, farmers, public servants, and countless others, whose daily efforts shape the nation’s destiny.
The task ahead is to deepen the bonds of cooperation, to sustain the momentum of development, and to ensure that the fruits of progress are indeed shared by all.
Justifying “scrape mentality” is justifying violence, criminality
Dear Editor,
I stood in utter shock and bewilderment as a group of opposition politicians, loyalists and groups sought to justify the so-called ‘scrape mentality’ in Guyana as they pursue scoring their cheap political points.
Dr Terrence Campbell and Dorwin Bess should be ashamed of themselves for seeking to normalise and justify the behaviour of the men and women referred to as ‘scrapes’. These men can never be taken seriously by any right-thinking and decent Guyanese who love their country and want to see it developed.
I was mortified to see leader of the Alliance for Change Nigel Hughes, and former PNC-APNUAFC
Ministers Catherine Hughes, David Patterson, Annette Ferguson, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Simona Broomes in the same gathering as people justifying the ‘scrape mentality’. I acknowledge the comments made by Broomes and Hughes but will in no way acknowledge the ‘scrape mentality’.
I, personally, fail to appreciate the link between ‘scrapes’ and the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge and other Guyanese.
I fail to see how her memory is honoured through the opportunistic and vile actions of ‘scrapeheads’ or the ‘scrape mentality’.
I also fail to appreciate that rioting, looting and rob-
bing innocent Guyanese is the way to seek justice for Adriana and get the attention of the authorities which the group claims has been “neglecting the scrapes”.
For the record, I support wholeheartedly the peaceful movement for justice for Adriana. I support her family every step of the way in getting to the bottom of how their daughter died. I support Guyanese in their vigils and other peaceful pickets against this seeming injustice that was meted out in this instance. I stand with them and I say that wrong is wrong, and could never be made right.
I don’t support justifying violence and criminality or ‘scrape mentality’. I do not support the acts of arson, theft and other despicable illegal acts that occurred on the day of terror and autopsy. I do not support the destruction of private and public property, stealing of items from stores and setting parts of critical infrastructure ablaze.
I will never support the ideas of calling for “scrapes”, the perpetrators of these crimes, to be seen not as criminals, but as untapped potential. I support the Guyana Police Force taking action against each and every one that participated in wreaking havoc on innocent Guyanese and businesses. I reject this aspect of the ‘scrape mentality’ that links bad, unruly and criminal behaviour with nonaction on
the part of the authorities. We should never praise this behaviour or condone it.
I don’ want to see this “untapped potential”, if this is what the “scrape mentality” shows us it is. No, sir!
We must condemn the looting and destruction of private and public property, even as we are aware that there were opportunists who infiltrated the peaceful protest.”
After all, “Scrapes” or “Scrape Head”, is a derogatory slang or insult often used to describe people who are involved in criminal activities or viewed by society as troublemakers or delinquents. Simply put, it means calling the actions of this group of people ignorant and foolish.
I don’t believe in labeling or calling oneself a ‘scrape’ or ‘scrapehead’. I do not believe in referring to people, particularly, disadvantaged youth in such a way. Many of the young people who are called this way, I am sure have went to school and know right from wrong. They have common sense to appreciate that they are making bad choices. I would urge them to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them at a community and national levels to change the trajectory of their lives. No one wants to be a victim all their lives. Youths must be allowed to express themselves but within the confidence of the law.
Bess and the group may “stand with the scrapes”,
but all peace loving, pursuers of justice, descent minded people are standing on the side of the law. However, despite that the said they were against the violence and destruction, and not political, their intent was on riling up the people to continue the protests because it served all of their political purpose. Telling them to “rise” or claiming that they “are not calling for an end to protest, but a rise in purpose”, is evidence enough for me.
Going to Tuschen and keeping a press conference near the crime scene, is just their desperation seeping through their cold veneers. It was politically immature and nasty. It is not symbolic. It is playing petty politics and making it clear that this isn’t about justice for Adriana. Her death is being used as ‘collateral damage’, if it will help these so-called political patriots achieve their aim of winning the upcoming elections.
Finally, Guyanese will ensure that justice does not slip away from our grasp. We have to think strategically, intelligently and act wisely. Justice is only attainable if Guyanese are allowed to peacefully demonstrate while others go about their day. Justifying “scrape mentality” is justifying violence, criminality. Point blank.
Yours truly, Michael Younge
A Mexican Charro is executing a rope drill on top of his horse. ‘La Charrería’ is the national sport of Mexico. Declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, it consists of performing nine different horse drills with a team of horse riders (The Guardian)
Page Foundation
English
CSEC QUESTIONS
1. Read the following extract carefully and then write a summary in NOT MORE THAN 120 words. Your summary must be in continuous prose, in paragraph form and, as far as possible, IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Only the first 120 words of your answer will be read and assessed.
Somewhere in the archives of our radio stations and in a few private collections are recordings of a song entitled 'Trees'.
It would have been composed and recorded years ago when the world was not as conscious as it is now about our environment. However, it was the majesty and sturdiness of trees that moved the lyricist, in accepting their importance, to observe that, whatever might be our many achievements and creations on the planet, "only God can make a tree".
The importance of trees as part of our environment is often undennined as millions of acres of land all over the world are cleared of trees and more land is put into agriculture or the trees are replaced by concrete buildings, signifying one concept of economic development.
At the same time, those who are aware of the importance of having trees around are heard warning that we need to display a sense of balance. For while we, as inhabitants of the planet, need land for food and for erecting houses and so on, the planet itself requires trees if it is to adequately sustain life. These life forms include us. With all this in mind, it has been most heartening to learn that steps are being taken in our part of the woods to plant at least 80 000 more trees, one for every person below the age of 18.
According to one environmental expert, "When people build, they tend to just clear the land rather than build around existing vegetation. Then they plant a small flower garden." He stressed that these could not replace the diminished oxygen production caused by the removal of the trees, or the role played by trees in conserving our mainly shallow soil. When we see muddy water rushing by after rainfall, it is the result of soil being washed away from areas that have no tree roots to hold it in place.
A consciousness of how we should act as stewards of the planet does not just happen. We have to be carefully taught. This tree-planting project is an example of how we can teach our young people what is expected of them and what is required in the years ahead if we are not to disadvantage later generations.
Adapted from "Accepting that trees are important". Daily Nation. March 31, 2008, p. 6.
2. Read the passage below carefully and then answer all the questions that follow.
Just when many people thought the question of what to do about the ten to twelve million undocumented immigrants in the United States was the only item on the table for discussion, we have been jolted back to reality to deal with a long-standing problem: immigrants who commit crimes in the United States and are being deported to the various Caribbean nations.
Understandably, the United States, Canada and Britain are angry that immigrants would come to their shores and commit crimes. The trouble is that in deporting immigrants, the rich nations are creating serious problems for their relatively poor "friends" in the Caribbean.
According to a regional news agency report, a United States Ambassador in the region is convinced that criminal aliens are not behind much of the crime in the Caribbean. Granted, some deportees have become productive citizens. Also true, the United States has the right to protect its people from anyone, native born or foreigner, who disrupts society. But to ignore the hard reality of what's happening in the Caribbean is akin to burying one's head in the proverbial sand. After all, choirboys are not being shipped to the region from the United States.
In addition, the Ambassador wants to get the word out that the United States was "not deporting people who go to the United States as very small children and learn bad behaviour". But the evidence indicates otherwise. Many of the deportees left the region as underage children and were sent back to the Caribbean as hardened adult criminals. Just as bad, they had lived in the United States for so long that they do not know anyone in the Caribbean and few know them.
The solution isn't difficult to figure out. The countries sending back the criminals and those being forced to accept them should sit down and work out a reasonable policy that includes a resettlement scheme funded by the United States, Canada, Britain and the Caribbean nations that would ease the re-integration of the deportees into their birthplaces.
Adapted from Tony Best, "Impact of Criminal Aliens". Weekend Nation, May 12, 2006, p. 24.
(a) What are the TWO categories of immigrants that are referred to in paragraph 1?
(b) What is the effect of the word "jolted" (line 3)?
(c) What is meant by "burying one's head in the proverbial sand" (lines 14 - 15) in the context of this passage?
(d) What effect is the writer trying to create by using the word "understandably" (line 6)?
(e) What is the significance of putting "friends" (line 8) in inverted commas?
(f) Give ONE example of sarcasm in paragraph 3.
(g) What evidence is the writer referring to in paragraph 4 that is contrary to the Ambassador's position?
(h) What solution is the writer proposing for the problem of deportees?
4. (a) Given the function , determine
(i) the value of x for which the function is undefined
(ii) an expression for h–1(x).
(b) The graph shows a straight line intersecting the x and y axes. Using the graph, determine the:
(i) gradient of the line (ii) equation of the line (iii) equation of the perpendicular line that passes through P.
Maths
Adrianna Younge’s drowning
Cops fired; hotel owner released from custody, blacklisted from leaving Guyana
…DNA samples sent to Mount Sinai for advanced testing …Govt lifts curfew
As investigations continue into the death of 11-yearold Adrianna Younge, two ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been fired for neglect over their handling of the young girl’s case.
In a statement on Thursday, the GPF said the two ranks, “…a Corporal and a Constable, were relieved of their duties due to neglect”.
The young girl had gone with relatives to the poolside of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Wednesday, April 23, but disappeared shortly after. Her body was found the following day in the hotel’s pool, which raised a lot of suspicion since the area was previously searched and there were no signs of her.
In fact, the young girl’s family members have accused the Police, especially those in Regional Division #3, of failing to properly investigate her disappearance when the report was first made.
Following the discovery of the girl’s body, the owner of the hotel that was destroyed by fire was arrested, but has been released from custody and barred from leaving the country.
Though it did not state when the hotelier was released, the Police said he was released after the statutory detention period had elapsed.
“He was instructed to report to the Police Station on a daily basis and was also 'blacklisted ' or prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction,” the GPF said in its Thursday missive.
DNA samples
A detailed forensic autopsy, which included a CT scan and x-ray, conducted by three international pathologists gave Adrianna’s cause of death as drowning. However, the team of forensic experts could not determine where the drowning occurred, nor was it possible to establish the exact time of death because of the decomposition of the body.
There were suspicions surrounding the girl’s death after marks were observed on her body. But the pathologists found during the forensic autopsy that the marks are consistent with water damage, and that there was no sign of sexual assault or violence on the young girl’s body.
The near five-hourlong procedure was done on Monday by the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Delaware, Dr Gary L Collins, who was selected by the Younge family, along with Barbadian expert Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul and Dr Glenn A Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, both brought in by the Guyana Government.
According to the Police, DNA samples obtained from the young girl’s body as well as the hotel’s owner will be sent for advanced testing and analysis at the Mount Sinai Health System, New York. The samples were scheduled to be escorted Thursday’s evening by a forensic investigator.
The family of the 11-year-old girl has already expressed a lack of trust in the Police Force and called for an independent, international investigation.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
has committed to a thorough investigation into the death of the young girl. Only on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed confidence in the GPF’s ability to get to the truth.
“I have great faith that the investigation will be thorough. We want to find out the truth… If the Police were involved in a cover-up or anything, we want to find the truth too, and we have demonstrated that when we find the truth, people face the consequences. We are not interested in a cover-up,” Jagdeo stated at a press conference on Wednesday.
The investigations are being led by the GPF’s Major Crimes Unit.
Admin leave
Days after the discovery of the girl’s body in the hotel’s pool, Commander of Regional Division #3, Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall, was went on administrative leave.
The GPF in Thursday’s missive stated that the commander remained on admin leave.
The distrust of the Police from both the girl’s family and the public had grown
further after the Force had claimed that the child was seen on video leaving the hotel in a vehicle – something which the family insisted was not true based on neighbouring footage they reviewed.
It was subsequently revealed that a female civilian staff at the command centre had misled the Police. She and several Police ranks were also sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The civilian staff… has admitted to detectives that she entered the wrong date whilst checking the camera system located within the vicinity of the Double Day Hotel. She had been tasked to ascertain whether or not Adrianna Younge had left the above place. As a consequence of her error, she misled the ranks by reporting that she observed a female who fit the description of Adrianna Younge, leaving the hotel with a male,” the Police said.
Moreover, another rank has also been identified for passing on false information. The investigations revealed that a sergeant from the Special Constabulary Unit misled her colleagues
Policeman Sherman Ferguson, who was busted with over 76lbs (34.6 kilograms) of marijuana on April 10, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, has been remanded to prison. Ferguson was charged for the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, and appeared at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Reports are that law enforcement officers intercepted motor car PYY2521, as it
was travelling in a westerly direction along the southern side of the highway near Hauraruni. The 31-yearold member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was driving the vehicle, and when the vehicle was searched, three large bags containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found. The drug was weighed in the cop’s presence and amounted to 34.6 kilograms. The matter has been adjourned to May 22, 2025.
when she claimed that she was on duty in the Region's Operation Room, and an anonymous male caller informed her that the 11-year-old girl was seen leaving the hotel after joining a black (Raum) motor vehicle.
In an effort to investigate the origin of the information about this vehicle, investigators managed to obtain the call information and arrested the socalled male anonymous caller. However, it turned out that the caller was well acquainted with the special constabulary rank.
He informed detectives that he and the female rank spoke for about 10 minutes on the day in question during which he told her that he was standing in front of the hotel, when he overheard persons talking about the girl leaving in a
Raum,
related the said information to the special sergeant. Police say the call log also confirmed the duration of the phone call as related by the individual.
Curfew lifted Meanwhile, also on Thursday, the Guyana Government, which had issued a curfew to curb violence protests across the country on Monday night, lifted the restrictions. What started off as a peaceful protest for justice outside the Georgetown Public Hospital, where the autopsy was being conducted on Adrianna, quickly escalated Monday night into terror, with persons setting fiery road blocks, beating and robbing civilians, damaging private and public property, and looting several businesses. The Home Affairs Ministry had ordered a national curfew between 00:30h to 05:00 in the interest of public safety.
Sherman Ferguson near the car with the ganja
black
hence, he
The Double Day Hotel pool, where 11-year-old Adrianna Younge’s body was found
11-year-old Adrianna Younge
Govt Minister hits former Mayor Ubraj Narine with $60M defamation lawsuit
Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, has filed a $60 million defamation lawsuit against former Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, for what he alleges are false and defamatory statements published on social media regarding the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge.
The lawsuit, filed in the High Court, accuses Narine of publishing scandalous and wholly false claims on social media that not only question the Minister’s character but suggest sinister involvement in what has become a deeply emotional national tragedy.
According to court documents, Minister Indar is seeking damages for defamation, aggravated and/ or exemplary damages, and injunctive relief to restrain further publication of the alleged defamatory statements.
The lawsuit also highlights that the post garnered considerable public attention, with 97 reactions, 134 comments, and 62 shares, thereby multiplying the damage to the claimant’s reputation.
Changing… …media
More seriously, Narine claimed that Indar had a business relationship with the owner of the Double Day Hotel (where the child’s body was discovered) and had directed certain media personnel to the hotel to push a misleading narrative.
The lawsuit stems from a Facebook post made on April 27, 2025, by Narine on his page titled “Pt. Ubraj Narine Former Mayor of the City of Georgetown,” which has nearly 28,000 followers. In the post, Narine alleged that Minister Indar was absent from the public discourse surrounding the child’s death, despite the incident reportedly occurring in his region.
Minister Indar categorically denies all allegations, describing them as completely false and defamatory. His claim argues that the words and inferences used in the Facebook post suggest corruption, conflict of interest, and efforts to cover up details surrounding the child’s death. The Minister's Attorneys – Sase Gunraj and Shania Cummings of Gunraj & Co – has also requested an order from the court for Narine to delete the offending posts and issue a public apology in terms approved by the court.
The legal claim seeks over $60 million in damages for defamation, including aggravated and exemplary damages. It also demands that Narine issue a public apology and immediately delete the offending post.
In addition to monetary damages, the suit seeks interest pursuant to the Law
Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap 6:02, legal costs, and any further relief the court deems just.
Narine has been officially served via the Supreme Court’s Electronic Litigation Portal, and has been given eight days to file a defence.
Via a social media post, Narine related that “once the documents are received, my legal team will address the matter accordingly”, noting that he “will make no further comment until the appropriate legal processes have been followed.”
ICJ orders Venezuela to halt unlawful election...
Comply fully
Meanwhile, an official statement from the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry reiterates the Guyana Government’s unwavering commitment to the principles of international law, the peaceful resolution of disputes and to the ICJ Process for a final, peaceful and lawful resolution of the controversy concerning the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that determined the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
“The Government of Guyana further calls upon the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela to comply fully with the ICJ’s orders, which are legally binding, and refrain from any actions that violate Guyana’s territorial integrity or disrupt the peace and security of the Latin American and Caribbean region,” the missive from Takuba Lodge on Thursday detailed.
In addition to twothirds of Guyana’s landmass, Venezuela is also laying claims to Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) have been found and production as well as other exploration activities are currently being undertaken.
After years failed good offices process through the United Nations and based on the recommendation of the then UN Secretary General, Guyana approached the ICJ in March 2018, seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award.
Guyana has already filed two written pleadings on the merits, and Venezuela has filed one, with its second pleading due in August 2025. Oral hearings are expected in the first half of 2026, following which the Court will deliberate on the case and issue its final Judgment on the Merits, which will be binding on the parties.
FROM PAGE 3
Guyana has pledged to accept the World Court’s Judgment whatever it might be.
However, despite the matter still pending before the ICJ and the two South American neighbours signing the historic Argyle Declaration – a December 2023 peace pact, Venezuela continues to use aggressive tactics against Guyana.
Only recently, there was an incursion into Guyana’s waters on March 1, 2025 by a Venezuelan naval vessels which threated several oil vessels operating there –something which was widely condemned by the international community.
Now that the dust has settled somewhat after it’s been pronounced that Adrianna died by drowning –although the air is still ain’t CLEAR – your Eyewitness has been ruminating on the phenomenal reach of her story. Like most Guyanese, he’s got friends and family dispersed to the four(?) corners of the world, and he’s been not only getting emails and texts on the subject, but actual VOICE calls! And not just on free WhatsApp!! How exactly did this happen??
Well, first of all, there’s the story itself!! Innocent, carefree kid, fresh from the rigours of the NGSA, is taken for an outing, and disappears just like that – POOF!! According to her grandma, who had taken her to the hotel pool, NOW she was in it with other kids, and THEN she wasn’t!! Refusal of the hotel owners and police to search the entire hotel –even after getting an order from a government official who’d joined the crowd in front of the facility – only deepened suspicions that something was fishy. That a man had been killed in the same pool a decade ago only increased the frenzied speculations.
Sacrifice in demon worship was one trope latched on to; another was rape-murder.
Remember your Eyewitness hysterically talking about our local “Bates Motel” – alluding to Psycho’s notorious “stabbing in the shower” scene??! And all of this to an innocent child?? That was the angle that snagged attention.
But then there’s the SPREAD of the story. They ask: if a tree falls in the middle of the jungle, with no one to hear it; did it fall!?! Well, this young sapling fell in Tuschen - in the middle of the sticks - far from the maddening crowds of Georgetown, but it was heard across the world. How come?? And the answer is “smartphones and social media”!!
And that’s a story in itself that your Eyewitness wants to tell: the medium has become the message!! Everyone in the family, who turned up on the grandma’s call from her smartphone about the missing Adrianna, also had their smartphones; and they started filming the stonewalling of the owners and police, which they uploaded to their social media platforms. And since on these platforms someone in Tuschen is as close to someone in Timbuktu via cyberspace social media connections, it didn’t take long for a story that used to be defined as “having legs” to now take wings!!
And that’s now the new reality that will have ripple effects to wash away not only the walls of official stonewalling, but hopefully build and strengthen the bonds of commonality that rose to the surface over Adrianna’s demise.
Sadly, there are some who sought – and will seek – to exploit the story’s wings for their own nefarious purposes. Those we must condemn and guard against!!
…trust
Guyanese are very upset that so many Caricom members – among them Trinidad and Jamaica – still retain Britain’s Privy Council as their apex Appellate Court. “Colonial mentality!”, we sneer for them rebuffing our own CCJ. So, what do we say to the recent Opposition parties and partiettes’ recent demand in regard to Adrianna’s death: “An impartial investigation led by an internationally credible law enforcement body such as Scotland Yard, the RCMP, or the FBI, with constitutional collaboration from the GPF”?
So, our Regional Security System investigators aren’t to be trusted?? THEY can be corrupted, and not those from Scotland Yard, the RCMP, or the FBI?? Do we have to regale the Opposition with the latter’s own various and sundry official enquiries into the operations that identified their corruptibility?? Not the least that they are all uniformly racist??
But your Eyewitness knows, from our experience with the Henry Boys’ investigation done by the RSS, that the Opposition feels “the white man is fairer”!! The Govt should humour them!! They’re also looking for a white consensus candidate!!
…electricity delivery??
GPL has eight benchmarks set by the PUC. These are: customer interruptions, voltage regulation, meter reading, issuing of bills, accounts payable, accounts receivable, system losses, and average availability.
GPL achieved only ONE – the target for issuing bills!! Surprise!!!
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar
Former Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine
“I
stand with scrapes, thugs” – WPA's David Hinds
…Opposition parties declare support for "scrapes" at site of Adrianna's drowning …“many of us were once called scrapes" – joint Opposition group
On Wednesday, a wide group of Opposition leaders chose to host a press conference in front of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, where 11-yearold Adrianna Younge had drowned, as verified by three international pathologists brought in by the Government at the request of her parents.
There, several speakers developed the false equivalence they had created earlier between "scrapes", who had been involved in widespread looting, arson and general mayhem during protests that followed Adrianna's death, and "white collar criminals".
They also issued a statement, presented by businessman Terrence Campbell and signed by: Guyanese Patriots; Alliance For Change (AFC); Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity (ALP); Vigilant For a New Guyana (V-PAC); The People’s Movement (TPM); Concerned Parliamentarians (PNC); Simona Broomes, Ubraj Narine, Maya ObradzinaRyan, and "other civic leaders".
There, Leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, proposed Terrence Campbell as leader of a ‘joint opposition’ to face the PPP at elections to be contested later this year, rather than Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who blanked the press conference.
In the statement at reference, the Opposition leaders identified themselves with the "scrapes", and asserted that they also had once been called "scrapes".
They claimed that the incidents that occurred on Monday night resulted from a failed system that locks wealth from certain types of people – presumably scrapes.
On Monday night, criminal elements claiming to be protesting the death of Adrianna Younge descended on Georgetown and several parts of the country, looting, robbing persons, setting fires, and causing
public terror.
The AFC has since been criticized for the location of the press conference. As a matter of fact, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday called out the AFC for their insensitive act of hosting the press conference at the location where the child died. He said it was not only insensitive, but rather disgusting.
In attendance at the press conference were MPs Catherine Hughes and David Patterson of the AFC; and several PNC parliamentarians, such as former minister Simona Broomes, Annette Ferguson and Dawn Hastings-Williams.
WPA's further extremist pronouncements
Earlier in the week, Leader of the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), David Hinds, had even more vigorously and definitively defended those persons who on Monday had caused terror around Georgetown and other parts of the country by destroying properties and looting businesses.
“Y’all call them scrapes, I stand with them. Y’all call them thugs, I stand with them. And I don’t care, I will stand with them to the end, and whatever little people like myself can do to give them agency so that they can take action in their own name. They don’t need no politician there,” Hinds declared during a live programme earlier this week as he talked about Monday’s unrest across the country.
What started off outside the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as a peaceful protest for justice for 11-yearold Adrianna Younge on Monday night quickly escalated into terror, with persons setting fiery road blocks, beating and robbing civilians, damaging private and public properties, and looting several businesses.
The Guyana Police Force has embarked on a campaign to arrest and charge all those persons
caught in photos or videos damaging properties and looting. Already, over 40 persons have been placed before the courts for Inciting Terror and/or for Larceny.
Opposition Leader
Aubrey Norton had condemned the criminal behaviour exhibited during the protests, and has accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government of using its supporters to infiltrate the protest and commit the crimes – something which PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat
Jagdeo has rejected.
In fact, Jagdeo, who also serves as Vice President, said on Wednesday there is intelligence to show that persons had deliberately been mobilised to cause terror among Guyanese, which aligns with actions in the Opposition’s playbook.
Meanwhile, during a subsequent press statement on Thursday, David Hinds, whose party is a member of the People’s National Congress-led A Partnership for National Unity (PNC/APNU) opposition, lashed out at “…the thesis of the Government
and some sections of the political opposition that the events of that night were the work of thugs, scrapeheads, looters and robbers.”
“WPA does not promote destruction of public and private property as normal forms of protest… [But] WPA asks: since when blocking roads in public protest is a socio-political sin? …WPA also rejects attempts by the Government and sections of the Opposition to link the looting and robberies which took place to the general protests. Those acts are regrettable, but it is well
known that legitimate protestors have no control over such activities,” Hinds posited.
As recently as in February 2025, Hinds had come under widespread public criticisms for hurling a series of insults at Afro-Guyanese.
During his “Politics 101” programme, Hinds called Afro-Guyanese who are exercising their democratic right to support a political party of their choice “lick bottoms,” “house slaves,” and “sell outs”, among other remarks.
WPA Leader, David Hinds
“Fire! Fire!” – teen recalls hearing as Kitty homes go up in flames
Three houses have been completely destroyed while a few others have suffered extensive damage by a fire that erupted at around 12:10hrs on Thursday, May 1, in Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
Speaking with Guyana Times, Ezekiel Charles, a 17-year-old resident of Pike Street, has said he was
studying for his upcoming CSEC exams when he heard a loud explosion. He looked outside and saw a nearby house on fire, and he immediately called the Guyana Fire Service.
Explaining that the blaze spread quickly to two other structures and resulted in their complete destruction, Charles detailed, “So I was inside my bedroom studying for CXC, because I have CXC coming up on Monday. So, I was studying, and then suddenly I heard a loud boom sound, right? And upon hearing it, I didn’t really detect anything. But meanwhile, I heard another boom sound, and then I saw my sister at the window, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’, and then she alerted me quickly and was like, ‘Fire! Fire!’. So, I quickly ran into my mother's bedroom and I picked up her phone and I dialled 912.”
As he continued conversing with Guyana Times, the
fire was raging; and he added, “I quickly called my mother! Called her firefighter friend. I called again. They asked me what was going on. I told them exactly what; I gave them a brief!”
Explaining that he managed to help three persons to get out of harm’s way, Ezekiel
detailed, “People were inside the house, but when I saw the man - he had a man and like three old women - I went downstairs and I went and assisted them by the fence. I tried to throw the lady over, and I carried them and I took them in front.”
Asked how many houses in total were on fire, Ezekiel responded, “How many houses in total? When it started it was one, and then it continued to be two. Now it's three!”
Other witnesses have
reported that no one was injured in the inferno, but some pets were trapped in one of the houses, and several elderly persons had had to be rushed out of their homes in order to be saved from the fire.
Two of the fire trucks battling the blaze reportedly ran out of water in a matter of minutes after arriving on scene, and a few other houses were damaged by the radiated heat. Several persons whose homes were dam-
aged were in tears and visibly upset at the way the Fire Service responded.
An exasperated Dexter Smith said, “Over and over we have to call for them [Guyana Fire Service] to come here! When they do come, it’s only a little bit of water that they have in the tanks! We had to throw water to save our own building! What would’ve happened if we didn’t do that?”
He opined that had it not been for him wetting his own home, he would have lost everything.
However, not everyone was as fortunate as Dexter was; and there were those who expressed that had the firefighters acted with more alacrity, their homes would have been saved.
“We would have lost everything! We have to start covering our own building. We do the same service as everybody else. There’s no one higher than anybody when it comes to disaster. When it comes to disaster, you need to be equipped and modernize yourself,” someone expressed.
An investigation has commenced to determine the origin of the blaze.
17-year-old Ezekiel Charles
Several homes in Kitty were engulfed by the fire
Adrianna Younge’s
drowning
Social media users retract ‘knowledge’ of child’s death when questioned by cops – Jagdeo
…debunks sacrifice claims; says PPP wins by hard work, while PNC is known for “rituals”
Several persons who had taken to social media claiming that they have knowledge relating to the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge have since retracted their statements when contacted by investigators on the case.
This was revealed to the public by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Wednesday.
“All of the people who I see online, like some said that they were next door and they heard the child screaming, when they were contacted by the investigator, they said they hear it from somebody else, but they [initially] claimed that they were next door,” he explained.
Since the child’s body was discovered on April 24 in the pool at the now-gutted Double Day Hotel – one day after she was reported missing, a number of social media
users have posted various information online.
Some of these individuals have claimed to be employees, guests and even managers at the hotel. Using social
Over $4M
worth
‘ritual’ in front of the Education Ministry last year
media, they have sought to convince the public of hearing screams or seeing movement of the child, Police Officers, and others inside the building.
However, no one has presented themselves to the Police to back up their claims.
“There is someone else claiming that the child was held in a freezer and the
of ganja shipped in barrel from Miami to Guyana
Agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) have intercepted a barrel that contained a quantity of foreign ganja that was shipped from Miami in the United States to Guyana.
Based on information received, drug trafficking convict Lemme Campbell was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport earlier this week while attempting to clear the barrel.
Some 1.5 kilogram (3.4 lbs) of weed, which carries an estimated street value of over $4 million, was found among cereals that were in the barrel. The 60-yearold suspect is currently in CANU’s custody and is expected to be charged soon. Campbell was previously convicted and jailed along with his wife and two other persons on drug trafficking charges in Barbados. He was later deported after being released.
News agencies in Barbados had reported that Campbell, along with others, was held in November 2005 after they smuggled 91.3 kilograms of cannabis and 119.4 kilograms of co
caine in hollowed-out logs of wood into Barbados. After the trial in 2009, Campbell was sentenced to 20 years in jail for trafficking in cannabis and 25 for trafficking in cocaine.
Campbell and others appealed their conviction in 2014. The Court of Appeal in Barbados dismissed the men’s appeal in 2019, but adjusted their sentences to time served.
freezer temperature was low and that’s why the body was in a state of decomposition…I am sure when they contact these people, it will be wild speculation,” Jagdeo added.
In what he deemed “wilder speculation”, the Vice President said someone has accused himself and President Dr Irfaan Ali of sacrificing the child to win the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
“We’ve won elections, because we’ve worked hard for people’s support and you’ve seen it every day,” he noted, adding that the PPP has never indulged in such behaviour. In contrast, he re-
minded the public that in the past it was the People’s National Congress-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters who have publicly performed “ritual” in front of several Government offices, including in front of the Education Ministry last year during the teachers’ strike and protest. Meanwhile, an autopsy on Monday conducted by three international pathologists found that Adrianna died from drowning. Jagdeo has since contended that a thorough investigation must be done to determine whether there was foul play involved in the child’s death.
-
A person wrapped in APNU’s flag performing a
Drug trafficking convict Lemme Campbell
GDF receives specialised military equipment from France
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has received a significant consignment of specialised military equipment from the French Armed Forces, aimed at strengthening its operational capabilities.
The official handover ceremony took place recently at the GDF Hangar, Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle.
The equipment, delivered under established defence cooperation agreements, is expected to enhance the GDF’s operational readiness. Select ranks of the GDF will also undergo specialised training as part of the initiative.
In a post on GDF’s social media page, it was stated that Captain (Coast Guard) Vernon Burnett, MSM, in brief remarks, underscored the growing partnership between Guyana and French Guiana, highlighting that the provision of the equipment further advanced interoperability between the two forces.
French Chargé d’Affaires in Guyana, Jean-Jacques Forté reaffirmed France’s commitment to regional security and lauded the strong defence collaboration with Guyana.
Sean Harmon; Adjutant General, Lieutenant Colonel Eon Murray; and French Defence Attaché to Guyana and Suriname, Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Marc Moulin, along with other French military representatives.
Also in attendance were Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve, Colonel Lloyd Souvenir; Colonel (Administration and Quartering) Commander Roger Nurse; Colonel (Special Duties) Commander
Handing over of the equipment from French Armed Forces
Rice boat goes up in flames at Essequibo Coast wharf
…Allegedly drunken cook blamed for blaze
Arice boat that was docked at the Fairfield Wharf in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) caught afire on Thursday at around 15:30h, throwing nearby residents and workers into pandemonium. It is suspected that a stove left unattended overheated or caused a flare-up, leading to the fire. Surmising that the fire may have started in the kitchen area of the boat, one resident claimed that the cook on board was under the influence of alcohol, and may have fallen asleep while a pot was left boiling on the stove. The cook escaped with-
out injury, the items on the boat were offloaded and saved, and police are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire. This vessel transports rice from the Essequibo Coast to other parts of the country.
Dredging has started on the channel between Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop, following a request from speedboat operators during their meeting with President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday (Office of the President photos)
PUC lets GPL off the hook despite major failures in 2024 …would not impose penalties on power company
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has decided not to penalise the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) for its shortfall, despite the GPL failing to meet seven of its eight key performance targets for 2024.
The findings of the PUC, revealed during a public review on March 13, paint a grim picture of the stateowned electricity provider. From power outages to billing woes and mounting financial inefficiencies, the GPL has missed crucial benchmarks designed to ensure it provides
quality service and operational accountability.
According to the PUC, in the area of customer interruptions, GPL failed to meet both the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) targets. As a result, customers experienced an average of 123 interruptions against a target of 85, and outage durations totalled 122 hours versus a target of 90.
Factors that contributed to the GPL’s performance are listed as reduced generation
capacity, frequent feeder trips, third-party damages to transmission infrastructure, and poor network resilience.
Voltage regulation performance also fell short despite expanded monitoring from one to four feeders. While three feeders met the 5 percent voltage threshold, two did not, mainly due to infrastructure weaknesses such as undersized conductors and weak transformers.
Similarly, GPL failed to meet its meter-reading targets, achieving only 91 percent for maximum demand (MD) customers against a target of 97 percent, and 85 percent for non-MD customers against a target of 90 percent.
The company has attributed the failure in this regard to manpower diversion caused by a global prepaid meter software upgrade and staffing losses; but PUC has expressed concern over GPL’s continued failure in this area, and has emphasized the importance of accurate meter readings for financial sustainability.
In contrast, the billing target in regard to GPL issuing MD bills within 7 days and non-MD bills within 8 days
has been achieved; and GPL plans to expand digital delivery via WhatsApp to sustain and improve on this performance.
For accounts payable, the power company missed its 26-day target by a significant margin. Averaging 35 days as against the 26 days set, GPL has attributed this missed target to cash flow issues tied to receivables.
The PUC has indicated that although GPL has been a recipient of Government assistance, the company ended the year with numerous outstanding debts. The PUC has thus called for GPL to employ stricter fund retrieval practices in order to be able to stabilize its finances.
Further, system losses were recorded at 23.76 percent, missing the 22.2 percent target set; and the utility’s focus on meter upgrades has been cited as a reason for the weak loss reduction efforts. The PUC has deemed the losses financially untenable, and has urged GPL to adopt a structured approach to identifying and mitigating both technical and commercial losses.
Average availability has
been reported at 80 percent, falling below the 85 percent target set. This, the GPL has said, is due to critical generator maintenance not having been done, with several units being beyond their intended operational lifespan. The Commission recognised the age-related issues and noted that new generation capacity is contingent on the upcoming Gas-to-Energy Project.
Despite GPL failing to meet seven of eight targets set, the PUC has chosen not to impose penalties for 2024. It has acknowledged GPL’s external challenges, including infrastructure damage and
sector-wide issues like skilled labour attrition.
Importantly, GPL has outlined ambitious plans for 2025, including commissioning of the Gas-to-Energy Project, construction of extensive transmission infrastructure, development of substations, network expansion to new customers, and rollout of advanced metering systems. These initiatives are expected to improve performance across most key areas, and the Commission is committed to closely monitoring GPL’s quarterly performance in an effort to improve efficiency.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
Labour Day 2025
Without labour, nothing can be produced
– Armogan
applauds workers’ contribution to development …says APNU/AFC disregarded labour force, fired thousands
Pull quote: “Between 2015 and 2020, workers were sent home, and therefore the Government had no regard for the labour force. But our Government will continue to work with you: whether you are a teacher, whether you are a civil servant, whether you are a sugar worker, whether you are a rice farmer; whatever union you belong to…” - Armogan Chairman of Region Six
(East Berbice-Corentyne), David Armogan, has applauded workers for the sterling contributions they have made to Guyana’s development.
Addressing workers at the Albion Sports Complex, where they had gathered for a luncheon in observance of Labour Day, Thursday, May 1, Chairman Armogan pointed out that observances in regard to Labour Day started in the United States of
America in Chicago around 1886. At that time, workers were called upon to work in excess of eight hours per day, and more than 40 hours per week. In an effort to change that, the workers took it upon themselves to organise a massive protest to change the status quo, and that resulted in the eight-hour work day coming into being.
Pointing out that the wealth of the world is creat-
ed by labour, Armogan said:
“All the countries today celebrating Labour Day recognise that nothing will be produced without labour. There are many factors of production: land, labour, capital and the entrepreneur. Of all the factors of production, labour is the most important; because, if you have land, you can sit on it, do nothing about it. If you are an entrepreneur and you don’t have labour, then
you will sit on all two. So, labour must be brought into play, because without labour no wealth is being created.”
Chairman Armogan pointed out also that capital would be useless if nothing is done with it. He detailed that over the years in Guyana, and especially since the time of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, considered ‘the father of trade unionism in Guyana’, this fact has not been hidden.
“You will recognise that one of the foremost persons for the championing of labour in Guyana is the late Dr Cheddi Jagan. Ever since he came back from the USA, he has been a working-class man. He has always believed that labour is very important, and labour should be properly compensated; and therefore, what he did was to put many measures in place. Almost his entire working life has been dedicated to the cause of ensuring that labour is being treated purely, and as a result of that, many trade unions were formed in Guyana. The Guyana Labour Union, the Guyana Teachers Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, NAACIE, and many other unions were formed,” Armogan detailed as he also noted that the Guyana Sawmillers and Allied Workers Union was formed by Dr Jagan.
“Today we have a 40-hour work week, we have an 8-hour work day, and any time after that you are tracked overtime payment; payment seven and a half sometimes, or double on Sundays (and) on some public holidays. All these were not given to you on a platter, you had to fight for these things,” Armogan continued.
“We in Guyana have a Ministry of Labour, and in the last government, there was no Ministry of Labour. When we came back into power in 2020, we reintroduced the Ministry of Labour, because the Ministry of Labour is tasked with ensuring that they have inspectors with-
in the Ministry who can go around to these various workplaces to ensure that the working conditions of workers are preserved,” Armogan explained.
Contending that there was a disregard for labour in Guyana from 2015 to 2020, Chairman Armogan went on to detail, “Workers were sent home, and therefore the Government had no regard for the labour force. But our Government will continue to work with you: whether you are a teacher, whether you are a civil servant, whether you are a sugar worker, whether you are a rice farmer; whatever union you belong to…”
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who delivered the feature address on this occasion, extended Labour Day greetings on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana, and acknowledged the vital role the workers have played in nation-building and national development.
Commending the contributions of the Guyanese workforce made by their resilience, particularly those in agriculture, healthcare, education, and public service, he underscored the Government’s steadfast commitment to improving the lives of workers through targeted investments, and noted that these efforts are designed to modernise various industries, expand job opportunities, and raise the standard of living for workers and their families.
Mustapha also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between Government agencies, regional authorities, and the unions, to ensure that the rights and welfare of workers remain a national priority.
This luncheon brought together workers, regional leaders and community members in a vibrant celebration of Labour Day that honoured the dedication and hard work of employees across the various sectors in Region Six.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha delivering the feature address
Workers gathered at the Albion Sports Complex for a luncheon in observance of Labour Day
Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), David Armogan, speaking at the luncheon
No room for 3rd parties in T&T – NTA joins long list of failed small parties in elections
This country is not ready or prepared for a third-party option according to Gary Griffith, Political Leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) as he conceded defeat at 21:30h on Monday.
The mood at the NTA headquarters in Mt Lambert was quiet and pensive, as the results started to trickle in about after 19:00h.
Griffith had the full support of his family, who kept close to him as the numbers started to collate.
The political party contested 17 seats in the General Election but preliminary results showed it was unsuccessful in gaining any seats.
The constituencies the party contested were Aranguez/St Joseph, La Horquetta/Talparo, Toco/ Sangre Grande, San Juan/ Barataria, Tunapuna, St Augustine, Arouca/Maloney, Arima, Diego Marin West, Diego Martin Central, Diego Martin North/East, Port-ofSpain North, Port-of-Spain
South, Point Fortin, San Fernando West, Chaguanas East and St Ann’s East.
was a part and they didn’t get a seat. The same thing happened with the Congress of the People. What we did is provide the country 18 years later as an option,” Griffith said.
He noted that the NTA has tried to unite T&T and will continue to provide that opportunity.
“Probably if former US president Barack Obama decides to lead a third party, he might lose his deposit as well. That is just the way it is in T&T and similar to other countries in the United States, the same thing with the Democrats and the Republicans and people will criticize both,” Griffith pointed out.
What I can tell you is that the NTA, I mean, as I’m the only political leader in the country, I can tell you that the NTA has walked in with its candidates. We honestly did not know, but we have no regrets.”
As to whether the NTA would be contesting the 2030 general elections, Griffith quickly said that the decision is not going to be based on him alone.
Griffith explained that his style is different. He said as a former military officer, he is a team player.
“Since 1981, we started with this perception of a third party that was
Speaking to his candidates and a small group of supporters, Griffith told them this was not a time for the party to be despondent, or have any degree of animosity towards the country, as the citizens have made a choice, and it must respect it.
the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) and they did not get a seat. In 1991, it continued with the NAR on its own, breaking away from the UNC of which the political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Asked by Guardian Media if the NTA was disappointed that it did not make inroads in the constituencies the party contested, Griffith said, “Honestly, it is very difficult and I think it is time we need to have polls, scientific polls. No one knew what was going to happen until last night and that is where difficulty came in.
“It’s going to be based on the rank and file of the NTA. What they decide to do, how they intend to go in what direction, whether it may very well be they may want another political leader. I am always prepared to move aside for someone who may have the capacity to build a party, to build a team. That is what I am. I am not here. I do not own the NTA. All I am is a humble servant, representing the NTA as the political leader,” Griffith stressed. (T&T Guardian)
Lower EBB farmers call for emergency clearing of canals …say Government doing good job, but more could be done
Residents of Lower East Bank Berbice communities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have expressed concern over what they term inadequate support from Government, and have highlighted that floodwaters have been hampering their advancement in the farming sector.
With these residents being mostly farmers, when Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with them recently at Sisters Village Primary School, the predominant concern expressed was their perception of inadequate support from Government.
Minister Mustapha thus pointed out that, over the past four years, Government has spent billions of dollars to enhance infrastructure and open up land for farmers to utilise along the East Bank Berbice corridor.
The farmers, however, countering that not much has been done for residents of Sisters Village, claimed the drainage infrastructure there is adequate.
Farmer Gorden Sam of Sisters Village, a member of the Rotterdam-Bellview Coop Society, is contending that cash crops are being affected by flood waters.
“I want to say thanks for all the things that you have done; you all have done some very good things. My problem is that we are living in Sisters. The Government spend billions of dollars on infrastructure and digging drains and things, but in
Sisters, just one drain or two drain trenches have been dug. Right now, there is water running across the main access dam in Sisters East.
We are asking that if the work could continue; and we want some tubing, at least for that part of the dam, so that we could be able to get access to the whole of Rotterdam,” Sam detailed.
“And secondly, I must say thanks, Minister Mustafa, for the bull that you have donated to us. We, from the Rotterdam-Bellview Coop Society, we are very grateful,” Sam added.
Another farmer, Dennis Narine of Highbury, said reptiles are feasting off his livestock. While he praised the administration by stating that 90 percent good things are being done, he added that things are lagging in the remaining 10 percent.
“I must say they do a lot of work for me, and I would like to make the maximum use out of their help. At this present, I suffer from drainage. We invest $1 million for sheep. The whole place flood out. The sheep are
grazing on the dam, alligator eating them out, four of them gone. About three days ago, we asked them if they would shoot the alligators. They shoot nine alligators one night. Tonight they will go back again to shoot some more,” Narine detailed. Requesting that the drain adjacent to the public road be cleared in order to facilitate quick drainage of the backlands, Narine explained, “…so that the sheep and the cow and everything can get raised (and) you can do a little business. That is my main concern at this time.”
Manmohan Ramnarine, another farmer, detailed that he has 67 acres of rice under cultivation at Rotterdam and he gets water from a canal which is under the control of the Guyana Sugar Corporation. That canal, he says, had been overflowing.
“The dam flood! A part of the dam bruk-up! In 2019, they used to clean all the way to the end. They did it twice, and after that they started cleaning from 33 Crossing coming back; so, at the front is dry and nice, and all the
water is piling up at the back. I have water in my rice field; and the dam, I could really use a little emergency help,” he told the meeting.
In addressing the farmers’ concerns, Minister Mustapha reaffirmed Government’s commitment to advancing the agriculture sector through targeted infrastructure improvements and support for farmers. He pointed out that additional works would commence in two weeks, and the focus would be on land clearing, excavation, and the maintenance of critical drainage canals to support local food production.
“One of the first areas that the President would have visited when he became President was East Bank of Berbice. And from that time, a number of other ministers and officials would have visited East Bank of Berbice. I myself, I lost count of the number of times I would visit East Bank of Berbice; and when you look at the work that was done, it is tremendous. Lots of work you have done, but there are needs all the time…,” he explained.
“People will have needs. But, at the same time, you have to look at works that are critical, that are important. And that way, the community will benefit, rather than one person,” he explained. “And sometimes people are unreasonable…,” he added.
Minister Mustapha, noting that some land owners have been renting their farm lands and not provid-
ing needed infrastructure for the rentee, declared, “They are renting the land, collecting the rent, and they still want Government to go and do work in their land.”
Minister Mustapha has promised that, within a few weeks, drainage and irrigation works would be resumed in the community. He said the focus is on assisting
small-scale farmers, particularly those cultivating five acres or less; and he pointed out that a committee would be formed to work closely with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure that the planned works are carried out efficiently and in the best interest of that farming community.
‘Missing’ teen found hiding in bird pen
Police in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) were on Thursday able to locate a missing 14-year-old female hiding in a bird pen in a Corentyne home. A missing person’s report had been issued by the police after they had been informed by her mother that she had failed to return to her Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) residence on April 28. Police investigations are continuing.
NTA leader Gary Griffith and supporters viewing the election results coverage on CNC3 at the party’s office in Mt Lambert on election night
Trump confirms Mike Waltz no longer national security adviser
FBI, Chilean police take down international gang of thieves
US President Trump has announced that Mike Waltz will no longer be his national security adviser and will be nominated to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations, which will require Senate confirmation.
“I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump said in his statement on Thursday.
“In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department,” he added. It had earlier been re-
ported that Waltz would be stepping down from his role as national security adviser, and his deputy, Alex Wong, would also be leaving his post. The move comes weeks
after Waltz took responsibility for a group chat in which high-ranking officials planned military strikes in Yemen in the company of a journalist who was inadvertently added, and Waltz lost officials’ confidence, sources say.
The president briefly considered firing Waltz over the Signal episode, but decided he was unwilling to give the news media the satisfaction of forcing the ouster of a top cabinet official weeks into his second term.
About a month ago, Trump pulled the nomination of New York Rep Elise Stefanik to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations. (Sources: BBC News, The Guardian)
Venezuela loses 20% of oil exports after cargo cancellations to Chevron
Venezuela's oil exports fell almost 20% to some 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April, the lowest level in nine months, as cargo cancellations to U.S.-based producer Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab forced ships to return and left some ports empty, ship tracking data and documents showed.
Venezuela's state-run company PDVSA last month suspended most of the loading windows it had assigned to Chevron and ordered the return of some oil cargoes bound for the U.S. amid payment uncertainty related to the enforcement of U.S. sanctions.
The measures cut Chevron short of a May 27 deadline the U.S. Treasury
Department had set to wind down oil operations and exports from the OPEC country, which has been under U.S. energy sanctions since 2019.
A total of 32 vessels departed from Venezuelan waters last month, carrying an average of 698,767 bpd of crude and fuel and 357,000 metric tons of oil byproducts and petrochemicals, according to LSEG vessel monitoring data.
The main destination of Venezuela's oil exports was China with some 428,000 bpd, followed by the U.S. with 138,000 bpd and India with 64,200 bpd, the data and documents showed.
Chevron's exports of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. plummeted 69% to some
66,000 bpd due to PDVSA's measures.
However, other customers of the state company, including France's Maurel & Prom (MAUP.PA), U.S. Global Oil Terminals and India's Reliance (RELI.NS), increased their intake of Venezuelan crude and byproducts ahead of the May 27 deadline.
PDVSA did not reply to a request for comment. Venezuela's Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez this month traveled to China to discuss oil businesses.
Venezuela's government has rejected President Donald Trump's hardening of sanctions on the South American country, saying the measures amount to an "economic war."
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Caribbean nations face critical health worker shortages: new PAHO report
Caribbean countries, including Haiti with just 6.38 health workers per 10,000 population, are among the 14 nations in the Americas facing critical shortages of doctors, nurses, and midwives, according to a new report released yesterday by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The report, titled “The Health Workforce in the Americas: Regional Data and Indicators,” warns that without immediate intervention, the region could face a deficit of between 600,000 and 2 million health workers by 2030, severely compromising universal health access and coverage.
While the Americas as a region exceeds the World Health Organization’s benchmark with an average of 66.57 health workers per 10,000 population, the data reveals stark inequalities
across countries. Haiti’s critical shortage of 6.38 health workers per 10,000 people stands in sharp contrast to countries like Cuba and the United States, which have almost four times the target number.
“The health workforce is the backbone of our health care systems; without health care workers, it is simply not possible to speak of universal access or universal coverage,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO
Director. “This report provides us with concrete data to guide investment in training, retention, and decent working conditions, ensuring that health care reaches everyone.”
The report highlights that migration is a particular challenge for the Caribbean region, where talented health professionals often leave for better opportunities elsewhere, exacerbating shortages. (Excerpt from Loop Caribbean News)
Chilean police forces, aided by the FBI, took down an international gang of thieves that carried out robberies in the United States, authorities said on Wednesday.
The raid, code named "Operation Pennsylvania," took place across dozens of homes in Santiago on Tuesday night and led to the arrests of 23 people and seizure of 1.3 billion pesos ($1.36 million) worth of goods and real estate, according to police.
"This phenomenon of international thieves has regretfully existed in our country for many years, but it's unfortunately been on the rise recently," prosecutor Eduardo Baeza said during a press conference, adding that they historically operated in Europe but have been focusing more on the United States recently.
Chileans have been arrested in recent high-profile robberies, including the theft of U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse in a Washington restaurant this month and a series of break-ins to the
homes of professional athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce, boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift.
Johnny Fica, head of the Investigative Police of Chile's (PDI) money and asset laundering division, said many of the detainees had no criminal records in Chile but were career criminals abroad that laundered assets in Chile.
"What you see is part of a life of luxury they had here in Chile. A lot of them liked to show off," Fica said, adding that many of the groups were family or close-knit units.
"Their goal was clear, they wanted to enjoy the profits of their crimes in this country and they didn't skimp on spending because they felt like they had, until now, impunity." (Reuters)
Fica said the investigation began last year and was carried out with information from the FBI. Images from the raid show drawers filled with iPhones, luxury watches, cars, purses and shoes.
T&T: CAL Chairman resigns
The resignations from major state organisations in the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago continued Wednesday, as Caribbean Airlines’ chairman Shameer ‘Ronnie’ Mohammed confirmed to staff he was stepping down.
In a bulletin to staff Mohammed said, “As I prepare to step down from my role as chairman of the board of directors, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each, and every one of you at Caribbean Airlines. It has been an incredible journey working alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of individuals.”
The staff notice continued, “Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated achievements, and built a company that not only connects the Caribbean, but also provides a sense of pride and identity for our region. I am truly proud of what we have accomplished together, and
I have every confidence that the future of Caribbean Airlines is bright.” Mohammed was appointed to the board of Caribbean Airlines in November 2016. His announcement follows the resignations of Sahid Hosein as the chairman of the National Petroleum Marketing Co Ltd and Hillan Morean as chairman of the East Port-of-Spain Development Company Ltd on Tuesday. Both announcements were made with reference to the victory by the United National Congress in Monday’s General Election with both men stating that it was the best practice given the change in government. (Trinidad Guardian)
US Coast Guard offloads over US$12 million in illicit drugs interdicted in Caribbean Sea
The United States Coast Guard on Wednesday said the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa ended Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale with the offload, at Port Everglades, of about 3,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated US$12.3 million, seized in the Caribbean Sea.
The Coast Guard said
the seized contraband was the result of two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crew of USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul and their embarked Navy helicopter and Coast Guard law enforcement detachments.
The Coast Guard said detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves sig-
nificant interagency and international coordination.
“Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases,” the US Coast Guard said. (Excerpt from Loop Caribbean News)
Mike Waltz
Johnny Fica, head of the police's money and asset laundering division, speaking during a press conference in Santiago, Chile, April 30, 2025
Caribbean Airlines’ Chairman Shameer “Ronnie” Mohammed
Around
OOil little changed as US equities rally offsets concerns about economy
OIL NEWS
Israel declares national emergency as wildfires force evacuations
Wildfires continued to threaten swaths of forest and fields in Israel on Thursday, though firefighters successfully reopened the main road linking the country’s two principal cities.
il held steady on Thursday after strong earnings from Meta and Microsoft, supported U.S. equities, and postponement of U.S.-Iran talks offset concerns about the U.S. economy and the prospect of higher OPEC+ oil output.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures eased 15 cents or 0.3% to $58.04 a barrel by 12:30 p.m. ET (1630 GMT). Brent crude futures fell 18 cents or 0.2% to $60.90. Both contracts fell over 1% earlier.
"Crude remains in the cross-hairs of lower prices near term as OPEC+ is signaling production, which will likely get approval at next week's OPEC meeting," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.
"The GDP number for the U.S. showed a slight contraction and consumer confidence has also drifted lower, which has pushed most long hedge funds away from the buying side of crude on demand concerns," Kissler added.
Concern about higher supply also weighed on prices. Saudi Arabia is telling allies and industry experts that it is unwilling to prop up the oil market with supply cuts and can manage a prolonged period of low prices, sources told Reuters.
Following the postponement of the latest U.S. talks with Iran over its nuclear program, which had been due to take place in Rome on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products must stop, and any country or person buying any from the country would be immediately subject to secondary sanctions.
"They will not be allowed to do business with the United States of America in any way, shape, or form," he wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters a new date will be set "depending on the U.S. approach." (Source: Reuters)
Trump approves first weapons shipment to Ukraine since becoming president, report says, after minerals deal agreed
Donald Trump has approved the first export of American military equipment to Ukraine since assuming the presidency, The Times has reported, following the signing of the long-anticipated minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv.
The Trump administration informed the US congress that it plans to export defence-related products to Ukraine through direct commercial sales (DCS) of $50m or more, the Kyiv Post said.
The notification, issued on Tuesday, came just a day before the minerals agreement was formally signed.
A source close to the Ukrainian government told The Times: “I think it’s significant as a first step of goodwill from Trump after we did what he wanted from us.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday hailed the minerals deal with the US as a truly equal and fair agreement, and the first result of his Vatican meeting with US president
Donald Trump on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis.
The White House, described the deal as a “firstof-its-kind partnership for the reconstruction and longterm economic success of Ukraine.”
According to the White House readout, “No state, company, or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine, including participation in projects supported by fund resources.”
On Wednesday, Ukraine signed a deal to share revenues from the future sale of minerals and rare earths with the US, after months of fraught negotiations.
The agreement “signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in announcing it. (Source: The Guardian)
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, declared a national emergency after the fires broke out on Wednesday along the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, prompting police to shut the route and evacuate thousands of people from nearby communities.
Hundreds were forced from their homes about 19 miles (30km) west of Jerusalem, and Israel’s most-watched television network, Channel 12, had to break off from broadcasting via its studio about 10 miles from the city during a news bulletin.
High winds that have
fanned the fires led to the cancellation of many events celebrating Israel’s foundation in 1948. A prerecorded rehearsal of a torch-lighting ceremony was screened instead of the planned event.
The Times of Israel newspaper described “a surreal, fraught evening in which Israel is starting to
mark its 77th Independence Day while firefighters battle some of the worst wildfires in its history”.
Israel’s firefighting service said 163 ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the flames.
Military planes have dropped hundreds of tonnes of retardant in an effort to stop the spread of the blaze.
Magen David Adom, Israel’s medical rescue service, said it treated 23 people on Wednesday, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to the public broadcaster Kan.
Witnesses described “walls of flame” surging across woodland on the slopes of the foothills west of Jerusalem, though the situation appeared to have improved on Thursday as winds dropped and a light rain fell.
The fire and rescue service’s Jerusalem district commander, Shmulik Friedman, described “a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country” and said the effort to contain the blaze would continue for “a very long time”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Kenyan MP shot dead in 'targeted' attack in Nairobi
AKenyan member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination.
Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong'ondo Were's vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range.
"The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away," police said.
"The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined," police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.
May Day: protesters rally across US over workers’ and immigrants’ rights
Protesters are rallying nationwide on Thursday with a focus on workers’ and immigrants’ rights in the latest round of demonstrations against Donald Trump and his administration.
May Day, commemorated as international workers’ day, comes after two massive days of protests in April – 5 April’s hands off rallies and 19 April’s day of action –drew millions to the streets across the country.
The 1 May protests are supported by hundreds of organizations and set to take place in nearly 1,000 cities, organizers said. Turnout will probably be lower than the previous two April protests because 1 May is a weekday, but tens of thousands are expected to turn out.
“This is a war on working people – and we will not stand down,” a website for
the national day of action says. “They’re defunding our schools, privatizing public services, attacking unions, and targeting immigrant families with fear and violence. Working people built this nation and we know how to take care of each other. We won’t back down – we will never stop fighting for our families and the rights and freedoms that propel opportunity and a better life for all Americans. Their time is up.”
“Everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter who they are, where they were born, or what language they speak,” the May Day protest website says. “Immigrants are workers, and workers are immigrants. Our fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job is the same fight for immigrant justice.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)
The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported.
After the shooting on late
Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to rush the injured MP to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The attack happened along Ngong Road near a busy roundabout often manned by traffic police and well secured with cameras. The motive for his killing is still not clear but the soft-spoken legislator had publicly claimed some "hired goons" were plotting to assassinate him, attributing the plot to local politics.
(Sources: CNN, BBC News)
South Korea presidential race rocked by resignations, court ruling
South Korea’s top court has cast doubt on front-runner Lee Jae-myung’s eligibility to run in next month’s snap presidential election, while the resignations of the prime minister and finance minister shook the interim government in place since December’s martial law.
Education Minister Lee Ju-ho took over as acting president, the third since the martial law decree, in advance of the June 3 snap election. The vote was called after the Constitutional Court removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his brief martial law attempt.
South Korea has been led by a rotating cast of acting presidents since Yoon was impeached on December 14, hampering efforts to steer Asia’s fourth-largest economy through the choppy waters of US tariffs.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has been serving as acting president, announced on Thursday he would resign before an expected entry into the presidential race.
But the person who was set to replace him as acting leader, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, then abruptly resigned as well, when parliament restarted impeachment proceedings against him for decisions he made when previously serving as acting president. Choi, who has played a leading role in the response to US tariffs, apologised in a statement for not being able to continue his work while the country faces severe economic conditions at home and abroad.
Education Minister Lee, the next in line by law to serve as the country’s acting president, took the helm late on Thursday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
A man walking through a burnt garden shop in Mesilat Zion in central Israel
SUDOKU
An emotional challenge will surface if you get into a scuffle. Focus on activities that depend on putting your time and energy toward self-improvement, health and living the life that makes you feel good.
Take care of responsibilities before someone criticizes or complains. Efficiency is your key to keeping the momentum flowing and your social plans from being altered.
Step outside your comfort zone and expand your mind and pursuits. Showing all sides of your personality and your ability to accept a challenge will give you a competitive edge.
Think before you say something you will regret. Emotions are running high, and calming the storm brewing within isn't easy when dealing with people who don't share your beliefs and values.
Let your actions, discipline and dedication speak for you, and finish what you start before you move on to more enjoyable pastimes. A personal pick-me-up will feed your ego.
Distance yourself from people creating havoc or confusion. A change will do you good. Study, research and test drive something you are considering or want to pursue.
Align yourself with people who have something to offer. An opportunity to travel, learn or expand your interests will open doors to individuals who can clear up any misconception or doubt you have.
Get out and see what life has to offer. Engage in events or activities that provide insight into what others think and do to overcome boredom or to harness and employ their gifts, skills and passion.
Fix your surroundings to accommodate what you want to work toward and share your thoughts with someone you love. Take the input you receive to heart.
Pay attention to what's happening at home. A domestic shift can be beneficial if you are true to yourself and those you live with. It's best to handle an emotional issue before it becomes unmanageable.
A gentle nudge, compliment and sound alternative will help you gain approval. Choose physical activity over getting involved in a no-win situation.
Streamline your plans. Refrain from overdoing it or letting someone take advantage of your kindness and generosity. A conversation with someone offering alternative suggestions will spark your imagination.
ARCHIE
Clinical Mumbai’s 6th straight win gives them top position
Mumbai Indians (MI) came into this game having never won in Jaipur since 2012. They must not have liked that very much, because first, they posted the joint-highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total at this ground, then trounced Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 100 runs and finally got back up on their perch on top of the points table. RR, meanwhile, were knocked out of the play-offs race.
overs were eerily quiet. Just 16 runs came off them and Rohit Sharma survived an lbw dismissal thanks to a very late call for DRS. “Ooooooh YESSSS,” he said, throwing his head back and smiling as he saw green instead of red on ball-tracking.
A switch must have flicked because the last three overs of the powerplay went for 42. Rohit’s runs were almost secondary to the way he was batting. He figured out what Jofra
with both his boundary riders on the leg side. Bowl straight. So he made room and immediately a ball on top of leg stump became cuttable. He cut it for four.
RR tried taking pace off, but Maheesh Theekshana and Fazalhaq Farooqi were both too full. Once again, Rohit moved to leg and opened up unguarded parts of the off side. Clear methods. Lovely timing. Smooth progress. He went past 6000 runs for MI.
At the other end, RR tried to take away Ryan Rickelton’s arms, cramping him with their lines. But he one-upped them with his short-arm pulls. Then they tried their slower balls into the pitch, but the batter held his shape nicely and swung through. He was being asked to hit to the long leg-side boundary. He took up the challenge and cleared it. Rickelton made 34 of his first 51 runs on the leg side in just nine
SKY impact
The opening partnership broke at a good time for MI because it still left 8.1 overs for Suryakumar Yadav to have an influence. His team had set him up – 116 runs were already on the board –so he wasted no time.
Suryakumar attacked six of the first seven
be a leveller.
A measure of the lasting impact of that innings was the Jaipur crowd having their hands on their heads and the MI Coach punching the air in the dugout. Men celebrating a boy’s downfall, but he is no ordinary boy.
balls he faced. The one he didn’t was one he couldn’t. It was wide, a mistake that he invites from the bowlers as they try to keep it off his hitting arc.
Suryakumar finished with 48 not out, an IPL record considering it was his 11 consecutive score of 25 or more. In an innings full of intent – he tried to hit a boundary off every other ball he faced – 13 attempts in 23 deliveries –there was always going to be jaw-dropping moments and one of those happened in the 19th over when he nailed a full-speed Archer attempted yorker, which became a full toss for four over short fine. He was rolling around on the floor, bat out of his hands, but he had done the job.
Hardik Pandya was just as destructive. His methods involve staying deep in the crease and exploiting the balls that miss the blockhole. He hit Farooqi for three fours and a six in the 18th over, over the course of a third-wicket partnership that yielded 94 runs in 44 balls. This was the first time four MI batters had made 40-plus in the same innings in the IPL.
The big wicket Cricket had the chance to avoid a cliche tonight. But it didn’t even try. The last time RR had to chase down a 200-plus total, IPL history was made with 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi scoring a 35-ball century. Here, the first time he goes for a big shot, he got out for a duck. This game just can’t help but
Boult and Bumrah magic Trent Boult began his work getting hit for sixes. It didn’t faze him. He has 115 games’ worth of experience and 68 distinct moments that prove just how good he is with the new ball in the IPL. He added Yashasvi Jaiswal to his ever-growing list of powerplay wickets and enjoyed it so much he indulged in a one-handed, finger-gun sendoff.
At the other end, Jasprit Bumrah came on and peppered Riyan Parag with bouncers. When the batter tried to take him on, he
couldn’t get his hands high enough to control the pull shot. Even as the ball was still up in the air, Parag shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “did I even have a chance?” Bumrah bowled nine short balls and conceded just one run. This was the third time this season that MI had picked up four or more wickets in the first six overs. (KKR home, SRH away, RR away). They had only taken five in their other eight games. RR came out of the field restrictions with a score of 47 for 5. At the timeout, Hardik stood in the middle of an MI huddle and some amateur lip-reading was enough to see him say “finish them”. His bowlers took those words to heart. RR were bowled out for 117 in 16.1 overs. Archer was their top scorer and their highest partnership came for the 10th wicket. (ESPNcricinfo)
aaa SCOREBOARD
Mumbai Indians (20 ovs maximum)
Ryan Rickelton †
b Theekshana 61
Rohit Sharma c Jaiswal
b Parag 53
Suryakumar Yadav not out 48
Hardik Pandya (c) not out 48
Extras (lb 1, w 6) 7
Total 20 Ov (RR: 10.85) 217/2
Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Ryan Rickelton, 11.5 ov), 2-123 (Rohit Sharma, 12.4 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Jofra Archer 4-0-42-0
Fazalhaq Farooqi 4-0-54-0
Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-47-1
Kumar Kartikeya 2-0-22-0
Akash Madhwal 4-0-39-0
Riyan Parag 2-0-12-1
Rajasthan Royals (T: 218 runs from 20 ovs)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
b Boult 13
Vaibhav Suryavanshi c Jacks
b Chahar 0
Nitish Rana c Tilak Varma
b Boult 9
Riyan Parag (c) c RG Sharma
b Bumrah 16
Dhruv Jurel † c & b KV Sharma 11
Shimron Hetmyer c Yadav b Bumrah 0
Shubham Dubey c Boult b Pandya 15
Jofra Archer c Bumrah b Boult 30
Maheesh Theekshana c Yadav b KV Sharma 2 Kumar Kartikeya c Chahar b KV Sharma 2 Akash Madhwal not out 4
Extras (lb 7, w 8) 15 Total 16.1 Ov (RR: 7.23) 117 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Vaibhav Suryavanshi,
Six wins in a row for Mumbai Indians
Shimron Hetmyer dismissed for a first-ball duck by Jasprit Bumrah
Orange Cap leader Suryakumar Yadav in action
Ryan Rickelton scored 61 off 38 balls
out Royals
West indies Breakout League…
A training ground for the next generation of analysts
As part of the strategic planning and development of the regional game, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has embarked on a journey to upskill data analysts during the ongoing West Indies Breakout League.
Avenesh Seetaram, the Performance Analyst with the senior men’s team is conducting a series of workshops along with seminars and one-on-one in-game training and support with the six analysts assigned to franchises competing in the West Indies Breakout League, which began on Friday, April 25 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
The six regional analysts will go through several tutorial sessions which focus on enhancing their individual development, coordinating with their respective players and coaches as well as understanding what the role demands at the international level. This initiative is part of a wide-scale push to combine data analytics with game strategy while creating a pathway for regional analysts
to develop an appreciation for the modern game.
CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, sees the involvement at the feeder level as instrumental, in a strategic push to incorporate all the bases from the international level.
“These workshops are designed to upskill analysts and get them to align with best practices in analytics with the aim of broadening the pool of
Shanghai Diamond League…
skilled analysts across the Region. Given that we are embracing a data-driven approach to our cricket strategies, the players and Coaches will have the opportunity to integrate real-time data into their strategies while the matches are in progress.”
Seetaram sees this as a step in the right direction to ensure continuity and exposure.
“Data has become a criti-
Williams, Scott eye repeat wins as Thompson opens 100m season
The Wanda Diamond League continues its 2025 season on Saturday, May 3, with the Shanghai/Suzhou Meeting set to showcase several of the Caribbean’s brightest track and field stars as they take on some of the world’s best.
Among the headline acts is Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the reigning world 100m hurdles champion, who will be seeking back-to-back Diamond League victories following her win in Xiamen. She will again face a world-class line-up that includes Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, Americans Grace Stark, Tonea Marshall, and Nia Ali, Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, and Bahamian Devynne Charlton, the 2025 World Indoor 60m hurdles champion. Charlton, whose personal best is 12.44, will be aiming to rebound after she crashed out of the event in last week’s opener in Xiamen.
In the men’s triple jump, Jordan Scott of Jamaica will look to build on his stunning season opener in Xiamen, where he jumped a personal best 17.27m to claim victory. This week, he’ll go up against a stronger field featuring Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo, world medallist Hugues Fabrice Zango, and American veteran Donald Scott.
Kishane Thompson, Jamaica’s Olympic 100m silver medallist, will make his much-anticipated Diamond League debut for the season. While this is his season opener, the sprint field is packed with firepower including
American Christian Coleman, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala. Former Jamaican national champion Rohan Watson is also in the line-up. There’s a mouthwatering showdown brewing in the men’s 110m hurdles, where Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment is set to battle compatriot Rasheed Broadbell, who returns to action for his first Diamond League appearance of 2025. They are joined by fellow Jamaican Orlando Bennett in a field that includes American Cordell Tinch, who won in a world-leading 13.06 in Xiamen last week, Japan’s Rachid Muratake, and Spain’s Enrique Llopis.
Grenadian star Kirani James is looking to bounce back in the men’s 400m after finishing fourth in Xiamen. He’ll face the likes of Olympic champion Quincy Hall and Christopher Bailey of the USA, as well as Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi in what promises to be one of the meet’s marquee races.
In the women’s 800m,
Jamaica’s Natoya GouleToppin returns for her second straight Diamond League race. She’ll match strides with Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu and Tsige Duguma, Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi, and American Sage HurtaKlecker in a field ripe with Olympic contenders.
The men’s long jump will see Jamaican duo Tajay Gayle, the 2019 world champion, and Wayne Pinnock, the world indoor silver medallist, test themselves against a strong line-up that includes China’s Shi Yuhao, Australia’s Liam Adcock, and American Marquis Dendy.
The women’s 200m will go on without Shericka Jackson, who is skipping Shanghai following her loss in Xiamen. That opens the door for American Anavia Battle, who’ll be chasing consecutive wins against challengers like Daryll Neita of Great Britain and Australian youngster Torrie Lewis.
Danniel Thomas-Dodd makes her first Diamond League appearance of the year in the women’s shot put. The Jamaican national record holder faces a tough field led by American Chase Jackson, Canada’s Sarah Mitton, and Dutch thrower Jessica Schilder.
Closing out the Caribbean representation is Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands in the men’s 400m hurdles, where he’ll face off against world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway and American CJ Allen.
(Sportsmax)
cal part of the game internationally. The chance to enlighten and expose our next batch of analysts is important because it allows for our players to be involved at this level before they get to the international stage,” Seetaram said.
Madrid Open…
“As the game internationally takes shape, we are preparing ourselves and moulding those at the level below to aid in the transfer of information.”
Seetaram added that the in-game situations would enable the analysts to derive plans for their respective teams and coaches during the match.
“I will be sitting with all of them for multiple games, helping each analyst utilise in-game analysis of data for use by their team. Additionally, I will be doing the same with preparation meetings for all teams to ensure the standards of information to players is consistent.”
About The West Indies Breakout League
The West Indies Breakout League is a premier T20
cricket tournament designed to spotlight emerging talent from across the Caribbean.
The league will feature teams representing the six territorial boards that comprise Cricket West Indies: Barbados Pelicans, Guyana Rainforest Rangers, Jamaica Titans, Leeward Islands Thunder, Trinidad & Tobago Legions and the Windward Islands Infernos.
Players eligible to participate must be under 30 years old at the start of the tournament, have played fewer than 40 List A T20 matches and fewer than 10 international T20s, ensuring a focus on developing new talent. Each team are closely affiliated with a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, providing players with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a larger stage and progress their cricketing careers.
Gauff thrashes Swiatek; Draper beats Arnaldi
Coco Gauff produced a stunning display to thrash four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-1 and reach the final of the Madrid Open.
Gauff, 21, had never beaten her Polish opponent on clay, before but took just 64 minutes to dispatch the world number two.
American Gauff will play world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Elina Svitolina in the final.
Reigning champion Swiatek had won nine consecutive matches in Madrid –and 15 of 16 going back to her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 final – but had no answer to Gauff.
Gauff, who won the US Open in 2023, hit seven aces and won 19 of 21 points on her first serve in a dominant performance.
“I was aggressive and played with margin. Maybe it wasn’t her best level,” Gauff said in her on-court interview.
The American, who edged past Dayana Yastremska in three sets in her opening match last week, added: “I felt great out here on the court today, much different to my first match here in the first round.
“I think the previous times we played on clay, I don’t think I had a win against her yet.
“Obviously on clay she’s a different player, but clay is one of my better surfaces too, and I thought if I can beat her on hard, I can beat her on clay.”
Draper set for world top five after beating Arnaldi
British number one Jack Draper cruised past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-0 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Madrid Open and will move
into the top five in the world for the first time in his career.
Englishman Draper won the first set in just 25 minutes.
World number 44 Arnaldi won his first two service games in the second before Draper made the crucial break with a fierce cross-court winner to take a 3-2 lead.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who won the Indian Wells title in March, then held serve and went on to claim victory in one hour and 17 minutes.
The dominant Draper dropped just 10 points on his serve without facing a break point and will overtake Grand Slam record-holder Novak Djokovic to move into the world’s top five on Monday.
Draper, the highest-seeded player remaining in the tournament, will face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in his first ATP clay court semi-final.
Tenth seed Musetti beat Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-3 in his quarter-final to setup the meeting with Draper.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Draper said: “I feel stronger every time I play.
“Against these guys I used to feel like I would be the one on the back foot, the one defending, so the next part of
my game was getting capable physically to do the things I know I can do and bully these guys.
“I have been doing everything in all areas pretty well and am excited to keep on going. Hopefully, it keeps coming together.
“You see guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have no fear and so I just want to go after it, I suppose.
“My forehand is doing a lot of damage and I want to keep it up.
“I know I can win any match and lose any match. I am fearful I could lose, but that helps me compete the way I do.” (BBC Sport)
Coco Gauff lost to Iga Swiatek in the final of the 2022 French Open
Kishane Thompson
A look at the analysts during the Breakout League workshops
CWI Women’s T20 Blaze…
Guyana register win in opening game
Dolphin’s revenge exacted in Milo U18 final
Last December, Chase’s Academic Foundation produced a spectacle in the final of the Republic Bank Secondary Schools League, drubbing Dolphin Secondary 8-1 to complete an unbeaten run and seal the championship.
For four months, that loss lived ‘rent- free’ in the minds of the Broad Street outfit as they prepared to face off with their rivals again.
The final of the Milo Under-18 Schools Football tournament turned out to be something out of a fairytale for Dolphin as they defeated Chase’s 3-2 to clinch the title. Finally, their revenge was complete.
Dolphin Secondary Captain Brian Brower declared in the aftermath of the win, “Basically, revenge was always in my head from since the final whistle blow in the last game and we now get the revenge. That’s all we wanted.”
Quizzed about how he felt after the win, Brower responded, “Well, it’s the best feeling, because most people was against we, them didn’t have we for this game and the last time when Chase beat we 8-1, I had that in my mind for like four months now and what I had to do was come, save and win. Even though I make two mistakes.”
An outstanding bowling performance combined with mediocre batting from Leeward Islands resulted in Guyana’s Women winning the first game of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze tournament played at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, Saint Vincent.
Leeward Islands Women won the toss and elected to bat first. West Indies opening batter Qiana Joseph had an uncharacteristically slow in-
cused, keep your head on and we know we would’ve won this game ‘cause the so-called wonder kid get a red card. So, we know we were winning this game since before the match play,” the goalkeeper explained.
Though they found themselves trailing twice in the encounter, Brower’s side managed to equalise on both occasions. As such, the tour-
nament’s eventual best goalkeeper went on to divulge some of the encouragement he shared with his team.
“I just tell my team stay fo-
“We going back to school as a champion and for the rest of the year we’ll always be a champion. One Dolphin,” he added with a smile.
On the other hand, though not finishing in the top two, it was an all-time high placing for West Ruimveldt Secondary in this year’s, 11th edition of the Milo competition.
The Georgetown-based outfit came from behind to defeat Region One’s Waramuri Secondary 2-1 on Sunday last, on the back of a double off the boots of Captain Jeremiah Griffith.
Ecstatic at the fact that they were able to rebound from a semifinal loss to pull off the win, Griffith shared what the third-place trophy meant to his team.
“Feels wonderful,” Griffth said about being the tournament’s third-place finisher.
The player went on to share, “Well, this win means a lot. At least we couldn’t do it in the semi, but we do it in the third place. When we was out there in the first half, we couldn’t manage to put away the chance, but in the second half, we come out as a team and get it done.”
“The motivation was like, we couldn’t get to go through to the final, but at least we had the third place, go out there and do what we have to do to bring it home,” Griffith added.
nings at the top of the order, contributing 25 from 41 balls.
Captain Amanda Edwards top-scored with 28, but there was no other significant support in the innings. The innings was very pedestrian as Leeward Islands only mustered a score of 88 for 7 in their 20 overs. Guyanese spin bowlers Sheneta Grimmond and Ashmini Munisar kept the batting side in check as they were excellent with the ball. Grimmond had figures of 3 for 15, while Munisar picked up 2
for 17, both from four overs. Guyana reached the target score in 18.2 overs, finishing their innings at 89 for 3, thanks to a run-a-ball 33 from Realeanna Grimmond and Captain Shemaine Campbelle’s unbeaten 23 off 25 balls. The Leeward bowlers’ efforts were in vain because they were unable to defend, since they had insufficient runs on the board. As the tournament continues, Guyana’s Women are scheduled to play Windward Islands Women in their next match on May 3, starting at 10:00h.
Select XI defeat Essequibo in close encounter
In a rain-affected game at the LBI Cricket Ground, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Thursday, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 50-over InterCounty Tournament witnessed the Guyana Cricket Board Select XI Under19s coming up against the Essequibo Under-19 team.
In the first innings, the GCB Select XI batted first in a 29-over contest. Captain Romario Ramdeholl topscored with 35 from 32 balls, an innings that included five boundaries. Wicketkeeping opening batsman Kishawn Silas made 31 runs while Parmeshwar Ram supported with 32. In the 29 overs, the Select XI managed a total of 147 for 9. Navindra Sankar starred with the ball, picking
up four wickets in his spell. Golcharran Chulai and Saif Samaroo were important as well, as they both picked up two wickets each. Although Essequibo’s revised target was 110 runs in 20 overs, rain severely impacted the game and forced the DLS method to be used once more. With a 13-run victory thanks to an all-around superb bowling display, Dave Mohabir led the Select XI. Mohabir got figures of 3 for 16, while the Essequibo team were reduced to 96 for 8 in their 20 overs. Avishkar Beharry, Andres Fraser, Ramdeholl, Devon Wharton, and Ram each claimed one wicket. Even though Shazif Mohamed top-scored with 29 and Ronaldo Jeffrey had 24, their team were unable to win.
Brian Brower (yellow bib) celebrates with teammates after netting Dolphin’s second goal in the final
Dolphin Secondary celebrate with their championship trophy following the Milo final
Realeanna Grimmond had figures of 3 for 15
Ashmini Munisar picked up 2 for 17
Guyana’s Women enjoyed an opening win on Thursday
Jeremiah Griffith receives West Ruimveldt’s third-place trophy from Petra Organisation’s Co- Director Troy Mendonca
Dave Mohabir got figures of 3 for 16
Navindra Sankar picked up four wickets
