Pres Ali assures mothers of Govt’s commitment to better quality of life
Govt will support you, your family for a brighter future
President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured all mothers in Guyana that his Government will continue to work and support them and their families, especially their children, so that they can have a bright future.
The Head of State made this commitment on Sunday during his message to the nation on Mother’s Day.
“On this Mother’s Day, I
want to assure every mother that my Government will continue in the future to support you, your children and your aspirations, to ensure that you have the best for your family, the brightest future for your children, and ensuring that everything that you wanted for yourself but may not have been able to afford, that with the support of my Government, you will be able to give to your children and you, yourself, will be able to live a quality of life that we in this Government can support,” the Guyanese leader pledged.
From Governmentsponsored education at the university level to enhanced healthcare delivery – at community clinics and with the new maternal speciality hospital, improved utility services and infrastructures, cash grants, support for children in school, and to economic, empowerment and employment opportunities, President Ali committed to continue uplifting the lives of Guyanese mothers.
“All of these things, we’ll continue to expand to ensure that mothers live a life that is befitting of the love, commitment and selflessness they give to every child, our nation on a daily basis,” he assured.
Since taking office over four years ago, the Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been supporting moth-
ers, especially single mothers, through a number of initiatives. These include employment under the Part-time Job programme, training and empowerment opportunities, entrepreneurship opportunities including in the agriculture/agro-processing sector, help through various initiatives like the Men On Mission (MOM) which builds homes for vulnerable families like single mothers, and home ownership opportunities through Government’s aggressive housing drive.
One of the newest initiatives that the Government has rolled out earlier this year is the $100,000 cash grant for every baby born to a Guyanese mother. The Newborn Cash Grant programme was
launched in March.
Describing motherhood as the “noblest title on earth,” the Head of State recognised a mother’s love as unlike no other, unconditional, unflinching and unending. This love, he noted, sees beyond flaws, forgives before being asked, and believes even when the world doubts.
“It is a love that sacrifices sleep for a child’s peace, food for a child’s nourishment, dreams for a child’s future. A mother’s love is not measured in words but in the daily and innumerable acts of care, concern and affection that lie at the heart of motherhood. There is no monument grand enough, no poem eloquent enough, to fully honour what mothers do daily – quietly,
constantly, and courageously,” he stated.
According to the Guyanese Leader, mothers are the first teacher, the fiercest protector, the tireless provider, and the soul of the family. He added too that mothers are the heart that keeps the home beating and the strength that steadies the nation.
“On this Mother’s Day, let us rise to honour and uplift every mother, whether she is rocking a newborn in her arms, sending her child off to school, toiling to put food on the table, or praying silently for the safety of her grown children. Let our words be kind, our gestures generous, and our hearts full of gratitude,” he urged.
President Ali went onto
also recognise those mothers who are grieving the loss of their child.
He said, “We see you, we honour you, and we stand with you. Your pain is not invisible, nor is your strength unnoticed. Though no words can truly ease the ache you bear, know that your tears have not fallen unnoticed. Your loss is deeply felt, and your courage in the face of such heartache is a quiet, profound statement to the depth of a mother’s love. Today, as we celebrate motherhood, we also share in the grief of all mothers who have lost children. The continuous pain that you endure, we are with you in thoughts and prayers. You are not alone; your pain is our pain, and your strength is our inspiration.”
The Guyanese leader further encouraged children to celebrate their mothers every day; speak with love to them while they can still hear, and give thanks while they are still near.
For those who are motherless, he urged them to let their lives be a living tribute in their mother’s memory, and never let the light they lit in them be extinguished.
“To all mothers of Guyana, we honour you, we thank you, we bless you. May your love continue to guide us. May your strength continue to build us. And may your legacy live forever in the hearts of your children,” the Head of State expressed.
President Dr Irfaan Ali sharing a light moment with mothers during a visit to the Georgetown Public Hospital earlier this year
Editor: Tusika Martin
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The impact of AI on press freedom and the media
This year, the World Press Freedom Day focused on the profound influence of AI on journalism and media. On the occasion, President Dr Irfaan Ali declared that policymakers should examine the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI), threats, that the dangers of AI should be controlled, as well as the laws and regulations that would guarantee it does not go unchecked. “If we don’t do it, it is a ticking time bomb if we don’t ensure that AI is utilised, especially when it comes to the press and information dissemination. Information is so powerful because it can destabilise instantaneously with very little time to respond.” Yet for all his balanced perspective, he was criticised by the Guyana Press Association and the Opposition for threatening press freedom. However, the following explication, excerpted from Dr Ewelina U Ochab, a human rights advocate who has written more than 30 UN Reports, echoes President Ali’s stance.
“In recent years, the challenges to journalists and journalism have been exacerbated by the use of technology, social media and artificial intelligence (AI). As indicated by the UN, the rapid growth and use of AI is changing journalism, the media and press freedom, with AI having a profound effect on information gathering, processing and dissemination. This comes with opportunities but also serious challenges.
AI can help support freedom of expression. It can make information easier to access, enable people to communicate across the world, and change information flows. However, AI also brings new risks. As warned by the UN, AI “can be used to spread false or misleading information, increase online hate speech and support new types of censorship.
Some actors use AI for mass surveillance of Journalists and citizens, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Big tech platforms use AI to filter and control what content is seen, making them powerful gatekeepers of information. There are growing worries that AI may make global media too similar, reduce different viewpoints and push out smaller media outlets.”
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called upon States to ensure that Journalists are safe from attacks, hate campaigns and surveillance, as well as physical and legal harassment. He stressed that it was key to provide for more transparency in how data is used, how content is curated and how algorithms are designed. Mr Türk announced that his office and UNESCO are offering guidance to help tech companies assess the risks their tools pose to Journalists and civil society.
He pointed out: “AI-based algorithms often dictate what we see, shaping our opinions and perceptions of reality. Politicians use AI to weaponise disinformation and advance their own agendas. States are also using AI tools to monitor Journalists and their sources online, violating their right to privacy. This has a chilling effect on media workers everywhere. And women Journalists are disproportionately targeted.”
Within these challenges, women Journalists are said to be at particular risk, with technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). As warned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO): “AI amplifies existing risks for women Journalists in the digital landscape. … AI systems can generate deepfakes, doctored images, and mis/disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting or intimidating women Journalists. These AI-driven attacks jeopardise their safety but also have a chilling effect on their work, potentially limiting public access to information.”
Last, but not least, Mr Türk further warned against the concentration of power in the area of AI, with a small group of corporations and individuals having almost total control over AI technology and influence on the global media landscape. As such, it is crucial to examine how to make the most of AI to support the work of Journalists and the media, but also address the challenges it poses. The ever-present challenges and threats posed to journalists and the media require comprehensive responses — to protect free and independent media and its key role in ensuring that democracies flourish.”
On this issue where there is agreement on the opportunities and dangers of AI, all Guyanese must come together to craft a Guyanese approach.
President Ali displayed leadership, vision; GPA exposes its political stripes
Dear Editor,
President Irfaan Ali raised the issue of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the possible impact on journalism in Guyana and around the world. This matter has been and continues to be studied by reputable researchers from universities such as Harvard and Oxford for many years now. It has become a matter of global concern. By being one of the first heads of state to place this issue on the agenda for national and regional dialogue, President Ali has become a global leader on this matter. Our President has become, if not the first, among the first few heads of state to place the matter of digital tools and AI and their impact on journalism. He deserves praise, not criticism.
President Irfaan Ali has been a leader not afraid to move things into the future. He came into leadership at the time when Caricom invested more than $6 billion annually in importing food it can produce. He initiated the 25 X 25 initiative to reduce food import from outside Caricom by 25 per cent by 2025, now with the target set for 2030. He has built on the visionary low carbon development strategy (LCDS) initiated by President Bharat Jagdeo in 2010. President Ali will in July launch in Guyana the Biodiversity Alliance with global leaders and institutions. There are other initiatives he has catalysed since he was sworn in as President in August 2020.
In a similar vein, President Irfaan Ali has seen the dramatic rise of digital tools as a source for news and information. He has seen the impact of AI on
various aspects of life and has seen how significant AI is impacting the media and journalism.
Instead of just waiting to see how this plays out, President Ali used the occasion of World Journalism Day 2025 to highlight the impact of digital tools, including AI in the operations of the media in Guyana and around the world. He urged media practitioners to recognise the revolution that is taking place and consider how Guyana, Caricom and the world might be able to maximise the potential for good that these tools offer, but concurrently, ensure that the potential for bad or for evil does not gain traction.
For this, the President deserves commendation. One would have thought that any organisation representing either the media or media practitioners would have jumped on the opportunity offered by the President to participate in a national dialogue on a matter of importance to Guyana and the world. But not so, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) which immediately knocked the idea and immediately concluded this was a signal of a President and his Government setting the stage for restriction of press freedom.
Nothing the President stated was even remotely linked to press freedom restriction. Indeed, the President admitted that he was not certain what the rise in AI and digital tools mean for the practice of journalism. The President cautioned that whatever impact AI and digital tools have on the quality of journalism, we ought to ensure that responsibili-
ty, fairness, truth and justice remain the hallmark of a strong media world in Guyana.
The GPA predictably donned their political cap as one of the major anti-PPP Government organisations in Guyana. Strangely, it is the GPA which just days before had spoken about AI and the potential for mischief, misinformation, etc.
A brave new world of the media, of journalism, has emerged. There has been a profound dislocation of the media in recent years. DISLOCATION is now the buzzword for media realities. Where journalists and reporters populate their work is today very different from where they did just two to three decades ago.
From just newspapers, radio and TV newscasts and talk shows, practitioners have moved to newer places, such as Facebook, Instagram, Instagram Reels, Tik-Tok, Podcasts, YouTube, What’s App, LinkedIn, etc. But who is a journalist has been impacted by dislocations also. Who is a journalist or reporter has changed, to the great chagrin of those who trained for the job. Indeed, ordinary citizens more and more provide a new source for information. Where people obtain their news and their information, clearly too has been dislocated. No longer is the newspaper or the radio or TV the exclusive destination for people looking for the news or for information. Now the destination is digital tools, search engines, etc. It is a fragmented media environment, offering people around the world a seemingly endless sources of information to choose from. Where Guyanese, like
their counterparts in other countries around the world, obtain their information has changed radically in the 21st century.
Digital sources today dominate the media environment.
Young people are unlikely to read newspapers or watch the TV news for their information. The bad news for traditional media is that this unlikely possibility also now is rapidly gaining traction with older people. Even before 2000, newspaper readership has been suffering significant losses. The decline has become an existential crisis for newspapers. In the US, a study showed that from just 35 per cent of adults who read newspapers in 2019, it dropped to a worrying 24 per cent in 2022. A Pew Research Centre survey (2020) found that 86 per cent of adults in America got their news from a smartphone, computer, or tablet “often” or “sometimes,” compared to just 40 per cent who similarly got news from TV.
A similar trend is seen across the world.
The media world today is radically different from what existed at the start of the 21st century.
While changes had already started prior to 2000, the changes have accelerated so rapidly that what constitute the media today has no resemblance to what the media was just twenty-five years ago. Journalism today is very different from what it was in 2000.
Indeed, who is a journalist has changed dramatically and we now fight for a proper definition of who is a journalist.
Yours sincerely, Leslie Ramsammy
Fair View Wildlife Club members engaged in an early-morning bird-watching activity in Region Nine (Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development photo)
Let us believe a lie… – fishing around for “Yes Men”
Dear Editor,
They fired the family lawyer; they fired their own family doctor, who was present at the autopsy; they also refused to accept the irrefutable evidence of three internationally-renowned pathologists. This tells anyone, even if you have half a brain, that this family is on a political road, out to make the little girl’s death a homicide.
The politics was meant to pull the ruling party in that net and show that they were part and parcel of a voodoo plot to “sacrifice” Adrianna.
It is an election year, and their actions bear the signature stamp of the PNC, both before and after elections.
You will recall the Courtney Crum-Ewing case: he was killed three days before the election; and the Henry Boys case: they were killed soon after the PPP/C took office; you will recall the same voodoo messages and the widespread death and destruction that followed. Do all these things had their attachments to the PPP/C?
So, the Adrianna Younge case comes as no surprise to us; but I will come back to this issue in another letter to the editor.
So, the intellectual authors are behind this new move by the parents, there is no doubt about that. They are not going to let this little girl’s soul rest in peace. They want their lawyer,
family physician and the wider community out there to stifle their conscience and garbage the comprehensive, qualified, scientific, conclusions of the pathologists that it was a homicide. Not going to happen!
The family and their political advisors are now on a desperate fishing expedition to find yes men and whatever bits and pieces of hearsay testimony that could corroborate their homicide story. They are no longer in a “finding out the truth mode”, but are in the mode wherein they are willing to accept a lie. This is a dangerous place to be, because it means that all decency and respect for law and order are thrown aside just to fulfil the egotistical ambitions of a power-obsessed Opposition and its acolytes.
So, let us, for discussion purposes, accept the theory that this girl’s death was a homicide. Then we would have to discard forthrightly the professional diagnostics of the three doctors who did the autopsy. Next, we would have to accept every “voodoo” hearsay testimony being circulated. Persons drown each year at pools and resorts around the country, is this a case of voodoo?
What about that elderly gentleman who drowned turned right-side up, Adrianna’s drowning was faced downwards. Does that look funny?
Other hearsay testimonies: such as the hotel worker wheeling a trolley with a white bundle inside, that could be Adrianna, you know? Or the man standing on the balcony of the hotel waiting to throw the body into the pool? Or, greater still, Adrianna being abducted by the hotel owner/manager and taken into an inner room with double walls and a tunnel to be sexually molested in a satanic ritual?
In all mercy and truth, this is an enormous pill to swallow, much more to get circumstantial “factual evidence” to prove it. So, this is the position we have gotten ourselves into: that is, whether to believe the indisputable truth or swallow the big pill of deceit and lies. I think civilized and right-thinking people would choose THE TRUTH. I rest my case.
Yours sincerely, Neil Adams
Being prepared in the engineering design field
Dear Editor, Please permit me to address the Minister of Public Works, responsible civil engineers and all citizens. I first feel obliged to congratulate the Government and people of Guyana for undertaking the building of a permanent concrete bridge across the Demerara River. This would be the pinnacle of infrastructure engineering on a grand scale in this country. I hope at the end of this we would have locals that can replicate this feat on a smaller scale, safely bridging the many rivers in our country. Business and commerce are greatly augmented by developments in transport, which translates to increase standard of living.
Some of the most complex machines built by intensive engineering design and testing- both destructive and non-destructive are, aeroplanes. Yet during operation, manufactures and regulatory authori-
ties have to issue Service Bulletins and Directives to add to, change and/or modify these aeroplanes due to occurrences that were not anticipated at design. Knowing this I have some suggestions/questions with regards to this Bridge:
1. We keep the old floating bridge operational for 6 months after the opening of the new bridge. During this time maintenance on the old bridge can bring it up to almost new, so that when it is eventually moved, it will be trouble free for a longer time at its new location.
2. Do we have sensors or method to measure sink and sink-rate of each individual concrete pylon?
Do we know the expected sink-rate and the maximum difference in sink and sinkrate allowed?
3. Do we have sensors or method to monitor sills for cracking and deformation on which the concrete decks are placed?
4. Do we have sen-
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sors or method to monitor the concrete deck slabs movement? How much is allowed?
5. Are the concrete deck slabs all of the same dimensions? Do we have replacement slabs on-hand or the ability to make?
6. These same questions for the main load bearing cables and deck-hanging cables of the suspension part, the high-span.
Please do not view this as being negative but we have to be prepared. We would not want to put this bridge into operation and close it after 6 months for 2 years while we come up with a repair scheme and assembling equipment.
Yours sincerely, Fazadh Khan, Manager/Chief Engineer GuySuCo | Head Office – Rose Hall Airstrip. Canje, Berbice, Guyana MONDAY,
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
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Page Foundation
English
Maths
1. If the simple interest on $800 for 3 years is $54 what is the rate of interest per annum? (A) (B) (C) (D)
6. John had x marbles and Max had twice as many. Max gives Tom 5 of his marbles. How many marbles does Max now have? (A) x+5 (B) x-5 (C) 2x+5 (D) 2x-5
2. A plot of land is valued at $18 000. Land tax is charged at the rate of $0.70 per $100 value. What is the TOTAL amount of tax paid for the land? (A) $110.00 (B) $126.00 (C) $180.70 (D) $257.15
3. The expression 'y is equal to the square of x' can be written as (A) y = x2 (B) y2 = x (C) y = 2x (D) y = √x
4. The expression -2(x-4) is the same as (A) -2x-8 (B) -2x-4 (C) -2x+4 (D) -2x+8
5. "When 7 is added to 3 times a certain number n, the result is 22". The statement above may be represented by the equation (A) 3n+7=22 (B) 7n-22=3 (C) 3n+22=7 (D) 7n+3=22
7. Given that p*q means 2q - p, the value of 1*2 is (A) 0 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 5
8. The expression (2a)3 is the same as (A) 6a (B) 8a (C) 6a3 (D) 8a3
9. If 5(2x−1) = 35,then x= (A) – 4 (B) (C) 3 (D) 4
10. The sum of x and y is 18 and their difference is 14. Which pair of equations describes the above statement?
(A) 2(x+y)=18 2(x-y)=4 (B) 2(xy) =18
2(x-y)=4 (C) (x+y)=18 (x−y)=14 (D) (x+y)=22 (x−y)=14
WORD
US$613M invested by Hess into capital, exploration of Stabroek Block for 2025
– over 60% of company’s first-quarter capital investment went to Guyana
Hess Corporation’s investment into the Stabroek block for just the first quarter of 2025, amounted to a sizeable US$613 million, with the size of this investment outstripping Hess’ other investments in other countries like United States (US) and Malaysia.
According to Hess Corporation’s first quarter capital and exploratory expenditures, the company reported that it spent a total of US$1.085 billion between January and March 2025. It is an increase compared to the US$927 million spent in the 2024 first quarter.
Of the company’s 2025 first quarter investment, Guyana accounted for US$613 million. Once again, this was an increase compared to the US$447 million the company contributed to the Stabroek Block in the first quarter of 2024.
To compare, in the first quarter of 2025, Hess had invested a total of US$455
million to its holdings in the US. This had included US$360 million to its holdings in North Dakota, as of March 31. It also means that over 60 per cent of the company’s capital and exploration investments for the first quarter of the year went to Guyana.
“At the Stabroek Block (Hess – 30 per cent), net production totalled 183,000 bopd (barrels of oil per day) in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 190,000 bopd in the prior-year quarter, due to tax barrels being lower by 13,000 bopd in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter. Guyana net production is forecasted to be approximately 180,000 bopd in the second quarter of 2025.”
“In the first quarter of 2025, 14 cargos of crude oil were sold from Guyana, compared with 15 cargos in the prior-year quarter. In the second quarter of 2025, 15 cargos of crude oil are ex-
Hess Corporation CEO John Hess
pected to be sold,” Hess also reported in its first quarter earnings report.
The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), holds 45 per cent inter-
est therein. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
There are currently three Floating Production
Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in Guyana’s offshore waters: The Liza Destiny, the Liza Unity and the Prosperity. They are respectively working on the Liza One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects
Six FPSOs are expected to be operating offshore Guyana by 2027. The fourth FPSO, dubbed the ‘One Guyana’ FPSO, is expected to begin producing oil in the second half of this year from the Yellowtail development, when production is expected to reach 250,000 bopd.
The vessel has already arrived in Guyana, with Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) announcing in April that installation activities for the US$10 billion FPSO had begun. It was explained that the installation activities for the FPSO, moored 110.65 nautical miles from the coast, will conclude on December 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the fifth
FPSO, which would be named ‘Errea Wittu’, meaning “abundance” in the Warrau Indigenous language, will operate in the Urau project. It would have an oil storage capacity of two million barrels, an oil production design rate of 250,000 barrels per day, and be able to offload approximately one million barrels onto a tanker in approximately 24 hours. This vessel would be delivered by MODEC, a Japanese company that has confirmed construction of this FPSO. Start-up of the US$12.7 billion Urau development is targeted for 2026. Additionally, ‘Jaguar’, the sixth FPSO, is earmarked for Exxon’s Whiptail project. Government has said that by the time this FPSO comes online in 2027, Guyana is expected to be producing as much as 1.2 million barrels of oil per day. This FPSO is currently in the final stages of construction.
Consultations a must before NDCs, municipalities roll out projects – Mustapha
In light of the recent increase of subventions to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) from $5 million to $30 million, and Municipalities from $18 million to $50 million, the Guyana Government has underscored the need for these local authority bodies to consult with residents before implementing community projects.
There are massive plans for further development, however, residents must have a say in the decision-making process at the Municipalities and NDCs.
This is according to the Executive Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Zulfikar Mustapha. His comments came as he met with residents of Crabwood Creek on Saturday. Government recently
announced a substantial increase in subventions to NDCs and Municipalities. However, Mustapha noted that this is not a licence for those local authorities to implement programmes and projects as they want. Mustapha, who is also
the Agriculture Minister, said there must be consultations with citizens.
“We have to have the input of the people who are living here, who are experiencing this condition, and they must have an input. I saw a complaint went to the Vice President, who is the General Secretary of our party, that proper consultation was not done in an area, for the subvention part to be planned properly. And he has instructed that a Minister will deal with that.
TURN TO PAGE 9
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha attending to the public at the meeting
“Too Cute” granted bail on multiple armed robbery charges
Yohance Yarris, a 22-year-old unemployed resident of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, known by the alias “Too Cute,” was on Friday granted bail on multiple armed robbery charges after spending several months in custody.
The latest development came during his appearance before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Yarris, who had previously been remanded, faced four separate armed robbery charges dating back to September 2024. The charges involve stolen items collectively valued at more than $3 million. He was initially denied bail despite arguments by his attorney, who said he required urgent medical treatment after being shot by police officers during his arrest in Rasville, Georgetown.
The charges include a September 26, 2024 robbery at Shopping Lane, West Ruimveldt, where Yarris, allegedly in the company of another person, robbed David Granham of
jewellery worth $1.1 million. Another charge stems from a February 19 incident in East Ruimveldt Front Road, where he allegedly robbed Adrian Ally of an iP-
hone 14 Pro Max valued at $200,000 while armed with a gun. The third charge relates to a January 8 robbery at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, where he reportedly used a firearm to rob Candice Stewart of a Samsung phone, perfume, and cash totalling $160,000. On that same date, Yarris is accused of robbing Shane Stewart, stealing an iPhone, an Apple Watch, Air Pods, an Acer laptop, a haversack, and a bottle of whiskey, items valued at over $600,000.
During Friday’s hearing, Yarris’s attorney renewed her application for bail, noting that the prosecution had not yet completed the case file and that several statements remained outstanding. The attorney told the court that Yarris had been in custody since February.
In response, the prosecution maintained that investigations were still ongoing and that Yarris had evaded law enforcement for several months before being apprehended in Rasville, where he allegedly fired at police officers. According to police, Yarris had to be subdued after he resisted arrest, which led to him being shot by officers.
Magistrate McGusty queried whether Yarris had any other matters before the court, and the prosecution confirmed that he had a pending matter in Berbice and was well known to law enforcement due to a string of similar offences.
In June 2023, Yarris was charged with robbery before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, following an attack on Deleon Lowe on Mandela Avenue. In that matter, Yarris allegedly choked the victim while his accomplice struck him with a wooden bar during a robbery.
The prosecution told the court that while out on bail for that matter, Yarris went on to commit the more recent series of robberies.
Despite the prosecution’s continued objections and insistence that the investigations were incomplete, Magistrate McGusty granted Yarris bail in the three most recent cases.
He was granted $150,000 bail each for the charges involving Candice and Shane Stewart and $250,000 bail for the robbery involving David Granham.
Yarris was ordered to return to court on May 23 for disclosure.
Behind…
…the Dragon’s smoke
Your Eyewitness’s granny used to tell him: "Fool ah talk but nah fool ah listen." The folk wisdom crossed his mind when he read that the new (quite westernised physically – wink, wink! – pun intended!!) Chinese Ambassador…er Ambassadress…boasted that there’d been a fortyfold increase in Chinese investment here in the last five years. Jumping from US$256?million in 2019 to US$10.6 billion in 2024!! From her tone, the casual reader could be forgiven for thinking this was a GIFT from China to us!!
But hey!! Aren’t “investments” loans that gotta to be repaid -- with interest?? And aren’t loans a Chinese tactic in “how to win friends and influence countries’ to take over the world through their grand Road and Belt Initiative strategy?? Yes, dear Madam Ambassadress – we in Mudland have learnt the hard way that there ain’t no free lunch when it comes to these international matters. We’ve been down this road so many times before!!
The Chinese strategy is just an updated version of what the Europeans did when they dragged us out of Africa to provide free labour – one of the factors of production – on their plantations. Later, they had to update that tactic for acceptability by bringing in “indentured labourers” who were supposedly more “free”. Now the Chinese aren’t moving around labour – that’s verboten!! – but they’re bringing in capital – another factor of production – but which controls the labour!!
And capital’s much easier to control since it’s just a matter of pressing buttons on a computer in this digitised world. Now, after we – and countries around the world –get snagged into the Chinese web, their next step is to get us to quit using the dollar – and pay for our goods in their currency – Chinese yuan (CNY) and renminbi (RMB). Then – like the US did after WWII – they can just print paper/ money and have us send them goods. That’ll be just like the days of slavery since we’d be working for pieces of paper –while they throw back, quaffing the Chinese equivalent of rum swizzles!!
What the good Ambassadress also didn’t mention was all the Chinese supermarkets we see popping up throughout the country – even in Lethem. Now, if it’s one thing we’d done well on our own was opening up “salt-goods shops”. In our new oil-fuelled economy, the next step would be to convert them to supermarkets – as we already started. But now came the Chinese invasion – and they’re able to undersell the locals across the board?? There’ve been persistent claims that somehow they’re able to get in their goods duty-free -with the assistance of their Embassy. This needs to be investigated!!
Lastly, the Ambassadress boasted about creating 5000 jobs!! Supermarkets’ indentured servants treated like dirt!!
…an Opposition loyalist
Old PNC stalwart Amna Ally has passed. May God take mercy on her soul!! She came out of a PNC family when Indians in the early PNC were rare like fist-sized diamonds. Her dad Barakat Ally was a mason, who did very well, thank you!, to become Regional Chairman of Reg 5 in 1980 –when the results were announced even before the votes were counted!! Schoolteacher Amna – who came through the YSM ranks and was even Chair – was a candidate for Parliament in 1985 under Hoyte – when he outdid Forbes in rigging the biggest majority ever!! Good PNC roots. Amna will be remembered fondly for two initiatives as a politician. The first was during the PPP’s no-confidence motion debate in Dec 2018 when she shouted from the government benches: “Bring it on! Bring it on! The APNU+AFC is a solid 33; you have an indecisive 32!” They lost via Charandass’ switcheroo!!
The second was six months later when she handed out $50M in tickets to a Buju Banton concert!!
…a big one scam
SOL was just ordered to pay the GRA $2.2 billion in excise taxes plus interest!! Seems they’re the agent for Exxon – who gets tax emption – but claimed exemption for 54,878,817 litres never delivered!! No jail time??
Yohance Yarris
Guyana continuing to improve phytosanitary conditions to meet int’l export standards – Pres Ali
resident Dr Irfaan Ali
Phas assured that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is continuing its work to improve the country’s capacity to meet the phytosanitary standards that govern international imports.
During recent Europe Day celebrations, the Head of State spoke of imports from Guyana to the European Union (EU). As much as US$9.7 billion in products from Guyana were imported by the EU in 2024, though crude oil formed the majority of these imports. However, Ali made it clear that the Government is working on diversifying the trade portfolio to include more agriculture products.
“For us to realise this, it is important that we build the eco system, with the phytosanitary requirements and all the other international certifications. And we’ve been working with the European Union, to ensure that as we build out that
capacity, we’re building it within the eco system that will support the smooth export of these commodities,” President Ali said.
The more elaborate trade programme that will allow Guyana to increase its export capacity and the range of products being exported to Europe and other countries, will include other crops like coconuts and fresh fruits and vegetables.
“We have been working on a very elaborate trade programme. To build our capacity here in Guyana. To access a more diversified market in Europe. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Coconut water from Pomeroon.”
“And we’re very confident...with the type of infrastructure and investment we’re putting in place for the agricultural expansion. Especially in products like coconut, coconut water and by-products, this also would be an important area for the trade expansion,” President Ali added.
Phytosanitary stan-
Consultations a must...
That is the kind of response, and that is the kind of way we work. We don't want to sit in our office and dictate; I could have sit in my office and said for agriculture, I will do this for Crabwood Creek. I would have known that Baba Grant needs help, or the farmers need four to six hours work individually, or you need a bridge at Baba Grant to cross over a canal. So these things, when you raise it, I now will look at it to ensure that the officers deal with these things.”
Among some of the issues raised by residents at Crabwood Creek was the need for assistance in the agriculture sector from the Ministry. Also, the need for excavators to work in the farmlands and for improved drainage and irrigation.
One farmer questioned the proposed price for paddy at the next crop, noting that it would determine whether they would go back into the crop.
“When you look at the world market today, the price for grain has been dropping, dipping all the time. If you look around the world, especially for rice, we have seen a drastic decline in the price for rice.
Because why? Large producers around the world, they have been producing a large amount of rice back into the world market. So the production is big. You have a large, increased production. And when you have increased production, that will eventually drive the price down. So when you look, farmers around the world are facing difficulties. With the cost of production increasing, and the price for the produce declining, that's a serious problem,” Mustapha explained.
dards refer to international benchmarks implemented by individual countries, in order to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases, particularly through the import of agriculture products and
FROM PAGE 7
The Minister pointed out that rice farmers in Guyana are fortunate in that they are receiving the same price for paddy this crop as they did last year.
“In neighbouring Suriname, people have dumped their paddy because of the price. The Suriname Government has not subsidised the price for them, but the Guyana Government has subsidised the price for you. Every bag of paddy you sold, we are giving you $300 from the Government. Three hundred dollars for every bag of paddy a farmer sold to the mill. So the millers are buying the paddy for $3,700 and we are giving you $300 from the Government,” the community was told.
In recent months, the global rice market has experienced a notable decline in prices, driven by a combination of factors including increased production, favourable weather conditions, and changes in demand dynamics. Major rice-producing countries have reported higher yields due to optimal growing conditions, leading to an oversupply in the market.
The benchmark price falling from approximately $600 per tonne in early 2023 to around $450 per tonne by October 2023. This 25 per cent decrease can be attributed to a surge in production, particularly in countries like India and Thailand, which have reported record harvests due to favourable weather conditions. Additionally, demand from major importing nations, including the Philippines and China, has reduced further exerting downward pressure on prices. This drop has affected rice producers and exporters.
by-products.
There is a regime of phytosanitary standards, called the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). They range from the need to monitor, control and eradicate the spread of
pests to the issuance of phytosanitary certificates
In 2023, Guyana earned $897 million from agro-processed exports. This came with over 140 new local products being introduced that year, leading to export volume growing by 61 per cent.
In September 2024, President Ali had announced that legume production for 2024 increased by 106 per cent, peanut production increased by 286 per cent, coconut production saw a 55 per cent increase, while ground provisions and vegetables increased by an average of 218 per cent.
In 2024, Guyana's total export earnings reached US$22.41 billion. In his 2025 budget speech, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had announced that the other crops sub sector had grown by 10.9 per cent in 2024, with significant growth recorded in the pro-
duction of vegetables, fruits, root crops, beans and cereals, coconuts and spices, largely on account of increased acreage.
Months after assuming office in 2020, President Ali charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to exporting food and agricultural products to markets within the Region. The Ministry subsequently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana.
According to the assessment on market access by the Working Group, most of the challenges found were related to technical measures, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It also found several technical and administrative regulations that were hampering the export of Guyanese products.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Massive D&I work to commence at Port Mourant – Agri Minister
...exercise to be replicated across the country
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has announced that a massive clean-up exercise, which includes de-silting the community’s main drainage canal, and removing huge swathes of vegetation at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), is expected to commence within the next week.
The announcement by the Minister was made on Saturday during an outreach to the community.
The Minister was appalled by the state of one of the canals as he passed through the community on Saturday.
“The area is deplorable. Very deplorable. The entire sideline there, both sides, are in a very deplorable
state,” Mustapha said as he committed to assigning an adequate excavator to clear the entire area.
“Within one week from now, that excavator that we have in Canje will come here and we will clear the entire area,” he added.
According to the Minister, he has received complaints from Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities across the country that they do not have the capacity to carry out the amount of work required in their constituency.
He pointed out that the Johns – Port Mourant NDC is a very large one, with several communities in the one village of Port Mourant.
“So you got Portuguese Quarter, Free Yard, Bong Yard, Haswell, Manager's
Compound area, Ankerville, Bangladesh, Miss Phoebe, Tain, Clifton, Johns, a number of other villages.
Sometimes the capacity of the local authority is being tested, and they cannot be able to manage the entire area.”
He said at Ankerville, there will be a special programme carried out by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which is an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture.
“To take out all the bushes, remove all the bushes, clear all the trenches. We will put in two small excavators in this area and clear it from next week, clear the entire area, and remove the spoil. So that we will not put the spoil on the roadside to block traffic or, go back into
the trench. I promise you that… We will do this block, completely clean it, and then we will go to another area to clean it, because Port Mourant is in a very deplorable state,” Mustapha said.
The Minister pointed out that many residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the Government because of not getting the needed services.
“We will ensure that we bring those services back, assist the NDC, and we will work with you to develop your community.”
However, he pointed out that citizens also have a responsibility ensuring that the community is up-kept.
“So let us make this a pilot programme in this community, which we can replicate across the region. So
next week we have two mini excavators available,” he noted.
Additionally, two pumps will be installed in the community to assist with drainage.
Chef accused of assault granted bail after funeral day dustup with housemate
Achef from the Tucville squatting area in Georgetown, was on Friday placed on $10,000 bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate(ag) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of assault.
Orlando Wilson, who works at Mickey’s, in Meadowbrook, Georgetown, was charged with assaulting Amilio Alanzo Carter on May 7 at the Tucville Shortcut, Georgetown.
Wilson, upon hearing the charge, pleaded guilty with an explanation.
Given the opportunity to explain, Wilson told the court that Carter was his friend and had been living with him for some time. He explained that the incident occurred on the day of his father’s funeral.
According to Wilson, after attending the funeral, he returned home and got into an argument with Carter. The argument, he said, stemmed from Carter’s repeated acts of stealing and
bringing stolen items to his residence.
“I talk to him before, but he keep doing it,” Wilson told the magistrate. He said that after repeated warnings, he finally told Carter to leave the house on that day. An altercation then broke out, during which Wilson claimed Carter picked up a cutlass and fired two shots at him. In response, Wilson said he grabbed Carter and a fight ensued.
The prosecution objected to bail on the basis that Wilson did not provide a lot number for his residence and may be a flight risk. However, Wilson explained to the court that he resided in a squatting area, which made it difficult to provide a formal address.
Taking this into consideration, Magistrate McGusty granted Wilson $10,000 bail and placed him on a bond to keep the peace. He is expected to return to court on May 16.
Charged: Orlando Wilson
A works committee, which will be headed by Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, was also established to oversee the work programme.
A section of the overgrown road shoulder at Port Mourant being used to dispose solid waste
One of the canals to be cleared of overgrowth at Port Mourant
BIT takes Try-A-Skill Exhibition and Fair to Region 6
The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, took its Try-A-Skill Exhibition & Fair to the New Amsterdam Training Centre and the Corriverton Market respectively, as part of its 115th anniversary celebrations.
The event brought together trainees, instructors, and members of the public for a showcase of technical and vocational skills, including welding and fabrication, and electrical installation.
Automotive service and diagnostics were also on dis-
sensitisation session was also held to educate attendees about the wide range of training programmes offered by BIT and how they contribute to national development.
According to the BIT, the event not only celebrated BIT’s rich legacy but also inspired a renewed sense of purpose among trainees, stakeholders, and the wider community, underscoring the vital role of technical and vocational education in shaping a resilient, future-ready Guyana.
The BIT then on Saturday, May 10, took its
ed with trainees and members of the public, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to expanding technical and vocational training across Guyana.
The exhibition showcased the talents and practical training of BIT’s trainees, offering visitors a hands-on experience in various trades while raising awareness of the many opportunities available through BIT’s programmes.
The next BIT exhibition and fair will on May 12, be held in Region One Kumaka Waterfront.
play at the Exhibition and Fair at its New Amsterdam Training Centre, showcasing core competencies in motor vehicle repair.
At Friday’s activities, a
115th anniversary celebrations to the Corriverton Market, Region 6.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who attended that event, interact-
Under the theme, “Skills to Success – 115 Years Journey of Technical Excellence & Workforce Development”, today’s event runs from 09:00h – 15:00h.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton with trainees and members of the public
A hands-on approach at the exhibition and fair
BIT members engaging with members of the Region 6 public at the event
Sunny skies,
...as EU hosts annual Bicycle
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Guyana organised its third annual EU Bicycle Tour around Georgetown on Sunday morning, powered by Ride René van Nes and British High Commissioner Jane Miller. According to the EU, along with bicycles, all roller-skates, wheelchairs or scooters were welcome
smooth rides
Bicycle Tour around city
Ride Along GY. A well-received event starting from the Thomas Road entrance of the National Park at 07:00h, it also saw the participation of EU Ambassador welcome (Photocredits:DelegationoftheEuropeanUnioninGuyana,RideAlongGY,andJaneMiller)
Region 2 youths embrace robotics
Just over 100 enthusiastic youths gathered Saturday at the Anna Regina Secondary School Auditorium, as the Youth Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport officially launched its Robotics Training Programme in Region 2. This groundbreaking initiative aims to equip young
minds with 21st-century skills in technology, innovation, and problem-solving, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The launch marks
a significant step toward bridging the technological divide and fostering a generation of thinkers, creators, and future engineers from across the Essequibo Coast. With hands-on training, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge resources, the programme promises to spark curiosity, encourage innovation, and unlock the immense potential of Guyana’s youth. (Credit: Essequibo on the Rise)
MoE anticipates improved Maths performance from 2025 CSEC cohort
...says students “more prepared than ever before”
With the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Mathsematics examination now completed, the Ministry of Education is expressing confidence that Guyanese students will show significant improvement in their results—thanks to a nationwide push to strengthen Mathsematics performance over the past year.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in a message to students, teachers, and parents just before the exam, acknowledged the region-wide drop in Mathsematics scores in 2024 but noted that Guyana took swift, independent action to turn the tide.
“Guyana did not wait on the Caribbean for a solution,” the Minister stated.
“We immediately kicked into gear and provided resources that would allow students to do better.”
Back in September 2024, the Ministry of Education launched the Mathsematics Intervention Programme
countrywide. This programme is designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at CSEC level, a significant increase from the current 31 per cent.
As a result, every CSEC Mathsematics candidate in the country received a full complement of materials— textbooks, graph books,
calculators, geometry sets, and past paper booklets, including topic-specific paper one practice questions. The Ministry also deployed monitors to schools to ensure effective delivery of the syllabus and sent in additional support where needed.
A central part of the Ministry’s effort included broadcasting televised and
online tutorials through programmes like ‘Beatin da Mathss’, led by Maths educator Leon Beaton, alongside consistent revision content on the Learning Channel and Facebook.
According to Minister Manickchand, this year’s cohort of candidates are more prepared compared to those in the past.
“You're more prepared than other children in Guyana have ever been… and I'm looking forward to announcing those good results sometime in August,” she said confidently.
Maths performance
In 2024, the CSEC Mathsematics pass rate in Guyana was 31 per cent, a slight decrease from the 34 per cent recorded in 2023, according to the Ministry of Education.
Acknowledging challenges students face, consultations were held with students and teachers to develop possible strategies, like the Mathsematics Intervention Programme.
In her 2025 Budget
Debates presentation, Minister Manickchand reaffirmed Government’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Guyana achieves a passing grade in Mathsematics and English.
Meanwhile, in light of the detrimental consequences associated with the constant decline of the overall pass rate for Mathsematics at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and CSEC,
Caribbean Heads of Government have committed to implementing innovative solutions to address the issue.
This announcement was made following the regional decline in Maths, which has become an alarming issue and has captured the attention of Caricom, who have since expressed interest on examining tools available globally to overcome this challenge.
2 men remanded; 1 granted bail in $500M cocaine bust
Two men were remanded to prison and a third granted bail on Friday in connection with a cocaine trafficking probe involving more than 11 kilograms (kg) of the illicit substance, after appearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Colin Alfred, a 47-year-old resident of 1415 Westminster, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and 28-year-old Terrence Bentinck of Lot ‘M’ 52 Guyhoc Gardens, Georgetown were jointly charged with trafficking 11.148 kg of cocaine, allegedly discovered during a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) operation on Sussex Street, Georgetown.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Jason Defreitas of Lot 752 Phase 2, North Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was charged separately for aiding in the commission of the offence. Alfred pleaded guilty with an explanation, while Bentinck and Defreitas entered not-guilty pleas to the charge, which alleges the trio committed the offence on May 7, 2025.
In his address to the court, Alfred claimed he had no knowledge of the contents of a black bag handed to him by an unidentified man while he was working on a boat in Port Kaituma. He said he was instructed to take the bag to Georgetown and hand it over to Bentinck. However, he was intercepted by CANU ranks before completing the delivery.
“CANU roll up and said nobody move, lie down on the ground. We was searched and I throw the bag in the car that Bentinck arrived in… I ask if they can give me lil time because I have my money in my pocket. They took the mon-
ey and said is Government state, so I say it can’t be Government state is my money. I had a total of $518,000,” Alfred told the court.
According to CANU, officers acting on intelligence observed Alfred walking along Sussex Street carrying a black bag. He was reportedly seen approaching a silver Toyota Allion with license plate PAJ 8554, which was parked roadside. Alfred then allegedly handed the bag to Bentinck before both men were approached by officers and informed that a search would be conducted.
During the search, CANU reportedly found multiple parcels
inside the bag. A small incision made into one of the packages revealed a white, powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. Alfred and Bentinck were immediately arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters, where the substance tested positive for cocaine. The total weight was confirmed at 11.148 kg. Samples were sealed, marked, and lodged.
While in custody, Alfred allegedly told investigators that he had been paid $400,000 by Defreitas to deliver the cocaine to Georgetown, and that Bentinck had contacted him to collect the
shipment. When questioned about the allegations, Bentinck reportedly exercised his right to remain silent.
Alfred added that he believed the payment from Defreitas was simply to purchase beers, which he claimed was a routine gesture.
Bentinck was represented in court by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who requested bail, arguing that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence tying his client to the offence. He told the court that video surveillance and CANU body camera footage would show that Bentinck was not in possession of the bag at the time of the bust. “The officers searched his phone and person, and nothing was found linking him to any narcotic transaction,” the attorney submitted.
However, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, asserting that Alfred had directly implicated both co-accused during the operation. They contended that body camera footage would show Bentinck holding the black bag at the time of the search.
Defreitas, who was not present during the drug bust, later turned himself in to authorities after seeing a wanted bulletin. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon, who sought bail on his behalf, noting that his client voluntarily surrendered and no drugs were found in his possession. Dhurjon said Defreitas offered no confession and exercised his right to remain silent.
Still, the prosecution maintained its objection, citing the gravity of the offence and the belief that Defreitas played a key role in facilitating the trafficking attempt. They noted his “body lan-
guage and reaction” upon being informed of the charge were taken into account.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Alfred and Bentinck were remanded to prison until May 12, 2025. Defreitas was released on $500,000 bail with strict conditions, including reporting to CANU Headquarters on the first and third Fridays of every month between 9:00h and 18:00h. His court date is also May 12.
Video frame of Ministry’s Maths programme with math educator Leon Beaton
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Colin Alfred
Jason Defreitas and Terrence Bentinck
CARPHA says youths in silent state of trauma from crime
...as social media fuelling youth violence crisis
Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) Behavioural Specialist, Dr Heather Armstrong, painted a sobering picture of the mental toll that crime is taking on young people, during a question-and-answer session at CARPHA’s 69th Annual Health Research Conference held May,7, 2025.
According to a news report in Barbados Today, the CARPHA expert warned that many of the region’s youths are enduring psychological trauma in silence, without always manifesting visible signs.
“If you are living in an environment where you’re constantly experiencing crime, you’re seeing peo-
ple dying who you may know, or even knowing of youth who have died because of the crime and the violence, I’m sure then you would begin to feel fearful,” Armstrong said. She said the result was that fear and detachment were becoming embedded in families, communities, and even the national consciousness.
“So they’re traumatised and unfortunately they may not have trusted avenues where they can express themselves,” she said, adding that distress among children and adolescents is not always visible.
“It may be something as simple as someone not wanting to go to school, or they may go to school,
but then when they reach school they start to have somatic expressions such as vomiting and other things occur.”
In such an environment, Armstrong said, “the cry may be too silent for us to hear.” She said there was a pressing need for services that would help youths to communicate and access support.
Armstrong also agreed that the prevalence of crime was causing people to view it as normal.
When asked whether trauma has become normalised, particularly among the region’s youth, she said the evidence increasingly suggests so.
“The more we see things happen, the more we accept that it’s within the normal currents of life—it becomes a norm,” she explained. “We constantly see on social media videos of people being killed… So its come to a point where, yes, we see it as a norm. It’s a given—there will be crime.”
Meanwhile, Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, said the pervasive reach of digital platforms is undoubtedly increasingly shaping young minds and behaviours in troubling ways.
Social media is increas-
ingly fuelling youth violence across the Caribbean, she warned, and described the trend as “a pressing public health issue”.
“Addressing the problem requires that realisation that nowadays kids get angry very quickly, but they have more accessibility to social media that sometimes [involves violence],” she said.
“When social media or every show [tells] you the way to relax is to drink, and it’s okay that if you’re angry to just lash out, and there are things that are promoting all of that, we have to recognise that this is what the young kids are exposed to.”
Dr Indar stressed that in order to combat digi-
GPS visitation schedule
tal and social media influence, which is breeding unhealthy behaviours, there is need for a holistic response to youth crime, starting with early intervention at home, supported by schools, religious institutions, and Government policies that foster healthy emotional wellbeing.
“So now our measures have to start at home. So the home, the church or any type of religion that speaks about how we manage that, because there’s too much violence happening in school and, the systems have to address that. Then at the Government levels we have to put measures in place to address that, putting a youth in jail may not be the best thing,
but putting them into centres that allows them to address anger issues, anger management, address stress and address depressions, because sometimes you get angry because you’re depressed, you don’t know what’s the cause,” she explained.
Dr Indar joined fellow experts at the conference in calling for a wider and more thorough effort to combat mental health issues in wider society.
Among potential solutions to the mental health crisis, Armstrong said the use of digital tools, creative media, and peer-based interventions were valuable in reaching young people and holding their attention.
She said, however, that digital and community-based interventions must be rooted in a holistic, culturally grounded approach. She advocated for embedding support through both social media and the use of everyday spaces. “Catch them in different settings… at home, in the community, at school, if they’re in a faith-based organisation or social groups. You want to embed in them: look, it is okay to not feel great, but there’s help,” the expert said.
Prison Service balancing security, rehabilitation of inmates – AS Archer
As the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) continues to align itself with international standards and best practices, the rehabilitation of inmates has been on the forefront of the organisation’s agenda.
This goal is currently being undertaken through multiple initiatives such as rehab programmes, but most importantly, family visitation – a simple but crucial aspect in ensuring persons are ready for the outside world upon their re-
lease.
On a recent episode of Prisons in Focus, Assistant Superintendent (AS) Jermin Archer reiterated the important role family visits can play in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
“A regular visit with family is an important part in life. Keeping the family member in prison up to date with both the family issues and what’s going on in the outside world. This now also helps the inmates be in a better place [while] preparing on their release from
AS Jermin Archer
prison, since they know that they actually have the support from the family, which could further lead or assist or be beneficial in reducing the risk of them returning to prison,” he noted.
However, Archer also stressed the importance of ensuring that security is not compromised during this process; as such he highlighted that the present visitation schedule within the GPS aims to forge a balance between maintaining security, as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
On this point he added that there is a specific schedule within the prison system that sets out separate days for convicted and remand prisoners.
“We love to do family visits or any visit between Mondays to Fridays; we basically group our inmates in two broad groups, convicted and remanded. With a large amount of them being remanded prisoners, we give them visits Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for a duration of 10 minutes because they are allocated one visit per week,
giving them a grand total of four visits per month.
On the other hand, convicted prisoners are allowed to have visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a duration of 20 minutes because they are allowed only one visit per month.”
Notably, upon entering the prison compound, Archer highlighted that immediate security measures are in place to identify who is entering the compound as well as what items they are brining into the facility.
“Anyone, any family member entering into the prison yard to visit their family member, first and foremost they must submit a valid identification card or a valid passport. In doing so, they will then be searched and any items they bring for their family member also got to be searched.”
To further bolster security, only a specific number of family members are permitted to visit an inmate at a time. These individuals are monitored by several ranks, one which will escort the prisoner to the visiting area, while another supervises the visit.
“Now the supervision of the family visit or any oth-
er visit, we normally use two to three rounds based on availability at the given time. Two ranks normally escort the inmates to the visiting booth while another will remain at the visiting booth to supervise the visit.”
He added, “Also, we do have a restriction policy on the amount of persons to visit inmates at a given time. We only allow two family members to visit an inmate at a time. I’m not saying that if more than two persons come to visit a family, they won’t be able to visit. However, they will have to split the allotted time.”
Guyana has seen a 4 per cent reduction in its prison population last year, when compared to the previous year, 2032 persons were incarcerated in 2024, a reduction of 4 per cent when compared to 2023. Of that figure, 69 were women. Moreover, to enhance the livelihoods of prisoners and prepare them for life after being released, the Government has budgeted the sum of $6.2 billion for the GPS this year. This reflects a slight decrease from the $6.5 billion expended in 2024.
CARPHA’s Behavioural Specialist, Dr Heather Armstrong
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr Lisa Indar
Oil price drop to have “limited impact” on Guyana’s macroeconomic projections – IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that that the temporary decline in oil prices on the global market would have a “limited impact” on Guyana’s macroeconomic projections.
This was indicated in an updated Staff Statement within the IMF’s 2025 Article IV Consultation Report on Guyana.
Despite an increase in production in Guyana’s nascent oil sector, there is expected to be a decrease in oil prices this year compared to 2024. In fact, the IMF in its April World Economic Outlook (WEO) revised its projected average crude oil price for this year to US$66.94 per barrel – a 4.04 per cent drop from a January estimate and a 15.5 per cent dip from the US$79.17 average in 2024.
However, the Guyana Government, in its 2025 budget, had projected a Brent crude price of US$71.90. This difference in prices could mean lower rev-
enue for Guyana than initially estimated.
But despite this, the IMF predicts that Guyana’s economic outlook would remain highly favourable with an average growth of 14 per cent annually over the next five years – driven by robust oil production and strong non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase.
“Compared to the staff report, the April 2025 WEO assumes on average about 5 per cent lower oil prices over the medium term, with prices converging to the original projections by 2030. As discussed in the staff report, upside risks to oil production, Guyana's strong external position, the policy framework that smooths the oil price impact, the long-term nature of oil production plans, and Guyana's low break-even oil price would largely limit the price effects,” the IMF Staff Statement detailed.
In its April 2025 Outlook, the IMF projected that Guyana’s Real GDP will expand by some 10.3 per
cent this year with non-oil GDP projected to increase by about 13 per cent – the highest for in the region. Similarly, it also predicted a whopping 23 per cent GDP growth next year.
The 2025 first quarter saw oil production averaging around 631,000 barrels per day (b/d) in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. United States (US) giant, ExxonMobil, operates the oil-rich block along with Hess Corporation and CNOOC.
However, production is expected to increase later this year with the Yellowtail Project – Exxon’s fourth development project offshore –adding another 250,000 b/d. Ahead of start up in August 2025, the ONE GUYANA floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) arrived in Guyana’s waters last month and is estimated to take total daily production capacity in the Stabroek Block to some 900,000 barrels.
Initially, the Guyana Government had forecast that the oil production will reach approximately 674,000 b/d this year, generating some US$17.61 billion – based on the Brent crude price. Of this amount, Guyana will get US$2.5 billion in oil revenues including US$2.16 billion from its share of profit and US$341 million from royalty payments. Already in the first quarter of 2025, Guyana received US$605.46 million.
There are currently three FPSOs operating in
Guyana’s offshore waters: the Liza destiny, the Liza Unity and the Prosperity. They are respectively working on the Liza One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects.
Six FPSOs are expected to be operating offshore Guyana by 2027.
The fifth FPSO, which would be named ErreaWittu, would operate in the Urau Project. It would have oil storage capacity of two million barrels, an oil production design rate of 250,000 barrels per day, and be able to offload approximately one million barrels onto a tanker in a period of approximately 24 hours.
The IMF Executive Board recently concluded the 2025 Article IV Consultation with Guyana, lauding the country’s economic progress to
attain high-income status that was supported by its rapidly expanding oil production and robust non-oil growth.
“They noted that Guyana’s economic outlook remains highly favourable with balanced risks, strong fundamentals, and a strong external position supported by substantial accumulation of oil revenue in the Natural Resource Fund. They commended the authorities’ commitment to balancing development needs with prudent policies to entrench macroeconomic and fiscal stability,” a release from the IMF last Wednesday stated.
Only in March, a staff team from the IMF completed their 2025 Article IV Consultation with Guyana. The consultation, held both virtually and in-person in
Georgetown from February 24 to March 7, 2025, involved discussions with high-level Government officials as well as stakeholders from the private sector, labour unions, and banks.
In its Staff Report, it was noted that Guyana recorded the highest real GDP growth rate globally, averaging 47 per cent between 2022 and 2024. This was driven by surging oil production, strong non-oil sector performance, and large-scale infrastructure development.
Looking ahead, the report projects continued expansion in oil output, with non-oil growth remaining robust—supported by government-led investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, economic diversification, and social development initiatives.
GNBS verifications in petroleum sector bolstering stakeholder confidence …over 1600 verifications done in sector last year
Reliable measurements remain crucial for businesses, particularly those involved in manufacturing, trade and commerce. For companies operating in Guyana’s petroleum sector, from the import stage to the delivery of products to consumers, measurement accuracy is essential to achieving profits and buyer confidence.
As such, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), empowered under the Weights and Measures Act of 1981, verifies instruments and carriers used in the petroleum sector to sell and distribute products.
These include bulk meters, fuel pumps, compartments of tanker wagons and storage tanks (including those on fuel vessels).
In 2024, a total of 1,631 verifications were completed by the Bureau for suppliers in the petroleum sector.
These included the verification of more than 1200 petrol pumps at gas stations across the country, both publicly and privately owned. Moreover, apart from ensuring accuracy through verification, safety is also essential. To ensure the safety of those working in the sector, the Bureau conducts safety checks on tanker
wagons and at fuel stations to confirm measurement and safety requirements are maintained to safeguard drivers and other members of the public.
Verification provides confidence that instruments function within the acceptable measurement tolerances (plus or minus the exact volume) when dispensing
products. The verification process is conducted using test measures and flow meters calibrated and traceable to international standards.
The test measures used by the GNBS range in capacity from 5 litres to 2000 litres. They are used by GNBS to determine whether fuel dispensers including petrol pumps and bulk me-
ters are under-delivering, over-delivering or are within acceptable tolerances. The necessary adjustments are made on those found to be inaccurate, and security seals are affixed to the adjustment mechanisms to prevent tampering, thereby maintaining the integrity of the verification process.
As it relates to bulk meters and petrol pumps which are not functioning correctly and cannot be verified immediately, the dispensing nuzzles are sealed off by the GNBS to prevent further usage until they are rectified and verified.
Additionally, tanker wagons which fail inspection requirements must be rectified before inspection or verification is redone.
Meanwhile, as in any other sector, there are financial implications for businesses using inaccurate measuring instruments for trade in the petroleum sector.
For example, when fuel pumps and bulk meters over-deliver to the benefit of customers, businesses sell at a financial loss, which can ultimately affect their viability. Therefore, to prevent over-delivery or under-delivery of fuel during sales, GNBS will continue to ensure measurement accuracy through routine verification, which maintains the confidence of all stakeholders within the petroleum sector. In this regard, owners of gas stations, tanker wagons and bulk meters are encouraged to get their measuring instruments verified by the GNBS to promote accuracy and reliability.
The Prosperity FPSO producing oil in the Stabroek Block
Qatar to give Trump US$400M jet to replace Air Force One
Donald Trump will accept a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family to be used as a new Air Force One.
The aircraft, worth about $400 million (£300 million), will be available to the president throughout his second term, before being transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation in 2029, sources told US media.
It means Mr Trump will be able to use the jet as a private citizen after leaving office, raising ethical and constitutional questions about buying influence.
The gift comes as the president prepares for his first major foreign trip, touring Gulf states as he seeks a number of deals on security and US investment.
The interior of a Qatari 747-8 business jet with the registration code
A7-HBJ that was for sale in 2020. The “HBJ” in the registration code is commonly how people refer to Sheikh
bin
the Qatar royal family. The last Qatari 747-8 was gifted to Turkey, according to the One Mile at a Time website
Mr Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar while his family boosts its private business interests in the region.
Last month, the Trump Organisation struck its first luxury real estate deal in Qatar, planning a billion-dollar skyscraper in Dubai where apartments can be bought with cryptocurrency.
Mr Trump’s son Eric recently moved to Dubai to promote his crypto firm, while Don Jr, another son, was preparing to visit Doha to talk about “monetising MAGA”.
Dubai is the site of a Trump International golf course, while Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, includes a high-rise apartment block belonging to the family.
Meanwhile, a $4 billion (£3 billion) golf and real estate project is under way on state-owned land in Oman.
The Boeing 747-8, known as a “palace in the sky”, will undergo a rapid overhaul to equip it to the unique military specifications needed to carry the US president.
Thought to be one of the most expensive ever received by the US government, it has been claimed the jet might violate the constitutional ban on gifts from foreign states.
But the White House and Department of Justice argued that the gift was not unconstitutional because it was not given to an individual. (Excerpt from The Telegraph)
Maga says Pope Leo may be American, but he's not 'America first'
Any jubilation on the American Make America Great Again right about the new Pope lastweek quickly dissipated, as key voices from Donald Trump's Maga movement came to a disappointed conclusion: the first American Pope does not appear to be "America first".
Little is known about the political leanings of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago.
He has voiced concerns for the poor and immigrants, chosen a name that may reference more liberal church leadership, and he appears to have both supported the liberal-leaning Pope Francis and criticised the US president's policies on social media.
But the president so far has said only that Leo's election was a "great honour" for the US. Still, some of Trump's most prominent supporters were quick to attack Pope Leo, lambasting him as a possible challenge to Trump and on the perception that he will follow Pope Francis in areas like immigration.
"I mean it's kind of jaw-dropping," Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon told the BBC on Friday, speaking of Leo's election.
"It is shocking to me that a guy could be selected to be the Pope that had had the Twitter feed and the statements he's had against American senior politicians," said Bannon, a hard-right Trump loyalist, practising Catholic and for-
mer altar boy.
And he predicted that there's "definitely going to be friction" between Leo and Trump.
A number of Catholics in the new Pope's home city of Chicago on Thursday aired disappointment with President Trump and said they hoped Pope Leo XIV would follow the path of his predecessor.
"We hope he'll continue with Francis's agenda going forward," said Rick Stevens, a Catholic deacon from New Jersey who happened to be visiting Chicago when he heard the news.
Though Maga supporters represent a small subset of US Catholics, it's one with outsized access to conservative media and Trump's ear.
On Bannon's War Room podcast – known for its hardright, pro-Trump bent – one guest after another heaped criticism on the new Pope.
"This guy has been massively embraced by the liberals and the progressives," said Ben Harnwell, a journalist who led Bannon's efforts to establish what he calls a "gladiator school" for the "Judeo-Christian West" outside of Rome.
"He is one of their own… he has [Pope] Francis's DNA in him," Harnwell said.
Jack Posobiec, another Maga commentator dialing in from Rome, was blunt: "This choice of the American cardinal was done as a response, as a message to President Trump." (Excerpt from BBC News)
Fishermen survive 55 days adrift; drank rain, seawater, ate parboiled fish
Five fishermen who spent 55 days adrift at sea arrived Saturday at a port in the Galapagos Islands after being rescued by a tuna boat, the Ecuadorian navy said on X.
The three Peruvians and two Colombians had been missing since mid-March and were found on May 7 by an Ecuadorian boat called Aldo. Vladimir González, 32, José Albines, 52, José Gabriel Albines, 31, and Jhonny García Jorge Ugarte, 40, arrived at the San Cristobal Navy Base in the morning and their conditions were stable, the navy said.
The fishermen had re-
ported damage to the boat's alternator two days after setting sail from Pucusana Bay, to the south of Peru's
capital Lima, the navy said in a separate post on Friday. The failure caused communication and navigation tools to malfunction, Ecuadorian navy Frigate Capt. Maria Fares told The Associated Press, adding that they had no power on the boat.
“They had no starter, lights and everything that a battery generates,” she said. To survive, they had to “take rusted water out of the engine (and) when a fish passed by, they caught it and parboiled it to eat.” Fares added that they also drank rain and sea water to survive. (Sources: CNN, CBS NEWS)
State funeral for former Suriname President Jules Wijdenbosch
Former President Jules Wijdenbosch
Suriname on Saturday laid former President Jules Wijdenbosch to rest, marking the end of an era in the country’s political history. In honor of his passing, the government declared two days of national mourning, with flags flown at halfmast across the Dutchspeaking CARICOM nation.
Wijdenbosch, who served as Suriname’s head of state from 1996 to 2000, died on April 30, just two days shy of his 84th birthday. A prominent economist and longtime political figure, Wijdenbosch was a key player in Suriname’s post-independence political development.
Suriname President Chandrikapersad Chan Santokhi signed the official condolence book earlier this week, describing the loss as deeply felt. “Words fail to describe this loss,” Santokhi said. “We owe him a great debt of gratitude for
his years of contribution to the development of our Republic. May he now rest from his labours and may the eternal light shine upon him for the length of his days—that is our wish and prayer.”
His funeral Saturday was observed with full state honors, closing a chapter on a life that left a lasting imprint on Suriname’s modern history.
It was a contrast to the funeral of a former president, Desi Bouterse, who died at 79, and was denied a state funeral by the Santokhi administration, as the cabinet had cited his links to two previous military coups and the notorious December 1982 mass murders of 15 government opponents for which he was eventually convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison along with four co-defendants. (Sources: CNW, Caribbean Life)
Bahamian, over 20 migrants detained in suspected smuggling operation
ABahamian man and 21 foreign nationals were taken into custody Tuesday night after Bahamian authorities discovered what they believe was a human smuggling operation in progress at a vacation property in Bootle Bay, West Grand Bahama.
The group—comprised of 17 men and five women— was found at a rental home shortly after 10 p.m., following a call from officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in West End to the Immigration Department requesting assistance with a group of suspected illegal migrants.
According to immigration officials, the migrants include 10 Brazilians, five Chinese nationals, and one individual each from Germany, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and Cuba. An additional male, whose nationality remains unknown,
was found without identification. All 22 individuals were transferred to the Immigration Department’s facility in Freeport for processing.
During detention, one migrant reportedly sustained a minor injury—a sprained leg—after attempting to escape from the second floor of the immigration building.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the group may have been preparing to be smuggled into the United States by boat. However, their plans were intercepted before they could be carried out,” immigration officials said in a statement on Wednesday.
Authorities have not released the role of the Bahamian man—believed to be a resident of Hawksbill— nor the status of the unidentified man lacking documentation. (Excerpt from CNW)
Hamad
Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani of
The Ecuadorian Navy transported five fishermen lost at sea for 55 days to their base at the Galapagos Islands
Iran calls latest nuclear talks with US ‘difficult’, but both sides agree negotiations will continue
The latest round of high-stakes nuclear talks between Iran and the US have ended, with Tehran calling them difficult but with both sides agreeing to further negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on X that the talks had concluded, saying they were “difficult but useful to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the differences.”
A senior Trump administration gave a more positive assessment, telling CNN
the discussions “were again both direct and indirect” and lasted over three hours, calling them encouraging.
“Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements,”
US officials say deal struck to cut China trade deficit, details today
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday they reached a deal with China to cut the US trade deficit, describing "substantial progress" in highstakes talks with Chinese officials but offering no details, as two days of negotiations concluded in Geneva.
Bessent told reporters that details would be announced on Monday and that US President Donald Trump was fully aware of the results of the "productive talks" with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and two Chinese vice ministers.
Bessent and Greer did not mention any plans to cut punishing US tariffs of 145% on Chinese goods and China's 125% tariffs on US goods.
They took no questions from reporters.
Chinese officials said the sides had reached "important consensus" and agreed to launch another new economic dialogue forum.
Neither side released details after they wrapped up two days of talks in
Switzerland. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said a joint statement would be released in Geneva on Monday. Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang said it would contain "good news for the world." (Source: Reuters)
India, Pakistan both claim victory after ceasefire declared
India and Pakistan have both claimed victory after a ceasefire was declared over the weekend, which brought the two nuclear-nations back from the brink of war.
After days of escalating clashes that culminated in both sides launching missile and drone strikes on each other’s major military bases – the closest they had come to full-scale war in decades –the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was declared by Donald Trump on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, Trump further congratulated the two countries on “having the strength, wisdom and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much”.
Within hours of the truce announcement, there were
fears it had fallen apart after firing restarted along the disputed border in Kashmir and missiles and drones were once again launched into Indianadministered Kashmir.
However, by Sunday morning things were quiet on both sides of the frontier, leading many to hope the fragile peace would hold. Each side accused the other of triggering the violations and Pakistan said it remained “committed to faithful implementation of ceasefire”.
The Indian army said in a press briefing it had conveyed a message, through its “hotline” with Pakistan, that if there were any more cross-border provocations “our firm and clear intent to respond to these fiercely”.
Both India and Pakistan claimed the ceasefire as a victory, fuelling a surge of nationalistic fervour on both sides of the border. India’s defence
minister, Rajnath Singh, said on Sunday the “roar of Indian forces reached Rawalpindi, the very headquarters of the Pakistani army”.
He said the military offensive, named Operation Sindoor, was “not just a military action but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic willpower”.
In Pakistan, parades were held near the border to shower the military with petals, and the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, declared 11 May to be a day “in recognition of the armed forces’ response to recent Indian aggression”.
Writing in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, commentator Baqir Sajjad called the ceasefire a “calculated victory” by Pakistan that “firmly denied a much stronger India the military edge and diplomatic narrative it sought to dominate”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
the official said, adding that the US side was “encouraged by today’s outcome” and looks forward to their next meeting “which will happen in the near future.”
No date has been agreed for the next round although Baqaei said it would be announced by mediator Oman.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the fifth round of talks would take place once both sides have consulted their leaders. He said Sunday’s discussions included “useful and original ideas” that reflected a shared wish to reach an “honorable” agreement. (Excerpt from CNN)
Hamas says it will release hostage Edan Alexander in agreement with US
Hamas agreed to release Edan
Alexander, a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living U.S. citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage.
His release is part of “the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,” Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating team, said in a statement Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander’s condition.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S.
special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release.
“We are picking him up probably tomorrow,” Witkoff said. “There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.”
The Hostage Family Forum released a statement on behalf of Alexander's family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are "in ongoing contact with the U.S. administration" regarding his potential release in the coming days. (Excerpt from NBC News)
Zelensky offers to meet Putin after Trump demands Ukraine hold direct talks with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "personally" in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over ending the war.
His post came shortly after Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Putin's offer of direct talks between the two countries in Turkey.
"There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally," Zelensky wrote.
He had earlier said his country was open to talks with Russia but only after a ceasefire was in place.
Western powers called for a 30-day pause in fighting to begin on Monday after European leaders spearheading the socalled "coalition of the willing" met in Kyiv on Saturday.
Putin's offer of direct talks followed that intervention.
On Sunday Trump then posted on social media that Ukraine should agree to this "immediately" and it would provide clarity on whether there was a way to end the war.
"At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is
not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly" he said, adding: "Have the meeting, now!"
In his post on X, Zelensky said he hoped Russia would agree to the ceasefire before the talks.
"We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy," he said.
In a late-night address on Saturday, Putin invited Ukraine to take part in "serious negotiations" over the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
in 2022.
Putin said he could "not rule out" the possibility that the talks could result in Russia and Ukraine agreeing "a new truce" - but did not address the calls for a 30-day ceasefire directly.
The Russian leader said: "This would be the first step towards a long-term, lasting peace, rather than a prologue to more armed hostilities after the Ukrainian armed forces get new armaments and personnel, after feverish trench-digging and the establishment of new command posts." (Excerpt from BBC News)
Oxford to award degree to Maori princess who died 100 years ago
The University of Oxford is to award a posthumous degree to a Maori princess who died almost 100 years ago.
Makereti Papakura, who was born Margaret Pattison Thom in 1873 in New Zealand, enrolled at Oxford in 1927 to study anthropology.
Papakura is believed to have been the first indigenous woman to matriculate at the university.
Her research focused on the customs and practices of her Te Arawa tribal group, offering an analysis from a female perspective.
She undertook her studies at the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Society of Home Students, now St Anne’s College.
However, the princess died unexpectedly in April 1930, three weeks before she was due to present her thesis.
Her dissertation was later edited and published posthumously by TK Penniman, her friend and fellow anthropologist, under the title The OldTime Maori.
The work is recognised by the Royal Society of New Zealand as the first ethnographic study of Maori life authored by a Maori scholar.
The decision to award the degree was approved by Oxford’s Education Committee following an application by the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography (SAME), supported by St Anne’s College and the Pitt Rivers Museum. The university announced the award last week.
The degree will be conferred at a ceremony later this year in the Sheldonian Theatre, presided over by Prof Irene Tracey, the vice-chancellor. Members of Papakura’s family and representatives of the Maori community are expected to attend. (Excerpt from The Telegraph)
US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Members of the Chinese delegation after leaving the trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Keep an open mind. Look for the positive in whatever situation you face, and you’ll discover innovative alternatives that will broaden your outlook and encourage you to expand your options.
Life is brighter when you satisfy your needs first instead of putting others ahead of you. Realign yourself with what truly matters to you, and head in a direction that offers peace of mind.
Uncertainty, temptation and excess hover over you. Stand still and evaluate. When in doubt, take the simplest route to a safer place. Being well-informed will be crucial.
Discussions, socializing and networking will offer a host of prospects. Apply more time and energy to making things happen instead of talking about your intentions.
Pay more attention to what’s happening around you. It’s time to apply muscle to ensure you set yourself up for a win. Refuse to let emotions step in and mess things up.
Move about, gather information and connect with people who make you think and offer insight into what’s possible. Set a budget and initiate the changes necessary to meet your expectations.
Pay attention to detail, investments and health. Go the extra mile and do the legwork necessary to put your mind at ease and promote your desires. Partnerships look interesting.
Take the plunge and do whatever works best for you. Added discipline will help you overcome temptation, allowing you to make room for what’s necessary to maintain peace of mind and quality of life.
Create opportunities instead of expecting them to come to you. Use your imagination, create what you want in your mind and start building a future that excites you.
Tune in to the beat that resonates with you and enjoy the ride. Physical action will define how you do business and encourage an instant response. Tidy up loose ends so you can get on with your plans.
You may want to put what you don’t like or want behind you, but haste makes waste. Slow down, rethink your strategy and calm your mind, and you’ll find a path forward that works in your favor.
Rearrange your financing and budget for something you want. Changing your environment will give you stability and encourage you to eliminate what weighs you down mentally, emotionally or financially.
ARCHIE
BCCI aiming to resume IPL 2025 in May following ceasefire
The Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) has begun taking steps towards resuming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in May following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan that came into effect at 1130 GMT (1700 IST and 1630 PKT) on Saturday.
“The war has stopped. In the new situation, BCCI office bearers, officials and IPL governing council, will discuss the matter tomorrow (Sunday) and take a call,”
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told PTI Videos. “We will see which can be the best schedule to complete the tournament.”
ESPNcricinfo has learnt that all 10 franchises are trying to recall overseas players and coaching staff back to India as plans are afoot to restart the tournament as soon as possible. It is understood the IPL could start as soon as the following weekend – around May 15 – sub-
ject to Indian Government permission.
The BCCI had to suspend the tournament for a week on Friday following the escalation of cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan that led to the abandonment of the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals midway
The IPL was suspended for one week to fly back to India. Some players and support staff who are in transit have been asked to halt further travel for the time being. One of the franchises even asked its
through the first innings in Dharamsala on May 8.
The immediate challenge for the franchises is to try and bring back their overseas contingent, most of whom left India between Friday and Saturday.
Several franchises have reached out to players and staff asking them to be ready
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in thriller to move closer to title
Barcelona closed in on the league title as they fought back from two goals down to beat Real Madrid – for whom Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick –in a thrilling Clasico.
Real Madrid raced into a 2-0 lead with Mbappé scoring twice inside 14 minutes, but Barca hit four by half-time – one each for Eric Garcia and Lamine Yamal, and two for Raphinha.
Mbappé scored again with 20 minutes left, to take his club total in all competitions to 39 – the most ever by a Real Madrid player in their debut season – and Barca’s Fermin Lopez had a goal ruled out for handball in a gripping finish.
Victory put Barca seven points clear of their arch-rivals with three games left to play.
Hansi Flick named an unchanged Barcelona side following their draining Champions League semi-final defeat by Inter Milan on Tuesday, and in the early stages they looked lethargic.
Mbappé converted from the penalty spot after he was felled by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and added a second after running on to Vinicius Junior’s through ball in behind Barcelona’s high defensive line.
As the Frenchman celebrated, he likely did not expect what came next at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
Garcia halved the deficit with a header from a corner in the 19th minute, before Yamal produced his latest piece of brilliance.
The 17-year-old was quiet for the first half-an-hour, but announced his arrival in the match by curling
a sumptuous strike into the bottom corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
Barca pressed Real Madrid relentlessly and took the lead less than two minutes later when Raphinha found himself in space on the left of the box – after Mbappé and Lucas Vazquez got in each other’s way under pressure – and arrowed past Courtois.
The Ballon d’Or candidate then headed over Yamal’s cross, but made no mistake in converting Ferran Torres’ cut-back after stealing possession from Vazquez.
Moments earlier, Mbappé thought he had won a penalty, but a video assistant referee review showed Jude Bellingham was fractionally offside.
Barcelona started the second half as they ended the first – Raphinha raced into the Real Madrid half and squared for Yamal to tap home, but the Brazilian was rightly flagged offside.
Real Madrid looked to be flagging when Mbappé completed his hat-trick from
close range to move two goals clear in the race to be La Liga’s top scorer, before Raphinha missed a sitter from a few yards out at the other end.
Victor Munoz, Madrid’s 21-year-old substitute, blazed over when bearing down on goal, before Mbappé forced Szczesny into a smart low stop.
Fermin Lopez looked to have scored a brilliant fifth, but a VAR check ruled it out for handball in the build-up.
Having already beaten Real Madrid in La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup final and the Copa del Rey final this season, Barca equalled the record they set in 198283 of winning four Clasicos in a single campaign.
That Real Madrid have conceded 16 goals in four Clasicos this season illustrates their decline and Barcelona’s improvement over the past nine months.
Barcelona will win the league title with victory against neighbours Espanyol on Thursday, or if Real Madrid lose to Mallorca on Wednesday. (BBC Sport)
coaching staff to postpone travel out of India as they were getting ready to depart on Sunday.
Some teams are more fortunate than others in this regard: only two Gujarat Titans overseas players – Jos Buttler and Gerald Coetzee – have left the country and the franchise is trying to bring them back.
While the franchises remained optimistic earlier on Saturday that most overseas players would return if the tournament were to resume in May, they acknowledged there would be no guarantees if the season extended beyond May 25, when the IPL 2025 final was scheduled to be played in Kolkata. That’s because of bilateral commitments for several players, as well as the World Test Championship (WTC)
final between Australia and South Africa, starting on June 11 at Lord’s.
A total of 57 matches had been completed in IPL 2025, and the 58th was going on May 8 between PBKS and DC in Dharamsala when it was called off after 10.1 overs of play. The IPL has not yet taken a call on whether that match will be replayed.
There are 12 league matches and four playoffs remaining in the season, and one possibility is that these fixtures could be played in three southern cities: Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Seven teams remain in the race for the play-offs, with only Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) out of contention. (ESPNcricinfo)
Jamaica claim silver and bronze as World Athletics Relays Conclude in China
Jamaica added two medals to their tally on the final day of the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 on Sunday, earning silver in the inaugural mixed 4x100m relay and bronze in the women’s 4x100m, while the men’s sprint relay team were again denied by misfortune.
Making its global debut, the mixed 4x100m proved one of the most anticipated events of the championships—and Jamaica’s quartet of Serena Cole, Krystal Sloley, Javari Thomas, and Bryan Levell delivered, taking silver in a tightly-contested final.
Canada made history by winning the first-ever global gold in the event, clocking 40.30 with a team of Sade McCreath, Marie-Eloise Leclair, Duan Asemota, and Eliezer Adjibi. Despite a smoother final handover from Jamaica, Adjibi accelerated away from Levell in the closing metres, sealing the title ahead of Jamaica’s 40.44. Great Britain & Northern Ireland rounded out the podium in 40.88.
The Jamaican squad held their own throughout, staying in the top three from start to finish. Levell’s anchor leg ensured the silver was safely secured—even if gold just slipped away.
In the women’s 4x100m, Jamaica looked on course for victory with a powerful lineup of Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton, and Shericka Jackson, who got the baton among the leaders. But in a dramatic finish, Great Britain’s Success Eduan stormed down the home straight, overtaking both Spain’s Maria Isabel Perez and Jackson to steal gold for the British team in 42.21, a season’s best. Spain followed in 42.28, with Jamaica settling for bronze in 42.33.
While those two med-
al-winning efforts brought celebration, Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m team suffered another heartbreaking setback. Following Saturday’s failed baton exchange between Julian Forte and Yohan Blake, the team had a second shot at qualification in Sunday’s run-off. But disaster struck again as Forte pulled up before reaching Blake, leaving Jamaica unable to finish for the second day in a row – dashing their hopes of qualifying for the World Championships in Tokyo this September. There was redemption, however, for the men’s 4x400m squad, who booked their spot at the World Championships after finishing third in their second-round heat. The team of Rusheen McDonald, Demar Francis, Zandrion Barnes, and Tarees Rhoden clocked 3:01.32, trailing Brazil (3:01.14) and the Netherlands (3:01.32) in a
tight race that earned them automatic qualification. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s women’s 4x400m team did not contest their second-round heat. (Sportsmax)
Jamaica picked up two medals
Barcelona have won four consecutive Clasicos for just the second time
Halley’s magical Guinness Goal clinches
Swag
Entertainment’s 4th crown Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Linden…
Swag Entertainment, led by an 18th-minute Guinness Goal off the boots of Allan Halley, secured their fourth Linden Guinness “Greatest of The Streets” crown as they overcame Silver Bullets’ challenge in the final which was played to a large gathering, at the Retrieve Hard Court last Saturday night.
It was the Bullets who shot down Swag Entertainment when they clashed in a quarter-final encounter last year and this win avenged that loss in a big way.
This time around, Swag Entertainment were able to break a deadlocked game when Halley struck in the 18th minute as it counted for two goals, and proved to be the decider.
That 2-0 win allowed Swag Entertainment to increase their tally to four and
earned them $500,000 and bragging rights as they have qualified for the National Championship which is being sponsored by beverage giant Banks DIH.
For placing second, Silver Bullets received $400,000.
Earlier, Swag Entertainment humbled YMCA 3-0 on the back of a Halley hat-trick, with one coming in the 25th minute and the other, a Guinness Goal which counted as two in the 29th minute.
In the other semi-final, Silver Bullets overcame DC Ballers 2-0 to advance to the final. The scorers were Jermaine Samuels (19th minute) and Amaniki Buntin in the 26th minute.
The main supporting game was the third place match between the losing semi-finalists and that game was won by YMCA, who de-
TT Legions crowned champions of inaugural Windies Breakout League
The Trinidad & Tobago Legions defeated the Leeward Islands Thunder by 17 runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Saturday, May 10, 2025, to secure the title of champions for the first season of the West Indies Breakout T20 League. Thunder won the toss and elected to field first , but it was a decision that ultimately backfired as the Legions
posted an excellent total of 181 for 5 in their 20 overs.
An outstanding performance by Kamil Pooran was the key to their batting. Pooran made 73 from 44 balls, an innings that included seven fours and four sixes. Captain Joshua Da Silva also contributed a valuable knock of 40 from 31 balls.
The Thunder bowling department provided little resistance and Karima Gore
and Micah McKenzie picked up two wickets each.
But Jyd Goolie and McKenny Clarke of the Legions turned up the pressure on the Thunder when their turn came to bat, with three wickets apiece. Kofi James played a fighting innings of 63 from 36 balls, which included six fours and four sixes. Thunder, in the end, could only reach a total of 164 for 9 in their 20 overs.
feated DC Ballers 3-0 with Kevin Gittens (14th minute), Kymani Price (16th minute) and Jamal Bentick (19th minute) accounting
for their goals.
YMCA were $300,000 richer while DC Ballers collected $250,000. In the plate game for
$60,000, the winners were Spaniards, who defeated Turf President in a battle among the losing quarter-finalists.
Naven’s Construction ‘batting’ with DCB for Independence T10 Cup
As the Demerara Cricket Board’s highly-anticipated Independence T10 Cup draws closer, Naven’s Construction has embraced the fund-raising initiative, pumping the biggest sponsorship to date into the May 25 event.
Exactly two weeks prior to the exciting championship at the LBI Ground, Naven’s Construction has committed $440,000 into the tournament, which is geared to generate funds to assist with the development of the sport in the county of Demerara.
Naven’s Construction is based at Lot 178 Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and deals in the construction of houses, carpentry, renovation, plumbing, tiling, ceiling, fencing and foundation and other areas.
Speaking on behalf of the company, Naven Persaud said the construction firm was always looking at ways and means of supporting the
development of sport, in this specific case, cricket.
Persaud said it was important that avenues were created for young Guyanese to showcase their skills, as he lauded the Demerara Cricket Board for putting together the Independence T10 Cup.
He urged cricket fans and members of the general public to support the fundraising initiative, which he deemed as important to fostering the growth and development of the sport locally.
Demerara Cricket Board Secretary Davteerth Anandjit welcomed Naven’s Construction as a partner in development, expressing gratitude to management for seeing the importance of supporting such an initiative.
Anandjit expounded that corporate support for the development of cricket was critical, and he encouraged other members of the corporate community to follow suit.
The Demerara Cricket
Board executive added that plans were moving full steam ahead for the grand Independence T10 Cup, with teams and players to be announced in the coming days. Eight First-Division teams from the county will compete for top honours, with the format being a onegame knockout. A total cash prize of $500,000 and trophies will be up for grabs at the one-day event. While the teams will be represented by players within the respective associations, each team are allowed two guest players from other counties. The champion team are guaranteed $250,000 cash plus a trophy; the runners-up $150,000 and a trophy, while the losing semi-finalists will receive $50,000 each.
On the individual side, the Man of the Match in the semi-finals and final will receive a trophy. Action will bowl off at 10:00h and conclude under floodlights.
Trinidad and Tobago Legions crowned champions
A look at the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” final featuring Swag Entertainment and Silver Bullets Swag Entertainment receive their championship trophy and winnings
Allan Halley’s chief marksman Allan Halley
Naven Persaud (second right) of Naven’s Construction presents the sponsorship cheque to Demerara Cricket Board Secretary Davteerth Anandjit in the presence of members of the organising committee, Anil Beharry (right) and Yogeshwar Bishun
