The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 5 – no retraction and Tuesday, May 6 –00:55h-02:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 5 – 10:40h-12:10h and Tuesday, May 6 –11:55h-13:25h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny conditions are expected during the day, interrupted by light to thundery rain showers in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours. Cloudy skies and thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.79 metres and 4.92 metres.
High Tide: 10:58h and 23:55h reaching maximum heights of 2.08 metres and 2.06 metres.
Low Tide: 17:14h reaching a minimum height of 1.1 metres.
“Diversity is not our weakness… it is our greatest strength”
– Pres Ali in Arrival Day Message
...PM says contributions of ancestors etched in fabric of Guyanese society
In the face of growing intolerance and discrimination against immigrants around the world, President Dr Irfaan Ali is reminding Guyanese that the country’s rich diversity, built by its various peoples, is its greatest strength.
This was relayed by the Head of State in his message to commemorate today’s observance of Arrival Day 2025.
According to President Ali, immigrants who have built nations, powered economies and enriched cultures around the world are now being targeted, vilified, and excluded – something he stated that should never happen in a multi-cultured Guyana.
“Let us never make that mistake. Let us cherish each other and uplift one another. Here in Guyana, let us continue to celebrate and value the sacrifices and contributions of all of our people. We are proud of our multicultural character. Diversity is not our weakness – it is our greatest strength,” he stressed.
Urging citizens to pause and reflect on the invaluable contributions of all those immigrants who came here with little – many who stayed and helped lay the foundation for the Guyana today, the President noted that our ancestors enriched the country’s national character and helped fashion a multiethnic society.
Though Arrival Day honours all the foreparents who arrived on these shores, following Emancipation, as indentured labourers, the Guyanese Leader recognised that May 5 this year marks the 187th anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of East Indian indentured immigrants to Guyana, whose spirit and sacrifices continue to propel national development.
“This year, however, as we commemorate Arrival Day, we do so not only to look back but to urge a deeper recommitment to the future we wish to build – a future where all Guyanese, regardless of race, heritage, religion, or background can feel a sense of belonging, pride, and purpose. No heritage must feel hidden. No voice must feel unheard…”
“As such, let us use this day to not only honour all Guyanese, past and present, but to chart a course that upholds the values that have served us well – hard work, unity, dignity, and fairness. Let us strive for a society where no one is left behind, where every community has a voice, and where every citizen has a place at the table. In the Guyana we are building, all must be recognised and respected,” the Head of State said.
President Irfaan Ali emphasised the importance of building a “One Guyana” in which all citizens benefit equitably from the country’s natural wealth, its ongoing development and transformation, and the opportunities emerging across every region and sector.
“One Guyana means ensuring that Indigenous peoples are not forgotten or left behind. It means supporting African-Guyanese and IndoGuyanese communities, not just with words but with real investment and engagement. It means recognising the contributions of our European, Portuguese, Chinese, and mixed-heritage brothers and sisters, and ensuring that all are embraced and regarded as part of our national family,” he noted.
Highlighting that prosperity is not a privilege but a right, the Guyanese leader noted that there is enough room for all Guyanese, not just to live but to thrive as well, through mutual respect and recognition for each other's histories and contributions.
“Today, therefore, is not a day only of remembrance – it is a day of responsibility. We honour our foreparents best not just by recalling their struggles, but by carrying forward their dreams of justice, equality, and dignity for all. Let us build a Guyana where no one is made to feel like a stranger in their own land, and where every child, regardless of their community, can aspire to greatness.
Happy Arrival Day Guyana. Let us move forward together – united, determined, and committed to a future in which everyone belongs,”
President Ali stated.
Meanwhile, in his Arrival Day message, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, reflected on the profound impact that the diverse peoples that make up the country's heritage have had on Guyana's rich history and spirit.
Woven from the threads of our Amerindian peoples, Africans, East Indians, Portuguese, Chinese, and Europeans, he said Guyana's
cultural tapestry reflects centuries of resilience, strength, and determination. Through difficult paths marked by the hardship of slavery and indentureship, ancestors brought enduring traditions, values, and a shared hope for a better future.
According to the Prime Minister, “These contributions are etched in the fabric of our society – from our languages, cuisine, and music, to the values of perseverance and hard work that define the Guyanese spirit. Their sacrifices gave rise to a nation grounded in multiculturalism and built on the principles of unity and inclusiveness.”
PM Phillips added that the knowledge, culture, and determination of each group, coupled with their labour, has helped shape the course of Guyana’s development, and opened pathways to greater inclusion and participation in the life of the nation. He noted their legacy continues to inspire even today, to build a society rooted in unity, respect, and shared progress.
“This occasion is a time for reflection on what unity truly means in a country as diverse as ours. As we pay tribute to our ancestors, let us also recommit ourselves to the ideals they embodied: hard work and dignity. May we recognise that their journey was not in vain. May we honour their legacy with our words and through our continued efforts, to build a just, inclusive, and prosperous nation for all,” the Prime Minister stated.
Today is the day the Whitby and the Hesperus – the first two ships bringing Indian indentured labourers to then British Guiana (BG) – serendipitously appeared off the coast of Port Georgetown on the same day, even though they had departed the port of Calcutta more than two weeks apart: May 5th, 1838. The receiving depot, which was at Barrack Street next to where the Marriott Hotel stands today, was not ready to process them. The Whitby was dispatched to Plantation Highbury, up the Berbice River, to disgorge some of its human cargo.
As such, the first Indians set foot on Guyana soil – and in fact in the entire Western Hemisphere – in Berbice. The arrival of Indians to British Guiana was a momentous occasion: one that would irremediably alter the trajectory of its social, economic, cultural and political development. Socially, the society was already “plural”, with the freed African ex-slaves and Portuguese (brought in since 1835) adding to the white planters, overseers and Government officials. There were also the Indigenous Peoples sequestered in the interior, and a “Coloured” strata issuing from the miscegenation between the white planters/overseers and African slave women. They formed a buffer zone between whites and blacks.
The Indians, however, with their vast numbers (238,000) shipped in over the next 79 years, qualitatively altered the nature of the society. But it was economically that the Indians had their greatest impact. Even before the abolition of slavery, the planters were petrified at the prospects of sugar’s survival in a post-slavery economy, in light of the vast tracts of land that were available for the freed slaves to occupy and make their own “living”. And it was this fear at the loss of a stable labour force, which sugar demanded, that drove them to introduce “indentured” labour into the industry. In many of the small West Indian islands, there was not even the transitional “apprenticeship” scheme for the freed slaves that we had here between 1834 and 1838: they had nowhere to go, but return to the cane fields.
But the planters also had to cater for the loss of their preferential British market, because the tariffs imposed on sugar from countries producing the commodity cheaper were to be removed. In addition to a stable work force, sugar production needed a cheap one; and this was where the Indians’ greatest economic impact was felt. While the Portuguese and the Chinese (who started arriving in 1853) quickly abandoned the sugar fields at the expiration of their indentureship, the Indians stayed on and facilitated more than a doubling of the production of sugar than in the heyday of slavery.
But how could the Indians survive on wages that the exslaves, Portuguese and Chinese balked at – 24 cents daily for men and 16 cents for women? They supplemented this miserable sum by cultivating rice on swampy lands leased or bought from the plantations, and by planting cash crops and rearing cattle to sell their milk during their free time. These endeavours in time became substantial industries on their own, and lowered the cost of living for the entire colony – and formed the base for Indian economic advancement out of the sugar plantations.
Culturally, the Indians, who were brought from North India (95%) and South India (5%), had different practices from the “Creole culture”, which had evolved between the African slaves and the white ruling class over the hundreds of years they lived together during slavery. This served the interest of the planters, since it helped to nip any ties that might be formed by the Indians with the few freed Africans who remained on the plantations in “logies”. This cultural and social pluralism, along with economic competition helped foster differential ethnic political mobilisation in modern times, which exacerbated our divisions. The PNC was formed in 1955 by Forbes Burnham explicitly to counter “Indian dominance”. And this has precipitated political violence against Indians since.
This year, all of the major Indian Arrival Day commemoration events have been cancelled because once again, the Opposition has fostered violence against Indians.
It is safe for me to write this article – and for you to read it. But globally, those rights are under grave threat
By Antonio ZAppullA
Last month, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili approved a new law inflicting criminal charges, including prison sentences and fines, on any organisation or individual who fails to comply with the country’s “foreign influence” bill.
The news didn’t trouble the front pages of the international press and went largely unnoticed, but it marks a significant inflection point in the decline of global press freedom.
The original bill, first adopted in May 2024, mandated all independent media and NGOs receiving over 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as “acting in the interest of a foreign power”. The previous month, Kyrgyzstan had adopted an almost identical piece of legislation. In August, it was Venezuela’s turn. Turkey tabled a draft bill in October, before Paraguay signed its into action in November.
Over the span of just seven months, countries in eastern Europe, central Asia and South America were awash with these laws, all with the same basic premise – organisations and individuals receiving foreign funding must make themselves known to the Government.
On the face of it, this seems like a justifiable measure to protect national security. Foreign interference is a very real threat for many countries, especially during election cycles. Just this year, a host of foreign actors waged mass disinformation campaigns on Germany’s elections, spreading false accusations that candidates for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) were victims of election fraud.
But the devil is in the de-
tail. And – as is so often the case with these laws – there very deliberately isn’t any.
Their power lies in vague, broad wording. Wording that can, and has been, easily weaponised to inflict legal penalties and crippling stigma to such an extent that it renders the work of anyone implicated effectively impossible. Especially Journalists.
Take the archetypal example: Russia’s “foreign agent” law. Initially adopted in the aftermath of protests against Vladimir Putin’s return as Russian President in 2012, the law stipulates a “foreign agent” to be any individual or organisation that receives foreign funding and engages in “political activities”. Yet, the definition of political activities is so vague as to encompass absolutely anything that could influence public opinion, from hosting an educational event to simply printing opinion polls.
Once labelled as such, a Journalist or newsroom would have to register with the Justice Ministry, submit regular reports on their activities, finances and interactions, facing fines and prison sentences if they so much as miss a deadline.
Their assets can be frozen, bank accounts closed and the donations or grants that once kept them afloat cut off. They are even barred from entering educational facilities such as schools, universities or kindergartens.
And then there’s the social stigma. This is baked into the very label itself –“foreign agent”. It is purposely couched in the rhetoric of espionage, designed to evoke memories for those old enough to remember the fate of citizens branded as such during Soviet-era purges: arrests, executions and gulags.
For many, the strain is
too much to bear. At least 93 independent media outlets are known to have been forced into exile from Russia. In Belarus, which adopted its even harsher version of this law in 2023, the majority have left.
But even in exile they cannot escape the label. By law, they are required to include a disclaimer on all published materials, stating “this is the product of an organisation designated as a foreign agent”. Even so much as a personal Facebook post. This often deters audiences back home from reading their reporting, afraid of attracting increased state surveillance through association. The tag is such a visceral part of many Russian and Belarusian exiled Journalists’ identity that some now print it on T-shirts or even tattoo it on their bodies.
The impact on future generations of budding Journalists from these countries is also devastating, limiting their aspirations and ability to develop skills in an industry that is vilified, leaving a void in which there is no counter to state propaganda.
It would be naive to think this is a problem solely reserved for autocratic states, however. As disinformation campaigns and electoral interference become more prevalent, many democracies are also considering this type of legislation – Italy and the United Kingdom, to name two.
They have every right to do so. But it is vital that the finer details are fleshed out. As we have seen over recent years, a country that is democratic now can quickly backslide into authoritarianism. When this happens, autocratic leaders will take advantage of these loosely defined, albeit well-intentioned, laws to
stamp out dissent. There is some evidence to suggest that strategic domestic and international pressure campaigns – especially if tied to the continuance of foreign direct investment into those countries – may be effective in pushing back against foreign agent-style laws. Turkey’s draft 2024 bill, for example, has been subsequently withdrawn for the time being thanks to a coordinated effort from legal associations, human rights advocacy groups and media freedom organisations.
But in many countries the damage is already done. More than anything now, these Journalists and newsrooms, whether in exile or staying home to fight on, need legal representation and guidance.
Since 2022, the Thomson Reuters Foundation has been supporting exiled independent newsrooms to set up their operations in new jurisdictions and to build their legal resilience to withstand these “lawfare” attacks.
For many, Georgia seemed like a natural place for them to initially reset. Russian nationals, for example, could travel freely to the country and the land border crossing made it practical to move quickly. Yet, this year, we have been devastated to find some of the first newsrooms we helped set up in exile there are being forced to flee once more.
Journalists are quite literally being chased across borders by foreign agent-style laws, hounded and harassed from one country to the next. These are profoundly worrying times, but we are scaling up our work. We can and will respond. (The Guardian) Antonio Zappulla is chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Naval vessels currently involved in Exercise Tradewinds 2025, the Caribbean region’s multinational military training event, which runs from April 26-May 8. The GDFS Shahoud is participating in the Maritime Tracks of the exercise (GDF photo)
Every ethnic group has played vital role in nation-building
On this Arrival Day 2025, the People’s Progressive Party extends warm greetings to all Guyanese as we commemorate an occasion that celebrates the arrival of the many peoples who came to these
shores and contributed to the building of our diverse and vibrant society.
This day reminds us of the journeys undertaken by our ancestors—journeys filled with hardship, uncertainty, and endurance. Each group
faced its own trials and challenges. Despite the adversity, they persevered, laying the foundation for the Guyana we proudly call home today.
We pay tribute to the Indians—who formed the largest group—the
Arrival Day honours diverse peoples, their contributions to building our nation – GTUC
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) extends greetings to all Guyanese as we commemorate Arrival Day 2025, a national observance that honours the diverse peoples who came to these shores and contributed to the building of our nation.
May 5th marks the anniversary of the arrival of the Whitby in 1838, bringing the first group of East Indian indentured labourers to Guyana. While this mo-
ment is a key historical milestone, Arrival Day is also an opportunity to acknowledge all those who came to Guyana — whether through ancient migration across the Bering Strait, in chains as enslaved Africans, as indentured labourers from India, China, Africa and Portugal, or as voluntary migrants in search of opportunity and a better life. Each group’s arrival — forced or voluntary — forms an integral part of the Guyanese identity. These communities
Arrival Day reminds of rich cultural tapestry, unique ethnic kaleidoscope that define Guyana
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends warm greetings to all Guyanese on the observance of Arrival Day 2025—a moment of national reflection, celebration, and appreciation for the diverse origins of our people and the shared journey that has shaped our nation. Today, we pay respectful tribute to the countless indentured immigrants from India, Portugal, China, and other lands, who arrived on our shores under difficult and often harsh conditions. Their sacrifices, resilience, and determination helped lay the foundation of modern Guyana. Their stories are etched into our history, and their contributions have left an indelible mark on our economy, culture, and national character.
Arrival Day reminds us of the rich cultural tapestry and unique ethnic kaleidoscope that define Guyana. Our music, food, festivals, religions, and languages are expressions of the cultural fusion born from generations of coexistence and collaboration. These traditions, carried forward by the descendants of those early immigrants, continue to enrich our society and deepen our sense of na-
– GAWU
tional pride.
GAWU is especially proud to acknowledge the pivotal role played by indentured labourers in the development of the sugar industry. Their labour, commitment, and perseverance sustained this vital sector for decades. The sugar industry is not only an economic cornerstone, it is also a cultural one, influencing community life, shaping rural economies, and bringing people together across ethnic and geographic lines. It stands as a symbol of collective endurance and shared heritage.
As we commemorate this important day, GAWU encourages all Guyanese to reflect on the spirit of unity and coming together that Arrival Day represents. Despite our different ancestries, our people have time and again come together in moments of struggle and triumph. This unity is our strength, and it must be protected and nurtured as Guyana continues to grow and transform.
Let Arrival Day 2025 inspire a renewed commitment to inclusivity, mutual respect, and national solidarity. As a people bound by shared hopes and a common future, let us continue building a Guyana where all are valued, all are respected, and all can thrive.
Happy Arrival Day to all!
laid the foundation for a resilient and richly woven society through their endurance, labour, and sacrifices.
The GTUC pays tribute to our ancestors and their descendants, recognising their vital roles in shaping our political, social, and economic landscape. Today, we honour all Guyanese equally, regardless of how their forebears arrived, and we stand firm in the belief that every citizen deserves dignity, respect, and opportunity.
As we reflect on this day, the GTUC renews its call for: Inclusionary democracy, where all voices are heard and represented; Equitable and equal distribution of the nation’s wealth, especially as Guyana enters a new era of economic transformation; And a society that rejects marginalisation and embraces the shared humanity of its people.
Arrival Day is not only about remembrance — it is also a call to action. Let us commit ourselves to justice, unity, and the building of a truly inclusive Guyana where every citizen, regardless of heritage, can thrive.
Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese.
Portuguese, and the Chinese, all of whom arrived under indentureship or migration schemes. They worked tirelessly across plantations, businesses, and emerging industries, and made enduring contributions alongside the Africans & Amerindians. Together, these groups— and their descendants—have shaped the soul of our country.
Their blood, sweat, and sacrifices have built the foundations of our democracy, economy, and cultural richness. From the fields of Berbice to the coasts of
Essequibo, and from the mining towns to the hinterland communities, every ethnic group has played a vital role in nation-building.
It is through their determination and hope that we now enjoy the blessings of a free, democratic, and increasingly prosperous Guyana. Their struggles have given rise to a nation full of promise—a nation where every citizen, regardless of race, religion, or background, has the opportunity to thrive.
Arrival Day teaches us vital lessons—of unity, tolerance, and shared destiny. In
remembering our ancestors, we are reminded of the power of solidarity and the importance of inclusion. It calls on us to honour their legacy by not allowing those whose sole aim is to sow the seeds of division, foment strife and undo all the gains we have made as a country to succeed. As we commemorate this Arrival Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to unity and progress. Let us continue to build a Guyana where the dreams of our ancestors live on in the achievements of their descendants.
Happy Arrival Day 2025!
Let us see our diversity as a blessing and our strength as a nation – PNC/APNU
The PNCR and APNU extend best wishes to the entire Guyanese nation, especially those of Indian ancestry, on the occasion of Indian Arrival Day 2025. For this year’s observances, we call again on the Guyanese nation to reflect on the theme in the preamble of our Constitution, “CELEBRATING OUR CULTURAL AND RACIAL DIVERSITY, WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR UNITY.” Let us see our diversity as a blessing and as our strength as a nation. Let us continue to embrace and celebrate our shared values, shared goals, and shared destiny. Indians first arrived to these shores on 5th May 1838 and, together with Guyanese of other ethnic origins, have fashioned a nation that today we are proud to call our home-
Treat diversity as root of our collective strength – ERC
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends greetings to all Guyanese on Arrival Day 2025.
This national holiday recognizes another phase in the chequered history of our ancestors who journeyed here. The arrival of hundreds of thousands of indentureds to British Guiana from far off lands unintentionally added to the country’s rich diversity and cultures.
Although our East Indian ancestors first landed on this day in 1838, other ethnic groups arrived during that century too, bringing their customs and cultures that later blended into the unique Guyanese nation. We became inevitably one country made up of many cultures.
The presence of varying cultures, customs and religions is the sum total of Arrival Day; but that commemoration is
rooted in sacrifice, deprivation and struggle by our foreparents. Yet, the Guyanese multi-ethnic identity has survived into the 21st century with greater levels of appreciation and acceptance.
The ERC’s purpose is to bridge the cultural and ethnic gaps, provide support and address shortcomings to ethnic harmony. The Commission therefore urges every Guyanese to treat our diversity this Arrival Day as the root of our collective strength, giving more meaning to our national motto.
It is also incumbent upon everyone to pay homage and remember the yeoman service of those who came over a century ago and added to our shared heritage. As one nation, we can continue our collective mission to pursue a bright future and attain that one destiny on the horizon.
Happy Arrival Day!
land. Our present challenges only serve to strengthen our resolve to further bond together and forge ahead to build a better Guyana.
We take this opportunity to re-pledge our support for May 5th to be officially recognized henceforth as INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY. Designating May 5th as INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY respects the historic fact that the date specifically marks the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers to these shores. May 5th therefore should be wholly devoted to celebrating the valuable contribution that our
East Indian brothers and sisters have made to the development of our country and to the shaping of its rich cultural tapestry.
Separate days to recognize the various ancestries and heritages of the Guyanese people should be seen as occasions to celebrate our distinct ethnic identities and cultural expressions and, simultaneously, to embrace our oneness, our shared ideals and values, our shared identity and citizenship, and our shared destiny.
HAPPY ARRIVAL DAY TO ALL GUYANESE!
MONDAY,
Page Foundation
English
CSEC QUESTIONS
Read the following extract carefully and then answer all the questions set on it.
I never dreamed England would be like this. So cheerless. Determined, I held my breath but still I could hear no birdsongs. The room was pitiful in the grey morning light. I thought it looked rundown last night but daylight was happy to show me more of its filthy secrets. Plaster missing from a bit of the wall. Jagged black lines of cracking everywhere. A missing handle on the chest of drawers. No basin in the sink. And there were lacy white patterns on the window pane. Frost. I was taught by my headmistress, Miss Morgan, that frost is to be found on the outside of a window in England, but my curious finger got fastened to this stuff. Sticky with cold, it melted under my warm fingertip on the inside of this room! For the useless fire roared with fierce heat only when I stood right on top of it. One inch, that was all, one inch back and the heat no longer reached me. Two inches, and I was in need of my coat. Three, and it was as wintry as on the street. This room would not do.
I opened my trunk. The bright Caribbean colours of the blanket the old woman had given me in Ochi leaped from the case. The yellow with the red, the blue with the green commenced dancing in this dreary room. I took the far-from-home blanket and spread it on the bed.
Miraculous – it was then I heard a bird sing. Oh, so joyful. Finding colour through a window, its spirit rose to chirrup and warble. I determined then to make this place somewhere I could live – if only for this short while. For England was my destiny. I started with that sink. Cracked as a map and yellowing, I scrubbed it with soap until my hand had to brush perspiration from my forehead.
Adapted from Andrea Levy, “Hortense”, Small Island, Headline Book Publishing, 2004, pp. 225 – 226.
(a) According to the first THREE sentences of the passage, what was the narrator’s reaction to England?
(b) Identify TWO conditions of the room that the narrator found depressing.
(c) What did the narrator discover that was different from what she had been taught in school?
(d) Give TWO details from paragraph 1 which show how cold the narrator found England.
(e) What TWO things are contrasted in paragraphs 1 and 2?
(f) Identify ONE example of personification used in paragraph 2.
(g) What effect did the blanket have on the environment?
(h) Which event boosted the narrator’s determination to make the best of England?
Read the following extract carefully and then answer all the questions set on it.
As the pace of life grows faster, references to ‘stress’ become increasingly common. Uncertain economic times, growing violence and the fast-rising cost of living, together with sky-rocketing fuel prices – are adding to the sheer volume of things to worry about. Stress can seriously undermine our health, causing physical symptoms such as shallow breathing, physical tension, low vitality levels, insomnia and a feeling of imbalance. However, Dr. Melissa Stoppler observes that “a mild degree of stress and tension can sometimes be beneficial. Feeling mildly stressed when carrying out a project or assignment often compels us to do a good job and to work energetically”. Often we hear procrastinators declare that they work better under stress!
Stress can be managed, but if it is not handled correctly it can negatively affect health and performance. The bad news about stress is that some people, especially the young, in an effort to deal with it, take routes such as alcohol, drug abuse, truancy and delinquency that lead into problems more overwhelming than those they were trying to escape. The good news is that there is much we can do to manage stress.
Mind/body practices such as yoga, meditation and massage are growing in popularity for their ability to restore perspective and well-being. With the cost of food and raw materials on the rise, having a perfect diet can be challenging; however, diet is one way of preserving the body’s energy reserves and cutting down on stress. Cultivating positive thinking – a hugely beneficial technique that takes time and effort to perfect – is another coping strategy. It is not necessary to run ten miles or to be very fit to manage stress. Even moderately-paced walking can make a difference when done regularly. Finding time to spend half an hour outside, paying careful attention to the beauty of your surroundings is a simple and effective tonic. Adapted from Lime, October – December 2008, pp. 66 – 69.
(a) According to the first THREE sentences of the passage, what was the narrator’s reaction to England?
(b) Identify TWO conditions of the room that the narrator found depressing.
(c) What did the narrator discover that was different from what she had been taught in school?
(d) Give TWO details from paragraph 1 which show how cold the narrator found England.
(e) What TWO things are contrasted in paragraphs 1 and 2?
(f) Identify ONE example of personification used in paragraph 2.
(g) What effect did the blanket have on the environment?
(h) Which event boosted the narrator’s determination to make the best of England?
7. A sequence of figures is made from joining polygons with sides of unit length. The first three figures in the sequence are shown below.
(a) Draw Figure 4 of the sequence.
(b) Study the pattern of numbers in each row of the table below. Each row relates to one of the figures in the sequence of figures on page 23. Some rows have not been included in the table. Complete the rows numbered (i), (ii) and (iii).
(c) Show that no figure can have a perimeter of 100 units.
Maths
Digitisation, AI must be included in areas for constitutional reform – Pres Ali
...says clearly-defined framework will be developed by next year
As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitisation grows around the world, President Dr Irfaan Ali noted that a clearly defined framework will have to be developed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government within the next 12 months.
The Head of State explained this during a brunch held at State House on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day under the theme ‘Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media’.
The theme is a particularly relevant one, with Guyana undergoing its own digitisation process.
President Ali gave as an example the United Kingdom (UK) which he noted has a higher degree of responsibility placed on digital and AI news, which has a faster
and wider reach. President Ali noted that reforms reflecting this reality are needed right in Guyana.
“AI and digitisation. We as a country must have, within the next 12 months, a clearly defined framework for AI and digitisation in every sphere of national life. Every sphere of public life. Because it is going to drive national and public life, in ways that we have never seen before,” Ali said.
According to the President, it is important that the general population be responsible consumers of information put out by the media. When it comes to AI and digitisation, he noted that Guyana’s constitution currently does not cater for this. According to him, this means that in the constitutional reform process, AI and digitisation must be among the areas dealt with.
“In Guyana, freedom of expression including the
freedom of the press, is enshrined in our constitution. It is the cornerstone of our democracy, society and a fundamental human right, that allows our citizens to speak freely, access information and engage in public discourse without fear of reprisal.”
“This was enshrined in our constitution at a time when digitisation and AI was not there. That is why in the reform process, we will have to pay attention to these new areas,” President Ali further said.
Sovereign AI refers to a nation’s or region’s ability to control, create, and deploy AI models using its own infrastructure, data, and workforce. Recently Dr Toussant Boyce of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), while speaking at a Guyana Press Association (GPA) organised lecture, had highlighted the need for Guyana’s
policy makers to leverage AI.
“My recommendation for policymakers is to ensure— or at least be aware—that we can achieve a balanced regulatory environment that ensures transparency and accountability without limiting to our detriment, the use of technologies like AI.”
“And now is the time, I believe, to establish sovereign AI. I think countries like Guyana are very well poised. As I said, we have a treasury of data that’s indigenous to us, which requires not only protection but also very sensitive and careful use by all concerned,” he had said.
Last month, President Ali, while addressing the Spring 2025 Berkeley Innovation Forum in California, had noted the need for developing nations to be financially supported in order to bridge
the digital gap that exists globally. With this in mind, President Ali had called for the establishment of an AI Investment Fund to enabling these countries to leapfrog traditional technological barriers.
He had also noted that a collective approach to AI development was needed to ensure that technology is governed by ethical standards that respect human rights, privacy and fair-
Oil Spill Prevention & Response Bill 2025
ness, mitigating risks of exploitation, bias, and inequality.
Efforts have also been made to digitise more Government services. One such service is immigration, with the PPP/C Government installing several electronic gates (e-Gates) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) back in October, to streamline the processing of incoming and outgoing passengers.
Tripartite Board of Inquiry to examine witnesses, investigate oil spills
– bill also caters for National Oil Spill Committee within CDC
The Oil Pollution, Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility
Bill 2025 that was tabled in the National Assembly last week, caters for, among other things, a tripartite Board of Inquiry that will be set up to examine witnesses and investigate claims, in the unfortunate event of an oil spill.
A perusal of the bill shows that this Board of Inquiry, along with a National Oil Spill Committee that will operate within the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), will play key roles in administering this bill once enacted. Moreover, in accordance with the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, the Director General of the CDC will be named incident commander in the event of an oil spill, while either the Director of the Maritime Administration Department or the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) will serve as the Deputy Incident Commander in case the spill is offshore or onshore, respectively.
The bill states that whenever there is an oil spill incident, an Oil Spill Incident
Board of Inquiry comprised of three nominees with the relevant technical, legal or environmental experience, will be appointed by the Government.
It further states that the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the company responsible for the spill, will each nominate a representative of their own to sit on this Board of Inquiry.
Section 24 (3) states “The board, together with the parties, shall determine its own procedure which shall include the attendance and examination of witnesses, including experts, the production and inspection of documents, the entry or inspection of the property and other matters necessary or proper for reconciliation between the parties,” the bill states. It adds that after the board’s work is complete, they have to deliver a written report of the board’s findings and recommendations within 90 days or unless otherwise agreed by the parties. In cases where the findings are rejected by any of the parties, a written notice of rejection must be provided within 30 days of receiving the report from
the board.
Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo had spoken last year on Government’s plan to legislate better oil spill coverage earlier this year as Guyana observed difficulties faced by the Trinidad and Tobago Government in dealing with the catastrophic oil spill that ensued after a mystery vessel ran aground and released approximately 50,000 barrels of oil in that territory.
This incident underscored the urgent need for comprehensive legis-
lation covering all potential parties responsible for oil spills. The oil spill in Tobago left severe damage to the island’s beach, with the Government declaring the situation a national emergency, and estimating that the damage could reach as much as US$30 million.
Guyana already has certain safeguards in the event of damages caused by oil spills. For instance, it has previously been explained that Exxon has about US$20 billion in financial resources set aside to re-
spond to such a “highly-unlikely” incident. Guyana also remains protected from any liability with other layers of defence should an oil spill occur.
Then there is a US$2 billion guarantee, to be tapped if Exxon’s insurance policy and its assets are not enough to respond to the impacts and fallout associated with an oil spill. The environmental liability insurance is US$600 million.
Once this runs out, Exxon would have to rely on its assets and those of its Stabroek Block part-
ners, Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), to cover additional expenses.
When it comes to prevention, there is an in-country capping stack that forms part of ExxonMobil’s contingency measures in the unlikely event of an oil spill.
The commissioning of the long-awaited capping stack was conducted at the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) facility in Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD), in July 2024.
The capping stack, which Exxon acquired as per its subscription with Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), is used to plug oil leaks on the subsea floor. The equipment, which is brand new, is placed over the blown-out well to stop oil from spilling. Exxon is required to have this equipment in the country as part of the Yellowtail Permit. With the commissioning of ExxonMobil’s capping stack, Guyana became home to the only capping stack in the region and one of only 13 in the world, as part of the oil company’s arsenal of defences in the unlikely event of an oil spill.
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaks during a brunch held at State House on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2025
The bill caters for a Board of Inquiry that will examine witnesses and investigate oil spills
Politics… …uber alles!
Not surprisingly, post WWII Germany has been quite skittish about the first stanza of the national anthem the Nazis had used from 1922 –Deutschland über alles" ('Germany, Germany above all'). Putting any one thing over others became verboten in the liberal order that finally prevailed over communism by 1989. The united West and East Germany actually dropped the entire first stanza from their present anthem!! But they were still blasted by US Secty of State Rubio as being a “tyranny in disguise”!!
In Guyana, the idea of “politics over everything else” was introduced by Burnham – who candidly accepted Machiavelli as his hero in politics – as far back as 1955. Politics to Burnham was all about having power in one’s hands – and he said that any politician who didn’t admit that all he wanted was power was “either a liar or a scoundrel”!! It was for this reason that when Burnham rigged elections for decades while Cheddi still kept participating – he mocked Jagan as a “schoolboy”!!
He used “any means necessary” – especially force, to get and retain power as we saw between 1964 till he croaked in 1985. After the Yanks insisted on free and fair elections in 1992, the PNC went back to Burnham’s political playbook and used force against the PPP Government at all levels. But since they were out of power and couldn’t use the police and army no mo’, how did they do it?? Burnham’s successor, Hoyte, announced the basis of their tactics: the army and Police were “kith and kin” to the lumpen elements they’d deploy in Georgetown.
They were willing to destroy Guyana – and nearly did – as they egged on their supporters to loot, burn and attack anyone considered to be PPP supporters – meaning Indian Guyanese. And this is what your Eyewitness sees going on right now in the Opposition tactics following the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna. What started out as a truly NATIONAL outpouring of grief and coming together to demand justice for the child was hijacked by the Opposition to repeat the past.
But we’ve been warned that it will inevitably become a “farce” – which is now playing out. We have the example of the lawyer for Adrianna’s family demanding another autopsy before burial takes place. While the family insists they just want to bury their child. The family also got wind of the Opposition wanting to stage a protest at the funeral – and have put their feet down against this travesty.
But in an Opposition that puts politics uber alles, expect them to ignore the family’s request and turn out today at the Vergenoegen tarmac – where the funeral service will be conducted.
The people will deal with them condignly come elections 2025.
…and commemorations
So today we’ll once again go through the farce of commemorating “Arrival Day” – when everybody and their Cha Cha are celebrating Indian Arrival Day. But hold it!! From what your Eyewitness has been reading, there ain’t gonna be much celebrating – with all of the major events being cancelled. Why?? Well, if you’re really not asking that question rhetorically, then you’ve been living under a rock for the last week!!
The Scrapes, who disrupted the national outpourings of righteous indignation at the unexplained circumstances surrounding Adrianna’s drowning, have now been adopted by the Opposition – especially the fringe ones hustling for votes. If there were to be IAD celebrations, organisers have history to educate them to the reality that the now well-funded Scrapes will use it as an opportunity to collect more loot and booty.
And this is our tragedy. Rather than spending monies to advise and assist Scrapes in seizing the employment opportunities that now abound – as casual labourers in construction, for instance – the Opposition wants them to loot!!
…and bedfellows
There’s the saying: “politics makes strange bedfellows”. Meaning that to get ahead, politicians will get into bed with anyone who they think gonna give them an advantage. Just look who turned up at the Tuschen presser!!
It is not without a certain degree of irony that the first day of May – the month in which Indian indentured labourers were first brought to British Guiana (BG): in 1838 on May 5th –in modern times has been declared to be Labour Day. Labour, which along with land and capital, is defined as one of the three factors of production, is however rather peculiar when provided by humans. It raises questions about the implications of our humanity. The colonials had “resolved” questions on Africans’ humanity by defining them as not human but as “chattel”: property like animals who could be coerced by any means necessary to deliver their labour free as
Arrival Day 2025
“slaves”. The Indians were brought as indentured to replace the freed Africans.
Indentureship was supposed to return humanity to the Indian labourers by of-
fering them a contract (or agreement some pronounced “Girmit”) that specified the
terms of their employment to which they “voluntarily” agreed: their agency was supposedly recognised. Those terms, however - five years’ work and then a return passage to India, a fixed rate of pay (1 shilling daily for males throughout the indentureship period) for specified “tasks”, housing and medical care –were interpreted by the same system that had extracted slave labour and was severely abused to extract the labour as cheaply as possible. The period of labour was extended to ten years, and the returning emigrant had to pay portions of their return passage. The daily tasks were invariably too arduous to be completed in the 9-hour workday; the housing was worse than the mule stables, and medical care was geared to return the worker to the fields. The system ensured that if the labourer was not in the fields, it was because he was in the hospital or in jail.
But in India, which had been devastated under British rule, famine became endemic, and, combined with direct taxation on crops, hundreds
of millions were uprooted, and roamed the country seeking subsistence. Emigration was initiated from Bengal in 1834 to Mauritius and 1838 to BG against a background of their 1770 famine that had killed a third (10million) of their population. By the time indentureship was abolished in 1917, conservatively another 50 million had perished from famines. Combined with individual challenges such as child widows not permitted to remarry pressures in the extended joint family, the more enterprising migrated to other parts of India and to the foreign plantation economies. Overall, there were some 1.5 million Indian indentured labourers sent to foreign climes, of which half a million ended up in the British, French and Dutch Caribbean, with 239,000 of them to BG. This labour force was critical to the survival of this country. At the end of slavery, sugar production was around 60,000 tonnes, but by 1848 had plummeted to 20,000 tonnes.
Indian indentured labourers in a canefield
Indians threshing paddy
World Expo 2025 advances business linkages between Guyana, Japan
– as Guyana Office for Investment partners with SMRJ
The Guyana Office for Investment in partnership with the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Japan (SMRJ), successfully facilitated a targeted international business matching session through the J-GoodTech Expo Matching Portal.
The session took place on April 28, 2025, in Osaka,
that connects more than 38,000 companies across industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, and services. It enables curated, interest-aligned engagement between Japanese and international businesses, with a strong emphasis on innovation, scalability, and sustainable cooperation.
As a result of this engagement, members of Guyana’s Private Sector
Japan, and formed part of the activities supporting the participation of Guyana’s Private Sector delegation during World Expo 2025.
This high-level engagement marked a strategic effort to position Guyanese companies on the global stage by connecting them with innovative, invest-
gained direct access to the J-GoodTech platform, allowing them to explore opportunities for collaboration, and submit profiles for strategic business matching.
In addition to using the digital portal, several members of the delegation were able to meet directly with Japanese counterparts, ini-
ment-ready Japanese enterprises.
In attendance was Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer of Guyana and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), whose presence underscored the national priority placed on fostering cross- border commercial partnerships and facilitating international market access for Guyana’s Private Sector.
Operated by SME SUPPORT JAPAN, J-GoodTech is a premier business matching platform
tiating discussions on potential partnerships and joint initiatives.
This milestone reflects the Guyana Office for Investment’s proactive efforts to strengthen international linkages and broaden the global reach of local enterprises. It aligns with the Government of Guyana’s Vision 2030 development strategy, which places emphasis on economic diversification, Private Sector competitiveness, and sustainable development.
In its press release, the Guyana Office for
Investment stated that it remains committed to facilitating global partnerships and driving foreign direct investment in ways that empower local businesses and position Guyana as a rising investment destination in the global economy.
GDF participates in regional Exercise Tradewinds 2025
Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have joined participants from 26 partner nations and organisations at Teteron Barracks, Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, for Exercise Tradewinds 2025, which officially commenced on April 26.
This 13-day multination-
al exercise, sponsored by the United States Southern Command, focuses on enhancing regional readiness through joint training across land, air, sea, and cyber domains. It places strong emphasis on interoperability, inter-agency coordination, and strengthening regional partnerships.
Naval units from partic-
ipating countries are also taking part in the exercise, contributing to combined maritime operations and fostering cooperation among regional Coast Guards.
GDF Coast Guard ranks are currently engaged in watermanship training to sharpen their maritime operational skills.
Additionally, GDF per-
sonnel have participated in a range of tactical exercises, including a PHOTOEX and GUNNEX, as well as
joint MEDEVAC and Search and Rescue/Man Overboard (SAR/MOB) training alongside the US military.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fraser, the contingent commander, is serving as the Commander of the Combined Task Force.
The GDFS Shahoud, which transported some of the troops, is captained by Lieutenant Commander Ronald McIntyre, while Lieutenant Commander Kendrick Rodney serves as the Executive Officer of the ship.
A total of 10 officers and 37 other ranks are representing the Guyana Defence Force at the exercise.
Exercise Tradewinds is a key platform for building the capacity of regional forces in crisis response, contingency planning, and cooperative security efforts.
Late last month, at a briefing at Headquarters Coast Guard in Georgetown, in preparation for the exercise, Chief of Defence Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan noted that the exercise offers a critical platform for sharing expertise and aligning regional strategies.
“As a region, we rely on partnership, because no one nation could exclusively address the challenges and threats this region faces,” he said, adding that active involvement in Exercise Tradewinds reinforces a collective defence posture that benefits all participating nations.
The inclusion of GDFS Shahoud represents a major step in strengthening Guyana’s naval capabilities and its contribution to joint regional maritime operations.
Indian Labour in...
By the 1880s, with indentured labour (which included Portuguese, Chinese, West Indies and Africans from Africa) sugar production had grown to 120,000 tons. As noted historian William A Green pointed out: “Although the sugar industry survived (in British Guiana after the abolition of slavery) at very heavy social cost, there can be little doubt that the coastal lowlands inhabited by nearly the whole population of the colony would have been swallowed by the sea had the organising presence of the plantations been removed.” The “great social cost” was borne primarily by indentured labourers, of which Indian indentureds were the overwhelming majority.
The Indians who were brought to BG as indentured labourers were overwhelmingly from villages that were sustained by agriculture – especially wet rice cultivation. As one of the inducements for remaining in BG, the plant -
ers rented them small, marginal swampy plots on where they cultivated rice that served to keep them tied to the plantation while subsidising their food costs to the benefit of the planter. The first large-scale rice cultivation was done at Edinburgh, WCD when sixteen acres were rented to a number of Indentureds by the Plantation Overseer William Russell in 1865. After Crown Land costs were reduced towards the end of the century, large acreages were purchased to cultivate rice.
According to a contemporary report, “Between 1903 and 1919 the area under rice cultivation has extended from 17,000 to 61,000 acres; and whereas prior to 1893 the average annual import of rice …was 18,000 tons, this import 'had by' 1917 been converted into an export of 14,000 tons.”
The indentured Indians had launched an industry that remains their largest employer.
Free UG tuition will open new doors for 2025 CSEC graduates – Education Minister
With the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) underway and thousands of students across Guyana preparing for their future, the Ministry of Education has highlighted an unprecedented opportunity for this year's cohort — free tuition at the University of Guyana (UG).
In a direct address via social media, Education Minister Priya Manickchand reminded candidates not only of the importance of performing well in their exams, but of the historic opportunity she believes promotes continual education.
“To our children writing these exams, whether it's CSEC at the fourth and fifth form level, grades 10 and 11, or CAPE at sixth form, or grades 12 and 13. They are our exit level exams, and there's a bright, beautiful, thriving Guyana waiting with a variety of opportunities in a variety of fields.
The University of Guyana is free,” the Minister said.
In previous years, university tuition fees had served as a barrier for many promising students, however, that barrier has now been removed. Beginning this year, all qualified students will be able to pursue tertiary education at UG without the burden of tuition costs – this means that all tuition fees for diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes will be waived for both new and continuing students.
Aside from free education at UG, Minister Manickchand also emphasised that the country is now equipped with more than just academic options. “We have the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) scholarships. We have skills training centres across the country. We are building a system that meets you where you are, and takes you to where you want to go,” she said.
With this in mind, she offered practical advice to stu-
dents during the exam period, urging them to prepare well, arrive early, and avoid prohibited devices that can lead to disqualification. Her message was not only to students, but to their families and communities. “Let us all support our children. Keep your homes quiet and loving. Give them peace to focus. As a nation, we must lift up our young people — not distract or discourage them.”
Today, Guyana’s CSEC largest cohort will sit the English Language Paper 2, and Minister Manickchand is encouraging every student to approach the final weeks with discipline, confidence, and a clear vision of the future they are working toward.
“Your hard work matters. Your dreams are valid. And now, your country is ready to help you achieve them.”
Free
education
The Government’s policy of providing free university education will be fully implemented from the 2025/2026 academic year at the UG.
An excess of 11,000 current students of UG are set to benefit from this measure, along with all future entrants. The initiative, which follows a commitment by President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo to make tertiary education more accessible to all Guyanese, particularly those from low and middle-income households, will cost the treasury some $18 billion.
The measure took effect from January 1, 2025, and is seen as a transformative step toward building a highly skilled, inclusive, and resilient workforce.
Applications open
UG began accepting applications for the 2025/2026 academic year from April 1, 2025, and the process will close on May 16, 2025. All prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early, as quotas for popular programmes fill up quickly, UG said on Tuesday, adding that it is currently processing an av-
erage of 1200 applications per week.
Applications are invited for all degree, diploma, and certificate programmes, and detailed information about each programme, along with the application process, is available on UG’s official website and communication channels.
Meanwhile, prospective students set to sit the 2025 CSEC examinations are also encouraged to apply for entry into UG before receiving their results. According to the University, provisional acceptance will be granted in some programmes, pending submission of official grades. In this regard, students are advised to request that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) send their results directly to the University to expedite processing.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
GRPA Head calls for recommitment to abortion rights
...gap between law and lived reality far too wide for many women and girls
On the 30th anniversary of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1995), the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) is calling for bold and urgent action to dismantle the cultural and institutional barriers that continue to restrict women’s access to safe abortion care, despite Guyana’s legal status.
Executive Director of GRPA, Kobe Smith, deliv-
ered a powerful statement marking the anniversary; celebrating the country’s progressive legal framework while sounding the alarm on the gap between law and lived reality for too many women and girls across the nation.
Guyana remains one of only two Caribbean nations that permit abortion on request within the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Under the law, women do not need
to justify their decision, seek partner or parental permission, or meet any medical criteria. Yet, Smith notes, these rights exist more on paper than in practice.
“Thirty years ago, Guyana made history,” Smith declared. “But despite this legal milestone, many women and girls in Guyana continue to face immense barriers to accessing safe abortion care. Stigma, misinformation, systemic
discrimination, and the fear of judgment remain deeply entrenched in our health systems, our communities, and even our homes. These barriers do not just inconvenience — they endanger. They force many into silence, into unsafe alternatives, into trauma”.
The GRPA Executive Director emphasised that this is not merely a public health issue, but a matter of social justice and human rights, highlighting that unsafe abortions, often the result of stigma and misinformation continue to place women’s lives at risk. On this point, he explained that the barriers are especially severe for young people, rural populations, and those living in poverty.
In his statement, Smith issued a direct appeal to a broad spectrum of Guyanese society: policymakers, health professionals, educators, civil society, and faithbased organisations.
“We call on all stakeholders — policymakers, healthcare professionals, civil society, educators, and faith-based leaders — to recommit to the spirit of the 1995 Act by ensuring that access to abortion is not only legal, but also affordable, available, and treated as essential health care. We must equip providers with the training, resources, and support they need to deliver non-judgmental rights-based care. We must dismantle the stigma that silences so many women and girls from seeking the services they need. And we must build a culture — in every region, in every clinic, in every family — that affirms a woman’s right to choose as a matter of dignity and human rights,” he urged.
Further, Smith called for increased investment in provider training, better access to approved facilities, public education campaigns to combat misinformation, and stronger protections for women seeking care.
“Abortion is not a moral failure. It is healthcare. It is a right. And it must be safe, accessible, and stigma-free… This places Guyana at the forefront of reproductive rights in the region — a position we must not only protect, but build upon,” he declared.
Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Kobe Smith
Fisherfolk lead consultations to shape sustainable inland fishing practices in Guyana
In a landmark step toward sustainable fisheries management, fisherfolk, conservationists and community leaders gathered recently in Surama Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu Upper Essequibo) to validate a key policy document aimed at guiding responsible sport fishing practices across Guyana’s inland waters.
The document, titled “Best Practices for Sport Fishing in Inland Waters in
Guyana,” is the latest milestone in an evolving strategy to balance ecological protection with economic opportunity in the country’s growing recreational fishing sector.
The initiative emphasises a collaborative, community-driven approach with Indigenous stakeholders at the forefront of discussions.
The consultation, hosted by the Surama Village Council in collaboration with Surama Eco Lodge, brought together represen-
tatives from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, regional authorities, conservation groups, and ecotourism operators.
The document outlines key practices designed to support the long-term viability of freshwater fishing, including globally recognised conservation measures such as catch-and-release (C&R). By promoting C&R and other ethical fishing behaviours, the guidelines aim
inland fishing in Guyana.
The document is among many projects developed in response to a call issued by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha to fisherfolk within the local industry, urging them to practice sustainable fishing.
boats conducting patrols.
to minimise ecological disruption while preserving the cultural and economic value of fishing in Guyana’s hinterland communities.
Following validation, the next step will be to incorporate stakeholder feedback into the draft document. A final version will then be submitted to the Fisheries Department at the Ministry of Agriculture for formal endorsement, marking a significant step in the institutionalisation of sustainable
In 2024, the fisheries industry in Guyana had recorded its highest marine production in the last five years; in 2021, the fisheries sector faced challenges with severely low catches, impacting the livelihoods of fisherfolk and overall industry production. In response, the Government had implemented various measures, including grants, consultations, and new interventions, to support and enhance production.
To further boost production and monitor activities in the Atlantic Ocean, the Ministry of Agriculture procured tracking devices for deployment on private
In addition to traditional fishing, significant strides have been made in advancing the aquaculture industry. Initiatives such as the expanding brackish water shrimp project, cage culture, and prawn production have contributed to the diversification of the sector.
Meanwhile this year, the Agriculture Ministry has been allocated $104.6 billion, a significant investment to boost several sub-sectors such as crops, livestock and aquaculture. This represents an increase compared to the $97.6 billion allocated in the 2024 budget.
In Guyana’s 2025 National Budget, a total of $1.3 billion is allocated for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with plans to construct 80 additional brackish water shrimp ponds in Region Six and install 50 more fishing cages.
Yellowtail development aiming to start up in 2025 3rd quarter – S&P Analysts
The Yellowtail development, which will mark ExxonMobil Guyana’s fourth oil development locally and will use the recently arrived ‘One Guyana’ Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, is expected to have a start-up date in the third quarter of 2025.
This was shared by energy and commodity market analyst S&P Global Platts, which published a report in which it cited the Yellowtail project as having a start-up date of between July to September 2025.
According to the report, not only will the development start up in the third quarter, but it will also have an American Petroleum Institute (API) rating of 36.5 and a sulphur content of 0.25 per cent.
This, according to S&P, which cited a preliminary assay recently seen by the market analyst, indicates that Yellowtail is likely to be closer in quality to United States (US) West Texas Intermediate (WTI), known for its light and sweet, high-quality crude.
The Yellowtail Development is the fourth oil and gas development in the Stabroek Block, following on the heels of the Liza Phase One and Two and the Payara developments. The ‘One Guyana’ FPSO that SBM Offshore was contract-
ed to build in 2022, will be the vessel producing oil from this development.
The vessel arrived in Guyana’s waters only last month, with installation activities for the US$10 billion FPSO already underway. The Yellowtail development is located in the eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, and involves the development of the Yellowtail and Redtail fields.
The development is expected to generate approximately 1,300 jobs across four phases. It has previously been reported that the development plan for Yellowtail includes six drill centres and the drilling of up to 67 development wells.
The Yellowtail project is expected to begin with a production rate of 250,000 barrels of oil per day. It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on
stream, total production will climb to 900,000 barrels per day by 2027.
Additionally, ExxonMobil has already received approvals for and is advancing preparatory works on its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail.
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, meaning “abundance” in the Warrau Indigenous language, 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 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 interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd had had
30 per cent interest, which it recently sold to Chevron. CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
Arrival Day celebrates full spectrum of our ancestry – AFC
Today, as Guyana observes Arrival Day, the Alliance For Change joins with all Guyanese in commemorating this important occasion. It is a day that marks the arrival of the first East Indian indentured labourers to British Guiana on May 5, 1838 — a date that holds deep meaning, particularly for the East Indian community whose ancestors began their journey on the Whitby and the Hesperus
We celebrate and honour the immense contributions of East Indians to every facet of our national development — in agriculture, education, politics, religion, business, and culture. Their story is one of resilience and determination, of survival and success in the face of hardship. It is a story that helped shape the soul of this nation and continues to influence our society in powerful ways.
But Arrival Day, while rooted in a specific historical moment, must be understood within the wider context of all those who came to these shores — and those who were already here. We cannot mark this day meaningfully without also acknowledging the other peoples who contributed so significantly to the making of Guyana.
Long before the arrival of indentured labourers, enslaved Africans were brought to these
lands under one of the most brutal systems known to humankind. They built the foundations of this country with their blood, their sweat, and their stolen freedom. Their suffering was unique in its total denial of personhood, and the legacy of slavery still lives with us today.
We also remember the Indigenous peoples — the first inhabitants of this land — whose existence predates colonisation and conquest, and whose stewardship of these lands stretches back centuries. Their presence was never an arrival; it was an origin. Their rights, cultures, and lives must be continuously honoured and protected.
In the decades that followed emancipation, the Portuguese, Chinese, and free Africans came under the system of indentureship, each bringing with them their own languages, traditions, skills, and hopes. Their labour and their contributions became essential threads in the fabric of our shared national identity.
It is important, especially today, to make a clear and honest distinction: while indentureship was exploitative, coercive, and deeply unjust, it cannot and must never be equated with slavery.
Slavery was a system of total ownership of human beings,
passed down from generation to generation, denying even the most basic rights.
Indentureship, by contrast, though oppressive, functioned within a different structure, often under contractual terms, and did not carry the same permanence or absolute dehumanisation. To acknowledge this difference is not to diminish anyone’s pain or sacrifice. It is to respect the truth of each people’s journey and to ensure that our history is told with accuracy, dignity, and clarity.
Arrival Day, then, is not just about the commemoration of one group’s presence in Guyana. It is a moment to celebrate the full spectrum of our ancestry — to honour the many who arrived, the few who remained, and the many more who endured. It is a day to reflect on how far we have come as a people forged in the crucible of migration, labour, injustice, endurance, and ultimately — hope.
As we move forward, the Alliance For Change remains committed to building a nation that respects the contributions of all its people and works tirelessly to ensure equity, inclusion, and justice for all. Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese. May we continue to walk together on this journey of unity and national renewal.
The One Guyana FPSO
NA Town Council looks to enhance township after subvention increase
– proposals include street lighting and rebuilding interlot drains
The Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam (NA M&TC) is proposing street lighting and rebuilding interlot drains with the proposed increase in Government subvention.
The proposal comes on the heels of a significant financial boost announced by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who recently revealed that municipalities across Guyana will see their annual subvention allocations increase from GY$18 million to GY$50 million, starting in 2025.
The funds are expected to come through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Town Clerk, Kyrandra Gomes, presented the proposal during the council’s recent statutory
Jamaican national fined for trying to obtain false
Guyanese birth certificate
AJamaican national was fined $75,000 after admitting to making a false declaration in an attempt to obtain a Guyanese birth certificate under a fake name, with the aim of facilitating travel to Europe.
Adrian Anthony Williamson appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where the charge was formally read to him.
The court heard that on Tuesday, April 29, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, Williamson knowingly signed a statutory declaration claiming he was born in Guyana and that his name was Jamal McAndrew; a claim he knew to be false.
In court, Williamson said he was currently staying on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and explained that he had no family in Guyana. He stated he was originally
from Jamaica, and travelled to Guyana with the intent to travel to other countries.
He said he was advised by a friend that securing Guyanese documents could help him travel to Europe.
He told the Magistrate it was never his intention to remain in Guyana. “I know what I did was wrong,” he said, apologising to the Magistrate and pleading for leniency. “I have no one here, and I’m willing to
pay a fine, please, my worship.”
The prosecution objected to bail, citing the serious nature of the offence and pointing out that it carries a possible prison term of up to one year.
Despite the objection, Magistrate Azore considered Williamson’s remorse and circumstances, and ultimately imposed a fine of $75,000 instead of custodial sentencing.
meeting, outlining a number of infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing the township’s drainage, lighting and road networks.
Gomes noted that the proposal is currently before the council for approval, before being submitted to the Local Government Ministry.
“The first proposal they have is the drainage in front of the market; the front drains through Pitt Street (both sides); and three interlot drains comprising Chapel Street, Pitt Street, and Trinity Street.
For Trinity Street, it was suggested that those drains be done in concrete on both sides,” Gomes stated.
Lighting upgrades are also a priority in the proposal, with a recommendation for 30 street lights to be installed in each of the seven constituencies that make up the town.
“There is a proposal for 30 lights per constituency, which will bring us to 210 lights,” she said.
The rehabilitation of several roads also formed a component of the proposal.
“For roads, there is a
suggestion for the first two cross streets in Tannery to be done, a footpath in Esplanade Park from the gate to the football field, and the first phase in Vryman’s Erven road in the executive scheme,” she noted.
When the Council submitted its 2025 budget proposal in October last year, with the expected subvention being $18 million, it had proposed to spend $244 million. This figure compares with $133 million, which was proposed for 2024.
Arrival Day is a moment for unity, reflection, and recommitment
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) extends heartfelt greetings to all Guyanese as we come together to observe and celebrate Arrival Day —a commemoration that began with the arrival of the first group of Indentured Labourers aboard the SS Whitby on May 5, 1838, and has since grown into a broader recognition of all peoples who journeyed to these shores.
Whether they came in search of opportunities or brought through forced migration, each group played a significant role in shaping our society and contributing to the foundation of our Independence.
Today, we pause to reflect on the rich and diverse heritage that defines us as a People and as a Nation. “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” is not merely our Motto—it is a national promise forged through the sacrifices, struggles, and determination of our ancestors.
We honour the journeys of those who came from Africa, India, Portugal, China, the Caribbean, and Europe. Whether arriving as enslaved Africans, indentured labourers, or free migrants, they brought with them resilience, cultural depth, and a steadfast spirit to build better lives despite unimaginable hardships. In stabilising the labour force after Emancipation, they laid the economic, social, and cultural foundations of modern Guyana.
Our fore-parents endured immense adversity. Yet, they built communities, preserved traditions, and instilled values of family, hard work and unity. Their efforts laid the groundwork for
many of our institutions, including the public service systems that we proudly uphold today.
As Public Servants, we are the custodians of this legacy. We are called to honour it through action—by advancing professionalism, equity, transparency, and service to all Guyanese. We must remain committed to defending the public good and safeguarding the welfare of our people.
Arrival Day is not just a public holiday—it is a moment for unity, reflection and recommitment. It reminds us that our strength lies in our diversity, and that every ethnic group has contributed meaningfully to Guyana’s growth. It challenges us to uphold the values of inclusion, respect, and shared purpose that underpins the “One Guyana” vision.
Let this day inspire us to build bridges of understanding, foster positive race relations, and affirm that we are “All Different, All Equal.” Let us work together to build a just and inclusive society where every citizen is treated with dignity, fairness and justice.
We also recommit to upholding workers’ rights, advancing social justice, and strengthening the institutions that serve the people of Guyana with integrity and excellence.
On behalf of the GPSU, I wish all Guyanese a reflective, meaningful, and united Arrival Day. May we continue to build on the proud legacy of our fore-parents, and may our collective efforts shape a future that truly honours their struggles, sacrifices, and aspirations.
Acting
Acting Town Clerk Kyrandra Gomes
Adrian Williamson
After nearly a decade Man not guilty
for 2016 Good Hope fire
that killed
elderly couple
...no agreement by jury for manslaughter charge
After close to a decade of legal proceedings and intense public interest, Sanjay George has been found not guilty in the harrowing 2016 deaths of Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Jamilla Munir, 70.
The elderly couple tragically perished in a fire that consumed their heavily grilled home in Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), following a brutal robbery.
The jury at the High Court in Demerara delivered its verdict of not guilty after approximately two hours of deliberation. The trial was presided over by Justice JoAnn Barlow.
George, who had been facing two counts of murder in connection to the incident, was acquitted unanimously by the jury. However, on the lesser charge of manslaughter, jurors could not come to a consensus, resulting in no verdict being recorded on that count.
consumed the structure in mere minutes.
Investigative reports revealed that one of the accused, who resided behind the Munirs’ home, allegedly confided in a friend that the elderly couple kept large sums of cash on the premises.
That information, according to police, sparked the creation of a six-person gang, including a lookout and a driver, who conspired to rob the couple.
Authorities stated that
when the group forced their way into the residence, they searched for valuables, only to be interrupted when the Munirs were awakened by the disturbance. The intruders attempted to gain entry into the couple’s bedroom, which was located at the rear of the home. However, because of the house’s robust security features, they were unable to do so.
In frustration, the perpetrators reportedly set fire to a sofa and threw a gas cylinder into the flames before
fleeing. The explosion that followed echoed through the neighbourhood, and the suspects escaped along a path that led behind the home, passing near a church and a cemetery.
While the verdict has closed this chapter for Sanjay George, the case remains a stark reminder of the violent tragedy that shook the Good Hope community nearly a decade ago, with no answers about what really occurred that night.
Significantly, this case saw the earlier release of three of George’s co-accused. In 2023, Jason Howard, Shamadeen Mohammed, and Joel Blair were all discharged after the presiding judge directed the jury to return formal not-guilty verdicts.
That decision followed the court’s conclusion that there was no admissible evidence tying them to the crime. Furthermore, questions were raised about the injuries all three had sustained during their time in police custody, injuries which remained unex-
Throughout the trial, George was represented by Attorney-at-Law Kiswana Jefford, affiliated with the law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby. His legal team maintained that George’s confession was coerced under duress, alleging he had been physically assaulted by police officers while in custody. George, who had been held on remand since December 2018, consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.
plained.
The tragedy itself unfolded just after 11:00h on April 17, 2016, when the Munirs’ two-storey residence was set ablaze. Due to the intense flames and the security grills surrounding the house, the couple was unable to escape.
Neighbours reported hearing their desperate cries for help as the fire engulfed the structure.
After the fire was eventually extinguished, emergency responders retrieved their severely burned remains from the debris.
According to reports at the time, the blaze began in the upper flat of the house and spread rapidly throughout the building. Eyewitnesses said the fire
Man acquitted in 2020 New Market Street murder case
After standing trial at the Demerara High Court for the 2020 killing of 43-year-old Bharrat Dass, Georgetown resident Shawn Small was found not guilty by a 12-member jury on Friday.
The verdict marked the end of a lengthy legal process surrounding an incident that drew considerable public attention when it first occurred.
In April this year, Small appeared before Justice Jo Ann Barlow, where he was formally indicted for the charge of murder. Represented by Defence Attorney Kiswana Jefford, the accused entered a plea
of not guilty during his arraignment.
The trial proceeded over several days, culminating in Friday’s verdict that ultimately cleared him of the charge.
Small, said to be in his late twenties, had most recently resided at D’Andrade Street, Newtown Kitty, Georgetown. He faced a felony murder charge in connection with a robbery that reportedly occurred on November 5, 2020, along New Market Street in Georgetown. During that incident, it was alleged that Bharrat Dass, the victim, sustained multiple stab
wounds.
According to accounts provided, Small had been in the company of Dass and others on the day in question. The group was reportedly drinking at Dass’ place of work. After some time, the others departed, but it was alleged that Small later returned to the location. It was further claimed that he attacked Dass, delivering several blows to his head, and then left the scene with Dass’ mobile phone and a sum of cash.
Dass was discovered in a severely injured state by his son, who promptly rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Despite efforts to save him, Dass succumbed to his injuries on November 11, six days after the alleged attack.
Following a police investigation into the matter, Shawn Small was arrested and subsequently charged with the capital offence. With the conclusion of the trial and the jury’s decision, Small has now been acquitted of all charges related to the case.
Biker killed in earlymorning Linden crash
Amotorcyclist lost his life in a fatal accident early Saturday morning on Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Upper Berbice).
The deceased, identified only as Kellon Sumner, reportedly crashed into an SUV at around 02:00h. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the driver of the SUV fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind.
Rhonda Deane, the biker’s aunt, confirmed the tragedy. “My nephew reached in an accident and died on the spot. The driver fled the scene and left the vehicle behind on Burnham Drive, Wismar, this morning about 2 a.m.,” she said.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has not yet issued an official statement regarding
the incident. No further details were immediately available.
This latest fatality comes amid heightened nation-
al concern over road safety. Just days ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali issued a call for greater caution, noting that nearly half of this year’s road deaths involve motorcyclists, and that a staggering 72 per cent of those victims were not wearing helmets. In a public appeal, the President urged road users, especially bikers, to obey traffic laws and prioritise safety. Authorities have long warned about the dangers of speeding, reckless driving, and riding without protective gear. Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, the trend of preventable road deaths persists. Earlier last month, within just 12 hours of launching the Safe Road Intelligent Systems (SRIS), police recorded 259 instances of speeding, a leading contributor to road fatalities.
Dead: Bharrat Dass Shawn Small
Dead: Kellon Summer
Dead: Mohamed Munir, and his wife Jamilla Munir
RLPA campaigns for ‘rear more, buy local’
– as Rupununi region strives to increase food production
“Local Meat You Can’t Beat!” is the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association (RLPA) call, as it relaunches its campaign encouraging the Rupununi region’s residents to rear more and eat local because, according to the association, “nothing beats the quality, taste, and value of locally produced meat.”
By supporting our local farmers, you’re helping build food security, boost our local economy, and preserve our traditions, it added.
To spread the word, the association is out and about the communities, offering new bumper stickers for persons to “get on board with the movement.”
The association also gave a heartfelt thank you to the Sustainable Wildlife Management – Programme
Guyana for supporting the initiative.
The region has seen renewed efforts in agriculture, from modernising farming of
Good Hope First Sand community receives solar home energy kits
Good Hope First Sand community in Essequibo on Saturday receive solar home energy kits from regional officials.
Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Ricky Ramraj, along with Member of Parliament Juliet Coonjah, Regional Chairwoman Vilma De Silva, Regional Vice Chairman Mr Humace Oodit, the Prime Minister’s Representative Mr Arnold
Adams, and other regional officials, visited the community, where they led the distribution of Solar Home Energy Systems.
This transformative initiative represents a key milestone in the Government of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to promote energy equity and empower rural communities through targeted investments in infrastructure and renewable energy solutions.
traditional crops to improving livestock farming.
Back in March, a developing project in Aishalton saw the village council securing a project under the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development (HESAD) programme, to establish a Central Hub for Swine and Poultry Production, as well as training in poultry production.
A Nappi Slaughter facility was recently commissioned with the support of the Greater Guyana Initiative, which joined two others in the region equipped to meet hygienic and ethical standards for local consumption.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the HESAD project is a six-year, USD 11.14 million project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Guyana.
The aim of the project is to improve small-scale farmers’ access to public services,
knowledge and technologies through training and technical assistance in the areas of planning and natural resources management.
The project also aims to
improve food security and nutrition through the promotion of crops, fish and forest products that can sustainably improve household diets.
Agri Minister updates fisherfolk on current, future industry upgrades
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Saturday met with fishermen from Grove, Ogle, and Meadowbank, to discuss ongoing and planned infrastructural upgrades at several key wharfs along the coast.
During the meeting, Minister Mustapha reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving facilities for the fishing community and ensuring the sector's long-term viability.
Of particular note, the Minister announced that dredging of the channel at Ogle is scheduled to com-
mence in the coming days.
This initiative follows a commitment made to the fishermen by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and aims to enhance navigability and safety for fishing vessels operating in the area.
In addition, Minister Mustapha informed the fishermen that a contractor has already been mobilised to remove derelict and dilapidated boats currently docked at the Meadowbank Wharf.
This move is intended to improve safety and sanitation and to facilitate smoother operations at the facility.
In Guyana’s 2025 National Budget, a total of $1.3 billion has been allocated for the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Residents receive solar kits from regional officials
A store which features a branded freezer promoting locally grown poultry meat in the region
Some of the participants at the meeting
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha speaks with stakeholders at the meeting
Move over, Med diet – plantains and cassava can be as healthy as tomatoes and olive oil, say researchers
Findings from Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region indicate traditional eating habits in rural Africa can boost the immune system and reduce inflammation
Plantains, cassava and fermented banana drink should be added to global healthy eating guidelines alongside the olive oil, tomatoes and red wine of the Mediterranean diet, say researchers who found the traditional diet of people living in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region had a positive impact on the body’s immune system.
Traditional foods enjoyed in rural villages also had a positive impact on markers of inflammation, the researchers found in a study published this month in the journal Nature Medicine.
Dr Quirijn de Mast, one of the paper’s authors, said they were now in a race against time to record and study the potential benefits of African heritage diets before they disappear as people move to cities and adopt western-style eating habits.
“Time is ticking because you see that these heritage diets are being replaced
more and more by western diets,” he said. “We will lose so much interesting information [from which] we can learn – and not only for Africa.”
In previous research, the team had established that people following the traditional way of life in rural areas had a different immune-system profile to urban dwellers, with more anti-inflammatory proteins. Chronic inflammation is a key driver of many non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.
The new study set out to establish whether diet played a role. For a fortnight, 77 young men in their 20s and 30s were switched from heritage to western-style diets, or the reverse – with blood samples taken at the start and end, and again four weeks later.
Meals on the heritage diet menu included green plantain mixed with kidney beans, boiled chicken served with green vegetables and brown rice and beans. On the western-style menu, they included pizza, fried chicken and French fries, and
spaghetti served with beef stew.
Those newly adopting a western-style diet saw inflammatory markers in their blood increase and tests suggested their immune systems did not respond as well to infections. They also gained weight. By contrast, switching from a western diet to a heritage diet had a largely anti-inflammatory effect, and blood markers linked to metabolic problems fell.
In a third arm of the trial, participants following a western-style diet were asked to drink the local fermented banana beverage,
known as mbege, for one week. That group also saw improvements in markers of inflammation.
For Dr Godfrey Temba, the first author of the paper and a lecturer at KCMC University in Moshi, Tanzania, the findings were not a surprise. “When we are in most of the villages, talking to elderly people [of] 80 or 90 years, they are very healthy. They don’t have any health complications [and] they tell you about consuming this type of diet and this beverage since they were 25.”
However, the diet and its benefits have not been explored and documented –unlike the traditional diets of the Mediterranean and Nordic countries, which are promoted by the World Health Organization for their beneficial effects.
Temba said: “We think this is the right time … so that [African heritage di-
ets] can be also included in the global guidelines of diets, because they really have a health benefit – but because it’s not studied extensively, it’s not easy to convince [people] that they are healthy, because you don’t have enough data.”
The diet’s components, such as flavonoids and other polyphenols, and its impact on the gut microbiome were likely to play a part in the observed effects, De Mast said.
The study was conducted only in men for logistical reasons, but the researchers said they would expect similar findings in women, and for benefits to be maintained over time if people continued the diets.
Many African countries are facing rising rates of NCDs such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
De Mast, who holds positions at KCMC University and Radboud University
Medical Center in the Netherlands, said research priorities in Africa had historically been determined by countries in the global north with a focus on infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.
“Research on [things like] immunology has been neglected. I hope it will change now, with the rapid rise in NCDs, because that will be a major challenge for health systems across Africa.”
Nutritional guidelines also tended to “translate what we know from the north to Africa”, he said. “I think you should have, really, region-specific recommendations based on scientific data.”
The team is now testing what impact adopting a heritage diet can have on Tanzanians living with obesity, including whether it can boost their response to vaccines, and plan to compare different regional heritage diets.
“There’s so much diversity in dietary patterns across Africa – or [even just] in Tanzania,” said De Mast. “Godfrey is in Kilimanjaro region, but 30km down the road there is the Maasai tribe and their diet is entirely different. It’s mainly animal protein based – still, traditionally, cardiovascular disease was almost absent.
“So I think this is just the beginning of research looking at these heritage diets.” (The Guardian)
Dr Tariq Jagnarine Fam meD, enDocrinology
Razor bumps are ingrown hairs that develop after shaving or using other hair removal techniques. The medical term for razor bumps is pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).
Ingrown hairs develop when hair grows back into the skin rather than up and out. The hair may curl and turn inward after shaving, waxing, or plucking. As the new skin cells grow over the hair, they can become trapped and cause a bump to form. Razor bumps can develop anywhere a person shaves or removes hair, including the face, head, legs, armpits, and pubic area.
Various treatments can help remove or manage razor bumps. These include using salicylic acid, gently brushing the skin, and applying a warm washcloth. Preventive measures may also help.
Treatment
Nothing can make razor bumps go away instantly, but various strategies can help remove or manage them.
• Stop shaving
A person may choose to stop shaving for a time to allow razor bumps to gradually disappear. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), new razor bumps may continue to appear for a while after stopping shaving as new hairs emerge. However, the bumps should disappear after around 3 months.
• Use salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that unclogs pores, sloughs off dead skin cells and treats inflammation, allowing razor bumps to heal. Salicylic acid can also help treat acne, according to the AAD, so it may be a good option for individuals with both acne and razor bumps. Various products contain salicylic acid, such as cleansers, toners, lotions, and peels.
• Try glycolic acid
Like salicylic acid, glycolic acid helps the skin peel by removing old cells from the surface of the skin. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. Glycolic acid reduces the curvature of the hair and lessens the risk of re-entering the skin. It speeds up the skin’s natural sloughing process, which is why a glycolic acid product can help re-
HEALTH TIPS
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF RAZOR BUMPS
move razor bumps and give the skin a smoother appearance.
A glycolic acid chemical peel may help manage razor bumps.
• Try face scrubs.
Sometimes, a mechanical or physical scrub can remove dead skin cells that plug the pores and keep hairs trapped inside. These types of skin care scrub may contain sugar, salt, ground fruit pits, or tiny beads. Scrubs may remove debris and free ingrown hairs by physically sloughing off dead skin cells.
However, some scrubs may irritate those with sensitive skin. They may not be suitable for use when a person’s skin has become inflamed or irritated.
• Gently brush the skin
A soft brush can help remove dead skin cells and debris that clog the pores and guide hairs out of the pores
duce the risk of razor bumps. However, they contain chemicals that can irritate the skin. A person should not use these products if their skin is already inflamed or sensitive.
beneficial to do the following:
• Avoid a close shave. Instead, leave the hair 0.5–3 millimetres long.
• Use a single-blade razor or an electric razor with a variable setting to allow
to stop them from becoming trapped. Brushing can also help train the hair to grow in a single direction, making ingrown hairs less likely. A person may use a skin care brush, a soft bristle face brush, or a soft toothbrush.
• Use a warm washcloth
Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the skin can help soften the skin and draw the ingrown hair out, especially when a person combines it with another option, such as brushing. Other options include steaming the area in a hot shower or sauna.
• Consider medical treatment
A doctor or pharmacist may recommend over the counter (OTC) creams, serums, and cleansers containing steroids to reduce inflammation and manage infection. A mild retinoid can also help prevent razor bumps and acne. If OTC methods do not help, a doctor may prescribe medication. This could be a stronger retinoid, such as tretinoin (Retin-A).
• Try another hair removal technique
Shaving is the hair removal method most likely to lead to razor bumps, so one option is to try a different technique. Hair removal creams, or depilatories, dissolve the hair and re-
Laser hair removal is a longer-term option, but it can be expensive. A person may need several treatment sessions with a dermatologist, but the hair tends to grow back finer and lighter than before.
Prevention
Taking various steps before shaving may help reduce the risk of razor bumps.
• Cleanse the skin with a noncomedogenic product. These can help clear pores and remove excess skin cells from the surface. Noncomedogenic products do not tend to clog pores.
• Shave only when the skin is very wet, either during or immediately after a shower. Alternatively, place a warm, wet towel on the area for five minutes before shaving.
• Use moisturising shaving cream or gel and leave for 1–2 minutes before shaving.
• Ensure the shaving cream is wet when starting to shave, or else rinse the skin and apply more liberally.
• Avoid skincare products that contain irritating ingredients, such as artificial fragrances, which could make inflammation worse.
• Modifying the shaving technique may also help prevent razor bumps. It may be
for a longer cut.
• Shave slowly, following the direction of hair growth.
• Avoid pulling the skin tight while shaving.
• Avoid repeating strokes in one area or holding the razor too close to the skin.
It is also important to take care of the skin after shaving. The following steps may help:
• Rinse off all traces of shaving cream with warm water to reduce the risk of irritation.
• Place a cool compress on the skin for 5 minutes.
• Apply an aftershave formulated to prevent razor bumps.
• Clean and dry the razor and store it in a dry place.
• Change the blade to a single-use razor every 5–7 shaves.
If none of these measures help or if symptoms are severe, it is best to contact a doctor for advice.
Research suggests that males of African descent are more susceptible to razor bumps than other people. In addition, razor bumps commonly affect the groin area of females from all populations.
Activities that increase the risk include:
• Shaving close to the skin
• Shaving under the jawline or on the face and neck
• Plucking hair in the armpits, in the pubic area, or on the legs
• Individual factors can also make razor bumps more likely, such as having:
• Skin folds or scar tissue in areas where people remove hair, as they enable hair of any type to re-enter the skin.
• Tightly curling hair
• Hair that grows in different directions
• Coarse hair
• Specific genetic feature involving keratin in the hair follicle.
Complications
Razor bumps can lead to:
Acne-like eruptions on the skin
Skin papules that may be red or the same colour as a person’s skin
Itching and tenderness
In some cases, bleeding when shaving.
Sometimes, an infection can develop, which is known as folliculitis barbae.
Other complications that can arise include:
Abscesses
Changes in skin colour following inflammation
Scarring, including keloid scarring.
Symptoms may be more severe in people with eczema or dermatitis. If home remedies do not work, it is advisable to seek guidance from a healthcare professional, such as a dermatologist, to discuss other options. They may recommend prescription skin creams and other treatments.
Regional
Trump says he is not considering running for third term
US President Donald Trump has denied that he is considering running for a third presidential term, a move which experts agree is banned under the US Constitution.
“I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker in an interview that aired on Sunday.
Trump, 78, has previously said that he was “not joking” about wanting to serve a third, or even fourth, term
as US president. He later said his statements were meant to troll the “fake news media”.
His company, The Trump Organization, has been selling “Trump 2028” hats, fuelling armchair speculation that he may seek to remain in office after his second term ends in January 2029.
In the interview, recorded from his residence in Florida on Friday, Trump said that he has had many “requests” from people asking that he consider seeking to remain in office.
“It’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else,” Trump said.
He added that “there are many people selling the 2028 hat”.
“But this is not something I’m looking to do,” he said, going on to list Republicans who could take his place, including VicePresident JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Excerpt from BBC News)
PM Kamla scraps T&T Revenue Authority
Moments after 32 members of her government were sworn in at President’s House—and with most of her Cabinet seated behind her—Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that her first priority would be to dismantle the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA).
After declaring that it is time for “boots on the ground” and for her government to “get to work”, Persad-Bissessar then announced, “We have to reform a lot of pieces of legislation, and the areas of priority will be one, to repeal the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Act,” she said to cheers from the crowd.
The legislative framework governing the TTRA was passed by an act of Parliament in December 2021. The TTRA was the
former PNM administration’s attempt to restructure the State’s tax collection regime, and was intended to replace the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) and Customs and Excise Division (CED). And it was touted as a major asset in generating funds for the State.
The United National Congress (UNC) has previously said it was against the TTRA, underscoring that it will lead to severe job losses and put too much control into the hands of the Minister of Finance.
The Public Services Association (PSA), now a major ally of the government, challenged the TTRA’s implementation all the way to the Privy Council. However, that matter was dismissed in September 2024.
But Persad-Bissessar told members of the media yesterday that a major mis-
sion of this new Government would be to find new revenue streams.
Asked how that would be done without the TTRA, new Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo said, “There are other streams of revenue available, but before I comment on what we are going to do, I want to take an assessment of what is there, and based on what is there, we will plan our way forward.”
Pressed on why the Government is rejecting the TTRA outrightly, Tancoo said, “Let the Attorney General deal with that.”
TTRA chairman: Too early to comment on PM’s statement Contacted Saturday night, chairman of TTRA Nigel Edwards told the Sunday Guardian that it was premature to say anything.
(Excerpt from Trinidadian Guardian)
Torrential overnight rain in T&T disrupts water supply
Torrential overnight showers have affected WASA(Water and Sewerage Authority) facilities in the North-East Region of Trinidad and Tobabgo, leaving thousands of customers across the region without a supply.
A release said the authority had deployed crews focused on returning all facilities to full operation. Several water treatment facilities have been taken offline.
WASA said among the factors affecting the plants are the high turbidity in raw water sources, clogged intake screens from debris carried by floodwaters, and flooded river conditions, impacting production capacity. (Excerpt from T&T Newsday)
Brazil Police thwart bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert
Brazilian police said they thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga’s concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, in co-ordination with the justice ministry, said suspects had recruited participants to carry out attacks using improvised explosives, and the plan was aimed at gaining notoriety on social media.
The person responsible for the plan and a teenager were arrested, the police said on X.
A crowd of more than two million people gathered for the concert, which was free to attend.
Police said the group that planned the attack had been spreading hate speech, mainly against children, adolescents and the LGBTQ+ community.
The alleged mastermind was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, while the teenager was detained for storing child pornography in Rio.
Those responsible were
also promoting the radicalisation of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content “as a form of belonging and challenge among young people”.
The justice ministry said the suspects had identified themselves as Lady Gaga fans, known widely as “Little Monsters”.
Police issued search warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo, and electronic devices and other materials were seized.
“Operation Fake Monster” was launched fol-
lowing a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered online groups encouraging violence among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism.
In a massive security operation, 5,000 officers were deployed and attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Drones and facial recognition cameras were also used to police the event.
Lady Gaga, who last performed in Brazil in 2012, took the stage as part of a tour to promote her eighth album, Mayhem. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Jamaica receives humanitarian, medical supplies from India
The government has received humanitarian and medical supplies valued at $60 million from the government of the Republic of India.
These supplies, which come 30 days ahead of the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, are expected to bolster the nation’s capacity to effectively respond to natural disasters and medical emergencies.
The items were officially handed over by High Commissioner of India to Jamaica, His Excellency Shri Mayank Joshi, during a ceremony at the ministry
of foreign affairs and foreign trade in Kingston, on May 1.
They include 12 generators, four neonatal incubators, 160 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units for lab equipment, 800 transport oxygen cylinders, 12 vaccine refrigerators, 2,000 pocket pulse oximeters, 1,950 digital blood pressure machines, and 1,000 solar-powered lanterns.
The donation was received by minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who ex-
pressed Jamaica’s appreciation to the government and people of India for their timely contribution.
“These items are critical to our disaster response mechanism. The items will be used to respond to various health emergencies and will be particularly useful in the event we are impacted by any natural hazards,” permanent secretary in the ministry of local government and community development, Marsha HenryMartin, who delivered remarks on behalf of portfolio minister, Desmond Mckenzie, said.
‘We must build better citizens’: Antigua PM calls for cultural reform beyond economics
Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for a shift in national development priorities to include greater focus on cultural, moral, and social progress, warning that economic growth alone is not enough to create a well-rounded society.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne programme on Pointe FM, Browne said: “We have to go beyond the traditional aspects of governing. Before, the focus was almost exclusively on the economic aspects — providing a job, helping people to earn enough money to buy a car, a home.” He argued that the cur-
rent model overlooks deeper issues that affect the fabric of society: “I think we have to look at the governance of the country in a more holistic way… I want to know that maybe a couple decades from now, Antiguans and Barbudans are significantly brighter than we were before in terms of the quality of education — and also that we become a better cultured people.”
The Prime Minister said building morally sound citizens requires investment in soft culture, such as the performing arts, as well as spiritual and communal engagement.
“Even in terms of crime and violence — if you no-
tice, developed countries as they evolve, they’re not as barbaric as they were centuries ago. But I don’t think we are spending enough time on the soft issues and building a better cultural society,” Browne said. He also noted the government’s increased support for initiatives like the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE), and the upcoming Performing Arts Centre, to create platforms that foster both academic and cultural growth.
(Excerpt from Antigua News Room)
Flooding at the Guanapo intake after torrential showers on May 3
Around the world
Shell reportedly weighing up merits of making move to buy BP D
Shell is talking to advisers about the potential for a takeover of the rival oil producer BP, according to reports.
The oil company has been discussing the feasibility and merits of a takeover of BP with its advisers in recent weeks, according to a report from Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter.
If this were to happen, it would mark one of the biggest deals ever in the oil and gas industry.
Speculation about a possible takeover comes as BP’s shares have suffered this year. They have fallen by more than 30% in the past 12 months as a turnaround plan under the chief executive, Murray Auchincloss, has failed to inspire investors and oil prices have fallen.
Shell may also wait for
BP to reach out for another possible suitor to make the first move, those familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Deliberations are allegedly still in the early stages, and Shell could decide to focus on share buybacks and smaller acquisitions rather than such a big merger, according to the report. The combination of Britain’s biggest oil companies would be one of the
largest deals ever in the sector. Shell’s market value of £145.6bn is more than double that of BP, at £55.9bn.
A spokesperson for Shell told the Guardian: “As we have said many times before, we are sharply focused on capturing the value in Shell through continuing to focus on performance, discipline and simplification.”
A spokesperson for BP declined to comment. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis lands near Israel’s main airport
Amissile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Israel on Sunday landed near the country’s main international airport, causing panic among passengers and drawing threats of retaliation against the group and Iran.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike that struck near Ben Gurion Airport, the latest in a string of attacks, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.
“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu said on X.
In a separate video issued by his office, Netanyahu said: “We will do what we need to do to take care of our security, to respond effectively, and to give Iran due warning that this cannot continue.”
Singapore’s ruling party wins election in landslide
Singapore’s long-governing People’s Action Party (PAP) has retained its strong grip on power in the city-state’s general election, extending its 66-year unbroken rule and staving off any gains by the opposition Workers Party (WP).
The Election Department announced the PAP won 87 of 97 seats in parliament after vote counting ended on Saturday, with the WP maintaining its 10 seats.
The PAP, in power since before independence in 1965, still benefits from vast institutional reach and resources, while opposition parties struggle with limited coverage and funding.
Government officials had cautioned that losing seats could weaken Singapore’s ability to navigate global economic instability, especially amid ongoing US-China tensions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Trump says he "doesn’t rule out" using military force to control Greenland
onald Trump would not rule using military force to gain control of Greenland, the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory within Denmark, a fellow NATO member with the US.
Since taking office, the US president has repeatedly expressed the idea of US expansion into Greenland, triggering widespread condemnation and unease both on the island itself and in the global diplomatic community. Greenland is seen as strategically important both for defense and as a future source of mineral wealth.
In an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday, Trump was asked whether he would rule out
using force against the territory.
“I don’t rule it out. I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly.
Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security,” Trump said.
The exchange came as part of wide-ranging interview following Trump’s first 100-days in office last week and he was also asked about the idea of using military force against Canada – an idea once unthinkable but now a subject of speculation amid Trump’s repeated assertion he would like to make Canada the
US’s 51st state.
“It’s highly unlikely. I don’t see it with Canada. I just don’t see it, I have to be honest with you,” Trump said.
A poll published last month found that 68% of Americans believe Trump is serious about the US trying to take over Greenland, and 53% think Trump is serious when he talks about the US trying to take control of Canada.
But the survey, commissioned by ABC News found that respondents didn’t think either annexation would be a good idea. About 86% said they opposed the US trying to take control of Canada, and 76% opposed trying to take control of Greenland. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Eight arrested in two separate anti-terror operations in England
Eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, have been arrested in two separate counter-terrorism police investigations.
Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel’s missile defence systems, though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv last year. Sunday’s missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted.
The Israeli military said it was investigating.
A Reuters reporter at the airport heard sirens and saw passengers running towards safe rooms.
Several people posted videos showing a plume of black smoke visible behind parked aircraft and airport buildings. Pictures showed a nearby road scattered with dust and debris.
The Israeli ambulance service said eight people were taken to hospital for mild to moderate injuries.
Claiming responsibility, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Israel’s main airport was “no longer safe for air travel.” (Excerpt from Reuters)
Five were arrested at various locations around England on Saturday as part of a “preplanned” investigation into an alleged plot to “target a specific premises”, the Metropolitan Police said, but did not name.
Four of those - two aged 29, one aged 40 and another aged 46 - are Iranian nationals. Police said the nationality and age of the fifth were still being established.
Three other men, all Iranian, were arrested in London on Saturday under national security legislation as part of a separate investigation led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC). Police said the two operations were not connected.
In the operation in which five men were arrested, four were detained under the Terrorism Act. The fifth man was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Pace) Act.
All five were arrested on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism.
In the separate operation,
Australia PM Anthony Albanese wins second three-year term
Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in two decades, in a dramatic comeback for his Labor Party in a general election dominated by the cost-of-living crisis.
The Labor Party was on track on Saturday for an unexpectedly large parliamentary majority, as Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal Party, conceded defeat, having lost his own seat.
Australia’s public broadcaster ABC projected that Labor was on track to win 85 seats in the House of
Representatives, easily surpassing the 76-seat threshold needed to reach a majority.
The election results extend the Labor Party’s return to power after nearly a decade in opposition. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
the Met said three men – aged 39, 44 and 55 – were arrested under the National Security Act at three separate addresses in north-west London and west London, and had been taken into custody while searches continued.
The National Security Act covers offences deemed a threat to national security, which can include spying, sabotage and acting on behalf of a foreign power.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, refused to say if the plot was related to Israel, but described it as “certainly significant” and said “it is unusual for us to conduct this scale of activity”. He also asked the public to “avoid speculation and some of the things that are being posted online”.(Sources: BBC News, Sky News)
Father charged with killing deputy a day after Police killed son
US Police allege that a day after an Ohio man’s 18-year-old son was gunned down by police, the father hit and killed a sheriff’s deputy with a car.
Rodney Hinton Jr, 38, is charged with aggravated murder and is being held without bond. The alleged attack came hours after he watched police footage of the fatal encounter with his son, lawyers for the Hinton family say.
Cincinnati’s police chief said “there is a connection” between the two cases, although there has been no suggestion that the father knew the deputy who died.
Ryan Hinton was killed
after brandishing a gun at police during a stolen vehicle investigation, officials say. A gun was found at the scene. There is no indication he fired it.
The deputy, who has not been named, was directing traffic outside of the University of Cincinnati graduation, when he was fatally struck about 13:00 local time on Friday.
In a court hearing on Saturday, prosecutors alleged that Mr Hinton, “in a way that was calculated and premeditated lined up his car, deliberately accelerated his car and purposely caused the death of an on-duty deputy sheriff”.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Prosecutors allege the father deliberately attacked law enforcement after his son was shot to death by police
SUDOKU
A physical challenge will motivate you to take better care of yourself and become more active in your community or group functions. Do your part, and you won’t be disappointed.
Take refuge in spaces that allow you the freedom to work without someone looking over your shoulder or criticizing everything you do. Leave nothing to chance.
Look at documents involving institutions or your possessions, assets or joint ownership situations. Aim to broaden your perspective and enhance your opportunities.
Slow down. Breathe deep, consider your situation and take a pass if something appears sketchy. Focus inward, hone your skills and adjust your talents to accommodate what you want to pursue.
Live and learn. Concentrate on what matters to you and what you must do to fulfill your dreams. Learn new skills and associate with people who have similar interests and goals.
A change may be in order, but micromanagement is necessary to avoid excessive behavior and letting others take advantage of you. Make decisions guided by common sense, not by emotions.
Hold what and who you love close and manufacture an environment around you conducive to independence and achieving your goals. Fuel business or personal relationships with endless possibilities.
Settle down and settle in for the long haul. Change begins with you. Discipline and a passionate attitude will give you the edge in competitive situations.
Leap forward. Refuse to let fear stifle your plans. Invest in yourself and find a path leading to monetary rewards and satisfaction. Make home improvements and a healthy lifestyle your priorities.
Be careful what you say and do. Take care of emotional or health issues before they have a chance to wreak havoc on your life. Put yourself first.
Being proactive can lead to good or bad, depending on your approach. An opportunity is apparent if you network. Attend events, travel and gather information that can help you advance your interests.
Making big decisions will backfire unless you’ve done the proper legwork to ensure your plan is solid and fair. If you embellish or take on too much, your strategy will crumble.
Prabhsimran 91, Arshdeep’s new-ball spell take PBKS towards play-offs
Punjab Kings (PBKS) are marching towards a spot in the playoffs, moving up to number two on the table. They dispatched one of their main rivals Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with a power-packed batting performance, scoring 236 for 5, and winning by 37 runs.
The headliner Shreyas Iyer actually wanted to bowl at the toss. But he said he was “up for the competition”, and it seemed so were his team. They hit 34 boundaries in the innings – 16 fours and 18 sixes – en route to their 11th total of 200-plus in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Only Mumbai Indians have more.
b
b Prince Yadav 16
Shashank
Prabhsimran Singh was the architect of this chaos. He attacked nine of his first 15 deliveries, and in that time he could’ve been dismissed for 22 off 11 balls. But Nicholas Pooran put down a skier. When a similar ball came down just seconds later, Prabhsimran played the same shot and found the straight boundary. He’s an intent machine with a very short memory. He made his third fifty on the trot, having come into this season with only four fifty-plus scores in his IPL career.
There was a small period when Prabhsimran stalled. He got to 45 off 24 balls. Then made only 8 from 11 balls, but made up for that hitting 38 off his last 13 deliveries.
c Wadhera
b Arshdeep Singh 0 Nicholas Pooran lbw
b Arshdeep Singh 6
Rishabh Pant (c)† c Shashank Singh
b Azmatullah Omarzai 18 Ayush Badoni c Arshdeep Singh b Chahal 74 David Miller c Shashank Singh
b Azmatullah Omarzai 11 Abdul Samad c & b Jansen 45
Avesh Khan not out 19
Prince Yadav not out 1
Extras (lb 3, w 9) 12
Total 20 Ov (RR: 9.95) 199/7 Bowling O-M-R-W
Arshdeep Singh 4-0-16-3
Marco Jansen 4-0-31-1
Azmatullah Omarzai 4-0-33-2
Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-50-1
Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-0-49-0
Marcus Stoinis 1-0-17-0
The support acts
The batters at the other end matched Prabhsimran’s fire. In fact, every time LSG took a wicket, the new partnership began with a boundary within two deliveries, leaving the visitors with no place to hide. Shreyas once again showed he’s a changed man. Until IPL 2024, he was striking at 125. Since then, he has been striking at 163. That has not come at the cost of his productivity. He averaged 32 before. Now it’s 44.
Shashank Singh played the perfect cameo, 33* off 15 balls which included a six off Mayank Yadav that legit tried to scale up to one of the Dharamsala mountain tops.
LSG’s woes
Mayank went for 60 runs in his four overs, the jointworst figures by an LSG bowler in IPL. Avesh Khan leaked 26 runs in the 19th over, which included three fours and two sixes. Digvesh Rathi went for 40-plus in only one of his first nine matches. In his last two, he has gone for 48 and 46. At a time when they need to be peaking, LSG were floundering. Their best hope was that their top order fired.
Arshdeep kills the contest
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Pooran had made 63 per cent of all their team’s runs coming into this game. Arshdeep Singh knocked two of them out in
the third over, and returned for the last man standing.
LSG were reduced to 38 for 3, their lowest powerplay score this season. Rishabh Pant fell for 18 off 17 balls, his ninth score below 25 in 11 innings. His dismissal was a spectacle. He swung so hard at the ball that he lost control of the bat, which flew out to midwicket while the catch was taken at deep cover.
Fightback
There was more than half the innings left to play when ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster suggested that LSG’s chances of winning was down at 0.13 per cent. Guess being 73 for 5 is bad chasing 237. The last specialist batting pair they had – Ayush Badoni (74 off 40 deliveries) and Abdul Samad –delayed the inevitable by putting on a partnership of 81 in 41 balls. (ESPNcricinfo)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) are marching towards a spot in the play-offs
Arshdeep Singh removed LSG big guns early
Prabhsimran Singh scored 91 from 48 balls
Rishabh Pant’s struggles continue in this season of the IPL
KKR survive last-ball thriller to stay alive in top 4 race
One run was all that separated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a rollercoaster of a game that could have gone either way until the last ball. Riyan Parag hit six sixes in six balls, five of which came in a 32-run over against Moeen Ali, and Shubham Dubey tonked Vaibhav Arora for two fours and a six with 22 needed in the final over.
With three needed off the final ball, Dubey drilled the yorker from Arora to long-off and took off to try and force a Super Over. Jofra Archer, the non-striker at the other end, got a head start but was found well short thanks to a sharp throw from Rinku Singh.
The win keeps KKR’s play-offs hopes alive in IPL 2025. It was built on Andre Russell’s 25-ball 57 that helped them score 85 in their last five overs after a slowdown against spin. Moeen and Varun Chakravarthy had RR on the ropes in the chase, but Parag almost turned things around with a takedown of his own.
Parag breathes life into RR’s chase
Disappointment was written all over Parag’s face, however, when Varun flattened Wanindu Hasaranga’s off stump, RR were nearly out needing 136 off 73 balls at the time and the required rate touched 13 with only three fours coming in the next four overs. But the last two of those helped Parag get into a rhythm.
Then came the 32-run over against Moeen. Four of
those sixes came over square leg or midwicket. When Moeen went wide, the ball sailed over long-off. Parag’s next ball was from Varun and reverse-swept for six more.
Shimron Hetmyer played within himself and was going at just over a run a ball for the majority of his innings, but his presence was reassuring as proved by the two boundary-less overs after his dismissal.
Rana creates the opening Harshit Rana returned with figures of 0 for 28 off two overs and conceded a boundary off the first ball. He then bowled three full balls and peppered in two short ones to dry up the runs. The second bouncer went off Hetmyer’s bat into the hands of the keeper.
KKR brought Sunil Narine back with RR needing 43 off 24. He went for just five and nearly had Parag caught at deep midwicket.
Rana built on the pressure despite bowling a noball with yorkers and slower ones. Parag was nearly run out on the third legal ball. He holed out to long-on slapping a wide cutter very next ball and RR slipped to 173 for 7.
Russell was introduced in the penultimate over and, like he did in the last game, tried to land six yorkers. He did not nail all, but went for just 11.
Arora’s wide-yorker plan started the final over with three runs. Shubham went 6-4-6 when Arora went short and wide before faltering with back-to-back yorkers. Arora, nonetheless, stuck with it last ball and it paid
off.
KKR go up and down gears
The day started with Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz stepping down the leg side quite often. Narine fell cheaply and Gurbaz mistimed a few, but picked up four boundaries and a six, with the majority on the leg side. Yudhvir Singh, who conceded boundaries against all top-order batters, was the costliest bowler in the 56-run powerplay.
Rahane started well, as he drove and flicked Akash Madhwal for four and six. But he slowed down considerably – from 18 off 8 to 30 off 24 – mainly due to RR’s spin choke.
Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Gurbaz slog sweeping, but it was Hasaranga who first denied batters pace and forced them to apply power. Parag then brought himself on and bowled three overs straight. He got Rahane with a 76 kilometres per hour (kph) sidearm ball.
Meanwhile, Angkrish Raghuvanshi kept KKR going with conventional shots. He slashed, pulled and drove to pick up boundaries. He got a reprieve off Theekshana before Russell took him down, but fell next over to Archer for a 31-ball 44.
Russell mania at the death KKR had needed a late
push in their own innings and got it from Russell, who said he felt like a 27-yearold, and was hitting like one after coming in at 111 for 3 in the 13th over. He started slow – 2 off 9 balls – but blasted off once spin made way for pace. He hit all of his six fours and four sixes in the last five overs, in which KKR scored 70.
Madhwal was the first bowler to be taken down, first on the leg side, with a six and a four and then a slap through cover point in a 15run over. Archer then missed two yorkers, overpitching and bowling in the slot next, and was hit downtown for a six and a four.
Theekshana’s spin was
brought back in the 18th. He created a chance that Parag dropped at long-off and then had a mistimed slice land safely at mid-off. The strike then rotated from Raghuvanshi to Russell and it led to a hat-trick of sixes. Theekshana went wide all three balls, short on the first two and full on the third, but was hit in the arc between cow corner and long-off. Archer created two more chances next over. Raghuvanshi was caught at deep square leg, but Russell got a reprieve from Parag at long-off again. That was just before Russell capitalised on a missed yorker from Archer to bring up a 22-ball fifty and belt a slower bouncer down the ground. The final over started with three wides and an edge that landed safely at deep extra cover. The wide yorker was then abandoned for bouncers, till Rinku pulled one in front of midwicket. Two missed yorkers then went for sixes, as both the 18th and 20th overs went for 20-plus runs.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi c Rahane b Arora 4 Kunal Singh Rathore c Russell b Ali 0
Riyan Parag (c) c Arora b Harshit Rana 95 Dhruv Jurel † b Varun 0
Wanindu Hasaranga b Varun 0 Shimron Hetmyer c Narine b Harshit Rana 29
Shubham Dubey not out 25
Jofra Archer run out (Singh/Arora)
Kolkata Knight Riders stay alive in top four race
Riyan Parag breathes life into RR’s chase (95 from 45 balls)
Shimron Hetmyer was dismissed for 29 runs
Andre Russell played a match-winning innings
Meusa is new GAPLF President
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has elected a new executive body to serve for the 2025-2026 term following its recent Annual General Meeting held at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
The election, according to the Federation, was conducted in a transparent and democratic process. It was presided over by prominent Attorney-at-Law, sport personality and friend of the federation, Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon. The election marks a new chapter in the Federation’s ongoing commitment to the development of powerlifting in Guyana.
Charged to put the sport first, the newly-elected executive comprises of a dynamic mix of experienced professionals and passionate newcomers who have pledged to promote the sport, support athletes, and strengthen GAPLF’s presence both locally and internationally.
The 2025-2026 GAPLF Executive includes:
President Paul Meusa
Vice President
Gordon Spencer
General Secretary Roger Rogers
Treasurer Asha Sookoo
PRO Kezia Joseph Committee members:
Demetri Chan
Bjorn Williams Keisha Abrigo
The newly-appointed President expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead and emphasised the Federation’s focus on grass-
roots development, athlete welfare, and international competitiveness.
“The next year will be focused on strengthening the infrastructure of the sport, hosting more national competitions, and ensuring our athletes receive the training and exposure they deserve,” President Meusa shared.
The GAPLF has extended its sincere thanks to the outgoing President Franklyn Wilson and his executive for their service and contribu-
Several youths shine as EBFA U14 League continues
The East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Boys U14 League roared back to life on Saturday, May 3, 2025, delivering two thrilling matches that showcased the future of Guyanese football.
Fans who gathered at the playing venue were treated to a sensational display of skill, passion, and raw talent as young stars lit up the pitch with electrifying performances.
In the day’s opening encounter, Friendship All Stars FC delivered a masterclass performance, routing Kuru Kuru FC with a dominant 6-1 victory — their most emphatic win of the season so far. The match was a dazzling exhibition of attacking football, with standout contributions across the field.
Jermin Fraser set the tone with an early strike in the 10th minute, igniting the Friendship offence.
Phillip Sealey followed with a cool finish in the 32nd minute, before Brandon Goocharan netted a superb brace with goals in the 40th and 59th minutes, showing composure beyond his
years. Not to be outdone, Brandon Bruce added his own brace in rapid succession in the 49th and 50th minutes, hammering home the team’s dominance. Kuru Kuru’s lone consolation goal came through a determined effort by Ammal Bayer in the 32nd minute.
The result propels Friendship All Stars into a position of confidence as they prepare to face Timehri United next Saturday in what promises to be another exciting fixture.
The second match of the day featured a fiercely-competitive clash between Herstelling Raiders FC and Guyana Police Force U14 Boys, ending in a compelling 4-1 win for the Raiders. The encounter was a high-octane, end-to-end affair filled with tactical battles and moments of individual brilliance.
Samuel Gasper opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, capitalising on a swift set-play to give Herstelling the lead heading into halftime. But the second half belonged to one young man: Wayshawn Forde. The 12-year-old Raiders talisman stunned the crowd
with a breathtaking solo run and rifled left-foot finish in the 39th minute, before returning just two minutes later to score again, this time with a composed right-foot shot tucked inches inside the far post.
Not to be overshadowed, Gasper added his second goal in the 44th minute, blasting a right-footed strike into the heart of the net to seal the 4-1 victory. The Raiders’ performance underlined their growing reputation in the league and put the rest of the competition on alert.
With his two goals, Forde now stands atop the league’s scoring charts with 11 goals in five matches, narrowly edging ahead of Nyron Barrow, who sits on eight goals.
The East Bank FA Boys U14 League continues next Saturday with more exciting fixtures, and fans are strongly encouraged to come out and witness the next generation of football stars in action. With every match, these young athletes are proving that the future of Guyana’s football is bright, passionate, and unstoppable.
A look at the new GAPLF Executive tions to the sport, and looks forward to a productive and progressive term ahead.
The new executive team also took the opportunity to proudly announce the hosting of its annual Intermediate/Masters Powerlifting Championship, set to take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at a-to-be confirmed venue.
This highly-anticipated event will bring together intermediate and mas-
ters-level athletes from across the regions, celebrating strength, discipline, and community. Featuring events in squat, bench press, and deadlift, the competition will highlight the talent and dedication of lifters in a supportive and professionally-run environment.
“We’re thrilled to carry on the tradition of this competition and are committed to raising the bar,” Meusa expressed. “This year’s event
promises to be great, with high-calibre athletes, expert judging, and a welcoming atmosphere for lifters and spectators alike.”
The event is open to the public, with weigh-ins beginning at 06:00h on the day and lifting starting at 09:00h sharp. Tickets will go on sale shortly and all proceeds will go towards supporting future athletic development and community fitness initiatives.
Bidaisee helps Trinidad and Tobago secure another win Breakout League…
Crystian Thurton and Navin Bidaisee put on a very impressive batting performance at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy as the home side registered its third victory in the inaugural West Indies T20 Breakout League. Trinidad & Tobago Legions won the toss and elected to field first against the Windward Islands Infernos on Sunday afternoon. Infernos had a great 69-run opening stand between Johann Jeremiah and Ryshon Williams. Bidaisee got the Legions back into the contest, removing both openers in the ninth over for 40 and 27, respectively. Captain Alick Athanaze followed soon after, being dis-
missed for only one. Teddy Bishop produced 31, and a quickfire 36 from 18 balls by Shadrack Descarte propelled the Infernos to a competitive total of 162 for 7.
Kamil Pooran got a firstball duck and the home side was immediately on the back foot in the run chase.
Thurton came to the crease and showed some composure in his innings of 50 from 32 balls. With Bidaisee and Jyd Goolie, pressure was on the batting pair to get the job done for the home team. Bidaisee faced 40 balls for his well-constructed innings of 56, while Goolie scored 18 as the Legions chased down the total in 18.1 overs, reaching 164 for 4.
Some of the standouts from the EBFA U14 League’s recent playing day
