Cop under close arrest over alleged use of force at WCD Mall
Narcotics charges against SWAT officers to proceed – DPP
Andyville man displaced after Linden early morning fire
“He lacks integrity, a modicum of decency” – VP on Azruddin Mohamed's duplicity
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, June 8 – 02:55h-04:25h and Monday, June 9 – 03:30h – 05:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, June 8 – 14:35h – 16:05h and Monday, June 9 – 15:25h –16:55h.
BRIDGE OPENINGS FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times –05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily
New Demerara River Bridge 90.7% complete as cement poured on final tower
The cement was poured on the final of 35 concrete towers on Saturday night, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge and moving closer towards the August 31, 2025 deadline.
In fact, construction works are approximately 90.7 per cent completed.
This was revealed by Public Works Ministers, Juan Edghill, and Deodat Indar who joined local engineers, the contractor: China Railway Construction (International) Limited; other officials and workers, to witness the final pouring of cement on the last concrete pillar (P-35), located on the eastern side, to be erected on the bridge project.
According to Minister Juan Edghill, approximately 1,600 cubic metres of concrete were poured for each tower of the bridge. The next major milestone in the project is the completion of the 17 cable-stayed sections, which will span 570 metres across the channel.
Of this total, around 350 metres have already been completed, while a further 220 metres remain to be cast in order to finalise the connection of the 2.8-kilometre (km) bridge.
"By June 15, we would have completed the installation of all of the girders on the eastern side. All of the girders on the western side is already in. And what that means is that the bridge will be completely assembled, and it's just a matter of pouring the concrete, putting in the asphaltic surface, the rails, putting on the lights. And I think in engineering, they call it the furnishings and the finishing," Edghill stated.
As it relates to the spans on the cable, 11 out of 17 are completed.
With more than 1,300 workers, of which over 100 are Guyanese, working 24 hours, the senior Public Works Minister noted that
the project is progressing with stealth and with speed.
"Everything is on track... Everything that is needed for the bridge, which we were nervous about, are in the country."
"It's been a long journey. By no means we are saying that the bridge is finished tonight, but what we are definitely saying is this milestone event has brought us much, much, much closer to the completion of the bridge," Edghill noted.
Despite challenges, both Ministers Indar and Edghill assured that the US$262 million will not only be completed on time but within budget.
Meanwhile, officials from the supervisory firm, Politecnica, have assured that the quality of work being executed on the project is according to international
specifications.
"All that we're seeing is what has been specified for the project," a representative of the consultancy firm told reporters at the project site Saturday evening.
To complement the new bridge, extensive road upgrades along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and West Coast Demerara (WCD) are ongoing and will play a major role in significantly reducing traffic con-
gestion and travel time. Once complete, the bridge will connect Regions Three and Four, improving economic activity. The tollfree crossing will accommodate vehicles of all sizes, with a speed limit of 80km/h. Designed to last at least 100 years, the bridge will also feature the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), Guyana’s second-highest national award, as part of its design.
Public Works Ministers, Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar joined project engineers and the contractors, to witness the final pouring concrete on the last tower, as works progress on the New Demerara River Bridge
To “consume” means to eat. From that simple act of taking care of one of our most basic needs – to take in nutrients to literally keep body and soul together – the word was broadened to include our utilisation of any resource. We talk about consuming the forests and fossil fuels, for instance. But with the expansion of the term there was an interesting disjuncture from its original utilisation: “consuming” is no longer linked with needs. And herein lies a predicament for modern man: consumerism.
For most of our existence, man used those resources from his environment that took care of his basic needs: food, shelter and clothing. Those from the older generation will remember Burnham’s 1972-1976 plan to “feed, house and clothe” the nation, which, as with all of his grandiose plans, failed abysmally. As man developed the facility and technology to increase the production of the necessary resources he obviously began to consume more. But this is not the problem that we want to identify; this is not consumerism. While eating too much food, building 100-storey skyscrapers or manufacturing polyesters might engender problems of their own, needs are still being satisfied. This is just overconsumption, and while it has some overlap with consumerism, it is important to distinguish the two. The first is a problem but the second is a disease. And we are fast becoming afflicted by the latter in Guyana, especially with the influx of oil revenues.
Consumerism is more of an attitude or a lifestyle rather than the simple act of consuming this or that. Today it has assumed the dimension of a religion or a creed. After all, it's not called an 'ism' for nothing. In the ideological framework of consumerism, consumption becomes an end in itself and people are hungry to consume more and more regardless of their needs or their means. The essence of consumerism is that the level of consumption becomes the yardstick of an individual's worth.
We can do worse than observe that consumerism is so deeply imbedded in our modern discourse that our quest for development is invariably measured in terms of consumption – measured always in monetary terms, of course. We are “underdeveloped” if we don’t have so many phones per household or consume so many units of electricity. The developed world is our standard. Never mind that the level of their consumption is such that it will be impossible for the entire world to achieve that with the resources ultimately available to us on planet earth. But more insidious is that even when the availability of the new resources that may make our lives a bit easier is secured, we demand more of the same. We should not miss the irony that all we desire are now dubbed “goods”.
Since money is the medium for securing the “goods”, its possession and the quantum of that possession is now the measure of worth of man. Money makes the world go around, we are assured. The problem is not with bigger cars, more clothes and costlier cell phones. As pointed out earlier, it is human to consume and to improve our quality of life. But strip human beings of their other qualities and attributes and reduce them to this single dimension of being consumers of this or that, - all based on how much money you have, and you have a problem. When what we consume is no longer tied to what we need or what we can afford, it becomes a dangerous thing
In Guyana, the PPP-government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) implicitly acknowledged and began to address the disease of consumerism. By factoring the depletion of our world’s resources and our responsibility to ensure that our utilisation is sustainable, we are impelled to question our consumption patterns. Some might say that we are short-circuiting our efforts to live as those in the ‘developed” countries. But do we really want to experience the angst, anomie, alienation – call it what you may – that accompanies their consumerism gone wild?
Musk and Trump are enemies made for each other – united in their ability to trash their own brands
By Jonathan Freedland
The scriptwriters of Trump: the Soap Opera, are slipping. The latest plot development – the epic falling-out between the title character and his best buddy, Elon Musk – was so predictable, and indeed predicted, that it counts as the opposite of a twist. Still, surprise can be overrated. Watching the two men – one the richest in the world, the other the most powerful – turn on each other in a series of ever-more venomous posts on their respective social media platforms has been entertainment of the highest order. X v Truth: it could be a Marvel blockbuster.
But this is more than mere popcorn fodder. Even if they eventually patch things up, the rift between the president and Musk has exposed a divide inside the contemporary right, in the US and beyond – and a fatal flaw of the Trump project.
Naturally, much of it is personal. That’s why so many declared from the start that this was a starcross’d bromance, whose destiny was only ever heartbreak. Even as Musk was declaring, back in February, that “I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,” wiser heads knew it was doomed. The egos were too large, the narcissism too strong, for their love to survive. In the Trump universe, as in the Musk galaxy, there is room for only one sun.
In their case, the personal combines with business. On this reading, Musk’s disenchantment began in his pocket, his opposition
to Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, or “BBB”, currently before Congress, fuelled chiefly by the legislation’s axing of a $7,500 tax credit on the purchase of electric vehicles. With Tesla sales plunging, Musk needed that incentive to lure potential Tesla customers, and was furious with Trump for scrapping it. That’s certainly the story Trump is telling. “I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted … and he just went CRAZY!” Trump posted.
The suggestion that Musk’s driving motive was profit seems to have particularly antagonised the billionaire, prompting him to call for his former paramour to be impeached and to claim that Trump is named in the Jeffrey Epstein files, in effect implicating the president in a paedophile ring. Musk wants to present his objection not as self-serving but as ideological, casting himself as the fiscal conservative appalled by Trump’s “disgusting abomination” of a bill because it will increase the already gargantuan US deficit by trillions of dollars.
Who’s right? It seems a stretch to argue that Trump’s hostility to electric cars was the problem: as Trump himself pointed out, Musk knew about that when he jumped on the Maga train last year. As for ballooning the deficit, you can see why that would irritate Musk. Adding trillions in red ink makes a mockery of the “cost-cutting” drive he headed up with his socalled department of government efficiency.
The billionaire was al-
ready smarting from the failure of Doge to cut anything like the $2tn in spending he promised would be easy. All he succeeded in doing by, for instance, feeding the US agency for international development, or USAID, into “the wood chipper” was to take the lives of 300,000 people, most of them children, who had depended on that agency and its grants, according to a Boston University study. Even if you are minded, charitably, to accept Musk’s own estimate, he only shrank the federal budget by about $150bn. To watch as that effort was cancelled out by a $600bn tax cut to people earning more than $1m a year would be a humiliation indeed.
Whatever its true cause, the Trump-Musk spat has illuminated a fault line in the right – and not only in the US. Battered and quieted by the Trump phenomenon, there still remain a few old-school conservatives with a vestigial presence in the Senate, for whom fiscal rectitude remains an article of faith. While Democrats oppose the “BBB” because its cuts to Medicaid will deprive more than 10 million Americans of basic health cover, these traditional Republicans are queasy about the Liz Truss-style risks of a massive unfunded tax giveaway. Overnight, Musk has become their champion.
Ranged against them are the forces of nationalist conservatism, embodied by former Trump strategist and ex-convict Steve Bannon. They don’t have a libertarian yearning for a minimal state; on the contrary, they quite like mus-
cular displays of state power. Witness Trump’s insistence on a Pyongyangstyle military parade to celebrate his birthday, and note Bannon’s response to Musk’s impudence in challenging the ruler – he called for Musk’s businesses, Starlink and SpaceX, to be nationalised. Indeed, nationalist conservatism might not be quite the right term for what Bannon offers: nationalist socialism might be more apt, though something close to that has already been taken.
There have been other manifestations of this divide. Musk opposed Trump’s tariffs; Bannon is for them. Musk wanted to see the US remain open to high-skilled, tech-savvy immigrants; Bannon wants to shut the door on them. These, then, are the two camps. (You can see similar fault lines on the British right, dividing Thatcherite Conservatives from Reform UK.) For a while, the anti-woke loathing of DEI policies was strong enough to keep the opposing blocs –free traders and protectionists; deficit hawks and big spenders – together. But that glue, as Trump said of Musk, is “wearing thin”.
That has some serious implications for US politics and Trump’s presidency. It is conceivable that Trump won’t have the numbers to pass this bill, his central legislative goal, in its current form: the Republican majority in the House is wafer-thin, and one more defecting Republican could sink the proposal in the Senate. Musk has given would-be dissenters cover.
Selfies with the President. Students and staff of St Gabriel’s Primary School, Queenstown, Georgetown, had a surprise treat as President Irfaan Ali on Friday paid an impromptu visit, highlighting their day with opportunities for memorable selfies (President Irfaan Ali)
Endorsement Statement for the PPP/C – 2025 General Elections
Support the PPP/C in the upcoming elections to continue progress and unity
Dear Editor,
As Guyana approaches the 2025 general elections, I wholeheartedly endorse the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
The PPP/C has consistently demonstrated a commitment to inclusive governance, national development, and the uplift -
ment of all Guyanese.
Under the PPP/C administration, Guyana has witnessed significant advancements:
Economic Growth: The Government has implemented policies leading to substantial economic growth, including the creation of over 60,000 new jobs since assuming office. Infrastructure
Development: There has been a notable expansion in infrastructure, with the construction of over 3,000 community roads and 200 bridges, enhancing connectivity across the nation. Education and Youth Empowerment: The PPP/C has restored and expanded the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for all schoolchildren, and provided
Government scholarships to 50,000 individuals, emphasising the importance of education and youth development.
Healthcare Improvements: A transformative healthcare plan is underway, including the construction of 12 new hospitals, aiming to provide quality healthcare services to all citizens.
Support for Indigenous Communities: The administration has prioritised the welfare of Indigenous peoples, ensuring they receive their deserved place in Guyana’s development narrative. The PPP/C’s dedication to transparency, inclusivity, and sustainable development sets it apart as the party best equipped to lead Guyana
into a prosperous future. I urge all citizens to support the PPP/C in the upcoming elections to continue this trajectory of progress and unity. Let us stand together for a brighter, more equitable Guyana.
Yours sincerely, Nand Ram, MD, PhD, FACP
Why the protracted delay in appointments of Chief Magistrate, Deputy?
Dear Editor,
A Guyana Times article dated June 5, 2025, reported that despite the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) agreeing to appoint Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman as Chief Magistrate and Magistrate Alisha George as Deputy Chief Magistrate, the instrument of appointment has not yet been issued by the Chancellor of the Judiciary.
It was pointed out that the positions were duly advertised and the respective candidates met the re -
quired standards set out in the advertisement. What is holding back the letters of appointment is truly baffling. If it is not an oversight (which would point to incompetence), then could it be some other reason(s) unknown to other members of the JSC. If this is the case, the Chancellor has an obligation to clarify the situation.
Whether the long delay to formally appoint the Chief Magistrate and the Deputy Chief Magistrate would undermine the efficacy of the judicial system
Musk and Trump are...
The gazillionaire had promised to spend big to help Republicans in the November 2026 midterm elections. Much can happen between now and then, but Trump may now need to look elsewhere for a patron.
Who knows, Musk might even follow through on his threat to fund the president’s Democratic opponents. Even if he does not go that far, he controls a prime platform of the right: X could soon become hostile territory for Trump. The point is, Musk is not your usual Trump antagonist. He has as loud a megaphone, and more money, than the president. It all adds up to a sad tale of two men who once had so much in common – perhaps one thing above all. Each has been lucky enough to find themselves in charge of a brand that once enjoyed global admiration and clout –and each man has systematically set about trashing that brand in the eyes of the world. Musk has done it more than once. He bought what had become an admittedly imperfect meeting place of some of
the planet’s most influential people, Twitter, and turned it into a sewer of bigotry and lies, X. He built a company, Tesla, whose most obvious customers were high earners concerned about the planet and repelled them by association with a nationalist authoritarian who wants to “drill, baby, drill”.
and its transformation, including the disposal of cases, is difficult to assess. But one would hope that the Judiciary and the JSC act to facilitate a smooth transition at every stage in the reform process.
The backlog of cases in the judicial system combined with some archaic requirements have caused great frustration among the public who kept on complaining about the length of trials or to get their cases called up for hearing. After decades of public outcry, the PPPC
Administration, working with the Judiciary and other stake holders, has moved sequentially to modernise (e.g., law reform, digitisation, improvement of physical infrastructure, virtual trials, restorative justice, expansion of human resources, etc.) the administration of justice, including the reduction of the heavy backlog of cases to attain greater productivity, efficiency, and quality of justice.
All the steps in the reform process must be put into action by its human
resource capability. It is therefore commendable that the JSC appointed nine new Magistrates and based on its recommendations had 10 new Judges appointed by the President in 2024. And in 2025, eight Judges were appointed by the President to the Guyana Court of Appeal.
The expectation on these appointments is that with this substantial increase of Judicial Officers in the system, the backlog of cases would decrease, and justice would be better served. In a few years hen -
ce, an evaluation would determine how effective was this and other improvements.
I call upon the Chancellor of the Judiciary not to delay the appointments of these Judicial Officers any longer and to act in the best interest in the administration of justice. I also urge the Chancellor not to give the appearance that she wants to override the decision of her colleagues in the JSC.
Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh
Trump, meanwhile, has taken the US, once a magnet for talent from across the globe, and done his best to dismantle all that made it attractive: its stability, its protection of free speech, the independence of its institutions, the quality of its science and universities. This week’s moves –the travel ban, the suspicion of overseas students, the war on Harvard – to say nothing of the ongoing hostility to democratic allies and coddling of foreign dictators, are just the latest instances of Trump doing to the US brand what Musk has done to Twitter and Tesla. No wonder Trump and Musk have broken up: they were always far too alike.
(The Guardian)
Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2025 FROM PAGE 4
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students to grow as writers is a long process, and it’s not easy. These strategies can help
As teachers, we often bemoan the fact that “students can’t write anymore” and blame it on everything from texting and social media to the lack of grammar instruction and absence of vocabulary books. The truth is probably closer to the sentiment of David Labaree: “Learning to
that their final pieces aren’t polished to perfection, but if we look closely, within those imperfect final drafts are flickers of insight and bits of mastery. We need to celebrate these small victories, and be patient as our students gradually master the myriad of skills involved in becoming a writer.
write is extraordinarily difficult, and teaching people how to write is just as hard.”
Teaching writing is a process –over time and with the right guidance and support our students can grow into better writers. We may feel frustrated
Strategies for supporting student writers
Emphasise reading: Frank Smith writes in Reading Without Nonsense, “You learn to read by reading and you learn to write by reading.” I tell my students that something magical happens when we read – the
words and sentences enter our consciousness, float around, and drift out through our pen or keyboard in our own narrative voice.
When students immerse themselves in John Green, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, or JK Rowling, those writers’ language and its wisdom seeps into their thinking and pours out into their writing.
Give them permission to take risks: Donald Murray has argued, “Many teachers complain that their students can’t write sentences. I complain that many of my students write sentences. Too early. Following form, forgetting meaning.... Sentences that are like prison sentences.”
In order to free my students from the constraints of correctness, I give them permission to break some of the rules that have been drilled into them since elementary school. As we read, we notice how the stylistic choices that defy convention are often the phrases we love the most. We then make bold attempts to experiment with these techniques in our own writing. We begin sentences with
conjunctions, take liberties with rhetorical questions, repetition, and figurative language... even sprinkle ellipses with reckless abandon.
One of my students crafted a beautiful passage that was inspired by both Great Expectations and Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me.” She loved Alexie’s short, emphatic sentences: “I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky,” and how Dickens wove his title throughout the novel: “So imperfect was the realisation of my great expectations....” In a letter to the late author Paul Kalanithi about his memoir When Breath Becomes Air, composed for the Library of Congress’s Letters About Literature contest, she wrote, “You were determined. You were fierce. And you were unstoppable. You fought until your final breath... until your breath became air.”
Make them care: I want my students to understand that their ideas can bring about change, so I work to give them choices to write about topics they feel passionate about. They ask probing questions and devote the time necessary to
develop a compelling argument, meticulously craft sentences, and carefully choose their words.
And they need to know their words will be heard by an authentic audience, which is sometimes an audience of their peers reached through shared folders on Google Drive and Padlet, and at other times a wider audience reached through writing contests and publishing opportunities.
Feedback, feedback, and more feedback: It would be easy to circle errors in red pen, write a few comments, and return papers with a letter grade, but most teachers don’t do that— the amount of time we spend on grading student writing is staggering. And much of this feedback is not improving their
The necessity of boundaries
…there are limits to teachers’ time and energy. Recognising that is important to best meet
By Johanna Rauhala
Teachers need balance. You need to set professional limits that will support long-term engagement with your students and with teaching. This is about protecting your energy and attention in order to maximise their effects. It’s about what you can and cannot control. It’s about when to hold on and when to let go. It feels like heresy to say it,
but it’s true: Sometimes, no matter what we say or do, no matter how many meetings or phone calls or emails we have about a student, no matter how much time and energy we put into adapting and consideration, things don’t improve. They may even get worse. At some point, in order to protect the classroom and our own professional stamina, we must regroup and set limits.
What might this look like?
Let’s consider a fictional middle school student named Jake. Jake is in eighth grade. He’s absent once or twice a week. Since the first week of school, it’s been apparent that Jake isn’t doing any work. He’s not disruptive and he’s generally compliant – he just won’t try. He barely puts his name on his documents, and the grade book is a list of zeros.
The teacher has tried talking
with Jake, calling home, changing seats, adapting the assignments and due dates, offering makeup work, asking colleagues, reporting to administrators, setting up a student success team meeting, and community building. Calling home has produced no results. The parents are unresponsive, do not attend meetings, and do not reply. The other interventions? No change.
At this point we often urge the teacher to do more, try
writing. So in the early stages of the writing process, I dedicate time to conference with each student to offer them personalised feedback they can immediately use. Throughout the writing process, students self-assess based on the assignment rubric as I jump in and out of Google Docs to offer additional targeted feedback. As they get closer to a final product, I offer peer editors specific “look fors” and guidelines to further polish and refine their writing. All of this feedback results in final drafts that are much stronger and grades that are higher. But more importantly, students feel supported and encouraged as they’re learning to write. (edutopia.org)
the needs of both teachers and students
more. It is also at this point that the teacher often shifts to selfblame, taking on worry and guilt. The constant refrain to do more, try more often comes from the best of intentions. These calls to pull more out of us, to stretch our capacity, are often worthwhile and necessary. If we’re not careful, though, they can also do harm. They can perpetuate the teacheras-lone-hero myth that, in my experience as a peer coach, can lead to burnout and despair.
So what about Jake?
We can sustain the kindness and connection that we show him. Even if he’s reluctant, reach out anyway. Find ways to connect. He may respond, or he might not. But our intent and ongoing care provide a foundation for him to learn to trust in something outside of whatever is pulling him away.
Continue to plan organised and engaging lessons. Talk to him. Check in, and even with no parent input, make a positive phone call home. Small gestures matter. Stay the course. For traumatised students, the simple reliability of a structured classroom, combined with a teacher’s kind presence, can be enough to make a difference. We never know.
These actions need not be extra or arduous work. They are, to the fullest professional extent, humane and compassionate responses to suffering. They do not require a whiz-bang technology lesson with fireworks and video; they don’t mandate another meeting. They require only kindness and a consistent effort to meet students’ needs.
Mindful limits Poverty and social conditions play a role in the inequities of schools, but they cannot be an excuse for a lack of effort. They cannot be an excuse to throw up our hands and retreat. Yet it’s also true that teachers who work in high-needs schools interact in greater measure with absenteeism, depression, homelessness, poverty, anger, and trauma. Because of this, it becomes imperative to be able to ask for help, to recognise professional limits, and to know when to say “enough”. Resisting overextending ourselves is a form of engagement. And it’s a form that, used judiciously, can support long-term engagement with teaching and with students. The truth is, there are limits to our time and energy. Burning teachers out with calls to do more, try more – especially when a teacher shortage looms, especially when student needs overwhelm – does not best serve our neediest students. And sometimes requiring more of teachers masks a systemic or policy failing, which the individual teacher can’t fix. In setting mindful limits, we address equity for all. We’re not giving up: We are, with compassion for ourselves and our students, attending to practices that will best serve the learning of the largest number of students. No long-distance runner can sustain the pace with too many sprints or too much weight. Balance, kindness, and setting boundaries can act as forces that allow our best work, and our best, most compassionate teaching selves to arrive. (edutopia.org)
Govt’s renewed tone of engagement could lead to meaningful progress, stronger partnership – GPSU
...as union celebrates 102nd anniversary
As the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) commemorates 102 years of unwavering dedication to the rights, dignity, and advancement of Public Servants across the country, it has acknowledged a renewed tone of engagement by the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
In a statement on Saturday, the GPSU, which was established on June 8, 1923, said that it has made significant progress over the decades in improving working conditions, securing benefits, and championing the cause of organised labour.
Among the recent wins of the union is the multiyear agreement signed on December 10, 2024, between the Ministry of Public Service and GPSU, which it said lays the foundation for ongoing improvements in working conditions, signalling a renewed commitment to constructive engagement and Public Sector Reform.
“We must also mention that since the appointment of Dr Ashni Singh as Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, there has been a noticeable shift towards a more respectful and constructive relationship with the GPSU,” the GPSU stated, adding that “This renewed tone of engagement is promising and, if sustained, could lead to meaningful progress and a stronger partnership in addressing the needs of Public Servants.”
That multi-year deal saw
public servants receiving a 10 per cent pay hike last year, retroactive to January 2024, and an additional eight per cent increase for 2025, as part of a comprehensive package aimed at improving wages and benefits.
Moreover, the GPSU also played a pivotal role in securing the increase in the private sector minimum wage from $44,200 to $60,000 per month.
“Today, we continue to call for a wage parity between Private and Public Sector Wages. Based on our cost-ofliving analysis, a minimum net income of $224,000 per month is essential for basic needs,” it stated.
While full equity remains outstanding, GPSU recognised that the 2025 National Budget presented by the PPP/C Administration reflected partial progress with the increase of the income tax threshold from $100,000 to $130,000; the reduction of personal income tax rates from 28 per cent to 25 per cent, and from 40 per cent to 35 per cent; and the introduction of a $50,000 monthly child allowance.
The GPSU is celebrating its 102nd anniversary under the theme: “102 Years and Still Standing Strong –Championing the Rights of Public Sector Workers.” It said this historic milestone is a testament to the Union’s unwavering dedication to the rights, dignity, and advancement of Public Servants across Guyana.
“Today, June 8, 2025,
marks not only the passage of time but a reaffirmation of who we are and what we continue to fight for: dignity, equity, rights and recognition for every Public Servant in this great nation. The legacy of the GPSU is one of endurance, service, and steadfast advocacy, which we honour and continue to build upon with pride and purpose,” it stated.
According to the GPSU, many of the rights and benefits Public Servants enjoy today were hard-fought by the Union, achieved through strikes, legal challenges, and principled negotiations. It went on to recognise the pioneers who laid the foundation with courage and foresight, those who spoke out when silence was expected, and those who stood firm in the face of adversity and aggression.
The union also recognised the current generation of members, leaders, and allies who carry this legacy forward with determination, adding that their commitment ensures that the GPSU remains a vital force in shaping a just and equitable Public Service.
While the GPSU achieved numerous landmark victories through struggles, sacrifices, and solidarity over the past 102 years, it underscored the need for much more to be done to improve employment conditions in Guyana.
It calls for greater accountability and adherence to the Rule of Law in all matters concerning Public Servants, and condemns any breaches of Public Service Rules or vio-
lations of members’ rights.
The GPSU also reminded that it is not a political opponent but rather a legitimate stakeholder that represents the voice of Government employees.
On this note, the union expressed concerns about the rise of contract labour, the erosion of job security and labour migration, calling for a comprehensive national retention strategy to tackle these issues.
The GPSU also wants a review to increase the compulsory retirement age, allowing qualified individuals to continue serving the nation, thus retaining institutional knowledge locally.
It further went on to call for fair compensation, among other things, for Public
Servants who are posted in border regions of Guyana amidst the controversy with neighbouring Venezuela. The union also raised concerns about global threats such as COVID-19 and Climate Change, as well as the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI).
“As artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape the workforce, the GPSU supports ethical innovation that safeguards employment, ensures equity, and strengthens crisis response capacity.”
Nevertheless, the GPSU noted that its 102nd anniversary is a turning point especially for internal examination. To this end, the union recognised that it must evolve to meet the demands
of a changing national landscape, and committed to restructuring in order to remain relevant, resilient, and responsive to the needs of its members and to the challenges of a modern Public Sector. As such, the GPSU will be prioritising promoting national unity and racial harmony; supporting women and youth; reviving the GPSU Certificate Programme in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management and other advanced leadership training programmes and initiatives; governance reform and internal leadership strengthening; greater involvement in national policy-making and economic planning, and expanding health, housing, and welfare programmes.
Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, with GPSU Representatives and other state officials at the signing of the two-year pay increase agreement in December 2024
Narcotics charges against SWAT officers to proceed – DPP
The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that narcotics charges brought against two Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers should proceed, the court heard on Friday, marking a key development in a case that has been under legal scrutiny since January.
Lance Corporals Kevin Thompson and Dwayne Perry appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the prosecution disclosed that it had received the long-awaited legal advice from the DPP recommending that the matter move forward.
The announcement came in response to concerns raised by defence attorney Dominick Bess, who reminded the court that the matter had been previously adjourned specifically to await guidance from the DPP’s Chambers.
With the DPP’s opinion now rendered, the case is expected to resume substantively at the next hearing which is set for July 11. Thompson and Perry were first charged in February, following their arrest on January 14, in con-
nection with the alleged possession of 748.4 grams of suspected cannabis.
According to police reports, the officers were intercepted in a Toyota Axio at the intersection of Camp and New Market Streets, Georgetown. A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the discovery of a black travelling bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, as well as plastic wraps, a digital scale, and a bag sealer.
The car in question was registered to Diana Persaud of North Road, Lacytown, but had been rented from Elite Auto Rentals by businesswoman Stacy Hodge, who is the reputed wife of Thompson.
Hodge told investigators that she had last used the vehicle on January 10 and subsequently handed the keys to Thompson for personal use. Both officers were detained and placed under close arrest as the investigation progressed.
At their initial court appearance on February 8 before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, the defence had strongly contested the legitimacy of the charges.
Attorney Dexter Todd, representing Thompson, argued that the alleged substance had not been tested to confirm it was cannabis, and suggested that his client was being targeted by a senior officer due to personal animosity.
Bess, representing Perry, asserted that his client was merely a passenger who had only just entered the vehicle before it was stopped, and had no connection to the black bag.
The prosecution acknowledged that testing had not yet been completed and requested additional time. Given the lack of conclusive evidence at that stage, both officers were granted bail in the sum of $200,000 each. The matter was adjourned to February 28 to allow time for testing and for the DPP’s advice.
With the DPP now recommending that the case continue, the officers are expected to face full prosecution on the narcotics charges.
Pushing…
…the white lady
New York City is said to be so nice, the Yanks had to name it twice – New York…New York!! So what do you say about cocaine which they call among other things, “Coke, blow, flake, candy, nose candy, pepsi, coca puffs, “C”, Charlie, toot, gold dust, AKA, Vitamin C, snow, girl, glass, the real thing, white lady, o.k., okey doke”!!?? And then there’s crack – which is a form of cocaine that’s modified to be smoked – and is sold in small amounts which increases its popularity and earned even more names: 51s, Apple Jack, Baby T, Baseball, Base, Bazooka, Beemer, Bings, BJ, Black Rock, Blowcaine, Blowout, Blue, Bomb. Blow Crusher, Candy, Casper the Ghost, Caviar, Cheap Basing, Chingy, Cloud Nine, Cookies, Devil Smoke, Dice, Dime Special, Double Yoke, Eastside Player, Eye Opener, Fat Bags. Freebase, Garbage Rock, Gold, Golf Ball, Hail, Hard, Hotcakes, Ice Cubes,, Jelly Beans, Johnson, Moon Rock, Nuggets, Piedras, Quarters, Ready Rock, Rox, Roxanne, Sleet, Speed Boat, Sugar Block, Top Gun, White Ball, White Ghost, White Sugar!!! Whew!! Get the idea? That’s popular baby!!
The US is the world’s biggest consumer of cocaine –millions and millions of their citizens use the stuff every day. And as we all know – from movies if nothing else!! – that once you start using…you come back for mo!! And pretty soon, you’re hooked and you GOTTA come back for mo!! Now this is the condition that everybody and their uncle in “free market” economies drool over – a product that the consumer just gotta have!! It’s like IPhones on steroids!!
The LAW in the free market is if there’s a demand for some product – somebody’s gonna supply that product –once a buck can be made. And with cocaine we’re talking about billions and billions of bucks – so you can imagine the incentives to supply THAT (captive) market!! The fly in the ointment – and it would be too good to be true if there weren’t a fly or two around – is the US defines cocaine trade as “illegal” – even though the users aren’t prosecuted. In fact they eat up a big chunk of their medical budget to treat their addiction!
So what does the US do?? Try to cut the supply – which is outside their country with Columbia in this hemisphere as the major source – while leaving their (domestic) demand chain intact!! And we arrive at the news that six persons –two Columbians and four Guyanese – were just sanctioned by the American Government’s Treasury Dept! Had to’ve been connected with that big cocaine bust – 4.4 TONS!! – in Reg 1 last August – which came from Columbia!!
The Yanks are simply confirming who dunnit – including the Cop who looked away!! And the law of supply and demand??
…returns
Most folks today wouldn’t remember, but there was a time when all Guyanese “recycled”: not just their soda (“sweet drinks”?) bottles but also rum bottles – which at that time outnumbered the former! The recycling drive didn’t come from any government pushing “environmentalism” but from the mundane fact it was cheaper for the “beverage industry” to pay folks to return the glass bottles than buying new ones!
With the advent of plastic bottles, these cost so little, it wasn’t worth the while for manufacturers to purchase empties. And pretty soon, this practice resulted in the nonbiodegradable plastic bottles polluting the environment as it presently does – including clogging canals!. But in the US, they solved the problem by mandating a 5 cents consumer deposit on beverages bottles that can be redeemed when the bottle is redeemed.
With the slogan “Don’t trash ‘em – cash ‘em!” their environmental problem’s solved. So your Eyewitness was quite chuffed to see that one of the major bottlers was offering to buy used bottles!!
Back to the future!!
…race hate
Looks like Aubrey Norton’s got a (political) death wish!! He just announced he’s got no problem with the racist, antiIndian bilge that WPA extremist spouts daily. In fact, he said it’s what the PNC believes!!
are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
Lance Corporals Kevin Thompson and Dwayne Perry
Andyville man displaced after Linden early morning fire
A39-year-old Linden resident is now homeless after an early morning fire on Saturday destroyed his home at Andyville, Wismar.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a release said it received the distress call at approximately 5:20h on Saturday, and firefighters arrived at the scene nine minutes later.
Despite prompt response and efforts led by Section Leader Yaw and a team of five firefighters aboard Water Carriers 12 and
19, the small, single-story wooden and concrete structure was completely gutted. The house was owned and occupied by Keon Parks, who lost all his belongings in the blaze and is now seeking shelter and assistance.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by an unattended, lit mosquito coil, which ignited nearby combustible materials.
“The Guyana Fire Service urges residents to exercise caution when using mosquito coils or any open flames, ensuring they are never left unattended and are kept away from flammable items,” the statement read.
This latest fire comes not long after a still-smouldering situation in the same region, where more than a month ago a massive blaze erupted at a sawmill waste dump in Linden. The fire, which began in early April, proved extremely difficult to contain due to the volume of timber waste, challenging terrain, and inadequate water pressure in the area.
The fire that destroyed the house in Andyville, Wismar, Linden
Housing the nation
The PPP’s announcement of successfully distributing their goal of 50,000 house lots and facilitating the building of houses, invoke post-WWII efforts to provide habitation for the poor. Sugar workers and the urban poor were still living in “logies/ranges” that were more decrepit than the stables for mules, as Chairman of Bookers, Jack Campbell, observed.
Following Caribbean labour protests, the Moyne Commission was taking evidence in British Guiana in 1939, when five sugar workers were shot and killed at Plantation Leonora. Political and social recommendations made by the Commission were to be implemented after WWII. A Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF), sourced from a levy on exported sugar, was established in 1947 to rehouse sugar workers from logies in “Extra Nuclear Housing Areas” (ENHA). It was not altruism, since the “cut and drop” system for harvesting cane, was changed the following year to “cut and load”. This precipitated the 1948 Enmore protests, massacre and martyrdom we are commemorating - since the effective reduction of workers’ wages exceeded the levy to build their houses.
The number of ranges/logies in the various estates were as follows: Skeldon 49; Port Morant 95; Albion 67; Rose Hall (Canje) 132; Providence (EBB) 2; Blairmont 39; Bath 21; Enmore/Non Pariel 70; Lusignan 101; LBI 71; Ogle 35; Ruimveldt 17; Houston 23; Farm/Diamond 194; Wales 54; Versailles 52; Leonora 80; Uitvlugt 145. By 1971, there were only 17 logies standing at Port Morant and 13 at Leonora. Between 1951 and 1964, some 10,785 lots were allocated and the same number of houses built: then the most successful housing drive in British Caribbean history.
The loans were approximately BWI$1200 (US$480) to cater for lumber, gutters, carpenters fees, paint and painters fees for a house approximately 24’x20’ with a 12’x10’ kitchen. The lots were leased and the loans were to be repaid at a rate of $2 weekly, deducted from wages. By 1947, most African Guyanese sugar workers had left the logies and were the overwhelming majority of the skilled and better paid factory workers. Using my village of Uitvlugt an example, after Abolition, the land adjoining the Public Road had been purchased as individual lots forming “the Village”. Directly southwest on the Estate Rd was one large “Barrack/Garrison”, housing a number of African and Indian Guyanese families who were all housed in new “cottages” built from the SILWF Funds.
1929 West Indians had been brought between 1920-1928 to work on the sugar plantations from the smaller Islands. Several “cottages” housed a number of them in “Bajan Quarters” at Uitvlugt near logies adjoining the sugar factory (“Letter A”). The “Bajans” and other workers – both African and Indian, were granted SILWF loans to build houses in vacant sections behind the Village. Two older inhabited sections were regularized with SILWF loans for building additional houses were extended. In all 288 lots were allocated and the same number of homes built.
Residents of ‘Letter “A”’ logies- all Indians including my parents- were allocated 226 house lots along with the loans for building houses in the cleared land between the Public Road and the Atlantic Ocean – once the Provision Grounds of the slaves and grandly named “Ocean View”. Residents from other logies around the sugar factory were relocated to ENHA lots created in the western, contiguous villages of Zeeburg (94), De Willem (167), E. Meten meer Zorg (151), W Meten meer Zorg (194); Zeelugt (164) and eventually Tuschen (80).
But it was not only sugar workers who were aided. In 1946, the government launched a “Central Authority” - to provide housing for the “working class” in Georgetown – which was superseded by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) in 1948. Financing was provided from the British Guiana Building Society Ltd, (est. 1929) and incorporated in 1940 as the New Building Society. In 1954, the Housing Dept. was created and a vigorous housebuilding programme commenced, with G$15 million spent between 1954 and 1964, producing some 3,900 houses.
After independence, the PNC’s1972-76 “Feed, Clothe and House the Nation” plan called for building 65,000 “housing units”, but only one-tenth of that was realized. According to Carl Greenidge, “Some 31 subsidized, low-cost housing schemes were initiated between 1970 and 1980…The estimated costs were some $500M. In addition…several housing schemes, including North Ruimveldt, Meadow Brook, and Lodge Backlands, were developed by the CH&PA.” There were also several schemes in rural areas for PNC supporters, such as De Kendren, Crane and Wisroc.
The present housing drive, said to be ethnically and gender equitable, dwarfs all previous initiatives.
Cop under close arrest over alleged use of force at WCD Mall
APolice Corporal attached to Regional Division #3 (Essequibo Island/ West Demerara) has been placed under close arrest following an incident at the West Central Mall, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) in which he and other officers are accused of using excessive force during an intervention involving two civilians.
The event, which occurred around 12:30h on Friday, was partially captured on video by onlookers and widely circulated on Facebook, prompting public scrutiny and an official investigation. The Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement issued later in the day, confirmed that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is actively investigating the incident.
The probe involves three
police ranks: a Corporal, a Lance Corporal, and a Constable, as well as two male civilians.
According to the police’s preliminary findings, the officers were responding to reports of a disturbance at the mall involving several young males. Upon arrival, a 19-year-old and a 20-yearold, both residents of Den
Amstel, WCD, were identified as the individuals allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner.
The police ranks reportedly approached the men and instructed them to leave the premises. However, the individuals allegedly refused to comply with the directive, prompting the officers to attempt to escort
them out of the compound. It was during this effort that tensions reportedly escalated, resulting in what appeared to be a physical confrontation. Part of the encounter was filmed by onlookers and later posted to social media, triggering concerns over the level of force used.
Ravi Dev
The officers allegedly involved in the incident
Anna Regina stadium will help stimulate massive economic activity – Pres Ali
– says one of the major aspects of development in all regions is to support economic diversification of the country
The multi-purpose stadium being built at Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is one that, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, will help stimulate massive economic activity and a wave of tourism.
The Head of State was at the time inspecting the edifice, which is expected to be completed soon. According to him, expanding important and critical infrastructure throughout all the regions is a major part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) developmental plan.
“One of the major aspects of our development in all the regions, is to expand important and critical infrastructure. To support the economic diversification of the country. Here in Region two, in Essequibo, part of that plan is to build out an entire ecosystem to support tourism. Of which nature, ad-
venture, sports and leisure tourism are all components,” the President said.
President Ali also spoke of some aspects of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) that will be played at the stadium, likely a reference to the Women’s CPL, which Guyana had bid to host matches for at both the Anna Regina venue and in Berbice.
“This facility is the stadium we’re building, and this stadium is meant to be a
world-class facility, so we can have international matches and events here. We’ve already negotiated to have some aspects of the CPL played on this ground, so it will be part of stimulating the economic expansion, supporting the tourism sector.”
“And in response to this investment and development by the Government, we have seen the private sector investing in more rooms, more hotels, more resorts. So, this
facility, if you look at it in isolation of everything else, you would not have an appreciation for the magnitude of impact it would have in the region,” he also explained.
According to the President, it is important to remember that the stadium when completed will support the creation of jobs in many other sub sectors including tourism, amid national efforts to capitalise on the increased visibility Guyana has on the global
stage to build a robust tourism sector.
The Government has been on a massive drive to upgrade and construct multi-purpose sports facilities throughout the regions, including a spanking new cricket stadium at Palmyra, Berbice and the enhancement of the Guyana National Stadium.
The PPP/C Government has previously signalled its intention to use the Providence Stadium for the National
Cricket Academy, which when launched will be the premier cricket academy in the Caribbean.
The establishment of stadiums at Anna Regina and at Linden by Government will ensure that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) can take First-Class matches to those areas which in turn is expected to increase the interest of cricket and enhance the development of the game in those communities.
Overhead view of the Anna Regina stadium earlier this year
“He lacks integrity, a modicum of decency” – VP on Azruddin Mohamed's duplicity
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo unleashed a blistering critique of US-sanctioned, Azruddin Mohamed, pointing out that he is a man “without integrity” who consistently lies, contradicts himself, and shamelessly insults others while embroiled in a web of scandal.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo referenced the widely circulated video in which Mohamed boasted of paying US$1 million for a Lamborghini, while attempting to produce a GRA invoice claiming it cost only US$75,000.
Jagdeo emphasized that Mohamed's recent claims implicating President Irfaan Ali in covering up tax evasion were hollow and unsupported; part of what he described as a long-standing pattern of attention-seeking deception.
“This is the guy… who lacks integrity. He lacks even a modicum of decency, much less integrity. He lies openly. Every time he opens his mouth, he contradicts himself. This is a really stupid person, really stupid person. He contradicts himself every time in the face of the evidence that he himself put out there. And he expects people to believe him,” Jagdeo said.
The Vice President was also incensed by what he described as selective outrage from civil society organizations like Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), which
have called for clarification from the President about trivial social media posts but have been silent on the serious issue of gold smuggling and alleged tax evasion involving the Mohamed family.
“So, we are not afraid of him. I see that's what they like to say. Look at the PPP. That's why so many people are joining the PPP, becoming the PPP. You think if they thought we were going to lose the elections, they'd become it?... He is not going to make any difference whatsoever,” he added.
Earlier this week, President Dr Irfaan Ali rejected attempts by United States (US)-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed to link him to an alleged tax evasion scheme currently under judicial scrutiny.
Mohamed, who is before the courts for allegedly undervaluing a Lamborghini and submitting falsified documentation to the Guyana
Revenue Authority (GRA), has sought to implicate the President in the matter. However, President Ali on Monday categorically denied any involvement and condemned the businessman’s claims as deceitful.
“My number is no secret. It is the same number I have had in and out of Government, so having my number is nothing special. Thousands of Guyanese continue to contact me on various matters,” the Head of State stated in a public response.
Refuting Mohamed’s narrative, President Ali clarified that at no point did the businessman present to him nor the GRA with the actual invoice reflecting the vehicle’s true value, which is now confirmed to be US$695,000.
“As I stated before, at no time did Azruddin Mohamed present any invoice for US$695,000, which we now know is the true and cor-
rect value of the car,” the President said. “Instead, he reaffirmed and confirmed his lies that the invoice he shared and presented to GRA was US$75,000.”
Ali further noted that official findings have revealed a pattern of financial transactions that support the US$695,000 valuation, directly contradicting Mohamed’s continued insistence that the vehicle was acquired for US$75,000.
“This is the matter before us. Did he lie about the value he presented as the purchased price of the vehicle? The answer is yes,” President Ali asserted. “Based on the facts now presented by the US authorities, he did lie and presented a falsified invoice
to the GRA.”
The President said Mohamed never disclosed the vehicle’s actual cost to him nor to the relevant tax authorities and continues to maintain the inaccurate figure, despite mounting evidence.
Ali declined to engage with personal attacks levelled against him by Mohamed, describing them as reflective of the businessman’s character. Mohamed was sanctioned by the US in 2024 under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Charged
Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges in relation to the
purchase of a Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.
Mohamed appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on May 29 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he answered to the two charges brought by GRA, false declaration to the GRA and fraudulent tax evasion.
The first charge alleged that the 39-year-old on or about December 7, 2020, caused to be made and subscribed, a false declaration to the GRA when he stated on the GRA’s custom declaration form that the purchased amount for the Lamborghini was US$75,300, instead of the true purchase price of US$695,000.
Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges in relation to the purchase of a Lamborghini Roadster SVJ
James Vancooten, a British-Guyanese director and film-maker, is returning to his roots in a major way: with the premiere of his locally produced film The Turf, and the official launch of his production company in Guyana.
Born in London, England, Vancooten moved to Guyana at the age of six, where he spent his childhood living with his grandparents and attending Mae’s Under 12 and Mae’s Secondary School in Georgetown. His early years in the capital city left a lasting impression, shaping his perspective and creative voice.
Now based in the United Kingdom, Vancooten has built a successful career in film, starting as a runner and eventually working his way up to camera assistant on a number of large-scale productions.
His team has contributed to projects for major platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, working under subcontracted roles on titles like Blue Story (£12 million budget), Wolf, Jingle All the Way, and Sumotherhood (£2 million budget).
At the same time, his independent projects have gained significant traction online, with several earning over a million views on YouTube. His work has also received accolades from the UK film scene, including Best Director (2019, UK Entertainment Awards) and Best Short Film (2016, Channel U Awards).
Now, Vancooten, 40, is bringing his experience home.
His latest film, The Turf, is a passion-project, shot entirely in Guyana. It tells the story of two young people from different regions whose lives unexpectedly collide.
The cast features local talent, including amateur boxer Trevlon Clarke, music artists Alex Bourne also known as “Falon Loc”, and Anthony Vancooten also known as “Dun P”; and stu-
dent-actor
The production was made on a modest budget of just under GYD500,000, supported by local sponsors SIAG Security and Tolo & Sons Construction Ltd.
An exclusive premiere of The Turf will take place on August 22, 2025, for a select group of industry figures and community leaders. A limited number of tickets will be made available to the public.
The film will then be released publicly via YouTube on August 26, 2025, to ensure accessibility for viewers across the country and the world.
As part of this new chapter, Vancooten is also launching a Guyana-based branch of his UK production company. The goal is clear: to invest in local talent, improve production standards, and build a sustainable film industry within Guyana.
“I chose Guyana as the filming location because I am deeply committed to supporting and improving the quality of film-making in the country. This film represents my way of giving back to a place that has played a pivotal role in shaping who I am,” Vancooten said.
Meanwhile, the new company will offer handson training in all aspects of film-making—from directing and cinematography to editing and acting. Vancooten plans to partner with schools, universities, and local government agencies to deliver workshops and mentorship programs across the country.
His UK-based team, which regularly works on professional productions, is prepared to travel to Guyana and assist with this initiative.
In addition to directing and producing, Vancooten is also an actor and has starred in two of his major films, Chance The Movie and The Take Over Film.
With the premiere of The Turf, and the launch of
Steffon Marques.
his production company in Guyana, James Vancooten is planting the seeds of a new creative era – one where home-grown stories are told with authenticity, quality, and pride.
Guyanese comprise 67% of total oil
and gas workforce – EMGL
– company says it employs 1700 Guyanese offshore, 53% of workforce are women
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) recently revealed in its 2024 financials that its Guyanese oil and gas workforce based offshore has grown to 1700, helping to make up the 67 per cent of the total workforce that is keeping the company’s local oil and gas operations afloat.
According to the company in its financials, not only has the local workforce grown, but 53 per cent of the local subsidiary’s total workforce are women. According to the company, “more than 6,100 Guyanese currently work in support of our Stabroek block operations, which is nearly 70 per cent of the local oil-andgas industry workforce.”
In explaining the importance of diversity in its hiring practices, the company assured that these are not stand-alone measures,
but rather diversity is a core strength in the company’s operations.
“Diversity strengthens us by promoting unique viewpoints, and challenging each of us to think beyond our traditional frames of reference. We do not view diversity as a stand-alone activity; it is embedded in our core values, our approach to how we develop talent, and the culture to which we aspire.”
“We expect our leaders to demonstrate behaviours that foster inclusive and productive work environments,” the company further added.
Back in April 2024, it had been disclosed that in the oil and gas sector over 900 Guyanese were employed as plant and machine operators; 1,203 as professionals, including accountants, lawyers, and engineers; and another 485 as technicians.
So far, EMGL along with its Stabroek Block partners CNOOC and Hess Corporation, have committed GYD11.5 trillion towards developing the six projects that have either already begun producing oil- Liza Phase one and two and Payara- or are in various stages of being rolled out- Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail.
(Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the Vreed-enHoop facility occupies some 40 acres of coastal land.
Phase One of the project saw the deepening, widening, and dredging of the access channel, as well as land reclamation.
It also included work on an offshore terminal, dry dock facility, and fabrication yard spanning 65 hectares.
The company, along with its contractors, have also spent GYD525 billion on local suppliers since 2015… the year that oil was first discovered. As a matter of fact, the company noted that the US$300 million Vreed-enHoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) is one of the long-term ways it is supporting local content.
Located in Region Three
Meanwhile, Phase Two involved deepening the dredging of the access canal and expanding reclamation. The mega-port will centralise multiple shipping and logistic services from local companies, in one location.
According to the Local Content Act passed in 2021, oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, as well as their contractors and sub-contractors, must procure from Guyanese companies by the
end of 2022, 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent of janitorial, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent of pest control services; 100 per cent of local insurance services; 75 per cent of local supply of food; and 90 per cent of local accounting services. These are just some of the 40 different services outlined in the first schedule.
The Act also defines a local company as one incorporated under the Companies Act and beneficially owned by Guyanese nationals.
Beneficial ownership is defined as owning 51 per cent of the company. Additionally, a local company is expected to have Guyanese in at least 75 per cent of executive and senior management positions and at least 90 per cent in non-managerial and other positions.
ExxonMobil’s office in Kingston
Jamaican dancehall sensa-
tion Nigy Boy’s latest track “Good Intentions” is more than just good beats and bars – it’s a creative triumph grounded deeply in Guyanese talent, collaboration, and vision.
From concept to final cut, the song and music video are a testament to what happens when Guyanese creatives take centre stage in global music storytelling.
ers in from the first frame and holds their attention through to the very end.
The genesis of the project dates back to a creative partnership formed during Nigy’s visit to Guyana last year, where a group of Guyanese creatives worked with the dancehall artiste on his hit song “Karma”, which was also filmed in the country.
It was during that trip that a Guyanese producer named Ridwaan Razack laid the foundation, crafting the beat that would become the spine of this latest track.
Nigy recorded his vocals first and sent them over to Guyanese Dominic Remar Weekes, who also worked on the last project.
The creative director and co-artist behind the project, who has worked extensively in video production and storytelling, recorded, mixed, and mastered his part in May.
Yet, despite his experience, coming up with the right concept was no easy feat.
“You get stuck in a perfectionist mode,” he confessed.
But long-time creative partner and manager, Jonathan Beepat, stepped in to help shape the idea into something tangible and striking.
Filming took place in both Guyana and New York; a deliberate move to reflect Nigy’s mobility and to ensure the final product maintained a strong Guyanese identity.
“We knew we wanted to have the Guyanese imprint and identity on the video, so it was imperative for us to film part of the video here in Guyana,” he explained. “New York was our best bet for filming with Nigy while he was touring.”
The result is a cinematic experience that pulls view-
In total, the production took four months. “It might sound like an eternity,” he noted, “but there was a lot of chopping and changing, moving things around, and just making sure the entire team was comfortable with what we were putting out.”
Weekes noted that more than anything, the project is a showcase of Guyanese excellence.
Alongside the director, several other creatives from Guyana played vital roles.
They are Dwayne Jordan, who handled camera work and editing; Jonathan Beepat, who co-directed and helped script the video; Ridwaan Razack, who besides producing the beat, connected the artists and facilitated the video’s production; Joel Brown, another Guyanese producer who worked on the song’s recording and final mix; and Jamar Marcus, who was involved throughout—from playing the initial beat in his car while the lyrics were being written, to laying additional vocals on the chorus.
“The video is a high-quality one – not just by Guyanese standards, but by global standards,” Weekes emphasised.
“That sends a message that the quality of work is ready to transcend far beyond just this land of ours which they say has less than a million people,” he further noted.
Weekes noted too that working with Nigy again was a rewarding experience. “His energy remained high throughout. He was so easy to work with.”
As for what’s next, Weekes said: “Some of the most meaningful, most personal, and important music I’ve ever created. I’m going to get started on that process soon.”
Nigy Boy and Dominic Weekes
GUYANA ELECTIONS COMMISSION NOTICE (CONTINUED)
GUYANA ELECTIONS COMMISSION NOTICE (CONTINUED)
Guyana’s carbon sink potential as powerful as its oil resources – fmr Colombian President
With the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) Summit steadily approaching, Guyana’s status as a carbon sink and biodiversity hub was lauded by former Colombian President Ivan Duque, one of those instrumental behind the summit’s formation.
The summit is billed for next month: from July 23 to 25, 2025. According to Duque in an interview broadcast on the Alliance Podcast, Guyana’s carbon sinking potential is just as powerful as the value of its hydrocarbon resources.
“It’s in the country’s DNA. And it’s also validated by the fact that, this is a country with one of the
lowest percentages of deforestation in the Amazon. You have over (85) per cent of the country in tropical forests and this is a carbon sinking country as well. It has the possibility to sink carbon, based on that treasure that is the tropical forest of Guyana.”
“So, as Guyana has been developing and identifying the opportunities in the traditional energy sector – which is very important to give Guyana resources to improve infrastructure, reduce social gaps – at the same time it still is a green super power. So, it shows the right balance between the traditional energy and at the same time, the low carbon development.”
Duque said that in consideration of all of this, he held talks with President Ali on previous visits, and from those discussions came the idea for the GBA
Summit.
The former Colombian leader noted that they will be discussing, among other things, market driven, nature-based solutions for countries to be allocated resources that are desperately needed to protect biodiversity.
“I think Guyana is a great showcase and we expect to see guarantees, debt swaps, biodiversity credits and bonds; mechanisms to provide guarantees for local interventions, to be the centre of the discussion. So, we can talk about not only how important and relevant is biodiversity, but how effectively we can provide resources that are in demand,” Duque added.
Already, Guyana is earning massively from its forest carbon. With a tropical forest that takes up 86 per cent of its landmass, Guyana has the second highest percentage of forest cover on earth and one of the lowest deforestation rates. The forest stores 19.5 gigatons of carbon and sequesters more than 153 million tonnes annually.
In December 2022, the Guyana Government signed a historic contract with United States (US)based Hess Corporation for the sale of 33.7 million of the country’s high-quality certified carbon credits – a deal that saw the nation earning US$750 million for just 30 per cent of its forest carbon.
The Guyana Government had allocated 15 per cent or $4.7 billion towards Amerindian development. But with Guyana earning only US$87.5 million in 2024, a reduction from the US$150 million it received the previous year, it could have meant less money for indigenous communities.
To prevent this, however, President Ali announced last year at the opening of the National Toshaos Conference, an 11 per cent increase in the funds to Amerindian communities. This saw these communities getting 26.5 per cent of 2024’s earnings, amounting to US$23.2 million or $4.84 billion.
Meanwhile, following the 242 Amerindian communities benefitting from
the forest carbon funding in 2023, more communities, even those that were not fully indigenous, were seeking to participate in the programme, and as a result, the Government would be injecting another $100 million from the monies earned directly into these additional communities.
In total, the Guyana Government distributed a historic GYD4.778 billion in carbon credit funding for the development of Indigenous communities in 2024, in an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs with the aim of benefitting hundreds of these communities, including riverine and remote villages. This funding, part of Guyana’s growing involvement in the global carbon market, serves the dual purposes of addressing local development needs and furthering climate change mitigation efforts. The funds are disbursed through a Village Council system. As per the system, the funds for each village were deposited into a special bank account owned by that village, and the Community Council oversees how the funds are spent. Spending is done in accordance with a sustainable development plan established through local consultations. The funds are spent based on collective decisions made by the village, with a Financial Oversight Committee ensuring proper usage of the funds.
Andyville man...
At the time, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn visited the scene and confirmed that multiple agencies, including the Civil Defence Commission, the Guyana Defence Force, the Environmental Protection Agency, and private contractors—were involved in the containment effort. The fire was expected to burn for several more days despite containment lines being set up Station Officer Rovin
Thomas, who was stationed at the site of the sawmill blaze, had also flagged persistent challenges, including low water pressure from hydrants and difficulty accessing alternative water sources due to terrain.
The sawmill fire, reportedly sparked by improper disposal of timber waste, also caused the destruction of a nearby hut and led to a suspension of industrial activities in the vicinity.
Former Colombian President Ivan Duque
One young man has proven that the three-letter prefix “dis” in “disability” is not a limitation, but a challenge meant to be conquered.
His name is Kevin Sooklall, who at 22, has boldly stepped into his purpose, showing that he is fully able to accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
Cognitive intellectual disability, often referred to as intellectual disability, is a condition characterised by limitations in both cognitive functioning and adaptive behaviour, appearing before the age of 22. It involves significant limitations in mental functioning, including skills like communication, self-care, and social skills. These limitations can affect learning and development, leading to slower learning and difficulties in various aspects of daily life.
Despite this condition, Sooklall recently graduated from the Ministry of Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation Services Vocational Skills Training Programme at the Schoonord learning Centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWD).
The initiative, delivered through the Open
that his journey, like that of many others in the programme, was not without challenges.
Door Centre—a division of the National Vocational Training Centre—aims to empower persons living with disabilities through skills development and mentorship. But Sooklall didn’t just graduate. He emerged as the Best Graduating Trainee of the 2025 class—an achievement that left the room beaming with pride during the ceremony.
“It is truly an honour to stand before you today as the best graduating trainee of the graduating class of 2025.”
From the very beginning,
Sooklall set a tone that was both humble and uplifting –citing his momentous occasion solely due to the work that the educators in the programme granted to him.
“This moment is both humbling and inspiring, and I am deeply grateful to be given this opportunity to share my story. First and foremost, I wish to give thanks to God for guiding me through my educational journey thus far. It is through His grace and strength that I have reached this important milestone.” Amidst this, Sooklall profusely stated
“Being named Best Graduating Trainee is a title I never imagined would be mine,” he confessed. “Yet, today I stand here as open testimony that what is meant for you will always be yours, no matter the challenges you may face. There were times when I was not given potential, simply because I required more time and support to grasp certain concepts,” he explained.
my foundation, and I owe so much of my success to you.”
Along with the hard work he battled with throughout the programme, he also lent his perspective to his teachers and social workers as well, who, according to him, played a big role throughout the programme.
Despite this, he pushed forward, powered by faith and a strong support system.
“I have been incredibly blessed with a strong and compassionate support system. I must take this moment to express my gratitude to my mother. Mom, your unwavering support, patience, and belief in me have made all the difference.”
“On the days when I felt I had given up or doubted my worth, you were always there to remind me of my value and my purpose. Your strength and faith have been
“I am also deeply thankful to my teachers and social workers, both past and present, who have walked this journey with me. Their encouragement, understanding, and dedication played a vital role in my progress.”
Sooklall didn’t sugar-coat the process. He acknowledged the hardships of adapting to new environments, and the struggles of travel. But in the end, he triumphed.
“Adopting to the new school environment and managing the challenge of travel were not easy, but this time I was able to adjust and thrive. My experi-
ence at this institution has opened many doors for me. Opportunities I once thought are beyond my reach. I began to experience areas where I previously travelled, and discovered new strengths I didn’t know I had.”
The applause sounded throughout the ceremony, as Sooklall closed his speech with a message not only for his fellow graduates but for anyone who has ever felt limited by their circumstances:
“Never let your limitations define you. Challenges are a part of life, but they do not determine your destiny. Work hard, remain steadfast in your faith, and never stop believing in yourself. What is meant for you will always be reached if you keep going.”
He has not just completed a programme—he has rewritten the narrative of what it means to be abled.
Kevin Sooklall being awarded by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
Kevin Sooklall during his speech
Living to see some 36,525 days is undoubtedly a rare and remarkable achievement.
Fortunately for Ms. Elaine Daphne McLean Burgess of South Ruimveldt, this milestone has been gracefully achieved as she recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
With this significant achievement, she now becomes a cherished member of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s distinguished Century Club—an initiative dedicated to providing extra care and recognition for citizens who have reached the age of 100 and beyond.
The Century Club was thoughtfully conceptualized by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, with the profound aim of celebrating and honouring Guyanese centenarians.
This compassionate program ensures that dedicated staff from the Ministry’s Difficult Circumstance Unit (DCU) visit these esteemed individuals on their birthdays and on a quarterly basis to deliver personal care packages.
Furthermore, these cherished centenarians receive consistent support through food hampers and essential assistive aids, whenever required.
The Ministry continues its heartfelt tradition of honouring centenarians across the nation, ensuring these venerable citizens are celebrated with the recognition they so richly deserve.
Born to Kate Geraldine and Charles McLean on June 5, 1925, Ms. Burgess holds the distinction of be-
ing the eldest of 16 children. Her early years were spent in Region Six, where she received her education at Fyrish and Corentyne High School. She began her professional journey as a private tutor for young children.
At age 27, she embarked on a new chapter, marrying and raising a family of 10 children. Granny Burgess continued to embrace life with remarkable vitality and community spirit. She first served as a member of the Fyrish Co-operative Society and later ascended to the esteemed position of Chairwoman of the Fyrish/ Gibraltar Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
Her achievements were far from over. In a testament to her pioneering spirit, she was awarded a prestigious scholarship to Germany in 1979 to pursue a Diploma in Agriculture— notably, the only female recipient at the time.
Granny Burgess’s sweet and charming spirit is a constant source of joy to her 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Her personal passions include reading, knitting, singing, and the tranquillity of gardening, with Enid Blyton being one of her cherished authors.
As of writing this, Granny Burgess is now 36,528 days old.
WIIN Program Empowers Women Through Free Education
Another of the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s continued upliftment initiatives is its Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN)
program, also spearheaded by Minister Persaud. The initiative provides free, high-quality, and practical education to women and girls across Guyana.
Several women have recently shared their inspiring journeys in the program on the ministry’s Facebook page.
Juliet Lall, a 61-yearold participant, shared her heartfelt appreciation.
“I am the oldest person here, but I’ve learned so much. My husband had a stroke, and now I can take care of him so much better. I learned about diabetes, high blood pressure—you are never too old to learn. I’m thankful to the Ministry for giving us these free courses. At other places, you have to pay a lot of money, so I want to thank the Ministry for helping people like us.”
Another participant, teacher Rominie Sankar, also expressed her gratitude.
“I am a teacher, and I have always been open to learning new skills. This program has helped me immensely. I am very happy because it gives women the opportunity to enhance ourselves and feel empowered.”
Through such initiatives, the Ministry continues to pave the way for lifelong learning and support, enriching the lives of Guyanese citizens from all walks of life.
Since the programme’s 2021 introduction, it has seen a large increase in participation.
With WIIN’s successes, the Ministry launched the MPower initiative in May 2024, aiming to provide similar opportunities for men.
Juliet Lall
Rominie Sankar
Ms Elaine Daphne McLean Burgess receiving honorary award
EPA must ensure oil exploration permits comply with new 2025
Oil
Spill Bill – VP
…financial assurances must now align with new legal standards, says official
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has issued a clear directive to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), emphasizing that all new oil exploration permits must fully comply with the recently passed Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Bill 2025.
Central to this compliance, he stressed, is the requirement that financial assurances provided by oil companies must now reflect the full extent of their legal liabilities under the new legislation.
The sweeping piece of legislation mandates strict oil spill prevention, emergency response protocols, and clear accountability for polluters, in alignment with international conventions like the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC).
The Opposition has refused to back the Bill.
Additionally, the Bill will play a pivotal role in safeguarding Guyana’s environment, affirming the government’s long-term commitment to responsible resource management and environmental protection.
“So entirely clear, now with the new law in place; the way I see it is that permits from the EPA would have to ensure that they are responsible and the financial assurances they give must be consistent. They’re responsible for all, first of all, they’re responsible for all of the damages caused. That is the clean-up cost of the damage caused from a potential oil spill and two for consequential losses.
“So, the EPA, the new permits from the EPA, must seek a financial assurance that would ensure that all of their potential liabilities are covered,” the Vice President said.
The new law, which is seen as a landmark in strengthening Guyana’s regulatory oversight of the oil and gas sector, mandates that all operators must be financially prepared to manage the environmental fallout from oil spills. This represents a shift from previous regimes, under which critics often cited insufficient safeguards and unclear liability standards.
Jagdeo explained that with this legislation now in force, EPA-issued permits must reflect the law’s provisions, ensuring that the
oil operators’ liability is not just theoretical but financially secured.
The Vice President also pointed out that while the law governs Guyana’s territory, it has broader implications.
“We legislate for the state of Guyana. They have to provide financial assurances consistent with that new law or their liabilities under the new law… So, I suspect if you’re talking about like Trinidad and Tobago, I don’t think they’ll legislate for Guyana when they look at oil spills, etc. They can sue the company too. They can sue the company,” he explained.
The passage of the 2025 Oil Spill Bill has been hailed by government officials and civil society alike as a vital step toward ensuring Guyana’s burgeoning oil sector does not jeopardize the environment or economy through insufficient oversight.
Earlier in the month, Jagdeo reiterated that the bill offers broad and explicit legal protections to Guyanese citizens, especially fisherfolk and business owners, ensuring that they are fully compensated in the event of an oil spill, whether from a rig or a vessel transporting fuel.
“The liabilities for damages under section 17 includes damages resulting from the unauthorized discharge of oil from a vessel or facility, including a damage to real or personal property and economic losses resulting therefrom. So, that means if our fishermen, etc., suffer losses or any economic losses from any other parties, the company that’s responsible for the spill is liable for that.
“So, in the past, we could have only gone after the oil companies. Now, we have expanded the vessels transporting fuel through our territory. So if you have a spill caused by an oil rig, they’re liable now,” the Vice President explained.
Further, Jagdeo emphasized that companies responsible for such spills will now be legally liable for the full cost of clean-up and all resulting damages, ending the previous ambiguity which allowed companies to claim responsibility only for environmental clean-up, while avoiding payouts for broader economic losses.
Importantly, Clause 21 of the bill prevents companies from transferring liability to third parties.
“Clause 21 reads: an indemnification of any like agreement shall be invalid for the purpose of transferring the liability of a responsible party under this Act…
“So, if you’re the party responsible for the spill, you can’t go and sign an agreement or say, I have an agreement with someone else and transfer that liability. You’re responsible for it. You can’t transfer the liability. It has absolutely nothing to do with the parent guarantee, that indemnification,” he said.
This financial assurance, detailed on page 19 of the Bill, must meet the requirements of both the Petroleum Activities Act and the Environmental Protection Act, and must cover full liability in the event of an incident. Where a company’s own assets are insufficient to cover potential damages, it must secure a guarantee from its parent company to meet these obligations.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
President Ali’s investment in Region 3 agri sector to bolster regional food security – R3CCI
…fisherfolk, rice and cash crop farmers seen as key to CARICOM’s food plan
The Essequibo Islands–West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) has strongly endorsed President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s renewed focus on Region Three’s agricultural sector, following his recent direct engagement with fisherfolk, rice producers, and cash crop farmers there.
R3CCI praised the President’s “bold vision” for empowering grass-roots producers and deepening the region’s contribution to national and CARICOM food security.
In a statement issued Friday, the Chamber welcomed the President’s targeted approach to delivering relief, equity, and investment to those operating at the lower tiers of the food production value chain.
“The President’s commitment offers new hope for sustainable livelihoods and shared prosperity across our region,” R3CCI declared, emphasising that these measures will transform lives while bolstering the resilience of Guyana’s food systems.
Among the transformational initiatives that inspired the R3CCI include the setting aside of $50 billion to turn all farm-to-market access roads into all-weather roads, reducing the cost of transportation, increasing efficiency, and reducing spoilage as well as the opening of hundreds of thousands of acres of new land for farming and other activities.
In fact, the Head of
State had noted that the Government will provide combines to assist rice farmers with between 1 and 30 acres of land during harvesting.
He reminded of several other ongoing initiatives that are aimed at increasing productivity, resilience, and sustainability of the sector, including investing in world class storage and drying facilities in every region; developing a world class food hub for the processing, packaging and exportation of products; setting-up of an agriculture development fund; creating between 10-15 acres of land for high value agriculture crops using climate smart and resilient techniques including shade houses and hydroponics; building a fertiliser production facility, among oth-
ers.
President Ali’s message to Region Three’s producers highlighted the importance of inclusivity, access to equipment, better infrastructure, and stronger market linkages. These, the Chamber noted, are long-standing priorities for local producers who have often struggled with rising input costs, fluctuating commodity prices, and limited access to financing.
“As champions of Region Three’s economy, we commend this renewed recognition of the hard-working citizens who form the backbone of our agricultural sector,” R3CCI stated. The organisation noted that investments in mechanisation, cooperative support, and agri-tech solutions will modernise tradi-
Cop under close Arrest...
The GPF, acknowledging the public concern, stated that the Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a full and impartial investigation to determine whether the conduct of the ranks involved was in keeping with established protocols.
The Corporal at the cen-
tre of the incident has since been placed under close arrest pending the outcome of the OPR’s investigation.
No formal charges have yet been laid, and the civilians involved have not been identified by name. It is also unclear whether they sustained any injuries or filed complaints.
FROM PAGE 11
The GPF said it remains committed to transparency and accountability, and assured the public that any breaches of protocol would be dealt with in accordance with internal disciplinary procedures.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
tional farming while creating new income opportunities for rural families.
Positioning Region Three as a driver of innovation and sustainable economic growth is consistent with President Ali’s broader “25 by 2025” plan for CARICOM to reduce its food import bill by 25 per
cent. R3CCI said the region has “the right mix of talent, land, and logistics” to be a key player in realising this ambitious target.
The Chamber also pledged to intensify its collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders, affirming its role in
building a robust support ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector. This includes helping agri-businesses access grants, market intelligence, and training to improve their competitiveness and expand their reach.
Guard jailed for stealing cement mixer; ‘Scarface’ gets 3 years for break-in
Two East Coast Demerara men (ECD) were sentenced to prison this week in separate court proceedings for larceny-related offences.
One of the men had previously appeared before the courts in connection with a sexual offence.
In the first case, Rawl Success, a 27-year-old security guard of Lot 102 Beterverwagting (BV) Sideline Dam, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to stealing a cement mixer valued at G$450,000 from
Quincy Kendall. The theft occurred on June 3, and Success was promptly arrested.
He appeared before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he admitted to the charge of simple larceny.
Following his guilty plea, Success was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
In the second matter, Ryan Sookdeo, known as ‘Scarface’, a 21-year-old fisherman of Lusignan, was sentenced to three years’ im-
prisonment after pleading guilty to a break-and-enterand-larceny charge. The offence was committed on June 1 at the NonPariel home of 32-year-old Samantha Jairam, where Sookdeo unlawfully entered and removed items from her dwelling.
The charge was laid by ranks at the Vigilance Police Station, and Sookdeo appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where he admitted to the offence and received his sentence.
The East Coast Demerara men jailed for larceny-related offences
DR man on US top 10 most wanted list captured
Aman from the Dominican Republic who is on the US list of the 10 most wanted fugitives, has been captured in a joint operation by DR and US authorities.
Luis Francisco Soriano, known as “Yefri” or “Yeyo,” was arrested near Arena Gorda beach on El Macao Road in La Altagracia province, following extensive joint intelligence and interdiction work by agents of the country’s National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD),
coordinated by members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and supported by US Marshals.
The 32-year-old Dominican is charged with being involved in a quadruple homicide on August 31, 2024, near Rochester, New York. Two of the victims were children aged two and four years old.
Soriano faces multiple charges in New York State, including first- and second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree
kidnapping, and premeditated first- and second-degree arson.
Given the nature of the alleged crimes, his perceived danger to the community and his ability to evade authorities, the US Marshals Service included Soriano on the list of the 10 most wanted fugitives.
The arrest initiated the extradition process against Soriano to face charges in the United States. (Loop Caribbean News)
Maduro urges T&T PM to tone down deadly force rhetoric
Venezuela’s government has called on Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to tone down the deadly force rhetoric she used against their country and her criticism of President Nicolás Maduro.
In a communique issued Friday, the Maduro administration described PersadBissessar’s response as “irate and unjustified.” It said Persad-Bissessar’s reaction could damage cooperation between both countries.
“The Prime Minister’s virulent and high-handed attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity... and undermines the good cooperative relations between our countries in key areas,” the statement said.
The Maduro government was responding to PersadBissessar’s warning to the Venezuelan government that T&T was off-limits and that she would put the Coast Guard on alert to use deadly force if any vessel from that country sought to access local waters illegally.
Persad-Bissessar also made it clear T&T is standing with the United States on its policies against the Maduro regime.
Her remarks followed claims by Venezuela Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello, who alleged on his pro-
gramme Con El Mazo Dando that a Trinidadian national, whom he named as “Guis Kendell Jerome,” had been captured while travelling to Venezuela with a group labelled “terrorists” in an attempt to destabilise that country’s government.
According to the Venezuelan communique, however, they had “captured criminals of Trinidadian origin” who confessed to the alleged incursion. Caracas said the men’s statements were “duly supported with compelling evidence.”
The Venezuelan government said the appropriate course of action would have been a fact-finding mission.
It added, “Venezuela urges the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago not to become entangled in geopolitical games that run counter to the interests of
our peoples and reaffirms its commitment to peace, sovereignty and mutual respect, reminding that any legitimate concern must be addressed through diplomatic channels, not through threats or unfounded statements that only serve to escalate artificial tensions.”
Efforts to contact Persad-Bissessar for a response to the Venezuela missive were unsuccessful up to press time.
Meanwhile, international relations experts have slammed PersadBissessar’s warning to Venezuela.
Professor Anthony Bryan cautioned that such rhetoric risks exacerbating regional tensions and jeopardising the country’s diplomatic standing. (Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Crackdown looms on J’ca PPV operators playing loud/lewd music from sound systems
The Jamaica Transport Authority (TA) is set to intensify its enforcement efforts against public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators who flout regulations governing the playing of music on such vehicles.
The crackdown is coming as the TA seeks to address growing concerns about loud and obscene music being played in PPVs.
The TA reminded PPV
operators of the regulations on their social media pages in a notice on Thursday.
Under Section 15 of the Transport Authority Regulations, the use of flash drives, Bluetooth, CDs, or any other equipment capable of playing back video or audio recordings is strictly prohibited in PPVs, except for AM or FM radio bands.
PPV operators found in breach of the regulations could face a fine of up to
$25,000 if found guilty in a parish court.
The regulations do not apply to vehicles licensed as contract carriers, the notice stated.
Managing Director of the authority, Ralston Smith, subsequently told reporters that the enforcement drive is a response to increased reports of PPV operators playing loud and lewd music in their vehicles. (Excerpt from Loop Caribbean News)
T&T detains 28 undocumented Venezuelan women
Officers of the Trinidad & Tobago National Special Operations Unit (NSOU) conducted an intelligence-led operation in the Eastern Division early Friday morning, resulting in the detention of 28 undocumented South American migrants. Reports indicate that between the hours of 1:50am and 3:30am, officers received intelligence
which led them to a sports bar in St Ann’s Village, Mayaro, where 28 female Venezuelan nationals were found on the premises without proper documentation or identification.
The migrants were detained and taken to the Mayaro Police Station, accompanied by the bar owner, who is assisting officers with their inquiries.
Crime Scene
Investigators, along with officers from the Mayaro Police Station, processed the location and facilitated medical examinations for the detainees. The Immigration Enforcement Section and the Counter-Trafficking Unit were notified and are expected to take further action. (Excerpt from Loop Caribbean News)
Kartel concert promoter fearful for his life
The promoter of the flopped Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer concert says he is now fearful for his life.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Odane Anderson, who runs Jacho Entertainment, said he was now in trouble because he had to borrow money to fund the concert and is now finding difficulty in paying it back.
“Kartel said the fans get robbed, his supporters get robbed. I get robbed too because right now my life is in danger because of borrowing investors’ money; (I) cannot pay it back. The shareholders have to get paid. Other service suppliers have to get paid. So, my next step is to try to find common grounds to work it out,” Anderson said.
Police on Tuesday said it was looking into the financial dealings of Jacho Entertainment, after it was revealed an initial US$950,000 was paid to Kartel to headline last Saturday’s One Caribbean Music Festival.
Palmer was contracted for a total of US $1.35 million to perform at the concert, which also featured other foreign acts including Malie Donn, Rvssian, Sizzla Kalonji, Chronic Law and Moliy.
However, after Kartel, Malie Donn, Rvssian, Sizzla and Moliy pulled out of the concert citing contractual issues, Chronic Law was the only foreign act who performed.
Anderson has defended how he sourced the US funds for the foreign acts, saying it was done above board.
Leading up to the concert, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge had raised concerns over some items on Kartel’s itinerary and debarred some of them, resulting in some of changes being made to the artiste’s intended schedule.
Yesterday, Anderson said it was this that triggered
Kartel’s reluctance to come to the country. However, he argued that this should have been addressed rather than Kartel abandoning his fans. Despite Anderson’s claim, Kartel had taken to social media indicating to his fans that he had no issues with the T&T Government’s action.
Anderson said his attorneys had written to the attorneys representing the artistes who failed to perform requesting that they detail what were the supposed breaches in their contracts before proceeding. (Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Don’t come back, B’dos judge tells Guyanese drug traffickers
“P
lease leave and do not return!” Barbados
Justice Christopher Birch gave this stern order to two Guyanese nationals convicted of cocaine and cannabis charges moments before they were handed over to immigration officials.
Naseerdeen Bacchus Ali, 76, of Wales West Bank Demerara and Kamalodeen Alli, 45, of Belle West No. 2 Canal West Coast, both in Guyana, pleaded guilty to having, trafficking and importing 17.5 kilogrammes of cannabis and 17.35 ki -
logrammes of cocaine into the island on November 30, 2020.
Ali had previously been deported in 2011 after serving a four-year sentence for importing drugs into Barbados.
Noting the heavy impact that such drugs were having on society, Justice Birch also chastised the men as they stood in the dock of the No. 5A Supreme Court on Friday during their sentencing hearing.
The judge gave the convicted men a starting point of nine years for the offences. He made several deduc -
tions, including for their admission of guilt and mitigating factors, before sentencing them to the four years and seven months they had already spent on remand.
“You will be handed over to the immigration authorities at the rising of the court…. Gentlemen, you will not abuse our hospitality again,” Justice Birch declared.
The two men then left the court, accompanied by officials of the Immigration Department. (Excerpt from Barbados Today)
One Caribbean Music Festival promoter Odane Anderson, of Jacho Entertainment Ltd, during an interview at the office of attorney Criston Williams in Port-of-Spain Friday
US brings back El Salvador deportee to face charges
Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old from El Salvador mistakenly deported in March, has been returned to the US to face prosecution on two federal criminal charges.
He has been accused of participating in a trafficking conspiracy over several years to move undocumented migrants from Texas to other parts of the country.
El Salvador agreed to release Mr Ábrego García after the US presented it with an arrest warrant, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Friday. His lawyer called the charges "preposterous".
The White House had been resisting a US Supreme Court order from April to "facilitate" his return after he was sent to a jail in El Salvador alongside more than 250 other deportees.
In a two-count grand jury indictment, filed in a Tennessee court last month and unsealed on Friday, Mr Ábrego García was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens and a second count of unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens.
Bondi said the grand jury had found that Mr Ábrego García had played a "significant role" in an alien smuggling ring, bringing in thousands of illegal immigrants to the US.
The charges, which date back to 2016, allege he transported undocumented individuals between Texas
and Maryland and other states more than 100 times.
The indictment additionally alleges he transported members of MS-13, designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US.
The Trump administration had previously alleged Mr Ábrego García was a member of the transnational Salvadorian gang, which he has denied.
Bondi also accused Mr Ábrego García of trafficking weapons and narcotics into the US for the gang, though he was not charged with any related offences.
He appeared in court for an initial hearing on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee. An arraignment hearing is scheduled 13 June, where US Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes will determine if there are grounds to keep him detained ahead of his trial.
For now, Mr Ábrego García remains in federal custody.
Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, one of his attorneys, called the events an
"abuse of power" at a news conference on Friday.
"The government disappeared Kilmar to a foreign prison in violation of a court order," Mr Moshenberg said. "Now, after months of delay and secrecy, they're bringing him back, not to correct their error but to prosecute him."
US President Donald Trump called Mr Ábrego García a "bad guy" while speaking to reporters on Friday, and said the US Department of Justice had made the right decision to return him to face trial.
On 15 March, he was deported amid an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, after it invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law that allows presidents to detain or deport the natives and citizens of an enemy country.
While government lawyers initially said he was taken there as a result of "administrative error", the Trump administration refused to order his return.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Canada’s PM faces backlash for inviting India’s Narendra Modi for G7 summit
Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has defended his decision to invite India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, despite the conclusion of Canada’s federal police’s that the murder of a prominent Sikh activist in British Columbia was orchestrated by the “highest levels” of the Indian government.
Carney declined to answer reporters’ questions over whether he believed Modi had a role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a killing on Canadian soil that shattered relations between the two countries.
“There is a legal process that is literally under way and quite advanced in Canada, and it’s never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes,” he said on Friday. Four Indian nationals living in Canada have been charged with Nijjar’s murder.
The summit, attended by key world leaders, runs from
15 to 17 June in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Carney said because India was the “fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains”, he said it was important to invite the country’s leader, despite the continuing investigation, to discuss energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Carney’s decision to invite Modi prompted an outraged response from the
Around the World
Riot police, anti-ICE protesters square off in Los Angeles after raids
Helmeted police in riot gear turned out on Friday evening in a tense confrontation with protesters in downtown Los Angeles, after a day of federal immigration raids in which dozens of people across the city were reported to be taken into custody.
Live Reuters video showed Los Angeles Police Department officers lined up on a downtown street wielding batons and what appeared to be tear gas rifles, facing off with demonstrators after authorities had ordered crowds of protesters to disperse around nightfall.
Early in the standoff, some protesters hurled chunks of broken concrete toward officers, and police responded by firing volleys of tear gas and pepper spray. Police also fired "flash-bang" concussion rounds. It was not clear whether there were any immediate arrests.
An LAPD spokesperson, Drake Madison, told Reuters that police on the scene had declared an unlawful assembly, meaning that those who failed to leave the area were subject to arrest.
Television news footage earlier in the day showed caravans of unmarked mil-
itary-style vehicles and vans loaded with uniformed federal agents streaming through Los Angeles streets as part of the immigration enforcement operation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents targeted several locations, including a Home Depot in the city's Wetlake District, an apparel store in the Fashion District and a clothing warehouse in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles City News Service (CNS).
CNS and other local media reported dozens of people were taken into custody
during the raids, the latest in a series of such sweeps conducted in a number of cities as part of President Donald Trump's extensive crackdown on illegal immigration.
The LAPD did not take part in the immigration enforcement action. It was deployed to quell civil unrest after crowds protesting the deportation raids spray-painted anti-ICE slogans on the walls of a federal court building and massed outside a nearby jail where some of the detainees were believed to be held. (Excerpt from Reuters)
More than 40 'narco-boat' drug smugglers arrested in
major police sting
Police forces from several countries have dismantled an international drug trafficking ring that used what authorities called highspeed "narco boats" to smuggle large quantities of cocaine from Brazil and Colombia to Spain's Canary Islands, Spanish police said Friday.
The ring is suspected of using 11 speedboats to pick up drugs from larger "mother ships" in different points in the Atlantic and then bring them to the archipelago located off northwestern Africa, police said in a statement.
They also allegedly used an abandoned shipwreck as a refueling platform for the speedboats, authorities said.
It is believed to be "one of the largest criminal organi-
zations dedicated to cocaine trafficking operating from South America to the Canary Islands" using this method, the statement added.
Officers arrested 48 people as part of the operation, which was carried out in cooperation with Britain's National Crime Agency, the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration and pan-European police agency Europol.
A British national was among the 48 arrested during last Tuesday's raids, the National Crime Agency confirmed to Sky News. (Source: CBS News, Sky News)
Body of Thai hostage recovered from Gaza, Israel says
World Sikh Organization.
“For Sikhs in Canada, this is a betrayal, not just of our community, but of core Canadian values. Prime Minister Carney’s decision to invite Narendra Modi, while India continues to deny any role in the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar and refuses to cooperate with Canadian authorities, is both shameful and dangerous,” its president, Danish Singh, wrote in a statement. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Israel has retrieved the body of a Thai national taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says. He said the body of Nattapong Pinta was retrieved during a special operation in the Rafah area of southern Gaza on Friday. The 35-year-old was working as an agricultural labourer in southern Israel when he was kidnapped.
Mr Nattapong is likely to have been killed during his
first months of captivity, an Israeli military official said. Before the operation, it was not known whether he was dead or alive.
It comes after the Israeli army recovered the bodies of two Israeli Americans in Gaza earlier this week.
Mr Nattapong was the married father of a young son, the military official said. He had been working at Kibbutz Nir Oz to support his family in Thailand when he was captured by a militant group called the
Mujahideen Brigades.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the mission to recover his body was launched following information from the interrogation of a "captured terrorist".
Mr Nattapong is believed to be the last remaining Thai national abducted during the 7 October 2023 attack. Five Thai hostages were released during a ceasefire earlier this year – all of them alive.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
The gang used an abandoned shipwreck as a refuelling platform for their speedboats. Pic: Europol
Police detain a protester blocking the garage entrance of the Los Angeles Federal Building following multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 6, 2025
Mark Carney speaks in Ottawa, Canada, last Wednesday
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)
(June 21July 22)
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) (March 21April 19)
Stand up and be heard, but first, be sure your thoughts are valid and accurate. Passing along false information will leave you in a precarious position. Change only what’s necessary.
Let situations play out before making a move. Acting in haste will backfire, leaving you to clean up the mess. Concentrate on physical and emotional strength.
Talking is beneficial, but following through will have a massive impact on your reputation and prospects. Choose peace and intelligence over discord and chaos.
Participate in something that brings you joy. Reconnecting with old friends or signing up for a course or adventure that is spiritually awakening will have a positive impact on your life and the choices.
Protect your health, position and reputation. Refuse to let anyone speak on your behalf. Transparency will save you from undesirable feedback. Discipline and innovative ideas will lead to positive results.
Be observant, show interest, and listen attentively. Bond with people who share your concerns, and offer unifying alternatives.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Get moving, participate and make your voice heard. Travel, educational pursuits and communication will help you gain momentum and a leadership position.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19) LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
(Feb. 20Mar. 20)
Emotions will fluctuate, and passion will surface. Channel your energy into love and romance. Patience is necessary to maintain the status quo.
Go through the proper channels, get approvals and apply for rebates before starting home improvements. Make your space homey and inviting, and enjoy the comfort.
Establish yourself and your beliefs before you commit to donating to or volunteering for an organization to guarantee your objective is a good fit. Don’t make unnecessary compromises.
Do what makes you most comfortable. Shift your attention to saving money and selling what you no longer need or use. Make efficiency a priority and find affordable ways to lower your overhead. Focus on the changes you want to make. The less you share, the easier it will be to achieve your goal. Allowing others to intervene will lead to discord and expenses you should avoid.
Peanuts
Calvin and Hobbes
Pickles
AQUARIUS
CANCER
CAPRICORN
PISCES
Sarah Glenn takes three as West Indies limp to 106 for 8 either side of a five-hour delay.
England 109 for 1 (SciverBrunt 57*) beat West Indies 106 for 8 (Joseph 34, Glenn 3-21, Arlott 2-15) by nine wickets (DLS method).
Another experimental England side, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-century and three wickets to Sarah Glenn, romped to victory at a rain-hit Taunton and a 3-0 sweep of their ODI series against West Indies, leaving the visitors winless from six matches all tour.
Having swept the T20 leg 3-0 and won the first two ODIs by more than 100 runs each, England mixed up their batting order, elevating captain Sciver-Brunt and Sophia Dunkley to open while Amy Jones, who had reprised her opening role
pair put on 40 runs together before Dunkley was trapped lbw by Karishma Ramharack.
From there, Sciver-
Nat Sciver-Brunt 57* leads England to 3-0 sweep in rain-wrecked final ODI
33 balls to take England to victory by nine runs with
Brunt switched gears, powering to an unbeaten 57 off
10.1 overs to spare. Alice Capsey, promoted
to No.3 in place of Emma Lamb, who scored a quickfire half-century in that position during the second ODI, finished on 20 not out off 11 as England reached 109 for 1, easily passing their target of 106, set under the DLS method.
Play had resumed after a five-hour rain delay with West Indies 43 for 3 off 12.3 overs and the match reduced to a maximum of 21 overs per side. Qiana Joseph topscored for the tourists with 34 while a late flourish from Aaliyah Alleyne with 27 off 18 pushed West Indies to 106 for 8 at the end of their innings.
Glenn cleaned up three wickets after the restart to keep a lid on West Indies’ scoring after Em Arlott had made early inroads, reducing them to 4 for 3 inside four overs.
England won the toss and chose to bowl first under heavy skies and predictions of imminent rain, which arrived as the players ran onto the field.
They managed to start on time, and it was quite the beginning for England as Kate Cross removed youngster Realeanna Grimmond with the second ball of the match.
There was to be no repeat of Grimmond’s fifty on ODI debut in the previous game when, standing in for injured captain Hayley Matthews at the top of the order for the second time in a row, she nicked through to the keeper while chasing one that moved away.
Two wickets in two overs from seamer Arlott had West
Indies floundering. The first was full and straight, moving back in a touch as Zaida James played all around it and had her middle stump rattled. The second, an inswinger that rapped Stafanie Taylor on the front knee roll as she strode forward was given out on umpire’s call despite Taylor’s attempts to overturn Sue Redfern’s lbw decision.
Arlott was back in the side after sitting out the second ODI in Leicester as England continued to rotate players through their XI. In addition to changing their batting line-up, England also rested seamer Lauren Bell and left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, making way for spinners Charlie Dean and Glenn.
West Indies, who con-
firmed on the eve of the match that Matthews would miss the game with the shoulder injury which kept her out of the second ODI, welcomed back Joseph at the top of the order after illness had kept her out of the previous game.
Joseph was unbeaten on 21 from 24 balls when the rain properly set in with just shy of an hour’s play done, prompting the long stoppage.
Cross and Arlott were bowled out by the restart, given the reduction in overs, but when Dean resumed her second over, which had been interrupted by the rain delay, she struck first ball back as Shemaine Campbelle advanced on a fuller delivery which slid under the bat an into Jones’ gloves to see West Indies’ stand-in captain stumped for a sluggish 18 off 35 balls.
Glenn followed up next over by bowling Shabika Gajnabi and Alice DavidsonRichards plucked a sharp one-handed catch out of the air at mid-off to remove Jannillea Glasgow off Lauren Filer.
West Indies needed Joesph to swing the bat as she had to devastating effect at the T20 World Cup. She added 13 more runs to her tally before holing out to deep midwicket off Glenn, but it was Aaliyah Alleyne who produced the finish needed, striking five consecutive fours off Filer before she fell off the last ball, caught by Dunkley at point to give Glenn her third.
Nat Sciver-Brunt holds the series trophy after England’s 3-0 win
Sophia Dunkley fell lbw to Karishma Ramharack
Sophia Dunkley made a fast start to England’s chase
Em Arlott struck in her opening over
Tyrrell to Represent Guyana in World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Germany
Guyanese powerlifting sensation
Dominic Tyrrell will proudly represent Guyana at the IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Chemnitz, Germany. Competing among the world’s elite powerlifters in the men’s 83kg category, Tyrrell will showcase his strength at 18:30 hrs (German time) in Group A.
Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport centered around three core lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the leading global authority on powerlifting, will host this prestigious annual event from June 8–15, 2025. Tyrrell will compete against renowned athletes such as Joseph Borenstein, Ade Omisakin, Jurins Kengamu, and Timothy Monigatti.
According to the IPF’s of-
‘One
ficial nominations, Tyrrell enters the competition ranked 9th out of 42 competitors in his weight class, underscoring his impressive standing in the global powerlifting community.
Dominic Tyrrell boasts an impressive and inspiring track record, both in Guyana and internationally. Currently residing in France, he recently participated in the groundbreaking Squat, Bench, and Deadlift Showdown held in Montpellier, France, on April 5, 2025. There, he secured an outstanding 4thplace finish, using the event as strategic preparation for this year’s championships.
Tyrrell’s international acclaim grew significantly following his stellar performance at the 2024 IPF World Men’s Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania. In his world open debut, Tyrrell clinched an individual bronze medal in the
deadlift with a remarkable lift of 342.5 kg (755 lbs). His other lifts included a squat of 265 kg (584 lbs) and a bench press of 167.5 kg (369 lbs), earning him a total of 775 kg (1,709 lbs) and placing him 6th overall. In his open debut last year, Tyrrell faced off against athletes from powerlifting powerhouses like the USA,
Hururu’s Alicia Fredericks lead all scorers on night four; 5 teams record wins
When the battle for the top two spots in each group continued on Friday night last in the ‘One Guyana’ Kings and Queens of the Sand Football in Linden, the standout player was Hururu’s Alicia Fredericks who led her team to a comfortable 6-1 win over Circuitville Strikers.
With all the action unfolding at the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP-C) Linden office ground, Fredericks found the back of the nets in the 8th, 9th, 22nd, and 23rd, minute with her teammates, Candacy Robinson 15th, Kayana Cameron 21st, adding their names to the scoresheet in a dominating display. Circuitville Strikers got their consolation goal from Camiza Jacobs in the 19th minute.
In male action, Speightland fired their way to a 5-2 win over Fearless on account of a brace of goals each from Quincy Beaton (3rd, 5th) and Marvyn Jeffrey (19th, 28th) with Earl Cornelius (19th) touching in the other. Fearless hit the target through Andre Moffet in the 14th, and Delvin Grant in the 22nd minute.
Turf President with strikes either side of play from Clinton Charles (9th, 21st) edged Avacado Ballers 2-1 in a close tussle. Edgardo Herrera pulled one back for the losers in the 29th minute.
Spaniards were in a dismissive mood in their encounter with Lil Ballers, winning 5-1. Leading the
goal charge was Sigmund Cobena with a hat-trick, Mark Jacobs and Shaka Louis touching in one each.
One Syde knocked five (5) pass Hard Knocks who could only find the back of the nets on three (3) occasions. For the winners, Kriston Lewis (5th, 17th) and Ryan Arthur (21st, 22nd) netted a doble each, Lawrence Joseph in the 15th accounting for the other goal. Hard Knocks’ Omar Brewley (4th, 7th) and Kendolph Lewis 10th responded, but it was not
enough.
The other match of the night ended in a 2-2 stalemate between Young Gunners and Foundation Family. Young Gunners got their goals from Devonte Tappin and Tyrese Lewis while Foundation Family’s, Seon Barrat and Hussain Cambridge were on target. Play was scheduled to continue Saturday night with over four-million dollars in cash, trophies, and other incentives will be up for grabs.
Canada, Great Britain and wider Europe. Dominic’s excellent performance landed him as a top ranked athlete alongside powerlifting greats such as Kengamu, Russel Orhii and Enahoro Asein.
Tyrrell’s career highlights also include his 2023 debut at the IPF World
limelight, placed me in the top ten globally, and brought significant recognition, including being runner-up for Guyana’s Sportsman of the Year. I’m eager to continue building momentum and proudly represent Guyana on the world stage.”
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF), along with its affiliates and the broader Guyanese community, wished Dominic the utmost success. Fans and supporters can watch Tyrrell compete via the IPF’s live broadcast on their official YouTube channel.
Gauff beats Sabalenka to win French Open title
Coco Gauff won the first French Open singles title of her career by fighting back to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster final.
American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 victory after a tense battle between the WTA Tour’s two leading players in testing conditions.
It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff’s career, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Belarus’ Sabalenka.
“I think this [Grand Slam] win was harder than the first because you don’t want to get satisfied with just that one,” said 21-yearold Gauff.
Gauff recovered from a difficult start where she trailed by a double break, eventually finding her rhythm and benefiting from a huge number of mistakes from 27-year-old Sabalenka.
“This hurts so much. Congratulations to Cocoshe was a better player than me,” said Sabalenka, who was also bidding for her first Roland Garros title.
A stiff breeze played havoc with serve in the opening two sets, leading to the pair exchanging 12 breaks in an entertaining if not high-quality affair.
Gauff, who lost in the 2022 final, settled quicker in the deciding third set to move a break up and kept her nerve to serve out victory. She had to survive another break point before winning her second champion-
promised by winning in New York.
A productive clay-court swing, taking her to the Madrid and Rome finals, meant she arrived in Paris considered a sounder bet than defending champion Swiatek.
“Three finals... I guess I got the most important winthat’s all that matters,” said Gauff.
Only Sabalenka, who beat her to the Madrid title, had performed better and it was therefore unsurprising the top two seeds met again with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen at stake.
ship point, falling to the clay on her back when Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide.
With her parents Candi and Corey dancing euphorically in the stands, Gauff shared an affectionate hug with Sabalenka before running off court to celebrate with her family.
From tears of pain to tears of joy - Gauff’s redemption
Gauff’s previous appearance in the French Open singles showpiece, when she was still a teenager, ended in her covering her head with a towel as she sobbed on her chair.
It was the defining image of her defeat by Iga Swiatek, but she vowed to come back stronger - and she has.
“I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago,” Gauff said.
“I’m just glad to be back here. I was going through a lot of dark thoughts.”
Three years on, Gauff returned to the final as a Grand Slam champion, having fulfilled the potential
The tricky conditions met neither woman was able to play their best tennis, but Gauff showed indefatigable spirit and will to win.
Like in 2022 after her defeat by Poland’s Iga Swiatek, there were more tears for Gauff - this time, ones of joy.
Coco Gauff had only won one previous clay-court singles title - a WTA 250 event in Italy four years ago
The queens on target for Hururu
One Syde goal scorers
Dominic Tyrell in action
Moeen Ali expressed his pride in playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors once again, ahead of the upcoming ExxonMobil Global Super League (GSL), which will be held at Providence Stadium from July 10 to 18.
The English all-rounder revealed that prior to joining the franchise in 2024, he had only visited Providence once. Now, he’s thrilled to return and represent the Warriors in the second edition of the five-team tournament.
“Guyana for me to visit is amazing. The people are obviously very supportive and brilliant towards cricket. I get that cricket is huge out there, much bigger than I thought it was. And the ground to play, you look forward to every game. So yeah, we are looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd again.”
Moeen Ali proud to represent Guyana as ExxonMobil GSL
Known as a globe-trotter in the world of cricket, Ali has represented England across all formats and featured in various domestic leagues worldwide. He first appeared on the international scene in the Caribbean in 2014. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that he finally made his debut in Guyanafirst in the T20 World Cup semifinal between England and India, and later in the CPL and GSL.
Having played 298 international matches before retiring from international cricket in 2024, Ali relishes the high-level competition and atmosphere that the GSL brings. “I think for GSL to have the teams coming from different countries, strong sides, it’s something that feels a bit closer to playing against country to country.
I’m representing Amazon Warriors, I feel very proud to do that. And I’ve only been there for a year, and it really does feel like home and feels like I’m part of something special.
“I’m representing a group of people where the passion for the game is amazing. And GSL does give that international feel to it. It’s a great competition. Last year was obviously the first one. The first one is always the hardest to do. I think now it’s going to flow and it’s amazing that it’s been set up. It’s going to feel like a Champions League almost.”
Reflecting on the tournament’s timing this year - being held before the Caribbean Premier League instead of after - Ali believes it could be a crucial advantage for his team if
Nicaragua needle Golden Jags in WC Qualifiers
It was not the resumption to their FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign that Guyana’s Senior Men’s National football team, the Golden Jaguars had hoped for on Friday night. Taking in the home side at the Estadio Nacional in Managua, Nicaragua, the Golden Jaguars took first strike with Captain Daniel Wilson, Goal keeper Amel Clarke, Rashaun Ritch, Jalen Jones, Curtez Kellman, Colin Nelson, Kelsey Benjamin, Reiss Greenidge, Nathan MoriahWelsh, Osaze DeRosario and Omari Glasgow. The Golden Jaguars brought a fierce challenge to the hosts for quite some time, holding off their many
attacks. However, all that changed in the 41st minute when Nicaragua’s Ariel Arauz took a shot from outside the box that forced a save from Akel Clarke. Jaime Moreno capitalized on the rebound from that save to send the ball back in for the lone goal of the encounter in the 41st minute.
Guyana did have their fair share of chances, the clearest of which came in the first half, just minutes after Nicaragua’s strike. Omari Glasgow stepped on the gas to produce a phenomenal run, setting up Osaze DeRosario with a sitter infront of the nets. However, DeRosario’s shot only found the crossbar.
The second segment
they can carry winning momentum into the CPL.
“I genuinely think if we win GSL the preparation for CPL will be amazing. I think winning trophies is a habit and winning competitions is something you get used to and it’s something that we obviously want to try and do. Once you get that feeling and you are in
those moments, that crunch moment when you win the trophy, then I think it’s going to stand us in good stead for CPL. It’s a massive one, so it’s a very, very important one, not just for GSL but also for CPL.”
In the inaugural edition of GSL, Ali scored 93 runs in four innings including a fighting half century at
the top of the order against Victoria that helped the Guyana Amazon Warriors to finish third, ahead of Lahore Qalandars and Hampshire Hawks on the points table. In 2025, the Warriors will begin their quest for supremacy against defending GSL champions, Rangpur Riders under lights on the opening day.
ExxonMobil Guyana recommits support to
Future
Warriors Tapeball for Primary Schools
ExxonMobil Guyana is set to continue its investment in youth development through the third edition of the Future Warriors Tapeball tournament for Primary Schools, an initiative aimed at exposing grassroots talent to cricket across the nation.
The tournament, which has grown from its origins in Georgetown to encompass Berbice and Essequibo, will return with an expanded format this year.
The Demerara zone is scheduled for June 7-8 at the National Stadium, Providence, followed by the Berbice Zone from June 1415, and the Essequibo zone from June 21-22.
The highly anticipated ‘Champions of Champions’ leg will then culminate in September.
This year’s competition sees an increase in participation, with 16 teams per zone, up from 12 in previous editions.
bore no fruit for the visitors, resulting in the crushing loss for Guyana. The Golden Jaguars remain at third place in Group D of the second round of the CONCACAF qualifiers,, behind Nicaragua (9 points) and Panama (6 points).
While the Golden Jaguars will need a big win in their next fixture, their fate in the qualifiers will rest on the other results in the group, which also includes Belize and Monserrat.
The National team will head home where they will take on Monserrat on Tuesday, June 10 from 20:00hrs at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC), West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Organised by FL Sport, the tournament allows schools the flexibility to field mixed teams, incorporating both boys and girls at their discretion, fostering inclusivity from a young age.
A key focus for this year’s tournament is comprehensive player development.
Participants will be exposed to various developmental mechanisms, including national cricketers acting as team mentors during the sessions.
Additionally, officers from the Child Protection Agency will conduct sessions, underscoring a commitment to the holistic well-being of the young athletes.
Ryan Hoppie, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Supervisor, in a recent press engagement with FL Sport, encouraged the young participants to
“dream big.”
“You might be the next stars of Guyana or West Indies cricket,” Hoppie stated, expressing his hope that the children would leverage this opportunity to develop their talents and forge lifelong friendships.
John Ramsingh, CoDirector of FL Sport, is confident that the tournament will be another resounding success, building on the achievements of past editions.
He anticipates a rich display of raw talent and hopes the players can smoothly transition into established clubs or more structured cricket programmes in the future.
The tournament format will feature eight overs per side, contested on a straight knockout basis.
Teams can field 11 players from their squad of 13.
A unique incentive sees the top four teams after day one outfitted with new jerseys before returning to play in the finals on day two.
Both match days will commence at 09:30h.
Organisers are providing bats, balls, and transportation free of cost to all participating schools, along with various meals and refreshments throughout the playing days, removing barriers to participation.
The winning teams from each zone will be gifted a gear bag filled with tapeball cricket equipment.
Crucially, they will also secure a coveted spot in the upcoming ‘Champions of Champions’ tournament.
The ultimate winner of this champions’ playoff will gain an exclusive opportunity to be part of activities for ExxonMobil Guyana/Guyana Amazon Warriors during the home leg of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in
September, offering an unparalleled glimpse into professional cricket.
Furthermore, the Most Valuable Player from each of the three zones in June is expected to be part of the activities for the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, which runs from July 10-18.
Essequibo’s Huis T’ Dieren Primary are the defending champions of the ‘Champions of Champions’ title, setting the benchmark for this year’s aspiring teams.
In Saturday’s quater-final fixtures, defending Demerara champions Stella Maris defeated Ketley Primary by 114 runs. Clyde Jacobs produced a stellar performance scoring 51 not out from 18 balls. His innings features five sixes and four fours.
St. Pius got past School of the nations in a close contest.
St. Pius won by eight runs with Jeremiah Norton taking 2-6.
St. Pius scored 48-5 while Nation’s were contained to 40-3 before the eight overs expired.
Meanwhile West Ruimveldt hammered Providence Primary by nine wickets.
Eli Henry pickedup 3-6 for the West Ruimveldt to restrict Providence to 23-6 from their alloted overs. West Ruimveldt then reached 24-1 in 3.5 overs.
In the last match of the quarter final, Grove Primary defeated Camille’s Academy by 41 runs.
Grove posted 52-6 but Camille’s were bundled out for 11. Roles Melville picked up 6-7. Stella Maris, Grove, West Ruimveldt and St. Pius Primary have progressed to the semi-finals on Sunday.
A look at Guyana’s starting XI for the contest against Nicaragua
Moeen Ali will suit up for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the ExxonMobil Guyana GSL
Operations Integrity Management System Coordinator at ExxonMobil Guyana, Tenesha Les Flores, makes a ceremonial presentation to FL Sport’s Yusuf Ali in the presence of ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Supervisor, Ryan Hoppie at the National Stadium, Providence on Saturday
