The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, October 26 – 06:25h–07:55h and Monday, October 27 –07:10h–08:40h.
BRIDGE OPENINGS FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny skies are expected during the day, and clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 06:46h and 18:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.37 metres and 2.45 metres. Low Tide: 12:29h reaching a
height of 0.89 metre.
Design for deep-water port at Berbice being finalised
– as stakeholders press for local port facility amid delays in Trinidad
The establishment of a deep-water port facility in Guyana is being pushed by stakeholders in the Government and the local private sector as the best solution to the prolonged delays with shipments at the port in Trinidad and Tobago. The Guyana Government is keen on pursuing a deep-water port facility at Berbice in Region Six. In fact, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed earlier this month that they are finalising the design of this facility. “We are working on the move towards the final phase of the deep-water port in Berbice, which will see the design completed, and then we will move towards construction,” the Head of State said to stakeholders at a breakfast event held on October 2 by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). Days later, the local private sector, including the GCCI, complained bitterly about the continued delays in shipments to and from Guyana in Trinidad as a result of major congestion at the Port of Port of Spain.
The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said the challenges at the Port of Port of Spain have disrupted supply chains, creating delays in the importation of key raw materials. It noted too that for many local manufacturers and traders, these delays translate into higher costs, production slowdowns and loss of revenues.
A game changer
In fact, GMSA President Rafeek Khan subsequently told the Guyana Times that this situation is causing disruptions to both large and small Guyanese businesses, with even more dire consequences as the holiday season approaches. “So, look, eventually our ultimate solution is to have a deep-water port in Guyana,” Khan contended. This, he went on to point out, “…
would be a game changer. Of course, it will turn around shipment time too because we are vulnerable for sizes of vessels coming into the country right now, and even
for our exports, we’re limited because we have to ship to Trinidad and ship out from Trinidad.” Similarly, Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer, Peter Ramsaroop, also stated that a deep-water port is “definitely needed” in Guyana. “It’s been on the books for a while, but now, given the expansion of our relationship with Northern Brazil [Linden to Lethem] road connection, the deep-water port is necessary,” Ramsaroop recently told this newspaper. In fact, President Ali is already eyeing the recently increased £3 billion loan facility that the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) is offering Guyana to possibly fund the deep-water port facility in Berbice. British High Commissioner Jane Miller
recently confirmed to the Guyana Times that this was among several projects that the Head of State pitched to UK officials that the UKEF funding could be utilised for. The Guyana Government is already working with the international company Bechtel Corporation on the development of a deep-water port along the Berbice River. Bechtel has a significant presence in the development and management of deep-water ports, with experience in designing, permitting and managing the construction of such ports, as well as overseeing operations. The company has been involved in numerous deep-water port projects around the world, including ones in the United States (US), Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh engaging officials from the US-based Bechtel Corporation at the State House in Georgetown back in July
President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Rafeek Khan
Much has been made of the deployment of US naval forces in the Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela, to interdict and sink ships belonging to drug cartels. But less attention has been paid to Washington’s increased interest in the Caribbean generally.
The Monroe Doctrine, which was issued in the early 19th century, said that the United States would resist any intrusion of European powers in the Western Hemisphere. This policy was the basis under which the US acted against the Soviet presence in Cuba and, in the 1980s, was engaged in funding the Contras in Nicaragua. Both instances were presented as based on fundamental geopolitical US interests.
The current fundamental policy of the United States is to disengage from Europe, not to mention the rest of the world, to the extent possible. This is based on the strategic principle that the Monroe Doctrine is the geopolitical foundation of the US, insulated as it is by two oceans. Given the doctrine and the policy of disengagement, it follows that the US will oppose intrusion from outside powers throughout the Western Hemisphere. The right to national self-determination was, of course, dismissed by President James Monroe; the doctrine implicitly meant the US would intervene in South and Central America without the consent of South and Central American Governments. In short, the Monroe Doctrine was both an imperial dictate and a geopolitical necessity for US national security.
Trump is planning to invade Venezuela. We ought to thank him US, Venezuela, Cuba and the Caribbean
It is in this context that we must consider US actions in the Caribbean. The US used the Monroe Doctrine to justify its military interventions in Latin America throughout the Cold War, and especially in the 1980s. The interventions had two dimensions: covert operations against drug cartels and, most notably, the Soviet presence in Cuba.
A significant portion of US activity was triggered by the fact that the Soviet Union was engaged in covert operations designed to destabilise Latin American countries and, if possible, create pro-Soviet regimes. In some of these cases, the Soviets supplied cartels with weapons advisers to capitalise on the weakening of Government power. The US countered with its own covert operations designed to block Soviet efforts and to intervene against the cartels in Colombia, for example. Many of Moscow’s operations were run out of Cuba. But since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin has limited its engagement. Meanwhile, drug cartels grew dramatically stronger. And because Russia was less engaged with them, the US reduced its engagement in kind and has recently placed the threat from China in its sights.
A presence in Cuba would put Russia in a position to expose one of America’s biggest economic liabilities. At least half of all US imports and exports go through the ports of the Gulf Coast. Texas and Louisiana are of fundamental economic importance to the US, and if they were blocked, America’s Atlantic and Pacific ports would struggle to offset any trade shortfalls. And it wouldn’t be difficult to block: The Gulf ports have a single exit point, the Straits of Florida, located just south of Key West and spanning about 90 miles (145 kilometres) wide at their narrowest point. The straits are a necessity to the US and are therefore of interest to the Russians.
US President Donald Trump has been concerned about drug cartels. Given the current geopolitical reality, the possibility of renewed Russian relations with the cartels may be well-founded, especially in light of the recent military agreement in Cuba. US policies in Ukraine make a Russian reprisal conceivable. Cuba is heavily involved in Venezuela. If the premises of this analysis are sound, it would explain US actions against Venezuela. The increased naval presence in the Caribbean provides a force to threaten Cuba from the south and north and significantly limits Russia’s ability to threaten the Straits of Florida. It also deters a potential Russian naval build-up. Last, it makes Cuba think more about US interest in its future.
(The above is an analysis adapted from George Friedman’s Geopolitical Futures)
By Daniel Hannan
Donald Trump is preparing for a military intervention in Venezuela. You don’t send a dozen warships, including a nuclear submarine and an aircraft carrier, to interdict a few drug traffickers. You don’t deploy 10,000 troops to deter smugglers.
The US naval build-up in some ways resembles Russia’s “military exercises” on the borders of Ukraine in February 2022. As in that case, the stated justification is obviously bogus, but no one can be certain of the real goal. Is Trump seeking to browbeat Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s corrupt and inarticulate dictator? Is he aiming to stimulate a rising by sympathetic forces within Venezuela? Or might an amphibious landing actually be on the cards?
Many, especially in the Global South, will fall hungrily on the parallel with Russia. So much, they will say, for the pretence that Western countries uphold the international order. The US, they will aver, is no different from Russia, acting from self-interest and then coating its Machtpolitik in cant about freedom and democracy.
The comparison is false. Even Trump has no interest in annexing Venezuelan territory. Whatever happens next, whether we end up with shots fired in anger or whether Maduro’s rotten regime
agrees to free elections, no one can credibly claim that the US is commandeering Venezuelan resources.
Putin’s objective in Ukraine was to remove a freely elected Government and replace it with a Russian client regime. Trump’s objective in Venezuela is to remove a Russian client regime and replace it with a freely elected Government. That difference is categorical.
To understand why, it is necessary to recall some recent Venezuelan history. In the late twentieth century, Venezuela was the wealthiest country in the region, its quality of life drawing immigrants not just from Latin America and the Caribbean but also from Spain, Italy and Yugoslavia.
Then, from 1998, came the baleful rule of Hugo Chávez, a megalomaniac former army officer who, while the rest of the world was going in the opposite direction, ordered nationalisations and expropriations. For a few years, Chávez was shielded from the consequences of his policies by the high oil price, but when the oil boom ended around 2014, the cataclysm hit.
The rule of Maduro, Chávez’s designated successor, has been marked by hyperinflation, immiseration and emigration. There have been verified cases of death through malnutrition – an almost incredible fact in what used to be a developed country. No fewer than 7.7 million
Venezuelans, some 30 per cent of the population, have been driven into exile, the biggest movement of people in the Western Hemisphere.
Maduro bolstered his position by raising a socialist militia, arresting opposition figures and closing down independent media. According to Amnesty International, there were “8292 extrajudicial executions carried out between 2015 and 2017”.
He might have been toppled in 2017 when he dissolved the national assembly and the world refused to recognise his subsequent election. Trump mused about intervening: “I’m not going to rule out a military option for Venezuela. This is our neighbour.”
But the moment passed, Maduro survived, and the repression continued. Then, last year, came another election. Talks with opposition leaders in Barbados had produced an agreement on basic democratic norms, and, following the disqualification of the rightist leader (and winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize), María Corina Machado, it was hoped that there might be an agreed transition under the man nominated in her place, a harmless retired diplomat called Edmundo González.
Instead, Venezuela saw vote-rigging on a scale that, in other circumstances, would have been comical. Someone had evidently decreed that the minority
candidates would get 4.6 per cent in total. But, through some miscommunication, they were initially allocated 4.6 per cent each, meaning that the preliminary results showed a total 127 per cent vote share. Opposition scrutineers at local polling stations, knowing that the fraud would happen centrally, had kept records of the tally sheets, which showed González winning more than two-thirds of the vote. But Maduro declared himself the victor by just enough to avoid a runoff and blamed suggestions to the contrary on Elon Musk. In a bizarre press conference, the former bus driver lapsed performatively into the rough dialect of Caracas’s barrios. The closest I can come to translating him is, “Think you’re hard, Elon Musk, do you? Like we used to say in my manor, Elon Musk, you and me, outside, nah!” His Generals applauded through rictus grins. Viewed from a distance, it had an opéra bouffe quality. But it heralded another horrific crackdown, with opposition supporters disappearing in the night. González was allowed into exile after signing a statement to the effect that he had lost. But, with extraordinary courage, Machado remained in the country, moving from one safehouse to another while continuing to rally the democratic forces.
President Dr Irfaan Ali received a courtesy call from singer Jelanie Alexander, popularly known as SamDan, at State House on Saturday. The dancehall artiste is scheduled to perform Sunday at the President’s Cup Horse Racing meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club
Burnham via rose-coloured glasses
Dear Editor,
It is both alarming and disappointing to see how quickly some Guyanese are willing to forget or, worse, revise our own history. Recently, I’ve noticed people speaking of Forbes Burnham as though he were some model of justice and fairness, especially when comparing him to the current leadership of the PNC. This sort of revisionist nostalgia is not only misguided but dangerous.
Let us not forget who Burnham truly was. He began as a member of the PPP but tried to force himself into leadership – “an early sign” of his hunger for power. In the 1964 elections, though the PPP won the largest number of seats (24 out of 53), Burnham conspired with the United Force (UF) to form a coalition and take power. Is this the “just” Burnham we now praise?
Then came the 1980
Constitution: Burnham’s masterpiece of control. He replaced the Westminsterstyle system with a hybrid model that handed near-absolute executive authority to the central government, tipping the balance entirely in favour of the executive arm. Under this new constitution, he even made post-election coalitions illegal, which is ironic, given that coalition politics was his own pathway to power in 1964. Yet he conve-
niently kept voting rights for Commonwealth citizens intact.
And let us not ignore his timing of Independence Day. Burnham declared independence on May 26, 1966, not because of any symbolic significance, but to erase the memory of the Wismar Massacre two years earlier, when scores of IndoGuyanese were killed and driven from their homes in an event that forever scarred our nation. The
area was later renamed after Burnham himself.
For context, the Guyana Independence Act was passed on May 12, 1966, and the statutory instrument on May 16th, meaning independence could have been declared on any of those dates. Yet May 26th was chosen, conveniently close to that dark anniversary. So when Odessa Primus says that Burnham must be “rolling in his grave” over
Aubrey’s actions, one must wonder, does she truly understand who Burnham was? Or is it that Azruddin Mohamed’s flaws are so easily overlooked that she can also overlook Burnham’s? It is time we stop looking at history through rose-coloured glasses. Guyanese deserve truth, not mythmaking.
Yours sincerely, Nalinie Singh
OGGN’s Flawed Analysis: Misreading the Economics of Guyana’s Oil Investment
Dear Editor,
I had absolutely no intention of diverting public attention to a group of retired seniors associated with an entity called the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN). But it is painful having to read this sort of nonsensical analysis almost every day in the mainstream media, where they are given endless space to propagate a series of catastrophically flawed interpretations of Guyana’s oil and gas fiscal outcomes.
My response is specifically to address their recent critique of a statement made by ExxonMobil Guyana’s Country Manager, who correctly asserted that the company remains in a negative position on its investment in Guyana. OGGN took issue with this claim and sought to disprove it by pointing to the reported profits of the oil companies.
The analytical flaw lies in the failure to contextualise the argument within the comprehensive invest-
ment commitments undertaken by the oil companies in the Stabroek Block and the economic fundamentals underpinning the project. A robust analysis must incorporate these dimensions to accurately assess the viability and implications of the sector.
Towards this end, the total committed investment in the Guyana market – specifically in the Stabroek Block, which to date contains proven reserves of approximately 11 billion barrels of crude oil
– amounts to about US $65 billion. As of 2024, the book value of the oil companies’ asset base in the Stabroek Block stands at US $34 billion, representing roughly 52 per cent of the total committed investment.
This means that the consortium still has US $31 billion in additional investment yet to be realised on future projects within the Block, based on the proven reserves. Consequently, from a financial standpoint, the companies are still in a
net negative position of approximately US $31 billion, or 48 per cent of total committed investment.
It is that simple.
Conclusion When OGGN focuses narrowly on reported profits without understanding the broader investment and capital recovery structure, it produces analyses that are not merely incomplete – they are misleading. The oil companies’ balance sheet position must be viewed through the lens
Trump is planning to invade...
Over the summer, I arranged for her to speak to Conservative MPs by Zoom from one of these locations.
I asked how she was coping without seeing her family, assuming that they would have been separated only since the rigged election. Her answer left both of us blinking back tears. “I haven’t seen my kids in more than eight years,” she said. “I missed the important moments in their lives. But I can’t conceive of my life, or theirs, except in a free Venezuela.”
Restoring democracy to Venezuela would be in the interest of every country except Russia, Cuba and Nicaragua. If even half the émigrés returned home, Venezuela would boom, for those émigrés represent the most entrepreneurial portion of the population. Oil would flow again, bringing down prices globally. And, no less important, the decade-long march of autocracy across the globe would suffer an important regional reverse.
Why, though, is any of this America’s responsibility? Theodore Roosevelt answered that question in 1904 in response, appropriately enough, to a debt crisis in Venezuela which had triggered European intervention: “Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilised society, may ul-
timately require intervention by some civilised nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power.”
In other words, when a country in the Americas falls into such a disastrous condition that the entire region is feeling the effects, it falls to the US to act as the adult. It should intervene contingently, proportionately and briefly, with the aim of leaving a sovereign democracy behind it. The people who pretend not to see the difference between what is known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and straightforward Russian revanchism are not arguing in good faith. What form might intervention take? Trump is, as usual, talking big: “The land is going to be next,” he told a recent press conference, still officially claiming that all this is about drugs. But he went on to speculate about getting Congressional approval, which suggests something much more ambitious.
An all-out invasion seems unlikely. Maduro has taken steps to fill Venezuela’s security forces with loyalists, and 10,000
troops is nowhere near enough to overthrow him by force. At the same time, Maduro shows no sign of relinquishing power voluntarily simply because there is a big naval task force on the horizon.
The likeliest outcome is somewhere in between. The US is presumably working on Venezuela’s military
and police leaders, telling them that Maduro is finished but that they do not need to fall with him. The USS Gerald R Ford can launch 90 planes: enough to give total air supremacy to any insurrection. If we see that level of deployment on the edge of Venezuela, we can believe Trump when he incautiously boasts of a
covert CIA presence inside the country. Perhaps Maduro will realise that the game is up and agree to free elections. Perhaps there will need to be an internal putsch. Either way, it is a welcome retreat from the sulky isolationism that we have recently seen from MAGA. If the United States is
of total project economics, where cumulative investment, capital depreciation, and future development obligations define profitability. Until the total committed investment is recovered and returns are realised beyond that threshold, the assertion that the consortium remains in a negative position is not only correct but financially irrefutable.
Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
FROM PAGE 4
again engaging positively in world affairs, the rest of us should applaud. (The Telegraph)
Daniel Hannan is an author and columnist. A former member of the European Parliament and advisor to the Board of Trade, he writes for ConservativeHome and The Washington Examiner.
Page Foundation
Have you ever watched an old movie, listened to a classic radio show, or seen your parents’ childhood cartoons? These are all part of something called audio-visual heritage! Audio-visual means anything we can see or hear, like videos, films, TV shows, and recordings.
Heritage means it’s something important from the past that we want to keep safe for the future.
Every year on October 27, people all around the world celebrate World Day for Audio-visual Heritage. It’s a day to protect and take care of these important recordings so that future generations can see, hear, and learn from them.
Why is this important? Imagine if your favourite
cartoon from a long time ago disappeared forever, or if the first movie ever made in your country was lost. Audio-visual heritage keeps these stories alive, helping us learn about history, culture, and even science in a fun way!
Some examples of audio-visual heritage include:
• Old movies and cartoons
• Radio shows from many years ago
• TV programmes that people loved
• Videos showing historic events
Fun Facts:
• The first movie ever made was just a few seconds long, showing a man walking in a garden!
es from the early 1900s.
• Some movies and shows are so old that only
one copy exists, making them very precious.
Libraries and museums store films and recordings in safe places, digital technology helps make copies so the original doesn’t get lost, and restoration fixes damaged old videos so they can be watched again.
Did you know that Guyana has films and shows that show festivals, music, and daily life from years ago?
These are part of our country’s audio-visual heritage. Preserving them means that future kids can see how people lived and celebrated in the past.
There are lots of documentaries that offer a glimpse into Guyana’s culture:
• Guyana: A Visual Essay
This documentary offers a comprehensive look into Guyana’s landscapes, people, and traditions, providing invaluable insights into the nation’s
cultural fabric.
• The Terror and the Time
A poignant film that delves into the political and social upheavals in Guyana during the 1970s, reflecting the nation’s struggles and resilience.
• Anatomy of Resistance
This documentary chronicles the efforts of Guyanese individuals and groups who stood against various forms of oppression, showcasing the spirit of resistance and unity.
Festivals like Mashramani and various months or days dedicated to culture, like Emancipation Day or Indian Arrival Day, and the recent Amerindian Heritage Month, help to preserve traditions and remind us of our cultural history.
Festivals like Mashramani and various months or days dedicated to culture, like Emancipation Day or Indian Arrival Day, and the recent Amerindian Heritage Month, help to preserve traditions and remind us of our cultural history.
Just like films and videos, music and songs are an important part of Guyana’s audiovisual heritage. Old recordings of calypso, chutney, soca, folk, and indigenous Amerindian songs capture stories about daily life, celebrations, work, and important historical events.
For example, songs like Not a Blade of Grass by the Tradewinds or old steelpan and chutney recordings capture the pride and rhythm of Guyanese life.
Even our National Anthem and the Song of the Republic are part of our audio-visual heritage!
Because of the work of organisations like the National Trust of Guyana, many buildings and monuments have been recorded and preserved in time for us to look back on.
• The world’s oldest radio broadcast still exists, and it lets us hear music and voic-
Queenstown Masjid
The first mosque was built in 1896, mainly of timber. By 1940, the building was repaired two times and enlarged to accommodate the growing Islamic population. That mosque was demolished in 2007, paving the way for the construction of a contemporary masjid. (National Trust of Guyana)
Mission Chapel Congregational Church
Established in 1815 by Reverend John Wray, the Mission Chapel Congregational Church is one of the oldest structures in New Amsterdam. In 1822, it became too small and was enlarged; a school was also built. Both were destroyed by arson in 1823. They were rebuilt, and in 1841, the present church’s foundation stone was laid. (National Trust of Guyana)
Not a Blade of Grass by the Tradewinds
India still eyeing oil deal with Guyana – High Commissioner
Though India has had its eyes set on Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector for several years, there is yet to be any concrete deal struck between the two longstanding bilateral partners – but the energy-hungry country is positive that this will change as production of the light sweet crude offshore ramps up.
There is currently an estimated 11.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent in Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block, where United States (US) oil major ExxonMobil, along with its co-venturers, has been producing oil since 2019. Exploration activities are also ongoing in other oil blocks offshore Guyana.
Production was increased back in August with the startup of the Yellowtail Project – the fourth oil development in the Stabroek Block. Yellowtail’s ONE GUYANA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel joins the Destiny, Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs and is expected to bring the total installed capacity in Guyana to above 900,000 barrels of oil per day by this year’s end.
This is expected to further increase with the startup of the fifth and sixth approved projects, Uaru in 2026 and Whiptail in 2027, respectively. In fact, ExxonMobil Guyana expects to have a total production capacity of some 1.7 million oil equivalent barrels per day from eight developments in the Stabroek Block by 2030.
India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer as well as one of the biggest oil refiners, has been looking to diversify its crude sources.
According to the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, this marked increase in production is an encouraging sign for a possible trade deal between the two countries.
“So, once the exploration increases and more and more crude is available, I’m sure Guyana will also look at other partners for exporting it, and at that time, India can certainly become one of the partners for that,” the diplomat said in a recent interview with the Guyana Times.
Cooperation agreement
Back in 2024, the Indian Government had indicated that it is pushing for a long-term partnership with
Guyana as the two countries ink a cooperation agreement that opens up a host of opportunities for collaboration.
As part of the historic visit of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Guyana in November 2024, several bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries in a number of areas, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector.
This MoU established a framework for Guyana and India to enhance bilateral collaboration in the hydrocarbon sector. In fact, it encompasses investment promotion, technology transfer, joint studies, and capacity building across the entire hydrocarbon value chain.
During remarks at the State House in Georgetown, Prime Minister Modi had highlighted the importance of Guyana’s oil and gas sector to India’s high-demand energy needs.
“Guyana will play an important role in India’s energy security,” PM Modi stated.
It was further noted that India plans to move forward as “natural partners” with Guyana to advance energy cooperation between the two nations. In this regard, the Indian Prime Minister disclosed that a roadmap for a long-term partnership will be created and that the energy pact will be further strengthened on this front.
Currently, the energy-hungry India, which im-
Design for deep-water...
During an outreach at New Amsterdam, Region Six, back in April of this year, the Guyanese leader had noted that this deep-water port aims to facilitate the development of Guyana’s second gas project that is to be built in Berbice as well. Only in July, a team from the US-based Bechtel, led by President of Regions and Corporate Relations Justin Siberell and including Regional President of Latin America Carlos Alarco, engaged senior Government officials on this project. At the meeting, the Bechtel team updated President Ali and Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh on the company’s ongoing work for the Government to advance the transport link between northern Brazil and the deep-water port planned to be built at the mouth of the Berbice River.
Moreover, the President had also disclosed during an April outreach that local shipping competitors Muneshwers Limited and John Fernandes Limited, through their joint venture – Cranes Guyana Inc., will invest over US$285 million in a modern port facility at Berbice. He had noted that the two companies were in the process of finalising the funds with their investors for the first phase of a port facility to be lo-
cated at Blairmont, West Coast Berbice (WCB). With Guyana positioning itself as a regional transport hub by building out new road networks and expanding existing ones like the Linden to Lethem Road, coupled with the new bridge across the Corentyne River to connect to neighbouring Suriname, the importance of a deep-water port facility here is even more heightened.
According to Ramsaroop, this is especially so for Guyana’s position as the food capital of the region and getting its produce to more markets.
“As we go to energy dominance, food dominance, and climate dominance – especially food dominance – we need to get our products to the wider markets. And a deep-water port brings in the larger ships,” he stated.
Ports and artificial island expansion
Currently, the Guyana Government is transforming the Parika Stelling into a modern international port facility. The pace of works on the Parika Port will accelerate in the coming months, and when completed, it will enable Guyanese businesses to export goods more efficiently to markets across the Caribbean and beyond. Additionally, the $4.5 billion port facility will also facili-
ports nearly 85 per cent to 90 per cent of its crude oil, has been seeking a multiyear deal. As a result, the Cabinet in New Delhi, back in January, had approved the signing of a five-year MoU with Guyana that covers the complete value chain of the hydrocarbon sector, including sourcing of crude oil from Guyana, participation of Indian companies in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector of Guyana [and] cooperation in the areas of crude oil refining.
Purchase of Guyana’s crude Back in 2021, it was reported that India bought its first cargo of ‘light sweet crude’ from Guyana. That cargo was bought by HPCLMittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture between staterun Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Indian steel tycoon L.N. Mittal. HMEL operated a 226,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Bathinda, Punjab.
In fact, India has already bought some US$149 million of Guyana’s crude between 2021 and 2022.
Just last week, however, it was reported by Reuters that two Indian refiners have bought 4 million barrels of Guyanese crude oil from ExxonMobil that is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025 or in early 2026.
According to the international news agency, Indian Oil Corp, the country’s largest refiner by capacity, has bought 2 million barrels of Golden Arrowhead (GAH) crude – its first purchase of the grade.
PAGE 3
tate international travel for cruise liners or cargo ships transporting produce to the Caribbean and for persons seeking luxury travel. Similarly, a new $880 million multi-purpose wharf and port facility is also under construction at Charity, Region Two.
Meanwhile, the country’s Chief Investment Officer pointed out that there are several other private investments being made to also bolster Guyana’s transport and logistic capability, including the US$300 million Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase facility – a 44-acre artificial island that was built for US oil major ExxonMobil, which is operating the prolific Stabroek Block along with its co-venturers offshore Guyana. In addition, Tri-Star Investment, owned by Guyanese-American developer Kris Persaud, is also undertaking a US$169 million multipurpose port facility at Versailles on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). Ramsaroop noted, “It’s going to be one of the largest ports that will be able to take a lot of traffic that we may be facing right now because there’s not a lot of room in the Demerara River any more for a lot of ships. But this new port that Tri-Star is building should open this year, and that’s going to help new, larger ships coming into Guyana.”
panies have consistently flagged is they probably need bigger-sized containers for export. Because a smaller import would not make it financially viable. So, these are the kind of technical or logistical challenges that our companies face, [but] we are trying to address that,” the diplomat noted.
blocks, attracting a range of international interest.
Then Secretary (East) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Jaideep Mazumdar, had told reporters in Georgetown during a press briefing on the side-lines of Prime Minister Modi’s historic state visit last year that Guyana’s proven and esti-
Nevertheless, Dr Telang stated that the MoU between the two countries has opened new opportunities for cooperation between Guyana and India. In fact, several companies are currently working on the development of the Guyana Government’s model Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
Block interest
Meanwhile, India had previously expressed interest in exploration and production activities in an oil block offshore Guyana – something which Dr Telang says is still there.
It was reported that another refiner, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, has bought 2 million barrels of Liza and Unity Gold crude, also for the first time.
Days prior to this report, High Commissioner Telang had explained to this newspaper there has not been much crude trade between the two countries due to various challenges, including logistics.
“One of the challenges that our Indian com-
He related that, “Interest is always there, but the financial viability, the technical assessment, all these things the companies have to do… So, I would say that when it comes to interest, it’s always there, but converting that interest into something tangible on the ground – that may take some time.”
The Government of Guyana recently concluded its first competitive bidding round for new offshore oil
mated oil and gas reserves are very promising.
“We would be interested in participating in the exploration and production phase as well. Our oil companies are certainly looking at this, and if they do get an opportunity, they would be willing to invest, as we have invested in many countries of the world far from the shores of India,” the Indian official told reporters at the press conference. In the past, local officials had stated that Indian companies were interested in acquiring stakes in Guyana’s budding petroleum sector through negotiations rather than the bidding process –a route which the Guyanese Government has opted to use in expanding offshore developments to promote transparency and accountability.
When it comes to a longterm oil purchase agreement, Mazumdar explained that it would be up to the Guyana Government to decide how this is done, but he reiterated India’s preference for a Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Amit Telang
Much ado…
…about judicial hiccups!!
The cynicism with which citizens view our political institutions was brought home quite dramatically last week – with some events in the lives of our top judicial officers. Now, as we all should know, the judiciary is our political system’s umpire – like in cricket!! Its job is to ensure the political game is played according to the rules – which unfortunately politicians break with impunity! Some, like the PNC, more than others!! As such, there are constant screams of “HOWSZAT??!! Your Honour” from politicians every day of the week – each going on for years!! Just look at those PNC types in the docks who are trying to rig the 2020 elections and who are coming up with one (specious) reason or another to drag out the case!!
Anyhow…back to last week. Further back in July or so, our Chancellor (ag) had decided to enjoy her accumulated leave. Regular folks don’t appreciate the fortitude of our judicial officers who gotta work through their overcrowded calendars – with no time to break bread – much less take a break with their families and recharge their batteries!! So Madame Chancellor (ag) informed the President – as is the rule – that she was gonna take some time off.
But since folks don’t take vacations from their disputes – which the courts gotta settle – the Chancellor’s office can’t be left vacant, and it’s the duty of Pressie to appoint someone to fill it. Now our Chancellor had already been “acting: in the role – but for another reason!! This being, the Pressies gotta get the ACCEPTANCE of the opposition leader to make the appointment kosher. Not getting this acceptance makes them “act”. So in July, when the acting Chancellor went off (to presumably frolic), Pressie bumped up the Chief Justice – who was also “acting” in THAT position – to be acting for the acting Chancellor!! And to make sure the Chief Justice seat wasn’t unoccupied – cases!! cases!! – he bumped up a regular judge to act for the acting Chief Justice!! And he did INFORM the Opposition Leader – who didn’t even bother to acknowledge the letter!!
Are you following all this, dear reader?? Your Eyewitness hopes so!! Anyhow, time passes – as it usually does! – and the Acting Chancellor – let’s call her No. 1 – returned all rested and stuff and showed up at the office; clearly she had to’ve informed Acting Chancellor No. 2, who showed up at her old Chief Justice office – where Acting Chief Justice Two was ensconced. Clearly being apprised that changes were afoot, Acting Chancellor #2 – who was now Acting Chief Justice #1 – didn’t throw out Acting CJ #2 on his ears but amiably cooled her heels in a conference room!!
In the meantime, the opposition media went berserk with conspiracy theories!!
…about fixing said hiccup!!
They screamed that Pressie was deliberately muddying the dignity of the judiciary – by deliberately leaving Acting CJ #1 out in the cold!! Turns out, however, that the (now rested) Acting Chancellor merely wanted to probably clear out her office!! Because that same day, she informed the president she was resigning from her position and would proceed on early retirement Under the constitution, she had another seven years to go And no, your Eyewitness, being a gentleman, isn’t going to reveal her age!!
The next day, Pressie graciously accepted her resignation – and thanked her profusely for her services!! He then reappointed Chief Justice #1 as the Acting Chief Justice – and not only retained the Acting Chief Justice as #1 – but appointed him to the Judicial Services Commission!! But he didn’t stop there!! He wrote to Opposition Leader Norton about the appointments to seek his approval to make them substantive! Enough of all the “acting”!! Or else they may have to join the Actors’ Guild!!
Problem solved??
…about the Opposition Leader!!
Naah!! The Opposition sees a new problem. They claim there’s a new LOO post September 1st – Sanction Man –and he should give approval! They forget that until a new LOO is ELECTED by opposition MPs – Norton remains LOO??!!
The US’ endgame against Venezuela
The inexorable build-up of US Naval Forces in the Caribbean in its “war against drugs” received a major boost with the addition of its largest aircraft, the supercarrier Ford, and at least a portion of its strike group. Caricom, with the exception of T&T under PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has reiterated its declaration of the Caribbean Sea being a “zone of peace” and has joined Brazil and Columbia in opposing the build-up of US Naval Forces in general and those forces shooting alleged drug boats out of the water in particular. Guyana has attempted to walk a careful line in supporting “legal measures” to fight the drug menace while protecting its territorial integrity, including its EEZ, against Venezuelan adventurism. President Trump has already announced he will proceed with land-based actions in Venezuela, where CIA agents are already conducting operations.
Ravi Dev
Since the US has already received the heartfelt support of T&T, which is a mere seven miles from Venezuela, Caricom’s stance (including Guyana’s) is of little significance While the US fleet can operate totally offshore, US Marines are already conducting joint manoeuvres with T&T’s forces, and a warship is scheduled to dock in PoS. On the demand for legality of its actions, the US Administration insists it had “determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organisations” and domestically it has to only inform Congress of its actions. The bottom line is that the Caribbean will be seen by the US Govt as mere irritants as it pursues its interests. These are several of which diplomatic niceties rate very low on President Trump’s priorities. He appears to have adopted the maxim, “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must,” which was most recently illustrated by his tariff policy.
In the 2016-2020 Trump Administration, actions against the Maduro regime had been framed as supporting the opposition forces to protect democracy, which was given legitimacy by Maduro rigging the 2019 elections. This policy was continued by Biden and failed once again in 2024 for the same reason. Under the intense lobbying of his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a tougher line was adopted by Trump II, which was justified by identifying Maduro as the head of the narco-smuggling Cartel of the Sun that was waging a hybrid war against the US by flooding it with drugs. As such, they were “terrorists” who could be pursued by any means necessary. Hence the present naval strategy against the “drug-smuggling” boats and the imminent strikes on land to destroy their processing facilities.
Maduro has countered that the US is actually seeking regime change to control its 300 billion-barrel oil reserves by installing a friendly regime – represented openly by the Opposition under recent Nobel Peace Prize awardee Maria Machado. This control is undisputedly one of America’s major interests, and in the midst of the present imbroglio, Maduro evidently offered it to the US but was brutally rejected by Trump. Control under a proUS Machado Government is preferable, and we should expect an escalation of the present military moves to have Maduro either step down or be removed. It is unlikely, however, that a large military invasion, such as we saw in the removal of the Panamanian drug-smuggling President Noriega in 1989, will occur because of domestic reaction against returning body bags. Precision bombings of sites identified by CIA operatives and Venezuelans seeking the US$50M bounty for Maduro’s head, by drones or high-altitude aircraft like the B-1 Bombers, are more probable.
Another US interest furthered by their military moves that militate against it being abandoned precipitately is to counter the Chinese and Russian influence in Venezuela, Latin America and this hemisphere. As the US seeks to defend its slide from being the sole hegemon against a resurgent China, there will be much emotion infused into cold power calculus for it to control its “backyard”, from where it can be penetrated. China has recently buttressed its investment in Venezuela and Latin America in general, and the US moves against Venezuela and, in the last week, Colombia must be seen as a red line they are drawing.
For all these reasons, we in Guyana, while being protective of our sovereignty, must be circumspect about our capabilities in this new world where the old multilateral institutions like the UN that were designed to leverage the influence of small states like ours are all in retreat.
Up to $750,000 fine for noise polluters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving to strengthen its enforcement of noise pollution regulations through a closer collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) – a move that will soon allow the Police to officially charge individuals under the agency’s regula-tions.
This was revealed during a recent interview conducted in a Radio Eve Leary social media presentation by the Head of Investigation and Enforcement at the EPA, Surjpal Singh, who ex-plained that the agency is working alongside a spe-
cial committee to finalise the necessary legal arrangements.
“We are working with the committee members to actually develop an arrangement, or a fiat, where we can have the Guyana Police Force charge under our regulations,” Singh stated.
He explained that this collaboration is part of a wider effort to ensure better compliance and accountability in addressing noise nuisance cases, which remain a persistent concern, particu-larly in urban and residential areas.
According to Singh, the fines attached to noise pollu-
tion offences are substantial – ranging from $300,000 to $750,000 depending on the severity of the violation.
“That’s a very important aspect of this collaboration because one of the key things we are steadfastly working to get arranged is to have a system where the fines and penalties under the EPA’s regulations can be effectively enforced,” he noted.
While no individuals have been prosecuted specifically for noise nuisance so far this year, Singh said that the EPA has taken several cases to court involving combined offences such as dust, noise, and land- or water-based pollution.
“We haven’t prosecuted anyone solely for noise nuisance this year, but we have brought cases for a combination of impacts. We’re still working through the finer details to get the enforce-ment mechanism fully in place,” he explained.
In the meantime, the EPA continues to promote voluntary compliance as part of its ongoing public awareness and community engagement campaigns.
“What we try to do is work with individuals. For example, if you operate a bar, we assist you in soundproofing, enclosing your space, and putting the necessary measures in place so that you’re not a nuisance to your neighbours,” Singh
said. He added that the agency has been actively conducting weekend inspections, issuing advisory notices to businesses and individuals who operate sound systems or other noise-generating equipment. These advisories outline the steps required to reduce noise levels and comply with national regulations.
“We’re out on the weekends serving advisory notices, but that doesn’t mean enforcement won’t come. With our collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, that process becomes easier for us,” Singh noted.
“The right for you to enjoy your music is not the right to disturb others” Addressing one of the more common justifications given by individuals who modify their vehi-cles to play loud music, Singh reminded the public that personal enjoyment should never come at the expense of others’ peace of mind.
“During my time here at the EPA, I’ve heard this quote a lot, and I think it sums up our message perfectly – ‘The right for you to enjoy your music is not the right to disturb others.’”
He added that while the agency understands that people have hobbies and enjoy music – in-cluding himself – the EPA’s mandate is to ensure that such enjoyment is exercised responsibly and within the confines of the law.
“We know people like to listen to music – I do too, but at a very low level. What we want is for everyone to be mindful of how their enjoyment affects others,” Singh concluded.
The EPA continues to urge citizens, especially business owners and vehicle operators, to adhere to the Environmental Protection (Noise Management) Regulations, emphasising that enforce-ment will intensify once the new arrangements with the Police Force are finalised.
Head of Investigation and Enforcement at the EPA, Surjpal Singh, alongside Stan Gouveia, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Guyana Police Force
38 graduate from Health Ministry’s Patient Care Assistant programme in Region 5
Some 38 individuals have successfully graduated from the Ministry of Health’s Patient Care Assistant (PCA) programme in Region Five –marking another major step in the Government’s mission to strengthen the delivery of quality healthcare services across Guyana.
The newly trained Patient Care Assistants are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide direct, hands-on care to patients under the supervision of Nursing Assistants and Registered Nurses. Their comprehensive training covered key areas such as basic nursing care, infection prevention and control, patient hygiene, communication, and ethics in healthcare.
The initiative, implemented through the Health Sciences Education Division, continues to play a crucial role in expanding Guyana’s healthcare workforce – especially in regional and community health facilities where additional human resources are needed most.
Delivering the feature address at the graduation ceremony, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance throughout the training period, emphasising that their achievement reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.
“We’ve been working to expand healthcare across the country. And while we are doing that by adding new facilities, we also recognise that achieving quality healthcare requires more people in the system,” Dr Anthony stated.
The Minister explained that decentralising training programmes like the PCA initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure each region has an adequate number of trained health professionals, reducing the reliance on staff transfers from other regions.
“In the past, we had many people working outside of their home regions –and often, they didn’t want to relocate. So we decided to
change that. We believe every region has qualified individuals who deserve access to these training opportunities so they can serve their own communities,” he added.
Dr Anthony also revealed that the Ministry currently operates around 22 different medical training programmes, with plans to expand more of these to outlying regions based on their capacity and performance.
Beyond training, the Health Minister stressed that the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients remains a key area of focus.
“The biggest challenge we have is how our staff interacts with patients when they come. If you’re pleasant and helpful, people remember that. But if you’re rude, they also remember – and in this age of social media, it can spread quickly,” he said, urging graduates to treat every patient encounter with compassion and respect.
Dr Anthony shared an example of a patient who recently wrote to the media praising the service they received and commending a nurse who ensured they got proper guidance and care.
“That’s the kind of feedback we want to see – stories of good service that make people feel confident in the system,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister highlighted several key advancements in the regional health sector, including 294 patient admissions, 22 births, 235 CT scans, and 43 surgeries conducted in a short period. With three fully functional theatres, he noted that the Ministry is working to expand surgical services and reduce backlogs in the region.
To further enhance accountability, Dr Anthony revealed that new electronic tracking systems are being introduced to monitor how quickly nurses and caregivers respond to patient calls.
“We’ll be reviewing those records to see how responsive staff are. Those who perform well will be commended, and for those who aren’t as responsive, we’ll find ways to improve their per-
formance. This is all about lifting the quality of care we deliver,” he explained.
Ultimately, the Minister reiterated that the PCA graduates are entering the healthcare system at a pivotal time – one where Guyana’s expanding infrastructure and workforce development are converging to bring accessible, patient-centred care to every region.
“You’ve taken your first step into the medical field,” Dr Anthony told the graduates. “Now it’s your turn to make a difference – to show your communities that quality healthcare begins with compassion, dedication, and service.”
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
The 38 graduates, officials, and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony (front row, centre)
Early morning Bartica fire guts 3-storey building
An
on
October 25,
at the stated location.
According to the Guyana Fire Service, a water tender and water carrier were immediately deployed to the scene.
Upon arrival, the crew encountered a three-storey concrete and timber structure that was already fully engulfed.
Despite the efforts of the responding team, the building and its contents were completely destroyed. Four jets, operating in conjunction with both responding appliances, were employed to bring the blaze under control.
According to Station Officer Johnson, firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, effectively containing the blaze to the affected property.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Prevention Department.
Suspected mercury seized during Reg 9 stop-and-search exercise
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in Regional Division Nine on Friday conducted a routine stop-and-search exercise at the Corkwood Police Check Point, North Rupununi, during which a quantity of suspected mercury was discovered concealed inside two solar batteries.
According to the GPF, during the operation, ranks stopped a minibus and carried out routine checks. The vehicle was driven by a 47-year-old male of Windmill Road, Lethem, Central Rupununi, with four passengers on board.
While nothing illegal was found on the occupants or in their luggage, a search of the vehicle revealed two black and green solar batteries in the trunk area. Upon closer
examination, four grey cylinders suspected to contain mercury were found concealed inside the batteries.
The driver was arrested and taken to the Lethem Police Station, where he is assisting investigators. The suspected mercury and the vehicle have been lodged as exhibits.
Investigations are ongoing.
According to the GPF, mercury is a highly toxic
substance, and its possession, transport or use is restricted under Guyana’s environmental and mining laws.
Unauthorised handling of mercury poses serious health and environmental risks.
The GPF continues to work with relevant agencies to prevent the illegal movement and use of hazardous materials across the country.
early morning fire at 6th Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), completely de-
stroyed a three-storey building owned by Ryan Mahadeo and Emily Mahadeo. At approximately 02:29h
Saturday,
at 6th Avenue, Bartica, the Bartica Fire Station received a report of a building on fire
Four grey cylinders suspected to contain mercury were found concealed inside solar batteries
The building was reportedly already fully engulfed by the time the fire service arrived
The building and its contents were completely destroyed
Dr Joy Over-Agness to elevate Guyana’s entrepreneurial mindset
The World Trade Centre will be the hub of inspiration and innovation on January 13, 2026, as Reverend Dr Joy Over-Agness of Joy Events International brings her renowned expertise to Guyana with a one-day certification workshop titled Reshaping Your Mindset for Success.
The South Florida–based powerhouse, whose portfolio includes crafting events for President Barack Obama and elevating Caribbean entrepreneurs to global recognition, is no stranger to international stages.
Now, she turns her attention to Guyana, aiming to equip local entrepreneurs with the mindset and tools needed to succeed in
the event industry – and beyond.
During a recent interview with the renowned Over-Agness, she expressed that she is looking forward to the event.
“I am so looking forward to presenting at this conference because a lot of it is going to be the meat and potatoes of developing this rapidly growing country into the mindset of business,” Dr Over-Agness told attendees ahead of the event.
“This is for entrepreneurs who know what they want to do and what they want to become.”
She also shared her excitement about bringing international talent to Guyana. “I am going to
bring in a well-known, international, renowned speaker, a floral designer, and a very good friend of mine. Their knowledge and creativity will complement the workshop, giving attendees a broader understanding of global standards in the event industry,” she said.
Beyond high-profile
speakers, Dr Over-Agness is looking forward to hands-on learning, interactive discussions, and practical insights.
“We’re going to focus on strategies that attendees can apply immediately to their businesses, from planning and execution to marketing and client relations. I want people to leave with skills they can use and confidence they can carry anywhere.”
The workshop is aimed at individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset. Dr
Over-Agness emphasised that anyone looking to succeed in the event industry – or any business – would greatly benefit from attending the conference, and she encouraged all aspiring entrepreneurs not to miss the opportunity.
Participants will also walk away with a certification, a tangible acknowledgement of their commitment and achievement.
“This isn’t a fly-by-night situation,” Dr Over-Agness said. “You can go anywhere and feel comfortable knowing that you have attended this, and this is your part of your accreditation for what you can do.”
Her mission extends beyond teaching event planning. Dr Over-Agness is passionate about raising hospitality standards in Guyana. “My real intention is to see the hospitality in Guyana bump itself up a little more,” she said candidly. “Growing up here, I had a lot of opportunities, and I want to give back by showing what’s possible when passion meets preparation.”
Dr Over-Agness also highlighted the opportunity for networking and collaboration. “I’m excited for attendees to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, share ideas, and form connections that can take their businesses to
the next level. That’s one of the most rewarding parts of these workshops — seeing people leave inspired and ready to act.”
In addition to her work as a global events expert, Dr Over-Agness is an adjunct professor at MiamiDade and Broward Colleges, teaching wedding and event planning and English to Spanish-speaking students. Her dual roles as educator and entrepreneur inform the practical, high-impact approach of the upcoming workshop.
Reflecting on why she chose Guyana, she said, “This is not my first conference here. Four years ago, I held a conference at the Princess Hotel, and I’m back to allow Guyanese citizens the opportunity to gain a bigger picture, a broader mindset of what events should look like, including the little corners they may not have considered. Hospitality in Guyana needs tightening, and I say that openly and freely.”
For those ready to elevate their mindset, learn from global experts, and embrace new possibilities, January 13 at the World Trade Centre promises to be more than just a workshop –it’s a chance to reshape success and bring international standards to Guyana.
Reverend Dr Joy Over-Agness
New Amsterdam unites in Cancer Awareness ride
…as Mayor shares personal experience
The streets of New Amsterdam on Saturday witnessed residents, community leaders, and health advocates taking part in a cancer awareness cycle ride organised by local fitness enthusiast Eli Hazel, in collab-
servance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sought to promote early detection, healthy living, and community support for those affected by cancer.
As the cyclists made their lap around the town, their message was clear: cancer
Amsterdam is determined to keep hope alive.
Mayor Wainwright McIntosh, addressing participants at the start of the event, expressed gratitude to everyone who joined the ride, emphasising that while October is recognised global-
oration with the Mayor’s Complex.
The event, held in ob-
may touch lives, but together, through awareness, compassion, and action, New
ly for breast cancer awareness, the fight extends to all forms of the disease.
“The reality is we have many forms of cancer, and it is a concern that so many people are being diagnosed,” he noted.
The Mayor explained that the collaboration with Hazel aimed to blend advocacy with physical wellness, reinforcing the importance of regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.
“It is very important for us to incorporate exercise as part of our daily routine. Championing the cause of healthy lifestyle practices is essential to our existence as a community,” Mayor McIntosh said.
He urged residents to undergo regular health screenings, noting that early detection means early cure. The Mayor noted that the event was deeply personal, dedicating the ride to his wife, Shoba McIntosh, who is a cervical cancer survivor.
“Living with an individual who is a cancer patient or a survivor – support is essential to the process… As we speak right now, somebody somewhere in the world is drawing their last breath because of cancer. This ride is about hope and resilience,” McIntosh said emotionally.
He further dedicated the initiative to families who have lost loved ones, remembering local philanthropist Marva Gordon and his late aunt-in-law Eslyn Bob, both of whom succumbed to the disease.
Meanwhile, Shoba McIntosh, addressing the gathering, shared her personal journey of surviv-
al and faith, offering words of encouragement to others battling cancer.
“This initiative is quite a motivation for me. For those persons who are in that shell, afraid to speak out or seek help, you are not helping yourself. Support is out there, and every day that I wake, it’s a blessing.”
She credited her recovery and perseverance to her family, faith, and the encouragement of the New Amsterdam community.
“Many days aren’t my bright days, but I still push forward; when I look at my two children, I know I have to fight. My strength is renewed from them, from God, and from everyone’s support.”
McIntosh is encouraging women to prioritise regular medical check-ups and to speak openly about their health.
“Check yourself, women. Ensure all is well. Cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed; it affects their entire family,” she said.
Global Cancer Context
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 10 million deaths each year, roughly one in six deaths globally. The most common forms include breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, and cervical cancers.
However, the WHO notes that up to 40 per cent of cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use, and engaging in early screening and vaccination programmes.
Globally, October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the power of education and community action in saving lives. Events such as the New Amsterdam cycle ride play a vital role in promoting early detection and providing emotional support to those affected.
The Mayor was among some of those on the ride
Cancer survivor Shoba McIntosh
New Amsterdam’s Mayor Wainwright McIntosh speaking after Saturday’s morning ride
ECCI hosts 19th annual Agro Expo & Trade
– Govt to establish SME bank with zero-interest microloans to local businesses – PM
The much-anticipated Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) Agro and Trade Expo, “Essequibo
agencies and private sector organisations, including the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), the National Agricultural
Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Small Business Bureau (SBB), were present to offer support and resources to both exhibitors and visitors. In his feature address, PM Phillips commended the region for its ongoing contributions to the nation’s growth. He highlighted several Government initiatives aimed at boosting economic activity, particularly in Region Two, through strategic investments in infrastructure, energy, and education.
Reaffirming the Government’s focus on fostering entrepreneurship, the PM discussed plans to establish a Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Bank, which will provide zero-interest microloans to local businesses.
“Essequibo is becoming
Night”, officially kicked off on Friday evening at the Anna Regina Secondary School Grounds, Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), marking the start of a lively two-day exhibition. Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips officially declared the event open, highlighting Region Two’s important role in Guyana’s national development.
Now in its 19th year, the event is organised by the ECCI in partnership with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). The Expo featured over 100 booths, showcasing local farmers, small business owners, and agro-processors, highlighting the best of the region’s agricultural, entrepreneurial, and creative spirit. The theme, “Moving Business Forward”, was reflected in the variety of products on display: from fresh produce to value-added items like cassava bread, fruit wines, and pepper sauces. Handmade crafts, such as wooden ornaments, locally made furniture, and eco-friendly household items, were also featured, along with products from youth-led and women-led businesses, including jewellery, clothing, herbal cosmetics, and home decor.
In addition to small businesses, Government
an increasingly important part of Guyana’s national development...with the right investments in infra-
the talents and resilience of our people. Our focus is on strengthening agriculture, trade, and infrastruc-
structure and energy, this region is well-positioned to drive the country’s economic growth”, he stated.
“One of the key projects underway is the solar energy initiative in Charity and Onderneeming, which will provide the region with much-needed energy security... These projects not only help reduce electricity costs but also create valuable employment opportunities, particularly for women in solar installation and maintenance.” PM explained. He also pointed to the Government’s commitment to education, noting the removal of tuition fees at the University of Guyana (UG) and state technical institutes.
Additionally, PM Phillips referenced the 29,000 scholarships awarded through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) as part of a broader push to empower the nation’s youth. Meanwhile, newly elected Regional Chairperson Devin Mohan welcomed exhibitors and participants to the event. He emphasised that the Expo was a reflection of the region’s potential, highlighting the hard work of local farmers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. “It is a true privilege to welcome you to this year’s Essequibo Agro Trade Expo... This event represents our region’s commitment to development and showcases
nities across Region Two. The event also featured a variety of lively cultural performances, local mu-
ture to ensure sustainable livelihoods for all.” Mohan said. Mohan went on to highlight that the RDC’s vision aligns with the Expo’s
theme, with a commitment to people-centred leadership that listens, engages and delivers for the commu-
sic, and talent showcases by the youth, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere. Exhibitors expressed their satisfaction with the event’s turnout and the opportunities it provided for networking and showcasing their products.
The Prime Minister engaging with exhibitors at the Guyana Rice Development Board’s (GRDB) booth
PM Phillips speaking at the opening of the event
A cultural performance during the opening ceremony
Booths at the Anna Regina Secondary School Ground on Friday night
The theme, “Moving Business Forward” was reflected in the variety of products on display
The Expo showcased produce and products from farmers to agro-processors to small business owners
Reg Division 4B hosts breast cancer awareness walk, health talk
Commander of Regional Division 4B, Superintendent W. DeHearte, along with ranks of the Division, on Saturday participated in a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, in keeping with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Division took to the streets of the Diamond community in ongoing efforts to promote health and wellness among ranks and the wider commu-
nity. The walk began from the Regional Headquarters and followed a route through the Diamond community into Heroes’ Highway, around the Anteater roundabout, and back to Headquarters. Several stakeholders, including a medical team led by Nurse Mentore from the Diamond Regional Hospital and Dr Gooding, an oncologist from Ultra Care Medical Clinic, took part in the ac-
tivity. Upon returning to Headquarters, participants gathered for a health talk delivered by Dr Gooding, who provided valuable insights on cancer awareness, early detection, and the importance of regular self-examinations. The session emphasised proactive health practices and encouraged ranks to serve as advocates for cancer awareness within their communities. According to the Guyana
Police Force (GPF) in its social media post, a mural painting of a tree, designed and painted by Sergeant R. Sealey, was unveiled, adding a creative and emotional touch to the day’s activities. The mural featured empty branches symbolising the ongoing fight against cancer. Participants were invited to finger-paint blossoms and add their signatures to the tree, each representing messages of hope, strength, and support for cancer survivors, those currently battling the illness, and caregivers.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025, and on Wednesday, October 1, at the Pegasus Corporate Suites, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with One Communication, officially launched ‘Pinktober 2025’ under the theme “Act Now, Live Strong”. The event brought together survivors, carers, sponsors and health officials in a united call for early detection and sustained cancer awareness.
Survivors’ testimonies gave the launch its most powerful moments. Renetta Williams, a breast cancer survivor, shared how she endured a mastectomy, 10 rounds of chemotherapy, and 30 sessions of radiation af-
ter being diagnosed at stage three.
“Something can be going on there, and we take it for granted,” she said. “Please, take your life; take your health into your own hands.”
Another survivor, Rosalyn Clarke, urged women to be careful about what they put into their bodies, recalling her own experience with hor-
monal treatments that complicated her journey. The GPF noted that the walk by the Division fosters unity, compassion, and a sense of shared purpose among ranks and community members, reinforcing Regional Division 4B’s commitment to holistic well-being and community partnership beyond traditional law enforcement.
GLDA, GFSA to host second annual “Honey Fest” – aim to strengthen apiculture sector
Following a successful first staging, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), in collaboration with the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA), will host the second annual “Honey Fest 2025”—a national celebration of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the apiculture industry. The event is slated for Friday, October 31, 2025, on the lawns of the GLDA Headquarters at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Held under the theme “Buzz Forward: Sweet Innovation
for a Safe and Sustainable Future” and sub-theme “Transforming Livelihoods through Agri-Food Systems,” this year’s Honey Fest underscores Guyana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the apiculture sector as a viable, eco-friendly contributor to national economic growth. A major focus of Honey Fest 2025 will be on expanding both regional and international markets for Guyanese honey and honey by-products. Through this event, the GLDA and GFSA aim to showcase national efforts to ensure the authenticity,
quality, and safety of locally produced honey through laboratory testing, traceability systems, and certification processes. This partnership is expected to enhance consumer confidence while ensuring that Guyana’s honey meets international standards—positioning the country to tap into lucrative markets across the Caribbean and beyond.
Regional collaboration and knowledge exchange
This year’s festival will also feature participants from Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and other Caribbean territories, fostering a spirit of regional cooperation and shared learning. Representatives from local financial institutions will also be on hand to engage beekeepers on financing opportunities and investment options to support enterprise development. Beekeepers from across Guyana will take part in exhibitions, technical sessions, and live demonstrations. The GLDA will use the event to highlight Guyana’s Honey Economic Production Zone and to showcase innovative technologies designed to enhance productivity and improve quality assurance within the sector.
Driving inclusive growth through apiculture Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GLDA, Dr
Dwight Walrond, described Honey Fest not merely as a celebration, but as an important economic development initiative, designed to create an enabling environment for both new and existing beekeepers. “This festival is a golden opportunity for our nation,” Dr Walrond stated. “We are moving beyond traditional beekeeping to embrace technology, investment, and strategic marketing that will position Guyanese honey as a premium global product. Our long-term goal, in keeping with President Ali’s vision, is to transform Guyana from an importer into a net exporter of honey and bee-related products, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for our people.”
Advancing Guyana’s vision for sustainable development Honey Fest 2025 is being hosted in alignment with the national Agriculture Month theme, “Transforming Livelihoods through AgriFood Systems,” and directly supports the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
The Government of Guyana recognises apiculture as a sustainable, environmentally friendly and high-value enterprise that contributes to both national food security and economic diversification. Since assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party/
Throwback to the 2024 Honey Fest
Civic (PPP/C) Administration has prioritised the development of non-traditional agricultural industries — including honey production — through targeted investments, technical assistance, and policy support.
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Agriculture, through its technical arms— the GLDA and GFSA—has increased support for apiculture through: Establishment of demonstration apiaries, Training for new and existing beekeepers, Provision of equipment and start-up materials Development of the National Honey Production and Marketing Programme, aimed at expanding both local and export market access. These initiatives are part of President Ali’s broader agenda to ensure that every region benefits from agri-
food system transformation, strengthening rural livelihoods through sustainable, value-added production.
A festival with purpose Ultimately, Honey Fest 2025 embodies the PPP/C Government’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven agricultural growth. It also highlights the vital role of the apiculture sector in promoting biodiversity, job creation, environmental protection, and foreign exchange generation. As Guyana continues to experience rapid economic expansion driven by oil and gas, initiatives like Honey Fest ensure that non-oil sectors remain vibrant, competitive and resilient—aligning with the nation’s goals for sustainable and equitable development.
The walk through the Diamond community began along Station Street, into Masjid Street, then into Second Bridge, and continued onto Sixth Street and Diamond Link Road
Participants added their personal touches to a mural painting of a tree
Following a successful first staging, Honey Fest is back
BK, Bath, Philadelphia Mandir win at GHDS 2025 motorcade
The Guyana Hindi Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) on Saturday revealed the 2025 winners and other top spots for its popular Diwali Motorcade event held last weekend at the LBI Community Centre Ground.
BK Group of Companies took the prize for the Best Commercial Float, while Philadelphia Mandir won first prize in the Large Category, and Bath Shri Krishna Mandir won first place in the Small Category; it also won the Andrew Arts Prize for Most Creative Mandir.
Woodley Park Vishnu
Mandir won second prize in the Large Category, as well as Overall Best De-signed Float and Best Depiction of Characters on a Float. Spring Garden Bhuvaneshwar Mandir took the second prize in the Small Category.
Rounding off the top three prizes, LBI Mandir won third prize in the Large Category, and Bushlot Vishnu Mandir won third prize in the Small Category.
President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), Dr Vindhya Persaud, on Monday last took to social media to express her sincere
gratitude and appreciation to the participants, supporters and spon-sors of the spectacular 2025 Diwali Motorcade, which was held on the night of Sunday, October 19.
“Our Diwali Motorcade turned 51, and I could not be more grateful and proud of the contributions of each person who made it successful, beautiful and a memory that is etched in the hearts of everyone who saw it and took part. Thanks to HE Dr Irfaan Ali for joining us last evening. Sincere thanks to all,” the GHDS President stated.
BK Group of Companies – Best Commercial Float
Bath Shri Krishna Mandir – 1st place in the Small Category
Philadelphia Mandir – 1st prize in the Large Category
Spring Garden Bhuvaneshwar Mandir - 2nd prize in the Small Category
Woodley Park Vishnu Mandir – 2nd prize in the Large Category
Bushlot Vishnu Mandir - 3rd prize in the Small Category
LBI Mandir - 3rd prize in the Large Category
Govt invests $14.8B in infrastructure for East Bank Berbice housing schemes – Housing Minister
Minister of Housing Collin Croal, on Saturday, announced a landmark $14.8 billion investment in infrastructure at Providence, Glasgow, and Overwinning on the East Bank of Berbice (EBB), Region Six.
This, he says, will support the first phase of works to prepare nearly 6000 house lots for beneficiaries, who were allocated land earlier this year.
The work, which includes land clearing and road and drainage networks, has been divided into 25 lots, each awarded to various contractors.
“The commencement date
is in this very October, and we’re looking for completion by the end of May for all of those beneficiaries to be able to have access or to see their lot,” Minister Croal said during a visit to one of the sites on Friday. He added, “I’m here to get an assessment of where we’re at, and also, to reinforce [...] the importance of ensuring we are meeting our deadlines.”
The Minister noted that favourable weather conditions are supporting the contractors’ progress, allowing for greater expediency.
Key elements, such as main access roads, are being prioritised to manage
the heavy-duty vehicles during the development. Minister Croal also addressed the Government’s long-term vision for the housing sector, noting that a portion of the developed land will be set aside for future demand. “All the lots have not been allocated. We still have available lots, and some of this is going to be reserved for future housing programmes,” he said. Also on the ground were the Regional Chairman, Junior Bassant; Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Regional Housing Officer, Diyaiyyih Dwarka and engineers.
Guyana outpaces global health targets – Ramsammy –
highlights respiratory care leadership
As countries around the world continue to struggle to achieve their health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Guyana is emerging as a leader in strengthening respiratory health and advancing universal health coverage. This was highlighted by Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, during activities held to mark Respiratory Care Week 2025.
Dr Ramsammy revealed that Guyana’s SDG Index currently stands at 66.5 per cent – a figure that places the country well above the global average, even as many developing nations fall behind on targets related to public health and access to care – alluding this progress to the respiratory care leadership being undertaken.
“Our Guyana SDG Index is far better than the global average. Among the targets the world is off track in are those for health – and that is why strengthening areas like respiratory care is so critical to our progress.”
He noted that the world remains off course in achieving Universal Health
Coverage (UHC), largely because of insufficient financing and an ongoing global shortage of healthcare professionals – particularly respiratory therapists.
“Respiratory health is critical for universal health coverage because respiratory diseases are a leading cause of death and disability,” he emphasised. “Ensuring everyone has access to preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment for lung diseases like asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and tuberculosis is essential for achieving the right to health.”
Guyana’s global standing in respiratory health
Meanwhile, Dr Ramsammy highlighted to the various officials during the meeting that a recent study by the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom found that 82 per cent of hospitals face shortages of respiratory therapists – making Guyana’s achievements even more remarkable.
“Guyana now stands as one of only a handful of developing countries with a certified, university-lev-
el training programme for respiratory therapists,” he said. “In fact, the University of Guyana is among the first in the global South – and one of the few in CARICOM – to offer such a programme with a first-world curriculum.”
He praised the University of Guyana, the Health Ministry, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for their collaboration in launching the programme, describing it as a historic milestone for healthcare development in the country.
“These students are pioneers – not only for Guyana but for developing nations across the world. Their work will define the next generation of respiratory care professionals,” he remarked.
Ramsammy also emphasised that respiratory therapists are not confined to hospital settings. Their work extends to community health centres and outreach programmes, where they play a key role in early detection, patient education, and management of chronic lung diseases.
“Respiratory care is not just about ventilators and critical care units – it’s about
prevention, education, and community empowerment,” he said. “These specialists are vital in every corner of our health system.”
He added that over the past week, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the University of Guyana and GPHC, hosted public awareness and education activities across the country to mark Respiratory Care Week. These included health outreaches, public education sessions on lung diseases, recruitment drives for future students, and advocacy for improved respiratory health policies.
Global advocacy and a call for change
Speaking from Geneva –home to the World Health Organization (WHO) – Dr Ramsammy shared that Guyana’s efforts are inspiring greater international attention to respiratory health, a field he says has been “neglected for far too long”.
“We are now paying much more attention at the WHO level to respiratory and lung health,” he said.
“Guyana’s success story has demonstrated that developing countries can lead by
example in building strong, sustainable respiratory care systems.”
He warned that while the world faces a US$4 trillion financing gap in meeting SDG health targets, countries like Guyana are proving that innovation, collaboration, and political will can overcome resource challenges.
“Our Government’s commitment to human resource development, to education, and to equitable healthcare is what keeps Guyana on track,” Ramsammy said. “We are determined to ensure that every Guyanese – regardless of region or income – can access quality respiratory care.”
As the event concluded, Dr Ramsammy reaffirmed that Guyana’s vision goes beyond producing trained professionals – it is about transforming how the nation views and manages respiratory health.
“This is about leadership and legacy,” he said.
“Guyana’s respiratory therapy programme is not just a national achievement –it’s a regional model. We are building a healthier future, one breath at a time.”
Advisor to the Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Minister Croal also noted that a portion of the developed land will be set aside for future demand
Minister of Housing Collin Croal was on the ground for an assessment of the project
The work includes land clearing and road and drainage networks
$4.3B Parika Port: time to increase pace, says Minister Edghill
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill recently led an inspection alongside the General Manager (GM) of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Yolanda Hughes, and engineers overseeing the project to get a first-hand view of impending works. He said that although works have begun on a minimal scale, it is time to increase the pace. According to the Department of Public Information (DPI) report, the Minister emphasised that one thing that will not be tolerated is the closure of sections of the wharf without active work taking place. “From the time that it is closed off, works have to be continuous. So, my instructions to the engineers are that the contractor is not to start until he has his materials, equipment, and everything on site,” he emphasised.
The public works
Minister explained that in the first phase, Guyanese can expect extensive land reclamation and the implementation of new systems.
Executing the first phase of works are contractors Gaico Construction, Toolsie Persaud Limited, and A&S General Contractors. Before the project design was green-lit, consultations were held with all stakeholders, including farmers, minibus drivers, taxi drivers, boat operators, and businesses –essentially all agencies that currently operate from the area. The Minister pledged that engagement will continue with stakeholders as works accelerate.
Further, he stated that three major adjustments will have to be made.
These include the relocation of speedboats that are often parked or left at the wharf for days. “That whole section will be developed, so the speedboats will have to
move further back,” he said. The wooden section that facilitates the operation of the MV Sabanto and Kanawan, roll-on and roll-off ferries and other vessels will remain in place while works are ongoing. He said these adjustments will follow or mimic the construction processes undertaken during the Bartica Stelling project.
Lastly, the old dilapidated building will be demolished and replaced with a modern terminal featuring waiting areas and offices for the T&HD, Police, Immigration, Customs, and the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU).
In addition, Minister Edghill revealed that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has already engaged residents living on the sea dam within the project’s alignment for relocation. “In another year and six months or so – 18 months – people
Man arrested in Bamboo Landing ganja find
Police ranks in Regional Division One, have detained a 29-year-old man following the discovery of a quantity of suspected cannabis during a police operation at Bamboo Landing, Northwest District on Friday, October 24, 2025. During the operation, a
party of police ranks led by a Gazetted Officer observed the suspect acting in a suspicious manner while carrying a haversack. A search was conducted during which a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis was found. The suspect was arrested and taken to the
Mathew’s Ridge Police Station, where the suspected narcotics were weighed in his presence and amounted to approximately 1182 grams. The drug was marked, sealed, and lodged as evidence. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
will be happy with what they are seeing out here at Parika, and that is phase one. And then we will come to you with phase two,” he said.
In phase two, a marina for yachts arriving from the Caribbean and elsewhere will be established. The entire waterfront will also be developed for enter-
tainment and restaurants, providing tourists access to Essequibo’s rich, untapped beauty and biodiversity. Moreover, this mega project complements other developments such as the transformative Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, Vreed-enHoop Shorebase, housing, road, drainage and irrigation infrastructure designed
to bring immense opportunities for all Guyanese. The $4.5 billion port facility will facilitate international travel for cruise liners or cargo ships transporting produce to the Caribbean and for persons seeking luxury travel. The new port will significantly modernise Guyana’s export process and boost regional trade.
Govt building modern, patient-centred future for dentistry – Minister Anthony
Minister of Health, Honourable Dr Frank Anthony on Saturday reaffirmed Government’s commitment to advancing oral and dental health services nationwide, as he addressed dental professionals gathered for the 2025 Dental Auxiliary Conference, held under the theme “Building Thriving Dental Practices for the Future.” The event, hosted at the Mirage Banquet Hall, Brickdam, brought together dental practitioners, auxiliary staff, and stakeholders from across the country to discuss innovations, challenges, and the future of dental care in Guyana. In his feature address, Dr Anthony commended the Dental Health Services and the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre for organising the annual conference, which provides a vital platform for professional networking and knowledge sharing. The Minister highlighted the remarkable progress made in strengthening Guyana’s dental infrastructure and
modernising oral health services. He pointed to the complete transformation of the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, which now features state-of-the-art equipment, improved clinical spaces, and an in-house pharmacy. “We have been working steadfastly to improve the infrastructure that we have. Today, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School represents the kind of environment we want to replicate in every region-centres of excellence that deliver quality, modern dental care,” Dr Anthony said.
He also outlined the Ministry’s steps toward digital dentistry, including the introduction of electronic patient records at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This system, expected to be fully operational by early 2026, will allow seamless access to patient information across health facilities.
Dr Anthony further noted the introduction of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
systems cutting-edge technology that allows for same day dental restorations such as crowns, improving patient experience and clinical outcomes. “This is the future of dentistry…digital, efficient, and patient-centred. With CAD/CAM systems, procedures that once took weeks can now be completed in an hour,” he stated. The Minister also highlighted the success of the school health programme, which includes dental screenings for students entering nursery, primary, and secondary levels. More than 60,000 nursery and primary school students have already been screened under this initiative, aimed at promoting early detection and prevention of oral and developmental health issues. The Ministry of Health continues to prioritise the expansion of dental departments in all new and existing regional hospitals, ensuring that modern, patient-centred oral health services are accessible across Guyana.
The cannabis found during the police operation
The event brought together dental practitioners, auxiliary staff and stakeholders from across the country
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill during his site visit (DPI photos)
The area to be developed to accommodate roll-on and roll-off ferries and other vessels
Construction of 100 houses at Palmyra to be completed within 1 month
The construction of the 100 three-bedroom flat homes at the Palmyra Housing Development in East Berbice–Corentyne is expected to be finished within one month, according to Housing Minister Collin Croal on Friday during a visit to the site. He was accompanied by
Regional Chairman Junior Bassant, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Narindra Persaud, Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Regional Housing Officer Diyaiyyih Dwarka and engineers.
The Palmyra scheme will feature approximately 1000 residential lots. As
part of this initiative, 100 three-bedroom flat homes are currently being built. Of these, about 20 have already been completed, while the remaining units are between 80 and 90 per cent finished and will be finished within one month.
Each unit, inclusive of the land, carries a value of
approximately $13.5 million. About 50 per cent of the homes have already been allocated to beneficiaries, who are expected to sign their Agreements of Sale in the coming week, allowing them to secure bank financing.
In addition to these three-bedroom homes, construction has commenced on 100 Young Professional flat houses within a separate section of the scheme. These units are currently at the foundation stage and are part of the Government’s broader housing drive to
meet the needs of various Berbicians.
This initiative at Palmyra is a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to transforming housing delivery across Guyana – ensuring that more families not only acquire land but also secure a complete place to call home.
In the Palmyra scheme, significant infrastructure works are also underway to support the development, representing an investment of over $6.5 billion in the first phase, including roads,
electrical and pipe networks. The homeowners will receive water from the newly established Sheet Anchor Water Treatment Plant. Minister Croal also reaffirmed the Government commitment to its manifesto target of delivering 40,000 housing units nationwide from 2025 to 2030. To accelerate construction and increase efficiency, the Ministry recently invited contractors to submit expressions of interest for modular housing designs in all administrative regions.
“Supporters of the APNU were actually bribed” – Norton on dismal GRE performance – thought voting for the other party would help APNU
Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, has chosen to blame voter bribery and the fact that some of the party’s supporters somehow believed that not voting for the APNU in the September 1 elections would have somehow helped APNU. Norton made these confounding remarks on Friday during APNU’s weekly press conference, as the party continues to face questions of how it is dealing with the fallout from its dismal performance at the September 1 General and Regional Elections (GRE).
Norton, who was the APNU’s Presidential Candidate, said that despite having a strong campaign team, a solid manifesto, and doing the necessary groundwork, the party’s efforts were undermined by voter bribery and a lack of awareness among its supporters.
“I can give you examples of cases where persons who are supporters of the APNU were actually bribed, and now they say to you, ‘They’re sorry,’ ‘They made a mistake,’ and ‘They thought voting in that particular direction would help the opposition.’ It’s a reality that we have to live with, analyse, and move forward,” the former Opposition Leader said.
Coming from 31 seats in the National Assembly during the 13th Parliament, the APNU, an umbrella coalition led by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), managed to only earn 12 seats in the 13th Parliament. The party suffered major losses in most of its stronghold regions. With many of its support base seemingly turning to the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by United States (US)sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed. WIN will be walking into the National Assembly with 16 seats at its first go. Mohamed is expected to take over as the Leader of the Opposition (LOO), a position that was previously held by Norton. Norton has since bowed out and chosen not to return to Parliament.
PNCR’s long-time rival, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), won the Government with 36 seats, an increase above the 33 seats the party held in the 12th Parliament. WIN took regional wins of Regions Seven and 10, districts previously dominated by the PNCR. In Region Four, APNU also took a massive hit, with the PPP/C taking a landslide win of that district. APNU has also lost power
APNU Chairman Aubrey Norton
at the regional level, where it previously controlled Regions Four, Seven and 10.
In the lead-up to the elections, PPP/C General Secretary (GS) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo repeatedly warned that WIN’s campaigning would hurt the opposition more than the governing party. According to Norton’s logic, PNCR supporters somehow thought voting for WIN instead of APNU was supposed to help APNU.
“Some people in our base had this view that supporting another political party outside of the PPP would have helped. So there are a lot of factors there. I believe that the average person on
the ground knows full well the kind of money that was spent to achieve what they achieved. We have analysed it, and moving forward, we’ll look over that situation. But no one can remove from this fact that this last election –the 2025 election – was a different election in terms of the levels of bribery that occurred in it,” Norton claimed. Nonetheless, Norton said the party has been analysing the circumstances surrounding its defeat, and it has decided that its public relations strategy needed to be improved. However, notwithstanding the party’s woeful performance, Norton affirmed that the party is pleased with its
campaign.
“We are satisfied that in the last election, we put together an extremely good team. We had a very good manifesto. We were out in the field doing a lot of work. But it was the first election in which millions of dollars were spent on bribing. For instance, in Linden, we are aware of the kind of money that was spent. So we recognise moving forward that one of the critical things in future elections in our economy will be money,” Norton said.
Choosing instead to blame bribery and an alleged bloated voter list, Norton outright dismissed questions about the low voter turnout at the last elections.
“The claim about low voter turnout is questionable… I don’t know what you mean by a low turnout. I attribute it to the rigging machinery,” Norton said.
According to statistics from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the September 1 elections saw a total of 442,550 electors turning out, of which 438,467 were valid votes. This is against a total of 757,690 registered voters, marking a turnout of 58.4 per cent.
The turnout is a sharp decrease from the 72.5 per cent recorded for the March
2, 2020, GRE and the 71.3 per cent turnout recorded for the 2015 elections.
Meanwhile, according to Norton, going forward, the issue of bribery could be addressed through strong election campaign financing laws.
Norton pledged to remain active in politics and assist with the party’s rebuilding efforts, noting that he will not make the same mistakes as former President David Granger, who reportedly abandoned the party after losing the 2020 elections. On the party’s choice for the new Members of Parliament (MP), Norton said he does not owe the public any justification for its selection, particularly the exclusion of members such as the party’s former Chief Whip Christopher Jones and PNCR Chairman Shurwayne Holder. Holder recently resigned from the PNCR after the elections, allegedly over Holder’s exclusion from the MP list.
The new parliamentarians are Terrence Campbell, Juretha Fernandes, Ganesh Mahipaul, David Hinds, Sharma Solomon, Vinceroy Jordan, Nima Flue-Bess, Saiku Andrews, Coretta McDonald, Riaz Rupnarain, Dexter Todd, and Sherod Duncan.
Housing Minister Collin Croal inspects the interior of a home during the visit
The Palmyra scheme will feature approximately 1000 residential lots
Melissa takes aim at Jamaica
Melissa has intensified into a Category One hurricane as it charts a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Saturday. Currently packing winds of 120 kilometres per hour, Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the next day into a major hurricane as it creeps toward and across Jamaica, the NHC said in its latest bulletin, warning that Haiti will also see major flash flooding and landslides.
Three people in Haiti have already been killed this week as storm bands from Melissa lashed the impoverished nation with heavy downpours, provoking landslides. (Source: Jamaica Observer)
5.0-magnitude earthquake recorded near Trinidad
The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI SRC) reported an earthquake near Trinidad and Tobago Friday evening.
The preliminary automatic location recorded the earthquake at 19:50h local time (23:50 UTC) on 24 October 2025. The tremor registered a magnitude of 5.0 and occurred at a depth
of 44 kilometres.
The epicentre was calculated at 10.82°N latitude and 61.80°W longitude, approximately 36 kilometres (km) northwest of Port of Spain, 61 km west-northwest of Arima, and 73 km northwest of San Fernando.
The SRC noted that this initial location was determined automatically by computer algorithms and is
subject to revision after further analysis by its seismologists. No immediate reports of damage or injuries have been confirmed. Authorities and residents are reminded to stay alert to any official updates from the SRC or the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management. (Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Ex-RBDF officer pleads guilty in US cocaine trafficking case
Aformer Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officer has pleaded guilty in a New York court to his role in a major cocaine trafficking scheme that allegedly involved corrupt Bahamian Police and Government officials.
Darrin Alexander Roker, 56, a former RBDF chief petty officer, admitted to one count of cocaine importation conspiracy before United States (US) District Judge
Gregory Woods on Friday –becoming the first of 13 defendants to plead guilty in the sweeping case.
The charges stem from a federal investigation alleging that traffickers moved tonnes of cocaine through the Bahamas into the US since 2021 with the help of corrupt officials.
Roker was indicted alongside Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis and William Simeon, who prosecutors say played key roles in facilitat-
ing the movement of drugs from The Bahamas into the US.
Curtis, Roker, and Simeon are among several Bahamians named in a federal indictment, alleging they exploited their official positions to enable the flow of drugs into the US. They were arrested in the US last year. The defendants had previously sought additional time to review evidence and discuss potential plea deals. (Tribune)
Police probe series of linked robberies across BVI Peru’s youth protesters defy state of emergency
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is investigating a series of robberies believed to be linked to a coordinated criminal group operating across multiple districts in the Virgin Islands.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, investigators have made progress in identifying connections between several incidents. The vehicle stolen during the robbery at Long Bay, Beef Island, was later used in another robbery at the Oasis establishment, Police confirmed.
Officers are also probing robberies at the Touchdown Bar and La Cachet. CCTV footage, along with ballistic
and forensic evidence, is being analysed to determine whether the weapons recovered from suspects are tied to these cases.
“Our detectives are working around the clock to bring those responsible to justice,” Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Dariel Robinson stated. “We are confident that the evidence being gathered will lead to key breakthroughs. These incidents have our highest priority,” he concluded.
Two men have been arrested in connection with a July robbery at Pier Park, Tortola. They were interviewed and released pending further investigations.
The RVIPF’s Armed
Response Unit (ARU) has increased its patrols across the territory, maintaining a visible policing presence through operational checks and community engagement. Officers have also conducted school-based safety exercises to enhance public confidence and preparedness.
Although no weapons were recovered during these operations, Police said the ARU’s continued presence has helped foster safer communities.
The Police also reassured the business community that the territory remains a safe environment for commerce, with increased patrols and intelligence-sharing among their ongoing measures.
(Excerpt from BVI News)
Ayouth group in Peru calling itself the Generation Z Collective says it will march again on Saturday in defiance of a state of emergency declared by the Government this week in the capital, Lima, and the neighbouring port of Callao.
Group leaders said they would be honouring Eduardo Ruiz, a rapper known as Truko, who was shot dead by a plainclothes Police officer last week during a huge anti-Government march in Lima.
They also demanded the resignation of the new interim President, José Jerí, and the shutting down of Peru’s
Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensifies,
threatening major Caribbean flooding
Tropical Storm Melissa has strengthened into a hurricane, the United States (US)-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) says, as people across several Caribbean countries braced for heavy rainfall and dangerous flooding. Hurricane Melissa was located about 380 kilometres (km) southwest of the Haitian capital of Portau-Prince, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour, the NHC said in its latest advisory on Saturday afternoon. A hurricane warning was in place for Jamaica as the NHC said life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides were expected in portions of southern
Hispaniola Island – shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic – and Jamaica into early next week.
The centre of Melissa was expected to move near or over Jamaica during the weekend and early next week, the NHC said, adding that it could be near or over eastern Cuba by the middle of next week.
A hurricane watch was also in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from Port-au-Prince to the border with the Dominican Republic, according to the NHC advisory. Already, three people have died in Haiti, including two killed in a landslide in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and another struck by a falling tree in Marigot, officials said.
A fourth person was killed in the Dominican Republic, where another remains missing. Jamaica’s Meteorological Service principal director Evan Thompson told The Gleaner that residents should brace for a “double effect” as the hurricane’s eye passes over the island, with the strongest winds hitting from opposite directions on either side of the centre.
The storm has already wrought havoc in the Dominican Republic, where nearly 200 homes have been damaged and more than half a million people left without water. In the Los Rios neighbourhood of the capital, Santo Domingo, families were forced to flee rising floodwaters on
Thursday evening after surrounding streams burst their banks, according to the Listin Diario daily newspaper.
More than two dozen Dominican communities remain cut off by floodwaters, prompting mandatory evacuations and nationwide school closures. The situation is particularly dire for thousands displaced by gang violence in Port-au-Prince, now living in makeshift shelters with scant protection. “I’m dealing with two storms: the gangs and the weather,” Nephtali Johnson Pierre told The Associated Press news agency. Melissa is also forecast to strike eastern Cuba as a major hurricane on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
unpopular congress, which they blame for a series of laws that they claim are contributing to soaring crime.
“We have the constitutional right to protest,” Jorge Calmet, one of the Generation Z leaders, told journalists on Thursday. “That right cannot be taken away from us by a Police commander, a congressman – and certainly not by someone who pretends to be President. We will march as many times as necessary.”
The 30-day state of emergency, which began on Wednesday, restricts freedom of movement and assembly, and the armed forces can patrol the streets along with the Police in Lima and Callao.
Jerí announced the measures in an attempt to quell a crime wave. Murders increased by 35.9 per cent in 2024 compared with the previous year, and extortion has also risen sharply.
Jerí took office on October
10 after the removal of President Dina Boluarte by congress on the grounds of “moral incapacity” to govern.
The Generation Z leader Calmet accused Congress of passing laws that favoured organised crime by weakening the power of prosecutors and making it harder to jail criminal suspects.
“This is a dictatorship disguised as a democracy,” he said. “People’s lives are a joke to those in power.”
Milagros Rojas, 21, one of Generation Z’s leaders, said, “We are fed up with what we have to live through; that’s why so many young people have joined this movement.
“We have grown up in a country where corruption has been normalised. We young people want a modern Peru; we want a country where we can live and not have to emigrate in search of a better quality of life.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)
A Google Maps graphic showing the projected path of Hurricane Melissa
“This is a dictatorship disguised as a democracy,” said Jorge Calmet of Generation Z Collective, flanked by Leandro Pacheco and Milagros Rojas, at a press conference in Lima, Peru
OIL NEWS
Exxon sues California over climate disclosure laws
Exxon Mobil sued California on Friday, challenging two state laws that require large companies to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climaterelated financial risks.
In a complaint filed in the United States (US) District Court for the Eastern District of California, Exxon argued that Senate Bills 253 and 261 violate its First Amendment rights by compelling Exxon to “serve as a mouthpiece for ideas with which it disagrees” and asked the court to block the state of California from enforcing the laws.
Exxon said the laws force it to adopt California’s preferred frameworks for climate reporting, which it views as misleading and counterproductive. The oil giant said it already reports emissions and climate risks voluntarily and objects to California’s frameworks.
Democrat-ruled California has long had some of the strictest environmental rules in areas like vehicle fuel efficiency standards and planning policy, after passing a climate change law in 2006.
California passed two laws in 2023 that would require companies to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks.
The California laws were supported by several big companies, including Apple, Ikea and Microsoft, but opposed by several major groups, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and Chamber of Commerce, which called them “onerous”.
The California Department of Justice and the California Air Resources Board did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Pakistan Defence Minister warns of “open war” with Afghanistan if peace talks fail
Pakistan’s Defence Minister said on Saturday he believes Afghanistan wants peace, but that failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul would mean “open war”, days after both sides agreed to a ceasefire following deadly border clashes.
The talks in Istanbul, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue into Sunday, mark the latest attempt by Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent a relapse into violence after the worst border fighting since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul.
The talks are meant to devise a mechanism to enforce the Doha ceasefire longer term.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said there had been no incidents in the four to five days since it was agreed, and both sides were complying with the truce.
“We have the option; if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” he said in televised remarks from Pakistan. “But I saw that they want peace.”
The clashes erupted earlier this month after
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Islamabad demanded that the Taliban curb militants it says are attacking Pakistan from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched airstrikes across the border, and both sides exchanged heavy fire, killing dozens and prompting the closure of key crossings that remain shut.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants who target Pakistani forces. The Taliban rejects the charge and says Pakistan’s military operations violate Afghan sovereignty. (Reuters)
Around the World
Mystery donor gives $130m to US military for paying troops during shutdown
An unnamed donor is giving $130m to the Pentagon to help pay US troops during the Government shutdown, sparking ethics concerns.
United States (US) defence officials confirmed the gift, which President Donald Trump said will make up for shortfalls in paying the country’s 1.32m service members, but declined to identify the donor.
Trump has provided a few clues, though, saying on Saturday “He’s a big supporter of mine” and a US citizen.
The Government shut down more than three weeks
ago, after lawmakers failed to approve a funding deal.
The Trump Administration paid troops last week by shifting $8bn from military research, but it is unclear what will happen on the next payday at the end of the month.
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters on Friday, adding that the money was allowed under the department’s “general gift acceptance authority”.
Trump had previewed
the donation on Thursday, while also declining to identify the donor, saying, “He doesn’t really want the recognition.”
Before leaving for Asia on Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that the donor is “a great gentleman”, “a patron”, a “patriot” and a “wonderful man” who “doesn’t want publicity”.
“He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from,” Trump said. “In the world of politics you want your name mentioned.”
“He put up $130 mil-
lion in order to make sure – that’s a lot of money – in order to make sure that the military got paid, and he’s a big supporter of mine,” he continued.
The funds amount to around $100 per service member.
While unusual, the Pentagon does sometimes accept gifts from donors, but they normally must be given to fund specific projects, such as a school, hospital, library, museum, or cemetery.
Critics questioned why the US military would accept anonymous funds. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Japanese tourist dies in fall from Pantheon in Rome
AJapanese tourist has died after falling from the outer wall of the Pantheon in Rome.
The man, 69, had been sitting on the wall before he plunged seven metres into the ancient landmark’s moat on Friday night, the Italian news agency, Ansa, reported.
Rescuers had to force open a gate on the Via del-
la Palombella outside the Pantheon in order to reach the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rome Police have opened an investigation.
According to reports in the Italian press on Saturday, the man was visiting Rome with his daughter, who told Police he fell after being overcome by a sudden illness, causing him
to lose his balance.
The wall is often packed with tourists taking a break from sightseeing.
The Pantheon, which was built by Roman emperor Hadrian and is famous for its oculus – the hole in its giant dome – is one of Italy’s most visited monuments.
It is not the only tragedy to have struck tourists in Rome this year. In March,
a 55-year-old woman from Spain died after falling from a high wall at the side of the Spanish Steps. In April, Grant Paterson, a tourist from Scotland, died after suffering severe burns in a suspected gas explosion at a building in Rome where he was staying in rented accommodation. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Migrant “tried to return to prison, but guards turned him away”
The Epping migrant accidentally released after sexually assaulting a girl in the UK tried “four or five times” to return to prison, it has been claimed.
An eyewitness said he saw guards repeatedly turn Hadush Kebatu away and direct him to Chelmsford railway station when he tried to return to jail.
A delivery driver, named only as Sim, told Sky News that he saw Kebatu come out of the prison asking, “Where am I going? What am I doing?”
The driver claimed he saw the migrant loitering outside the building for around an hour and a half as he tried to find out where he should go.
He said that Kebatu knew he should have been deported instead of being freed, but prison staff were “basically sending him away” and saying to him, “Go, you’ve been released;
you go.”
The driver added, “He kept scratching his head and saying, ‘Where do I go, where do I go?’ The fourth or fifth time [he went into the
reception], he was starting to get upset; he was getting stressed. I’m not sticking up for the guy, but in my eyes, he was trying to do the right thing. He knew he was get-
ting deported, but he didn’t know where he was going or how he should get there.”
After being accidentally released and handed a £76 subsistence payment, Kebatu was caught on camera appearing to ask for directions in the centre of Chelmsford.
In footage posted on social media, Kebatu could be seen wearing a grey prison tracksuit, just 400 yards from the nearest Police station. Shortly after, he boarded the train from Chelmsford to London.
A nationwide manhunt was launched after HMP Chelmsford officials realised their mistake and alerted Essex Police on Friday at lunchtime.
Scotland Yard took over the search on Saturday, saying that Kebatu had been spotted in the Stratford area after getting off a train from Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street. (Excerpt from The Telegraph)
Trump announces 10% increase in tariffs on Canada
United States (US)
President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was increasing tariffs on Canada an additional 10 per cent “above what they’re paying now,” just days after ending trade talks with Ottawa over what Trump described as a misleading ad.
The ad, commissioned by Doug Ford, Ontario’s outspo-
ken Conservative premier who is sometimes compared to Trump, uses a snippet of Republican icon and former President Ronald Reagan saying that tariffs cause trade wars and economic disaster.
In a series of posts on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump called the ad fraudulent, declaring that “ALL TRADE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Ford said in a Friday statement that after discussions with Carney, Ontario would pause the US advertising campaign on Monday so that trade talks could resume.
Some analysts suggested that Ford’s ad was only a pretext for Trump’s outburst.
“Mr Trump doesn’t like to be confronted with the truth,” said Asa McKercher, an expert in US-Canada politics at St Francis Xavier University. He said that the ad is an accurate representation of Reagan’s views.
Trump first saw the ad earlier in the week and said on Tuesday, “If I were Canada, I’d take that same ad also.” (Source: Reuters)
Epping sex offender appears free in Chelmsford
Emotions will be close to the surface. It’s essential to stick to facts and verify information. Be willing to help others, but refuse to let anyone take advantage of you or what you can offer. Set a time frame, budget, and commitment you can uphold without compromising yourself or your obligations. Romance and socializing are favored.
A tradeshow will be informative, entertaining, and encourage meeting someone who motivates you to use your skills diversely. An opportunity to partner or to work from home looks promising. Verify the logistics, legalities, and feasibility of your initiative becoming a reality. Trust your instincts and check out the protocol and legalities necessary to reach your expectations.
Reach out, participate in a function that addresses something that concerns you. Broaden your outlook, friendships, and knowledge to ensure you reap the most benefits from your efforts and input. An opportunity to discuss possibilities will be informative and profitable. Mix business with pleasure, and personal and professional partnerships will develop.
You’ve got your finger on the pulse and you’re ready to optimize your talents and excel in ways you never thought possible. Events that allow you to infiltrate organizations and groups offering something you want to pursue will help you expose what you can bring to the table. Step up and make your voice heard.
Keep your eye on what’s happening around you. Not everyone will be trustworthy or out to help you. Be ready and willing to take the initiative and to do the work yourself if you want to make progress. Home and self-improvements look promising if you refrain from letting others step in and take over.
Emotions will surface when dealing with financial, medical, or contractual matters. Listen carefully and don’t hesitate to do your own thing. Working under the confines of what others want will not get you where you want to go. Size up and take the path that offers the freedom to do things your way.
Focus on home and yourself, and it will help you look and feel your best. Take steps to disclose the necessary information to achieve your objectives. An investment that offers security and freedom to pursue your heart’s desires and dreams is within reach. A move or lifestyle change will deliver the boost you need to advance.
Trust your instincts, not what others try to lead you to believe. It’s up to you to create opportunities and to put your skills to the test. The more you believe in yourself, the easier it will be to convince others to follow suit. Network, attend a tradeshow, or a reunion, and something positive will transpire.
Size up whatever situation you face. Consider the cost, legalities, and whether you are willing to endure the trials and tribulations that often accompany joint ventures. If it isn’t necessary to form alliances, you are best to work alone. Create a space you can call your own and pursue the journey and destination you desire.
Keep your thoughts and emotions to yourself. No one will understand your reasoning or your need to head in the direction you choose. You are best to get things underway and to a point where it’s clear to see the potential. Less conflict, greater gain, and satisfaction that comes with success.
Pay attention to how you feel, look, and what you can do to ensure a healthy, fit future. Refuse to let anyone lead you astray or down a path that is excessive emotionally, financially, or physically. Positive change will help you discover pastimes and projects that foster healthy relationships and a balanced lifestyle. Romance is favored.
Check options, see what makes sense, and pursue your objective. You have plenty to gain if you travel, communicate, and learn all you can about the pros and cons that come with the choices you make. Don’t buy into someone else’s dream or overpay for something you want. Stay focused, reasonable, and pursue your dream.
Calvin and Hobbes
Pickles
The majority of the SCG crowd got what they wanted as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, playing what will surely be their final matches in Australia, guided India to a consolation nine-wicket victory which avoided a series whitewash.
Rohit, building on the fighting 73 he made in Adelaide, went to his 33rd ODI century from 105 balls, a ninth against Australia, while Kohli responded to his twin ducks to start the series with an unbeaten 74 in front of a packed stadi um of 40,587, most of whom cheered their every move.
The pair, who have more than 26,000 ODI runs be tween them, finished with an unbroken stand of 168 from 170 balls as Rohit brought the target in view with a flurry of bound aries before Kohli fin ished it with a del icate glide to deep third.
It was a domi nant performance by India after Australia slipped dramatically from 183 for 3, losing 7 for 53 to be bowled out for 236. Matt Renshaw's maiden ODI half-century had given them a solid platform, and all the top six made at least 23, but none could convert as Harshit Rana claimed a career-best 4 for 39 while India's trio of spin ners all bowled well.
Rohit and Shubman Gill gave the chase an ideal plat form, but even as the openers did what the team needed, the cheers for Kohli only grew louder. Shortly after Gill had de posited Cooper Connolly for six, he edged Josh Hazlewood be
hind, and the stage was set.
Kohli made his way out of the dressing room to huge cheers, but those paled compared to a few moments later when he was off the mark first ball with a flick wide of mid-on. Kohli got into the spirit of the moment with a little smile and clenched fist. From there, it was large
highlights of Rohit's innings was an inside-out lofted drive for six against Adam Zampa, and he later added another six off the leg spinner with a slog sweep. The century came in understated fashion, a gentle drive to long-off and a gentle wave of the bat around the ground. Despite the series being
weren't brought back when the result was assured, perhaps a nod to what is to come. Ellis, who had been brought in for Xavier Bartlett, endured a difficult night.
Mitchell Marsh had opted to set a target when the coin fell his way, making it 18 consecutive tosses India had lost in ODIs. Marsh
to hold a tough chance running in from long-on. He and Renshaw had given Australia a good base for acceleration when the pair fell in the space of four overs.
Carey was spectacularly caught by Shreyas Iyer running back from backward point, taking the ball over his shoulder and slam
the drinks break which followed, he left the field with the physio and during India's chase was taken to hospital for further assessment.
Renshaw, who is in contention for a place in the Test squad for the Ashes, then fell lbw to Sundar as he advanced down the pitch, with the DRS confirming the ball would have taken mid-
In Adelaide, Connolly and Mitch Owen put together a stand that turned the game firmly in Australia's favour, but there was no repeat here. Owen, staying on the leg side of the ball, edged a rising delivery from Rana to slip, meaning the bowlers were exposed with more than 12 overs remaining, and they were bowled out with 20 deliveries unused. But what the crowd had really come to see came next.
Rohit Sharma with the Man of the Series
the Man of the Match awards (Cricket Australia/Getty Images)
Mitchell Marsh and gang lift the series trophy after a 2-1 win (AFP/Getty Images)
Harshit Rana took careerbest figures of 4 for 39 (AFP via Getty Images)
Mitchell Marsh square drives (Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Images)
Guyana’s 31-member archery squad eyes Caribbean Development Championship in T&T
Guyana’s archers are ready to compete as the seventh Caribbean Development Championship (CDC) unfolds this weekend at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.
Proudly joining fellow Caribbean nations and officials from World Archery Americas (WAA), Guyana fields the second-largest contingent at this year’s tournament.
Organised under the auspices of WAA, the CDC unites developing and competitive archers from 11 countries to enhance technical skills, build camaraderie, and promote the sport’s continued growth across the region. The event runs through Sunday and features a diverse range of bow disciplines and competitive categories.
During his address to the teams, Technical Delegate and
Chair of the WAA Development Committee, Phil Graves, emphasised that the CDC is recognised as a “Teaching Tournament”, conducted in full accordance with World Archery rules.
Guyana’s delegation includes 31 athletes and 11 officials – one of the largest teams the country has ever assembled for an international archery event. The team is led
by World Archery Level Two Coach and National Head Coach Ryan McKinnon, who oversees performance, discipline, and adherence to international standards throughout the competition.
Also representing Guyana in an official capacity is Gamal Mohammed, Continental Judge and former President of Archery Guyana. Mohammed serves as part of the tournament’s
technical team, ensuring fairness and professionalism across all events.
Archery Guyana extends heartfelt gratitude to its valued sponsors and partners – including Guyana Beverages Inc, Massy Gas Products Inc, and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA – for their continued support in advancing the sport and empowering local athletes on the regional stage.
Meanwhile, the President
commended the team and expressed heartfelt thanks to sponsors:
“We are proud to see our archers standing tall among their regional peers. Their participation at the CDC reflects the steady growth of the sport in Guyana, and we remain deeply grateful to our sponsors and partners for supporting our national development efforts.”
The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) on Saturday announced Tropical Shipping as the official shipping partner for the Month of Motor Racing 2025, which includes two major international events – the Caribbean Clash of Champions on November 2 and Drag Wars 4 on November 30 at the South Dakota Circuit.
As part of the partnership, Tropical Shipping will handle the freight and logistics for three international race cars competing at the Caribbean Clash of Champions: Neil Persaud’s Honda CRX and Aaron Bethune’s Honda Civic EG, both from Team CAMS (USA), and Ravi Singh’s Mazda RX-7 from Trinidad and Tobago.
Later in the month, for Drag Wars 4, the company will also provide additional
Tropical Shipping named official shipping partner for GMR&SC’s month of motor racing
logistical support to assist with the movement of race cars and equipment, ensuring smooth coordination for international and regional participants.
President of the GMR&SC, Mahendra Boodhoo, welcomed the partnership, noting that Tropical Shipping’s involvement highlights the importance of dependable logistics in staging international-level events.
“The Month of Motor Racing brings together competitors from across the Caribbean, North America, and Europe,” Boodhoo said. “Having Tropical Shipping on board gives us confidence that the transport and handling of vehicles and equipment will be managed to the highest standard. Their support helps make our international participation possible.”
The partnership comes as the GMR&SC celebrates 70 years of motorsport in Guyana, marking decades of growth and regional collaboration.
The Caribbean Clash of Champions will see some of the best drivers and riders from the Caribbean, the United States, and the United Kingdom go head-to-head, while Drag Wars 4 will close the month with a thrilling display of raw speed and power.
Tropical Shipping’s role as official partner reaffirms its ongoing commitment to Caribbean development, extending beyond trade to support regional sport and tourism.
With their support, the GMR&SC continues to elevate the standard of motorsport in Guyana and the wider region.
Inter-County Super 50 Cup final set for Nov 1 in Essequibo
he Queensway GCB InterCounty Super 50 Cup final between Demerara and Essequibo is set for Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast,
The final, which was scheduled for today, has been pushed back following consultations with tournament sponsor Queensway Security Inc. A reason for the change has not been released to the media.
However, the GCB noted that the additional time will allow both sides to prepare for the much-anticipated clash. Earlier in
the tournament, the two teams met, with Demerara defeating Essequibo by 50 runs – a solid margin.
As such, Essequibo will be looking for revenge on home soil, while Demerara aims to remain unbeaten and retain their championship.
The GCB is encouraging cricket enthusiasts across the region to come out and wit ness some of Guyana’s top talent on display in the final. The first ball is expected to be bowled at 09:00h, and admission is free.
The fourth edition of the Fireworks Pink Edition
Cycle is set for today around the Seawall Bandstand, Kingston, Georgetown, and will see cyclists from across the Caribbean riding for a cause.
The race, organised by the Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycling Club (KARCC), signifies the club’s collective commitment to raising awareness about breast cancer while promoting the spirit of healthy competition and unity in Guyana.
The event will feature several categories, including Elites, Masters 35-49, Juniors, Females, Masters 50+, Category 4/Novice, and Citizens/BMX.
The first race will comprise the Masters 50+, Category 4/ Novice, and Females, who will ride for 30 minutes plus a final lap, while the second race will feature Elites, Masters 35-49, and Juniors, with those riders competing for one hour and a final lap. The entrance fee is $3000.
Monetary prizes will be awarded in each category. The first-place winner in the Elites category will receive $50,000, while the Masters 35-49 and
Juniors first-place winners will each take home $20,000. The top finishers in the Females, Masters 50+, and Category 4/Novice classes will each collect $12,000, and the Citizens/BMX winner will walk away with $6000.
The event promises a thrilling display of speed, power, and determination. Patrons can expect high intensity, tight finishes, and pure adrenaline from start to finish.
The first race begins at 14:00h.
Guyana’s archery squad in Trinidad and Tobago
of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon,
Captain of Demerara,
Tevin Imlach
Captain of Essequibo, Kemol Savory
Ravi Singh’s RX-7
Neil Persaud’s Honda CRX
– Min Ramson commits to expanding sport nationwide
The finals of the Republic Bank/One Guyana
“B” Division Volleyball Tournament were officially launched on Saturday at the Culture, Youth and Sport Boardroom, where Minister Charles Ramson Jr pledged continued support for the development of volleyball across Guyana.
Addressing officials and players, Minister Ramson said the tournament provides a vital platform for identifying and nurturing talent in communities nationwide.
“When you hear a thousand persons participating in the tournament, it doesn’t really tell you the reach. Guyana is a big place – 8000 square miles, 10 regions, and mountains and rivers that separate that land space,” he said. “In those villages, there are people with hopes and dreams, and volleyball forms part of that. Without a structure or a vehicle for recognition, those dreams just fade over time. That’s a loss for them, and for the country too.”
He also promised greater national promotion of the event and its athletes next year.
“By next year, the country will know about this. All of the top performers – you will become stars – because we will be supporting the promotion of those games in your communities, wherever they’re played,” he declared.
Ramson expressed satisfaction that the tournament finals will
again be hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), now upgraded with airconditioning.
“Last year, we made the commitment that the tournament finals would be held in the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, in our newly renovated, air-conditioned facility. I’m happy to see that being fulfilled,” he said.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Dr Toussaint Boyce, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to investing in sport through its social development programmes.
“I’m now making my reentry to Guyana, and as a result, it’s very important for me to demonstrate Republic Bank’s commitment and
After 25 years of continuous participation at the South Emraan Baksh, Nikita Ramsaran, Terry Rodrigues, Rakesh, Joe Mohan, century, Team CAMS has been a cornerstone of regional motorsport,
representation at events like these,” Dr Boyce noted. “Sport has always held a special place in the hearts of our staff at Republic Bank. Through our Power to Make a Difference initiative, we’ve championed sports of all kinds because we see them as one of the most powerful tools for positive change.”
President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), John Flores, also expressed appreciation to the Ministry and Republic Bank for their partnership in advancing the sport.
“This tournament gives teams and communities across the country an opportunity to showcase their skills and to meet and talk volleyball with each other,” he said. “We could not be doing this monumental tournament without the invaluable support from the Ministry and Republic Bank.”
The regional playoffs, which began in May in Lethem, resumed after a brief break for the General Elections and concluded on October 11 in Affiance, Essequibo Coast.
A total of 10 teams, in both male and female categories,
have advanced to the finals in Georgetown.
The quarter-finals are set for November 1, with the men’s competition scheduled for the National Gymnasium and the women’s division at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Teams will compete in four groups of three, with group winners advancing to the semifinals and finals on November 2 at CASH.
Male Teams: Spartans (Mabaruma), Mainstay, Wakapau (Essequibo), Warriors (Bartica), Hururu (defending champions), Glasgow Rangers (Linden), CBB, Castrol (Demerara), PMTC, Rollers (Berbice), Orealla, and Central Rupununi (Region 9).
Abattle of the highest order is on the cards today, Sunday, October 26, at the Port Mourant Turf Club for the President’s Cup – but all eyes will be on Guyana’s Cup champion,
Ten horses are confirmed for the feature event, including Dataman, Ritorna Vincentori, Frontline Warrior, Holy Moly Moses, Stat, Mapa Do Brasil, Nova Sol, Spankhurst, Anthem King, and El Tarzan.
The organisers have placed the feature race as the penultimate event of the day – Race Nine – which is expected to start around 16:25h. In addition to the exhilarating horse racing action, singer Jelanie Alexander, popularly known as SamDan, will perform his hit “Blaze Up”.
The young singer visited President Dr Irfaan Ali on the eve of the horse racing. The other races on the provisional programme include the F Class and Three-Year-Old Imported Open (including first-time starters), Brazilian-bred horses of E Class and lower, and E Class non-winners of 2025.
That race will run at six furlongs,
with a total purse of $1.5 million. Horses in the three-year-old Guyanabred category will run six furlongs for a purse of $2.8 million, while the Sprint Classic Open will carry a purse of just over $1.8 million and will also run at six furlongs.
The two-year-old United States (US)imported race will have a total purse of $1.3 million and will run at five furlongs, while the G Class and Lower race will feature a total purse of just over $1.2 million, with horses running one mile. In the H Class Non-Winners for 2025, horses will gallop six furlongs for a total purse of $1.1 million. The L Class Non-Earners (last start) and first-time starters will run five furlongs, with a purse of $1.1 million to be divided. The two-year-old Guyana and West Indian Open will carry a purse of $937,500, with horses running five furlongs.
Strict regulations will govern this year’s President’s Cup. Horses must be saddled on the track at least seven minutes before post time. Any horse failing to comply will not be allowed to compete. The first race starts at 11:20h local time.
Representatives from Classic Ball Blasters Volleyball Club
SamDan is set to perform at Port Mourant today. He visited President Ali on the eve of the horse racing
Team CAMS
Quinlan Lall’s RX-7
Minister Charles Ramson Jr with Republic Bank officials, GVF executives, and players at the launch of the Republic Bank/One Guyana “B” Division Volleyball Tournament
