Creative arts institute registered with National Accreditation Council
“Technology does not reduce people” – Banks DIH Chairman responds to shareholders' AI expansion concerns Tourism Minister slams Opposition MP's xenophobic remarks on Venezuelan migrants “No
Guyana seeks to tap into India’s expertise, as its digital economy to reach US$1 trillion by 2028
Cop charged after failing to issue bail receipt for cash collected
GDF, Florida National Guard launch search, rescue expert exchange
Guyana more successful than multiple C’bean countries in crimefighting – Benn
Tourism Minister slams Opposition MP's xenophobic remarks on Venezuelan migrants
…as MPs clash over Venezuelan migration, sovereignty
In a fiery exchange in the National Assembly on Monday, Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond defended the Government's stance on migration and foreign policy, particularly addressing Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Amanza Walton-Desir’s remarks on Venezuelan migrants, which she accused her of fueling xenophobic fears regarding these persons.
Walrond took aim at Walton-Desir’s criticisms, which she had voiced both inside and outside the House. The Opposition MP had expressed concerns over
the increasing Venezuelan migrant population and what she claimed is the lack of clear migration policy to manage the growing influx of migrants.
In particular, WaltonDesir accused the Government of neglecting the issue of migration, which she claimed posed risks to the country’s national security and sovereignty.
“Mr Speaker, the truth is that most of the Venezuelans who are here are of Guyanese descent. That is the truth,” Walrond declared, pushing back against what she described as unfounded fears being spread by the opposition. She argued that the current discussions on migration, particularly regarding Venezuelan migrants, were being manipulated to create unnecessary panic.
In her response, Walrond also criticised the opposition's approach, calling their arguments "empty" and "vacuous." She highlighted the previous administration's record, pointing out that many of the social benefits that had been introduced under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, such as school grants, pensions, and subsidies for electrici-
ty and water, had been removed by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government.
Walrond emphasised that these measures had been enacted without oil revenues, a stark contrast to the arguments made by the opposition, which claimed the Government's ability to fund such programmes was only possible due to the newfound oil wealth.
“The Honourable Member Desir said outside of the House, and I quote, how much a Government gives to its people, it's directly related to how much it has to give, and went on to say that our Government has, and I quote, unprecedented fiscal space. This sounds plausible enough on its face, Mr Speaker, but let us examine this argument a little more closely. Mr Speaker, before 2015, without even the prospect of oil resources within this fiscal space available, the PPPC Government found the money to pay cash grants of $15,000 per year to schoolchildren”.
“The APNU-AFC came into office, riding the wave of first oil discovery in 2015, and took that grant away,” the Minister said.
“The opposition has done nothing. They have no solutions. Nothing of substance,” Walrond said, urging the nation to focus on the real issues at hand rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.
Meanwhile, on the topic of Venezuela, WaltonDesir raised concerns about the recent actions by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, particularly the completion of a bridge to Ankoko Island and plans to appoint a Governor to the Essequibo region. She called for more proactive and decisive action, urging the Government to step up its diplomatic efforts and engage with the international community to safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity.
“Mr Speaker, these actions constitute a dangerous escalation of aggression that cannot go unchallenged. We must now move, Mr Speaker, beyond the lodging of formal protests, to more proactive and decisive action. We, on this side of the House, are on record as making a number of recommendations to the PPP/C Administration, including the full mobilisation of our diplomatic apparatus to secure continued international support, and that that
apparatus will emphasise the justness and the rightness of our cause. We continue to stress the importance of a robust international public relations campaign, and of course the engagement of the Guyanese diaspora in advocating for our sovereignty,” Walton-Desir. In conclusion, WaltonDesir called for a "Guyana and Guyanese-first migration policy," which would focus on the welfare of Guyanese citizens while responsibly managing migration to ensure the country’s long-term stability and growth.
Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Amanza Walton-Desir
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, January 28 –03:45h-05:15h and Wednesday, January 29 – 03:45h-05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, January 28 –15:45h-17:15h and Wednesday, January 29 – 16:35h-18:05h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected throughout the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.92 metres.
High Tide: 16:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.58 metres.
Low Tide: 09:36h and 22:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.81 metre and 0.59 metre.
“How can you vote for a coalition that is on life support?” – Bharrat
…warns persons to guard against APNU/AFC’s empty election promises
In light of recent comments from Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Nigel Hughes that their potential partnership with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is on “life support”, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, on Day-two of the 2025 Budget debates, has noted that based on this admission alone, Guyanese should not vote for such a political grouping.
Cognisant that this is an election year, Minister Bharrat on Monday – during the budget debates – came out swinging at the opposition over its track record in office and its recent coalition difficulties. These difficulties include the recent admission by Hughes that talks with APNU on possi-
lengths to demonstrate how the former Government failed to keep its promises.
For instance, Bharrat recalled that the former coalition Government had promised to immediately implement a phased reduction of VAT and removal of VAT from food and other essential products. The 100-day plan had also made reference to setting up conferences catering specifically to the rice and sugar sector, neither of which, according to Bharrat, were ever held.
“What did you do? VAT on light. VAT on water. VAT on education. VAT on health services. VAT on data. You almost put VAT on dead people too. And we move on. Waiving of duties on fuel, tools, small scale min-
bly reuniting to contest the 2025 General and Regional Elections were on life support.
“It was this very tone and promises made by the APNU/AFC in 2015. And what did the people of Guyana get? Nothing… It is easy to make fake promises like they did in 2015, but from 2015 to 2020, we went backward instead of moving forward. Again in 2025, they will come with those fake promises of $400,000 (tax) threshold and $80,000 pension. But these are the same people who took away the cash grant from the students and added VAT (Value Added Tax) on light and water, education and health services in this country.”
“I too would like to compare based on our track record, so that Guyanese people can be the judge and ascertain for themselves whether the PPP/C is good for this country or whether we’re going back to the fake promises from APNU/AFC. Fake promises from a group of people whose relationship is on life support. How will you vote for a coalition that is on life support?” Bharrat said.
Bharrat came equipped with the former APNU/AFC Government’s 100-day plan from before it entered office in 2015 and went to great
ing equipment. What did they do? VAT on machinery for mining and agriculture, VAT on machinery for logging,” the Minister said.
“Establishment of a national cane workers and cane farmers conference. Conference, not an association. A conference. Imagine that in a 100-day plan, by this serious Government. And you want Guyanese people to vote for you and you’re promising them a conference? Man, we could do that in a day. You needed a hundred days and still couldn’t do it. Establishment of a rice millers and rice farmers conference. Conference again. These conferences were to use the tax payer’s money to fatten the APNU/ AFC.”
In the 100-day plan, the former APNU/AFC Government had also promised the liberalisation of the telecommunications and information communication technology sector, but it was the PPP/C Government that realised this in October 2020.
The “life support” reference comes from last week, when AFC leader Hughes had admitted that his par-
ty’s accord with APNU was on life support, as the smaller party remains wary of past mistakes and the fact that a suitable mechanism must be employed to choose between him and his APNU counterpart, Aubrey Norton, to decide who will be the presidential candidate.
Reports had emerged that the People’s National Congress (PNC) led APNU and AFC had reached an accord for further discussions towards coalescing. This is despite the fact that all evidence pointed to PNC insisting on its leader being the Presidential candidate.
During a press conference, Hughes admitted that there was indeed an agreement and that the content of this accord includes an agreement for the two parties to hold talks on the deciding whether to contest the upcoming General and Regional elections as a coalition or independently… a decision they have agreed will be made by March 31.
The issuance of a Certificate of Registration from the National Accreditation Council-Guyana (NACG) to the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA) marks a transformative moment for creative education in Guyana. After a two-year process, this milestone ensures that the ICA meets national and international standards, affirming its legitimacy as an educational institution under the National Accreditation Act 12 of 2004. Beyond mere compliance, this recognition symbolises a significant step toward the empowerment of Guyana’s creative professionals and the broader cultural sector.
The registration underscores a commitment to raising educational standards. As Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport , Charles Ramson Jr highlighted during the launch event, this achievement ensures that qualifications earned at the ICA are credible and respected. “Gone must be the days where persons involved in cultural and creative industries are not considered legitimate contributors to our economy,” Ramson emphasised. For too long, creative professionals in Guyana have faced scepticism regarding the legitimacy of their qualifications. The ICA’s registration directly addresses this, abolishing the trend of undervalued creative credentials.
The registration represents a gateway to greater opportunities for ICA students and alumni. With the NACG’s endorsement, the portability of ICA qualifications is significantly enhanced, enabling graduates to pursue further education or employment locally and internationally. This shift not only boosts the employability of creative professionals but also validates the arts as a viable career path, comparable to other academic disciplines.
Dr Marcel Hutson aptly highlighted the confidence this recognition builds among students and their families. The assurance that their qualifications are legitimate and globally recognised will encourage increased enrolment and participation in creative arts programmes. “This recognition builds confidence among students and their families, encouraging enrolment and participation in the creative arts,” Dr Hutson remarked. For young people passionate about art, dance, drama, or music, this is a clarion call to pursue their dreams without fear of their credentials being dismissed.
By aligning with national and international regulations, the ICA’s registration facilitates access to a broader spectrum of opportunities for graduates. International institutions and employers often prioritise credentials from accredited entities. With this registration, ICA graduates are better positioned to secure scholarships, internships, and jobs abroad. This opens doors for cultural exchange, allowing Guyana’s creative talent to showcase their skills on a global stage while learning from diverse artistic traditions.
Additionally, this recognition strengthens the creative arts’ contribution to Guyana’s economic diversification. Cultural industries— including film, fashion, and performing arts – are billion-dollar sectors globally. Guyana’s burgeoning creative professionals, equipped with credible qualifications, can now confidently tap into these markets, bringing both economic and cultural dividends to the nation.
Minister Ramson’s remarks underscored the economic implications of the ICA’s registration. Recognising creative professionals as legitimate contributors to the economy is a paradigm shift for Guyana. The creative sector has the potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, and enhance the country’s cultural visibility. By investing in the arts and ensuring the ICA’s compliance with accreditation standards, Guyana is positioning itself to harness the full potential of its creative workforce.
The ICA’s registration is a step toward its ultimate goal of full accreditation. This journey requires ongoing dedication to academic excellence and institutional development. As Ramson noted, achieving registration was no small feat. It demanded rigorous assessment and the elevation of academic programmes to meet stringent compliance requirements. That the ICA passed these evaluations “with flying colours” is a testament to its commitment to quality education.
Dr Hutson’s emphasis on hard work resonates deeply in this context. Success in the creative arts, like any other field, requires dedication and effort. “To be the best dramatist, the best artist – you have to study,” he stated. The ICA’s registration sends a powerful message to students: that their hard work will be recognised and valued, both at home and abroad.
A recurring challenge for ICA graduates has been the lack of recognition for their qualifications. Dr Hutson highlighted the frustration many faced when their certificates were questioned by other institutions or employers. The NACG registration directly resolves this issue, ensuring that ICA graduates’ qualifications are acknowledged and respected. This not only boosts individual confidence but also elevates the collective status of Guyana’s creative professionals.
The ICA’s registration marks a crucial moment in the evolution of Guyana’s creative sector. It validates the arts as a serious and legitimate field of study and practice, empowering students to pursue their passions with confidence. The ripple effects of this achievement will be felt across the cultural, educational, and economic settings of the country.
To whom did I first belong?
Dear Editor,
Over the last few weeks, there has been greater political and civic involvement by our young people. Youth have shared their views on a range of issues that they believe are very important for their upward mobility in Guyana, ranging from education delivery to political leaders and their perceived capabilities to lead our country.
We must commend the youth who have been bold enough to share their voices and participate in important national discussions that will continue to push our country further. This commentary by our young people is not exclusive to criticisms of the government’s policies, but also directed to the opposition.
According to the most recent publication of the Global Youth Development Index (YDI) released in 2023, only three countries in the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Region have done better than us in the area of Political and Civic Participation. This means that we have done well recently in letting our voices be heard in our political landscape.
But some things threaten this incredible standing amongst our Caribbean counterparts.
Despite this commendable move by our youth, there has been a very disturbing trend that this author has identified. It is my unwavering belief that we must not shy away from this matter, but address it headon to safeguard the rights
that our youth have to share their views on issues that they hold dearest to them.
We must therefore give it the name this despicable trend so aptly deserves – the deployment of a tactic that aims to relegate our youth into muteness.
It is shocking to see that virtually every time somebody young – especially those of African descent –shares a dissenting view of the opposition, those young people have to be subjected to the most distasteful, degrading, and disgusting insults.
Apart from the author’s own experience, it is of great moment to point out how the labels “slave catcher”, “house slave”, “sell out”, “brainwashed” and “pawn” are attached to the people who express their own views about the shortcomings of the opposition.
Why does it seem like the opposition is suggesting that original opinions cannot come from the youth if these opinions criticize them? How can a serious opposition castigate our young people in this way and then clamour for their votes in the upcoming election?
But what is even more incredibly shocking is the notion that almost every young black person who shares such a view has been “bought” or was at some point “up for sale”. The insinuation is also made that these young people are given some sort of reward for sharing a view as described above.
This is disappointing on many fronts. First of all, it
shows the Opposition’s inherent disdain for Guyanese who exercise their liberty to freely associate and comment on the political events happening around them. It’s almost as if the moment you disagree with the opposition, rather than commencing a decent and informed debate, you are forced into an abyss of name-calling, with the label of a slave being thrown around loosely by the very people who many times claim to be upholding the rights and dignity of Afro-Guyanese.
Secondly, this position suggests that our youth have no integrity. That they are unable to form reasonable and informed conclusions without the prompting of a financial reward. Again, how do you accuse the youth of acquiescing to bribery, of having no integrity, insult them by calling them slaves, and then ask them to vote for you?
Finally, one must do a serious examination of the suggestion that somebody was purchased because they share a view that is not in alignment with a particular political philosophy. Now, to say that I was bought indicates that I was first owned by a particular person or organization. It suggests that I was the property of someone else. This begs the very important question: To whom did I first belong?
Allow me to burst the proverbial bubble that still exists around the heads of those who proffer such a vacuous argument: this kind of postulation will not bring
votes to the Opposition. It will only turn multitudes of young people away from them because our youth despise race-baiting and division, and are more inclined to embrace unity and informed arguments about national issues.
It is purely duplicitous to scream at the top of your lungs that our youth are the future whilst using every chance you are given to subject us to the ruthless mudslinging that has behind it no substance, no accuracy, or no legitimacy. If the opposition continues to subject us to this, can they still reasonably expect us to want to play an active role in regional and national leadership? Or are they actively trying to scare us away from the arena?
I understand, sincerely, the need for our political arena to be a very competitive one, given what’s at stake in our burgeoning oil and gas economy. But none of this necessitates plunging into the dungeon that our forefathers fought to get us out of. None of this necessitates the type of insults that are suited only for barbarians. It is about time we chart a different course. One that deconstructs issues, not individuals. One that removes problems, not ridicules people.
I long for a Guyana where race is not the subject of every debate. The best time to create that Guyana was yesterday – the next best time is now.
Yours sincerely, Shaquawn Gill
Extension officers visit the shadehouse in St Ignatius Village every Friday to monitor operations and provide technical advice. They also train Community Service Officers (CSOs) in proper record-keeping for all produce. The shadehouse was constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture (Agriculture in Region 9 photos)
Feasibility studies for GtE available in public domain
Dear Editor, I write in reference to a letter published in the media on January 26, 2025, with the caption “Provide the feasibility report upon which the [Gas-to-Energy] GtE project was premised”, by the Alliance for Change’s (AFC) leader, Nigel Hughes. The author referenced the Skeldon sugar factor suggesting that a feasibility study was not done for that project. However, contrary to this disingenuous insinuation, a feasibility study was conducted by Booker Tates, a firm that eventually became the client of Nigel Hughes. It would be recalled that the PPP/C Government
had taken Booker Tates to court where an appeal was filed at the Court of Appeal against Booker Tate for compensation to the State of over $4 billion for their failure to design and supervise the Skeldon Project as per contract terms and specifications. It would be interesting to note that this matter was filed in 2015, the same year we had a change of government, whereby the APNU+AFC formed the new government following the 2015 national elections. Nigel Hughes, whose political party, namely the AFC was in government at the time, and who
was representing Booker Tates against the State, the APNU+AFC government withdrew the case and Booker Tate escaped without incurring any liability for their negligence in the management and execution of the Skeldon project. Thanks to Nigel Hughes who is on record declaring that his clients’ interests shall always prevail over the country’s interest. This would be a good question that the media should put to Mr. Nigel Hughes at his next press conference: Why did the APNU+AFC Government withdraw the case filed against Booker Tate in the Court of Appeal
on the Skeldon matter?
Turning now to the GtE project, Nigel Hughes and/ or his associates did not request the information directly from the EXIM Bank. The information was requested by a relative of Mr. Hughes, Elizabeth Dean-Hughes from the US Government through the “Freedom of Information Act”.
Financial institutions do not advance loans for any purpose whatsoever, without conducting their independent due diligence. This includes their own evaluation of the technical, financial and economic feasibility of projects as in the case
of the GtE. This is a given, hence, there is no credible reason to doubt or question this process.
That said, the financial and economic feasibility of the GtE is not a State secret. There are seven (7) pieces of documents on the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website in respect of the GtE feasibility studies. To this end, a feasibility study was submitted by “Energy Narrative” to the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in 2018. There are several versions of this study done by Energy Narrative, which are all uploaded and acces-
sible on the MNR website. Another study was done by K&M Advisors in 2019 that is also on the MNR website. Ironically, all of the studies were done under the APNU+AFC Government, yet they claim ignorance to the existence of these studies. (The studies can be accessed here for ease of reference (https://nre.gov.gy/#). It therefore means that the AFC is being completely dishonest to the nation and/ or they are totally clueless as to how to read and comprehend a feasibility study of this nature.
Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin
A lack of a constructive discussion continues
Dear Editor,
The budget debate continues with the usual finger pointing and posturing from both sides of the aisle.
A lack of objective discussion and the lack of real solution finding continue to plague the debate. The Natural Resource discussion was particularly disappointing with no emphasis placed on plans to grow the Natural Resource Fund, adding value added products and the establishment of future trade agreements. Both sides of the aisle continue to pursue socialist and communist approaches to governance. With an emphasis being placed on hand
outs and social programs, while showing a lack of revenue generating projects to support the long-term viability of the programs being implemented. China has shown that they had to shift their approach to value added production and embrace the World Trade Organization to foster real growth. Yet in 2025 Guyanese politicians continue to focus on non-revenue generating measures, which deplete resources without finding additional means of fostering long term sustainable growth. In attempts to gain the popular vote, both sides of the House of Parliament
Tourism Minister slams Opposition...
“The PPPC government likes to say that we are invoking fear in the people of Guyana, but no less a person than their national security advisor is on record as expressing the concern that we do not know who we are letting into the country, that there are military men of age in our country, and we have no way of tracking them and no way of knowing their whereabouts”.
“Further, refugees and migrants must only be granted temporary status until they can return to their homelands with a clear and explicit provision against voting rights. I repeat, with a clear and explicit provision against voting rights. Guyanese citizenship must remain a privilege and not a pathway to manipulation or long-term instability,” the Opposition Parliamentarian added.
In 2024, it was disclosed by Government that approximately 28,000 Venezuelan migrants currently residing in Guyana- looking to secure employment to provide a better life for their families.
Nevertheless, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had revealed that Venezuelan migrants comprise the largest group of migrant prisoners in Guyana’s prison system.
As it stands, a total of 2,240 males and over 60 females are currently incarcerated in prisons across the country. And of that number, some 23 Venezuelan nationals are serving time for crimes committed, ranging from the possession of illegal firearms to ammunition and narcotics, as well as murder, among other crimes. (G1)
prefer to place money directly in the hands of each citizen. To sustain such an approach, they must also allow the government to earn money to carryout development plans. Members of the House are avoiding taxation due to its unpopularity, which leaves earnings from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) as the key source of funding. Therefore, measured development is the only solution that will allow for the continued vote grabbing approach to be sustained. It will also help avoid the pitfalls of the ever so common approach used by politicians who implement
such socialist and communist measures that will endure during their time in office, but that will come to an abrupt end after the resources have been depleted. This usually occurs after they have left office.
The pull of resources from the NRF can only be sustained by a rate of return that surpasses the withdrawal amount or depletion rate. A requirement that lacks achievement to date. The renegotiation of the Exxon PSA will provide the needed flexibility and sustainability for the current socialist and communist programs being implemented, but the discussion
in Parliament has lacked commitment and thorough discussions around this urgent issue. There is an opportunity to add objectivity and constructive criticism, but a divided House continues to prohibit progress towards real solutions on important issues. Our leaders must make a commitment towards addressing what is important in the face of foreign exploitation. We do not need nationalization. What we need is a fair pro-
duction sharing agreement with Exxon, additional trade agreements for value added products and improved management of the Natural Resource Fund. The budget debate must allow for an intellectual solution finding discussion in these key areas that will provide opportunities for real long term economic growth.
Sincerely, Jamil Changlee
Page Foundation
By Judith Viorst
Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother says they smell, And never sit when you say sit, Or even when you yell. And when you come home late at night And there is ice and snow, You have to go back out because The dumb dog has to go.
Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother says they shed, And always let the strangers in And bark at friends instead, And do disgraceful things on rugs, And track mud on the floor, And flop upon your bed at night And snore their doggy snore.
Mother doesn’t want a dog. She’s making a mistake. Because, more than a dog, I think She will not want this snake.
WORD SEARCH:
Pres Ali, US Secretary of State reaffirm partnership on energy, security, regional prosperity
Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday spoke with the new United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. In a post on social media, President Ali said, “Today, I had the opportunity to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. I reiterated our support for the extended partnership in energy, security, democracy, and regional prosperity.”
Meanwhile, the US State Department in a statement by spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali spoke today to address the crisis of illegal migra-
tion and agreed to jointly address this regional imperative and challenge.
The Secretary affirmed the United States’ steadfast support of Guyana’s terri-
torial integrity in the face of Nicolás Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions.”
Cop charged after failing to issue bail receipt for cash collected
Apolice constable attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has been charged with obtaining money by false presence.
Kathy McCalmon a special constable working out of the CID appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias on Friday at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
She was jointly charged with a female corporal attached to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), New Amsterdam.
It is alleged that on January 15, the duo collected $50,000 as bail money from Malika Nelson and did not issue a bail receipt. The transaction allegedly took place in the CID office. The corporal did not appear in court as she reported sick on Monday and was on seven days sick leave. The charge was laid contrary to Section 194 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01. McCalmon was released on $20,000 bail and will return to court on February 20.
Guyana leads the way in balancing economic growth, environmental protection – Minister …says Guyanese should be proud
Natural Resources
Minister Vickram Bharrat on Monday highlighted Guyana's leadership in balancing economic development with environmental protection, positioning the country ahead of other developing nations. He reminded Guyanese to take pride in the nation's global standing, regardless of political differences.
Bharrat made these comments during day two of the ongoing budget debates at the National Assembly. During the debates, Bharrat spoke of the decrepit state the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government found the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) when they entered office in 2020.
He pointed out that not only were they able to turn around the fortunes of the then cash strapped GFC, but they’ve also been able to build a framework around the forestry sector that has led to Guyana gaining international recognition for its forest management model. This has led to the Government securing the sale of carbon credits, while also being paid for legacy credits as well.
“Today, we have transformed the forestry sector. That Guyana is recognised as having one of the best forest management systems in the world, with one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world. And
the honourable member spoke glowingly about the low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Well, he needs to read that document properly and you’ll realise that we’re well ahead of many countries.”
“What is important to note, is Guyana has become a model country in this world, in terms of economic development versus environmental sustainability. Guyana is recognised for that worldwide. And all Guyanese, regardless of where we sit, we must be proud of that achievement.
Regardless of political affiliation, it is about patriotism,” Bharrat said.
The Government has been beefing up its Monitoring Verification and Reporting System (MRVS) for the forestry sector, which has played an important role in Guyana being able to verify its carbon credits, so that they can be sold on the international market.
In 2022, Guyana signed a historic, multi-year US$750 million agreement with Hess Corporation for the purchase of 37.5 million carbon credits. Guyana was also the first country to conclude the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) process of certifying its forest carbon.
These serialised credits, listed on the ART public registry, are available to buyers on the global carbon market. They can be
used by airlines to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Global Emission Reduction Programme (GERP), the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), as well as for voluntary corporate climate commitments.
Guyana’s completion of the ART process paved the way for other Governments that are looking to receive carbon market finance for success in protecting and restoring forests. At the time Guyana was issued with the credits, 14 other countries and large sub-national jurisdictions are working toward their own issuances of the REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES) credits.
In 2023, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and European Commissioner for International Partnerships
Jutta Urpilainen had signed a roadmap for the implementation of the GuyanaEU Forest Partnership with the aim of managing Guyana’s forests and promoting the forest bioeconomy. This roadmap establishes the EU and Guyana’s commitment to reaching a set number of targets by 2030.
These include: maintaining 12.5 million hectares of sustainably managed forests; expanding protected and conserved forests to 30 per cent of terrestrial and
marine species; increasing restored forest to 200,000 hectares; increasing the number of forest-related decent jobs; and maintaining the rate of deforestation of natural forests below 0.01 per cent per annum.
The Forest Partnership, along with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), is expected to support Guyana in strengthening its forest bioeconomy, attracting public and private investments, and advancing climate and biodiversity objectives, while safeguarding the rights of local communities and Indigenous peoples.
Guyana’s management of its 12.5M hectares of forests have received international acclaim
Charged: Kathy McCalmon
United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio President Dr Irfaan Ali
“No help, no love” –
grieving Venezuelan
mother on treatment at GPHC while giving birth
…says “this should not happen in any hospital, in any country”
Distraught after a seven-hour labour, Mayhelm González, who had a stillborn daughter, is blaming the heartbreaking outcome on the treatment she endured at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
In an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, the 32-year-old Venezuelan recounted the tragic loss of her daughter, describing the pain and alleged negligence she experienced at the hospital.
According to González, who has been living in Guyana for five years, she began experiencing signs of labour on Saturday, January 18. She arrived at the hospital around 11:00h.
“When the doctor checked me, he said, “You’re ready; the baby is coming.”
González alleged that during her time at the hospital, she faced disrespectful treatment from the staff while enduring excruciating pain.
“When I arrived and cried, the nurse told me in Spanish, ‘Callate,’ which means ‘quiet.’ I responded in English, ‘Why did you tell me to be quiet? I am here to give birth to a baby, not an animal.”
The woman added that while she struggled with labour, she also had to deal with emotional and verbal abuse.
“This pain was very hard for me. They just kept telling me, ‘Quiet, quiet, don’t say anything. just push,”
she stated whilst describing the movements the doctors were making on her belly.
González alleged that at one point, a doctor pressed their elbow into her belly and told her that if she did not push, her baby would die.
“There were three doctors in total. Two had their hands inside of me, while another pressed on my belly, telling me to push. I kept pushing, and nothing happened. Then they left me alone for another 30 minutes.”
The distressed mother, speaking through tears, recounted how a nurse did the same thing to her.
“They told me, ‘You’re not following instructions. If you don’t push, your baby will die.’ I told them, ‘I’m pushing! I don’t want my baby to die! Please help me.”
González, who operates a business at City Mall, said she waited several hours before begging the doctors for a cesarean section (C-section).
Despite being unable to move, the doctors reportedly forced her to walk to another bed on her own for the surgery.
She claimed her baby was born at 19:00h but the hospital allegedly falsified the birth report, stating the baby was born at 18:00h.
“When I saw the paper, I knew it was a lie. My baby was born at 7 o’clock, and the doctors know this. They are lying.”
The doctors’ report stated that the baby succumbed to hypoxia, which is caused
Mayhelm Gonzalez and her family
by low oxygen levels in body tissues.
González, who has a fiveyear-old son born at the same hospital, said she was shocked at the drastic difference in treatment this time.
“I don’t know what has happened now…there was no help, no love. This should not happen in any hospital, in any country.”
González also recounted seeing other women at the hospital who lost their babies.
“Another woman lost her baby too. The baby was dead when it was delivered. She was in the hospital for four days, and when the baby came out, it was gone. The
Looking back…
…at the Lusignan Massacre
In Guyana, there are some who insist on pretending our politics is the regular garden-variety parliamentary how-de-do gladhanding – where votes are solicited by kissing babies and such like. They’d close their eyes to the episodic eruptions of numbing political violence that indicate something is deeply wrong in the state of Mudland. The Lusignan Massacre of Jan 26, 2008 – in the wee hours of the morning, seventeen years ago – is one of those horrific episodes.
Eleven were murdered in their beds – 5 children, 2 women and 4 men and their names should be remembered so that they don’t become lost in the anonymity of statistics: 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, his 12-yearold daughter Vanessa Thomas and his son Ron Thomas; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, fouryear-old Seegobind Harrilall and ten-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall; 22-year-old Shazam Mohamed; 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh; Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter Raywattie Ramsingh. May their lives not be lost for nothing.
nurses told her to stay quiet.”
She added, “It’s very hard. You wait for your baby, and your baby dies. And no one helps you. This is not real life. It’s heartbreaking.”
The grieving mother called on Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali to intervene to improve the situation at the GPHC.
“President Irfaan Ali, you need to personally check this problem. This problem continues every day. Please, help me and help others,” the woman said.
An investigation into the matter has been launched by the GPHC.
González, a mother to a five-year-old boy, lives in Guyana with her husband, a deliveryman. The couple moved to Guyana in search of better opportunities.
Your Eyewitness will never forget the horror that erupted in his mind when he saw the pictures in the newspapers the next day. The worst were those of the children with their guts blown out and strewn on the floor by the machine-gun and shotgun bullets that were fired indiscriminately at them. So who were these gunmen?? Holed up in Buxton on the ECD, they called themselves “Freedom Fighters” for African Guyanese. They launched a war of attrition on the State – but more specifically on the PPP’s perceived Indian-Guyanese supporters in the surrounding villages.
And it’s a repetition of this madness your Eyewitness fears whenever he hears the same incendiary rhetoric of disenfranchisement and dispossession being spouted presently by some extremists in the political realm. Politics and political parties were invented to stave-off exactly this kind of violence to “solve” disagreements – so basically, these people have given up on politics. Lusignan was followed by other massacres at Bartica and Lindo Creek after which the Disciplined Forces thankfully wiped out the Buxton Gang then headed by one “Fineman Rawlins”. It’s no use thinking this violent eruption can’t happen here again. What’s different today from what things were like before the 2002 Republic Day jail breakout?? With the same constant whining of victimhood and suffering, what’s to stop another handful of extremists to launch another violent “Freedom Fight” against PPP supporters who’re again accused of getting the whole hog?? Didn’t someone on one of the incendiary social-media platforms announce that members of the government ought to be beheaded?
Your Eyewitness hopes that those who would go down this road again remember that “knock got knock back” – as was shown after 2002.
In these matters, no one really comes out “on top”.
…at
bucking Trump
Colombia learnt the hard way that Trump ain’t messing around about deporting “undocumented” immigrants! All Colombia’s President Petro said when he refused permission for two military planes with deportees was they ought to’ve been treated with some modicum of dignity – and not handcuffed and treated like cargo. But from Trump’s perspective, Colombia was the perfect example of the “Shithole Countries” he’d categorised the South as!! What with supplying most of the cocaine entering the US and not being able to stamp out its production – even with massive American help – Petro’s leftist orientation didn’t exactly endear him to Trump.
So 25% tariff was slapped on immediately on Colombian exports to the US – going to 50% in a weekplus the removal of visa privileges. By Sunday, Colombia buckled and their Foreign Minister said they’d "overcome the impasse" with the US. The nation's presidential plane was "ready to facilitate the return of Colombians who were going to arrive in the country this morning on deportation flights."
Would the cocaine suffered the tariff?
…at AI assumptions
Trump’s announcement of a trillion-dollar AI infrastructure investment was based on American chip and modelling costs. All were upended last week by the Chinese DeepSeek that matched their best – at a fraction of the cost!!
Guyana seeks to tap into India’s expertise, as its digital economy to reach US$1 trillion by 2028
As Indian positions
itself to emerge as a key player in the evolving digital playground, Guyana is seeking to tap into India’s exper-
Guyana could benefit from India’s expertise in digital transformation.
“India has emerged as a powerful nation on the global stage and its influ -
ditionally been a cornerstone of our relations, while also exploring new opportunities for mutual benefit.”
The Prime Minister highlighted. “As we navi-
tise when it comes to technology as the country’s digital economy is projected to reach some US$1 trillion by 2028.
On Sunday India marked its 76th Republic Day commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of India and the country's transition to a republic which came into effect on 26 January 1950.
In Guyana, a reception was held to celebrate the occasion. Addressing the gathering Prime Minister Mark Phillips highlighted India’s emergence as a key player in several critical sectors over the years. The Prime Minister explained that through partnerships
ence and capabilities as a partner are invaluable for us in Guyana… Our
gate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, I firmly believe that the collabora-
Government look forward to strengthening collaboration in areas that have tra-
tion between Guyana and India presents a unique opportunity for sustained
economic development and progress. India's digital economy, projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2028, holds significant potential for collaboration in cutting-edge sectors such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and knowl-
edge sharing.”
Moreover, the Prime Minister highlighted that India has been a staunch advocate for the use of renewable energy, another area where he revealed Guyana could tap into.
“India's considerable
advances in renewable energy technologies, particularly solar and wind, provide invaluable lessons and prospects for Guyana as we seek to harness our own renewable energy resources.
Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips and High Commissioner of India to Guyana Dr Amit Telang
“Technology does not reduce people” – Banks DIH Chairman responds to shareholders' AI expansion concerns
In a rapidly advancing technological age, where artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining industries globally, the Chairman and Managing Director of Banks DIH Limited, Clifford Barrington Reis has expressed confidence in the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency without displacing human workers.
Addressing concerns surrounding the impact of AI on employment, Reis highlighted that the organisation is implementing a progressive approach to integrating cutting-edge technology while safeguarding jobs and maintaining high-quality standards.
Speaking at a shareholders' meeting on Saturday, the Chairman pointed to the company’s newest AI-enabled manufacturing plant, which is expected to come online within nine months. The advanced facility, designed to meet increasing consumer demand, will boost production capacity by 20 per cent, addressing current shortfalls in supply.
However, he emphasised that AI’s role goes beyond mere automation.
It involves enhancing the overall efficiency of the production line while maintaining the company's commitment to sustainability.
“The whole plant is all AI, Technology nonstop. What we have to take into consideration with this technology, as I mentioned, relative to profit, is that the depreciation of these plants will have to increase, because the life of the plant is not going to be 15 years anymore”.
“Technology does not reduce people, because it might reduce the production, but then instead you might need more truck drivers to deliver the trucks. So, is this not a reduction or increase. It's the way how you will man-
age the technology,” the Chairman said.
Further, Ries highlighted that Banks DIH, a vertically integrated company, stands as a model of self-sufficiency. With its own electricity, water wells, maintenance teams, and operational processes, the company has minimised reliance on external services, enabling greater control over cost and quality.
The Chairman elaborated on the company’s emphasis on data-driven management, describing it as the backbone of operational efficiency.
On this point, he also acknowledged the challenges posed by evolving employee expectations, particu-
larly in light of recent taxfree salary adjustments for workers.
“Now, you have to be careful now with that new $50,000 per month, you know, being paid to workers tax-free. You know, maybe they're gonna want to work overtime and not flat time to get a tax-free money. So here comes the HR now. HR has put up the flag already to monitor that efficiency to make sure that you don't get into that culture, and then the plants don't produce at 85 per cent efficiency. So, most of our administrative thinking is applied to the variables, route analysis”.
“Everything we measure, everything we measure, because without data you can't manage. Data is the most important thing in any company,” Reis added.
In concluding, the Chairman noted that despite the rapid pace of technological change, Banks DIH is optimistic about the future, stating “we don’t have a choice but to embrace new technology. It’s how we communicate and implement it that makes the difference. AI is a tool for growth, not a threat to people.” (G1)
Guyana seeks to tap into...
Guyana's extensive natural resources make it well-positioned to develop sustainable energy solutions that can meet internal demands while also creating potential export markets. Collaborating with India in this industry will not only simplify technology transfer and investment, but will also assist us in achieving our goals of sustainable development and climate resilience.”
Also present at the ceremony was High Commissioner of India to Guyana Dr. Amit Telang who reaffirmed India’s commitment towards working with partner nations.
“We continue to support our partners in the global south, especially in infrastructure development and capacity building, covering a wide range of areas, keeping in mind their developmental priorities and people's aspirations… India has created a robust digital public infrastructure that is among the best in the world. Our objective is to share our expe-
riences, offering cost-effective solutions, catering to the individual needs of our partner countries, especially in the CARICOM region, to suit their individual requirements.”
The high commissioner added, “the national quantum mission aims to create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in this new frontier of technology. We would be delighted to share our knowledge and expertise with our partners in the CARICOM region and we look forward to work very closely with them in the field of information technology, especially to promote and upgrade skills in this rapidly developing area which is highly relevant for the future growth and development.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between India and Guyana exist since 1965 when a Commission of India was established in Georgetown in May 1965 and was made a full-fledged High Commission of India in 1968 after the country got independence on May 26, 1966.
Banks DIH Chairman and Managing Director, Clifford Reis
Budget debates 2025 Ramjattan decries
traffic woes but opposes Govt’s road investment
Opposition Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan has complained of traffic congestion on the country’s roadways but at the same time, has criticised the Government’s investment in infrastructure.
The former Public Security Minister was at the time debating the $1.382 trillion budget 2025 on Monday.
“Monies could be spent in some measure of getting life better for our Guyanese people in relation to traffic congestion. I now have to spend 30 minutes from Delph Street to Hadfield Street, my
new office,” Ramjattan complained.
However, earlier in his presentation, the former Alliance For Change (AFC) leader criticised the Government’s massive infrastructure investments, including in more roads and bridges across the country.
“The wellbeing of Guyanese against infrastructure work needs to be attended to,” Ramjattan contended.
The parliamentary opposition, comprising both the AFC as well as the Peoples National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National
Unity (APNU), has been critical of Government’s investment in infrastructure. “We can’t eat the roads and the bridges,” AFC leader Nigel Hughes had remarked.
Some of the Government’s ongoing infrastructural projects include the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge as well as the Ogle to Eccles Highway, which will ease traffic congestion when completed.
The Heroes Highway from Mandela Avenue to Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) – which was constructed by the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration, has already resulted in lesser traffic congestion on the EBD roadway.
Other infrastructural projects that have significantly led to a reduction in traffic congestion across the country include the Cemetery Road Enhancement Project as well as the widening of the Conversation Tree to Delhi Street roadway.
Also contributing to a reduction in traffic congestion in Region Three is the Schoonord to Crane highway.
150-room hotel, 1,000-seat convention center for Berbice
CInvestment Officer and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop on Monday announced that a 150-room hotel with a 1,000-seat convention centre to be developed in Plantation Prospect, Berbice. This hotel will be adjacent to the Palmyra Stadium.
In a social media post on the agency’s page, it was stated that this investment marks a significant step in boosting tourism, business opportunities, and regional economic growth.
Only on Monday during the Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond during the 2025 Budget debates in
the National Assembly said that in 2024, Guyana’s hospitality sector is on track to generate a staggering $13.6 billion in revenue.
She disclosed that the industry has also proven to be a major driver of employment, with nearly 22,000 people employed directly or indirectly in the sector across the country.
She noted that the revenue generated by the sector reflects a combination of factors, including increased hotel occupancy rates and growing international and domestic tourism.
According to Walrond, the Government’s decision to invest in the hospitality industry even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a key factor
in the sector’s growth. Back in 2020, the Government invited expressions of interest for the construction of hotels, including globally recognised brands. Despite criticism at the time, the decision proved successful as it facilitated the growth of the sector and laid the foundation for the economic boom in the tourism industry.
The continued growth of the hospitality sector has been fueled by significant private sector investments, with more than $50 billion injected into hotels, resorts, local airlines, and malls between 2020 and 2024. The private sector has responded with confidence, adding four new hotels and 561 new rooms to the national stock.
Opposition Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan
hief
Some $13.6B in revenue generated from hospitality industry in 2024 – Walrond tells National Assembly
…22,000 persons employed in sector
In 2024, Guyana's hos-
pitality sector was pro-
jected to generate a remarkable $13.6 billion in revenue, according to Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce.
In her address to the National Assembly on Monday, Walrond disclosed that the industry has also proven to be a major driver of employment, with nearly 22,000 people employed directly or indirectly in the sector across the country.
She noted that the revenue generated by the sector reflects a combination of factors, including increased hotel occupancy rates and growing international and domestic tourism.
“We were criticised for facilitating investment in hotels when no one was traveling and the criticism then was that we were building hotels that no one would stay in. Predictably, Mr Speaker, the naysayers were proven wrong because in 2023, occupancy in the business segment was 85 per cent and 2024 the occupancy level in that segment was 88 per cent. In the smallest segment of the sector, occupancy levels also increased. At these occupancy levels and average room rates reported for 2024, estimates of the sector revenues approached 65 million US dollars in 2024. That's over 13.6 billion Guyanese dollars,” Walrond revealed.
The Minister told the House that the Guyana
Tourism Authority (GTA) continues to monitor the performance of the nation's hospitality establishments, with 95 hotels being surveyed across nearly every region.
On this point, she highlighted that while some critics focus on the larger hotels and establishments in more business-centric areas, the smaller businesses—many with fewer than 25 rooms— also play a significant role in the industry.
“They talk about comparing oil and non-oil, but they don't find it utterly ridiculous to select the top three of almost 100 and hold them out as characterising the sector. Mr Speaker, of the 92 hotels that were surveyed in our monitoring programme for 2024, 14 were in Region Two, four were in Region Three, 31 in Region Four, 11 in Region Six, 13 of them are in Region Seven, where the Honourable Member hails from, eight were in Region Nine, and another eight in
Region 10”.
“So, Mr Speaker, the hospitality sector is much more diverse than the Honourable Member imagines, and for good measure I would say that the average rates of hotels outside of the business sector are as low as $15 per night in region One, and with a national average in 2024 of $25,000 per night, a fraction of the rates that the Honourable Member chooses to use to drive her narrative. And for the Honourable Member's information, Guyanese can and do patronise these establishments,” she explained.
According to Walrond, the Government's decision to invest in the hospitality industry even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a key factor in the sector’s growth. Back in 2020, the Government invited expressions of interest for the construction of hotels, including globally recognised brands. Despite criticism at
the time, the decision proved successful as it facilitated the growth of the sector and laid the foundation for the economic boom in the tourism industry.
The continued growth of the hospitality sector has been fueled by significant private sector investments, with more than $50 billion injected into hotels, resorts, local airlines, and malls between 2020 and 2024. The private sector has responded with confidence, adding four new hotels and 561 new rooms to the national stock. Notably, 81 of those rooms came from smaller hotels.
Minister Walrond also pointed to the Government's commitment to small business growth, citing over 2,000 small contractors
awarded $27 billion in contracts in 2024 for community infrastructure projects.
“Mr Speaker, just over three months ago, on the 11th of October, on these very premises, I was here when we awarded 673 contracts to small contractors with a total value of $11.5 billion for building community roads and other infrastructure in Region Four. That exercise was preceded by one in October 8, 2024 in Berbice, where we awarded just about $7 billion for community works to 389 small contractors in Region Six. In Region Five, 108 small contractors were awarded $1.5 billion in contracts for upgrade of community roads.
In April 2024, we awarded $1 billion in contracts
in Sophia, right here in Georgetown, to persons from the community to upgrade roads and infrastructure”.
“In Linden, 325 contracts totaling $4.2 billion were issued on November 23, 2024 to small contractors for the upgrade of community roads in that municipality. We followed up on December 3 with an additional 94 contracts in Linden, again issued to small contractors for road works and another 46 contracts for drainage works. In total, Mr Speaker, in 2024, well over 2,000 small contractors—ordinary people all over this country—were awarded over $27 billion in contracts to upgrade and enhance infrastructure in the communities,” the Minister said. (G1)
Creative arts institute registered with National Accreditation Council …to boost greater access to local, international opportunities for graduates
After a two-year process, the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA) has been issued a Certificate of Registration from the National Accreditation Council-Guyana (NACG) for satisfying the requirements to operate as an educational institution in Guyana under the provisions of the National Accreditation Act 12 of 2004.
This registration will ensure the raising of standards and it will ensure compliance with national and international regulations.
The recognition is crucial for the legitimacy and global acceptance of qualifications in creative fields, enabling creative graduates to pursue their passions with greater credibility and empowering creative arts education in Guyana.
Further, the registration paves the way for ICA graduates to gain greater access to local and international opportunities. It enhances the portability of qualifications, making it easier for artists, performers, and creatives to pursue further education or employment opportunities not just locally but abroad.
Speaking at the launch,
Youths, Sport and Culture Minister Charles Ramson revealed that ICA is moving toward full accreditation.
He stated that this step aims to abolish the trend of creative industry professionals holding qualifications that lack worth and legitimacy in Guyana’s economy.
“I made a commitment then that no longer would it be the case that the paper that students receive, and the students that come thereafter, would just be one from the Institute of Creative Arts that is not registered with
our National Accreditation Council. Gone must be the days where persons involved in cultural and creative industries are not considered legitimate contributors to our economy,” he said.
Ramson emphasised that pursuing one’s passion and acquiring skills must be recognised, stating, “In the last four years, I’ve seen your dedication toward your craft, your passion, your talents—something that you may have had ever since you were a baby or something you may have recognised later in life. But hav-
ing found it, you could never let it go. And we’ve all had those feelings, whether it’s for art, dance, or other areas we pursue. Once we’ve found it, we hold on to it.”
Ramson noted that the registration represents a major accomplishment, symbolising the raising of standards and compliance with national laws aligned with international regulations.
“This law was passed in 2004. The Institute was conceptualised in 2013 and became operational in 2014. However, to have it regis-
tered was always part of the design. For registration, the academic programme must meet a certain standard. If the standards are not met, the institution has to lift its programmes to match the compliance requirements.
I’m also happy to announce that the Institute not only passed but passed our assessment with flying colors,” the Minister revealed.
Meanwhile, Dr Marcel Hutson highlighted that this recognition will build confidence among students, encouraging them to pursue their goals with determination.
Dr Hutson's passion for education is rooted in his love for children, his desire to see them fulfill their potential. Hence his mission which is to facilitate quality teaching in the classroom through continuous Professional Development of teachers and effective monitoring and supervision that will produce literate and numerate pupils that will foster smooth transitions from Primary to Secondary education.
“To be the best dramatist, the best artist—you have to study. You can’t come to these institutions hoping that someone will hand you a qualification. You have to put in the work.”
He raised an issue faced by many graduates, noting that when they finish their programmes, some people fail to recognise their certificates.
“Some of those students have faced issues where, when they went to other institutions—not necessarily in the creative arts—the first thing they were asked was, ‘Who has approved the paper you’re presenting to us?’ If you can’t be recognised in your own country, it is difficult to be recognised elsewhere. We are fixing that in this season and in this time,” he said.
“This recognition builds confidence among students and their families, encouraging enrollment and participation in the creative arts. It sends a clear message that pursuing a career in the arts is valid and holds value on par with other academic disciplines,” Dr Hutson stated. He also underscored the importance of hard work in achieving success in the creative arts.
Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Oneidge Walrond
Aiden by Best Western, Oronoque and Robb Sts, Georgetown
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr posing among other officials and students with NAC Registration Certificate
President Dr Irfaan Ali shared photos of 500 acres of black-eyed and red beans under cultivation along the Berbice River. The first crop will be ready for harvest by mid-April. He also shared photos of some of the 300 acres of dormant farmland in Dartmouth which have been cleared for cultivation following an intervention the Head of State made during a meeting with farmers in the community last month. Currently, over 180 acres are being used to produce red beans, while the remaining land is being prepared for additional crops (President Dr Irfaan Ali social media page photos)
Fort Wellington facility boosts local agro-processors
Agro-processors have been utilising the Fort Wellington Agro-Processing Facility, managed by the Guyana
Marketing Corporation (GMC), to produce high-quality pepper sauce and green seasoning. The Agriculture Ministry on
Monday said that this hub of innovation continues to empower local producers and showcase the richness of Guyana's agro-products.
GDF, Florida National Guard launch search, rescue expert exchange
Some of the ranks that are participating in the training (GDF photos)
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in collaboration with the Florida National Guard (FNG) has commenced a five-day Search and Rescue Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) at the Auditorium, Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands.
In a social media post, the GDF said that the SMEE will feature exchanges and discussions with Officers and ranks from key units within the GDF, Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Maritime Administration Department, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The discussion will include capability, equipment, and training briefs from all participating agencies with emphasis on improving existing practices.
Guyana more successful than multiple
C’bean
countries in crimefighting – Benn
…says crime down 12%, record drug seizures, $108.7B to
modernise security forces
The Government’s efforts to beef up the security sector was highlighted during Daytwo of the budget debates on Monday, by Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, who also presented statistics to show the effects these investments have had.
During his 2025 budget debate presentation on Monday, Minister Benn noted that there has been a 12 per cent reduction in serious crime. Benn also revealed that the clear-up rate of serious cases also increasing. Additionally, over 1,500 domestic violence cases were reported last year, with 167 convictions in 2024.
There were meanwhile 1,463 narcotic seizures resulting in 77 arrests and convictions. Another statistic pointed out by the Minister is that over 178 firearms were seized last year. The Minister also said that, Guyana has done a better job at managing its
murder rate than several of its Caribbean peers.
“The question of development and security. We have, in terms of a specific issue, amongst the highest murder rates in the region. And this rate is tied to the question of trans-national organised crime. There is no more a challenge in relation to choke and rob, but the nature of crime has changed.”
“There are questions of the poverty which still exists and which we’re working hard to overcome. There are issues which we need to pay attention to, when we talk about crime, with some specificity, we have a murder rate of 22 per 100,000. There are other countries where the murder rate is much higher. Jamaica, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, which have significantly higher murder rates.”
Acknowledging the dangers posed by transnational crime, Benn noted that
the Government has recorded notable successes in this area. For instance, he noted that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seized three submersible vessels that were going to be used to smuggle drugs.
“We are aware and if we refer to the regional symposium on crime and violence as a public health issue, which was held from November 21 to 23, in Guyana, there was the discussion at the level of CARICOM heads, on how to
work together on the question of trans-national organised crime.”
“I hasten to say the type of crime is not related to Guyana in and of itself, but it comes about as a function of drug trade, because of the arms trafficking which relates to the matter, it has to do with money laundering and trafficking in persons. And it behooves us, to find together the type of consultations and attitudes, and in
some cases to stop the whispering in relation to crime,” Benn added.
Benn also acknowledged the security concerns of Venezuela’s border ambitions. According to him, however, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has implemented border surveillance not only at the level of the army and police, but also community police. As a matter of fact, this is currently being beefed up by the Government, in a number of areas.
While the preceding speaker, his predecessor Kemraj Ramjattan, had used some of his presentation to urge the Government to buy more equipment, Benn informed the House that massive investments have, as a matter of fact, been made in upgrading the security sector’s equipment, in an effort to support their crime fighting work. In his national bud-
get presentation, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had outlined the Government’s significant plans for enhancing national security in 2025, with $108.7 billion allocated to strengthen public safety and security in 2025. This includes the funding for the police, prison service, fire service, and various infrastructure and technology upgrades aimed at making Guyana a safer place for all its citizens. The Government has allocated substantial funds aimed at modernising the GPF, improving the prison system, and upgrading the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
Regarding the GPF, Dr Singh announced an allocation of $34.4 billion in 2025 to continue strengthening the capacity of law enforcement across the country. A key focus will be improving infrastructure and expanding the police’s ability to respond to crime more effectively.
Agriculture sector moving rapidly – Minister …as
$520M GFSA lab commissioned
Guyana’s food testing capabilities were significantly improved on Saturday when the Agriculture Ministry commissioned the new $520 million Guyana Food Safety Authority’s (GFSA) Laboratory and Office at the Ministry’s La Bonne Intention complex on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
The new facility was funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) through its Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme.
The facility’s laboratory is outfitted with state-ofthe-art equipment capable of testing a wide range of commodities to ensure they are safe for consumption.
The equipment can also be used to conduct sophisticated traceability studies and analyses and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving global food safety landscape.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the new facility will be key in supporting Guyana’s agriculture push whilst also ensuring the consumers are receiving high quality products.
“The agriculture sector is moving and moving rapidly. We are not only engaged in the primary activities alone, we are now taking that to a further step, a further stage in moving it to value-added activities and this laboratory here this morning is tes-
tament to that, where we want the sector to move. As you know, Guyana's agricultural sector is undergoing rapid transformation.”
“We are seeing more demand for the produce that we are producing in Guyana but at the same time, they want higher and better quality of produce and labs like these will enable us to ensure that we produce those products at a better and higher quality.”
Moreover, as the Caribbean Community works aggressively to slash the region’s food importation bill, the Agriculture Minister told farmers and agro-processers at the event that they will have a major role to play in filling the supply gap both locally and re-
gionally.
“We have to increase food production to meet both the local and regional demand. Farmers who are here, you the agro-processors who are here, will have to fill in the slots that will be created when we reduce that 25 per cent of import into the region and that is why we are preparing and modernising the sector, so that you can take up the opportunities that will be created when that time comes.”
Echoing similar sentiments was Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture Dr Richard Blair who highlighted that facilities of such nature are critical in safeguarding international reputation as well as citizens health.
“Food safety forms an integral part of our national development it protects our citizens, builds consumer trust, and it opens doors to our much-needed international markets. With Guyana’s growing agricul-
tural and agri-processing sectors, these facilities must be seen as an investment in safeguarding our citizens and enhancing our international reputation of food produced right here in Guyana.”
The Advisor added.
“These facilities I know are designed to provide advanced testing capabilities, provide a safe training, support regulatory enforcement, and empower the Ghana Food Safety Authority (GFSA) to carry out its mandate more effectively and efficiently. This achievement is a testament to our collaborative efforts spanning many agencies, our Governments, commitment, and our developing partners.”
Additionally InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative Lorena Solorzano Salazar underscored the importance of upholding the highest production standards in the agriculture market.
“And it's essential to establish with high standards because today it's not just about growing the products, but also the markets, international markets are requiring, and also the local markets, so the consumers are requiring flexibility, quality of what we are eating or drinking. So make sure that the highest standards follow international and local trade standards that's a pivotal step in the modernising Guyana food safety system.” Meanwhile, the IDB Sustainable Agriculture Programme aims to Increase productivity of the agricultural sector while maintaining a sustainable and climate resilient use of natural resources in Guyana. The specific objectives are: produce high quality data for the agricultural sector, increase productivity, especially for medium and small farmers and increase sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and access to meat processing facilities.
IDB Country Rep, Lorena Solorzano Salazar and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha unveiling facility’s plaque
Some of the equipment acquired for the new facility
Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn
“Sky is the limit” – MP, reaffirms Govt’s commitment to public servants
The prosperity of pub-
lic servants remains a key priority as the government advances its agenda for 2025.
Member of Parliament
Dr Jennifer Westford reaffirmed this notion on Monday as she backed the government’s 2025 budget during its debate in the National Assembly.
“The sky is the limit,” she is quoted as saying in a DPI report, noting that when it comes to the government’s commitment to investing in a workforce equipped for the future.
She reminded the house that the government has
implemented dozens of initiatives to upskill Guyana’s workforce while safeguard-
ing workers’ comfort and increasing their access to disposable income.
Under the PPP/C administration, public servants were beneficiaries of increases to critical allowances including meal and travel and other beneficial financial incentives.
Contrastingly, under the previous administration, a total of 200 punitive taxes were imposed on the working class.
The government also made notable moves in re-employing and employing thousands of public servants who were economically neglected when they were dishonorably discharged without severance pay between 2015 to 2020.
The government recently formed a multi-year agreement with the Guyana Public Service Union to boost employee benefit opportunities in a multifaceted approach.
MP Westford commended this forward-thinking negotiation stating, “We negotiated in good faith and that negotiation has yielded results that were beneficial to the public service.”
She further lauded the current state of the public service, noting that the sector is boasting scores of proficient and educated workers.
“Today our public service
is probably one of the most qualified…all because of the opportunities that have been created by this PPP/C government,” DPI reported the MP as saying. Her statements are factually supported by the recorded number of citizens upskilled through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning scholarships (GOAL). Over the last four years, more than 12,000 Guyanese received training in lucrative and vocational fields, significantly enhancing their abilities to be productive members of society.
India and China agree to resume direct flights for first time in five years CDC health officials in US ordered to stop working with WHO immediately
India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flights between the two nations, nearly five years after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent political tensions halted them.
The announcement on Monday came at the conclusion of a visit to Beijing by New Delhi’s top career diplomat and heralds the latest signs of a thaw in the frosty ties between the world’s two most populous nations.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s trip to the Chinese capital marked one of the most senior official visits since a deadly Himalayan troop clash on their shared border in 2020 sent relations into a tailspin.
A statement from India’s foreign ministry said a vis-
it by a top envoy to Beijing had yielded agreement “in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries”.
“The relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date,” it said.
India’s statement also said China had permitted the resumption of a pilgrimage to a popular shrine to the Hindu deity Krishna that had also been halted at the start of the decade.
Both sides had committed to work harder on diplomacy to “restore mutual trust and confidence” and to resolve outstanding trade and economic issues, the statement said.
About 500 monthly di-
rect flights operated between China and India before the pandemic, according to Indian media outlet Moneycontrol.
A statement from China’s foreign ministry did not mention the agreement on flight resumptions but said both countries had been working to improve ties since last year.
“The improvement and development of China-India relations is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries,” the Chinese statement said.
India and China are intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia.
Flights between both countries were halted in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic. (The Guardian)
US public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization (WHO), effective immediately.
A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all agency staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and “await further guidance”.
Experts said the sudden stoppage was a surprise and would set back work on investigating and trying to stop outbreaks of Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as brewing threats from around the world. It also comes as health authorities around the world are monitoring bird flu outbreaks among US livestock.
The Associated Press viewed a copy of Nkengasong’s memo, which said the stop-work policy applied to “all CDC staff en-
gaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means – in person or virtual”. It also says CDC staff are not allowed to visit WHO offices.
Donald Trump last week issued an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from WHO, but that did not take immediate effect. Leaving WHO requires the approval of Congress and that the US meets its financial obligations for the current fiscal year. The US also must provide a one-year notice.
His administration also told federal health agencies to stop most communications with the public through at least the end of the month.
“Stopping communications and meetings with WHO is a big problem,” said Dr Jeffrey Klausner, a University of Southern California public health expert who collaborates with WHO on work against sex-
ually transmitted infections.
“People thought there would be a slow withdrawal. This has really caught everyone with their pants down,” said Klausner, who said he learned of it from someone at the CDC.
“Talking to WHO is a two-way street,” he added, noting that WHO and US health officials benefit from each other’s expertise. The collaboration allows the US to learn about new tests and treatments as well as about emerging outbreaks – information “which can help us protect Americans abroad and at home”.
A US health official, who was not authorized to talk about the memo and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the stoppage.
A WHO spokesperson referred questions about the withdrawal to US officials. Officials at the US Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. (The Guardian)
Trump announces four new executive orders, including to build ‘Iron Dome’
United States President Donald Trump has announced he would sign an executive order calling for the construction of an “Iron Dome” missile defence programme.
On Monday, Trump addressed a retreat for Republican lawmakers at his south Florida golf resort, the Trump National Doral Miami, where he pledged to bolster US military assets with executive action later in the evening.
“We have to have a strong, strong defence,” Trump said from the podium. “And in a little while, I’ll be signing four new executive orders.”
The first, he explained,
was to “immediately begin the construction of a stateof-the-art Iron Dome missile defence shield, which will be able to protect Americans”.
Two more orders, he added, would be aimed at removing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and getting “transgender ideology the hell out of our military”.
A fourth order would also reinstate service members who were discharged for refusing to comply with mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 8,000 members had been discharged for that reason between August 2021 to January 2023.
Trump framed the actions as necessary to ensure
the US has “the most lethal fighting force in the world”. Monday’s announcement marked yet another ripple in a tsunami of executive actions Trump has undertaken since returning to the White House on January 20. According to officials, Trump signed a record number of executive actions on his first day in office, amounting to a total of 42 orders, memorandums and proclamations.
Many of those initial orders pertained to immigration and social issues. For instance, he made a move to end birthright citizenship, a constitutionally protected right that endows anyone born in the US with citizenship. (Al Jazeera)
Member of Parliament Dr Jennifer Westford
Immigrant advocacy group launches project to protect Caribbean immigrants
Immigrant advocacy group, Make the Road
New York (MRNY), has launched its “Protect Our Futures” platform as part of an effort to pressure New York Governor Kathy Hochul and State legislators to take urgent actions to defend Caribbean and other immigrants and New Yorkers in the wake of a flurry of executive orders by United States President Donald J. Trump regarding his mass deportation agenda.
MRNY, which has over 28,000 members and operates five community centres, unveiled the platform in the wake of Trump’s inauguration.
In a statement, MRNY
told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the legislative recommendations would protect communities
from anti-immigrant attacks and provide “critical investments” for programmes that benefit all New Yorkers, in-
Woman jailed for helping Chinese women travel to give birth in US
ACalifornia woman was sentenced on Monday to more than three years in prison in a long-running case over a business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who automatically became American citizens.
R Gary Klausner, a US district judge, gave Phoebe Dong a 41-month sentence. Dong and her husband were convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering through their company, USA Happy Baby.
During the sentencing hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, Dong wiped away tears as she recalled growing up without siblings due to China’s strict “onechild” policy. She told the federal court in Los Angeles that the Chinese government forced her mother to have an abortion.
Federal prosecutors argued that Dong and her now separated husband Michael Liu helped more than 100 pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States. Authorities said the pair coached women on how to trick customs officials by flying into airports believed to be more lax while wearing loose-fitting clothing to hide their pregnancies.
“For tens of thousands of dollars each, defendant helped her numerous customers deceive US authorities and buy US citizenship for their children,” prosecutors said in court filings.
Federal prosecutors de-
clined to comment after the sentencing.
Dong told the court that moving to the United States had been challenging but that she grew hopeful after having three children of her own. She became an American citizen and said she saw she could help Chinese women seeking to have additional children near her home in California.
“I don’t want to lose my kids,” she told the court. “I hope you can give me fair judgment. I will take all my responsibility.”
In December, Liu was also sentenced to 41 months in prison. Dong’s lawyer, John McNicholas, asked that she be allowed to serve her term after Liu has completed his sentence because of their children. The youngest is 13.
Judge Klausner refused and had her taken into custody immediately. She removed a necklace and gave it to a family member before she was led away.
McNicholas said that Dong would appeal.
Birthright citizenship has been thrust into the spotlight in the United States with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Trump last week issued an executive order to narrow the definition of birthright citizenship. It was quickly blocked by a federal judge who called it “blatantly unconstitutional”. The order had been opposed by the attorneys general for 22 states.
Dong and Liu were
among more than a dozen people charged in an Obamaera crackdown on so-called “birth tourism” schemes that helped Chinese women hide their pregnancies as they traveled to the United States to deliver babies. Such businesses have long operated in California and other states catering to people from China, Russia, Nigeria and elsewhere.
The key draw for those travelers is that under the 14th amendment, any child born in the United States is an American citizen. Many parents who engaged in socalled “birth tourism” believe it could help their children secure a US college education and provide hope for their futures – especially since the tourists themselves can apply for permanent residency once their American child turns 21. Pregnant women can travel to the United States, but lying to US consular and immigration officials about the reasons for doing so is not permitted.
The USA Happy Baby case was part of a broader investigation into businesses helping Chinese women travel to give birth in California. The operator of another business is believed to have fled to China, McNicholas said in court filings. A third was sentenced in 2019 to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and visa fraud for running the company known as “You Win USA”. (The Guardian)
cluding housing, healthcare, and education.
It said the “Protect Our Futures” is part of a state effort to pressure Hochul and legislators to “take urgent actions to pass critical legislation to protect all New Yorkers from the dangers of the federal agenda targeting immigrant and working-class communities.
“As the Trump administration ratchets up plans to weaponise the military to deport and tear apart families, eliminate constitutional protections, and put more money and power in the hands of billionaires, New Yorkers are ramping up the pressure on Albany (New York capital) elected officials to step up in their leadership and defend vulnerable communities from devastating federal policies,” MRNY said.
“Everyone, regardless of immigration status, zip code, race, origin, or gender identity, deserves the freedom to stay and the freedom to thrive in our state,” it added.
MRNY’s co-executive director, Jose Lopez, said the Trump administration’s actions aim to wreak havoc among communities and jeopardise the futures of the population.
“In the face of these threats, we demand Governor Hochul and Albany elected officials to step up as national leaders to pass common-sense policies. It is time to move past supportive rhetoric and deliv-
er the concrete solutions that our people urgently need.”
The “Protect Our Futures” platform calls for the passage of key policy priorities such as systematise protections to prevent mass deportation; address affordability and ensure access to housing, health and essential services as well as invest in Our New York (IONY) package, support transgender communities and increase essential funding for key programmes.
“I lived through the first Trump administration, and having to live through another gives me immense anxiety that once again New Yorkers like me feel we have a target on our backs,” said MRNY member, Fabricio Astaiza.
“It is critical for New York State to take proactive measures to not only keep families together, and allow people to travel safely to school and work, but also fund our children’s education, ensure access to affordable and safe housing, expand healthcare access, make billionaires pay what they owe us, and provide a safety net for those immigrant and working-class families,” he said.
“We call on our elected officials to work with us to pass the effective policies that our communities need,” Astaiza added.
Lopez also decried the US House of Representative’s passage last Wednesday of the Laken Riley Act, describing it as an “extreme proposal
that will separate immigrant families, undermine due process, and grant anti-immigrant states the power to shape federal law.
“The idea that someone should be detained, for simply being accused of a minor, non-violent crime, is an affront to the rights everyone has in this country,” he said.
“It is shameful, but not surprising, that President Trump and Republicans are moving this bill as their first attempt to remake the immigration system according to their nativist, xenophobic worldview.
“But for the Democrats who voted yes – especially those representing immigrant communities in New York –this vote is a cowardly submission to the politics of division and scapegoating.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James, together with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has led a coalition of 11 attorneys’ general in responding to a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the US Department of Justice regarding state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
“It is well-established— through longstanding Supreme Court precedent— that the US Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws,” said the attorney’s general in a joint statement. (CMC)
MRNY’s co-executive director, Jose Lopez
Regional Colombia yields on US deportation flights to avert trade war
Alooming trade war
between the US and Colombia appears to have been averted after the Colombian Government agreed to allow US military flights carrying deported migrants to land in the Andean country.
The spat erupted on Sunday when President Gustavo Petro barred two military planes carrying Colombians deported from the US from landing.
The Trump Administration responded by threatening to slap punitive tariffs on Colombian exports to the US.
President Petro at first said Colombia would retaliate by imposing tariffs on US goods, but the White House later announced that Colombia had agreed to accept migrants - including those arriving on US military aircraft - "without limitation or delay".
The White House hailed the agreement with Colombia as a victory for Trump's hardline approach, after the countries' two leaders had exchanged threats on social media on
Sunday.
"Today's events make clear to the world that America is respected again," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a statement.
She added that the tariffs and sanctions which the Trump Administration had threatened to impose on Colombia, should it not comply, would be "held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honour this agreement".
She also said that
President Donald Trump "expects all other nations of the world to fully co-operate in accepting deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States".
A cornerstone of Trump's immigration policy is removing unlawful migrants from the US, with the promise of "mass deportations".
The row between Colombia's left-wing President and Trump escalated rapidly on Sunday.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Views of Lula turn negative; Brazilians wary on taxes, economy
Support for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has dipped sharply, a poll showed on Monday, with disapproval surpassing approval for the first time in two years, after recent concerns about more taxation and turmoil in financial markets.
The Genial/Quaest poll showed that 47 per cent of
those surveyed approved of Lula's performance as President, down from 52 per cent in December and the lowest since he took office in January 2023. Disapproval rose to 49 per cent from 47 per cent last month.
The figures are bad news for the 79-year-old leftist leader as he reaches the midpoint of his third
non-consecutive term, while weighing a potential run for re-election next year.
The political landscape in Latin America's biggest economy remains unsettled as health concerns about the aging President grow and his right-wing nemesis, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from public office until 2030.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Extreme weather raises hunger risk in Latin America, UN says
Climate variability and extreme weather events stalk at least 20 Latin American countries and increase the risk of hunger and malnutrition in the region, according to a multi-agency United Nations study published on Monday. The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean are heavily dependent on farming, ranching, forestry and fishing, agricultural sectors directly linked to food security that are particularly vulnerable to droughts, floods and storms.
Scientists have cautioned that extreme weather will intensify due to cli-
mate change. As the world's second-most exposed region, after Asia, Latin America could struggle to feed itself.
Extreme weather events impacted 74 per cent of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the study, with half of the countries analysed considered likeable to face increased malnourishment as a result.
The report entitled "Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2024," highlighted that hunger affected 41 million people, or 6.2 per cent of the population, in the region in 2023.
The study documented some recent progress; the number of hungry people across the region in 2023 was 2.9 million fewer than in 2022, and down 4.3 million compared to 2021. But the study cautioned that the downward trend could be thwarted by climate threats.
"Climate variability and extreme weather events are reducing agricultural productivity, disrupting food supply chains, increasing prices, impacting food environments and threatening progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition in the region," the study stated. (Excerpt from Reuters)
PM Rowley criticises TTPS’ approach to policing
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has sharply criticised the T&T Police Service’s approach to policing.
He made the comment while addressing members of the People’s National Movement (PNM) at the party’s 69th anniversary celebrations at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain, on Saturday evening.
As he addressed supporters, Rowley reflected on his upbringing, taking issue with how some parents are currently raising their children. He recalled that his father raised six boys, never needing police intervention.
“He always took the position that his role was to educate us to respect the law, to respect ourselves, respect other people and in fact be caring and productive. That’s what you teach children to do. We are failing in many parts of that,” he said, as he sought to encourage parents to do better.
He further explained that during his childhood, he observed officers going above and beyond the call of duty, unlike today.
“And of course, those who are given the responsibility, the onerous responsibility to treat with the criminal element, productivity on their part is a challenge for us too,” he said.
To illustrate his point, Rowley shared a story of a man who owed his grandfather money but failed to repay it. After the matter went to court, the Police waited outside the man’s home to serve a warrant, as the suspect often hid from them. Rowley recounted
how Police Officers walked the man from Moriah to the Scarborough Police Station at 4 am after detaining him.
“That’s how police used to work. They ain’t telling you they don’t have no resources,” Rowley remarked. He added: “Moriah to Mason Hall, that’s two miles. Mason Hall to Scarborough, four miles. That’s police work. Apprehending a man on a warrant for money not paid to someone he owed.”
(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
US military aircraft with deported migrants lands in Guatemala – officials
US President Donald Trump forged ahead with military deportation flights on Monday, sending another planeload of migrants to Guatemala a day after coming to the brink of a trade war with Colombia after it refused to let C-17 aircraft land.
Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft landed in Guatemala on Monday afternoon after a flight from Texas. A Guatemalan offi-
JDF
cial told Reuters the military transport plane had 64 persons on board.
Reuters was first to report Monday's flight to Guatemala.
Trump, speaking at his Doral golf club to Republican lawmakers, vowed his unprecedented use of military aircraft for deportations would continue, and countries that protest would face punishing tariffs.
"For the first time in his-
tory, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came," Trump said to applause.
"We're respected again, after years of laughing at us, like we're stupid people."
The flight is the third to have successfully landed in Guatemala since the start of the military deportation flights last week. (Excerpt from Reuters)
private among 3 dead after Molynes Road gun attack
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier who died in an early-morning gun attack along Molynes Road in St Andrew on Monday has been identified.
The deceased army man is 26-year-old Private Fernando Wayne Dixon of a Greater Portmore, St Catherine address.
Four others were injured in the incident in which two suspects also died.
It is understood that about 04:00h, Dixon was driving his Audi motorcar with four others aboard along Molynes Road when two gunmen drove up on a black motorcycle and opened fire on the soldier and other occupants of the Audi.
The Police said the soldier then used his vehicle to hit the men from the motorcycle, killing them on the spot.
Private Dixon and the
four passengers of his vehicle were rushed to hospital where he died and the others admitted.
The two suspects remain unidentified. They were both clad in full black clothing.
The incident resulted in a section of Molynes Road being blocked to vehicular traffic during the morning rush hour. The scene has now been cleared. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley addresses supporters at the PNM’s 69th anniversary celebration at NAPA on Saturday
T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley addresses supporters at the PNM’s 69th anniversary celebration at NAPA on Saturday
Around the World
Oil hits 2-week low as China's DeepSeek AI spurs demand fears
Gaza residents stream home to the north after hostage breakthrough
Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed along the main roads leading north in Gaza on Monday, jubilant to be returning home after months of living in temporary shelters, but fearing what might remain of their homes amid the bombed-out ruins.
Oil prices fell about two per cent to a two-week low on Monday as news of surging interest in Chinese startup DeepSeek's low-cost artificial intelligence (AI) model prompted concerns over energy demand to power data centres.
Before the news of DeepSeek broke, oil was already trading lower on weak economic data from China and worries that US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs could further pressure economic growth and energy demand.
Brent futures fell US$1.42, or 1.8 per cent, to settle at US$77.08 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ended US$1.49, or 2.0 per cent, lower at US$73.17.
Brent closed at its lowest since January 9 and WTI at its lowest since January 2.
Chinese startup DeepSeek's AI Assistant overtook US rival ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application available on Apple's App Store in the US. That fed doubts among investors who have poured money into US energy firms hoping AI would drive demand for energy to power data centres.
"The DeepSeek model is (reported to be) more energy and capital efficient, which calls into question the significant electric demand projections for the US," analysts at Jefferies, an investment bank, said in a report, noting AI represents about 75 per cent of overall US demand forecasts through 2030-2035 in most projections.
"It is still early to draw conclusions on the outlook in the immediate aftermath of DeepSeek, but the 20%(-plus) YTD (year-to-date) rally in power companies looks exposed," Jefferies said.
In other news from China, the world's second biggest economy behind the US, manufacturing data was weaker than expected, adding fresh concerns over energy demand.
"The weak readings highlight the need for more policy efforts to stabilise economic growth," analysts at Citibank said in a report.
Trump on tariffs and OPEC
Analysts said oil prices have been depressed in recent days following President Trump's call last week for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting (OPEC) Countries to reduce oil prices.
"President Trump continued to put the pressure on OPEC ... calling on the producer group to lower prices to help end the Russian war in Ukraine," Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho, said in a report.
OPEC and its allies including Russia in the OPEC+ group have yet to react to Trump's call, with OPEC+ delegates pointing to an existing plan to start raising oil output from April.
Trump's tariff threats have also mostly pressured oil prices, feeding worries that a trade war could hurt global economic growth and oil demand.
Over the weekend, the US threatened and then swiftly reversed plans to impose sanctions and tariffs on Colombia after the South American nation agreed to accept deported migrants from the US Colombia last year sent about 41 per cent of its seaborne crude exports to the US, data from analytics firm Kpler shows. The agreement will allow that oil to continue to flow, another factor pressuring crude prices on Monday. (Reuters)
Their return, which had been delayed at the weekend, went ahead after Hamas agreed to hand over three Israeli hostages this week and Israeli forces began to withdraw from a main corridor across the enclave under terms of an agreement on a ceasefire in the 15-month-long war.
In Israel, families of hostages waited anxiously for news of their loved ones.
"My heart is beating. I thought I would never come back," said Osama, 50, a public servant and father of five, as he arrived in Gaza City.
"Whether the ceasefire succeeds or not, we will never leave Gaza City and the north again, even if Israel would sent a tank for each one of us. No more displacement."
Families repeatedly displaced after over 15 months of war erupted in cheers at shelters and tent encampments when they heard the crossings would be opened.
the coastal road.
"It's like I was born again and we were victorious again," said a Palestinian mother, Umm Mohammed Ali, part of the miles-long throng that moved slowly up
Along a road running by Gaza's Mediterranean shore, a mass of people, some holding infants in their arms or carrying bundles of belongings on their shoulders, trekked north on foot.
Witnesses said the first residents arrived in Gaza City in the early morning after the first crossing point in central Gaza opened at 07:00h. Another crossing opened around three hours later, letting in vehicles.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the Trump Administration has fired more than a dozen prosecutors linked to the investigation and prosecution of the Republican leader while he was out of office.
(Excerpt from Reuters and Al Jazeera)
DeepSeek sparks AI stock selloff; Nvidia posts record market-cap loss
Global investors dumped tech stocks on Monday as they worried that the emergence of a low-cost Chinese artificial intelligence model would threaten the dominance of AI leaders like Nvidia, evaporating US$593 billion of the chipmaker's market value, a record oneday loss for any company on Wall Street.
Last week, Chinese startup DeepSeek launched a free AI assistant that it says uses less data at a frac-
tion of the cost of incumbent services. By Monday, the assistant had overtaken US rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple's app store.
This led the tech-heavy Nasdaq to fall 3.1 per cent on Monday. Nvidia was the Nasdaq's biggest drag, with its shares tumbling just under 17 per cent and marking a record one-day loss in market capitalisation for a Wall Street stock, according to LSEG data.
Nvidia's market-cap loss on Monday was more than
Trump to take aim at DEI, COVID expulsions in
military, Hegseth says
US President Donald Trump will soon sign executive orders removing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) from the military, reinstating thousands of troops who were kicked out for refusing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, and building an air defence system for the United States, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday.
Hegseth, who narrowly secured enough votes to become Defence Secretary, reverted to the names of Confederate generals that were once used for two key bases during his remarks to reporters as he entered the Pentagon on his first full day on the job.
Hegseth has promised to bring major changes to the Pentagon and he has made eliminating DEI from the military a top priority.
"There are more executive orders coming," Hegseth told reporters.
Hegseth was warmly greeted on the steps of the Pentagon by the top US military officer, Air Force General CQ Brown, whom Hegseth criticised in his latest book. Asked if he might fire Brown, Hegseth joked that he was standing right next to him.
"I’m standing with him right now. I look forward to working with him," as he patted Brown on the back.
Reuters has previously reported about the possibility of mass firing among top brass, something Hegseth repeatedly refused to rule out during his confirmation process.
"Our job is lethality and readiness and war fighting and we are going to hold people accountable," Hegseth said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
double the previous one-day record, set by Nvidia last September.
The Nasdaq's next-biggest drag was chipmaker Broadcom Inc, which finished down 17.4 per cent, followed by ChatGPT backer Microsoft, which fell 2.1 per cent and then Google parent Alphabet, which ended down 4.2 per cent.
"If it’s true that DeepSeek is the proverbial 'better mousetrap,' that could disrupt the entire AI narrative that has helped drive the markets over the
last two years," said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
"It could mean less demand for chips, less need for a massive build-out of power production to fuel the models, and less need for largescale data centres."
The hype around AI has powered a huge inflow of capital into equities in the last 18 months, inflating valuations and lifting stock markets to new highs.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Coca-Cola recalls drinks over safety concerns
Coca-Cola has recalled its drinks in some countries across Europe, because they contain "higher levels" of a chemical called chlorate.
The firm said in a statement that the recall was focused on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It added just five product lines had been shipped to Britain, and they had already been sold.
Affected products include the Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico and Minute Maid brands, according to the Belgium branch of Coca-Cola's international bottling and distribution operation.
Chlorate can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.
"Independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk for consum-
ers is very low," a spokesperson told the BBC.
Coca-Cola said it had not received any consumer complaints in Great Britain, and that it had "alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them."
The company added the issue has affected "a very small number of imported cans" of Appletiser, CocaCola Original Taste, CocaCola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE" which CocaCola said can be found on the base of the can.
Anne Gravett from the Food Standards Agency said it was investigating.
"If we identify any unsafe food, we'll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers," she added. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Palestinians wait to head back to their homes in northern Gaza by vehicle through Salahudeen Road in the central Gaza Strip, January 27 (Reuters/Hatem Khaled photo)
You can lend a helping hand, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Focus on making changes at home that will save you time and money. The convenience and comfort you achieve will offset complaints.
Work quietly and avoid criticism or interference. Visualize what you want to achieve and diligently work toward your goal. Consider starting a side business from home.
You’ll be caught between what you want to do and what you must do. Don’t let uncertainty set in when opportunity is within reach. Turn an event into a platform to push your agenda, and you’ll gain ground.
Put money matters first. Work hard to boost your productivity, and you will enhance your chance to advance. Raise your standards and show everyone what you can do.
Participation will change your perception regarding partnerships and how you can make a difference. Put the wheels in motion and make adjustments that set an example, and you’ll gain respect and insight.
Taking a day trip, visiting a place you’ve never been to before or sharing thoughts with people from different backgrounds will lead to personal growth. Make meaningful relationships a priority.
Research will be eye-opening. Take on a project that will enhance how or where you live. Look for opportunities that help you expand your mind and connect with intriguing people.
You need something to occupy your mind and time. Talks will get you in trouble or cost you your position or a friendship if you are too revealing. Physical activity will help ease stress.
Put greater emphasis on earning a living and making your money work for you. Refuse to get sucked into someone else’s dreams or held back because of unorthodox behavior.
Channels emotional energy into something that matters to you and makes a difference. Nurture a meaningful relationship and encourage long-term plans.
Expand your interests, fix up your space to suit your needs and consider new ways to use your skills to bring in more cash. Opportunity begins with hope and hard work.
Set boundaries and a budget before you engage in something that you can’t afford financially or physically. Stay focused on taking care of what matters most. Be careful when shopping.
Vice-President’s 15s reign supreme in GRFU season opener
The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) got its 2025 season off to an exciting start over the weekend with a practice match in the 15s format, which the Federation is likely to focus on for the next few months.
On Saturday, the country’s best ruggers were divvied up into two teams, the President’s 15s and the VicePresident’s 15s for an exciting face-off. Eventually, the Vice-President’s 15 massively outscored their opponents 63-12 in the encounter.
Lionel Holder led the way for the Vice-President’s 15s with 5 tries, Kelvin Grant had a double and the likes of Owen Adonis, Akino James, Tevin Garraway and Jamal Angus all registered one try each. Holder, again, led with three conversions and Scott Garraway contributed another for their big score.
On the other hand, one try each from Kevon David and Michael Barrow and a lone conversion off Barrow’s boots accounted for the President’s 15s’ 12.
The GRFU is preparing
for two international assignments which will see Guyana coming up against Cayman Islands in a home fixture, while they will meet Barbados on their turf for another fixture in the 15s format.
While training is set for weekdays, the national rugby players will be testing their skills in practice games on the weekends.
The Green Machine’s last outing was in November of 2024 at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7s tournament.
It was a rainy end to the Bounty/Antonio's OneDay tournament on Sunday, setting the tone for an exciting hockey season.
At the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Pepsi Hikers males and GBTI GCC’s women elevated above their competition to become the winners of hockey’s season opener.
The first finals saw nothing short of pucks finding the back of the net as
Pepsi Hikers males battled slight showers. Jamarj Assanah opened the scoring in the fourth minute and with heavy showers flowing in, Andrew Stuart followed in the fifth with a goal and Assanah completed his brace in the 5th also, giving them the great advantage. Eventually, Paul D'andrade copped the best goalkeeper award while Yonnick Norton was adjudicated the Most Valuable
Brathwaite lauds team’s effort, Warrican’s brilliance in series-levelling win
West Indies Test
Captain Kraigg
Brathwaite heaped praise on his team following their resounding 120-run victory over Pakistan in the second Test in Multan on Monday. The victory not only squared the two-match series at 1-1, but also marked the West Indies' first Test win in Pakistan since 1990.
Brathwaite commended the young squad for their resilience and adaptability in challenging conditions, emphasising the significance of the win. “We haven't played in Pakistan for a number of years, but we haven't won here in a while, so to come here and do it as a young group is incredible,” Brathwaite said.
The West Indies delivered a comprehensive performance, bouncing back from a first-innings deficit to dominate the remainder of the game. After being bowled out for 163 in their first innings, the team restricted Pakistan to 154 before producing their best batting effort of the series, scoring 244 in the second innings. The total gave them a challenging lead of 253, which their
GBTI GCC, Pepsi Hikers emerge as champions at Bounty/Antonio's One-Day tourney
Player (MVP).
An MVP performance from Gabriella Xavier resulted in GBTI GCC reaching championship status over the Saints in a rain-affected match. The puck moved at rocket speed as GCC managed to fire shots which merely missed the goal, but it was the strike from Xavier in the second minute that opened the scoring for GBTI GCC and following her was Princessa
Wilkie in the fifth, placing the puck in the back of the net. Wilkie sealed the win as she completed her brace in the 16th minute.
The One Day Season Opener highlighted both male and female teams from the prominent hockey clubs in Guyana. The competition used a seven-a-side format, a shortened version of the game, which delivered fast-paced and thrilling action.
bowlers defended with ease, dismissing Pakistan for 133.
Brathwaite highlighted the team's bravery with the bat, particularly on a turning pitch that offered plenty of challenges for batters. “On this pitch, there's a ball with your name on it around the corner. We did that with the bat in the second innings, and it was good to see. It was a good experience. When you get on better pitches, you can have a similar mindset, and it will help you in the long run,” he explained.
The skipper reserved special praise for Jomel Warrican, whose outstanding performance with the ball was pivotal to the win. Warrican claimed 5-27 in Pakistan's second innings, taking his match tally to 9
wickets and his series haul to 19 wickets, showcasing his dominance on spin-friendly surfaces.
“He always says he's one of the best players of offspin in the Caribbean, it’s good to see him get some runs. Him and [Gudakesh] Motie in the first innings really set the game up for us,” Brathwaite remarked, referring to Warrican’s valuable contribution of 36 runs in the first innings, which helped the West Indies post a competitive total.
Warrican’s perseverance and consistency stood out, and Brathwaite acknowledged his journey. “He's been in and out for a long time, but he showed his class, and he's here to stay,” the Captain added. (Sportsmax)
GTA hails historic...
The NTA initiative is fully funded by the National Sports Commission; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension, the Government of Guyana and allows players to receive free training from certified coaches.
The GTA not only eases the financial burden on parents. It also highlights the integral role of sport in addressing various social issues and is available to recreational and competitive players.
The 2025 Budget allocation represents a positive, progressive, and continuous stride by the GOG toward bridging societal gaps through organised sport which fosters cohesion, camaraderie, discipline, and long-term friendships.
The GTA looks forward
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr
to advancing our established synergies in 2025 with the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, and the Government of Guyana to further develop the skillset and knowledge of our players and coaches.”
GBTI GCC, the women's champions
Pepsi Hikers, the men's champions
West Indies Test Captain Kraigg Brathwaite
Michael Barrow (with ball) accumulated most of the President’s 15 points
“One Guyana” Basketball League…
Ravens and Nets record 15+-point victory
…as unbeaten Pacesetters continue winning ways
Defending champions North Ruimveldt Ravens, Meadowbrook Nets, and Pacesetters got a taste of wins in the Guyana Basketball Federation’s “One Guyana” Basketball Premier League on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), as spectators were treated to spectacular basketball action.
With the North Ruimveldt Ravens on the journey to defend their title and the East Coast AllStars eager to secure their first point, these two teams opened the night’s proceedings. A dominant Ravens bagged a 29-point victory, with the scoreline reading 78-49.
Looking to bounce off the previous Jets in the second game up came a yet-undefeated Meadowbrook Nets as both teams seemed to be tense in the cold atmosphere, but it was Nets’ Chris Perez who separated the sides as the quarter ended with the score of 147. The offensive attack
pulled off some magnificent plays as they maintained a tight grip on the lead, 34-15.
The Jets came back from the half with more confidence as they outscored the Nets by a lone point bucketing 15 points, but the lead was still in favour of the Nets with the overall score of 48-18.
The Meadowbrook Nets went on to record a 16-point victory which increases their chances of
advancing to the play-offs while the Jets will have to win to secure their position.
With the Pacesetters looking to continue their unbeaten streak, they closed off the proceedings against the Mambas, who were coming off nail-biting losses. The Mambas came out of the block with power as the first quarter ended with the score of 21-11.
The Mambas managed to enter the second
GBF commends historic $8B sport budget
The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has applauded the Government of Guyana for its unprecedented $8 billion allocation to the sports sector in the 2025 National Budget. This visionary investment, announced by Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, represents a transformative 42.5 per cent increase from last year’s allocation, underscoring the Government’s unwavering commitment to sport development across Guyana, the GBF shared on Monday.
The Federation went on to articulate, “This budget marks a pivotal moment for all sports in Guyana with added benefits to the sport of basketball. It provides the resources to expand the reach of sports development from the grassroots to the amateur level and beyond. It will enable our federation to improve infrastructure, develop youth programmes, and create opportunities for our athletes to compete regionally and internationally, placing Guyana firmly on the global sports map.
We commend the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Charles Ramson Jr and Director of Sport, Mr Steve Ninvalle for their relentless
efforts in championing this cause. Their leadership and dedication have laid the foundation for an inclusive and modern sports culture. This partnership between the Government and sporting organisations has been transformative, and we are proud to work alongside these visionary leaders.
As part of this continued collaboration, the GBF has continued its partnership with the Government for the second edition of the One Guyana Premier Basketball League which tipped off in November and continues through May 2025. This initiative continues to unite communities, promote inclusivity, and highlight the immense talent we possess as a nation, it further provides a platform for athletes to
showcase their skills while fostering camaraderie and national pride. However, while the increased budget provides a significant boost, the national basketball teams continue to require additional support.
Competing on the international stage demands resources for training, travel, and facilities, and we call on corporate sponsors, stakeholders, and well-wishers to join us in this effort. Together, we can ensure that our athletes have the tools they need to excel and continue putting Guyana on the global sporting stage.
Basketball is more than just a sport – it is a unifying force that strengthens communities, inspires young people, and builds a sense of national identity. The GBF is excited to play a leading role in this transformative era for Guyanese sports. We remain committed to promoting inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence, ensuring that basketball thrives at every level – from grassroots programmes to the international stage.
This is an exciting time for sports in Guyana, and the GBF is ready to seize the opportunities presented by this historic budget. Let us work together to ensure a brighter future for our athletes and our nation.”
half as they held a firm grip on the lead, bucketing 19 points compared to the Pacesetters scoring 20 points for 40-31 scoreline as the Mambas look to secure the win.
The Pacesetters were then able to extend their unbeaten streak with an eight-point victory over Mambas (66-58).
This “One Guyana” league commenced with 27 teams in the Harpy Eagle and Jaguar Conferences. Between 56 and 63 games were projected to be played in the league, with teams being expected to play teams from their confer-
ence twice, and the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The number one-ranked team is expected to play the fourth-ranked team, and the number two team is expected to play the thirdranked team. Winners of the play-off games would then advance to their conference finals, where the winners of the best two of three games would advance to the National Finals.
The team winning the league would receive $1 million along with trophies, while the runners-up would receive $500,000 plus trophies.
2025 Dakota 100 Endurance Racing Series…
Ali triumphs in thrilling 1st round
The 2025 Dakota 100 Endurance Racing Series opening round delivered high-octane action as 27 cars roared onto the South Dakota Circuit, battling for supremacy. Mohamed Ali emerged victorious after 100 gruelling laps of intense competition, fending off a relentless challenge from Rameez Mohamed to take the overall win.
Piloting his Toyota Yaris GR, Ali demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency, completing the race in 2:38:32.764 to secure the top spot in both the Overall Winner and Unlimited Class Winner categories.
Rameez Mohamed kept the pressure on throughout the race, but Ali’s flawless performance held strong, earning him a well-deserved victory.
In the 0-1500 cc Class, Azaad Hassan dominated with his Toyota Starlet (EP82), completing 94 laps in 2:38:40.522. Meanwhile, Mohamed Saifudeen Roshandin secured another 1501-1600 cc Class win in his Toyota Levin, clocking 92 laps in 2:39:53.849. Dr Mark Williams took the spotlight in the 16012000 cc Class, showcasing impressive driving in his Mazda Miata. He complet-
97 laps in 2:38:57.818,
victory in his category. With the series off to an electrifying start, the 2025 Dakota 100 promises more thrilling battles as drivers push their limits for endurance racing glory.
Guyana Basketball Federation President Michael Singh
The victorious Mohamed Ali
Action between Meadowbrook Nets (green) and Jets
Jomel Warrican and the rest of West Indies' spin cast hoisted Pakistan with their own petard, spinning a web around Pakistan's batters to skittle them out for 133, securing a first win on Pakistan
soil since 1990. It took West Indies a little over an hour on day three to slice through Pakistan's last six wickets, a 39-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha the only one that put up any resistance
Warrican bags 5 as West Indies win in Pakistan after 34 years
as West Indies secured a 120-run win that levelled the series.
The signs were immediately ominous for Pakistan when, three balls into the day, Saud Shakeel was drawn into playing at one from Kevin Sinclair that ripped away, taking the outside edge to first slip. Nightwatcher Kashif Ali was dispatched the following over, Warrican forcing the ball through his pads as
Significant step forward – GSA’s Fernandes on sport budget
The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) on Monday became the most recent local sports association to come out in support of sport’s historic $8 billion budget allocation for 2025.
Two Fridays ago, at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, in unveiling Guyana’s $1.382 trillion National Budget for the calendar year, divulged that sport would have $8 billion to fund the development of the sector.
As such, GSA President David Fernandes shared in a missive on Monday,, “On behalf of our sporting community, the Guyana Squash Association would like to extend our thanks to the Government for their support over the years. The focus on enhancing sporting
infrastructure for a variety of sports in various regions is helping to build a strong, proud sporting legacy.
This year’s proposed budget is another significant step forward, not just for squash but for all sports in Guyana. It is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to fostering athletic talent, bringing communities together, and creating opportunities for athletes from all disciplines to shine on the national and international stage. Sport plays a central role in nation-building, helping to shape our national identity, instil pride, and create a powerful, positive image for our country on the global stage.
We are hopeful that the budget, which reflects such a strong dedication to sport, will receive a favourable passage through
Parliament this week. The investments made will undoubtedly strengthen our sporting culture, not just in squash but across all sporting fields, creating a brighter future for our athletes and future generations. We sincerely appreciate the Government’s efforts to support both the grassroots and elite levels of sport and look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have on all our athletes, coaches, and communities.”
This year’s sport budget is once again centred around the development and rehabilitation of sport infrastructure, while also focusing on the development of elite athletes. The $8 billion allocated to sport this year is a 42.5 per cent increase over the $4.6 billion that was allocated to the sector in the 2024 National Budget.
SCOREBOARD
began
Rizwan and Agha kept the bowlers at bay for a while, hunkering down and trying to ride out this West Indies wave. With Kemar
enth-wicket pair held out, but Warrican got one to keep low as Agha defended. It rapped him on the back pad adjacent to the stumps, and the visitors had the breakthrough that exposed the
Noman Ali fell to Gudakesh Motie, but, fittingly it was Warrican who had the last laugh. Sajid Khan dragged one onto his stumps to seal another five-wicket haul that took
Roach injured, West Indies continued chipping away with their trio of spinners. Rizwan put away the odd delivery when they missed their lines, but this was becoming increasingly rare and Pakistan continued to feel asphyxiated.
For 12 overs, the sev-
tail.
Soon after, it was Warrican again who dispensed with Rizwan, who played all around a delivery that carried on with the arm and went through the batpad gap to make a mess of his stumps. By now, only the formalities remained.
Warrican's series tally to 19. As West Indies squealed with delight, Warrican looked Sajid square in the eye and performed his now famous thigh-thumping celebration. It was an apt metaphor for West Indies giving Pakistan a taste of their own medicine. (ESPNcricinfo)
GTA hails historic budget for sports
The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) had hailed the historic $8 billion allocation to the sports sector in the 2025 National Budget, a statement from the Association revealed on Monday.
The Association wrote, “The GTA commends the Government of Guyana (GOG) for its significant increase in funding to the sports sector in the 2025 National budget. This unprecedented increase will further enhance sports infrastructure in urban and rural Guyana and also create pathways for the requisite training regimens and certification of athletes and coaches to improve their talents. Over the last four years, the GTA has cultivated a strong partnership with the National Sports
GTA President Cristy Campbell
Commission; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension, the Government of Guyana. This collaboration has resulted in significant improvements, inter alia, modern tennis
facilities, a 500 per cent increase in prize money for players, and the establishment of the National Tennis Academy (NTA).
GSA President David Fernandes
The GSA has voiced its appreciation for sport’s historic budget allocation
West Indies
to smell blood.
Kraigg Brathwaite and Shan Masood shared the series trophy
Kevin Sinclair started Pakistan’s descent with a wicket on the third ball of the third day
Mohammad Rizwan was bowled
Jomel Warrican picked up match figures of 9 for 70
