"One Guyana" FPSO arrives in Guyana waters, installation works begin
Agri Minister spreads Reg 6 Easter cheer with kite distribution P13
Over 30,000 Diamond residents to benefit from modern water treatment plant Gold traders with pending applications not permitted to trade – GGMC
3 chosen for Govt’s CXC remedial pilot to advance youth development
Go into your assessment with full confidence –Education Minister to NGSA students Murder accused to undergo psychiatric evaluation before May court return Colombian, Venezuelan denied bail in cocaine trafficking case ERC Chair calls for justice through reparations
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, April 16 –04:00h-05:30h and Thursday, April 17 – 04:00h-05:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 16 –05:35h-07:05h and Thursday, April 17 – 06:05h-07:35h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery to light rain showers are expected throughout the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.02 metres.
High Tide: 06:02h and 18:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.67 metres and 2.51 metres.
Low Tide: 12:02h reaching a minimum height of 0.54 metre.
"One Guyana" FPSO arrives in Guyana waters, installation works begin
– street festival to be held May 3 to mark arrival, says ExxonMobil Guyana
ecessary installation activities for the One Guyana Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel that will service the Yellowtail development, have begun, following the vessel’s arrival in Guyana’s waters, ensuring that the project can have its start-up this year.
The Yellowtail development is the fourth oil and gas development in the Stabroek Block, following on the heels of the Liza Phase One and Two and the Payara developments. The One Guyana FPSO that SBM Offshore was contracted to build in 2022, will be the vessel producing oil from this development.
The vessel is now in Guyana’s waters, and, according to a notice from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), installation activities for the US$10 billion FPSO began as of Tuesday. It was also explained that the installation activities for the FPSO, moored 110.65 nautical miles from the coast, will conclude on December 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources in a statement, welcomed the arrival of the vessel. The statement quoted Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat describing the vessel as a profound symbol of progress.
“The arrival of the One Guyana FPSO is a powerful symbol of progress, not only in oil production but in the continued empowerment of our people through job creation, local business opportunities, and increased revenues that support development across Guyana,” Bharrat said.
According to the statement, the vessel’s arrival represents continued confidence in Guyana’s energy sector and the strength of the partnership between the Government and co-venturers ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC.
Additionally, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the oil and gas sector continues to be developed transparently and sustainably for the benefit of all Guyanese.
Street festival
Exxon Mobil Guyana also released a statement announcing that a street festival would be held on May 3 to mark the vessel’s arrival. Additionally, the street festival will highlight the benefits of the Yellowtail project to Guyana.
These benefits include the growing local content sector in Guyana, with an estimated 850 new local hires in the oil and gas sector, 1,250 companies registered, and the projected value of local content in 2025
expected to surpass US$847 million; almost US$104 million more when compared to the 2024 figure.
According to ExxonMobil Guyana in its statement, the Yellowtail Local Street Festival will showcase Guyana’s talent, flavours and creativity, along with a free kids' zone, and entertainment that will highlight the best of Guyanese culture.
The statement meanwhile also quoted ExxonMobil’s Production Manager Huzefa Ali, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with the Government of Guyana and industry partners.
“The arrival of the One
ment is located in the eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, and involves the development of the Yellowtail and Redtail fields. The development is expected to generate approximately 1,300 jobs across four phases. It has previously been reported that the development plan for Yellowtail includes six drill centres and the drilling of up to 67 development wells.
The Yellowtail project is expected to begin with a production rate of 250,000 barrels of oil per day. It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, total production will climb to 900,000 barrels per day
Guyana FPSO symbolises the unwavering collaboration between our team, the Government, and our industry partners. We are proud to play a pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape of Guyana while fostering sustainable development and empowering the communities we serve,” Ali said.
The Yellowtail develop-
by 2027. Additionally, ExxonMobil has already received approvals for, and is advancing preparatory works on, its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail.
There are currently three FPSOs operating in Guyana’s offshore waters: The Liza Destiny, the Liza Unity and the Prosperity. They are respectively working on the Liza One, Liza
Phase Two, and Payara projects
Six FPSOs are expected to be operating offshore Guyana by 2027. The fifth FPSO, which would be named ‘Errea Wittu’, meaning “abundance” in the Warrau Indigenous language, would operate in the Urau project. It would have oil storage capacity of two million barrels, an oil production design rate of 250,000 barrels per day, and be able to offload approximately one million barrels onto a tanker in a period of approximately 24 hours.
The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd had had 30 per cent interest, which it recently sold to Chevron. CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The One Guyana FPSO
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Bridging the gap & empowering all abilities
In a quiet but powerful ceremony on Wednesday, a new chapter in inclusive education was written. The launch of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) club for children with disabilities at the Exceptional Learners Centre in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) marks more than just the expansion of a programme; it signals a deliberate, thoughtful, and commendable step towards genuine inclusion, equity, and opportunity for some of the most underserved youths in our country.
Spearheaded by the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), in collaboration with the Exceptional Learners Centre and with generous support from ExxonMobil Guyana, this club is part of a wider national initiative aimed at empowering children with disabilities through the transformative potential of STEM. This partnership is a model of what private-public collaboration should look like — unified in purpose, rich in impact.
Too often, the discourse around education and development excludes persons with disabilities, or relegates them to the margins. But the GCOPD–ExxonMobil Guyana STEM programme does precisely the opposite. It confronts exclusion, and offers not charity, but opportunity; not sympathy, but empowerment. By integrating children with disabilities into the world of STEM — an area of ever-growing importance — the programme acknowledges their inherent potential and asserts their right to participate fully in society’s advancement.
STEM education is a gateway to countless career paths, and is foundational to solving real-world problems. For children with disabilities, access to this realm is not just about education: it is about preparing for independent, productive lives in a future where adaptability and innovation are key. Through hands-on exposure to robotics, coding, and environmental science, as well as essential life skills like public speaking, teamwork, and critical thinking, these students are being given tools not just to learn, but to lead.
The remarks delivered at the launch were as meaningful as they were inspiring. ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Advisor LaShauna Prescott emphasized the value of breaking down barriers and creating inclusive spaces for learning. She rightly noted that initiatives such as this one allow students to explore passions and prepare for futures that are not defined by their disabilities, but by their abilities.
Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager of GCOPD and a steadfast advocate for disability inclusion, underscored the long-term value of instilling life skills alongside technical knowledge. In an era where employability is as much about collaboration and problem-solving as it is about academic proficiency, such an approach is both timely and necessary.
Equally compelling was the gratitude expressed by Shabana Prashad, Headteacher of the Exceptional Learners Centre. Her appreciation is a reminder of how deeply this initiative resonates with educators on the ground, who have long advocated for inclusive, differentiated learning opportunities.
It is also worth noting that the STEM club launch was not an isolated effort, but part of a growing network of over 20 such clubs across the country since the programme’s inception in 2020. Each club represents a commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and rewriting the narratives too often assigned to children with disabilities.
This is a testament to what can be achieved when advocacy meets action, when corporate citizenship is harnessed for public good, and when education policy becomes inclusive in both vision and practice.
The GCOPD has proven itself not only as a powerful voice for disability rights, but as an architect of capacity-building programmes that have tangible impact. Its leadership in this initiative is commendable, as is the steadfast support of ExxonMobil Guyana, whose investment in human potential deserves recognition.
As a society, we must see this not as a special initiative for a special group, but as a standard for how all educational interventions should be designed — with inclusivity at their core. If we are to truly develop as a nation, we must leave no one behind — not in rhetoric, but in resource allocation, policy implementation, and programme design.
Let this be a moment of reflection and resolve. Let other regions, institutions and corporate partners take note and follow suit. The future of STEM in Guyana must be one that welcomes all minds, nurtures all talents, and opens doors for all abilities.
Inclusion is not a favour; it is a right. And programmes like this bring us one step closer to realizing that truth.
The global economy is in turmoil; now is the time to build a new order
BY Ben RadleY
We live in difficult times, and it is challenging to remain optimistic about the future. Climate change threatens human well-being and planetary health, and the window to secure a livable and sustainable future for all is rapidly closing.
Neo-fascism is spreading across continents. Militarism is on the rise. Genocide in Palestine continues to be live-streamed, while war rages on from Sudan to Ukraine and Myanmar. Meanwhile, workers suffer under a worldwide assault on their political rights and freedoms.
In short, we live in a world imperialist economy that continually reproduces inequality, poverty and war, and is driven by the capitalist logic of ever-expanding accumulation, which is pushing us towards planetary breakdown. We need alternative visions, and fast.
With this in mind, the Havana Group of the Progressive International launched its Program of Action on the Construction of a New International Economic Order towards the end of 2024. The launch was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of its namesakeThe Program of Action, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, which had sought to establish principles for equality between nations and peoples, but was undone by the oil and Global South debt crises, combined with United States-led resistance to its implementation.
Arguably, the 2024 Program of Action stands a better chance of survival. Many Global South coun-
tries have significantly increased their economic and political power over the past 50 years, while the North is shaken by US President Donald Trump s economic policies in pursuit of his America first agenda. US unilateralism may well undo the Global North s decades-long coordinated action to maintain its dominant position.
In this context, the updated 2024 programme proposes policies that can break the developmental divide between the Global North and South, and deliver a sustainable future of shared prosperity across the world . To achieve these goals, the programme identifies five major areas for collective action by governments in the South: climate, industry, finance, technology, and governance. Within each area, several objectives are set out, followed by implementable measures for how to get there. The 31 proposed measures contain a mix of the old and the new: from long-established efforts to improve the terms of trade, to new initiatives such as resource recycling clubs to address waste, and the coordinated development of a public digital infrastructure. The most notable new addition - and of no surprise - is climate.
The 2024 programme is bold and uncompromising in its objectives, demanding full sovereignty over resources, clean energy abundance, the end of economic dependency, ecologically equal exchange of materials and energy, environmental justice, and climate reparations. Taken together, the programme s set of 31 proposed measures can be read as a suggestive roadmap for what the late Egyptian econ-
omist Samir Amin called delinking . For him, the essence of the anti-imperialist strategy of delinking lies in the South breaking from the demands imposed by the North and reorienting towards the priorities, needs and interests of its peoples.
Amin noted that the core elements of a delinking agenda would entail industrialisation for the mass production of domestic goods, reviving peasant agriculture, and reasserting sovereign control over productive activity and economic policy. All these aspects are in Progressive International s Program of Action.
Central to each of the programme s 31 proposals is the need for coordinated action across the South to establish a range of clubs, agencies, networks, frameworks, and commissions. In this respect, the programme is calling for a revival of unity in diversity , one of the central principles of the Bandung Conference, held in Indonesia in 1955 and attended by 29 Asian and African states to promote a common agenda against colonialism and neocolonialism.
It is easy to dismiss all this as naive optimism, given various fault lines between regions and nations of the South. Equally, it is difficult to see past its centrality to breaking the North South divide and building a more equitable and just future. There is, also, the question of whether we can rely on governing political elites to lead us into this new world.
The programme suggests we can. Yet, the increasing capture of the state and the ruling classes by the logics and demands of capital accumulation and the development of global cap-
italism can pose a major challenge. Often, governing elites function as both promoters and beneficiaries of this trend. Governments in the Global South are not only or not necessarily mere victims of the ills of Northern capital. In many instances, they actively participate in, and materially benefit from, the reproduction of the existing global capitalist order.
The task ahead lies not in awaiting salvation from the enlightened ruling classes, but in building at home the economic and political power of what Guyanese historian and revolutionary Walter Rodney termed the working people . Self-organised peasants and workers have historically played leading roles in anti-capitalist politics and liberation struggles against colonial and imperial subjugation.
Today, six in 10 workers globally are in informal employment, increasing to nine in 10 workers in the world s poorest countries. To reflect this reality, labour organising must go beyond formal wage employment to include informal and self-employed labour, as well as reproductive labour.
Any collective flourishing within a new international economic order would again depend on the determining role played by labour and popular forces, broadly understood. Without this, the excesses of global capital and the violence, impoverishment and inequality these reproduce would never be constrained. (Al Jazeera)
Ben Radley is a Reader at the University of Bath. He researches mining, energy and labour in the context of green transitions
A kaleidoscope of colour was on display as Guyanese prepare for the traditional Easter holiday kite-flying activities (Tourism Guyana photo)
Murder accused to undergo psychiatric evaluation before May court return
The man accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend before turning the weapon on himself in an apparent murder-suicide attempt, is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation ahead of his next court appearance.
On Tuesday, 47-yearold Ghalee Khan, a convicted drug trafficker and businessman of Henry Avenue, Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, was formally charged with the murder of 30-year-old Marissa Beete, at the time a staff member of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The charge was laid under common law.
April 8, at Beete’s home at Lot 706 Recht-Door-Zee, Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) where Khan allegedly shot the young woman in the head following a brief conversation. Police reports indicate that Khan then attempted to take his own life with the same weapon.
According to investigators, Khan and Beete were in a romantic relationship for two years but had recently broken up following a disagreement. On the day of the incident, Khan reportedly called Beete and requested to speak with her. Despite warnings from her 62-year-old mother, who was present at the time, Beete allowed Khan into the house.
the United States (US) after arriving at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on a drug trafficking charge. US law enforcement boarded the aircraft upon arrival and arrested Khan before he could leave the plane. He was later convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but served only 18 months after striking a plea deal with US authorities. He was subsequently deported to Guyana.
Khan made his first court appearance before Magistrate Rondell Weever at the Wales Magistrates’ Court, where the indictable charge was read to him. He was not required to plead and was remanded to prison until May 27. However, the court ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental state at the time of the alleged offence, and to assess his fitness to stand trial.
The murder occurred at around 18:15 h on Tuesday,
Moments later, the mother heard her daughter cry out, followed by a loud gunshot. She rushed into the liv-
ing room to find Beete bleeding from a wound above her right eye and Khan standing nearby with a firearm in his hand. In her desperate attempt to disarm him, a second shot was fired in an unknown direction, and Khan allegedly shoved her to the ground before shooting himself in the head.
Public-spirited residents
assisted in transporting both Beete and Khan to the hospital. Beete was pronounced dead on arrival. Police recovered a firearm and three live rounds of ammunition from the crime scene.
Khan’s name has long been associated with criminal activity, particularly in connection to the drug trade. In 2020, he was arrested in
In 2008, he was arrested in Brooklyn, New York, for allegedly participating in a cocaine drop-off with another Guyanese national. He was granted bail but fled the jurisdiction and returned to Guyana, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant in the US. In 2009, he also faced drug trafficking charges in Guyana.
Afro-Guyanese migration toward PPP/C reflects growing confidence in "One Guyana" vision
Dear Editor,
As Guyana approaches the pivotal 2025 General Elections, the political landscape is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. A growing number of Afro-Guyanese citizens are migrating their support towards the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC), signalling a broader acceptance of the ‘One Guyana’ Vision spearheaded by President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
What was once perceived as rigid political division along ethnic lines is now shifting as more middle- and lower-income Guyanese recognize tangible benefits in their communities under the current administration. From expanded infrastructure to job creation to housing initiatives to prioritization of inclusive development, the PPPC has made visible strides in reaching all segments of the population.
The Afro-Guyanese
community, often sidelined by traditional political narratives, is now finding a renewed sense of inclusion and opportunity. For many families, the realization that their future — especially the futures of their children — are brighter under this Government’s leadership has become a motivating factor for political alignment.
“The evidence is on the ground,” one community member shared. “Roads, schools, jobs and youth programs are touching everyone. It’s not about race anymore; it’s about results.”
In stark contrast, the political Opposition appears unprepared, lacking a clear vision or agenda to contest the 2025 elections. Their silence on developmental plans has further alienated voters searching for leadership rooted in action, not rhetoric.
The ‘One Guyana’ initiative, once considered ambitious, is now being lived in real time by thousands
across the nation. From Linden to Lethem, from Corentyne to Georgetown, the message is consistent: progress is happening, and
it’s being felt by all. The evolving political shift is not just a story of votes; it’s a story of hope, inclusion, and shared
national pride. And as Guyanese from all walks of life continue to rally behind the PPPC, it becomes clear that a united Guyana is not
just a vision, but is becoming a reality.
Yours sincerely, Gautam Ramnauth
Ghalee Khan
Dead: Marissa Beete
Page Foundation
Things to do today
Dealing with nerves
Today is the first day of the exam. Most people are nervous before an exam. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It means that your adrenaline is flowing and you can use that to ensure that your mind is sharp and your energy is poised to flow. The goal is not to be too nervous, but to know that you have prepared and can now only use your knowledge to do the best you can – a measure of calm. The tips below will help make the most of your exam day.
Relaxation techniques:
Sit with your back straight and your feet slightly apart. Spread your fingers wide and rest them on your thighs. Wiggle your toes. Relax your tongue. Using the fingers of your right hand, massage your left side, moving from your neck down to your shoulders and then down your arms to your fingers. Breathe out naturally and close your mouth; when you feel that you really need to breathe, just open your mouth without any conscious effort to breath in. Your diaphragm will do the work for you to breathe in and you will take a deep, calming breath.
You are about to move into the final phase of your revision – your exam. Good luck.
Ministry Of Education: National Grade Six Assessment Mathematics: Paper 1
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
on the diagram above represents a chord?
25. Rayana left home at 16:48 hours and arrived at the stadium 40 minutes later. What time did she arrive at the stadium?
(A) 16:08 hours
(B) 17:28hours
(C) 17:38 hours
(D) 17:48 hours
26. The year 2016 was a leap year. Which of the following years were also leap years?
(A) 2008 and 2005
(B) 2010 and 2014
(C) 2012 and 2004
(D) 2015 and 2013
27. The total weight of a bag and a box is 12 kilograms. If the box is 6 kilograms heavier than the bag, then the weight of the bag is
(A) 3 kg
(B) 6 kg
(C) 9 kg
(D) 18 kg
28. John has 10 apples. Mark has half the number of apples as John, while Kris has thrice as many apples as Mark. How many apples do the three boys have altogether?
(A) 20 (B) 25 (C) 28 (D) 30
Questions 29-30 refer to the following tally chart which shows the ice-cream flavours liked by a group of Grade 6 pupils.
29. How many more Grade 6 pupils like chocolate ice cream than strawberry?
(A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 9 (D) 11
30. Which flavour represents the mode of the data?
(A) Vanilla (B) Chocolate (C) Strawberry (D) Butterscotch
Question 31 refers to the following sets, P, Q and R.
P = {Natural numbers less than 5} Q = {Letters of the word 'B 0 AT'} R ={The first four whole numbers}
31. Which of the following types of sets best describes P, Q and R? (A) Equal (B) Infinite (C) Equivalent (D) Intersecting
32. If A ={Natural numbers less than 9}, B ={Prime numbers less than 8} and C = {Even numbers less than 11 }, then which of the following statements is true?
Question 33 refers to the following equations in which the 0 represents a number and represents another number.
33. The number represented by the D is (A) 4 (B) 12 (C) 36 (D) 60
Question 34 refers to the following sequence of shapes made with black dots .
34. How many dots should be added to the 4th term in the sequence to obtain the 5th? (A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 9 (D) 25
Gold traders with pending applications not permitted to trade – GGMC
...warns traders to wait until licence issued or face prosecution
The Guyana
Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has sounded a stark warning to wouldbe gold traders, even those waiting on their licences to be processed, that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if they engage in the gold trade without a valid licence.
GGMC’s notice comes just one day after Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, had a management meeting with senior officials from GGMC. It also came in the wake of a gold trader claiming that due to a delay in them being issued their licence, they were forced to close their office. The trader subsequently announced publicly that they had resumed their full operations.
According to GGMC in its statement, “only individuals or entities holding a valid gold dealer’s licence issued by the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), or a valid trader’s licence issued by the GGMC, are legally permitted to purchase gold in Guyana.”
GGMC also stressed that an application for a
new licence or the renewal of an existing licence does not grant said trader any legal authority to conduct gold trading activities. According to GGMC, those with pending applications must wait for their licences to be issued, lest they be prosecuted.
“The Ministry wishes to notify that all pending applications for trading licences in gold and precious stones must await the formal and official issuance
of their licence prior to engaging in any such transactions.”
“Anyone caught contravening this, or buying gold without a valid licence, will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of Guyana. The Ministry and its agencies remain committed to enforcing the laws governing the mining and trading of mineral resources in Guyana and will continue to take the necessary steps to uphold trans -
parency and legality in the sector.”
In addition to being illegal to trade without a valid licence, it is also illegal under Sections 6 and 8 of the GGB Act, for persons who possess gold as a producer (miner) or a tributor, to sell gold to anyone other than the GGB, or an authorised buyer.
An authorised buyer may be one of the licensed Gold Dealers currently licensed by the Gold Board,
or persons/entities who are Licensed Traders in gold as authorised by the GGMC. The Gold Board has offices in Georgetown, Port Kaituma, and Bartica as well as conducts periodic mobile transactions in other Mining Districts.
In keeping with Section 8 of the GGB Act, it is illegal for any person to sell any gold to a goldsmith or jeweller, or for a goldsmith or jeweller to purchase any gold from any person/enti -
ty other than the GGB. The Government has been tightening up its enforcement of breaches to the law when it comes to the gold trade. Last month, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had issued a stern warning to individuals involved in gold smuggling, stating that ongoing intelligence operations will result in arrests and legal action. Speaking at one of his weekly press conferences, Jagdeo had emphasised that those caught will not be allowed to claim discrimination as a defence. Only earlier this month, officers of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had acted on intelligence received, intercepted an alleged gold smuggling operation in Georgetown, and detained two Brazilians, a Cuban and a Guyanese. SOCU officers also seized gold valued in excess of $30 million, more than $31 million in Guyana currency, and a quantity of electronic equipment. This bust also followed a similar enforcement action conducted on March 5 at Lethem in Region 9, where two persons have been arrested.
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat during his meeting with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Monday
Colombian, Venezuelan denied bail in cocaine trafficking case
Two foreign nationals were on Monday remanded to prison after being charged with trafficking over five kilograms (kg) of cocaine in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
The accused, 33-yearold Jose Luis Peres Valera, a taxi driver residing at Lot 80 Garnett Street, Kitty, and living in Guyana for the past five years, and 22-year-old Jose Luis Mejia Calderon, a construction worker also residing at the Garnett Street address, and who recently arrived in Guyana, were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, on Friday, April 11, at approximately 13:30h, officers from the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), acting on intelligence received, intercepted the men in the
parking lot of Space Gym, Mandela Avenue. They were observed standing near a motor vehicle bearing licence plate number PAD 1523. CANU ranks identified themselves and informed the defendants that they had information about narcotics being transported in the vehicle.
A search was conducted on the men’s persons, but nothing was found. However, during a subsequent search of the vehicle’s back seat, officers discovered a box and an additional parcel containing suspected cocaine. The total weight of the illegal substance was confirmed to be 5.563 kg, following pre-
liminary testing.
The defendants were arrested and taken to CANU’s headquarters, where they were placed under caution. Prosecutors disclosed that Valera allegedly told investigators that he was seeking to borrow USD $1,000 from Calderon. He further claimed that Calderon informed him they would make a delivery, and in return, he would receive the funds.
During Monday’s court proceedings, both men were represented by Attorney-atLaw Everton Lammy-Singh and his co-attorney. The attorneys argued for bail, citing several “special reasons.”
The court heard that Calderon had only been in Guyana for three months. The attorneys further stated that at the time of the arrest, Valdera was the taxi driver while Calderon was the passenger of the vehicle.
Seeing through… …clouded lenses
To say that each of us sees the world through our own eyes is a truism; and that’s been analogized to claim, equivalently, that we also see the world through our individual minds. But unlike the eyes that form images of the world in a one-to-one manner – we see a pig and don’t call it a cow!! – our minds have been conditioned through all sorts of processes that make us see what we wanna see. This was brought out oh-so-clearly at the 4th Session of the UNs’ “Permanent Forum on People of African Descent” in NTC - where we were represented by a Government and an IDPADA-G delegation.
This forum is an activity of the “Second International Decade for People of African Descent”, which is being observed under the theme “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development.” The first Decade had begun in 2014, and Pres David “Sanctimonious Gangster” Granger of the APNU/AFC government had specifically initiated the formation of IDPADA-G in 2016 under the Chairmanship of PNC-GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who is also Chairman of the Burnham Foundation, to which Granger has given over his house!! He funded IDPADA-G, to the tune of $100 million annually, to draft a plan and execute it as they saw fit for the AfricanGuyanese community.
When the Government changed in 2020, they could see that very little was done by IDPADA-G, and even though it claimed a membership of 68 African groups, it was controlled by Alexander and a tight coterie that reflexively supported the PNC. Most of the funds were expended on “overhead expenses”!! So, the new Government halted the funding and started funding African-Guyanese groups directly.
Well, at the UN Forum, Alexander claimed AfricanGuyanese have been “systematically marginalised and (are) disproportionately at the bottom of the economic and social order.”
This after they were in power from 1964 to 1992 under Burnham/Hoyte, and then from 2015 to 2020 under the Sanctimonious Gangster!! What Alexander’s saying, therefore, is that the PNC did nothing for a community that’s supported it through thick and thin!! Imagine that!! Alexander illustrated his claim – which is also the PNC’s –by saying that “education, land rights, entrepreneurship and political representation all reflect this exclusion.”
Yet, an hour earlier, Minister of Labour, Joe Hamilton, representing the Govt, had pointed out that education from nursery to university is free to ALL – obviously including African- Guyanese; an Annual Cash Grant is given to EVERY child from nursery to secondary level; Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) – making citizens more skilled and employable – is free to ALL Guyanese at technical institutes; and the country is “moving towards the increased use of AI, including by establishing “A Digital Academy.” The online GOAL programme has made thousands of scholarships available to all Guyanese.
…Opposition mindset
It’s rather pathetic that the Opposition would play politics with the future of African-Guyanese - who, concededly because of slavery and its effects that linger through systemic and cultural transmission – are lagging. But, fundamentally, that’s because of their low economic participation, which makes their social condition to be adjudged negatively. But we’ve seen, for instance, that other ‘backward’ groups, like the Chinese, for instance, have now become positively assessed because of their economic performance.
Strategically, the PNC made a poor choice when Burnham chose the co-op model from Tanzania to merely try to substitute imports. It didn’t have the orientation to create the corporations to compete in the new globalizing economy – like, for instance, the Far Eastern Tigers did. Even the African- Guyanese who ran the nationalised economies weren’t trained for the jobs!!
In the present, rather than, for instance, IDPADA-G initiating and catalysing entrepreneurial activities in the African-Guyanese community, they’ve focused on the same ole, same ole hand-wringing and blame gaming.
…the speeding syndrome
The automatic ticketing for speeding on the roadways hasn’t kicked in for more than a week and already speeding’s been reportedly cut by half!! Clearly, there was something amiss with the police-enforced limits. Fried rice demands??
Jose Luis Peres Valera and Jose Luis Mejia Calderon
Govt wants petrochemical facility, mineral refinery established in Guyana – Gossai
...cites importance of more food processing facilities
At the policy level, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government wants to see Guyana’s industrial development expand with industries like petrochemical and mineral refining – though they must, according to Senior Petroleum Coordinator in the Natural Resources Ministry, Bobby Gossai – be done on a sustainable scale.
Gossai at the time was sharing perspectives on Guyana’s industrial development during last week’s Local Content Summit.
With the Gas to Energy (GtE) Project slated to be commissioned this year, Gossai recalled that
President Dr Irfaan Ali has spoken of other pipeline operations and how these can be established to fasttrack Guyana’s industrial development. According to Gossai, this includes setting up a petrochemical facility, as well as mineral refining.
“We want to be able to have a petrochemical industry here in Guyana, on a scale that is sustainable. And so, we are going to be looking at the opportunities. And also, within the framework of the legislation, be able to focus on some of the provision of services to the natural gas sector itself.”
“And of course, you know we have minerals here in this country. Whether its gold, whether its bauxite, whether its manganese, we want to see the refining of these at some level, once we have that level of generated electricity in place,” Gossai also said.
Added to this is the potential for pairing food production and processing with the oil and gas sector. Gossai explained that with all of this in mind, the manufacturing sector will be critical to Guyana’s industrial growth.
“We’re also looking at other areas of food processing, which is the fastest one we’re going to be able to do.
And we want to be able to link that to the oil and gas sector, so that we can provide the goods and services from this sector, into the oil and gas sector. So, the manufacturing sector is going to be very important, as we relate to those growing and evolving industries.”
Under the GtE Project, an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Plant and 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant will be built. An industrial park, called the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), will also be built and benefit directly from the gas.
The NGL and 300-MW power plant components of the Gas-to-Shore Project are expected to cost US$759.8 million, and will be financed through sources that include budgets and loan financing.
The scope of Guyana’s GtE Project also consists of the construction of 225 kilometres (km) of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.
In July last year, a US$159 million Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract was awarded to the Indian company Kalpataru Projects International
Limited (KPIL). Under the terms of the contract, KPIL will provide EPC services for the transmission lines and substations component of the Gas-to-Shore Project.
Meanwhile, oil and gas consortium Lindsayca/CH4 (LNDCH4) was contracted back in 2022 to construct the 300-MW power plant and NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) as part of the Gas-to-Shore initiative.
Outside of the EPC contracts, the supervision of the NGL and power plant components of the project will cost another US$23 million. With a timetable to deliver the power plant by the end of 2024 and the NGL plant to be online by 2025, works are progressing on getting the GtE Project off the ground.
The Government has said that the GtE Project will provide the fiscal space to cut the cost of power by 50 per cent. Replacing imported heavy fuel oil (HFO) with Guyana’s natural gas as the main source of electricity generation will significantly reduce emissions. The GtE will also boost generating capacity by more than 100 per cent, and is part of a larger strategy to reduce power outages.
Colombian, Venezuelan denied bail in...
They stated that Valera was working taxi on the day in question, when he was allegedly called by someone and asked to pick up the package and drop it off at the Mandela location. It was then that he and Calderon were intercepted.
The court also heard that before doing so, Valera picked up Calderon, intending to drop him off at a supermarket. She further claimed that when arrested, the defendants were made to sign documents without understanding them, as there was no Spanish translation provided, and that they were unaware of what they had signed.
They also questioned the validity of the testing process, and argued that the case involved is a “double container,” implying that multiple parties may have had access to the package. They urged the court to consider the constitutional requirement for a timely trial, warning that the matter was unlikely to conclude within a reasonable time frame.
Attorney Lammy-Singh cited a precedent set by Justice Barlow regarding unlawful detention exceeding the constitutional limit of 72 hours. He added that there was no clear evidence the accused knew what was inside the package, and questioned whether the men were actually inside or outside of the vehicle at the time of interception.
CANU’s prosecutor, however, strongly objected to bail. She maintained that the cocaine was found inside a box and bag in the back seat of the vehicle the men were using. The prosecutor confirmed that Valera was the driver and Calderon was the passenger. She rejected the claim that documents were signed without translation, and denied that any of the accused were unlawfully detained.
On the matter of body camera footage, which the defendant's lawyer inquired about, the prosecutor initially said there were no such recordings, but later confirmed that the officers involved were equipped with body cams and that footage would be made available during the trial. She also expressed concern that the defendants, one of whom is from Colombia and the other from Venezuela, pose a flight risk.
Meanwhile, Magistrate McGusty noted that while one of the men’s passports had been lodged, individuals can still leave the country through irregular means, and she was not confident they would return for future hearings.
After considering the arguments, the magistrate ruled that no special reasons had been presented to justify bail. She ordered that both defendants be remanded to prison until their next court appearance, which is scheduled for May 6, 2025.
Senior Petroleum Coordinator in the Natural Resources Ministry, Bobby Gossai
Job guarantee, $130K salary for over 800 new nursing assistants
The Government of Guyana has delivered on its promise to revolutionise health education and job creation, with over 800 nursing assistants graduating from the Hybrid Nursing Assistant Training Programme, all of whom are now guaranteed jobs with a starting salary of $134,000 per month, according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
The historic graduation at the National Cultural Centre, which saw 864 students completing the programme, marks a transformative moment in Guyana’s public healthcare system.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Anthony emphasised that graduates would be strategically placed in new and existing health facilities, particularly in modern regional hospitals currently under construction in Moruca, Kato, and Lethem.
“As you know, the President has made a commitment to everyone that we train, and his standard line is always that once you're trained, that we will give you a job. So, as you graduate, you have a job now with the Government of Guyana and in the military. And I think I'm told that the starting salary will be at $134,000
a month. So, every one of you, you have a job with us. So, depending on which region, we'll be putting you to work in these different facilities,” Dr Anthony said.
The Hybrid Nursing Assistant Training Programme, conducted in partnership with Coursera, is designed to provide accessible, high-quality nursing education to participants across all ten regions.
The programme achieved an 80 per cent pass rate, with 46 students graduating with distinction and 392 with credit. Training was extended to candidates from every region of Guyana, with the largest cohorts coming from Region Six, 10, Region Four and Five.
According to Ministry, a total of 19 students graduated from Region One (BarimaWaini), 52 from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 72 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 122 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 119 from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 153 from Region Six
(East Berbice-Corentyne), 22 from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), 17 from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 19 from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 133 from Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Additionally, 35 students from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing programme completed the training.
Dr Anthony made it clear that this is not the end of the road for the graduates, explaining that Government is providing a clear pathway for career advancement, encouraging graduates to pursue registered nursing, and later
specialise in fields.
“So, there are lots of new things that will be happening and if you want to move from being a nursing assistant to being something else in the healthcare field, we want you to stay in health. We have more than 20 other different areas that you can work with us or you can work in these new fields. So, for example, this Health Sciences Training Division in the Ministry, they have more than 20 different training programmes, including training people to become medics, including training people to become pharmacy assistants and then from a pharmacy assistant, you can
move to be a pharmacist and so forth. They have lots of programmes. And we are also adding new areas because we want people to be trained in sonography, for example,” he explained.
To support the extension of the Hybrid Nursing Assistant Training Programme, the Ministry of Health has also rolled out simulation centres—now totalling 15 nationwide—to give students hands-on experience following their online training.
Meanwhile, to further support health education, two new health science schools are being constructed in Soesdyke and New Amsterdam, while dozens of telemedicine sites are operating in hinterland communities to enable remote training.
The hybrid format, which blends online and in-person training, was especially impactful in interior regions, giving opportunities to residents who previously lacked access to traditional training facilities.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony
Agri Minister spreads Reg 6 Easter cheer with kite distribution
In observance of the upcoming Easter holiday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited several villages in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where he distributed kites to children, as part of efforts to celebrate and preserve Guyanese Easter traditions.
Minister Mustapha told the children that President Dr Irfaan Ali wanted every child to have kites for Easter.
As children gathered eagerly to receive their kites, community members welcomed the gesture and expressed gratitude for the Minister’s continued outreach.
The Agriculture Minister highlighted the importance of the season, reflecting on the message of hope and renewal embodied in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He also engaged students who were preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams,
and encouraged them to do their best. Mustapha advised the students, who would be sitting the examinations today, Wednesday and Thursday, to remain calm in the examination room.
Mustapha said students should be relaxed when they enter the examination room. He told them to take their time and look for the best suitable answer, and if there were questions that they did not understand or were not sure of the answer, they should leave those questions and return to them when they would have completed all the others.
The Agriculture Minister also quizzed students on topics they should know in Social Studies.
A total of 4450 kites were distributed in Sandvoort and Budhan Scheme in West Canje and Fort Ordnance and Canefield in East Canje. Kites were also distributed in Angoy’s Avenue,
Fyrish, Chesney, Port Mourant, Bloomfield, Letter Kenny, Lancaster, Madia, Black Bush Polder, Numbers 48 and 63 Villages, and Crabwood Creek by Mustapha.
The Minister told <<<Guyana Times>>> that the distribution of kites at Easter is an annual affair by the current Administration.
“Even when we were in Opposition, we did it through the Party [People’s Progressive Party], because we want to ensure that all children are happy and enjoy the Easter holiday,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the East Bank of the region, more than 1800 children from communities stretching from Mara to Glasgow received kites, toys, and other Easter goodies, thanks to an outreach initiative led by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat.
During the distribution exercise, Minister Bharrat extended Easter greetings on
behalf of President Ali and himself. He took the opportunity to encourage the children to stay committed to their education, reminding them of the Government’s ongoing investments in the education sector and urging them to aim for excellence in their examinations.
Region Six Chairman
David Armogan was also present, and shared Easter greetings on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council. He highlighted the symbolic significance of kite flying during Easter, noting that it represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and encouraged the children to embrace the joy of the season.
Children were also advised to fly their kites in open spaces and to avoid electrical wires, ensuring a safe and enjoyable Easter celebration. Easter in Guyana is widely recognised not only for its vibrant kite-flying tradition, but also for its deep spiritual significance.
PPP/C progress, vision drawing AfroGuyanese support – James Bond
…as Opposition targets Afro-Guyanese for not supporting their race
Prominent Attorney and businessman
James Bond has credited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with earning the growing support of Afro-Guyanese citizens, pointing to the Government’s developmental track record as the main driver of shifting allegiances.
Speaking in a recent public statement that has gained national attention, Bond emphasised that many Afro-Guyanese, himself included, have been able to successfully build businesses under the PPP/C Administration, dismissing claims that the Party is exclusionary or only supports specific ethnic or political groups.
“To paint this picture as if Afro-Guyanese are just digging drains and doing
roads is so far removed from reality,” Bond said. “I started my bar with $400,000. I wasn’t a PPP member. I didn’t join the PPP. But under this government, I’ve started multiple successful businesses.”
Bond made it clear that his support was not driven by Party affiliation, but by visible and tangible national progress.
“What attracted me to the PPP/C wasn’t politics – it was progress. It was vision. Something that others clearly lack,” Bond stated, directing criticism at Vincent Alexander, a political commentator and Oppositionaligned academic.
Back in January, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo categorically rejected any allegations suggesting that he made promises to Bond in return for his endorse-
ment of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s second-term bid, following Bond’s defection from the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to the PPP/C.
During one of his weekly press conferences, Jagdeo stated that Bond’s decision to support the PPP/C was a voluntary one, based on his personal assessment of what was best for his future.
“Nothing was promised to James Bond, no pecuniary benefits, nothing that he will get a contract if he comes to the PPP. He voluntarily decided, and I suspect it's a well-thought-out decision about his own future, decided he wants to support Irfaan Ali and the People's Progressive Party and their agenda. This is something that we welcome. Lots of people will do that, but he was never promised any-
thing to come to the PPP,” he said.
Further, Jagdeo responded to mounting criticism surrounding Bond’s switch, particularly from those who disparaged him as a “house slave” or a “slave catcher”. These insults, Jagdeo said, were unfounded and failed to recognise that Bond, like many others, was simply making an informed choice about his political future.
On this point, the VP noted that such attacks only strengthened the resolve of the PPP and reaffirmed its welcoming stance to those who align with its vision of progress and freedom.
“The vilest thing said about people because they choose in their own lives to, at some point in time, make an assessment as to what is good for them themselves… People are jumping ship in
large numbers, because they don’t want to go down in a sinking racist ship that PNC and APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] are in,” the Vice President told media operatives.
On Monday, representative of the Association of People of African Descent in Guyana (APAD), Elisha Ali spoke at the United Nations (UN) Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in New York about the continued silencing of AfroGuyanese by those referring to them as “lick bottom” and “slave catchers”. He made this statement during the 4th Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, themed “United for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
Ali told the Forum that such language has been
Attorney-at-Law and businessman James Bond
particularly directed at Guyanese of African descent by representatives of the PNC, APNU, and the Alliance For Change (AFC), with David Hinds of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) being one of the most recent figures to use the derogatory term “lick bottom Africans” in reference to Afro-Guyanese.
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
Opposition and their antiGovernment surrogates scraping the barrel bottom
The Government has already distributed almost 40,000 house lots, after promising in its Elections 2020 manifesto to distribute 50,000 house lots. The Opposition and a small group of privileged anti-Government activists had declared that the promise was unattainable.
For this week alone, Government has distributed more than 2,000 house lots.
Bewildered, scratching their heads on how to respond, one of the Opposition activists deemed the Government a house lot vendor, selling house lots to the population.
Dr
The Opposition, when they had their turn between 2015 and 2020, barely delivered a few house lots, and mainly to themselves. If the house lots’ distribution is merely Government selling house lots, why did they not do it between 2015 and 2020, since it is one of the most popular policies among the public?
Another of their activists explained that oil money is responsible for development of the house lots. The problem is that one of the most popular accomplishments of the PPP Government prior to 2015, when there was no oil money, was its housing policy and its distribution of house lots.
President Ali has announced continuation of the housing policy to ensure that, by the end of the next term, should he return as President, every adult needing a house lot to build a house would have access to land. The house lots being distributed are heavily subsidised, with the Government bearing the bulk of the cost for a house lot.
Before house lots are distributed, housing schemes are developed, with streets, water, electricity, and drainage provided. There is no selling of house lots.
In fact, the World Bank, the IDB, the CDB and many Caricom countries have commended the PPP Government for its housing policy. The PPP Government has accumulated global awards for its housing policy. It is why people from even strongholds of the Opposition are migrating to the PPP. People want homes, and they know that without the development of housing schemes and house lots, they would be forced to become squatters.
It is why, before 1992, Guyana was known as a country of squatters. Thousands of people in areas such as Sophia, Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Canvas City and other areas lived in deplorable conditions in some of the largest squatter communities in the Caribbean and Latin America. While there are still some people squatting, the PPP has brought the practice to an end, offering people house lots in planned communities.
Almost every single day, the PPP Government is making an announcement of new developmental projects or initiatives that support families. The Government has already delivered on all its promises in its Elections 2020 manifesto, and is now going beyond its 2020 promises.
The Opposition is in confusion, not knowing how to respond to the Government. The anti-Government Opposition surrogates are equally confused. Both the official Opposition and the small group of antiGovernment sycophants have resorted to scraping the bottom of the barrel in a desperate search for things to oppose the Government.
A few weeks ago, the President announced a popular policy of eliminating tolls for river-crossings. Despite widespread support from the public, one senior PNC MP immediately rejected the policy, demanding the Government conduct a study first, before making a decision. The PNC Mayor of Linden rejected the announcement by the President, declaring that the announcement targeted the revenue of Linden. The same mayor had nothing to say in the following week when Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that each municipality would have their annual subvention increased from $5M to $50M.
Last week, the President announced that all students sitting CXC and CAPE would have their fees paid for by the Government for up to eight subjects. This, too, was a popular policy declaration, supported by the overwhelming majority of Guyanese families. The Opposition, scratching their heads for a way to oppose the announcement, sent Ganesh Mahipaul to make himself a fool. He said that, come Elections 2025, when the PNC takes back the Government, the PNC would pay for up to ten subjects.
It was shocking to see an editorial in the Stabroek News also criticising the move by Government to eliminate the examination fees for up to eight subjects. The Stabroek News editorial wanted a feasibility study done before such a move was made. But there were other reasons why Stabroek News believed that elimination of examination fees was a bad idea. The Stabroek News believed that it is a bad idea because there is no reason for supporting those families who could afford the fees.
This is a newspaper that daily carries comments from persons about the cost of living; yet, when the Government added another way in a long list of initiatives to reduce cost-of-living for families, the newspaper is critical of the Government.
The Stabroek News editorial dug the publication deeper in shame by insisting that the new policy would see more children writing more subjects and contributing to a higher fail rate. We should not limit their freedom by making the choice unaffordable. This is really scraping the barrel for something to criticise the Government.
The Opposition and the anti-Government chorus are obsessed with feasibility studies. To be clear, there are initiatives and projects that require feasibility studies. In 2015, one of the first acts of the then PNC-led APNU/ AFC Government was to terminate the School Cash Grant programme. One of their ministers insisted that it was unaffordable. Another one insisted they were conducting a study. Five years later, in 2020, they had not yet started the study. Now, recognising how popular the initiative is, they insist that should they come back in Government, they would give much more than the $50,000 per child.
The Opposition and their anti-Government surrogates are desperate because even scraping the bottom of the barrel produces nonsense. It is why they find it more productive quarrelling over who should be their presidential candidate.
Over 30,000 Diamond residents to benefit from modern water treatment plant
As the Government of Guyana continues to ensure all Guyanese have access to high quality treated water, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is gearing up to construct a stateof-the-art water treatment plant that will serve the new housing developments in Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and surrounding communities.
The construction of the new Surface Water Treatment Plant in Diamond falls under the revolutionary Guyana Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Improvement Programme.
This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with a US$52 million loan and a US$1.1 million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The general objective of the first individual loan operation is to enhance the climate resilience, and operational and financial sustainability of GWI's potable water services provision.
On Tuesday, GWI hosted a public consultation session ahead of the construction works. At the event, Programme Manager Arshad Yacoub revealed more about the objectives of the initiative.
“One is to provide new access to quality potable water services to meet the growing demand in Diamond and the surrounding communities. The second objective is to reduce non-revenue water and improve meter coverage along the East Bank, East Coast, and Georgetown. Now, non-revenue water – some of us may know, some of us may not know – is the water which is being produced by GWI for which it is unaccounted for. We are not getting a return from it, but it's being produced. So the idea is to ensure that we reduce the water for which we are not getting any revenue from. And the third one is to improve the management capabilities and digitalisation of GWI, which deals mostly with the insti-
tutional strengthening of the agency.”
As it relates to the construction of the new surface water treatment plant, Yacoub revealed that the new facility will be constructed in the Diamond Scheme, some 500 metres from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), and will produce some 26 megalitres (ML) of potable water per day.
“We plan to use water from the conservancy, The East Demerara Water Conservancy, which we plan to use water from ... to treat, so that we can distribute to the residents in the area.”
Moreover, he revealed that the plant will be supported by climate-resilient infrastructure.
“The installation of 15 kilometres of transmission
mains, because as you all know when we build a plant and we treat the water we have to distribute it. So, as part of the activity under this project, we have to install approximately 15 kilometres of transmission mains and, as I said before, the CH&PA (Central Housing and Planning Authority), when they would have constructed the scheme, there are already distribution lines in place.”
He added, “Also, as part of component one of this project, since it's a climate-resilient project, we're planning to have some solar generation taking place: a 0.6-megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system, and this will power most of the electromechanical equipment on the plant.”
The new plant is expected to serve over 36,000 residents. This publication understands that the pre-feasibility study and the bidding document for the water treatment plant have already been prepared by the IDB consultant, and are currently being reviewed by a technical team at the GWI.
This process is expected to be completed within the next 2 months, after which bids will be opened for the construction of the state-ofthe art facility.
Leslie Ramsammy
Guyana Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Improvement Programme Manager Arshad Yacoub
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
ERC Chair calls for justice through reparations at UN PFPAD
– as Commission clarifies his presence at forum
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is currently participating in the 4th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD4) at the UN Headquarters in New York, which began April 14, and continues until April 17, 2025.
Chairman of the ERC, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, is representing the Commission, replacing Commissioner Norris Witter, who, unanimously approved by the Commission to attend the forum, opted out a few days before the opening.
Also present at the forum, is ERC Commissioner Ras Khafra (Deon Dick) in his capacity as representative of the Guyana Rastafarian Council.
The Chairman, in his address to the United Nations
PFPAD4, stated “With a population comprising more than 30 per cent of people of African descent, Guyana continues to call for justice through reparations, justice as accountability for centuries of slavery, exploitation, and the negative legacy of colonialism.”
He added that to overcome the injustices, we must acknowledge that “Reparations is also about recognition of the pain, the displacement and the generational trauma inflicted by slavery. It is also about healing and reconciliation which form the foundation for lasting peace.”
Clearing the air
Surrounding the Chairman’s participation at the Forum, the Commission has noted with great con-
cern, negative sentiments about his representation of ERC, and takes this opportunity to clarify the distinction between the Commission being represented and the Commissioners being represented.
It must be noted that in 2023 and 2024, Commissioner Khafra was unanimously selected to represent ERC. In 2024, at the very last moment, Commissioner Khafra withdrew from representing ERC and opted to represent the Guyana Rastafarian Council.
In 2025, the opportunity to attend the forum was provided to Commissioner Witter, to which there were no objections from any Commissioner. On Thursday, April 10, after 22:00, Commissioner Witter withdrew his inten-
tion to attend, and requested Commissioner Khafra as his replacement. It should be noted that travel to the forum was on April 13.
According to a press release by the ERC Tuesday, based on his current attendance, it appears that, at the time when Commissioner Witter withdrew, Commissioner Khafra was already sponsored to attend the forum as a representative of the Guyana Rastafarian Council.
In addition, it would have necessitated a decision from the wider Commission on the issue of replacement.
The Commission wish-
es to state that it will not be distracted by the theatrics of persons seeking to cloud its vision and work.
The ERC has consistently addressed complaints of all races and ethnicities in a fair and transparent manner, inclusive of African Guyanese.
The Commission has consistently prioritised African culture and issues by its participation in Emancipation observances, by providing training on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, by developing a Glossary of Terms to rid the use of derogatory terms that are used to describe African Guyanese and all other eth-
nic groups, among other initiatives.
The ERC strongly believes that to holistically address injustices such as reparations, the African community needs the support of ALL, regardless of ethnicity, to advocate for justice, for the crimes of slavery imposed on our ancestors of African descent.
The Ethnic Relations Commission reiterates the call for reparations, as highlighted in the Chairman’s remarks to the forum, “Let us use this moment to expand the support for reparations, underscoring that this is not about charity, it is about justice.”
World Haemophilia Day Ministry working to sensitise more women about disease
As the global community gears up to celebrate World Haemophilia Day on April 17, stakeholders at the Ministry of Health have recognised the importance of this year’s theme.
The World Haemophilia Day 2025 theme, "Women and girls bleed too", focuses on raising awareness about the under diagnosis and under-treatment of women and girls with bleeding disorders. The goal is to advocate for equal access to care and support for all individuals with bleeding disorders, regardless of their gender or location.
In recognition of World Haemophilia Day, 2025 the Guyana Haemophilia Society on Sunday hosted an awareness walk. Addressing the gathering at the end of the event was Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony who reaffirmed the Government of Guyana’s commitment to improving care, access, and awareness for individuals living with haemophilia and other rare blood disorders.
While haemophilia com-
monly affects males, the Minister emphasised the importance of educating women, who are often carriers and can experience symptoms such as prolonged bleeding.
“We must implement educational programmes to help women recognise when symptoms are abnormal and encourage early medical consultation,” he stated.
The Minister highlighted several major infrastructure developments aimed at transforming the country’s healthcare system. Six new hospitals across the country are slated for completion by the end of the year each equipped with internal medicine departments, blood banks, and laboratory facilities.
“This expansion ensures that citizens no longer need to travel to Georgetown to access specialised care…Access to quality healthcare will now be more evenly distributed across the country In addition, a state-of-the-art 256bed Maternal and Paediatric Hospital currently under construction at Ogle will host a
range of subspecialties including haematology, enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention for rare diseases like haemophilia.”
Addressing recent advancements in medical treatment, the Minister referenced cutting-edge therapies including monoclonal antibodies and gene therapy, some of which were approved internationally as recently as 2024.
He acknowledged that while these treatments are currently expensive, prices
are expected to fall as accessibility improves. Guyana has already passed legislation to support innovative medical research and therapies, inviting pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to explore collaboration opportunities within the country.
“We have received expressions of interest, and we’re optimistic that Guyana will become a hub for research and possibly manufacturing of advanced therapies.”
Commending the efforts of
local advocates, Dr Anthony emphasised the importance of community engagement in raising awareness. Moreover, he also encouraged patients and families to share their personal stories to help others identify potential symptoms early the Minister concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continued progress.
“We have come a long way, and I truly believe the future holds even greater promise for those living with haemophilia in Guyana”.
WHAT IS HAEMOPHILIA?
Haemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. This can lead to spontaneous bleeding or bleeding following an injury or surgery. Blood contains many proteins called clotting factors, that can help to stop bleeding. People with haemophilia –haemophiliacs—have low levels of either factor V111 (8) or factor 1X (9). The severity of haemophilia that a person has is determined by the amount of a factor in the blood: the lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur, which can lead to serious health problems. Additionally, the bleeding can be fatal if it occurs within a vital organ, such as the brain. In rare cases, a person can develop haemophilia later in life. The majority of cases involve middle-aged or elderly people; or young women who have recently given birth or are in the later stages of pregnancy. This condition is often resolved with appropriate treatment.
40 Guyanese receive free eye surgeries as Health Ministry hosts US ophthalmology team
Some 40 Guyanese have recently benefited from free retina surgeries at the Georgetown Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The GPHC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, recently welcomed a visiting team of ophthalmologists from the United States (US) Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) from March 31 to April 11.
This partnership was instrumental in strengthening the delivery of high-quality ophthalmological care to patients at GPHC, particularly in the area of vitreoretinal surgery.
The LAMAT team worked closely with GPHC’s Department of Ophthalmology, with a special focus on supporting the evolving vitreoretinal surgical services.
Retinal Surgeon, Dr Samuel Hobbs, from the US Air Force, partnered with Dr Arlene Bobb-Semple, Guyana’s only retinal surgeon, for the two weeks of visit.
Through their combined efforts, approximately 40 patients were able to receive retina surgeries completely free of cost at
GPHC. These advanced procedures addressed critical cases of Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment, and Ocular Trauma. One of the most notable cases was that of a two-month-old baby born with a retinal detachment. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of the surgical and anaesthesia teams, the
baby was able to undergo a complex procedure aimed at saving at least one eye.
In addition to their hands-on work, the LAMAT team played a key role in mentoring and training local surgeons. They also supplied essential surgical consumables used during the procedures.
Two additional eye specialists – Dr Halward Blegen, Cataract and Anterior Segment Surgeon, and Dr Sien Chun, Glaucoma Surgeon – collaborated with GPHC’s ophthalmology team on complex cataract and glaucoma surgeries, enhancing the capacity of local services.
The collaboration was made even more impactful by the committed support of GPHC’s eye nurses and technicians, who worked alongside the LAMAT team throughout. On sev-
eral days, surgical procedures extended well beyond normal hours, with some lasting until midnight –testament to the team’s dedication and patient-centred approach.
As a result of this successful partnership, the Ophthalmology Department at GPHC has significantly advanced its surgical techniques, and strengthened its routine practices. The team
is enthusiastic about building on this momentum, and looks forward to future collaborations that will continue to raise the standard of eye care in Guyana.
GPHC has extended its heartfelt gratitude to the LAMAT team for their invaluable service and support in advancing ophthalmological care for the people of Guyana.
Shotgun, ammo seized at Region 1 mining camp
Two men were arrested following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at a mining camp in the Kurtucka Backdam, Region One (BarimaWaini). The arrest was made
by Police ranks attached to the Matthews Ridge Police Station, who were responding to a report that one of the men had allegedly threatened another individual with a firearm.
According to the police, upon arriving at the campsite, detectives met the two male suspects and in -
formed them of the report. A search was then conducted on several makeshift camps and a wooden building at the location.
During the operation, officers found a 16-gauge single-barrel shotgun with a matching live cartridge in the chamber.
The suspects were
shown the weapon and asked to produce a valid firearm licence, but neither could provide one. As a result, both men were taken into custody, and the weapon and ammunition seized.
Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.
Security officer fined for dangerous driving after Strathspey junction collision
A26-year-old security officer was on Tuesday fined for dangerous driving, following an accident earlier this month at the Strathspey Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The man, Mark DaSilva, appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with driving in a dangerous manner. The accident occurred on April 4.
DaSilva pleaded guilty with an explanation.
According to the prosecution, around 16:10h on the
day in question, DaSilva was riding motorcycle CN 5293, heading east along the Strathspey Public Road.
At the same time, a female driver in motor car PAD 1252 was proceeding south along Tambran Alley Street. As the woman approached the intersection, vehicles travelling in both the northern and southern lanes reportedly stopped to allow her to turn onto the main road. However, as she began making the turn, DaSilva, who had been overtaking several vehicles along the centre
line of the roadway, collided with her vehicle.
Both the motorcycle and the car were damaged in the crash, and DaSilva sustained injuries about his body. He was subsequently taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment.
Following an investigation into the accident, DaSilva was charged with dangerous driving.
Magistrate Scarce fined him $50,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in two months’ imprisonment.
The gun and ammunition that were found in the mining camp
Guyana delegation engages in strategic forensic cooperation with India
Aseven-member delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently in India to participate in high-level technical discussions and collaborative events, focused on the recent implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 17, 2025, between the Government of Guyana and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) of India.
The visit aims to operationalise the commitments
of the MoU, fostering collaboration in forensic science, cybercrime investigation, criminal profiling, and the advancement of law enforcement capabilities in Guyana and across the Caribbean region.
The Guyanese delega-
tion includes representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL), and the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Andre Ally, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Charis Griffith, Deputy Director, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory; Anurag Srivastava, Forensic Scientist, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory; Mauwaveau Solomon, Science Officer (Trace Evidence), Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory; Danielle Adonis – Science Officer (Chemistry), Guyana Forensic Science
Laboratory; Sonia Herbert, Senior Superintendent & Director, GPF Academy, and Ray Marcurius, Deputy Superintendent & Officerin-Charge, Police Crime Laboratory, GPF are members of the delegation.
The Ministry's delegation meeting with the High Commissioner of India, Dr Amit Telang before their departure TURN
Region 3 chosen for Govt's CXC remedial pilot to advance youth development
In a bold new move to uplift young people who have fallen through the cracks of the education system, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday announced that Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) will be the launch site for the Government’s first-ever Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) remedial education pilot programme.
Speaking to residents at a packed community outreach in Goed Fortuin Housing Scheme, the President outlined plans to rehabilitate a building in the area and transform it into a state-ofthe-art e-learning and training hub. This facility will be equipped with digital infrastructure to support remedial learning for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), targeting young people who did not complete their secondary education or who failed core subjects.
“This is not just about academics. This is about hope. It’s about giving our young people a second shot at success—and backing that up with real training and guaranteed employment,” the President declared.
The e-learning centre
will feature high-speed internet, digital curriculum resources, and guided support to help students prepare for and pass at least four CXC subjects. But it doesn’t end there—the programme goes a step further by offering participants the opportunity to transition directly into the Government’s hybrid nursing assistant programme, complete with a monthly stipend and a guaranteed job upon graduation.
President Ali made it clear that this initiative is part of a wider commitment to inclusive development, particularly for youths who
may have left school early due to personal, economic, or social challenges. On this point, he underscored that remedial education is essential to ensuring that no citizen is left behind in Guyana’s transformation.
“We can’t talk about building a world-class healthcare system, a modern economy, and an equitable society without lifting up those who were left out of the system. Education is the key, and remedial education is one of the most powerful tools to unlock second chances,” he said.
The first 30 participants will be drawn from Region
Three, with a focus on young men and women who show motivation and commitment to learning. The model is expected to serve as a template for expansion to other regions once proven effective.
This initiative forms part of the Government’s highly anticipated Guyana Digital School, a revolutionary online education platform set to be officially launched in the coming weeks.
This initiative, led by the President Dr Irfaan Ali, aims to provide high-quality digital lessons to students across the country, ensuring that no child is left
behind due to geographical or financial barriers.
The digital school will house the entire CXC curriculum, offering various resources such as digital textbooks, instructional videos, interactive exercises, quizzes, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven assessments. The AI technology will analyse student performance, identify weaknesses, and recommend personalised reinforcement materials to aid in learning.
For instance, in social studies, students will first review pre-class notes before engaging in interactive lessons. The platform will then provide video expla-
nations, crossword puzzles, and quizzes, reinforcing key concepts aligned with the Guyanese and CXC curriculum. Additionally, cultural content and local references—such as traditional foods and blended family structures—will be incorporated to enhance relatability and engagement.
Beyond standard coursework, the digital school will also offer supplementary programmes, including entrepreneurial training, cultural studies, electronic nursing and accounting courses, and remedial education for adults in the evenings.
PM visits Linden to assess sawmill dump fire ...as EPA advises precautions during ongoing fire
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Philips, on Tuesday visited Amelia’s Ward, Linden to assess the situation, amid the fire and smoke affecting the Waaldijk Sawmill area.
During his visit, he received a comprehensive briefing on the response efforts of the relevant stakeholders.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill.
While on-site, the Prime Minister examined the containment strategies current-
ly in place and explored additional approaches to ensure the fire is fully extinguished and the community remains safe.
He was updated on key efforts, which include the creation of a large ditch around the fire zone, designed to push trees inward and form a containment barrier to prevent further spread of the flames into the forest and nearby residential areas.
To support ground operations, a fire hydrant has been installed, and other water sources have been identified.
Speaking during a live in-
terview on local radio while in Linden, Prime Minister Phillips, who holds ministerial responsibility for disaster response, assured that the Government of Guyana will continue to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and logistical support to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), and other key response agencies.
He explained that the fire has been contained, and the focus now is on suppressing the smoke. The Government, he emphasised, is mobilising every available resource to
suppression efforts
address the situation effectively.
From a Government standpoint, we treat this as a disaster. Government will leave no stone unturned in trying to bring relief to the people of Linden as early as possible.”
Minister Edghill noted that all practical measures are currently being implemented to ensure a return to normalcy.
Additionally, temporary shelters have already been established by the CDC for persons affected by the incident, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remains actively engaged on the ground, monitoring the air quality and consulting with residents.
Member of Parliament, Mr Jermaine Figueira, and officials from the GFS, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the EPA, and members of the local private sector were also on the ground.
According to an EPA release, the fire, located in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, involves subsurface organic and waste material, resulting in persistent smoke. However, EPA air quality monitoring conducted up to April 14 indicates that carbon monoxide (CO) levels have not exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) standards within the com-
munity.
However, reports received from several residents indicate discomfort and health impacts, particularly among pregnant women and children with asthma or other respiratory vulnerabilities.
As the EPA continues to monitor conditions, it advised that it will notify the relevant health and disaster response authorities should risk levels change.
As a precaution, the EPA advised that residents limit outdoor activity, especially if smoke or odour is present; keep windows and doors closed to reduce indoor smoke exposure; use face masks (preferably N95) when outdoors if smoke is heavy; watch for symptoms such as breathing difficulty, coughing, dizziness, or chest tightness, especially in vulnerable family members,
and report severe symptoms to the nearest health centre immediately.
In its ongoing actions, the EPA will continue air quality surveillance and public health risk assessments, where advisories will be issued to the Ministry of Health, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and also CDC based on updated monitoring data, and residents will be kept informed through public advisories and local authorities.
The GFS, CDC, and the EPA are working closely to ensure this situation is managed effectively and to protect the health and well-being of all residents, it assured.
The EPA also advised residents to remain alert and follow official updates.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Philips
Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji sworn in as new CCJ Judge
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has welcomed a new judge following the recent swearing-in of distinguished Nigerian-born Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji.
The oath of office was administered by Her Excellency Christine Kangaloo, ORTT (Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, at the President’s House in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Justice Eboe-Osuji is the first Nigerian-Canadian to be appointed to the Court. He was selected from a pool of 26 applicants by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), an independent body of 11 members responsible for appointing the Judges and staff of the Court.
Applicants must have either served as a judge for at least five years or have a minimum of 15 years of ex-
perience in the practice or teaching of law in a country that is either a signatory to the Agreement Establishing the CCJ or a Commonwealth territory.
At the ceremony, the President of the CCJ, the Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, described the appointment process as
“one of, if not the most sacred roles carried out by the RJLSC.”
He welcomed Justice Eboe-Osuji by stating, “Mr Justice Eboe-Osuji has an impeccable record of service as a lawyer and jurist... I have no doubt that he will make an important contribution to the development
Guyana on show at WTM Latin America
Guyana is currently participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 14 to 16, 2025.The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is represented by EM Business & Consulting Group, networking with key individuals and organisations and conducting interviews to raise the profile of the destination in the Latin American market.
For the first time, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) will host a dedicated Caribbean Pavilion, creating a unified regional presence to showcase the Caribbean’s diverse
The Bahamas, Dominica, Guyana, Saint-Martin, and Turks & Caicos, providing
tourism offerings. Located at Booth M90, the pavilion will feature representatives from Antigua & Barbuda,
a dynamic platform to engage with key stakeholders in the
ket.
As Latin America continues to emerge as an important source market for the Caribbean, CTO’s participation at WTM Latin America underscores the region’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, driving visitor arrivals, and showcasing the wide range of tourism experiences available across its member destinations. The Caribbean Pavilion will serve as a hub for pre-arranged trade meetings and multilingual services to enhance engagement. Through strategic networking and promotional activities, each participating destination will have the opportunity to connect with tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives, strengthening their presence in this growing market.
of our Caribbean jurisprudence.”
In his remarks, Justice Eboe-Osuji emphasised the significance of the Court.
“The Court serves its purpose not only as a court for CARICOM nations to resolve disputes arising from the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, but also to ensure that there is no need to look beyond the seas for a final court of appeal, given the quality of judges we have on this Bench. It is an incredible honour for me to have been selected,” he said.
President Kangaloo congratulated Justice EboeOsuji, stating, that since its establishment, the CCJ has been unswerving in the pursuit of its vision of becoming a model of judicial excellence, however with this swearing in the CCJ has taken a grand step in upscaling its efforts.
“Today, the CCJ has taken another important step in pursuit of that vision by adding Justice Eboe-Osuji to
its ranks. Justice Eboe-Osuji is a brilliant legal mind and a gifted jurist whose long and distinguished career, as we have heard, has spanned many countries and institutions.”
Justice Eboe-Osuji brings a wealth of experience in criminal and human rights law to the Court. He has practised law as a barrister before trial courts in Nigeria and Canada and has conducted appeals before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. He previously served as a Judge and President of the International Criminal Court and was a Legal Advisor to the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights. He also led the drafting of amicus curiae submissions to the European Court of Human Rights and the United States (US) Supreme Court. His legal career further includes roles as a legal advisor, published author, and professor.
Justice Eboe-Osuji’s appointment fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Mr Justice Andrew Burgess earlier this month, on April 11. Judges of the CCJ serve until the age of seventy-two, while the President of the Court holds office for a non-renewable term of seven years.
Candidates for the position are evaluated on criteria including high moral character, intellectual and analytical ability, sound judgment, integrity, and an understanding of people and society.
The CCJ serves as the final court of appeal for Barbados, Belize, and Guyana, and it also adjudicates disputes between Member States of CARICOM. The selection and appointment process for judges of the CCJ is rigorous, competitive, merit-based, and entirely independent of political influence.
Guyana delegation engages...
The delegation's itinerary includes a formal visit to NFSU in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where they are being hosted for a three-day engagement, featuring demonstrations of advanced forensic research, technology sharing, and discussions on building a sustainable framework for Guyana's forensic capabilities.
This mission also coincides with the All-India Forensic Science Summit 2025, held at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on April 14–15, 2025, under the theme: “Role of Forensic Science in Effective Implementation of New Criminal Laws and Combating Terrorism.” The summit provides a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and networking with
global leaders in forensic sciences.
The MoU signed in January, signalled the beginning of a transformative partnership. It was inked by Permanent Secretary Mr Andre Ally and Commissioner of Police Mr Clifton Hicken on behalf of Guyana, and by Dr J. M. Vyas, Vice Chancellor of NFSU, on behalf of India.
The agreement outlines key areas such as the establishment of an internationally accredited forensic science laboratory in Guyana; development of training programmes for law enforcement officers in forensic techniques and cybercrime investigation; curriculum design for forensic psychology and cybersecurity education;
positioning Guyana as a regional hub for forensic training, and joint research initiatives in forensic science and criminal justice innovation.
The collaboration also reflects the deepening diplomatic ties between Guyana and India, building on the shared vision discussed between President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
“This partnership represents a critical leap forward for our forensic and law enforcement landscape. The capacity-building and expertise sharing facilitated by NFSU will elevate Guyana’s role as a regional leader in modern security solutions,” Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, emphasised.
PPP/C progress, vision drawing...
He noted that “as we reflect on our shared history, we are also presented with a unique opportunity to shape a future where technology works for us and not against us. But we must also recognise that some of our greatest challenges are not only external. They arise within our own communities. Today, I wish to offer a crucial recommendation to this forum. We must establish clear measures and checks and balances to prevent African organisations, particularly those representing people of African descent, from attacking or undermining fellow groups within our communities.”
Too often, he said, it is found that organisations created to advocate for rights
and advancement of Afrodescendant communities become the very entities that foster division. “In Guyana, for instance, we have witnessed organisations intended to combat institutional racism that have instead perpetuated harm by silencing descendant voices within our community and disparaging other Afro-Guyanese who express their right to independent thought. They have resulted in calling those who do not share their personal ideologies like bottoms, slave catchers, and house slaves,” he told the UN forum.
He pointed out that this divisiveness undermines the collective efforts towards reparatory justice. “The struggle for equality and recognition should not be derailed
by internal strife, nor should it be hijacked by gatekeepers who decide who is authentically black or who has the right to speak for our people. It is essential that organisations, both Governmental and non-Governmental, be held accountable for creating spaces that foster unity and collaboration rather than fracture and exclusion.”
He recommended that the permanent forum establish accountability mechanisms to enforce checks and balances and ensure that reparatory justice addresses both external and internal oppression. “The fight for justice must be rooted in unity. Let us hold ourselves at the same standards that we demand the world,” he said.
Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji
Latin American mar-
Go into your assessment with full confidence – Education Minister to NGSA students
On the eve of the start of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), in which thousands of children across the country will be writing their exams, Education Minister Priya Manickchand has shared words of encouragement with students throughout Guyana, urging students to approach their exams with confidence, assuring them that no matter the outcome, they will be supported by the Government in secondary school with a range of options to help them succeed.
She at the time made this announcement on Tuesday, in a social media post.
"What I want you to do tomorrow and on Thursday, is go into your assessment with full confidence that you will write what you know. Whatever happens, you will be fine, because we are go-
ing to look after you in secondary school, with varied options for how you can go through school," she said.
The Minister emphasised that the school a student is placed in should not be a source of worry, since efforts have been made to upgrade facilities and improve the quality of education across all secondary schools.
"I know today is the day before your assessment, and I know you have been preparing. I want you to know that you have all of our love and support—our commitment—that it doesn’t matter what school you attend, you will be able to do well. We have made the same investment in every school: infrastructure, textbooks, trained teachers, lab equipment, and more," Manickchand reassured.
She also encouraged students to carefully read over
their questions during the exams and avoid feeling anxious or afraid.
"This is a beautiful time. Do not be nervous or afraid. Don’t be worried—this is just another stage to get into secondary school. Do not be fearful. Do what you know. This is material you’ve been preparing for over the last eight years. It’s the same content you’ve been learning. If a question confuses you, read it again. If you still don’t know the prepared answer, think it through and write what you believe the answer to be," she advised.
The Minister also extended gratitude to the teachers and parents who supported the students along the way.
"To the teachers who have brought us to this point, I say thank you. To those of you who have worked tirelessly, thank you. This is a good time to show appreciation to you and also to
the parents. Please do not make your children nervous by projecting your own feelings onto them. Make sure they’re well-rested and eat something healthy and nutritious," she concluded.
The NGSA for 2025 is set to be written on April 16 and 17.
The assessment will be
based on the Grade Five curriculum and then a consolidated curriculum. However, it was reminded that concepts from Grades Three and Four are also tested.
NGSA is spearheaded by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
Similar to the structure since 2016, CXC prepares the examination, supervises its administration, marks the scripts, conducts quality checks and conducts consequential reviews if any are requested.
Candidates are tested in four subjects namely, Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies. The examination in each subject area consists of two papers. Paper One consists of multiple-choice items while Paper Two consists of essay-type or open-ended items.
As accustomed, all examination centres will be ful-
ly prepared and organised, and candidates must be fully aware of their seating positions along with the entry and exit plans.
In addition, all guidelines and regulations must be followed by both candidates and invigilators.
Candidates must be seated at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the examinations for both morning and afternoon sessions and they must be seated in an arrangement using their NGSA candidate numbers.
The packages containing examination papers must be opened and distributed in the presence of the seated candidates, and all necessary arrangements and provisions must be in place for candidates with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as those sitting Spanishtranslated papers.
Caricom SG warns of tech divide as global African community faces ongoing injustices …calls on PFPAD to prioritise inclusive development
Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, has warned that as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to develop exponentially, Africans and people of African descent are at risk of being further left behind if education, innovation, and inclusive governance frameworks are not prioritised.
She made this statement during her address at the 4th Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.
“As Artificial Intelligence continues to develop exponentially, Africans and people of African descent are at risk of being further left behind. Inequitable access to AI tools and training, further widens the digital divide, disadvantaging people of African heritage and their businesses, leaving them illequipped to effectively compete in a rapidly evolving global economy in which AI is increasingly a critical factor,” she said.
Amidst these challenges, Dr Barnett proposed strategies to prevent further marginalisation of Africans and people of African descent.
“To navigate these vulnerabilities, it is important for the Permanent Forum to advocate for inclusive policy frameworks and initiatives, and for investments in digital literacy, science and technology, and innovation. If we are to thrive in this era, we must prioritise education and innovation, and advocate for inclusive governance frameworks.”
Meanwhile, she shed
light on ongoing issues in Haiti, stating that the upcoming anniversary presents an opportunity to bring global attention to, and deepen the understanding of, the country’s plight.
“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, reparations for Haiti continue to be central to Caricom’s reparations claim. April 2025 marks the bicentenary of the indemnity of 150 million Francs imposed on Haiti by France, as reparations for loss of property—including enslaved Africans—and as a precondition for recognising the island’s independence,” she said.
She added, “The negative economic and social effects of this historical injustice are painfully clear, with arguable links to the situation in Haiti today. As such, I commend the Forum for putting the spotlight on Haiti in your Closing Session. This anniversary presents an opportunity to bring global attention and a deeper understanding of the situation in Haiti, and serves as a call to
action to address the ongoing security, humanitarian, and governance crises in the country.”
Dr Barnett also emphasised Africa’s rich legacy in knowledge and innovation, including contributions to mathematics, engineering, astronomy, agriculture, traditional healing, and philosophy.
“This legacy must now be reclaimed and recognised in development and management, including the regulation of Artificial Intelligence,” she asserted.
She further pointed out that the Forum must also take a stand against the use of AI technologies—through their applications and algorithms—to perpetuate racial discrimination.
In closing, she encouraged participants to use the event as an opportunity to pool collective knowledge and expertise, and to strengthen their commitment to improving the lives of Africans and people of African descent around the world.
“I encourage everyone to continue to work together to eradicate deeply embedded structures of racism
and inequality, and to build inclusive societies where the human rights of all people, including African peo-
ple, are respected. I wish the Permanent Forum continued success and fruitful deliberations,” she concluded.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett
Regional St Kitts and Nevis PM initiates legal action over defamatory publication
The Office of the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis has confirmed that Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew has taken legal action against Annette Frank in response to what has been described as “grave and false allegations” published against him on March 7, 2025.
According to an official statement, the Prime Minister considers the publication not only a personal attack but also a serious threat to the integrity of his office.
“This action stresses the gravity with which the Prime Minister views false and malicious attacks on his personal reputation, and that of Prime Minister,” the release stated. “It also reflects a commitment to upholding the reputations of persons from the dissemination of baseless and false attacks, and the duty of persons to act responsibly before publishing or republishing false allegations of misconduct.”
Acting on Dr Drew’s instructions, legal counsel issued a formal letter to Frank on April 7, 2025. The letter characterizes the statements made in the March 7 post as “scandalous, totally false and defamatory,” and alleges
the publication was made “with clear malice in order to cause reputational damage.”
The letter, addressed through the Prime Minister’s legal representation, demands the following actions from Frank: an unequivocal retraction of the publication from all media, including social media platforms; public apology to the prime minister; payment of EC$500,000 in compensation for damage and distress; payment of EC$50,000 in legal costs and a formal undertaking not to repeat or republish any similar defamatory allegations.
Frank has been given 10 days to respond. “
In the absence of a speedy and constructive response to this letter within the time specified, the Hon. Prime Minister will have no choice but to issue proceedings for defamation,” the letter stated.
The Prime Minister’s Office said this legal response underscores Dr. Drew’s intention to defend his integrity and ensure that falsehoods do not go unchallenged.
While reaffirming his commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression, the Prime Minister also emphasized that there are limits when those freedoms are abused. (Excerpt from Loop Caribbean News)
US supports Caricom statement condemning threats of violence against Haiti’s transitional Government
The United States says it supports the statement issued by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries in which the 15-member regional integration grouping strongly condemned recent reports that criminal gangs in Haiti are threatening to overthrow the transitional government through violence.
The spokesperson for the US State Department, Tammy Bruce, in a brief statement said “following discussions between the Secretary (Marco Rubio) and Deputy Secretary of State (Christopher Landau) with Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Caribbean Community
(Caricom) Mia Mottley, the United States supports the statement by Caricom condemning any actions to destabilize Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council”.
Bruce said that Washington also “supports the efforts by the Kenyaled Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission and Caricom to assist the government in its efforts to bring peace and stability to Haiti in the face of armed criminal gangs.
Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital Port au Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children among others.
“The United States con-
Reports state that Venezuel’s economy is unraveling yet again, as key oil revenue dries up due to the renewed economic sanctions punishing Maduro for electoral fraud and as his government finds itself with little wiggle room to respond despite some post-pandemic stability.
Like people in other Latin American countries – and long before their nation came undone in 2013 – Venezuelans have used the U.S. dollar as a safe haven asset and see the exchange rate as a measure of the economy’s health.
Maduro’s government began using cash reserves in 2021 to artificially lower the exchange rate, making people at one point pay 3.50 bolivars for $1. That led to roughly 67% of retail transactions being made in foreign currency.
The rate grew slowly, and by 2023, Maduro’s efforts to inject dollars into the economy were aided by energy giant Chevron, which started regularly selling millions to banks to get bolivars to pay bills after the U.S. government let it to restart operations in Venezuela. The infusion of dollars allowed the government to maintain the rate around 35 bolivars to $1 through mid-2024, when the warnings of economists materialized.
“So many of us said that … sooner or later, it was going to be unsustainable,” economics professor Leonardo Vera said. “It was already evident in July that there were shortages of foreign currency in the official market in the face of growing demand, and those who couldn’t get foreign currency began to move to the black market, a very small market where when a surge in demand arrives… the price goes up.”
This month, the official rate reached 70 bolivars to $1, but the black market hit 100 bolivars to $1 last month.
Before the official and black market rates grew apart considerably, formal and informal businesses applied the government’s rate for transactions. These days, however, informal businesses, such as the food markets where the majority of Venezuelans buy groceries, favor the black market’s rate, making some goods unaffordable.
Prices have also increased at formal businesses, including grocery and hardware stores, because companies are setting them based on the expected higher cost to replenish their inventories.
Economist Pedro Palma said Venezuela's inflation rate could be between 180% and 200%. He warned that people will cut spending because
tinues to consult with governments across the region,” Bruce said.
On Sunday, regional leaders issued a statement condemning the efforts to overthrow the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in the French-speaking Caricom country.
The Caricom leaders, who met virtually last Friday, described the threats as “completely unacceptable” and warned that any attempt to forcibly change the governance structure in Haiti would only worsen the country’s already dire humanitarian situation. (Loop News)
A30-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting that occurred four years ago during the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano on the island of Saint Vincent.
Ormando Mofford, known locally as ‘Heads,’ appeared before the Serious Offences Court on April 14 following his capture in Grenada and subsequent transfer to Vincentian authorities.
He is accused of killing 19-year-old Dale ‘Micey’
Hooper, who was fatally shot on April 9, 2021.
According to reports, Hooper was shot multiple times around 7:00 pm and pronounced dead at the scene in Glen. The murder occurred on the same day the La Soufrière volcano erupted, amid widespread evacuation efforts and national emergency measures.
Due to the indictable nature of the charge, Mofford was not required to enter a plea during Monday’s hearing.
salaries will not keep up with inflation and some could even lose their jobs.
“We have a truly dramatic outlook: on the one hand, skyrocketing inflation; on the other, the prospect of a very significant recession," Palma said.
The latest economic developments were the greatest fears of many Venezuelans ahead of last year’s presidential election. So much so that a nationwide poll conducted before the election showed that roughly a fourth of people were thinking about migrating, primarily for economic reasons.
Nowadays, though, people largely appear to have abandoned that idea, partly because of Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Venezuela's national assembly on Thursday had passed a decree proposed by President Nicolas Maduro's government, declaring a state of economic emergency in response to U.S. sanctions and tariffs.
Maduro signed the decree citing constitutional powers to declare states of emergency.
The emergency decree aims to aid national production, Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez said during the presentation of the document to lawmakers. (Excerpt from ABC News)
Murder suspect arrested in Grenada, charged in 2021 SVG killing Venezuela economy worsens as Maduro declares economic emergency
He has been remanded to His Majesty’s Prison until his next court appearance scheduled for May 5.
The arrest comes after a years-long investigation by the Major Crimes Unit of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF). Mofford was apprehended on April 7 by the Royal Grenada Police Force, who collaborated with Vincentian authorities to secure his transfer. (Excerpt from Loop News)
Lawyers say El Salvador blocks access to detained Venezuelans
Lawyers challenging the incarceration in El Salvador of more than 200 Venezuelans deported by the U.S. said the Salvadoran government is denying the prisoners access to attorneys and contact with the outside world.
Under an agreement with the Salvadoran government, President Donald Trump's administration in March sent 238 Venezuelans to its Terrorism Confinement Center, opens new tab, the largest prison in Latin America, as part of a crackdown on immigration.
The lawyers said they have not been able to visit,
speak to or learn about the whereabouts and conditions of their clients, whose identities they have gleaned through leaked information.
El Salvador's presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Nayib Bukele visited the White House on Monday.
Private attorneys, some recruited by the Venezuelan government and all paid for by families, have filed writs of habeus corpus at El Salvador's supreme court, seeking to compel the government to justify the deported Venezuelans' detention or release them.
Law firm Grupo Ortega,
which represents at least 30 of the Venezuelan deportees, has received no response to any of those petitions, said general director Jaime Ortega. Human Rights Watch on Friday said there is no official list of the detained Venezuelans, and relatives have not received responses to requests for information on their location from Salvadoran and U.S. authorities.
The rights group called on the Salvadoran government to confirm who is being held and where, reveal any legal basis for their detention and allow them contact with the outside world. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew
Around the world
OOIL NEWS
Oil prices steady as market considers latest US tariff news
il prices were little changed on Tuesday as investors digested the latest headlines on U.S. President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs, and tried to figure how much the U.S.-China trade war could reduce global economic growth and oil demand.
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $64.77 per barrel at 10:34 a.m. EDT (1434 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $61.41.
Vacillating U.S. trade policies have created uncertainty for global oil markets and prompted the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to lower its demand outlook on Monday.
The International Energy Agency followed on Tuesday with its projection that global oil demand in 2025 will grow at its slowest rate for five years due again to worries about economic growth from Trump’s trade tariffs.
That trade tariff uncertainty has caused several banks, including UBS, BNP Paribas and HSBC, to cut their crude price forecasts for this year and next.
"Should the trade war further escalate, our downside risk scenario case — i.e., a deeper U.S. recession and a hard landing in China — could see Brent trading at $40-60/bbl over the coming months," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
Worries about Trump's tariffs, along with a supply hike by OPEC+, have already caused oil prices to plunge by roughly 14% so far this month. (Excerpt from Reuters)
China reportedly orders its airlines to halt Boeing jet deliveries amid US trade war
China has reportedly ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, the latest move in its tit-for-tat trade war with the US.
The Chinese government has asked carriers to stop purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from American companies, according to a Bloomberg News article, which cited people familiar with the matter.
The order was reported to have come after the country raised its retaliatory tariffs on US goods to 125% on Friday in response to Donald Trump’s levies on Chinese imports totalling 145%. Beijing was also said to be considering ways to support airlines that lease Boeing jets and are facing higher costs.
About 10 Boeing 737 Max jets are being prepared to join Chinese airlines, and if deliv-
Wave of "coordinated attacks" targets French prisons
France’s anti-terrorism office has launched an investigation after unknown assailants carried out a wave of attacks on prisons across the country.
Multiple incidents were recorded overnight and into Tuesday, with prisons targeted with automatic gunfire and arson attacks against cars.
The perpetrators of the attacks have not been identified, but government officials noted that they follow an intensified crackdown on drug gang crimes, including record seizures of cocaine smuggled from South America.
Authorities reported that
vehicles were burned outside prisons across the country, including near Paris. A prison in the southern city of Toulon was fired upon.
An unnamed source told the AFP news agency that the series of attacks “appeared to have been coordinated and is clearly linked to the anti-drug gang strategy”.
France’s national antiterrorism prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday it has taken charge of the investigation into the attacks.
The country’s DGSI national security agency will also be involved in the investigation, the prosecutor said.
Justice Minister Gerald
Darmanin, who has led efforts to toughen prison security and crack down on gangsters who run their empires from behind bars, said, “Attempts have been made to intimidate staff in several prisons.”
Three vehicles, two belonging to prison staff, were set on fire in the car park of the Villepinte prison north of Paris, a police source told AFP. A fuel canister was found on site, and security camera footage showed two individuals setting fire to the cars.
Vehicles parked outside three other prisons – one near Paris and two in southern France – were also set
on fire, another police source said.
Fifteen bullet impacts were found on the front gate of the prison in Toulon following an attack with a “Kalashnikov-type” assault weapon, prison staff union FO Justice said.
Wilfried Fonck, national secretary for the UFAP UNSa Justice union, said the prison system did not have enough staff to secure prison perimeters “24/7”.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he had instructed authorities to step up the protection of staff and prisons immediately. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire disarmament proposal, Palestinian official says
Hamas is said to have rejected an Israeli proposal for a sixweek ceasefire in Gaza which called for the armed group to give up its weapons.
A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks said the plan gave no commitment to end the war or for an Israeli troop pull-out – key Hamas demands – in exchange for releasing half of the living hostages which it holds.
It comes as Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza.
A security guard was killed and nine other people were injured in an air strike on a field hospital in Khan Younis, the hospital said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck the head of a Hamas cell.
Israel is said to have submitted its latest ceasefire proposal to regional mediators late last week, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump
ery paperwork and payment on some of them were completed before Chinese “reciprocal” tariffs came into effect, the planes may be allowed to enter the country, sources told Bloomberg.
The restriction marks a serious blow for Boeing and other manufacturers trying to navigate the escalating trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
Shares in Boeing have been buffeted by worries about the impact of trade tariffs, as well as complaints from some shareholders that the company has under invested in its engineering.
The company has lost 7% of its market value since the start of the year, and in March its chief financial officer, Brian West, said tariffs could hit availability of parts from its suppliers. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
in Washington.
A Hamas delegation headed by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya then met Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo.
The senior Palestinian official told the BBC: "The Israeli proposal relayed to the movement through Egypt explicitly called for the disarmament of Hamas without any Israeli commitment to end the war or withdraw from Gaza. Hamas
therefore rejected the offer in its entirety."
It is understood to be the first time that Israel has added Hamas disarmament as a condition for advancing a ceasefire - a red line for the group.
The Palestinian official accused Israel of stalling for time, seeking only to retrieve the hostages while prolonging the war.
It is believed that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, of
whom 24 are alive.
Hamas has said it is ready to return all of those held captive, in exchange for a complete end to hostilities and full Israeli pull-out from Gaza.
The BBC understands that Egypt has put forward a modified proposal to Hamas which it is now considering. Israeli media had not been anticipating an imminent ceasefire breakthrough. (Excerpt from BBC)
Court
temporarily blocks Trump bid to cancel legal status of 500,000 migrants
Ajudge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate a Bidenera program that granted legal status to migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti.
The ruling, in federal district court in Boston, prevents the wholesale shutdown of the program, which was set to expire on 24 April.
It has allowed more than 500,000 people to legally enter and work in the US since its inception.
“[Migrants] would be
forced to choose between two injurious options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings,” the judge, Indira Talwani, wrote in her ruling.
The program, established under the previous administration, allowed migrants from those four countries to legally enter and work in the US for up to two years if they had a financial sponsor and passed security checks.
The Biden administration had framed it as a stra-
tegic measure to reduce illegal border crossings by creating legitimate pathways to entry.
The Trump administration had moved aggressively in March to end the program, giving participants less than a month’s notice before their legal status expired. It argued the plan exacerbated issues with immigration by granting protections to “a substantial population of aliens in the interior of the United States without a clear path to a durable status”.
The latest legal setback for the Trump team comes amid broader efforts to roll back other immigration protections, including those for thousands of Cameroonian and Afghan migrants – who would face being sent back to the Taliban after siding with the Americans – by either May or June, and a separate attempt to revoke temporary protected status for Venezuelans, which has been blocked for now by a federal court. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Armed members of Hamas's military wing
An Air China Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
Set the pace, agenda and goal, and get moving toward your destination. Having a plan and the ability to do everything yourself will deter others from interfering.
Take the time to declutter your life. Walk away from situations that are stifling your progress. Be responsible for your actions and straightforward about your intentions.
A change will offer a different perspective regarding what's possible. Take a moment to view your options and adjust any aspect that doesn't fit your agenda. Avoid putting your health at risk.
Apply energy to whatever brings the highest return. Protect your reputation by going a step above others' expectations. Pay attention to how you present yourself and how you handle your money.
Take pride in what you do and say; you'll appeal to people who can contribute to your long-term goal. Direct your energy wisely. Strive to reach the highest pinnacle and take a bow.
Concentrate on what's important to you. Initiate domestic and home improvements that can help to lower your costs. Engaging in a joint venture or sharing expenses will work out if you set ground rules.
Heart-to-heart talks will help you avoid a meltdown with someone. Incentives, a positive attitude and suggestions regarding what you can contribute to make your relationship purposeful will help.
Tone down your rhetoric and avoid a dispute. Live within your means, regardless of temptation. Set feasible goals and focus on personal growth, health and fitness.
Stick to the basics, the truth and a budget you can afford. You will set yourself back if you take on too much or try to impress others with exaggerated information.
Cultivate meaningful relationships. Don't ignore the signs and signals you receive. Using your astute memory to find solutions that satisfy everyone will put you in the driver's seat.
Smile and move forward positively. What you achieve will send you to bigger and better opportunities. Financial gain, personal growth and advancement are apparent.
Educate yourself and confidently move forward. What you know and how you present your wisdom will help manifest optimal changes. Don't limit yourself by setting boundaries.
Indian Premier League 2025...
Last year, Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off the highest successful run chase in IPL history in a match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This year, they have successfully defended the lowest total, as they bowled out KKR for 95 after posting just 111. And they did this after failing to defend 245 in their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
At 62 for 2, KKR were 98% favourites to win, but Yuzvendra Chahal triggered a sensational collapse in conditions that were almost as helpful for the seamers as in
four.
Prabhsimran, Arya hit the ground running KKR had beefed up their fast bowling with Anrich Nortje ostensibly because they wanted to test the young Indian batters in PBKS who have been doing the heavy lifting. However, those openers targeted Vaibhav Arora's second over to threaten a repeat of their high-scoring exploits. Harshit Rana, though, turned things around with shorter lengths. The wickets themselves might look innocuous, but the short balls did create doubts as they stopped a little
Punjab Kings successfully defend lowest score of 111
KKR spinners mop up Probably expecting high pace, PBKS had reinforced their overseas batting by bringing in Josh Inglis for Marcus Stoinis. However, both their overseas batters failed to read Varun Chakravarthy from the hand.
Inglis was bowled off a wrong'un as he tried to slog-sweep, and Glenn Maxwell was bowled as he looked for a single.
PBKS even went for an SOS substitution, which would leave Maxwell as the fifth bowler. Sunil Narine, though, took out the Impact Player Suryansh Shedge and Jansen in the same over. A run-out between Arshdeep and IPL debutant Xavier Bartlett ended what looked like a sorry innings.
The KKR seamers took 4 for 23 in 29 balls pitched shorter than 8m in length, while 24 balls fuller than that went for 49 runs.
Test cricket. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen then applied the finishing touches with incisive short bowling -something KKR had used to end up with a paltry target to chase.
The ball seamed 0.5 degrees on average, and both batting sides approached the game with high intent. Anything full flew because of the pace in the pitch, but when wickets fell, they did so in clutches. Accordingly, things happened quickly as the game swung wildly. PBKS went from 39 without loss in 19 balls to 15 for 4 in the next 17; and lost their last wickets for 37.
KKR were 7 for 2 in 1.2 overs, but scored 55 in the next 38 balls. Chahal then inspired a collapse of six wickets in 5.1 overs. The final twist was Andre Russell taking 16 off one Chahal over to rearrange Chahal’s figures to 4-0-28-4, but the big left-arm quicks turned to seal the win that took PBKS into the top
and also seamed appreciably.
Priyansh Arya found deep
for new-ball wickets in the BBL, got Quinton de Kock with the rare traditional length ball as de Kock got a massive top edge on the flick.
A few fielding errors got the partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi going, and there were calculations about the net run-rate boost that could help KKR get to the top of the table.
Chahal brings PBKS back Chahal, the IPL's highest wicket-taker, has had an indifferent start this year, with just two wickets in the first six matches. He had to take a fitness test, and then reassure Ricky Ponting just to play this match. The dew had already set in, as seen in how a Bartlett throw from the boundary actually slipped out for four overthrows behind Chahal. Still, he kept giving the ball a rip, slowed his pace down, and took out not just set batters Rahane and Raghuvanshi, but also Rinku Singh and Ramandeep.
Bartlett strike early Continuing with the
Rahane was beaten on the sweep. He had got himself outside the line, but failed to review the lbw call. That was among Chahal's quicker balls, at 84.3kmph; but once he got
trend, Jansen, given the first over ahead of Arshdeep, wasted no time in testing the middle of the pitch. The ball seamed in to beat Narine's pull, and took the top of the stumps. Bartlett, renowned
a look-in, he started to loop it. Raghuvanshi and Rinku were both beaten in the flight. Raghuvanshi got a thick edge to backward point, and Rinku was stumped after being
dragged out of the crease by the dip and drift.
Ramandeep premeditated a paddle-sweep first ball, and top-edged to leg slip, where the anticipating Iyer had already reached from slip.
Russell scares PBKS
Almost halfway into the league stage, Russell's strikerate read 92, his season tally read 23 off 25, and his match score 1 off 4. The last player who could support him, Rana, had been softened up and then bowled by Jansen's shortpitched bowling. KKR still needed 33 with two wickets in hand. That is when Russell showed up, and hit Chahal for two sixes and a four to cut the deficit in half.
Arshdeep had Arora in his sights for a whole over if
he could manage. He pitched two balls up from around the wicket, and the second could have been a single if Russell had sprinted off, but he didn't.
Arshdeep now went over the wicket and started to dig the ball in. Arora was hit on the arm as he looked to duck, beaten as he fended, and then lucky to survive as he fended again. For the last ball of the over, Arshdeep went around the wicket and bowled a snorter to take the edge right in front of Arora's nose.
The over ended, Russell still had another shot at the target. However, he bottom-edged the first ball of the next over to kickstart rapturous celebrations in Mullanpur (ESPNcricinfo).
SCOREBOARD
Punjab Kings (20 ovs maximum)
Priyansh Arya c Ramandeep Singh
b Harshit Rana 22
Prabhsimran Singh c Ramandeep Singh
b Harshit Rana 30
Shreyas Iyer (c)c Ramandeep Singh
b Harshit Rana 0
Josh Inglis † b Varun 2
Nehal Wadhera c Iyer
b Nortje 10
Glenn Maxwell
b Varun 7
Suryansh Shedge c †de Kock
b Narine 4
Shashank Singh lbw
b Arora 18
Marco Jansen
b Narine 1
Xavier Bartlett run out (Iyer/Arora) 11
Arshdeep Singh not out 1
Extras (b 2, w 3) 5
Total 15.3 Ov (RR: 7.16) 111
Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Priyansh Arya, 3.2 ov), 2-39 (Shreyas Iyer, 3.4 ov), 3-42 (Josh Inglis, 4.5 ov), 4-54 (Prabhsimran Singh, 5.6 ov), 5-74 (Nehal Wadhera, 8.4 ov), 6-76 (Glenn Maxwell, 9.1 ov), 7-80 (Suryansh Shedge, 10.1 ov), 8-86 (Marco Jansen, 10.6 ov), 9-109 (Shashank Singh, 15.1 ov), 10111 (Xavier Bartlett, 15.3 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Vaibhav Arora 2.3-0-26-1
Anrich Nortje 3-0-23-1 Harshit Rana 3-0-25-3
Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-21-2
Sunil Narine 3-0-14-2
Kolkata Knight Riders (T: 112 runs from 20 ovs)
Quinton de Kock †c Suryansh Shedge
b Bartlett 2 Sunil Narine
b Jansen 5 Ajinkya Rahane (c)lbw
b Chahal 17 Angkrish Raghuvanshi c Bartlett
b Chahal 37 Venkatesh Iyer lbw b Maxwell 7 Rinku Singh st †Inglis b Chahal 2 Andre Russell b Jansen 17 Ramandeep Singh c Iyer b Chahal 0 Harshit Rana b Jansen 3 Vaibhav Arora c †Inglis b Arshdeep Singh 0 Anrich
square leg, Shreyas Iyer cut a short and wide ball straight to deep point, and Prabhsimran Singh was cramped on the cut. All three catches ended up with Ramandeep Singh.
Jansen,
Punjab Kings have stunned Kolkata Knight Riders
Glenn Maxwell was bamboozled by Varun Chakravarthy
Yuzvendra Chahal was the hero as PBKS stunned KKR
Ramandeep Singh and Harshit Rana combined to take three wickets inside the powerplay
GCC, East Bank Eagles advance to semis in Demerara Zone
The young players continued to showcase their talents in the preliminary rounds of the Demerara Zone of the One Guyana National Under-21 Inter-Club Super50 Knockout Cricket Tournament staged by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). These matches were played at diverse venues on April 12th, 13th and 14th.
In quarterfinal #1 match of this tournament, the Georgetown Cricket Club took on their Ogle counter-
Ground in Georgetown.
Having won the toss, GCC elected to bat, and through great skill and composure, accumulated a total of 314 for 8. Rivaldo Phillips led the way with 89, while Thaddeus Lovell (42) and Trilok Nanan (40) played supporting roles. Marcel Nandu had figures of 2 for 49 in his 10 overs.
A disappointing batting display combined with an excellent spell from Ayran Persaud, who took 5 for 11, routed Ogle for 60 runs made in 24.5 overs, and GCC won the game by 254
parts in a match played at the famous Bourda Cricket
runs.
In quarterfinal #2
match, played at the Transport Sports Club in Thomas Lands, ‘Transport B’ won the toss against East Bank Eagles and elected to bat. They posted a below-average total of 128 all out in 21.3 overs, of which Shamar Apple top-scored with 27 while Romeo Deonarine made 19.
Andrew Lim with 3 for 50, and Roupie Rajaram, Anthony Hutson, and Jovind Duncan who each took 2 wickets, were responsible for restricting the ‘Transport B’ total.
However, in the East Bank Eagles’ innings, Shilo Adams with 2 for 30 and Newrawl Nicholas with 2 for 19 made it difficult for the Eagles to fly; but they
prevailed anyway, having managed to reach 129 for 7 in 34.2 overs. The in-form Josiah Lim made 36 not out, while Andrew Lim supported with 31.
Preliminary Rounds
Malteenoes Sports Club went to battle against Ogle on home ground. They won the toss and chose to field first in slightly overcast conditions, the game also being reduced to 48 overs.
Batting first, Ogle posted a formidable 316-7 in 48 overs. Mohendar Singh was the standout performer, scoring a magnificent century. His innings of 153 runs included 14 fours and 5 huge sixes.
Alex Mangra provided support with 42 runs that contained 2 fours.
Bowling for Malteenoes, J. Paton, Nathaniel Ramkelawan, Deshaun Ramnauth, and Joshua Boosram each took a wicket; but, in reply, Malteenoes could muster only 126 all out in 44.5 overs. Joshua Bollers top-scored with 34, while Vickash Asaram contributed 31.
The outstanding Ogle bowlers were Ajay Gainda with 4 for 15 in 6.5 overs, and Samuel Heeralall with 3 for 22 in 9 overs. Ogle won by 190 runs.
At the Meten-MeerZorg ground on the West Side of Demerara, GCC won the toss and opted to bat first.
Thaddeus Lovell’s fantastic score of 176 included 11 fours and an astonishing 17 sixes. Nichlos Shiopersad added 34 to take the GCC total to 334 for 7 in their 50 overs. Kelvin Raymond, Udeshram Seetaram and Navendra Sankar each took 2 wickets for MMZ.
MMZ were bowled out for 127 in 25.1 overs. Sachin Balgobin, who made 48, had no help forthcoming from his MMZ teammates. Bowling for GCC, Aryan Persaud returned figures of 5 for 22 in 7 overs. Joash Charles took 2-29 in 5 overs, and Krisha Singh took 2-5 in 4.1 overs. They were the other key contributors to the GCC triumph by 207 runs.
Everest Cricket Club played the East Bank Eagles (EBE) at the Everest Cricket Ground, where EBE won the toss and elected
to bat. EBE made a very competitive total of 299 all out in their 50 overs, with Josiah Lim leading the way with a great knock of 106 (2 fours and 11 sixes), while Deonarine Dindial provided excellent support with 55 (4 fours).
Reuel Prashad, Feyad Lakeraj, Devindra Krisnalall, Steffon Seymour, and Huzhayfah Ali each
Afraz Khan took 2 for 1. They were the standout performers.
In reply, ‘Transport A’ easily chased down the target, and ended on 57-4 in 6 overs. Miyhiem Khan topscored with 18.
‘Transport B’ played DCB Select XI at the Transport Sports Club ground, and DCB Select XI won the toss and elected to
took 2 wickets for Everest, who were bowled out for 162 in 34 overs. Varun Mangal with 36 and Kevin Benn with 27 were the top scorers for Everest.
Bowling for EBE, Jovind Ducan took 4 for 33, while Altaf Rahim took 3-27. EBE won by 137 runs.
Demerara Cricket Club had a comfortable 7-wicket win at their home ground against Fairfield. DCC won the toss and opted to field.
The Fairfield batting lineup was decimated for 71 runs made in 20.3 overs. Saeed Sattaur top-scored with 31. Ezekiel Wilson, Wavell Allen, and Makai Dowlin each took 2 wickets.
DCC made light work of the chase, getting to 72 for 3 in 14 overs. Inderjit Nanan finished the game on 23 not out and Kishawn Silas on 18 not out.
Bowling for Fairfield, Moin Persaud had 2-36 in 3 overs, and Deodat Ramdeo took 1 for 10 in 4 overs.
‘Transport A’ easily battered Police at the police ground. Police were bowled out for 56 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
‘Transport A’ bowler Riyad Latif took 4 for 11 while
bat first. They made 116, of which Varun Mangal contributed 62, which included 10 fours, while Feyaad Lakeraj made 25.
Bowling for ‘Transport B’, Emmanuel Lewis took 3 for 16, while Stephon Sankar took 2 for 29. ‘Transport B’, in reply, made 117-3 in 13.4 overs. Shamar Apple finished the game on 56 not out, alongside Jeremiah Huhererkirk who had 18. Transport B won by 7 wickets.
Aryan Persaud had figures of 5-11
Thaddeus Lovell made 176 against Meten-Meer-Zorg Sports Club
Andrew Lim made 31 runs and took 3-50
Josiah Lim made 106 against Everest Cricket Club
“Motor racing is in my blood” –former go-cart racer Elan Rahaman
– says not intimidated ahead of maiden race in Street Class category
With the first track meet of the 2025 season of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) mere days away, all racers are understandably in full competition mode. On race day, Sunday April 27, 2025, some of them will be competing for the first time, while some, who are veterans, are eager to continue from where they had left off in 2024.
This is the first time that Elan Rahaman would be competing in the Street Class super bike category, but this 21-year-old is no stranger to motor racing. He is the son of the legendary racer Ray Rahaman. On race day the young Rahaman will be riding his Yamaha R6, numbered ‘6’, with the hope of bettering his best lap time of 1:23 seconds.
“Currently I’m running at a pace of 1:23.00, and I think (that) once track conditions improve and we get good weather as race day approaches, I’ll see a second off of that pace,” he told Guyana Times Sport during an interview.
As a first-time rider, he is a strong believer in hard work bringing results, and has been putting in the laps.
“In racing, nothing is predictable; but I need to stay focused, put my head down,
into play and give me that edge that I need to be quicker in the corners and late on the brakes,” he explained.
He explained that the camaraderie between the bikers is a true reflection of sportsmanship, and although each is in it to win it, everyone is respectful and helpful to each other.
He explained that although he is starting off in the Street Class category, his goal is to progress rapidly to the Super Bike A Class, where he would compete against such notable personages as Matthew Vieira and
Rahaman is a racing legend, and the need for speed trickled down to me from a young age, when I started out racing go-carts. I have now moved on to superbikes, and it is without a doubt one of the most exhilarating forms of racing. Nothing can compare to the feeling of being on a bike,” he detailed.
Nervousness is inevitable, he explained, even though he has been on the tracks quite regularly.
“In any competition, you will get nervous. But personally, this is one of the things I can handle well. Keeping
and qualify to the front of the grid. From there, it all comes down to who wants to win and is willing to put it all on the line,” he explained.
As the youngest rider in his class, Rahaman will be competing against some seasoned riders, but he disclosed that he is in no way intimidated.
“I am the youngest in my class, with most of the competitors having 3+ years of experience. I am, however, not intimidated by this, as I know my overall fitness will come
Kevin Persaud, among other well-seasoned bikers.
“I love the bikes, so, currently, the career path is to get to the top and compete with the professionals,” he disclosed.
How did it all start for this young man? His love for the sport most definitely came from being around his role model and mentor - his father Ray Rahaman - whose motor racing blood he says is running through his veins.
“Motor racing is in my blood. My father Ray
your cool and your composure is an integral part of winning, and I plan on using that to my advantage come competition day,” he disclosed.
He also believes that, with every race meet, he can be better organized, since the sport will grow and evolve.
“I strongly believe that this sport will grow in the right direction, and we will gain new competitors and new followers. Guyana should aim to becoming the hub of motor racing in the Caribbean, as
we have got some of the best talent,” young Elan Rahaman has said.
He also disclosed that he hopes to see more females getting involved in the sport, and has commended the GMR&SC for doing a fantastic job at creating opportunities to encourage talented female drivers to step up and compete.
While a lot has been done to revolutionize the sport, he declared, it still remains one of the most expensive sports around, and participants are still heavily dependent on sponsorship.
Rahaman has posited, “Motor racing is definitely expensive; meaning you’re not only putting in the work on track, but you have to have your priorities straight. I am fortunate to have the support of two companies - Parc
are no longer racing would return to the sport in 2025.
For those contemplating a career in motor sport, Elan Rahaman is encouraging them not to make a hasty decision, but to take it one day at a time.
“It is hard to learn everything right off the bat. If you’re now getting into the sport, I’d recommend observing what the experienced drivers or riders are doing;
advised. Besides being a racer, he is a tennis fanatic and spends a lot of time on the court. Meanwhile, come April 27, the still single young man is wishing his competitors
and
Asked about what the future holds for him, Elan Rahaman responded, “I can’t say…I feel as if my life is moving very fast and I hope to still be doing what I love in great health.”
At the same time, he is optimistic that some of the bikers who
and even on track days, you come out and see what it’s like to make sure your bike or car is ready to head out on the track, (in order) to be reliable and competitive. Racing can be very intricate,” he
Elan Rahaman is set to make his debut in the Street Class category
A look at Elan Rahaman’s machine
Rayne
Snapins Cabins.”
West Indies Championships 2025…
“…don’t want to see it happening in our franchise” – Hercules on ball tampering fiasco
…Elated at retention of title
After months of gruelling cricket, at times on the road, the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) have earned their third consecutive West Indies Championships title on Saturday last.
Upon returning to the Land of Many Waters on Sunday, GHE Head Coach Ryan Hercules shared his thoughts on the victory, and spoke of plans in the pipeline for the team’s improvement.
Regarding the title win, Hercules said, “Of course it’s a good feeling being the champions! It goes to show
that what we set out to do, at the end of the tournament we achieved. So, once we keep hitting those goals, it’s a great feeling; and coming home to a warm welcome like this even makes it feel a bit better. We’ll continue to push for success!
“There’s always room for improvement, so we’ve already started that plan 2 weeks ago; not on the plane. There are areas we need to discuss in terms from a tactical standpoint, because I strongly suggest we cannot continue doing the same thing year in, year out. We have made changes from last year to this year, and we would’ve seen the difference in our batting points and bowling points. So, we will earmark where we need to improve on, going into next year,” the Coach divulged to media operatives at the Eugene F. Correia Airport on Sunday morning.
While the Champions were happy to return home to a hero’s welcome, the team’s indiscretion in the final Round of the tournament came up for discussion. The balltampering fiasco in which two players, Veerasammy Permaul and Kevlon Anderson, were fined 75% and 90% of their match fees
for ‘changing the con dition’ of the ball, ad mittedly tainted the fi nal round’s play, and the Coach has declared that that occurrence cannot repeat itself. He explained, “Obviously, it doesn’t look good for us when you hear something like that breaks out; but I think it was a mistake that was there, and, you know, play ers would’ve
admitted to that. Going forward, that’s something that we don’t want as a background for our franchise, and the players would’ve understand that. So, like I said, it does happen; but it’s something I don’t want to see happening in our franchise.”
The Guyana Harpy Eagles topped the points table of the West Indies Championships with 126.6 points, while Barbados Pride finished second with 121.2 points. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force were third with 111 points, while the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Jamaica Scorpions completed the top 5 positions with 98.5 and 86.4 points respectively.
Exciting showdowns expected in Milo semis today
The 2025 Milo Schools’ Under-18 Football Tournament will head into the business end today, when the semifinal round is contested at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.
Dolphin Secondary will take on West Ruimveldt Secondary from 17:00hrs, while a clash between Chase’s Academic Foundation and Waramuri Secondary follows from 19:00hrs.
As last year’s third-place finishers, Dolphin are especially intent on flipping the script this time around, as told by Captain Brian Brower, who shared, “Well, it wasn’t really a competitive match, but we get the results and we execute good. Yeah! Well, we just know that we get a nice run to the finals, and if we play like how we usually train, [we’ll] win hard.
“Well, this time around, we just coming to play we heart out in the semifinals. Let this year be better, and for Dolphin, bring it home,” Brower explained.
West Ruimveldt Secondary have likely spent their down time, between the quarterfinals and semis, polishing their skills. Captain Jeremiah Griffith has said, “I think my team performed good, just that they need a little more training, and we shall be in the final.”
Griffith, who led his team with a hattrick in the last round, added, “We need to play with one another, focus on the game, come out to training, and work as a team.”
The West Ruimveldt Captain added, “I’m fully 100% confident in my team, and we shall win the semifinals first, and prevail to the finals.”
Captain Bryan Wharton of defending champions Chase’s
Academic Foundation, detailing how their quarterfinal matchup went, said, “I think it was a good game. They had couple key players that coulda hurt us on the given day, but nevertheless we come out victorious. I think we was kinda the favourites, so we were just looking to get the early goal, and put the pressure on them after then”.
He added, “Every team get a way and a day that they could beat anybody, but we ain’t taking nobody lightly, and every game we treating as a final.”
Chase’s Academic Foundation have thus disclosed that although they have won every school’s football competition last year, they will not be taking any opposition lightly.
Given that the second semifinal is a repeat of the 2024 championship game, last year’s runners-up, Waramuri Secondary, are intent on turning the tables on the opposition, according to Captain Orwin Abrams.
“We could’ve scored more goals; we had more opportunities… the Waramuri Secondary Captain explained.
“Well, we have one objective, and the objective is to win. So, we keep that same mentality all the time. We are ready for a challenge,” Abrams assured.
The teams are competing for a $300,000 grand prize that will go towards a school project of the winner’s choice. The Milo final is scheduled for Saturday, April 19.
Despite the final- round drama, Guyana Harpy Eagles have earned their 8th title in 10 years
A glimpse of what to expect in the Milo semis today
Guyana Harpy Eagles Head Coach Ryan Hercules addressing the media on Sunday morning