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“Know your rights” – Consumer Affairs tells shoppers as holiday shopping begins Ganja found during Police operation at Mahdia
Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand has emphasised that she has no authority to break the tie in the Region 10 Chairmanship deadlock, expressing instead that she hopes the matter is resolved in accordance with the law. “Minister no longer has a role to determine who is going to become the chairman if you have a tie. There’s a process and that process has to be engaged,” Manickchand said on Monday during a radio interview with Gordon Moseley. Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) currently does not have a sworn-in Chairman due to an ongoing political stalemate following the October 2025 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) elections.
The internal RDC election for the Chairperson position, held in October 2025, ended in a 9-9 tie. The candidates were Mark Goring of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and Dominique Blair of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Under Section 20 of the Local Democratic Organs Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act of 2018, if
the first vote ends in a tie, the Clerk must immediately put the tied candidates into a second vote. If the second vote also ties, the Clerk must immediately put those same candidates into a third vote. If the third vote still ties, the Clerk must record how each councillor voted.
The law further states that “Having recorded the disposition of each councillor under paragraph (e), the Clerk shall then compute the numeric seat value apportioned to each of the councillors present and voting who were selected on the basis of the Proportional Representation component of the election at which they were duly elected councillors and in addition, assign these results accordingly to the candidate for whom each councillor voted and the Clerk shall then tally the result for each candidate and the candidate securing the greatest number shall immediately be declared by the Clerk to be duly elected as Chairman.”
“For the purpose of the computation under paragraph (f), councillors duly elected as a result of a Proportional Representation list of candidates, shall be
deemed to have each received an equal numeric seat value corresponding to the total number of votes received by that list divided by the total number of seats allocated to that list of candidates as declared by the Returning Officer and published by the Elections Commission in the Gazette.”
The law also provides for “Where by reason of equality of votes, following the ex-
haustion of the procedures outlined in paragraphs (a) to (g), no person is elected Chairman, the Clerk, acting in the presence of a designated Magistrate, the councillors present and members of the public, shall by lot choose one of the candidates from the third (final) round of voting and shall declare the candidate chosen to be duly elected as Chairman.”
According to Minister
Manickchand, she hopes the legally prescribed process is followed to end the deadlock. “I hope that they do that shortly…there’s a clerk and the clerk would have to be in charge of that process…I have no doubt that Region 10 is going to have their process moved forward and a chair and vice chair would be determined, sometimes it’s far more than you see on the surface, I think the parties there have their own issues going on,” she expressed.
“It was right to remove the role because here you have a politically partisan Minister who is going into a place to tie break, how do you think that’s going to work? It’s not even if the Minister is fair, it’s that it would appear unfair and justice must appear to be fair,” she added. While chairpersons for the other nine administrative regions were sworn in by President Dr Irfaan Ali on November 28, 2025, no representatives from Region 10 were present at the ceremony because the election process remains incomplete. Commenting on the deadlock, President Ali had said, “I am sure that within the ambit of
the Constitution and within the ambit of the rules of any elections that the chair and vice chair of Region 10 will be sworn in at the appropriate time when they conclude their elections. As you know, that process is still ongoing.” According to the Official Gazette, following the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the distribution of seats in Region 10 is as follows: WIN – 9 seats, APNU – 5 seats, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) – 3 seats, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) – 1 seat. Region 10 has historically been an APNU stronghold; however, WIN’s performance in the 2025 elections has altered the political dynamics of that district. Currently, the councillors are Dominique Blair, Suzette Gordon, Donna Perry, Faye Rodrigues, Orlon Rogers for APNU; Denzel Chapman, Tamicka Duke, Nandy Miriam Fiedtkou, Mark Goring, Michelle Hope, Leola Narine, Yoland Nedd, Judith Wade-Martin, Hubert Williams for WIN; Odessa Adams, Sarah Gibson, Nikita Roberts for the PPP/C; and Shondell Jerrick for FGM.
DECEMBER 2,
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, December 2 –13:50h–15:20h and Wednesday, December 3 – 14:35h–16:05h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Early-morning sunshine is expected followed by thundery showers during the day and into the night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 3.58 metres.
High Tide: 14:18h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.
Low Tide: 07:50h and 20:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.67 metre and 0.48 metre.
he Guyana delegation that embarked on the first-ever European Union (EU)-Guyana Global Gateway Study and Investment Mission has returned home, declaring stronger technical capacity, sharper regulatory awareness and a reinforced regional mandate to accelerate Guyana’s port modernisation and agri-food export ambitions under the EU’s Global Gateway and Global Gateway strategy.
A statement issued after the delegation’s return confirmed that the inaugural mission, spanning a week
private-sector stakeholders in ports, logistics, manufacturing and agro-processing. Sessions on port innovation were held at several major European maritime hubs, with delegates observing advanced data-driven systems, environmental compliance frameworks, multi-terminal coordination and automated logistics governance. Several of the mission’s most intensive sessions focused on solutions deployed in AntwerpBruges, Rotterdam, FosMarseille, Málaga and
of high-level engagements, delivered direct exposure to European port operations, maritime governance models, agro-innovation ecosystems and next-generation cold-chain logistics systems, areas now critical to national planning in trade, shipping, tourism and agricultural expansion.
The mission was led by Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and newly appointed Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, supported by diplomatic engagements steered by H.E. Sasenarine Singh and incorporated Caribbean institutional participation including Darwin Telemaque, Allister Mounsey and Clyde Griffith, reinforcing the mission’s wider hemispheric value. Officials from the European community accompanied the trip and were credited with enhancing cooperation, technical exchange and programme execution. From Guyana, representatives included the country’s key maritime and agricultural agencies along with
Algeciras. Delegates observed the critical role of the European adoption of Port Community Systems, integrated cruise-cargo terminalisation, environmental transition governance, and cold-chain trade optimisation models that prioritise efficiency and regulatory harmonisation. TURN TO PAGE 14
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The announcement of a state-of-the-art farming facility for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) marks a transformative moment for Guyana’s agriculture sector. Spearheaded by the Agriculture Ministry, this initiative reflects a progressive approach to inclusion, emphasising the potential of every citizen to contribute meaningfully to national development. It demonstrates that modernisation and accessibility can advance hand in hand, ensuring that no segment of society is left behind as the country charts a path towards sustainable growth.
During a recent visit to Karaudarnau in the Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha unveiled plans for a modern, fully-equipped farm dedicated exclusively to persons with disabilities. Developed through the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) with support from international partners, the facility is designed not as a welfare project, but as a long-term empowerment strategy. Its core objective is to provide meaningful economic participation, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods for PWDs, recognising that barriers to employment, rather than lack of ability, have too often limited their opportunities.
Equipped with advanced infrastructure, including climate and weather forecasting systems, technology laboratories, and specialised training spaces, it will operate as a Centre of Excellence for inclusive agriculture. By incorporating cutting-edge tools and modern farming techniques, the project ensures that accessibility does not compromise quality or productivity. It is a model that demonstrates that inclusive design can coexist with high standards and professional excellence.
Infrastructure and tools will be tailored to meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities, allowing them to cultivate crops, manage operations, and generate income autonomously. It will be operated exclusively by PWDs, creating an environment where economic participation is matched by dignity and self-determination. This approach underscores a fundamental principle – inclusion is meaningful only when it enables agency, opportunity, and real contribution.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has mandated that every agricultural project must integrate pathways for women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring that at least 35 per cent of participants belong to these categories. By providing PWDs with dedicated access to training, resources, and livelihoods, the project reinforces the Government’s commitment to equitable participation in Guyana’s growing food production sector. It signals that modernisation is not solely about technology or output but also about creating opportunities for all citizens to thrive.
The social impact of the facility is equally significant. For too long, persons living with disabilities have faced structural obstacles that prevent them from fully contributing to the economy, despite possessing talent and skills. Many have been excluded from meaningful work, relegated to marginal roles, or dependent on social support. By establishing a fully-accessible, professionally-equipped farm, the Government is sending a clear message: persons with disabilities are capable and deserving of meaningful participation. This initiative transforms opportunity into empowerment, creating pathways for independence and self-reliance.
Beyond immediate benefits, the facility sets a precedent for the wider sector. Inclusive design, accessibility, and empowerment are emerging as integral components of modern agriculture. By demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of disability-friendly operations, this project can inspire other institutions and businesses to adopt similar practices. The ripple effects extend beyond farming, challenging society to reconsider the ways in which economic systems, workplaces, and policies can be structured to accommodate all citizens.
Ultimately, this initiative embodies a vision of agriculture that is inclusive and socially responsible. It demonstrates that modernisation is about machinery, technology, or output as well as about empowering people, expanding opportunity, and embedding dignity into the nation’s economic fabric.
Guyana’s leadership in inclusive agriculture represents a model for social and economic transformation in the region. By prioritising empowerment, the nation is building a sector where talent, ambition, and determination define success, not disability. This initiative is a milestone in creating a society where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless.
Dear Editor, Embattled US sanctioned businessman and the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party unleashed one of the lowest of political attack directed at the President about cash grants. In a pre-recorded, scripted statement on his page, the WIN leader drew references to other countries that pay to their citizens direct cash transfers. Those countries referenced were Middle Eastern Countries. Interestingly, it would appear he knows quite a lot about those Middle Eastern countries and less or nothing at all about his own country’s fiscal management and policies implemented by the PPP/C Government. This is not surprising because it should be noted that this individual apparently does business with a particular Middle Eastern Country, which is the subject of the gold smuggling case he has found himself in deep trouble. It is the very Middle Eastern Country he’s allegedly smuggled off over $300 billion worth of Gold, evaded taxes in the value of some $191 billion and is now lecturing the President and by extension the PPP Government about cash grant.
Guyana under the PPP/C Government has been transferring various forms of direct cash transfers and relief to Guyanese households long before crude oil and gas was discovered. He may not be aware of this because he was busy engaged in alleged illicit trading of Gold, which he is now the subject of OFAC sanctions and having been indicted in a US Court of law.
Consequently, since he appears uneducated about his country’s policies whereby he has insinuated that those large, monarch-governed Middle Eastern countries pay their citizens cash grant from their oil resources, here are some interesting facts for his edification about Guyana:
The Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) introduced in 2013 by the PPP/C Government for home loans covering up to $30M, is another form of direct cash transfer to the citizens. The annual interest expense for a loan of up to $30M is approximately, $904K or a total of $22.6M over 25 years (the life of the loan) …for a low-income loan of up to $10M, that is $300k in annual interest expense or $7.5M over the life of the loan for 25 years. This is a form of direct cash transfer to the citizens.
The “because we care cash grant” was introduced in 2014 by the PPP/C Government, which was discontinued by the APNU Government in 2015 – 2020, and reinstated by PPP/C Government in 2021. This cash grant increased from $10k per child to $50k per child + $5k uniform allowance, bringing the total to $55k per child, annually. This is a form of direct cash transfer to the citizens.
Prior to 2015, under PPP/C Government, CXC/ CSEX fees were partially subsidised. In 2025, the PPP/C Government raised this subsidy to full coverage for eight (8) subjects per child. This is another form of direct transfer to the citizens.
The annual public assistance is another form of direct
cash transfer to citizens.
The first phase of introducing free tertiary education was when the Government implemented a debt write off policy for past students of the university of Guyana. All their old debts were written off. This is a form of direct cash transfer.
When the GOAL scholarship was introduced and now free university education, these are other forms of direct cash transfers to citizens.
In 2025, the Government introduced a newborn cash grant of $100k per newborn. This is another form of direct cash transfer to the citizens.
When oil prices doubled in the post-covid period, the PPP/C Government subsidised the increased cost to GPL, which is over $20 billion to keep electricity prices to the consumer constant; this is another form of direct cash transfer.
In 2020, when the PPP/C Government reversed the APNU-AFC draconian taxes, over 200 new taxes; these are essentially direct cash transfers to the citizens amounting to over $90 billion annually.
In 2020 through 2025 when the PPP/C Government waived the excise tax on fuel imports from 50 per cent to 0 per cent—this is another form of direct cash transfer to the citizens valued at over $60 billion annually.
These are just few to mention and if we are to quantify these measures as they currently stand, these would amount to upwards of $500 billion annually, in direct cash transfers to Guyanese households. The one-off cash grant which the PPP/C Government
introduced in 2024, that they promised will become an annual transfer in their campaign and 2025-2030 manifesto, be assured that it will become an annual transfer in addition to all of the above introduced under the PPP, all of which were implemented before oil revenues started flowing to the treasury. One has to also be mindful that those funds would have to be appropriated in the budget, and the Government is currently pre-occupied with 2026 budget preparation. This is alien to the WIN leader and one can understand why he would not appreciate this because he has a longstanding, well established track record, allegedly, of breaking the law. Not accustomed to compliance with the law and therefore is completely unaware and ignorant of the fiscal laws, fiscal management and public accountability procedures and practices. Or perhaps, he is more anxious for another sitting of the National Assembly, not because he cares about the people, but his own self-serving motive designed to escape the consequences of the OFAC sanction.
Guyana’s approach to direct cash transfers is robust, institutionalized, and predates oil revenues. The PPP/C Government has implemented numerous measures benefiting households, amounting to over $500 billion annually. Criticisms from the WIN leader are baseless and reflect a lack of understanding of established fiscal policies and accountability procedures.
Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin
Dear Editor,
As a nation united and strong with a binding culture and a joined destiny, we should take this grand opportunity to congratulate and salute President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for their astute leadership. We should extend our profound gratitude and deepest respect to a true legendary leader, Ali who had a remarkable and superlative first-term tenure as President of our beloved Guyana for five excellent years of dedicated, dutiful and patriotic service. His service is a staunch reminder of true and genuine leadership, which is not measured only in victories but in the quality of life he has changed, the people he has uplifted, and the communities he strengthened. President Ali phenomenal mark and huge contribution to public life will be a lasting inspiration for future generations, especially the youths who are considered the crown jewel of today’s generation. While this is a common reflection, President Ali recognises the potential, unique qualities and the vital role of youths as a powerful force for positive change and development and the architects of tomorrow greatness.
Since becoming President in August 2020 after five months of wrangling over the election results and despite several boldfaced attempts by APNU coalition to
rig the election failed, Ali was sworn in as Guyana’s 10th President and his journey since then has been one of vision, buoyancy and unwavering devotion to the citizens of Guyana. From 2020, President Ali, Prime Minister Phillips and Vice President Jagdeo stood as the pillar of the nation. They were resolute and unshakable in guiding the country through some major challenges and triumphs. Their persistent and strong leadership have resulted in many transformations and dynamic and vibrant progress in healthcare, education, housing, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and employment opportunities for tens of thousands of 10-day workers across the country. If nothing else, they have created a coalition of community leaders throughout the country.
Not to mention the President active and spirited advocacy on the regional, hemispheric and global stage for peace, an end to poverty and food insecurity, and tangible proposals to solve global warming, among others have fortified a place for him, Guyana and the Global South countries not only to be heard but also be acknowledged and respected.
On the border issue, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stood firmly against the relentless, vicious and toxic threats from President Maduro regime. He urged Maduro to respect Guyana sovereign integrity and to abide by the impending
decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and that his Government and the people of Guyana will not yield a square inch of its territory to Venezuela. He also admonished the Maduro regime that even though Guyana is a small nation and does not have the military capability or wherewithal to match the strength and size of the Venezuelan army, the resolve of the Guyanese people should not be underestimated.
The re-election of President Dr Ali on September 1, 2025, with a huge majority of parliamentary seats marks the beginning of a new, historic and remarkable five-year tenure in which his legacy will endure long after his mandate expires in 2030. He will continue to be a steadfast and committed defender of Caribbean unity, a guardian of peace, democracy and the rule of law and a devoted and distinguished statesmanship whose advocacy, influence, and involvement regionally and globally will continue to shape the future of the Caribbean and the world. President Dr Ali, Prime Minister Phillips and Vice President Dr Jagdeo have served Guyana well and in doing so, they have done a superb job, so I am proud to use the biblical terms “Well done thy good and faithful servants.”
Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose
Dear Editor, Guyana has come a very far way in its Medicare programme. The Health Sector is on the move as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has demonstrated a strong, sensible and well-prioritised commitment to public health, leveraging new economic resources and strategic partnerships to modernise its system and improve health outcomes, while actively working to overcome existing limitations, of which I will mention a few. For example, from a geographical and topological standpoint, easy access to medical services remains quite limited in remote, hinterland regions all because it is so difficult to traverse the terrain and road networks are not easy to establish. However, with the rise of telemedicine, mitigation of this bugbear is in the sight.
Editor, my preamble thus far, relates to the Ministry of Health’s reporting “… major advancements in nationwide healthcare delivery, even (as mentioned already) the sector continues to confront longstanding and emerging challenges. According to the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, “Our work in health and wellbeing is about more than treating illness – it’s about prevention, early detection, and creating a system that supports the long-term wellness of all Guyanese.” This ‘best practice’ of handling health is Guyana’s way of doing things, and the Minister ensured his audience be apprised as he spoke at a high-level Joint
Stakeholder Consultation on Health and Wellbeing, at the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) office in Georgetown. By the way, this meet was absolutely elite: Officials from Government Ministries; Regional Health Authorities; Hospitals, Health Centres, and Global Agencies such as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Women. One of the UN health goals is to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by 2030.”
Specifically, this translates to “… reducing maternal and child mortality, ending epidemics of communicable diseases like AIDS and malaria and decreasing mortality from non-communicable diseases. This meeting then was in sync with the said United Nations’ …. ongoing development of the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for the English- and Dutchspeaking Caribbean for 2027–2031”.
Important to note is that “This framework will guide future UN–Government of Guyana cooperation, with health and wellbeing expected to remain a central priority.” As for Guyana, the Minister was emphatic that Guyana is committed to building a stronger, more resilient health system through both infrastructure expansion and innovative public health initiatives.”
Now for a few things that are on
the rise and that really augur well for Guyanese: the opening of six new regional hospitals and the ongoing construction of eight additional modern facilities, among them paediatric and specialised hospitals; twenty-five new health centres have been established nationwide, with ten more now under construction; and expanding health posts in under-served communities to ensure equitable access to primary care services. The list can go on, but my point is that Guyana has started a journey. It is in its incipient stages and gathering expansion and momentum. The bottom line is that we are moving forward as a nation in terms of health care
The high-level, Joint Stakeholder Consultation on Health and Wellbeing was quite informative and strategic as it was used to “… to examine existing gaps, emerging opportunities, and sector-wide priorities, ensuring that the upcoming UN Cooperation Framework reflects shared national goals.” Afterall, Guyana is rapidly emerging as a global player, primarily due to the discovery of massive offshore oil reserves that have transformed it into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Currently, Guyana is actively working to transform its healthcare system and a big aim is to become a regional healthcare hub for the Caribbean.
I posit that this is a reality.
Yours truly, Raymond Anderson
Dear Editor,
There is a troubling and well-known situation within Guyana’s public transportation sector that can only be described as a dereliction of duty by the relevant authorities. Their persistent inaction and apparent indifference have allowed the widespread overcharging of passengers to become entrenched. On the 42 and 32 bus routes—particularly during the morning and afternoon rush hours—operators routinely demand $1,000 from passengers traveling between Timehri and Georgetown, despite the legally approved fare being $260. The “short drop” fare, officially set at $100, is frequently increased to $200. Over on the West Demerara corridor, operators plying the Wales to Vreed-en-Hoop route have unilaterally raised the fare from $200 to $300, with some demanding as much as $500.
The situation on the waterways is no better. Boat operators and bowmen on the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop route often verbally abuse passengers while illegally charging above the approved fare of $100, with some demanding up to $500. MARAD, the Police Traffic Department, the United Minibus Union, and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce routinely advise passengers to report these violations. While such advice might be reasonable if the abuses were isolated, this is no longer the case. These practices have become the norm and almost every bus and boat now demands illegal fares—often with intimidation or threats of violence. This is no longer a matter that can be addressed by relying on individual passengers to report misconduct. There is an urgent need for the
Dear Editor, I’ve watched the situation at Stabroek evolve for years, and it’s clear that what we’re dealing with now, didn’t appear overnight. Stabroek has become a textbook example of what happens when institutions hesitate for too long. Lawlessness never emerges in a vacuum. Instead, it grows in the gaps where authority sends mixed signals, where rules are enforced only when convenient, and where officials hope that passive engagement will somehow maintain order. Anyone familiar with public administration knows that once a pattern like that takes hold, deviant behaviour starts to look legitimate. Indeed, it becomes part of the culture and, before long, tests the limits of the state’s authority. That is exactly what happened outside the market. People like to pretend vendors suddenly materialised under the clock and across every square foot of the public space, but they didn’t. Their expansion was slow and predictable. The city allowed it. Enforcement softened. Political actors avoided confrontation. Consequently, parking bays and access lanes began to function as vending strips. Over time, the informal arrangement felt normal, even permanent. Here’s the part many prefer not to confront. When informal vending becomes the de facto regulator of a busy public square, any effort to restore order will be described as displacement or oppression. Yet, the area was never designed to operate as a retail corridor. Stabroek is one of the most important transportation hubs in the capital. It moves thousands of commuters, drivers, delivery trucks and pedestrians
every day. When a bus can’t make a simple turn without executing a three-point maneuver, you’re not managing a city – you’re managing chaos. I don’t blame the vendors. After all, they responded to the signals they were given. If a system rewards encroachment with tolerance, people will naturally adapt to that environment. At the same time, I can’t pretend the state is wrong for reclaiming the space either. A functioning city needs predictable routes, safe walkways, and public infrastructure that supports movement, not congestion. Public space must work for everyone, not just those who have become comfortable occupying it. This is why the Government’s upgrades, though disruptive, are necessary. After years of drift, you can’t restore order with gentle suggestions. Ultimately, recalibrating a system that has normalised disorder requires clear and decisive intervention. Strong political leadership has to step in, reassert the rule of law, restore confidence, and reinforce the standards that hold a city together. Waiting only increases the political and social cost of fixing the problem later. Two things can be true at the same time. Vendors deserve stability and support. The wider public deserves order and mobility. However, what cannot continue is a downtown corridor shaped by hesitation and tolerated disorder. For Stabroek to function as a true capital city hub, the country must confront reality and restore balance with firmness and clarity.
Respectfully, Brian Azore
Guyana Police Force to deploy transit law-enforcement officers on buses and boats daily, in plain clothing. Once an operator is found guilty of price gouging or intimidation, immediate action should follow: arrest, suspension of licence, and appropriate legal penalties.
This undermines Guyana’s efforts to promote tourism and, more critically, imposes an unreasonable burden on schoolchildren, workers, and the wider public who rely on affordable transportation.
Operators who break the law should be arrested, placed in custody, have their vehicles impounded, and be brought before the courts. Any increase in public transportation fares must follow the proper legal procedures – procedures that exist to protect commuters.
Sincerely, M
Sankar
A 2-dimensional figure with 3 sides is a triangle. A triangle has 3 angles that always add up to 180. This is one way you can classify triangles.
A triangle with only acute angles – angles less than 90 – is called an acute triangle. A triangle with one right angle is called a right-angled triangle or right triangle. A triangle with one obtuse angle is called an obtuse triangle.
Since all angles in a triangle add up to 180, a triangle can have at most only one right angle or one obtuse angle. Can you figure out why? Ask yourself: How many degrees are in two right angles? What is the smallest number of degrees that two obtuse angles could total?
Exercises: Identify: Determine if the triangle is acute, right or obtuse.
These simple-to-make origami Christmas tree cards bring a touch of handmade charm to the holiday season. With their delicate folds and festive design, they’re perfect for spreading warmth and joy. Crafted with care, these cards make thoughtful and heartfelt gifts that your friends and family will cherish.
What you'll need Christmas printed paper
Greeting card blanks or cardboard cut to size
Gold & Silver Paint Pens
Christmas glitter star foam stickers
How to make
Step 1: Measure and draw squares in these sizes: 10 x 10 cm, 8 x 8 cm, 6 x 6 cm,
and 4 x 4 cm. Cut them out from printed paper.
Step 2: Take one square and fold it in half, then unfold.
Step 3: Fold the square diagonally in one direction and unfold. Then fold it diagonally in the opposite direction.
Step 4: Pinch the edges along the straight fold lines to start forming the shape. Repeat steps 2–4 for all four squares.
Step 5: Stack the folded squares from largest to smallest and glue them onto your card, leaving space at the bottom for a pot. Space the layers out so they resemble a tree shape.
Step 6: Attach a pot at the base and decorate the card with gold dots and a star to complete your festive design! (bakerross.co.uk)
By John Keats
In drear nighted December, Too happy, happy tree, Thy branches ne'er remember Their green felicity— The north cannot undo them With a sleety whistle through them Nor frozen thawings glue them From budding at the prime.
In drear-nighted December, Too happy, happy brook, Thy bubblings ne'er remember Apollo's summer look; But with a sweet forgetting, They stay their crystal fretting, Never, never petting About the frozen time.
Ah! would 'twere so with many A gentle girl and boy— But were there ever any Writh'd not of passed joy? The feel of not to feel it, When there is none to heal it Nor numbed sense to steel it, Was never said in rhyme.
Write about a person who receives an unexpected gift.
The Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) will soon formalise a major technical training partnership with the Government Technical Institute (GTI); a move aimed at better preparing Guyana’s youth for careers within the rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.
The announcement was widely welcomed following remarks delivered Saturday night by President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber, Manniram Prashad, at the chamber’s Annual Awards and Induction Ceremonial Dinner 2025, held at Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.
According to the chamber’s president, the MOU with GTI will serve as a national upskilling anchor, targeting technical program development, industry-aligned skill delivery, and workplace preparedness.
“This partnership will focus on developing technical programmes, practical training opportunities, and industry-specific skills that better prepare our young workforce for careers in the oil and gas industry. This is a major step in aligning education with industry needs and supporting the development of a skilled, job-ready generation. Beyond these partnerships, GOGEC continues to serve as a bridge between local entrepreneurs and international companies. Through trade missions, business expos, international conferences, and sec-
tor-specific events, we have fostered meaningful connections that translate into real business opportunities and strengthened local capacity,” Prashad explained.
The MOU with GTI will join a sleet of similar agreements signed this year with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana, GO-Invest, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), University of Guyana & CBMEX Energy Guyana, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC), KKF – Suriname Chamber of Commerce and Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).
“This year, GOGEC was honoured to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CAMPETROL, strengthening regional ties between
Guyana and Columbia and supporting shared goals in training, knowledge transfer, and private sector advancement…. These MOUs are not symbolic, they are tools we actively use to build partnerships, advocate for fairness in procurement, and ensure local companies are given real opportunities to grow,” the GOGEC President said.
Further, Prashad said 2025 has been a year of reaffirmation for the Chamber, highlighting its rise as one of Guyana’s most active private-sector advocacy bodies within the energy economy.
“As we reflect on 2025, we do so with immense pride,” he said. “This year has reaffirmed GOGEC’s role as a pivotal catalyst in shaping the private sector’s participation in Guyana’s oil and gas industry. It has been a year of impactful advocacy, deeper collaboration, and expanded oppor-
The Chamber President noted that accessibility, sustainability, and fairness remain guiding pillars of the organization.
“Our Chamber remains committed to ensuring that this sector’s growth is inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all,” Prashad underscored. “We continue to champion transparency, strengthened local content, and the creation of an enabling environment where Guyanese businesses – large and small – can thrive.”
Reinforcing the Chamber’s long-term focus on developing youth for in-
dustry leadership, he added: “We believe deeply that the future of this industry belongs to our youth, and so we must equip them –early – with the knowledge and confidence to lead it”.
2026 magazine, industry missions
Beyond academic integration, Prashad shared that the Chamber continues creating international business pathways for young professionals and entrepreneurs alike.
“Beyond these partnerships, GOGEC continues to serve as a bridge between local entrepreneurs and international companies,” he said. “Through trade mis-
sions, business expos, international conferences, and sector-specific events, we have fostered meaningful connections that translate into real business opportunities and strengthened local capacity.”
The Chamber’s 2026 Industry Magazine is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026, showcasing both industry development and private-sector success narratives.
He also expressed special appreciation to ExxonMobil Guyana Limited for its continued investment in capacity building and its broader support to GOGEC’s initiatives.
Under the Government’s new tint policy, vehicle owners and operators found in breach can now face fines of up to $75,000. This is according to Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, who noted that police officers will now be equipped with special tint meters which they will be required to use during any enforcement campaigns on the roadways.
On Friday, the Home Affairs Minister announced that with immediate effect, there will be a universal provision for basic tint without waiver, which stipulates that all motor vehicles will now be allowed tint with no less than 35 per cent light penetration; windshields will be allowed 70 per cent light penetration. This applies across the board and does not require any tint waiver. However, restricted waivers for high security categories will be introduced. Categories one and two will apply strictly to diplomats, Government officials, high profile security related persons and other specific categories expressly approved by the Home Affairs Minister. To support an orderly transition, motor vehicle operators are granted a compliance period up to December 31, 2025. After this date, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will commence aggressive nationwide enforce-
ment operations. Expanding on this new policy during a State-produced programme, Minister Walrond disclosed that the laws will be amended to provide for a fine of $75,000 for those found in breach. “There will be tint meters and the police officer will have specific meters to test your tint on the spot. And if you’re found not to be in compliance, then there will be a heavy fine of $75,000 being levied for not having your tint in compliance,” she noted. “We will go take the amendment to parliament. In the amendment, we will outline the regime and how we’re going to execute the compliance. We will outline the catego-
ries of persons that will be exempt from the tint, which I’ve already mentioned, diplomats and Government officials and security, et cetera. It will outline how enforcement will be rolled out in terms of the tint meter, how that is going to be calibrated, how that is going to be executed, the period for the fine. So, it’s going to outline the entire regime, compliance and enforcement in the amendment. And most of it is already drafted with a few adjustments that we have already made,” she added. Walrond had previously explained that this decision was made having conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the system and follow-
ing consultations with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other technical experts. Additionally, she said it was in the interest of equity and to eliminate administrative delays. “When we examined it, we realised…that the issues that we thought was connected to the having a tint on the vehicle, which is encouraging crime, [we] realised that the data did not correlate, that it did not substantiate the fact that if you have a tint on your vehicle, that you are likely to be involved in criminal activity. And also, in addition to the fact that with the climate change and ultraviolet (UV) exposure, realising that being open and being exposed to UV exposure was in fact unhealthy. And so, there was no basis of which we could hold back, not giving citizens the permission to have tint on their vehicles,” she explained during the Department of Public Information (DPI) programme. Vehicle owners and operators are being encouraged to get themselves in compliance during this period, since strict enforcement will begin January 1. “In the interim, the Guyana Police Force is expected to forbear on all enforcement to get people…to comply, thereafter, after the 31st [December], then the strict enforcement will commence,” Walrond noted.
More than four years after a contract was awarded to build a school in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the project remains incomplete, prompting the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand to express disappointment over the delays. In September, less than 24 hours after being sworn in as the new Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Manickhand had hit the ground running with a side visit to the incomplete Bamia Primary School, where she had admonished the contractors over the prolonged delays. The $346 million contract for the construction of the Bamia Primary School, which is located just outside of Linden, was awarded to Statement Investment Inc. in November 2021 under the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry. The 20-month project had an initial completion deadline for July 2023. However, the project had encountered a number of delays with several deadline extensions, the most recent being in for the September 2025 reopening of the new school year,
but this was also not done. Today, the project remains incomplete.
During her side visit in September, Manickhand had threatened to pull the project from the contractors if they failed to complete the remaining works in a timely manner. Providing an update on the situation during a GoMosley programme on Monday, Manickhand said the contractors have assured that only minor works remain. “Contractors there have not finished what they have to do. Up to yesterday (Sunday), the Ministry was there and there were some very minor works left to be done. But we refuse to take a building for the sake of taking a building, or a compound or a project, so that we can get photographers, if we’re not completely satisfied that the contractual obligations of the contractors are carried out,” she said. The Local Government Minister explained that while some setbacks are expected and unforeseen circumstances may arise, the delays with the Bamia School project are not acceptable. “This is something contractors across the country are going to have to understand, if you bid for a project you came and said
that you could do this, at this cost, at this time and at this quality and you have to do it, and the level of tolerance by the people and the Government for people who breach those is really heavily reduced…there are always conditions sometimes that you’re willing to hear, [like] shipping took long or there was some kind of external thing which you have no control over but it can’t take as long as this school has taken,” she posited. Meanwhile, she expressed hopes that the works will be wrapped up soon and the students can benefit from the Government’s investment in their education.
“They’ve assured me that they too want to get off the site, so I suspect and my fingers are crossed that even before school closes, we can get the children into school, but that would require them finishing the work that has to be finished, we’re not taking a building that is not finished. But I’m very disappointed in how long they took,” Manickchand stated. The new school is designed to accommodate a growing student population and will include 4-4 classrooms, a fully equipped gymnasium, an auditorium, a science laboratory, a music room,
Your Eyewitness came across a letter in one of the dailies that insisted we shouldn’t use the word “squatting” in Guyana!! No…no…not that “act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels”!! Your Eyewitness was pretty chuffed that usage had cleared muster since he’d only recently joined a gym where the benefits of squatting were extolled at great length:
It benefits and strengthens core muscles; help reduces risk of injury as one gets older but – still obey the musical exhortation to “wine and guh down”; burns calories; strengthens lower body muscles; improves joint health – and can be performed anywhere!! The last fits in nicely with the latest medical findings that the best position to defecate is by squatting rather than sitting!! This is the preferred mode in India where for millennia folks would head for their fields in the morning for their obligatory squatting!! Its fertilising output earned the moniker “night dirt”!!
Anyhow, as your Eyewitness noted, it wasn’t this squatting that “Name and Address Provided” -- that’s how the letter was signed!! (NAAP for short) – was pushing to have banned! It was the one our dictionary tells us is to “unlawfully occupy an uninhabited building or settle on a piece of land”. Now that’s the meaning of the word throughout the world – so why would NAAP wanna ban it? Does THEY – that’s the preferred neutral pronoun nowadays, your Eyewitness is informed! – want us to substitute synonyms like “interloper, intruder, trespasser”? No Siree, Bob!!
THEY quoted that noted authority on land law –Jamaican reggae superstar Chronixx – who “reminds us in his song Captive Land, this (Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean region) is all ‘captive land’.” Captured, of course, from the Indigenous Peoples who Columbus stumbled over when he “discovered” them!!
a library, smart classrooms and modern restroom facilities, all aimed at delivering a well-rounded educational experience. In a statement back in April, the contractor, St8tment Investment Inc, had said the school was now in its final stage of completion. With only minor electrical installations, lighting fixtures, and limited plumbing work remaining, the company indicated that the school was on the verge of being handed over.
“The state-of-the-art facility is expected to be fully operational in time for the September 2025 academic year,” the company noted in the April missive, adding that an inspection conducted by regional authorities and the project consultant confirmed that construction is progressing at a satisfactory standard.
According to St8tment Investment Inc, since the award of the contract, the project has experienced several delays due to a range of challenges, including labour shortages, increased material costs, and unfavourable weather conditions. These setbacks, the company stated, collectively impacted the original timeline and contributed to extensions.
Well, well, well!! This clearly resolves that contentious issue of “African Ancestral Land” that keeps getting raised here by the usual suspects!! Granger’s APNU/AFC coalition government had even convened a Commission of Inquiry on the subject!! Your Eyewitness scrutinised the report but didn’t see NAAP as a contributor!! Maybe THEY presented under a pseudonym like “Black Pudding Man”?? Under NAAP’s thesis – as far as land is concerned – all of us here who occupy land that isn’t ours legally should be called by the “more accurate and respectful terminology: “informal landholders”, “informal settlers”, or “residents in informal settlements”.”!!!
Over in NYC, there’s a new phenomenon of folks squatting in houses and buildings – and obtaining adverse possession for ownership after the requisite period has passed!! Maybe someone should become an “informal settler” in NAAP’s home and see if THEY will be “respectful”!! THEY don’t know squat about ownership!!
…borders with Suriname??
What’s this your Eyewitness is hearing about a GuyanaSuriname Border Commission (GSBC) meeting before yearend?? Firstly, as your Eyewitness wrote yesterday, we’re now in December and as part and parcel of our inalienable birthright earned through slavery and bondage, we don’t do no work in December!! What next?? Having the Speaker of the National Assembly summon Opposition MPs to vote for a LOO?? That, of course, is so LOOdicrous it’s been rejected out of hand!! Convene a meeting of the GSBC and next thing you know our representative would’ve imbibed so much rum over lunch, he’ll even sign away Essequibo!!
But substantively, what’s there to discuss on borders?
The maritime border was settled by a UN Tribunal in 2007 after Surinamese gunboats chased away a CGX oil exploration vessel. Rules for our fishermen don’t have anything to do with the boundary!!
The fly in the ointment, of course, is the Surinamese have never gotten over our GDF humiliatingly expelling their soldiers from our New River Triangle!!
…local politics
From the desultory noises emanating from Opposition quarters, you gotta concede that they don’t seem willing to break our Guyanese no-work Christmas Coda!! This gives your Eyewitness great hope that all’s gonna be well in the New Year!!!
The fraud trial into the 2020 General and Regional Elections continued in Tuesday before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, with proceedings now set to continue in February 2026.
The fixed dates for the continuation of the trial are scheduled for the weeks of February 16–20 and February 24–27, 2026. For the past weeks, the court has been engaged in a voir dire to determine the admissibility of videos taken during the interrogation of the defendants at the investigating stages. The defence has challenged the admissibility of a number of recordings of police interrogations that are being offered into evidence. The recordings show the police interrogation of a number of the defendants in the case. In each instance the Magistrate will hold separate voir dire to determine whether certain evidence is admissible at trial. In this context, the Magistrate will hear arguments and testimony about the evidence in question. Attorneys may call witnesses, question experts or present legal
arguments to show why the evidence should either be allowed or excluded. The Magistrate will then rule on its admissibility before the wider case continues.
Nine persons are currently fac-
ing 19 charges of conspiracy to commit electoral fraud for the events that occurred following the March 2, 2020 General Elections. Aside from Mingo these include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith
Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Minister Volda Lawrence, APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Joseph,
and former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Michelle Miller, and Denise BobbCummings.
Among the offences the defendants are accused of committing misconduct while holding public office; presenting falsified documentation; and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total. These charges stem from attempts to rig the 2020 Elections in favour of the then ruling APNU/AFC.
The elections fraud trials first commenced on July 29, 2024 and was initially being heard by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was expected to run from July 29 to September 13, 2024. However, a series of delays, deferrals and media leave by the Magistrate ensued and the matter was eventually taken before the court of now acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, who continues to preside over the matter. A series of hearings have been held in recent weeks with several state witnesses taking the stand.
“Know your rights” – Consumer Affairs tells shoppers as holiday shopping begins …as 461 complaints made so far for this year
With the Christmas season approaching, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) is calling on consumers and suppliers to adhere to the Consumer Affairs Act (CAA) as holiday shopping activity increases. In a statement on Monday, the Commission reminded consumers to assert their rights and ensure they receive value for money, noting that complaints typically rise during the festive period. The CCAC also urged suppliers to comply with their legal obligations under the Act. The Commission advised shoppers to prepare a list and research products and ser-
vices before making purchases. It further recommended that all contracts and agreements be carefully reviewed and fully understood prior to signing. Consumers were also encouraged to request receipts for all transactions, as these serve as legal proof required for returns, refunds or exchanges. According to the CCAC, items should be inspected before final purchase, and buyers should request written warranties of at least six months. Under the CAA, non-defective goods may be returned within seven days of purchase, provided they remain unused, untampered with and in their original packaging. Suppliers are per-
mitted to charge up to a 10 per cent restocking fee in these cases. The Commission also cautioned businesses against displaying “No Refund” signs or refusing returns, refunds, or exchanges, contrary to the law. Between January 2025 and the present, the CCAC recorded 461 complaints valued at G$471,290,072. Of this amount, issues valued at G$333,969,282 have been resolved, while the remainder is under investigation. The Commission encouraged consumers seeking guidance or wishing to lodge complaints to contact its office on 2194410/3, WhatsApp 625-0557, or file complaints online at ccac.gov.gy.
Ganja found during Police operation at Mahdia
Aquantity of cannabis was discovered on Monday during a police operation at School Street, Mahdia, Potaro, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).
Police stated that ranks
were conducting an exercise in the area when they came across two transparent plastic bags and 19 small Ziplock bags found hidden behind a zinc structure in an abandoned area.
The bags, when in-
spected, contained the ganja, which was taken to the Mahdia Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 555 grams. No arrests were made as investigations continue.
In light of a video recording of a motorcyclist being beaten during a ritual on Sunday evening at Fisher Dam Access Road, Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the police on Monday confirmed that one person was arrested.
Based on reports received, a 25-year-old male construction worker of Zeelugt North, EBE was on his electric motorcycle and was proceeding along the roadway when he was reportedly told by a 32-year-old pandit of Zeelugt Housing Scheme that a ritual was being conducted on the roadway and that he should use another route.
However, the young man attempted to pass the gathering when his bike reportedly collided with the pandit. The video seen by this newspaper revealed that the construction worker fell onto the roadway but was accosted by the pandit, who started to assault him. Although the man
A screen grab taken from the video showing the man being beaten
attempted to leave the scene, he was confronted by the pandit and continuously beaten.
As such, he sustained injuries to his face and body. The matter was reported, and the 32-year-old pandit was
arrested the next day. He remains in custody pending charges. The injured male was treated at the De Kinderen Regional Hospital and sent away. Investigations are ongoing.
A9mm pistol, along with a magazine containing three live matching rounds of ammu-
nition was discovered at the scene of a four-vehicle smash-up on Sunday along the Cumberland Public
Road, East Canje Berbice, Region Six.
Police stated that traffic ranks who responded to
Thirty-seven-yearold Clinton Blake of Byderabo Road, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was on Monday fined $215,000 for two traffic-related offences.
Police stated that Blake drove a motor vehicle while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, thus leading to him breaching the General Dealer’s Permit. As such, he appeared before Magistrate
Tariq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to both charges.
He was fined $200,000 for driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, with an alternative of two months’ imprisonment and $15,000 for breaching the General Dealer’s Permit, with an alternative of two weeks’ imprisonment.
Charged: Clinton Blake
A12-member jury was empanelled on Monday to hear the high-profile Tain pensioner murder trial, involving three Corentyne men accused of killing an 82-year-old woman during a robbery at her home in 2020. The jury was empanelled at the Berbice Assizes to hear the murder trial of the three men accused of killing Tain pensioner, Chandarie Budhoo, nearly five years ago.
The accused, 35-year-old Dhannyram Ramdhanny, 29-year-old Kumar Bhagwandin, and 25-yearold Narvindra Chillu, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon, where 12 jurors were selected to examine the evidence. When the indictment was read, all three accused pleaded not guilty
to the charge that between June 16 and 17, 2020, they murdered Budhoo at her Lot 83 Tain Settlement home during what investigators believe was a rob-
bery. Ramdhanny and Bhagwandin are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan, while Chillu is represented by Attorneyat-Law Vinay Punwa. State Prosecutor Cicela Corbin will lead the case.
The prosecution is expected to call 12 witnesses, including 8 police officers. Justice Kissoon said he is anticipating that the trial will be completed in three days. The case will come up on December 8. Meanwhile, it had been reported that Budhoo, who was 82 at the time of her death, was found in her home following the attack in 2020, a crime that shocked the Tain community and prompted a monthslong investigation leading to the arrest of the three men now facing trial.
the report of the accident went to the location where they received additional information and conducted a search at the scene, where they found the gun and ammunition.
The discovery has led to the arrest of a 53-year-old operator of Adelphi Village, East Canje Berbice. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, a 9mm pistol and five matching rounds of live ammunition were found during an intelligence-led operation on Sunday at Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Police stated that during the operation, ranks conducted a search of an abandoned building, which led to the discovery of the gun and ammunition wrapped in a black plastic bag. No arrests were made in this matter, but investigations are ongoing.
one of the most anticipated holiday traditions on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) drew a crowd of families, children and customers all eager to witness the moment when the massive 30foot Christmas tree burst into colourful lights. The towering tree, wrapped in thousands of shimmering lights and decorated with elegant ornaments, served as the breathtaking centrepiece of the evening. As the countdown began, excitement rippled through the crowd. When the switch was finally flipped, the tree lit up brilliantly, washing the compound in a warm, festive glow and signalling the official start of the Christmas season for the community. Children were treated to sweet goodies, music filled the air, and families gathered to capture photos in front of the tree.
mam Bacchus & Sons ushered in the festive season in grand style on Sunday evening as the company hosted its 6th Annual Christmas Tree Light-Up Ceremony at its Affiance branch. The event, which has quickly grown into
The lights on the iconic 70-foot Christmas tree at Rahaman’s Park were switched on on Sunday evening, marking the 21st year of the annual tradition hosted by the Rahaman family. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, who attended the event, described the moment as “a joyful signal that Christmas is near”. The ceremony featured cultural performances, including masquerade, songs, and dances, and children from the community received toys (Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry photos)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Enmore Regional Hospital observed World AIDS Day with community engagement and education. Staff hosted an information booth offering HIV self-testing kits, condoms and educational materials, while also conducting a staff sensitisation session to reinforce the vital role of healthcare workers in HIV prevention, care and support. The initiative underscores the hospital’s commitment to raising awareness, promoting safe practices, and ending stigma around HIV (Health Ministry photos)
The mission also equipped private-sector port developers to assess European investment and regulatory frameworks relevant to port development, operational flow, public-private governance, logistics coordination and commercial port access architecture. “The exposure comes at a critical moment as Guyana progresses its own plans for establishing a modern port act aimed at transforming its maritime legal framework to meet international standards and support the country’s fast-expanding logistics and trade ecosystem,” the release disclosed. It further went on to state that, “the lessons learned during the EU mission are expected to translate directly to Guyana’s port operators, even as they seek to expand facilities and accommodate new commercial shipping clients, providing practical guidance on port access, operational flow, and international best practices. Insights from modern European ports can inform the development of new port projects, supporting efficient design, coordinated gover-
nance and streamlined operations. Similarly, knowledge gained from European authorities and industry partners can help strengthen shipyard operations, maintenance, shipbuilding and dredging activities, enhancing both capacity and competitiveness”.
Agriculture-focused leg
Meanwhile, the agriculture-focused leg of the mission included detailed technical exchanges at the Netherlands’ pioneering agro-innovation institutions and Spain’s leading protected-agriculture research hubs. “Sessions at Wageningen University & Research explored advanced smart-agriculture systems in protected cultivation, climate-adaptive policy science, agrivoltaic integration and precision-irrigation governance, while IFAPA (the Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training) Campanillas covered shade-house scalability, export-sensitivity market readiness, shelf-life extension science and re-
source-efficient crop processing systems. Private-sector agro-processors also focused on SPS rigor, energy-efficient processing, market penetration frameworks for perishables, and cold-chain systems that expand export range while protecting product quality across long-haul trade corridors,”.
Sharing insights on the mission, Dr Ramsaroop emphasised that the trip was designed to collect practical insights, build relationships, and identify realistic areas of future cooperation. “This was a study and investment mission, not a negotiation mission,” Ramsaroop said. “Our goal was to understand the systems that can help Guyana modernise its ports, strengthen agriculture and expand exports. We now have clearer direction on where we can adapt global best practices to our local context.” He added that the delegation’s diversity, spanning port operators, agro-processors, shipping ecosystem partners and public sector agencies, ensures the knowledge collected is multipurpose and translatable.
Astate-of-the-art farming facility for persons living with disabilities (PWDs) will be established as part of the national drive to make the agriculture sector more accessible and inclusive. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced the plan during his visit to Karaudarnau in the Deep South Rupununi on Wednesday, according to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report.
The Minister said the
new facility, currently under development through the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), is unlike anything Guyana has ever had before.
It will be a modern, fully outfitted farm dedicated to providing persons with disabilities the opportunity to earn a livelihood in agriculture. He emphasised that the facility is not a welfare initiative, but a long-term empowerment strategy, noting that too many persons
living with disabilities are skilled but unable to find meaningful work. This project will ensure PWDs are not left behind as the agriculture sector modernises.
The farm will operate entirely with disability-friendly infrastructure and tools, creating a safe and empowering environment where individuals living with disabilities can produce crops, acquire skills and build independent income streams.
“This will be a modern farm
for people with disabilities so they can earn for themselves,” the Minister is quoted by DPI as saying.
The Minister noted that, “It will be operated only by persons with disabilities, giving them meaningful economic participation and dignity.” The Ministry is collaborating with international partners to turn GSA into a Centre of Excellence, featuring a modern situation
room for climate and weather forecasting, advanced technology labs and training spaces for new and emerging farmers. Samples of new plantlets in a Tissue Culture Laboratory. These initiatives align with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s national mandate that every agriculture project must include at least 35 per cent women and youth and must create pathways for vulner-
able groups to participate in Guyana’s growing food production sector. “We want everyone to have the chance to participate,” Minister Mustapha told attendees at the South Rupununi District Council meeting, stating that, “This farm will give persons living with disabilities the opportunity to learn, to work and to earn…just like anyone else.”
Regional Police Commander for Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne), Assistant Commissioner Shivpersaud Bacchus, is calling on the private sector to partner with law enforcement to erect and maintain traffic regulation signs and road markings across the region. His appeal comes as the police continue efforts to improve road safety amid a rise in accidents and unsafe pedestrian behaviour. Bacchus’s comments were made on Saturday following the repainting of a pedestrian crossing along
Main Street, New Amsterdam— between Harktman’s Lane and Pilot Street, carried out by the Youth Ministry of the Shalom Full Gospel Fellowship. He said the police are prepared to lend full support to any organisation or individual willing to assist in improving traffic infrastructure. “We welcome these initiatives and the department will give its full assistance whenever needed,” Bacchus told this publication. He emphasised that partnerships are critical, especially in areas where faded or missing road markings put
pedestrians at risk. The Youth Ministry, led by Reshana DanielsChester, undertook the project after the previous pedestrian crossing had faded to the point where it was nearly invisible. According to her, the crossing is heavily used by both the elderly and schoolchildren, many of whom are often unaware that a designated crossing exists nearby. “Many times we have to tell children that just before the next street, there is a pedestrian crossing and they should use it. With the eye doctor having his office here, the elderly of-
ten need to cross the road to get there. Sometimes I have to leave my business and assist them to cross,” she explained. DanielsChester said the repainting formed part of the Ministry’s contribution to Road Safety Month 2025. She added that the group intends to make the improvement of the crossing an annual project.
“We will brighten it… We don’t want it to go back to the state where you can’t even see it, so we will do it every year,” she pledged. The initiative has been praised as a practical example of how civil
society can support national road safety efforts.
Commander Bacchus said the police alone cannot maintain every sign or road marking, and timely help from local businesses, churches and community groups can greatly boost the region’s safety. With visibility playing a crucial role in preventing accidents, particularly at pedestrian crossings, the Commander is hopeful that more organisations will follow the example set by the Shalom Full Gospel Fellowship’s Youth Ministry.
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has reiterated its commitment to enforcing mining regulations and ensuring compliance within the sec-
tor, according to a statement issued by Commissioner Newell Dennison in an advertisement in today’s newspaper.
The GGMC emphasised that all mining operations
across Guyana, including those on Amerindian Titled Lands, are required to adhere to the country’s mining legislation, associated laws and policies. The Commission highlighted
A12-member jury has been empanelled to hear the trial of 29-year-old Sanjay Peters of Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who is facing two indictments for the alleged rape of a minor. Peters was released into the custody of his mother after the jury was selected on Monday at the Berbice Assizes. The first indictment alleges that between July 1 and August 5, 2018, he raped a five-year-old boy, whom he knew to be a family member. The second indictment alleges that during
Charged: Sanjay Peters
the same period, he raped the same person, knowing that the victim was under the age of 15.
Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan is representing Peters, while State Prosecutor Cicela Corbin will lead the case for the prosecution. Justice Sandil Kissoon is presiding over the trial. The matter has been adjourned to December 4, when the prosecution is expected to call seven witnesses. Justice Kissoon has indicated that the trial is expected to be completed within one day.
that this includes the proper accounting for gold production, environmental management, and the employment of legally documented personnel. To support compliance, the GGMC stated that it is prepared to provide guidance to communities and villages, including those on Amerindian Titled Lands, in obtaining the necessary permits and documentation for legitimate mining activities. This includes ensuring that registered equipment is used and that proper records are maintained for gold produced and sold. The Commission also stressed that all gold recovered from mining must be sold to legitimate purchasers, including the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), licensed gold dealers and licensed traders. Gold sold outside of these channels is considered illegal and may be subject to seizure, charges and asset forfeiture. Dennison noted that despite favourable gold prices and intensified mining activity across the country, declarations of gold production remain lower than expected. He also highlighted ongoing concerns regarding environmental damage caused by some mining operations, despite the GGMC’s efforts to educate and enforce regulations. In line with directives from President Dr Irfaan Ali, the GGMC said it will strengthen collaboration with other state agencies to address illegal mining activities and ensure that mineral resources contribute appropriately to the state and the people of Guyana. The Commission called on all operators in
the mining sector to act responsibly or face the full force of the law. Noting that one gold smuggler alone robbed the country of some $190 billion, President Dr Irfaan Ali in November sounded a warning to others who are engaged in such illegal practices in the sector. “Those who are still not complying with the declaration, we are going to come after you hard and strong. We will find you, and you will lose your business,” the President said. “You have a responsibility to declare your gold, and you have a responsibility to do so not by choice, but by law,” he had said.
In an apparent reference to Guyanese businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohameds’ family, who have been indicted by a United States (US) grand jury on charges of gold smuggling, wire fraud and money laundering,
President Ali highlighted how such illegal activities impact the country. “Imagine if that money that was stolen through smuggling was available for our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), was available to support our cash grant programme. Imagine the additional difference it would have made,” he expressed.
In this regard, the President said his Government plans to strengthen institutions to ensure such crimes are eliminated. “Imagine, from one gold smuggler alone, this economy lost more than $190 billion. One gold smuggler alone. We must ensure our system does not produce those kinds of people any more. Our system must be locked in, must be protected and must be designed to ensure those leakages are removed,” he had declared.
Early data indicates that St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) will be returned to Government even while votes are still being counted.
The SLP received 43,799 votes while the UWP gained 37,481 in 2021.
Pierre had to fend off a challenge from the conservative opposition leader, Allen Chastanet, who preceded Pierre as Prime Minister of the island of 180,000 persons. Labour holds a strong majority in both of St Lucia’s legislative chambers.
Chastanet heads the conservative United Workers party, which has sought greater international security cooperation and financial transparency, while Pierre has advocated for stability and cautious economic management.
The swing currently appears to be away from the UWP.
Saint Lucia is divided into 17 electoral districts or constituencies.
The SLP is currently leading in most constituencies. It currently has 27, 156 votes while the United Workers Party (UWP) has 19, 009.
The election follows Thursday’s vote in neighbouring St Vincent and the Grenadines, where the Opposition captured almost every seat up for grabs, ousting Ralph Gonsalves after 24 years as Prime Minister. (Excerpts from St Vincent Times and the Guardian)
The White House said on Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized an admiral to conduct multiple strikes on a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal narcotics in September.
The Washington Post had reported that a second strike was ordered to take out two survivors from the initial strike and to comply with an order by Hegseth that everyone be killed.
President Donald Trump, who is holding a meeting about Venezuela with his national security team later in the day, said on Sunday that he would not have wanted a second strike on the boat and said Hegseth denied giving such an order.
But White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Hegseth had authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the strikes.
“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt said the strike was conducted in “self defense” to protect US interests, took place in international waters and was in line with the law of armed conflict.
“This administration has designated these narco terrorists as foreign terrorist
of Command Ceremony in Tampa, Florida, US October 3, 2025 (Airman 1st Class Monique Stober/US Special Operations Command/Handout via Reuters)
organizations,” Leavitt said. Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes, and both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pledged to look into them.
Trump has flagged the possibility of US military intervention in Venezuela. On Saturday, he said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” but gave no further details, stirring anxiety and confusion in Caracas.
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the US considers an illegitimate leader, but Trump declined to provide details of the conversation.
The Trump administration has been weighing options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. Maduro has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.
Reuters has reported the options under US consideration include an attempt to overthrow Maduro, and that the US military is poised for a new phase of operations after a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela’s coast. Trump also has authorized covert CIA operations in the country. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump planned to meet on Monday with top advisers to discuss Venezuela, among other topics, two sources familiar with the matter said.
The Oval Office meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT), what is expected to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and other senior members of Trump’s team, the sources said.
The session comes as Trump ratchets up pressure on Venezuela over what the US says are drug shipments emanating from that country. On Saturday, Trump
said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” but gave no further details, stirring anxiety and confusion in Caracas.
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the US considers an illegitimate leader, but Trump declined to provide details of the conversation.
The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.
Maduro has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.
US forces in the region have focused on counter-narcotics operations, even though the assembled firepower far outweighs what is necessary for them. US troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people. Reports of looming action have proliferated in recent weeks as the US military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela. (Reuters)
community-based
Trump rejected Maduro's requests for amnesty, sanction removal
…Maduro's safe passage offer expired, prompting US airspace closure
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is running out of options to step down and leave his country under US-guaranteed safe passage, following a short call with US President Donald Trump last month where Trump refused a series of requests from the Venezuelan leader, according to four sources briefed on the call.
The call, on November 21, came after months of increasing US pressure on Venezuela, including strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, repeated threats by Trump to extend military operations to land and the designation of Cartel de los Soles, a group the Trump Administration says includes Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Maduro and his Government have always denied all criminal accusations and say the US is seeking regime change to take control of Venezuela's vast natural resources, including oil.
Maduro told Trump during the call he was willing to leave Venezuela provided he and his family members had full legal amnesty, including the removal of all US sanctions and the end of a flagship case he faces before the International Criminal Court, three of the sources said.
He also requested removal of sanctions for over 100 Venezuelan Government officials, many accused by the US of human rights abuses, drug trafficking or corruption, according to the three people.
Maduro asked that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez run an interim government ahead of new elections, according to two of the sources.
Trump rejected most of his requests on the call, which lasted less than 15 minutes, but told Maduro he had a week to leave Venezuela for the destination of his choice alongside his family members.
That safe passage expired on Friday, prompting Trump to declare on Saturday that Venezuela's airspace was closed, two of the sources said.
The Miami Herald previously reported several de-
tails of the call. The Friday deadline had not been previously disclosed.
Trump on Sunday confirmed he had spoken with Maduro, without providing details. The White House declined to elaborate further, and Venezuela's Information Ministry, which handles all press inquiries for the Government, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
The Trump Administration has said it does not recognise Maduro, in power since 2013, as Venezuela's legitimate president. He claimed a re-election victory last year in a national ballot that the US and other Western Governments dismissed as a sham and which independent observers said the opposition won overwhelmingly.
Speaking to marchers, Maduro on Monday swore "absolute loyalty" to the Venezuelan people.
It is unclear if Maduro can still make a fresh proposal involving safe passage. Trump held talks on Monday with top advisers to discuss the pressure campaign on Venezuela, among other topics, a senior US official said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Dominican Republic
President Luis Abinader said on Monday that a temporary agreement allowing US personnel access to restricted airport areas for counter-narcotics operations will expire in April 2026, clarifying the deal's scope.
The accord is part of a wider, more aggressive US anti-narcotics push in the Caribbean, which US Defence Secretary Pete
Hegseth said he hopes to expand to other nations.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Abinader specified that the deal covers restricted zones at Las Americas International Airport and the San Isidro air base. He stressed the activities were logistical and non-combat, allowing US aircraft to refuel and move equipment in support of regional missions.
The agreement was signed last week during a
visit by Hegseth, who described the cooperation as a "model that we hope to expand with other countries".
President Abinader said the deal was an extension of an existing bilateral anti-drug framework dating back to agreements from 1995 and 2003. "This is going to help us a lot, together with the Dominican Navy and with specialised technological information," Abinader said.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Cuba on Monday confirmed the deaths of 33 persons from mosquito-borne illnesses in recent months in an epidemic that has hit at least onethird of the population, according to official reports.
Deputy Health Minister Carilda Peña said 12 persons had died of dengue and 21 of chikungunya, the two viruses circulating widely across the Caribbean island nation. At least 21 of those who died were under the
age of 18, Peña said.
The minister did not specify a date range for the deaths.
The deaths, and still-raging epidemic, are more bad news for Cuba, whose healthcare system is already facing existential struggles due to a gruelling economic crisis that has prompted widespread shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Peña reported 5717 new cases of chikungunya in the
last week, though officials say many cases go undetected because most patients do not see a doctor or report that they are ill. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in July issued an urgent call for action to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the chikungunya virus that swept the globe two decades ago, as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and the Americas.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Early results in the Honduras general election show the two leading presidential candidates are locked in a "technical tie", the country's electoral authority has said.
Right-wing candidate
Nasry Asfura leads former TV host Salvador Nasralla by just 515 votes, the President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Ana Paola
Hall said in a post on X.
Hall also called for "patience and prudence" adding that the manual count of ballot papers was still underway.
The tie comes amid growing tensions over delayed election results in the country. The website of the electoral council has also collapsed, adding to public fears about problems with the count.
Asfura has the backing of
US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to cut financial aid to the Central American nation if his preferred candidate does not win. The outgoing President, Xiomara Castro of the leftwing Libre party, was barred by the Constitution from standing for a second term. She backed Rixi Moncada. (Excerpt from BBC News)
At least 12 persons have died and 20 more were left injured after a landslide in Peru's Amazon region sunk two boats on the Ucayali River, local health authorities said on Monday.
Two persons remain missing, local health agency Diresa Ucayali said on social media, following the landslide that struck around 04:20h (0900 GMT) in a port
area of Iparia, located some 415 kilometres (258 miles) north-east of Peru's capital, hitting two boats that were on their way to other towns on the riverside.
State news agency
Andina said national police and navy units had been dispatched by helicopters to help the rescue efforts.
One boat, Rapido Oriente, was completely submerged, while the other,
the Deo Rigo, suffered serious damage, Andina reported.
The Deo Rigo was travelling from a nearby Indigenous community and had stopped in Iparia so passengers could disembark when the landslide happened, it added.
Teachers and doctors were among the passengers, Andina said.
(Reuters)
UNAIDS Monday reaffirmed its commitment to working with Governments, civil society and people living with and most affected by HIV in the Caribbean region to help in building a resilient, people-centred HIV response that protects progress, strengthens community leadership, and ensures no one is left behind,
even in the face of disruption.
In a message marking World AIDS Day, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, said it stands with Governments, people living with and most affected by HIV, civil society and development partners to reaffirm “our shared com-
mitment to end AIDS as a public health threat in the region by 2030”.
World AIDS Day is being observed under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”, and UNAIDS said that it reflected the Region’s progress and the urgent challenges threatening to reverse hard-won gains. (Excerpt from CMC)
Oil prices rose more than one per cent on Monday following drone attacks by Ukraine, the closure of Venezuelan airspace by the United States, and the decision by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to leave output levels unchanged in the first quarter of 2026.
Brent crude futures settled at US$63.17 a barrel, up 79 cents, or 1.27 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at US$59.32 a barrel, up 77 cents, or 1.32 per cent.
"The market is very nervous at the moment because of possible loss of Russian crude supply," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC. "They're watching very closely to see if this Russia-Ukraine deal is going to go off the rails."
Concerns about a possible conflict between the United States and Venezuela run far behind the focus on the war in Ukraine.
"I don't think anyone is too worried about the loss of supply from Venezuela," Kilduff said.
Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group, said Ukraine's attacks combined with OPEC production commitments drove up prices in morning trade in New York.
"Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian shadow fleet as well as a commitment by OPEC to maintain current production levels has the market in an optimistic state," Flynn wrote in a morning note. "This comes as global oil demand continues to rise despite the negativity that we continue to hear on the demand side of the equation."
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries one per cent of global oil, said on Saturday that one of the three mooring points at its Novorossiysk terminal had been damaged, halting operations. But Chevron, a CPC shareholder, said late on Sunday that loadings were continuing at Novorossiysk. Usually, two moorings are engaged in loadings, while one is used as a backup.
The attacks on the CPC export terminal drove oil prices higher, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
They came as Ukraine stepped up its military operations in the Black Sea and hit two oil tankers headed for Novorossiysk.
Meanwhile, OPEC and its allies initially agreed on a pause in early November, slowing a push to regain market share with looming fears of a supply glut.
LSEG senior analyst Anh Pham said the market was reacting positively to the news.
"For some time, the narrative has centred on an oil glut, so OPEC+ s decision to maintain its production target provided some relief and helped stabilise expectations for supply growth in the coming months."
Brent and WTI crude futures settled lower on Friday for the fourth straight month, their longest losing streak since 2023, as expectations for higher global supply weighed on prices.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
US President Donald Trump will host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday, the White House has announced.
Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame will sign a historic peace and economic agreement that [Trump] brokered . The event comes after the Foreign Ministers of the two African nations signed a preliminary peace agreement and economic pact at a White House event in June. After months of talks, they met in Qatar in November and signed a framework with the ultimate goal of putting an end to years of fighting.
M23 rebels have fought the DRC Government in
North Kivu province for over a decade, in a conflict with roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The rebels, among more than 100 groups operating in eastern DRC, are made up primarily of ethnic Tutsi, who were targeted by the Hutu in Rwanda.
The group resurged in 2021 with the alleged support of Rwanda. Kigali has denied working directly with the M23, instead saying Rwandan forces have acted in self-defence against the DRC s military and ethnic Hutu fighters in the porous border region.
Thousands of people, many of them civilians, have been killed in the violence, which surged during an offensive at the beginning of this year that saw the M23 seize two of the DRC s largest cities.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
European leaders rallied to show support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday after US-Ukrainian talks to revise a peace proposal that initially favoured Russia, while the US envoy headed to Moscow to brief the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy was warmly received by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and the two joined a call with about a dozen other European leaders including those of Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Union.
Zelenskiy told a joint press conference with Macron after their meeting that Kyiv's priorities in peace talks were to maintain sovereignty and ensure strong security guarantees, and that territorial
disputes remained the most complicated.
He called on Ukraine's Western allies to ensure Russia was not rewarded for the war it started, and said he hoped to hold talks with US President Donald Trump
after Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has visited Russia this week.
Macron told reporters that only Ukraine could decide on its territories in peace negotiations with Russia.
Macron later discussed
Ukraine in a call with Trump, the Elysee said, adding that they "discussed the conditions for a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine".
Macron had "emphasised the crucial importance of the security guarantees necessary for Ukraine", the Elysee said.
Earlier, Zelenskyy made clear that Ukrainian and US negotiators had not yet fully hammered out revisions to the proposed US plan, despite two rounds of talks to adjust terms that initially endorsed Russia's main wartime demands.
There were "some tough issues that still have to be worked through", Zelenskyy posted following Sunday's US-Ukrainian talks. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Flooding and landslides have killed more than 1140 persons across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia following tropical storms in recent days, with efforts under way to help thousands affected by the extreme weather.
Arriving in North Sumatra on Monday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the Government s priority was how to immediately send the necessary aid . There are several isolat-
ed villages that, God willing, we can reach, Prabowo said, adding that the Government was deploying helicopters and aircraft to aid the relief effort.
Prabowo has come under increasing pressure to declare a national emergency in response to flooding and landslides that have killed at least 604 persons, with another 464 still missing.
While he said the worst has passed , the state weather agency is forecasting further moderate to heavy rain,
lightning and strong winds around Jakarta, and thunderstorms across West Nusa Tenggara, West Java and South Kalimantan.
Indonesia s Government has sent two hospital ships and three warships carrying aid to some of the worst-hit areas, where many roads remain impassable.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, the Government has called for international aid and is using military helicopters to reach people stranded by
flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. Thai authorities on Monday said the death toll from ongoing flooding in the south of the country had risen to at least 176 persons. The Government has rolled out relief measures, but there has been growing public criticism of the flood response, and two local officials have been suspended over their alleged failures, according to AFP.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Hong Kong authorities said on Monday they had arrested 13 persons for suspected manslaughter in a probe into the city's deadliest fire in decades, pointing to substandard renovation materials for fuelling a blaze that has claimed at least 151 lives.
Police continued to sweep the seven burnt-out towers engulfed in Wednesday's disaster at the Wang Fuk Court estate, finding bod-
ies of residents in stairwells and on rooftops, trapped as they tried to flee the flames.
More than 40 persons are still missing.
"Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore we might not be able to locate all missing individuals," Police official Tsang Shuk-yin told reporters, choking up with emotion.
Tests on several samples of a green mesh that was wrapped around bam-
boo scaffolding on the buildings at the time of the blaze did not match fire retardant standards, officials overseeing the investigations told a news conference.
Contractors working on the renovations used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors, said Chief Secretary Eric Chan.
Foam insulation used by contractors also fanned the
flames and fire alarms at the complex were not working properly, officials have said.
Thousands have turned out to pay tribute to the victims, who include at least nine domestic helpers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines, with lines of mourners stretching more than a kilometre (a halfmile) along a canal next to the estate.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned on Monday that China posed "national security threats" to Britain, but defended his Government's decision to step up engagement with the country, saying closer business ties were in the national interest.
Starmer's Labour Government has made improved relations with China one of its foreign policy pri-
orities, but relations between the two countries have been strained by British accusations of spying by Beijing.
In one of his clearest attempts to explain his approach to China, Starmer said in a speech to business leaders in London's historic financial district that Britain's relationship with China had for too long "blown hot and cold".
Britain has made major shifts in its approach towards China in the past decade, moving from saying it wanted to be China's greatest supporter in Europe in the so-called "golden era" of relations to then being one of its fiercest critics.
"It's time for a serious approach, to reject the simplistic binary choice, neither golden age nor ice age, and recognise the plain fact that
you can work and trade with a country while still protecting yourself," Starmer said. Starmer's decision to publicly say China posed "national security threats" comes after Prosecutors said a trial of men accused of spying for Beijing collapsed in September, because the Government declined to describe the country in similar terms. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Do some research and verify information before you engage in a change. Knowing the hidden costs will offer peace of mind and encourage you to make better choices.
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One step forward and two steps back will sum up your day if you overload your plate. You have plenty to gain if you learn from experience and make only necessary changes.
Live, learn, love and be happy. Communication is the key to getting what you want. Show your understanding of what you bring to the table. Put your energy where it counts, and don't look back.
Think, expand and initiate your plans. Take the road that leads to what makes you thrive. Travel, reunite with past associates and confront negativity, and something good will happen.
Refuse to let your emotions interfere with your professionalism. Observation will provide answers without involving a confrontation or conflict of interest.
Look for opportunities and take advantage. Change begins with you, and starting with self-improvement will offer the boost you require to initiate positive change. A partnership looks inviting.
Put your emotions on the shelf and use common sense when dealing with others. Hasty decisions, emotional meltdowns and overreacting will hold you back.
Use intelligence, not brawn, to make your point. You'll gain respect and bring about positive change if you offer solid solutions that benefit everyone, not just you.
Guyana’s top pugilists, Desmond Amsterdam and Keevin Allicock, have arrived in Dubai ahead of the 2025 International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s Elite World Championships, set for December 2 to December 13.
The duo is accompanied by National Coach Lennox Daniels, as they prepare to tackle the sport’s premier global stage with renewed purpose.
The event forms part of the IBA two-week festival of boxing and marks a significant return for Amsterdam and Allicock. Both boxers are determined to build on their previous appearances and push deeper into medal contention.
Allicock, an Olympian and one of Guyana’s brightest boxing talents, enters the championships focused and revitalised, while
Amsterdam continues to stand tall as one of the most accomplished boxers in the Americas.
Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle praised the boxers’ commitment and underscored the Association’s ongoing investment in its athletes.
Supporting Amsterdam and Allicock’s World Championships campaign, he said, aligns with the GBA’s broader strategy of creating structured pathways to excellence and international success.
Adding further motivation is the IBA’s unprecedented prize structure for the 2025 edition: US$300,000 for gold, US$150,000 for silver, US$75,000 for bronze, and US$10,000 for fifth place.
This year’s championships will also celebrate IBA’s 75th anniversary, with major events including the IBA Business Forum on December 12 and the IBA Congress on December 13.
The second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Women’s Inter-County Super50 Tournament 2025 produced commanding performances from Demerara and Berbice on Sunday, setting up an exciting finale in the league phase of today’s final round.
At the Lusignan Community Centre, Hinterland Women opted to bat first, with Sarah Bheir anchoring the innings through a patient 34 from 76 balls while Feona Benjamin added an unbeaten 15. However, the innings was undone by a superb bowling display from Demerara. Captain Kaysia Schultz delivered the standout performance of the match, claiming 5 for 16 from 10 overs, while Letisha Jordan continued her strong form with another fourwicket haul. Their combined efforts restricted Hinterland to 105 all out in 28 overs. In reply, Demerara’s batters produced a steady chase led by opener Naomi Barkoye with 20 and Tilleya Madramootoo with 16. Schultz and Jordan also contributed 12 runs each to keep the innings on track as Demerara reached 106 for 7 in 30.2 overs, securing a three-wicket win.
Over at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Ground, Berbice Women chose to field after winning the toss and quickly put Essequibo under pressure. Captain Laurene Williams top-scored with 14, but no other batter offered significant resistance as the side was bundled out for 70 in 21 overs. Berbice’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Sherica Campbell leading the attack with 4 for
17 and Danellie Manns supporting well with three wickets. Chasing a modest target, Berbice Captain Sheneta Grimmond took control, playing a composed innings of 38 from 41 balls, including five boundaries. Her effort ensured Berbice cruised comfortably to 71 for 3 in just 13 overs, sealing a convincing seven-wicket victory.
The tournament continues today, with Demerara facing Berbice at LBI and Hinterland meeting Essequibo at Lusignan, as teams aim to secure a place in the 2025 Women’s InterCounty Super50 Tournament.
Timothy Ramsarack, a 12-year-old Berbice Under-13 wicketkeeper-batsman benefited from one cricket bat, compliments of the “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”, a joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA.
At a simple presentation done recently, the Lower Corentyne Secondary School student and Albion Cricket Club player collected his bat from Hubern Evans, former national senior cricketer and coach. Young Ramsarack was encouraged to work hard on his game and to stay in school. He expressed gratitude and promised to heed the advice.
A missive from the group noted that the facilitators of the initiative were pleased to be part of the development of youth cricket.
Over the years, numerous Guyanese cricketers benefited from the project, many of them went on to represent West Indies at all levels.
According to the facilitators, “This project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community. We are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular.”
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $730,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, thirty-six pairs of cricket shoes, forty pairs of batting pads, forty-nine cricket bats, forty-eight pairs of batting gloves, twenty-nine thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, fifteen gear bags, thirteen bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fibreglass bat, one floppy hat, sixteen boxes and four of white cricket balls, thirteen boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone, one batting inner and twenty-eight footballs. In addition to the above, gear valued over $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicket keeper-batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, one hundred and four players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, ten gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, forty-one bats,
four boxes, six helmets, thirty- eight pairs of cricket shoes, twenty-two pairs of batting pads, twenty-five thigh pads, one bat grip, forty-one pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen coloured uniforms while the Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) received six boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves with one inner, two sets of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries are the Essequibo Cricket Board; the town of Lethem; youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls); male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area; No 65 Young Titans with 30 T-shirts; youths of Just Try Cricket Club; Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls); Shamar Joseph; Nehemiah Hohenkirk; Shamar Apple; Leguan Cricket Committee; Tucber Park Cricket Club; Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each); Kendall’s Union Cricket Club with twelve red balls; and Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary Schools with twelve red balls each; Thaddeus Lovell with one pair of cricket shoes; GCC with two boxes of white cricket balls; Bush Lot United Sports Club, one box of red balls; West Demerara Cricket Association, one box of white balls; Blairmont Cricket Club with one pair of batting pads, one cricket bat, one helmet and balls; Tagore Memorial Secondary School, St Cuthbert’s Mission cricket team with one box of balls; Port Mourant CC with three boxes of cricket balls, white cricket uniforms and one bat stick; DCB with one bat; Precision Sports with one box of balls, Berbice High School; and Cotton Tree Die Hard CC youth section. Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana.
The annual Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) Chess Competition will be held in Guyana from December 5 to December 7, 2025, at the National Racquet Centre, a missive from the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) revealed on Monday.
Chess teams from neighbouring Suriname and French Guiana will join Guyana’s juniors, who will play in a double round-robin format of the game in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. The National Sports Commission (NSC) will provide key financial
He has led by example and has been flawless on all three days of the Guyana National Rifle Association 2025 Championships, which delivered him the title on the final day, Sunday, November 30.
On a day which presented many challenges for all the
Day one saw Fields winning the day aggregate (128.3) three points ahead of Felicien, day two was the same (131.7) so he had to just remain consistent on the final day which he did to seal championship honours.
Fields commented, “I was looking forward to this yearend championship as I have been rebuilding my shooting technique for about the last
even when I have a bad day, I should still be able to maintain a high standard.
“This has been not only looking at my technique but by having a critical look at the basics of what is required to have my equipment at an optimal level. Whenever I have a result that I cannot explain I would endeavour to discover why, so that it would not happen again.
“That said, I was pushed all the way by Sherwin and Lennox and I enjoyed the competition and camaraderie
and logistical support while GCF personnel will be responsible for organising the competition.
Two teams, comprising four males and four females, between the ages of 14 and 18 from each country, will participate in a 60-minute plus 30-second increment time format.
The boys’ team feature 16-year-old Kyle Couchman, 15-year-old Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber, 16-yearold Micaiah Enoe, and 15-year-old Alexander Zhang. The girls’ team includes 15-year-old Woman
Candidate Master (WCM)
Aditi Joshi, 16-year-old Ciel Clement, 17-year-old Maliha Rajkumar, and 18-year-old Italy Ton-Chung.
junior teams earned silver, placing second overall. This year, with fierce competition from their regional rivals, the Guyanese juniors know they must significantly up their game to bring home the gold.
The teams, coached by FIDE Master Anthony Drayton and CM Taffin Khan, have completed extensive training and are ready for the decisive matches.
The IGG is a tri-nation sporting event contested among athletes from Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The event features competition in various sports and was originally established in Suriname to strengthen relationships and forge bonds among the three territories through sports and shared values. This is the 54th edition of the Games. The games will be officiated by FIDE Arbiter John Lee, assisted by National Arbiters Jessica Callender and Kim Shing Chong. The games will be live-streamed on lichess.org. Full results and pairings can be viewed on chessresults. com and the GCF’s website guyanachess.gy.
TDay International (ODI) series with a hard-fought victory in the final game, showcasing grit, skill, and depth to seal the series 5-2.
five crisp boundaries. Joe Moores contributed a valuable 37, while Ben Dawkins chipped in 27 runs.
The West Indies bowlers dominated proceedings, with Aadian Racha and Micah McKenzie wreaking havoc to claim four wickets each, effectively dismantling the
With this victory, the West Indies Under-19s wrapped up the series convincingly, leaving fans and selectors alike impressed with the depth and
The win was ‘as easy as Sunday morning’ for Chase’s Academic Foundation who rolled over Dolphin Secondary 3-0 on Sunday afternoon to complete their unbeaten, title-winning run in the 2025 Republic Bank Secondary School League.
In the penultimate game of the day, Isaiah Ifill opened the scoring for Chase in the 22nd minute.
The Dolphin goalkeeper was pulling off save after save, but it was the simplest of mistakes that cost his team a second goal.
Bryan Wharton’s long shot from outside the box was on target, but the keeper’s gather was flawed causing the ball to trickle in, in the 30th minute. Shaquan David added the third in the 33rd minute for the win.
David, the eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, spoke about Chase’s win and his role in the team.
Speaking to <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> exclusively, he stated, “The first game, the Captain [Bryan Wharton] wasn’t around, so, it was a little challeng-
ing in the first game. But after our Captain came back from the second game, we start playing more of our football, he come, he showed his leadership and so on. So, I want to thank the Captain for that.
“As a midfielder, I got to organise the team, I’m playing as a six, so, I got to be seeing the game and I just organise it, talk to the team, make sure we keep position and so on,” the Republic Bank MVP said about his work on the pitch.
Probably the marquee clash of the day, West Ruimveldt and Charlestown Secondary butted heads for a chance to secure the coveted sec-
ond position, that would qualify them for the KFC Goodwill tournament.
Penalty opportunities on both sides of the pitch saw the scores being level, 1-1, by the 12th minute after perfect placements from Jeremiah Griffith (8th) and Cambie Deanglo (12th).
However, spectators erupted when Griffith put West Ruimveldt ahead again in the 14th minute, chipping a long ball over the opposing keeper’s head, for an eventual 2-1 score at the half.
Seemingly giving up the cause, Charlestown let their guard down in the second segment as Griffith completed his hat-trick
in the 56th minute, while Donovan Welcome netted a brace in 52nd and 66th minutes, in addition to Dellon Phillidelphia’s 60th-minute strike.
Discussing significance of their win and qualification were Captain Jeremiah Griffith and forward Dellon Phillidelphia.
“It means the most to us, because it’s our first time in the KFC and I think we will do good in it [KFC Goodwill tournament],” Griffith told this publication.
Phillidelphia added, “We came out with one plan in our mind, through the team, it was to win and get the three points and to move on to the KFC. As the
Captain Jeremiah said, it’s our first time going into the KFC and we worked hard to progress.”
Other fixtures in the final round of the Republic Bank League on Sunday saw Abram Zuil and Three Miles Secondary romping to victory.
Goals off the boots of Jaden Abrams (50th) and Daniel Bumbury (59th) had earlier helped Abram Zuil cruise past President’s College 2-0.
Then, Three Miles Secondary downed South Ruimveldt Secondary 3-1. In that contest, South Ruimveldt took the lead
first through Devonte Gaime in the 15th minute, but Three Miles’ Joshua James was quick to equalise in the 20th minute.
Durell Washington gave the Region Seven side the lead in the 30th minute while Lebron Mendonca sealed the victory with a strike in the 43rd. While Chase’s Shaquan David was named the tournament’s MVP, his teammate Bryan Wharton was the highest goalscorer with 16 strikes in the tournament while goalkeeper Flavio LaRose was adjudged the best in the competition.
Spectators were treated to a full slate of captivating hockey action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) as multiple divisions wrapped up semi-final and final encounters. From tight defensive battles to high-scoring thrillers, the day delivered drama from start to finish.
Championship play began with the Over-50 final, where TTO Masters claimed the title after a 5-2 win over GCC Vintage, showcasing clinical finishing and structured play. The Over-40 final that followed was another crowd-pleaser as Hickers outclassed GCC The Sequel in a 4-3 nail-biter.
The open women’s final saw GBTI GCC strike again, defeating Saints 6-4 in an attacking display that highlighted the team’s depth and composure under pressure.
Closing out the day was the highly-anticipated open men’s final between TTPS and Pepsi Hikers. Hikers were brilliant as they recorded a 7-2 victory to lift the title.
the tournament, said the win carried special meaning.
at least I get a medal.”
Hikers’ goalkeeper Malik Chester, who faced his former club Saints earlier in
“It felt amazing to me, because I blocked a few goals, but the outfield did most of the work, which felt great,” Chester said. “Saints – my old club – they win, so
The men’s division also saw Jamarj Assanah of Pepsi Hikers named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for his dynamic, confident play throughout the competition. He reflected on the finals.
“We felt familiar with each other, confident with each other, comfortable with each other,” Assanah said. “We just had to keep it up, because we knew we had to put everything out there – so that’s what we did.”
In the Over-50 division, Brian Lee Chow captured the Best Goalkeeper award, while Roger Daniels was recognised as the MVP. For the Over-40 category,
GCC Sequel players dominated the honours, with Gregory Garraway earning Best Goalkeeper and Kevin Spencer named MVP. In the women’s division, Saints’ keeper Sarah Harry received the Best Goalkeeper title, and Makaylah Poole was selected as MVP. Meanwhile, in the men’s division, Old Fort’s Anthony Cole claimed the Best Goalkeeper title, and Hikers’ Assanah secured the MVP award.
