Kaieteur News

Guyanagivesmoretocitizensfromoil thanSurinamewouldhavewithroyaltytransfers Jagdeo: …said Govt. played it safe

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

said unlike Suriname, Guyana was carefulwhenitcrafteditsoil model, especially when considering how citizens would benefit from the oil resources.

Jagdeo was responding to reports Thursday, that the three- month-old Suriname government had scrapped plans to give citizens a payout from its oil royalty TheformerChandrikapersad Santokhi administration had promisedin2024,todeposit some US$750 in citizens' savings accounts, so that every Surinamese could benefit and profit from oil and gas. The payout would have attracted an annual interest rate of seven per cent.

B u t t h e n e w administration headed by President Jennifer Geerlings Simons announced earlier this week that that initiative wasnotfeasibleatthistime, asthecountrydoesnothave enoughmoneyatthistimeto

accommodatetheinitiative.

AccordingtoaDemerara WavesreportonWednesday, Suriname's Minister of

Technological Innovation, Andrew Baasaron told an International Business Conference (IBC) 2025 panel discussion that his country does not have the income Guyana has at the moment.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Jagdeo said Guyana's model allows citizens to receive much more than what Surinamese wouldhavereceived.

“So, my argument then, was there's much talk about assigning bonus. I asked President Santoki where is the money, how much money? And I don't think there was a major signing bonus that was delivered to Suriname.So,peopleliketo compare the two,” he

Suriname Minister of EconomicAffairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, Andrew Baasaron

stressed.

TheVParguedthatwhile every country can craft its own model, if US$750 was giventoeverycitizenastheir lifetime share, and then it wasdecidedthattherewould beanannualisedpaymenton the bases of that particular shareholding, they would haveareturnonit.

“You may get a tiny return. You may get a tiny return if a 10 per cent of maybe US$750 a year, it's US$750. Our model in the first year alone was about $500 and that's first year alone, and there'd be many morecashgrants,”hesaid.

Jagdeo added, “So when youlookatthetimevalueof money, ours, we transfer more money directly to people than this initiative woulddo.

And then Suriname has toraiseasignificantamount of money to take up equity The contract provides, their law provides for the State to takeequityinprojects.”

The VP explained that Guyana opted out of this option because the oil and gas sector comes with risks. There is the possibility on spending half a billion dollars on exploration and not discovering anything of commercialvalue,whichhas

happened in Guyana. This would mean that the government would be riskingpublicfunds.

“Wesaidwepreferinthe future to take our benefits through higher royalty payment like 10 per cent now,sometaxes,10percent taxes from zero and we are changing also how much goes to the cost bank…65 per cent rather than 75 per cent That's how we'll

benefit. We're opted out of equity,”Jagdeosaid. Suriname's model provides for the country to takeequitybutitwouldhave to raise the capital to do so. However, there have been issues encountered to raise thefundsduetothecountry's debtprofile.Jagdeobelieves that this is the reason the Surinamese government mayhavewalkedbackonits promise.

Ram accuses Exxon of most brazen ‘accounting fiction’ in country's history …says company's claims on taxes an insult to every Guyanese

Attorney-at-Law and Chartered

Accountant, Christopher Ram has accused ExxonMobil GuyanaLimited(EMGL)of making misleading and inaccurate statements to cover its tracks of what may

be the most brazen accounting fiction in the country'shistory

In his weekly column, 'Every Man, Woman and Child in Guyana Must Become Oil Minded,' publishedbyStabroekNews on Saturday, the Lawyer dissected comments made by the President of EMGL, Alistair Routledge on Monday The Exxon boss was asked whether the company will provide informationtolawmakersin theUnitedStates(U.S.)who have requested clarity on its taxarrangementsinGuyana.

For his part, Routledge told reporters that three U.S Senators may have been misled, as Exxon did not apply for any tax credits in theU.S.foritslocalStabroek Blockoperations.

He explained, “Exxon Mobil Corporation in its 23, 24 tax filings, there were no Guyanese tax credits that were included in either of those filings and you will recallthat,priorto2023,we werenotmakingprofitshere in Guyana, so there were no tax credits from that. So, from this point up until this point, there have been no Guyanataxcreditsthathave beenusedbyExxon.”

President, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge

responded, “We haven't applied any tax credits. We areworkingwiththeGRAon paperworkontaxes.”

According to Ram, this response, provided to the localmediaisaninsulttothe intelligence of every Guyanese or person of any intellect.

The Attorney argued, “That single sentence has opened a window into what may be the most brazen accounting fiction in the country's history…the claim is neither accurate nor credible,” referring to Exxon's explanation on the taxcertificates.

T h e C h a r t e r e d Accountant pointed out, “The Agreement could not be clearer The Minister pays. The GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) issues thereceipt.Theobligationis discharged.Thatistheentire mechanism There is no “working on paperwork ” There is only doing it or concealing it. If, six years after first oil, the parties are still fumbling with “paperwork,”itmeanseither theAgreement has not been executed as written or it has been executed but hidden.” Either way, he views this as “anationalembarrassment”. Faketax Ram explained that whiletheEMGLPresidentis performingconfusiontactics openly, the financial statements of the three partners expose glaring misinformation.

recordfakerevenueandfake tax so the books look balanced.”

As for Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. (2024), its financialstatementsdisclose that “A portion of gross production is used to satisfy the branch's incomet

revenue.”TheGovernment's oil becomes the company's “revenue”andits“tax,”Ram pointedout.

Meanwhile,henotedthat CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd.'s financial statements go even further, stating that “The Minister accepts the appropriate portion of the Government'sshareofprofit oil as payment in full of the Contractor's income-tax liability.”

the lack of evidence for the tax payments since the contract clearly states that the minister must pay the GRA taxes owed by the oil companies out of Guyana's shareofoil,followingwhich the tax body will issue a receipt and “proper tax

certificates in the

Contractor'sname”.

“Article15statesthatthe tax must be paid from the Government's share of oil revenue. Where, then, is the evidence of that payment?

The Natural Resource Fund shows no deduction, no debit,nooutflow Butnoone – including the NRF investment committee and theauditors–seemtocarea hoot,”thelawyerargued.

Inaccordancewithterms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Exxon and its Co-Venturers pay no taxes to the country Guyananonethelessissuesa tax receipt, indicating that those obligations were met locally.

He added, “As we focus on our business here, you know, we continue to be actually cash flow negative onacumulativebasis…there were no Guyana tax credits

that were used by ExxonMobil in 2023 and 24 filings. So, 25 filings have nottakenplaceyetbutupto thispoint,no.”

When asked if the company received any tax certificates from the government, Routledge

Misleading

In flagging a blatantly misleading statement provided by Routledge Ram pointed out that the branch distributed some $674,454 million and still ended the yearwithmorefundsthanat thebeginningof2024.

Paperwork Ramshiftedhisattention tothetaxcertificates,legally required under the PSA, but somehow still not issued, accordingtotheExxonboss.

He stated, “ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd. (2024) reports: “Revenue includes noncustomer revenue of G$260,155 7 million relatingtoArticle15.4ofthe Petroleum Agreement,” and recognises a matching income-taxexpense.

Thatistheclassicgrossup accounting technique:

Ram was keen to point out that such language does not reflect Article 15 of the PSA, which requires the Ministertopaythetaxtothe Commissioner-General of the GRA - not merely to “accept”oil.

Inconclusion,thelawyer reasoned that the companies all report tax payments, recognize it as revenue and enjoythecredit.

He however questioned

Ram was keen to note that to date, the Natural Resources minister has not published any tax receipts and neither is there any information from the GRA which suggests that it received the taxes “paid on behalf of the contractor”.

Ramson (senior), has ignored lawful requests for thesedisclosures.

“This is the contract that is so sacred that it even

sovereignty, public officials' integrityandmostofall,the President's thundering commitment to review and renegotiate”. Even a cake shop,runonabasicexercise book and a lead pencil, would manage its accounts with more care than this trillion-dollarindustry.

Theresultisacharade:a government pretending to pay, companies pretending to be taxed, and auditors pretendingnottonotice,”the lawyerstated.

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Billion-dollarexplorationbill

Guyana is a 'world-class' find for ExxonMobil, and it comes with all of the bona fides of a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence Grab onto it when it falls into the hands, and never let go Wring it for all that it's worth, squeeze every ounce of richness out of it ExxonMobil has a history of knowing exactly what to do when such circumstances are theirs,andthecontrollinghandbelongstothedescendantsof theoldStandardOilTrust Thefoundersandearlypioneers weren't called “robber barons” on an impulse, and they deservedthatderogatoryidentifyingmarkinitseveryletter Overahundredyearslater,ExxonMobilisoperatingwiththe freestoffreehandsinsuddenlyoil-richGuyana,andwiththat comesabigbill,oneofmanywiththatsize,anexploration totalforagiganticUS$2266B

Theworldofoilexplorationanditsrelatedchargesarea mysterytotheGuyanaGovernment,withveryfewGuyanese having any understanding beyond the superficial relative to whatthatcovers,howthatworks,howthecostsarearrivedat There was one Guyanese, Dr Vincent Adams, the then ExecutiveDirectoroftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency, who knew enough, perhaps too much from ExxonMobil's pointofview,andthatwastheendofhistenure Ithasbeen the kind of partnership that prospers between the Guyana GovernmentandtheUSmultinationalcorporationearlyon Meanwhile, the oil exploration bills have grown to an enormousUS$266B,whatcan'tbequestioned,whatcan'tbe touched,becauseGuyaneseareinthedark,don'thaveaclue of how much of those bills are genuine and how much represents possible padding on a massive scale The comparisonwasmadebetweenthetotalroyaltiesGuyanahas collectedsofarforitsoil,anditislessthanaUS$1Bsixyears afteroilproductionbeganoffshore Whenlookedatwitha sharply critical eye, there is little strength in denying that ExxonMobilmayhavefoundandperfectedanadditionalcost recovery regime In other words, it could be that the 2% royalties and questionable half and half profit sharing split paidbyExxonMobiltoGuyanaarepartiallyrecoveredunder thecamouflageofexplorationcosts

When so much of Guyana's oil business, the inherited patrimonyofGuyanese,hasbeenhiddenfromcitizens,and isamysterytothem,thenwhatbetteropportunitycanthere bethantoworkandreworkUSbillionsinexplorationcosts totheadvantageofthosedoingthebilling?

Whenmembersofanauditteamareblockedfromareas on an offshore oil platform under the full control of ExxonMobil, then it is a strange and sinister kind of partnership that is in operation. Why was such blockage, suchconcealment,necessary,whatwastheretohide,when it is one's own partners who are on the premises? When there's ongoing disagreement about tax receipts, and the mazethatiserectedtohidefromGuyanese,theownersof thenation'soilwealth,whathashappened,thenallmanner ofskepticismsarisesaboutthatUS$2.66Bexplorationbill forthesixyearssinceoilwentintoproductioninGuyana's waters.

It is a black hole of uncertainty for Guyanese, but a probably rich motherlode for ExxonMobil Who is interestedinknowing,checking,probingforthesubstance thatpropupthoseexplorationbills? Therehavebeenthree auditsofExxonMobilexpenses,andtheresultsofthemare allsuspendedhigherthanthenewDemeraraRiverBridge. Thequalityofauditshasbeenquestioned,withtherequisite skills of the auditors put under the spotlight. The seriousness of the PPPC Government has been called into question,withafingerpointedatitswillingnesstobemore for ExxonMobil's interests, than what benefits Guyanese. Thestandingpracticeofthegovernmenthasbeen'don'tdo anything to rock ExxonMobil's boat'. The deep local impressionisthatwhateverthepricethatGuyanesehaveto paytokeeptheUSoilbehemothhappy,thenitwillbepaid. Total exploration costs are now bigger than some past nationalbudgets,andit'sbusinessasusualinGuyana. ExxonMobil controls a world-class oil treasure in Guyana. Explorationcostsareoneofthebiggergems.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

CARICOM leaders sending mixed signal on 'Zone of Peace’

DearEditor,

For generations, the Caribbean Sea has been upheld as a Zone of Peace That is no accident. It was built by the conscious decisions of leaders and peoples who understood their history — the horrors associated with captivity — apeoplewhovaluefreedom, who fought for their sovereignty and who ought to cherish, with the last breathinourbodies,theright to self-determination in dictatingourfuture. Today, that peace is under threat, and Caribbean leaders are sitting on their handswhiletheregionwalks

closer to the edge of a dangerous conflict between the United States and Venezuela.

We are not spectators in this.Already, we have heard that nationals of Trinidad and Tobago have died as a result of being caught in the

Caribbean people — our brothers. They are not mere statistics or pawns, but people with families, with lives, with rights. If one Caribbean national is affected,allare.Whataffects Trinidad affects Guyana, affects Antigua, affects

Associate-State. This is the foundationofCARICOM.

Sowherearetheleaders? Why are some silent? Why are they not speaking with onevoice?

What we are seeing insteadisafragmentationof the regional voice. Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda told a visiting U S Southern Commander, Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, what all of CARICOM has said for decades: the Caribbean Sea must remain a Zone of Peace

But President Irfaan Ali has taken a different stance, intimating that while

G u y a n a s u p

r t s maintaining the region as a Zone of Peace, the country will also stand firm against transnational crime, the illicit drug trade, and any form of destabilisation that threatensregionalstability

Presently, the USA has warshipsinourseaunderthe very pretext Ali says he standsfirmlyagainst.Justas the Americans have been calling for evidence to justify their actions, it is not unreasonable for those directly affected to demand the same standard of evidence The Guyanese peopleneedtoknowwhere

(Continuedonpage5)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

The East Bank Light Rail: A Strategic Imperative for a Modern Guyana

DearEditor,

T h e r e c e n t announcement by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali, commissioning a feasibility study for a Light RailTransit(LRT)linealong the East Bank Corridor, marks a special moment for our nation's infrastructure. This initiative is more than just a transportation project.

It is a foundational investment in Guyana's economic future and the well-beingofitscitizens.

The proposed LRT promises to serve as a powerful catalyst for progress in several critical areas:

1 E c o n o m i c Decongestion: It offers a permanent, high-capacity solution to the notorious gridlock on the East Bank

DemeraraPublicRoad.This will free our workforce and commerce from the suffocating and slow road trafficonthatcorridor

2 Strategic Urban

Development: Train stations in key locations, from Georgetown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (Eccles, Diamond, Garden of Eden, Land of Canaan,SoesdykeJunction), will become hubs for commercial and residential growth. This will guide our urban expansion in a structured and sustainable way

3. Enhanced Global Competitiveness: A direct, efficient, and modern rail linkbetweenour capitaland our primary international gateway is essential for attracting more tourism and

more investment, projecting an image of a nation ready fortheglobalstage.

4. Public Safety: The most important of all the invaluablebenefitsisthatof savinglivesbyreducingour nation's tragic toll of road accidents.

This reason cannot be overstated and must be central to the project's justification.

From an engineering perspective, we must acknowledge the significant geotechnical challenges along parts of the corridor

The coastal plain's susceptibilitytoliquefaction requires a thorough upfront investigation and robust mitigation strategies, including extensive pilings andspecializedfoundations. Aswearealreadywitnessing

CARICOM leaders sending mixed...

Frompage4

the President stands on this.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared that the idea of the CaribbeanasaZoneofPeace hasbecomeafalseideal.But whodeterminesthenatureof peace in our region? Is it Washington? Or is it the Caribbean people through theirgovernments?

These mixed messages are dangerous. When some leaders say the region is a peaceful zone and others invitethewarshipsofglobal powers into our backyard, they send confusion into the world That confusion invites exploitation It invites intervention. It tells theworldthattheCaribbean isdivided,andwherethereis division,thereisweakness.

We have been down this road before. We saw it in Grenada with the murder of Prime Minister Maurice BishoponOctober19,2025. We saw how regional divisionopened thedoor for foreignintervention,leaving behindscarsthatwearestill reckoning with today That mustneverhappenagain.We will not allow this region to be split and sacrificed to servethegeopoliticalgames ofbiggerpowers.

Since the time of Forbes Burnham, Guyana's foreign policy has been rooted in

non-alignment.Thiswasnot because we feared taking a stand but because we believedinsovereignty,selfdetermination, and settling disputes through regional andinternationalforasuchas CARICOM, the NonAligned Movement, and the UnitedNations.Thatwasnot a position of neutrality It was a position of strength and principle. That is the Guyanese tradition, and it is theCaribbeantradition.

For this reason, the current moment demands leadership, not silence Caribbean Heads of Government must meet immediately, not to host another photo-op but to engageinseriousandurgent dialogue.

Theymustcometogether and issue a clear, unambiguous statement on the region's collective position What is the Caribbean's view on foreign militarypresenceinoursea? What is the Caribbean's

in the developments on the sugarcanelandsatWalesand Ogle, this is complex and costlywork.However,asthe adagewiselystates,“nothing cheap is good.” The longterm benefits of a resilient and safe system that saves lives will far outweigh the initialcapitalinvestment.

Consequently, a traditional cost-benefit analysisisaninadequatetool forevaluatingthisproject.A much more pragmatic approach by the researchers isneeded.

The pertinent questions toanswerare:Howdoesone quantify the value of a life saved or the economic gain from thousands of hours of productive time no longer lost in traffic? This is the key!

The assessment must be reframed around its transformative potential: to

strategy for ensuring the safety of our people, the defense of our territory, and the respect for international law?

Ourpeoplemustnotlive in fear of being collateral damage in foreign conflicts. They deserve answers. We deserve unity of voice. We deserve protection The longer our leaders remain silent or divided, the more the region becomes a playground for foreign militaries and political interests that do not answer to us and do not care about ourfuture.

Our sovereignty should never be up for debate. Our peopleshouldneverbemade to feel that their rights are being negotiated behind closed doors with foreign powers. The peace of the Caribbean must be articulated and defended by Caribbean hands - with voice, with unity and with strength.

LincolnLewis

enhancethequalityoflifefor our people, boost national productivity, and signal Guyana's leap into a future population with modern and sustainableinfrastructure.

T h e u n d e r l y i n g economic imperative is clear The journey from the airport forms the first and most lasting impression for visitors, investors, and Guyanesefromthediaspora.

The current experience of protracted delays creates a powerful negative perception that undermines our other achievements. A reliable transit link is a fundamentalrequirementfor international business, which depends on predictabilityandefficiency

Forourtourismsector,itisa competitivelifeline.

The Georgetown-toCJIA corridor is an economic and strategic artery For a nation experiencing rapid growth, proactively building this high-capacity rail link is not anoption,butanecessity It is an investment that will yield dividends for decades by preventing the massive economic losses of perpetual gridlock and laying the foundation for a more connected, efficient, andequitablesociety

In conclusion, President Ali's directive to study the LightRailTransitsystemisa forward-thinking and decisive act of leadership. It demonstrates a profound understanding of the intricate link between modern infrastructure, human development, and national prosperity This is preciselythevisionrequired tosecureGuyana'sfuture.

Sincerely,

SasenarineSingh

Private Sector welcomes Co-Investment approach to advancing Agriculture

DearEditor,

AsamemberofGuyana's privatesectordeeplyinvested in the future of our nation's agriculture,Iwishtoexpress myfullsupportfortherecent initiative by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar

Mustapha, to deepe

investment partnerships across the agricultural sector

MinisterMustapha'srecent engagement with the Private

Agriculture Sub-Committee

marks a welcome and visionaryshiftinginhowwe approach agricultural development. His message that the government will focus on building the necessary infrastructure while the private sector invests in production and value addition reflects a model that is both sustainableandpractical.

Overthepastfewyears,we have witnessed substantial public investment in farmto-market roads, drainage and irrigation, silos, and

wharf facilities. These have laid the foundation for modernizingouragricultural landscape. The next logical step is to harness private capital, technology, and entrepreneurship to expand productionandprocessing.

Moreover, the Ministry's plans to develop 100,000 acres of farmland, establish 13agro-processingfacilities and revive sugar production and refining demonstrate a comprehensive vision one that aims not just to grow more,buttoproducesmarter

and add value locally The proposed rice storage facilities and small-scale sugarfactoryatSkeldonwill d i r e c t l

competitiveness and reduce post-harvestlosses.

Fortheprivatesector,these developments represent real

processingandpackagingto logistics, marketing, and export We see these initiatives as essential to achieving the President's broader vision of food security and agricultural

self-sufficiency, both in Guyana and across the Caribbean.

Of course, partnership requires mutual trust, clear policy frameworks and efficient coordination. We encourage the continued establishment of transparent

investment ensuring that risks and rewards are equitably shared, and that investorshaveconfidencein the long-term stability of sucharrangements.

Guyana is uniquely positioned to lead a new

agricultural revolution in CARICOM, combining fertile land, a dynamic private sector, and a supportive government. By embracing co-investment and joint responsibility, we can transform agriculture

exporting raw products to exporting high-value goods proudlymadeinGuyana.

The private sector stands readytoplayitspart.

Sincerely, A Concerned Member of thePrivateSector

Guyana suffers from a bad case of "doctoritis"

DearEditor,

In his letter “In support of Dr Bhagwan on 'Doctor' TitlesandFunding”(Oct.9), my friend “Vishnu Bisram (PhD)” makes a fair point about academic pretensions. But his claim that “those with honorary doctorates (like Bharrat Jagdeo, Priya Manickchand, etc.) are also entitledtouseitasthey'earn' it for their accomplishment” isastonishing—andfrankly, misguided.

No serious university — notHarvard,notOxford,not even UG authorizes honorary recipients to use “Dr.”asatitle.It'sanhonour, notaqualification.

You didn't endure years of coursework, research, exams, and dissertation defences; you sat through a ceremony,shookahand,and

gotaphotograph. Yet doctoritis thrives all over–especiallyinGuyana. Across the internet, one can buy a “doctorate” from quackademic factories for a few hundred U.S. dollars — no lectures, no reading, no research.Justclick,pay,and presto:“Dr So-and-so”in24 hours! Or give a handsome donation from a relatively unknown/questionable entity and 'ta da – you got that dacta thingy in front of yourname!'

Severalpublicfigures— politicians,religiousleaders, and other wielders of influence — are especially guilty of this selfanointment. It's high time they be asked, respectfully but firmly, on what grounds theyusethetitle“Doctor.”If their claim rests on an

honorary paper or a dubious online degree, then the public deserves honesty, not hollowprestige.Thecraving forborrowedacademicglory says more about insecurity thanachievement.

Worse still, the disease spreads through polite society Friends and admirers start calling each other “Doctor” — not from accuracy but from affection, flattery, or plain ignorance. Before long, the title means everythingandnothing. An honorary doctorate recognizes contribution, not scholarship.

Toparadeitasanearned title doesn't elevate the recipient; it cheapens the honour — and mocks those who actually went through thetoil!

DevanandBhagwan

Venezuela's sudden concern for Int'l Law absurd

DearEditor,

Senor Carlos Amador Perez Silv, Venezuela's Ambassador to Guyana recent remarks are a masterclassinhypocrisyand disinformation His government's sudden concernforinternationallaw is absurd, given its own recordofviolatingit.

Venezuelahasrepeatedly intruded into Guyanese waters, including a coast guard vessel in 2025 and a frigate in 2013. Yet it now cries foul over U S operations in international watersintheCaribbeanSea. Thisispuredistractionfrom theMaduroregime'sinternal failures and its aggression towardsitsneighbors.

His arguments collapse underscrutiny: 1. The fantasy of a

U.S. invasion is a deliberate lie to distract from the regime's economic ruin and roleintheinternationaldrug trade.

2. Arepresentativeofa regime that jails opponents andhasforcedover7million citizenstofleetheircountry, is in no position to lecture anyoneon"dueprocess."

3. AccusingtheU.S.of wanting Venezuelan oil is a confession of the regime's own looting of the nation's wealth for its corrupt elite. The U.S. is very satisfied with its relationship with Guyana and Trinidad on the oil related projects; no need for Venezuela to be a “potsalt”.

4. Claimsofpeaceare meaningless while Venezueladeploystroopson our border, builds illegal

airstrips, and orchestrates a sham referendum to annex two-thirdsofGuyana.

5. Callingthismilitary build-up "precautionary" is an insult to our intelligence. It is coercion, plain and simple.

The real threat to our regionisnotafictionalU.S. invasion, but the very real aggression of the Maduro regime We will not be fooled by these empty words.

Shame, also, on regional voices like St Vincent's Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who would sell outGuyana'ssovereigntyfor cheappoliticalfavours. The G

Gonsalves and we know a selloutwhenweseeone.

VishnuPrashad

Govt. to share risk with commercial banks for loans above zero-interest threshold – Jagdeo

For loans above the zero-interest threshold that will be offered through the government's Development Bank catering to Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), the government will work with local commercial banks to share the risk for businesses requiring loans beyond that ceiling.

This was disclosed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The vice president had explainedthatthecreationof t h e S t a t e - f u n d e d Development Bank will significantly ease the financial burden faced by small and medium-scale businesses. He stressed too

that the bank will be funded by the state and not the privatesector

The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had announced plans to establish the bank as part of its 2025 campaign promises “The

development bank, we are already looking at the structure of that bank. We want the bank to have chapters or lending programmes in all the regions of our country,” Jagdeo said on Thursday at his press conference held at FreedomHouse.

“We want to be able to leverage the zero interest for the loans up to a certain level,”headded.

While the bank will be operated by the state, the VicePresidentsaidtherewill also be collaboration with stakeholders from the private sector For businesses requiring loans above the zero-interest limit, Jagdeo said the government will work with commercial banks to share some of the risk.

He explained, “Working

more wealth, getting more Guyanese to own business opportunities that are based on lucrative government activities, particularly in the oil and gas sector,” Jagdeo said.

He added that President Ali has also been promoting opportunities in areas such as data centers, agroprocessing, fertilizer production, and transport and logistics “That is consistent with what we said we want to migrate business opportunities to other regionsofthecountry,create new sources of wealth creation, support the creation of new business in G u y a n a a n d businessowners, small business,”Jagdeosaid.

The vice president further noted that the government intends to

with the commercial bank system so that those who need to start small businesses beyond the level that they can get a zerointerest loan for that we can leverage it with the commercial bank to do a blending where they can in e x c h a n g e f o r t h e government to undertake part of the risk, they can get lower interest rates and longer-term credit from the commercialbanks.”

Jagdeo assured that government is exploring all optionstomovetheinitiative forward, noting that it forms part of the PPP/C's broader plan to create more opportunities for Guyanese businesses amid the country'seconomicboom.

Moreover, he credited President Irfaan Ali's recent efforts in this regard. “When you think about the framework in which he's mentioning all of these things in, its consistent with whatwepromise.Expansion of small business and business opportunities, creating more jobs, creating

structure certain business opportunities in a way that allows for public share ownership. This, he said, would enable Guyanese to invest in income-generating ventures tied to government activities. Jagdeo explained thatthiswillbebeneficialfor persons who may not have large startup capital or may not wish to manage a business directly “They could then through a passive investment in shares in equity supplement their income rather than have that income sitting in the bank as savings and earning a return that is significantly lower than they would get from an equity sort of investment,” hesaid.

F u r t h e r , h e acknowledged that many Guyanese, including some PPP/C supporters do not fully understand the broader financial framework being developed, emphasising the need for improved financial literacy Nonetheless, he assured that the government will continue to move forwardwithitspromises.

Whenonemandecideseverything

Eight hundred million dollars! That is the figure that’s lately being tossed about like a grenade in the public square “Eight hundred million on advertisements!”

Thecriticsgasp,asifthe number itself were proof of profligacy It sounds enormous, even grotesque, in a country where a modest home can be built for onetwentieth that sum. But in context and context is everything, the number shrinks to the size of a roundingerror

In 2011, the national budget stood at roughly G$161 billion. Fast forward to2025,andithasswollento a staggering G$1.4 trillion. That’snotamodestincrease; it’s an astronomical one, a 769percentsurgeinjustover a decade To put it differently, for every dollar the government spent in 2011, it now spends almost nine. If the government’s expenditure has ballooned by nearly 770 percent, then why should it surprise anyone that the advertising bill has also climbed? The machinery of the State is now infinitely larger, the number of projects exponentially greater, and the demands of public communication vastly more complex.

Advertising is not ornamentaltogovernance;it is the bloodstream through which a government communicates with its citizens.Itishownoticesare

published, tenders advertised, vacancies announced, safety messages shared, and, yes, political greetings extended The governmentof2025presides overtentimesthenumberof projects that existed in 2011 — roads, schools, hospitals, energydevelopments,digital initiatives, water expansion, housing schemes. Each of these demands its own t e n d e r n o t i c e s , environmental warnings, or project updates. The State’s advertising output has multiplied not because of indulgence but because of function Eight hundred million dollars, in this light, is hardly the bacchanal of spendingthatsomeallege.If anything, it suggests restraint. For if the national budget has grown by 769 percent, then for the advertising allocation to keep pace, it should now be in the vicinity of G$1.4 billion, not G$800 million. Thetruthisthattheincrease in advertising expenditure has not kept pace with the proliferation of government p

o j e c t s a n d communications The government today spends proportionally less on advertising than it did fourteenyearsago. Moreover, much of that G$800 million doesn’t even concern what most people think of as advertising. The sum covers the publication of government gazettes, the routine notification of appointments and legal

notices,theadvertisementof job vacancies, and a

communications. The sheer volume of government transactions—andthelegal requirement to publish them — has risen dramatically Whenthenumberofprojects multiplies, the paperwork follows like a shadow, and withittheads.

Then there are the ceremonial communications —thegovernmentgreetings

accompany religious and

y, Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Phagwah, Mashramani, and so forth. Each one of those greetings — the kind that appears in the dailies or circulatesonsocialmedia— is counted in the advertising tally In the age of optics, silence is interpreted as indifference. A government thatfailstoextendgreetings to its people is accused of disrespect; one that does is accusedofextravagance.

Still,initszealtoappear modern and thrifty, the ad

n has announcedthecreationofan online portal where all procurement ads will be placed.Itisnotthefirsttime this idea has been floated. Thepreviousattemptatsuch a portal ended as so many g o v e r n m e n t “modernizations” do — in quietfailure.

The problem wasn’t technical but cultural

Dem Boys Seh... EfficiencyorSufficiency?

Dem boys seh de government gone pon one big “efficiency drive.” Big fancy word, that. It mean doing more with less. But yuh know how this government does operate. Demdoingdeopposite.Demdoinglesswith morebutstillcallingapressconferencefuh tellpeoplehowmuchdemdoing.

Now it look as if dem pretending to cut waste and get more value fuh money But guess wha’s de first thing dem chop?

Newspaper ads! Not de overpriced contracts,notdefancyrefreshments,notde gasguzzlingSUVsthatcarryingonemanto sign one paper, not choosing a swamp to build a major project — no, no. Efficiency startwithcuttingnewspaperads.

Dem boys seh that sound more like vendetta than value for money Ifyuhreally want efficiency, yuh start with de big leaks —depaddedprojects,deghostworkers,de ministry that got more consultants than chairs But these fellas believe that efficiency mean shutting up anybody who pointingoutdewaste.

Dem boys seh de new definition of efficiencyis“silencingdecriticsandsaving lilchange.”Degovernmentefficiencydrive looking more like a government revenge drive.

Procurement is a process embedded in habit, in the daily rituals of bureaucratic life.Businesses,contractors, andsuppliersstilllooktothe newspapers, where notices are visible, permanent, and verifiable.Digitalportals,in contrast,areephemeral;they depend on users who are willing to go hunting for information instead of seeing it placed directly beforethem.

Thegovernmentwillfail again for the same reason it failed before — because it misunderstands the ecosystem of information. It assumes that by merely uploading advertisements to a website or social media platform, the message will find its audience. It won’t.

Online advertising, especiallythroughplatforms likeFacebook,isruledbythe black magic of algorithms. Thesealgorithmsareunseen mechanisms that decide which messages are shown andtowhom.

The ruling party learned this lesson the hard way during its election campaigns, when its online ads failed to gain the expected traction. It has yet to realize that unless an advertisement is boosted, targeted, and continuously paid for, it will sink beneath the algorithmic sea like a stone.

What is at work here is notfiscalirresponsibilitybut a species of bureaucratic naïveté — the belief that technology can replace

human intelligence and habit.Itisthesamefaiththat produces half-baked digitization projects and “smart” initiatives that end upbeingneither Theironyis that the same government that professes to be guided by data seems incapable of understanding how datadriven platforms actually function.

And so, the paradox persists: while the State e x p a n d s a n d i t s communications multiply, decisions about how to m a n a g e t h o s e communications are made by a shrinking circle of persons. And now it seems by one man. The logic of centralization — the conceit that one person’s judgment can substitute for the collective intelligence of institutions — is the real extravagancehere.

If dem serious ‘bout cutting waste, dem should do likeAmerica did. Over deh, dem set up a Department of Government Efficiency — DOGE — to hunt down wastage like a bloodhound. Every agency had to explaineverydollar That’s how yuh findrealsavings.

Butyuhknowhowourpeopledoescopy halfathingandstillgetitwrong.Insteadofa DepartmentofGovernmentEfficiency,dem createaDepartmentofGettingEven—still DOGE,butthisonedoesbarkatnewspapers insteadofthieves.

Demboysseh,ifyuhwatchingcarefully, yuh gon see who de ads getting cut from. Ain’t no accident it’s de ones that writing stories government don’t like. Dem call it saving money, but it look more like sawing offdeheadsofdesamepapersthatdoesask toomuchquestion. Efficiency?Demboyssehifdeplanisto domorewithless,demmightsoonbedoing nothingwithmore.

Andifdegovernmentreallywanttosave big,demcouldtryonelastidea—cutoutde nonsense,dewaste,anddeexcuses.Infact, demboysseh,cutoutdewholesetandstart fresh.Nowthatwouldberealefficiency! Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

-defea

g decisions will keep happening. Not because the State spends too much on advertising, but because it listenstoolittletoreason.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

In the end, the G$800 million is not the scandal. The scandal is the illusion that efficiency can be commanded from the top down,thatwisdomresidesin one mind, that decisions made in solitude will s o m e h o w p r o d u c e coherence in a nation of 800,000 persons – counting the migrants. That is the delusion of emperors and technocrats, not of democratic governments When the power to decide everything from the placement of ads to the course of national projects —restsinonepairofhands, theresultisalwaysthesame: confusion masquerading as order That is why these weird, se

H@RD TRUTHS

A portrait of the Guyanese condition

Guyanesearepaperrich, but dirt poor; too many of them. Guyanese intellects claimtheyarebright;butthe lightinthemisasicklysight; something is not right. An abundance of learning, yet nothing that recommends character, some essence in the heart. For those, some collect a million or a few For the millions, the things thattheyhavetodo.

It is said to be the way politics work. From the ludicrous to the frivolous, the malicious to the venomous, there are those poisons in Guyana's blood. And how! What cannot be found is fabricated. The imagined is expanded, used to incite. Or to attack and cleaveintwo. Despiteallof this,therearethosewhostill

insistthatthiscountryiswell on the way to being unitary in mind and on the ground, too.

Iamgladthatallofthose wisdoms, great national visions,rushedpastmydoor without so much as even glancing consideration Talkofuniquewisdomsand riches,andthat'sGuyana.

Most places have one type of gold. Guyana has two; one is under small rivers, in the bowels of mountain, and spread out acrossparcelsofland.

The other bigger storehouse is under the ocean. But the greatest piratesandsaboteursarenot from across the border, but those in the local domain whose minds are made of moltenlead. Apocketfulfor

me, a handful for selected others. The rest have hope. Somehow, this mindset is hailed as equitable, with noneleftout.

Big men read from bigger books written by the biggest men to explain and maintain, to translate and rationalize, that's what is going on in Guyana, it is a higher standard of leadership.

Andwhattheyaredoing represents the richness of impartial citizenship Fascinating and repelling at the same time. Can some Guyanese who have read a book or two, entered a university or so, have insights! Of other men. From other places. With different challenges. Under the weight of their own

unique conditions, histories. So, ask a Guyanese man, inquire of a Guyanese woman, what is truly inside (other than the bigotries), whatisstoodfor(otherthan the self-enriching), and all the learning from the great books boils down to three items They are three oppressive letters from the alphabet.

The sum and substance, the strength and spirit, of Guyanese endeavours and Guyanese existence distil to three letters out of the 26letteralphabet.

The letter P, properly capitalized, enjoys pride of place: the popularity of beingusedfourtimes. After almost 60 years of independence, there is the totality of Guyanese liberty: A P, an N, and a C Remember: The P is recycled four times, three in onego,andthenonce.

The people are said to come first, foremost in interestsand considerations. Now just peek at where the peopleare.

Rightinthegutter Who hasitrightandwhohasdone good? And to balance the formula: who has done

wrong, and let nobody ever forget. One of these days I thinkIwillmoseyonoverto the American Embassy and request a copy of the CIA report on Guyana. The one where studies have been done on local champions, and the completed printed profiles put in steel cabinets with codes and restricted access.

I will bet top dollar that the identification of leading local swindlers and scoundrels occupy a good manypage. Plus,something that has remarkable, near universal, consistency

Counting all the rogues and reprobates, and the obvious is emphasized: they are all rabbits.

Therearethosewhohide behinddirtytricksandtricky language, those who fear light,lovedarkness. And among them are those who separate this country into blocks, while hiding behind the billowing skirtsofoutsiders. Onthisa nation is being built Guyanaisonthemove,they say It is m

ial

y stagnated,terriblywounded, but that's hailed as advancement.

Onlyfoolswilldenythat Guyana is rich. Foreigners don't flock here for the food andpropaganda. They arrive in droves to seize their share of the riches. Andtogiveasliceto those who cleared the way for reciprocal prosperity Indeed, Guyana is rich as Croesus, Buffett, Bill and Ambani.

Yet Guyana is also a country where the seams split, the feet fail, and the people can't stand on their own. Something has taken overtheirheads. Controlthe head, and there goes the body

Thus,thesavageironyof acountryrichinnuggetsand barrels, and so lacking in everything else. Truth and principle have been the first sacrificial lambs. Before that character and selfrespect went the way of the dogs. Ipitythedogs.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

No teacher transferred from BV Primary or penalised – Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education on Saturday stated that no teacher from the Beterverwagting (BV) Primary School has been transferred or penalised following the concerns raised about the pigeon infestation at the learning institution. In a statement, the ministry noted that no suchtransferhasbeenunder consideration by the Ministry or the Teaching ServiceCommission(TSC).

“At no time has any directivebeenissuedbythe Ministry to relocate or penalise a teacher for voicingworkplaceconcerns regardingconditionsattheir school,”theministrystated.

According to the ministry, it recognises and respects the rights of teacherstodrawattentionto concerns about school infrastructure, noting that they remain committed to addressing any genuine reported issues of maintenance.

“The Ministry will

continue to follow established protocols for anystaffingchanges,which areconductedinaccordance with national policies, collective agreements and labourlaws.TheMinistryof Education urges all

stakeholders to practice the responsible dissemination of data, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical use,”theyagencysaidinits statement.

Kaieteur News reported thatinapublicstatementon Tuesday, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party saiditwasinformedthatthe

pigeon infestation in the classroom and around the compoundwassevere.

“The build-up of droppings and nesting debris makes the classroom unsanitary Pigeon waste exposes students and teacherstoharmfulbacteria and allergens daily,” WIN stated The party even published images of ill students lying on chairs joined together in a c l a s s r o o m W I N ' s publication was then later confirmed by parents and teachers who spoke with the media further highlighting the issue whichhasbeenongoingfor a while On Thursday, KaieteurNewsreportedthat a teacher who spoke to the press about the infestation was removed from the school on Wednesday with immediate effect. A senior education official told this newspaperthatanallegation made against the female teacher led to her being removed.

GGMC issues removal letter to miner who alleged being bullied by gold magnate in Reg. 7

…Miner says: 'I will not be bullied; I am moving to the court’

Weeks after a medium-scale miner accused a prominent gold magnateofbullyinghimoveraplot of mining land in the Toroparu Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has issued a removal order against themineronthegroundsthathehas violated the mining regulations by disruptingthepeace.

The issue dates back to December 2012, when Wallace Daniels discovered a strip of unclaimed land parallel to the PuruniRiver,locatednearproperty owned by the Alphonso family, well-known players in the local goldindustry Afterconfirmingthe landwasavailable,Danielsapplied to the GGMC and was granted the claim with no legal challenges or objections at the time but later became the center of legal battles andthreats.

On Saturday, Daniels' nephew Marvis Halliman told Kaieteur News that GGMC has now served himaremovalorder,accusinghim or persons acting under his directionofdisruptingthepeacein contraventionoftheMiningAct.

He shared a copy of the letter, issued by Mines Officer Alvin Graham and witnessed by GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison, Deputy Commissioner Jimmy Reece, and Manager of Mines QuincyThom.

“It has been observed and confirmedbytheMinesOfficerfor thesaiddistrictthatyou,orpersons acting under your direction, have engagedinconductcontrarytothe provisions of the Mining Act and the Regulations thereunder, thereby disrupting the peace and

GGMC

Commissioner, Newell Dennison

ordersissuedpreviously,”theletter states.

Itfurthercitesregulation154of the Mining Regulations which empowers a Mines Officer to remove, or cause to be removed, any person unlawfully occupying, orwhoseconductis,“prejudicialto goodorderorproperworking,from any claim, licence, or location withinhisjurisdiction.”

The letter outlined that regulation 98 of the Mining Regulations provides for the protectionofpeaceandgoodorder within mining districts and authorizestheMinesOfficertoact inanysituationlikelytodisturbor endangerthepeace.

It was noted too that Halliman was previously served directing himto,“ceaseunlawfuloperations, vacate disputed area, desist from interference, and you have failed and/or neglected to comply with same.”

The letter further orders Halliman to remove all equipment and personnel from the claim

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

within 72 hours or face forfeiture andpossiblelegalaction.

Speakingwiththispublication, Halliman said since receiving the letter, his lawyers have filed a writ of mandamus and plan to file a contempt order against the commission.

“I shouldn't be disenfranchised orpaintasabadperson…Iwillnot be bullied by Alphonsos or whoeverprotectingthem.Iwillnot be bullied because I got all the evidence, everything I got drone footage, everything that he was doing,”Hallimandeclared.

He continued, “They said that how I disturbing the peace. I don't know,rememberwhenthesecurity, themtrytokillme.Wegotnoreport fromthepolicethem,withallthese shots fired at me. Now they want metomovefromwhatwaslegally granted to me…I'm fed up and I'm notgoingtomove.I'mnotgoingto move.I'mnotgoingtomove...”

Halliman stated that GGMC has consistently refused to comply with court rulings in their favour,

whileturningablind-eyetotheacts oftheothergoldminer “Withtheir bullyism trying all means that are necessary to get this land and GGMC, rather than being the statutorybodytodotherightthing and comply with the orders from the court and the orders from the magistrate.Theyarerefusingtodo it because they are fixed deep within…”headded.

ThismovebyGGMCfollowsa September 24, 2025 article which highlighted Halliman's plight in RegionSeven.Atthattime,hehad sharedvideoofaman,purportedly anemployeeofthelarge-scalegold miner, armed with a rifle and demandingthatheandhisworkers vacate the land. In the video, a confrontation unfolded between Halliman and the armed man. Halliman could be heard saying thatthat300feetfromtheriverisa plotoflandnotownedbythelargescaleminer

According to GGMC documents seen by this publication, after there were no

legal challenges or objections to Daniels' application for the land, GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison invited Daniels to a meeting, which was attended by AndronAlphonsoandhislawyers. The meeting was an attempt to mediate a compromise after Alphonso complained, he would haveappliedhadheknowntheland was available However, that mediationfailed.

According to the document, Andron Alphonso owns river claims filed for in 2009, covering 34 claims along the Puruni River, one mile upstream and 300-feet inland on both sides Daniels' application, however, was for the 300-feet north and south of the river, adjacent to the Alphonso property The document states that Daniels' actions were neither injurioustoAlphonsonorillegal. However, in February 2016, Alphonso objected to Daniels being granted Prospecting Permits Medium Scale (PPMS), arguing (Continuedonpage40)

Israel kills 11 Palestinian family members in Gaza’s deadliest truce breach

Strike on civilian vehicle by Israeli military in Gaza City marks deadliest violation of eight-day ceasefire with Hamas.

Aljazeera-Israeliforces havekilled11membersofa Palestinian family in Gaza, thedeadliestsingleviolation ofthefragileceasefire since ittookeffecteightdaysago.

The attack happened on Friday evening when a tank shell was fired by Israeli forces at a civilian vehicle carrying the Abu Shaaban family in the Zeitoun neighbourhoodofGazaCity, according to Gaza's civil defence.

Sevenchildrenandthree women were among those killed when the Israeli military fired on the vehicle as the family attempted to reach their home to inspect i t , c i v i l d e f e n c e spokesperson Mahmoud Basalsaidinastatement.

“They could have been warned or dealt with differently,” Basal said, adding that “what happened confirmsthattheoccupation is still thirsty for blood, and insistsoncommittingcrimes againstinnocentcivilians.”

(OCHA).

Palestinians walk among destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Thursday, October 16, 2025 [JehadAlshrafi/AP]

Meanwhile,thebodiesof two ch

ldren remain missing, as their remains were “scattered due to the i n t e n s i t y o f t h e bombardment,” the group added.

Hamas condemned what it called a “massacre” and said the family was targeted without justification The group called on United States President Donald Trump and mediators to pressureIsraeltorespectthe ceasefireagreement. In that attack, Israeli soldiers opened fire on people who crossed the socalled “yellow line”, the demarcation to which Israel's military was supposed to pull back under theceasefireterms.

Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary, reporting from G a z a , s a i d m a n y

The agency said in a separate statement that its teams have managed to recover the bodies of nine peoplesofar,incoordination with the UN Office for the C

Palestinians lack internet access and are unaware of where Israeli forces remain positioned along the socalled demarcation lines, puttingfamiliesatrisk.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has claimed that theyellowlinesinGazawill soon be marked out for clarity

Israeli forces remain in control of approximately 53 percent of Gaza, Khoudary

said.

As the exchange of captives for Palestinian prisoners under the provisions of the deal has continued, Israel has killed at least 38 Palestinians, accordingtotheGazaMedia Office on Saturday, and heavilyrestrictedtheflowof desperately needed aid, including food and medical supplies.

Last week, Israeli forces

killedfivePalestiniansinthe Shujayea neighbourhood, alsoinGazaCity

Israel has continued to seal the Rafah crossing with Egyptandblockedotherkey bordercrossings,preventing large-scale aid deliveries into the famine-stricken enclave.

P r i m e M i n i s t e r Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Saturday that the Rafah crossing will remain closed until further notice, shortly after the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt announced that it wouldreopenonMonday

“The crossing's opening will be considered based on the manner in which Hamas fullfills its part in returning the deceased hostages and implementing the agreedupon framework, ” Netanyahu's office said in a statementonSaturday

The United Nations warned this week that aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas, with 49 percent of people accessing less than six litres of drinking water per day –well below emergency standards.

The World Food Programme said it has brought an average of 560 tonnes of food daily into Gaza since the ceasefire began, far below what is needed to address widespreadmalnutritionand preventfamine.

Hamas has said it remains committed to the ceasefire terms, including returning the remains of Israeli captives still under Gaza'srubble.

The Israeli military said

lateonSaturdaythattheRed Cross has received two coffins of dead Israeli captives and they were handedovertoIsraeliforces foridentification.

Hamas handed over the body of another captive on Fridayevening,bringingthe total to 10 since the truce began. Hamas has increased efforts to recover all the bodies of the captives despite little excavating machinerytofulfiltheterms oftheceasefire.

Israel has not allowed those machines into the enclave – where the bodies of thousands of Palestinians are believed to remain trapped under the debris –andhasnotyetpermittedthe entryofinternationalexperts to help retrieve the captives' remains.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud said by blocking heavy equipment and machinery from entering, Israel is creating “a challengefortheresidentsof Gaza who are experienced and have the expertise to search and to dig out bodies from under the rubble” with thattypeofequipment.

Israel has also returned thebodiesof15Palestinians whose identities remain unknown, bringing the total number of bodies received by Palestinian authorities under the terms of the ceasefiredealto135.

Some of the returned bodies exhibit signs of torture, including hanging and rope marks, bound handsandfeet,andgunfireat close range, according to healthofficialsinGaza.

Meet Malini Persaud — a celebrated Makeup Artist and Beauty Advisor and the reigning Mrs. India Guyana Worldwide. Malini is the visionary founder of the brand 'Colour Me Gorgeous,' a proud mother and devoted wife. This week's beauty embodies grace, strength, and authenticity. She finds joy in life's simple moments. Her journey reached new heights when she made history for Guyana at the Mrs. India Worldwide pageant, shining as a symbol of elegance, empowerment, and national pride.She believes in these famous words “Empowered women don't just inspire change, they become it.”

A New World Order—or the formal admission of the Old?

By Sir Ronald Sanders

Theworldhaslong spoken of a “rules-based order,” as though the law itself held dominion over power Yet, behind the diplomatic courtesies and the fine print of charters, it was power that wrote the rules and altered them at will.Thedifference today is that the altering is done in full view and only a few feignsurprise.

We all knew what the Order was even when we hopedforbetter Weknewit inWorldTradeOrganization negotiations when our cries for special and differential treatment for small states in trade relations fell on deaf ears. WeknewitinClimate Change negotiations when our pleas for a loss and damage fund evinced a sop, notasolution.

From the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 to the Charter of the United Nations in 1945, the international system has proclaimed the sovereign equality of states In practice, this has always been more aspiration than achievement Legal sovereignty - the declared right to be free from interference - belongs to all; political sovereignty - the power to act without permission - belongs to the few.

The theorists of pluralism have long argued that sovereignty has never been absolute, but continuously bargained, constrained,andreshapedby circumstance Small and powerless countries know this truth by experience, not bytheory

The difference in the present circumstances is bluntness. The restraint that once moderated power – or at least gave a pretense of negotiation and respect for Staterights- hasgivenway to open display of might.

C o m m i t m e n t s t o multilateral cooperation are treated as conveniences; treaties are interpreted as

optional; international courts are ignored The change is not in achieving objectives;itisinthetossing aside of pretension. Power no longer feels obliged to disguise itself in contrived negotiations.

For small states, this unmasking is more than academic.Theirsovereignty is not an instrument to dictate to others; it is a fragileshieldofdefence-the spacewithinwhichtheymay choose their partners, legislate their priorities, and speaktheirtruths.Whenthat space contracts, their independence becomes more ceremony than substance.

This tension is now evident in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), wherehalfacenturyagofour leaders - Michael Manley, Errol Barrow, Forbes Burnham,andEricWilliams - declared the region a Zone of Peace. It was a visionary pledge: that the Caribbean's destinywouldnotbeshaped by the rivalries of distant powers Yet, as former Jamaican Prime Minister P J.Pattersonrecentlywarned, that pledge is under threat.

H e d e s c r i b e d a s “fundamentally dangerous and a horrible erosion” the intrusionofexternalmilitary operations into Caribbean waters – actions which have beenjustifiedinthenameof security which appear to be unmindful of sovereignty, if not of law. None of this

denies the value of

cooperation against transnationalcrime;itinsists only that such cooperation be anchored in international law, transparency, and respect for regional consultation.

Patterson's concerns are notaboutwhoacts,butwhat theactionsignifies:thateven within the waters the Caribbean calls its own, decisions are made elsewhere. And while the Caribbean Community has often spoken of “collective sovereignty,”thetruthisthat each nation, bound by economic and security

dependence, has often p u r s u e d i t s o w n accommodations with e x t e r n a l p o w e r s Dependen

s compromise of the very

n declared.

This is the paradox of small states: they depend on the international rule of law but are powerless when it is ignored. Sanctions regimes are threatened or imposed withoutUNmandate–asthe OECD and the European Union have done on financial services; trade restrictions are justified by assertions of unfair trade deficits, even though Caribbean small states have no surplus with any trading partner – Guyana is now an exceptiononlyintheareaof oil and gas sales; humanrights mechanisms are

credibility

In reality, poor and powerless countries have livedinaworldorderwhere justice has nominally existed,butenforcementhas not. So, when the present international situation suggeststhatwearemoving to a “new world order,” we shouldask:whatisnew?The only thing new is the bluntness with which power is exercised. The hierarchy hasalwaysbeenthere-now only some pretend othe

witnessing not the birth of a new order, but the formal admission of the old: an order in which might makes therules.

For small nations, the implications are sobering. Sovereigntymaysoonmean no more than the right to manage domestic affairs, provided they do not offend theideologiesorinterestsof those who command the oceans, the markets, and the securityumbrella.

Yet, the response of small states cannot be withdrawal or despair It must be steadfast insistence on the language of law and principle - not because it always protects us, but because without it there is

nothing left to which to appeal.

The rules-based order may be throwing off the disguise of legal robes, but its vocabulary still defines the terrain. The Caribbean's securityandprosperityhave long benefited from principled partnerships with larger democracies; their appeal should be to keep those partnerships squarely withintheframeworkoflaw

In the Caribbean Community, governments will have to understand and tolerate why some amongst

them, in their national interest, have to be more accommodating of larger powers.They will also have to accept that “collective sovereignty” cannot be exercised if it invites individualpunishment.

The challenge, then, is nottosubmittotheemerging new world order dominated by power and might, but to prevent the old one from becoming unashamedly permanent. For when law is silenced and power alone speaks, the ladder of equity collapses, leaving the

powerless helpless at the bottom Caution is now required,butsoiscourage.

(The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and BarbudatotheUnitedStates and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com)

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

US$565Mpoursintooil fundin3rdquarter2025

The Natural Resource Fund (NRF), Guyana’s oil account, was boosted with approximately US$565M during the third quarter of2025.

This is according to an NRF

Receipt published by the government of Guyana (GoG), for the period July 1, 2025 to September30,2025.Thedocument reflects one royalty payment relativetothesecondquarterofthis year which amounts to US$77,860,330.36.

Meanwhile, eight profit oil paymentswererecordedduringthe p e r i o d , t o t a l l i n g US$486,672,093 33 This means Guyana received a total of US$564,532,423 69 during the three-monthtimeframe.

So far, close to US$1.8B has flowed into the oil account for the year Inthefirstquarterofthisyear, the Fund received payments

totaling US$605,462,893 Meanwhile,inthesecondquarterof the year, another US$617,955,248 wasdepositedintotheaccount.

Governmentisprojectedtoearn an estimated US$2 2 billion in profit oil and US$340.6 million in royaltiesbytheendof2025.

It is anticipated that there will be 246 lifts of profit oil from the StabroekBlockin2025-eachliftis equivalenttoonemillionbarrelsof oil Within this, Government is projected to have 31 lifts of profit oil from the four Floating ProductionStorageandOffloading vessels (FPSOs) currently operatingoffshoreGuyana.

Earlier this year, Finance MinisterDr AshniSinghtempered the expectation of Guyanese with regard to revenue flow from the sector During the presentation of Budget 2025, he indicated that although Guyana’s daily productionisexpectedtoclimb,the country will see a decrease in earningsfromthesector,asaresult of a projected 10.9% decline in oil price.

He said, “Oil prices contracted by 2.3 percent to average US$80.7 perbarrelin2024,primarilydueto slowing global demand, particularlyinChina.”

The Minister was keen to note that this trend is expected to continue this year as “crude oil pricesareforecastedtodeclinebya further10.9percenttoUS$71.9per barrel,withglobalsupplyexpected toexceeddemand.”

Consequently,heexplainedthat Government’s petroleum revenue deposits are projected to be 2.6 percentlowerthanin2024.

Kaieteur News reported that in 2024, an average of 225.4 million barrels of crude oil was produced,

with the sector recording 57.7% growth that year At an average oil priceofUS$80.7perbarrelin2024, Guyana earned US$2.6B from oil production.

In accordance with the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Guyana receives 2% of oil produced sold in the Stabroek Block It also receives a profit share, equivalent to 12.5% after ExxonMobildeducts75%monthly towardsexpensesandtakesanother 12.5%asitsprofit.

Raceagainsttime:GTE contractorsdoublecrew,rollout 24-hourshiftstobeatdeadline

Contractors of the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project, Lindsayca/ CH 4, have doubled the labour force and will soon commence 24hour construction activities to delivertheplantbynextyear

TheGTEprojectfeaturesa12inch pipeline to transport gas from offshore, as well as a power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility ExxonMobil Guyana Limited has already completed the pipelineaspectoftheproject.

President Irfaan Ali on Friday evening visited the Wales Development site, on the West Bank of Demerara where the final pourforthefoundationbaseofthe fourthturbinewascompleted.

In a live update from the site, the Head of State reported, “Work isacceleratingandoneofthethings that the contractor, the consultant andtheprojectteamiscommitting to is working 24/7, increasing not only the man-hours but the manpower itself. The engineering and labour force here will more thandoubleinthecomingweeksso thatwecangetbackonatimelineas quicklyaspossible.”

Head of the GTE Taskforce, WinstonBrassingtonsharedamore technicalupdateontheproject.He detailed, “The work is progressing from the power plant to the substation in the north and then around to the NGLplant. With the foundation being poured, the four

An aerial view of ongoing construction activities at a section of the project site (PC: Office of the President)

gas turbines should be laid and the foundation by December and a lot of the heavy equipment brought in andplacedandfoundations.”

Brassington added that most of the equipment for the plant has been manufactured and is already in-country,whilethemorematerial is currently being shipped He expects that majority of the equipment will arrive by early

January, 2026 As such, Brassington said, “So what will remain is completing the civil works, what’s going on now and continuing and then it’s a lot of detailed work, the pipe racks, the cabletrays,sotheintentionistotry to get everything finished by next year.”

A representative of Lindsayca, who did not state his name, shared that there are currently about 400 personsworkingontheproject.He said, “We start from next month working 24-hours. Our target is to finishthisprojectnextyear.”

I n b r i e f r e m a r k s , a representative of the Consultant firm, Engineers India Limited (EIL), whose name was also not stated, reported that 9303 piles are required for the project, with most of the work already completed Additionally, he pointed out, “We havealreadystartedexcavationfor the substation…and by next week we are going forward with the concrete in pouring for the substationaswell.”

Overall,25,000cubicmetersof concrete will be poured for the power plant, substation NGLplant andotherancillaryinfrastructure.

In the meantime, President Ali said that government is currently planning for a fertilizer plant to be constructed on-site It was explained that the 1400-acre site will be bound by Free-and-Easy, Maria’s Lodge and the Demerara River According to Brassington, “We have room for a fertilizer plant,aglassfactory,datacentres,a second substation to Kalpataru, an area for a small industrial electricity users.”Already, a study hasbeencompletedontheneedfor glassbottlesintheRegion.

PresidentAli reiterated that the fertilizer plant, currently being exploredalongsideotherinitiatives for the utilization of the country’s gas resources will feature local investment “We have said we wanted to have as much local involvement as possible, that is from an investment perspective so we are going to bring together the design planners, we have to have the engineering companies and the builders because as you know this is a very specialized piece of investment but we want this investment to be owned as far as possible by locals and with the government itself,” the President stated.

TheGTEprojectaimstoreduce thecostofelectricityinGuyanaby

a whopping 50%. It is expected to add300megawattsofelectricityin its initial phase. Guyana is also poisedtobecomeamajorproducer ofcookinggas,mostofwhichwill be exported The first phase is expected to cost close to US$2B, the country’s single largest project everpursued.

Government previously intended for the initiative to come onstreamin2025butconstruction delaysnotonlypushedthetimeline back but resulted in a dispute b

contractor

Since its inception, opposition members have been pressing government to release key documents release key documents and agreements for the project whichcontinuetobehidden.

MONDAY

‘Uk’s£3Bdebttrap’ – Analysts warn Guyana risks sliding into a debt trap …asBritishcommercial intereststightentheirgrip

TheUnitedKingdomincreased its export credit financing limit for Guyana from £2.1 billion to £3.0 billion, a move billed by both London and Georgetown as a vote of confidence in Guyana’s acceleratingeconomicprogress.

But amid the applause, commentators have here have sharply warned that Guyana must tread carefully Failure to do so, theysay,risksplungingthecountry intoadebttrap,especiallygiventhe volatility of oil prices and the nation’salreadyheavyexternaland domesticobligations.

Kaieteur News reported last weekthattheannouncement,made by UK Export Finance (UKEF) followed a meeting with President IrfaanAliandhisfinanceteam.Ina press release the British High Commission in Guyana said that thelargerceiling“reflectstheUK’s confidence in Guyana’s economic trajectoryandfiscalsustainability.” and marks a further deepening of bilateral relations between the two nations.”

For his part, President Ali, in outlining his priorities for UKEF support, said the announcement comes at a “pivotal moment” as Guyana ramps up infrastructure development and strengthens its position as a major investment destination “The British High Commission looks forward to supporting sustainable growth and shared prosperity through this collaboration between the UK and Guyana,”thestatementconcluded.

The following day Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the extra financing capacity will help Guyana accelerate infrastructure development and support priority sectors over the next five years includingmajorroadworks,power Continued on page 17

Frompage16

transmission, health infrastructure, and partnerships with British firms. Singh described the move as a “powerful signal of external trust” in the country’s macroeconomic management The minister expressed gratitude on behalfoftheGovernmentof

Guyana, to the UK

Government for their support over the years, which he said has been instrumental in fostering collaboration between the two nations, as Guyana continues to accelerate its developmentandsolidifyits position as a leading investment hub in the Region.

DebtClimbing

Guyana’s total Public and Publicly Guaranteed

(PPG) debt stood at

US$5.993 billion at the end of 2024, up from about US$4.5billionayearearlier External PPG debt loans from multilateral, bilateral, and other foreign creditors was roughly US$2.2 billion, while domestic PPG debt reached approximately

US$3 7 billion Debt servicing costs also climbed toUS$196.1millionin2024, up from US$177.5 million the year before Of that, US$124 9 million went to external debt service and US$71.2milliontodomestic obligations Government

officials, however, frequentlypointtoGuyana’s decliningdebt-to-GDPratio, downfrom47.4%in2020to 24.3% in 2024, as evidence that debt levels remain within prudent limits and that the country has room to borrowforstrategicprojects.

APromissoryNote

Political commentator and former Gold Board

ChairmanGHKLallsaysthe British increase is “more

t h a n g e n e r o s i t y. ” “Increasingthedebtlimitisa way of strengthening the hand of British commercial interests in big Guyanese projects. It is a promissory note that, once taken advantage of, becomes an IOU,” Lall told Kaieteur News.

He cautioned that with oil prices projected to decline, Guyana should focus on fiscal discipline rather than “pie-in-the-sky”

projects “The more spending there is, the more

likely corruption is involved,” he added. “The debt-to-GDP ratio may be healthynow,butifoilprices fall for a prolonged period,

the complexion of that ratio changes The kleptocracy and plutocracy stand to be thebiggestbeneficiaries.”

IDB’sCaution

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) warned in its 2023 flagship report Dealing with Debt: Less Risk for More Growth that public debt in Latin America and the Caribbean had risen sharply since the pandemic.Itcautionedthatif borrowing is not managed with “sufficient caution,” interest costs could balloon, growth prospects could suffer, and “in the limit, a costly debt crisis may be provoked.” The IDB urged governments to improve spending efficiency, strengthen institutions, and ensure borrowing is used wisely

RecklessBorrowing Opposition voices have echoed similar warnings When the Government movedtoraisedomesticand external debt ceilings in 2023,MPJurethaFernandes had warned that volatile oil prices could lead to unsustainable debt servicing burdens that sq

MP G

sh Mahipaul at the time called forcleardefinitionsofmajor projects before increasing debt limits, while civil societygroupsraisedalarms abouttiedfinancing,opaque procurement, and weak oversight.

In an invited comment, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram said the UK’smove“mayappearasa gesture of confidence” but raises deeper questions about fiscal prudence, d e p e n d e n c y , a n d geopolitical influence. Ram pointed out that Britain has long sought to cash in on Guyana’s oil wealth, recalling documentation in

Raphael Trotman’s book about the British High Commissioner’s lobbying for TULLOW, a UK oil company that failed in its Guyana ventures. “What the British are doing is copying the Chinese model, give their people the contracts, and they’ll provide the financing The unspoken message:Weknowyouhave oil; our debt is therefore safe,”Ramobserved.

He added that Brexit has pushed the UK to seek new tradefootholds,especiallyin resource-rich regions like the Caribbean “Foreign policy is inseparably tied to trade policy,” Ram said “They lost access to a massive market after Brexit and have been seeking alternativeseversince.”

Ram warned that while the higher ceiling gives Guyana access to faster financing,theGovernment’s lack of a clear borrowing policy and reliance on a “misleading” debt-to-GDP ratio are troubling “A significant portion of GDP around60% doesnotbelong to Guyana, while any debt incurred certainly does,” he said. “We are using oil as a reason for increasing our debt, both in absolute and relative terms. There is no long-term economic planning.”

HestressedthatBritain’s motivation is not altruistic: “They’re calculating their benefit There’s no reason we can’t exploit the opportunity, but we must negotiatehard.Identifywhat weneedandwhattheyoffer

The Chinese excel in infrastructure; can the Britishmatchthat?”

Borrowingto FuelCorruption

Economist Elson Lowe agreed that while the UK is naturally seeking trade expansion,Guyanamustuse

Guyana Limited (EMGL) for exploration activities conducted in the Stabroek Block, but to date, the country has accumulated lessthanUS$1Binroyalties s i n c e p r o d u c t i o n commencedin2019.

Notably, oil-producing states around the world, including neighbouring Suriname have blocked oil companies from recovering costs spent to hunt for oil.

Guyanaontheotherhandnot onlyallowsExxontorecover costs for wells successfully drilled, but even dry holes encounteredintheprocess.

the funds “thoughtfully and strategically ” “We must reformprocurementsystems to minimise corruption,” Lowe said “Borrowing to fuelcorruptionisperilous,as we will not see the expected benefits of our spending ” He cautioned that oil price volatility remains a real threat.“Ifoilpricesfallfora prolongedperiod,adebttrap could result Guyana’s ability to execute large, complex projects, like the Gas-to-Energy plant remains doubtful,” Lowe said While not opposing borrowing outright, Lowe stressed the need for planning and transparency: “We must borrow with a clear plan, the expected benefittosociety,thereturn, and the risk Without effectivegovernancereform, costs will continue to skyrocket and benefits to citizenswillremainlimited.”

ExxonslapsGuyana withwhopping US$2.3Bexplorationbill -ascountrycollects lessthanUS$1Bin royaltiestodate

Guyanahasbeenhanded a bill for approximately US$2.3B by ExxonMobil

Before production activities commenced, ExxonclaimedUS$1.6Bfor exploration activity in the Stabroek Block during the period 1999 to 2017

Additionally, the company’s Annual Reports and financial statements for the period 2020 to 2024 show that another US$666 1M was racked up again for exploration activity It was reported that in 2020, some US$100M was spent to exploretheblock.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the company said US$131 2M was spent and another US$43 7M in 2022

Moreover, Exxon handed Guyana an additional U S $ 2 7 7 5 M a n d US$113 7M in 2023 and 2024,respectively

This means Guyana has received a whopping US$2,266,100,000 for exploration works by the oil major Since the country commencedproducingoil,it has received less than US$1Binroyalty,asatJune 30, 2025 The Natural Resource Fund (NRF) second quarter report, published by the Bank of Guyanaindicatesthatbythe end of June 2025, Guyana’s total 2% royalty, since the inception of the Fund, only a m o u n t e d t o

US$955,781,444.

The sweetheart deal signed by ExxonMobil in 2016 allows the company to recover costs related to its explorationactivities,evenif those efforts do not produce oil Additionally, the contract stipulates that the contractorshallpay2%ofall petroleum produced and sold, to the government as royalty

This provision, along with several others have been criticizedby both local and international experts in the past, who are adamant that all companies take on financial risk as the cost of doing business where they operate.

In its 2024 Annual Report published this year, Exxon stated, “Exploration and appraisal activity in the Stabroek Block is critical to enhance understanding of theblock’spotential,inorder toincreasevalueandinform future development opportunities.”

The company reported that eight exploration and appraisal wells were completed in 2024 with activityextendingacrossthe block in the northwest, southeast, and central areas. Meanwhile, the oil giant revealed that it will be targeting at least one more discovery this year to augment the 11 billion barrels of resources already discovered there So far, ExxonMobil has made 46 discoveriesinthe6.6million acres block, as pointed out by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in his 2025 Budgetpresentation.

TUESDAY

ExxondeniesseekingUS taxbreakforGuyana’soil - claims senators were misled

PresidentofExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge on

Monday said that the company did not apply for any tax credits in the United States (U.S) for its Stabroek BlockoperationsinGuyana.

D u r i n g a m e d i a conference at its new Ogle, East Coast Demerara Headquarters, Routledge said that the company was still working with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on the tax receipts that should be issued in keepingwiththetermsofthe 2016 Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).The Continued on page 18

Frompage17 contract stipulates that Exxonwillnotberequiredto make tax payments to the Government of Guyana (GoG).Bethatasitmay,the GoGagreedtoissueareceipt to the company, indicating that its local tax obligation wasmet.

Earlier this year, two Guyanese from the nonprofit organisation, Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) met with U S lawmakers to highlight the issue, which they believe constitutes fraudulent tax practices, since Exxon is allowed to use the certificates issued by GRA to claim tax credits in the U.S.

Inastatementlastmonth, theU.SSenatorssaidExxon was given up to October 23 t o e x p l a i n i t s t a x arrangements with Guyana. Severalquestionswerelisted for the company to respond to, as the U.S government probed the likelihood of a massive tax evasion by the oilgiant.

C o n s e q u e n t l y , Routledge was asked to say whether the company will provide information to its home country regarding its local tax practices

According to him, “Exxon Mobil Corporation in its 23, 24 tax filings, there were no Guyanese tax credits that were included in either of those filings and you will recallthat,priorto2023,we werenotmakingprofitshere in Guyana, so there were no tax credits from that So, from this point up until this point, there have been no Guyanataxcreditsthathave beenusedbyExxon.”

To this end, he said OGGN may have “misled” theSenators. Headded,“As we focus on our business here,youknow,wecontinue to be actually cash flow negative on a cumulative basis…there were no Guyanataxcreditsthatwere usedbyExxonMobilin2023 and24filings.So,25filings have not taken place yet but uptothispoint,no.”

When asked if the company received any tax

certificates from the government, Routledge responded, “We haven’t applied any tax credits. We areworkingwiththeGRAon paperworkontaxes.”

It was reported that U.S. S e n a t o r s S h e l d o n Whitehouse, Chris Van HollenandJeffMerkleysent a letterto ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods requesting

onTuesday

information on the company’s accounting of its U.S.taxliabilityasaresultof the 2016 Stabroek Block PetroleumAgreement. “The letter raises questions about whetherAmericantaxpayers a r e s u b s i d i s i n g ExxonMobil’s foreign oil productioninGuyana,which the company carries out in partnership with a Chinese state-owned company,” the statementsaid.

In 2024, EMGL was granted a tax waiver by the GoG amounting to over US$1.3B. This is according to the company’s financials whichindicateataxexpense of GY$260,155,788,763 for lastyearalone.

During a press briefing with local journalists to discuss the company’s performance,EMGLrefused to field questions on the tax certificates issued by the GoGanddirectedjournalists

togovernmentofficials.

The sweetheart deal Exxon signed in 2016 states in Article 15 1 that the Contractor (ExxonMobil Guyana Limited) as well as its affiliates shall not be subjectedtotax,value-added tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge, or impost in respect of income derived from petroleum operations, propertyheldortransactions exceptasspecifiedunderthe agreement.

Further, Article 15 4 statesthatthesumequivalent to the taxes owed by the companywillbepaidbythe Minister responsible for P e t r o l e u m t o t h e Commissioner General of the GRA. It should be noted that the contract also allows fortheissuingofareceiptto ExxonMobil, indicating that it has met the local tax requirements to avoid the burdenofdoubletaxation.

Sexscandalrocks policeacademy - several cops transferred as probe launched

T h e O f f i c e o f Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigationintoallegations of inappropriate conduct involving officers at the Guyana Police Force Academy, Georgetown campus.

Accordingtoastatement from the police, the alleged incidents were recently brought to the attention of theCommissionerofPolice, who immediately ordered a full investigation In response, OPR investigators interviewed several academy staff members and recruits, all of whom have since provided formal statements.

“The investigation is complete, and the case file

Inapublicstatement,the political group said it has been informed that the pigeon infestation in the classroom and around the compound is severe “The build-up of droppings and nesting debris makes the classroom unsanitary Pigeon waste exposes students and teachers to harmful bacteria and allergensdaily,”WINstated. The party even published images of ill students lying onchairsjoinedtogetherina classroom.

Parents and teachers alike are now fearful that other students may suffer a similar fate, as for nearly a decade now the school has g

challenges which pose a threattothehealthandwellbeingofstaffandstudents.

willbesenttotheDirectorof Public Prosecution for advice,” police said. In the meantime, one officer and three sergeants have been transferred from the academy pending the outcomeoftheprobe.

WEDNESDAY

BVschoolinfilth andfeathers -asstudentsfallsick frompigeoninfestation

Aseven-year-oldstudent of the BVQuamina Primary

School, East Coast Demera

een hospitalised, while at least four others have fallen ill as pigeon infestation and other health concerns spiral out of control at the learning institution.

Sounding an alarm over the situation was the We InvestinNationhood(WIN)

WIN said there have been multiple complaints to the Ministry of Education, yettheinstitutionremainsin anunacceptablecondition.

In addition to the pigeon infestation, it was also explained that the school’s washroom facilities are also inadequate “Teachers sometimes use the washroominaparent’shome whovolunteerstoopenitfor them,ortheygohometouse theirownwashroom.Thisis u

,

e oppositionpartyargued.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the school serves 360 mainstream studentsand94specialneeds students, along with 24 mainstream teachers, 18 special needs teachers, and threecleaners.

WIN claims that maintaining cleanliness is nearly impossible at the institution. The party said parents are even sometimes forced to assist in cleaning the school. Additionally, therearealsoconcernsabout the student-teacher ratio, particularly to serve those with special needs who may require individual attention insomeinstances.

“For years, the school has sought assistance through several channels under the Ministry of Education,yettheconditions remain unchanged. We are calling on Minister (of Education Sonia) Parag to visit the BVPrimary School immediately to have these issues addressed,” the party said.

Confirmingthereports,a

Continued on page 28

By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate

Speakingatthelaunchof t h e Wo r l d B a n k ' s AGRICONNECT: Farms, Firms and Finance for Jobs initiative, designed to transform small-scale farming into an engine of

sustainable growth, employment and food security, World Bank PresidentAjayBangaissued a bold warning. Over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people will enter the global workforce, but current projections suggesttheworldwillcreate only400millionjobs.“Ifwe do not create opportunities for the 800 million young people who will be left behind,” he cautioned, “we will not just face an economiccrisis,wewillface a human crisis.” His message was unambiguous; agriculture, powered by technology and private capital, remains one of the few sectors capable of absorbing youth at scale, delivering long-term employment, and securing theworld'sfoodfuture.

Banga's words are not about farming as hand-tomouth survival, his words reinforce a global call for

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

High Food Prices, Low Job Prospects — Agriculture Technology Is a Smart Bet for Guyana's Youth

nations to pay more than lip service to agriculture. It is about redefining agriculture asamodernwealthindustry Banga emphasized that global food demand is expectedtorisebymorethan 50 percent in coming decades, while food prices continuetheirupwardclimb.

“Foodsystemsarenolonger simplyaboutfeedingpeople, they are about powering economies, stabilizing nations, and creating millionsofjobs,”hesaid. This is where Guyana stands at a crossroads When I grew up here in the 1980s, every family in my community planted something; bora, thyme, ochro, tomatoes and every familyhadseveralfruittrees -papaw,guava,mango. You could not walk a street without seeing ducks or chickens in someone's yard.Thatculturehasquietly vanished,justasfoodprices areclimbingfasterthanmost household salaries. So the questionmustnowbeasked; Why aren't more Guyanese familiesplantingevensmall quantities again? Not as charity,butasastrategy Not for subsistence, but for food cost reduction or even for income. Anaddedbenefitof reviving the kitchen garden

isthatitpullschildrenaway from constant screen time and online games and engages them in real-world learning, teaching them about agriculture, basic technology, plant care, and even home-based food processing.

Ajay Banga is urging developing nations to move quickly “The future of food isalsothefutureofjobs,”he said “Countries that combine agriculture with technology, precision farming, cold storage, data platforms, logistics and digital marketplaces, will not just feed themselves. They will dominate export markets and create the next generationofmillionaires.”

That is the scale of opportunity Guyana is sitting on. And yet, we are stilllosingtoomuchofwhat we grow. Research by Jorge M. Fonseca of the United States Department of Agricultureestimatesthat50 percent of fruits and vegetablesand37percentof root crops are lost in Latin America and the Caribbean before reaching consumers. Globally,14percentoffood is lost before even reaching theretailstage,mostlydueto lack of cold storage and weaklogistics.

Fonseca makes it clear , “this is not a production problem It is an infrastructure problem Waste is eating our wealth before we even get to market.”

This is why the Government of Guyana's effort to build foodprocessing facilities across Guyana is smart, but each must include adequate capacityforcoldstorageand this is non-negotiable. If food spoils before it can be bought, food security collapses, and youth opportunitydieswithit.

Guyanese youth need to understand that agriculture today is not limited to planting with cutlass in the hotsun.

It includes packaging, freeze-drying, ready-tocook meal prep, snack

manufacturing, AI crop diagnostics, greenhouse automation, export product design, and tech-enabled supplychains.Itisdata.Itis robotics. It is logistics. It is innovation. It is, in Ajay Banga's words, “the single greates

chance for developing countries to grow faster than the rich world.”

Guyana is leading CARICOM's “25 by 2025” initiativetocutregionalfood imports by 25 percent but that leadership must also translate into a national movement to “Grow Food Again.”Thegovernmentcan jump-start this effort by offering seeds and seedlings to households and by fasttracking approvals for agricultural lands, with a clear condition that unfarmed land be reclaimed

within six months. Families must begin planting again, even if only in containers. Investors must expand beyond real estate and into coldstorage,processing,and foodlogistics.Andouryouth must dive into agriculture technology and see agriculture as more than employment. They must view agriculture as the fastest path to ownership, to wealth.

Thereisnoneedtowait forthegovernmenttobegin. Families can act now I challenge every household to start a small kitchen garden by next weekend. Plant something and reduce your food bill while empowering your family. The global food race has already begun, and Guyana is not behind, unless we choosetostandstill.

ETowards a better life with your psychologist

Am I Emotionally Unavailable?

m o t i o n a l unavailability

refers to an individual's difficulty in connecting with their own emotionsandthoseofothers,

often culminating in superficial relationships characterized by a fear of intimacy and vulnerability This behavioral pattern typically originates from deeply rooted fears or unresolvedpastexperiences. Emotionalunavailabilitynot only impacts the individual but also affects their emotionally available

partners, the overall relationship dynamic, and anychildreninvolved.

The presence of emotional unavailability results in an imbalanced relational dynamic, where one party often feels as though they are exerting

considerable effort, potentially leading to unresolved conflicts. It is

crucial to note that emotional unavailability is not necessarily a permanent condition and can be addressedwithdiligenceand time.

Key characteristics of an emotionally unavailable relationshipinclude:

Lack of Intimacy and Connection:Anemotionally unavailable partner typically avoids deep conversations, limits physical intimacy, and refrains from genuine emotional sharing, which ultimately fosters a sense of e m p t i n e s s i n t h e relationship.

Poor Communication: Such individuals often struggle to articulate their feelings, may exhibit defensiveness, or withdraw entirely when confronted with emotional discussions,

thereby hindering

constructive conflict resolution.

Uneven Dynamic: This situationgeneratesadisparity

continuous

y seeks closeness, while the other retreats, perpetuating a cycle offrustrationandresentment.

Fear of Commitment: Emotional unavailability frequently involves an aversion to commitment,

which manifests as reluctancetomakelong-term plans or even to label the r e l a t i o n s h i p a s a "relationship "Reduced Trust and Security: A consistent lack of emotional support and honesty can

erode the foundational trust within the relationship over time.

P

h relationships, participants often vigilantly guard their timeandmaintainadegreeof distance, leading the emotionally available p a r t n e r t o f e e l undervalued Emotional

Abandonment: This phenomenon is particularly pronounced when the emotionally unavailable partnerisfemale.

Difficulty with Vulnerability: Individuals maystruggletoexpresstheir feelings and often become defensive or withdraw when theirpartnerattemptstoshare theirs, especially in the case of men.Lack of Empathy and Discomfort with Affection: An emotionally unavailable partner may appear distant or uneasy when the other seeks emotional comfort or may minimize the partner's feelings.

Blame Shifting: In the face of problems, partners may deflect responsibility and shift blame to evade p e r s o n a l accountabilityAvoidance of Conflict*: Instead of engaging in serious discussions to resolve issues, the emotionally unavailable partner may withdraw, shut down, or resort to deflection to avoid confrontation.

Control of Situations:

To mitigate unexpected emotional outcomes, they may attempt to control various aspects of their life and relationships, often stemming from a lack of e m o t i o n a l c o p i n g skills Guilt-Tripping:

Instead of assuming responsibility, the emotionally unavailable partnermayshiftblameonto the other party during conflicts.

Theimpactofemotional unavailability on partners' mental health can be profoundandmultifaceted

Loneliness and Disconnection,Partnersmay experience feelings of profound loneliness and disconnection, even when they are physically present withoneanother

Anxiety and SelfDoubt: The pursuit of connection, combined with inconsistent affection and

fluctuating relational dynamics, often results in anxiety, frustration, and a pervasive sense of inadequacy or unworthiness inseekinglove.

Potential for Infidelity:

A partner whose emotional needs remain unmet may seek emotional or physical connections outside the relationship as a means of fulfillment

CycleofInstability:This inequitable dynamic perpetuates a cycle in which the efforts of the available partner to connect are consistentlyunreciprocated

Emotional Drainage:

Individuals may feel emotionally exhausted from the continual attempts to elicit openness from their partner, effectively carrying the entire emotional burden oftherelationship.

RealityQuestioning:An emotionally unavailable individual may deflect, dismiss, or intellectualize their partner's or children's emotional experiences, leading to confusion and prompting the affected individuals to question their sensitivityorworthiness.

Resentment: Over time, thefailuretomeetemotional needs can culminate in bitterness and resentment, therebyfurtherdamagingthe relationship.

For the emotionally unavailable partner, relationships can feel burdensome, inducing feelingsofanxietyratherthan fulfillment Such individuals often prefer to maintain multipledatingrelationships to feel secure, thereby avoiding commitment and intimacy with any single person.

They harbor concerns about losing their independence and may experience anxiety at the prospect of making compromises or altering their lifestyle for a partner Trustissuesoftenarise,even when there is no evident rationale, leading them to view discussions regarding hurt feelings, requests for behavioral changes, and explorations of relational dynamicsasturnoff.

In response, they shut down, react with anger, or blame the other party, effectively displacing attention from their discomfort and limitations This habitual emotional suppressionalsocomplicates

their ability to forge meaningful connections withothers.

Emotionalunavailability presents significant challenges in establishing deep and meaningful connections with others Individuals who exhibit emotional unavailability often construct barriers when others attempt to engage with them on a closer level Rather than committing to and nurturing a relationship with one person, these individuals are more inclined to maintain multiple superficial connections and withdraw when relationships begin to progress towards greater intimacy

The causes of emotional unavailability are multifacetedandmayinclude childhood attachment issues Individualswhogrewupwith neglectful, abusive, or inconsistent parenting may internalize the belief that vulnerability is unsafe Additionally, past trauma, including significant emotional pain from p r e v i o u s relationships whether stemming from betrayal or abandonment by parents, family members, friends, or romantic partners can

r e s u l t i n t h e

establishment of protective emotional barriers.

A prevalent factor

contributing to emotional unavailability isthefearofbeinghurtor rejected, which functions as a defense mechanism to avert the pain associated with potential rejection or heartbreak

Furthermore, learned behaviors from family environments where emotional expression was discouraged can impede an individual's ability to connect emotionally, thereby representing a form oftrauma.

First, it is essential to recognize the "pursuerdistancer" cycle, wherein one individual may pursue connection while the partner

retreats, ultimately exacerbating emotional

n e e d s S e c o n d , acknowledging the presence of the issue without assigning blame is crucial; it is important to understand that an individual's emotional distance often stems from past experiences rather than being a reflection of one's own self-worth This understanding can facilitate compassionate rather than criticalcommunication.

Third, it is vital to establish and enforce personal boundaries by clearlyarticulatingneedsand unacceptablebehaviors This doesnotequatetoattempting to control one's partner, but rather to safeguard one's emotional well-being Fourth, prioritizing one's own self-care and developingasupportsystem outside the relationship is critical.

Additionally, altering one'scommunicationstyleby utilizing "I" statements to articulate feelings can be beneficial For instance, stating "I feel disconnected when we do not discuss our feelings" is more constructive than asserting "You never discuss your feelings."

Lastly, seeking professional help is imperative Couples' therapy can address underlying issues, and, if that is not applicable, individual therapy can provide necessarysupport

Radiant Pre-Diwali celebration takes over State House lawns

The lawns of State House

came vividly to life on FridayasPresidentIrfaan Ali hosted a radiant pre-Diwali celebrationfilledwithmusic,colour, andcamaraderie. Diwali,alsocalled Deepavali or Deepawali, is the Hindu festival of lights and symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness. This year's celebrations will be observed on Monday,October20,2025.

President Ali expressed his happiness of seeing guest from different cultural background indulgeinthejoyofthecelebration.

Hetoldpatronsoftheevent“Itis anhonourtohostsomanyofyoulast eveningonthelawnsofStateHouse for our Pre-Diwali Dinner and CulturalPresentation.”

The evening was filled with light, love, and togetherness as we celebrated the values that Diwali represents hope, renewal, and unity

The State House Pre-Diwali dinner and cultural presentation comes a few days after Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Vickash Ramkissoon attended the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Guyana's 11th lighting of the National Diya at Rahaman Park, Houston, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday

Speaking at the event, Minister Ramkissoon said that Diwali is one of Guyana's most celebrated festivals, which showcases the

multicultural fabric and fosters unity

Minister Ramkissoon said the occasion reflects the country's rich culture, and he took the opportunity to remind those in attendance of his government's commitment to implementpoliciesandprogrammes that improve the lives of all Guyanese, regardless of faith or ethnicity

“We, as a government, have a responsibility to ensure we create opportunitiesforpeopletoprosper,” theministersaid.

HighCommissionerofIndia,Dr Amit Shivkumar Telang, also extended greetings on behalf of his government and praised Guyana's economic and infrastructural growth.

He pointed out that people in both countries want ongoing progress and development, emphasising that government support is essential for moving nationsforward.

Drawing parallels between India's rapid infrastructure growth a

commissioner emphasized that improved connectivity and development naturally lead to prosperity and confidence among citizens.

The cultural segment featured songs, dances, tassa drumming, and otherperformances.

DJ Khaled

earns Billboard Rhythmic Airplay entry featuring Jamaicans

( J A M A I C A

OBSERVER) Of the 13 studio albums that DJ Khaledhasreleasedtodate, 11 h a v e f e a t u r e d collaborations with Jamaicanartistes.

His often-delayed 14th studioalbum Aalam of God is previewed by the song You Remind Me, which debuts at #33 on this week's Billboard RhythmicTop40chart.

You Remind Me features Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Mavado, RoryStoneLove, and newcomer Miami-based Belizean artiste Kaylan Arnold. The song gives Buju his first entry on this particularBillboardchart.Itis the second for Vybz Kartel, BountyKiller,andMavado.

Here'saquickrecapofthe songs which have appeared on DJ Khaled's albums that featureJamaicans. She's Fine featuring Sean Paul, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes and Bullet featuring Rick Ross and Baby Cham (both featuredonDJKhaled's2008 a l b u m

WeGlobal)

Killing Me featuringBuju Banton, Busta Rhymes, and Bounty Killer (featured on 2010'sVictory)

Welcome to My Hood (remix) featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Twista,andMavado(fromthe 2 0 1 1 a l b u m

WeTheBestForever)

Suicidal Thoughts and Aktion Pak featuringMavado (bothincludedon2012's Kiss theRing).

Give it All to Me by

DJ Khaled

Mavado and Nicki Minaj (featured on the standard release of 2013's Suffering From Success). The deluxe edition has two additional songs featuring Mavado –Weed and Hennessey and At theTop(itsJustUs). My League by Mavado, featuredon2015's I Changed aLot Progress by Mavado, includedon2016'sMajorKey (produced by Mineral Boss Records)

I'm So Grateful (intro) by Sizzla and Unchanged Love by Mavado (both featured on 2017'sGrateful) 2019's Father of Asahd hastwosongsamongitstrack listingthatfeatureJamaicans, Holy Mountain by Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado, and 070 Shake; and Holy Ground by Buju Banton Khaled Khaled (released in 2021) (Continuedonpage34)

set for tomorrow at Eve Leary Sports Club Ground Fiesta Latina

ThesecondLatinfestival is set to be hosted tomorrow by Global Tours and Travel (GlobalTT) company in collaboration with severalLatinAmericaembassies.

In a press release on Saturday, Global TT said that the second annual Fiesta Latina will be a vibrant celebration of Latin Americanfood,culture,musicand dance.

”The event will be held on Monday, October 20, at the Eve Leary Sports Club Ground in Kingston, beginning at 1:00 p.m. According to Waynewright Orderson, Chief Executive Officer of GlobalTT-Guyana, the festival promises “an unforgettable afternoon and evening filled with colour, rhythm, and flavour,” featuringauthenticLatinAmerican cuisine, beverages, and live entertainmentthroughouttheday,” thestatementsaid.

The participating embassies include the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia,Argentina,andMexico, each presenting their own national dishes, music, and cultural displays.

Pedro Pablo Martínez Azcuy, DirectorofLatinAmerican& Caribbean Destinations, described FiestaLatinaas“arareopportunity for Guyanese to experience the vibrancy of Latin culture firsthand.”

Scene from last year's dance presentation.

He went on to say, “This event brings together the growing Latin community and the wider Guyanese public in a spirit of friendshipandculturalpride.”

The2025editionofthefestival

comes after the successful Fiesta Cubana and the inaugural Fiesta Latina in 2024, both organized by GlobalTT-Guyana to highlight Latin America's presence in Guyana.

“There's a growing Latin

community here — Colombians, Cubans,Venezuelans,Dominicans, Mexicans and this festival celebrates that connection through food,music,anddance,”Orderson noted.

At the event patrons can enjoy live performances from a Cuban band with lead singer María Rodríguez, showcases of Latin dances and younger patrons can enjoythekids

For food lovers, there will be sampledishesfromacrosstheLatin American region, and beverage tents will offer drinks like cocktails, beers, wines, and premiumcigarsfromCubaandthe DominicanRepublic.

“Fiesta Latina 2025 will be Georgetown's biggest celebration of Latin American culture a true expression of unity, diversity, and the joy of living la vida Latina,” Ordersonsaid.

Early-bird tickets cost $1,000, with a small increase at the gate. Children under 12, enter free. Tickets are available via WhatsAppat+5927497001or+592 614 4598, or by email at globaltoursandtravel@mail.com

micromanagement is not a governance strategy FromwhereIstand...

By Janelle A.N. Persaud

It's happening again. Last week, President Irfaan Ali summoned contractors responsible for the East Bank Road expansion to a meeting

While there were no viral videosornopublicberating, the symbolism felt familiar If it all seemed vaguely dreamlike, that's because we'vebeenherebefore.

A different room, different set of contractors, butthesamedreamorshould Isay;nightmare.

Last year, the president called a 5:30 a.m. meeting with ministers, permanent secretaries, engineers, and contractors at the State House. He arrived armed withalistofprojectsrunning over four months behind schedule. When he called names and contractors weren't present, he instructed that staff be written up. Engineers were accused of failing to issue commencement orders. The message? He will not tolerate delays. What stood out most to me as an observer was the alarming sense that the president had become the project manager-in-chief for public works.

Thisrecentmeetingwith East Bank contractors was triggered by flight delays and social media photos of passengers dragging their suitcases to the airport by foot. It echoed the very frustrationsI'veexperienced myself. Earlier this year, I missed an international flight despite leaving home several hours in advance.

R o a d c o n g e s t i o n , constructionzones,andpoor coordination between contractors and public services made it nearly impossible to move with certainty SoIunderstandthe frustration I even understand the urgency that drives the president to intervene.

But I can't help but ask: Is this what governance has cometo?

The Vice President recently said these presidential interventions stem from caring. And he could very well be right. There is no denying that President Ali is a deeply involved leader He shows up, he engages, and he listens. But his care and concern, even if sincere, does not excuse a governance model that is overlyreliantonpersonality over process. In fact, it is precisely because the president cares that he shouldinsistonsystemsthat don't require his constant hand.

These meetings may earn applause from a population desperate for action, but presidential micromanagement is not a governance strategy It's not scalable,it'snotsustainable, and to my mind, it simply masksdeeperfailures.What shouldbeordinaryfunctions

of public service; performance monitoring, interagency coordination, contract enforcement, now seem to depend on presidentialoutragetowork. I know some are inclined to seethisasaccountabilitybut I'm sorry to say, this a warningsign.

Andthereisacosttothis model. When a country's head-of-state becomes the visible enforcer of basic projecttimelines,itsuggests that the institutions responsible are either unwilling or unable to do theirjobs.

It could reduce some ministers and senior public servants to spectators, strips agencies of autonomy, and undermines the very system it seeks to enforce We c a n n o t n o r m a l i s e governance by reprimand, whereleadersmanageoptics whilesystemsstaybroken. Yes,inacountryoffewer than a million people, the president may have to wear many hats and all this may seemacceptable.Butevenin small states, structure matters.Institutionsmustbe strong enough to function

Presidential

without being shamed into action.Realaccountabilityis evident in monitoring reports, internal audits, and performance evaluations, not TV where the president scolds public servants in frontofthecameras.

The pattern we're witnessing now is not new Our political culture has long valorised strongman l

effectivenessismeasuredby how loudly a leader can call outunderperformers.Butas we cheer, we should ask ourselves: Why are these contractors still allowed to delay projects? Why aren't

consequences embedded in the contracting system? Why isn't our procurement and oversight framework rigorous enough to prevent these delays in the first place?

Penalties must matter

Project valuation, rigid prequalification standards,

clauses, and properly applied force majeure provisions should all be doingthework,negatingthe need for presidential intervention. Without these tools actively enforced, we areleftrelyingonopticsover systems.

The new “efficiency” mandate of the Ministry of Public Service is therefore necessary and laudable. It represents an opportunity to

effectiveness look like, not through presidential fury, butthroughdata,policy,and performance systems. This new ministry could set service delivery standards, track contract performance, incentivize competent

officers, and possibly take

enforcement so that the presidentdoesn'thaveto.

If it succeeds, we might one day look back on these high-profileinterventionsas relicsofalessefficientpast.

To be clear, the intent behind the president's interventions is not in question. I get it. These projects affect real lives; missed flights, delayed business, lost time. But the solution can't be that the country's most powerful manhastowakeupatdawn

By Janelle Persaud

orholdemergencymeetings justtokeepthingsontrack. FromhereIstand,thisis an indictment of the system andit'stimewefixit.

(JanelleA.N. Persaud is a j o u r n a

s t a n d communications strategist with over two decades of experience across media, public affa

s, and development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in InternationalRelationsand a Master of Science in Strategic Development Studies from the University ofGuyana.)

Frompage18 teacher who requested anonymity on Tuesday told this newspaper that she has been working at the school for some eight years She said the issue has been ongoingforalongtime.

“It has gotten worse because the pigeons are nesting, they are hatching. When you clean over the weekend and go back on Mondays it’s like you did nothing,” she detailed. She notedthatthemeshthatwas installed at the school is not “keepingout”thepigeons.

The teacher said that the situation has been reported several times to the education department and other education officials but they have done nothing to address it. According to the teacher, after it was publicly sharedbythepartyleaderon Tuesday,shenotedthatsome

health officials came to school and assess the situation.

ExxonMobilsaddling Guyanawithhefty explorationbillbutblanks citizensonfindings

Guyana has so far paid ExxonMobilmoretoexplore for oil than it has received royalty, but the company’s focus is not on updating the country on its findings, but on moving to develop the resources.

This is according to President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge. He was asked by this newspaper to share an update on the country’s oil reserves at a press conference hosted in the new headquarters at Ogle, East Coast Demerara onMonday

Tothisend,hesaid,“So, as we’ve said before, when wehaveasignificantupdate on the discovered resource, then we’ll give you that, but our focus is really shifted to what is most valuable to the country, moving discovered resourceintodevelopment.”

Routledge added that Exxon is “very pleased” to see its seventh project approved by government with an eight already in the pipeline He pointed out, “

ultimately will demonstrate how much is recoverable, how much of the resource that we’re discovering is recoverable.”

The Exxon President m

company’s estimate is still “around” the 11 billion figure that was shared since

2022. Notably, the country has since had over eight discoveries yet its reserves remainstagnant.

The last resource count, dated April 26, 2022, declared the recoverable resource for the Stabroek Blockatnearly11billionoilequivalent barrels Since then, Exxon announced more than eight subsequent discoveries, including the Seabob-1 and Kiru-Kiru-1 wells, Sailfin-1, Yarrow-1, Fangtooth SE, Lancetfish-1, and Lancetfish-2 wells and Bluefin.

Another journalist then asked Exxon why it was reluctanttogiveanupdateor simply say how soon a new reserve estimate can be shared,consideringtheeight subsequent discoveries Furthermore,shepointedout that this information is crucial for Guyanese to better understand the anticipated revenue flow sector,whiletheblackouton informationputsmoredoubt onthecompany’soperations since this data was shared publicly following a new discoveryinthepast.

For his part, Routledge noted that the company did not provide an update to the 11B figure since there is no different number to share. He explained the reason for this.“Well,Icantellyou,the number remains around 11. Thereasonwehaven’tgiven you a different number is there isn’t a different number And so let me tell you why that might be, because as you say, we’ve announcedsomediscoveries overthelastcoupleofyears. The pace of discoveries has slowed down somewhat but what happens over time is we’re not just continuing to explore, but we’re also a p p r a i s i n g , a s w e mentioned what we’ve been doing is constantly updating those initial

commissioned officers that defending peace and sovereignty requires both strength and principle “Guyana supports the aspiration of keeping Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, but equally also, we support every action and embrace every partnership to cripple transnational crime, the illicit drug trade, and any form of destabilisation that threatens the security of Guyana and this region,” PresidentAliasserted.

estimates with what are our refined estimates, what will be the ultimate recovery of that resource that we’ve discovered.”

Results from the company’s appraisal activities have caused the company to reduce its e s t i m a t e f o r s o m e discoveries,whiletherehave also been increases in some instances As such, Routledge explained, “Net, it keeps you around about thatsame(11Bbarrelfigure) and we provide quarterly updates to the Minister of Natural Resource on all of those discoveries as to what is our current estimatednew reserves.”

On Monday Kaieteur News reported that Guyana has been handed a bill for approximately US$2.3B by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) for exploration activities conducted in the Stabroek Block, but to date, the country has accumulated lessthanUS$1Binroyalties s i n c e p r o d u c t i o n commencedin2019.

THURSDAY

‘Wewilldefendevery inch’…Pres. Ali vows unyielding protection of Guyana’s sovereignty

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Wednesday deliveredaresolutemessage of peace, strength, and national resolve, declaring that Guyana will defend every inch of its territory while upholding its commitment to keep Latin AmericaandtheCaribbeana zoneofpeace.

A d d r e s s i n g t h e Commissioning Parade for Standard Officers’ Course (SOC)No.56atBaseCamp

A y a n g a n n a , t h e Commander-in-Chief reminded the newly

The head of state emphasised that Guyana’s defence spending is not preparations for war, but investments in peace and protection, ensuring that the nation’s prosperity, democracy, and territorial integrityremainsecure.

President Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s adherence to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly regarding the ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “Guyana rejects all forms of aggression and any attempt to impose solutions through coercion, ” he said, reiterating that peace, dialogue, and legality must definehownationsinteract.

At the same time, President Ali noted that the regioncontinuestofaceboth traditional and nontraditional security threats, including cybercrime, trafficking, and terrorism The government’s response, he explained, is to equip the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with the most advanced tools, technology, and training in its history The United States has deployedtroopstotheregion andhaswagedawarondrug cartels, killing scores of themthusfar.KaieteurNews reported a U.S. strike on a boat off the coast of VenezuelaonTuesdaykilled six suspected drug traffickers,PresidentDonald Trump said, the latest such operation in recent weeks as the U.S. builds up military forces in the region The strike is the most recent example of Trump’s efforts touseU.S.militarypowerin new, and often legally contentious ways, from deploying active-duty U.S. troops in Los Angeles to carrying out counterterrorism strikes against drugtraffickingsuspects. InapostonTruthSocial, Trumpsaidthestrikehad Continued on page 29

Frompage28 been carried out against a

designated terrorist organization, but he did not provideanydetailsonwhich

group “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks,”

Trump said, without providing evidence A roughly 30-second video,

which Trump posted, appeared to show a stationaryvesselinabodyof water being hit with a projectilebeforeexploding.

The Pentagon recently disclosed to congress that Trump has determined the United States is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Some former military

lawyers say the legal explanations given by the Trump administration for killing suspected drug traffickers at sea instead of apprehending them fail to satisfy requirements under thelawofwar AlargeU.S. military buildup is taking place in the southern Caribbean. In addition to F35 aircraft in Puerto Rico, thereareeightU.S.warships in the region, carrying thousands of sailors and marines, and one nuclearpowered submarine The Trump administration has provided scant information on the previous strikes, including the identities of those killed or details about the cargo Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged that the U.S. is hoping to drive himfrompower Washington inAugustdoubleditsreward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminalgroupsthatMaduro denies.

“We will protect every inch of Guyana’s territory with vigilance and resolve. We will deploy technology to make our country more secure.Wewillbeadaptable, smart, and ready to respond, onland,atsea,intheair,and incyberspace,”thePresident affirmed.

Dr Ali underscored the importance of regional and international collaboration, noting that true security is built not in isolation, but t h r o u g h t r u s t a n d cooperation.“TheCaribbean lookstoGuyanaasapartner instability,insecurity,andin service. When one nation in the Caribbean stands strong, theentireregionisfortified,”

he said. He also reaffirmed that Guyana’s dispute is not with the Venezuelan people, but with any actions that threaten Guyana’s sovereignty “Wewilldefend ourterritorialspacewithour partners,thosewhostandfor freedom, sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law,”hestated.(DPI)

Missingmanfound deadaftervillagefight -Policesaymajor progressinmurder investigation

Police in Region Six are c o n t i n u i n g t h e i r investigation into the death of Cledwin Gordon called “Smokey,” a 68-year-old labourerofDeVeldt,Berbice River

TheGuyanaPoliceForce reported that the incident occurred on Friday October 10,2025.

Based on enquiries, police ranks visited DeVeldt on Saturday October 11, at about 12:39, following reportsthatGordonhadgone missing after reportedly beinginvolvedinafightwith another villager. Several residents were interviewed during the visit, and subsequently, a cutlass allegedly used during the altercation was recovered The 49-year-old suspect, a labourer from the same community,wasarrestedand takenintocustody,whilethe cutlass was retained as evidence.

The body of Cledwin Gordon was discovered floatingintheBerbiceRiver in the vicinity of DeVeldt at about06:00hrsthefollowing day His body was retrieved a n d e x a m i n e d b y investigators, then escorted to the Bath Settlement

first reform the government w i l l b e p u r s u i n g aggressively is to improve procurement in the country, in keeping with President Irfaan Ali’s promise in his inaugural speech. “He said I’m going to improve procurement in the country

So, we want to make procurementfairer;wewant the procurement to have certaincarveoutsforpeople, small contractors so that more of them could be brought into the core of contractors,”theVPsaid.

internet facilities in all, including in theAmerindian communities They can check procurement opportunitiesacrossGuyana on that site, ” Jagdeo explained.

newspapers, but can check online from the comfort of theirhomesontheirdevices, and it is guaranteed to be efficient,Jagdeoreasoned.

Regional Hospital where it was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty The remains were later taken to Bailey’s Funeral Home for an autopsy

On Monday October 13, 2025 the suspect was interviewed by investigators andremainsincustodyasthe probecontinues.

FRIDAY

‘Govt.targets newspapers’…signals movetoshifttender adstonewdigital procurementportal - Jagdeo says state paying close to $800M annually on advertisements

The government is set to sharplyreduceadvertisingin newspapers as it prepares to launch a new national procurement website next year,sayingthat“thedaysof people having to buy a newspaper to check for tender ads will soon be over.”

Vice President Bharrat J a g d e o m a d e t h e announcement on Thursday at his weekly news conference during which he said that the new digital platform will replace the long-standing system of publishing tender notices primarily in newspapers- a practice he said currently costs the state close to $800Mannually

There have been instances in the past where the VP had suggested that online media entities should be able to benefit from government advertisements, especially when his government had been called out for late payments to newspapers On Thursday Jagdeotoldreportersthatthe

He stressed that the government wants better quality of work and a way more transparent tendering system, and has begun work ontheagenda.Inthisregard, “ O n e o f t h e f i r s t manifestations you will see next year is a procurement website that will now advertise contracts around the country So, the current way of doing this is you put ads in newspapers mainly So,in2024alone,thecostto the Treasury of putting out those ads in the newspapers wasnearly$800millionthat went to the newspapers,” he explained.

The VP highlighted that with ads of this nature, except the online edition of the paper, it goes into the newspaper and that is it Person cannot read it in the papers the following day because it is not there. With theprocurementsitetheyare looking to implement once an ad for an available contractispostedforinviting bids, it will be available for theentireperiodthetenderis valid.

“So, you can then go there. You will see what the opportunities are People don’t have to go and buy newspapers now and scan the newspapers for this. They can check from their phones wherever they live across the country. People havephones.Theyhavenow

Furthermore, he said the legislation will be amended to facilitate the shift and the governmentintendstomake full use of online media entities for advertising purposes,asitbelievesthere isawiderreach.“So,weare not going to cut out ads totally, but we can cut down thecostorgiveonlinemedia outlets that get no share of thisads,althoughtheyreach more viewers often than the newspapers themselves. It’s a more democratic system,” hesaid

Jagdeo added that, “You’re going to hear the complaints from the Stabroek and the Kaieteur News All of them, they alwayssaythatbecausethey believetheygotaGod-given right to government money andgovernmentads.Itmust notbe.Theywantefficiency and everything else, but not inthatsector.”

The VP went on to further state that it is the government’s duty to use its funds efficiently and this way would be the most efficient way in which the advertising budget can be expended, warning the mediatokeepaneyeoutfor the complaints from the above-mentionedentities.

“They’ve already been complaining globally: “Oh, thegovernmentnotgivingus enough money,” as though they,youknow,thepeopleof this country, have a duty to fund their newspapers or everything else, their activities.Watchoutfortheir complaintstostartsoon.But that will be something that wewanttodo,”helamented. Thiswouldbethebestoption as they do not have to leave theirhomestogohuntdown

US$100Mspenttofix sinkingGas-to-energysite -Lindsaycaboss saysinexplaining 14-monthdelayofproject

Chairman of Lindsayca, Nelson Drake, has revealed that a staggering US$100 millionwasspenttostabilise theunstablesoilattheWales Gas-to-Energy project site—achallengethatsetthe massiveundertakingbackby 14months.

S p e a k i n g a t t h e International Business Conference(IBC)heldatthe Guyana Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, Drake said the project’s timeline was severely impacted by unexpected gr

d liquefaction at the West BankDemerarasite.

Drake explained that he understandsthateveryoneis expecting startup, and while thatisgreatandcitizenswant their electricity the process has to be understood He highlightedthattheprojectis at 68.03% completion, with 89% of the engineering done, 90 46% of the procurement done, but the construction completion is onlyat23%.

“A lot of people look at this and say, this is backwards.Usually,thecivil work is done and they’re waiting to get equipment Today, over 75% of this equipmentisinGeorgetown, the turbines, the hearsays, the best, all of it is in Georgetown,”hesaid. However, the hurdle that hastobeovercomeisthefact thatthelandatthesiteonthe West Bank of the Demerara Riverhasaveryraremixture of sands. “…so matter of fact, there’s a convention in GenevaandFugro.So,world renownedcompany,whowe contracted to do this stabilisation of the soil, is presentinginthatconference inGeneva,thiscasestudyof Guyana.”

Going into detail Drake said that there was liquefaction at the site and therefore this means that it was not fit for construction.

“The equipment that we’re putting on the site is basically a gas process facility, which is easily can becomeabombatanytimeif it’s not done properly, and alsotheSimmonsturbine

Frompage29 andthepowerislandhaveto be perfectly aligned,” he added.

Furhermore, “There’s no tolerancehereforthatlandto move, and therefore you

have to stabilise and consolidateanddewaterthat land. So, we use top of the line technology, we spent over$100millionstabilising thatsoil,”Drakesrevealed. He reminded that top of thelineinstrumentshadtobe used and this is something a

lot of persons do not understand. A lot of money can be thrown on a site but the land will still react the wayitreacts,andthereforeit needs to be stabilised. “So, you have to wait until it’s completelystablebeforeyou can start building this very expensive and very delicate equipment That is why we’re behind. It took us 14 months to stabilise and over $100million,”Drakesaid.

At present the land has

been stabilised and consolidated and all four of the main foundations for the turbines have been poured.

Those being the biggest foundations on site, a whopping 44,000 cubic metersofcement,wereused in the process. “Anyways, thosefoundationshavebeen done. The thing about this foundationisyougottopour them at night, because they’re so massive, we actually put sensors in the rebar, and we measure the temperature throughout the evening.Usuallyyou’llstart at five, six o’clock in the afternoon,you’llfinishupto three, four a m in the morning,”Drakerevealed.

Hetoldtheaudiencethat majorequipmentlikethegas turbines, the steam turbines, the cooling towers and transformers are already in Georgetown and are being stored at the Guyana Shore BaseIncorporated(GYSBI).

This marks 90% of eventhingneededtobuldthe plant being in country, howeverwhiletheLiquefied Natural Gas (LNG) processing facility is 100% completelybuilt,itremainin HoustonTexas,asthereisno space on the GYSBI port to

facilitate its storage, but by Christmas it will be in Guyana,Drakeassured.

SATURDAY

‘Let’srefineourgoldat home’ –Pres.Ali -pushesgoldrefining revolution,invites Canadianbacking

With five Canadian m i n i n g c o m p a n i e s collectively controlling an estimated 15 5 million ounces of gold across v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f development in Guyana and these projects expected to come onstream before the end of the decade, President Irfaan Ali is hoping that the future entails less gold leaving Guyana’s shore unrefined.

He urged Canadian investors to partner with Guyana in advancing valueaddedproductioninthegold industry, noting his vision for a future where the country exports less unrefined gold and more refined, branded luxury

products. The head-of-state madetheappealonThursday eveningwhileaddressingthe Canada-GuyanaChamberof Commerce’s Maple Leaf G a l a 2 0 2 5 h e l d i n Georgetown.

“You must look towards a future in where less gold leaves our shores unrefined, and more leaves as refined gold crafted jewelry and branded luxury goods. And we can do this together, especiallygiventhefactthat the next two developments are heavily influenced by Canadian investment,” PresidentAlistated.

He pointed out that Guyana’s current trade relationship with Canada, valued at approximately C$272 7 million in 2023, remains largely commoditybased,withgolddominating thecountry’sexports.

Ali said that Canadian exports to Guyana totaled C$59 1 million, while imports from Guyana stood at C$213 5 million President Ali noted that this structure where Canada supplies technology and machinery, and Guyana exports raw minerals must evolve.

“If there is one clear messageinthesenumbers,it is that Guyana must move frombeingasupplierofraw materialstobeingaproducer and exporter of refined and high-valuegoods,”hesaid.

Ali stressed that countries dependent on unprocessed commodity exportsremainvulnerableto global price swings and external shocks, something thatGuyanahasexperienced in the past. He underscored that value addition and industrialprocessingarekey tosustainabledevelopment.

“The path to sustainable development runs through valueadditionandindustrial processing in the global marketplace if we are to

stage open pit gold project. The Aris Mining team had confirmedthatToroparuisa large-scale gold-copper deposit with an updated measured and indicated resource estimate of 5 4 million ounces of gold and 118 thousand tonnes of copper, and an inferred resource estimate of 1 2 millionouncesofgold.

secure the gains of our new eraofgrowth,onedrivenby oilandgasandareenergized productive sector, then we must ensure that our trade relations evolve beyond the simple exchange of unprocessed goods for imported machinery,” he said. He further, highlighted the potential of the partnership, especially that Canada’s world-class expertise in mining, technology, clean energy, and manufacturing can complement Guyana’s growingopportunities.

“Guyana, in turn, is a frontier of opportunity We havevastnaturalresources,a youthful population and a government committed to modernization and diversification,”hesaid.

TheCanadiancompanies operating in Guyana’s mining regions, are progressing through exploration, feasibility studies, and permitting Manyofthecompanieshave praised Guyana’s miningfriendly policies and are banking on these projects to drive substantial growth for theirshareholders.

ArisMining–ToroparuProject

Aris Mining controls the Toroparu Gold Project located in Guyana’s Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni district which boast 5 4 million ounces of gold placing it among the largest undevelopedgoldprojectsin theregion.

Aris Mining owns the project entirely through its subsidiary, ETK Inc The company is currently c o n d u c t i n g a n e w Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the project,whichisexpectedto be completed in the third quarterof2025.

The Toroparu gold project is an exploration-

With key infrastructure for the project, including a camp,airstrip,andsiteroads, alreadyinplace,ArisMining is now reviewing its development strategy, hinting at possible shifts in how it will advance the site amid intensifying activities inGuyana’sgoldsector Notably, a 2011 mineral agreement with the Government of Guyana established a tiered gold royaltyof5%forpricesupto US$1,000perounceand8% above that, plus a 1 5% royalty on other minerals ETK has also negotiated an investment agreement with G O - I n v e s t f o r t a x exemptions on projectrelatedimports.

GMiningVentures (GMIN)–Oko WestGoldProject

G Mining Ventures (GMIN) is the 100 percent owneroftheOkoWestGold Mine which is estimated to hold 5.4 million ounces of goldlocatedinRegionSeven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Earlier this year, GMIN received an interim permit which allowed it to start earlyconstruction.Themain prospecting licence (PL) covering 44 square kilometers (10,890 acres) However, GMIN later revealed that it expanded its land holdings in Region Seven to 71 square kilometers.

Last month, GMIN received the environmental permit from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Oko West project. The five-year permit is valid through July 2030 It authorises the construction and operation of Oko West, which is expectedtocreateanaverage of 1,270 direct permanent jobs during its lifetime. The feasibility study for Oko Westoutlinesalong-life,low cost, and high-margin operation.Thecompanyhad said that the Oko West project is targeting an average annual production of 350,000 ounces of gold over a 12.3-year mine life. GoldproductionatOkoWest Continued on page 31

Frompage30 is slated to commence by 2027.

GMIN’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Louis-Pierre Gignac last year said that if gold prices remain high when production commences at Oko West, Guyana could receive corporate taxes Gignac said that unlike his f a t h e r ’s p r e v i o u s involvement with Omai’s gold project, where the company did not pay corporate taxes to Guyana duetolowpricesatthetime, heisconfidentthatOkoWest will benefit from the current highgoldprices.Assuch,he had expressed optimism aboutpayingcorporatetaxes

to the government, contingent on gold prices remaininghigh.

OmaiGoldMinesCorp. –OmaiProject Omai Gold Mines Corp. recently announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2 1 million ounces for its gold project in Guyana The company holds a 100%

interest in the pastproducingOmaigoldproject inGuyana,locatedinRegion Seven(Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

TheOmaipropertyhosts two orogenic gold deposits: the shear-hosted Wenot Deposit and the adjacent intrusive-hosted Gilt Creek Deposit.

Once a prolific gold producerfrom1993to2005, the mine yielded 3.8 million ounces of gold during a period when gold traded below US$400/oz The company has revitalized the property, which benefits from much existing infrastructure and will soon be connected to the two largest cities in Guyana, GeorgetownandLinden,via paved roads Omai is focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%ownedOmaiGoldProjectin “mining-friendly”Guyana. Since2021,thecompany has established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest-growing and wellendowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield greenstonebelt.

An April 2024, PEA for the project outlines an open pit-only development scenario. The PEA for the Wenot deposit outlines an open-pit operation producing 1 84 million ounces over

ounces, peaking at 184,000 ouncesinthebestyear MakoMining–Eagle MountainGoldProject

Mako Mining is pushing ahead with its Eagle MountainGoldProjectinthe Mahdiadistrict,roughly200 km south-southwest of Georgetown. Acquiring the project through its 2024 takeover of Goldsource MinesInc.,Makoinheriteda resource base of nearly 1.2 million ounces (indicated) and 582,000 ounces (inferred) The company plans to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mininglicenceapplicationto Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency by late 2025.

Pending approvals, Mako intends to start construction in 2026, with first gold production from Phase 1 targeted for 2027.A feasibilitystudyforPhase2, which will target deeper fresh rock resources, is also planned.

Mako considers Guyana an emerging gold mining jurisdiction,citingaminingfriendly permitting environment and growing foreigninvestment.

G2GoldfieldsInc. –OkoProject InAugust,G2Goldfields announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission approved the issuance of two large-scale ProspectingLicences(PL).

G2 PL’s includes the company’s high-grade OkoGhanie Gold Deposit. The PL encompass the Oko and GhanieDeposits,1.5million ounces indicated and 1 6 millionouncesinferred,with a combined area of approximately 17,451 acres and replace 11 separate m

n

ng permits previously held in the name of Guyanese entrepreneurs through

declarationofresults.

“With publication of the results in the official gazette onSept.16,thesereportsare due for submission to the chief election officer of G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) imminently The Carter Centerencouragesallparties tocomplywiththisreporting requirementasasteptoward fostering a culture of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability,” it was stated.

optionagreements.

Notably, the PL have a three-year term with two renewal rights for one year each and provides for the right of occupation and exclusiverighttoexplorefor gold and precious minerals. G2 noted that over the last two years, comprehensive environmental baseline studieshavebeenconducted via third party consultants. The company noted that these studies were designed to recommend actions for effective project design, regulatory compliance and tosupportthepreparationof an Environmental Social ImpactAssessment(ESIA).

EffectiveMarch1,2025, G2disclosedthattherewasa 60% increase in indicated gold resources, bringing its estimated recoverable gold to 1.5 million ounces, and a 49% increase in inferred resources to 1 6 million ounces. Located within an 83,967-acre property, the OkoProjectconsistsofthree main mineralized zones: the high-grade Oko Main Zone (OMZ)inthenorth,thebulktonnage Ghanie Zone in the south,andthemorerecently identified Oko Northwest Zone.

CarterCenterpresses partiesoncampaign financetransparency

The Carter Center Observer Mission on Friday calledonGuyanesepolitical parties that contested the 2025 general and regional elections to submit their campaignfinancereports.

InastatementFriday,the mission outlined that under Guyana’s Representation of the Peoples Act (RPA), political parties that contestedtherecentelection are required to submit postelection financial reports to the Guyana Elections Commission within 35 days of the

receivedmultipleallegations from political parties and civil society that the ruling party misused state resources.“Socialmediaand news reports are also rife withphotographssuggestive of this problem. The use of state resources for party campaigning runs contrary to Guyana’s international obligations with respect to campaign finance,” the organisationoutlined.

The Carter Center said it w i l l i n c l u d e recommendations related to campaign finance reform in itsupcomingfinalreport.

Ahead of the September 1 elections, the international elections observation missionaccusedthePeople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government of misusing state resources including the state media in its ongoing campaign to conjure up support for the polls.

The mission said it

T h e c e n t e r h a d underscored allegations against the government abouttheuseofstate-owned vehicles to use in campaign activities The body also slammed the government’s widespreadspending,which it explained puts competing political parties at a disadvantage.

regulations, and structural changestoGECOM.

c

D

Georgetown Guyana, Jason Carter, head of the Carter Center Mission, emphasised the urgent need for systemic reform in Guyana. He said, “Wehavecalledforyearson Guyana’sleaders,inthisnew government and parliament, whomever, they may be to c

constitutional reforms to

especially important to ensure there is equal access to public information about the contracts that are about the things that affect people intheirdailylives,andthisis a crucial issue between elections.”

When it released its preliminary findings on the elections, the mission had urged the incoming government to implement reforms aimed at fostering a more equitable electoral process and restoring public confidence in Guyana Elections Commission and thecountry’sdemocracy Among the Center’s key recommendations are: constitutional reforms, c a m p a

THE HALLOWEEN HIKE

Once upon a time, in a smalltownnestledbetween rolling hills and dense forests, there lived a group of adventurous friends: Mia,Ethan,Lily,andNoah. Every year, as Halloween a p p r o a c h e d , t h e y embarked on a tradition that filled them with excitement and a hint of t r e p i d a t i o n – t h e HalloweenHike.

Thisyear,thefullmoon hung low in the starry sky, casting an ethereal glow over the town.The air was crisp, and the rustling leaveswhisperedsecretsof thenight.Itwastheperfect setting for their annual adventure.

Thefriendsmetattheir usual gathering spot, a centuries-oldoaktreeatthe edge of the enchanted forest Each carried a lantern carved from a hollowed-out pumpkin, casting eerie, flickering shadowsontheforestfloor

“Are we all set?” Mia, the group’s fearless leader, asked as she adjusted her witch’shat.

Ethan, dressed as a daring pirate, brandished a wooden sword “Aye, Captain Mia! Ready for anyspookysurprises.”

Lily, dressed as a fairy with shimmering wings, giggled “I’ve brought somefairydusttowardoff anygoblins.”

Noah, dressed as a brave knight, clutched his plastic sword tightly “I’ll protect us from any creatures that dare cross ourpath!”

Withtheirlanternsheld high, the group ventured into the dark forest. The

trees seemed to lean in, whispering tales of ancient magic The path was narrow, winding through thickets and gnarled roots, but they followed it with unwaveringdetermination.

As they hiked deeper into the woods, the friends noticed an unusual luminescent moss that bathedtheforestfloorinan eerie blue light Ethereal wisps danced among the trees, casting strange, shadowyfigures.

“What’s that?” Mia whispered, pointing to a flickerofmovementahead.

The group froze as a soft,musicallaughterfilled the air From the shadows emergedatinycreature,no tallerthanabladeofgrass, with delicate wings that shimmeredlikegossamer

“Who are you?” Lily asked, her voice barely louderthanawhisper.

The tiny being curtsied gracefully.“IamLumi,the forest’s guardian sprite. What brings you to our

Never give up

ByUncleRoy

Iusedtothinksomeworkwastoohard, Andsodidnoteven ThisisbecauseI Andgaveupwhen

ButthenIlooked Andsawothersdoing giveup, coulddobetter; mywork, somucheasier.

How to make a Tissue Paper Jack O'Lantern

Equipment

1.Masonjars

2.Orangeoryellowtissuepaper(ideally recycled)

3.Glue

4.Brush(orfingers)

5.Blackpaperforfeatures

6.Scissors

Instructions

1.Makesureyoumasonjariscleanand dry(wehaveagreat“howto removestickylabels”informationpostif

needed)

2.Cutorripyourtissuepaperintosquares

–2inchx2inchisgood

3.Covertheglassinglueandstart applyingyourtissuepaper Youwill need3-4layers–lightercolourslike yellow,willneedmore

4.Keepaddingglueasnecessary

5.CutoutsomeJackO’Lanterfacesout ofblackpaperandgluethemon

6.Addfinallayerofglueoverthewhole jarandletdry!

enchanted woods on this bewitchednight?”

Ethan grinned. “We’re on our Halloween Hike, Lumi!We come to explore andseekadventure.”

Noah added, “We’ve heard tales of magical creatures in these woods. Aretheyreal?”

Lumi’slaughtertinkled like wind chimes “Oh, very real indeed! You’ll encounter a parade of enchanted beings as you continue your hike But remember, they are friendly and only wish to share in the magic of Halloween.”

With a mischievous sparkle in her eye, Lumi beckoned the children to follow her They walked deeper into the forest, where they encountered talking trees, mischievous forest spirits, and glowing firefliesthatledtheway.

A s t h e n i g h t progressed, they stumbled upon a clearing bathed in moonlight. In the center stood a circle of mystical stones, and at its heart, a luminous pool reflecting thestarrysky

Miagasped.“It’slikea fairytale!”

Asoftvoicespokefrom behind them “Indeed, young one This is the Enchanted Nexus, a place of great magic,” said an elegant figure who emergedfromtheshadows.

The newcomer was an etherealunicornwithacoat that shone like moonlight. It dipped its head, inviting thechildrentoapproach.

“This is Luna,” Lumi introduced “She guards the Nexus and grants wishes to those who prove theirheartsarepure.”

Luna’seyestwinkledas she listened to the children’s wishes. One by one, they shared their dreams and hopes for the future.Then,witha

(Continued on page 40)

Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not cross. There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.

Be an example to others by being the best you can be The Choice Is Yours

It is sometimes frustrating to us when we see people who are close to us doing wrong things, and we feel that any words we say to themwillbejustignored,or even obtain a hostile response. If we are really serious about getting our relativesandclosefriendsto dowhatisrightwithoutour speaking to them, then we will take pains to behave alwaysinsuchasmanneras to provide a good example forthemtofollow

W h e n y o u a c t continuously in such a way that you know is right, you set yourself up as an example to those who may be looking up to you. In fact,ifyouthinkaboutit,we each have an obligation to those near to us to provide this example of doing good sothat,iftheyhavenoother way of knowing what is

right, they can just follow you and e

ntually appreciateandadoptthisdogoodhabit.

I am sure you can identify younger persons in y o u r f a m i l y a n d neighbourhood, as well as some related to you or your friends, who are looking to youforsomeguidance. Ifin nootherway,youcanjustbe

Challenges are placed in our path to make us stronger when we face them boldly and overcome.

an example in proper behaviour to them, and this cangoalongwayinhelping them, as well as get to add morevaluetoyourownlife. Trytodotherightthing always, even though it may mean some cost to you. Knowing you take pains to followyourconsciencewill make you feel worthy, and inspire you to do the same always Although it sometimes takes a lot of efforttodowhatisright,you will find that is will always reap a reward that far outweighs the time and trouble taken in the first

place.

Always try to put forward your best every time. Thepeoplewhohave succeeded in the greatest manner are those who pushed themselves to not acceptanythinglessthanthe best they could give to any situation.

Letexcellencebecomea habit, and you will be surprised at how much you cando,notonlytoyourown progress, but to the advancement of those who will eventually see the benefitofstrivingtodowhat isrightalways..

Ateverytimeandineveryplace,ofwhateverpeople youbelong, Ifyouobservelifewithaclearhonesteye,you cannothelpbutsee –Lifeiscastintwoclearmoulds,andyoursisthe freedomtochoose;

Yourchoicewilldetermineyourfatefornowandall eternity

Ononehandthereistheidleside,withmany pleasuresthatcalltoyou, Itiseasyasslidingdownahill,butfilledlaterwith destructionandsorrow, Theothersidehasitshardships,withdisciplineand sacrificestoendure,

Butalwaysresultinginabrightfuture,fullof promiseandhopefortomorrow

Sohewhoispreparingtocarvehisdestinymustbe suretopassthetest, Withcareandforethoughttochoosethepaththat wouldleadtohisbest.

Iamagaininvitingourreaderstowritetome aboutanyproblemtheyarefacing,oranything thattheywouldliketosharewithothersonthis page. Pleasebeadvisedthatyourmessageswill betreatedrespectfullyandconfidentially,andany responseImakewillnotmentionyourname. As ateacherandcounsellorformanyyears,Ican assureyouthatIwillbeabletoprovidesolutions tomostofyourproblems.

Myemailaddressisuncleroy1992@yahoo.com

GNBSINFOCUS NQW SPEECH COMPETITION 2025 – REGION #2

STUDENTS PLACE SPOTLIGHT ON THE USEFULNESS OF STANDARDS

National Quality Week, October 12 to 18, which coincided with World Standards Day, October 14, saw the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) hosting several activities to educate and engage stakeholders on standards.

This year, the GNBS took its Secondary School Speech Competition to schools on the Essequibo Coast, Region # 2, and participating students did great justice to the topics on

which they spoke, which all highlightedtheusefulnessof standardsineverydaylife.

Specifically, the topics included Standards improving the Quality of Consumer P

cts, Standards supporting Care for the Environment,

Standards supporting the Use of Alternative Energy, Standards supporting Education delivery and management globally, and Standards supporting the TransferofTechnology

SpeakingonStandards–Supporting the Use of Alternative Energy, the best speaker of the competition, Romir Chetram of Anna Regina Secondary was nothingshortofoutstanding. Hewastaskedwithdefining alternative energy and explaining how standards s u p p o r t t h e s a f e development,supplyanduse of alternative energy from sources such as wind, solar orhydropower.

Chetram began his presentation by defining alternative energy sources stating,“itisenergysourced fromanythingbesidesfossil fuel and has a low environmental impact.” He acknowledged that the International ElectroTechnical Commission is a leaderinthedevelopmentof standards relating to alternativeenergy

Sighting examples in every instance, the winning presenter Chetram stated that Standards ensure

equipment is designed and built safely using strong weather resistant materials and based on good engineering practices

Secondly, he asserted that standards set performance and quality requirements, ensuring that alternative energy equipment meets efficiencyrequirements.

He also advised that standards have a role in the prevention of accidents and s

installationofpropersafety devices in alternative energysystems

Providing the judges and the audience which comprised

ts, teachers, Educational and Regional Officials, includingtheNewRegional Chairman of Region #2, Devin Mohan with these well thought out and articulateddetails,Chetram scored an average of 55 out of the 60 points, contributing to victory of his school. Chetram was presented with the best speaker prize of a laptop, a n d A n n a R e g i n a Secondarywasawardedthe first-place trophy and a gift voucher

Meanwhile, trophies were also presented to Abrams Zuil and Johanna Cecilia Secondary for respectively coping second and third positions. Aurora Secondary gained fourth position.

GNBS is extremely proudofandallthestudents who represented their schools by delivering their speeches at this year's National Quality Week Speech Competition Promoting standards to and among the youths of today, who are the future of tomorrow, remains a step in the right direction as our countrytransforms.

Finally, gratitude is extended to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for once again partnering with the GNBS in Standards Education. This partnership isexpectedtocontinueatthe Primary level as the GNBS prepares to host the StandardsinAcademiaQuiz Competitionduringthefinal termoftheschoolyear

For more information about GNBS, the standards andservicesitprovides,call 219-0062-66, WhatsApp 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.

DJ Khaled earns Billboard Rhythmic Airplay...

Frompage24 features Where You Come From by Buju Banton, Capleton,andBountyKiller, while 2022's God Did features the track These Streets Know My Name by Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton,BountyKiller,and Sizzla

And, still on Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay chart, Ginger by Sean Paul slips from #18 to #22, after peaking at #14. It has been on the chart for the past 13 weeks.

PBT by Travis Scott featuring Tyla and Vybz Kartel steps up from #15 to #13initstenthweek.

Mariah Carey's Sugar Sweet, featuring Shenseea and Khelani, remains at #18 on Mainstream R&B/Hip Hop Airplay but tumbles from#17to#21onHotR&B Songs. It backtracks from #23to#26onR&B/HipHop Airplay

ShakeittotheMax(fly) remixbyMoliy,SilentAddy, Skillibeng, and Shenseea is #1 on Billboard's US Afrobeats Songs chart for the past 23 weeks Meanwhile, Getting Paid by Sarz featuring Asake, Wizkid, and Skillibeng dips

from #5 to #7 in its second weekonthechart.

Moving now to the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Bob Marley and the Wailers clock a recordsetting300weeksat#1with Legend.

Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection by Shaggy remains at #2, The Trinity by Sean Paul jumps backontothechartat#3,and World on Fire by Stick Figureslipsto#4.

GreatestHitsbyUB40is at #5, Dutty Rock by Sean Paul backtracks to #6, Stick Figure has Wisdom and Set Stone at #s 7 and 8, while Welcome to Jamrock by Damian Marley is down to #9.

Exodus by Bob Marley and the Wailers rounds out thetop10at#10.

On regional charts, PressurebyGistoremainsat the #1 spot on the Rebel Vibez Top Ten Canadian Reggaechart,with Ready or Not by Jurney Starisat#2.

So Long by Neto Youth featuring Anthony B is #3, while Evil Alters by Glen Washingtonis#4. Feels Like a Movie by JUNOnomineeCelenais#5

and They Will Try by Fiyah Locksisthesolenewentryat #10.

A Woman's Touch by Richie Stephens spends a second week at #1 on the New York Reggae chart, while Duane Stephenson's interpretation of Jah Jah GiveUsLifefliesfrom#7to #5.

AcoveroftheEltonJohn classic Nikita by Kenne Blessinstepsupfrom#17to #13, while Love Story by Beres Hamond and Tanya Stephensisat#21.

Who's Loving You by Kevoy Clarke and We Need Love by Johnny Osbourne and Tarris Riley are this week's new entries, coming in at #27 and #28 respectively

Over on the South Florida Reggae chart, Hopeton Lindo's cover of A House is Not a Home featuring Marcia Griffiths remainsat#1.SkipMarley's In Our Sight hops from #15 to#12,whileSingleMothers byD'Angelis#19.

Holding On by Hezron debuts at #22, Nikita by KenneBlessinisnewat#23, and All Over the World by LilaIkeandProtojeentersat #24.

New CCJ President makes courtesy call on DPP

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson on Wednesday, paid a courtesy call on Guyana's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),Mrs.ShalimarAli-Hack,SC attheOfficeoftheDPP,EveLeary, Kingston, Georgetown. On arrival at the DPP's Chambers, Justice Anderson was graciously received

th

by Madam DPP and her legal and non-legalstaff.

Justice Anderson was in Guyanaonavisitprimarilyforthe swearing in of Guyanese-born Jurist, Dr Arif Bulkan to sit as a JudgeoftheCCJ.

According to a press release from the DDP's Chambers, Justice Anderson also had a tour of the

DPP'sChambersandsawfirsthand wheretheDPP'slawyersareseated whenappearingvirtuallybeforethe CCJ. The release noted that since its inauguration 20 years ago on 16thApril,2005,theCCJhasheard 18 Criminal appeals from Guyana in which the lawyers of the DPP's Officehavebeenappearinginall. ln his brief remarks, Justice

Anderson expressed his delight at meeting with the DPP, with whom he discussed issues pertaining to the upcoming CCJ's Academy for Laws' Biennial Conference schedule for November in Port-of Spain,TrinidadandTobago.

Mrs. Ali-Hack, SC in turn, expressed her appreciation to Justice Anderson for his visit and

noted that the visit presented an opportunityfortheStatelawyersto meet Justice Anderson, President of the CCJ, in person since they would appear before him in criminal appeals heard at the CCJ. "Ithasbeenatraditionofthelegal profession for a lawyer to first be introduced to the Judges before appearance,"theDPPstated.

Arrest warrant for Mavado

(Jamaica OBSERVER)

– Dancehall artiste David 'Mavado' Brooks can breathe asighofreliefafterawarrant that was issued for his arrest was dropped on Wednesday morning.

The entertainer, who returned to Jamaica on Tuesday night after almost a decade of being away, met withthepoliceinthepresence of his attorney to discuss a matter stemming from 2018 where he was wanted for assault occasioning actual bodilyharm.

“The St Andrew North police met with Mr David Brooks and his attorney, and based on the information at h a n d , a n d t h e circumstances— that matter h a s b e e n c l o s e d , ”

Superintendent of Police Randy Sweeney said in a statementreachingObserver

reportedly issued on June 9, 2018basedonacomplaintby

complaint was made by Goulbourne after he was arrested and charged for allegedly shooting at the entertainer

Superintendent Randy Sweeney also confirmed the update,“Icanconfirmthatthe matterhasbeenclosed.”

“That warrant was a warrantoninformation it's notacourtwarrantperse,it's not a warrant that was issued bythecourtbutawarrantthat wassignedoffonbyaJPafter th

ded informationtotheJP

T

information is no longer in effect.”

New $1.3B Cummings Lodge water treatment plant commissioned

President Irfaan Ali

on Saturday commissioned the $1 3B Cummings Lodge water treatment plant, the sixth such facility for the year

The construction of the water facility, which was executedthroughtheGuyana WaterInc.(GWI),fallsunder the agency's Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme, and is one of

yourtapisclean,reliableand safe,”headded.

Over the last five years, he noted that there has been a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d transformation in Guyana's water sector and that the national access to portable water has now reach 98.4% of the population, making it one of the highest in the Caribbean.

Notably, the President said that in hinterland and

three plants to be built in RegionFour

The water facility was constructed by Sigma Engineers Limited and was designed to treat 12 million litresperday(mld).

In his address, President Ali stated that water is not justautilitybutlifeitself.

“It is what keeps us and our children healthy, our farms fertile and our industriesalive.

Itisindispensable,weuse it for drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning, bathing and farming, we use it to build our homes, to power industries, to grow our food and to sustain our lives. Water is the silent partner in everything we do,” he elaborated.

The president said that while rain water is free, the provision of potable water comes at a very high cost. This,henoted,isaproductof planning,technology,skilled work, and of billions in investment.

He stated that within the last five years, the government spent more than $51 billion in capital works forthewatersector

“That is roughly $69,000 spent on every man, woman andchildsoastoensurethat the water flowing through

riverineareas,theaccesshas doubled to approximately 92%andisprojectedtogetto 96%bynextyear

Speaking on some of the works done, the Head-ofState related that GWI has drilled 152 new wells between 2020 and 2024, most of them in the hinterland regions, and they have laid 200km of new transmissionanddistribution mains, expanding supply to thousandsofhomes.

“Wehavebuiltsevennew large treatment plants, upgraded 13 others and constructed 18 small community treatment systems together bringing treated water to more than 250,000 Guyanese for the firsttime,”hestated.

He said the provision of thefacilitiesisnotjustabout access but about quality and reliability also. “Customer service, respect for people andthewayinwhichwetreat people is critical to the success of the water sector and we will not tolerate the mistreatmentofourpeopleor the inefficient management ofoursystem.

We are investing too much money to have that type of behaviour be the bottleneck of this (Continuedonpage40)

The new $1.3B Cummings Lodge water treatment plant that was commissioned on Saturday. (Office of the President)

No decision yet on rotation of WPA's parliamentary seat – Dr. Hinds

The Working People's Alliance (WPA) is yet to come to a decision on whether its parliamentary seat will be shared amongst itsmembers.

The party contested the 2025 general and regional electionsundertheumbrella of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. Subsequent to the elections, it was revealed that the party will occupy a seat.

On Friday, Kaieteur Newscontactedco-leaderof thepartyDr DavidHindsto determine whether consideration was given to seatrotation.

“We haven't made a decision on that as yet, but wedonotruleitout,”hetold thispublication.

On September 12, Kaieteur News reported that

Co-leader of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds

Dr Hindswillbeoccupying the parliamentary seat, representing his party in the APNUcoalition.

“During the campaign was the first time that we reallyplayedafullroleinthe campaign So, if that is something to go by, we expectthatinParliament,we will have a more inclusive role, and so we have to wait

and see coalition politics is verydifficult,butgivenwhat wesawduringthecampaign, he expects that things are going to be much better, as we enter the National Assembly,”hesaid.

He said WPA intends to use its seat to carry out the APNU'sagenda.“So,weare walking on two feet, and that'swhatyoudowhenyou are in a coalition, you carry out the coalition's agenda, and you carry out your party's agenda,” Dr Hinds added.Hewentontosaythat he will be the voice of resistance and reason, as well as a voice for the poor andpowerless.

APNU secured only 12 seatsinthe13thParliament.

Dr Hinds reminded that thelasttimetheywereinthe coalition, they were in government, this time they are in opposition, “so the dynamics are different. The leadership is different, as well as the circumstances. So, one expects that the coalitionwouldhavelearned from its previous mistakes, and that together, we can work together to restore someofthegroundthatwas lostbytheAPNUduringthe campaign.”

Govt. adds US$156 million World Bank loan to growing debt pile

TheGovernmentofGuyanahas signed a US$156 million loan agreement with the World Bank under the Integrated Transport Corridors Project (ITCP) to boost the country's t

infrastructuresector

Inastatement,itwasdisclosed that the agreement was signed in Washington by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr AshniSingh,andWorldBankVice PresidentforLatinAmericaandthe Caribbean, Susana Cordeiro Guerra,onthesidelinesofthe2025 World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings,heldfromOctober13to 18.

Notably, the Bank had approved the project earlier this year with the aims of supporting Guyana in upgrading and rehabilitating its road infrastructure.

The ITCP will focus on improving the country's transport network across selected regions to build more resilient infrastructure

capable of withstanding natural hazards, while providing safer and morereliabletransportation.

Dr Singh, in brief remarks before the signing, welcomed the partnership, outlining the project's

developmentagenda.

Ÿ “Thisprojecthasthepotentialto

production and productivity in our non-oil economy, such as through farm to market roads which facilitate both production and trade, as well as to improve

communities,”theministersaid.

Ÿ According to the Ministry of Finance, the ITCP aligns with Guyana's national development goalsto:

Ÿ Boost agricultural exports and food security by improving marketaccess

Ÿ Unlock housing and tourism potential through better connectivity

Ÿ Reduce traffic fatalities with improvedroadsafetyfeatures

...another massive borrowing to fund infrastructure push

Ÿ Enhance economic growth by facilitating efficient movement ofgoodsandpeople

Ÿ Improve access to health and educationservices

Ÿ Strengthen climate resilience through dedicated infrastructure solutions

Further, it was stated that the project supports the PPP/C

goals, which focus on modernizing Guyana's transport infrastructure to drive economic growth and improve citizens' quality of life.Over the past five years,theIrfaanAliadministration

transformative infrastructure projects, including new highways, roads, and bridges that have significantly reshaped the national landscape Among its upcoming prioritiesarethecontinuedupgrade of the Linden–Lethem Highway, construction of bridges at Kurukupari and Puruni, and completion of the East Bank fourlane highway to the Cheddi Jagan InternationalAirport(CJIA).

The government also plans to begin work on a Berbice

Regions Five and Six and the Corentyne River Bridge, to

d Suriname, projects aimed at expanding trade and regional integration.

Guyana a 'solid voice' on UN Security Council – VP Jagdeo

DPI-VicePresidentDr Bharrat Jagdeo has said Guyana has been a “solid voice for international peace and the rule of law” duringitscurrenttermonthe United Nations Security Council(UNSC).

Guyana began its twoyearterminJanuary2024

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr Jagdeo, in response to questions, said it was still early to make a full assessment of Guyana's timeontheCouncilbutthat the government was “very proud”ofitsperformanceso far

“It's very early to do an assessment and to speak of itatthisstage,becausewe'd still be there for a while, we'd be on the Security Council,”hesaid.

Dr Jagdeo explained, “Butsofar,Guyanalaidout some of the things that it believes in and that it wanted to pursue, and we havebeenaverysolidvoice for international peace and fortherespectoftheruleof law globally and to support humanitarian initiatives acrosstheworld.”

Much of Guyana's diplomatic visibility has been attributed to its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who is a formerforeignminister

Dr Jagdeo praised her performance, describing her as “a huge asset” to the country's mission in New York

“We're very, very p l e a s e d , C a r o l y n R o d r i g u e s We ' r e extremely proud of her She's done a really great job,” he said before stating that, “She has enormous respectandcredibilityinthe Council and in the U.N., so

CARICOM maintains Caribbean is a Zone of Peace

HeadsofGovernmentof the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met and discussed various issues on the regional agenda including the increased security build up in the Caribbean and the potential impactsonMemberStates.

In a statement on Saturday, CARICOM said that with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago which reserved its position, all other Heads “reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean region as a Zone ofPeaceandtheimportance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict.”

she has really lifted our country's profile she is really,reallyanasset,ahuge asset to us in the United Nations and on the Security Council.”

H e a d d e d t h a t Ambassador RodriguesBirkett continues to receive “appropriate guidance” from President IrfaanAli

Notably, Guyana also held the rotating presidency of the Security Council in June 2025, chairingseveralhigh-level meetings onglobalconflict a n d d e v e l o p m e n t issues During its term, Guyana has highlighted several priority issues: conflict prevention and the link between security and development, the impact of climate change on peace and stability, protection of children in armed conflict, and women, peace and security

Dr Jagdeo said Guyana's diplomatic work has “lifted the country's profile” internationally and strengthened its reputation forprincipledengagement. Guyana's current term will run until December 2025 It previously served on the Security Council in 1 9 7 5 – 1 9 7 6 a n d 1982–1983

The Heads agreed that CARICOM remains willing to assist in any regard maintainingthisposition.

“CARICOM Heads of Government reiterated their continued commitment to

fightingnarcotraffickingand theillegaltradeinsmallarms and light weapons which adversely affect the Region. They underscored that efforts to overcome these challenges should be t h r o u g h o n g o i n g international cooperation and within international law.”

Further, the CARICOM Heads reaffirmed their

unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the Region as well as the safetyandlivelihoodsofthe peopleoftheRegion.

Earlier this week, the C a r i b b e a n M e d i a Corporation(CMC)reported that CARICOM leaders met onWednesdayandThursday thisweek,includingacaucus on the United States request

Washington to install radar equipment and associate technical personnel at the M

sourcestoldtheCMC.

Accordingtothesources, the caucus meeting took p

n Wednesday, which lasted just over five hours and where the leaders received “anupdatefromtheGrenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell,”whoisduebackin theregionfollowingavisitto Africa.

Grenada has confirmed that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop InternationalAirport (MBIA).

Thegovernmentsaidthat

(Continuedonpage41)

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TyraBanksislaunching‘hoticecream’ and

theinternetisabitcoldaboutit

(CNN) Isitpossibletobe so hot that one is cool? Tyra Banksisabouttotestthatout.

The former supermodel turned entrepreneur has announced she’s launching hot icecream.Ifyouarewondering what that is exactly, you arenotalone.Here’swhatwe do know: Banks has an ice cream company company calledSmize&Dreamthathas a shop inAustralia.

According to the site, she came up with the idea in honour of her mother, Carolyn London. “During Mama’s hard working years,

everyFridaynightafterhomework and dinner, we’d have girlsnightattheHäagenDazs ice cream shop in Hollywood!,” Banks explained on the site. “While licking our chocolate (her fave) and coffee(myfave)icecreamsinher white Honda Accord, in her cray-cray-in a-good-way style, she’d school me on her laser-focusedone-more-bedroom goals and more. We’d laugh, cry and DREAM our biggest, most outrageous CREATIVEDREAMS…together.”

Fastforwarddecadeslater

and Banks is a star best knownfornotonlymodeling, but also her reality show “America’sNextTopModel.”

Recently she announced what she calls “the world’s first HOT ice cream experience.”

“Not a latte. Not a hot chocolate,” Banks wrote on socialmedia.“Butyourfavorite scoops, transformed into liquid. hot. ice cream. Sippable, baby.” It’s called “Hot Mama” and sounds muchlike…meltedicecream. Colour the internet confused and some even seemed to

New$1.3BCummingsLodgewater...

From page 37 sector,”hementioned.Noting thatthegovernmentwillnever walk away from its duty to provide safe, reliable and affordable water for all Guyanese, he also called on citizens to do their part. “I urge you, save water, use it wiselyandprotectthisinvestment because when we conserve water, we conserve our future,” he urged the public.

Further,PresidentAlisaid thatthegovernmentwillcontinuetoexpandaccessto100 per cent treated water

“Wewillcontinuetomake the invisible visible, to turn rainintorunningwaterandto transform that flow into the life blood of national development,” he said.

Meanwhile, GWI’s Chief ExecutiveOfficer(CEO),Sheik

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BakshsaidthattheCummings Lodge treatment plant which is located in the new Cummings Lodge Housing Schemeareawillserveseveral communities including: CummingsLodge,Cumming Park, North and South Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Lamaha Springs, Lamaha Park and Stevedore Scheme.

AccordingtoBaksh,residents of all of the identified areas are receiving higher water

Whilethetreatmentplant was constructed at a cost of $1.2billion,Bakshexplained that in addition to that, the transmission systems to connecttothenetwork,anddrilling of three wells (two of which are currently drilling), the total investment to have the plant operationalised standsat$2.2billion.

“This is a state-of-the-art facilityfullyautomated,backwashfacilitiesincludingfour high efficiency booster pumps are available here to

ensure stable supply of water with variable frequency modewhichmeansthatitwill respond to the demand for water,” the GWI official stated.

According to him, with some 60 new housing schemes opening up across the country, GWI will continue to do its part in ensuring residents have access to safe, clean and reliable water supply

“We have new development taking place, nearly 60 new housing schemes across the country and this poses a problem to us and (because) we would have to plan and plan again to ensure we cater to this development and that persons who are moving into these new areas benefit from access to water and treated water The water sector is veryimportantandthisisbeingrecognized,itensuresthe upliftment of the population, better standard of living and the quality of life,” the CEO related.

THE HALLOWEEN HIKE

From page 32

graceful sweep of her horn, Luna granted their wishes.

Ethan’swoodenswordturnedintoarealone,whileLily’s fairydustsparkledwithnewfoundbrilliance.Noah’splastic sword transformed into a mighty blade, and Mia’s witch’s hatbecameimbuedwithrealmagicalpowers.

“Now,remember,”Lunawhispered,“magicisagift,but it’s your hearts that make it truly powerful. Use it wisely.”

The friends left the Enchanted Nexus with their hearts aglow and their lanterns burning even brighter They continued their hike, encountering more enchanting creatures along the way They danced with friendly sprites, shared stories with talking animals, and even received a serenade fromachoirofcrickets.

Finally,asthefirstlightofdawnbrokeoverthehorizon, they emerged from the enchanted forest, their hearts brimmingwithwonder.

“We’ll be back next Halloween!” Mia declared as they gathered at their trusty oak tree.

The friends made their way back to town, their lanterns still aglow with the magic of the forest.As they approached their homes, they couldn’t help but smile, knowing that the enchanted woods held endless adventures for those with pure hearts.

The Halloween Hike had been more magical than they couldhaveeverimagined.Withtheirnewfoundpowersand the memory of their enchanting journey, they were ready to face any challenge that awaited them.

The end!

turn a cold shoulder towards the product which is reportedlysettolaunchintheUSat some point.

“Tyra what the hell are you talking about?,” one person wrote in the comments. “We need more details. WritingforDefector,JayaSaxena notesthatBankshasaunique way of doing business.

“Banks started her girlbossy ice cream company Smize & Dream in 2020, the kind of place that is dedicated to the concept of “mamas” and employsa“DirectorofSmizetheatrics” to hire ice-cream scoopers who are camerafriendly,” Saxena writes in a piece titled “Tyra Banks PleaseExplainWhattheHell You Mean By ‘Hot Ice Cream.’”

Saxena says she’s “completely riveted” even as she “canseethehoticecream,but I have a suspicion I am being lied to.” “The product is so new, it’s not listed on the company’s website yet, so there’s no clue there. And in thecommentsofherintroductory video, her team shoots down every plausible guess.

“So …custard?” posits one, to which the official account lobs“So…naw,’”shewrites. “Another asks if it’s like a warmmilkshake?“Notquite.” Melted ice cream as a drink? “It’s a drink. But it’s not melted.” Or perhaps just a warm cup of milk. “If only it were that simple,” they

taunt.”

“I cannot even tell what weareleftwithhere.Atacertain point, it seems like a liability to refuse to tell customers what is in the cup.” Paradehastriedtofillinsome of the blanks. Their writer, LaurenMurphy,explainsthat the product “is designed to be a fun, interactive treat for audiences.” “Unlike traditionalicecreamorhotchocolate, it is intentionally churned and warmed to create a creamy, dreamy consistencythatcanbesippedfrom a cup,” Murphy writes. “The U.S. launch slated for this winteraimstointroducefans to this unique dessert experience,whichhasalreadygone viral in Australia.” Bank on peopleprobablyhavingeven more questions after it launches state side.

GGMCissuesremoval...

From page 11 that his 2009 river claims included the 300 feet inland.

A tribunal chaired by Magistrate Allan Wilson heard the matter and in May 2024,ruledinDaniels’favour Magistrate Wilson held that underGuyana’sminingregulations,riverclaimscannotby law include 300-feet inland from the low-water mark, meaning Alphonso’s claims did not cover the disputed strip.

Halliman previously said that the magistrate ruled in theirfavourorderingGGMC, to grant their permits and strike out an order that was issuedbyMinisterofNatural Resources,Vickram Bharrat.

On May 3, 2023, Minister Bharrat issued a retroactive order closing the disputed areafromDecember6,2012, which is the day before Daniels made his application toGGMC.

In2024,GGMCmovedto the high court seeking a judicial review of the tribunal’s decision.

InDecember2024,GGMC again moved to the high court this time seeking to quash Magistrate Wilson’s decision,arguingthepermits grantedoverlappedwithland already reserved by the 2023 ministerialorder.GGMCcontended that the order approved prospecting permits forDanielsinanareathathad already been reserved and closed to mining.

The commission argued too that the tribunal decision was unlawful, unreasonable, unfair,andanabuseofpower GGMC asked the court to quash this decision unless Magistrate Wilson can show cause. However, the court dismissed that challenge as well.

The respondents, Halliman,MagistrateWilson and theAlphonso’s. Some of the respondents in the case sought a dismissal through their lawyers. The respondents argued that the case was improperly filed and lacked grounds. The court dismissedGGMC’scase,rulingthatwhenDanielsapplied in2012,therewerenoobjections,andthatAlphonsoonly showed interest in the land aftertheapplicationwasfiled. It was noted too that even after showing interest in the land,Alphonsonevermadea formal application for the same plot of land.

Guyana, Suriname still to finalise financing for Corentyne River Bridge project

Vice President (VP), Bharrat

J a g d e o o n Thursday stated that the governments of Guyana and Suriname are still to finalise an agreement on financing for the much-anticipated Corentyne River Bridge project.

When asked by the media for an update on the project, Jagdeo said the construction of the bridge remains a priority for both countries.

“The Corentyne River bridgethatisacollaborative project with Suriname… so it will move at the pace at which we can reach an agreementonfundingandall ofthat…It'snotlikehowwe can approach other matters unilaterally,likeinGuyana's case, we have to build the BerbiceBridge,wewentout to tender, we are now negotiating with the contractors, we would have to find the money so we go out and raise our money on our own, we don't have to waitonasecondpartytodo that,” Jagdeo told reporters

at his weekly press conference held at Freedom House.

“With Suriname, it has implication for border matters, they have to raise theirshareoftheresources,” headded.

Earlier this week, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told attendees attheInternationalBusiness Conference (IBC) that as soonasanagreementonthe financingisreachedwiththe

CARICOMmaintains...

Frompage39 “anydecisionsonthatmatter will be made only after all technical and legal assessmentsarecompleted.

“We wish to assure our citizens that any decision taken will be guided by Grenada's sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, the traveling public, and the country's economic well-being,” it added.

But former Grenada Senate president and trade unionist, Chester Humphrey and former foreign affairs minister, Peter David, have publicly come out against such a request, with Humphrey saying he is prepaed to lead a peaceful protestmarch.

Humphrey said that the move by Washington is a precursor to launching a military strike against the NicolásMadurogovernment inVenezuela.

David, an independent legislator,saidinastatement thatwhileGrenadavaluesits longstanding partnerships with both the United States and Venezuela, any actions taken must be rooted in diplomacy, mutual respect, andregionalcooperation.

On Wednesday, the Commander of the United

Minister of ForeignAffairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname, Mr. Melvin W. J. Bouva (left), during a recent engagement.

said that the construction of the bridge is a necessity and not luxury Doerga stated that the Corentyne River Bridgewillbethespineofa new trade corridor reducing transportation

, accelerating business and encouraging cross-border investment.

States Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey, met with senior officials of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) and according to a statement issued afterwards said the “meeting was cordial and productive, reaffirmingtheUSSouthern Command's commitment to supporting Grenada's nationalsecurityefforts”.

Holsey also met with Antigua and Barbuda Prime MinisterGastonBrowneand A United States Embassy statement said the meeting discussed “Caribbean security and the deepening of both nations' bilateral defensepartnership.

“This partnership is integral to the region's collective efforts to advance Caribbean security and stability Our efforts to strengthen partnerships in the Caribbean are vital to combat transnational criminal organizations and illicit traffickers who threaten the region and our homeland,”itadded.

Since then, there are reports in the United States media that Holsey has resigned his position in a suprise move and comes amidst tensions between himselfandtheUSSecretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth over operations in the Caribbean.

Surinamese, construction willbegin.

“The Corentyne River bridge… most Surinamese in the Guyana – Suriname Chambers interested in this. Let me put every heart at ease, the procurement stage of the Corentyne River bridgeiscompleted,thereis an identified preferred contractor that has emerged since the end of the evaluation stages,” he related The Guyana Government had set aside GYD$5 billion in the 2025 budget toward the bridge's construction.

News had r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e construction of the Bridge between the two countries will be executed by China R o a d a n d B r i d g e Corporation China Road and Bridge Corporation was among three bidders that submitted proposals to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office last year According to media reports, the governments of Guyana and Suriname had requested funding from China for the project and wereawaitingapproval.

The Corentyne River bridge,oncecompleted,will span approximately 1,100 metres in length with 22 spans measuring 50 metres each. The sub-structure is expectedtowithstandminor vessel impact The carriageway is expected to span around 10.05 metres, accommodating two lanes underregularconditionsand three lanes during emergencies or controlled situations.

Chairman of the

Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC), Dr VishnuDoergainMay2025

Meanwhile, on Tuesday Minister of Foreign Affairs a n

Cooperation, Hugh Todd received a courtesy call, from Minister of Foreign Affairs, International BusinessandCooperationof the Republic of Suriname, Mr MelvinW J.Bouva,and Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation of the Republic of Suriname, Mr Andrew Baasaroner where they held discussions on the cooperationmatters.

Govt. yet to decide on signing global maritime

carbon agreement - Jagdeo

The government of Guyana is yet to decide on signing onto the global maritime carbon agreement, Vice President Bharrat JagdeosaidonThursday.The agreement is aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the global shipping sector Onceimplemented,it wouldbethefirsttimethata United Nations organisation will be levying a global carbontaxontheworld.

The vice president was asked at his weekly press conference by the media if Guyana is signing on to the agreement and to indicate the stage of discussions on thematter

In response, Jagdeo said that while he has not been following the issue, the Caribbean Community

(CARICOM) and the Guyana government will havetoexaminetheissueof emissions coming to the Region.

“There's a move to reduce the carbon emission fromthesevessels.Mypoint is the whole world is retreating from their obligationsundertheUNFC process. The United States ofAmericahasmadeitclear they don't believe in the agreement.Thisisoneofthe biggest emitters on a per capitabasisintheworld.

If the United States of America and many developedcountriesarenow going to cut their emissions, why should the developing world that produces a fraction of the global emission be running behind

all of these initiatives right now in the world?” Jagdeo said In this regard, he reasoned that the question should be asked and he thinks it will come up at the Conference Of Parties (COP).

The vice president reasoned that even if all lights are turned off, all cars shut down and Exxon stops producing oil it cannot save the world even 0.2% of emissions.“Ifwegobackto stone ages, we all wear no clothes and walk around in Guyana and stuff like that, nothing. We don't use any anything.Wegobacktothat period when we you know sincewewereevolvingfrom a long time back. We all go backthere.

That's how it is. So how

can we make the biggest impact on the world?”He assuredthathewillexamine the matter deeply.“ it [Such issues] comes to me occasionally but I have a different perspective on some of these matters and I think, I like to do common sensicalthings.

We have to examine that people sometimes sign on these things and then later, there's no enforcement m e c h a n i s m , ” h e e x p l a i n e d J a g d e o questionedhowtheemission levels would be measured if a ship enters and should the vessel be found guilty, how then would the penalty be imposed. He said such matters must be properly examined before signing occurs.

Trump says US will repatriate survivors of ‘submarine’ attack

Aljazeera - President Donald Trump says two surviving “narcoterrorists” from a semi-submersible vessel destroyed by the US military in the Caribbean will be sent to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.

“Itwasmygreathonorto destroyaverylargeDRUGCARRYINGSUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a wellknown narcotrafficking transit route,” Trump wrote onTruthSocialonSaturday

He said that US intelligence has confirmed the vessel was carrying fentanylandothernarcotics. The vessel was targeted on Thursday in what Trump describedasastrikeaimedat disrupting a major drug traffickingroute.

Twocrewmemberswere killed, he said, while two others survived and were airlifted by US forces in a helicopter rescue operation to a nearby US Navy warship. The US military held the survivors on board atleastuntilFridayevening.

The press office for Ecuador'sgovernmentsaidit was not aware of the plans for repatriation. There was no immediate comment fromColombianauthorities.

Atleastsixvessels,most of them speedboats, have been targeted by US strikes in the Caribbean since September, with Venezuela alleged to be the origin of some of them. Washington says its campaign is dealing a decisive blow to drug trafficking, but it has provided no evidence that

US leader says suspected drug traffickers to be sent to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia

US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Washington. (APPhoto/Alex Brandon)

the people killed were drug smugglers.

W i t h T r u m p ' s

confirmation of the death toll on his Truth Social platform, that means US military actions against vessels in the region have killedatleast29people.

The president has justified the strikes by

treating the suspected traffickers as if they were enemy soldiers in a traditional war Previous similar strikes have raised concerns from Democratic lawmakersandlegalexperts who argue that such operations may exceed accepted wartime authority

and risk violating internationallaw

asserting that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. He is relying on the samelegalauthorityusedby theadministrationofformer President George W Bush when it declared a war on terrorism after the September 11 attacks on the US.Thisincludestheability to capture and detain combatants and use lethal force to take out their leadership. Trump is also

Speaking to reporters on Friday,Trumpsaidthelatest targeted vessel had been “built specifically for the transportation of massive amountsofdrugs”.

USmilitarybuildup

Themissioncomesamid a sharp US military buildup across the Caribbean, involving guided missile destroyers,F-35fighterjets, a nuclear-powered submarine and about 6,500 troops. The escalation has fuelled accusations that Washington is inching towardsdirectconfrontation withVenezuela. On Wednesday, Trump confirmed that he had authorised the CIA to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela, intensifying fears in Caracas that the US is attempting to topple PresidentNicolasMaduro. Maduro has repeatedly denied involvement in drug trafficking and accused Washington of fabricating a narco-terrorism narrative as apretextfortryingtochange the government He condemned the recent maritime strikes as “a violation of Venezuela's s o v e r e i g n t y a n d internationallaw”.

Australian singer, Sia Furler

Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, has formally requested the UN Security Council to issue a determination that the US strikes are illegal and to reaffirm Venezuela's sovereignrights.

Sia'sestrangedhusbandwants US$250,000monthlymaintenance

(CNN) 'Sias estranged husband is seeking more thanUS$250,000inmonthly spousalsupportpayments.

The Australian singer, whose full name is Sia Furler, filed a petition for dissolutionofmarriagefrom her second husband, Daniel Bernad, back in March.The pair were married in 2022 and welcomed their first child,Somersault,in2024.

But the marriage broke down due to “irreconcilable differences,” according to papers lodged by Sia in the Los Angeles court earlier this year At the time, she requested full legal and physical custody of the child, with visitation rights for Bernad, according to the court documents On Friday, Bernad applied for a huge monthly sum, arguing that he gave up his medical

career as a radiation oncologist to be with the singer, according to legal papers seen by CNN. The 47-year-old said he has “no source of income” so needs the support, as well as $300,000 in legal fees and a further$200,000forforensic accounting.

The court documents include a lengthy statement from Bernad in which he saidheandthesingersetupa ketamine treatment clinic in 2022. However, he said she withdrew funding from the venture after their marriage broke down, which has left himwithoutanincome.

The filing included details of the living standards the pair were accustomed to. “Sia and I lived a luxurious and upperclasslifestyle,”Bernadsaid, noting that they lived in a

9,500-square-foot home in TolucaLakeinLA,whichhe saidwasworthanestimated $12.5 million. “We never neededtomonitorourliving expenses,”hesaid. He said they employed between 10 and 12 staff at their home, including two personal chefs and two masseuses,whiletheywould travel frequently, often by private jet CNN has reached out to Sia and Bernad's representatives for comment. The singer was previously married to Erik Anders Lang from 2014 to 2017.Shealsowasalreadya mom — and a grandmother before welcoming Somersault. In 2019, she adopted two 18-year-old boys who were aging out of the foster system, one of whom became a father in 2020.

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

MONDAY–

OCTOBER13,2025

WhitherthePNC/APNU

The desperation of the o n c e - f o r m i d a b l e PNCR/APNU is both tragic and comical Once a powerhouse,APNUhasnow stooped to sacrificing its stronghold in Region 4, its politicalheartland,justtotie abundleforavicechairpost in a sparsely populated Region 8 Even more shocking, it has further cozied up to the PPP in Region10,aterritorywhere itwasalwaysrocksolidover theyears.Thehumiliationat the recent general elections was bad enough, but last Friday's RDC elections revealed the lowest of the low for this battered party Wipedoutinalltheregions, APNU now stands no better than the AFC—reduced to clinging onto scraps, begging for crumbs, and dependingonJagdeoandthe PPP to deliver what it once ownedoutright.Gonearethe days of bold opposition; from cussing the PPP, the PNC is now firmly in its bosom,waitingonhandouts

and political favours. The loss of Region 10, once a symbol of PNC strength, is the latest and most humiliatingexample. The trajectory is clear: a political force that once inspired fear now scrambles for relevance, its pride buried beneath opportunism and dependence Utter shame.

TUESDAY–

OCTOBER14,2025

ConveneParliamentNow!

Democracy is not only abouttherightofcitizensto cast their ballots. It is also about ensuring that the institutions of government function with immediacy and accountability in the aftermathofelections.

Chief among those institutions is Parliament, the body entrusted with providing oversight of the Executive.

I f t h e p e o p l e ' s representatives are not seated and their voices not heard, the system risks imbalance. For this reason, Parliament should be convened at the earliest

opportunity and not

accordingtoPresidentIrfaan Ali in November It should nothavetowaitatthewhims andfanciesoftheexecutiveParliament should and must bepromptlyconvened.

THURSDAY–

OCTOBER16,2025

Glitteringmalls,empty pockets

Another foreign companyisbuildinganother glitzy shopping mall at Chateau Margot on the East Coast Demerara. Cranes are swinging, concrete is pouring,andheadlinesboast of “development.” But for whom? For the average Guyanese, struggling to pay bills and feed their families, these towering monuments of “progress” might as well be mirages shimmering in thedesertheat.

Guyana is rich, overflowing with oil, gold, anddiamondsyetmostofits people are broke The Chinese are expanding their grip on retail, foreigners are rakinginprofitsfromhotels andmegamalls,whilelocals can barely afford a grocery

It is a gamble Kaieteur M@ilbox

DearEditor,

Despitevariousmethods to curb cigarette smoking, many continue with the habit. To my recollection, cigarette seems to be the most heavily taxed item on the market, and despite the ridiculous increase in its prices,it'sstillindemand. Now, I find it very interesting to hear the VP Jagdeo saying that government will be tackling t h e g a m b l i n g i n communities, because it has anegativeimpactinsociety

In my opinion, the only impact it has is on casinos, thus his awake from his slumber and finds it's a

plague to society Reading the DPI's press release, he admittedthatthecasinosare moreexpensiveanditistheir people should go. So much fortheirplans!

Editor, because of corruption and hasty thinking, many decisions were made to allow various ventures to open in Guyana andwhenitgotblownoutof proportion, they tend to renege on their ploys with those who they are not benefitingfrom.

Instead of a direct order to shut down, the method they prefer is via tax, which will force the operators to increasetheirfeeswhichwill

end up being the gambler's burden.

There are various ways to gamble online without using local agents, so my questions are, did someone concoct a way to waste money going after those s m a l l g a m b l i n g agencies/apps? Are the casinos feeling the losses and forcing government to goaftertheircompetitors?

Finally Editor, much is not being said about the Guyana Lottery Company, perhaps there's need for revaluation of its operations here. Is the company being closelymonitored?

SahadeoBates

trip. Theso-called“goodlife” has become a cruel slogan, paradedbeforeapeopleshut

out from their own prosperity

A few may cling to the hope of another Christmas cash grant, but handouts are not a solution they are sedatives for a people being lulled into quiet acceptance.

Themallsmayrise,butuntil G u y a n e s e s h a r e meaningfully in their country's wealth, all that glitter will remain just that—glitter,notgold.

WarriorswaiveveteranguardSethCurry

(Sportsnet) - Only one Curry will make the Golden State Warriors' openingnightroster

The Warriors waived Seth Curry, the brother of two-timeMVPandfour-time champion Steph Curry, on Saturdayaheadofthestartof theregularseason.

Golden State Warriors’Seth Curry speaks during an introductory NBAbasketball news conference, Thursday, Oct.

Seth Curry, an 11-year veteran, did not appear in a pre-season game with the teamafteragreeingtoaoneyear contract in late September

Per NBA insider Marc

Sunday October 19, 2025

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Your mental acuity is high today A recent innovation of yours could bring you some much-deserved recognition Your mind is especially sharp at this point, and ideas come thickandfast.

TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)

Today you'll feel inspired to express yourself in fun, creativeways.Don'tbeafraid to let loose with your wild sense of humor You could play a prank on a friend that makes him or her laugh and createsgoodfeelings.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Expect a visitor to put you in touch with people who could makearealdifferenceinyour life. Changes are manifesting morequicklythanyourealize. But the speed may have you feelingalittleapprehensive.

CANCER(June21–July22)

To d a y ' s c e l e s t i a l configuration may leave you feeling more spiritually inclined than usual. As your thoughtsturntomorepositive horizons, you'll be optimistic about your future and the futureofhumanity

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Money worries could have your nerves on edge, Leo. It's better to focus on doing what youhavetodotoresolveyour difficulties than it is to waste timefrettingoverthem.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

It's time to admit that your hectic lifestyle is catching up withyou.Todayyoumuststart togetorganized.Waitinguntil the last minute to take care of important tasks only causes anxiety.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Your inbox is probably crammed with party invitations. There's no such thing as a simple RSVP for you. Every call to accept or decline results in a lengthy conversation as you catch up withrelativesandoldfriends.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

The planetary energies today are emphasizing family This maybeagoodtimetodosome research, delving more deeply into your roots. Have you picked your grandmother's brain about her mother and grandmother?

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Your hard work is finally paying off. You can expect to receive acknowledgement and advancement, along with a possible salary increase or substantial bonus. You should receivethegoodnewssoon.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

This is a day for good news, particularly regarding the home. It's likely that some positive changes are occurring orareabouttooccur Youmay be considering a move or a majorrenovation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Good news from distant lands could have you feeling good about your life and eagerly anticipating the future. Your thinkingissharpandclear

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

When you give your imaginationfreerein,youhave a creative way of expressing yourself.Todayyoumightfeel like doing some public speaking or creative writing. You may devise a unique way tomakeapresentation.

Stein, the expectation is that theWarriorswillre-signhim inNovemberoncetheyhave "sufficient financial flexibility to bring him back".

A native of Charlotte, N.C.,heaveraged6.5points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists last season with the Hornets whileshooting47.8percent from the field and a leaguehigh 45.6 per cent from three-point range on 2 7 attemptspergame.

Much like his older brother, Seth has made his

money from beyond the arc, shooting a career 43.3 per cent from range on four attemptspergame.

An NBA journeyman, Curry has suited up for nine different teams over his 550 career games Steph, meanwhile, has only ever playedfortheWarriors.

GoldenStatealsowaived guardLJCryer,anundrafted freeagentwhoaveragedfive points over five pre-season games.

TheWarriors'rosternow sitsat17players.

2025 GCB Queensway Senior Men’s Super50 Inter-county Tournament… Boodie, Adams help Essequibo obliterate Select XI by 10 wickets

and a

spinner Anthony Adams leveledahaplessGCBSelect XI who plummeted to a 10-

wicket loss when play continued yesterday at the LusignanGround.

-Berbice,Demeraralockhornstoday

It was a lopsided affair, first set up by Adams, who spun his way to 4-27 from 9

overs while his cohorts, fellow spinner Ricardo Adams who had 2-16, speedster Ronsford Beaton (2-9) and the young sensation Myhiem Khan (18), stifled the GCB XI for just69runs. It took a grueling 30.3 overs for the pair of Adams and his bowling unit to dispatchEssequibians,while keepingtheentireteamwith the exception of top-scorer Ronaldo Jeffery (22) and Afraz Ali Budhoo (12); to singledigitscores.

Boodie, who stroked a morecomposedhalf-century in the last match was in a vicious mood against a highly-inadequate Select XI bowlingattack,slamming54 off33balls.

The in-form opening batsman muscled 4 sixes while finding the ropes on 5 occasions, as he and Kanhayia Ramkaran chipped in with 14 off 11 (2x4). The duo’s unbroken openingstandof70wasallit tooktosealtheeasiestwinof the tournament, rocketing to victorywithalmost42overs left in the tank and a full complementofwickets.

Essequibo made light work of the chase, essentially getting to their total in the 6th over, with an ultra-aggressive Boodie needing just 32 deliveries to reach his second successive 50-plus score of the tournament.

Beaton’s huge doublestriketoremovetheGCBXI openers in Test batsman

Opener Kevon Boodie hammered his second successive half-century yesterday

Tageneriane Chanderpaul (1) and Captain Romeo Deonarain(1),likelyputthe rest of the team in a state of shockafterbattingfirst.

TheyoungerSelectteam never found their groove despiteJefferyscratchinghis way into the 20’s before becoming one of Adams’ fourvictims.

As the Select XI found themselves 8 wickets down whilst barely scraping at 50 runs, wickets continued to fallastheEssequibansnever tooktheirfootoffthepedals.

Essequibo captain Kemol Savory, who was not required to bat today, had a brilliant day behind the stumps, finishing with two stumpings and a catch courtesy of some brilliant workbyhisspinners.

Defending champions Demerara currently sits in thenumberonespotwith17 points, followed by Berbice insecondspotwith12points

Essequibowiththeirtwo big back-to-back wins, now trail the Berbicans closely with 11 points while the GCBXIhaveyettoregistera pointaftertwomatches.

Meanwhile, action continues from 9:00h with anotherexcitingbattle,asthe Berbicians will look to rebound from their recent lossagainstEssequibo,when they battle defending champs and rivals in a big match;withactionshiftingto Corentyne Berbice at the Number#69Ground.

(Clifton Ross)

Rishad’s six-for wrecks WI as Bangladesh take 1-0 lead

(Cricinfo) - Rishad Hossain’s 6 for 35, which includedthefirstfiveWestIndieswicketsinachase of208,pavedthewayforaBangladeshwininthe series opener in Dhaka. After being on 51 for 0, WestIndiesweredismissedfor133in39overs.

The visitors’ chief tormentor on an unusually darkDhakapitchwasRishad,whobecameonlythe secondlegspinnertotakethefirstfivewicketsinan ODI innings. Sri Lanka’s Jeffrey Vandersay is the onlyotherlegspinnertothisfeat,whenhetookthe firstsixwicketsagainstIndialastyearinColombo.

Brandon King andAlickAthanaze had started well for West Indies, putting on a half-century opening stand. King struck Taskin Ahmed for a flicked six in the third over before Athanaze slammed Tanvir Islam for three fours and a six in thefourthover,whichcostBangladesh18runs.

Bangladesh the dried up the boundaries from the fifth over. Rishad struck in his very first over, the 12th over of the chase, when he trapped Athanazelbwfor27off36balls.Then,inhisfifth over, Rishad had No.3 Keacy Carty caught at slip for nine off 30 balls. Saif Hassan took a straightforwardcatchatslipafterdroppingCartyon 3offIslam.

Rishad struck the big blow when he had King caught behind for 44 off 60 balls with a fizzing legbreak in the 22nd over Wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan took the catch on the second attempt. Sherfane Rutherford fell for a duck in the same over,alsocaughtbehindoffabeautifullegbreak.

Rishad completed his five-for in the 24th over when he had Roston Chase caught behind for six. HebecamethefirstlegspinnerfromBangladeshto takeafive-wickethaulinODIs.

MehidyHasanMirazandIslamthengotintothe act, removing Gudakesh Motie and Shai Hope. MotiewaslbwtoMehidyforthree,beforetheWest Indiescaptain,Hope,gaveNurulhisfourthcatchof the innings. Romario Shepherd fell trying to force the pace against Mustafizur Rahman in the 35th over Mustafizur proceeded to dismiss allrounder JustinGreavesfor12off23balls.Rishadwrapped up the game with Jayden Seales’ wicket, with Mehidy taking the catch at slip. It was just reward forMehidywhotastedvictoryforonlythesecond timein11ODIsascaptain.

WestIndieshadearliercontrolledBangladesh’s run-rateformostofthefirstinnings.Thehomeside lost their openers Saif and Soumya Sarkar within the first three overs, before Towhid Hridoy and NajmulHossainShantoadded71runsforthethird wicket.

Both batters, however, remained mostly circumspect hitting three boundaries each. Shanto made32off63ballsbeforeHridoyreachedhisfifty off 87 balls Bangladesh struck just three boundariesfromthe11thtothe36thover.Mehidy and Mahidul Islam also batted slowly, with the latter,makinghisODIdebut,finishingwith46off 76balls.HestruckthreefoursbeforeChasebowled himinthe46thover

Rishadalsocontributedwiththebat,his26off 16 balls, including two sixes and a four, helping Bangladesh pass 200. His cameo ended when Sealesyorkedhiminthe49thover.Hisjobwasn’t done yet. He played an even bigger role with the balltocarryBangladeshtovictory

Match details: Bangladesh 207 (Hridoy 51, Mahidul 46, Seales 3-48) beat West Indies 133 (King44,Athanaze27,Rishad6-35)by74runs.

Paris smashes treble for West, Edwards double keep SJTB on track

St John the Baptist Primarykepttheirtitlehopes alive in the 2025 Courts

Optical Pee Wee Under-11

S c h o o l s F o o t b a l l Championship, thanks to a decisive double from Neymar Edwards The Bartica side joins St Pius, West Ruimveldt, Tucville, Redeemer, Agatash, St Gabriel’s, and Leonora Primary in the quarterfinals following their victories at the Ministry of Education groundonSaturday

The round of 16 produced thrilling action, including two massive upsets and several tightly contested finishes, as the tournament narrowed down toitsfinaleightcontenders.

After four rounds of competition, St John the Baptist edged past Stella Maris Primary 2–1, with Edwards finding the net twice in the 15th and 21st minutes. Although Joshua

Haratio gave Stella Maris a glimmerofhopewitha17thminute response, Edwards’ bracewasenoughtosealthe win.

In a dramatic upset, Redeemer Primary elim

champions Santa Rosa Primary with a narrow 1–0 victory, thanks to Elijah Naughton’s 23rd-minute strike.

Tucville Primary also booked their quarterfinal spotinagrittybattleagainst Georgetown International Academy After relentless pressure, Dominic Dickson finallybrokethedeadlockin the 36th minute to secure a hard-fought1–0win.

West Ruimveldt continuedtheirdominantrun in the 12th annual Pee Wee tournament, cruising past their opponents with a 5–0 victory Zyron Austin opened the scoring in the second minute, followed by

ahat-trickfromJaseenParis, whoscoredinthe5th,32nd, and 36th minutes Ceon Rajkumar added to the tally in the 30th minute, ensuring acommandingwin.

Another major upset came from St Pius Primary, who handed Potaro Primary their first loss of the campaign Marcus Harris struck in the second minute, with Roy Cassau doubling the lead in the 11th. Potaro managed a consolation goal in the 25th minute, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 2–1defeat.

Agatash Primary advanced after a tense encounter with North Georgetown, which ended 0–0 in regulation time

Agatash eventually triumphed 3–2 on penalties. Similarly,StGabriel’sedged pastCharityPrimaryina3–1 shootout after a 2–2 draw Charity’sTroyBostonnetted abraceinregulartime,while

Jalen Simon and Zion Hickersonwereontargetfor StGabriel’s.

Leonora Primary rounded off the day in emphatic fashion, dismantling M

an Academy 6–0. The scoring wasledbyAdrianHarryand JhonathanMelvin,whoeach netted twice, while Colbert Baird and Chrison Austin addedoneapiece.

With the round of 16 concluded, the focus now shifts to the quarterfinals, where the top eight schools will battle for positions one through eight Action resumesnextSaturday

The 2025 tournament is sponsoredbyCourtsOptical, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, MVP Sports, SkyTec Enterprise, Demerara Mutual, and SterlingProductsLimited.It is officially sanctioned by theMinistryofEducation.

- as eight teams advance to Pee Wee Quarterfinals

Slingerz Racing Stable’s

Galo White gallops to second in Latin American Cup

Slingerz Racing

Stable’s pride and joy, Galo White, turned in a commanding performance at the 41st Grand Premiere Latin American Cup at the famed Gávea Racecourse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reaffirming Guyana’s presence on the SouthAmericanhorseracing stage.

Representing the

Vergenoegen-based powerhouse, Galo White went stride-for-stride with some of the region’s best in theJoãoBorgesFilhoGrand Prix – Haras Rio Iguassu (G2), finishing a strong second after being narrowly edged by Tyrion, despite leading the pack for most of therace.

From the break, Galo White, expertly handled by Wil Xavier, settled into a smoothgallopatthefrontof the field, dictating the pace withpoise.

The striking grey maintained a comfortable two-length advantage over Oviedo,whileTyrionstalked in third along the rails, followed closely by Sparco,

Mexicano,Osten,andUSaid I Do. The tempo remained steady as the field rounded the final turn, with Galo Whitestillshowinghisclass infront.

But in the home stretch, the brilliance of jockey João MoreiraaboardTyrioncame to the fore. In the final 400 meters, Tyrion surged forward to challenge, and despite Galo White’s determined response, the Brazilianmountedgedahead justbeforethewire.

It was a thrilling duel to the finish in a race that showcased Galo White’s heart, stamina, and worldclasspotential.

Owner Javed Ali expressed immense pride in the horse’s performance, calling it another statement moment for Slingerz Racing Stable on the international circuit.

“Galo White ran a magnificent race,” Ali said. “He showed that he belongs among the best in South America.Tofinishsecondin a race of this caliber, after setting the pace throughout, is something every owner

dreams of. I’m incredibly proud of him and of our entireteam.”

Ali was quick to credit the dedicated trainers and handlers behind Galo White’s preparation, emphasizing that this performancewasareflection of their hard work and commitment.

“Ourtrainershavedonea tremendousjobgettingGalo White to this level,” Ali continued,“Thebestisyetto come for this horse…he’s improving with every run, andwe’rejustscratchingthe surfaceofhistruepotential.”

For Slingerz Racing Stable, Galo White’s performance not only cements their status as Guyana’s leading operation but also signals that the Vergenoegen stable is capable of going head-tohead with the best in South America.

Earlier this year, Galo White finished fifth place at the 93rd running of the Brazil Grande Premio (Grade 1), Brazil’s most prestigious horse racing event.

Ethan XI defeats Name Brand XI at 2 Teekachand Beharry Memorial Match

Budhram receives his player-of-the-match trophy

Factory Prize

U-15 Windball set for today

Factory Prize Under-15 Windball tournament is set for todayatAirportground,EastBankDemerara.

Fourteamswillbeinactionwith10-oversper-a-side. Trophies are up for grabs including the winning and runners-upteams.

Bothfinalistswillbereceivingmedalsaswellandofficials. Trophieswillalsobeawardedtotheplayer-of-the-matchin thefinalalongwiththeplayerwithmostrunsandmostwickets inthetournament.

Therearetrophiesforthemostsixesandthelongestsixas wellandthebest-fielder

Mr andMrs.SahadeoofFactorPrizeareexpectedtograce the occasion and help with the handing of prizes at the presentationceremony

The trophies and prizes up for grabs.

Ethan X1 defeated Name

Brand X1 by seven wickets in the second edition of the Teekachand Beharry’s softball memorial match last Sunday at Whim ground,Berbice.

Name Brand X1 batted first after winning the toss and only managed an inadequate45-3attheexpirationofthe allotted5-oversunderlights.

Ethan X1 surpassed the target with five balls to spare with Vishaul Narine making 20 and Keyon Sinclair contributing12notout.

WhenNameBrandX1batted,Dyal, only name given, scored 15 as M.Budram grabbed two wickets for 5

runs from his one overs. Eion Hooper was also in the wicket-column with 112(01).

Budram was chosen as the playerof-the-matchandwasgivenatrophyfor his outstanding bowling performance. Boththewinningandrunners-upteams collectedatrophyeachaswell.

In addition to the trophies, cash prizeswerealsogiventothetwofinalist sides.

Eightteamsparticipatedandthesix other sides were:Whim, Scrumble X1, Unstoppable, Port Mourant, Wild-Side andMeck-UpX1.

Beharry, who was considered one Guyana’s best softball batsmen, died

age65duetoillnessinCanada2023.

HissonJeetendraBeharry,apopular softball player in Ontario, Canada, expressed his appreciation to all the teamsthattookpart.

He stated that his father was a passionate softball player both in Guyana and Canada and he and his family will continue to commemorate hislifewithsoftballgames.

Trophies were donated by Jeetendra, his eldest brother Sudesh Beharry and other relatives including Loretta Beharry, Melisa Beharry, Yuvonne Bhowandin, Sudesh Beharry, RaviNarine,LillyBeharryandHemraj Lallgie.

Paris smashes treble for West, Edwards double keep SJTB on track

- as eight teams advance to Pee Wee Quarterfinals

SlingerzRacingStable’s GaloWhitegallopstosecond inLatinAmericanCup