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As a scout who promised to “do my duty to God and the Queen” of Britain, your Eyewitness is more than a tad concerned about the leadership muddle in old Blighty!! After tutoring us for centuries, the Brits seem to’ve perfected the art of producing Prime Ministers assembled overnight from leftover pieces of a focus group!! Maybe they should consider replacing them with that institution they abolished in everything but name – the Royals!!,
Now your Eyewitness ain’t joking!! Think about it – the British have endured an unremarkable procession of politicos who arrive at 11 Downing Street promising to change the country – only to quickly disappear amid scandals, U-turns, leadership challenges, and the general impression that no one – including themselves!! – quite knows why they’re there!!
There was the wild-haired blond, the austerity Chancellor, the earnest technocrat, the short-lived economic revolutionary, the caretaker, and now the latest model!! Remember them?? No??!! Your Eyewitness longs for the days when the occupant of Downing Street at least had a face John Public could recognise!!
The Monarchy, meanwhile, has been remarkably stable!! The incumbent doesn’t announce a new policy every Tuesday morning – nor appear on television promising that Britain’s gonna “level up” something nobody’s ever heard of!! And he certainly doesn’t resign ‘cause 52 per cent of his colleagues decided he’s become an electoral liability!!
Indeed, the royals already possess several qualifications ordinary Brits consider essential for modern British Governments!! They’re trained to wave, can survive embarrassing family scandals, are comfortable wearing colourful costumes – and have absolutely no compulsion to explain their policies on breakfast television!! Then there’s the added bonus of abolishing elections!! Can you imagine the savings??!!
No endless leadership contests, no party conferences, no focus groups, no opinion polls asking whether the PM looks “sufficiently Prime Ministerial” – and no manifesto promising to spend money the Treasury’s already confessed it doesn’t have!! The King would just appoint a PM he fancies – and get on with the business of being King!! Parliament would continue debating furiously – secure in the knowledge that nobody’s listening!!
And the Monarchy needn’t be entirely hereditary – every five years the royal family could hold internal elections based on who can best speak through clenched jaws!! The Monarch could continue cutting ribbons, inaugurate hospitals and deliver the King’s Speech – while the experts in the Civil Service run the country and tell him what they’re up to!! After all, if Britain’s gonna have BRITISH democracy, it’s gotta have the right people on the job – not the present lot going around a turnstile!!
And while we’re at it, maybe here in ole Mudland we oughta move in the same direction?? Irfaan’s certainly proven he can cut ribbons and govern at the same time!!

…solar
Your Eyewitness has been cautioned to watch his AC usage – since we’ve reached our peak electricity generation!! He knows the Wales Gas-to-Energy plant’s gonna give us a big boost – but he thinks we should convert our – hundreds of thousands! – of private rooftops into miniature power stations!! The Government’s already launched a 5000-home, grid-connected solar initiative allowing households to generate electricity during the day and send surplus power back to GPL for credits on their bills!! That target should be treated as a beginning, not an ambition!!
Like they’d done with house lots, the Government should target 50,000 rooftop-solar homes within five years – while making installation just as easy and affordable with low-interest financing, tax concessions and standardised installation packages!! The rooftop solar programme’s gonna make the grid more resilient, reduce GPL’s daytime load – AND allow households to lower their electricity bills!!
Our future electricity system doesn’t have to be Wales versus solar – but Wales PLUS solar with every suitable Guyanese roof producing a kilowatt!!

…pork-knocking
With all the furrin companies extracting our hundreds of thousands of ounces of gold every year – leaving us with just a bonus and wages – your Eyewitness calls on pork-knockers to retake our national pride!!
“When yuh bin a Kurupung…!!”

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As the 2026 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) preliminary results were announced on Tuesday, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain reported an improvement in Guyana’s Mathematics pass rate, with several schools recording significant gains. The achievement was also hailed by Education Minister, Sonia Parag as a major step forward, particularly as mathematics continues to be one of the most challenging subjects for students in Guyana and across the Caribbean.
Guyana’s CSEC Mathematics pass rate increased from 32 per cent in 2025 to 34.5 per cent in 2026. Hussain announced the improvement during the release of the preliminary 2026 examination results. According to Hussain, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has begun the modularisation of subjects through the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), breaking traditional CSEC and CAPE subjects into smaller, manageable modules. Against this backdrop, the mathematics syllabus was divided into three parts under a pilot programme introduced in several schools. Hussain said several schools recorded significant improvements under the modularisation pilot, with pass rates reaching as high as 90 per cent. “I am very pleased, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, to say to us that in 2026, Mathematics has increased by 2.5 per cent.”

Positive results
He explained that CXC’s modularisation approach has already begun producing positive results. Hussain also highlighted several schools that recorded notable improvements in their Mathematics performance. “I want to address the pass rate of 32 per cent in 2025 to 34.5 per cent in 2026. And I want to highlight some of the schools that have done so fantastically well.” Belladrum Secondary moved from zero passes to 81.49 per cent, while Fort Wellington Secondary improved from 5 per cent to 82.15 per cent. Novar Secondary, Shivita Business College and Queen’s College all secured 100 per cent passes.
Bartica Secondary recorded a 57-percentage-point increase, while Rosignol Secondary improved by 35 percentage points, Leguan Secondary by 28 points and Cummings Lodge Secondary by 25 points. South Ruimveldt also improved from eight per cent to 60 per cent. Hussain credited initiatives such as the Mathematics Tents, virtual teaching and the Digital School platform for contributing to the improvements. Seventeen virtual classes connected experienced teachers with students across the country, including those in hinterland and riverine communities.

Direct interventions
Meanwhile, Education Minister Sonia Parag said the results were a direct reflection of the various interventions undertaken by the Ministry to improve Mathematics education. “Generally, performance, I am particularly pleased with the improvement we have seen this year in Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. It tells us that the interventions that we are making are beginning to bear fruit, all of which are a deliberate effort to improve performance.” The improvement comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns over Guyana’s Mathematics performance.

Comprehensive strategy
Following a 34 per cent pass rate in Mathematics in the 2023 CSEC examinations, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that the Government would embark on a comprehensive strategy to improve performance in the subject. “Because of our concern about our performance in Mathematics, I had some initial conversations with the Education Minister and I’m of the view that perhaps we need to, in a very targeted manner, create additional hours for Mathematics in the secondary school system, especially at the exam level — additional compulsory hours,” Ali said in 2023. He added that efforts would also be made to explore available Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that could be incorporated into the school curriculum to deliver better learning outcomes. “Because we cannot continue with the existing pass rates in Mathematics. It is unacceptable, and we must change it, and we will change it,” Ali said. Currently, the Ministry of Education operates a national Mathematics Intervention Programme targeting Grades 10 and 11, aimed at improving students’ performance in regional examinations. The multi-tiered initiative includes extended morning instruction, free learning tools such as scientific calculators and past papers, specialised external instructors and broadcast lessons through the Guyana Learning Channel.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced that a modern, electronic procurement system will be implemented by the end of the year, in keeping with a manifesto promise made by the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).
“I’m pleased to tell you that the finance secretary is leading the effort to have, before the end of this year completed, the e-procurement system fully completed and integrated,” the President informed a news conference on Tuesday.
He said the e-procurement system will have a digital bidder’s register, an e-tender lifecycle module, a national e-tender portal, and an e-marketplace.
This, the President noted, will transition the system from a paper-based process to a fully digital one.
The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) already has a bidder register, but under the e-system, it will be expanded to include additional information for each contractor, supplier and consultant.
These include beneficial ownership, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) compliance status, contractor classification by size, past performance, and any debarments or suspensions.
The e-tender lifecycle module will digitise the full tender process end-to-end, covering procurement planning, tender creation, publication, bid submission, evaluation, contract award, contract administration, variation, payment processing, and real-time tracking. The module would automate routine checks; flag compliance; risk support evaluation teams with structured scoring tools; detect anomalies and potential red flags; and generate a dashboard for management oversight.
The e-marketplace will be a catalogue-based marketplace for routine, low-to-medium-value goods and standard services that would allow procurement agencies to procure the same from pre-qualified suppliers using standard specifications, published prices, framework segments, and electronic purchase orders.
According to President Ali, “This, of course, would help small and medium-sized enterprises.”
“…and just like other systems around the world, we are looking to have maybe 25 to 30 per cent of procurement set aside for small and medium-sized enterprises,” he added.
Moreover, the Head of State noted that this new system will ensure greater transparency in public procurement.
“It’s gonna be available for the whole public. So, from end to end, anyone can go on the electronic system, any bidder, and see from the bidding all the way to the award of the contract, every aspect of the bidding process,” he remarked.
“You can go and see this contract was awarded to Mr X, and when you look at the system, you will see that Mr X got 20 outstanding works, so that is what the system allows; it allows full access to information…and that is critical for the transparency of the entire system,” he added.

Laws will be updated
President Ali further explained that the necessary laws will be updated to support the rollout of this e-procurement system.
“When we launch the digital platform…that will necessitate maybe some amendments in the legislation itself. Because when you launch the digital procurement system you also have to have that blacklisting system working because then you’ll have contractors that are not delivering on time or contractors that have a number of outstanding projects, all of which will form part of the evaluation,” he noted.
Just a few months ago, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had noted that contractors and engineers will be held more accountable under soon-to-be-updated procurement laws and contracts.
Nandlall said the Government will update the Public Procurement Act as well as bid documents and pre-contract documents that form part of the tendering process. Additionally, he said the Government will update the standard form contract in keeping with international standards.
“These contracts that are being used are not the most modern model contracts available. We have to review them to bring them in compliance with and in sync with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers models that are being used across the globe,” he had explained.
According to the Legal Affairs Minister, a key focus of the review will be strengthening contractual provisions to ensure that contractors and engineers are held more accountable for fulfilling their obligations.
“We will review the regime of remedies that flow when there is a breach, and we will strengthen the regime of remedies so as to offer to the State greater protection when there is breaches or non-compliance,” Nandlall had stated.
“Significantly, the review will also be focused on the role of the engineer or supervisor of these contracts. These engineers and/or supervisors are paid huge sums of money to monitor and evaluate the performance of the contract for and on behalf of the State… They are supposed to police the contracts, monitor and evaluate the contracts and ensure that when there are breaches, these breaches are reported and are remedied under the terms of the contract,” the Attorney General had noted, acknowledging that many times, this does not take place.
He noted that, “Unfortunately, invariably, these engineers and our supervisors tend to align their interests more with the contractor than the employer.”
“For example, instead of preventing and resisting attempts at variations in contracts that would inevitably result in an upward movement of the contract price, the engineers and our supervisors support the contractor’s request for an extension. Why? Well, I can’t say why, but the engineer and/or supervisor are paid based upon that increase. Their remuneration package is tied to a variation that necessarily increases the contract price, and perhaps that is an incentive to give support. We have to ensure that that is reviewed, that state of affairs that I just outlined, a state of affairs that seems to reward rather than penalise a contractor for a variation,” Nandlall had outlined.
He emphasised that the responsibility of the engineer/supervisor is to prevent such variations from taking place, but instead, “the evidence will disclose that, invariably, they stand in support. And one can’t discount that one of the reasons that may be influencing that posture is a financial one, because when the variation is granted, the supervisor’s contract or the engineer’s contract is also extended.”
“That must be looked at,” Nandlall had affirmed.
In the PPP/C’s manifesto, the party noted that it will continue to ensure that the public procurement system is fair, transparent, competitive, efficient, and promotes value for money.
“We will further democratise access to Government procurement opportunities, improve both the competitiveness and fairness of the system, facilitate deepening of capacity on the supply side, and improve value for money in Government procurement transactions,” the party outlined in its manifesto.

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Twenty-two of the Caribbean’s promising young female cricketers have been given an immediate opportunity to build on their performances in the recently concluded Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) steps up preparations for the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2027.
Two Guyanese, Danielle Manns and Allia Henry, have been selected for the camp.
The players have transitioned directly from the successful regional tournament into a two-week high-performance camp in Antigua, which began on August 17 and runs until August 29. The initiative is part of CWI’s deliberate approach to identifying, developing and preparing the next generation of West Indies women cricketers for the demands of international competition.

The Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship, which concluded on August 15, provided CWI’s High-Performance team with an opportunity to assess the region’s leading young talent in a competitive environment. Selection for the camp was based on a combination of on-field performances and technical assessments, age eligibility for the 2027 World Cup, tactical awareness, temperament and competitiveness, fitness and the overall balance and composition of the squad.
The programme will focus on technical, tactical, physical and mental development, while providing the players with greater exposure to the standards, intensity, and expectations associated with progressing to the international level.
CWI High-Performance Manager Dwain Gill said the immediate transition from regional competition into a high-performance environment was intentional and important to the players’ development.
“The Rising Stars Championship gave us a valuable opportunity to see these players compete, respond to pressure and demonstrate their potential in a regional environment. We did not want that assessment process to end with the tournament. Bringing the selected players directly into camp allows us to build on what we have seen, work more closely with them, and begin addressing the areas that will be critical to their progression. This is an important first step in building a group that can be competitive at the 2027 World Cup, while also developing players who can contribute to West Indies women’s cricket beyond the Under-19 level.”

The camp will also extend beyond on-field development, continuing CWI’s broader commitment to preparing young cricketers for the demands of high-performance sport and professional cricket. Educational and development sessions will address areas relevant to their personal and professional growth.
On the field, the players will work with several members of CWI’s high-performance coaching staff, led by Senior Women’s Assistant Coach Ryan Austin, alongside Shane Dowrich, who has been part of the West Indies Women’s recent assignments, including the ICC T20 World Cup in England and Wales, and West Indies Academy Head Coach Ramesh Subasinghe.
The camp participants are Eboni Brathwaite, Zaniyah Bruce, Sabriel Headley, Theanny Herbert Mayers and Jadaeya Holder of Barbados; Davehjah Brown and Brianna Plummer of Jamaica; CQuinya Dasent, Zara Skerritt, Leanga Warner and Aaliyah Weekes of the Leeward Islands; Kaela George and Jaeda Tyrell of the Windward Islands; Trinidad and Tobago’s Jessica Davis, Brianna Harricharan, Shriya Jairam, Sian Ramnarine, Samara Ramnath, Jannah Mohammed and Amrita Ramtahal; while Guyana is represented by Danielle Manns and Allia Henry.

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…confirms Guyana’s share of Stabroek Block production rises to nearly 40%

The country’s fifth floating, production, storage and offloading vessel, the Errea Wittu, is expected to arrive in Guyana this week and will push the country’s oil production beyond one million barrels per day by year-end.
This was announced on Tuesday by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a press conference at the Office of the President.
“Our fifth production vessel set sail from Singapore in early August 2026 and is expected to arrive off Guyana’s coast this week, with first oil targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026,” he noted.
The Errea Wittu is assigned to the Uaru development project in the Stabroek Block. Built by MODEC at a cost of US$12.7 billion, the vessel is designed to add approximately 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) to national production.
The new vessel will join the four FPSOs currently operating in the Stabroek Block: Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity and One Guyana, which together are producing approximately 900,000 to 920,000 barrels of oil per day.
President Ali emphasised that once operational, the new FPSO will “push national output above one million barrels a day for the first time”.
Uaru, ExxonMobil’s fifth offshore development in the Stabroek Block, targets more than 800 million barrels of recoverable oil.
Meanwhile, Whiptail, the sixth sanctioned project, is targeted for start-up in 2027, while Hammerhead, approved as the seventh development, with production expected around 2009.

40% of production
Meanwhile, the Head of State also clarified that Guyana’s share of Stabroek Block profit oil has increased from 12.5 per cent to 39.8 per cent, largely because the project’s cost bank was recovered earlier than initially anticipated. He explained that whereas as much as 75 barrels out of every 100 previously went toward cost recovery, today only about 20 barrels are allocated to costs.
“The production sharing formula has never changed. It remains exactly what was written in the 2016 agreement: royalty first, then up to 75 per cent of production can go to cost recovery; whatever is left is split evenly between Guyana and Stabroek coventurers,” he explained.
He further noted that while the US$55 billion expenditure was paid off, the cost bank is not saturated or entirely depleted.
“The 20 barrels today account for operating and other costs, which still form part of the cost bank. That which is left is called the ‘profit oil’, and is split evenly between Guyana and the companies. Guyana’s half is about 39.8 barrels out of every hundred. The companies’ matching 39.8 barrels is split three ways between the co-venturers,” he highlighted.

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– Tagore Memorial Secondary School student gains 26 Grade 1s, 1 Grade 2

Students from several secondary schools have recorded strong performances in the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), with Nitya Narine of Tagore Memorial Secondary School recording 26 Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass.
Narine secured passes in 27 CSEC subjects, placing her among the most outstanding performing students in the preliminary results released on Tuesday.
The preliminary results were announced by Education Minister Sonia Parag during a ceremony at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.
The results are subject to review, and the final results, including confirmation of who topped the country, will be announced subsequently.
Among the other most outstanding performing students at CSEC were Anushka Singh of Queen’s College, who recorded 25 Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass.
Shreya Ramnarine of Anna Regina Secondary School secured 22 Grade One passes, six Grade Two passes, and one Grade Three pass, while Joseph Daniel of The Bishops’ High School recorded 21 Grade One passes.
J’kell Whyte of Queen’s College secured 20 Grade One passes, six Grade Two passes, and one Grade Three pass. Feiaz Dhanny of Saraswati Vidya Niketan recorded 20 Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass.
Abhigyan Chatterdeo of Queen’s College recorded 19 Grade One passes, three Grade Two passes, and one Grade Four pass, while Ethan Thakurdin, also of Queen’s College, secured 19 Grade One passes and six Grade Two passes.
Michel Somwar of Tagore Memorial Secondary School recorded 18 Grade One passes and three Grade Two passes, while Zhijie Yang of Saraswati Vidya Niketan secured 18 Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass.

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination
At CAPE, several students also recorded notable results across multiple units.
David Sugrim of Queen’s College secured Grade One passes in 11 units and Grade Two passes in seven units.
Toreka Persaud and Mahesa Boodhoo, both of Queen’s College, each secured Grade One passes in nine units, while Savannah Bovell of the same school recorded eight Grade One passes.
Dave Chowtie of Queen’s College secured six Grade One passes and four Grade Two passes, while Annessa Hussain recorded six Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass.
Malique Lindore of Queen’s College secured six Grade One passes, five Grade Two passes, two Grade Three passes and three Grade Four passes.
Siddiqah Nizamudeen of Queen’s College secured six Grade One passes, while Maria Pertabsingh recorded six Grade One passes and two Grade Two passes.
Shanel Storm of Queen’s College secured six Grade One passes and one Grade Two pass. Affianne Kellman of St Stanislaus College recorded six Grade One passes, three Grade Two passes and one Grade Three pass.
Janee Greene of Mackenzie High School also secured six Grade One passes.
Addressing the students at Tuesday’s ceremony, Minister Parag congratulated them on their performances and acknowledged the support provided by parents, teachers and education officials.
“Please let us celebrate these students who have done outstandingly at this CSEC 2026. Congratulations to all of you; we’re so proud of you, absolutely proud of you,” Parag said.
She extended congratulations to students who received results and expressed appreciation to their parents, guardians, teachers, head teachers and education officials.
“We are proud of the progress reflected in these results, but our work does not end here,” the Minister said.
Parag said the Government would continue to strengthen schools, support teachers, expand opportunities and make investments aimed at ensuring children across Guyana have access to quality education.
“To the class of 2026, I wish you every success in the next chapter of your lives, and I look forward with great confidence to all that you will achieve and contribute to the future of our country,” she said.
The preliminary results provide an early indication of student performance, with the final results expected to confirm the national rankings and overall outcomes after the review process is completed.

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The preliminary 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results offer an encouraging indication that sustained intervention can produce measurable gains in one of the most persistent challenges facing Guyana’s education system, Mathematics.
Guyana’s CSEC Mathematics pass rate increased from 32 per cent in 2025 to 34.5 per cent in 2026. While the national figure remains below the desired level, the improvement is significant because Mathematics has historically presented difficulties for students across Guyana and the wider Caribbean. More importantly, the national increase has been accompanied by substantial gains at individual schools, demonstrating that targeted interventions can make a meaningful difference.
The performance of several schools deserves particular recognition. Belladrum Secondary moved from no passes to an 81.49 per cent pass rate, while Fort Wellington Secondary increased from five per cent to 82.15 per cent. Novar Secondary, Shivita Business College and Queen’s College recorded 100 per cent passes. Bartica Secondary improved by 57 percentage points, Rosignol Secondary by 35 points, Leguan Secondary by 28 points and Cummings Lodge Secondary by 25 points. South Ruimveldt also moved from eight per cent to 60 per cent.
Such results provide useful evidence for education policymakers, as improvement is not confined to schools traditionally associated with stronger academic performance. Significant gains in different parts of the country suggest that access to appropriate teaching support, additional instructional resources and structured intervention can alter outcomes.
The Education Ministry’s Mathematics Tents, virtual teaching arrangements and Digital School platform is part of this response. Seventeen virtual classes have connected experienced teachers with students nationally, including learners in hinterland and riverine communities. Such initiatives are particularly important in addressing disparities in access to specialised teaching.
The improvement also coincides with a significant development at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), where Mathematics has become part of a pilot modular approach under the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC).
The rationale behind modularisation merits serious consideration. The traditional examination model can result in students completing years of study without receiving formal recognition for competencies that have been acquired because the overall subject grade does not meet the required standard. CTEC seeks to recognise learning progressively while retaining the established syllabus and assessment standards.
The Mathematics pilot provides an important basis for evaluating the approach. More than 2500 candidates participated in Module One across 15 Caribbean territories and 42 centres, with 88 per cent achieving acceptable grades. CXC subsequently reported that 69,567 candidates earned the Module One credential, including more than 41,000 candidates whose learning could otherwise have gone unrecognised under the traditional assessment structure.
This does not mean that academic standards should be reduced. CXC has made clear that the full qualification still requires successful completion of all modules at the required standard. The value of modularisation instead lies in creating a more flexible route for demonstrating competence and allowing students to build on achievements progressively.
Competencies in areas such as pricing, discounts, interest, and statistical analysis have practical applications beyond the classroom. If employers understand and recognise these credentials, modular certification could strengthen the connection between secondary education, skills development and entry-level employment.
The regional Mathematics results reinforce the importance of this approach. CXC reported a four-percentage-point increase in the regional Mathematics pass rate, to 42 per cent in 2026. That improvement, while still leaving Mathematics behind several other major CSEC subjects, demonstrates that progress is possible.
The challenge now is to convert improvement into sustained advancement.
The national Mathematics Intervention Programme, which targets Grades 10 and 11 through extended instruction, learning resources, specialised instructors and broadcast lessons, provides an important foundation. Continued evaluation will be necessary to determine which measures are producing the strongest results and where additional support is required.
The 2026 examination results also point to areas requiring attention, as more than 32,000 registered CSEC candidates did not sit examinations, while concerns were raised over incomplete School-Based Assessments and an increase in examination irregularities. These issues have direct implications for educational outcomes and require sustained attention from schools, families and education authorities.
The gender gap in examination participation also warrants closer examination, with females accounting for 59 per cent of CSEC candidates and 62 per cent of CAPE candidates. Understanding why participation becomes increasingly unequal as students progress through the education system should form part of future policy analysis.
Nevertheless, the Mathematics results provide a reason for measured optimism. The progress recorded by individual schools, the national improvement, the regional increase and the early success of modular assessment collectively demonstrate that educational challenges are not immovable.

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President Irfaan Ali went to New Amsterdam to get citizens’ views on the modernisation and improvement of New Amsterdam. It was the President and his Government in a mutual sharing of ideas with citizens for their town. Suddenly, the Mayor and his sidekicks said they had their own plan for New Amsterdam. But I am yet to find a citizen in New Amsterdam who ever heard of the plan, other than the announcement soon after the President had his consultation with the people, that the Mayor and Town Council had one.
If there is a plan, the Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam never consulted with anyone in the town. It is, therefore, audacity, arrogance, and chutzpah for the Mayor to chide President Ali for not consulting with him when he and his colleagues in the Town Council absolutely ignored their own citizens. The President crafted a plan with the people; the Mayor and his colleagues concocted a secret plan.
Two weeks ago, President Irfaan Ali conducted an open consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders in New Amsterdam on the concept of a model community. The Government had indicated that several towns, villages and communities in each region will be in the first phase of a rollout of model communities around the country.
President Irfaan Ali, during consultation with New Amsterdam citizens, unveiled a sweeping modernisation blueprint for New Amsterdam at Berbice High School in Region Six, engaging directly with residents, business owners, social activists and other local stakeholders regarding modernisation and infrastructure upgrades. This includes, but is not limited to, a proposal for turning the old New Amsterdam Stelling into a modern boardwalk with restaurants and entertainment to support tourism and the orange economy; a remodelled municipal market, a dedicated vendors’ hub, upgraded internal drainage, new mechanical pumps, and improved road networks; and neighbourhood “health boxes” for basic medical checks linked to local clinics, alongside green spaces, parks, and traffic-relief reserves.
The Mayor and Councillors from the PNC in the Town Council of New Amsterdam were MIA (missing in action). They insisted they were not invited. But a public invitation was published for days. As chief citizens, they had an obligation to be present. Even at this time, I am hopeful that the Mayor and the town council will do the constructive thing of inviting the President or the Minister of Local Government to engage them in the plans for New Amsterdam.
But being constructive and doing what is beneficial to the town’s citizens are not priorities for the Mayor and the PNC-led APNU Councillors. In fact, the Mayor wasted no time in displaying the same obstructionist posture that all PNC-led councils have done in the past – opposing for opposing sake, showing loyalty to the PNC at the expense of the town and the people of New Amsterdam. Last week, the Mayor of New Amsterdam held a media conference in which he, predictably, rejected the central Government’s plan for New Amsterdam. After deeming the plan a “far-fetched” ideology and unachievable, the Mayor declared that New Amsterdam is his town and he rejects the President and the Government encroaching on his territory (my summary of what he stated).
This is Déjà vu. Another Mayor said the same when, about 2002, President Bharrat Jagdeo sent me to Anjoy’s Avenue to help the community with their regularisation, transforming mud dams into asphalt or concrete roads and bringing potable water and electricity to the area. It was a massive undertaking for one of the biggest squatting areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. The PNC was responsible for people in Angoy’s living under substandard conditions in what was part of New Amsterdam, the second main town in Guyana.
After meeting with residents and community activists, many of whom were PNC diehards, we crafted a plan. The then-Mayor’s response was, “Who is Ramsammy to come into my town and talk about development?” He swore that under his leadership he would not permit the then Bharrat Jagdeo-led Government to do anything without his permission in his town. He went as far as to say that Bharrat Jagdeo should “butt out of his town”. The same response is being made 25 years later by another PNC Mayor of this great town.
Almost all streets in the town have been reconstructed and rehabilitated by the PPP Government. Drainage is being improved by the PPP Government. The Esplanade is being transformed. Recreation facilities are being upgraded, among other initiatives over the last several years. The Mayor and Town Council have done nothing. Not only have they done nothing to improve the town, they consistently obstruct the PPP central Government’s efforts to improve the town. Just as they have done for more than six decades, the PNC-led town council always stands between a PPP central Government and the development of the town.
Conversely, they have always stood with a PNC-led central Government in doing nothing for the town. The most recent example of the Mayor and town council standing with a PNC-led central Government in doing nothing was between 2015 and 2020. David Granger once promised New Amsterdam that it would be the focal point for development in Regions Five and Six. But what did they deliver, other than wild promises? In 2018, the PNC-dominated Town Council raised property taxes by 100 per cent, at a time when New Amsterdam saw an almost 50 per cent decrease in business because of the 2016 closure of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate. Not a single street, not one improvement in the five years. Angoy’s was abandoned by both Granger and his PNC-led town council.
The people of New Amsterdam expect that the Mayor and his PNC colleagues collaborate with President Ali and his Government in modernising New Amsterdam. Anything other than cooperation is total betrayal of the citizens of New Amsterdam. Unfortunately, working against the interest of the town and her citizens is predictable for the Mayor.

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