The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) officially launched the Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament on Monday, August 10, at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo, a missive from the body indicated.
The tournament was launched by ECB President Deleep Singh in the presence of players, coaches, and Board members.
The competition brings together Under-13 players drawn from cricket academies across Pomeroon, North Essequibo, South Essequibo, Wakenaam, Leguan, East Bank Essequibo and Bartica, providing an important developmental platform for 56 young cricketers.
The 35-over competition comprises four teams competing in seven matches, including the final. Matches will be played at the Reliance Community Ground, Affiance No. 1 Ground, and Joe Jagmohan Ground. The two leading teams will contest the championship final on Thursday at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court.
Young cricketers at the launch of the Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament
During his address, President Singh announced that the tournament will become an annual championship, giving Under-13 players across the county an opportunity to compete for the title each year.
He also reiterated that the South Essequibo Academy will be renamed in honour of the late Coach Forbes Daniels, in recognition of his immense contribution to the growth and development of cricket in Essequibo over several decades.
The tournament was established to provide young academy players with meaningful competitive match experience while strengthening their preparation for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Under-13 Inter-County Tournament.
Throughout the competition, players will have the opportunity to test their abilities against others within their age group, further develop their technical and tactical skills, build friendships with players from other academies, and gain valuable experience in a structured competitive environment.
The tournament also places emphasis on the players’ personal growth and development both on and off the field, with guidance being provided by competent and qualified coaches throughout the competition.
The Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament is an initiative of the Essequibo Cricket Board and assistance from the Guyana Cricket Board, with additional support and contributions from several individuals committed to the advancement of youth cricket in Essequibo.
Heads of Judiciary from across the Caribbean have reaffirmed their confidence in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), while expressing grave concern over the disclosure of what appear to be confidential internal communications among the Court’s judges.
The Heads of Judiciary of Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement on Tuesday after taking note of recent public reports concerning internal correspondence and matters relating to the administration and functioning of the CCJ.
The judicial leaders said they would not comment on the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual judges, nor on matters arising from the Court’s internal deliberative or administrative processes.
However, they said they were concerned about the breach of confidentiality that resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications.
The Heads of Judiciary emphasised the importance of the CCJ within the region’s judicial architecture, noting that for countries which have acceded to its appellate jurisdiction, the Court serves as the final court of appeal.
For most Caribbean Community (Caricom) states, the CCJ also exercises original jurisdiction in matters involving the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs regional integration and the Caricom Single Market and Economy.
They said the Court’s authority, like that of all courts, depends on public confidence in the independence, impartiality, integrity and competence of its judges.
“We do not consider it appropriate to comment upon the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual judges, nor upon matters arising within the internal deliberative or administrative processes of the Court,” the judicial heads said.
They nevertheless stressed that confidentiality within judicial institutions must be protected.
The statement comes one day after the Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana also raised concerns over reports of leaked internal correspondence among CCJ judges.
In a statement dated August 10, the Bar Council said the disclosure of confidential communications could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.
The Council said robust discussions among judges are expected as part of the judicial process, but argued that any unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence would constitute a serious breach of confidence.
It said it was not taking a position on the substance of the matters contained in the leaked communications.
The Bar Council also addressed the role of the CCJ President, saying the Court’s leader should be given sufficient latitude to develop and implement a vision for the institution and establish principles governing its administration, while exercising that leadership in accordance with the CCJ’s Code of Judicial Conduct.
Confidence in CCJ
The regional Heads of Judiciary, meanwhile, reaffirmed their confidence in the CCJ as a “vital regional judicial institution” and in the commitment of its judges to the principles underpinning the administration of justice across the Caribbean.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to the independence of regional judiciaries, the institutional integrity of the CCJ and the importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the courts.
Housing Minister Collin Croal’s warning to enforcement officers and rangers that violations in communities must be identified and addressed immediately deserves firm support. The directive goes to the heart of a persistent weakness in public administration: enforcement that too often becomes reactive rather than preventive.
Effective enforcement requires vigilance, early intervention, and consistent action to prevent unlawful or hazardous activities from becoming established.
Croal’s concern that officers can enter communities, observe violations, and fail to report or act on them immediately raises an important question about the effectiveness of existing enforcement mechanisms. If officers and rangers are assigned to monitor specific areas, there must be clear expectations that emerging breaches will be identified, documented, and addressed without waiting for complaints, referrals, or instructions from the central office.
The issue of new squatting is particularly significant, as the Government has repeatedly made clear that new squatting will not be recognised. Yet new settlements continue to emerge. Such developments do not generally materialise overnight. The process of occupying land, clearing areas, constructing structures, and establishing communities presents opportunities for detection and intervention.
“If they go into the areas and they are not seeing these matters, then we have a problem,” Minister Croal stated.
That observation should not be limited to squatting, as the same principle applies to the obstruction of drains, the improper placement of construction materials and other items on roadways, and activities that interfere with public spaces or create hazards for residents.
Too often, enforcement agencies become active only after a situation has escalated, generated public complaints, or become sufficiently serious to demand attention. By that stage, intervention can be considerably more difficult. Structures may already have been erected, drains may have been blocked for extended periods, roadways may have become obstructed, and unlawful practices may have gained a degree of acceptance.
Such a pattern cannot be regarded as effective enforcement.
The responsibility therefore cannot rest solely with central authorities. Regional enforcement teams must have the authority, capacity, and expectation to act within their assigned jurisdictions. Dependence on the central office for every matter can create unnecessary delays and undermine the very purpose of having enforcement personnel deployed in communities.
Croal’s call for stronger collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders is equally important. Local knowledge can help identify emerging violations before they become entrenched. However, community reporting should complement enforcement, not replace the responsibility of officers whose duties require regular monitoring and inspection.
The proposed digital reporting platform is a practical step towards improving accountability. The ability to immediately upload field reports, photographs and other evidence would allow senior management to have direct access to information from the ground. More importantly, it could reduce the delays associated with traditional reporting processes and provide a clearer record of what was observed, when it was reported, and what action followed.
The wider principle has already been articulated by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who previously warned that enforcement agencies must “pull their socks up” or face consequences. Nandlall correctly pointed out that the existence of laws means little if the agencies responsible for enforcing them fail to discharge their statutory obligations.
The warning that consequences must apply not only to persons who violate the law, but also to agencies or officials who neglect their responsibilities is especially important. Accountability cannot be one-sided. Where enforcement personnel repeatedly encounter violations and fail to report or address them, there must be mechanisms to determine why action was not taken and who was responsible.
Taxpayers fund the institutions responsible for maintaining order, protecting public spaces, and enforcing the law. There must therefore be an expectation of performance, responsiveness, and accountability.
The enforcement warning should mark a shift towards a culture in which violations are detected early, reported promptly, and addressed decisively.
Proactive enforcement is ultimately more effective than waiting for problems to become crises. Enforcement must begin when a violation emerges, not when it becomes impossible to ignore.
Guyana’s Under-19 Women suffered their second consecutive defeat in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship yesterday, going down by 21 runs to Jamaica at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.
Jamaica, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted 103 before being dismissed in 19.4 overs. Sashane Ricketts top-scored with 22 from 31 balls, while Shamara Hall retired out for 13 from 22 deliveries.
Guyana’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Christina Jackson, Danellie Manns and Shenesa Thomas claiming two wickets apiece.
In reply, Guyana struggled against the Jamaican attack and were bowled out for 82 in 17.2 overs. Akeela Stephen offered some resistance with 18 from 16 balls, including three fours.
Guyana’s under-19 women suffered another defeat to Jamaica on Tuesday (file photo)
Neveah Webley led Jamaica’s bowling effort with three for 19, while Adanya Baugh and Ricketts claimed two wickets each.
The result leaves Guyana still searching for their first victory in the championship, following an opening-round washout and successive defeats.
At the same venue, Barbados Under-19 Women produced one of the outstanding batting displays of the tournament, crushing Leeward Islands Under-19 Women by 90 runs.
Opener Eboni Brathwaite blasted a remarkable 135 from just 76 balls, including 17 fours and seven sixes, as Barbados raced to 206 for two from their 20 overs. Zaniyah Bruce added 20 from 18 balls.
Centurion Eboni Brathwaite
Leeward Islands managed 116 for three from their 20 overs, with Zara Skerritt making 37 from 55 balls and Innaka Wilson contributing 26 from 20.
At the Liberta Sports Club, Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 Women completed a commanding 10-wicket victory over the Windward Islands.
Windward Islands were bowled out for just 52 in 19.2 overs, with Jaeda Tyrell making 16 and Kaela George 12. Samara Ramnath was the chief destroyer with four for 10, while Brianna Harricharan took two for nine.
Trinidad and Tobago needed only 6.3 overs to reach 53 without loss, with Ramnath unbeaten on 27 from 22 balls and Amrita Ramtahal 18 from 18.
The fourth round continues today, with the Leeward Islands facing Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica meeting Barbados from 09:00h. Guyana will then take on the Windward Islands from 14:30h, hoping to finally get their campaign off the mark.
…both countries share common interests in fighting organised crime, drug trafficking – Landau
…united against crime, drug trafficking
The United States (US) is set to provide US$2 million to Guyana to strengthen air domain awareness and unmanned aerial system capabilities, as Georgetown and Washington deepen security cooperation, with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying the two countries share common interests in combating organised crime and drug trafficking.
President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Tuesday
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday witnessed the signing of an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to strengthen the existing Security Cooperation MoU between Guyana and the US.
The agreement was signed at the Office of the President by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and Landau, who is in Guyana as part of a regional visit to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana from August 9 to 12.
According to the US Embassy in Guyana, the US$2 million initiative will support the development of Guyana’s capacity for air domain awareness and unmanned aerial systems.
In an interview on Tuesday evening, Landau said the security cooperation was driven by shared concerns over organised crime and drug trafficking.
“We have many common interests in fighting organised crime and stopping drug flows in this region,” Landau said.
He said the US and Guyana face similar security threats from organised criminal groups, making cooperation between the two countries important.
“This is a tricky neighbourhood, and the United States faces the same security threats from these organised criminal groups as does Guyana, and so it’s natural for us to want to work together,” he said.
Landau said the countries want to ensure that criminal groups and drug smugglers do not establish themselves in Guyana.
The latest agreement builds on a series of US-Guyana security initiatives. In March 2025, the two countries signed the original Security Cooperation MoU, establishing a framework for expanded collaboration.
In March 2026, during a visit by then-US Special Envoy Kristi Noem, Guyana and the US announced plans to collaborate on drone monitoring to strengthen surveillance of Guyana’s airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone.
In July 2026, the Guyana Defence Force and the Florida National Guard held a Subject Matter Expert Exchange focused on operational drone concepts, further advancing technical cooperation in the area.
Economic, infrastructure
Landau said the security agreement was one of two main areas discussed during his meeting with President Ali, the other being economic cooperation.
“I think the two areas that we focused on today [Tuesday] with President Ali are the economic area,” he said, adding that Guyana needs infrastructure to support further economic growth.
He pointed to Guyana’s energy resources and said the US wants to work with the country to leverage those resources for broader economic development.
“We want to see ports that allow goods to come in, roads that allow those goods to be transported throughout the country and the region,” Landau said.
He also identified housing and other infrastructure as areas where the two countries could cooperate.
Landau’s visit comes against the backdrop of growing US-Guyana economic engagement, including Washington’s recent announcement of a US$150 million investment linked to Guyana’s bauxite industry.
The investment includes an US$85.5 million equity contribution through the US Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programme, alongside US$64.5 million in private-sector co-investment.
The funds are expected to support the acquisition and expansion of the First Bauxite mine in Guyana, the development of calcination facilities and a follow-on brown-fused alumina facility in the US.
Washington has described the project as part of efforts to establish a secure, vertically integrated supply chain for refractory-grade bauxite, a material used in defence and industrial applications.
Landau’s visit also follows discussions last month in Washington between US officials and a Guyanese Government delegation led by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh. Those discussions focused on opportunities for US Private Sector investment in Guyana, including mining, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and housing.
“Booming” economy
During Tuesday evening’s interview, Landau described Guyana’s economy as “booming”, and said he believed the country was the fastest-growing in the world.
He said the US wanted to be part of Guyana’s future development and prosperity, while noting that discussions with President Ali covered projects and development across the country, including Berbice, Lethem and the Demerara region.
“I think together we can build stronger, safer, and more prosperous countries,” Landau said.
He also described Guyana as a key strategic partner for the US, pointing to its leadership role in CARICOM and the countries’ cooperation on several areas of mutual interest.
“We see Guyana as a key strategic partner,” Landau said, adding that Washington was eager to partner with Guyana and hoped to be part of the country’s “success story”.
Also present for Tuesday’s signing were US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, Senior Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Roopchand-Edwards.
Your Eyewitness sees a striking historical irony unfolding in Ole Mudland!! For much of our post-independence history, we’ve struggled desperately to woo foreign investors – and now, the world’s last-standing great power has sent its Deputy Secretary of State to CONCRETISE, not merely encouraging American companies to invest – but to invest itself!! Imagine that!!
Oil might’ve given us geopolitical relevance, but bauxite and critical minerals are giving it strategic importance!! The language out of Washington is revealing. The State Department says Landau is gonna expand economic cooperation, particularly in energy and critical minerals. That combination is critical!! We got what the US increasingly wants: abundant energy, bauxite and other mineral resources, a politically stable investment environment, and a geographical position outside the major theatres of conflict that threaten global supply chains!!
And Washington ain’t just talking about Guyana’s resources – it’s putting the American Govt’s money behind them!! Only days before Landau’s visit, the US Department of WAR announced an US$85.5 million equity investment in Strategic Bauxite USA to secure refractory-grade bauxite supplies and expand the First Bauxite operation at Bonasika!! For centuries, American interest in Latin American resources was expressed through private corporations. Now, the American Government itself is becoming an economic participant in strategic-resource projects!!
Washington’s concern is access to and processing of our top-notch refractory-grade material required by strategically important industries. The US$85.5 million commitment – on top of the private sector’s US$65M – is therefore best understood as part of America’s broader attempt to reduce dependence upon China-controlled mineral supply chains. Up to now, we’ve been interpreting every American conversation through the prism of ExxonMobil and the Stabroek oil discoveries – but Washington’s interest is clearly much broader!!
Our oil production’s already transformed our geopolitical significance. The Yanks now appear interested in building a much wider economic relationship encompassing oil and gas, electricity, infrastructure, mining, logistics, and potentially new technologies!! They’re simultaneously deepening their economic engagement with T&T and have announced their billion-dollar investment to reopen their Pt Lisas Steel plant!!
We should also use Laundau’s visit to dissuade the Yanks from processing the RASC bauxite in the US – but as much as is practical, do that right here!! After all, we’ve got the energy to not only push Cerebrus Data Centers, but also alumina and ceramics plants, etc!!
If American strategic interest helps us establish modern bauxite processing, refining, and downstream industries; develop roads, ports, and electricity; transfer technology; train Guyanese engineers and technicians; and create competitive local enterprises – then the relationship can become transformational!!
So, while we’ve gotta understand from where the American breeze is blowing, this doesn’t mean everyone else gets “shocked out”!! We have gotta simultaneously maintain constructive relationships with Europe, India, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Gulf states!!
And where appropriate, China!!
…a fulcrum
Washington doesn’t have to mention China in every conversation for us to know the Chink factor’s unavoidable!! Critical minerals are of strategic importance, and the Yanks have openly expressed concerns about Chinese control of several minerals!! As such, we offer Washington a plum prize – a source of strategic raw materials located in a friendly country within the Western Hemisphere and increasingly connected to American capital!!
So, it would be foolish not to welcome American investment!! But our objective can’t be just to replace Chinese or other foreign purchasers of Guyanese commodities with American purchasers!! Our goal has gotta be value-added development to avoid exchanging one form of dependency for another!!
But why should the Yanks listen to us?? And the answer is we got bargaining power BEYOND oil and minerals!! We got strategic geographic positionality on the top of South America that makes us particularly valuable!!
Your Eyewitness has long called for a military base in Essequibo to which the yanks can have access!!
…free of Venezuela’s threat
Our relationship with the US has always been affected by Venezuela’s border dispute. But our emergence as a major energy and minerals producer – and military ally – changes the equation!!
Washington now gets a stake in our autonomy!!
…suggests Govt put a voucher system to support vulnerable groups
Days after President Dr Irfaan Ali expressed disappointment with the domestic aviation sector for failing to meaningfully reduce airfares, operators on Tuesday issued a statement defending the current prices, noting that the costs are driven by a range of factors, including fuel, aircraft maintenance, insurance, and the expense of employing skilled personnel.
Last week Wednesday, President Ali said, “We are very disappointed in the aviation sector because we have not been able to get the corresponding returns on the investments that we are making.”
However, the Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) said the domestic airfares are driven by the actual costs of providing safe and reliable air transportation, including aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance, spare parts, insurance, financing, regulatory compliance, and the cost of skilled personnel.
In fact, the association noted that the domestic aviation market is highly competitive, with several private operators competing daily for passengers and cargo. As a result, it said there is little difference between the prices of the competing airlines.
The association explained that “the comparison between the prices charged by the domestic aviation operators for similar journeys in the Caribbean clearly shows that our prices are below those charged in the Caribbean and shows that our domestic operators are not profiteering. It is important to recognise, too, that our domestic operators fly in vastly more challenging conditions than those in the Caribbean.”
The local operators also highlighted that they have spent decades investing in aircraft, infrastructure, training, employment, and safety. They explained that modern aircraft suitable for Guyana’s operations are expensive.
“For instance, the capital repayment for a Cessna Caravan is over US$40,000 per month, or about US$700 per flight hour, and these costs are regardless of whether the aircraft is parked or flying. A Technam P2012 Traveller costs approximately US$3.2 million, while a Cessna Caravan costs approximately US$3.8 million, and the HAL 228 approximately US$10 million,” the AOAG highlighted.
They noted too that aviation insurance premiums are generally some 300 per cent higher in Guyana than for comparable operations in the United States and are amongst the highest in the Caribbean region. They said this because insurance companies assess Guyana as a high operational risk, flying in conditions of remote aerodromes, a tropical environment, limited emergency infrastructure and landing and take-off on short unpaved runways.
Notwithstanding, the operators said they acknowledge and appreciate the Government’s substantial investment in continuously upgrading hinterland aerodromes across Guyana, which have significantly improved safety, reliability and operational efficiency, but “our aircraft must still operate on laterite runways and gravel strips in the remote mining and village aerodromes, requiring higher maintenance costs than, for instance, operating in the Caribbean and the USA.”
The operators said they remain committed to finding practical solutions that reduce transportation costs without undermining the safety and long-term sustainability of the industry.
They also remain willing to participate in an independent review of the economics of domestic aviation so that future policy decisions can be guided by objective data and a shared understanding of the industry’s operating realities.
Vouchers
Moreover, while acknowledging the burdens the current airfares have on vulnerable groups, the association revealed that it had suggested to the Government the implementation of vouchers to support schoolchildren, medical referrals, pensioners, and low-income residents of hinterland villages.
The association said this approach would provide direct assistance to those who need it most while preserving competition and encouraging continued private investment.
Earlier this year, nearly all the domestic airlines had announced a reduction in the rates for flights to locations with new airstrips.
However, the local operators subsequently increased their airfares back in April after aviation fuel prices skyrocketed in the global market due to the Middle East conflict.
The AOAG explained that over the past several months, they have had numerous and constructive meetings with the Government, where the industry’s cost structure was examined in considerable detail.
Back in November 2025, President Ali had pointed out that the local aviation sector is financially capable of lowering domestic air transport fares to hinterland locations by as much as 15 per cent.
Commercial arm
During the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference last year, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the Government was contemplating investing in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in order to compete with domestic airlines that continue to exploit consumers.
The VP had also noted that sometimes, there are middlemen who would charter flights from airlines and charge even higher prices – another issue that needs to be addressed.
Nevertheless, the AOAG emphasised that the domestic aviation industry has always regarded itself as a partner in Guyana’s national development.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Government to ensure that the people of Guyana continue to benefit from safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable air transportation,” the association noted.
Let it be pellucidly clear – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) made a unanimous ruling dismissing the appeal brought by Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed, who alleged that the Guyanese courts were wrong to declare that bias did not affect extradition proceedings. None of the CCJ Judges dissented with the ruling. The present CCJ email controversy does not change the fact that the CCJ unanimously dismissed Azruddin’s appeal.
The orchestrated effort in the last few days to create a hype that the Guyana Government, miraculously, somehow influenced the CCJ is nothing but a desperate, wicked conspiracy to support the false allegations that the extradition proceedings are part of an Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo-led political persecution of the Mohameds.
The unrestrained freedom with which the Mohameds have attacked both the CCJ and the local courts, questioning their integrity and fairness, demands our attention and our voice. It is commendable, therefore, that the Guyana Bar Association issued a statement cautioning about normalising leaks of communication that are intended to be confidential business among the Judges of the CCJ.
Azruddin Mohamed has always patterned his behaviour and strategies after famous Latin American drug lords, such as Pablo Escobar and El Chapo. Very much like them, he has invoked claims of political persecution, and, just like these drug lords in Colombia, Mexico, and other places, he has attacked the fairness of the courts to avoid extradition and jail. Just like the drug lords attacked the integrity and fairness of the ICC, he now attacks the integrity of the CCJ. Like Latin American drug lords, Azruddin Mohamed freely and massively finances public relations campaigns to promote claims of bias and political persecution to delay legal actions, and buy public sympathy. Just like these drug lords, he portrays himself as a victim of corrupt Governments and courts.
Leaked emails where the President of the CCJ panel is alleged to act in a dictatorial manner in administering the court are part of the conspiracy to bring disrepute to the CCJ and to question its integrity and fairness. Importantly, nothing in the leaked emails in the CCJ thread indicated any difference between the Judges in the final ruling on the main appealed matter. But the email leaks are being used in Guyana by Azruddin Mohamed and his sycophants to maximally question the integrity and fairness of the court.
It is no coincidence that soon after the CCJ dismissed the appeal brought by the Mohameds in their attempt to stymie the extradition proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court, there has been a coordinated massive political attack against the CCJ. Our view is that there is a centrally directed effort by players politically directed to question the CCJ’s integrity and fairness.
The playbook has been widely predicted. The integrity and fairness of the CCJ were bound to become the newest battlefield in the Mohameds’ desperate attempt to further stall their extradition. It was always the plan by the Mohameds to frame their sanctions and criminal charges for money laundering and gold smuggling by the US Government as political persecution. It is their only defence against a mountain of evidence behind the criminal charges. The CCJ is collateral damage in a desperate effort to avoid facing the American courts.
To be clear, President Irfaan Ali and his Government have nothing to do with the sanctions and criminal charges brought by the Government of the United States. The sanctions and the criminal charges against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were a result of an investigation by Government authorities in America. The investigation was started long before Dr Irfaan Ali became President; long before he was even selected as the PPP Presidential Candidate. The sanctions against the Mohameds occurred before the re-election of President Irfaan Ali. The indictment and charges were filed by the US Government, and it is the US Government that requested the extradition of the Mohameds.
Once the courts determined that the extradition request met the provisions of the treaty, President Ali had no say in the matter. The extradition treaty between Guyana and the US existed long before the Irfaan Ali-led Government came into place, and long before the Mohameds became politicians. The extradition proceedings before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman are not intended to establish guilt or innocence. That would be done by an American court in Miami, before an American Judge, and with an American prosecutor.
These are hard, cold facts. Political persecution that the Mohameds and their mostly paid defenders have been aggressively pushing is merely a desperate ploy to find some way of avoiding criminal persecution in the US. One would think that if the Mohameds truly believed that the Government of Guyana controls and influences rulings of the Guyanese courts and the CCJ, they would be eager to face the charges in the US. Or is it that they know that the evidence against them is overwhelming? We must not forget that the Mohameds know of some of the evidence because they were confronted by the FBI in a meeting the FBI arranged in Barbados.
The leaked emails coming out almost immediately after the CCJ’s Mohameds’ ruling raise the question of motivation and who leaked the emails. We perhaps will never know if the Mohameds were involved with something nefarious in the leaked CCJ emails. This is especially so since we know that the Mohameds have used their almost unlimited resources to buy favours and votes. Whether they have the ability to reach into the belly of the CCJ is another matter. But enquiring minds cannot avoid the temptation of pondering whether their capacity to buy favours has anything to do with the leaked CCJ emails. We have no evidence that the Mohameds somehow have anything to do with leaked emails. But the coincidence is too pregnant with possibilities.
Two sisters, ages 26 and 31, were reportedly injured following a shooting incident on Monday at West Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Police stated that the two sisters were seated along West Front Road when an altercation ensued between them and a 48-year-old security guard of Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. During the altercation, the security officer reportedly discharged several rounds from a firearm that was in his possession, thus resulting in the 26-year-old woman receiving gunshot injuries to her left ankle and upper left leg, while the 31-year-old woman received gunshot injuries to her right foot and left leg. Both women were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were treated and admitted in stable condition.
The suspect, however, was subsequently contacted at a private hospital, where he was receiving medical attention for an injury he also received during the fight. Meanwhile, the firearm, which was identified as a licensed Glock 19 pistol, for which the security officer is the licensed firearm holder, was lodged along with two magazines containing a total of 27 live 9mm rounds of ammunition. Police confirm that one spent shell was also recovered at the scene. CCTV cameras were seen in the area and will be reviewed as investigations continue.
Long before Oliver Mair became Consul General, he was a young university graduate faced with a career decision his father was not particularly happy about.
Mair had a promising job at Jamaica Broilers when an opportunity arose to become a flight attendant with Air Jamaica. He had never seriously considered the job before, but the prospect of travelling the world — and the benefits that came with working for Jamaica’s national airline — proved difficult to resist.
His decision would begin a journey of more than nine years with the Lovebird, during which Mair became one of Air Jamaica’s earliest male flight attendants and went on to make history as the airline’s first male purser and first male supervisor.
In this episode of Air Jamaica Chronicles, Mair looks back at the decision that changed the course of his career and shares some of his most treasured memories of an airline he credits with teaching him lessons about people, service and Jamaica that remain with him today.
A Love of Travel Leads to Air Jamaica
Mair’s fascination with Air Jamaica began before his professional career.
He recalls taking an early family trip that included Orlando, Miami and Cayman. Returning through the airport left the young Mair thinking about how much he wanted to travel and, in his mind, there was an obvious way to make that happen: work for Air Jamaica.
His first summer job would eventually be with the airline in customer service, checking in passengers, meeting arriving flights and assisting unaccompanied minors.
Even then, there were signs of the fun and camaraderie he would later associate with Air Jamaica. Mair remembers playing dominoes with colleagues during breaks while listening for arriving flights — and once having to sprint through the airport after realising he was late to meet one.
By the time he left high school, he already knew Air Jamaica was somewhere he wanted to work.
After graduating from the University of the West Indies, however, Mair found himself on a different path, working as an import and export supervisor at Jamaica Broilers. When a former Air Jamaica colleague encouraged him to apply to become a flight attendant, his father was firmly against leaving what he considered a “good job.”
Mair applied anyway.
His father eventually came around — helped considerably by discovering that Air Jamaica’s benefits allowed parents to travel for free. It would ultimately allow Mair’s father, who had always wanted to see the world, to travel extensively.
Making History at the Lovebird
When Mair joined Air Jamaica’s cabin crew, male flight attendants were still relatively new to the airline. He recalls that there had been one male flight attendant before his cohort, with Mair joining as part of a group of approximately four men.
His career quickly progressed.
Mair became Air Jamaica’s first male purser and later its first male supervisor. He also participated in a management trainee programme that exposed him to human resources, auditing, marketing and other areas of the airline before eventually becoming regional marketing manager.
For Mair, Air Jamaica became far more than the opportunity to travel that had first attracted him. It was also where much of his professional development took place.
Oliver Mair with Butch Stewart
Memories From Life at Air Jamaica
More than the titles and promotions, however, it is the people and experiences that dominate Mair’s memories of the Lovebird.
Among his favourites is an Air Jamaica staff production in which he took on the role of then-chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart — complete with a padded belly, entourage and a humorous song — while Stewart himself sat in the audience.
“Everybody was nervous for me,” Mair recalls of performing the impersonation in front of his boss.
His years in the air also brought him into contact with well-known passengers, including dancehall star Patra, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and attorney Johnnie Cochran.
One particularly memorable assignment unexpectedly placed him among Jamaicans travelling to support the Reggae Boyz during the country’s historic journey towards qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Mair had not even realised the significance of the flight when he selected it, but soon found himself outfitted with a Jamaica shirt, flag and match ticket.
Captain Horace Burrell was among those travelling, and Mair remembers the late Jamaica Football Federation president confidently telling him that Jamaica would qualify for the World Cup.
Then there were Air Jamaica’s famous in-flight fashion shows.
Mair served as an emcee for the shows on London flights, introducing flight attendants as they modelled through the cabin at 35,000 feet. The presentations became memorable enough to attract television coverage.
As Mair and host Xavier Murphy joke during the conversation, he had effectively “gone viral” before social media.
The Lessons in Service He Carried Beyond Air Jamaica
Looking back, Mair sees another dimension to his years with the airline.
He worked at Air Jamaica during a period of expansion under Butch Stewart, when the carrier was opening routes across the Caribbean, United States and South America. Those routes did more than transport passengers; they helped maintain connections between Jamaica and its growing communities overseas.
Mair recalls being told years later that Air Jamaica employees like him had helped to “build the diaspora.” It was a comment that made him reconsider just how closely his airline career was connected to the diplomatic work he would later undertake.
The lessons extended beyond geography.
Air Jamaica, he says, taught him the value of service — and, importantly, that serving someone should not be confused with being subservient.
“It is an honour to serve people,” Mair says, explaining that whether he is dealing with a CEO or visiting Jamaican farm workers, the principle remains the same: treat people with respect, love and dignity.
Decades later, Jamaicans still approach him and remember him from his Air Jamaica days — a reminder of how deeply the airline and its employees became woven into the diaspora experience.
An Iconic Part of Jamaica
Asked what he hopes people 50 years from now will remember when they see Air Jamaica’s famous Lovebird, Mair places the airline in distinguished company.
For him, Air Jamaica belongs alongside Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Miss Lou — Jamaican names and symbols recognised far beyond the island’s shores.
He describes the national carrier as “an iconic part of our history and culture which helped to put Jamaica on the map.”
Years after Air Jamaica ceased operations, the friendships, memories and sense of pride remain. So too does Mair’s belief that Jamaicans have not seen the last of their national airline.
For someone whose journey from young traveller to flight attendant, airline executive and eventually diplomat was profoundly shaped by the Lovebird, the connection remains deeply personal.
Watch the full interview with Oliver Mair on our YouTube channel, and explore previous episodes of Air Jamaica Chronicles here.
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