Blog

With the foundation set for the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) to be operationalised, President Dr Irfaan Ali has touted a number of proposals that residents of Port Mourant in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) can capitalise on. Addressing residents during a public consultation on the ‘Model Village’ Initiative on Saturday, the Head of State recognised that Port Mourant is a predominantly agricultural community. To this end, he presented some business models that the persons there can tap into with financing from the GDB. However, President Ali pointed out that persons would have to come together and form consortiums in order to benefit from this small business support initiative.
“[We will] establish clusters that we want to work with on the Guyana Development Bank so that we can have hatchery here, we can have the tunnel house programme here [and] we can have the shade house programme here, but working in clusters,” he emphasised. The Guyanese Leader told the residents that a team comprising Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Government Efficiency and Implementation Minister Zulfikar Ally will return to Region Six in two weeks’ time to launch the GDB. They would collaborate with other officials including regional representatives to engage the Port Mourant community with the aim of forming these clusters. “Those persons [come here] to start working with you in clusters so that you can have the maximum gains out of the Development Bank,” Ali posited. Just last month, the National Assembly passed the GDB Act 2026, paving the way for existing and aspiring Guyanese small business owners to start access financing and other support services.
This, coupled with the President’s subsequent assenting into law, now allows for the operationalisation of the Development Bank, which will see loans of up to $3 million being provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across a wide spectrum of sectors, free of collateral and free of interest.

Housing support
In addition to business support, the Head of State also assured residents that the Government is working to address 100 per cent of the housing needs in Region Six by the end of 2026. He indicated that every household with existing housing applications is expected to receive allocation letters before the end of the year. Moreover, to ensure allottees move towards homeownership, the President also outlined measures to assist families who have received land but require support to begin construction, including affordable assistance with establishing the foundations of their homes. Ali also announced plans to roll out the social housing programme in the region. This initiative targets persons living with severe disabilities, single parents facing extreme circumstances and other vulnerable groups. With approximately 300 persons targeted initially, the Guyanese Leader said an assessment would have to be done to ensure that the beneficiaries are those with urgent housing needs. “So, there will be a team that will do such an evaluation. And we want to start this programme before the end of the year that will look at building these social houses… So, we want before the end of this year, to have these houses ready in those areas,” he noted.

Model Village
Port Mourant is the latest community to benefit from the Government’s ‘Model Village’ Initiative. During Saturday’s engagement held at the University of Guyana’s (UG) Tain Campus, residents were presented with the plans to improve and transform the community. In Port Mourant, the initiative will focus on upgrading roads, road shoulders, walkways and drainage, alongside improved street lighting, CCTV cameras, fire hydrants and other safety measures.

Plans also include upgrades and expansion of the Port Mourant Market to create safer and more hygienic spaces for vendors and small businesses, as well as improvements to public spaces, parks and recreational facilities. The proposal further includes tree planting, the development of a children’s play park and the construction of a Port Mourant Recreational Park. In addition to Port Mourant, the Guyanese Leader also held public consultations at Rose Hall, Skeldon and New Amsterdam, where the blueprint was also presented for the enhancement of those communities across Region Six. These are part of 23 villages being targeted under the pilot phase of the ‘Model Village’ Initiative. So far, discussions were held with 19 villages in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The remaining four communities are Supenaam, Charity, Suddie and Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where consultations will be held today.

The post Guyana Development Bank: Pres Ali proposes financing for Port Mourant hatchery, tunnel houses appeared first on Guyana Times.

The United States (US) and Guyana have continued their security cooperation with a recent technical training engagement between the US Air Force and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps. The US Embassy in Georgetown on Saturday posted on its social media page that a Mobile Training Team from the US Air Force’s 571st Mobile Support Advisory Squadron partnered with the GDF Air Corps for the second security cooperation engagement between the two countries this year.
The latest engagement focused on engine maintenance for the GDF’s King Air aircraft, with US personnel providing hands-on technical training to Air Corps personnel. According to the embassy, the training is intended to strengthen the Air Corps’ maintenance capabilities, improve aircraft turnaround times and increase sortie generation rates. The embassy said improved operational readiness would allow the GDF Air Corps to respond more effectively to regional security challenges and natural disasters. The engagement is part of ongoing efforts by the US and Guyana to build defence capacity and improve interoperability between their respective forces. “The United States is proud to work alongside the Guyana Defence Force to build capacity, enhance interoperability, and advance our shared commitment to regional security,” the embassy said in its social media post.
The latest training follows the first security cooperation engagement between the US Air Force and GDF Air Corps earlier this year, as both countries continue to expand defence and security collaboration.

The post US Air Force strengthens GDF Air Corps maintenance capabilities appeared first on Guyana Times.

Days after the United States (US) Government announced a whopping US$150 million investment in Guyana’s bauxite sector, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to Georgetown to advance bilateral talks on critical minerals, energy and other sectors. According to the Department of State, Landau will travel to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana from August 9 to 12, 2026.
In Guyana, Deputy Secretary Landau will meet with President Dr Irfaan Ali and Cabinet Members to discuss expanding bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening bilateral investment opportunities. “The visit will also focus on enhancing collaboration in strategic sectors including energy and critical minerals,” the State Department said in a brief statement on Sunday. It was further noted that this visit underscores the US’ commitment to strengthening partnerships across the hemisphere and advancing shared priorities, including regional security, energy resilience and economic prosperity. Just last month, Landau held discussions with a Guyanese Government delegation led by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh in Washington DC. During that meeting, the Deputy Secretary of State reiterated the US commitment to position its private sector to tap into the vast investment opportunities available in Guyana across multiple industries, including mining. “They agreed that US private sector capital, expertise, and technology could unleash a wave of investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, and housing,” the Spokesperson at the US Department of State, Tommy Pigott, stated about the meeting. Moreover, Landau, in a subsequent post on X (formerly Twitter), lauded the Guyana Government’s plans to promote economic growth in both the energy and non-energy sectors, such as mining and agriculture, as well as its commitment to ensuring that such growth benefits the Guyanese people now and in the future.

US$150M investment
Deputy Secretary Landau’s visit to Georgetown comes mere days after the US Department of War (DOW) announced a US$150 million investment in bauxite operations in Guyana as Washington moves to secure a regional supply chain for refractory-grade bauxite – a critical material for national defence and key industrial base sectors. In a statement on Friday, the Department’s Economic Defence Unit (EDU), in partnership with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, announced an US$85.5 million equity investment agreement with Strategic Bauxite USA, through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme. This contribution is complemented by an additional US$64.5 million co-investment from the private sector.
“These funds will be used to acquire and expand the First Bauxite (FBX) mine in Guyana, develop new calcination facilities for primary processing, and contribute to a follow-on project to construct a brown-fused alumina (BFA) facility in the United States,” the DOW said in its missive. This announcement comes less than a month after Canada’s First Bauxite revealed in a July 2026 statement that it entered into an agreement under which Strategic Bauxite USA has acquired the company – a deal it says would allow continued growth, investment and long-term success.
First Bauxite, through its local subsidiary Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc (GINMIN), operates the Bonasika Bauxite Project located in Region Three between the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers.

Secure, vertically integrated US supply chain
Meanwhile, the US DOW explained in Friday’s missive that this strategic partnership will establish a secure, vertically integrated US supply chain for refractory-grade bauxite, which is a critical material for national defence and key industrial base sectors. “Our defence readiness relies on secure, regional access to critical minerals,” Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi said. “This partnership with Strategic Bauxite through the equity funding and analysis provided by the IBAS programme ensures that critical materials in the western hemisphere stay in supply chains that protect the United States and its allies.” According to the Department, this US$150 million initiative addresses an over-dependence on imports for refractory-grade bauxite for the US supply chain, with the vast majority sourced directly from China or Chinese-owned entities. It noted that once fully operational, this project is expected to meet 100 per cent of US military demand for BFA and 100 per cent of US demand for refractory bauxite.
The Department said IBAS equity and direct investments are strategically targeted at critical supply chain bottlenecks, particularly where private venture capital has historically been hesitant to invest due to long developmental timelines. “The Department of War is no longer waiting for supply chain dependencies to be exploited,” Director of the Economic Defence Unit George K. Kollitides II stated. “This agreement shows how EDU and the Department can partner with the commercial sector to rapidly turn opportunities into advantages for the warfighter.”
Refractory-grade bauxite is necessary for manufacturing high-temperature-resistant materials used to make critical components for our warfighters, such as heat shields, thermal barriers, and turbine engines in guided missiles, rockets, military aircraft, and space systems. Beyond defence, this high-purity bauxite is a vital raw material for steel and aluminum production, energy infrastructure and industrial furnaces, making it a cornerstone of a modern industrial economy.
The DOW said this agreement also serves as an example of how the Department is coordinating across the interagency to support national security requirements. As part of the broader effort, the Department of State provided critical funding to support infrastructure associated with the project, enabling the US Government to act quickly and reinforce the long-term viability of the supply chain. In fact, the need for infrastructure investments to expand the local bauxite industry was previously highlighted by the US. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg, during a visit to Georgetown back in May. At a press conference with local reporters, Helberg told the Guyana Times that Guyana has a lot of natural reserves but not the capacity to get this mineral into markets – something which the US is ready to work with the country on and this, he noted, was indicated to the Guyanese Government during high-level discussions. “We talked about the opportunities surrounding bauxite and expanding Guyana’s economic activities in the bauxite sector with additional private investments. We also talked about ways that infrastructure investments, especially in roads and potentially autonomous trucking technology, can actually be catalytic to getting more Guyanese bauxite on the global market,” Helberg stated. According to the US Government official, “Bauxite minerals were a focus because the reserves are already known, and there are already a lot of investors with active investments in Guyana today. We did talk about surveying land where large amounts of new reserves for many types of other minerals are believed to be located, but where the land needs to be surveyed in a more extensive way. So, we did talk about things that were prospective, but because the reserves of bauxite are known and there are already investments today, we talked a fair amount about those.”

The post US Deputy Secretary of State heads to Guyana this week for high-level talks on energy, critical minerals appeared first on Guyana Times.

The local tourism sector continues to see sustained growth, with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reporting an increase in visitor arrivals during the first six months of 2026. In its half year highlights, the GTA said Guyana recorded 226,463 visitors from January to June 2026, representing a 12 per cent year-to-date increase. Based on current trends, the Authority predicts more than 500,000 visitors are expected by December 31, 2026. According to the GTA, major events and conferences contributed to sustained travel demand during the first half of this year, including the closing of the Diamond Jubilee Visual Arts Exhibition, Guyana Restaurant Week, International Building Expo, Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) Annual Conference, Voting Rights & Electoral Justice Conference, ECONOME Business Conference & Mixer, Caribbean Port State Control Conference (CPSCC), and the WeLeadAssociation Conference, among others.
Moreover, it was reported that Guyana welcomed 40,002 visitors in June 2026, representing a 16.8 per cent increase compared to June 2025. This trend, the GTA noted, continues the country’s strong tourism growth trajectory. Leisure travel remained the largest contributor to arrivals, accounting for 61 per cent of visitors, followed by business with 16 per cent and other at 23 per cent, the Authority disclosed. Only last week, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce reported 45,127 visitors for July 2026 – the highest number ever recorded for this month in the history of Guyana’s tourism and marking an 11.1 per cent increase compared to July 2025. The Ministry said the Origins Fashion Show (July 3–5) brought regional designers and audiences together, while CARICOM Day celebrations, including the One Guyana Worship Experience (July 6) showcased Guyana’s rich culture and strengthened regional ties. The Global Super League Cricket tournament (July 23–Aug 1) also attracted teams and fans from around the world. “Together, these events contributed to a vibrant month that not only boosted visitor arrivals but also reinforced Guyana’s growing reputation as a destination for culture, fashion, and sport,” the Tourism Ministry noted. It added that this record reflects Guyana’s continued momentum as a destination where visitors can enjoy unforgettable adventures, world-class events and authentic cultural experiences.

International recognition
Meanwhile, the GTA said in its mid-year highlights that in addition to visitors’ arrival, progress was also seen in other areas within the local tourism industry including capacity building, product development, destination marketing and industry partnerships. In fact, the Authority noted that Guyana’s tourism sector continued to receive international recognition for sustainability, community involvement and conservation efforts. For instance, Toka Village in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) received the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Community-Based Tourism Award 2026 for its community-led tourism model, traditional cultural experiences and support for local livelihoods. The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development was also recognised among Travel and Tour World’s “50 Best Eco Tourism Destinations in the World for 2026.”
Moreover, ‘Destination Guyana’ has also been featured on the Green Destinations – Good Travel Experiences (GTE) platform, highlighting three of the country’s flagship eco-tourism experiences: Rewa Eco Lodge: Arapaima Conservation & Research Initiative; Caiman House Eco Lodge: Yupukari River Turtle Conservation Project; and Atta Rainforest Lodge: Iwokrama Canopy Walkway Trail. Additionally, the Backyard Cafe was featured in TIME’s List of the World’s Greatest Places 2026, which named 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay.

Destination Guyana also signed a contract to participate in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. The Expo 2027 will take place from May 15 to August 15, 2027 under the theme “Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All.” According to the GTA, Guyana’s participation supports stronger international cooperation while providing another platform to showcase our country and place Destination Guyana further on the global tourism map. Further, CTO has named Guyana as the host nation for the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) from October 5 to 9, 2026. This marks the first time the country has been selected to host and it underscores growing regional confidence in Guyana’s leadership and its expanding role in shaping tourism dialogue across the Caribbean.

Capacity building
Meanwhile, the GTA continued to strengthen tourism standards through inspections, licensing, and regulatory support for tourism businesses across Guyana. For the January to June period, the Authority licenced: 13 accommodation establishments; 34 tour operators; nine lodges and resorts, and some 151 tour guides including 12 from 2024, 117 from 2025 and 22 from 2026. These efforts, according to the Tourism Authority, supported improved service standards, increased industry compliance and continued growth in Guyana’s tourism offering. In fact, to further strengthen this process, the new licensing portal was officially re-launched allowing for industry stakeholders to apply online in various categories, including Tour Guides, Tour Operators, Tourism Accommodation Establishments (Hotels), Lodges & Resorts, and Bed & Breakfast Facilities.
Moreover, between January and June, some 1,176 persons received training in key areas including First Aid & CPR, Introduction to Tourism, Bird Guide Accreditation, Tour Guiding, Business & Financial Management, Business Etiquette and Delivering Quality Service. Through these training programmes, the GTA continues to strengthen the skills and capacity of tourism stakeholders across Guyana, supporting improved visitor experiences and stronger tourism businesses.
“Through targeted initiatives across communities, continued engagement with tourism businesses and strategic promotion in key markets, the Guyana Tourism Authority continued to support the development of a more resilient, diverse and sustainable tourism sector,” the agency said in its 2026 mid-year highlights.

The post 12% hike in visitor arrivals for 1st half of 2026 – Tourism Authority appeared first on Guyana Times.

Two men from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were fined $100,000 each after pleading guilty to separate Driving Under Influence (DUI) charges. Roderick George, a 71-year-old teacher of Tabatinga, Lethem, Central Rupununi and Terrell Pauline, a 24-year-old fireman of St Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi, were both charged with Driving a Motor Vehicle While Breath Alcohol Level Exceeded the Prescribed Limit. The charges were laid under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. In George’s case, the offence was committed on Monday, August 3, 2026, on Tabatinga Public Road, Lethem.

On the other hand, Pauline’s charge was in relation to an offence committed on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, on St Ignatius Public Road, Central Rupununi. Both men appeared before Her Worship Magistrate Nikkisha Logan on Friday August 7, 2026, at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read to them separately.
They pleaded guilty and were fined $100,000 or two weeks’ imprisonment in default of payment.

The post Teacher, fireman fined $200,000 for drunk driving appeared first on Guyana Times.

Several Essequibo Coast motorists have appeared before the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in recent weeks on charges ranging from driving with excessive alcohol levels and refusing breathalyser tests to dangerous driving, driving without a licence and breach of insurance. On August 5, 37-year-old labourer Milton Granville of Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was fined $200,000 after pleading guilty to refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test. The offence allegedly occurred on March 16, 2026, at La-Bella Alliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Granville was charged under Section 39B (5) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02.
He appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him and he entered a guilty plea. He was fined $200,000, with an alternative of six months’ imprisonment. Also before the court was 47-year-old taxi driver Martin Joseph of Aurora Village, Essequibo Coast, who was charged with dangerous driving. The charge stemmed from an incident on June 22, 2026, at Richmond Public Road involving 21-year-old police officer Vaidram Rabbylall of Lot 44 Sparta, Essequibo Coast. Joseph appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on July 28 and pleaded not guilty. He was granted $100,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned to January 20, 2027, for disclosure of statements.
On the same date, 34-year-old labourer Reyon Benn of Bushlot, Essequibo Coast, pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on June 21, 2026, at Henrietta Access Road. Benn was charged under Section 39A(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Act 17 of 2022. He was fined $200,000, with an alternative of six months’ imprisonment. On July 21, 2026, 33-year-old auto electrician Shaun Rodrigues of Richmond, Essequibo Coast, appeared before the court charged with refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test.
The offence allegedly occurred on July 10 at Anna Regina Public Road. Rodrigues pleaded not guilty and was granted $200,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to December 8, 2026. On August 4, 28-year-old labourer Estaban Rodrigues of Richmond Housing Scheme pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The charge arose from an incident on July 2 at Henrietta Public Road. He was fined $200,000, with an alternative of six months’ imprisonment. Also on August 4, 34-year-old labourer Shurish Ramjattan of Bushlot pleaded guilty to a similar charge stemming from an incident on June 21 at Henrietta Access Road. Ramjattan was also fined $200,000, with an alternative of six months’ imprisonment.

Twenty-five-year-old labourer Maria Tovar of Henrietta faced three charges arising from an incident on July 2 at Richmond Public Road: driving while her breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, driving without a licence and breach of insurance. Tovar appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on August 4 and pleaded not guilty to all three charges. She was granted bail of $200,000 on the charge of driving with a breath alcohol level above the prescribed limit, $50,000 for driving without a licence and $50,000 for breach of insurance.
The court also dealt with a more recent matter involving 23-year-old rice farmer Anthony Lutchman of Plantation Andrews, Essequibo Coast. Lutchman was charged with dangerous driving, refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test and crossing solid double yellow lines following an incident on August 2 at Bushlot Public Road. He appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on August 4 and pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000 for dangerous driving, $200,000 for refusing to provide a breath specimen and $25,000 for crossing the solid double line, bringing his total bail to $325,000.
The matter was adjourned to August 19.

The post 4 drivers fined $800,000; 4 on $925,000 bail over dangerous, drunk-driving charges appeared first on Guyana Times.

Your Eyewitness remembers a time when Guyanese parents could tell their children – with swelled chests! – that a Cambridge education was the gold standard!! Think Newton, Bertrand Russel; Stephen Hawking and Oppenheimer!! “Study hard,” they’d say. “Get good grades and get to Cambridge and they’ll teach you to think and run the world”!! How quaint!! Evidently, Cambridge appears to’ve discovered a more sophisticated educational philosophy: before asking whether somebody can think – first establish whether the appointment makes them look progressive!!
Enter Professor Jason Arday, who at 37 was celebrated by Cambridge as the youngest Black person ever appointed to a professorship at the university!! His personal story was presented as an inspirational triumph over adversity – that he’d been unable to read or write until 18, yet went on to obtain a degrees and a doctorate!! His academic work centred on the woke issues of race, inequality, inclusion and the transformation of higher education!! Cambridge itself described his appointment as part of its efforts to “democratise” higher education.
Now there’s nothing wrong with any of that!! The trouble begins when a university whose reputation rests upon centuries of intellectual scrutiny starts looking rather less interested in scrutinising the credentials of the people doing the scrutinizing!! Cambridge has now confirmed massive plagiarism in Arday’s academic record – not to mention not publishing a non-existent book!!
But the question is, how’d the questions arise in the first place? And that’s where we should pay attention!! After all, for generations, British education was one of the principal exports of the Empire and our schools inherited British examinations, British textbooks, British degrees and – above all – the British conviction that standards were standards!! A Cambridge degree meant something because Cambridge was supposed to be exceptionally difficult to fool! With our Guyana Scholars like Rupert Roopnarine, he university’s message was we don’t care who you are – just show us what you know!!
But with Arday as an example, Cambridge’s new academic bureaucracy seems tempted by another formulation: We know who you are – now let’s work out how impressive that is!! It’s the triumph of the Diversity CV where the candidate must not merely be accomplished but must embody a narrative. He must represent resilience; marginalization based on race, ethnicity, gender or whatever; intersectionality; institutional transformation and preferably should arrive accompanied by a press release explaining them all!!
The danger as we’ve seen with Argay is that once the narrative becomes sufficiently attractive, asking awkward questions about the underlying evidence can itself be portrayed as evidence of prejudice!! How dare you!! Ain’t it wonderful?? The old academic question that used to be “Is this true?” is now, “Why are you asking?!!”
And the new standard’s now, “I say; therefore I am!!”

…credentials
Now we in Guyana should be particularly nervous since we are paying several universities – far less reputable than Cambridge! – across the world for degrees in our GOAL program!! British educational standards historically mattered enormously here and our elite schools of Queens and Bishops were patterned explicitly on British models!! Our secondary-school system was then built heavily around British examinations that helped establish the credibility of generations of Guyanese professionals—doctors, lawyers, engineers, academics, civil servants and teachers!!
When a Guyanese student proudly says, “I got a Cambridge qualification,” the implication’s always been that somebody somewhere actually checked!! But if Cambridge allowed ideological fashion, identity politics or institutional embarrassment to interfere with rigorous verification, the damage ain’t gonna stop at the River Cam – it’ll travel!!
The joke of the new Cambridge admissions interview writes itself: “Good morning, candidate. What’s your qualifications?” “I have a first-class degree.” “Excellent. But do you identify as historically marginalised?” “No.” “Hmm. And your intersectionality?”
“I don’t think I have any.”
“Sorry…you’re rejected!!”

…gas tanks
After a spate of exploding cooking gas tanks at customers’ premises – injuring and killing several persons and blowing up the kitchens – the authorities have finally instituted new standards to ensure greater safety!!
About time, don’t you think??

The post Crumbling… illusions appeared first on Guyana Times.

Dear Editor,
I have watched the occasional ‘odd’ decision by the CCJ and heard whispers of corruption but never saw any evidence (other than illogical decisions) of corruption; today, however, an email has surfaced where one judge, Justice Jamadar stated that the President of the CCJ pressured him and others into a position contrary to their own, Jamadar said “Two relate to the core function of judicial decision-­making and impact the rule of law and the due adminis­tration of justice—seen through the lenses of judicial in­dependence, impartiality, and integrity… (ii) the Mohamed vs MOHA, AG, and Magistrate extradition matter and what I experienced as an attempt to influence the opinions of colleagues that differed from yours in an authoritative manner.”
Given the importance of Mohamed vs MOHA, AG and Magistrate to Guyana, Justice Jamadar must now publicly state where he differs from the judgement delivered. Justice Jamadar has introduced the discussion of corruption at the CCJ and should know that lawyers for Mohamed were expressing great confidence of a favorable decision for their client in the high court corridors along with thinly veiled references to bribery and corruption of panel members of the CCJ; This places every Justice who had an opinion contrary to the final decision under a cloud of suspicion, indeed, the entire court and system has been polluted following its brush with the Mohamed’s money.
In Guyana, the vast wealth of the Mohamed family has been cited in numerous instances of corruption including by Detective Sargent Bascomb in the murder investigation of Ricardo ‘paper shorts’ Fagundes and the ‘explosion of fuel boat ‘Canada Club’ which left three dead bodies listed as casualties. Guyanese with knowledge were alarmed at the time asked for by the CCJ to deliver what anyone could see would be a straight forward decision (and it was stunningly simple as delivered) and many were worried that members of the CCJ panel could be bought outright, Jamadar’s outrage as expressed in his email does not engender faith, rather, quite the opposite.
Justice Jamadar must come forward, show clean hands and work with all stakeholders towards a resolution of the allegations made in his email, ‘he who alleges, must prove’ the future of the court rests on its integrity and how it deals with this allegation of misconduct going forward. Guyanese faith in the judiciary is always on thin ice given the level of incongruity we see daily, our justice is not blind, she is wealthy, the CCJ has historically been the bastion of justice for Guyanese and it would seem the barbarians have infiltrated the walls. A full and transparent process of cleaning must begin as a matter of great urgency.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Robin Singh

The post Justice Jamadar must come forward, show clean hands ‘he who alleges, must prove’ appeared first on Guyana Times.