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Coming off their winning of the first leg of the Inter Schools Championship, District 4, bolstered by the in-form President’s College posse impressed once more to garner 60 points and walk away with their first ever ExxonMobil Guyana National Kayaking crown, when the second segment was staged recently on the waters of the Demerara River alongside the Watooka Guest House in the mining town of Linden.

Unlike last year when they flattered to deceive, the President’s College led District 4 team proved too much for their closest rivals District 10, winners in 2022 and 2024; who were guided by students of the New Silvercity Secondary School to finish second with 52 points
Occupying the third spot were the 2023 champions District 9 Rupununi with 46 points, as their challenge was spearheaded by students of St. Ignatius Secondary on 46 points.
The defending champions District 7 Upper Mazaruni had to settle for fourth place, two points behind District 9 as they tallied 44 points, ahead of District 3 Essequibo Islands-West Demerara with 39 points, District 2 Pomeroon Supeenam 30, District 10’s Kwakwani Secondary 28, District 5 West Coast Berbice 19, District 1 Barima-Waini 13, District 8 Potarao-Siparuni 12 and District 14 East Bank Demerara-Mahaica on the carpet with seven points for 11th place.
The annual kayaking championships once again were promoted by Dr. Deon Anderson’s Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours with major sponsorship coming from ExxonMobil Guyana
This year’s winners at this year’s fifth kayaking schools’ championships collected $500,000, the championship trophy, the runners-up grabbing $350,000 and second placed trophy and silver medals, and third place finishers $250,000 and a trophy and bronze medals. The cash vouchers will be distributed where the students get support for their academic pursuit and a percentage goes to the district.

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The Guyana Government is already seeing the benefits of investing in renewable energy projects such as the two mini-hydropower plants in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), which has reduced the use of fossil fuel by more than 20,000 drums for electricity generation. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahendar Sharma, made this announcement during the latest edition of the Energy Perspectives Podcast, titled “Powering Guyana’s Low-Carbon Future”. “Lethem, for example, now benefits from two hydropower plants, totalling 2.2 megawatts (MW)… and while mini-hydro is still expensive, the savings are significant. You are offsetting and displacing diesel use… More than 20,000 drums of diesel have already been avoided based on what is being produced from the hydropower and because you don’t have to generate that energy from diesel,” Sharma stated. In December 2024, the 0.7 MW Moco Moco Hydropower Plant was commissioned with the capacity to generate approximately 4,565 megawatt-hour (MW/h) electricity annually. Months later in July 2025, the 1.5 MW Kumu Hydropower Station was operationalised to bring approximately 9,700 MW/h of clean energy annually.

These two mini-hydropower facilities were rehabilitated by Sri Lankan firm – Vidullanka PLC, under a US$12.85 million programme funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). In addition to hydropower, the $472 million 1.0 MW Lethem Solar Farm, which was commissioned in August 2022, is also supporting the generation of clean energy across Region Nine. According to the GEA Head, “It is the only site in Guyana that benefits from this hybridised-type of energy supply – hydro, solar and diesel – powering the people of Lethem… The solar is there to provide support. In fact, the two hydros have been supplying most of the energy in Lethem. More than 60 per cent of the energy comes from renewable sources for the town of Lethem.”

Only back in February, Sharma had disclosed that the two mini-hydro plants in Region Nine were already reducing the country’s carbon footprint and saved 17,000 plus drums of diesel at the time.

He said the cost of that the fuel saved then had amounted to some 27 per cent of the capital investment on the two mini-hydro projects. Sharma had outlined the importance of hydropower to Guyana’s energy mix, noting that it brings a greater level of predictability and availability when compared to other renewable sources. “So, hydropower is going to be an important part of our energy matrix and we have to scale these up,” he had stated.

In fact, the GEA Head revealed that efforts were underway to explore the setting up of more mini-hydro projects across the country especially in hinterland areas where the demand is growing. During recent podcast, Sharma pointed out that the much more work has been done across Guyana to advance renewable energy sources, especially solar. In fact, he noted by the end of this year, approximately 56 solar mini-grids will be established in hinterland communities across the country. Dr Sharma said the mini-grids will provide electricity to public and community buildings in hinterland areas, utilising solar photovoltaic (PV) technology supported by battery storage and small distribution networks. “This year, we’ll have about 56 solar mini-grids spread across the hinterland communities. These mini-grids are usually drum-mounted solar PV panels with a small room for batteries and a small distribution network. We’re taking power to public and community buildings,” he explained. The GEA Head noted that the mini-grid programme complements another initiative launched in 2023, which saw the distribution of more than 37,000 small solar home systems to residents in hinterland communities. “Previously, it was a solar panel with a charger that powered some lights and a fan and charged your mobile devices. But we’re going beyond that with the policies that GPL (Guyana Power and Light Inc.) has implemented, including the net billing policy. You and I can benefit from solar technology too,” he said. Dr Sharma said residents now have the opportunity to invest in solar energy systems for their homes, adding that the GEA has launched an awareness campaign to educate people on how they can incorporate solar technology into their households. Moreover, he added that Guyana’s renewable energy capacity is set to receive a major boost by the end of the year, with solar PV installations expected to bring the country’s total solar capacity close to 50 MW as Government and Private Sector investments continue to diversify the national energy mix. Dr Sharma also highlighted other major energy projects being advanced, including the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, which he said will allow Guyana to utilise its indigenous natural gas resources to generate electricity and reduce the need for fuel imports. “And that gas will displace the need for imports and will utilise an indigenous resource now, gas, an indigenous resource, to generate power,” he said. He noted that the GtE Project is not the only initiative being pursued, with the Government already announcing additional phases of the project to further expand generation capacity. Beyond natural gas and solar development, Dr Sharma said Guyana is also advancing other renewable energy projects, including the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, which is expected to add 165 MW of hydropower capacity to the national grid. With investments across solar, hydropower, and natural gas, the GEA CEO said Guyana is moving towards a more diversified and sustainable energy system aimed at improving reliability while supporting the country’s low-carbon development goals.

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After acquiring Hess Corporation’s 30 per cent stake in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, Chevron says Guyana has strengthened its portfolio and has recognised the significant exploration potential that the basin holds. “We’ve got a strong presence in Guyana…but there’s still exploration potential there,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chevron Corporation, Mike Wirth, said during the company’s second quarter earnings call on Friday. Just over a year ago on July 18, 2025, Chevron finalised its $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation and according to Wirth, the Hess assets are already generating strong free cash flow – something he attributed to the combined portfolio including the prolific Guyana Basin.

Hess had held a 30 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, which is operated by ExxonMobil with a majority interest of 45 per cent while CNOOC holds the remaining 25 per cent stake. With the acquisition, Chevron now holds that 30 per cent nonoperating interest in the Stabroek Block, which contains more than 11 billion barrels of discovered recoverable oil-equivalent resources, adding a long-cycle growth opportunity that is expected to support Chevron’s portfolio into the 2030s. “Guyana is a world-class asset with significant resource depth that is expected to extend high-margin oil growth into the 2030s,” the Chevron Chairman stated. Currently in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil is operating four Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels – Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity and One Guyana – and is now gearing up for its fifth development project, Urau. This project will utilise the Errea Wittu FPSO, which set sail for Guyana in June, and remains on track for startup by the end of this year, increasing capacity by 250,000 barrels per day. Approval has already been received for the sixth development, the Whiptail Project, to come on stream in 2027, while the Longtail Project, which is eighth development here, is on the path toward final investment decision. Exxon is already evaluating the potential for a ninth FPSO offshore Guyana.

Future explorations
Even as production continues to grow, the Stabroek Block partners are equally confident about future explorations offshore Guyana. In fact, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil Darren Woods, during the company’s second quarter 2026 Earnings Call also on Friday, stated that they are awaiting the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on the border controversy case between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela to resume exploration in the Stabroek Block. “We obviously have a large chunk of acreage, which is in force majeure, waiting for the ultimate ruling from the International Court of Justice… we feel there’s an opportunity then to start shooting seismic and understand what that acreage potentially holds. We’ve got more work to do in the acreage,” Woods had noted. On Friday, both ExxonMobil and Chevron reported profits for the second quarter of 2026 that surged on the rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. Exxon’s second-quarter profits stood at US$14.5 billion, more than doubling from about US$7.1 billion during the same period in 2025. On the other hand, Chevron’s net income soared to US$12 billion – a nearly 400 per cent increase compared to the US$2.5 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year, and the company’s highest quarterly profit in at least six years.

In fact, the Chevron’s Wirth said on Friday that the company achieved deal synergies of US$1.5 billion from last year’s acquisition of Hess, which came earlier than anticipated and above the initial $1 billion synergy target set when the deal was closed. “[July] also marks the one-year anniversary of the Hess acquisition. We pulled value forward, capturing 50 per cent more synergies than initially targeted with $1.5 billion [USD] realised six months ahead of schedule. The Hess assets are generating strong free cash flow, which has been roughly double the incremental dividends and accretive to shareholders on a per-share basis,” Wirth stated.

Fantastic year
Meanwhile, in a separate interview on CNBC recently, Chevron’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Eimear Bonner spoke about the Chevron and Hess merger one year after its finalisation. “It’s just been a fantastic year,” Bonner said, adding that “We’re fully integrated.” According to the CFO, Chevron is already benefiting from the quality of the combined portfolio and the talented Hess employees who bring deep expertise, the acquisition is expected to extend growth into the 2030s. She too added that acquisition has expanded Chevron’s position, especially with the Guyana basin.

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By Dr Tariq Jagnarine

Global Health Perspectives
We have all experienced it at some point. Perhaps it was after a long day at work, after eating garlic, or first thing in the morning. Bad breath and body odour are common, but when they become persistent, they can affect confidence, relationships, work, and overall quality of life.
As a family physician, I have met many patients who delay seeking help because they feel embarrassed. Others spend large amounts of money on perfumes, deodorants, mouthwash, or chewing gum without addressing the real cause. The truth is that persistent bad breath or body odour is often a symptom rather than the problem itself.

What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, affects millions of people worldwide. In about 80–90% of cases, the source is inside the mouth.
Common causes include:
Poor brushing and flossing
Gum disease
Tooth decay
A coated tongue where bacteria accumulate
Dry mouth from dehydration or certain medications
Smoking and tobacco use
Dentures that are not cleaned properly
Certain foods such as onions, garlic, alcohol, and coffee can also temporarily affect breath.
However, persistent bad breath may point to medical conditions such as:
Sinus infections
Tonsil stones
Diabetes (which may produce a fruity smell)
Kidney disease (ammonia-like breath)
Liver disease
Acid reflux (GERD)
Lung infections
If bad breath continues despite good oral hygiene, it deserves medical evaluation.

What Causes Body Odour?
Sweat itself has very little smell. The odour develops when bacteria on the skin break down sweat, particularly in areas such as the armpits, groin, and feet.
Factors that increase body odour include:
Poor hygiene
Hot weather
Heavy sweating
Obesity
Hormonal changes during puberty or menopause
Certain foods and spices
Alcohol
Smoking
Stress and anxiety
Medical conditions that can contribute include:
Diabetes
Overactive thyroid
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Certain skin infections
Rare inherited metabolic disorders
Some medications may also alter body odour.

When Should You Be Concerned?
Seek medical advice if you notice:
Bad breath that persists for several weeks despite good oral care.
Bleeding gums or loose teeth.
Sudden changes in body odour.
Excessive sweating accompanied by weight loss or palpitations.
Fruity, fishy, or ammonia-like odours.
Fever, skin infections, or unexplained illness.
These may signal an underlying condition requiring treatment.

Tips to Keep Breath Fresh
Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss every day.
Clean your tongue using a tongue scraper or toothbrush.
Visit your dentist every six months.
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid tobacco products.
Limit sugary foods and drinks.
Manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

Tips to Reduce Body Odour
Bathe daily using soap and water.
Dry skin thoroughly after bathing.
Wear clean, breathable clothing.
Change socks and underwear daily.
Use an antiperspirant or deodorant.
Stay well hydrated.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Wash exercise clothing after every use.
One of the most rewarding moments in medicine is seeing a patient regain confidence after identifying and treating a hidden cause of bad breath or body odour. What many people think is “just a smell” may actually be an early sign of gum disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or another medical condition.
I encourage my patients to remember that these issues are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of. Looking after your oral health, maintaining good hygiene, and seeking medical advice when symptoms persist can make a remarkable difference—not only in how you smell, but also in your overall health and wellbeing.
Your body often gives subtle clues before more serious problems develop. Listening to those signals is one of the simplest ways to protect your health.
Take-home Message: If bad breath or body odour persists despite good hygiene, don’t just cover it up; find the cause. Early assessment can improve your health, confidence, and quality of life.

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Ever since the sinking of the MV Barima, there hasn’t been a single connection to the tragedy that hasn’t precipitated an orgy of political drama!! Now no one gotta tell your Eyewitness this is a tragedy of Biblical proportions in our history – marine or otherwise. But why does the Opposition have to create a circus around everything?? Why can’t they look at the bigger, GUYANESE picture and put their shoulders to the wheel – along with the Government and the Guyanese nation – to help us navigate out of this difficult period??
Clearly, we need to know the facts on how the Barima went down. Now, President Ali moved with alacrity to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to ascertain those facts. But instead of supporting this initiative and at least commending the President for appointing only foreign experts – thus excluding Guyanese who may have some bias – what does the Opposition do?? Launch a seek-and-destroy mission to impugn the credibility of the Commissioners – even before they were sworn in!!
Then they embarked on countrywide protests demanding the resignation of Ministers Edghill and Indar – and as such pronounce them guilty of some kinda malfeasance or dereliction of duty in the sinking of the ship!! But simultaneously they trenchantly criticise the DPP – with the Govt thrown in for good measure – as jumping the gun when the former decide to advise that the Captain and a number of his crew be charged with murder!!  They’re still raising Cain over getting Edghill and Indar fired!!
Finally, the straw that broke your Eyewitness’s patience was the Opposition’s demand that the Barima – which could contain up to some 30 bodies – be raised!!  When the Government – which they constantly accuse of acting highhandedly – said they’d consult with relatives to find out if they wanted to leave the ship undisturbed as a monument to all those affected by the tragedy, the Opposition immediately screamed this was a ploy to literally bury the evidence!! Evidence of what?? They don’t say – but knowing looks are exchanged to suggest smoking guns that’d tie Govt officials to the sinking!!
Sanction Man – who just happens to be the LOO – then dramatically announced he could raise the Barima – at his expense!! Confirming, of course, that he still hasn’t used up all his tax evasions to buy credibility!! But having conducted their survey of the victims’ relatives, the Govt – through MARAD – just announced a tender for bids to raise the Barima!!
Let’s see if Sanction Man gonna now put his money where his mouth is and put in a bid – since he assured us he’d already made all the necessary arrangements!!
But then he wouldn’t be able to accuse the Govt of “tampering” with the evidence!!

…political nexus
In the wake of the Sanctimonious Gangster’s PNC/APNU trying a Burnham “thing” to hijack the 2020 elections and ultimately had the whole sordid mess pass through our Courts – all the way to the CCJ to decide whether 33 was greater than 32!! – a new phrase entered our local political vocabulary via some UWI academics: the “judicialization of politics”!! That is the political types just couldn’t settle their differences by themselves!!
But it seems that the nexus between politics and the Judiciary extends even into the international political realm – in relations between nations!! Here the members of our supposedly natural, organic “Community” – Caricom!! Since last year, T&T’s Kamla had taken issue with what she saw as backroom deals that saw Dr Carla Barnett reappointed as Caricom’s Secty General – without T&T being consulted!!
Finally, acceding to a request by T&T’s Kamla, the Heads of Government  (HoGs) of Caricom have agreed to have the issue of the reappointment referred to the CCJ for judicial review!!

…Guyana’s flag
In our moment of national mourning, the Guyana Amazon Warriors lifted the national spirit by spectacularly defending a score of 85 to defeat the San Francisco Unicorns in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 final!!
Go Warriors!!

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As we know to our cost in the feeding frenzy by the Opposition right now, politics thrives on opinion. Economics, however, has an inconvenient habit of insisting on evidence and that is why the latest IMF Article IV assessment of Guyana deserves careful attention. The International Monetary Fund is not a partisan institution. It does not vote in Guyana’s elections, attend political rallies or draft campaign manifestos. Its responsibility is to examine economic performance through the unforgiving lens of fiscal management, macroeconomic stability and long-term sustainability. Its conclusions, therefore, carry a credibility that transcends domestic political debate.
The IMF’s verdict is unmistakably positive. It describes Guyana’s economic transformation as “advancing strongly and broadening in scale”, noting not only the spectacular expansion of oil production but also, most critically, robust growth across the non-oil economy. Agriculture, construction, services and manufacturing continue to expand while unprecedented public investment is reshaping the country’s infrastructure. The Fund projects continued strong growth over the medium term while observing that inflation remains relatively contained, external balances remain strong, and the Natural Resource Fund continues to accumulate substantial savings.
These findings matter, because they directly rebut the narrative that Guyana’s economy is little more than an oil boom waiting to collapse. The IMF recognises that while petroleum is the engine of current growth, Government investment in roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, energy, sea defences and climate resilience is helping to generate broad-based expansion beyond the oil sector. It also notes that continued infrastructure investment and productivity improvements are expected to lift non-oil growth well above its pre-oil trajectory.
This is precisely the challenge confronting every resource-rich developing nation: whether to consume today’s wealth or invest it in tomorrow’s prosperity. The Government has clearly chosen the latter. The expansion of highways, new hospitals, schools, housing developments, power generation, port facilities and hinterland infrastructure represents more than an ambitious construction programme. It is an attempt to convert finite petroleum wealth into permanent national assets that will continue generating social and economic returns long after the last barrel of oil has been extracted.
Naturally, no Government is beyond criticism. The IMF itself cautions against the risks of overheating, inflationary pressures and the need to preserve macroeconomic stability as spending accelerates. These are not signs of failure, but reminders that managing extraordinary success can be every bit as difficult as managing economic decline. Indeed, the challenge facing our nation today bears little resemblance to the challenges of previous decades. The country is no longer grappling with stagnant growth, chronic foreign exchange shortages or debilitating fiscal crises inherited from the post-Independence PNC Government. Instead, policymakers must manage rapid expansion while ensuring that prosperity reaches every region and every community.
That requires competent governance, prudent fiscal management and constant vigilance against waste and corruption for which it commends the Government. Economic success cannot become an excuse for complacency. If anything, it demands even greater accountability. Yet fairness also demands acknowledgement of achievement where it exists.
For years, critics insisted that the Government’s development strategy was reckless, unsustainable, and destined to unravel. The IMF’s independent assessment suggests otherwise. It finds an economy with strong fundamentals, favourable prospects, growing reserves, expanding non-oil production and a Government investing heavily in infrastructure while simultaneously building financial buffers through the Natural Resource Fund.
Political disagreement will always remain healthy in a democracy. But there comes a point when facts deserve recognition irrespective of partisan preference. The IMF has now provided that recognition. Its report does not suggest that Guyana has reached the end of its development journey. Rather, it confirms that the country is travelling in the right direction.
The task now is to ensure that this remarkable economic transformation translates into lasting improvements in living standards, stronger institutions, greater opportunities for all Guyanese and a diversified economy capable of thriving for generations to come. That is the true measure of success. And, judging by the IMF’s latest assessment, Guyana is considerably closer to achieving it than even many of our most optimistic citizens imagined possible.

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