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Basketball fans are in for a treat, as some of the world’s best 3×3 teams make their way to Guyana for the highly anticipated One Guyana 3×3 Quest, set for April 5-6 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The ultimate prize is coveted spot in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton, Canada, in August.

Leading the pack is Puerto Rico’s team Carolina, ranked 14^th globally by FIBA and the third-highest-ranked team in the Americas

Carolina’s presence at the tournament is expected to elevate the event’s profile, as they join elite teams from Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bermuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, the USA, Ecuador, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Grenada.

Carolina is spearheaded by Antonio Ralat, who led Puerto Rico to gold at the 2023 AmeriCup and a runner-up finish in the 2024 edition, falling just short against the USA.

Ralat, ranked 47^th globally and the top player in Puerto Rico, is renowned for his skill and experience on the international stage. Notably, he finished second at the 2023 World Tour in Edmonton when the team was known as San Juan.

Supporting Ralat is Luis Cuascut, ranked 58^th globally and second in Puerto Rico. Cuascut, also a key figure in Puerto Rico’s AmeriCup triumph, is eager to return to Edmonton after a fourth-place finish in 2024.

The formidable duo is joined by Bryan Colon and Nathaniel Butler, completing a squad rich in experience and talent.

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) expressed excitement over hosting the first-ever 3×3 Quest in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The federation, in a release, highlighted that Carolina’s participation, along with other top-tier teams like Lausanne from Switzerland, will significantly enhance the tournament’s prestige.

The GBF pointed out, that the One Guyana Quest is the biggest 3×3 tournament to ever hit the Caribbean, and Guyana is ready to deliver an unforgettable event.

For Carolina, the One Guyana 3×3 Quest is a crucial step toward reclaiming glory on the world stage, however, the competition will be fierce, with teams from across the Americas and the Caribbean eager to make history.

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Dennis Simon called ‘Wawa’ was placed on $300,000 bail after he was hauled before the court for stealing a cow.

The offence was committed on November 24, 2024. The cow belonged to Tassamottie Lawrie.

The charge was read to Simon, a resident of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, when he appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

He pleaded not guilty and bail was granted.

The matter was adjourned to the March 17 for disclosure of statements.

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A 32-year-old labourer was sentenced to one-month imprisonment after he admitted to beating his wife last week in Essequibo.

Kevin Roberts of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged with assaulting his wife, Annalisa Francis, on Sunday, March 9, at Queenstown, Essequibo Coast.

The charge was laid under Section (21) of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act, Chapter 8:02.

The sentence was handed down after Roberts pleaded guilty to the charge.

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See below the full proclamation from US President Donald Trump: 

Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States. TdA operates in conjunction with Cártel de los Soles, the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela, and commits brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking.

TdA has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.

TdA is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime, including its military and law enforcement apparatus. TdA grew significantly while Tareck El Aissami served as governor of Aragua between 2012 and 2017. In 2017, El Aissami was appointed as Vice President of Venezuela. Soon thereafter, the United States Department of the Treasury designated El Aissami as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. El Aissami is currently a United States fugitive facing charges arising from his violations of United States sanctions triggered by his Department of the Treasury designation.

Like El Aissami, Nicolas Maduro, who claims to act as Venezuela’s President and asserts control over the security forces and other authorities in Venezuela, also maintains close ties to regime-sponsored narco-terrorists. Maduro leads the regime-sponsored enterprise Cártel de los Soles, which coordinates with and relies on TdA and other organizations to carry out its objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon to “flood” the United States. In 2020, Maduro and other regime members were charged with narcoterrorism and other crimes in connection with this plot against America.

Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA. The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States. Indeed, in December 2024, INTERPOL Washington confirmed: “Tren de Aragua has emerged as a significant threat to the United States as it infiltrates migration flows from Venezuela.” Evidence irrefutably demonstrates that TdA has invaded the United States and continues to invade, attempt to invade, and threaten to invade the country; perpetrated irregular warfare within the country; and used drug trafficking as a weapon against our citizens.
Based upon a review of TdA’s activities, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, on February 20, 2025, acting pursuant to the authority in 8 U.S.C. 1189, the Secretary of State designated TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

As President of the United States and Commander in Chief, it is my solemn duty to protect the American people from the devastating effects of this invasion. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., hereby proclaim and direct as follows:

Section 1. I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. I make these findings using the full extent of my authority to conduct the Nation’s foreign affairs under the Constitution. Based on these findings, and by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 50 U.S.C. 21, I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are, by virtue of their membership in that organization, chargeable with actual hostility against the United States and are therefore ineligible for the benefits of 50 U.S.C. 22. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are a danger to the public peace or safety of the United States.

Sec. 2. I direct the Attorney General, within 60 days of the date of this proclamation, to prepare and publish a letter under her signature declaring the policy described in section 1 of this proclamation as the policy of the United States and attaching this proclamation. I direct the Attorney General to transmit this letter to the Chief Justice of the United States, the chief judge of every circuit court of appeals, the chief judge of every district and territorial court of the United States, each Governor of a State and territory of the United States, and the highest-ranking judicial officer of each State and territory of the United States.

Sec. 3. I direct that all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation are subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and removal, and further that they shall not be permitted residence in the United States.

Sec. 4. Pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove every Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Secretary of Homeland Security retains discretion to apprehend and remove any Alien Enemy under any separate authority.

Sec. 5. All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall collaborate with law enforcement officials of the United States and with appropriate State, local, and tribal officials, to use all lawful means to apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation.

Sec. 6. Pursuant to my authority under 50 U.S.C. 21 to direct the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States toward the Alien Enemies subject to this proclamation, to direct the manner and degree of the restraint to which such Alien Enemies shall be subject and in what cases, to provide for the removal of such Alien Enemies, and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary “in the premises and for the public safety,” I hereby direct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to execute all the regulations hereinafter contained regarding the Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are further directed to cause the apprehension, detention, and removal of all members of TdA who otherwise qualify as Alien Enemies under section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to take all necessary actions under the Alien Enemies Act to effectuate this proclamation, consistent with applicable law. In doing so, and for such purpose, they are authorized to utilize agents, agencies, and officers of the United States Government and of the several States, territories, dependencies, and municipalities thereof and of the District of Columbia. All such agents, agencies, and officers are hereby granted full authority for all acts done by them in the execution of such regulations when acting by direction of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the case may be.

Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., I hereby declare and establish the following regulations which I find necessary “in the premises and for the public safety”:

(a) No Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation shall enter, attempt to enter, or be found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any such Alien Enemy who enters, attempts to enter, or is found within such territory shall be immediately apprehended and detained until removed from the United States. All such Alien Enemies, wherever found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are subject to summary apprehension.

(b) Alien Enemies apprehended pursuant to this proclamation shall be subject to detention until removed from the United States in such place of detention as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations.

(c) Alien Enemies shall be subject to removal to any such location as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations consistent with applicable law.

(d) All property in the possession of, or traceable to, an Alien Enemy, which is used, intended to be used, or is commonly used to perpetrate the hostile activity and irregular warfare of TdA, along with evidence of such hostile activity and irregular warfare, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.

The Attorney General is further granted authority, pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act and 3 U.S.C. 301, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to issue any guidance necessary to effectuate the prompt apprehension, detention, and removal of all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. Any such guidance shall be effective immediately upon issuance by the Attorney General.

This proclamation and the directives and regulations prescribed herein shall extend and apply to all land and water, continental or insular, in any way within the jurisdiction of the United States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

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(Reuters) President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked a little-used wartime law to expedite the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, saying the country was facing an “invasion” from a criminal organization that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized crime and contract killings.

In invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, Trump said members of the gang were “conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States” with the goal of destabilizing the country.

The act, which has only been used in times of war, could allow the president to bypass the due process rights of migrants categorized as threats and rapidly deport them.

While the proclamation was released by the White House on Saturday, the wording suggests Trump signed it on Friday.
Under Trump’s proclamation, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are found to be members of the gang, are within the United States, and are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the country are “liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.”

The Alien Enemies Act is best known for its use to justify internment camps for people of Japanese, German and Italian descent during World War Two.

Civil rights groups and some Democrats have criticized the idea of reviving it to fuel mass deportations and the move will likely trigger legal challenges.

The Trump administration in February designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and six other criminal groups as global terrorist organizations.

Saturday’s directive said that Tren de Aragua “has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens.”

LAWSUIT

Trump made the threat posed by the gang a regular feature of his campaign speeches as evidence of what he called a spike in “migrant crime.”

His action came as a federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked the U.S. government from deporting five Venezuelans after two non-profit groups sued saying invocation of the act would be illegal as it has only been “a power invoked in a time of war, and plainly only applies to warlike actions.”

The court granted a temporary restraining order, stopping the government from deporting them for 14 days. The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the groups that brought the suit, said the Venezuelans are seeking asylum.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court papers show the government has appealed the judge’s temporary restraining order.

The ACLU and another nonprofit group, Democracy Forward, will ask that the temporary restraining order be broadened to everyone in danger of removal under the act, they said in a joint statement.

Trump, a Republican, returned to the White House on January 20 vowing to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. But Trump’s initial deportations have lagged behind those of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who faced high levels of illegal immigration and rapidly deported many recent border crossers.

Trump has taken an array of actions to step up immigration enforcement, sending additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and reassigning federal agents to help track down immigration offenders.

But his administration has had to contend with backed-up immigration courts and limited detention space.

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First Lady Arya Ali on Saturday commissioned Independence Park at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast, fulfilling a promise  made to residents of Region two last year.  

Situated near the State House with access from the Anna Regina Public Road, the newly built  park is equipped with gazebos, benches, garbage receptacles, washroom facilities, and play amenities such as swings, slides, and seesaws for children.  

The park is one of a number of initiatives executed under the First Lady’s National  Beautification Project. It was done through a collaborative effort between the Office of the First  Lady, the Ministry of Public Works, and corporate sponsor Sheriff Guyana.  

Speaking at the commissioning, Mrs Ali said that the development of Independence  Park is part of a broader vision where our public spaces reflect the beauty, dignity, and pride of  our people.  

“It is a vision where every town, every village, and every community has access to spaces that  improve their quality of life,” she added.  

First Lady Arya Ali, her sons Zayd and Ilan and several others were at the commissioning ceremony of the park (Photo: DPI/ Facebook/ March 15, 2025)

More than 10 parks and public spaces have been developed across Guyana under the National  Beautification Project.  

The First Lady also highlighted the multifaceted nature of public parks which she said serves  both a social and economic purpose.  

“This park is more than just a place of leisure. It is a space where families can gather, where  children can play safely, where seniors can relax, where persons can gain employment and where  our community can come together. It is an investment in your well-being and in the future of  your children. Because when we invest in our people, we invest in the future of Guyana,” she  said.  

Mrs Ali noted too that the transformation in Anna Regina and across the Essequibo Coast is just  the beginning for the region and Guyana. 

“Across the country, your government is working tirelessly to improve roads, expand access to  education, and create more opportunities for young people. We believe that progress should not  be limited to Georgetown or the coastland. It must reach every region, every town, and every  home. And I stand here today to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind,” the First Lady added.  

Mayor of Anna Regina, Devin Mohan expressed appreciation for the gesture which he described  as “much needed” for the municipality.  

“Parks foster a sense of pride for communities and this is what this park does for us. Let us  recognize the significance of this moment and may it serve as a reminder of the great work being  done in our region,” he said, adding the work of the First Lady continues to uplift communities  across Guyana.  

Deliver remarks, too, was Regional Chairperson Ms Vilma DaSilva highlighted several  interventions which have been made in the region by the First Lady since she assumed office.  

DaSilva said that thousands of girls in the region are presently benefitting from the First Lady’s  Menstrual Hygiene Initiative which provides free sanitary pads to school-age girls in all regions.  

“Last year, almost 50 of our entrepreneurs benefitted from training through the Office of the First  Lady so her work continues to positively impact thousands of people of across all ages,” the  Regional Chairperson noted.  

The National Beautification Project aims to safeguard the scenic qualities of Guyana’s roadways,  urban spaces, and countryside through scenic revitalization; and promote social cohesion through  recreational activities and community development. Scenic revitalization can both motivate and  accelerate community renewal and reinvestment as part of a larger economic development plan (Press release from the Office of the First Lady) 

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To ensure early diagnoses and improve life expectancy in Guyana, every citizen will now benefit from a $10,000 health care voucher, an initiative expected to benefit 500,000 individuals.

This is made possible under the universal healthcare voucher programme which was launched on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Liliendaal.

Additionally, citizens can get a  40 to 70 per cent discount from the initial costs of medical tests offered at hospitals and laboratories through a  government partnership with more than 30 local facilities, including private labs and hospitals.

The universal healthcare voucher programme was launched on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Liliendaal (Photo: News Room/ March 15, 2025)

And for the hinterland communities, specific programmes are being worked out to ensure citizens receive their vouchers.

A sum of $5 billion was invested in this initiative, which forms part of government effort to achieve universal healthcare.

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony, President Dr Irfaan Ali said the government is committed to building a world-class health care system to serve the country and beyond.

The universal healthcare voucher programme was launched on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Liliendaal (Photo: News Room/ March 15, 2025)

“Once you have this voucher it is not only about 10,000 but it is about the 40 to 70 per cent discount of services you will receive at the private hospitals and centers,” President Ali said.

With massive investments made, Dr Ali highlighted that the private sector has working to improve the quality of service delivered, offering “seamless” healthcare.

“We are investing in equipment, technology and the tools for treatment,” Dr Ali noted.

Furthermore, he said the health care system is shifting from a treatment based to preventative based healthcare with focus on early detection, vaccination programmes, lifestyle changes and policy interventions.

So, the goal is to build a system that relies heavily on independence, removing human biasness.

For this to happen, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said efforts have begun to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into health care system.

The universal healthcare voucher programme was launched on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Liliendaal (Photo: News Room/ March 15, 2025)

“We have been using it in a very limited way but you will see us start changing and using these systems here in Guyana so that we can improve the quality of care that we are offering to our patients.

“We are moving into the 21 century in terms of medicine…also using technology to enable us to deliver quality care to our people,” Dr Anthony said.

Tests that can be done with the universal healthcare voucher include kidney, thyroid and liver function tests, a complete blood count, urine analyses and prostate antigen tests.

The vouchers can be accessed at community health centers, hospitals and outreach programmes.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday said the government is engaging the United States on its recent decision to place visa restrictions on officials believed to be involved in the export of Cuban workers.

And President Ali assured the public that the Cubans working in Guyana are treated fairly, per the country’s labour laws, and share benefits similar to local workers.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event on Saturday, President Ali said the government has written to the US through its official channels on the subject.

“Every country develops (its) own policy.

“Whatever workers we have here, whether it’s from Cuba, Africa, India, they fall under the same labour laws, local labour laws,” Dr Ali said.

Additionally, the President said the government ensures that the workers’ contracts and terms of employment align with international labour laws and standards.

Cuban labour restriction: Guyana still to engage US gov’t – Jagdeo

“We are not in breach of any of the laws. We are very confident that they are working in strict conformity with our laws,” President Ali said.

In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the country’s plans to expand a visa restriction policy targeting Cuban officials that are believed to be affiliated with a labour programme that sends Cuban workers overseas, especially those in the health sector. The US administration believes that Cubans may be part of a forced labour programme.

Guyana’s health sector, like others across the region, benefits significantly from the service of the Cubans. The announcement has been met with some pushback from other Caribbean leaders; Guyana maintains that diplomatic engagements should continue to resolve the issue.

President Ali on Saturday noted that the government also informed the US of Guyana’s willingness to provide any information necessary.

“We are more than willing to work with them because the US is a very important partner for Guyana and we work closely on a number of issues,” Dr Ali noted.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday assured the public that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government will comply with the constitution and announce a date for the 2025 General and Regional Elections shortly.

“Constitutionally, I still have a lot of time.

“Elections, constitutionally, (are) still closer to the end of the year so don’t worry. What you can be assured of is that this government will not go a single day beyond its constitutional mandate unlike what you’re accustomed to or what you would have been exposed to after the no-confidence motion,” President Ali told reporters at the sidelines of an engagement on Saturday.

Guyana’s last General and Regional Elections were held in March 2020; Dr. Ali, the party’s Presidential candidate, was sworn-in as President in August 2020 after several several attempts by the then government and figures from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to derail the process.

President Ali previously said he strongly believes that the party will win the next elections, doing so with a substantial margin.

“You can be assured that we will be within our constitutional mandate and confidently we will be marching into elections,” Dr Ali said on Saturday.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the PPP/C General Secretary, confirmed before that Dr. Ali will be the party’s presidential candidate.

At his last press conference held last Thursday, Jagdeo also said the party is at its strongest, evidenced by widespread support across the country. Similarly, in a 2024 yearend interview, President Ali opined that the PPP will win the upcoming elections with a huge margin as more people are embracing the party and its work across the country.

Meanwhile, a $7.3 billion budget was approved for GECOM earlier this year. In 2024, GECOM received an allocation of $3.5 billion; the increase ensures adequate funding for elections.

The budget allocation includes significant sums for staff training, with millions earmarked for the recruitment and preparation of the temporary workforce.

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Guyana Beverages Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to football development in Guyana, announcing a G$2.5 million sponsorship deal with Fruta Conquerors Football Club.

The agreement, which includes financial and product support, extends a long-standing partnership between the two organisations.

At a signing ceremony, Guyana Beverages Inc. General Manager Samuel Arjoon emphasised the company’s focus on youth development and professional football.

“Fruta Conquerors FC is more than just a football team; it is a movement dedicated to the professional growth of the sport in Guyana,” said Arjoon. “Our continued sponsorship is a demonstration of our commitment to investing in the future of Guyanese football in a structured and transparent manner.”

Arjoon also parallels the company’s past support of cricketing legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, highlighting their dedication to nurturing young talent.

Fruta Conquerors FC President, Martin Massiah, hailed the deal as a “game-changer” in the club’s ambition to become a fully licensed CONCACAF club. He praised the “healthy sponsor-club relationship” and called for further support from “visionary partners” to help revolutionise football in Guyana.

“We are calling on visionary partners who want to be part of something transformational,” Massiah stated.

“Football in Guyana is on the rise, and Fruta Conquerors is leading the charge.”

The sponsorship will provide vital resources for Fruta Conquerors to raise football standards in Guyana and beyond, reinforcing the club’s commitment to excellence, sustainability, and good governance.

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