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On the heels of the girls’ selection, the Guyana Under-21 boys hockey team has been selected for the 2025 PAHF Junior Challenge scheduled for Bridgetown, Barbados, from March 8-16.

The Guyana Hockey Board, in announcing the squad, said it comprises a good balance of experienced players and young newcomers, who have shown great potential as contributors to the team.

Sixteen players have been selected under the management of Head Coach Robert Fernandes, and Assistant Coaches Shane Samuels, John Abrahams and Tivesard Garnett.

Nkosi Saul controls under pressure

The boys’ team will comprise a strong core with as many as nine players remaining from their 2023 team, which finished a creditable fifth in the 2023 Junior Pan American Championships.

Most notable among those would be midfield maestro Shaquon Favorite, central defender Jabari Lovell and striker Simeon Moore.

In addition, to the nine players with international experience, all but two were part of the national junior straining squad over the past two years.

The two newcomers to the team are strikers 16-year-old Shane Sargeant and the youngest selectee at 15-years-old, Grant Fernandes.

Navid Hussein on the attack

The schools programme introduced a few years ago, that is facilitated by the Icool junior championships, is largely responsible for this solid crop of players with six coming out of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral program, five from the Saint Stanislaus programme.

Head Coach Robert Fernandes is cautiously optimistic of his team’s chances to medal, saying that the Guyanese players have only been exposed to competition at the highest Pan Am level, where matches against powerhouses like Argentina and the USA would have to be met with solid defensive resolve and a counterattacking mindset.

Simeon Moore races through the midfield

In this case, where he feels Guyana is a legitimate contender, the players need to adapt a more aggressive and attack-minded disposition with a lot more focus on possession and attacking build-ups.

Guyana’s first match, similar to that of the girls, is against Guatemala on March 8. They then go on to face Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil and hosts Barbados.

The ambition of the team is to finish in one of the top two positions to gain qualification for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games being hosted by Paraguay in August.

Young Grant Fernandes being challenged by Quinn Tobin

The full squad reads:

• Goalkeeper- Darious Alleyne
• Defenders- Donnel Alleyne, Jabari Lovell, Nkosi Saul, Quinn Tobin, Daniel Woolford
• Midfielders- Shaquon Favorite, Navid Hussain, Yonnick Norton, Simeon Moore
• Strikers- Grant Fernandes, Baraka Garnett, Anthony Harry, Robert Marcus, Shane Sargeant, Vladimir Woodroffe
• Standby Player- Clay Bobb

 

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Close to two years after she was charged, the teenager who is accused of setting the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory on fire back in 2023, causing the death of 20 children was recently committed to stand trial in the High Court.

The decision was handed down following the completion of a preliminary inquiry on February 14 by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

In his ruling, the magistrate found that there was sufficient evidence for the teenager to stand trial in the High Court.

The fire started shortly after 23:00 hrs on on Sunday, May 21, 2023 and continued for some three hours before it was controlled.

20 children- 19 girls and one boy- who were inside the building at the time perished.

Several others were injured.

Mahdia tragedy: President Ali commits to full compensation for affected families; hints at special inquiry

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI), chaired by Major (ret’d) Joe Singh, was later set up to investigate the incident.

After months of hearings, the report was presented and it called into question the lapses of several individuals in the events that led up to the fire, during the conflagration and even after.

The report of the CoI concluded that the fire was act of arson but said even a fully-equipped facility would not have yielded a different result.

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The final of the One Guyana Hope Festival football tournament was held on Sunday last (February 16) at the Queenstown Center Ground, with the championship played under the newly installed lights, a promise fulfilled by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

The event was hosted by Queenstown PYO and supported by Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture Ricky Ramraj and Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oudit.

Queenstown FC emerged victorious with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Henrietta FC in the final. The tournament, which featured 60-minute matches (30 minutes per half), showcased intense competition and remarkable skill.

Henrietta took the lead in the 17^th minute through Emmanuel Smith, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

However, Queenstown responded in the second half with a dramatic comeback.

Romal Hubbard equalised in the 52^nd minute before sealing the championship with a last-gasp winner in the seventh minute of extra time (60+7’), sending Queenstown’s supporters into jubilation.

Henrietta secured their spot in the final with a commanding 4-1 victory over Good-Hope FC in the tournament’s opening match.

Devon Hardy (12’), Ezekiel Scott (27’, 29’), and Leon Cole (60’) found the back of the net for Henrietta, demonstrating their attacking prowess.

Queenstown, on the other hand, had to fight hard to earn their place in the final. Their semi-final clash against Dartmouth ended in a 3-2 victory.

Dartmouth initially led 2-1 with goals from Antoine Griffith (19’) and Stephon Clarke (25’), while Queenstown’s Jayden Mahadeo (23’) and Romal Hubbard (32’) kept them in the game.

With just a minute remaining in regulation time, Kristoff Jones scored the decisive goal in the 59th minute, securing Queenstown’s berth in the final.

An exciting exhibition match saw a combined Queenstown/Dartmouth U-18 team defeat the Good-Hope/Henrietta U-18 squad 2-1, adding further entertainment to the festival.

The champions, Queenstown, walked away with a cash prize of G$300,000 and two footballs.

Henrietta, the runners-up, received G$100,000 and two footballs. Dartmouth and Good-Hope, finishing as joint third-place teams, each received G$50,000 and two footballs.

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Shubman Gill scored a superb unbeaten century after Mohammed Shami took 5-53 as India began their Champions Trophy campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh.

Set a modest target of 229 to win, Gill batted through and finished on 101 from 129 balls as India cruised to victory with 3.3 overs to spare.

India made a brilliant start in Dubai as they reduced Bangladesh to 35-5 halfway through the ninth over.

Shami took two wickets and spinner Axar Patel had two in two balls before captain Rohit Sharma dropped a regulation catch at slip to deny him a hat-trick.

Bangladesh avoided further humiliation thanks to a superb stand of 154 between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali.

It was slow going for large parts but the pair, who stayed together for 34 overs, kicked on after each passed 50.

Shami eventually broke the stand when he removed Jaker for 68, becoming the quickest man to 200 ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled in the process, and went on to complete his sixth five-wicket haul in one-day internationals.

Hridoy brought up his maiden ODI century from 114 balls before he was the last man out with two balls of the innings remaining.

The India chase got off to a swift start with Rohit making a quickfire 41 and Gill soon into his work to put the 2013 winners in command.

Bangladesh fought hard through the middle overs and will rue a dropped catch by Jaker to give KL Rahul a life – had it been taken India would have been five down with 64 runs still needed.

But Gill batted with great poise in a chanceless knock, mixing stylish shots with the requisite resolve to ensure India were never truly concerned.

The 25-year-old eased his way to an eighth ODI century from 129 balls and it was left to Rahul to seal the win with a six hoisted over deep backward square. (BBC)

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Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh told investors gathered on Thursday at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo that the government is serious, responsible, and eager to support new business ventures in the small South American nation.

To evidence his point, the Finance Minister outlined the government’s investments and wealth management. A key part of his argument was that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has, from 1992 to 2014 and then since 2020, been able to manage the country’s debt well.

He said from 1992 to 2014, the debt-to-GDP ratio was reduced from an alarming 617% to 38%. And since 2020, when the current administration took office again, the debt-to-GDP ratio has remained low and is now the second lowest in the hemisphere.

This ratio measures a country’s ability to repay its debt, or money borrowed. The Finance Minister posited that Guyana is well-positioned to repay its debts while continuing to invest in much-needed projects and social services.

As such, he assured current and potential investors that they would be operating in a country with a responsible government at the helm.

“You have in Guyana, and you have in this government led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, a country and a government that has a long track record of responsible economic management.

“As investors for the long term… you want to know that the people who are doing this are serious, responsible, credible people, who have a demonstrated track record of doing this even in times of considerably greater economic difficulty,” the Finance Minister said.

As he assured the investors that Guyana is a good place to invest because of its governance, Dr. Singh said business opportunities are abundant.

“It does not matter what you supply, there is a demand for whatever you produce and supply

“… We want to see many of you doing business in Guyana and doing business with your Guyanese counterparts,” he noted.

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As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government gather in Barbados for the 48th Regular Meeting on Wednesday, Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has outlined several pressing issues that are part of his country’s priorities.

The meeting, running from February 19 to 21, is taking place under the theme: “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development.”

In a public address ahead of the meeting, Dr. Ali spoke about the need for collective regional action in addressing both immediate and long-term challenges. He underscored that this CARICOM meeting comes at a critical juncture, with significant global shifts affecting geopolitical realities, trade arrangements, and regional security.

Free Movement, Trade Barriers, and Private Sector Engagement

One of the key issues Dr. Ali raised is the ongoing struggle with trade barriers within CARICOM. He expressed concerns about the slow pace of removing these obstacles, which continue to hinder the region’s economic growth. Additionally, the President highlighted the importance of free movement of people across member states. He stated that not only is this a matter of individual rights but also an issue of economic efficiency that affects the entire region.

He noted that Guyana’s private sector has raised similar concerns, and together with other regional stakeholders, they are pushing for swift action. With regional cooperation and dialogue on these matters, Dr. Ali believes that CARICOM can address these barriers effectively and bolster trade and economic integration across the Caribbean.

Strengthening Food Security Across the Region

Another cornerstone of Guyana’s agenda at the meeting is food security. Dr. Ali stressed that while the Caribbean region has made significant strides towards greater food self-sufficiency, there remain serious challenges. Natural disasters, for example, continue to wreak havoc on agricultural production, undermining the region’s capacity to ensure food security.

This aligns with CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 initiative, which aims to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25% by the end of 2025. As reported by CARICOM’s Agriculture Programme, this initiative has already led to increased production and the implementation of key agricultural policies. However, there is much more work to be done, particularly in strengthening the region’s resilience to external shocks such as climate change and natural disasters.

Supporting Democracy and Stability in Haiti

The situation in Haiti will also be a focal point of discussion at this CARICOM meeting. President Ali, alongside other regional leaders, will examine how CARICOM can continue to support Haiti in its ongoing efforts to secure democratic stability and rebuild following years of political and social unrest. Dr. Ali acknowledged that the international community must play a greater role in supporting Haiti, particularly through increased funding for security and humanitarian relief.

The CARICOM Heads of Government are expected to explore ways to build stronger international coalitions and partnerships to aid Haiti during this difficult time.

Energy Security and Regional Integration

In addition to the pressing issues of food security and political stability, Dr. Ali also emphasised the importance of energy security and regional integration. He spoke about efforts to develop an integrated energy plan for the region, which is essential for ensuring sustainable energy access for all CARICOM members. As a part of this, Guyana is working closely with other nations to operationalise energy integration, which could lead to a more resilient and efficient energy network throughout the Caribbean.

Elections, Digital Resilience, and the Future of Education

Looking ahead, Dr. Ali also outlined the need to discuss elections across the region, including how CARICOM can continue to play a pivotal role in securing democracy through free and fair processes. With several elections scheduled in the Caribbean this year, including in Guyana, the Heads of Government will likely discuss strategies to ensure electoral integrity and stability.

In the realm of digital transformation, Dr. Ali highlighted Guyana’s upcoming digital school project, which is set to launch by March. This initiative, aimed at promoting digital education across CARICOM, aligns with efforts to bolster the region’s digital resilience. The development of a common Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy will also be a topic for consideration, as CARICOM seeks to establish regulations that promote innovation while easing bureaucratic hurdles that slow business and economic growth.

 

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Described as two of the most “modern” pieces of legislation in the Caribbean, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has said the Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Act and the Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committal) Act was introduced to transform the criminal justice system.

Both legislations, one of which is already in operation, paves the way for shorter sentence time and robust case management which could tackle case backlogs.

Already, preliminary inquiries have been replaced with paper committal.

“These two pieces of legislations are the most modern expression of the systems possibly in the Caribbean.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

“We come from a tradition where our people want their day in court.

“That is why we are struggling even in the civil arena with concepts such as mediation and conciliation,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney General was at the time addressing judicial workers, including lawyers and prosecutors, who are participating in a workshop to discuss the two pieces of legislation.

The aim is to ensure persons are aware of the provisions catered for under these legislations and they benefit.

These laws include essential elements of the Needham Points Declaration which is mandated to be made at all levels of the criminal justice system.

“There is a culture that we are fighting against. We come from a tradition where our people would like to be in court,” Nandall said.

According to Nandlall, the defence faces great disadvantages when cases don’t run their course.

The plea bargaining law, Nandall said, is mandatory.

“For plea bargaining….it is the duty of the court to inform the accused or defendant that the option is available and he must explore that with the prosecution,” Nandall said.

The Criminal Law Procedure Plea Agreement and Assistance Act was bought into operation on January 21, 2025.

The law allows prosecutors and defendants to negotiate agreements before a verdict is pronounced upon.

The Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committal) Act 2024 is yet to be implemented as time was requested by the judiciary to facilitate the implementation of systems needed to accommodate the provisions of the new laws.

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Andrew Bhola, a 25-year-old mason who is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl, who went missing from her home was on Wednesday charged and remanded to prison.

Bhola of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Reliance Magistrate Court.

He was remanded to prison until March 11.

12-Y-O girl who went missing was raped

According to the Police, the victim was reported missing by her mother.

Last Friday, Police said the victim was escorted to hospital in the presence of her mother where a medical examination as conducted. It confirmed that the victim was raped.

Subsequently, Police said arrangements were made for a forensic interview to be conducted.

The victim has since been handed over to her mother.

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While there are great policies currently in effect in Guyana to include and empower women in development, SLB’s Managing Director, Sharlene Seegoolam, believes that an excellent policy can only be borne from diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Giving equity in the same space is not a checkbox, it is not a nice social initiative, it is not just the right thing to say to your employees—it is, in fact, an effective and therefore necessary business strategy or, in the case of a country, a nation-building strategy,” Seegoolam said during a panel discussion on Women’s Leadership at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

Seegoolam further explained that Guyana’s Local Content Policy also ensures that women and medium-sized businesses are given a “fair shot” in procurement processes. Over the last few years, these groups have seen remarkable growth in the sector.

“We are seeing more of them graduate and wanting to stay and work here. What that means for me personally, in my organisation, is that since we started recruiting five years ago, the face of my organisation in Guyana now, compared to five years ago, is completely different,” she explained, noting that SLB employs 76 local staff, 40 per cent of whom are women.

Now, SLB is working to employ persons with disabilities.

“Understanding that everyone contributes something means you start having better opportunities to build governments, businesses, and communities,” Seegoolam stated.

Also on the panel was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, who commended the enthusiasm with which the local private sector has been working alongside the government in the development of women.

Regarding government initiatives, Parag spoke about the various farmers’ groups formed by women and noted:

“The government has set up agro-processing facilities in various communities to empower women, as well as shade houses where women’s groups plant, contribute, and earn an income.

“Obviously, we can do more. I don’t think we ever stop at one point and say, ‘this is enough,’” Minister Parag stated.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, also joined the conversation to discuss the empowerment of women through land ownership across the country.

“If you look at the allocations we have done in the last four years, 18,000 single women now own land in Guyana.

“So, these are 18,000 women that we have empowered by making them homeowners very early in their lives,” Rodrigues highlighted.

Meanwhile, Supply Chain Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, Hayley Gilbert, said the oil giant is dedicated and committed to the development of each of its employees.

“Our compensation and assessment processes are all designed to drive unbiased outcomes, but it is not enough to stop there. So, we have several different employee resource groups designed to support the development of employees across the board—one of which is our Women’s Resource Network, along with structured and unstructured mentoring,” Gilbert explained.

Mentorship, Gilbert said, is equally important in ensuring women have equal opportunities.

“I have been fortunate enough to be part of these mentoring programmes, and when you think about a career as a marathon and not a sprint, being able to build up that network and have teams, peers, and colleagues you look up to and rely on has been foundational to my personal success.”

To the women in the audience attending the Energy Conference, Gilbert urged them to believe in themselves, encourage other women, and have the courage to seize opportunities.

“As women, we need to make sure we are encouraging ourselves and our peers to have just enough courage for 10 minutes—to raise our hands and volunteer for the opportunity or to say yes when the opportunity presents itself.

“I encourage all our women here, and others, to make sure you have enough courage in the moment to say yes. Remember that you also possess infinite intelligence, and when things get tough, call on those around you.”

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Significant gas reserves were found offshore Guyana and President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, has said the company is exploring the opportunities for the use of these resources.

Mr. Routledge told delegates at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo that possible gas ventures include refining bauxite to make alumina, power data centres, and supplying energy to fertiliser plants.

ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana will explore these options and develop the gas market, Routledge added.

He gave an update on the company’s oil and gas operations in the prolific Stabroek Block on Wednesday. Though several new oil projects are unfolding, Mr. Routldge said recent appraisal work has shown that there are substantial gas resources for use.

Exxon seeking authorisation for eighth project offshore Guyana, optimistic about gas reserves

Already, about 50 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of gas will be supplied to the mega energy project at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The gas will be transported via a pipeline from the Liza project in the Stabroek Block.

A 300-megawatt (MW) power plant is being constructed in Wales; it will use natural gas from the Stabroek Block to generate cleaner, cheaper electricity. Additionally, a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) processing plant will treat the gas, removing liquids such as propane and butane for commercialisation.

At what ExxonMobil believes will be its eighth development, Longtail in the south-eat portion of the Stabroek Block, about 1 to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day can be produced. And with that, Routledge said, comes the opportunity to pursue several ventures be it alumina production or powering the data centres.

“It’s enormous,” he said, describing the non-associated gas reserves at Longtail.

He, however, noted that producing and marketing gas resources are a bit more complex than oil resources.

“Transporting and storing gas is much more expensive than it is to transport and store oil,” he said.

As such, the company is diligently studying the appraisal work done on the gas resources and exploring how the gas will be used.

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