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See below the full statement from the Government of Guyana:

Guyanese ought not to be surprised by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton’s criticisms of the appointment of Mr. Clifton Hicken to the Office of the Commissioner of Police. Upon the retirement of Mr. David Ramnarine, Mr. Hicken was the most senior member of the Guyana Police Force but was deliberately and capriciously sidelined by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, which appointed two members of the Force to act in the Office of the Commissioner of Police, successively, both of whom were junior to Mr. Hicken. To date, Mr. Hicken remains the most senior member of the Guyana Police Force and, no doubt, is duly qualified to have been appointed Commissioner of Police.

The Coalition Government’s track record of constitutional violations disqualifies the People’s National Congress (PNC), the main Coalition partner, of any moral authority to lecture any one on constitutionality and the rule of law, in particular, as it relates to the appointment of Commissioner of Police. The last appointment they made to that Office was done on 31st July, 2020, the last day of their demission of Office and five months after they lost the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Worse yet, the appointment was made not by the President but by the Permanent Secretary of the then Ministry of Public Security. It is ironic that ‘no consultation’ is Mr. Norton’s cry now, but when that appointment was made, the then Leader of the Opposition was not even informed, moreover consulted.

For the public record, the Government maintains most resolutely that Mr. Clifton Hicken was lawfully appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 211 of the Constitution of Guyana and in due compliance with the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, Cap. 27:12.

Further, the Leader of the Opposition was duly consulted in the manner required by the letter and spirit of the Constitution in relation to that appointment.

Mr. Norton is free to take whatever legal recourse he deems necessary. It is appropriate that the Government reminds that it is not the first time that Mr. Norton will be challenging Mr. Hicken’s appointment. When Mr. Hicken was appointed to act in the Office of the Commission of Police, Mr. Norton challenged that acting appointment on the very ground that the President did not consult with the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Norton’s legal challenge was dismissed by the High Court and he chose not to appeal that dismissal. Needless to say, any legal challenge filed will be vigorously defended.

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Clifton Hicken was Thursday sworn in as Guyana’s Commissioner of Police, after acting in the role since 2022.

Hicken was confirmed in this position after taking the Oath of Office before the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

Additionally, top Police officials Ravindradat Budhram, Wendell Blanhum, Errol Watts, and Fizul Karimbaksh were sworn in as Deputy Commissioners of Police.

Mr. Simon McBean, who is out of the jurisdiction, will be sworn in as Deputy Police Commissioner subsequently.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn alongside the newly sworn in Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken and top Police officials Ravindradat Budhram, Wendell Blanhum, Errol Watts, and Fizul Karimbaksh were sworn in as Deputy Commissioners of Police

Members of the political opposition were among those who opposed Mr. Hicken’s substantive appointment. A legal challenge was brought by Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton but it was dismissed by Chief Justice (ag.) Roxane George SC.

Subsequently, in a statement, Attorney General Nandlall SC said Article 211(3) of the Constitution provides that the Commissioner of Police shall vacate office when he “attains such age as may be prescribed by Parliament.”

Parliament has prescribed this in the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, Cap. 27:12. Section 2 of this Act states that the retirement age of the Commissioner of Police is 55 years. However, Section 2(b) of the Act allows the President to authorize the Commissioner of Police to continue in office, but not beyond 60 years.

By letter dated 21st July 2023, and based on the recommendation of the Police Service Commission, His Excellency granted Mr. Hicken, whose 55th birthday was on 22nd July 2023, “permission to continue to act in the office of Commissioner of Police and to perform those functions until a time to be determined.

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ExxonMobil Guyana will mark five years of oil production in Guyana on December 19, a significant achievement that underscores the transformative potential of the country’s growing energy sector.

Since “first oil” at the offshore Liza Phase 1 project five years ago, Guyana has become the third largest per-capita oil producer in the world. The oil-and-gas sector has spurred tremendous economic growth in Guyana, helping to elevate the country to one of the fastest-growing economies globally.

ExxonMobil Guyana is dedicated to enhancing local capacity, and Guyanese businesses and workers play critical roles in its operations. More than 6,000 Guyanese are currently employed in good-paying industry jobs, and ExxonMobil Guyana and its suppliers have invested more than GY $2 billion to procure goods and services from more than 1,700 local Guyanese businesses.

“We’re focused on capacity building, local content development, and environmental stewardship to ensure the benefits of Guyana’s oil-and-gas production reach every corner of the country. We’re grateful for the strong collaboration with our co-venturers, Hess and CNOOC, and with the Government of Guyana – all of whom have played crucial roles in responsibly developing Guyana’s natural resources,” said Alistair Routledge, ExxonMobil Guyana President.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s deepwater developments are the most successful in the world. In five years, the company has started up three complex offshore mega-projects on schedule and on budget, while simultaneously advancing plans for five additional projects by the end of the decade. Production capacity in Guyana is expected to surpass 1.7 million barrels per day, with gross production growing to 1.3 million barrels per day, by 2030.

“Working alongside our co-venturers and the Government, we are doing our part to foster a brighter future for all Guyanese,” said Routledge. “ExxonMobil Guyana proudly celebrates this five-year milestone as a shared achievement, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with the people of Guyana.” (ExxonMobil press release) 

Editor’s note: The ExxonMobil release originally said that ExxonMobil Guyana and its suppliers have invested more than GY $2 trillion to procure goods and services from more than 1,700 local Guyanese businesses. That has since been updated to more than GY $2 billion. 

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Horse racing in Guyana is set to change with the implementation of the needed regulatory framework.

On Wednesday, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. tabled the Horse Racing Authority Bill in Parliament.

According to the Minister, “The law, when passed, will regulate horse racing in the country for the first time and will allow for its modernisation.”

Key elements include provisions to address violations, expand the Authority’s membership, introduce term limits, and implement licensing for owners, jockeys, and trainers.

Earlier in the year, the Minister had assured that the draft was completed and the bill would be tabled.

The Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) developed draft legislation for the sport in 2014, but thus far, it has not progressed beyond that stage.

This development is expected to bring clarity, structure, and oversight to the horse racing industry in Guyana, marking a significant step toward its formal recognition and regulation.

Horse Racing Authority Bill:   24144-bill_no._23_of_2024

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The long-awaited completion of the Pirara Bridge, which forms part of the transformative Kurupukari to Lethem project, is set to enhance travel for thousands of commuters heading to Lethem and beyond.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill made the announcement during an engagement in the Amerindian village of Nappi on Monday.

“The Pirara bridge is now completed, traffic is flowing,” Minister Edghill said, signalling the project’s progress.

He added that while the bridge is operational, ancillary works like site clean-up, shaping of hills, and riverbank fortification are ongoing.

The bridge is among 32 concrete bridges constructed along the Kurupukari-Lethem corridor. It was completed well ahead of its December target time.

The bridge, built by Vals Construction to international standards, forms part of a broader project to modernise critical links across Guyana’s hinterland.

The initiative aligns with the government’s vision to advance hinterland development under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C Administration.

Communities benefitting from the installation of the concrete bridges include Iwokrama, Surama, Carmudi, Massara Junction, Annai, Yakarinta, Gunip Landing, Point Ranch, Hunt Oil, and Pirata.

The corridor also supports travel to the border town of Lethem, a hub for commerce and tourism, linking Guyana to Brazil and the wider South American market.

It also links to the 13 major bridges from Linden to Mabura Road, Together, these projects reduce travel time, improve access to services, and open opportunities for trade, agriculture, and tourism.

This development reaffirms the government’s efforts to ensure no region is left behind even as Guyana advances its national infrastructure agenda (Republished from the Department of Public Information)

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Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr. Kishore Shallow has doubled down on his commitment to governance reform, despite significant resistance from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

The two territorial boards failed to attend a crucial meeting earlier this month to vote on implementing proposed reforms, stalling progress on modernising CWI’s governance structure.

Shallow, while acknowledging the challenge of achieving consensus among all stakeholders, emphasised the importance of reform.

“There is a shared commitment from CWI to continue to champion governance reform. Part of that is for us to sensitise our stakeholders, our territorial boards included, to strengthen their own governance structure,” Shallow declared during the CWI’s quarterly press conference on Monday.

The December 6 meeting was convened to address the adoption of key recommendations from the Wehby Report, drafted by Jamaican business mogul Don Wehby, which seeks to introduce term limits, adjust term durations for leadership positions, and enhance the overall governance framework. The absence of the GCB and BCA prevented the meeting from reaching a quorum and, as such, forced its adjournment.

According to Shallow, the no-show of the two territorial boards has created a significant roadblock in advancing reforms that have otherwise gained widespread support across the region.

“I can safely say all the territorial boards that attended the meeting on the sixth of December were in full support of governance reform,” Shallow noted.

“The independent directors as well are also in support of governance reform. We have had several meetings and consultations with different stakeholders as well. The Prime-Ministerial Sub Committee on Cricket… are champions of such change, and we will continue to make efforts in that regard,” he added

Both the GCB and BCA have expressed concerns about the proposed reforms, with the BCA advocating for a rotational policy for leadership.

However, Shallow explained that this proposal had already been reviewed and dismissed through established processes.

“We have a governance committee chaired by Arjoon Ramlal, one of our directors, and those recommendations from Barbados, including the rotational policy for leadership, have gone through the process and have been rejected. It came to the board again and was rejected again. So, this has not found favour. In fact, it is just a minority that has been advocating for this,” Shallow revealed.

That said, Shallow remains steadfast in his efforts to bring the GCB and BCA into alignment with the rest of the region.

“This is a case of continued effort, and we are going to continue to sensitise those two members who are clearly not in full alignment with the rest of the shareholders. We will continue to do whatever it takes to onboard them with governance reform,” Shallow ended. (SportsMax)

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West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein is now the world’s number-one ranked bowler in T20 internationals following the latest ICC player rankings released on Wednesday.

Hosein, with figures of 2 for 13 in the first CG United T20 International against Bangladesh at Arnos Vale, leapt three places to the summit of the rankings.

The left-arm spinner, who predominantly bowls in the powerplay, rose to 707 rating points, unseating England’s Adil Rashid, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, and Australia’s Adam Zampa.

Hosein, who is now the joint third-highest wicket-taker for the West Indies in the format with 60 scalps alongside Andre Russell, follows in the footsteps of Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine as the only West Indies bowlers to be ranked number one in T20s.

Meanwhile, Gudakesh Motie is ninth in the bowling rankings with 651 rating points, while Roston Chase rose to a career-best ninth in the all-rounder category.

On the batting side, captain Rovman Powell jumped 10 spots to now be ranked 22, as Shai Hope slipped four spots and is now ranked 24th.

Despite slipping three spots to 14th, Nicholas Pooran remains the highest-ranked West Indies batsman in the format, with Brandon King (17th) and Johnson Charles, who rose six places to 19th, the next best. (SportsMax) 

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The ICC has finally reached a breakthrough in the 2025 Champions Trophy impasse, with a hybrid model agreed upon that will see India’s matches in the eight-team event taking place at a neutral venue.

In return, Pakistan’s matches in ICC events hosted by India will also take place at a neutral venue.

ESPNcricinfo has seen a resolution with details of the agreement, which went through an ICC board vote.

In the agreement, during the 2024-2027 event cycle, all matches involving India in an event hosted in Pakistan will be played at a neutral venue, and in return all matches involving Pakistan in an event hosted by India will be played at a neutral venue.

In both instances, all matches are taken to include knockout games such as the semis and the final.

The agreement begins with the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and will apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup which is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The last event offers an easy solution with Sri Lanka as co-host but it would mean that any game India and Pakistan are drawn to play – a group game or a knockout – will take place in Sri Lanka.

It could also apply to the 2028 women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next events cycle and which has now been awarded to Pakistan.

The choice of neutral venue will be made by the tournament host and will need to be approved by the ICC. In the case of the Champions Trophy, the PCB has to propose a neutral venue within 24 hours of the resolution being passed.

The UAE has been the frontrunner, though Sri Lanka has also been mentioned. The PCB will retain full hosting rights for the event.

The resolution also refers to the possibility of a triangular or quadrangular T20I tournament, involving India, Pakistan and another Full Member from Asia (and an Associate Asian nation if it is a quadrangular). This is thought to have been one of the points pushed for by the PCB in its negotiations during the impasse, although the ICC has only said that it will not object to such an event being staged and that similar neutral venue arrangements will apply as those in the ICC event model.

The resolution also says that no ICC director will make a public announcement on the tri-series, which will be a matter solely between the BCCI and PCB.

The resolution will allow all parties to breathe a considerable sigh of relief, given how close it is to the start date of the Champions Trophy.

The uncertainty has plagued the event from the moment the BCCI notified the ICC that it would not travel to Pakistan for the event more than a month ago.

That sparked off a period of intense negotiations between the PCB, BCCI and the ICC, and was complicated by the poor political relations between the two countries.

The governments of both countries were involved in final approvals on the agreement but were also present through the process; Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair, is the interior minister in Pakistan’s government.

Jay Shah, who was the BCCI secretary until December 1 when he took over as ICC chairman, is the son of India’s home minister, Amit Shah.

The PCB had begun by insisting they would not adopt a hybrid model for the event but subsequently began to push for any solution to be more equitable and just in the longer term.

In that sense, they will be happy to have secured an agreement on not playing matches in India in the next two ICC events in the country. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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In a significant boost for youth basketball, Francis-Lau Boyce Construction Limited stepped up as the title sponsor for the recently concluded Titan Bowl XIII Tertiary Knockout tournament, showcasing their commitment to the sport and the community.

The tournament was organised by Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG).

The thrilling event wrapped up Sunday at the National Gymnasium, where the competition was fierce.

As part of their sponsorship, the company will outfit the Boys under-18 champions, Queen’s College, who clinched the title in a nail-biting 49-46 victory over Kwakwani.

On the girls’ side, Kwakwani emerged victorious, edging President’s College with a score of 19-15.

Meanwhile, Linden Technical Institute took home the ENet trophy for the tertiary division, solidifying its place in the tournament’s history.

Rayad Boyce, a director of the construction firm, expressed pride in their support and underscored their strong connection to and passion for the sport.

“We’re thrilled to contribute to an event that inspires young athletes,” he stated, highlighting the importance of fostering talent in the community.

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Amendments to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act to guarantee “prompt” payment and “adequate” compensation in cases where the government needs to acquire private properties and land for public use were passed Wednesday in the National Assembly.

The government used its majority in the House to vote for passage of the Bill containing the amendments. The opposition had promised support to the Bill after meeting with the Attorney General on Tuesday and having their questions clarified. However, on Wednesday, they wanted the Bill to be sent to a special Parliamentary committee, where it could have been stalled.

The new law, authorising the State to acquire private properties and land for public purposes, does not introduce new powers to the government, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall sought to remind the sitting of the legislature. He noted that the law existed since 1914 and has been revised over the years. The only change the government sought was to ensure that where properties are acquired that the owners received prompt and adequate compensation.

Clause 2 of the Bill amends Section 7 (1) of the previous Act by providing that the handing over of the land in the State is subject to prompt payment or any adequate compensation. Secondly, the amendment guarantees the State’s right to vacate possession of the land that is acquired.

Nandlall sought to explain that the subject minister cannot simply “wake up” one day and decide he wants to procure private lands, but this requires a thorough procedure and specific requirements.

During his address at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, he stressed that there is no new power being given to the government, but that the power has always resided with the State.

Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul, during his address, accused the government of trying to amend the act in a piece meal fashion, and called for it to be sent to a Special Select Committee to ensure a more holistic review.

He charged that the bill is a reactionary one that has suddenly attracted government’s attention because of what is happening at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

“Instead of us being reactionary based on a situation, why not let us look at the Bill in a greater context? Because Guyana is moving in a different direction right now because of oil resources,” he said.

Mahipaul maintained that the current amendments produced is helpful in addressing only isolated aspects of the Act.

Clause 3 of the Bill substitutes for Section 24 A, which deals with the payment of land bonds, a new Section 24 A which establishes the legal framework for the minister to make an advance cash payment to an interested and authorised person.

An advance payment will only be paid after the land is acquired by the State, if requested by the authorised person and where there is satisfactory proof of title.

The advance payment would not exceed 80 percent of the purchase money or adequate compensation and where the land is the subject of a mortgage or any other similar registered encumbrance, the minister would pay such advance payment as would be required for securing the release of the interest of the mortgage or the creditor.

Further, an advance payment on account of adequate compensation in respect of land which is the subject of settlement or trust would be made to the persons entitled to give a discharge for capital money.

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