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…Bharrat attributes increase to crackdown on illegal mining

The Guyana Government’s efforts to streamline the mining industry and crack down on illegal activities have yielded results, with gold declarations increasing by 25,000 ounces during the first six months of this year. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat made this revelation during an appearance on the recent episode of the Starting Point podcast.
“I’m happy to say that in 2026, we have reached our budgeted target of gold declaration for the half-year period… I think it’s 233,000 ounces. We have reached that target, which is about 25,000 ounces more than last year from the same period,” the Minister indicated. According to Bharrat, the industry had not recorded such outstanding performance since 2016, when large companies such as the Guyana Gold Fields and Troy Resources were actively operating here. Since then, there had been a dip in declaration until 2024, when a slight increase was recorded compared to the previous year. In 2025, there was an increase of some 52,000 ounces in production for the entire year.
The Natural Resources Minister noted that, “…last year, ending of June, we were 25,000 below what we have now. Right now, we’re close to 240,000 ounces that has been declared over this period of time. Mind you, the weather conditions [were] not favourable to us.”

Zero-tolerance & illegal mining
Nevertheless, Minister Bharrat attributed this mid-year increase in gold declarations to the Government’s serious crackdown, which heightened earlier this year, on miners and mining companies that did no or limited declarations last year.
“We had caused not to renew some of their licences and permits,” the Natural Resources Minister stated. “We had to blacklist some of the non-nationals, whose declarations were very low or non-existent. They cannot come back in the country and engage in the mining sector. And we have been on a serious campaign since then – a zero-tolerance approach to illegal activities in the mining sector.”
Only last month, the Natural Resources Ministry seized more than 15 pieces of mining equipment, including engines, excavators and pumps after errant miners in the North-West District (NWD) area in Region One (Barima-Waini) failed to adhere to proper mining practices. This was followed by the Ministry, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), shutting down six illegal operations within the Mazaruni Mining District in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in June. The six illegal mining sites were operating within a quarry area, leading to the arrest of 38 people. Several pieces of equipment and machinery used to support the unlawful activities were also seized.

Hefty fine
According to Bharrat, those who want to recover the seized equipment would have to pay a hefty fine.
“I can tell you, the fine is not an easy fine… If we find you’re mining illegally, we will seize your equipment because you’re engaging in illegal activities.  You want it back, you will pay a fine. We will quantify the amount of gold that you produce. And based on that, you will be fined. And worse yet, if you have not been selling the gold to a [legal] buyer, you may face even further prosecution. So, we have been on this serious campaign. And I think because of this, we are seeing the results now. We are, for the first time in about nine years, that we have actually reached our half-year budgeted target,” the Natural Resources Minister stated. In fact, backed by significant investments in the mining sector and strengthened Government efforts to curb unlawful practices, the Guyana Government expects gold declarations to rise to 510,450 ounces this year.

National mining company
Meanwhile, as the mining industry continues to see improved performance, the Guyana Government is looking to ensure that locals, especially small- and medium-scale miners, benefit. Just last month, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced plans to set up a national mining company – comprising small, medium and large Guyanese miners – to take up large-scale opportunities in Guyana.
“We’re going to come together, create a consortium, buy the best technology, do all of the technical work and move towards creating a world-class mining company owned by Guyanese, built by Guyanese, in which every citizen [within the mining sector is involved],” Ali stated. This, the President explained, will broaden financial participation and access to various mechanisms for many Guyanese, thus enabling financial inclusion at every level. He added that it will also ensure that Guyanese retain ownership of the opportunities within the local mining sector.
“Instead of having large miners from around the world taking up the large-scale opportunity, we’re going to come together…[and develop the] national mining company that involves all of the large, medium, and small-sized miners and every Guyanese family,” he stated. For years, foreign companies from around the world have been coming to Guyana and taking up large-scale mining. In Region Seven – one of the country’s main mining districts – Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) Inc, which is the only large-scale operating gold mine in Guyana, has been acquired by China-based Zijin Mining. Across the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, there are currently some 2524 active mining properties.
In 2025, small- and medium-sized miners declared approximately 94,000 ounces of gold. This is in addition to the 165,000-ounce declaration made by the Chinese-owned large-scale gold operator. Currently, the Oko West Gold Project in Region Seven is being built out by a Canadian-based gold mining company, G Mining Ventures (GMIN). The Oko West Gold Project is currently in its construction phase, with the company aiming to complete these works by the third quarter of 2027 before transitioning into full-scale operations with a production target of 350,000 ounces of gold annually.
However, the introduction of the national mining company in Guyana could see local stakeholders being actively involved in similar large-scale operations. Previously, the Guyana Government had approached the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) for them to explore putting together a local consortium to take over the abandoned Troy Resources large-scale operations in Region Seven.
The Australian-based mining company had ceased operations here in 2023, and the Government subsequently terminated their licence, taking over ownership of the abandoned mining property. With the closure of the Troy Resources operation, a portion of the previously licensed area was subdivided into 27-acre parcels and allocated to local small miners under a structured arrangement. Nearly 100 small miners are currently operating in that area.

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For Raul Adams, writing the best letter in the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA)was not a race against time but rather an opportunity to allow his creativity to flow.
Adams emerged as the top performer in the letter-writing component of the English Paper Two examination at the 2026 NGSA, impressing examiners with his ability to structure his thoughts, communicate clearly and bring his words to life.
The examination task required candidates to imagine that their family was planning a camping trip and that they were allowed to invite a friend. Pupils were asked to write a letter explaining why their friend should join the adventure.
For Adams, a student of St Sidwell’s Primary School, the achievement was about making those closest to him proud.
Speaking confidently with this publication about his preparation process, Adams explained that his accomplishment was the result of dedication and determination.

“I’m a very hard-working, ambitious young man,” Adams said. “When I was writing, I just wanted to make my parents proud.”
His success, however, did not happen overnight; he explained that his love for writing was strengthened through additional support, including an online writing workshop conducted by his teacher, who helped him develop his skills in composition and letter writing.

“Keep your confidence up”
The young writer admitted that creating a strong piece of writing does come with challenges, including moments when ideas do not immediately come together.
“Sometimes I get writer’s block. For example, if they ask you to give three reasons for something [specifically in the exam], sometimes I can only think of one reason,” he explained.

However, Adams said he learned to overcome those moments by staying focused and continuing to put the point of his pen into action.
He recalled that his parents played a major role in helping him improve, especially during the early stages of his writing journey.
“My parents supported me a lot. At first, I wasn’t good at writing letters or compositions, but then my dad wrote one, and I learnt from it,” he said.
Despite the pressure of examinations, Adams said writing remains something he enjoys, and he encouraged other students to believe in their abilities.
“Keep your confidence up. If you think you’re not working hard enough, you’ll have to work harder,” he advised.
With his strong foundation in writing and his determination to continue improving, Adams is already looking ahead to the next chapter of his academic journey.

Challenging but rewarding
Meanwhile, for Kaitlyn Gurcharran, success at the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment did not come without sacrifice.
Behind her achievement as one of Guyana’s top-performing pupils were a series of early mornings, late nights, and moments of doubt but with firm family support.
Reflecting on her preparation with this publication, the young student of Mae’s Under 12 Primary said that the journey was challenging but rewarding.
“It was very hard having to wake up early and sleep late, but I pushed through it with the grace of God, of course, and with the help of my family, friends, and my teachers,” she shared.
Despite the pressure of preparing for one of the most important examinations in her academic journey, Gurcharran said she developed perseverance, especially during moments when she questioned whether she could continue.
“When I had to wake up early, I used to think that I should just not do it, but then I remembered that I should continue doing it and keep pushing, and I guess that did show with the results,” she told this publication.
She also recalled the disappointment she sometimes felt when her performance in quizzes did not meet her expectations but said the encouragement from her teachers and parents helped her overcome those challenges.
“When I would get much more wrong in a quiz than I thought I would, I would want to just give up, but then my teachers, my mom, and my dad would remind me that when you fail, you can get back up and do much better. That’s probably what kept me going and helped me face those challenges.”
Looking ahead, Gurcharran already has her sights set on a career in the financial sector, inspired partly by her interest in Mathematics and the example set by her father.
“I find that I really like Mathematics and I’m good at it, so I would like to be a bank accountant or something in a bank when I grow up,” she said.
However, she was quick to point out that her dream is one she developed for herself.
“It’s strictly my dream, but I’ve seen how my father works, and it inspired me a bit.”
Her father, Shawn Gurcharran who is the Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), has played a significant role in her development, especially during the demanding preparation period.
“I look up to him because during the time when I was studying, he would stay up with me. He always has my back; he is kind, and with my family, he always dedicates time. He is very hard-working, and that inspires me,” she explained.
Gurcharran also highlighted the important role played by her mother in helping her achieve her goal.
“My mom helps a lot. She is always there for me and supports me through everything, especially when things get difficult.”
For the young achiever, receiving her results brought a mixture of relief and gratitude after weeks of uncertainty.
She admitted that she became worried after hearing that some students received calls about their performances.
“After the exams, I had to wait so long, and the anxiety would have built up over time, but I remembered that I just had to keep trusting God. I would pray every night, and then the day came. I heard a lot of people got the call, but I didn’t, so I began to worry. But then when the results came out, I realised that I did very, very well, and I really just want to thank God for that.”
Her advice to other students is simple: “Never give up.”
“I would tell them that no matter what you do, if you fall down, make sure you get back up and thank God that you got back up. And if you’re still up and you didn’t fall down, still thank God no matter what you do, because you’re up.”

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Dear Editor,
Azruddin Mohamed, a man wanted by the United States law enforcement authorities to face criminal prosecution in that country upon indictments alleging serious criminal conduct, recently published a video hoping to “make waves” by holding out that he had discovered that His Excellency President Ali had a farm somewhere along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. In that video Mohamed held out that the extent of the farm was 150 acres and, in the fashion of a property consultant/real estate appraiser, put forward values on buildings and on the extent of development on that property.
Having arrived at a global figure on what he presumes to be the level of investment in the President’s farm purely in an unfounded, unjustified and speculative way, the wanted man Azruddin Mohamed then, referring to what he considered to be the President’s salary, queried how the President was able to fund his investment. Ironically, it is a similar question that the people of Guyana ask of Azruddin Mohamed: “How and from where were you able to amass such significant wealth, amounting to billions?” President Ali has made a public disclosure on the source of funding for his investment, which he says was through loans from financial institutions.  In a public presentation the President made the following key points:
(a)   His farm could not have been discovered by Azruddin Mohamed because he was well aware of the existence of the farm. There being no denial or refutation of the President’s disclosure, one is left to conclude that Mohamed went to the President’s farm with his drone (and probably accompanied by a bevy of half-naked Venezuelan women) purely with a malicious motive, calculated to tarnish the reputation and image of the President and with the vain hope that he could gather the company of the President and drag him into his (Mohamed’s) own sorry mess. An Afro-Guyanese, recently, in my view, correctly noted that Mohamed’s video disclosure evidenced his response that if he had to face the likelihood of extended incarceration in the United States without help from the PPP, then in that circumstance he would do anything in his power to drag the President and the Government down with him.
(b) The President disclosed that Azruddin Mohamed’s assertion that his farm covered 150 acres was a wicked, deliberate and malicious lie. Many are of the view that such malice, misrepresentation and distortion could only come from a mind that had not a care for truth and honesty.
(c) Having questioned the President’s financial capabilities to meet the demands of expenditure on his investment, notwithstanding the wicked, cunning and malicious intent evident in the speculative nature of Mohamed’s enquiry, the President disclosed that he sought financial support for his agricultural pursuits by securing loans from financial institutions. To the reasonable mind, that explanation ought to be seen as a reasonable and acceptable answer and would be so seen by most men of reason and understanding.
Enter David “the Black Moses” Hinds and his “blacker than black” brother Gabriel “the iceberg spotter” Lall. It was pathetic to watch two grown men, patently full of scorn, prejudice and bias towards President Ali, other PPP leaders and the PPP-led Government generally, engage in what they would want described as a healthy conversation about President Ali but which was one dripping with criticism and bile and in which they found humour in their own speculative, false and fabricated narrative.
Gabriel Lall, whom I believe is a Catholic Christian (or so he says), repeated Azruddin Mohamed’s wicked and false assertion that the President held 150 acres of farmland, but then David Hinds played the President’s video statement during his programme with Lall. I am certain that Gabriel Lall heard the President say that the extent of his farm was not even half of what Azruddin Mohamed said it was. Gabriel Lall did not dispute the President’s assertion but, more significantly, as a Catholic Christian who should be a firm believer in truth and honesty, said not a word to correct himself. In keeping, however, with his bitter, poisoned disposition towards the President, Gabriel (not the angel) Lall, with reference to the President’s disclosure of having taken loans to fund his investment, wants His Excellency to provide him with the details of his loan application, the details of his loan process, and the details of his guarantors. Hearing this, I felt how presumptuous and insolent this “dying for attention” man can be, especially when I heard him say that the President has a “doooty” to make such disclosure. Well, His Excellency told the people of Guyana that he has made full disclosure to the Integrity Commission, the statutory body to which he owes such a duty.
During his ramblings with David Hinds, in a moment of utter nastiness, Gabriel Lall wanted to know the ethnic makeup of the other land owners along the highway. Lall can easily gather this information by checking the APNU/AFC land give-away records. However, these were the kinds of interventions by Lall that caused David Hinds to bob his head up and down as if to goad Gabriel on.
The worst, however, came from David “the Black Moses” Hinds, who quoted the President as saying that he sold chicken to Bounty Farm and that when the Guyanese consumer found the price of chicken very high, such a circumstance had to be laid at the door of President Ali. The video record of what President Ali said is still available online. Anyone who reviews it will find that President Ali in his video publication never said he sold chicken to Bounty. The President simply referred to Bounty as one of the established entities in that area that was aware of the existence of his farm.
David Hinds is deliberately lying and unjustly and with malicious intent attributing to the President what he never said. Hinds called on Gabriel Lall to comment, and sheep-like and appearing not to want to be in disagreement with David Hinds, Gabriel Lall agreed that the cause for the high price of chicken should be laid at the President’s door. Both men, David Hinds and Gabriel Lall, found their falsification and distortion funny and humoured themselves. Lall, however, went further; he wanted to know what the President was doing in business. To this, David Hinds reacted almost orgasmically. One should ask Gabriel Lall, who pretends to be encyclopaedic in his knowledge, whether he knows of the business pursuits of the King of England and of the monarch’s connections to the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate that includes large tracts of land, farms and investment properties.
The entire appearance of Hinds and Lall was just a nasty, vile political attack on President Ali. Thankfully, most Guyanese ignore David Hinds as a failed politician, while for most people, Gabriel Lall’s incoherence and scatter-brained conversations carry no appeal, and he generates little interest among the people of Guyana, who every day see their President working dedicatedly to improve their lives.

Yours sincerely,
Selwyn Persaud

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As my great-grandfather Rambishun recounted to the coaxing of my very persistent mother when she was a child, he was married at a very young age. He guessed he was probably around six and the bride about three from a village quite some distance away from his village of Ishmailpur, between Patna and Gaya in Uttar Pradesh. Contact had been made by a relative who had married into the girl’s village and chose “a good Kurmi girl”. Even though so very young, Rambishun could recollect the girl’s parents visiting his home to perform a “tilak” (engagement) ceremony. Gifts were exchanged, and the promise of marriage made binding. His father and friends later travelled with him as a “bariaat” in bullock carts to perform the marriage ceremony at the girl’s home; one of his young nephews was the “saibala’. He was going to see her now for the very first time and did not even know her name. They were received in a “janwaas” house where the bariaat rested before the wedding was performed by the Brahmin purohit (priest) of the in-laws.
Rambishun returned alone to his home after the wedding ceremony until it was decided years later that he and his “dulahin” were “of age” – that is, the marriage could be consummated. Rambishun was about 15 and the bride 13. A “gauna” ceremony was then performed, and the girl, whose name he finally discovered was Rajdai, was brought to Rambishun’s home to live with his extended family in their compound.
Rambishun recounted that Rajdai was a very good wife who worked with him in the vegetable plot the family owned just outside the village and also in the plots of rice and sugar cane they cultivated some distance away. She was a very good mother, young as she was: one of her brothers had a baby to whom she was very close back in her village. According to Rambishun, she worked as diligently as any of the other women: she was a good Kurmi wife, he said proudly. However, his mother and his bhowgies (sisters-in-law) really mistreated her – she could do nothing right in their eyes. This was particularly true of his mother, to whom he could not say anything, much less reproach.
Within two years Rajdai gave birth to a baby boy. As was his family’s custom, they named him after Sri Ram – Ramsamujh. They made a great fuss over the baby, and his father-in-law brought gifts of gold from his village. But his mother’s and bhowgies’ attitudes towards his wife remained as hostile as ever. While they did not get to spend much time with each other, they were able to discuss the situation when they worked side by side in the fields. As the seventh and youngest son, it was unlikely he would ever get his own plot of land to farm. Rajdai was very unhappy. What to do?
The critical incident that stood out in my mother’s memory of Rambishun’s account was pretty much the straw that evidently broke Rambishun’s back. It was the day that his mother refused to allow Rajdai to eat all day, and she was forced to eat a raw “bhanta bigan” (round eggplant). Rambishun could bear it no longer. He had heard about individuals who had left the village and had gone to work in far-off places and returned to live in style. They were recruited by Arkatis (recruiters) who usually frequented crowded locales on the lookout for likely prospects.
And on a visit to a village fair some distance away, soon after his wife had been so cruelly treated by his mother, Rambishun encountered an Arkati who was recruiting men and women to work in Damru Tapu (Demerara Island). The man described the work in glowing terms, but Rambishun did not need much persuasion. He returned home and spoke to Rajdai. After much discussion he convinced her that he would go abroad alone because it might be dangerous for the baby. And in any case, after five years he would return with enough money to buy some land so that they could live independently by themselves. She would be in charge of her own home. He would then be 24 years old, and they would be able to make a good life with their son.
Unlike many accounts of Arkatis kidnapping recruits for the sugar colonies, this was not the case with Rambishun – or any other ancestor – and is not part of our family lore.

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By Ryhaan Shah

Enough of all the advice about diet and exercise and taking our medications as we grow older. Those are vital to our health and wellbeing, but there’s much more to ageing and ageing well. There’s something being referred to as our “joy span” which comes with the emotional and psychological freedom of growing older.
We now have the fullest confidence to be ourselves without caring much about external validation, i.e., what people think. We are wise enough to let go of daily trivialities that might bring on stress and have the good sense to enjoy the small, daily joys of living.
Retirement has opened up a new chapter in our lives. Gone are the daily slog and stress of work, and for those who have prepared financially for retirement, there is now the freedom to pursue hobbies and rediscover talents that have been pushed aside for too many years.
Ageing is a natural part of life; it happens to everyone. How we approach it, however, can make a world of difference to our mental and physical wellbeing. Even small shifts in our thinking, such as seeing ageing as growing into a new stage of life rather than losing our youth, can transform the way we feel about ourselves and the world.
American writer and activist Betty Friedan summed it up best with her words: “Ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
By embracing a positive mindset, we can focus less on physical changes that make us frailer and look instead at making the most of this new stage in our lives.
One of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves is to shift our attention from what has become difficult and lean into what is still possible. Optimism is one of the best “drugs” around. It lowers stress, improves resilience and can even improve our chances of recovering well from illnesses. Just being happy gives us better health and longer lives.
Understand that optimism is not about ignoring challenges we face but about recognising what is still possible. This helps us reframe challenges as manageable rather than overwhelming.
An active, curious mind is one of the keys to staying vibrant. Whether it’s mastering a new language, taking up painting, reading beloved books, or navigating new technology, lifelong learning strengthens the brain and keeps life exciting.
Creative outlets, such as art and crafts, gardening, or cooking, can provide both enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. Trying something new, no matter how small, keeps the mind open to new possibilities and supports healthy ageing.
Human connection is essential at every stage of life, but it becomes especially meaningful as we age. Strong social bonds are consistently linked with better health and emotional wellbeing.
While continuing to participate in family or community activities builds a sense of belonging and helps us feel valued and uplifted, isolation can harm our health and mood since it can lead to depression and a sense of defeat.
Gratitude is viewed as one of the simplest ways to cultivate a positive mindset. By focusing on what we appreciate, we shift attention away from limitations toward abundance. Expressing thankfulness to family, friends, and carers for their kindness and support can actually boost our happiness, and expressing gratitude for each day through our respective religious beliefs and spirituality can provide much joy and peace of mind and help us embrace each day with confidence.
Having a purpose gives life meaning, and, with the end of careers and jobs, our purpose often evolves and takes new forms of “work”, whether it is keeping a garden, joining a sports club, volunteering at your church, starting a consultancy, or even helping to tutor your grandchildren in their schoolwork.
These are all healthy choices that would keep us both mentally and physically fit and keep us actively engaged with our family and community. They strengthen our resilience and give balance to our everyday life.
This, along with activities like walking, stretching and yoga improve our physical health and boosts our mood by releasing endorphins, those happy hormones that block discomfort and pain and promote a feeling of wellbeing.
Pairing exercise with healthy eating provides a holistic approach to our health, and caring for the body, mind and spirit supports physical health, emotional wellbeing and overall happiness.
By staying engaged, nurturing wellness, building connections, and practising gratitude, our lives can feel rich and rewarding, especially as we discover that ageing is not about slowing down but about living with more purpose, joy, and freedom.

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A group of young professionals in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has launched and expanded a technology-driven poultry project aimed at increasing local production and promoting modern agricultural practices in Guyana.
The initiative, known as Demerara Chicken Inc, was established by about 20 professionals who responded to President Dr Irfaan Ali’s call for greater involvement in modern agriculture. The project began with a trial production cycle of 20,000 birds in a state-of-the-art tunnel-house facility and is now preparing to increase output to 35,000 birds.
President Ali, in a social media post, said the project represents a model for innovative, efficient and sustainable poultry farming, while highlighting the role of young entrepreneurs in strengthening food security and creating new economic opportunities. The project was developed through a partnership between the young professionals and the Government, with the participants collectively investing 10 per cent of the project’s cost.
One of the participants explained that President Ali engaged professionals from Region Three, including lawyers, doctors, engineers and pharmacists, to discuss opportunities in modern agriculture.
“His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, reached out to various professionals across the region… and he had a sit-down breakfast with us where he explained to us the various modernised agricultural techniques that could be taken so that our life could become better,” the participant said.
The group said the tunnel-house poultry system was among the agricultural technologies that generated the most interest due to its controlled environment and improved production methods. The first production cycle recorded a 2.8 per cent mortality rate, which participants described as a successful outcome for the trial phase.
“We started on a trial phase last month with 20,000 birds. It was a success. We had 2.8 mortality overall for the entire cycle, which was extremely good for us,” another participant said. The project is expected to move into full production capacity within the next two weeks, with 35,000 birds planned for the next cycle. Participants said the technology differs from traditional poultry-rearing methods by allowing birds to be raised in a more controlled environment, improving efficiency and supporting food security efforts.
“In relation to national food security and mitigation of hunger across the world, I think our experience with this company is one that is second to none due to the fact that the rearing technology has been greatly different from the actual way of rearing chicken,” one participant said. A female participant, who is also a mother of two, said the initiative provides an additional source of income for young professionals.
“Being a young professional, we really welcome this project. This is an added income,” she said. The group said Government support was critical to bringing the project to fruition. “Without the intervention of the Government, this project would not have been possible. So I’m very much thankful,” one participant said. The initiative is part of efforts to encourage investment in agriculture through the adoption of modern technologies and increased participation by young entrepreneurs.

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The release of the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results has rightly been greeted with celebration. Twenty students sharing the top position and the country’s strongest overall performance on record are achievements worthy of recognition. They reflect the efforts of students, parents, teachers and the Ministry of Education, as well as years of sustained investment in schools, teacher training and educational resources.
But the real significance of these results extends far beyond which child earned a place at Queen’s College or the Bishops’ High School. They are a glimpse into whether Guyana is preparing itself to survive the day when oil is no longer enough. Oil has transformed Guyana with astonishing speed. Within just a few years, Government revenues have multiplied, public infrastructure is expanding, private investment is booming and economic growth has consistently ranked among the highest in the world. Yet history offers a sobering lesson. Countries do not become permanently prosperous because they discover oil. They become prosperous because they transform temporary resource wealth into permanent human capital.
The NGSA results are one of the earliest indicators of whether that transformation is actually happening. For decades we have suffered from a chronic shortage of skilled workers. Engineers, doctors, scientists, accountants, software developers, technicians and teachers frequently migrated overseas. Many of those who remained often worked in systems constrained by limited resources. Today, our country has something previous generations never enjoyed: the financial means to invest heavily in its people. The question is whether it is doing so effectively.
This year’s improved NGSA performance suggests encouraging progress. Better literacy and numeracy outcomes imply that interventions introduced after the COVID-19 learning losses, expanded teacher training, improved learning materials, school feeding programmes and investments in educational infrastructure are beginning to bear fruit. That matters enormously because an oil economy creates opportunities that extend far beyond petroleum.
Every offshore platform requires engineers. Every new hospital requires doctors and nurses. Every manufacturing plant requires technicians. Every digital Government system requires programmers and cybersecurity specialists. Every modern financial centre requires accountants, economists and lawyers. Every research laboratory requires scientists. The greatest mistake we could make would be assuming that imported expertise can indefinitely substitute for local talent.
Foreign specialists are valuable. They transfer knowledge and fill immediate gaps. But no nation has ever become sustainably developed by outsourcing its intelligence. Eventually the people designing Guyana’s infrastructure, managing its sovereign wealth, operating its industries and conducting its scientific research must increasingly be Guyanese.
That journey begins long before university. It begins in primary schools and continues by strengthening Mathematics and Science instruction, increasing technical and vocational education, expanding research capacity at the University of Guyana, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, investing in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and creating an education system that rewards creativity rather than rote memorisation.
We must recognise, however, that not every child will become an engineer or physician – and that is perfectly acceptable. A successful oil economy depends just as much on electricians, welders, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, plumbers, surveyors, software technicians, agricultural scientists and skilled artisans. Educational success should therefore be measured not simply by NGSA scores but by whether every student eventually acquires skills that create productive, rewarding careers.
There is another reason these results deserve careful attention. Oil revenues will eventually decline. “Oil doesn’t spoil,” boasted T&T’s Eric Williams – but as his country found out, it does run out. Whether that happens here in 30 years or 50, our petroleum reserves are finite. The education provided to today’s eleven-year-olds, however, will continue generating economic value throughout their working lives. Knowledge appreciates itself. Oil depreciates.
Future historians may well conclude that Guyana’s greatest oil discovery was not in the Stabroek Block. It was in its classrooms. If today’s record NGSA performance signals the emergence of a generation better equipped to innovate, compete and lead, then the country is making the smartest investment possible. Because when the last barrel of oil is eventually pumped, Guyana’s greatest national asset will not be beneath the Atlantic Ocean.
It will be walking into secondary schools this September.

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The East Ruimveldt Market is set to undergo a major rehabilitation following the turning of the sod by Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand on Saturday.
The project is part of the Government’s ongoing investment in modernising markets across Guyana, with the aim of creating safer, more accessible and economically active public spaces.
Addressing vendors and residents gathered at the site, Minister Manickchand said the rehabilitation was not only about upgrading the physical structure of the market but also about responding to the concerns and challenges faced by those who depend on it for their livelihoods.

She recalled visiting the market on February 18, where she met with vendors and observed the conditions under which they operated.
“From that visit, we knew something had to be done,” the Manickchand said, explaining that the Ministry subsequently worked with consultants to develop a design based on the needs of vendors and the wider community.
Under the new design, the market will feature 237 stalls, an increase of 24 stalls compared with the current layout. The expansion is expected to allow more vendors to be accommodated while improving the organisation of the facility.
The upgraded market will also include a dedicated block for food vendors, salons and tailoring businesses. Additionally, a youth training centre for tailoring will be established, along with parking facilities capable of accommodating more than 50 vehicles.
Designated spaces will also be provided for roadside vendors who currently operate around the perimeter of the market.
Manickchand said construction will be carried out in phases to reduce disruption to business operations. She explained that several options are being considered to allow vendors to continue operating during the rehabilitation, including the use of prefabricated container stalls and phased occupancy of completed sections of the market.
“We don’t want anyone to miss even a day of work,” she said, while stressing that efforts would be made to ensure vendors continue earning throughout the construction period.
The Ministry is targeting completion of the rehabilitation project within four months.
During the engagement, vendors raised questions regarding stall sizes and arrangements during the construction period. Officials explained that the new stalls will range in size from seven feet by eight feet to 24 feet by 14 feet, with a height of 15 feet compared to approximately 10 feet under the current design.
Minister within the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, said the project is part of the Government’s plan to strengthen communities through improved public amenities.
“This is the first of many to come… What we will continue to do is build stronger communities. We want to make sure every community has the amenities to be strong… We will continue to answer the call,” Jacobs said.
He added that contractors would be held accountable for ensuring the timely completion of the works.
Meanwhile, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith also welcomed the commencement of the project, describing it as an investment that would benefit generations of residents while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to serving the community.
The rehabilitation contract was awarded through the public tender process in keeping with the Public Procurement Act at a cost of $528,370,300.
The project has been divided into five lots, with five contractors assigned responsibility for the completion of each lot.
Earlier this year, the Government had pledged to standardise markets nationwide, ensuring that all facilities comply with modern standards of safety, sanitation and infrastructure.
Markets slated for works this year include East Ruimveldt, Albouystown, Rose Hall, Number 79, New Amsterdam, Mahdia, Lethem, Mackenzie, Port Kaituma, Suddie, Leonora, Zeelugt, Vreed-en-Hoop, Tuschen, Mon Repos, Rosignol, Palmyra, Port Mourant, Bath, and Soesdyke.
Also attending the sod-turning ceremony on Saturday were Permanent Secretary Miguel Choo-Kang; project manager with responsibility for markets Anjanie Ramlall; Georgetown Town Clerk Candace Nelson; former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green; vendors; contractors; and members of the public.

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Wow!! That’s all your Eyewitness could exclaim when he heard that in the latest NGSA results, TWENTY kids received EQUAL SCORES!! That’s unique in the annals of our country’s history – going back over 80 years when “country scholarships” earned kids a place in Queen’s or Bishops!! Apart from feeling sorry for the kid that got just a few questions wrong and is now being rated 21 in the country – he could only marvel at the phenomenon of educational whizzes at the CSEC and CAPE levels trickling down to the primary level of 11-year-olds!! After all, it wasn’t just these high fliers that did so well, but the entire cohort, across the board.
The percentages of passes – getting more than 50 per cent correct in the tests – rose overall into the 60s!! We still got a way to go… but your Eyewitness gotta acknowledge that the Ministry’s efforts that have been put into raising performances appear to be paying off!! We now gotta keep preaching “Onwards, upward may we ever go!!” in the classrooms!!
But your Eyewitness sobered up when he read the Education Minister’s caveat that – “as usual” – the test scores were not raw scores but had been “standardised”. Uh…uh!! A standardised mark takes into account how difficult the paper was and how other students performed. So if we take the mathematics exams for the last two years and last year’s paper was relatively easy to this year’s, a raw score of 70 per cent may place a student only around the middle of the class last year but among the top performers this year!! Standardisation asks: “How well did this student perform compared with everyone else who wrote this examination?” Rather than “How many questions did the student answer correctly?”
Now standardisation doesn’t mean that marks are assigned arbitrarily or according to some quota. No, siree, Bob!! If the entire cohort – this year, 157,056 kids – performs exceptionally well, many students can still receive very high standardised scores. Likewise, if performance is generally weak, standardisation cannot turn poor performance into excellent performance!! So let’s consider the scores to be the fairest – as far as placing kids in the secondary schools that have different minimum marks for entry. But one sticking point is the Ministry of Education has never fully published the exact mathematical formula used to convert raw scores into standardised scores…leading to some head-scratching in some quarters!
And that – of course – brings up your Eyewitness pet gripe over the years!! Our Ministers have consistently promised raising the performance of ALL secondary schools up to the level of Queens and Bishops. But while there’s been some progress, we still got a far way to go!!
Hence the excitement over the toppers!!

…for values
Most folks today wouldn’t remember, but there was a time when all Guyanese “recycled”: not just their soda (“sweet drinks”?) bottles but also rum bottles – which at that time outnumbered the former! The recycling drive didn’t come from any Government pushing “environmentalism”, but from the mundane fact it was cheaper for the “beverage industry” to pay folks to return the glass bottles than to buy new ones!
With the advent of plastic bottles, these cost so little it ain’t worth the while for manufacturers to purchase empties. And this practice resulted in the non-biodegradable plastic bottles polluting the environment as it presently does – including clogging canals!. But in the US, they’ve solved the problem by mandating a five-cent consumer deposit on beverage bottles – redeemable when the bottle is returned!
With the slogan “Don’t trash ‘em – cash ‘em!”, their environmental problems were solved. There the purchasers have to place the plastic bottles in “recycle bags”!! And those dumped in garbage bins in the streets are collected by scavengers – for the return of five cents!!!!

…road smarts?
Last night your Eyewitness encountered a Policeman directing traffic at a roundabout!! Doesn’t this destroy the whole point? Your Eyewitness believes ALL drivers ought to have a one-week refresher course on roundabout protocols!!

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