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lengthy teachers’ strike, President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Thursday.

“There has been a lot of ongoing work, discussions in relation to the resumption of work and also the issues raised by teachers.

“I don’t want to go in any extended way in response to this. From the most recent feedback I have received, there seems to be some movement and in relation to getting to an initial agreement on terms that will see this situation resumed to some amount of normalcy,” President Ali said on Thursday at a press conference at State House, in Georgetown.

An initial five-week strike began on February 5, with teachers demanding higher salary increases and duty-free concessions, among other benefits.

After a court-mediated process in March, talks between the Education Ministry and GTU resumed. Discussions were halted when the Education Ministry indicated that there was no fiscal space to cater for increases for the period 2019 -2023. Increases for 2024 and future years were put for consideration instead.

Talks between the two parties continue with both sides hoping to come to a compromise at soonest.

Outside of these negotiations, President Ali reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the welfare and livelihoods of teachers and other workers.

He also said the government is keen on improving the education sector, including through the infusion of technology to help rapidly upskill learners.

Mohamed’s family now sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury.

The President was quizzed about his relationship with the family at a press conference on Thursday, just over a week after the sanctions were instituted. Concerns were particularly raised on the Dr. Ali’s use of the vehicle from the family.

He clarified that the vehicle was used during the election campaign ahead of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. President Ali said it was not used after August 2, 2022- the day he was sworn in as President.

“The vehicle that I used was during the election campaign and after my security …advised me that I needed a safe vehicle because of the distance I was traversing and in their assessment, the threat I was exposed to.

“I didn’t hide it, I didn’t drive in a tunnel. I did not use that vehicle after assuming office.

“The day I was sworn in, I was dropped home and the vehicle provided by the Office of the President was used from the next day,” the President said.

Soon after, he declared: “I am not compromised and I would not be compromised in any way, shape or form.”

Meanwhile, the President also said his relationship with the family does not preclude them from facing the consequences of any wrongdoing.

He said his relationship with the family dates back to his time at his high school, the St. Stanislaus College and at religious camps. Dr. Ali said the family is also well-known by many across the country.

“Does that make us or does that reduce our judgement on anything?

“I said the rule of law is the rule of law and that must apply equally for every citizen, no one is above the rule of law,” the Guyanese Head of State said.

The US Department of the Treasury, in a statement last week, said between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilogrammes of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

Mohamed’s Enterprise has also been accused of bribing customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments.

With these sanctions in place, the Government of Guyana said it is assessing what steps need to be taken now to comply with those penalties. It has asked the US Government for information from the probe conducted but in the meantime, the Mohameds’ cambio licence has been revoked and Mae Thomas, the government official implicated in corrupt practices, has been sent on leave.

President Ali also said Mr. Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed resigned as a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Councillor.

recent sanctions from the United States Department of the Treasury on the Mohameds and Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas. Those sanctions are connected to alleged corrupt practices, including in the Mohameds’ gold export business.

“The recent sanctions, as you know, the agencies are currently continuing their work to examine the implications and more importantly, I have now asked (the Guyana Revenue Authority) to seek further information… at all export locations on gold exported by other gold dealers to have information to see whether it matches what is declared in our system,” the President said.

A new task force has also been created to determine what areas in the local gold export system need strengthening to prevent any irregularities.

That task force, the President said, comprises Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority Godfrey Statia, Governor of the Bank of Guyana Gobind Ganga and other officials including from the Guyana Gold Board.

This group is tasked with determining how the “very rigid” gold export system can be further strengthened, the President added.

Among the areas for examination by the task force are the harmonisation of tax policies, enhancing enforcement and surveillance, increased foreign collaboration, training and capacity and possibly, integrating new technologies such as GPS tracking of the gold mined and being exported.

“These are all things this group will look at and report to me in a short timeframe so that we can work on a further enhancement and improvement of the system,” President Ali noted.

Jasprit Bumrah produced another miserly spell (Photo: ICC via Getty Images)

SKY goes big

Suryakumar was at his captivating best, mixing powering with finesse as he threatened the boundary all round the ground.

A fierce sweep for six off Rashid was followed by two mighty maximums down the ground off Azmatullah and Farooqi – SKY both times delightfully holding the pose in his follow through.

He reached his fifty off 27 balls before falling next delivery as he miscued Farooqi to Mohammad Nabi at long-off.

Hardik Pandya provided welcome support, hitting two big sixes in his 32 off 24, while Axar Patel added a canny 12 off six late on to put India on top.

Those were crucial contributions after Afghanistan started well to remove India’s top three relatively cheaply.

Farooqi duped India captain Rohit Sharma with a slower ball to have him caught for eight, Rashid trapped Rishabh Pant for 20 and then removed Kohli for 24 when he picked out long-off.

Kohli’s form will be the main area of concern for India. He scored only five runs in three matches during the group stage and, one sublime six aside, again struggled for timing.

Regardless, this is the blueprint that makes India such a dangerous side as they seek a first T20 world title since the inaugural tournament in 2007 – set a big total and let their excellent bowling attack wreak havoc.

Bumrah foxed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a cutter as he edged behind and drew fellow opener Hazratullah Zazai into a leading edge to gully, either side of Ibrahim Zadran slapping Axar straight to cover.

Afghanistan are often reliant on their top order and, once they were dismissed early, India’s squeezed the rest to ensure they fell well short of their target.

India next face Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday (10:30h), while Afghanistan play Australia in St. Vincent that night from 20:30h.