…dialysis services to begin at Lima Hospital within 7 days

President Dr Irfaan Ali is assuring men that there is nothing to fear about undergoing a prostate examination, rather he noted that this screening could potentially save their lives. “Men, there is nothing to fear about having a prostate examination. It will save your life… This is a type of cancer most prevalent among men in Guyana – number one, that is completely treatable with early detection,” the Head of State said on Saturday. He was at the time delivering the feature address at the commissioning of a new drug bond at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon). A prostate examination, which includes a blood test and a digital rectal exam, checks the prostate gland to find early signs of cancer or enlargement. According to the Head of State, the Government is unsatisfied that only 335 men have been scanned across the region, while the facility is available there to conduct the screening. To this end, he instructed the Regional Health Officer (RHO) on the Essequibo Coast to ensure they ramp screening. “The RHO, before the end of this year, must ensure at least 3,000 men are scanned. [You have to do] the public awareness. You have to go to the communities, you have to reach and educate the people and get them so that they can be scanned,” the President ordered. Similarly, he directed that the same approach be taken for women. Ali pointed out for the first time now; mammograms are now available in Region Two. A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray picture of the breast to detect early signs of breast cancer. So far, more than 435 mammograms have been conducted and the Government is looking to increase this number by year end. In fact, the Guyanese Leader underscored the importance of early screening in providing better treatment for breast cancer.

Early detection
“Early identification decreased the risk of the cancer being fatal. It increased the chances of survival and increased your ability to fight that cancer. But this requires early screening,” he noted. Currently, a mammogram costs approximately $40,000 to do independently, money that women can now save with the free service the Government is offering on the Essequibo Coast. “That is the type of investment that we are making,” the Head of State declared. President Ali has since put Senior Presidential Advisor on Science and Healthcare Modernisation in Guyana, Dr Mahendra Carpen, in charge of a public campaign in Region Two to promote early cancer screening among women. “I want Dr Carpen to return to Essequibo to lead a public campaign among women to have you screened because we have the facility here now. So, by the time I come back here in December, we must have at least 3,000 women screened and have their results. That is the target we must work on,” the President noted. According to the Guyanese Leader, the Government has to meet these targets if it wants to get the kind of results that are reflective of the investments that are being made in the healthcare sector. Additionally, Ali said that as a result of continuous training, within seven days there will be dialysis chairs at Lima Regional Hospital. “So that we can have within a week’s time, dialysis available at Lima Hospital. And I am told that you have about 12 patients in the region. Those are 12 persons who will go now to Region Three or Region Four,” the Head of State said. In Essequibo, healthcare delivery was significantly transformed following the commissioning of the $6.6 billion Lima Regional Hospital in August 2025. This 75-bed state-of-the-art facility provides free access to surgeries, maternity care, CT scans, and dialysis, among many other critical services to citizens across the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region. Since the opening of this new hospital, over 500 CT scans have been done in the last six months alone and more than 800 x-rays completed. Region Two has also benefitted from over 18,000 eye care vouchers for adults and another 12,000 vouchers for children. “These are the real investments we are making in real people in this country. And in this region alone, think about it, just for the eye care voucher, 30,000… More than 10,000 of the vouchers for lab tests in addition to what we are offering [freely],” the President stated.

No three-month wait
Meanwhile, the Head of State also used the opportunity to address an issue that has been affecting healthcare workers, payment of salaries. Stressing the importance of workers to the entire healthcare ecosystem, President Ali declared that staff should no longer have to wait three months to get paid in any sector.
“I hope that by today all those who had outstanding payment issues that you would’ve received their salaries or advances on your salaries… I’ve given specific instructions on this matter because we believe in honouring our labour. And part of honoring our labour is to ensure an efficient system. The old system of the public service of waiting three months to have your payment, we have to get rid of that system. We have to create a new paradigm in the public service – one that is people-centred, people-focused and service-oriented. And that is what we are about,” President Ali stated.

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…says farm legally acquired, predates presidency, assets declared

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday said that he is being blackmailed by United States-(US) sanctioned and indicted-Mohamed family into easing pressures on them regarding the ongoing extradition proceedings. On Sunday, Azruddin Mohamed shared a video talking about President Ali’s farm, making a series of allegations. However, the Head of State said on Sunday that prior to these false allegations, he had received a number of communications from the Mohameds over the past weeks threatening to release certain information if amends were not made. The President indicated these messages were received from the elder, Nazar Mohamed, as recent as last week. The senior Mohamed is demanding that the President make amends with the family otherwise they would be releasing certain recordings regarding his farm. According to the President, he is willing to make these messages public so that persons can view the contents. Ali made it clear on Sunday that he would not succumb to pressure or blackmail from anyone. Moreover, the Guyanese Leader explained that there is nothing illegal regarding his farm, which was obtained prior to him entering office. In fact, this can be verified through banking records and other official documentations that would show the property acquisition predated Ali’s presidency. It was further noted that the farm has never received any special benefits, preferential treatment or assistance from the Government of Guyana, either before or after he reassumed office. At no point have State funds, public resources or Government assets been used in relation to this investment. Moreover, the Guyanese Leader said that his farm was part of his asset declarations to the Integrity Commission, as required by law. Additionally, President Ali’s passion for agriculture and farming is well-known not only locally but internationally as well as he continues to champion innovation and modernising the sector. In fact, not only is he leading CARICOM’s food security drive but has also been awarded by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for his work in transforming agriculture and leading regional efforts to reduce food imports. Only over the weekend, Ali spoke of his involvement in agriculture while addressing hundreds of farmers during the cash subsidy distribution exercise held in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Speaking with farmers about crop diversification, the Head of State said, “I am not telling you about agriculture from a position of not walking the walk. Because I went to the bank long now. I took loans upon loans because I invest in agriculture. I love agriculture. So I’m not speaking to you from a tower that I don’t know what to go through. But I’m also saying to you that there are new ways of doing things that we have to embrace.”

Sanctioned & indicated
Azruddin and his father, Nazar Mohamed have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 criminal charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The charges are related to alleged irregularities in gold exports to the US through their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises. The US has requested the extradition of the Mohameds to face the indictments. The extradition proceedings are currently pending in the local courts. The Mohameds are accused of conspiring to defraud the US and Guyanese Governments between 2017 and June 11, 2024. They are also accused of using a scheme to unlawfully obtain property by transmitting communications via interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of US law. According to US prosecutors, the scheme aimed to enrich the Mohameds and defraud the Government of Guyana by evading taxes and royalties on gold exports. They allegedly reused Guyana customs declarations and official seals on multiple shipments to make it appear that taxes and royalties had been paid.
The indictment stated that Mohamed’s Enterprise would pay taxes and receive official Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) seals for one shipment, then reuse those same seals and documents on subsequent, untaxed shipments. The indictment further alleges that the Mohameds arranged for empty wooden boxes bearing intact GRA and GGB seals to be shipped from gold buyers in Dubai to Miami and then sent to Guyana. These boxes were then used to export gold while falsely appearing to have cleared customs and tax obligations. US authorities allege the scheme resulted in more than US$50 million in lost taxes and royalties to the Government of Guyana. Additional indictments detail similar conduct involving shipments of gold, emails allegedly from Nazar Mohamed requesting the sealed boxes from Miami, and exports of over 165 kilograms (kg) of gold per shipment destined for Dubai. Charges six to nine focus on mail fraud, referencing the shipment of sealed empty boxes from Dubai to Miami, while charge 10 addresses money laundering, which alleges that the Mohameds knowingly transferred funds within the US with the intent to promote unlawful activity.
The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed purchasing and importing a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes. If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property. The US Government is seeking forfeiture of certain assets connected to the accused and has since assigned asset forfeiture specialist Assistant US Attorney Joshua Paster to join the case involving the two Guyanese businessmen in the Florida Court, pending their extradition. These indictments follow sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Mohameds, their businesses, and Guyanese Government Permanent Secretary (PS) Mae Thomas in relation to the same allegations. The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with OFAC noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Since the imposition of the sanctions in June 2024, the Guyana Government has suspended the licences of the Mohameds’ various businesses, highlighting that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty, and diplomacy. Subsequently, several Government entities and local businesses, including commercial banks, have cut ties with the Mohameds.
Azruddin founded the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party in June 2025 – one year after the sanctions were imposed – and contested the September 2025 General and Regional Elections, securing a seat in Parliament as Leader of the Opposition. In October, a 25-page indictment was unsealed in the Florida court, charging the father and son businessmen. The US Government subsequently issued an extradition request to Guyana for the duo to face the charges there. At present, the Mohameds are out on $150,000 bail each as they continue to fight their extradition. The case before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, remains effectively frozen until the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivers its ruling on an appeal challenging the legality of the ministerial decision that triggered the case. Until that ruling is delivered, the interim stay remains in effect, and the extradition proceedings in Guyana will not proceed beyond their current stage.

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Every year, on Caricom Day, Guyanese are reminded that our country is more than a South American state—it is an integral part of the Caribbean family with a common history going back centuries. Yet a fair question persists: What value does the Caribbean Community (Caricom) – launched fifty-three years ago – hold for Guyana today? The answer is that while Caricom has not fulfilled every ambition of its founders, it remains one of Guyana’s most valuable diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships.
Perhaps Caricom’s greatest contribution to Guyana has been its unwavering support for our sovereignty. For decades, the notwithstanding some assiduous courting of some leaders by Venezuela, the Community has consistently backed our territorial integrity in the face of the former’s claim – and attempted annexation – over our Essequibo region. That united regional voice has strengthened Guyana’s position in international forums and reinforced the principle that border disputes must be resolved through international law rather than intimidation. As tensions have periodically resurfaced, Caricom has continued to reaffirm its support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and the judicial process before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Economically, Caricom provides Guyana with opportunities that extend beyond our relatively small domestic market, as recently demonstrated by Jamaica. Even though it has not ben fully operationalized, through Caricom’s Single Market and Economy (CSME), Guyanese businesses enjoy preferential access to neighbouring markets, while qualifying goods can move duty-free within the region under agreed rules of origin. This creates opportunities for exporters, manufacturers, farmers, and service providers seeking regional customers.
Guyana’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, driven largely by oil production, has also transformed our role within Caricom. Today, Guyana is increasingly viewed as a regional engine of growth. Our expanding agriculture sector – as witnessed by the “25 by 25” program – supports the Community’s food security agenda, while our energy resources present opportunities for regional cooperation in electricity, fuel security, and industrial development. Rather than diminishing Caricom’s importance, Guyana’s new prosperity makes regional cooperation even more valuable because no Caribbean country can achieve long-term resilience in isolation.
Caricom also delivers less visible but equally important benefits. Regional cooperation in education, disaster preparedness, public health, security, and foreign policy allows our small states to pool resources and speak with a stronger collective voice. In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition, climate change, and global economic uncertainty, unity gives Caribbean nations greater influence than any could exercise alone.
However, an honest evaluation must acknowledge Caricom’s shortcomings. The pace of regional integration has often been frustratingly slow. Bureaucratic barriers continue to hinder the free movement of skilled workers, customs procedures remain inconsistent, and transportation between Caribbean countries is still expensive and inconvenient. Many citizens feel that the vision of a truly integrated Caribbean economy remains incomplete. These criticisms are legitimate and deserve serious attention if Caricom is to remain relevant in the twenty-first century.
The challenge, therefore, is not whether Guyana should remain committed to Caricom, but how the organisation can evolve to meet changing realities. Guyana should use its growing economic influence to champion practical reforms that improve transportation links, accelerate digital integration, expand regional trade, strengthen food and energy security, and create more opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs and professionals.
Caricom is far from perfect, but perfection has never been the measure of its value. For Guyana, the Community provides diplomatic solidarity, economic opportunity, regional influence, and a platform through which small states can pursue shared interests. At a time when Guyana is assuming a more prominent role on the regional and global stage, abandoning or neglecting Caricom would be short-sighted.
The real task before Guyana is not to question Caricom’s worth, but to help shape a stronger, more effective Community that reflects the aspirations of today’s Caribbean. Regional unity is not merely an ideal; it is a practical necessity. For Guyana, Caricom remains an investment that continues to pay dividends—and one that deserves renewed commitment rather than diminished confidence.

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…1 blaze suspected to be arson

Two separate house fires in Berbice have left nine people homeless, with preliminary investigations suggesting one may have been deliberately set while the other was likely caused by an unattended rubbish fire. According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), firefighters from the New Amsterdam Fire Station responded to reports of a house fire at Lot 55 Winkle Road, New Amsterdam, where they found a wooden and concrete building completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters immediately began firefighting operations and contained the blaze to the affected property, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. However, the house and all of its contents were destroyed. A motorcycle, an electric bike and a generator located in the yard were also destroyed.

Seven people have been displaced by the fire. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been deliberately set, the fire service said. Investigations are continuing. In a separate incident, firefighters responded to a report of a house fire at Water Street, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

On arrival, they found a one-storey wooden and concrete building occupied by two people fully engulfed in flames and immediately began efforts to contain and extinguish the fire. Despite the response, the building and all of its contents were destroyed. Initial investigations indicate the fire may have started after rubbish was being burned by the occupants spread from the rubbish pile to the house. The GFS said investigations into the incident are ongoing. In light of the Bath Settlement fire, the Fire Service urged members of the public to exercise caution when burning rubbish, advising that such fires should always be supervised and kept a safe distance from buildings and other combustible materials. The agency also reminded the public that fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

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…donations also received from other CARICOM nations

In response to last months’ twin earthquakes that devastated sections of Venezuela, approximately 88 containers of disaster relief supplies are ready to be shipped off to the neighbouring country.

This was revealed on Sunday by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is leading Guyana’s coordinated humanitarian response to support communities affected by the recent earthquakes.
PM Phillip was at the time visiting the BK Wharf in Kingston, Georgetown, where the relief supplies were being loaded onto the Mega and Motti vessel, which is expected to depart for Venezuela today.
Prime Minister Phillips said the initiative reflects the importance of regional cooperation and solidarity in responding to the needs of neighbouring countries during times of crisis. He explained that the shipment was made possible through the combined efforts of the Government of Guyana, CARICOM partners, the local private sector, civil society organisations, citizens, and members of the Venezuelan community in Guyana.
“We have been able to put together 88 containers with relief supplies for the people of Venezuela. These 88 containers comprise donations funded by Guyana, Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Grenada, and this boat is expected to depart tomorrow for Venezuela,” Phillips stated on Sunday.
According to the Prime Minister, the relief shipment includes medicines, food supplies, dry goods, canned goods, non-perishable items, approximately 300 water tanks, and other disaster relief supplies.
Prime Minister Phillips recounted that the mobilisation builds on the national response directed by President Irfaan Ali, who tasked him with leading and coordinating the relief effort, which forms part of a multi-agency response involving the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), private sector bodies, and other partners who supported the collection, sorting, loading, and dispatch of supplies

Worked around the clock
The Prime Minister thanked all those who worked around the clock over the past seven days to make the shipment possible, expressing gratitude to the donors, members of the Joint Services, the business community, civil society organisations, and Guyanese across the country.
He recognized NEW GPC INC; John Fernandes Limited; Muneshwers Limited; ANSA McAL; RSD; GAICO; the Suri Group of Companies; Tropical Shipping; Banks DIH Limited and BK Group of Companies for their significant support, noting that the contributions included relief supplies such as pharmaceuticals and food items, equipment, logistical assistance, transportation, containers, trucking, crane services, and other resources needed to prepare the shipment for dispatch.
In fact, local pharmaceutical company, NEW GPC Inc, donated $20 million worth of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to support those affected by the disaster in the neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, CDC Director General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, who had accompanied the Prime Minister during Sunday’s visit to the wharf, said the shipment was strengthened by the range of items mobilised, including approximately 300 black water tanks and two pieces of earth-moving equipment, which complement the 88 containers of disaster relief supplies.
He noted that the contributions from the private sector, civil society, Guyanese families, CARICOM partners, and members of the Venezuelan community in Guyana reflect a shared humanitarian commitment to supporting affected communities in neighbouring Venezuela with dignity and care.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was joined by the High Commissioner of Belize to Guyana, Gale Miller Garnett, during the visit to the wharf.
This move to mobilise humanitarian aid for Venezuela, comes days after interim President Delcy Rodríguez, expressed gratitude to President Ali after he extended solidarity and support following the disaster.
His message was seen and welcomed by President Rodríguez, who commended Guyana’s commitment to good neighbourliness in a posted on social media.
On June 24, the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes caused extensive damage in parts of Venezuela near the country’s capital.
Based on the latest reports coming out of Caracas, more than 3,300 persons have died and another 16,700 were injured from last month’s twin quakes, while nearly 50,000 others are still unaccounted for and thousands others displaced. Rescues are still combing through collapsed buildings with the hopes of finding survivors. So far, at least 6,000 persons have been pulled from the rubbles.
Nevertheless, this show of solidary and support between Guyana and Venezuela comes as the two South American neighbours are embroiled in a decades-long border controversy. The matter is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is expected to deliver a ruling sometime later this year or early next year.

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Well, here we are on the first Monday in July, enjoying our unique Public Holiday – Caricom Day!! – for the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the historic Treaty of Chaguramas!! Yes Dear Readers…Caricom was “born on the 4th July” – but came into effect on Aug 1, for the obvious reason to make our emancipation more real. Caricom was actually a long time in coming and has a long genealogy of “begetting”- in the Biblical sense!
Caricom was “beget” by the heads of CARIFTA – a free-trade body of the Big Four of Jamaica, TT, Guyana, Barbados and the eight smaller BWI islands. CARIFTA in turn had been begotten after the “British West Indian Federation” of 10 British Territories (British Guiana wasn’t a member) – begat by the Brits in 1958 – had fallen apart in 1962. Why? For the same reason Caricom hasn’t been able to fulfill its goal of moving from the Free Trade Area that was CARIFTA to becoming a Single Market and Economy (CSME) – a real “community”.
To wit… that each of the Big Four is afraid of having to carry the others on their backs. We might all be “brothers” but some are considered “too heavy”! In 1962, Jamaica made the first move after they held a referendum that affirmed their leadership’s desire to go solo. That, of course, made Eric Williams – Trinidad’s PM – utter his famous “1 from 10 leaves ZERO!” No dear reader, he wasn’t mathematically challenged – having received a PhD in economics from Oxford! – but was pointing out that with the departure of Jamaica (one) the 10-member Federation was no more (zero). Both Jamaica and TT got independence that year and henceforth it was “every territory for itself and the devil take the hindmost”!
So the BWI Federation begat CARIFTA which begat CariCom which was supposed to beget the CSME which has been put on “pause” for a decade! And we arrive to the question implicitly posed: “Whither Caricom?” Well, if it’s one thing we should’ve learnt by now is such a question can only be answered by the political leaders of the individual territories. And if history’s anything to go by, each of them will be looking to protect their little fiefdoms – even as they relive past slights. Remember Jamaica once saying they wouldn’t be advised by Guyana, “a nation of panhandlers?” Or then oil-rich TT telling everyone else they “weren’t an ATM Machine”!
But then, it was the Caricom leaders who called out the Sanctimonious Gangster on his blatant rigging attempt. And it was a Caricom institution -the CCJ that’s been upholding our Rule of Law!
Even though right now they’re twiddling their fingers on Sanction Man’s Hail Mary!!

…national pride
As your Eyewitness has been pointing out until he’s hoarse in the throat – the Surinamese are hell bent on “eye passing” us at every opportunity they get!! And when they don’t, they manufacture one!! He’s referring to their Foreign Affairs Minister insisting that Pressie was told two months ago by their president about them going ahead financing the proposed Corentyne River Bridge on their own!! Which, of course, would give them the right to stick it to us on tolls – as they’re doing right now on our boats plying the river.
Our Foreign Affairs Minister just had to issue a statement unequivocally rebutting that canard!! And pointing out that ironically, it was in sympathy with flooding in their country due to heavy rains – which we were also experiencing – Pressie volunteered sending some pumps to them!! Your Eyewitness had criticized our “goodwill” gesture – which the Suris would interpret as “placatatory”!!
Well, now we’ve been kicked in the teeth again he hopes Pressie understands Suris can’t be trusted!!

…PNC’s demise
Looking at the PNC, your Eyewitness is reminded by Yeats’ lament – “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…The best lack all conviction, while the worst/ Are full of passionate intensity.”
Have you seen Black Pudding Man’s rants??

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