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‘We Do Not Trust the Police to Investigate the Police’ – FGM Demands PCA Probe

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‘We Do Not Trust the Police to Investigate the Police’ – FGM Demands PCA Probe

By Mark DaCosta- The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) said on 3 November that the death of Gavin Douglas in police custody at Vreed-en-Hoop cannot be left to the Guyana Police Force to investigate. The opposition party wants President Irfaan Ali to refer the case to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). It argues that only an independent body can restore public confidence, after a post-mortem contradicted the Force’s first account of how the 32-year-old died.

Douglas, a labourer of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, was arrested on Saturday in connection with an alleged armed robbery on 28 October. Police say he reached the Vreed-en-Hoop station at about 11:36 a.m., and that around noon, as he was being placed in the lockups, he turned aggressive and resisted the ranks. He was dead less than two hours after arriving.

The post-mortem has complicated that narrative considerably. It found that he died of a brain haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma. The movement adds that two Taser studs were taken from his body, and that relatives who witnessed the examination say his intestines were ruptured. Its statement dismisses the police version as “exceedingly sanitised, if not downright misleading,” and says the findings point to a man “tortured in police custody.”

The family has voiced similar suspicions. Relatives are demanding transparency and accountability from the Force, and have alleged a cover-up. Terence Kishore, 57, who was arrested alongside Douglas on New Road, has given an eyewitness account of the arrest. The movement further claims that eyewitnesses suggest the station’s recordings may have been tampered with before senior officers arrived. That claim is unverified, and the police have not publicly responded to it.

The authorities have moved on several fronts. The Office of Professional Responsibility has opened an investigation. Four ranks from the Vreed-en-Hoop station have been arrested and are being held at the Tactical Services Unit. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has promised a thorough and impartial inquiry.

For the Forward Guyana Movement, that is not enough. Both units belong to the Force itself, and the party insists, “We do not trust the police to investigate the police.” It says an institution that has already given the nation a flawed account cannot be “trusted with the evidence.”

The movement points to a precedent set by the President himself. It says that when police shot and killed Quindon Bacchus in 2022, Mr Ali told the nation the Police Complaints Authority, chaired by retired Justice William Ramlall, would investigate and report to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The party argues Douglas deserves no less. It adds that if the Authority is not currently constituted, the Police Complaints Authority Act allows an “ad hoc Authority” to be appointed for a single investigation, so there is no legal obstacle to acting immediately.

The statement is also sharply political. Its authors recall the 2002 to 2008 period, which many Guyanese remember as a time of “rogue policemen and phantom killers” operating with impunity. They claim the country is “sliding back toward those dark days” under a PPP/C Government. The Government has not responded to that characterisation, and readers should weigh it as the view of an opposition party.

The party roots its case in principle rather than partisanship alone. It says the State must treat everyone in its custody with respect for their “inherent dignity” and must protect their life, regardless of what they are accused of. That duty, it says, extends equally to a constable, to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, and to any inmate in a lockup or prison cell. Whatever Douglas was accused of, it says, he deserved his day in court. Instead, it charges, the Force acted as “judge, jury and executioner.”

The coming days will test the authorities. The pending questions include whether any charges will follow the four arrests, whether the station’s footage is secured and intact, and whether the President will widen the inquiry beyond the Force.

Source: Village Voice News

Andre Coley to Lead West Indies Women as Shane Deitz Concludes Service

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Andre Coley to Lead West Indies Women as Shane Deitz Concludes Service

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed that West Indies Women Head Coach Shane Deitz concluded his service with the organization at the end of October 2026, following three years in the role, as he prepares to pursue a new opportunity. The transition has been mutually agreed.

Former West Indies Men’s Test Head Coach Andre Coley will lead the women’s team on an interim basis for the upcoming series against Pakistan, working alongside the existing support staff. Coley remains a valued member of the wider West Indies cricket coaching system and has continued to contribute through engagements within the High-Performance Programme, including last year’s West Indies Men’s A-Team engagement. His experience across the West Indies cricket system will support continuity as the team prepares for Pakistan.

Under Deitz, West Indies Women reached the semi-finals of consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, an achievement that reflects the team’s progress during his tenure.

CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said:

“Shane took this team to two World Cup semi-finals in a row, and that is now the standard this group holds itself to. We thank him for it. He told us of his plans, and we agreed together that a clean handover now was best for the team. Andre brings valuable experience from across West Indies cricket system, including last year’s Men’s A-Team engagement. We appreciate his willingness to take on this assignment and ensure that preparation for Pakistan carries on without interruption.”

Reflecting on his time with the organisation, Deitz said:

“I look back on a successful three years, and I want to thank the players, the staff, and Cricket West Indies for their support. I wish the team every success.”

CWI will provide further updates on the team’s leadership in due course.

Cricket West Indies

Source: Village Voice News

UN clarifies role of Salvadoran troops in Haiti

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UN clarifies role of Salvadoran troops in Haiti

The United Nations has clarified that most additional Salvadoran military personnel reportedly deployed to Haiti are not operating under the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), placing them outside the mandate of the UN Support Office in Haiti.

Responding to questions about Haiti and El Salvador, a UN spokesperson said the organisation was aware of reports of additional Salvadoran personnel being sent to the country but stressed that the majority were not deployed under the GSF framework.

“The vast majority of those are not deployed under the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and, therefore, fall outside of the scope of the UN Support Office’s mandate and reporting,” the spokesperson said.

The UN Support Office provides logistical and operational assistance to personnel serving under the GSF, as well as support related to the organisation’s Human Rights Due Diligence Policy obligations.

The spokesperson also reiterated that all security operations in Haiti, whether conducted under the GSF or by Haitian authorities and their partners, must comply with international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

“Respect for these obligations, as well as transparency and accountability, remains essential to maintaining international support and ensuring the protection of the population,” the spokesperson said.

The UN also expressed continued concern about the impact of insecurity on Haitian communities, emphasising the need to protect civilians and pursue peaceful solutions.

In a separate part of the response, the spokesperson confirmed that the United Nations had received a letter bearing the signature of Wilson Joseph, identified as a representative of Gwoup Rebel 400, addressed to the UN secretary-general.

However, the spokesperson cautioned that receiving the correspondence did not amount to recognition of its author or endorsement of its contents.

“Receipt of such a letter does not constitute endorsement of its contents, recognition of its author, or a position by the United Nations,” the spokesperson said.

The clarification comes amid heightened international attention on security operations in Haiti and the role of foreign personnel in efforts to contain armed groups.

The UN said it remained focused on supporting efforts to restore security and stability in Haiti through a coordinated international response.

caribbeannationalweekly.com

Source: Village Voice News

Jamaica sets sights on mineral wealth with new Ministry of Mining and Geology

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Jamaica sets sights on mineral wealth with new Ministry of Mining and Geology

Jamaica’s mining industry could be heading for a significant transformation, with the Government moving to expand exploration beyond bauxite and alumina, develop higher-value mineral products and reduce taxpayers’ exposure to financially troubled state investments.

Minister of Mining and Geology Floyd Green has begun implementing a new economic agenda for the sector following a directive from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, which places greater emphasis on mineral diversification, fiscal reform, geological intelligence and environmental accountability.

The agenda, outlined during a high-level meeting of the newly established ministry on Monday, signals an effort to reposition mining as a broader driver of economic growth, investment and national development.

At the centre of the new direction is recognition that Jamaica’s mineral resources extend considerably beyond the bauxite and alumina industry, which has historically dominated the country’s mining landscape.

Green said the Government intends to give greater attention to the country’s limestone and industrial mineral deposits, as well as prospects for gold, copper, rare earth elements and other critical minerals that could present new commercial opportunities.

“Bauxite and alumina remain extremely important, but Jamaica’s mineral wealth extends well beyond those traditional areas,” Green said, pointing to the need for increased exploration, stronger technical capacity and a deliberate strategy to extract greater economic value from the country’s resources.

Limestone industry targeted for major expansion

One of the immediate priorities will be the development of a Limestone Value-Addition Programme, intended to move the industry beyond the traditional extraction and sale of raw materials towards higher-value products.

The programme will identify deposits suitable for producing high-purity limestone, calcium carbonate, pharmaceutical- and food-grade products, industrial fillers, agricultural lime, construction materials and inputs for the glass and ceramics industries.

The initiative could create new opportunities for manufacturers and investors while strengthening Jamaica’s ability to earn more from its mineral resources through processing and downstream production.

The Government is also looking to establish a more targeted fiscal framework for the mining industry. Working with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Ministry of Mining and Geology will examine royalty, taxation and incentive arrangements suited to the economic realities of individual minerals.

The proposed reforms are intended to encourage exploration and investment while ensuring that the country receives a fairer share of the profits generated from its natural resources. They are also expected to strengthen the State’s ability to verify production volumes, mineral prices and payments.

Beyond limestone, the Ministry will examine the commercial potential of gold, copper and rare earth elements, alongside opportunities to recover valuable minerals from bauxite and its residues.

The traditional bauxite and alumina industry will nevertheless remain a priority, with the Ministry continuing its engagement with Alpart, Jamalco, Windalco and Discovery Bauxite Partners on issues including the protection of viable mining reserves, energy costs, logistics, residue management, technological advancement and downstream production.

Jamaica Minerals Institute proposed

Another significant component of the Government’s strategy is the proposed transformation of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute into a Jamaica Minerals Institute.

The proposed institution would have a broader mandate, extending its technical expertise, laboratory capabilities and geological data beyond the bauxite industry to support the wider minerals sector.

The initiative is intended to strengthen Jamaica’s ability to identify, assess and commercialise its mineral resources, with a national mineral resource assessment also planned.

The assessment is expected to begin with limestone and aggregates before examining the prospects for gold, copper, rare earth elements and other minerals where geological evidence supports further exploration.

Existing geological records will be combined with modern mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, laboratory testing and targeted exploration to develop a clearer understanding of the country’s mineral potential.

Green said Jamaica already possesses considerable geological expertise, but more must be done to translate that knowledge into economic opportunities and better national planning.

Importantly, the expanded geological mandate will not be limited to mining and investment decisions. The national geological survey is also expected to play a greater role in advising the Government on proposed housing developments, critical infrastructure and road construction.

This is particularly relevant in areas where unstable slopes and the possibility of ground collapse in limestone terrain could pose risks to communities and infrastructure.

Greater scrutiny of mined-out lands

Environmental protection and community safety also feature prominently in the new agenda, with the Government signalling stronger regulation and enforcement, particularly in relation to the rehabilitation of land after mining activities have ended.

The Ministry intends to implement recommendations from the Auditor General and strengthen the regulatory framework through a public digital licensing system linked to a mineral cadastre and a national rehabilitation register.

The proposed register will provide information on mined-out areas, outstanding rehabilitation obligations, the operators responsible, deadlines for completing the work and the financial security available to meet those obligations.

The move is expected to improve transparency and accountability in an industry where the management of mined-out lands and environmental responsibilities remain important public concerns.

Government moves to exit Clarendon Alumina and Jamalco interests

Perhaps the most consequential element of the Prime Minister’s directive is the proposed divestment of the Government’s interest in Clarendon Alumina Production Limited (CAP) and its participation in Jamalco.

The Government intends to end or substantially reduce taxpayers’ exposure to operating losses, capital calls and contingent liabilities associated with these investments.

The Ministry, working alongside the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Attorney General’s Chambers, will develop a transaction strategy for submission to Cabinet.

The process is expected to be informed by independent valuations and legal due diligence, while also taking into consideration employment, the continuity of viable operations, community commitments and outstanding environmental rehabilitation and closure obligations.

The Government’s challenge will be to restructure its involvement without compromising the long-term viability of operations or abandoning the communities and workers whose livelihoods are connected to the industry.

It will also seek to preserve Jamaica’s regulatory and taxation authority over the sector, even as it considers reducing its direct commercial involvement.

30-day implementation deadline

The new Ministry’s mandate comes with specific timelines and accountability requirements, signalling that the Government intends to move beyond policy discussions towards measurable implementation.

Green, who convened Monday’s meeting with Permanent Secretary Darlene Morrison, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Dermon Spence, senior officials and agency heads, said the establishment of the Ministry must result in tangible changes to how the sector is managed.

Morrison was formally welcomed to the Ministry, with Green highlighting her experience in fiscal policy, economic management and public service as valuable assets in executing the new mandate.

The Prime Minister has directed that an implementation plan be submitted within 30 days, identifying the officials and agencies responsible for each strategic priority, key decision-making deadlines and reconstruction projects requiring geological advice as a matter of priority.

The Ministry will also be required to provide a progress report at the 90-day mark, followed by quarterly updates and an annual sector performance and investment report.

Green said the Ministry must organise itself around execution, with each agency and division held accountable for its assigned responsibilities.

“This cannot simply be a change in name or administrative structure. The Prime Minister has given us clear deliverables and timelines,” he said.

For Jamaica, the success of the new direction will ultimately depend on whether the country’s mineral wealth can be translated into greater investment, stronger industrial activity, improved environmental management and more sustainable economic returns.

The ambition is to build a mining sector no longer defined almost exclusively by bauxite and alumina, but one that makes greater use of the island’s geological resources while delivering more tangible benefits to the Jamaican economy.

caribbeannationalweekly.com

Source: Village Voice News

Voting begins for US midterms amid concerns over rising living costs

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Voting begins for US midterms amid concerns over rising living costs

Voters are starting to cast their ballots in the United States’ midterm elections as polls opened at 6 a.m. Eastern Time (1100 GMT) on Tuesday in several eastern US states, including Maine, New York and Virginia.

Amid persistently high inflation and rising living costs, this year’s midterm elections are shaping up to be a major test for the Trump administration in its second term.

Republicans and Democrats are competing for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate. Voters will also elect governors in 36 states, along with state legislators and other local officials in various states.

Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to take control of the House of Representatives. The latest projections from the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan US newsletter, suggest Democrats could pick up between 12 to 25 seats in the House. Many observers expect the chamber to flip to Democratic control.

The Senate race, however, remains more competitive and uncertain, with seven states – Maine, Texas, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas and Alaska – emerging as particularly competitive battlegrounds. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to secure a 51-seat majority in the Senate.

In recent days, Xinhua reporters visited Maine, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, among other states, and found that inflation and the rising cost of living were among American voters’ top concerns this year.

Many voters blamed the Trump administration’s policies for rising gas and food prices, expressing particular frustration over its war with Iran and its sweeping tariffs. Other issues drawing widespread attention included immigration policy, healthcare and corruption.

Stickers that say “I voted” are prepared for voters during the midterm elections early in the day at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, November 3, 2026. /VCG

A survey released in mid-October by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a joint initiative of The Associated Press and the University of Chicago, found that 85% of voters cited the economy and 84% cited the cost of living as among the most important issues in this year’s midterm elections. The poll also found that 74% of respondents disapproved of President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, while 79% disapproved of his handling of the cost of living.

Over the past several weeks, more than 50 million US voters have already cast their ballots in early voting. According to The New York Times, turnout in several key Senate battleground states has surpassed levels recorded at the same point in the previous midterm election cycle. The report, however, noted that roughly half of all votes nationwide were cast on Election Day in recent elections.

Polls in eastern states generally close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, while those in central and western states remain open later. By 9 p.m. Eastern Time, polls will have closed in more than 80% of states nationwide. Alaska, in the far northwest, will be the last state to close its polls, at 1 a.m. Eastern Time on November 4.

US media outlets expect control of the House to become clear relatively early, given the potentially wider margins in many races. The Senate, however, could take much longer to call, with seven states facing particularly tight contests.

National Public Radio, an independent, nonprofit US media organization, estimates that vote counting, which is set to begin Tuesday night, could take days or even weeks to complete.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

Source: Village Voice News

GGMC reminds stakeholders of documentation requirements, lawful gold sales & compliance with mining laws

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GGMC reminds stakeholders of documentation requirements, lawful gold sales & compliance with mining laws

See full sttaement from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission: 

The Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) wishes to remind all miners, shop operators, licence holders, permit holders and other mining stakeholders of their obligation to comply with the laws and regulations governing mining operations in Guyana.

The Commission emphasizes that compliance with these requirements is mandatory and that enforcement action will be taken against persons found to be in breach of the applicable legislation.

𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.
All mining stakeholders are reminded that copies of all relevant licences, permits, permissions, authorizations and other applicable documentation must be readily available at their respective mining operations and associated establishments, including mining shops, where applicable.

These documents must be presented to authorized officers of the GGMC and/or the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) upon request to facilitate inspection and verification.

Failure to produce the relevant documentation when requested will result in the immediate suspension of the affected operations, whether mining activities or shop operations, until the required documents are presented and verified by the Commission.

Stakeholders are therefore urged to ensure that all required documents are valid, current and readily accessible at their respective operations at all times.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀

The GGMC further reminds all miners that gold produced from their operations must be sold through legally authorized channels, namely the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), licensed Gold Traders or licensed Gold Dealers, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
Selling gold through these authorized channels is not only a legal obligation but also an essential part of maintaining transparency and accountability within the mining sector. It ensures that applicable taxes and statutory deductions are made and that accurate records of gold production and sales are maintained by the relevant authorities, including the GGMC and the GGB.

The Commission particularly underscores the importance of maintaining verifiable production records and evidence of gold sales. These records are essential for monitoring production, strengthening regulatory oversight and assessing compliance with the conditions attached to mining licences and permits.

As the licence renewal period approaches in January 2027, all miners are strongly advised to ensure that their production records and gold sales documentation are complete, accurate and up to date. Failure to satisfy the applicable requirements may affect the processing and renewal of licences and other authorizations.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The GGMC also reiterates that all mining operations must be conducted in strict accordance with the Mining Act, the applicable Mining Regulations, all relevant legislation, licence conditions, permits and lawful directives.

The Commission will not condone breaches of the law, unauthorized activities or disregard for the regulatory requirements governing the sector. Any breaches or infractions identified during inspections or enforcement exercises will attract appropriate and firm enforcement action, which may include the suspension of operations and other sanctions provided for under the applicable legislation.

All miners, shop operators and other stakeholders are therefore urged to review their operations, ensure that their documentation is in order, maintain accurate production and sales records, and comply fully with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

The GGMC remains committed to promoting a transparent, accountable, responsible and law-abiding mining sector. Stakeholders are reminded that compliance is a shared responsibility and that sustained adherence to the law is essential to the effective management and development of Guyana’s mineral resources.

The Commission expects the full cooperation of all mining stakeholders and will continue to exercise its regulatory and enforcement responsibilities in the interest of the sector and the people of Guyana.

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Source: INews Guyana

Foreign leaders to attend 9th China International Import Expo in Shanghai

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Foreign leaders to attend 9th China International Import Expo in Shanghai

CGTN – A group of international leaders will travel to Shanghai for the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), running from November 5 to 10, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The guest list includes Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Liberian Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Oscar Pérez-Oliva, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Saková, and Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili.

They will attend the opening ceremony and related events at the invitation of the Chinese government, the spokesperson said.

Source: Village Voice News

Firefighters strengthen forest fire investigation skills in Italy

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Firefighters strengthen forest fire investigation skills in Italy

Acting Divisional Officer Suresh Persaud and Station Officer Javid Mohamed of the Guyana Fire Service have completed specialised training in forest fire and crime scene investigation in Italy, strengthening their ability to investigate vegetation fires and support fire prevention efforts in Guyana.

The officers attended the Basic and Advanced Course in Forest Fire and Crime Scene Investigation at the Carabinieri Forestry School CoEEP in Sabaudia from October 4 to 16, 2026.

The two-week programme focused on the technical knowledge and practical skills required to determine where forest fires begin, establish their probable causes and preserve evidence for further investigation.

A key area of training was understanding forest fire behaviour. Participants were trained to examine how vegetation, fuel availability, wind, temperature, humidity and terrain influence the development and spread of fires. These factors help investigators interpret conditions at a fire scene and identify possible points of origin.

Persaud and Mohamed also strengthened their knowledge of systematic fire scene examination. The course emphasised careful observation, accurate documentation and the assessment of physical evidence when determining whether a fire may have resulted from accidental ignition, negligence or deliberate action.

Crime scene management was another major component. Training covered securing and preserving scenes, recognising potential evidence and ensuring that its integrity is maintained during collection and handling. Participants were reminded of the importance of minimising unnecessary disturbance, particularly where criminal activity is suspected.

The programme also addressed investigative reporting, with emphasis on preparing clear, factual reports that distinguish observations, witness information and technical interpretations from conclusions supported by evidence. These skills are essential to producing findings that can withstand administrative or legal scrutiny.

For the Guyana Fire Service, the training has practical relevance to incidents involving forests, grasslands, agricultural lands and other areas with substantial vegetation. The knowledge gained can assist in identifying recurring causes of fires and guiding public education and prevention measures.

The course further highlighted the importance of cooperation among fire services, forestry authorities, police investigators and environmental agencies. Persaud and Mohamed attended alongside Deputy Commissioner Tasreef Khan of the Guyana Forestry Commission, providing an opportunity to strengthen professional collaboration between the two agencies.

The officers’ participation represents a further investment in the Guyana Fire Service’s investigative capacity, supporting its work to protect lives, property and the environment from uncontrolled fires.

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Guyana’s Oil Belongs to Guyanese: They Must Not be the Last to Know

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Guyana’s Oil Belongs to Guyanese: They Must Not be the Last to Know

By Sharma Solomon MP- The recent Rockhead-1 discovery is another example of the Government’s failure to keep Guyanese informed about their own resources. ExxonMobil’s Vice President of Global Exploration, John Ardill, disclosed the discovery in London during the Energy Intelligence Forum on October 5-6, 2026. Only afterwards did the Minister of Natural Resources confirm it publicly.

This is not the first time. In June 2026, ExxonMobil announced to investors that its estimated resource base in Guyana was just under 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels. The company’s public statements on cost recovery and the progress of its operations have also preceded the Government’s explanations to Guyanese.

The same pattern was evident with the oil audits. ExxonMobil’s disclosures to its shareholders and investors provided information about the recovery of costs and the financial arrangements governing its operations, while Guyanese were left waiting for the Government to explain what was being recovered, what was disputed and what the country stood to receive.

The Government must explain why Guyanese are repeatedly learning about their own resources from ExxonMobil. Guyanese must not have to depend on a foreign company to tell them what is happening with their inheritance.

The reserve base has not moved from 11 billion barrels since 2022, despite several announcements of new wells. ExxonMobil is now telling us that its estimate is just under 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels. The Government must explain how these resources are assessed, why the figures have not grown as expected, and what the latest discoveries mean for Guyana’s future.

This is also why I continue to advocate for a Verified Natural Resources Revenue and Evidence Bank, bringing together reliable information on discoveries, production, cost recovery, audits, contracts and revenues. Guyanese must be able to understand how their resources are managed and how the wealth is being used for national development.

The late release of information is not merely disrespectful. It prevents proper national planning. Guyana cannot determine the investments needed in education, healthcare, infrastructure and public services if the people are kept in the dark about the resources available to finance them.

The Government must stop treating Guyanese as spectators in the management of their own wealth. The people of Guyana are the owners of these resources. They have a right to know, and they have a right to know first.

Hon. K. Sharma Solomon

Member of Parliament

Source: Village Voice News

Letter: Whose freedom is the Opposition Leader fighting for?

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Letter: Whose freedom is the Opposition Leader fighting for?


Dear Editor,

Fourteen months after the 1 September 2025 election, and more than nine months into his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has answered the question of why he entered politics. Not his critics. His record. There has been only one cause, and it is his own.
The facts need little elaboration. In June 2024, the US Treasury sanctioned him and his father, Nazar Mohamed, under the Global Magnitsky framework for public corruption and the alleged evasion of more than US$50 million in duties on gold exports. Within a year, he had launched WIN. Within weeks of the election, a federal grand jury in Florida had indicted both men on eleven counts, including wire fraud and money laundering. On 31 October 2025, they were arrested on a US extradition request. In January 2026, he became Leader of the Opposition and declared the Government “afraid of me.” His reply to the National Budget was a headline, not an alternative. Nine months later, there is still no costed programme. The only programme on offer is his own defence.

Since then, his energy has gone into the courts, not the National Assembly: the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal and a constitutional challenge to the Fugitive Offenders Act. Even PNCR leader Aubrey Norton has made clear that his party will not join any fight to shield him from surrender to the United States. Then came October. Shots were fired outside the Kitty home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, the key witness in the extradition case. Mr Mohamed calls it an assassination attempt; the police dispute that account. He and two staff members were charged with firearm offences and with attempting to obstruct the course of justice. Days later, police alleged that a constable had sold him surveillance footage of that night for $800,000. He played it at a press conference. On 30 October, he was remanded to prison on a cybercrime charge.

Magistrate Abigail Gibbs refused bail on grounds any first-year law student would recognise. Under the Bail Act 2022, she weighed a simple fact: Mr Mohamed was already on bail in his other matters and now stood accused of a fresh offence allegedly committed while on bail. She found a likelihood that further offences could follow. That is not persecution. That is the law doing its job, applied to an accused who, on the prosecution’s case, keeps adding to his own charge sheet.

His apologists did not answer with law. They answered with a smear campaign. Photographs of Magistrate Gibbs and a person said to be her partner were circulated, laced with insinuations of a quid pro quo and not a shred of evidence. Attorney Selwyn Pieters was compelled to plead publicly for the posts to come down: such allegations belong before the Judicial Service Commission, not on social media. Mr Mohamed’s lawyers had already announced appeals to three courts. The remedy lay in the law. The trolling was about intimidation.

Now consider Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, who presides over the extradition hearing. It opened on 6 January 2026. Ten months on, only two prosecution witnesses have testified, and both remain under cross-examination. The prosecution calls it “a masterclass in delay”; the Chief Magistrate says “rushed justice is crushed justice.” Not a word from the apologists. Their standard is transparent: a magistrate is independent when she grants time and compromised when she refuses bail. That is not judicial independence. It is a scorecard.

The State has three arms, and the judiciary is no appendage of the executive. No family knows this better than the Mohameds. On 2 July 2026, Justice Gino Persaud quashed some $800 million in taxes the Guyana Revenue Authority had imposed on his sister Hana and on Bibi Mohamed over a Ferrari and a Rolls-Royce, branding the Commissioner General’s conduct “unreasonable, arbitrary, irrational, unfair, and unlawful.” On 29 October, the High Court freed the constable’s mother because the State could not justify her detention. These are the courts the family now calls captured. No one gets to celebrate the judiciary in July and vilify it in October.

Then there is Constable Ryan Greene, twenty years old and remanded to prison on the same charge. Police allege the $800,000 that bought the footage was delivered on Mr Mohamed’s behalf. The constable’s mother was detained over part of that money until the High Court ordered her release. His father, Randy Greene, was left to fight for them alone. And what did the Mohamed camp offer this family? His attorney said Mr Mohamed “does not know this young man.” His sister, Hana Mohamed, confronted by the family, was caught on video putting it more plainly: “collateral damage.”

Remember those two words. They are the most honest thing the Mohamed camp has said all year. A young man’s liberty and career in the balance, a mother detained, a father fighting in court alone, all written off as the price of one man’s defence. Mr Mohamed has senior counsel and appeals in three courts. The constable has no one but his family. That is the moral arithmetic of this Opposition: one man is the cause, and everyone else is collateral damage.

The last Opposition lived in the courts too. The difference is whom it went there for. When the Granger administration revoked the leases of West Berbice rice farmers, PPP counsel stood with them, and the High Court struck the revocations down. When the US$18 million ExxonMobil signing bonus surfaced in an undisclosed account at the Bank of Guyana, the PPP went to court to have it paid into the Consolidated Fund, and the money was moved. When the Government tried to outlast a no-confidence motion, the PPP went to the Caribbean Court of Justice and won. Farmers’ land. The public purse. The Constitution. Every case served someone other than the litigant. Today’s version has exactly one client.

The same selectivity runs through the family’s public advocacy. His sister, Hadiyyah Mohamed, wrote a master’s dissertation in political science on alleged corruption under the PPP, a work that leans on opinion and perception rather than adjudicated fact. Yet the gravest international corruption case ever to involve Guyanese nationals sits within her own family: US Treasury sanctions on her father and brother, and the designation of Hadi’s World, a company that bears her name. Scholarship that interrogates everyone except one’s own household is not scholarship. It is advocacy with footnotes.

Strip away the slogans and the matter is plain. The allegations against the Mohameds were not manufactured at Freedom House or State House. They come from the US Treasury, the US Department of Justice and a federal grand jury in Florida. The Guyana Revenue Authority even withdrew its own local charges because they overlapped with the US case. Guyana’s role is narrow: honour its treaty obligations and let its courts decide. This is not Opposition versus Government. It is a family fighting for its own freedom from alleged crimes that Washington, not Georgetown, wants to try.

The constable is not the only casualty. The Leader of the Opposition holds a constitutional office, and legal jeopardy does not suspend its duty. Yet every major public move he has made this year leads back to the same place. The constitutional challenge targets the very law that governs his surrender. The press conferences are about his case. The protests are against his prosecution. The appeals to three courts were filed for his release. Even the attacks on a magistrate were over his bail. He has turned the machinery of a parliamentary opposition into a personal legal strategy.

The presumption of innocence stands; the courts, in Georgetown and if need be in Florida, will settle the criminal questions. But political judgement rests on the record, and the record is damning. Every appeal, every protest, every attack on a magistrate has served one cause. Anyone in its path is collateral damage. Guyanese voted for an Opposition. They got a legal defence fund with a seat in Parliament.

Yours faithfully,
Concerned Citizen

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Source: INews Guyana