An aircraft with six people on board veered off the runway at the Mahdia Airstrip in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Sunday in the latest incident involving a hinterland aerodrome in Guyana.

Police in Regional Division #8 are investigating the incident, which occurred at the Mahdia airstrip after the aircraft, carrying five passengers and a pilot, had landed.
According to preliminary information from the police, the aircraft veered off the runway and eventually came to a halt on the eastern side of the airstrip.
No injuries were reported.
Police also said no cargo was lost or damaged, while the aircraft reportedly sustained minor damage to its wheels.
Ranks from the Regional Division visited the scene and obtained statements from persons as investigations continued.
The cause of the incident has not been established publicly, and further enquiries are ongoing.
The Mahdia occurrence comes against the backdrop of several recent aircraft incidents at Guyana’s hinterland airstrips.

Hinterland incidents
The incident occurred just days after a Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) Cessna Caravan aircraft ran off the runway at Mabaruma in Region One following an animal incursion.
On September 17, the TGA aircraft, registered 8R-GCC, experienced a runway excursion while landing at Mabaruma. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) subsequently launched an investigation and dispatched its Accident and Investigation Team to the site.
TGA later stated that its pilot had been forced to take evasive action after an animal entered the aircraft’s path during landing. The airline said the incident caused considerable damage to the aircraft and endangered passenger safety.
The Mabaruma incident also prompted concerns from aviation operators about the frequency of animals and people entering the operating areas of hinterland aerodromes.
The Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana (AOAG) subsequently called for stronger runway inspections, perimeter security, wildlife-control measures and mechanisms for reporting and responding to hazards.
The association said animals or other obstructions appearing on a runway during take-off or landing could leave pilots with only seconds to react, potentially requiring emergency braking, a rejected take-off, a go-around or evasive manoeuvres.

Runway incursions
The latest Mahdia incident also comes as the GCAA has warned about what it described as an increasing frequency of animals crossing aerodrome runways across Guyana.
The authority said deliberate or negligent release of animals onto aerodrome property poses a direct threat to passengers, flight crews and aircraft.
The GCAA further warned that persons responsible for compromising aviation safety could face prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 2018.
Section 83(1) of the legislation provides that a person who trespasses on land forming part of an aerodrome, or causes an animal to trespass on such land, commits an offence. A person convicted summarily can face a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for six months.
The authority has urged members of the public to treat aerodromes as safety-critical infrastructure and to report suspicious activity or threats to aviation operations.

Other incidents
The Mabaruma occurrence was not the only recent incident involving a hinterland airstrip.
Last month, an Air Services Limited Cessna Caravan, registration 8R-GZR, skidded off the Baramita Airstrip, North West District and became stuck in mud. The pilot and passengers were evacuated, with no injuries reported.
In April, another TGA aircraft was damaged after reportedly striking a capybara while landing at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. The aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900 registered 8R-GAQ, reportedly suffered substantial damage and veered off the runway following the impact.
TGA has also previously raised concerns with the GCAA about wildlife hazards at interior airstrips. The airline said it had reported an increase in vultures congregating on and around the Mabaruma runway, with flight crews recording bird strikes and at least one missed approach after vultures were observed on the runway.
The AOAG has similarly maintained that protecting hinterland aerodromes requires cooperation among communities, aerodrome operators, aircraft operators and regulators.

Even as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) backs Guyana’s candidacy for the United Nations (UN) Secretary General (SG) post, Regional Leaders have individually reaffirmed their support for Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in her bid to secure the top UN office.
The 81st UN General Assembly was held over the past week in New York, where Caribbean Heads of State emphasised the importance of having the female leader at helm of the global organisation to navigate the myriads of challenges and issues around the world.
They believe Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and Guyana’s current Permanent Representative to the UN, is the best suited candidate to carry out that mandate. The Guyanese diplomat is among seven candidates vying for the top UN post as current Secretary-General António Guterres wraps up his second five-year term in December.
Already, regional leaders have fully endorsed Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett at the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting held back in July in Saint Lucia – something which several of them reiterated during their address at the UNGA.

Barbados
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, was among the leaders who have formally thrown full diplomatic weight before the Guyanese candidate.
“At a moment when the international community is being called upon to renew its faith in multilateralism, we believe that Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett brings to this task the experience, the skills, and the understanding to serve the entire membership of this organization. Indeed…I believe that others think so too,” PM Mottley stated during her UNGA address.
But even as she supported Guyana’s candidate, the unapologetically outspoken Barbadian Leader addressed her own prospects at the top UN post, saying during an interview on the sidelines of the UNGA that her priority is running her country and taking care of the region. However, PM Mottley did not rule out the possibility of her seeking the position sometime in the future.

St Lucia
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of St Lucia, Philip Pierre, also rallied behind Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett while addressing the General Assembly.
He said, “St Lucia wishes to express its endorsement of the candidate of the Republic of Guyana, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for the post of Secretary General. Her distinguished record of public and international service speaks directly to the kind of leadership this moment demands.”

The Bahamas
Additionally, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, contended that the time has come for both a female and a Caribbean nation to be positioned as leader of the UN.
“Change must also reach the leadership of this organisation… [As] a former foreign minister, who has presided over the Security Council, [Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett] understands what rules mean for nations with no other protection. In 81 years, this organisation has had nine Secretaries General, all of them men. None has come from the Caribbean. We in The Bahamas believe that the time has come for both to change,” PM Davis stressed.

St Vincent and the Grenadines
Similarly, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Godwin Friday, called for the UN to be more open and inclusive in selecting its new leadership.
“We know [Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett] as a distinguished diplomat, a principled multilateralist, and a compelling advocate for developing countries and small states… As this is my first time here, like a tourist, I walk the halls of this historic building and admired, on the walls, the impressive portraits of the nine men who have served as Secretary General since 1946. And while I appreciated the outstanding caliber and service of those men, I nevertheless could not resist thinking that after eight decades, surely the time has come for an equally capable woman to be Secretary General. We believe Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana is well suited to be that person,” PM Friday stated in his first UNGA address.

Suriname
Additionally, Guyana’s candidate also enjoys renewed support from neighbouring Suriname, as reiterated by President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons in her address to the UN General Assembly.
“As the United Nations approaches change in its highest leadership, current realities and approved mandates require the next Secretary General to portray strong commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and the rule of law. Many capable candidates, including women leaders who have taken up the challenge, have been put forward, and for the first time in history, we have a female candidate from the Caribbean. Caricom endorses this candidate,” President Geerlings-Simons noted.

Belize
Moreover, Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceño, spoke during his UNGA address about the importance of a Caribbean national leading the world organisation.
“[Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett is] a distinguished daughter of the Caribbean. A Caribbean woman at the helm of the United Nations would be historic. But history alone is not the argument, her record is. The next Secretary-General would inherit an institution under strain, and a world impatient for results. Small and vulnerable States must be placed at the centre of the organisation’s work, not at the margins of decisions that determine our survival. United Nations must become more agile, more representative, and better equipped to deliver,” PM Briceño asserted.

St Kitts and Nevis
Further, Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Geoffrey Hanley, in his UNGA address, also pointed out that the future of multilateralism is dependent on the leadership selected to take on this charge.
“[Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s] understanding of the challenges facing developing nations reflect the leadership this moment demands. Her candidature, as an indigenous woman from a small Developing State, also reaffirms that global leadership must be defined not by the size of a nation, but by the vision, integrity, and capacity of those called to serve,” Deputy PM Hanley noted.

Jamaica
Likewise, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith, while addressing the UNGA, noted that Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy speaks to something much larger.
“The selection of the next Secretary General will be one of the most consequential decisions before Member States this year… Small States have long served the international system as bridge builders, consensus makers, and problem solvers. We learn very early that influence does not depend only on size and power, it can come from credibility, from dialogue, from principle, and the capacity to bring people together. These are the strengthens which a multilateral system needs now more than ever,” the Jamaican Foreign Minister stated.

Gratitude

Following this widespread show of support, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett expressed sincere gratitude to the Caribbean leaders for their “…kind words endorsing my candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary General during [their] intervention at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I remain ever grateful for CARICOM’s endorsement.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali, who had nominated Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett for the UN post back in June, in his UNGA address on Thursday urged the five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to support Guyana’s candidate.
Ahead of the UN General Assembly, the Security Council held its latest straw poll on September 18, which saw Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan taking the lead with 9 encouraging votes and Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett coming in second with 8 encouraging votes.
To get the job, a candidate needs 9 votes from the 15 members in the Security Council and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Based on international reports, however, the US has decided to block the Guyanese candidate over her description of the situation in Palestine as a “genocide”.
But while he did not mention the reported US veto, President Ali strongly appealed the Permanent Members to considered Guyana’s candidate.
“In the humblest of ways, I call on the P5, the Security Council, and every member here to look beyond the small country that nominated [Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett]. CARICOM, as a body, has endorsed her. And let us rise to the challenge of giving this indigenous woman the chance of helping us craft together, the United Nations we want to see succeed,” the Guyanese Leader implored.

…says road deaths fall to 89 so far for 2026, child fatalities drop from 5 to 2

Guyana has recorded a 19 per cent reduction in road accidents across all categories so far this year, while fatal accidents and deaths have also declined, according to Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahindra Singh.
Singh made the disclosure during an interview on the Starting Point podcast, where he outlined the Guyana Police Force’s approach to addressing speeding, dangerous driving, inattentiveness, impaired driving and other road traffic offences.
He said the reduction was being supported by consistent and visible enforcement, sustained public awareness programmes, data-driven deployment of traffic ranks and the increased use of technology.
Singh said road safety remained a concern given the continued occurrence of offences such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving and what he described as a disregard for traffic laws.
He said addressing the problem required a combination of enforcement, education and technology rather than relying solely on the deployment of additional human resources.
“What really is required, and we have endeavored to do and have been doing, is consistent and visible enforcement in all areas, especially with the prevalent offences in our society,” Singh said during the Starting Point interview.
He said the Police Force was also seeking to sustain public awareness programmes and make itself more accessible to road users, while making greater use of technology for traffic management.
According to Singh, technology allows the Police Force to improve traffic enforcement without requiring a proportional increase in the number of ranks deployed.
“This actually, why I use the term effective, it gives a level of efficiency that does not demand a greater proportionate level of human resources being deployed to accomplish an improvement in road safety,” he explained.

Fatal accidents decline
Singh said the latest figures indicate a modest reduction in fatal accidents and a more noticeable reduction in the number of deaths.
He said that, at the corresponding period last year, Guyana recorded 84 fatal accidents resulting in 93 deaths, including five children.
This year, the country has recorded 83 fatal accidents resulting in 89 deaths, including two children.
While the reduction in the number of fatal accidents is one, Singh said the decline in deaths and child fatalities was also significant.
He attributed some of the movement in the figures to continued road safety education, including lectures conducted in schools and other public awareness initiatives.
“It may not be to the desired level as yet, but we are getting there, because I tell you year after year, you’re seeing a reduction in accident,” Singh said.
He noted, however, that fatal accidents continue to fluctuate and remain the area of greatest concern for traffic authorities.

EBD highest fatal accidents
Singh also provided a breakdown of fatal accidents within Region Four, which is covered by three police divisions.
The East Bank Police Division recorded the highest number, with 19 fatal accidents resulting in 19 deaths.
Central Georgetown, designated Region 4A, recorded 14 fatal accidents and 14 deaths, while the East Coast Police Division also recorded 14 fatal accidents and 14 deaths.
Singh said the Police Force uses data analysis and the identification of accident “black spots” to determine where traffic ranks and other resources should be deployed.
He said accidents do not occur at one location permanently, meaning that the Police Force has to monitor changes in accident patterns and adjust deployments accordingly.
“Black spot management helps us now to know where to deploy,” Singh said.
He added that data-driven analysis allows the department to identify areas of greatest demand and avoid unnecessary deployment of limited resources.

Speeding leading contributor
Singh identified speeding, inattentiveness and pedestrians crossing the path of moving vehicles among the main contributors to fatal accidents.
According to the figures he provided, 70 fatal accidents last year were attributed to speeding, compared with 65 this year.
Pedestrians crossing the path of moving vehicles accounted for four fatalities last year and five this year.
Meanwhile, deaths attributed to inattentiveness increased from nine last year to 14 this year.
Singh said these figures demonstrate the continued need for public awareness and enforcement, particularly in relation to driver behaviour.
Two deaths this year were also attributed to drunk driving, he disclosed.
He said both cases have been completed and the drivers involved are to face charges for motor manslaughter.

Awareness & bars
The Traffic Department has also been taking its public awareness campaign to locations where alcohol is consumed, including bars.
Singh said this approach is intended to reach both drivers and persons who may be consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
He said the strategy also reinforces provisions under the Intoxicating Liquor Licence Act Amendment of 2022, which places responsibility on persons who sell or serve alcohol to individuals who are already visibly intoxicated.
The Traffic Chief said the objective is not only to deter drivers from operating vehicles while impaired, but also to increase awareness among persons serving alcohol about the consequences of allowing intoxicated individuals to continue drinking.
Singh said traffic management is also being incorporated into the country’s road development programme.
He explained that as newly constructed roads are completed and commissioned as public roads, the Traffic Department is planning for the establishment of outposts and the deployment of ranks.
According to Singh, plans are already being made to staff such locations while maintaining mobile traffic patrols.
The intention, he said, is to ensure that traffic enforcement is considered before or as new road infrastructure comes into operation, rather than being addressed only after problems emerge.
He said the approach is being taken in keeping with the broader development agenda and the expansion of the country’s road network.

Over 72,000 cases filed
Singh also disclosed that approximately 72,000 traffic cases have been filed across the country this year in the various magisterial districts.
He said the cases have recorded an overall conviction rate of about 51 per cent so far, with many of the convictions involving speeding offences.
The remaining matters, he said, are still before the courts, while some cases have been dismissed because of issues including insufficient evidence or procedural shortcomings.
Singh said the conviction rate could be higher but pointed to limitations within the court system, including the number of matters that can be heard daily.
He explained that some Magistrates’ Courts have a system under which approximately 25 matters are heard per day, while the number of cases being filed by traffic ranks can reach about 500 per day.
The disparity between the number of cases being generated and the number being heard, he said, contributes to the backlog.

Technology & licence suspensions
Singh said the increased use of technology has also assisted the Police Force in detecting dangerous driving and speeding offences.
He disclosed that 37 drivers have had their licences suspended this year as a result of traffic offences.
According to Singh, some drivers convicted of dangerous driving and speeding have been disqualified from driving for periods ranging from six months to 12 months.
He also referred to Guyana’s demerit point system, which was introduced through amendments to the Road Traffic Act.
Under the system, drivers accumulate points for specified offences, with the accumulation of points potentially resulting in a period of disqualification.
Singh said the schedule covers approximately 53 offences, with speeding and dangerous driving among the offences that can result in the accumulation of points.
He explained that the applicable disqualification period depends on the number of points accumulated, with periods ranging from six months to one year under the relevant thresholds.
However, Singh said courts have previously imposed longer periods of disqualification, including two and three years, depending on the circumstances of a case.
He cited a recent accident in Region Three involving a police officer who was seriously affected and remains bedridden.
According to Singh, the driver involved in that incident was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence for two years.

Yesterday was ‘World Tourism Day”- under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” With the government firmly committed to diversifying our economy – to escape the much feared “Dutch Disease” – they’ve embraced the occasion with initiatives and ambition!! The Minister announced a goal of hitting ONE MILLION VISITORS annually by 2030!!
With AI embedded in the mix, your Eyewitness can just see visitors discovering our magnificent Iwokrama Forest Reserve courtesy of an algorithm, booking an interior lodge from New York and receiving an itinerary before her suitcase is closed!! Sounds great, doesn’t it?? Especially when our old tourism strategy relied rather heavily on somebody knowing somebody – who knew a man with a boat!!
Digital maps, online bookings and smarter promotion will certainly give small tour operators and community lodges a fairer opportunity of reaching the world – and showing them what we got, they just gotta see!! The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana – THAG – has made that case while urging the industry to keep our locals at the centre of the experience. Its president cautioned the industry to “embrace technology without losing our humanity”!! And it’s our unique Guyaneseness that’s gonna make tourists come – and more importantly return, innit??
But we really gotta jettison a cherished national habit – announcing the destination before arranging the journey!! An AI assistant can recommend a magnificent river expedition, but it ain’t gonna make the boat arrive on time’; give hinterland lodges reliable connectivity or persuade overseas visitors that “call back tomorrow” is a booking system!!
And please, let’s learn the lesson that AI bots are trained by feeding them info that they process and then regurgitate when prompted!! So, we gotta let the software learn about Guyana from Guyanese!! Visitors asking about a village should hear its people’s story – not receive a glossy paragraph generated by a machine that’s never crossed the BJ Demerara River Bridge!! If our tourist destinations supply the welcome, the knowledge and the adventure, your Eyewitness is sure they’ll receive more than a passing mention on a platform’s website!!
The UN itself – which has been on our radar recently!! – warns that AI could keep sending travelers to already famous destinations – and, within Guyana, to its best-known attractions – unless smaller local operators are visible online too!! It’s clear that the govt is quite hip to that possibility and is making the smallest operator easy to find; paying to train young Guyanese to run the digital services, and ensuring the visitors’ dollars travel further than the booking fee!!
So, by all means, let AI redesign tourism. But when the visitor reaches the landing, somebody with actual intelligence still gotta know where the boat is!!

…Caroline
After Pressie showed the UN General Assembly what an asset Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett would be as General Secretary to the future on the organization and multilateralism – we gotta keep on pushing diplomatically until the deed gets done!! So let’s look at the timeline to get a feel for the lay of the land to deploy our resources wisely!!
Candidate hearings began back in April and the Security Council – which makes the nomination of a candidate for the General Assembly to vote on – began straw polls in late July with Caroline running neck and neck with the Costa Rican candidate – also female. This process normally runs into October since the incumbent’s term ends Dec 31!!
For Carolyn, the decisive hurdle is therefore the Security Council recommendation, rather than the subsequent General Assembly appointment – and this means none of the Big Five – the US, China, Russia, Britain and France – use their veto power to nix her!!
The UNGA always follows the Security Council’s recommendation – so that’s where we gotta lobby!!

…clean power
Pressie announced that his govt is again evaluating bids – on Build Own Operate and Transfer model – for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.
Lets hope we’re third time lucky – since we gotta balance our power mix!!

By Dr Tariq Jagnarine

A patient may come to the clinic after years of recurring headaches, carrying a packet of painkillers and describing days lost from work or family life. They may have been told the problem is stress or that they simply need more rest. Sometimes, after listening to the pattern of symptoms, the diagnosis is migraine.
Migraine is a neurological condition that causes recurrent attacks. Good care means recognising the condition, treating attacks effectively, and deciding whether preventive treatment is needed.

Risk Factors and Triggers
Migraine can affect anyone, but it is more common in women and in people with a close family member who has it. Hormonal changes may influence attacks, particularly around menstruation.
Risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of having migraine. Triggers are circumstances that may bring on an attack. Missed meals, irregular sleep, stress, dehydration, excess caffeine, bright light, and hormonal changes are possible triggers. They differ between patients. A headache diary helps identify an individual pattern without imposing unnecessary restrictions on everyone with migraine.

Signs and Symptoms
Migraine often causes moderate to severe throbbing pain that worsens with movement. It may affect one side of the head, although it does not have to. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound are common. Some patients also feel tired or have difficulty concentrating before or after the headache.
An aura occurs in some patients. It may involve flashing lights, zigzag lines, tingling, or difficulty speaking. Many people with migraine never have an aura. New or unfamiliar neurological symptoms require assessment rather than an assumption that they are part of migraine.

How Is Migraine Diagnosed?
Migraine is primarily a clinical diagnosis, based on the history and examination. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (ICHD-3) provides formal criteria. For migraine without aura in adults, the criteria include:

1. At least five attacks, each lasting 4 to 72 hours when untreated or unsuccessfully treated.
2. Headache with at least two of these features: one-sided location, pulsating quality, moderate or severe intensity, or worsening with routine physical activity.
3. During the headache, at least one of the following: nausea or vomiting, or both sensitivity to light and sensitivity to sound.
4. Symptoms that are not better explained by another headache diagnosis.

The requirement for five attacks does not mean someone with fewer attacks should be turned away or left untreated. Their clinician may consider probable migraine while continuing to assess the pattern and exclude other causes. Children can also have shorter attacks than adults.
Migraine with aura has separate criteria. It generally involves at least two attacks with fully reversible aura symptoms, such as visual, sensory, or speech changes. The way symptoms develop over minutes and resolve helps distinguish a typical aura from other neurological conditions. A first episode, a sudden onset, or an unusual symptom needs careful assessment.
In clinic, I also ask how often headaches occur, how many days of work or normal activity are affected, and how frequently pain medicine is taken. A diary can provide answers that are difficult to recall during one consultation. A brain scan is not routinely needed simply to confirm a typical migraine, but a changed headache pattern or concerning examination findings may warrant further investigation.

Medicines to Treat an Attack
Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help when taken early and when suitable for the patient. For a more disabling attack, a clinician may prescribe sumatriptan, a migraine-specific medicine. Metoclopramide can help when nausea or vomiting is prominent. These medicines appear in Guyana’s published Essential Medicines List, although stock at an individual facility may vary.
Treatment must account for other medical conditions. Ibuprofen may be unsuitable for some people with kidney disease or stomach ulcers. Sumatriptan requires assessment in patients with cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension. Taking painkillers too frequently can cause medication-overuse headache and make the overall problem worse.

Medicines to Prevent Migraine
Preventive medicines are taken regularly to reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks. They do not stop a headache immediately. Prevention is considered when migraine is frequent, disabling, or remains disruptive despite appropriate treatment for individual attacks.
Propranolol is a preventive option listed under specialist use in Guyana’s published Essential Medicines List. It may be unsuitable for someone with asthma or a slow heart rate. Amitriptyline and topiramate are other preventive options recognised in international guidance. The choice depends on the patient’s other conditions, possible adverse effects, pregnancy plans, and access to the medicine. Topiramate must not be used for migraine prevention during pregnancy and requires particular care for anyone who could become pregnant. The Guyana list reviewed for this article specifically identifies propranolol for migraine prevention; it does not establish current local availability of amitriptyline or topiramate.
A clinician should review whether preventive treatment is reducing headache days and improving daily functioning. If a medicine does not help or causes troublesome effects, the plan can be adjusted. The objective is fewer disrupted days, not simply a lower pain score during the next attack.

Practical Prevention Tips
Regular sleep and meal times, adequate hydration, physical activity, and attention to caffeine use may help reduce attacks. Record headaches and possible triggers so that prevention is based on your own pattern. These measures support treatment, but someone with frequent or disabling migraine may also need preventive medicine.

When a Headache Needs Urgent Assessment
Seek emergency care for a headache that begins suddenly and is extremely painful, or one accompanied by weakness, confusion, a seizure, or new problems with speech or vision. A headache during pregnancy or soon after childbirth needs prompt assessment. An apparent migraine lasting more than 72 hours, an aura lasting longer than an hour, or a clear change from a person’s usual pattern should also be reviewed.

What I Observe in Clinic
What concerns me is how often patients have adjusted their lives around migraine before seeking help. They miss work, avoid commitments in case another attack comes, and repeatedly take painkillers without a diagnosis or a prevention plan.
In clinic, I ask how many headache days a patient has each month and what those days have cost them. The diagnostic criteria help us recognise migraine, but the effect on the person’s life guides what we do next. If attacks keep returning, the answer may be a preventive plan rather than another tablet for the next headache.
Migraine deserves proper assessment. With an accurate diagnosis and a plan for both acute treatment and prevention, patients can regain days that headaches have taken away.

China has watched Washington use access to the dollar centred financial system as a tool for influencing the behavious of nations and drawn an obvious conclusion: a great power – which it is working overtime to become and displace the US – needs another way to pay its bills. In his September 26 American Spectator article, Thomas Kolbe argues that Beijing is building the financial machinery to trade without depending so heavily on the US dollar. It would then appear that its commitment to the BRICS+ initiative to achieve this goal more broadly is merely a backup plan and may explain why it has lagged.
Kolbe explained that China’s cross border payment system, CIPS, lets banks settle transactions in yuan. Its clearing infrastructure gives those transactions a broader financial market. And Bridge points towards direct digital payments between central banks. Taken together, these are more than a protest against American sanctions. They are the beginnings of a working alternative, especially for countries that trade heavily with China. His argument, however, is that the machinery may work, China still faces a harder task: persuading other countries to trust the yuan as a long term home for their wealth.
For Guyana, this is no longer a distant quarrel between monetary giants. Oil has made us a holder of substantial foreign assets that is deposited in the US Fed. The Natural Resource Fund was valued at US$3.64 billion at the end of March 2026. Every decision about the currencies and assets in which Guyana holds its earnings now has consequences for future budgets, imports and generations of Guyanese.
There is little reason to announce that Guyana will abandon the dollar. Oil is traded in a market where it remains central, and Guyana needs ready access to dollars to pay for imports and meet external obligations. The dollar’s strength lies in the depth of US financial markets, the ease of buying and selling dollar assets, and confidence that investors can keep what they own. Kolbe’s central contention is that China’s political system where the Communist Party has absolute control over all aspects of the economy and the leaders are not elected democratically, cannot yet offer comparable confidence. Beijing may be able to make the yuan convenient for trade while leaving governments and investors reluctant to hold it for decades.
There is an irony here in that while presently, American sanctions may give countries a reason to seek alternatives, China’s own capacity to intervene in financial affairs gives them a reason to hesitate. Gold reserves and clever technology may ease that hesitation but neither can, by itself, guarantee independent rules. Kolbe’s argument therefore points to a gradual shift, rather than an overnight “dollar killer.” Countries may increasingly settle particular trades in yuan without replacing their dollar reserves.
Equally, loyalty to the dollar should not therefore become a rule against considering every other currency. If a Guyanese importer and a Chinese supplier can settle a transaction in yuan more cheaply and reliably, they should be able to assess that option on its merits. A currency useful for paying a bill is not automatically the best place to keep the nation’s savings.
That distinction should guide policy. The government and Bank of Guyana should publish a clear account of the Fund’s currency and asset exposures, its approach to safeguarding them, and the risks it considers when changing that mix. They should develop practical capacity for trade settlement in other currencies where it lowers costs, while keeping the Fund’s investments governed by liquidity, safety and independently assessed returns. Any diversification should be gradual, transparent and consistent with the Fund’s legal mandate. This is a recommendation drawn from our position as an oil producer, rather than a claim made by Kolbe
Guyana has no need to enlist in either side’s currency campaign. It needs the freedom to trade widely, the discipline to protect its oil earnings, and the good sense to judge each financial proposal by what it does for Guyana.

Dear Editor,
Several days ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali’s address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly was, in my view, an important statement of Guyana’s growing confidence and engagement on the international stage.
Editor, at a time when our world is confronted by unwanted wars, increasing humanitarian crises, geopolitical rivalry, food insecurity, climate pressures, and growing questions about the effectiveness of international institutions, President Ali used the world’s largest international platform to articulate Guyana’s perspective on several of the defining issues confronting humanity.
What stood out to me was the breadth of the address and the central principle connecting its various themes: in an increasingly fractured world, international cooperation, respect for international law, and effective multilateralism remain indispensable.
A strong defence of multilateralism was one of the most consequential aspects of the President’s address to the gathering.
The international system is undoubtedly under tremendous strain. Yet the shortcomings of institutions such as the United Nations cannot become an excuse for abandoning them. Rather, those shortcomings should strengthen the case for reform that is so desperately needed.
President Ali’s call for a Security Council that better reflects twenty-first-century geopolitical realities, including permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, speaks to a longstanding concern of developing countries: institutions created for another era must evolve if they are to retain legitimacy and relevance in this one.
For small developing states such as Guyana, this matters immensely. Multilateralism provides countries, regardless of their size or their military and economic power, with a forum in which their sovereignty, interests, and perspectives can be heard.
Speaking on the issue of peace, the President also addressed some of the most difficult conflicts facing humanity.
His reiteration of Guyana’s support for Palestinian self-determination and a two-State solution, in which Israel and Palestine can exist in peace and security, placed Guyana within the continuing international search for a just and lasting settlement.
Similarly, his call for an end to the Russia–Ukraine war emphasised an essential truth: wars ultimately require political and diplomatic solutions if sustainable peace is to be achieved.
The attention he gave to Haiti and Cuba was equally significant from a Caribbean perspective. Haiti cannot be abandoned to instability and insecurity. Its people deserve sustained regional and international engagement. Cuba, likewise, remains an issue on which Caribbean states have consistently advocated dialogue and constructive engagement.
These were not merely references to distant international issues. They demonstrated Guyana’s willingness to contribute its voice to questions affecting our Caribbean neighbourhood and the wider international community.
With respect to matters closer to home, the President addressed Venezuela, Guyana’s sovereignty, and the rule of law.
For Guyanese, few issues could be more important than the Guyana–Venezuela border controversy.
President Ali was firm and clear in presenting Guyana’s reliance on the International Court of Justice as part of a peaceful, rules-based approach to resolving the controversy.
His declaration that Guyana will respect the Court’s eventual judgment, and his expectation that Venezuela will do likewise, carries significance far beyond our borders.
For small states like ours, international law is not some abstract diplomatic concept. It is among our most important protections in a world where countries possess vastly different levels of military, economic, and geopolitical power and influence.
Guyana must therefore continue to stand resolutely and firmly for its territorial integrity while demonstrating that disputes between states should be resolved through law, diplomacy, and peaceful international mechanisms rather than coercion.
Another notable element of President Ali’s address was his deliberate advocacy for Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations a potentially historic opportunity for our country, the Caribbean, and developing countries around the world.
He highlighted her distinguished public-service record, which spans service as Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, alongside her wider international experience.
But her candidature carries symbolism beyond any single résumé.
The prospect of an Indigenous woman from Guyana and the Caribbean being considered for leadership of the United Nations speaks directly to the wider conversation about representation within the international system.

President Ali situated her candidature within his broader argument about the kind of leadership the United Nations requires: leadership capable of rebuilding trust, bridging divisions, and restoring greater unity of purpose to an institution operating in an increasingly divided world.
Whatever ultimately emerges from the selection process, Guyana placing one of its own before the international community for consideration for one of the world’s most consequential diplomatic offices is itself a significant moment for our country.
His Excellency presented to the world a more confident Guyana. There is a broader lesson that I believe all Guyanese should take from this address.
The international influence of a country is not determined solely by its geographical size, population, or military strength. Influence can also come from diplomatic credibility, consistency, ideas, and the ability to connect national interests with principles that resonate internationally.
That is where I believe President Ali’s address was particularly effective.
Guyana’s territorial integrity was connected to international law. Caribbean concerns were connected to regional stability. The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine were situated within a broader call for peace. United Nations reform was connected to the legitimate demand for greater representation for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. And Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidature was presented within the larger question of leadership and renewal within the multilateral system.
Taken together, these positions presented a Guyana prepared to participate in international affairs not merely as an observer, but as a sovereign state willing to articulate its interests and contribute ideas to the wider international conversation.
That is an important evolution for our country.
Guyana today occupies an increasingly visible place internationally. With that visibility comes responsibility: to defend our sovereignty, maintain principled relationships, contribute constructively to international debates, and ensure that our diplomacy continues to reflect both our national interests and our commitment to peaceful international cooperation.
President Ali’s address demonstrated that Guyana intends to have a voice in those conversations and a seat at those tables.
Furthermore, it is fair to say that the central proposition emerging from his speech was both simple and consequential: a fractured world does not require less cooperation; it requires better cooperation.
From the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Guyana made that case.
As a Guyanese, I believe there is value in seeing our country confidently contributing its voice to the difficult conversations shaping the future of our region and our world. In my view, President Ali delivered an excellent address, and it was a moment in which Guyanese can take pride.

Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira
Former Member of Parliament

Dear Editor,
‘Cometh the Man Cometh the Hour.’ I refer here to Guyana’s President, Dr Irfan Ali, who starred at recent visit to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. But my reason for this compressive (hopefully comprehensive too) missive has little to do with his duty-bound delivery, which was Grade A, but on what happened on the side, namely his ‘Meet and Greet’ that took place New York City on the evening of September 24, 2026. It went way above the organisers’ expectation and preparation as it ‘magnetised’ a massive crowd from the Guyanese Diaspora.
So why? How come?
Editor, I posit that President Ali has confirmed that he has united Guyana, and hence his ‘One Guyana’ is most bona fide, and it is not just a mere pitch. I recall Mexico’s Vicente Fox, who in the 2000s, deemed every single Mexican migrant living in the United States as “national heroes.” He never ever referred to them as citizens who abandoned their homeland. In fact, the perceptive man wisely created the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), so that they could have been provided with health, education, and legal services. He also established the Tres por Uno (Three-for-One) program, where municipal, state, and federal governments matched every dollar invested by his diaspora hometown associations to build infrastructure in Mexico.
I think this is where, outside of his invigorated leadership, President Ali must be given his deserved accolades. He does not bully, beg nor bribe for patriotism, or party support. He has, instead, with his battery of same-minded astute ministers, rolled out an unprecedented set of incentives, designed to bring a sense of belonging to the diaspora, who can equally be a part of the country’s rapid transformation.
I think here of the many initiatives the PPP/C Government has launched, that many are still not attuned to and capitalising upon.
1-Facilitating individuals who are willing put their money into major national industrial projects with ‘guaranteed financial returns.’
2-Establishing partnerships with Barbados, that cater for returning or overseas citizens to take equity stakes in critical long-term Caribbean infrastructure.
3-Accommodating members of the returning diaspora, so that they can buy into the newly developed, master-planned housing communities, featuring upgraded electricity, roads, and treated water.
4-Setting up of the Remigrant Scheme, where Guyanese, who officially want to relocate back home will qualify for significant tax breaks-duty-free concessions on importing personal effects, household goods, and personal vehicles, (thus) dramatically lowering the upfront cost of moving back to settle.
I need not go on almost ad infinitum, except to say, that President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ has finally encapsulated the 1966 motto of “One People One Nation One destiny.” That New York Meet and Greet even converted some enemies, as his leadership charm, energy and guise have transcended geography, race, religion and rank. There is now a most pungent feeling of “equality of being” in terms of a national identity, and equal accessibility for opportunities.

Sincerely,
Raymond Anderson