Cuban table tennis champion and coach Liván Martínez has completed a transformative three-month high-performance stint with Guyana’s national squad, warning that the country’s bright young prospects must build a fiercer daily training culture to succeed on the international stage.

Martínez, a decorated athlete with titles across Caribbean, Central American and Caribbean (CAC), and Pan American competitions, brought top-tier sparring and elite tactical instruction to Georgetown.

His temporary assignment forms part of an ongoing strategic partnership between the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and the Cuban Table Tennis Federation, alongside fellow Cuban coaches Osdani Romero García and Yasel.

Impressed by the raw potential in the Guyanese ranks, Martínez delivered a candid assessment of what it takes to turn talent into international podiums.

He highlighted a critical need for athletes to shift their mental approach, urging players to embrace daily double sessions, realistic match simulations, and rigorous off-table physical conditioning.

Martínez stressed that table tennis remains fundamentally an individual pursuit where personal accountability dictates progress, insisting that preparation must be a year-round commitment rather than a scramble ahead of major tournaments.

“Players must establish clear goals and work daily and monthly to improve every aspect of their game,” Martínez said. “They must train harder, go the extra mile, and develop the mindset and fighting spirit required to compete successfully at the highest level.”

The GTTA welcomed the intervention, viewing Martínez’s intense regimen as the benchmark for a broader overhaul of its national programme.

Under the Association’s updated high-performance framework, national team selection will now depend strictly on attendance, physical readiness, and measurable commitment to structured performance plans aimed at Commonwealth, Pan American, and Olympic-level competitions.

GTTA President Godfrey Munroe praised the exchange’s impact, noting that Martínez gave the squad a rare window into the standards required at the sport’s peak.

“Coach Martínez brought not only tremendous playing and coaching experience, but also the intensity, discipline, and competitive standards required at the international level,” Munroe said.

“His presence provided our athletes with quality sparring, technical guidance, and a clearer understanding of what is required to progress from talent to sustained high performance.”

Munroe added that the responsibility now shifts directly to the players to embed those standards into their routine.

“Development cannot be seasonal or begin only when a team is preparing to travel,” said Munroe. “It must be a daily process supported by clear goals, disciplined training, physical preparation, and a willingness to do the additional work required.” (Modified Press Release) 

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

A young woman from Lethem who left home after Grade Six on a Hinterland Scholarship has now been admitted to the Bar of Guyana, with plans to eventually return to Region Nine and open her own law practice.

Rennata A. Nickram, who describes herself as the first lawyer in her family, was admitted to practice law on Friday before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln in Court Room 12 of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Her petition was presented by Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj of Gunraj & Co.

For Nickram, becoming a lawyer is not only a personal achievement but also a step toward giving back to the community where she grew up.

“Coming from Lethem, it is important to me that my professional journey does not disconnect me from my roots,” she said.

“I hope that, as I grow within the profession, I can use my knowledge and experience to serve others and contribute to greater access to legal services within my community.”

Nickram’s journey from Lethem to the Bar began with academic success at the 2015 National Grade Six Assessment, where she topped Region Nine.

That achievement earned her a place at The Bishops’ High School in Georgetown and a Hinterland Scholarship.

Moving from Lethem to Georgetown at that age meant living with a guardian in Lamaha Gardens and adjusting to life away from her family and familiar support system. She returned home during the Christmas, Easter and August holidays.

Despite the transition, Nickram went on to pass all 12 subjects she sat at the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations.

She subsequently spent a year studying International Relations at the University of Guyana before entering the Bachelor of Laws programme in 2021.

She earned her LLB in 2024 and went on to complete her Legal Education Certificate at the Eugene Dupuch Law School this year.

Her performance at law school also earned her the Colin E. Callender Q.C. Memorial Prize for Best Performing Student in the Commercial and Financial Services Law Clinic.

The award recognised her work in the clinic and her participation in the STEP Bahamas Moot Competition, which her team won under the coaching of McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes.

It was her first time participating in a moot competition.

Nickram said her decision to study law was shaped in part by growing up in Lethem and seeing the importance of access to professional services in hinterland communities.

“I was drawn to a profession that would challenge me intellectually while also giving me the opportunity to assist people, advocate for their interests and contribute positively to my community,” she said.

Her parents, Rubeina Khan-Nickram and Kenrick Nickram, said they were grateful to see their daughter reach the milestone.

“Congratulations to our daughter Rennata on her admission to practice law in Guyana,” they said.

“We give thanks to Almighty God for His grace, strength, and favor throughout her journey to earn her LLB, LEC and now to take the oath as an Attorney-at-Law.”

They also encouraged her to serve her clients and country with “wisdom, honesty, and excellence.”

For young people in Region Nine who may see Georgetown as the only path to professional success, Nickram has a simple message.

“I would tell them to work hard, stay focused and make the most of every opportunity that comes their way. Don’t let where you come from limit what you believe you can achieve,” she said.

Nickram now plans to build her experience in the legal profession, with the longer-term goal of taking that experience back to Lethem and establishing her own practice.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Guyanese are being urged to start preparing now for hotter and drier conditions, as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) expects El Niño conditions to persist into the fourth quarter of next year.

Deputy Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Thomas, issued the warning on Thursday during a consultation and sensitisation exercise in Region Five, where regional officials and communities were being briefed on how to prepare for the expected conditions.

Thomas said the CDC is taking the message across all ten administrative regions, working with Regional Democratic Councils, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, village councils and other government agencies.

He said the focus is on preparing communities before the effects become more severe.

“We want to have a proactive approach to disaster risk management,” Thomas said, explaining that the consultations are intended to help communities understand what they could face and put plans in place early.

Thomas said temperatures are expected to rise as the year progresses, with October projected to be warmer than September.

For farmers, that means planning ahead for water.

The CDC is encouraging communities and farmers to conserve, harvest and store water to ensure adequate supplies for livestock and crops during dry periods.

But Thomas cautioned that El Niño does not mean Guyana will simply stop seeing heavy rainfall.

Sudden downpours could still occur and may trigger flash flooding, particularly in low-lying communities.

The dry conditions could also increase the risk of forest and bush fires.

Thomas pointed to the large number of forest fires recorded in Guyana in 2024 and said a recent fire was also recorded in Kwakwani.

He warned that slash-and-burn farming can increase the risk of fires spreading if proper precautions are not taken.

Farmers are being advised to establish firebreaks and follow proper procedures when using fire to clear agricultural lands.

The CDC is also working with NDCs to improve local firefighting capacity, especially in rural and hinterland communities without a permanent fire service.

Volunteers, residents and members of the Guyana Defence Force Reserve are being trained in basic firefighting, while some communities are receiving personal protective equipment and other firefighting resources.

The CDC has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre and is strengthening regional emergency systems so information and requests for assistance can move quickly if conditions deteriorate.

Thomas said the agency is also preparing for a worst-case scenario, recalling that Guyana sought assistance from Brazil in 2024 after the country was overwhelmed by the effects of the conditions.

The CDC remains in contact with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Brazil and the United Nations, in case additional support is required.

The heat is also a concern for people who spend long hours outdoors.

Thomas specifically identified children, construction workers and employees of agencies such as Guyana Power and Light and Guyana Water Incorporated as groups that need to be properly educated about staying hydrated during periods of increased temperatures.

The CDC has already held similar consultations in Regions Three and Four, Region Six, Region Two and several hinterland regions.

Thomas said the aim is to ensure communities are ready before the effects of El Niño intensify.

“If we stay proactive and we discuss and put systems and plans in place, then this period should not be a difficult period for us,” he said.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Mercedes’ George Russell held off a late challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened late on by two safety car periods.

Russell dominated the first part of the race while Verstappen was climbing up from eighth place on the grid before becoming stuck behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

But two safety cars in quick succession put the Red Bull on Russell’s tail for an 11-lap chase to the flag.

Russell could never break free of Verstappen but the four-time world champion was not quite able to get close enough to try an overtaking move.

After an issue with energy deployment, Russell was scared Verstappen would pass him on the run to the line, but held on to win by just under 0.2 seconds.

Russell’s victory meant he cut the championship lead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli – who recovered from 16th on the grid to finish fifth – to 66 points.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium. I do want to say a big thanks to my team because they’ve continued to believe in me through a tough moment, helped me come through it,” the Briton said.

“I’m really proud to have had this weekend.”

Behind the top two, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar drove a strong race to the final podium position on his return after missing three races with a broken wrist.

The key stories of an initially soporific and then dramatic and tense grand prix were:

• Russell’s accomplished drive to his first win since the Austrian Grand Prix in June
• Verstappen’s superb fightback from a difficult qualifying
  Mid-race chaos with a first safety car triggering a second almost immediately, as so often happens
• McLaren’s race unravelling after a promising start (BBC)

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

This weekend’s opening round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) 2026 National Championships will see a unique combination of Jamaican driver Tommi Gore and the hyper-successful J’s brand.

Known for their recent dominance in the horse racing arena as the J’s Racing Stable, the team is looking to replicate that success with their foray into motorsport, and if their track record is anything to go by, it won’t be long before they climb the podium steps.

This weekend brings a new challenge for the team, especially with Jamaican race ace Tommi Gore set to take the wheel of one Guyana Team’s KTM X-Bow.

Gore said, “(I am) looking forward to being back competing with the One Guyana team. I got the call just this week to ask if I could make it to drive the J’s Supermarket KTM in Group Four. I’m looking forward to driving against a new set of competitors, as well as getting some more track time ahead of the November 1 Guyana Grand Prix. And most importantly, putting on a show for the patrons coming out to support this event.”

With the excitement set to unfold this weekend, J’s Supermarket owner Jermaine Sripal has sized up his chances.

“We are very confident in the car. It’s a group four race, and we have some serious contenders. We have Rameez (Mohamed and the BM Soat/Prem’s Electrical KTM X-Bow) that has almost double the horsepower of our car, but we are still very confident and hoping for some good results.”

“Just like our racing stables, it’s always important to have a great team around us to make things go well, and I think we have a great team around us for this weekend, especially with the introduction of Tommi (Gore),” Sripal said.

Meanwhile, admission for the championship round has been set at G$4,000 for adults and G$2,000 for children.

The 2026 championship is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, One Guyana, GuyOil, ENet, KFC, Tropical Shipping and Castrol.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

It is all about the 2027 ODI World Cup now. Every series that any team plays will be about putting things in place so that they have all bases covered by the time the first ball is bowled next October. West Indies have an extra box to tick given they have to run the gauntlet at the Qualfiier for the third successive time to make the ICC event.

India have played three ODI series this year and lost two of them. For various reasons- injuries, focus on the T20 World Cup which they won- they have struggled to put their first-choice team on the park and are once again without Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, the all-rounder who balances the XI and a once in a generation fast bowler.

For all the hoops they must jump through, it is unfathomable that India will line up without either of them in Southern Africa if they are even halfway ready to play.

Neither is with the ODI team at the moment which leaves the bowling side of things a little light. Back-up all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy– only recently at full fitness himself- might have to get used to bowling his full 10 overs. An opposition team might see that as opportunity.

West Indies have not won a bilateral 50-over series against India since 2006, and in India since 2002.

Barring a left-arm quick, they have depth in their attack with Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales offering swing and seam, Alzarri Joseph for middle-overs threat and Vitel Lawes for X-factor. Shai Hope shepherds a batting line-up that has promise.

These three ODIs- in addition to being valuable prep for bigger prizes in the future- have their own stakes.

In the spotlight – Virat Kohli and Alzarri Joseph

Virat Kohli is 59 runs short of 15,000 in ODIs and given he averages 66.50 against West Indies, there is a decent chance of history being made in Thiruvananthapuram.

The one-day game is his best format primarily because he is able to keep up a good rate of scoring without having to take risks. Still, there has been a noticeable trend lately of Kohli looking to up his tempo, relying on the same shots he always does- drives and flicks and pulls- just playing them in the air.

In six matches in 2026, he has a strike rate of 106.66 The only other year where he finished with a strike rate above 100 was 2018.

Alzarri Joseph and Daren Sammy had a falling out in public earlier this year over the fast bowler not playing the two Tests against Pakistan. At the start of this ODI series, the coach name-checked Joseph, highlighting that he is back in the team as a CPL champion.

Either the ice has thawed or Joseph has been true to his words: “I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship.”

Team news

West Indies (probable) 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Matthew Forde, 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Jayden Seales/Shamar Joseph, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Vitel Lawes

John Campbell will take his spot at the top of the order back after returning from surgery. Justin Greaves stepped in for him in two of the five ODIs against New Zealand in July and may partner him on Sunday.

It remains to be seen if Shamar Joseph, who has played nine 50-over internationals since his debut in 2024 and finished his quota of 10 overs once, can push for a place in the XI

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Naman Dhir/Gurnoor Brar/Auqib Nabi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj

India captain Shubman Gill is fit to play after taking a blow to the elbow in the nets. Several first-choice players are with the T20I side at the Asian Games, including Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel which opens up a balance issue here.

If India believe they can get 10 overs out of Reddy, they might go batting heavy with their XI, giving Naman Dhir a debut in the middle order. If they prefer bowling cover, they might stick with Gurnoor Brar or call up Auqib Nabi for his debut. (Cricinfo)

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Source: Village Voice News

Social commentator GHK Lall has launched a blistering attack on the Guyana Government over what he describes as the public humiliation of High Court Justice Gino Persaud at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), questioning how the government can deny involvement in the judge’s U.S. visa review while remaining silent about a subsequent airport incident under Guyanese control.

Persaud was prevented from travelling to Jamaica for the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association conference after being informed that his U.S. visa was under review. The United States has not publicly disclosed the reason for the review. U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot said the Georgetown Embassy was not aware of the information prompting the review and explained that such reviews are handled in Washington.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has emphatically denied any involvement by the Guyana Government, saying President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and he had no influence over the U.S. decision.

But Lall, in an opinion titled “Devious Government; Anxious Citizens; Dubious Motives; Rank Dishonour,” says the government’s denial does not answer what happened when Persaud subsequently attempted to travel.

According to Lall, Persaud had checked in for the journey through Trinidad and passed through other official checkpoints before his name was called over the airport’s public-address system.

He said the judge was required to return and have his baggage searched, with the process lasting about an hour.

“My fellow Guyanese: I plead for an honest examination of what occurred at Justice Persaud’s second attempt to get to Jamaica.”

Lall questioned why Persaud was permitted to proceed through the airport before being publicly recalled.

“Intentional or accidental? Simply procedural. I believe that it was deliberate.”

He went further, alleging that the incident was designed to embarrass Persaud and send a warning to others.

“The PPP Govt wanted to humiliate this citizen, this upstart judge. Send a message to all Guyanese. Before the largest audience, local and international; with the broadest brush that would tar and retar him.”

Lall then drew a sharp distinction between the U.S. visa review and what happened inside Guyana.

“Where is the U.S. Government’s hand in that setup? In the domestic arena, under the control of Guyanese authorities, Justice Persaud is allowed to move through the check-in counters, immigration and customs control points, and then publicly recalled to wring the knife.”

The circumstances have become more sensitive because Persaud has presided over cases involving the Guyana Revenue Authority and members of the Mohamed family. Businessman Nazar Mohamed has publicly alleged political influence behind the visa review, while the government has rejected that claim. No public evidence has established a link between Persaud’s judicial decisions, the Guyana Government and the U.S. visa review.

Lall nevertheless argues that the airport episode raises questions the government cannot simply dismiss.

“The PPP Govt has lied through its teeth before. It is lying through its nose, eyes, and ears now. It is caught in a lie. If no involvement, then why the extended effort days later. Why the harassment?”

He also praised Acting Chancellor Roxanne George-Wiltshire and Justice Courtney Abel for their public positions on the issue, while sharply criticising what he sees as the silence of Guyana’s legal fraternity.

“For men and women of words, where the hell is thy tongue? What happened to thine heart? Did it turn yellow?”

Lall said professional silence raises questions about whether individuals are calculating the consequences of challenging political power.

“Silence tells me that men are maneuvering, so that they don’t come out on the wrong side of those with the power to confer favors.”

His closing argument was broader than Persaud’s visa ordeal, portraying the episode as a test of judicial independence, professional integrity and governance in Guyana.

“Given that 44 countries are at that conference in Jamaica, it is the best and biggest forum for the deplorable state of governance in Guyana, and the pressures on its judiciary to be highlighted in neon lights.”

Source: Village Voice News

There was a time when news spread, but not as fast as it does today. Some would readily say that technology has improved the speed at which information travels. Whatever the case, bad news always seems to travel faster than good news. Technology has not yet been able to determine the ratio.

At first there were drums, then smoke signals, then newspapers or leaflets. In between there were the bell criers. I pause here to recall the days when a man walked through the villages ringing a bell and announcing whatever news he had to deliver.

Of course, people stopped what they were doing to hear the news. To this day, people still seek the news. Radio brought it faster than newspapers. The medium became so popular that, as a boy in rural Guyana, I remember people huddling around the radio to hear death announcements.

Then came television. Many people in Guyana no longer bothered with reading. They got the news visually. Television news, like radio, is transient. Then came social media, which is visual but not transient. In fact, today it is among the most popular mediums for disseminating news.

One social media post screamed, “Congress Place is being sold.” I jumped. I was there when Forbes Burnham declared the present facility at Sophia open in 1982.

It is a clay-brick structure. Two previous Congress Places—the headquarters of the People’s National Congress—were destroyed by fire.

It is said that when Burnham opted for clay brick, he said that he wanted to see who would burn this one down.

The news of the sale spread like wildfire. There is a joke about the telephone and telegraph being quick, but the fastest is tell-a-woman.

Someone on the inside at Congress Place heard a little nibble and rushed to tell a woman. This woman is a popular social commentator. She is also credited with knowing a lot about happenings within political circles.

So the news was readily believed. No one could remember seeing a notice, but since it was a political party, some claimed that such a transaction could be secret. It took one phone call to clarify the situation.

Congress Place is situated on a large plot of land. The party, through its economic arm, decided to monetise a portion of the land.

The news then shifted. An entrepreneur had been granted a 99-year lease. This too was not true.

Of course, the conversation then shifted to the issue of secrecy. That story about the sale of Congress Place seems to be dead at this time.

There was another piece of news that had a national impact. It affected the livelihood of some people. It also caused many to change their dietary habits. There is no recollection of this piece of news appearing on social media.

What is known is that across the length and breadth of Guyana, the news was on every lip. People stopped buying fish.

The news was that after the MV Barima sank in the Atlantic on July 18, 2026, and many people died, fish were having a feast. They were said to be eating the victims of the MV Barima.

How this started is anybody’s guess. It cannot be credited to any individual. What is known is that people stopped buying fish.

Salted-fish sales also plummeted. Fish shops, the places where people go to buy fried fish, took a beating. Some closed their doors. Fishermen cried.

It is not known whether a delegation of fishermen has gone to President Irfaan Ali. But some people are still eating fried shark, a delicacy.

When the half-yearly report came out, there was the report that fish exports had declined. The man in the street proclaimed that they were right not to buy fish. The Minister of Agriculture is silent.

The Good Book condemns the eating of pork. Pigs back then scavenged the earth. There were many dead human beings in the streets on which they fed once they got the chance. And back then, the chances were numerous.

Plagues roamed the land and people succumbed in large numbers.

It is said that to this day, people get rid of their victims by feeding them to pigs.

The reality is that today’s marketed pigs are reared in enclosures and are therefore not the scavenging animals that once roamed the land. Of course, in many rural communities, pigs do roam. They have been known to eat anything. But they are devoured nonetheless.

How long the fish taboo will last is anyone’s guess. Some say that when the MV Barima is raised, the situation will change. This is a pressing task for President Irfaan Ali. Tenders have gone out and, according to reports, people have been shortlisted.

One more recent bit of news centred on a High Court judge. Justice Gino Persaud was scheduled to travel to Jamaica for a judges’ conference.

At the airport, when he was preparing to leave, according to a social media post, he was told that he could not transit through Miami. His United States visa was being reviewed, the post said.

Since then, there has been another post. This one suggests that the judge’s United States visa has been revoked.

News does travel fast, and bad news faster still.

Source: Village Voice News

(Kaieteur News) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an end to the exploitation of resource-rich developing countries, noting that nations that produce critical minerals must keep a much larger share of the wealth generated from their natural resources.

Addressing the G77 and China on Friday during opening ceremony of the 50th annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77, Guterras called for a new approach to the global race for critical minerals, warning that the energy transition must not repeat the inequalities connected with the exploitation of natural resources in the past.

“No more plundering. No more exploitation,” Guterres told the meeting of foreign affairs ministers.

nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

He said producing countries and communities affected by mining must retain “a far greater share of the value created from their resources. According to the UN chief, the countries must be more than suppliers of raw materials to the global economy.

“Developing countries must be leaders and beneficiaries of the clean energy revolution, not spectators,” he affirmed.

The message comes against the backdrop of growing international demand for minerals needed for batteries, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and other technologies.

For Guyana, the broader issue of how much value remains in the country from its natural resources is already part of the national conversation.

In May earlier this year, President Irfaan Ali launched “El Dorado Reimagined,” the country’s national gold and jewellery brand, with the aim of moving Guyana from a producer of raw gold to a creator of higher-value jewellery and luxury products.

At the launch, the head-of-state said Guyana had for years extracted and exported gold while jobs, skills and economic value associated with further stages of production remained outside the country. The initiative includes efforts to expand local refining, craftsmanship and manufacturing.

The first major product under the initiative was a commemorative gold medallion made entirely in Guyana, from mining and refining to design and minting.

“For decades, Guyana has done what so many resource-rich nations have done. We dug, we washed, we poured, and we waved goodbye,” the head-of-state said.

He said with gold leaving the country, so do jobs, skills and billions of dollars in unrealised value.

“Today, we are saying not anymore,” Ali said, as he outlined the push to move Guyana from a nation focused on extraction to one that also creates higher-value products from its resources.

Guterres, in his UN address, made a similar point in the context of critical minerals, saying producing countries must have a greater stake in the value created from their resources.

He also warned that the clean-energy transition should not create a new version of the inequalities associated with earlier periods of resource exploitation.

Guterres said the same principle must apply to the minerals that will drive the global transition away from fossil fuels.

He warned that the countries with the resources needed for the energy transition should not be left behind while wealth and manufacturing opportunities accumulate elsewhere.

The secretary-general’s comments also come as the UN pushes for reforms to the international economic system, with developing countries demanding a greater voice in decisions affecting finance, trade, investment and access to technology.

Earlier in his address, Guterres said developing countries are being “crushed by unsustainable debt” and locked out of affordable financing, while calling for reforms to the international financial architecture.

He said the clean-energy transition presents an opportunity to change that imbalance.

“The sun belongs to no one. The wind cannot be embargoed. Innovation can come from everywhere,” Guterres said.

He said renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in most of the world and represents a major opportunity for developing countries to achieve greater energy security and sustainable growth.

But he warned that the benefits of the transition must be shared more fairly.

“We must also ensure that the mining of critical minerals does not dig deeper into the inequities of the past,” Guterres said.

The question of local value addition has also featured prominently in Guyana’s gold sector, including calls for greater local refining and processing capacity.

Source: Kaieteur News