…urges Security Council, UN members to look beyond size of Guyana

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali on Thursday made a direct appeal to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to endorse Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as the next UN Secretary-General, urging world leaders to look past Guyana’s size and evaluate her candidacy on its merits.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, President Ali formally placed Rodrigues-Birkett’s nomination before the Security Council and the broader assembly, framing her candidacy as a historic opportunity to elect an Indigenous woman capable of restoring trust in a fractured multilateral system. “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 her,” President Ali said. “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.”

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

The Security Council, specifically its five permanent members, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, holds the sole responsibility of recommending a Secretary-General candidate to the General Assembly for appointment. Highlighting her journey from a small Indigenous village, President Ali praised Rodrigues-Birkett’s rise against systemic odds, citing her background as foundational to her leadership style.  “An Indigenous woman coming from a small Indigenous village, defying the odds.. the odds against Indigenous persons, the odds against women, the odds against poverty…defying every challenge and rising to the top amidst those challenges,” Ali stated. “Her character is built on struggle, sacrifice, and commitment. Her accomplishments are crafted in her humanity.”

Rodrigues-Birkett, who serves as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN and previously held positions as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, brings extensive diplomatic and policy experience to the nomination. President Ali argued that the UN requires leadership capable of bridging deep global divides between the Global North and South, as well as developed and developing nations. “We need a Secretary-General who will defend the Charter not only when it is politically convenient, but precisely when its principles are under pressure,” President Ali added, urging UN representatives to consider her record of service and commitment to the international order. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has formally endorsed Rodrigues-Birkett, unifying regional support behind her campaign as deliberations for the UN’s top post approach.

Earlier this week the New York Times reported that the contest to succeed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has become increasingly complicated with the United States reportedly opposed to Rodrigues-Birkett. According to the newspaper, Washington has indicated that it would block Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy because of her public position on Israel’s actions in Gaza, which she has described as genocide. Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and a former Foreign Minister, has been one of the strongest contenders in the race. She emerged as the leading candidate in the Security Council’s second informal straw poll but slipped narrowly behind Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan in the third round.

The latest poll gave Grynspan nine “encourage” votes, five “discourage” votes and one “no opinion.” Rodrigues-Birkett received eight “encourage” votes, six “discourage” votes and one “no opinion.” Because the voting is conducted secretly, the identities of the countries casting the negative votes have not been disclosed. The secretary-general must secure at least nine votes in the 15-member Security Council and, critically, cannot receive a veto from any of its five permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, Britain or France. The issue of Gaza has been a significant element of Rodrigues-Birkett’s diplomatic record at the United Nations. In 2024, while addressing the Security Council on behalf of Guyana, she said there was “a veritable genocide taking place in Gaza.” The NYT report identifies that position as the reason for Washington’s reported opposition to her candidacy.

The United States has not publicly endorsed another candidate. A State Department official said Washington was seeking someone who would pursue substantial reform of the UN, improve management and significantly streamline the organisation. The United States is not alone in signalling opposition to particular candidates. Russia has reportedly indicated that it would veto Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, because of disagreements over his handling of the dispute surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the Russia-Ukraine war.

The United States had also opposed Michelle Bachelet, the former Chilean president and former UN human rights chief, over her positions on abortion. Bachelet subsequently withdrew from the race. administration has vetoed a resolution calling for an end to the war in Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began in October of last year.”

The first poll in July showed Grynspan narrowly ahead and the second vote last month placed n Rodrigues Birkett in the top spot. Eight candidates are vying to succeed Antonio Guterres, who steps down at the end of this year after two five-year terms. It is still possible for more candidates to enter the race, Reuters reported on Sunday. Richard Gowan, director of global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group, said neither Grynspan nor Rodrigues Birkett seem to be able to make a decisive breakthrough and “it is time for some of the weaker candidates to bow out of the race.” “I think these figures may encourage any additional candidates who are waiting in the wings to jump into the race quite soon,” said Gowan.

Source: Kaieteur News

Local private bodies are being called upon to play a greater role in efforts to create the enabling environment for investments in Guyana’s gas resources.

This call was made by the President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge, during the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) 2026 Energy Luncheon held on Thursday under the theme “Beyond the Barrel: Oil, Gas, Growth, and the Guyanese Contractor”.

The United States oil major has already laid a US$1 billion pipeline to bring natural gas from the Liza field offshore to the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project site at Wales, West Bank Demerara, where a power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility are being built.

The pipeline will start delivering gas later this year to generate power.

However, the Guyana Government is pursuing another massive gas development project in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) that would require a much larger pipeline. Routledge had previously said this second pipeline would cost approximately US$2 billion – double the cost of the existing infrastructure.
But the EMGL President noted on Thursday that before such a huge investment is made, the necessary foundation must be laid.

“The paths that we’re on, with the Government, to bring that gas to shore at Wales and Berbice is a huge opportunity to deliver more jobs, more investments onshore – more industries – and to diversify the economic development of the country. But it’s complicated because you have to tie that offshore development and production through a pipeline to onshore demand.”

“So, that is where we are. We’re trying to match up what some anchor gas purchases are, whether those are in data centres, aluminium melting, or more power generation for the country. We need some significant gas demand in order to make the foundational investments in the pipeline to bring the gas onshore and all the associated infrastructure that goes with it,” Routledge noted.

According to the ExxonMobil Guyana head, foreign investors will be looking for certain security before injecting their capital and expertise into the local market. These include certainty of gas supply, which industry to invest in, the investment terms, and who the potential partners are to work with in Guyana.
This, Routledge says, is where local bodies like GCCI, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and even the Berbice business chambers must step up.

“[They] have a vital role to play. A vital role in helping those with capital and those with expertise to come into Guyana and deploy it wisely. Helping local businesses to be a part of it, the business associations and chambers are critical,” he posited.

Similarly, important in laying the foundation to attract foreign investment is a clear roadmap for the industry, and according to the EMGL President, Guyanese business leaders must also be involved in this process.

“There are a lot of discussions ongoing about where the development zone should be [in Berbice]… because until we can say, ‘Here is the land where everything will be built; here is where the deep-water port will be’, there is not a lot of belief externally that there is a roadmap for how this will happen.”
“We can call on the Government, and they clearly play a leading role, but we all have expertise and knowledge that should be part of and contribute to those decisions… So, I think a bigger discussion would be beneficial, but we do need to move quickly to bring clarity to what that location is,” the ExxonMobil Guyana boss emphasised.

Nevertheless, Routledge believes that there is massive potential and value to be had from developing Guyana’s gas resources – a view that Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar also shared while delivering the keynote address at the Chamber’s Energy Luncheon on Thursday.

Zoning in on gas development, the Minister called on businesses to study where the sector is heading, identify areas in which they can build expertise, and invest in the people, systems, and partnerships needed to compete. He cited opportunities expected to emerge from the Gas-to-Energy development, including gas utilisation, storage, transportation, and downstream industries.

According to Indar, Guyanese companies should begin building the technical knowledge and capacity needed to participate.

“If you don’t know about gas, you have to learn. You have to bring somebody who knows or find a partner who understands the business,” he said. “You have the C5+ [carbon five plus] gas, which are the aromatics and the pentanes that help to make gasoline. You have the isobutanes… that make deodorants that you spray. We haven’t even gone to that area as yet. We have refrigeration gas… fertilisers… so you have all of these things that you can do to monetise the gas.”

While the Guyana Government is yet to explore all the possible value-added products that come from gas, it has already moved ahead with plans to start bottling cooking gas, and proposals have already been received from companies interested in undertaking this.

But with the impending Berbice gas development expected to bring a larger volume of gas, Minister Indar contended that many opportunities will be available for locals.

“Berbice Development is a whole new ball game because that side will have more gas available for use on land… Just think about that: five times the amount of gas for use in Berbice. It tells you where gas is going… I don’t know if anybody in this room knows about installation and how to maintain the gas pipelines… but it is coming, and you have to have Private Sector people like yourself with partners to handle it,” he asserted.

Further drawing on the theme of Thursday’s luncheon, Indar went on to encourage local businesses to look beyond oil production and position themselves for the growing range of opportunities emerging across the wider economy, including areas such as logistics, transportation, warehousing, construction, certification, specialised technical services, training, and waste management, among others.

Source: INews Guyana

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defense of Israel’s actions in the region at the UN on Thursday, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of ​elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.

The walkout underscored the competing pressures facing Netanyahu, who is battling mounting criticism abroad over the Gaza war while campaigning reelection at home ahead of an October 27 vote.

The divisions over Israel’s conduct were on display as Netanyahu began speaking, with dozens of delegates walking out in protest. He called them “moral cowards,” while supporters in the gallery chanted in Hebrew: “The people of Israel live.”

Netanyahu used his address to berate New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for calling him a war criminal, Western European leaders for what he called succumbing to “antisemitic mobs,” and to accuse both Qatar and Turkey of spreading lies about Israel.

“You tried ​to stop me from coming here. You tried. You tried to silence me. Well, you can’t silence me. You can’t silence the truth,” Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, said of Mamdani.

Delegates walk out as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 24, 2026

Mamdani campaigned for ​office on a promise to have Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes should he visit the largest US city but later said he determined he lacked the ⁠legal authority to do so. This week, Mamdani described Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians.” Making his first visit to New York since Mamdani took office in January, Netanyahu said: “Here’s a simple truth: ​Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.” He accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants, something Mamdani has denied.

“To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall ​or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you!” Netanyahu said.

In a statement, Mamdani said: “As he has done time and again, Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians. Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

NETANYAHU’S POLITICAL FUTURE ON THE LINE

With general elections less than five ​weeks away, Netanyahu spoke for about 40 minutes in what amounted to a campaign-style speech, broadcast live in evening prime time on all four of the main Israeli television channels. Ahead of his speech, Netanyahu’s government ​paid to place 500 pro-Israel and anti-Iran billboards and dozens of trucks carrying messages in support of Israel across Manhattan, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

With opinion polls showing Netanyahu’s bloc trailing rivals ahead of the election, he used speech ⁠to showcase what he described as Israel’s fight on seven fronts.

As in past UN appearances, Netanyahu used props, holding up a pager linked to an attack that killed and wounded Iran-backed Hezbollah members in Lebanon and a Starlink satellite internet receiver he said he would leave for the Iranian delegation.

“So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media,” he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the Iranian authorities would be toppled by the people.

STREET PROTESTS IN NEW YORK

Several hundred protesters gathered near the United Nations, with dozens blocking traffic and chanting, “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza ​live” and “Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.” Police detained ​them.

Netanyahu was making a short visit to the ⁠US for his UN address and, unusually, without a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump, whom he praised during his speech.

“We will continue to defend our state. We will continue to win because we have no other choice. In this battle against the barbarians, we’ve had no greater partner than President Trump. ​I thank him. I thank him for his bold leadership,” he said.

DEEPENING ISOLATION

Israel has faced deepening diplomatic isolation since launching its war in Gaza in ​response to the Hamas-led attacks ⁠on Israel nearly three years ago.

Netanyahu is unable to travel to many countries because of an International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued against him and his then-defense minister as well as the then-military commander of Hamas in 2024.

Earlier this month, once-steadfast allies Britain, France and Canada announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which drew a muted response from Washington.

“The leaders of these countries have chosen to succumb to the antisemitic mobs. They’ve ⁠chosen weakness. ​They’ve chosen appeasement,” Netanyahu said.

He played down worsening violence in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers, describing it as “a handful ​of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who throw stones, who chop down olive trees.”

“Occasionally … they lit some fires. I can’t stand that. I won’t stand for vigilantism. We’re a country of law.”

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – A 16-year-old boy drowned while attempting to cross the fast-flowing Siparuni River at Rock Bar, Region Eight, police said.

Dead is Bentley Joseph Jnr., of Circuitville, Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Police said Joseph and several others had travelled from their camp to an area known as Tunnel to engage in mining activities. According to preliminary investigations, on Sunday, 20^th September, Joseph and his cousin were attempting to cross the Siparuni River on foot at Rock Bar when Joseph reportedly fell into the rapidly flowing water.

He reportedly attempted to swim but subsequently went under and failed to resurface. An alarm was raised and a search was launched for the teenager. Two days later, on Tuesday, 22^nd September, at about 6:24hrs, Joseph’s body was found floating in the river. Police ranks who examined the body reported that there were no visible marks of violence and no indication of foul play.

The body was transported to the Linden Hospital Complex, where a doctor pronounced Joseph dead on arrival. It was subsequently taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police said investigations are ongoing.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Transnational criminal networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, operating like corporations while exploiting maritime routes, cryptocurrency networks and legitimate economic sectors to move drugs, people, weapons and illicit money, Secretary General of INTERPOL Valdecy Urquiza warned on Wednesday.

Addressing the opening of the 27th INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Urquiza said the Americas is central to global security and that developments at the region’s ports, borders and digital networks have consequences far beyond the hemisphere.

“We are no longer confronting isolated cartels or local street gangs. We are confronting the diversified transnational criminal enterprise acting like corporations,” he said.

Secretary General of INTERPOL, Valdecy Urquiza.

Urquiza, who is INTERPOL’s first Secretary General from Latin America, said the organisation’s focus must now be on turning strategy into action and producing results on the front lines. He pointed to the convergence of several forms of organised crime, noting that the maritime corridors used to transport narcotics are also being exploited for human trafficking, wildlife trafficking and firearms smuggling.

At the same time, AI-driven cyber fraud is generating illicit proceeds that can be moved through complex cryptocurrency networks within seconds. Urquiza highlighted the continuing threat posed by synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, in North America, while noting that precursor chemicals are being transported through Pacific shipping hubs and across the Americas at industrial scale.

In the Caribbean, he said criminal groups are exploiting the region’s geography and maritime routes to facilitate the movement of narcotics, while illicit firearms move south, fuelling violence. “Cocaine remains the financial lifeblood of groups across Central and South America,” he said, adding that the scale of the cocaine trade has created another major challenge for criminal organisations — how to move, conceal and launder their proceeds.

According to Urquiza, an increasing number of criminal syndicates are addressing that challenge by investing drug proceeds in illegal gold mining. He pointed to Operation Guyana Shield as an example of how law enforcement agencies can follow the money behind organised crime. “Alongside our hosts and regional partners, you started on the front line, seizing illegal timber and gold. You follow the trail record by record, shell company by shell company, uncovering the illicit mercury supply chains and the laundered profits behind them,” he said.

Urquiza said the operation demonstrated that simply seizing illegal goods is not enough to dismantle criminal organisations. “Seizures take away their cargo and following the money takes away their business,” he said. He announced that INTERPOL will launch a new Silver Notices Initiative at its General Assembly later this year in Hong Kong, China, aimed at helping member countries trace and disrupt illicit assets across borders before they can be reinvested in criminal activity.

Fourteen countries from the Americas will participate in the pilot initiative, with Urquiza expressing hope that all member countries will support the initiative and that it will eventually become permanent.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Dr. Clifton Hicken said the increasingly transnational nature of crime means that effective policing can no longer depend solely on national capabilities.

“Effective policing does not only depend on national capability but also on sustained international cooperation,” Hicken said. Welcoming delegates to Guyana for the 27th INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference, Hicken said international cooperation is an operational necessity for Guyana, given its geographic location, extensive Atlantic coastline and borders with Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela.

He said Guyana’s vast forests and river networks support economic and regional integration but also create vulnerabilities to narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking, migrant smuggling, human trafficking and illegal mining. The country’s expanding international connectivity, he added, also demands greater vigilance against cybercrime, financial crime, money laundering and other technology-enabled threats.

“No country, regardless of its size or capabilities, can succeed in isolation,” Hicken said.

He noted that criminal networks routinely operate across jurisdictions, exploiting differences between countries while rapidly adapting their methods. “Accordingly, law enforcement agencies must be equally connected, coordinated, and adaptable,” he said. Hicken said INTERPOL provides the global policing architecture needed to facilitate that cooperation, through its databases, secure communications network, operational support, specialised training and criminal intelligence capabilities.  These tools, he said, allow member countries to identify wanted persons, trace illicit firearms, share investigative information and coordinate operations across borders.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – The Full Court on Tuesday lifted preservation orders against the State in a dispute involving Vienna-based healthcare infrastructure company VAMED Engineering GmbH over the construction of the Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital (GPMH) and the New Amsterdam Hospital Campus (NAHC).

The ruling clears the way for the Ministry of Health to take possession of the project sites, containers, equipment and construction materials and proceed with the projects.

According to a press release from the Attorney General Chambers, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, had appealed orders made against the State in proceedings brought by VAMED. In the Full Court, Chief Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul set aside five orders made by Justice Renita Singh on August 6, 2026. Justice Singh had ordered the Ministry of Health to preserve the GPMH and NAHC sites, as well as 52 containers and equipment at the GPMH site, and prohibited the ministry from opening or interfering with them.

The Guyana Paediatric and Maternal Hospital

VAMED was similarly ordered to preserve the containers and equipment, while its security personnel were permitted access to the GPMH site solely to secure the items.  The ministry was also ordered to preserve contractors’ documents, property, designs, plans and intellectual property. In its decision, the Full Court said the appeal concerned the validity of the five preservation orders made after the trial judge had refused VAMED’s applications for conservatory and restraining orders against the Ministry of Health.

The Full Court questioned whether, having refused the substantive interim relief sought by VAMED on both jurisdictional and discretionary grounds, the trial judge could nevertheless make substantially similar orders by characterising them as measures to preserve property.

“For the reasons which follow, we find that the Preservation Orders cannot stand. They are inconsistent with the Learned Trial Judge’s findings. Their legal foundation was inadequately established and their substantive effect was not properly considered,” the Full Court stated.

The Court held that Section 16 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act prohibits injunctions against the State in proceedings of this nature.

That prohibition, it said, could not be circumvented by describing orders regulating the State’s conduct as preservation orders or by relying on the Civil Procedure Rules.

The Full Court also found that the orders lacked the necessary statutory foundation under the Arbitration Act 2024 and conflicted with the trial judge’s findings that there was no urgency and that damages would constitute an adequate remedy.

The High Court’s refusal of VAMED’s applications for conservatory and restraining orders remains in place, as does its decision to refer the underlying contractual dispute to arbitration.

The Full Court also awarded the Attorney General GY$500,000 in costs.

At the hearing, the State was represented by Attorney General Nandlall, along with Shoshana V. Lall, Prithima Kissoon and Joshua Cullen of the Attorney General’s Chambers. VAMED was represented by Nigel Hughes of Hughes, Fields and Stoby.

Source: Kaieteur News

WASHINGTON – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that he is ready to work with US President Donald Trump to steer the giant ship of China-US relationship on a steady course toward the future.

Addressing an arrival ceremony at the White House, Xi said that he is visiting the United States at Trump’s invitation to carry on their friendship, expand cooperation and promote the well-being of the two peoples. China and the United States should strengthen communication, cooperate with sincerity and coexist in peace, he noted. Xi said he and Trump encourage government departments, such as those in charge of foreign affairs, economic matters, financial cooperation, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges, to catch up on strengthening contact.

China-US cooperation may not solve every problem in the world, but without it, it would be hard to solve many of the world’s problems, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a welcome ceremony held by US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, the United States, Sept 24, 2026. Trump held a welcome ceremony for Xi, who is on a state visit to the United States, at the White House on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China keeps its door wide open, welcomes American companies wanting to invest and do business in China, Xi said. “We hope Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States. Working together, we can lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of issues.”

Both China and the United States are leading nations in artificial intelligence (AI), Xi said, noting that the two countries have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people.

On counternarcotics and law enforcement, the Chinese side is willing to strengthen cooperation with the United States, Xi said. “Our two sides may also increase direct flights to facilitate two-way travel and trade.”

China and the United States do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but the competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds, he said, adding that it should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses.

China and the United States must hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation, Xi said. “We can certainly find the right path for our two great countries to get along on this planet we both call home.”

Chinese and US militaries should maintain regular dialogue and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention, Xi said, adding that the Thucydides Trap can be overcome.

Xi announced an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study in the coming five years. He also declared that in a few days, a pair of pandas will come to their new home in Zoo Atlanta and meet with the American people. (CHINA DAILY)

Source: Kaieteur News

…APNU cites massive downward revision of key agriculture products in Mid-Year Report

(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) recently flagged the jump in inflation at the mid-year mark of 2026, urging the Government of Guyana (GoG) to take responsibility for high food prices on the market and implement targeted measures to bring relief directly to citizens.

APNU MP, Juretha Fernandes

During its press conference last week, APNU Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Juretha Fernandes pointed out that the inflation target for the year has been revised upward.  Inflation, as explained by the Bank of Guyana (BoG) is the sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.

Guyanese over the past weeks and months have been complaining almost daily of the struggles they face to purchase basic food items to sustain their families.

Recognising these challenges, Fernandes warned, “The inflation target had to be revised upwards because the reality as of June 20, 2026 is that inflation was over 4% but more interesting to note is that inflation of food is 6.7% with the highest percentage being allocated there under is inflation of things like vegetables.”

She argued that government often touts itself as the great “steward of the economy” during Parliamentary Sittings; however, the non-oil growth in the economy is merely “artificial” as it is driven by the oil sector, citing construction as a prime example.

To this end she explained, “So even the non-oil growth is heavily dependent and stimulated by oil resources so the government has failed tremendously…the government has failed to manage the economy in such a way that the earning that persons receive, that money cannot even sustain you on a monthly basis and that is the real question, when you look at the bread basket the consumers bread basket right now, when you look at those numbers, the economy is in a state that the ordinary Guyanese cannot survive.”

In responding to a question from this newspaper on what more needs to be done by the administration to address the issue, in light of President Irfaan Ali’s explanation that the country’s inflation was impacted by global situations such as soaring fuel prices, the party said government must take responsibility and stop shifting the blame.

The Mid-Year Report shows a downward projection in food production

Fernandes made it clear, “The President and the entire Cabinet cannot continue from 2020 to 2026 making excuses for inflation in food. From 2020, they have been coming to the National Assembly and they have been making excuses to say that it’s an external matter that we are suffering from in Guyana internally.”

She noted that while the global issues pose a challenge locally, the government cannot after six years just blame increase in food prices on external factors. In fact, she said this would be an admission on the part of government that it has failed to manage the economy.

The MP reasoned, “What you are saying as a government is that you are incapable of planning. You are incapable of planning if every year you come and you report the same thing and you use the same excuse. What else has the government done? The government has come to the National Assembly and they have said that oh we are going to be doing farm-to-market road and all of these things and we are gonna do zero excise tax on fuel.”

She said the APNU strongly advised against such measures that would rely on a trickledown effect to benefit consumers; however, the government continues with that approach.

As such, Fernandes suggested that direct injections to citizens are needed to alleviate the situation, such as the national cash grant.

“We have been saying consistently, you have to have direct injections to make sure that Guyanese are able to cope with the reality of the prices that they are facing today when it comes to their income those things are not being touched (or addressed). An 8% increase (in salaries) you are looking at and you have a 6.7% increase in food alone,” the Parliamentarian pointed out.

Delving deeper into the numbers, MP Saiku Andrews said that Guyana is often described as one of the only countries that can feed itself, yet an analysis of the Mid-Year Report shows several food production targets being revised downwards, a serious concern for the country.

He said, “agriculture, forestry, fishing has been revised (from) 7.6 to 2.9%, other crops from 9.8 to 2.1, sugar from 67.9% to 18.1%. There’s a cascading downward spiral of production activity when it comes to food in this country. That is where the real inflation in food prices comes from.”

As such, the MP strongly argued that food inflation is not imported. He said, “If inflation is imported most of the time, it would affect certain products in the food basket – the broccoli, apples and the cauliflower…but the 58% of Guyana living in poverty, they do not get a chance to buy broccoli and so the President really needs to check himself when it comes to this argument and the whole quoting of bank accounts opening as an indication of prosperity among Guyanese.”

He reminded that it was this administration that forced Guyanese to open bank accounts through a requirement for them to receive cash grants.

Source: Kaieteur News

Chinese workers at the site.

(Kaieteur News) – China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. has provided cleanup assistance at no cost to Hope Children’s Home in Enmore after a fire severely damaged the facility in July.

In a press release, the company said over nine days, the company deployed workers and equipment to remove fire-damaged materials and construction debris, helping prepare the site for reconstruction.

Workers of China Railway Group providing support.

The fire caused extensive damage to the children’s home and left large amounts of burned materials and debris at the property. With limited financial resources, the home was unable to undertake the cleanup on its own. Following coordination with the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, China Railway First Group mobilised personnel and machinery to assist with the work.

China Railway First Group says it continues to participate in community and public-welfare activities in Guyana.

The team removed damaged roofing materials and wooden beams and cleared large quantities of construction debris from the site. Kenneth Finlayson, Director of Hope Children’s Home, later expressed his appreciation to the company and its workers in a letter, describing their work as “excellent.” He also thanked the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and Ambassador Yang Yang for helping arrange the assistance.

The initiative also reflects China Railway First Group’s continued participation in community and public-welfare activities in Guyana. Alongside its infrastructure projects, the company has taken part in local initiatives aimed at supporting communities and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.

Source: Kaieteur News

By Rawle Toney

(Kaieteur News) – Guyana opened its 2026/27 Concacaf Nations League (League B) campaign on a winning note on Thursday, edging Puerto Rico 1-0 at Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica, as Osaze De Rosario’s 78th-minute penalty handed the Golden Jaguars three valuable points.

The result provided an ideal start to Marco Bonofiglio’s tenure as head coach of Guyana’s national senior men’s team, with the Italian overseeing his first competitive match in charge.

The Golden Jaguars entered the encounter with confidence, having won two of the previous three meetings against Puerto Rico, and with promotion back to League A among the objectives of its Nations League campaign.

Concacaf has confirmed that the 2026/27 League B competition features 16 teams divided into four groups, with Guyana, Puerto Rico, Dominica and the Cayman Islands comprising Group A.

Osaze De Rosario scores to help Guyana edge Puerto Rico.

Bonofiglio handed Slingerz FC’s Rashaun Ritch a starting berth in a four-man defensive unit alongside Terrence Vancooten of Stevenage FC, Jalen Jones (Dover Athletic) and Liam Gordon (Port Vale).

In midfield, former Middlesbrough player Isaiah Jones, now with Luton Town, operated alongside Nathan Ferguson (Hornchurch FC), while the attacking responsibilities were entrusted to Guyana’s all-time leading scorer Omari Glasgow (Chicago Fire/), Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Mansfield Town), Elliot Bonds (Salford City) and De Rosario, who is currently on loan at Sønderjyske from MLS side, Seattle Sounders.

The opening half was closely contested, with Guyana gradually finding its rhythm and forcing the Puerto Rican defence into several uncomfortable moments.

Glasgow and De Rosario were particularly active in the attacking third, probing for an opening as both sides went into the interval without breaking the deadlock.

Bonofiglio made changes after the restart in an effort to add fresh energy to the Golden Jaguars’ attack and maintain their intensity.

Slingerz FC’s Kelsey Benjamin, Deon Moore (Torquay United) and Enoch George (SVV Scheveningen) were introduced, replacing Isaiah Jones, Ritch and Glasgow.

The substitutions helped Guyana maintain its attacking momentum, while the Golden Jaguars’ defensive organisation remained one of the defining features of the performance.

At the other end, goalkeeper Quillan Roberts proved dependable between the posts, helping Guyana preserve a clean sheet as Puerto Rico searched for a breakthrough.

The decisive moment arrived in the 78th minute when Guyana was awarded a penalty.

De Rosario stepped forward and kept his composure from the spot, converting to put the Golden Jaguars 1-0 ahead and racking up his 11th international goal in 12 outings.

The late advantage brought a tense closing spell, but Guyana held firm to secure a crucial victory and begin the new Nations League campaign with maximum points.

The Golden Jaguars now turn their attention to the Cayman Islands, whom they will face on Sunday, September 27, at Windsor Park.

Guyana will then travel to Puerto Rico for the October window, where they’re scheduled to face Dominica on October 1 before completing the window against Dominica on October 4.

Source: Kaieteur News