…says US$7.8M allocated to aid foreign nationals accommodated locally

Even as Guyana agreed to accept third-country nationals from the United States, the Government has already rejected several persons from the first batch of migrants who arrived here earlier this month.
“A lot of people were rejected,” US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot told reporters during an interview on the side-lines of the INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference on Wednesday.
The migration cooperation framework allows for Guyana to receive a “limited, vetted” number of “skilled and non-criminal individuals” from the US through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.
Already, at least six third-country nationals have arrived in Guyana and will remain here until their immigration status is determined by the US Government.
However, according to Ambassador Theriot, they were hoping to send more migrants on that first flight. “[On] the last manifest, you will know that only six people came, and the manifest was quite large. So, a lot of people were rejected,” the US diplomat noted, adding that she is unsure of how many more foreign nationals are expected to come before the end of the year.
“We do not send anyone that has not been approved by the Government, and so it’s really not possible for me to say [how many more will come]. Our plan was to hopefully send one flight a month with those who had been approved.”
“The Government here have said they will not take anyone with a criminal record, which is absolutely appropriate and within their rights. And they make the determination based on the information that we provide, but also the information that they [have]… So, they’re able to vet these people with their own intelligence, and so it’s a combination of ways that they look at every single person to make sure they are absolutely not letting anyone into Guyana that could cause harm,” she stated.

Funding for migrants
The Guyana Government has already made it clear that this is a temporary arrangement and that it has the final say in who it accepts coming into the country. Those foreign nationals coming here are being accommodated by IOM through its programme that is being funded by the US Government.
In fact, Ambassador Theriot told reporters on Wednesday that some US$7.8 million was given to the IOM, which is the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency, as part of a two-year contract.

“It covers IOM helping for those individuals to be resettled either permanently or until they can go back to their home country. It also provides for job skills training if that’s something that is needed. If the person doesn’t have the skills that are useful here in Guyana, it provides for that as well. So, it’s comprehensive. It’s all of their wellbeing. It’s health and medical. It is housing. It is food. It is communications. It is making sure they can communicate with their families. It is a comprehensive package. IOM does this all over the world, and they do it extremely well,” she asserted.
According to the US Ambassador, while the programme caters to permanent resettlement, this is entirely up to the individuals and Guyanese authorities.
“There are two different programmes. One is where they are just waiting here until they are returned to their home country, if they agree to that, or they can choose to resettle. It is up to them and the Government, of course,” Theriot stated.
Only last week, President Dr Irfaan Ali maintained that Guyana has retained full vetting sovereignty over and complete discretion to reject the foreign nationals proposed for relocation here.
Human rights credentials
In fact, during an interview with Al Jazeera while on a state visit in Qatar earlier this month, the Guyanese Head of State rejected the notion that this arrangement could set a precedent for the US to ‘dump’ foreign nationals here.
“We have exceptionally good human rights credentials… Of course, everything in life has an element of risk, but here is where we have the names before. We do our own vetting to our own satisfaction, and then we agree with the names. This is not a situation where the US turns up with a plane and just throws people off on your shores,” the President asserted.
Ali went on to dismiss human rights concerns, citing Guyana’s good track record and the fact that the country is already housing migrants from countries like Venezuela and Cuba who enjoy full and free access to social services.
On September 4, the first batch of foreign individuals – four from Cuba and two from Afghanistan – arrived in Guyana on a special US deportation flight. Their records, provided by the US, indicated that they had no criminal background, and the youngest is 20 years old, with the oldest being 36.
According to several international news agencies, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said these persons were accepted after being vetted by local authorities, adding that “the US has not made any further requests” for additional persons up to that time.

A contractor is now nursing a gunshot injury to his abdomen while two other men are suffering from chops to their bodies during an incident at Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday.

According to reports received, a 54-year-old farmer of Providence, EBD, along with his 26-year-old son, went to their farmland in the area with a tractor to clear and prepare the land for farming. However, while leaving, the father-son duo reportedly entered another person’s property with a rifle in search of iguanas.
A 33-year-old contractor of Friendship, EBD, along with five others who were fishing on the property, confronted the two farmers and warned them about discharging their firearm.
This reportedly led to an argument during which the 54-year-old farmer discharged the firearm in the direction of the men, resulting in the contractor being shot in his abdomen.
Upon seeing this, the other men reportedly demanded that the shooter hand over the firearm, but he refused, thus resulting in another confrontation. This time, the shooter and his son were allegedly chopped about their bodies, and their firearm was confiscated.
The three injured men were subsequently taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital. The contractor reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and underwent emergency surgery, but his condition is listed as critical.
On the other hand, the shooting sustained a chop wound to his left hand, while his son suffered chop wounds to his head, left eyebrow, left hand, and right elbow. Their injuries are not life-threatening. The police have since retrieved two live rounds and two spent shells.
Further, police ranks acted on information returned to the area where a bolt-action rifle along with a magazine was recovered. Investigations are ongoing.
Only a few days ago, 40-year-old Joy John, along with her husband, 38-year-old Amar Thomas, and 62-year-old Tony Williams, was found dead during an alleged brawl at Aranka Village, Baramita, North West District (NWD) Region One (Barima-Waini).
According to reports received, on the day in question, Williams visited John’s camp, and an argument erupted between them. Williams reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and dealt one blow to the woman’s neck.
Thomas, who was returning from his farm, subsequently confronted Williams, thus resulting in an altercation during which they both inflicted injuries on each other with sharp objects.
However, John was later found dead in her camp, while Thomas was found about 50 feet away. Williams was later found dead along a track about 100 feet from where the incident took place.

The Guyana Fire Service’s recommendation that automatic sprinkler systems and smoke detectors become part of the fire-safety requirements for residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, hospitality and storage buildings deserves serious consideration as Guyana’s built environment changes.
The recommendation comes at an important time as economic expansion has brought increased construction, including larger and taller buildings with greater concentrations of people, equipment and property. As the physical environment becomes more complex, fire-safety measures must advance accordingly.
Fire prevention and protection cannot be treated as an afterthought to construction. Safety must be incorporated into the design, approval and occupation of buildings from the outset.
A smoke detector provides an early warning when smoke is detected, giving occupants an opportunity to evacuate and alert the Fire Service. An automatic sprinkler system responds to the heat generated by a developing fire and releases water in the affected area. In most circumstances, only the sprinkler or sprinklers closest to the fire are activated, rather than every sprinkler in a building.
The two systems therefore provide different layers of protection as a detector provides warning, while a sprinkler can help control or suppress a fire before it spreads. Neither system guarantees that a fire will not cause injury or damage, but both can improve the chances of early response and evacuation.
The Fire Service’s engagement with the Central Housing and Planning Authority should therefore move beyond recommendation towards clear and enforceable requirements.
For new construction, fire-safety systems should not be optional features dependent on the preferences or financial priorities of property owners and developers. Building regulations exist precisely because certain standards are too important to be left to individual choice.
The principle should apply particularly to smoke detectors in homes.
At minimum, every household should have a properly installed and functioning smoke alarm. International fire-safety guidance supports installation on every level of a home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Regular testing and maintenance are also necessary.
A smoke alarm is a relatively simple device, but its value can be significant. Fire does not wait for occupants to become aware of it, and sleeping occupants are particularly vulnerable because valuable time can be lost before a fire is detected. An audible warning can provide the critical early notification needed to begin an evacuation.
Mandatory household smoke alarms would also establish a basic national standard for fire protection. Such a requirement should be accompanied by public education, reasonable compliance periods for existing properties and measures to ensure affordability for lower-income households. Enforcement should be practical, but the safety standard itself should be clear.
For larger and higher-risk buildings, the case for automatic sprinkler systems is even stronger. The appropriate design must take account of a building’s size, height, occupancy, use and construction. Sprinkler systems also require proper water supplies, pipe sizing, control valves, alarms, testing and maintenance. The Fire Service’s position that such systems should be designed and installed by qualified professionals and inspected before being placed into service is therefore essential.
Reference to recognised technical standards, including NFPA 13 for automatic sprinkler systems, can help establish consistent requirements for design, installation and maintenance. Such standards should be adapted and applied according to the Guyanese regulatory environment and the specific characteristics of each building.
There is also an economic argument for stronger fire protection as a fire can destroy homes, businesses, inventories, equipment and livelihoods within a short period. The cost of prevention and early suppression must be considered against the potentially far greater social and economic consequences of major fires.
Mandatory fire-safety requirements would also send a clear message that development is measured by the safety and resilience of those buildings.
The GFS recommendation provides an opportunity to strengthen Guyana’s building and fire-safety framework before unsafe practices become entrenched. CHPA, the Fire Service, developers, engineers, contractors and property owners all have roles in ensuring that fire protection becomes an integral part of the construction process.
Guyana’s development requires modern infrastructure, but modern infrastructure must also be safe infrastructure. Smoke detectors should become a basic requirement in every household, while automatic sprinkler systems should be required wherever building design, occupancy and risk warrant them.

…than never
Your Eyewitness was gobsmacked to hear Special Branch head Prem Narine telling the court in its extradition hearing for Sanction Man – that intelligence suggests the fella who’s now the LOO – was involved in murders, including six alleged execution-style killings, torture, the beating of employees, and bribery!! He also described Mohamed as a threat to national security!! Now, while these are Narine’s allegations and not findings of guilt, the mind boggles, since at the time of the alleged crime, Narine was in CID and claims to have knowledge of the incidents!!
Six killings? Torture? An employee allegedly having an ear cut off? Wow!! This makes the US charges for gold smuggling look like tiddlywinks!! And it is right out of the book of Pablo Escobar when he ran his drug empire out of Medellin!! If you remember, he also entered politics so as to delay judgement in a US court!!  But really… don’t you think, dear reader, that the Police might’ve invited Sanction Man down to the station for a little chat?? But Narine acknowledged that Sanction Man was never arrested over the deaths and hasn’t been charged over any of the offences he listed!! But he assures us that Police intel about the alleged killings went back to around 2011 – making Sanction Man rival notorious American gangster Baby Face Nelson, who was snuffed out at age 25!!
But your Eyewitness just gotta marvel at the restraint our Police force possesses!! Ordinary folks like him can scarcely double park without attracting official attention – and a demand for a Granger!! Yet a Sanction Man – whom the head of the Special Branch now calls a national security threat – could, evidently, remain beyond the reach of even the most basic interrogation about allegations of murder and torture!!
Now, rather than accusing the Police of being bought off or any such goings-on – as had surfaced in the Paper Shorts matter – your Eyewitness is assuming that the investigators had good reasons for their inaction. But if so, maybe we can now hear them and be enlightened?? Narine’s testimony leaves two possibilities demanding an explanation: either the intelligence was too weak to justify action then, or it was serious and the Police failed to act on it.
Calling Sanction Man a threat to national security in court today demands that the crimes be investigated to their fullest extent – and Sanction Man can’t cry “persecution” since he should appreciate that his “good name” might be cleared!!  The Police can’t now blame the calendar since murder ain’t got no statute of limitations!! While Sanction Man must be presumed innocent, the Police have gotta step up to the crease and do their job!!
Which is to catch bad guys, no matter their status!!

…at the table
President Irfaan Ali’s meeting with President Trump and other Shield of the Americas leaders in New York – on the side-lines of the UNGA – offered a clear sign of our country’s rising profile!! Pressie signed a memorandum on economic, security and diplomatic cooperation – and quite significantly backed collective action against narco-trafficking!!
For years, our small size made it easy for the heavyweight countries to overlook us, but oil has changed all of that!! There’s our location smack next door to Venezuela and along Caribbean narc-trafficking routes, giving our voice weight in regional security discussions!! And not so incidentally, keep an eye on Venezuela!! Pressie’s now being asked to help shape the conversation – not just listen to it!!
Now, that visibility brings responsibility, so the pledge to pursue smugglers must lead to stronger intelligence, effective prosecutions and scrutiny of the money behind the trade!! A photograph beside Trump shows we’ve reached the table.
What we accomplish after leaving it will show how much influence we’ve gained!!

…on the UN Secretary General
Well, it’s clear we don’t have the influence at this time to go head-to-head against President Trump. According to the NYTimes, the US is gonna veto Caroline’s candidacy for her genocide stance on Gaza.

Guyana will pursue more medals at the 2026 South American Powerlifting Championships in Chile on Thursday when gold medallist Franklyn Brisport-Luke returns to competition alongside international debutant Alexander Meshach.
Brisport-Luke, who secured the first of Guyana’s two gold medals so far on Sunday’s opening day, will contest the Masters II classic division. Meshach will make his first overseas appearance in the 83kg Junior category.

Their outings will begin a busy stretch for the Guyanese contingent, with another four athletes scheduled to compete on the sixth day of the championships and five more on Saturday.
Brisport-Luke will be seeking further success after his gold-medal performance in the equipped competition. He was one of only two Guyanese entered in that segment, alongside debutant Navindra Tamasar, who earned silver medals.
Attention will also be on Meshach, the youngest member of Guyana’s 17-athlete team and one of its 10 international newcomers. He will face competitors from Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay and Suriname.
The young lifter has been gaining experience around seasoned competitors in Chile and will aim to produce his best performance when he steps onto the international platform for the first time.
On day six, Demetri Chan will compete in the 83kg Classic Open division. He has also entered the separate bench press competition.
Duarte Hetsberger and debutant Matthew Maycock will pursue medals in the 83kg Masters I division, while another newcomer, Olsen Batson, will begin his international career in the 93kg Junior class.
Batson’s opposition will include lifters from Brazil, Chile and Argentina in a division expected to produce keen competition.
Five more Guyanese lifters will compete on Saturday, four of them making their international debuts, as the team continues its campaign at the championships.
The event is being staged by the South American Powerlifting Federation, known as Fesupo, in collaboration with the Chilean Federation.
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation has thanked the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, Industrial Safety Supplies and Space Gym for supporting the team’s participation and achievements in Chile.

Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Football Team, the Golden Jaguars, will open their Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League 2026/27 account tomorrow, Thursday, September 24, with a clash against Puerto Rico.

The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group A of League B, alongside Puerto Rico, Dominica and the Cayman Islands.
Currently based in Dominica, the national team will follow up Thursday’s clash with a battle against the Cayman Islands on Sunday, September 27.
Ultimately, the Golden Jaguars will have a packed international window, playing four games in 11 days across two countries, a factor that has been discussed by recently appointed Head Coach Marco Bonofiglio.
The Gaffer said ahead of his first assignment in the role, “So, I think the most important thing is that the staff has prepared specifically for this camp. It’s a situation where we have four matches in 11 days; that’s no easy task. So, when you look, our first objective was to prepare the boys physically and be ready, and we’ve done that.”
“As you can see behind us, we have Coach [Ahjton] Roberts preparing them in the warm-up. But he’s done a fantastic job in the preparation, along with all the other staff that we’ve got to prepare with in-in-class sessions.”
“We’re at a place where the lads feel comfortable, and I can see the team bonding, and it’s important to have that family unity here, that we’re creating. Like I said, having four matches in 11 days isn’t easy, but we’re off to a great start, and we’re looking forward to that first match against Puerto Rico,” Bonofiglio went on to reiterate.
However, from both the coach’s and the player’s perspective, preparation has been good thus far.
Bonofiglio said, “We’re in a good place right now. We’re here where the players have arrived; we’re here where the players are able to perform their duties that are asked by the coaching staff. The coaching staff are already prepared in advance for the three training sessions for the first game against Puerto Rico.”
On the other hand, Elliot Bonds shared, “Yeah, I think training’s been good. Obviously have a new manager, someone who’s been around before, so he knows the boys. But yeah, it’s been good; we just have the drive and intensity, do what we do best, and I think we’re in a good position going into the game on Thursday.”
According to Bonds, the Golden Jaguars are capable of topping the group but need to “put their money where their mouth is”.
He explained, “I’ve obviously played in the Gold Cup, so I know how much of a blessing it is to make that; most of the boys haven’t. So, yeah, even in all the meetings, we’ve spoken about how important it is for us to make it. We know, based on form and the ability of the team, we should qualify. We believe that, and if we weren’t, we’d be disappointed.”
“So, yeah, excited for the games ahead. We need to put our money where our mouth is, in terms of performance, but I believe in us. I think we’re going to do well, and like I said, we just have to show that come Thursday and, in every game going forward, to be honest,” the player went on to reason.
Both matches in Dominica will kick off at 15:00h local time. The Golden Jaguars will then jet off to Puerto Rico for back-to-back clashes with Dominica on October 1 and 4.
Guyana will head into the Puerto Rico encounter with some favour behind them, having defeated the same opposition twice when they last met in the Nations League in 2023.
If the Golden Jaguars are to top their group, they will advance to the league’s championship to compete for the title of League B Champions and seal promotion to League A. In addition, those top four teams [group winners] will directly qualify for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the two best group runners-up will secure a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims.

The Little Diamond Day/Night Care and Early Childhood Development Centre was officially commissioned on Wednesday, providing childcare services for families in Little Diamond and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara.
The facility, procured through the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), has the capacity to accommodate up to 50 children and will provide care during both daytime and nighttime hours.

The BNTF Guyana said the investment provides a purpose-built facility equipped with furnished learning spaces, a dedicated play area and provisions to support accessibility and inclusion for children and adults of all abilities.
BNTF Project Manager Karen Roopchand said the project was developed in response to an identified need within the community.
“The true value of this investment will be measured by the children and families it serves,” Roopchand said.
She highlighted the importance of the day-and-night care model, noting that many parents work shifts, nights or extended hours and require access to dependable childcare.
Human Services and Social Security Ministry, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who officially commissioned the facility, said the centre will particularly benefit working and single parents.
According to the Ministry, the facility is expected to benefit families living within the Little Diamond Young Professional Housing Scheme as well as neighbouring communities.
Persaud said the availability of trained caregivers would provide parents with greater peace of mind while they work.
The Minister also announced that night-care services at the centre will commence on October 1.
The BNTF described the project as a $123.7 million investment delivered through the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank’s BNTF programme.
However, while BNTF described the project as a $123.7 million investment, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry in its announcement valued the facility at $170 million.
The centre is intended to expand access to early childhood care while supporting parents who have employment commitments during both regular and non-traditional working hours.
In August 2025, the Anna Catherina Day/Night Care and Early Childhood Development Centre was opened in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). That was Guyana’s first-ever 24-hour early childhood development facility.

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ championship run in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 has been nothing short of special, considering the franchise is only three years old.

They whipped the Jamaica Kingsmen on Sunday last by eight wickets with 20 balls remaining to lift the coveted trophy.
Featuring only a handful of Antiguan-born players in the franchise, inclusive of all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall and coach Sir Curtly Ambrose, pacer Alzarri Joseph fits the bill, and as he told this publication, the win will mean a lot to his nation.
Joseph told this publication exclusively, “It means a lot. I mean, we haven’t had CPL in Antigua for a little bit, and three years ago, the franchise came back to Antigua, and for us to win in our third year is something very special.”
“It’s special for me because, obviously, it’s my first year being back home with this franchise. So, it means a lot for me to win the trophy this year with the Antigua Falcons,” he added.
Joseph went on to discuss the final clash, opining that the opponents were a few runs short.
“From the start they had; you could tell that it was a really good wicket,” he opined. “I think they were probably 20-30 runs short, but we bowled really well after the break. So, to restrict them to 170 was really, really good.”
The fast bowler, of course, made his own contribution to the win, returning 2-27 from four overs, which included a crucial two-run 19th over.
“I knew that over was going to be a very important over. So, I was thinking, if I can get out of the over maybe, six to seven runs and then leave it down to the last over, it would be good, but it only cost us two runs and a wicket, so it was good,” the fast bowler shared.
According to Joseph, there was never a doubt in the chase for the Falcons after restricting the Kingsmen.
“Yeah, I mean, we know the capability of our batters, so we were really comfortable. We knew that was a good pitch and the score was below par, so it wasn’t really much for us to get over the line tonight,” he expressed.
Joseph ended the tournament as one of four joint highest wicket takers with 16 scalps. That list also included Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Imran Tahir, Jamaica Kingsmen’s Hunain Shah and St Lucia Kings’ Matthew Forde.