(AL-JAZEERA) Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with cancer after an operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, according to a medical bulletin published by the Vatican.

Tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican added, noting the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests. It did not provide details on the recovery outlook or course of treatment.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Vatican said the procedure lasted 90 minutes and that the surgery “was successful, and there were no complications”.

The 71-year-old has returned to his room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is expected to recover for a week, with all his audiences through October 20 cancelled.

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome for an operation to remove a nodule from his lung on October 13, 2026 [AFP]

The Vatican said doctors are not currently discussing chemotherapy or other therapies pending the results of other tests.

The Holy See’s press office noted the medical statement spoke of the “radical” removal of the lobe as an indication that doctors removed all suspect tissue in the hope of eliminating any lingering traces of the cancer.

Before the procedure, Leo waved to dozens of well-wishers gathered at the hospital’s main entrance.

In an unusually transparent update on papal health, Leo first revealed that doctors found a small nodule during his Sunday noon prayer in St Peter’s Square.

“The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it,” he said during remarks delivered in Italian.

Latin American tour

The pope has no reported history of serious illness and is considered physically active, routinely swimming and playing tennis.

The surgery comes ahead of an official Latin America tour scheduled for 6^th-17^th November, with stops planned across Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

It is unclear whether his recovery will affect the ambitious itinerary, which includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and significant altitude changes in Peru.

The pope told reporters on Sunday that he intends to make the journey.

Source: Kaieteur News

…says ‘Guyana is one of the most compelling mining jurisdiction’

By Renay Sambach

(Kaieteur News) – “Guyana is one of the most compelling mining jurisdictions in the hemisphere, and Marudi is a standout asset within it.”  Those are the words of Gregory R. Walsh, the Co-Founder and General Partner of Walsh Karra Holdings, a United States investment firm moving to take control of Canadian-listed Golden Shield Resources Inc. through a transaction dependent on, among other conditions, the renewal and issuance of the company’s prospecting licence for its Marudi Mountain gold project in Guyana.

Golden Shield Resources holds a 100% interest in the Marudi project through its wholly-owned Guyanese subsidiary, Aurous Guyana Inc., under Prospecting Licence PL 1/2021.

The project covers a contiguous land package of 54.57 square kilometre (km²) or 13, 484 acres, and is located in the Rupununi District of southwestern Guyana, some 60 kilometres from the Brazilian border.

The targets drilled at the Marudi Mountain Gold Project

Binding Letter of Intent

According to Golden Shield, it signed a binding letter agreement with Walsh Karra Holdings, acting through its wholly owned subsidiary, Aurevo Resources Inc., for a C$5 million investment. It was also disclosed that existing shareholders and management will also be allowed to invest up to an additional C$1 million on the same terms. The entire transaction is valued at approximately US$4.2 million.

The proceeds will be held in escrow until specified conditions are met, including the renewal and issuance of the Marudi Mountain project Prospecting Licence PL 1/2021, shareholder approval, acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and confirmation of the legal status and practical development position of related permits and rights.

If the aforementioned conditions are not satisfied by January 6, 2027, the escrowed funds and accrued interest will be returned to subscribers.

Mining at Mazoa Hill

Commenting on the transaction, Gregory Walsh underscored that Guyana is one of the most compelling mining jurisdictions in the hemisphere, adding that the Marudi asset standout. “We are investing behind a team that has done the hard work to advance the project, and we intend to match that with capital, technology and governance that benefit shareholders, local communities, and the country. The combination of Marudi’s geology and Aurevo’s mineral passport traceability platform is a chance to show what a modern, accountable gold business looks like,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chairman and CEO of Golden Shield, Leo Hathaway said, “We are delighted to welcome Walsh Karra Holdings, Greg Walsh and Phani Karra as strategic partners in Golden Shield. The depth of expertise, significant injection of capital and the unique, applicable technology that they bring to the company, and its Marudi asset, is transformational.”

Hathaway added that the company is excited to advance the project in a meaningful partnership with local communities, the Guyanese government and the people of Guyana.

Upon completion, Walsh Karra Holdings and its controlled affiliates will hold approximately 51 per cent of Golden Shield’s shares on a fully diluted basis, resulting in a change of control of the company. Meanwhile, in exchange, the company for 13 million common shares, Golden Shield is set to acquire certain strategic technology licence and related commercial rights, including a permanent, worldwide licence to use, deploy, commercialize, sublicense and embed the SimplyFI AI, traceable minerals and blockchain technology stack. The technology is intended to support the Marudi project and its broader Guyana operations.

Moreover, as part of the transaction, Golden Shield expects to appoint a new chief executive officer and reconstitute its board of directors. The proposed board will comprise two nominees of Walsh Karra Holdings, two nominees of Golden Shield and an independent director to be jointly agreed upon.

Marudi Mountain project

Golden Shield commenced exploration on the Marudi Mountain Property in late 2021.  Since acquiring the project, Golden Shield said it completed four diamond drilling campaigns. The company says the project contains an extensive mineralised gold system centred on the Mazoa Hill Deposit, with a historical resource of 345,000 ounces of gold – 259,100 ounces indicated and 86,200 ounces inferred, which does not reflect current resources or reserves.

A total of approximately 50,350 metres of diamond drilling has been carried out at the gold project, with Mazoa Hill representing the principal deposit where most of the drilling has occurred.

Notably, a discrete area of approximately 1,012 acres over the surface expression of the Mazoa Hill deposit is subject to a five-year Special Mining Permit granted to the Rupununi Miners Association in an agreement dated November 17, 2021, with the Golden Shield’s rights below an average depth of 48 metres and beyond that area preserved.

There are also other major prospects that were already identified by current and previous operators, as well as new targets. Beyond Mazoa Hill, the property hosts a series of additional prospects along an under-explored mineralized corridor, including Marudi North, Pancake Creek, Toucan Creek, Throne, July, Peace Creek, Kimberley and Success Creek.

According to Golden Shield, gold has been known at Marudi Mountain since the early twentieth century, and the property has been the subject of modern exploration by a succession of operators since the 1940s, including Noranda Inc., Romanex/Sutton Resources, Vannessa Ventures, Shoreham Resources/Guyana Frontier Mining and Guyana Goldstrike Inc.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – ‎Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken has rescinded his letter in which he ordered embattled Deputy Commissioner and head of SOCU, Fizal Karimbaksh to proceed on pre- retirement leave amidst investigations into the allegations of rape and threatening behaviour brought against him by a female inspector.

The move comes hours after Karimbaksh threatened to take legal action against the force for sending him on leave. ‎In his letter, Hicken explained that the decision was taken upon further consideration of the constitutional and legal framework governing the exercise of authority in respect of the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, including the respective powers of the President, the Police Service Commission, and the Commissioner of Police.

‎

Deputy Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh

As such, the police chief rescinded and withdrew his previous letter by which leave was granted to Karimbaksh with immediate effect. ‎Accordingly, he said that his previous letter shall cease to have effect, and any further action concerning the grant of leave shall be undertaken by the appropriate authority in accordance with the Constitution and applicable law.

‎Deputy Commissioner of Police and Karimbaksh, had formally contested directives from Police Commissioner compelling him to proceed on pre-retirement leave. Through his attorney, Rizwaun Mohamed, Karimbaksh rejected the legal foundation of the move, warning, that immediate legal proceedings will be launched if the directive is enforced without lawful authority.

The dispute stems from a letter issued by Commissioner Hicken on 7^th October, 2026 (reference A/OPF/760), which stated that Karimbaksh is eligible for 174 days of annualised vacation leave prior to his retirement in April 2027 and that the leave “should commence on 11-8-2026”.

However, legal representation for the SOCU head has fired back, stating that Karimbaksh “does not consent to compulsory pre-retirement leave on the basis presently advanced” and “remains ready and available to discharge his duties and comply with lawful directions”.

The legal challenge centers on both the calculation of accumulated leave and the jurisdiction to enforce administrative absence. According to Karimbaksh’s official records, his actual leave entitlement is 118 days, significantly lower than the 174 days calculated by the police administration. Consequently, the proposed commencement date of 8^th November, 2026, is expressly disputed.

Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken

Furthermore, the legal notice questions the statutory authority behind the commissioner’s directive. While acknowledging that Section 6 of the Police Act, Cap. 16:01, grants command and superintendence of the force to the commissioner, attorney Rizwaun Mohamed emphasised that these powers must align with the constitution:

“A general reliance upon command authority does not resolve the distinct question of the legal basis for compelling my client’s absence.”

The correspondence highlights that Articles 211 and 212 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana govern appointment and disciplinary powers. Specifically, Article 212(1) vests disciplinary control over officers of Karimbaksh’s rank in the Police Service Commission. While Article 212(2) permits delegation by written directions, the legal notice notes that the commission is presently unconstituted, and stresses that “[a]ny such vacancy does not, of itself, transfer its powers to you or another authority.”

The intervention explicitly rejects the categorisation of the enforced absence as administrative leave, arguing that semantic framing does not bypass constitutional safeguards.

“On the legal basis presently disclosed, you have no lawful authority to impose such leave upon my client. No applicable statutory power or operative written delegation authorising that course has been identified or furnished.”

Hicken has been placed on notice that if attempts are made to compel Karimbaksh to take leave without lawful backing, legal proceedings will be instituted immediately, including requests for urgent interim relief and costs. Despite the standoff, legal counsel noted that Karimbaksh’s continued performance of his duties should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the disputed leave or a waiver of his objections.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fatal capsizing and sinking of the vessel MV Barima opened in Port Kaituma with harrowing eyewitness accounts from survivors, grieving family members, and local residents. Testimonies presented to the commissioners painted a damning picture of severe vessel overcrowding, cargo misconduct, systemic regulatory corruption, and a severely delayed official search-and-rescue response.

Commissioners in Port Kaituma

Witnesses detailed chaotic conditions aboard the vessel prior to its departure. Port Kaituma resident Sherry Adams described appalling unsanitary conditions and extreme passenger volume, estimating that over 200 people were packed on board, including more than 100 children concentrated on the upper deck.

“In Region One, we get treat the worse… the toilets is be foaming all over… the place is so packed sometimes I’d walk with a bucket and go in the corner,” Adams testified. She recounted walking off the vessel to take a flight after finding nowhere to sit. Adams further alleged an off-the-manifest racket operating between Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, where individuals paid $3,000 to board without appearing on the official passenger log. According to Adams, when questioned about seating space, the ship’s captain claimed he was acting on “higher orders” before retreating upstairs.

Survivor, Benita George, corroborated the severe overcrowding, noting that movement aboard was virtually impossible. “The path to the bathroom was so rammed,” George testified, stating the cramped conditions left her with no room to move.

Benita George

Passengers and survivors also recalled commercial cargo and livestock obstructing critical passenger space. Benches were reportedly stacked with potatoes, onions, and white bags, forcing passengers to clear away debris or hang hammocks wherever space permitted. Multiple witnesses noted that cargo loading continued well past scheduled departure times, significantly overloading the vessel.

Disturbing allegations regarding crew conduct were also submitted to the commission. Andrina Castello, who lost her 6-year-old son in the disaster while her two older children survived, testified that the ship’s first mate jumped overboard after informing her the vessel was sinking. Castello and her husband, Timothy Williams, confirmed that their surviving children witnessed the captain drinking alcohol and consuming narcotics while on duty.

Concerns were repeatedly raised regarding the structural integrity and historical maintenance of the MV Barima. Thomas, the brother of missing passenger Brian Thomas, reminded commissioners that the vessel had suffered a fire in 2021, after which temporary “patchwork” repair using cement was conducted. Kevin Bovell, who lost six family members in the tragedy, including his mother, whose casket was being transported aboard the vessel, also highlighted improper concrete casting within the engine room.

Survivors recalled taking video footage of rising water in the middle cargo section of the vessel prior to its sinking. When passengers alerted crew members to the incoming water, they were dismissed and told it was “normal thing because we there on the sea.”

Andrina Castello

Family members and survivors strongly urged commissioners to salvage the sunken vessel to secure physical evidence and bring closure. Diver reports presented during the hearing indicated that current recovery efforts have been hampered by low visibility and inverted wreckage resting on the sea floor.

“If the boat didn’t come up, how could you know exactly what happened?” family members demanded, urging a comprehensive investigation into everyone responsible for loading, cargo, and passenger management.

Relatives voiced sharp criticism over the response of official state entities, including the Guyana Police Force and the Coast Guard, during the critical initial hours following the capsizing.

Tiffany Beharry, whose mother and 10-year-old son were aboard, described searching local hospitals and begging state authorities for emergency deployment. According to Beharry, official police and military vessels refused to transport civilians or deploy search teams early in the morning, citing orders from superiors.

Tiffany Beharry

“Nobody going out and search for nobody,” Beharry stated, explaining that grieving families and local boat operators were forced to organise private search missions from Charity. Private vessels swarmed the waters near Shell Beach, Dartmouth, and surrounding islands, successfully recovering survivors and floating bodies while state entities remained absent.

Survivors, victims’ families, and Region One residents are demanding full accountability across all regulatory and operational levels of the Transport and Harbours Department.

“Everybody on the boat, who is in charge of loading, passengers, cargo… need to be investigated from the top right down to the bottom,” witnesses insisted before the Commission.

The CoI’s proceedings in Port Kaituma and surrounding communities remain ongoing as commissioners continue gathering evidence, survivor testimony, and safety recommendations.

Source: Kaieteur News

…alleges police intimidation, assault and questions how weapon was found in vehicle

(Kaieteur News) – The Office of the Leader of the Opposition (OLO) has called on diplomatic missions and international partners to monitor the investigation into a midnight shooting incident involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two members of his staff, alleging possible political intimidation and calling for an impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding their arrest.

Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed

According to the document, the three individuals “spent approximately 17 hours in police custody” following a midnight shooting incident outside the home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch Unit. The brief states that the vehicle carrying them “was struck by five bullets reportedly fired by Senior Superintendent Narine,” though “none of the occupants sustained injuries”.

The opposition office expressed deep concern that Senior Superintendent Narine’s claim of “being shot at first may be used to justify what the Leader of the Opposition and his staff maintain was an unprovoked attack against them”. The document highlights that the vehicle “is known to the Guyana Police Force” and that “members of the Special Branch regularly follow the Leader of the Opposition”. Following the shooting, the vehicle was stopped along Vlissengen Road where an initial search found “no weapon,” during which time the occupants were “allegedly physically assaulted by police officers” and Senior Superintendent Narine allegedly “pointed a firearm at the Leader of the Opposition and threatened to kill him”. Despite objections from the Leader of the Opposition, the vehicle was driven to Kitty Police Station by an individual associated with Narine, and “a weapon was subsequently reported to have been discovered in the vehicle”.

Emphasising that the Leader of the Opposition occupies “a constitutionally significant position in Guyana’s democratic system,” the office warned that “state institutions are being used to intimidate the political opponents, especially members of the We Invest in Nationhood”. To ensure justice and maintain public confidence, the office called for a thorough examination focusing on the shooting, the legal basis for the arrests, the initial search, the vehicle’s chain of custody, the origin of the weapon, and the preservation of CCTV footage and forensic evidence.

Accordingly, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition called on diplomatic missions and international partners to “monitor the situation and seek clarification from the Guyanese authorities,” “encourage a transparent and impartial process that safeguards evidence and upholds due process,” “raise concerns regarding the personal security of opposition officeholders,” and “remain engaged with developments affecting democratic accountability, political participation, and the rule of law in Guyana”. The brief concludes with a warning that “Guyana must not drift towards a political environment in which violence, intimidation, or the perceived misuse of state institutions undermines the ability of elected representatives to fulfill their constitutional mandate”.

Source: Kaieteur News

…accused GuySuCo of withholding funds

(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Cooperative Credit Union Society Ltd, together with members from four sugar estates, staged a peaceful picketing exercise on Monday demanding that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) immediately remit workers’ savings deducted from their wages but still outstanding.

Sugar workers across estates have protested over their credit union savings.

In a statement, the Credit Union said GuySuCo had been deducting savings from sugar workers’ weekly wages since March this year but had failed to transfer the funds to the institution.

The Credit Union stressed that the money belongs to the workers, who sacrifice a portion of their earnings each week to build savings for their families’ future.

It said that despite repeated commitments from GuySuCo’s management, including a written promise on August 27, 2026, to pay 50 per cent of the outstanding amount, the Corporation had failed to make any payment under that commitment.

Sugar workers backed by their union are demanding that GuySuCo releases their credit union deductions.

According to the Credit Union, the continued withholding of the funds is placing workers under severe financial strain, denying them access to money needed to meet expenses such as school fees, medical bills and basic household needs.

The situation is also creating a serious liquidity crisis for the Credit Union, threatening its ability to provide financial assistance to thousands of workers and their families, the statement added.

The institution called on GuySuCo’s management and Board to release the outstanding funds immediately. It also urged the Minister of Agriculture and the Government of Guyana to intervene urgently to ensure that the Corporation meets its obligation to remit the workers’ savings. The Credit Union maintained that the continued withholding of the money was unacceptable and was causing significant hardship to workers and their families.

Source: Kaieteur News

…Eight schools receive final briefing and equipment ahead of Sunday’s kickoff

By Kester Williams

(Kaieteur News) – With the countdown to kickoff gathering momentum, the Petra Organisation intensified preparations for the seventh annual Republic Bank Secondary Schools U18 Football League with the customary team briefing and ball distribution exercise yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground.

The exercise brought together representatives of the eight participating schools and key stakeholders as organisers fine-tuned arrangements for the highly anticipated competition.

Launched last Thursday, the tournament is widely regarded as a premier platform for secondary school football, with defending champions Chase Academic Foundation set to face a strong field of challengers in the battle for supremacy.

The eight schools participating in this year’s Republic Bank Football League receive playing uniforms and practice equipment ahead of Sunday’s kickoff at the MoE ground.

Joining Chase in the title hunt are Santa Rosa Secondary, Three Mile Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Annandale Secondary, Charlestown Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary and St Joseph High School.

Beyond the pursuit of championship honours, the stakes hold high significance especially with the tournament’s international implications, where the top two finishers will earn places in Petra’s Goodwill international series in December.

Among those present at the preparatory exercise were Republic Bank Marketing Analyst Grace Hitnarine, Demerara Mutual Life Sales and Marketing Coordinator Oceala van Doimen, and Co-Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca, who engaged participants as the final arrangements were put in place.

FLASHBACK! Defending champions, Chase Academic Foundation, after last year’s title success.

Addressing the students during the ball distribution, Mendonca urged them to respect the rules of the game and approach the competition with discipline, responsibility and sportsmanship.

He also underscored the importance of the tournament as a developmental pathway for young footballers, many of whom will eventually seek opportunities at club and senior levels.

With league football serving as a crucial stepping stone in the development of the sport, the competition offers players an opportunity to demonstrate their ability, gain valuable match experience and position themselves for advancement beyond the school system.

The organisers also highlighted the importance of ensuring that players can compete with confidence, with Demerara Mutual Life once again coming on board to provide insurance coverage for every student participating in this year’s tournament.

The continued support is intended to provide protection for the young footballers throughout the competition, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding participants as they pursue their sporting ambitions.

“When you know you’re covered, you give it your all,” was the message accompanying the emphasis on insurance protection.

Meanwhile, Hitnarine used the engagement to broaden the students’ focus beyond the football field, discussing financial literacy, the importance of saving and other fundamental financial principles.

Her interaction highlighted the value of equipping young athletes with knowledge and habits that can serve them well both during their sporting careers and in their future lives, reinforcing the tournament’s role in promoting development beyond competition.

With the briefing completed and balls distributed, attention now shifts to the field, where the eight schools will begin their quest for the coveted RBL title.

The tournament runs from October 18 to November 29 and is expected to showcase some of the country’s finest emerging schoolboy football talent.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Reliance Hustlers captured the 2026 North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) T20 title in convincing fashion on Sunday, defeating Affiance/No.1 by 48 runs in the final at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Reliance Hustlers posted a formidable 183-5 from their allotted 20 overs before restricting Affiance/No.1 to 139-9 in reply to secure the championship.

Raj Gurdeen led the batting effort with a top score of 45, striking four boundaries, while opening batsman Mark Austin provided a steady contribution of 42 to lay the foundation for a competitive total.

Champion Reliance Hustlers

Narindra Madholall and Neiland Cadogan also played useful supporting roles, scoring 28 runs apiece as Reliance Hustlers maintained their momentum throughout the innings.

On a lively track, Affiance/No.1’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring, although Amit Persaud delivered a notable performance, claiming 2-23 from his allotted four overs.

Chasing 184 for victory, Affiance/No.1 endured a disastrous start, slipping to 27-4 as the Reliance Hustlers bowling attack applied early pressure.

Captain Parmesh Parsotam was dismissed for a duck, while Latchman Rohit managed just one run, leaving their side in a difficult position with the chase already threatening to unravel.

Rajindra Ramballi offered some resistance with 28, while Yogesh Singh contributed 22, but neither could produce the substantial partnership required to revive the innings.

Affiance/No.1 eventually finished on 139-9 from their 20 overs, falling 48 runs short of the target as Reliance Hustlers celebrated a convincing victory.

Fast bowler Bernard Lewis was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 3-25 from four overs to undermine the opposition’s chase.

Madholall complemented that effort with 2-25 from his four overs, capping an impressive all-round performance that earned him the Player-of-the-Match award at the post-match presentation.

For their championship triumph, Reliance Hustlers received $120,000 and a trophy, while runners-up Affiance/No.1 collected $60,000 and a trophy.

NECC president Stanley Persaud congratulated the victorious team and expressed appreciation to all 14 teams that participated in the competition.

He also commended his fellow executives for their work in delivering another successful tournament, which provided competitive cricket and opportunities for players across North Essequibo.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC has defended the current composition of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) saying that it serves as an important safeguard to Guyana’s democracy despite the current impasse.  Nandlall was at the time responding to questions on the online podcast, Starting Point about the recommendations made by Elections Observer group – the Carter Centre in favour of making the commission politically independent.

The commission has not met in over a year due to a dispute among the political opposition as it relates to the appointment of new commissioners to represent the newly formed lead party—We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).  This lack of meetings has hampered the  functioning of GECOM and the holding the Local Government Elections.

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC

Despite this, the Attorney General asserted “In my respectful position, the composition helped us save this country had it not been for the PPP commissioners on that commission in 2020, we would have lost the elections; they would have been allowed to steal the elections.  When they called bomb threats, Bibi Shadick, Robeson Benn and Sase Gunraj remained in that building if you put so called independent people in there, they would have ran for their lives so we have to be careful ….”

He said too since GECOM is an instrument of the constitution, it should be taken to the reform process before any adjustment is made. “Whatever we change it to will be matter for the constitutional reform process and the people of Guyana. The people of Guyana will make their recommendations but I know from personal experience that the way it was constructed has served the people of Guyana. It was done under the Carter-Price formula, it saved this country in 1992 and in my respectful view it continues to save this country,” he opined.

The Carter Centre reiterated its call Guyanese officials to implement the recommendations in its final report on Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections. In a statement, the Carter Centre noted with considerable concern the current impasse surrounding the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). “Without a fully functioning commission, GECOM will be unable to organise local government elections by the statutory deadline this year, and will be unable to implement reforms to strengthen electoral processes in adequate time before Guyana’s next General and Regional Elections,” Carter said in the statement.

The Carter Centre has long championed the need for constitutional reform to ensure Guyana’s electoral system and institutions better serve its people. It is critical that this process be appropriately inclusive and representative.

During the Centre’s visit in June 2026, the delegation met with President Irfaan Ali and members of his Cabinet, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and a broad range of stakeholders, including other opposition political parties, GECOM, the Constitutional Reform Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission, leaders from the private sector and civil society, citizens interested in electoral reform, and members of the international community.

According to the Centre, these discussions provided an important opportunity to exchange views on strengthening and advancing Guyana’s democratic institutions. Conversations focused on several priority areas identified in the Centre’s final report, including reform of election management bodies, the development of comprehensive campaign finance legislation, efforts to improve the media environment, expanding civil society, and measures to enhance transparency and public confidence in the voters’ list.

The Carter Centre therefore encouraged the continued engagement of the many Guyanese stakeholders committed to advancing these recommendations and strengthening democratic governance.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – A one-off could be seen as being caught off-guard, the product of unpreparedness, which contributed to ignorance.  When the same critical challenge occurs a second time, there is significance to that development.  It signals that no lesson was learned from the first failure that caught napping.  When that same problem happens a third time, then something is more than wrong.  There can be no proper basis for the exact same difficulty being encountered yet again.  The weakness of soil is the issue that repeats itself.  Soil at locations chosen for huge, groundbreaking projects that has the potential to mean a whole new world for citizens.  What else could be at work?  What is it that is in motion, but which has escaped the attention of keen observers, has left different communities hanging and disappointed and, ultimately, endangered?

The PPP/C Government is in charge, and it is not new to the role of national leadership.  It has accumulated decades of experience, a reservoir of knowledge, and confidence on how to go about deciding on expensive projects, and spending taxpayers’ money.  We at this paper are baffled that it continues to make the same mistake.  Soil weakness aka soil instability or soil integrity has setback three major projects.  One is the most expensive to date.  The second has all the elements of procurement corruption that the government is supposedly fiercely against, but which still happens when family and friends are the beneficiaries.  The third has the grimness of many dead, and no answers, except for the usual damage control and political games that are about self-protection rather than protecting the interests of mostly low-level, expectant, citizens.

The issue of soil stability was first heard of in relation to the US$2B Wales Gas-to-Energy project.  The US-based, Venezuelan-led, Lindsayca Guyana Inc., won an award of US$97 million in a dispute about delayed works and the moving of the timeline that followed.  For years, and in many editions, this paper has led the call for credible feasibility studies, technical and financial, to be completed, and shared with the public.  Deaf ears and haughty mindsets led to the ignoring of those calls, and a lost arbitration that cost this country US$97 million.  The suitability of the soil at the project site for the gas conversion and power generation facilities has to number among the most basic of requirements that must be known and met upfront.  A run-of-the-mill feasibility study would have pointed to that soil deficit.  Whatever was the basis for the US$2 billion project, another US$97 million had to be added for either negligence or what qualifies as self-imposed ignorance.  Alongside repeated delays and continuing frustrations (constant GPL blackouts) with the promised electricity relief from the Wales project, death came knocking.

Soil stability, more accurately instability, appeared again, this time with the US$1.4 billion Port Kaituma wharf that was completed to a point, then left dangling in that unfinished state.  In this instance, US$1.4 billion diminishes to nothing.  For when that wharf was not ready and operating, the MV Barima had to continue dragging its weakened and rickety hull in Guyana waters, which lead to 73 dead and an uncertain number missing and, certainly, dead.  The same fundamental question, concern, was: can the soil on which this wharf is to be erected handle the related works and comfortably absorb the related pressures?  When neither time nor interest was found for that most routine of questions, one boat could not dock, and the MV Barima was set for her death ride.  This is more than soil weakness.  It is about criminal negligence at its most heinous.  Oil is flowing copiously, with higher daily production volumes within grasp.  US billions can be written off, a swift and easy book entry, but it should never be the same for 73, or any other number of, dead citizens.  There should be no bickering about who is responsible.  There should be the most drastic housecleaning from top to middle to bottom, with none overlooked, pardoned, or allowed to claim immunity.

After so many dead, soil weakness makes the news again, now at the controversially awarded $865M Belle View pump station.  A third area, the same soggy, unsuitable soil.  Soil weakness costs the country, kills its citizens.

Source: Kaieteur News