标签： Guyana

Guyana has entered into substantive diplomatic negotiations with the United States concerning the potential acceptance of third-country nationals currently residing in American territory, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud confirmed on Monday, January 5, 2026.

The South American nation is actively developing a framework of understanding aligned with its national priorities while supporting U.S. objectives regarding migration management. “Guyana and the USA have been in productive discussions on a framework of understanding which is consistent with our national priorities and needs and supportive of the USA objectives,” Persaud stated in an exclusive interview with Demerara Waves Online News.

This development follows similar agreements recently confirmed by Caribbean neighbors Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. The U.S. initiative, first proposed to Caribbean nations and other allied countries in early 2025, seeks international cooperation in addressing complex migration scenarios where individuals cannot be returned to their countries of origin.

According to Caribbean Media Corporation reports, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt announced his country’s formal agreement with the U.S., emphasizing stringent security provisions. “In our discussions with the State Department there has been careful deliberation of the need to avoid receiving violent individuals or individuals who will compromise the security of Dominica,” Skerritt clarified during a press conference.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne indicated his nation would accept approximately ten carefully screened non-criminal refugees possessing skills in local demand. The arrangement maintains full discretionary power for the Caribbean nation to accept or reject any recommended individuals, with the U.S. providing comprehensive biometric data and criminal background information.

The United States has extended similar invitations to over 100 countries worldwide, seeking to distribute the responsibility for refugee and deportee cases more equitably across the international community. Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states have already participated in this multilateral initiative.

The scheduled extradition proceedings against Guyanese billionaire gold dealers Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed face potential postponement following their legal team’s announcement to appeal a High Court ruling. The development emerged hours after Chief Justice Navindra Singh declined to stay the magistrate’s hearing set for January 6-8, 2026.

Lead attorney Roysdale Forde confirmed his intention to file an appeal with the Full Court of the High Court, seeking to suspend the extradition process pending resolution of two constitutional challenges. ‘We disagree with the decision respectfully and we will be filing an appeal to the Full Court and we will be seeking a stay of the proceedings at the level of the Full Court,’ Forde told journalists outside the Georgetown courtroom.

The legal battle centers on dual constitutional matters: challenges to several provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act and allegations of ‘explicit political bias’ in the extradition authorization by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond against Azruddin Mohamed, who leads the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall maintained that the judicial process should proceed as scheduled, emphasizing that existing legal frameworks provide adequate avenues for post-committal challenges. He warned that if Magistrate Judy Latchman rules against the Mohameds, both individuals would be immediately taken into custody despite their current GY$150,000 bail status.

The United States seeks their extradition to face trial in Florida’s federal court on charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering related to their gold trading operations, allegedly resulting in millions lost in tax revenue for Guyana.

Justice Singh, in his ruling, determined that suspending the extradition process would constitute ‘a drastic remedy’ given that constitutional issues could be addressed without halting the proceedings. He noted the absence of demonstrated ‘immediate and irreversible harm’ and emphasized the public interest in honoring international extradition obligations.

The Chief Justice scheduled January 14, 2026, for preliminary hearings on the constitutional challenges, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle that Forde acknowledged ‘will be a long, arduous process’ likely reaching the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Guyana’s political opposition has launched a formal demand for financial transparency regarding substantial government allocations for urban infrastructure projects. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition is pressing the administration to provide complete public accounting for GY$2.7 billion (approximately US$13 million) designated for market rehabilitations and drainage improvements throughout Georgetown.

APNU Parliament member Ganesh Mahipaul, who serves as the party’s local government spokesman, issued a formal statement expressing profound public dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of visible progress. “Citizens see little to no tangible improvement on the ground,” Mahipaul declared, highlighting the growing disparity between budget announcements and physical implementation.

The political challenge emerges against a backdrop of ongoing urban tensions, including the recent removal of vendor stalls from outside Yhip’s Bakery on Robb and Alexander streets under a High Court order. While no APNU representatives were present during the demolition of these predominantly female-operated businesses, Mahipaul pledged his party’s continued advocacy for market vendors across the capital.

Citing official responses provided during February 2025 Budget Estimates discussions, the opposition lawmaker detailed specific allocations that remain unaccounted for, including GY$40 million for Bourda Green project design consultancy, GY$260 million for phase one construction of Bourda Green, and substantial sums earmarked for market rehabilitations in East Ruimveldt, La Penitence, and Stabroek areas.

Mahipaul described concerning conditions persisting at multiple market locations, with Bourda Market reportedly remaining in “deplorable condition” while Merriman’s Mall shows “no transformation.” He noted widespread infrastructure deficiencies, sanitation challenges, and unsafe environments for both vendors and shoppers throughout Georgetown’s commercial spaces.

The APNU demands extend beyond mere financial accounting, seeking detailed explanations of specific works completed under each budget line item, expenditure rates, current fund locations, contract award details, and explanations for missed completion timelines. The party emphasizes that ministerial consultations and public walkabouts cannot substitute for concrete deliverables, particularly when billions of dollars and public welfare are at stake.

The infrastructure concerns are compounded by Georgetown’s persistent drainage problems, with many drains and trenches remaining choked by silt and solid waste despite recent desilting of some outfall channels to the Demerara River. During heavy rainfall, sections of Bourda Market reportedly flood with foul-smelling water, while clogged drains overflow throughout the commercial district.

The opposition’s financial transparency demand arrives as Georgetown faces additional urban management challenges, including overflowing government-donated waste bins that have complicated drainage systems since late December 2025.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US would assume direct administrative control of Venezuela to oversee a “safe transition” of power. This declaration came hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and extracted from the country during a pre-dawn military operation involving missile strikes on multiple military installations in and around the capital.

Addressing a press conference, President Trump stated that the United States would be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s crucial oil industry, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s economic control. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump asserted, adding that the intervention aimed to prevent a recurrence of the political instability that has plagued Venezuela for years.

The Maduros are reportedly being transported to New York where they will face indictment on unspecified charges. This development follows months of heightened tensions between the two nations, during which the US accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and conducted more than twenty airstrikes in maritime areas near Venezuela since September—accusations that Maduro has consistently denied.

In response to the intervention, Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez declared that the country “will prevail … not negotiate … not give up.” The Venezuelan government has condemned the operation as an act of “military aggression” by Washington, claiming that both civilian and military installations across multiple states were targeted.

The capture occurred despite Maduro’s indication just two days earlier that he was open to negotiating a deal with the US to combat drug trafficking, suggesting a rapid breakdown in diplomatic communications between the two nations.

In the wake of recent U.S. military actions that resulted in the ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Guyana’s principal opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) has issued a compelling call for national cohesion. The party, which secured 16 parliamentary seats in the September 2025 elections, cautioned that regime change in Caracas might unpredictably escalate existing tensions rather than alleviate them.

WIN emphasized that Guyana continues to face sustained pressure and micro-aggressions stemming from Venezuela’s longstanding territorial claim over the Essequibo region. The party outlined multiple potential threats including increased cross-border movements, refugee influxes, retaliatory actions by Venezuelan operatives within Guyana, and heightened risks to citizens and critical infrastructure. These developments could particularly destabilize border and hinterland regions, creating both economic and security vulnerabilities.

Highlighting recent security incidents, WIN referenced the simultaneous bombings of a police outpost and power facility earlier in 2025, for which three Spanish-speaking suspects remain at large. Additionally, the party recalled the tragic gas station explosion in Georgetown that involved both Venezuelan and Guyanese individuals.

Rather than unilateral action, WIN urged the Irfaan Ali-led administration to engage in meaningful consultation with opposition forces through institutional mechanisms. The party specifically called for the immediate election of an Opposition Leader to activate the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector, arguing that comprehensive security policy review requires inclusive governance.

WIN advocated for regional stability through diplomatic channels, international law, and mutual respect while stressing that domestic unity remains paramount. The party concluded that ‘national security is not a party matter’ but fundamentally ‘a Guyana matter,’ requiring transparent leadership and constitutional governance during this period of regional uncertainty.

Guyana’s primary opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has issued an urgent advisory to the government regarding potential security and humanitarian consequences stemming from recent US military operations in Venezuela. The organization emphasized the critical need for immediate contingency planning to address a possible influx of displaced persons across the western border.

APNU proposed a comprehensive four-point strategy that includes establishing designated reception zones at secure distances from the border area. These zones would require pre-positioned essential supplies including water, food, medical resources, and shelter materials. The opposition coalition specifically highlighted the necessity of implementing robust vetting mechanisms to prevent potential infiltration threats that could compromise national interests.

While advocating for humanitarian response measures, APNU simultaneously called for strengthened security protocols and systematic registration procedures to ensure orderly management of any migration flow. The organization stressed that such measures must balance humanitarian concerns with national security requirements.

President Irfaan Ali, responding to inquiries, acknowledged ongoing border monitoring efforts but noted he had not yet reviewed APNU’s specific recommendations. The President confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Phillips was currently engaged with defense and security personnel in border regions to assess preparedness in light of regional developments.

APNU further recommended establishing a joint humanitarian task force incorporating multiple government agencies including the Civil Defence Commission, Guyana Defence Force, and relevant ministries. The opposition coalition also urged international engagement with organizations including CARICOM, UN refugee agencies, and the International Red Cross to secure potential logistical and financial support.

Emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation, APNU offered legislative support, community network mobilization, and budgetary approval assistance to address what they characterize as a national emergency requiring unified response. The organization noted that while Guyana maintains its position on territorial matters through the International Court of Justice process, the current situation demands pragmatic humanitarian planning.

Background context indicates significant prior migration from Venezuela, with official figures documenting approximately 40,000 legal Venezuelan residents in Guyana and unofficial estimates suggesting total numbers exceeding 100,000 individuals who have fled political and economic instability over the past decade.

In a dramatic escalation of international tensions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been formally indicted by the United States Justice Department on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and weapons offenses. The indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York following what U.S. officials describe as a successful military operation that resulted in the capture of both individuals.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charges, which specifically accuse President Maduro of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and illegally possessing machine guns and destructive devices. While the exact charges against Maduro’s wife remain unspecified, Bondi declared that both would ‘face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.’

The legal action follows an early morning military intervention that included a 30-minute aerial bombardment targeting multiple military bases in Caracas and other Venezuelan locations. President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had captured Maduro and his wife and removed them from Venezuelan territory during this operation.

The development comes six months after the United States initiated its largest military mobilization in the Caribbean region, targeting vessels suspected of transporting narcotics toward American shores. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has formally requested that the U.S. government provide ‘proof of life’ documentation regarding Maduro’s current status and whereabouts.

Venezuela has descended into a state of profound uncertainty following a dramatic U.S. military operation in its capital. The crisis erupted when U.S. President Donald Trump announced via social media that a large-scale strike had resulted in the capture and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from the country.

In a rapidly unfolding sequence of events, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez issued an urgent audio statement on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, revealing that the whereabouts of President Maduro and the First Lady remained unknown. Speaking through the Telesur network, Rodriguez formally demanded that the Trump administration provide immediate ‘proof of life’ evidence for both individuals, citing grave concerns over their welfare and status.

The operation, which Trump described as coordinated with U.S. law enforcement agencies, targeted Caracas in what the Venezuelan government condemned as a ‘complete brutal aggression’ violating international law and national sovereignty. Rodriguez emphasized that despite the attack, Venezuela remained calm while ‘digesting this military aggression’ that had fundamentally challenged the nation’s peace and tranquility.

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau celebrated the development on social media, proclaiming ‘a new dawn for Venezuela’ and asserting that the ‘tyrant would finally face justice for his crimes.’ This stark contrast in narratives highlighted the deepening diplomatic chasm between the two nations.

In a related development, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar explicitly distanced her nation from the military operations, affirming that her country maintained peaceful relations with Venezuela and played no role in the ongoing conflict. The international community now watches closely as both nations prepare for further announcements, including a scheduled news conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.