标签： Guyana

In a decisive move to address growing societal concerns, Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday, October 16, 2025, that the government will implement stricter regulations and impose higher taxes on online gambling and betting shops. This decision comes in response to widespread complaints that gambling activities are diverting essential income away from families, particularly affecting single parents and breadwinners. Jagdeo emphasized that the proliferation of gambling apps and hundreds of betting shops across the country has created a ‘major social problem,’ leading to family breakdowns and financial hardships. He highlighted that the government has already signaled its intent to curb this issue, citing the negative impact on communities. Additionally, Jagdeo noted that the religious community has raised concerns about the detrimental effects of habitual gambling on livelihoods. The Vice President also mentioned that while licensed casinos at two hotels remain accessible to registered guests, the new measures aim to discourage excessive gambling by increasing taxes on online platforms. The announcement underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the socio-economic challenges posed by the gambling industry.

In a press conference held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), firmly denied any negotiations with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) regarding the chairmanship and vice chairmanship of the Region Four Council. Jagdeo emphasized that no formal or informal discussions took place between the two parties. This statement came amidst speculation following the PPP’s narrow victory in securing the top regional positions by a single vote. The election results revealed a tight race, with APNU and PPP each winning 17 council seats, while the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) secured one seat. During the secret ballot for the chairmanship, the FGM candidate disclosed her vote for APNU’s Shanika Haynes. Meanwhile, Tabita Sarabo-Halley, an executive member of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), revealed that her party’s council members boycotted the vote due to an unresolved agreement with APNU over leadership positions in Region 10. Jagdeo asserted that the PPP’s victory in Region Four reflected the will of the people, given the party’s significant plurality of 87,536 votes (49%) in the region. He accused WIN and APNU of collaborating to undermine the democratic process. Additionally, Jagdeo hinted at the possibility of instructing PPP councillors in Region 10 to abstain from voting, potentially escalating tensions between WIN and APNU. WIN has threatened legal action if the Regional Executive Officer fails to call for further elections.

In a significant escalation of U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. This move, first reported by The New York Times, is part of a broader strategy aimed at removing Maduro from power, with the Trump administration offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction on drug trafficking charges.

Trump justified the decision by citing the migration of Venezuelans to the United States and the trafficking of drugs, particularly fentanyl, as primary concerns. ‘I authorized for two reasons really,’ Trump stated in the Oval Office. ‘Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America…they came in through the border. They came in because we had an open border. And the other thing are drugs.’ However, Trump has not provided evidence to support his claim that Venezuela is sending former prisoners to the U.S.

The new authority granted to the CIA allows for lethal operations in Venezuela and a range of activities in the Caribbean. Trump also revealed that the U.S. is considering land strikes to combat drug cartels, stating, ‘We are looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control.’ The Pentagon recently disclosed to Congress that Trump has determined the U.S. is engaged in ‘a non-international armed conflict’ with drug cartels.

Venezuela’s government condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them a violation of international law and accusing the U.S. of pursuing a ‘regime change’ operation to seize the country’s oil resources. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil announced that Venezuela’s Permanent Mission to the UN would raise the issue with the Security Council and the Secretary-General.

Critics, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have expressed concerns that the administration is moving the U.S. closer to outright conflict. ‘The American people deserve to know if the Administration is leading the U.S. into another conflict, putting service members at risk or pursuing a regime-change operation,’ Shaheen stated.

The Trump administration has conducted at least five strikes on vessels in the Caribbean since September, killing 26 people described as ‘narcoterrorists.’ However, the administration has yet to provide evidence to Congress supporting claims that the boats were carrying narcotics, raising questions about the legal basis for these actions.

In the wake of a recent U.S. military operation in Caribbean waters that resulted in the destruction of a suspected drug vessel and the deaths of six individuals off Venezuela’s coast, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to regional peace and the fight against transnational crime. Speaking on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, President Ali emphasized Guyana’s dual focus: maintaining Latin America and the Caribbean as a ‘zone of peace’ while actively supporting efforts to dismantle illegal drug trade networks and other destabilizing activities. ‘We support every action and embrace every partnership to cripple transnational crime, the illicit drug trade, and any form of destabilization that threatens the security of Guyana and this region,’ he declared. While not directly referencing the U.S. military deployment, President Ali underscored Guyana’s rejection of aggression and coercion, advocating instead for dialogue, international law, and collaborative efforts to address both traditional and non-traditional threats. He also highlighted Guyana’s determination to defend its sovereignty with the support of international allies, particularly in the face of territorial aggression. The President condemned recent attacks on Guyanese civilians and soldiers along the Cuyuni River, which borders Venezuela, and reiterated his government’s broader commitment to promoting peace and the rule of law across the region. Guyana’s stance aligns with the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which has called for the region to remain a ‘zone of peace.’ Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago, a fellow CARICOM member, has openly supported the U.S.-led efforts against narco-trafficking, citing a decline in violent crime as a positive outcome.

The We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) councillors in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) have issued a stern warning of legal action if additional voting rounds for the positions of chairman and vice chairman are not conducted within 48 hours. Represented by Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon, the councillors argue that the current impasse violates legal procedures. Dhurjon emphasized that the law permits up to three more voting rounds, with a final resort involving a public lottery conducted by the Clerk of Council to determine the chairman. The legal notice was directed at Clerk of Council Dwight John, who had prematurely suspended the election process after a single tied vote on October 10 and referred the matter to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand. Dhurjon criticized this move as illegal and urged the Minister to avoid involvement in any unlawful actions. The lawyer also highlighted that the Minister no longer holds unilateral authority to decide chairmanship appointments. Instead, Dhurjon insisted on adhering to the Local Democratic Organs Act, which outlines a structured process for resolving ties through multiple voting stages and, if necessary, a public lottery. The WIN councillors, including Mark Giring, Denzel Chapman, and others, are determined to ensure the election process is conducted lawfully and transparently.