The Guyana Cultural Association Of New York Turns 25

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Reported By Allison Skeete

News Americas, New York, August 19, 2025: As summer winds down, many in the diaspora turn to cultural gatherings that keep traditions alive. In Brooklyn, the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, (GCA), is preparing to host its 25th Annual Folk Festival, a milestone Silver Jubilee celebration dedicated to preserving Guyanese heritage while passing it on to new generations.

The Guyana Cultural Association of New York is turning 25.

Founded 25 years ago, GCA has become a leading voice for celebrating Guyana’s history, culture, and artistic contributions at home and abroad. Its annual Folk Festival has grown into a community hub – a place for families to reconnect, alumni associations to relive school rivalries, and children to experience traditions for the first time. From maypole plaiting to arts and crafts, masquerade stilt-walking, folk dancing, and storytelling, the festival immerses young and old alike in the essence of Guyanese identity.

Highlights of the event include Kwe-Kwe Night, where families dramatize pre-wedding rituals through song and dance, and Family Fun Day on Sunday, August 31st, featuring Guyanese food, music, games, and entertainment in the park. Over the years, the festival has also introduced global audiences to Guyanese beauty queens like Arti Cameron and Lisa Punch, along with designers such as Michelle Cole and Roger Gary.

This year’s Silver Jubilee will be marked with a Gala Awards Dinner at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, New York, on Wednesday, August 27th. Tickets are available for $150 via guyfolkfest.org, where a full schedule of events can also be found.

Each year, the GCA recognizes individuals and organizations advancing Guyanese heritage. Awards include the Godfrey Chin Prize for Heritage Journalism, honoring writers who deepen understanding of Guyanese culture, and the Derry Etkins Memorial Prizes, spotlighting excellence in music composition, performance, preservation, and community music education.

Now celebrating 25 years, the GCA Folk Festival continues to serve as both a reunion and a renewal – a space where Guyanese abroad honor their past, celebrate their present, and invest in passing their traditions to the future.

12-Year-Old Ignites With Bounty Killer & Richie Stephens On New Reggae Single

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Aug. 19, 2025: Jamaican Canadian rising star Jazmin Headley is turning heads with her latest reggae release “The Fire Inside,” featuring none other than dancehall legend Bounty Killer and reggae icon Richie Stephens.

At just 12 years old, Jazmin is proving she’s a voice to watch. Her new single pairs youthful fire with seasoned artistry, blending Stephens’ soulful vocals and Bounty’s commanding delivery into what the Warlord himself calls a “musical masterpiece.”

“When you carry a fire inside, no one can shatter your dreams,” Bounty shared while in Toronto, marking his first visit to the city in 20 years. Stephens added: “It’s a powerful song filled with emotional depth and an empowering message.”

The track follows a milestone year for Jazmin, who made her film debut in MGM’s The Fire Inside, the critically acclaimed biopic of boxing champion Claressa Shields. Starring Ryan Destiny and directed by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison, the movie gave Jazmin her first taste of the global spotlight—now extended through music.

Released via VPAL Music, the single is already resonating with fans for its uplifting lyrics and cross-generational collaboration, bridging the gap between Jamaica’s musical past and its future.

Watch the Official Video Here: YouTube

Headley is a Canadian singer, actor and voice-over artist who just completed a successful run as Judah Joseph’s brother in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream coat.’ She is also a cast member of the CBC Kids Series Ukulele U.

ExxonMobil’s $42.5M Deepwater Gamble In T&T

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News Americas, Port of Spain, Trinidad, August 19, 2025: Once the undisputed energy powerhouse of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is now betting big on a deep water revival – with ExxonMobil leading the charge.

The U.S. oil giant has committed US$42.5 million upfront to partner with Trinidad’s state-owned Heritage Petroleum, marking a bold return of confidence in the twin-island nation’s hydrocarbon sector. For Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, it’s more than just another deal — it’s a signal that Trinidad is ready to reclaim its role as a regional energy leader.

“This partnership strengthens our position in the deepwater space,” Exxon’s vice president for exploration, John Ardill, said during the signing, while admitting there are “no guarantees” the projects will match Guyana’s colossal oil discoveries.

Trinidad has watched for nearly a decade as Guyana, its smaller neighbor, surged to global prominence with Exxon’s 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Production declines, fiscal pressures, and dwindling gas supplies have chipped away at Trinidad’s economy which has also seen a shortage of US dolars. Now, deep water exploration is being framed as the country’s best chance at reversing its decline.

The stakes are high. Exxon will operate three blocks — 25a, 25b, and 27 — in Trinidad’s Atlantic waters, focusing on natural gas that could feed the nation’s LNG plants and petrochemical industry.

Persad-Bissessar has promised to slash red tape, modernize licensing, and create a more investor-friendly climate to ensure success. For Trinidad, the challenge is clear: turn this gamble into a comeback before Guyana leaves the region’s oldest producer permanently in the shadows.

The Guyana Government Should Immediately Investigate The Accounting Of The Oil Companies

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By Darsh Khusial

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Aug. 18, 2025: On July 2nd, 2025, Stabroek News published a letter from the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (CFO), of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, (EMGL) disputing Chris Ram’s assertion that the 2024 financials for the Stabroek Block consortium (consisting of EMGL, HESS Guyana, and CNOOC Guyana) represent “a fundamental distortion that demands immediate investigation, attention, transparency and disclosure.” The Exxon Guyana CFO’s response to Ram’s assertion that the accounting was flawed was vague and lacking in depth. However, it contained a veiled threat in this statement: “The accusation that we manipulate accounting standards to improve our financial results is unfounded and defamatory.”

In 2024, the oil extracted and sold totaled US$18 billion. To put that in context, Guyana’s 2025 budget was US$6.6 billion. Thus, distortions in the oil consortium’s financial statements are materially significant for Guyana.

Exxon is a company valued at more than US$600 billion, making it one of the largest companies in the world. As a large US public company, its stock is owned directly and indirectly by millions of shareholders. Its primary priority is to maximize shareholder value, which is reflected in its stock price. Accusations that one of its major subsidiaries’ financials are distorted could raise doubts about the company’s valuation among analysts and shareholders. Hence, one would expect that the company would correct this matter immediately or vehemently defend its reputation by taking the matter to court, not respond through a vague letter.

Mr. Ram promptly stood by his assertions in a letter dated July 3rd, 2025, where he provided specifics on why EMGL’s accounting is indefensibly lacking. He further stated, “Exxon shows no respect for the people of Guyana, weaponizing accounting complexity to avoid informed public scrutiny.” It has been more than a month since Ram stood by his assertion, while the EMGL silence has been deafening but insightful.

The chart below, interactive copy, shows the total amount of oil produced and sold per year in US dollars, which totals US$43.5 billion. Guyana should receive a 2% royalty and a 50/50 profit share. However, if the accounting is questionable, then surely Guyana’s 2% royalty and 50/50 profit share, both derived from the oil companies’ financials, are incorrect?

In April 2019, the Stabroek Block oil contract was amended to ensure the oil companies could not claim the 2% royalty as a cost. However, in their 2024 income statements, EMGL claims a Royalty Expense of US$164 million. We note that neither HESS Guyana nor CNOOC Guyana income statements lists such an expense. Thus, instead of parroting ‘the sanctity of contract’, the government should investigate whether EMGL’s US$164 million royalty expense was illegitimate under the updated contract terms.

In 2018, Ram showed – using the oil consortium’s own financial statements – that the pre-contract costs were overstated by US$90 million or 24%. Now, Guyana’s profit share from the US$43.5 billion is approximately 12.5%, assuming costs are 75%. Thus, total cost is approximately US$32.6 billion and Guyana’s 12.5% is US$5.4 billion. If the cost were inflated by 24%, then the uninflated cost would be US$26.3 billion, which means Guyana’s 12.5% profit share should be US$8.6 billion or an extra US$3.2 billion. To put that in perspective, that is 1.5 times Guyana’s budget before oil production began in December 2019.

If one recalls, the original capital cost for Liza Phase 1 was US$4.4 billion, but after Guyanese oil expert Dr. Mangal disputed several claims, the Consortium then reduced the cost by US$700 million. It was then reduced again, to a final amount of US$3.5 billion. That is an overstatement of expense by 26%.

There is a pattern here of inflated expenses. These financial irregularities should trigger immediate investigation by any government, given the billions of US dollars at stake.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Darshanand Khusial is an executive OGGN Other executive members include Alfred Bhulai, Andre Brandli, Janette Bulkan and Joe Persaud.

From Billboard To Behind Bars: Sean Kingston Sentenced In $1M Fraud Case.

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By NAN ET Entertainer

News Americas, MAIMI, FL, Mon. 18, 2025: Jamaican-American rapper Sean Kingston, once a Billboard chart-topper with hits like “Beautiful Girls,” is headed to federal prison after being convicted in a US$1 million fraud scheme.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida confirmed that Kingston, born Kisean Paul Anderson, was sentenced on Friday to 42 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz.

FLASHBACK – Sean Kingston performings onstage at Shaggy’s Hot Summer Nights Tour on June 03, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Live Nation)

A Fall From Grace

Kingston, now 35, rose to international fame as a teenager, blending pop and reggae to create crossover anthems that defined mid-2000s radio. But prosecutors say behind the glitz of fame, the artist orchestrated a scheme to defraud luxury vendors of over US$1 million in goods.

According to trial evidence, Kingston contacted sellers of high-end merchandise — including a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, luxury watches, and a massive 232-inch LED television — via social media. He invited them to his luxury homes in Broward County, Florida, leveraging his celebrity status to secure trust.

Instead of paying, prosecutors said Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, 62, sent fake wire receipts as proof of payment. While some victims eventually received restitution after filing lawsuits or involving police, most never saw a dollar.

The Family Scheme

Turner, who prosecutors described as central to producing the fraudulent documents, was sentenced last month to five years in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy.

“The defendants used fame as a weapon,” the prosecution argued. “What appeared to be opportunity for small businesses turned into financial loss and betrayal.”

Kingston’s Statement

In court, Kingston offered brief remarks, acknowledging wrongdoing. “I’ve learned from my actions,” he said, as Judge Leibowitz handed down the sentence.

A Career Overshadowed

The rapper, who once collaborated with global stars including Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj, now sees his career defined as much by courtroom headlines as by music charts.

His story marks yet another reminder of how quickly celebrity fortune can fade — from Billboard stardom to federal prison in less than two decades.

Two Caribbean Nations Head To The Polls In September Amid Heated Campaigns

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 15, 2025: Two CARICOM nations are in the thick of election fever, with voters in Guyana and Jamaica set to choose new governments next month. Guyana heads to the polls on September 1, 2025, followed by Jamaica on September 3, 2025.

In Jamaica, the campaign trail has been rocked by controversy. The ruling Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) campaign chairman, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has been given a deadline to retract a recording of retired opposition legislator K.D. Knight that was played at a mass JLP rally on Sunday.

FLASHBACK – A polling station in Tivoli Gardens, in West Kingston on December 29, 2011. (Photo credit – Ratiba HAMZAOUI/AFP via Getty Images)

In the clip, Knight appeared to express no confidence in People’s National Party (PNP) leader Mark Golding — but Knight’s legal team claims the recording was manipulated. The law firm Knight, Junior & Samuels has demanded a public retraction and apology by 11:00 a.m. Friday, to be published across all media and JLP social platforms. The firm warned that a retraction would not prevent legal action, though it could help reduce reputational damage.

Meanwhile, in a political twist, the Jamaica First Movement (JFM) — led by clergyman Rev. Al Miller — has joined forces with the Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP) to form a united front in the election. JPP President Gilbert Edwards hailed the merger as “historic” and “a necessary act of national service,” pledging unity, purpose, and people-centered politics. The main contest still pits the JLP against the PNP, with the new alliance aiming to shake up the political landscape.

The vote in Jamaica comes on the heels of a 2024 Integrity Commission (IC) report that found insufficient evidence to charge Prime Minister Andrew Holness, over the alleged non-disclosure of four joint bank accounts.

The IC’s probe, covering 2018–2023, examined 3,600 transactions, 28 accounts, and over 80 witness statements. Holness says the accounts in question were dormant, with minimal balances, and in some cases opened by his parents decades ago.

Holness rejected findings of a J$1.9M unexplained increase in his net worth in 2022, citing calculation errors, and denied hindering the investigation. Holness also criticized the IC law, calling for urgent reforms to prevent politicization and ensure focus on “relevant, significant and material issues.”

GUYANA

In Guyana, the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, is making waves. The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has alleged that Mohamed sought a Venezuelan visa and visited the Venezuelan embassy — claims he strongly denies.

“Produce the evidence! I have never visited the Venezuelan Embassy, nor applied for a visa to Venezuela,” Mohamed slammed back, calling the accusations “baseless, malicious, and politically motivated.” He accused the PPP/C of using the allegations to distract from alleged corruption exposed on social media.

The Guyanese government confirmed it had summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador Carlos Amador Perez Silva over what it described as “frequent visits” to the embassy by members of the Mohamed family.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has approved six political parties for the September 1 vote:

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

Alliance for Change (AFC)

Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP)

Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)

With just weeks to go, both Jamaica and Guyana are seeing intensified campaigning, legal battles, and new alliances — setting the stage for two high-stakes elections that could reshape the political direction of each nation.

Lady Da Flame Brings Reggae & Gospel Fire to Beres Hammond & Friends’ Two-Night Summer Spectacle

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News Americas, NEWARK, NJ, August 14, 2025: Get ready for a music experience like no other. Reggae & Gospel powerhouse Lady Da Flame is set to ignite the stage alongside reggae legend Beres Hammond for two nights only – Saturday, Aug. 16 at NJPAC in Newark, NJ, and Sunday, Aug. 17 at the Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, NY. The shows, produced by Jammins Events, are poised to be the hottest tickets of the summer.

Lady Da Flame

Known for her soul-stirring vocals and a genre-bending style that fuses gospel’s uplifting spirit with reggae’s timeless groove, Lady Da Flame promises a performance that inspires, uplifts, and connects. She’ll share the spotlight with an all-star lineup – Marcia Griffiths, the queen of reggae; and Baby Cham, dancehall hitmaker – in a celebration of love, culture, and unity.

This summer is already blazing for Lady Da Flame, who graces the cover of Stardom 101 Magazine’s Summer Issue and is turning heads with her explosive reggae anthem “Second Time” – a heartfelt answer to Khago’s “2 Times.” She continues to win hearts worldwide with inspirational hits like “You Can Do It” and “Just Another Day”, while celebrating a milestone: her gospel hit “God Answers Prayers” surpassing one billion streams.

Expect nothing less than pure musical magic as reggae’s smooth lovers rock meets gospel’s spiritual fire, delivering an unforgettable two-night journey across genres and generations.

Get Tickets: Click here
Watch “Second Time” Video

Grenadian Misspelled In Official State Department Release

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News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Wed. Aug. 13, 2025 – When the U.S. State Department issued its latest press statement on visa restrictions for officials tied to Cuba’s controversial forced labor scheme, it included a glaring typo – referring to “Grenadan” officials instead of Grenadian.

Grenada PM Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell

The error appeared in both the headline – “Visa Restrictions on African, Cuban, and Grenadan Government Officials Involved in the Cuban Regime’s Coercive Forced Labor Export Scheme” – and the lead paragraph, which repeated the reference to “Grenadan” officials. The release stated: “Today, the Department of State took steps to impose visa restrictions on African, Cuban, and Grenadan government officials, and their family members, for their complicity in the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme in which medical professionals are ‘rented’ by other countries at high prices and most of the revenue is kept by the Cuban authorities. This scheme enriches the corrupt Cuban regime while depriving the Cuban people of essential medical care.”

According to the State Department, the program involves Cuban medical professionals being “rented” by other countries at high prices, with most of the revenue kept by the Cuban authorities. The U.S. says this not only enriches the “corrupt Cuban regime” but also deprives the Cuban people of essential medical care.

“We urge governments to pay the doctors directly for their services, not the regime slave masters,” the statement read.

Washington says the measures aim to support the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom and dignity, and to hold accountable those who perpetuate their exploitation. The U.S. also called on “all nations that support democracy and human rights” to join in confronting the Cuban regime’s abuses.

The typo comes as Grenada and Cuba maintain close diplomatic ties, with Grenadian officials in the past publicly defending Havana’s medical missions. But for many on social media, the misspelling overshadowed the policy announcement – sparking both criticism and ridicule.

Reggae Singer Soul-Rebel Marley Drops Cinematic “Holy Father” Video

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NEWS AMERICA, NEW YORK, NY, August 13, 2025: Rising reggae and Afrobeat fusion artist Soul-Rebel Marley has unveiled the official music video for his second single, “Holy Father”, released earlier this summer via his Tek Time Productions label in partnership with Tuff Gong International.

Soul Marley drops Holy Father.

Directed by Martyn Watts, the cinematic visuals take viewers on a spiritual journey through Ethiopia’s historic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The video blends ancient ritual, mythic symbolism, and Marley’s soulful performance to create a deeply transformative viewing experience.

The production features cameos from Marley’s brothers Skip Marley and Saiyan Marley, as well as Fr. Amde Hamilton – a founding member of The Watts Prophets and Ethiopian Orthodox priest who famously delivered one of the eulogies at Bob Marley’s 1981 funeral in Kingston, Jamaica.

“I give thanks to the Most High for the support of my family and everyone behind the camera in the making of the ‘Holy Father’ video,” said Marley. “The experience was amazing and I’m excited for the massive to see it.”

Soul-Rebel Marley has been praised for his ability to build on reggae’s foundational sounds while introducing fresh influences. His debut single “Loving Jah” reimagined traditional reggae with a modern twist, while “Holy Father” ventures into Afrobeat territory, delivering a pulsating, spiritual exploration of faith and heritage.

The “Holy Father” video is now streaming on Tuff Gong TV’s YouTube channel.

Watch “Holy Father” here

U.S. Offers $5 Million Reward for Capture Of Haitian Gang Leader “Barbecue”

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News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Tues. Aug. 12, 2025: The United States government has announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, better known as “Barbecue.”

Sanctioned Gang Leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier with G-9 federation gang members in the Delmas 3 area on February 22, 2024 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (Photo by Giles Clarke/Getty Images)

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs revealed the offer under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP). The bounty is linked to Cherizier’s leadership of Viv Ansanm, a gang designated by the Secretary of State on May 2, 2025, as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

U.S. authorities say Cherizier is a central figure in the spiraling gang violence gripping Haiti and is directly tied to mass murders, rapes, and other severe human rights abuses against Haitian civilians.

Cherizier was previously sanctioned in December 2020 – alongside two Haitian public officials – under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for his alleged role in the La Saline massacre.

The latest announcement comes alongside the unsealing of an indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Prosecutors have charged Cherizier with conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Authorities allege that he conspired to evade restrictions imposed by the U.S. in 2020.

His co-defendant, Brazile Richardson, appeared in court in Washington, D.C., today.

The TOCRP reward program aims to disrupt global transnational crime and bring fugitives to justice. Those with information are urged to contact:

FBI: 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI): 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form

Tips can also be provided at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide. All identities will be kept strictly confidential, officials stressed.