Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-02-2026

Guyana, State of Roraima could see accelerated investments, trade

–– President Ali anticipates after being conferred with Order of Merit Fort São Joaquim

––– says Brazil’s leadership can help ensure developing nations are not relegated to margins of global trade

Plan for rollout of $100,000 cash grant to be announced after passage of budget –– PM Phillips says

Plan for rollout of $100,000 cash grant to be announced after passage of budget

–– PM Phillips says

By Naomi Parris

FUNDS have been set aside for the disbursement of the $100,000 cash grant, aimed at easing the cost of living and putting direct financial support into the hands of citizens aged 18 and over.

The allocation was passed by the Committee of Supply during the consideration of budget estimates on Monday night, following heavy scrutiny from the members of the parliamentary opposition on transparency and implementation of the initiative.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, told the parliamentary committee that the grant forms part of a wider package of measures under the “Putting People First” 2026 budget, which he described as being focused on “shared prosperity” for all citizens.

The government is cater-

ing for 716,261 people, all of whom are expected to receive the $100,000 payment once the budget is approved.

Eligibility is based on two criteria, being a Guyanese citizen, and being 18 years of age or older at the time of registration.

“The average Guyanese will know that we already went through an exercise where over 600,000 people are already registered, and we have, we have that… that record of the people already registered, obviously it will be updated, and then we’ll have to do an additional registration exercise to cater for some 14,000 there about Guyanese, who will likely qualify,” the Prime Minister said.

He further confirmed that over 600,000 people have already been registered from the previous exercise, and that this list will be checked,

ing the best way to ensure payments are fast, easy, and efficient.

He reiterated that the cash grant programme is complemented by a plethora of other measures to cushion Guyanese from the cost of living.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, last year, encouraged the public to open bank accounts in preparations of electronic transfers.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips along with his team during the consideration of estimates and expenditure on Monday night updated, and cleaned, to remove the names of the deceased and to add approximately 14,000 newly eligible citizens.

The Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Finance will begin detailed preparations for disbursement immediately after the 2026 budget is passed.

“We are feverishly working toward the passage of this budget, and to start the preparation to pay the people of Guyana including all the members of the opposition, to pay you the $100,000 that you deserve and you qualify for by simply being a citizen of Guyana 18 years and above, shared prosperity. We

promised that, we’re delivering on that,” Phillips said.

Questions were also raised about the method of distribution, particularly for public servants and others who receive salaries via bank transfer.

In response, the Prime Minister said the government had already been discuss -

He had highlighted then the government’s ongoing efforts to modernise public services. The President had noted that the entire system is being digitised to ensure efficiency and transparency in the distribution of benefits.

The government, in 2024, had announced the distribution of a $100,000 cash grant to every Guyanese aged 18 and older. This upcoming disbursement will be the second transfer under this initiative.

Guyana, State of Roraima could see accelerated investments, trade

--President Ali anticipates after being conferred with Order of Merit Fort São Joaquim --says Brazil’s leadership can help ensure developing nations are not relegated to margins of global trade

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to fostering closer ties with the State of Roraima, and by extension the Federative Republic of Brazil, during a one‑day visit to the neighbouring state, on Monday.

Along with bilateral discussions with the Governor of the State of Roraima, Antonio Denarium, and two Brazilian senators, the President was also conferred with the State of Roraima’s highest award—the Medalha Forte São Joaquim (Order of Merit Fort São Joaquim), in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima, Brazil.

During the engagement, President Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to fostering closer ties with Brazil and with Roraima, the closest state to Lethem.

“We are determined to work collaboratively to remove barriers to trade, improve connectivity, and create an enabling environment for private-sector engagement. In doing so, we are guided by the principle that economic co-operation must ultimately serve the well-being of our people.”

In accepting the award, the President said, “I see this as a singular honour, and one that I receive not merely in my personal capacity, but as

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, on behalf of the Government and people of our nation. I feel deeply honoured to join the lineage of persons to have been so invested.”

The President highlighted that the State of Roraima

is regarded as a vital frontier of economic potential, strategically positioned to serve as a bridge between northern Brazil, Guyana, and the wider Caribbean.

“Over the years, Roraima has demonstrated remarkable growth and de -

velopment, underpinned by vision, determination, and an openness to regional partnership. Infrastructure expansion, agricultural development, energy initiatives, and cross-border trade have all contributed to Roraima’s emergence as a dynamic and

forward-looking state.”

President Ali reminded his audience that Guyana is undergoing its own transformative development, which he said compels his government “to look outward to strengthen partnerships, deepen regional integration,

and to ensure that development benefits not only our people, but our neighbours as well.”

“It is therefore my firm expectation that the parallel growth trajectories of Guyana and Roraima will accelerate investment and trade across our shared border.”

He added that the possibilities for co-operation between the two countries in areas such as food security; improved transport and logistic linkages; enhanced energy collaboration and greater movement of goods, services, and people are significant.

The President also underscored Brazil’s important role in strengthening co-operation with Guyana and the Caribbean. He said that Brazil’s economic scale, technical expertise, and regional leadership make it a natural and indispensable partner in advancing South American–Caribbean integration.

“Brazil’s leadership can help ensure that developing nations are not relegated to the margins of global trade, but [are] empowered economically.”

The President added that as neighbours, it is the two countries’ duty to ensure the prosperity built benefits the peoples of both countries.

Electronic ID system to modernise public services

– no overlap with GECOM ID Cards

THE government’s proposed National Electronic Identification (e-ID) system will modernise access to public services while operating separately from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) identification card system.

During the consideration of the 2026 estimates, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, clarified that there is no duplication between the National e-ID and GECOM-issued ID cards.

The minister explained that the electronic ID card will eventually store multi-

ple forms of personal data, including medical records and other official documentation, allowing for more efficient service delivery.

“The National Electronic ID card… is one in which people’s data will be on it. It’ll be like in other countries, where you have all your data on it… your medical records, your driver’s licence,” the minister stated. She emphasised that the system will operate within the framework of the Data Protection Act, noting that a Commissioner of Data Protection has already been appointed to ensure safeguards are in

place.

Minister Teixeira highlighted that citizens without the electronic ID card will not be denied access to essential services, including healthcare and education, during the transition period.

Further, she noted that while persons may initially opt not to obtain the card, with time, it is expected to become a more convenient and widely used form of identification.

The e-ID initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise public administration and improve service delivery nationwide.

(DPI)

Mohameds’ extradition proceedings delayed again

–– adjourned to February 16 after defence says Nazar ill, hospitalised

EXTRADITION proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court involving U.S.-indicted Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and his son Azruddin, who is also indicted, were, on Monday, adjourned to February 16 after the older Mohamed reportedly fell ill.

Proceedings commenced with the duo’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon informing Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who is presiding over the matter, that while Azruddin was in attendance, the older Mohamed was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.

One of the prosecuting attorneys, Glenn Hanoman, had asked for the senior Mohamed to appear virtually should he still be unwell when the case is called again, but the duo’s attorney objected.

“I think the law allows for that…that is a very good solution if he needs to rest… I think that he can be accommodated like that by the court,” Hanoman told reporters in an invited comment outside the courtroom.

He said that documentation was provided to the court on Nazar’s condition.

Hanoman related: ‘The documentation doesn’t say that he is hospitalised, but we understand that he has worsened today, and we un-

derstand the circumstances…

We wish Nazar Mohamed well. We wish him a speedy recovery. These things happen.”

Hanoman said that extradition proceedings are “unique” and noted that in July 2024, preliminary inquiries (PIs) were abolished in Guyana, noting that such matters in the local courts are done by way of paper committal.

“Under the paper committal act, there is allowance for the absences of an accused person for the proceedings… previously during normal PIs, the accused had to be present because when depositions are taken, they have to witness it, they have to witness the person signing it,” he explained.

Hanoman noted, how -

ever, under the new provisions, if an accused is sick and grants consent, his or her lawyer can represent him/her for proceedings to continue.

The attorney-at-law said: “I don’t think the lawyer for Mr Mohamed may have been able to get his consent to appear for him today in his absence, but it may be helpful that lawyer request that consent in time for the next set proceedings.”

Previously, defence attorney Dhurjon had sought a postponement, citing the younger Mohamed’s participation in the National Assembly during the ongoing 2026 Budget debate.

That request was overruled by the magistrate, who declined the attempt to delay the proceedings.

Dhurjon had argued that

it would be oppressive for the younger Mohamed, who is the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood party and the Opposition Leader, to sit in parliament late into the night and attend court each morning.

However, the party’s leader had been noticeably absent for most of last week’s parliamentary sessions.

Notably, after making his contributions on the final day for the 2026 Budget debate last Friday, Mohamed was observed promptly exiting the House.

The Mohameds—owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise— remain on $150,000 bail each, have surrendered their passports, and must report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station as the extradition proceedings continue. They were taken into custody on October 31, 2025, following a U.S. request for their extradition.

U.S. prosecutors have accused the father and son of running an international criminal network with alleged links to high offices in Venezuela and the Middle East.

The pair face 11 criminal counts in the U.S. Southern District of Florida involving alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and customs violations tied to what authorities describe as a US$50 million gold- export and taxevasion scheme.

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned both men in June 2024 for alleged gold smuggling and public corruption.

Parliament cannot function when its rules are ignored Budget 2026 and the meaning of home

HOUSING policy is often reduced to numbers – allocations made, billions spent, targets promised. But at its core, housing is about dignity, stability and opportunity.

Budget 2026, as outlined in the National Assembly by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, places that human reality at the centre of national development and, in doing so, draws a clear contrast between performance and political theatre.

The $1.558 trillion national budget, the largest in Guyana’s history, signals more than fiscal ambition.

It reflects a deliberate choice to treat housing as a cornerstone of social transformation rather than a peripheral government programme.

Over the past five years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has shifted the housing sector from stagnation to momentum, from promises to measurable outcomes.

The record is difficult to ignore. More than 53,000 house lots have been

allocated, surpassing manifesto commitments.

One hundred housing areas have been established. Over 22,000 allocations were made to single women, while 86 per cent of all allocations went to low- and middle-income households. Thousands of titles were processed, informal settlements regularised, and families moved from uncertainty to ownership.

These are not abstract achievements. They translate into keys handed over, titles issued, and communities built with roads, drainage, lighting and access to services.

They represent teachers no longer renting, single parents gaining security, and young professionals investing in their futures.

Equally important is what Budget 2026 seeks to do next. With $7.5 billion allocated for new and expanded housing subsidies, the government is doubling down on construction support, home improvement assistance and the contin-

uation of core housing delivery.

New initiatives, such as the Yarrowkabra Homestead Project for female-headed households, signal innovation in how housing policy intersects with livelihoods and sustainability.

The Opposition, predictably, has sought to challenge both pace and quality.

Scrutiny is healthy in any democracy.

But it rings hollow when it comes from those whose own record shows limited delivery, minimal land acquisition and stalled schemes.

Five years of inaction cannot be erased by loud criticism. Guyanese remember the backlog, the delays and the absence of clear housing policy during that period.

What Budget 2026 underscores is a broader truth: oil revenues alone do not build homes. Vision does. Discipline does. Effective institutions and sustained political will do.

The government’s approach—mov-

ing beyond land distribution to a full housing ecosystem that includes financing, subsidies, infrastructure and tenure security—reflects an understanding of housing as nation-building.

With projected economic growth and expanding fiscal space, the urgency now is to maintain execution, transparency and quality as scale increases.

The promise to construct approximately 8,000 homes in 2026, expand infrastructure across multiple regions, and issue thousands of titles must be matched with continued accountability.

Still, the direction is clear. Housing under Budget 2026 is not framed as a privilege for the few, but as a right pursued for the many. In a country undergoing rapid economic change, that commitment matters.

Because in the end, development is not measured only in GDP growth or capital expenditure. It is measured in whether ordinary Guyanese can say, with certainty, that they have a place to call home.

Dear Editor,

IN any democracy, Parliament stands as the ultimate forum for debate, accountability, and national decision making.

It is where elected representatives are expected to demonstrate not only their intelligence and conviction, but also their discipline and respect for the rules that govern the chamber.

When those rules are openly disregarded, the damage goes far deeper than a moment of disorder—it erodes the credibility of the institution itself.

This is precisely why the conduct displayed by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed during the recent Budget Debate should concern every citizen.

The repeated violation of Standing Orders, particularly the well-established prohibition on reading prepared speeches during debates, was not a trivial procedural slip. It was a blatant defiance of the norms that preserve the quality and integrity of parliamentary discourse.

These rules exist for a reason. Parliamen-

tary debate was never meant to be a theatre of scripted monologues; it is supposed to showcase genuine understanding, critical engagement, and the ability to respond intelligently to opposing viewpoints.

When a member insists on reading from a prepared text—especially after being instructed by the Speaker to stop—they are not participating in a debate. They are merely performing.

More troubling was the Member’s continued disregard for the Speaker’s authority. In Westminster style systems like ours, the Speaker’s rulings are final.

They maintain order, uphold fairness, and ensure that Parliament functions as intended. Ignoring the Speaker is not simply rude—it is an attack on the very structure that allows Parliament to operate. Without respect for the Chair, the chamber descends into chaos.

That this behaviour occurred during the Budget Debate makes it even more concerning. The national budget is the most important annual exercise of governance.

It determines how resources will be allocated, how public services will be funded, and

what priorities will shape the country’s future.

Citizens deserve serious, substantive contributions from their representatives —not theatrics, not defiance, and certainly not the casual dismissal of rules designed to protect the integrity of the process.

It is worth considering the precedent such conduct sets. If one member can violate standing orders wi th impunity, what prevents others from doing likewise? Parliamentary disorder does not begin with a shouting match or a walkout—it begins with small acts of rule breaking that go unchallenged.

Today it may be reading a scripted speech; tomorrow it could be open refusal to comply with other procedural directives. A Parliament where rules are optional is a Parliament on unstable ground.

To be clear, vigorous disagreement is not only welcomed but essential in a functioning democracy. Passion in debate is healthy; dissent is necessary; scrutiny is indispensable. But none of these requires the abandonment of decorum or the disregard of established rules.

Democracy does not thrive on disorder. It thrives on discipline, respect, and the shared understanding that no Member—regardless of rank or role—is above the Standing Orders.

The recent incident by Azruddin Mohamed should therefore be a wakeup call. Parliament must reaffirm that its rules are not suggestions but obligations. Its Speaker must be respected, its procedures upheld, and its debates conducted with the seriousness the public deserves.

What happened during the Budget Debate was more than a moment of misbehaviour. It was a reminder that institutions are only as strong as the individuals entrusted to uphold them.

When MPs like Azruddin choose spectacle over substance and defiance over discipline, it is the public—and democracy itself—that ultimately pays the price. Parliament must do better.

And the country has every right to expect nothing less.

Yours respectfully, Mike Bhikam

Some people view politics through convenient lenses

I WAS looking at an interview David Hinds did on his show with Gerald Perreira as his guest. He told Gerald that at the airport, an East Indian man approached him and though the man admitted he was a PPP he told David he loves him. David went on to say how he meets Indian people who show appreciation for his politics.

The question is not the veracity of David; why should we doubt him? The pertinent question here is whether David accepts that just as Indians show appreciation for him, African Guyanese admire and love Indian leaders in the PPP. Does he accept that African Guyanese in discernible numbers approach Indian ministers and openly embrace them?

If Indian people could display mental comfort with David why then was David fuming when Priya Manickchand went into Tiger Bay? He got on his programme and told Minister Manickchand to get out of Tiger Bay and go into an Indian area to test her presidential ambition.

If David meets Indian people who admire him, then does he agree that there are substantial numbers of African Guyanese who love President Ali? He has to agree because the logic is simply compelling. Hinds then jumped into a vortex of contradictions when he put his next question to Gerald. He rejects the theory that African Guyanese voted for an Indian man - Azruddin Mohamed.

Here laid bare before the eyes of the nation is the convenient politics of those that criticise the government every minute of the

day. Hinds can tell Guyanese that Indians see him in a positive way, but he is not prepared to accept that African people chose two Indian leaders to vote for - President Ali and Mohamed.

My theory is that Mohamed is an ephemeral decimal. WIN will follow in the footstep of three famous men who entered politics, got an extensive welcome then faded – Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes. But whether we like or hate Mohamed, the political facts on September 1 were gargantuan – African people located in African areas voted for a rich Muslim, East Indian.

In theorising about Mohamed, we must keep in mind what Vice-President Jagdeo said – there were PNC supporters that didn’t want to vote for the PPP but they didn’t want to vote for the PNC either. Those African voters rejected an African woman – Amanza Walton-Desir; an African lawyer – Nigel Hughes; and a well-known African politician – Aubrey Norton. They gave 109,066 votes to a party dominated by an Indian man whose presence in his party took the form of a one-man show.

One can argue that African Guyanese chose WIN because it has some high-profile African names that have extensive credibility thus Mohamed was just another face. But WIN did not feature any huge African names in Guyana’s political economy and sociology that one can say was the reason why African people embraced WIN Roysdale Forde, Amanza Walton-Desir,

Bureau of Statistics continues census sensitisation at Amazonia Mall, Parika Market

THE Bureau of Statistics, on Saturday, continued its public sensitisation campaign at the Amazonia Mall in Providence and the Parika Market, as part of efforts to increase public awareness of the preliminary results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.

The outreach targeted a wide cross-section of the public, including shoppers, vendors and commuters, with officials engaging residents on the significance of the census findings and how the data affects national planning and development.

According to the Bureau, the engagements focused on explaining what the census results mean, why they are important, and how they inform decision-making in areas such as public services, infrastructure development and policy formulation across Guyana.

Officials emphasised that census data is a critical tool

for effective planning and policy-making and should be accessible and understood by all citizens, as it reflects the demographic and social realities of the population.

The Bureau of Statistics

Joe Harmon, Carl Greenidge, Winston Jordan, Former Police Chief and PNC Minister, Winston Felix, former GDF head, Gary Best, Volda Lawrence former security adviser to President Granger, Eddie Collins who once headed the arm, well-known PNC city lawyer, Darren Wade, and famous African Lindener Vaness Kissoon did not join WIN. The enduring African personalities in Guyanese politics and social world kept their distance from WIN.

Now it would have been a reasonable conclusion to make that African Guyanese dumped the PNC for a party that had some prodigious African minds. Because of those faces, the inescapable analysis was that African voters chose another African party than the PNC.

But WIN attracted no such talent. WIN had a very wealthy Indian man that WIN promoted and no one else. And even if WIN wanted to promote two other leaders there were none to promote. The definitive analysis is that traditional PNC aficionados or die-inthe wool PNC hardliners voted for an Indian

is expected to conclude its current series of public sensitisation activities this weekend, with outreaches planned for Giftland Mall and the Mon Repos Market.

The Bureau of Statistics, on Saturday, continued its public sensitisation campaign at the Amazonia Mall in Providence and the Parika Market, as part of efforts to increase public awareness of the preliminary results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census

Muslim man.

Why David Hinds cannot accept that is because on the other side of the coin lies African rejection of him.

Hinds, if he stays around to the 2030 election, will, continue to yell out from the rooftop that in voting for WIN on September 1, 2025, Africans did not choose for an Indian man.

The PNC leaders will go at bottom house meetings and tell the attendants that on September 1, 2025, Africans did not vote for an Indian man; they voted for a party named WIN and that was different from voting for an Indian man.

They cannot admit to the reality that hit them on September 1, 2025 because it would be an acknowledgement that they were rejected by African Guyanese in large numbers.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.

Budget 2026: Security firms hail removal of VAT, duty on security equipment

–– say planned measures will boost public safety, support homeowners, strengthen national security

By Shaniya Harding

IN an increasingly technology-driven world, security has become more critical than ever. For a rapidly developing country such as Guyana, the demand for effective and accessible security solutions is even greater.

Against this backdrop, leading security firms and equipment providers have welcomed the government's removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and duty on security equipment, a provision outlined in the National Budget 2026.

The measure seeks to eliminate VAT and duty on a range of security items, including surveillance cameras and alarm systems.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, heads of

leading security firms and equipment providers said the move would not only benefit their businesses, but also homeowners and the wider public.

Stakeholders described the move as a significant step towards sustainably developing and strengthening Guyana’s security sector.

Managing Director of Professional Guard Service, Sean Kirkpatrick, said the proposal is a major positive for the sector, noting the ripple effect it would have. With companies able to source equipment at a lower cost, homeowners and small-scale businesses would gain access to more affordable security options. He also pointed to the wider implications for national security, noting that in recent years, several police cases

have been solved with the assistance of security camera footage.

“In recent times, you can see technology has improved quite a few of the police cases. They were able to use cameras to track down and to target criminal elements,” he said. “I can only imagine it would cause better communication, better tracking of such, it would be a great improvement to the industry as a whole and the citizens of the country.”

Kirkpatrick also highlighted the growing importance of household security, particularly as more Guyanese leave home daily for work.

With many single parents and dual-income households, houses are often left unattended for long periods, creating opportunities for criminal activity.

“Whether it is a single

parent or a double parent, people have to work. The home is left abandoned and then the criminals take advantage of that situation,” he explained.

Describing the timing as ideal, Kirkpatrick encouraged citizens to take advantage of the shift, adding, “I truly feel it is an improvement and everyone should take advantage of the situation, get yourself an alarm system or cameras. Whether it is a standalone system where you monitor it yourself or it is a system where you have a company monitoring it.”

Echoing similar sentiments was Chief Executive Officer of Nextech Inc., Rehman Majeed. The IT company, which also specialises in security equipment, is a major supplier to both homeowners and businesses.

Roshan Khan of RK’s Guyana Security Services, described the move as long anticipated and deeply welcomed by the industry.

Majeed said the initiative would have its greatest impact on small-scale users, with affordable security cameras serving as both a deterrent and a critical tool in crime detection. “I think it is a welcome initiative. The reason why is we all know that in the last couple of years, if we were to look at their social media, you would have seen countless of videos for traffic offences and crime,” he said.

According to Majeed, the removal of VAT and duty would expand access to alarm systems and cameras, allowing households to adopt preventative security measures while also supporting law-enforcement efforts. “The waiver of the VAT and the duties will ensure households have an opportunity to install security cameras, especially alarm systems, as a deterrence and also as preventative measures, number one. And two, it will enable them to help to solve crime and to solve issues in terms of traffic offences,” he added.

With the sector continuing to expand, Majeed said the policy could make it possible for nearly every household in Guyana to afford at least one form of security equipment. “I think with this kind of cost saving and duties and VAT removal, every household in Guyana can afford at least one security component.” He also pointed to the growing availability of “do-it-yourself” (DIY) cameras as a safe and affordable option for homeowners.

Founder of one of Guyana’s oldest security firms,

Reflecting on decades of advocacy, Khan said the concession fulfils a longheld aspiration among security professionals. “It was always my dream and the dream of colleagues that existed before me who are no longer around and colleagues which came after me that we would enjoy some form of benefit from the Government of Guyana in the form of duty-free concessions,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the administration, Khan added, “This removal of duty and VAT from security equipment will make it very easy for people to protect themselves in all forms, whether it is alarm systems, cameras and radios, security equipment, handcuffs, whistles, specialised batons, sprays, tear gas, and those kinds of things.”

Khan further emphasised the broader national implications, noting that as development accelerates across the country, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, the demand for security has grown alongside it. “Security is very much needed, whether it is body security with the equipment that they need, their specialised batons, their spraying tear gases, their electronic equipment, electronic alarms that you can carry on your body, communication system, the radio system to communicate in any part of the country.”

Industry stakeholders agree that beyond easing costs, the proposed VAT and duty removal signals a broader recognition of security as a national priority.

As Guyana continues its rapid transformation, the measure is expected to empower citizens, strengthen crime-fighting efforts and support a safer environment for homes, businesses and communities across Guyana.

‘Gold Board’ commences operations at Puruni Landing

–– following President Ali’s outreach

THE Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has officially commenced operations at Puruni Landing, Region Seven, marking a key follow-up initiative to President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent engagement with miners in the interior.

The move also marks part of the government’s broader push to strengthen compliance, accessibility and formal participation in the gold sector.

According to a public notice issued by the Board, the new operations are being rolled out in collaboration with the Guyana Geology

and Mines Commission (GGMC) and represent a sig nificant step toward expand ing essential mining services to hinterland communities, where access to official gold purchasing and testing facil ities has traditionally been limited.

The establishment of a permanent GGB presence in Puruni is expected to im prove access to secure gold transactions, official valu ation services, and proper documentation, while also providing advisory support to miners on procedures, re quirements, and compliance obligations.

This will strengthen in stitutional support for miners and stakeholders operating across the Region Seven mining district.

Through the new office, miners will be able to access a range of services including gold purchasing and transac tions, certified gold testing and valuation, issuance of receipts and official docu mentation and administra tive support related to GGB requirements.

The office will operate Monday to Friday from 08:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs and on Satur days from 09:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs, remaining closed on

New lands to be available soon for residential, agricultural purposes

–– as GL&SC gets provisions for extensive survey programme

FUNDING earmarked in Budget 2026 for the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&CS) will be channelled toward surveying thousands of acres of new lands to support the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) expanding housing drive as well as open new lands for agriculture.

During the considera tion of the budget estimates in the Committee of Sup ply on Monday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, said the commission has an extensive programme of cadastral and occupational surveys aimed at opening up thousands of acres of land for agricultural and residential use.

The 2026 allocation in cludes over $200 million to allow precise levelling and a series of cadastral sur veys. The work will estab lish national vertical controls and regularise land parcels across multiple regions.

The programme tar gets roughly 4,000 acres for subdivision into a mix of five‑acre, 2.5‑acre, 10‑acre and smaller plots. Notable sites named in the plan include Wauna

and Sugar Hill in Region One; Golden Fleece in Region Two; Loo Creek Region Four; and several inland areas earmarked for small‑scale agriculture and homesteads.

Some projects will create large tracts for agricultural development for example, a terrestrial survey of 1,075 acres intended to yield a combination of 12‑acre and 2.5‑acre plots while oth ers focus on resolving dis crepancies between plan records and on‑the‑ground boundaries in established settlements.

Minister Teixeira em phasised that the surveys are intended to formalise land tenure, and support both farming expansion and residential needs. Questions were raised during the ses sion about whether any of the newly surveyed land has already been leased to which Teixeira replied that the sur veys are preparatory steps prior to allocation.

For 2026 alone, the government has allocated $159.1 billion for housing development. With these resources, the government plans to distribute 8,000 house lots and issue at least 7,000 certificates of title, allowing thousands

Sundays and public holidays. Officials said the pres ence of the Board in Pu runi is designed to ensure miners benefit from secure, transparent, and regulated transactions, including accu

rate weighing using certified equipment, standardised pu rity testing, and confidential processing of sales.

The initiative also sup ports compliance with an ti money laundering and counter-financing of terror ism (AML/CFT) require ments while ensuring accu rate recording of taxes and royalties.

The opening of the of fice complements the gov ernment’s wider strategy to formalise mining operations, improve declaration levels, and reduce the need for min

ers to travel long distances to conduct transactions, thereby enhancing safety, efficiency, and financial inclusion within interior mining communities.

The expansion of GGB services to Puruni follows President Ali’s recent visit to the area, during which he announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening regulation, improving access to banking services and supporting the long-term development of small and medium-scale miners across the hinterland.

of families to receive legal ownership documents for their properties.

“Imagine presenting 7,000 Guyanese families with legal titles—trans forming them into land owners and homeowners in their own right,” Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had told the Assembly during the presentation of the government’s fiscal plan to the House.

The housing push builds on years of heavy state investment in resi dential infrastructure, in cluding road networks, drainage, water supply, and electricity in areas such as Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Felicity, Great Diamond, Amelia’s Ward and other expanding com munities.

To improve efficien cy and reduce delays, the government has already introduced a single win dow approval system for building applications and has digitised several pre viously manual processes within the housing sector. Beyond the construction of homes, the 2026 programme places strong emphasis on improving the quality of life in existing communities.

Georgetown Toastmasters Club sharpens public speaking, leadership skills

THE Toastmasters Club is an internationally recognised organisation that helps persons to practise the skills they need to communicate with confidence and excellence and to advance their careers, mentor others, and learn how to present well.

In Guyana, there are a total of 13 Toastmasters Clubs, each based in Georgetown with some options to attend meetings online, according to the Toastmasters International’s website.

Speaking recently with this publication were Vice President Bindya Deokaran, who is responsible for public relations and Vice-President Bernadette Giddings who handles the education aspect of the Georgetown Toastmasters Club’s (GTC) operations. The GTC is the oldest Toastmasters Club in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The GTC was founded by Derek Adamson, and the first official public meeting was held in Georgetown on March 18, 1959.

The Toastmasters Club was described as a club that is mainly focused on public speaking and developing leadership and communication skills. More than this, the club is comparable to a family or community where a common goal is shared: improving public speaking.

Both Deokaran and Giddings emphasised that they joined the club because it allowed them to improve their leadership and communication skills, have a structured base in terms of the way they speak, and build confidence in them-

selves as it relates to speaking and communicating clearly.

The Georgetown Toastmasters Club has a total of 29 active members representing a wide age range from young adults to more mature professionals.

According to Toastmaster Deokaran, the Georgetown Toastmasters Club is a non-discriminatory club that is more than opened to having anyone, including persons living with disabilities, becoming members.

Meetings are held every Monday from 18:00hrs to 20:00hrs at the Red Cross Building in Georgetown. Interested individuals are free to attend as guests. After visiting approximately three times, persons may formally express interest in membership, after which the Vice President of Membership guides them through the induction process.

Underscoring the Georgetown Toastmasters Club’s achievements last year, the duo said they successfully hosted several contests including the Ewart Adams debate, Impromptu Speech, Evaluations Speech and International Speech, where the winners of each category moved on to representing the club at the area contest.

Additionally, the club hosted a fitness walk, raising over one hundred thousand dollars to support the club’s activities and inducted eight new members.

The club was able to meet the Distinguished Club Programme (DCP) Award under Toastmasters

International. This is said to be the highest recognition at the club level for clubs that provide an outstanding member experience, which includes completing educational goals and achieving significant milestones.

This year, the Toastmaster International included a new level of DCP Award “Smedley Distinguished Award”, and the Georgetown Toastmasters Club intends to make every effort to achieve this award by June 2026.

In March, the club will be celebrating its 67th anniversary, which will be commemorated with a church service, brunch, media engagements and membership outreaches.

At present, the two Toastmasters revealed that the GTC is preparing for an upcoming debate competition, a speech-ah-ton and the Annual dinner and award ceremony before the end of the Toastmaster year in June 2026. At the award ceremony, members will be recognised for their outstanding contribution and performance during the toastmaster year and the new executive will be installed.

The Georgetown Toastmasters Club is one that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators, and leaders, and is committed to providing a supportive and positive learning experience, where members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, which result in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

First Lady’s Office to continue transformational, social development work

--with allocation of $50M, additional $34.3M to be acquired through fundraising efforts

PICKING up from the aggressive drive to physically transform and beautify spaces across Guyana, and foster social development, the Office of the First Lady will be continuing these efforts this year with an allocation of $50 million in Budget 2026 along with an additional $34.3 million set to be acquired through fundraising activities.

Addressing the Committee of Supply on Monday during the consideration of the estimates for Budget 2026, Minister Teixeira said that the total 2026 programme budget amounts to $79.3 million, with $50 million allocated for projects and programmes leaving a shortfall of $34.3 million.

The minister said this gap is expected to be bridged through fundraising events hosted by the First Lady, Arya Ali, including dinners and other activities designed to supplement the government’s subvention.

Among some of the specific projects for this year is the “adopt an orphanage” initiative, with a budget of $5.5 million. A range of children’s homes and orphanages are set to benefit.

These institutions will receive support aimed at

improving care and services for children in institutional settings. Minister Teixeira also highlighted that the menstrual hygiene initiative, launched more than two years ago, will continue in 2026. In addition, workshops on sexual and reproductive health are being rolled out in various communities, with $3 million allocated. The combined allocation for this component is $15.2 million, covering both product distribution and education.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

A key segment of the 2026 programme targets persons with disabilities, under an inclusivity initiative that provides counselling, guidance, and skills training. Counselling services will be administered through the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, with 100 persons expected to benefit from guidance and skills support. A further 120 persons with disabilities are to be trained at the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation at the Empower Guyana building in Palmyra, Berbice. Training will be delivered in partnership with institutions including the Carnegie

School of Home Economics, the Board of Industrial Training, the Small Business Bureau, and private instructors.

The project also provides assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and canes, along with other support to improve independence and quality of life.

NATIONAL BEAUTIFICATION AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Another major line item is the National Beautification Project, which has $35 million assigned in the 2026 budget. This covers this construction and upgrading of children’s parks and public parks, installation of play sets and bins, general improvement of public recreational spaces. Parks already under construction or planned include facilities at Okum Beach, Leguan (Region Three), Bath Settlement and Bush Lot (Region Five), Number 63 Beach (Region Six), Kato (Region Eight), and Wismar and Spikeland in Linden (Region Ten).

In addition, the project will extend financial assistance to vulnerable Guyanese, through the provision of backpacks, school supplies, children’s toys and hampers.

SAC welcomes enhanced co-operation between Belize, Guyana

THE Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) has congratulated the Governments of Belize and The Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the reaffirmation of their longstanding friendship, and shared Caribbean values through the conclusion of a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening co-operation across key areas of mutual interest such as tourism, education, defence and security, and agriculture.

The MoUs were signed during President Dr Irfaan Ali’s three-day state visit to Belize, that concluded on Tuesday, February 03, 2026.

In the area of agriculture, the two sister CARICOM nations agreed to collaborate deliberately to achieve their shared ambition to feed

CARICOM by capitalising on the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) that provides this legal framework for free movement of goods within CARICOM. Touching on the sugar sector, Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceno said, “Belize and Guyana would provide guaranteed supplies of the sweetener to the rest of the region. As governments, we will assure the private sector that we will work diligently to ensure that CARICOM is an assured market for Belizean and Guyanese producers of refined sugar.”

“One may recall, that through a joint venture Santander Sugar Limited and Sucro Limited are building a new cane sugar refinery, Caribbean Sugar Refinery (CSR), at Santander’s current sugar mill in Western Belize,” SAC said.

President Ali visited both Belize Sugar Industries Ltd (BSI) and Santander Sugar Limited during his stay in Belize.

SAC said it views the partnership between the two nations, as another crucial step toward fulfilling the objective of the regional integration of sugar within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), while helping CARICOM to meet its food security goals and also achieve the 25 percent by 25 food import reduction initiative that has been extended to 2030.

New digital platform, youth cloud database part of PYAC’s 2026 agenda

GWI continues work to bolster supply of potable water along ECD corridor

OVER the weekend, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, along with members of the technical team visited the well site at Melanie Damishana on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where drilling is underway to supplement the intake at the new Bachelor’s Adventure Water Treatment Plant.

The borehole, according to GWI, has been drilled to approximately 1,000 feet and completed, while the conductor casing has already been installed. Well drilling is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.

The Bachelor’s Adventure Water Treatment Plant is slated for commissioning soon and forms part of GWI’s ongoing efforts to expand treated water coverage, improve reliability, and enhance service delivery to customers. These investments, GWI said, reflect its commitment to sustainable water solutions and will ensure communities have access to a safe and reliable water supply.

is

PLANS to roll out virtual academic lessons and healthy living and nutrition campaigns will headline the work programme of the President’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC) in 2026, after some $75 million was approved by the Committee of Supply, on Monday.

A digital youth engagement platform and a national youth cloud database will also be established this year, according to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, as she defended the allocation during the consideration of the estimates and expenditure. The allocation mirrors the amount approved

last year. Minister Teixeira said the council’s spending reflected prudent financial management.

The council had significantly reduced operational costs by utilising government facilities, including schools and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), instead of renting private spaces. She disclosed that $15.9 million was spent on stipends for the council’s 29 members, each receiving $20,000 per month.

Additional spending included $2.5 million in grants to support agriculture-related initiatives in schools.

A further $13.9 million has been earmarked for sti-

pends under the current allocation.

Minister Teixeira said the council’s work has focused on institutional building, policy engagement and national youth consultations.

Another key area of progress has been collaboration with ministries responsible for education, health, culture, youth and sport, as well as the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, to ensure youth priorities are integrated into national programmes.

Young people interested in joining the PYAC can contact the Office of the President or email pyac. gy@gmail.com. (DPI)

Revised list of electors published for public scrutiny

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has published the Revised List of Electors (RLE) for a 21-day public scrutiny period, allowing citizens to verify the accuracy of their registration information.

According to a press release issued on Monday, the RLE took effect on February 7 and will remain available for inspection at designated locations across all registration divisions nationwide, as well as online via GECOM’s official website.

GECOM stated that the initiative is intended to give stakeholders sufficient opportunity to review and confirm their registration records.

The Commission explained that the list “has [been] published…for 21 days…to provide all stakeholders with the opportunity to check the list for the accuracy of their respective registration records.”

The RLE is being displayed at two prominent locations within each reg -

The Commission is encouraging all eligible persons and registered electors to participate in the process to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the Official List of Electors (News Room photo)

istration division, ensuring broad public access.

Citizens who recently participated in the Claims and Objections exercise are particularly encouraged to verify their information and raise any discrepancies with the relevant Registration Officer responsible for their area of residence. The Commission also reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency throughout the electoral registration process, noting that all registration ac-

tivities are conducted in strict adherence to legal provisions and are subject to scrutiny by representatives of parliamentary political parties.

GECOM stressed that public participation in the verification process is critical to ensuring the integrity and credibility of the electoral system ahead of upcoming electoral activities. The list could be found at: https://www.gecom.org. gy/public/home/lists/plejan2026 .

RCG continues to execute impactful community projects, activities for children

ROTARACT Clubs bring people together to exchange ideas, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service. In Guyana there are several of these clubs that fall under the internationally recognised brand.

What many don’t know, is that Rotaract stands for “Rotary in Action” and is a global Rotary International sponsored organisation for youths 18 years and older, with a focus on community service, leadership development, and professional skills.

Rotaract members work together to take action through service and are part of a non-profit organisation which has volunteerism at its core.

The Rotaract Club of Georgetown (RCG) is one of six Rotaract Clubs in Guyana that offers this unique opportunity to Guyanese youths.

RCG is the oldest Rotaract Club in Guyana and celebrated its 40th anniversary on July 1, 2025.

Recently the Rotaract Club’s President, Kimberly

Manbodh, alongside immediate Past-President, Liam Wong, and Vice-President Marissa Ramroop, highlighted the club’s role in creating impact, and opportunities for youth empowerment and development.

They each stated that the Rotaract Club is an outgoing organisation that is action-based, with a focus on not just giving back to the community but also encouraging professional growth and leadership among its members.

The RCG is part of District 730, with a total of 17 other countries, which allows members here to connect with, and learn about other cultures and countries, and build relationships and partnerships with persons outside of Guyana. Manbodh provided some details about the requirements needed to join Rotaract. Along with being over 18 years old, she explained that “To join, you’re usually referred or hosted by a Rotaractor of that club, or it can be a past member who asked someone to host you on

their behalf and then you’re invited to a club meeting.

Now, we have two types of meetings monthly, which are our business meeting, which is the first Saturday of every month, and our fellowship meeting, which is the third Saturday of every month.”

“So, that person of interest or that guest would be hosted by a Rotaractor in the club and their journey starts there,” Manbodh said.

She disclosed that there

is a criterion that leads to membership, where interested persons have to complete various tasks such as attending a particular number of meetings, participating in club projects and initiatives, and attending meetings and projects of other Rotaract and Rotary Clubs. As it relates to creating impact, the trio said that in community service, one of the impactful projects undertaken was a back-to-school project in

June last year, which saw them adopting a classroom at the Bel Air Primary School, and completely renovating it.

Wong recalled that with permission from the Ministry of Education, RCG was able to remove or replace all the furniture in the classroom, and would have also installed new teaching aids, cleared unwanted debris and obstructions in the classroom, updated bookshelves, installed a lunch kit rack, and made the classroom more modernised.

The teacher’s desk was also replaced, making the classroom more comfortable and conducive to learning.

It was described as one of the RCG’s best projects thus far in the Rotary Year, which begins in June and ends in July of the following year.

Another project mentioned was Beyond Borders: Indigenous Realities, a project led by RCG and the University of Guyana Indigenous Society, where they visited St. Cuthbert’s Mission, and engaged in a cultural exchange, learning about their storytelling, their art, and how they have youth engagement.

In aid of Breast Cancer Awareness last October, they

hosted a fundraising activity called, “Cakes for A Cause”. There, survivors of cancer were encouraged to share their stories and experiences in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The RCG’s focus for this Rotaract year was to directly impact communities through various flagship projects, with the hope of measuring more impact versus outcome.

With this in mind, during Christmas, they hosted a Christmas party for the children in the Sophia Literacy Programme, the RCG’s longest standing community service projects in over 23 years, and visited orphanages around Region Four to spread Christmas cheer and joy. Coming up, RCG does intend to continue making an impact, and is set to launch a Water Sanitation Project which aims to provide a community, resident, or family with tools to help others in their community to access running water for their farms and help them produce food for their families.

To learn more about the impact the club is making, persons can follow the RCG on Facebook and Instagram.

GECOM gets funding for LGE

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has received funds from Budget 2026 for Local Government Elections (LGE).

This was revealed during the consideration of the budget estimates in the Committee of Supply, on Monday.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira told the Committee of Supply that the Commission’s programme is split between election operations and administration, with budget allocations covering transport, printing of materials, training of polling staff and payments for scrutineers.

Opposition members,

--to fill crucial vacancies

during the session, questioned the absence of key senior personnel, including the positions of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) and Assistant Chief Elections Officer (ACEO).

In response, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Texeira, confirmed the salary scales for the vacant posts, noting that the Deputy Chief Elections Officer carries a monthly basic salary of $1,320,274, while the Assistant Chief Elections Officer attracts a monthly salary of $943,585.

Further questions were asked about other se -

nior-level vacancies at the commission. It was disclosed by Texeira that additional vacant positions include Legal Officer, Information Technology Manager, Research Officer, Security Manager and Chief Accountant.

The minister, while further responding to questions from opposition parliamentarians, noted that materials purchased last year have been carried over, narrowing the apparent funding gap when opposition MPs pressed for clarity on whether funding is sufficient for the more numerous and logistically demanding

LGE compared with general elections.

“The actual programme in the GECOM is two programmes: one that deals with elections, one that deals with more administration. So, they’ve catered for what you call transportation, printing materials, training of the staff that works on election day, as well as the payment of scrutineers, etc... So, that’s all included in the budget,” she said adding: “So, although it’s slightly less, it’s not a huge gap. When you look at the cost for the general elections versus the local government and in a num-

ber of heads, which you haven’t asked questions about, they bought materials last year that can roll over into this year.”

The sum of $6.9 billion has been approved for GECOM.

Last month, GECOM announced job opportunities for temporary trainers as part of preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections.

According to a public announcement by GECOM, the successful candidates will work under the supervision of the Chief Election Officer and will be responsible for developing training curricula, delivering instructional sessions to election staff, assessing par-

ticipants, and maintaining accurate training records.

The role will also require travel to rural and hinterland regions, including overnight stays, to facilitate training activities.

Applicants must meet one of three qualification criteria: a degree in education or a relevant discipline with at least two years’ experience; a diploma in education or a related field with three years’ experience; or a trained teacher’s certificate or relevant tertiary qualification with a minimum of five years’ experience.

All qualifications must be obtained from the University of Guyana or another recognised and reputable institution.

Safeguards in place to ensure vulnerable groups benefit from MoM —Minister Teixeira

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira said on Monday that strict inspections and investigations are carried out to ensure only people who genuinely need help benefit from the Men on Mission (MoM) housing initiative.

On the first day of the consideration of the estimates and expenditure for Budget 2026, Minister Teixeira explained that the $900 million earmarked for the initiative this year will help more elderly persons, single parents, and men involved in the programme.

Potential cases are first flagged by MoM, then screened and verified to ensure applicants meet the criteria.

The minister stressed that the MoM housing support operates separately from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) programme, and does not target persons already in the CHPA system.

“These are not persons captured under the CH&PA application process,” she told the Committee of Supply. She explained that CH&PA

records are checked to prevent any duplication of benefits, and further verification is done to confirm land

Approximately 645 police officers being considered for promotion in 2026

THE Police Service Commission (PSC) is considering the promotion of as many as 645 police officers this year, though the figure may change depending on retirements and officers leaving the force.

The update was provided by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira while responding to questions from Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Hal-

ley during the ongoing consideration of the 2026 budget estimates in the Committee of Supply.

Minister Teixeira also pointed to the need for new appointments to the PSC to fill vacancies created by the deaths of two members, late Chairman Bishop Patrick Findlay and Attorney-at-Law Mark Conway, who died in November 2024. (NCN)

ownership where necessary.

The MoM initiative was launched in 2022 by President Dr

and

and encourage them to become positive agents of change within their communities.

Some of the exercises included workshops, community meetings and efforts to improve living conditions through better housing.

The broader mandate of the MoM initiative includes tackling gender-based violence and working with young men.

While domestic violence remains a concern, Minister Teixeira said there is now less tolerance for abuse, as reflected on social media and the judiciary’s handling of cases.

She added that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security collects data and indicators on domestic and sexual violence, while the Office of the President, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security continue to support MoM-related initiatives. (DPI)

Markram, Ngidi fashion South Africa's...

a strong vigil in the company of Harsh Thaker, with the duo managing a partnership of 69 for the fifth wicket. Such was the equation, however, that the asking rate continued to mount steeply despite Dhaliwal and Thak-

er's best efforts to not throw the towel in too early. It was Ngidi who returned to break that vigil, bagging his fourth wicket in the form of Thaker shortly after which Dhaliwal raised his half-century. A double-strike from

(From page 22)

Marco Jansen landed further dents in an already lost cause though, with Canada just going through the motions thereafter.

Dhaliwal eventually fell off the first ball of the final over as Corbin Bosch got on the board. The all-rounder played his part to perfection with returns of 1/27, with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also doing a neat job of his own to cap off a massive win for the 2024 finalists. (Cricbuzz)

Tough outing for GCC women at Canadian...

3-2. OKD’s Rebecca Carvalho scored in the 16th and Elly Peters scored in the 20th minute as they went into the half up 2-0

On the resumption GCC mounted a solid comeback with goals from Abosaide Cadogan and Sarah Klautky in the 25th and 32nd minutes to leave the scores level.

However, a late goal from Peters sealed the contest for OKD and handed GCC a tough loss to end their campaign winless.

On Saturday when they first took to the court they came up against heavy favourites Toros, who are the multiple-times defending champions, losing 5-0

They trailed 2-0 at the half and despite putting in a stronger showing in the second half they made some costly errors at the death.

The local team’s inexperience against quality sides was telling as they succumbed to pressure, easily conceding three goals in the dying minutes of the encounter after a competitive showing.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS

AYR

09:35 hrs Burning It Up

10:05 hrs Ballymackie

10:35 hrs Green Angel

11:05 hrs Dance Thief

11:35 hrs Biglesisback

12:05 hrs Cowboy Cooper

12:35 hrs Goulmichette

LINGFIELD

08:48 hrs Elemts Of Fire

09:18 hrs Profit Street

09:48 hrs Fidelius

10:18 hrs First Encounter

10:48 hrs Angelica K

11:18 hrs Dark Sun

11:48 hrs Wyld Bill

12:18 hrs Take The Boat

NEWCASTLE

12:45 hrs Wicksey

13:15 hrs Sweet Princess

13:45 hrs Merpati Sejoli

14:15 hrs Francesi

In their second match-up against the Legacy Stars, they went up 1-0 in the first half, and showed resolve to compete, but were edged in the final moments 2-1.

They maintained the lead right up to the fourth and final quarter before a lapse by one of their defenders caused them a penalty, which Stars converted to level the score.

Legacy Stars then won

14:45 hrs Auntie Jo

15:15 hrs Phoenix Of Dreams

15:45 hrs Esque Elegance

IRISH RACING TIPS

LIMERICK

09:55 hrs Cafe Con Leche

10:25 hrs Without Exception

10:55 hrs Saveforarainyday

11:25 hrs Arslan

11:55 hrs Big Dee

12:25 hrs Lenjoleur De Palma

12:55 hrs Gillane

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

MAHONING VALLEY

Race 1 Lomachenko

Race 2 Fast Talkin Man

Race 3 Take Charge

Candy

Race 4 Game Boy

Benny

Race 5 Pittsburgh

Race 6 Harbour Bridge

Race 7 Morethanreadyeddie

Race 8 Goshen

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday, February 10, 2026)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 20 teams

(2) ENG, Italy, Nepal & Scotland

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who are the defending Men’s T20 World Cup Champions?

(2) Whom did they defeat in the final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

(From page 22)

another penalty on the final play of the game as the referee blew off the game, but hockey rules dictate that the team that won the penalty must have a chance to score if it happens before the end of regulation time.

Legacy took their chance and they again executed to perfection to edge the contest 2-1 and snatch a win over the GCC women.

Scottie Barnes does it all as Raptors roll Pacers

SCOTTIE Barnes scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the decisive third quarter and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 122-104 on Sunday afternoon.

Barnes also led everyone with 14 rebounds and four blocked shots to help the Raptors sweep the fourgame season series from the Pacers. After trailing by two at halftime, Toronto took over the game with a 44-26 advantage in the third quarter.

RJ Barrett contributed 20 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 17 points for the Raptors, who have won three of four on their five-game homestand. Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley each scored 13 points. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his Raptors debut.

Pascal Siakam scored 18 points for the Pacers, who have lost four straight. Jay Huff added 15 points, Jarace Walker provided 13 points, Ben Sheppard scored 12 and T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard each notched 10.

Toronto led 21-20 after one quarter, but lost starting center Collin Murray-Boyles when he aggravated a left thumb injury. He had two points and one blocked shot

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli handed Grade 'B' central contracts

VIRAT Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been handed 'Grade B' central contracts in BCCI's retainer list for the 2025-26 season, announced on Monday.

As reported by Cricbuzz already, the 'A+' category of contract has been done away with for the season, with Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah handed the top Grade A contract.

For the Women's team, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma are the four players in Grade A for India women.

BCCI Annual Retainership Contracts

India Men

Iyer

before leaving for good with 3:47 left in the first quarter. Jackson-Davis, obtained in a trade with the Golden State Warriors, entered the game in the second quarter and immediately got a steal and assisted on Barnes' running layup.

Siakam's layup gave the Pacers a six-point lead with 2:06 to play in the second quarter and they led 48-46 at halftime.

Toronto solved Indiana's defence by getting out in transition and scored the first eight points of the third quarter. Barnes led the Raptors' charge and his rebound was followed by a running two-handed dunk to boost

the lead to 13 with 6:53 to play. Quickley padded the margin to 19 with two consecutive 3-pointers.

Indiana's Johnny Furphy collapsed after his dunk with 2:57 left in the third quarter cut Toronto's lead to 80-68. He was helped off the court before being taken to the dressing room in a wheelchair with what the team said was right-leg soreness.

Toronto led 90-74 after three quarters.

The lead reached 21 when Jackson-Davis converted a free throw with 7:58 to go in the fourth quarter. The Pacers never got closer than 16 the rest of the way. (Reuters)

Crowd rallies President’s College to victory over Queen’s College in schools

Basketball League

IT was a sea of purple as President’s College (PC) defended home turf on Sunday when they hosted table leaders Queen’s College (QC) at their school compound in the coaches-led Schools Basketball League

QC took the lead after the first quarter 16-12, but the PC squad put in a better showing in the second quarter leaving the game poised at the half 20-20.

PC then stepped on the gas in the third quarter to take the lead 33-26 as the partisan crowd roared in the background

However the visitors silenced the PC supporters with an offensive master class in the fourth period

to almost snatch a win as they pushed them to the edge.

PC did enough in defence to escape with the 1 point victory.

Meanwhile, In other matches over the weekend, St Rose’s and Goevernment Technical Institute (GTI) played out a 72-72 tie at St Rose’s School compound In what is being dubbed the best game in the inaugural staging of the league.

Host, St Rose’s started hot with a 19-10 lead at the end of the first quarter but GTI found their groove to pull back the lead by the break 30-35

The third quarter was closer with St Rose’s maintaining the lead before an

impressive fourth quarter where GTI outscored the host 20-14 to tie the scores

However bad light had the final say as the game ended in a tie.

Over at Burnham Hard Court, St Stanislaus College thrashed Marian Academy 50-31. Ralson Pollard dominated play with 23 points with Demitri Crandon dropping 13 points as they led for all four quarters 7-1, 11-9, 17-10 and 15-11 to win it by 19 points

Lucas Pinol was Marian Academy’s best offensive player with 16 points for his team but they will have to bounce back after a tough outing.

Grade A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja

Grade B: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas

Grade C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad

India Women

Grade A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana,

Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma

Grade B: Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana

Grade C: Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis. (Cricbuzz)

India-Pakistan T20 World Cup fixture to go ahead...

by Pakistan's efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish," he added.

Sri Lanka, whose president also spoke with Mr Sharif about the situation on Monday, had also asked Pakistan to play.

They are set to benefit from ticket sales and an influx of spectators for the match.

The ICC's statement also confirmed Bangladesh will not be sanctioned for their boycott.

The sport's governing body also said Bangladesh will host an ICC event between 2028 and the start of the 2031 World Cup.

There were no details on what event Bangladesh

(From back page)

would host.

All men's events have been confirmed up until 2031, with Bangladesh already scheduled to co-host the 2031 World Cup with India.

The hosts of women's tournaments have been chosen up to 2027, while the ICC also holds Under-19 World Cups.

Pakistan's matches had already been scheduled in Sri Lanka under an agreement signed with India last year, which meant the two countries will play at neutral venues when they meet at ICC events amid heightened political tensions.

Recent escalations were sparked after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in April 2025 following a deadly militant

attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.

Even before that, India had refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy and had their matches moved to the United Arab Emirates - a point of contention in the latest debate after Bangladesh's request was rejected.

When the two sides met at the Asia Cup last year, India's players refused to shake hands with their opponents.

Both India and Pakistan won their opening matches at the World Cup over the weekend.

Pakistan play their second match today in Colombo against the United States. India play Namibia in Delhi on Thursday. (BBC Sport)

Muzarabani and company bounce Oman out in hostile bowling display

SPIN might have been the winning mantra for teams heading into Colombo ahead of the start of this T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe, however, had other ideas as their seamers shared nine of the ten Oman wickets to fall, setting up a facile win at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Monday.

Having opted to field first, Zimbabwe unleashed its pace battery in all its glory as the troika of Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans wreaked havoc on a hapless Oman batting unit.

Muzarabani got the new ball to seam around sharply, castling skipper Jatinder Singh with a beautiful in-ducker before Ngarava

followed suit with the wicket of Hammad Mirza, who tried an uncharacteristic heave across the line, only to hand wicket-keeper Brendan Taylor a regulation catch. It was a sign of things to come as Oman's trial against the short ball was not a fond one. They tried attacking their way out of it, only to bring the catchers into play.

Muzarabani made merry with a double-whammy in the fourth over as Aamer Kaleem and Karan Sonavale both perished in quick succession. Oman found themselves at 24 for 4 by the end of the PowerPlay but matters worsened as Sikandar Raza soon cleaned up Wasim Ali. A recovery ensued in the form of a 42-run stand between Sufyan Mehmood and

Munsey, Leask lead

Vinayak Shukla - the latter taking a particular liking to the spin of Brian Bennett, peeling off a hat-trick of boundaries in the 12th over.

Raza wisely turned to his pacers again and Ngarava broke the stand - once again off a short ball. The extra bounce brought about Shukla's undoing as he attempted a dab which found a diving Taylor behind the stumps. Jiten Ramanandi came and went in the very same over, heaving a short delivery to Dion Myers at mid-wicket. In response, Tadiwanashe Marumani began in positive fashion, striking four consecutive boundaries off left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmad as he duly cashed in on a favourable match-up. There was a brief hiccup,

Scotland to big win over Italy

ITALY suffered a crushing 73-run loss to Scotland in their first ever T20 World Cup game. More worryingly, they were without skipper Wayne Madsen who left the field and did not take further part in the game after dislocating his left shoulder. The incident occurred in the fourth over of the game when Madsen fell awkwardly while attempting a diving stop. Italy will eagerly await news on Madsen's availability for the remainder of the tournament.

Asked to bat first, George Munsey dominated the PowerPlay, benefitting from a couple of streaky edges to begin with before finding his groove. While Munsey struck as many as eight fours inside the PowerPlay, his partner Michael Jones was happy to play second fiddle and hand the strike back. Italy's woes only compounded when they lost Madsen and further still when Anthony Mosca dropped Munsey off the last delivery of the PowerPlay.

Munsey continued his assault, bringing up fifty off just 30 balls with a six in the eighth over. The opening stand continued to flourish with Jones chipping in with a couple of boundaries as well. The 126run stand finally ended in the 14th over when Munsey was

caught at long-on off Grant Stewart's bowling. Jones, who was just beginning to kick on, departed in the following over. The wickets did little to slow Scotland, as Brandon McMullen began by smacking two sixes off Crishan Kalugamage. The over set the tone for the remainder of the death overs and, despite a tight 19th over from Hasan Ali where he conceded just four runs while picking up a wicket, Scotland finished strongly on 207/4 after the final over went for 22 runs.

Italy's chase began poorly after Justin Mosca was caught off the very first delivery. JJ Smuts provided impetus in the third over by smacking Brad Wheal for three sixes and a four but he fell to Brad Currie in the very next over. Anthony Mosca's dismissal in the fifth over left Italy three-down ear-

ly while a four and a six from Harry Manenti lifted them to 54/3 after the PowerPlay.

A 73-run partnership between the Manenti brothers helped Italy consolidate through the middle overs, with Ben pushing on to reach a 29ball fifty in the 14th over. They struck six fours and four sixes between them to keep Azzurri in the contest but the innings unravelled quickly when they fell in successive overs.

Michael Leask added two further scalps in the 15th over to register figures of 4/17 while sending Italy spiralling. With Madsen unavailable to bat, the game ended when Thomas Draca and Ali Hasan were dismissed in the 17th and 18th over respectively. All nine Italian batters were out caught with Munsey taking four of them. (Cricbuzz)

however, as Sufyan struck off his first ball to remove Marumani, who fell to a sharp Wasim catch at backward point.

Two deliveries later, Myers got a faint inside edge as he looked to push the ball through the off-side. It was duly detected by wicket-keeper Shukla, who egged his captain on for an inspired review that suddenly threw a spanner into Zimbabwe's works.

Bennett and veteran Taylor took matters into their hands, however, even as the latter found himself in all sorts against left-arm tweaker Nadeem Khan. The two batters played their percentages well, wisely turning the strike over while finding the odd boundary. A 15-run 11th

over sent down by Nadeem completely shut the door on any remote possibility of an Oman comeback as Bennett led the charge.

Having completed the chase with 39 deliveries to spare, Zimbabwe has also given their net run-rate a

solid early boost with stiffer challenges against tournament favorites Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka looming. For a team that missed the bus for the 2024 edition, this was as good a statement win as it could have gotten. (Cricbuzz)

Markram, Ngidi fashion South Africa's handsome win

A DOMINANT all-round performance defined South Africa's handsome 57-run win in their T20 World Cup opener against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday (February 9). The win was set up by captain Aiden Markram's flamboyant 59, before Lungi Ngidi did the star turn with the ball, returning figures of 4 for 31.

South Africa lost the toss but that was just about the only thing that didn't go their way. On a batting-friendly deck in Ahmedabad, Markram made hay, unleashing aesthetic strokes archetypal of his game. Quinton de Kock was surprisingly more sedate by his usual standards, even receiving a reprieve on five as Ansh Patel put down a fairly straightforward chance at short third-man. The southpaw then pounced on the left-arm spin of Saad Bin Zafar, although it was Markram who drove the initiative in the PowerPlay, with 66 runs coming in that phase for South Africa.

De Kock fell to his old nemesis - right-arm off-spin - as opposition skipper Dilpreet Bajwa castled him. Ryan Rickelton batted with a great sense of fluency, however, carrying the innings

forward with Markram, who notched up a half-century at his end. A 17-run 11th over only signalled a huge total with Rickelton and Markram blowing Saad out of the water.

That's when a mini-wobble followed as Markram fell to an outstanding leaping catch by Dilon Heyliger by the long-on fence, post which Rickelton and Dewald Brevis fell in quick succession. Leggie Ansh accounted for each of these wickets, just leaving the door slightly ajar for Canada to mount a fightback.

That wasn't to be the case, however, as Tristan Stubbs and David Miller stabilised the innings before going all out in attack in the death overs. A whopping 47 runs came off the last three overs as Stubbs tore into Jaskarandeep Singh,

who bore the brunt of this onslaught. Three maximums were scored in the final over, powering South Africa to the highest total yet of this T20 World Cup of 213 for 4. Canada's chase could not have got off to a worse start as Bajwa departed first ball having withdrawn his bat too late despite looking to let it go, edging it to wicket-keeper de Kock. Ngidi, who struck gold off the first delivery, made merry in the third over with his hard lengths, sending both Yuvraj Samra and Nicholas Kirton back in the same over to leave the Canadians in disarray. Kagiso Rabada then flattened Shreyas Movva's off stump shortly after as Canada lost a fourth wicket inside the PowerPlay. Navneet Dhaliwal put up

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West Indies charting new path forward, says Hope

KOLKATA, India, (CMC )– THE West Indies’ unimpressive form in 2026 will not be a determining factor in how far they go in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, says captain Shai Hope.

The regional side began their quest for an unprecedented third T20 World Cup title with a comfortable 35-run victory over Scotland at Eden Garden on Saturday, thanks mainly to outstanding performances from Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd.

It was just their third T20I win in eight matches for the year – counting their warmup match against Afghanistan – following bilateral series losses to Afghanistan and South Africa last month.

Tough

The results followed a 3-1 T20I series defeat to New Zealand in December.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, Hope admitted that while the Windies had not been in the best of form lately, he said the team was intent on turning their fortunes around at the World Cup.

“That is my focus here today. We started the tournament; this is a World Cup we’re playing. Yes, you have to look at what happened in the past, but our main focus was to start the tournament well and continue the momentum for as long as we can and see how deep we can go in the tournament and hopefully, at the end we can lift the trophy again similarly to what the guys did back in 2016. “We can’t hide from the

outing for GCC women at Canadian Indoor Hockey Classic

THE GCC women’s hockey team had a tough campaign in the Ladies Super Division of the Canadian Indoor Classic hockey competition against some of the best teams from Canada and the USA on Sunday at Rim Park, Waterloo, in Canada.

The GCC women’s hockey side first had to contend with the Dolphins Hockey Club and after a bruising battle, they finished with a 3-3 draw

It was Abosaide Cadogan who gave them the lead in the eighth minute of the encounter before a goal from Sarah Klautky doubled the advantage for the Guyanese women.

Dolphins Juliet Redelaar pulled back the lead in the 24th minute before Cadogan came back in the third quarter with her second to make it 3-1.

truth. We haven’t had the success that we would have

liked in the last few bilateral series, but again, the main focus is here on this World Cup. Put the past in the past and let’s make sure that we do the business here in India,” Hope said.

The West Indies captured their second T20 World Cup title at Kolkata back in 2016 when they defeated England by four wickets in a thrilling contest.

Hope said playing their opening match of the competition at that same venue and having the experience of head coach Daren Sammy and players Johnson Charles and Jason Holder, who were all part of that 2016 winning team, gave them a boost against Scotland.

“If we were placed at a different venue the same

mindset would have applied, the same plans, maybe slightly different depending on the type of surfaces that you’re playing on.

“But we have a few members in our squad who have been a part of that; from coach to a couple players in Johnson Charles and Jason Holder, so that does instill some extra confidence in the dressing room and a bit of experience as well,” Hope said.

“Being in that position, knowing what it feels like to lift the trophy, just trying to share that amongst the group, I’m sure the guys are really ready to go, but it’s a good feeling to have two guys who’ve been there and done that in a sense.”

JBA pushing to host 2027 FIBA Qualifiers despite financial challenges

When they played OKD, they narrowly went down

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However, the local ladies defence faltered in the dying minutes to see Dolphins coming back to score twice in the fourth quarter in the 37th and 40th minutes off the sticks off Redelaar and Jordyn Macdonald to force a tie 3-3.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – THE Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) is pressing ahead with efforts to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

The national senior men’s basketball team, The JamRockers, continue their quest to secure World Cup qualification for the first time when they take on Bahamas on February 26 and Canada on March 1 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Group B action in Americas

Qualifiers.

According to the Jamaica Observer, the JABA has not yet secured the full $44 million required to host the Qualifiers, but are in advanced talks to have the funding in place ahead of the two fixtures.

Jamaica was forced to forego hosting duties in November in their opening game against Puerto Rico following an unsuccessful inspection two months prior by world governing body, FIBA.

The two potential venues, the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston and the Montego Bay Convention in St James, did not meet mandatory standards, including the absence of an internationally approved scoreboard and upgraded basketball hoops.

It meant that Jamaica had to play their first two games in San Juan but ended up winning both games against the Puerto Ricans, 92-90 and 97-92 to move joint top of the group.

India and Pakistan matches have been played at previous World Cups despite ongoing political tensions

PAKISTAN'S fixture against India at the T20 World Cup is set to go ahead as scheduled on Sunday after the Pakistan government ended its order for a boycott.

The match, the biggest and most lucrative in cricket which is due to be played in Sri Lanka, has been in doubt since the government in Islamabad advised its team not to take the field against their long-time rivals last week.

Prime Minister Shehbaz

Sharif said that decision was made to "support" Bangladesh, who had a request for their matches to be moved out of India rejected. They subsequently pulled out of the tournament.

But, after a week-long stand-off and statements from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh board (BCB), the Pakistan government directed the team to take the field in a statement released on Monday evening.

India-Pakistan T20 World Cup fixture to go ahead as government ends boycott request

"This decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations," it said.

What next in Pakistan-India controversy as ICC confirm forfeit stance? Had the match not been played there could have been long-term consequences for cricket.

The absence of the fixture could have led to disputes over the ICC's current

Golden Jaguars Under-17 falter as Honduras take

command of Group H

GUYANA’S chances of qualifying for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, to be staged later this year, nosedived, after the Golden Jaguars Under-17 went down to hosts Honduras 4-2 at the Estadio Francisco Morazán Stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Sunday night in their Group H fixture.

Milton Moya handed Honduras the lead in the 18th minute, with a rocket from outside the box. Guyana however rebounded with strikes from Matthew Stewart in the 23rd and 32nd minutes to take a 2-1 lead

That lead was however short-lived as Eduardo Romero slotted the ball at the right-bottom corner in the 38th minute to level the match for Honduras.

Los Catrachos reclaimed the lead in the 68th minute through a header from Denzel Arzu, before Josue Ortega rounded out the result in the 79th.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in a Facebook post, described the youngsters’ performance as “a brave and determined performance from our young Golden Jaguars on the international stage.

“These young men fought with heart, represented the Golden Arrowhead with pride, and continue to gain invaluable experience at this level. The journey continues, the lessons are learned, and the future remains bright. Proud of the effort. Proud of the badge. Proud of the future.”

The Golden Jaguars entered the game

Matthew Stewart scored for Golden Jaguars in the 23rd and 32nd minutes

needing a victory to ensure qualification for the World Cup following their 1-0 victory over Bermuda at the same venue last Friday night.

Honduras and Bermuda will contest the final game of the three-team group on Wednesday at the same venue. A win for the hosts will ensure an automatic qualification to the FIFA World Cup. Should Bermuda win, they also have an outside chance of advancing based on goal difference.

The group was reduced to three teams following the late withdrawal of Suriname.

rights deals and continued uncertainty would have likely impacted future agreements, with some big-money current TV deals in Asia set to run out after the 2027 World Cup.

Many of the smaller cricketing nations rely on the money distributed by the ICC, so any cut in revenue would likely hit such countries hardest.

"The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement

with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and co-operation," the ICC said.

"In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men's T20

World Cup is a success."

Earlier on Monday evening, Bangladesh requested that Pakistan play the match, opening the door for the resolution.

That followed talks between officials at the PCB, the ICC and the BCB in Lahore on Sunday. BCB president Ameenul Islam requested the match go ahead "for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem."

"We are deeply moved

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Lawes named in Under-19

Team of the Tournament

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (CMC) – WEST Indies’ left-arm spinner, Vitel Lawes, was rewarded for his impressive performance in the recently concluded ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup by being named in the Team of the Tournament.

The 18-year-old Jamaican, the only West Indian in the 12-member team, grabbed 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 22 before their exit at the Super Six phase.

His best showing came in their opening match against Tanzania, when he took 3-23 from his six overs to help his side to a five-wicket win.

Lawes was also the West Indies’ best bowler in the following match against Afghanistan, snaring 3-48 from his 10 overs.

And in their opening match of the Super Sixes against Ireland, Lawes produced a decent all-around performance, scoring an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls

and claiming two crucial wickets.

Meanwhile, batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, was among three Indians named in the team, which also included three players from England and two players from Afghanistan.

England’s Thomas Rew, who scored 330 runs at an average of exactly 66, was named captain.

ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup Team of the

Tournament: Thomas Rew (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India), Viran Chamuditha (Sri Lanka), Faisal Khan Shinozada (Afghanistan), Oliver Peake (Australia), Ben Mayes (England), Kanishk Chouhan (India), Nooristani Omarzai (Afghanistan), Vitel Lawes (West Indies), Ali Raza (Pakistan), Manny Lumsden (England), Henil Patel (India).