Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13-07-2026

Guyana story now a global story

––– President Ali says, underscores growing investor interest reflects confidence in country’s future

CARICOM pushes regional plan to lower cost of living

–– PM Mottley outlines coordinated measures to cut freight, fuel, food costs –– leaders say ferry initiative, shared policies aimed at easing inflation

Transparency policy to be implemented at East Ruimveldt Market rebuilding site

–– contractor details, project costs, timelines, scope of works to be publicly displayed

–– says government to enhance oversight with digital-compliance system Oil firms face stricter scrutiny as Guyana strengthens local-content monitoring – Bharrat

Transparency policy to be implemented at East Ruimveldt Market rebuilding site

–– contractor details, project costs, timelines, scope of works to be publicly displayed

THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has begun implementing its transparency policy for public infrastructural projects, with details on contractors, project costs, timelines and the scope of works to be displayed at construction sites.

This will allow residents to monitor progress and hold those responsible for delayed or substandard works accountable.

This step was announced on Saturday during the sod-turning ceremony for the $528.3 million reconstruction of the East Ruimveldt Market, where Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, said communities should have a greater role in monitoring projects taking place in their neighbourhoods.

The initiative, officially developed just a few weeks ago, forms part of the ministry’s wider effort to improve accountability while ensuring contractors deliver projects on time and within the provided budget.

Addressing the contractors awarded the East Ruimveldt Market project, Minister Manickchand said they had secured the contracts after committing to complete the works at an agreed cost and within an agreed timeframe.

She stressed that the government expects those commitments to be honoured, noting that failure to do so would not only breach contractual obligations but also disappoint the community that stands to benefit from the investment.

“You bid for these projects, and you said you could do this at this cost in this time. And if you fail, you would be disappointing an entire community and breaching your contract,” she said.

The minister argued that Guyana must move away from what she described as a culture of accepting repeated delays and cost overruns on public projects. She said contractors are fully aware of factors that could impact the pace of their work before submitting bids and should

therefore plan accordingly.

According to Manickchand, the ministry intends to set a new standard by expecting contractors to meet their obligations without relying on routine requests for extensions. “We have developed almost a culture in the country where contractors believe they can ask for more time. They can tell you the weather was bad. When you bid, you knew it is rain and the sun is shining. You knew daytime is from six o’clock to five o’clock and that nighttime comes. You know all of this before you bid. So, the culture of asking for extensions or going over your cost has to stop,” she said.

To support this shift, the ministry will publicly display project information at construction sites so resi -

dents, vendors, members of the media and other stakeholders can follow the progress of works.

The notices will identify the contractors responsible for each section of a project, outline the scope of work and indicate the expected completion dates, allowing communities to hold those involved accountable. “These details will be posted in this marketplace for everybody to know who has which lot, who’s doing what, what time it should be done,” she said adding, “There is responsibility here in this, our first market in this ministry under my leadership, I think you can help us demonstrate what we’re capable of as a country.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith,

who grew up in the East Ruimveldt area, described the market as more than a commercial space, saying it has served generations of vendors, families and small businesses throughout the community.

He said the rebuilding of the market, together with the reconstruction of the East Ruimveldt Community Centre, represents a significant investment in improving the lives of residents. Griffith also echoed the call for contractors to deliver the project to the highest standard. “It is important that we invite the contractors here,” he said noting, “We, myself, my colleagues, we will be ensuring that nothing, but the best is given to this market and to the residents and citizens of East Ruimveldt because they deserve nothing less.”

Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Stephen Jacobs, said the decision to publicly display project information highlights the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability while ensuring residents understand exactly how public funds are being spent.

He noted that vendors and residents had repeatedly raised concerns over the condition of the market and said the rebuilding of the market responds directly to those longstanding complaints.

Minister Jacobs added that ministers will continue engaging the community throughout construction while closely monitoring the contractors’ performance. “It’s very important in making sure that every citizen here understands the project, understands the amount of money that is being expended on the project, and also have an opportunity to see the contractors. Because we’re very, very open to accountability as government, and we want you to see everything,” he said.

He added, “Contractors, we are holding you to the fire. Strict timelines, make sure that you are efficient [and] you continue to keep the quality, so that the persons here can benefit, and we can continue to stimulate economic activities in this community.”

Guyana story now a global story

––– President Ali says, underscores growing investor interest reflects confidence in country’s

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali recently said that Guyana has moved from being a country with untapped potential to one that is now attracting global attention, with investors and international stakeholders increasingly seeking opportunities in the country’s rapidly expanding economy.

Addressing members of the Guyanese diaspora in St Lucia on the sidelines of the 51st Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), President Ali said the level of interest Guyana is receiving internationally demonstrates that the country’s development trajectory has captured the attention of the world.

“The Guyana story is a story that is global now. Everyone now knows the Guyana story,” President Ali told the gathering.

He said during his engagements overseas, requests for meetings from investors and national stakeholders have become increasingly frequent, adding that the growing interest is driven by the opportunities being created through Guyana’s transformation.

“Coming here, the requests for meetings by investors, the requests for meetings by the national stakeholders, they are numerous, and there must be a reason why this is so,” the President said.

According to Dr Ali, the reason is clear as Guyana is experiencing a period of advancement that is creating opportunities not only for its citizens, but also for investors and countries across the region.

He said the pace of development taking place across Guyana has resulted in vis-

ible changes throughout the country, pointing to shifts in infrastructure, communities and the composition of the population.

“If you go on Regent Street, if you go in Berbice, if you go into Linden, you

President Ali extends condolences following death of former Qatari leader

THE following is the full text of a statement issued by Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday:

“I extend my deepest condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, the members of the Al Thani family, and the people of Qatar on the passing of his beloved father, His Highness Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The passing of a parent is one of life’s greatest sorrows. While the world remembers the late Father Amir for his visionary leadership, remarkable statesmanship, and his immense contribution to the develop-

ment of modern Qatar, his family mourns the loss of a beloved father, cherished patriarch, and source of wisdom, love, and guidance.

On behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, and on my own behalf, I offer my heartfelt sympathies during this time of profound grief.

May Almighty Allah grant the late Father Amir His infinite mercy and admit him into the highest ranks of Jannah, and may He grant His Highness, the Al Thani family, and the people of Qatar strength, patience, and comfort in the days ahead.”

will notice not only a different Guyana from an infrastructure perspective, but you will also notice a different Guyana from language, you will notice a different Guyana from the look of people, you will notice a different Guyana from the composition of the population,” he said.

The President noted that the speed of development has also created new demands, particularly for labour, as the country’s current workforce is unable to meet all the requirements generated by expanding economic activity.

“Today we are an importer of workers,” he said.

Against this backdrop, Dr Ali explained that the scale of development requires additional capacity beyond Guyana’s natural labour force.

Further to this, President Ali said technology must

future

therefore become a key partner in maintaining the country’s growth momentum, noting that government is pursuing digital transformation to improve efficiency and public service delivery.

The President said Guyana is also working to position itself as a world-class hub in several areas, including healthcare, energy, environmental services and food security.

In healthcare, he pointed to the improvements made through investments in regional hospitals, the push towards digital records and even telemedicine.

Meanwhile, he said the government’s investments are aimed at creating opportunities beyond Guyana’s borders, thus providing further benefits to citizens in the diaspora and the Caribbean region as a whole.

Venezuela quakes have killed 4,333, injured 16,740

THE death toll from the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,333, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez told reporters on Saturday, announcing that the distribution of housing to those affected will begin soon.

Meanwhile, 315 of the dead have not yet been ⁠identified, the official said.

The official tally of the injured remained unchanged at 16,740, while 6,462 people have been rescued, and about 17,000 have been left homeless.

Rodriguez said acting President Delcy Rodriguez will allocate the first 200 homes to those affected next week, but did not give

any more details. Rodriguez also said that 856 ⁠buildings were affected, of which 190 either collapsed completely or suffered structural collapse.

According to the government’s preliminary estimates, 25,000 homes are needed. Authorities have already identified around 40 ⁠plots of land, totaling about 584,000 square meters, for housing projects in Osma and Chuspa. Rodriguez said search operations ⁠are continuing, saying, “As long as there is life, there is hope. We still have one or two ⁠sites where the situation remains uncertain, active sites where we are searching for survivors.”

–– National Assembly president says

Three die in separate accidents

THREE men are now dead after they were involved in separate accidents that occurred in Georgetown and on the West Coast of Demerara, as concerns about the irresponsible use of the country’s roads continue to grow.

According to the police, an accident at the corners of Camp and New Market Streets claimed the life of a 39-year-old motorcyclist. That accident occurred around 03:05hrs, and involved motorcar #PNN 832, driven by a 28-year-old female of South Cummingsburg, Georgetown; motorcycle #CS 441, driven by Gladwin Dorway, a 39-year-old male of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and motorcycle #CP 7083, driven by a 27-year-old male of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

“Initial enquiries revealed that the motorcar

was proceeding east along New Market Street and, upon approaching Camp Street, allegedly failed to stop at the stop sign before entering the intersection, where it collided with motorcycle #CP 7083. The impact subsequently caused motorcycle #CS 441, which was also proceeding north along Camp Street, to collide with the right front side of the motorcar.

“As a result of the collision, both motorcyclists were flung onto the roadway and sustained injuries about their bodies. They were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where Gladwin Dorway was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

“The other motorcyclist remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation receiving medical treatment,” a police press state-

ment said.

CCTV cameras were seen in the area, and will be reviewed. A breathalyser test conducted on the driver of the motorcar returned readings of 0.25 micrograms and 0.21 micrograms.

The driver of the motorcar is presently in police custody assisting with investigations, the police said.

Another fatal accident occurred at about 18:48hrs on De Kinderen Public Road, West Coast Demerara, involving motorcar #PSS 3141, driven by a 20-year-old male of Boeraserie, West Coast Demerara and pedestrian Kempton Forrester, 36, of De Kinderen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.

“Initial enquiries revealed that the motorcar was exiting a supermarket parking lot and entering De Kinderen Public Road

when it collided with the pedestrian, who was reportedly crossing the roadway from south to north.

“As a result of the collision, the pedestrian sustained injuries about his head and body. He was taken by the driver to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital, where he was receiving medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.

“The body was escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination,” the police said, adding that CCTV cameras were seen in the area and will be reviewed.

Then, earlier on Saturday, at about 05:00 hrs, Kevin London was involved in a collision with another car at the intersection of Macaw Road and Lamaha Street, Georgetown and later died.

Police said that London, a 38-year-old male of Guyhoc Park Gardens, Georgetown, and driver of motorcar #PAF 3925 and a 27-yearold Police Corporal of Rosignol, West Coast Berbice and driver of motorcar #PAE 8323 driven failed to stop at the intersection resulting in a collision.

“Initial enquiries revealed that motor car #PAE 8323 was proceeding north along Macaw Road while motor car #PAF 3925 was proceeding west along Lamaha Street. As both vehicles approached the intersection, it is alleged that both drivers failed to stop before proceeding into the junction, where the front portion of motorcar #PAE 8323 collided with the left centre portion of motorcar #PAF 3925.

“As a result of the collision, Kevin London sustained injuries about his body and was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, while receiving medical treatment.

The body is presently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

CCTV cameras were seen in the area and were reviewed. A breathalyser test conducted on the driver of motorcar #PAE 8323 found no trace of alcohol in his breath, the police said.

The driver is presently under close arrest assisting with investigations.

Growing The Herd

cattle just got another very literal vote of confidence.

The first shipment of 300 pregnant heifers recently touched down from Brazil, marking the start of the government’s 1,000head national herd-expansion programme aimed at increasing the country’s cattle population and boosting beef and dairy production.

It’s a small, almost quaint image, but it says something large about where this government continues to make strategic investments.

Because this shipment doesn’t stand alone. It’s one-line item in what has become the most sustained agricultural build-out in Guyana’s recent history.

Since returning to office in 2020, the government has allocated billions of dollars

towards drainage and irrigation, farm-tomarket roads, support for rice, livestock, aquaculture, corn and soya production, and incentives for farmers across the country.

That is a budget line, repeated year after year, that shows up as new canals, new roads, and now new cattle.

The drainage and irrigation piece matters most, because Guyana’s farmers don’t just compete with markets, they compete with the Atlantic. Much of the country’s arable land sits below sea level, and a bad wet season can wipe out a rice crop faster than any price shock.

That’s why the flood-mitigation and climate-smart agriculture push deserves as much attention as the heifers themselves: modernised drainage networks, sea defences, and farm-access roads are the difference

between a farmer riding out a storm and losing a season’s income to one.

This is agricultural policy built for a country that floods, not agricultural policy imported from somewhere that doesn’t.

The heifer programme fits neatly into that same logic. Guyana is already largely self-sufficient in pork, mutton, beef, and milk, but self-sufficiency isn’t the ceiling, it’s the floor. Growing the national herd by a thousand head, using proven Brazilian genetics, is a direct bet on scaling up dairy and beef production rather than simply maintaining it.

Pair that with the Livestock Development Authority’s push towards artificial insemination and better breeding practices on smaller farms, and you get an agricultural sector that’s modernisng at both ends, big government-backed herd imports at the top,

None of this means the job is finished. Farmers still deal with input costs, market access abroad, and the occasional storm that outruns even the best drainage system.

But the direction is the right one: invest in the physical infrastructure that protects crops, invest in the livestock base that diversifies income, and keep the money flowing in successive budgets rather than as one-off announcements.

A country that imports pregnant heifers is a country planning for the herd it wants in five years, not just the output it needs this season.

That’s the kind of patience agricultural policy usually lacks, and Guyana, for now, seems to have it.

Oil firms face stricter scrutiny as Guyana strengthens local-content monitoring – Bharrat

–– says government to enhance oversight with digital compliance system

THE government is moving to further strengthen oversight of Guyana’s local-content framework through increased monitoring and the introduction of a digital compliance system, as it seeks to ensure oil companies and their contractors continue to meet their obligations under the country’s legislation.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat made this position known during an appearance on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast on Saturday, when he disclosed that the Local Content Secretariat has expanded its capacity and is intensifying its oversight of companies operating in the petroleum sector, while plans are underway to digitise the monitoring process.

“We’re even working to strengthen the system,” Bharrat said, adding, “At some point in time every-

thing will be digitised because that is the direction in which the President is heading. This local-content system will undergo that transformation too, to make it easier in terms of monitoring these companies and ensuring that they are following the legislation.”

The minister explained that beyond the mandatory reports companies are required to submit under the Local Content Act, the secretariat conducts regular field inspections to verify compliance.

According to Bharrat, the head of the Local Content Secretariat leads weekly visits to companies to examine records, engage Guyanese employees and assess training programmes, while also gathering feedback from private-sector organisations and business chambers on the effectiveness of the legislation.

“This is besides the re-

porting because the reporting has to be done by law, but going and doing physical checks is very important,” he said.

The minister noted that oil companies are also required to submit annual

work programmes detailing their planned activities, including the number of Guyanese they intend to train, the value of local goods and services they expect to procure, and their projected local-content targets.

These are measured against half-yearly and annual reports submitted to the secretariat.

The minister said the strengthened oversight has given government confidence that the legislation is delivering tangible results.

“We are satisfied that there are 7,000 Guyanese who are working directly in the oil and gas sector,” he said.

He went on to add that graduates of the Port Mourant Training Centre are now securing employment aboard Guyana’s floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels.

Bharrat also maintained that Guyana’s Local Content Act has exceeded expectations despite early criticism that it would discourage foreign investment.

Instead, he said, the legislation has encouraged international companies to partner with Guyanese

businesses, even in areas not currently covered under Schedule One of the Act, in anticipation of future expansion.

“We have proved them wrong,” the minister said, while noting that foreign investors are increasingly seeking local partners rather than waiting for additional services to be added to the legislation.

He pointed to the growing participation of Guyanese businesses in transportation, catering, accommodation, legal, accounting and agricultural services supporting the offshore petroleum industry.

Against this backdrop, Bharrat also praised ExxonMobil’s approach to compliance, describing the company as a responsible partner that recognises the importance of adhering to Guyana’s laws and ensuring its contractors do the same.

Aspiring mechanical engineer earns place at Abram Zuil Secondary

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD

Ethan Dyer of Bethany, Supenaam Creek, is celebrating a major milestone after securing 475.17 marks at the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), earning himself a coveted place at Abram Zuil Secondary School.

The Bethany Primary School pupil, who hopes to one day become a mechanical engineer, credits discipline, faith and the support of his family for helping him achieve success.

According to Ethan, each day leading up to the examinations began with morning devotion, which helped set the tone for his studies and daily activities.

“My mother would use this period to pray for me and encourage me to always do my best,” he shared.

Reading also played a significant role in Ethan’s preparation. While many children his age enjoy

11-year-old Ethan Dyer will be heading to the Abram Zuil Secondary School when the new school year begins

spending hours gaming, Ethan found himself drawn to books and the exciting stories they offered.

“Reading plays an important role in my life.

and his grandmother

Often, I prefer reading to gaming because of the interesting stories,” he said.

Beyond academics, Ethan maintained an active lifestyle. He enjoyed riding

his bicycle up the hill to school each day, an activity that helped him balance his studies and physical exercise.

Having achieved his goal of earning a place at Abram Zuil Secondary School, Ethan is already looking ahead to the future. Inspired by a passion for how things work, the young scholar hopes to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer.

As he reflects on his journey, Ethan is encouraging future NGSA candidates to strike a healthy balance between studying and relaxation.

“Take the time to revise, but also make time to relax and play,” he advised. Ethan’s accomplishment has brought pride to his family, school, and the Amerindian community of Bethany, serving as an inspiration to other young pupils striving to achieve their dreams.

Farraginous complaints about a farm

THE Usual Suspects, the Lunatic Fringe, the Mulatto Creole class have launched a truckload of complaints against the private farm of President Ali. These are comically farraginous accusations that it is difficult to understand who is saying what, and who is speaking for whom. Who are they and where are they coming from? First there is the watching kiskasdee which is the reincarnation of the Stabroek News. The kiskadee noted:

“There are innumerable intersections and conflicts between his role as President and his desire to simultaneously have a private farm. How all of that is disentangled now has to be deliberated on by the executive, Parliament, and civil society.”

Please note the adjective, “innumerable.” What are these numerous crisscrossing about a 70 acre farm the President of Guyana has? I suspect that they are the usual propagandistic outcries that go like

this – how much he spent on it, how much was the loan he took out, where did the loan come from? I suspect this is what the kiskadee means by “innumerable intersections.” What makes these questions innumerable intersections?

Then the kiskadee goes into the plural again by using conflicts in the plural. The kiskadee says there are conflicts between President Ali’s office and ownership of his farm. Where are the conflicts? Please note the plural. Are prime ministers and presidents in conflict when they have private businesses?

Then the kiskadee says this farm thing has to be deliberated upon by civil society. But who or what the kiskadee means by civil society? Who are the civil society people that have to deliberate on the President’s farm? Does the list include the Private Sector Commission, FITUG, the Dharmic Sabha, the Indian Arrival Committee etc or the people to pronounce judgement on the President’s farm is the kiskadee himself, and his sidekick- the Guyana Human Rights Association?

The kiskadee says in its final words of last Sunday’s editorial (yesterday) that the country watches. Again, the question should be asked, who is the country? Does it include the hundreds of thousands that voted for President Ali? The kiskadee wants a Commission of Inquiry. So does Christopher Ram.

This is the same Ram that wrote a letter stating that not since Rodney has there been someone to excite people as Azruddin Mohamed. But Ram and the kiskadee never advocated a Commission of Inquiry into Mohamed’s activities when he decided to enter politics. The question is, is it comical to advocate a Commission of Inquiry into the President’s farm for which at the moment there is no paper trail of wrong-doing but not a commission into Mohamed’s sordid affairs?

It was the Stabroek News when it was alive that published an editorial that openly claimed that Mohamed’s name has been mentioned in the murder of Ricardo Fagundes. If Mohamed’s name was being bandied about in relation to Fagundes’ murder and he was under American sanctions and

then there was an extradition treaty for him to be sent to the U.S., why in no quarter in this society was there a request for an official inquiry into Mohamed’s activities?

Here is Christopher Ram: “ Where legitimate questions arise concerning the conduct of the holder of the highest constitutional office in the Republic, particularly where those questions relate to a substantial private enterprise operating in a sector directly affected by Government policy, those questions deserve independent verification.”

There are two questions that arise from this position of Ram. One is who is asking the legitimate questions? I have been monitoring the farm controversy since Azruddin Mohamed brought it up. Look who is asking the question. It is the very people, the identical people, that have for the past five years been singing the same anti-government songs.

The second question is why should verification proceed about the President’s farm because a select group of people want answers? What about sections of society that believe the President did nothing wrong and should get on with his work? Government falls, society collapses and chaos ensues when every Tom, Dick and Harry conjure suspicion about the Prime Minister or President and demand that there should be a judicial public commission into something he/she is purported to have done.

Ram ends his letter with these words: “In the new Guyana, where public office now carries unprecedented economic significance, the people of Guyana are entitled to nothing less.”

The kiskadee ends on the same note but who speaks for the people of Guyana? Who knows what the people of Guyana want? Those who purported to speak for the Guyanese people for the past five years were rejected at the last national election in 2025.

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.

Azruddin’s Political Three Card Monte

WHENEVER there is a street fair or some type of multi-stall outdoor event, if you can find a three-card betting stall, it is almost always buzzing with activity.

It is one of the livelier sections of the event.

Men moving cards around with stealthy sleight of hand daring you to follow their pattern and place a bet.

Nine times out of ten, the operator is an elaborate trickster that actually has an entire ensemble of pretenders. So, the dealer and his band of goons know exactly where the cards will be placed and walk up to the stall pretending to be ordinary patrons, win big and walk off with a pocket full of cash. The real patrons are enticed and tricked into placing a bet and get swindled in the process. Onlookers and would-be betters are taken in by the hype of the moment.

That is exactly what Azruddin’s political vocation is, Three Card Monte. He is leading an opposition void of any political sobriety, void of any policy prescriptions, void truth and basic honesty, void of organised activism, void of imagination. He is a politically lazy and mentally dwarfed wild man in charge of the opposition. Every opportunity he gets, he chooses the path of sensationalism, scandalous outburst, and false embellishment.

There is no attempt to do real opposition work, it is easy to use the megaphone provided by social media and just pop up in front of people’s properties and shout corruption. And like any good tree card monte, he has political con men enabling his misdirection and prestidigitation. As an example, his latest three card trick of running to Long Creek, filming a farm owned by President Ali for more than 10 years, then alleging that it was acquired within the last three years and use that misinformation to shout corruption, is another one of his latest sleights of hand. His enablers in APNU who themselves lack originality and are unable to clearly define and articulate their own mandate, simply jumped on the bandwagon.

The bandwagonists also include a long list of anti-government huskers of political snake oil. They are betting on a card, ostensibly, to demonstrate a winning bet in the hope of drawing in gullible citizens looking for real leadership. So, we hear of a call for forensic audit into the ownership of the President’s farm while the principal making the accusation himself has major concessions in mining, quarrying, and housing development together with international charges for money laundering and smuggling. Yet, there was never a call for investigation into those acquisitions. It is pitiful that APNU has allowed itself to be denominated into an appendage of Azruddin, satisfied to ferry his snake oil like a relay

baton.

This piece is not an attempt to defend the President; the President is more than capable of doing that entirely on his own. This piece is intended to register my disgust with the level to which opposition activism has descended. I do not know the size of the President’s farm. I do not know what is on the farm, I do not know the size of his investment, funding, or the acquisition process. So, it may not be wise to defend that aspect. However, I believe that every citizen has a right to invest and benefit from their investment. I believe in our national institutions and the proper institution for this disclosure is the Integrity Commission. Anyone who has facts contrary to those fillings and contrary to the law must show some scintilla of evidence. Merely shouting “this is what corruption looks like” using sensationalised language, tailored photo angles and opaque timelines is not sufficient, it’s not right, it can’t be right. And any attempt to dignify that kind of political activism will plunge this country into a dark place.

Opposition work is hard and grinding, it requires deep forethought, a high level of organised activism, strategic and tactical political maneuvers that evoke better performance of the government and better service delivery of public goods.

Opposition work must inspire the population that there is a viable alternative to the sitting government. The opposition has to be seen as having machinery and personnel that can move in and replace the government at the drop of a hat. Instead, widely publicised wild accusation cannot be a viable substitute, it is a coward’s way of hoping to snare the gullible.

I want to end this column with the very words I ended my column of December 29, 2025, titled, ‘Bleating about Corruption.’

“I expect this reckless insanity to continue and sooner or later he will receive a lawsuit and instead of turning up to court with his evidence of corruption, Mr. Presumptive will cry victimization and censorship. I want to live in a country where unexplained property acquisition by those in power could be legitimately questioned. But I do not want to live in a country where wild men dodging criminal prosecution and failing to account for their part in international criminal rings, could just run around under the guise of doing political work and simply slap anyone they wish with the corruption label.”

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.

Thai youth leaders push for inclusion, partnership, lasting change

FROM local communities to the global stage, a diverse group of young leaders from Thailand is helping shape conversations on public policy, climate action, inclusion, indigenous rights, disability access, and youth well-being.

Nearly 400 youth recently participated in a national dialogue which marked the 80th year of Thailand’s membership of the United Nations.

The anniversary provid-

ed an opportunity to look ahead, with young people taking centre stage in discussions on implementing the Pact for the Future, the UN’s global blueprint for tackling today’s challenges while protecting the interests of future generations.

UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand Michaela Friberg-Storey said turning the Pact’s ambitions into meaningful results would depend on “strong partnerships across society, driven by the energy, creativity

and leadership of young people.”

The Pact, adopted by UN member states in September 2024, rests on a simple but important distinction. Future generations, those not yet born, cannot speak for themselves. Young people can.

Six youth panellists told UN News what it takes to make young people’s voices count in practice.

For Rattanachart Paengkum, strengthening youth participation is less about

creating new institutions than making existing ones work better. As Assistant President of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand, he works to bring young people’s perspectives into public decision-making.

“Built in silence, heard by the world. That is how I see youth participation in Thailand today. We already have a mechanism that could be one of the strongest in Southeast Asia. The task now is to strengthen it and make it genuinely participatory again.”

His advice to other young people is simple: Every cause starts somewhere. What matters is taking the first step. Once you act, you learn, improve, and bring others with you. If you never begin, the outcome is already decided.

Earlier this year, Soonyata Panurat represented Thailand at the ECOSOC Youth Forum at UN Headquarters in New York. He said meaningful participation depends on trust and shared decision-making.

“Young people are living the challenges policymakers are trying to solve. Giving us a platform to speak is only the beginning. If nothing follows, nothing changes. Policies should be co-designed with young people, not presented to us after decisions have already been made.”

Growing up in Omkoi District, in Thailand’s Northern Chiang Mai Province, Chairat Dipho took local environmental action

to the global stage, from school initiatives to representing ethnic minority youth at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. He said recognising young people as equal partners begins with giving them the resources to act.

“Resources are not only funding. They are knowledge, mentors, and opportunities that allow young people to take action. Young people are not only future leaders. We are stakeholders and equal partners. When we are seen that way, change can begin locally and reach the global stage.”

According to Marisa Yapangku, President of the Indigenous Youth Seed Network of Thailand, participation must reach beyond capitals and conference rooms if it is to reflect the realities of indigenous communities.

“As indigenous young women, we face barriers because of both our ethnicity and our gender. Even when we reach decision-making spaces, our ideas are often overlooked. Representation alone is not enough if it is not followed by action.

“The platform itself needs to be localised. Decision-makers cannot understand our solutions if they have never heard the realities our communities face. We do not come as mercy receivers. We come to move forward together.”

Growing up with visual impairment, Panwasa Srikuna has seen technology transform access to education. She said making young people’s voices count also means ensuring every-

one has an equal opportunity to participate.

“When I was in secondary school, I depended on volunteers to read textbooks to me. Today, AI can summarise information and support my learning directly. Technology is transforming what is possible for young people with disabilities. The challenge is ensuring our institutions evolve just as quickly.”

Nattanicha Kattiyavara said that participation is not only about being heard, but about ensuring young people can continue contributing over the long term. A youth advisor to the UN Youth Office and founder of The Burnout Advocate Initiative, she said wellbeing should be recognised as part of sustainable civic engagement.

“Young advocates are often expected to be endlessly resilient. But feeling anxious, exhausted, or burnt out is not a failure. It often reflects how deeply people care. If we want lasting social change, we must also build systems that support the well-being of those creating it.

“Future generations are not in the room to speak for themselves,” said Themba Kalua, Director for Pact for the Future Implementation in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

“Young people, however, are here now, and their voices, ideas and leadership must be part of the decisions shaping their lives and the future of our societies.” (UN News)

Family of Satesh ‘Toney’ Persaud presses for justice weeks after fatal crash

By Indrawattie Natram

WEEKS after the tragic death of Satesh “Toney” Persaud of Reliance, his family has said they remain determined to secure justice as investigations into the fatal accident continue.

Persaud, described by relatives as a devoted husband, loving father and hardworking provider, died following a collision involving his motorcycle and motor car PAB 8929.

His loved ones told this publication that the loss has left an irreplaceable void, particularly for his wife, Alita Atkinson, their children, including a daughter who is living with a disability and his grandchild.

According to family members, Persaud had been preparing to return to work in the Pomeroon on the day of the accident. Earlier that afternoon, a wardrobe he had purchased was delivered to his home, prompting him to leave on his motorcycle to collect one of his workmen to assist in moving the furniture.

However, at approximately 13:30hrs, tragedy struck.

Relatives claim that Persaud was crossing the road on his motorcycle when he was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by Mitra Mohabir. They further allege that the car was travelling at a fast rate of speed and that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

The impact was severe, reportedly throwing Persaud several feet from the point of impact. Public-spirited citizens rushed to assist and transported him to the Lima Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Persaud suffered extensive injuries,

including fractures to his skull, a broken left shoulder, spinal cord damage, injuries to his spleen and multiple internal injuries. The cause of death was given as severe trauma sustained in the crash. Police subsequently arrested Mohabir after a breathalyzer test allegedly recorded 48 micrograms of alcohol in his breath, exceeding the legal limit by 12 micrograms. He was later charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and released on $200,000 station bail.

Although the vehicle involved in the accident was initially impounded as part of the investigation, it has since been released into the custody of the accused. Family members have expressed concern that, despite the seriousness of the incident, no additional charges have been laid.

They have since been informed that the case file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and further evaluation.

As they continue to mourn, Persaud’s relatives said they are not seeking revenge but accountability. They insist that his life matters and are calling for a thorough and transparent legal process.

“Justice for Satesh ‘Toney’ Persaud” has become more than a slogan for the grieving family. It is a call for answers, closure and a commitment to ensuring that the memory of the husband, father and grandfather lives on.

ECOMOME V inspires bold thinking, celebrates excellence

ECONOME V provided a platform for young entrepreneurs, professionals, and SMEs to access the knowledge, resources, and networks they need to succeed, especially in a time when Guyana is experiencing unprecedented economic growth and opportunities.

What began as a humble podcast called ‘Common Cent$,’ with a vision to ignite entrepreneurial ambition and improve financial literacy has grown into something extraordinary.

According to the founder and entrepreneur Matthew Gaul, the conference is more than an event; it’s a movement, a catalyst for transformation, and a beacon for business leaders navigating the possibilities of Guyana’s evolving economy.

ECONOME V EXPERIENCE

ECONOME V marks the fifth anniversary of the event and represents the most structured and expansive expression of the platform to date.

By 2026, ECONOME had evolved from a single conference into a multi-touchpoint ecosystem designed to support business creation, SME development, and entrepreneurial progression.

The ECONOME V experience provided an opportunity for learning, mentorship, community engagement, and recognition, allowing partners to engage audiences meaningfully across multiple stages of the entrepreneurial journey.

Gaul told the Guyana Chronicle that entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, and professionals gathered at the Four Points by Sheraton from June 20–21, 2026, for the ECONOME V Business Conference and Mixer and The ECONOMEs: Black Tie Awards Experience. The two-day event challenged attendees to “Swim Different.”

He said ECONOME has grown into one of Guyana’s premier platforms for business development and networking.

This year’s theme,

“Swim Different,” encouraged participants to look beyond conventional thinking in an evolving economic landscape.

Gaul added that the conference opened with an engaging networking session that brought together professionals from a wide range of industries.

He reported that one of the evening’s featured presenters was Andre Jeffers, Group Chief Strategy

achievements across various sectors.

Featured addresses were delivered by Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, and Steven Jacobs, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Both speakers emphasised the importance of being prepared to capitalise on opportunities as Guyana continues to expand, while highlighting the critical role of investing in the nation’s human capital.

The awards ceremony celebrated individuals, or-

Officer of ANSA McAL Limited, who delivered a thought-provoking presentation centred on strategic growth.

Gaul stated that drawing on his experience leading multi-billion-dollar transactions and corporate-transformation initiatives, Jeffers challenged attendees to rethink how they approach business success, reminding them that to “Swim Different,” one must first learn how to swim.

Among his key messages was the reminder that success does not always require reinventing the wheel.

Instead, he encouraged entrepreneurs and business leaders to understand the problems they are solving, maximise available resources, and uncover opportunities where they can create meaningful value.

The conference also featured a presentation from Anya Ayoung-Chee, Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur, who inspired attendees with fresh perspectives on the importance of systemising business activities to improve efficiency.

Meanwhile, Zulfikar Ally, the Minister of Public Service and Government Efficiency and Implementation, presented on the proposed Guyana Development Bank and its anticipated role in expanding access to financing for entrepreneurs and businesses across Guyana.

The second evening shifted from business conversations to celebrating excellence during the ECONOMEs: Black Tie Awards Experience, where distinguished guests gathered to recognise outstanding

growth, it is important that we invest in conversations and platforms that prepare leaders and entrepreneurs for the future.”

With another successful edition concluded, ECONOME V reinforced its mission of empowering individuals to embrace innovation that creates lasting impact.

As attendees departed, one message remained clear: the future belongs to those willing to ‘swim different.’

A key highlight of the conference on the first night was the Swim Different Conference, a modern, culture-forward experience

ganisations, and businesses whose contributions continue to shape Guyana’s development.

The audience was entertained by captivating performances, including a moving presentation by Mark Luke-Edwards, while the EFX Band provided live performances throughout the night.

Gaul expressed gratitude to the event’s speakers, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and attendees for their continued support in making ECONOME V one of the most impactful editions to date.

“ECONOME continues to be about creating opportunities for people to connect and challenge themselves to think differently,” Gaul noted, adding, “As Guyana continues its remarkable

with a hybrid-style room setup that catered for those who wanted to sit or stand.

Key outcomes included reframing how participants define opportunity, challenging comfort-led decision-making, encouraging strategic originality, strengthening confidence in independent thinking, and Accelerating peer-to-peer exchange.

Meanwhile, the ECONOME award ceremony was held on the second night. It was a formal, black-tie affair focused on excellence, structure, and recognition. It was designed as a moment of recognition and reflection, celebrating entrepreneurs, creatives, and SMEs who have translated ideas into execution and ambition into sustained progress.

Hundreds of vertebrate species detected in Rupununi

THE Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWMP) Programme recently presented consolidated data from its eight years of implementation along with the preliminary results of the biodiversity component of the programme.

The highest rates of detection were recorded near Rewa, Katoka, and Maruranau.

Also, a regional AI model has been created and is capable of identifying 445 species classes. This is one of the largest regional identifying databases to date with 133 eDNA samples being collected and some 276 ver-

sign for the National Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative, which is the border-to-border biodiversity monitoring vision for Guyana.

This is the first of its kind on such a scale in the world.

Additionally, the results will be compared across the SWM sites globally, to improve understanding of multi-method monitoring

The findings were recently released during an event held at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) boardroom. The event provided an opportunity for review of the findings of the biodiversity component, sparking an insightful discussion.

The biodiversity component spanned two years and focused on seven Rupununi villages.

Six methods were analysed during the project. These included camera trapping, passive acoustic monitoring, bird counts, environmental DNA (eDNA), local ecological knowledge and fish stock assessments, and they focused on three taxonomic groups: fish, mammals and birds.

The aim of this component was to assess which method is most cost-effective. It provided the preliminary results from camera trappings, acoustic monitoring and eDNA.

The findings revealed that acoustic monitoring found 459, while camera trapping found 88 species.

tebrate species identified. Among these species are 195 fishes, 32 mammals, 22 amphibians, 11 birds and 10 reptiles. Also identified were seven threatened species: four mammals, two turtles, and one fish.

Based on the summary of the findings, over 700 individual species have been detected so far by camera trapping, acoustic monitoring, and eDNA and consolidated findings showed that camera trapping is best for identifying mammals. Acoustic monitoring was found to be best for identifying birds, while eDNA was best for identifying fish species.

At the end of the biodiversity project, the participating communities were presented with copies of the results, hard drives containing all the raw data and a dashboard with the analysed data along with instructions on how to use the instrument.

The findings will be used to inform the monitoring de-

approaches at a global scale.

The communities were thanked for all their hard work as without them, the projects would not even exist.

Gratitude was also extended to the European Union (EU) for their continued funding of this initiative.

“Thank you to our implementing partner, the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC), with whom our partnership over the project has become incredibly strong and productive. Thank you to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for supporting us throughout.

Thank you to our six local partners for being dedicated to their respective visions, it has been our delight to support your initiative.

Thank you to all of the village councils for your involvement in project activity,” the SWM Programme representative said.

CARICOM pushes regional plan to lower cost of living

–– PM Mottley outlines coordinated measures to cut freight, fuel, food costs –– leaders say ferry initiative, shared policies aimed at easing inflation

CARICOM Heads of Government have agreed to strengthen regional collaboration in an effort to ease the rising cost of living across the Caribbean, with Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley outlining a series of coordinated measures aimed at reducing freight costs, improving consumer access to lower prices and cushioning households from inflation.

This was disclosed by the heads during a post-conference press briefing following the conclusion of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, during which

Mottley said regional leaders had agreed to share the experiences of member states in implementing policies to lessen the impact of higher prices on citizens, while advancing collective initiatives capable of delivering longterm relief.

Among some of the key initiatives is a renewed push to reduce the cost of intra-regional cargo transportation through the introduction of a regional ferry service.

The Barbados Prime Minister said that discussions are already underway to launch a proof-of-concept operation, using one of the existing ferries from Trinidad

and Tobago.

She disclosed that Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister, Dr Godwin Friday, and Barbados are expected to collaborate on the initiative, as work also continues to establish the treaty arrangements needed for the mutual recognition of vehicle licences and insurance, which would allow cargo and vehicles to move more seamlessly between participating territories.

Against this backdrop, Mottley stated that governments will also examine

whether upgrades to port infrastructure or temporary ramp systems may be required to facilitate the service, which is expected to begin in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean before expanding farther.

“We are singularly focused on being able to reduce the cost of intra-island cargo,” Mottley said.

She went on to note that lower freight costs, together with measures to reduce fuel and electricity expenses, could significantly ease inflationary pressures across the region.

As the lead head on the CARICOM Single Market

and Economy (CSME), Mottley added that CARICOM is also examining ways to improve price transparency by expanding the use of digital applications that allow consumers to compare grocery prices across stores in real time.

Meanwhile, Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Philip Pierre, said the cost of living remains one of the most pressing challenges facing every member state.

While governments have implemented a range of measures including the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected goods in St. Lucia, Pierre stressed that one major factor remains outside

the region’s control.

“The main fact which we have to consider is we have absolutely no control over the price of oil,” he said, explaining that fluctuations in global energy markets continue to drive inflation throughout the Caribbean.

Heads agreed that inflation in the region is largely imported and further warned that additional international conflicts could create additional uncertainty in global markets.

However, the regional bloc remains committed to working collectively in sharing successful policies and shielding citizens as much as possible from the impact of rising prices.

Complete primary, secondary curriculum to go online through Guyana Digital School in September

THE Government of Guyana will make the complete primary and secondary school curriculum available online through the Guyana Digital School from the start of the new school term in September.

This announcement was made by Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, during the recent release of the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results, where she said the expanded digital platform will provide free access to curriculum content for learners from Grades One to 11.

The move represents the next phase of the Guyana Digital School initiative, which was officially launched by President Dr Irfaan Ali in December 2025 as part of the government’s wider education transformation agenda.

“We will take another significant step forward by making the complete primary and secondary curriculum available online,” Parag announced.

She explained that the digital school is intended to complement, rather than replace, classroom instruction by giving students access to curric -

tion of the full curriculum will now provide online learning resources spanning every grade from primary through the end of secondary school.

Fully funded by the Government of Guyana, the initiative is available

free of cost to participating CARICOM countries and is already serving more than 27,000 students across the region, including in Barbados, Grenada, Belize, and St Kitts and Nevis.

Developed in re -

sponse to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guyana Digital School delivers live interactive classes aligned with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) curriculum and is designed to ensure learning can continue during emergencies while expanding access to quality educational resources, particularly for students in remote and underserved communities.

ulum-based resources outside of school hours.

“It is a school that will have all of the curriculum and content from Grades One to 11, and it will serve as a reinforcement to what is being taught in the classroom, free of cost to every single child in Guyana,” the minister said.

Parag made the announcement while highlighting the government’s continued investments in the education sector, noting that expanding digital learning resources forms part of a broader strategy that also includes constructing new schools, rehabilitating existing facilities, increasing access to textbooks and providing cash grants to help families meet educational expenses.

The September rollout will complete an expansion plan that has been progressing throughout the year.

Earlier this year, Parag had disclosed that the Guyana Digital School already offered content for Grades 10 and 11, with material for Grades Seven to Nine being added before work began on the primary curriculum. The comple-

Surrey and Blaze claim wins before T20 Blast finals day

SURREY and The Blaze warmed up for Friday's T20 Blast finals day with wins in their final group stage games.

The pair will meet in the first semi-final at The Kia Oval, with table-toppers Hampshire then facing Durham.

Phoebe Franklin hit an unbeaten 40 as Surrey chased down 133 to beat Hampshire, while Charli Knott hit a vital 84 not out to help The Blaze to a three-wicket win over Yorkshire.

Elsewhere, Lancashire needed an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 60 between Skye Thomas and Kate Cross to beat Durham, and Essex won by 41 runs at Somerset.

Surrey claims psychological blow over Hampshire Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Franklin proved the star turns as Surrey beat league leaders Hampshire by six wickets to land a psychological blow ahead of finals day. MacDonald-Gay's devastating opening burst of 3-13

helped reduce Hampshire to 14-5 before an unbeaten 52 from Abi Norgrove led a recovery of sorts to 132-8.

Bethan Miles was also in the wickets with 3-22.

All-rounder Franklin, not long back from long-term injury, and playing just as a batter, then saw the chase home with an unbeaten 40, this after Laura Harris had struck a typically belligerent 38.

Georgia Adams was again the pick of the Hampshire attack, with 2-21.

Chennai confirmed to host Renegades, Scorchers...

CA and the BBL were in Chennai in May this year to conduct a recce of the city and the stadium The delegation also met with BCCI President Mithun Manhas and acting CEO Hemang Amin on the sidelines of the Chennai Super Kings-Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL game. Australia last played at

the venue during the 2023 ODI World Cup, when they opened their campaign with a defeat to India before recovering to lift the title later in the tournament. The ground is also scheduled to host the second Test of next year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Renegades move men's home games to the MCG after 15 seasons at Marvel Dobson revealed that

all eight BBL clubs had expressed interest in being part of the league's historic India fixture. The Renegades were eventually chosen as the designated home team because their schedule offered greater flexibility after moving their men's home games from Marvel Stadium to the MCG this season.

The relocation marks the end of the Renegades'

(FROM PAGE 20)

15-year association with Marvel Stadium, which had served as their primary home venue since the BBL's inaugural season in 2011-12. The Renegades are scheduled to play three matches at the MCG this season - two as the home side, including the Melbourne derby, and one away fixture against the Melbourne Stars.

"Last ` Melbourne derby

Former T&T cricketer Aaron...

A statement posted also on Friday on the Facebook page of local government

councillor, Anil Balliram, read: “It is with deep sadness that I extend my heartfelt

Van der Poel wins shortened Tour...

(FROM PAGE 20)

Van der Poel had previously won stages in 2021 and 2025 and is a three-time winner of both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

A mechanical issue which surfaced at around 25km from the end of the stage held back Pidcock, who was left unable to change gear.

He kept up with the breakaway pack but could not match Van der Poel when he sprinted for the line.

"My shifter stopped working," said Pidcock. "I couldn't change gear. My bike was perfect the whole race and then today when the win was there, it doesn't work.

"Anyway, Mathieu is a difficult one to beat in a

sprint situation like that. It would be difficult anyway, so I'm happy for a good day's racing. It's a nice day going into the rest day."

(BBC Sport)

(FROM PAGE 23)

condolences on the passing of Aaron Ragoonath, a cherished son of the Polo Ground, Preysal community and a cricketer who made our community proud.

“As someone who called Polo Grounds, Preysal home, Aaron’s accomplishments were a source of pride and inspiration to many young people in our community. His legacy will continue to remind us of what can be

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 13, 2026)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY

LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 3 centuries

(2) Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph & Alzarri Joseph Today’s Quiz:

(1) What was the result of the recent second Test of the WI/SL series?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

attracted more than 68,000 fans to the MCG and we're excited by the opportunity to create more occasions like that for fans, albeit with the ground turned red," new Renegades general manager Max Abbott said in a statement.

"(Marvel Stadium) has been a huge part of the Renegades' DNA, providing our home for the past 15 years

achieved through hard work, perseverance, and passion.

“On behalf of my family and the residents of the electoral district, I extend my deepest sympathies to Aaron’s beloved wife, his children, the entire Ragoonath family, his friends, teammates, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

May you find comfort in

and hosting so many memorable moments. It's a worldclass venue and will always hold a special place in the club's journey."

The Renegades previously hosted Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG in January 2021 before returning a year later to face Sydney Thunder, winning the former and losing the latter by a single run. (Cricbuzz)

the wonderful memories he leaves behind and strength in the love and support of those around you during this difficult time.”

Condolences poured in online, with many expressing condolences to his family, friends and former teammates, and describing his death as a significant loss to the sport.

England facing defeat in Knight & Beaumont's farewell

ENGLAND is facing a heavy defeat heading into the fourth and final day of the one-off women's Test against India at Lord's.

After India declared on 341-7 and set England a world record chase of 457, the hosts finished on 1306, needing another 327 for victory.

(Scores: India 285 (Mandhana 83; Ecclestone 3-68) & 341-7 dec (Bhatia 113; Ecclestone 5-118)

England 170 (Jones 52; Gaud 5-37) & 130-6 (Jones 52*; Satghare 2-19)

England trail by 327 runs

There were no fairytale endings for the retiring Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight, as the former was bowled for a golden duck and Knight fell for 13 to leave England in disarray.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was also out cheaply, bowled sweeping for 11, and England slumped to 59-5 before Mady Villiers and Amy Jones resisted with a gritty sixth-wicket stand of 67.

Villiers' resistance was ended by Richa Ghosh's sensational catch at silly midoff in the final 10 minutes of the day as India edged closer to a crushing win, despite

….Yastika Bhatia becomes first female Test centurion at Lord’s

Liam Plunkett among coaches to stage clinic in Winnipeg

TD Young Wickets is coming to Winnipeg, MB on July 26, 2026, for a free one-day cricket clinic to help kids learn the game of cricket through fun activities, simple drills, and easy gameplay led by certified coaches.

Players can expect to learn the key basics of the game, from batting to bowling, through easy to play drills followed by a mock match to show off their skills in a game setting.

To ensure the players are given the best introduction to the game, international players and coaches, former England player Liam Plunkett and Corné Dry will take charge of the clinic and will be supported by local coaches.

According to a release from the organisers, players will leave the clinic with everything they need to contin-

ue to play the game at home, in the park, or even at the beach with a TD Quick Kit and quick start guide.

The release further pointed out that spots are limited and would-be aspirants are asked to don’t miss their

chance to sign up.

The organisers also pointed out that “to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, we require a parent or legal guardian to accompany each participant throughout the clinic and be present for the full length of the experience. Seating and refreshments will be provided.”

“The clinic is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly and bring the following: comfortable shoes, t-shirt, active wear: shorts or pants, hat, sunscreen and sun protection, rain coat (if needed), water bottle, snacks (if needed)

“In the event of forecasted severe weather (or other unfavourable conditions), the clinic will be relocated or as a last resort, cancelled. A decision will be made a minimum of 24 hours prior to the clinic and will be communicated to all registrants via email.”

Jones being unbeaten on 52.

The visitors' surely insurmountable lead was set up by Yastika Bhatia, who outshone her overnight batting partner Smriti Mandhana to become the first female Test centurion at Lord's with a majestic 113.

England's bowling improved in the morning session as Lauren Bell removed Mandhana for 70 and Jemimah Rodrigues was bowled for three, but any hopes of a miraculous comeback were decimated after lunch when Bell was off the field with

abdominal soreness.

Bhatia feasted on Lauren Filer and Issy Wong's inability to target the stumps to bring up her first international hundred, before Ghosh's counter-attacking fifty hammered home their advantage for Harmanpreet Kaur to declare before tea.

Sophie Ecclestone finished with 5-118 to become the first Englishwoman on the Lord's Test honours board but that was a rare cause for celebration on another difficult day of Indian dominance.

Van der Poel wins shortened Tour stage in 40C heat

MATHIEU van der Poel won his third career Tour de France stage in a sprint finish on stage nine, which was shortened due to temperatures approaching 40C.

The 31-year-old Dutchman finished ahead of Denmark's Tobias Johannessen and Great Britain's Tom Pidcock in a breakaway pack.

Pidcock was going for a second Tour stage win of his career, but was hampered by a mechanical problem with his chain cassette or derailleur.

Sunday's ninth stage from Malemort to Ussel was around 30km shorter than planned because of a "red alert" from the French authorities.

Stage nine was shortened by 30km because of extreme heat

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished in the chasing peloton six seconds behind the winner to keep the leader's yellow jersey heading into Monday's first rest day.

Van der Poel said that it was a "super-hard day" but the heat was "for sure" better

than during the first few days of the Tour.

"I was struggling and finding it difficult to recover, even from the easier [stages]," he told TNT Sports. "The past few days I've felt a bit better and today I finally had some legs to go for it."

(TURN TO PAGE 19)

Chennai confirmed to host Renegades, Scorchers in historic BBL opener

MELBOURNE Renegades will host defending champions Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on December 12 in the opening game of the 16th season of the Big Bash League.

The historic clash, marking the BBL's first-ever match outside Australia, will begin at 2:40 PM IST, following the fourth day's play of the opening Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth.

The fixture, unveiled jointly by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, has received backing from the governments of both countries as part of broader efforts to strengthen Australia-India ties through cricket.

Cricket Australia's General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said that taking the competition to India reflected the league's growing international following.

"Our sport has such an authentic connection in India," Dobson said. "This game is also part of a much bigger initiative across both our governments and shows that cricket is a connector

for both our countries, and that both the Australian and Indian governments see that and want to be part of it.

"We're hugely excited by the opportunity and we expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport."

Cricket Australia officials opine that taking the BBL to India, even for one game, will drive exponential growth in fan engagement, viewership and awareness of the competition and its teams in the world's biggest cricket market.

Interestingly, this move

comes at a time when the league has been considering opening the BBL clubs to private investment. Interestingly, the Renegades and Scorchers are likely to be among the first franchises to test the market if CA, the six states and players' union, the Australian Cricketers' Association, agree to an investment model.

Chennai's 'Chepauk' stadium was chosen with the endorsement of the BCCI and Australian officials, including Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki. A joint delegation from the

(TURN TO PAGE 19)

Falcons capture Inaugural Guyana Police Force Rugby 7s Tournament

FALCONS defended home turf as they captured the inaugural Guyana Police Force Rugby 7s Tournament at the Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary.

The one-day competition saw four teams competing from the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force ranks.

Police Falcons A clashed firstly with Guyana Defence Force before overcoming them 12-5.

The second clash saw Police A going down to Police Falcons B; they later won it 22-7.

GDF B team then picked up their first win 14-nil over Police Falcons A.

Next, GDF A lost to the GDF B team 28-5.

Police Falcons B also defeated GDF B 12-0; the

day’s final contest in the round-robin stage saw Police Falcons B getting the better of GDF A 15-10.

After the round-robin stage the two teams that emerged were Police Falcons

B and GDF B to play for the inaugural title.

In the finals, Police Falcons B came out on top with a 28-7 victory.

The police falcons were under Pressure early, with GDF Gavin McPherson scoring a try.

Police’s Owen Adonis would equalised with Falcon’s first try, which was converted by Lionel Holder to make it 8-5.

Shawn David came to the fore as the host extended the lead to 12-5 with

another try, which then became 15-5 after Godfrey Broomes converted the kick.

Michael Barrow, not to be left out, closed out the first half with his first try, 20-5 the score read at the break.

After the break veteran Theodore Henry showed his pedigree and strength to bully his way to another try extending their lead to 20 points.

Holder sealed the clash with his conversion as Police falcons finished with an emphatic victory in the Police anniversary competition.

Police Shawn David would be adjusted as the finals MVP Falcons collected $200,000 and bragging rights.

The tournament’s MVP was GDF’s Gavin McPherson, with the team having to settle for second place and the $100,000 prize. The competition was

part of the Guyana Police Force’s 187th anniversary celebration.

Guyana pip Bermuda to secure the 3rd win in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifier

GUYANA soared in their final game in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean pre-qualifier with a victory over Bermuda on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The locals going into the fixture, needed a win to keep their chances of securing, the lone spot in the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean

qualifier, they won it 59-56. It was a close contest from the get-go, with Bermuda leading 12-11 after the first quarter.

As has been the chase throughout the competition, Guyana played a better second period as they overtook the lead going into the break, up 32-28.

Kevin Mickle and Umar

Rashad were solid from an offensive perspective as they led the charge.

Nikolai Smith also played well on the defensive end to create stoppages and collect rebounds as Guyana came from behind in the contest.

In the third quarter Bermuda found another gear to heap pressure on the locals in front of a sizable and boister-

ous local crowd, as the Guyanese were outscored 16-13.

A dogged fourth and final quarter, where they led 1412, gave the locals the edge as they held on for the threepoint victory, 59-56.

Mickle, who has been consistent for the locals, finished with 15 points, with Rashad leading the scorers with 20 points.

Kevon Wiggins also had a few good minutes but missed 5 of 6 three-point attempts to close with 7 points.

Guyana is not assured of the qualifying spot despite wins over Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Bermuda because of their opening loss against the Turks and Caicos Islands.

They will await the result

of undefeated Turks and Caicos and Barbados next games, hoping either lose on the final day which would open the door for their qualification

Other results on Saturday saw Barbados beating Grenada 99-77, Haiti overcoming St. Vincent 100-66, and Antigua getting the better of them 99-51.

Sinner holds off Zverev to defend Wimbledon title

JANNIK Sinner demonstrated once again why he is the world's best player after holding off Alexander Zverev to win backto-back Wimbledon men's singles titles.

Italy's Sinner gradually took control of an extremely tight contest to win 6-7 (79) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 6-4 at the All England Club.

German second seed Zverev played confidently and boldly as he looked to back up his maiden Grand Slam victory at the French Open last month.

But it was still not enough to beat Sinner in an intense, high-quality encounter that gripped astar-studded Centre Court.

"Jannik, I don't really like you anymore," joked Zverev, who will move above the injured Carlos Alcaraz to second in the world rankings on Monday.

"He showed once again why he is the best player in the world."

The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Ben Stiller, watched on as Sinner worked his way through the match against a determined Zverev.

Sinner's relief was clear as he threw himself to the floor in celebration after securing victory in three hours and 46 minutes - the second longest win of his career.

Sinner - who has now won his past 10 matches against Zverev - is the 10th man to retain the Wimbledon men's trophy since the Open era began in 1968.

It is the fifth Grand Slam title of his career and his first of 2026.

Supreme Sinner recovers from Paris setback

Alongside generational rival Alcaraz, Sinner has dominated the men's game over the past few seasons, and most expected him to comfortably add to his Grand Slam tally this year.

However, Sinner lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals and then, having arrived at the French Open on a 29-match winning streak, surprisingly wilted in the second round at Roland Garros.

At Wimbledon, with Melbourne champion Alcaraz missing for the second successive major with a wrist injury, Sinner has reiterated why he is already a true great of the game.

Coming through a gruelling fortnight - particularly in the hot conditions that have troubled him previously - is testament to the work Sinner has put in.

After his shock loss in Paris, Sinner retreated from competitive action and did not play a tournament leading up to Wimbledon.

The decision to take a physical and mental break, as well as trying to find the cause of his problems in the heat, has paid off.

Sinner showed a degree of vulnerability early in the

tournament, needing five sets to creep past Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, but has grown in confidence and quality over the fortnight.

The manner in which he dismantled Djokovic in the last four was a clear sign of his level - and he needed to find his very best on Sunday to overcome Zverev.

Sinner served well to limit Zverev to only one break point, defended the baseline supremely to counter his opponent's aggressive approach and

McCullum sacked as England Test head coach

BRENDON McCullum has been sacked as Test coach in another staggering twist in the unravelling of the England team.

Two weeks after Ben Stokes made the stunning announcement to step down as captain and retire from international cricket, McCullum's exit brings a definitive end to the Bazball era.

The New Zealander will continue as England's whiteball coach, but he leaves the Test team following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents.

Director of cricket, Rob Key, will remain in position, with the decision to remove McCullum coming after the hierarchy of the England and Wales Cricket Board spent time reflecting on the situation surrounding the men's team.

"I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together," said McCullum. "There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this.

"Of course I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward."

England has lost seven of their past nine Tests, including the 4-1 Ashes hammering in Australia.

McCullum, Stokes and Key were backed to remain in charge following that defeat, only for England to be

beaten 2-1 by New Zealand.

The defeat by the Black Caps – England's first in a home series of at least three Tests for 14 years – was overshadowed by a nightclub incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson, then Stokes' abrupt retirement.

Now, the England Test team has no head coach and no captain, with the next series against Pakistan beginning on 19 August.

Harry Brook appears favourite to be named as Test captain, though that appointment could now hinge on the identity of the next head coach.

Since 1999, England has had only two English head coaches of the Test team. Peter Moores did the job twice, while Chris Silverwood was McCullum's predecessor.

clinically took his chances when they came in the final two sets

Bold approach almost pays off for Zverev

Zverev was tipped as a future Grand Slam champion since his teenage years, when he was a prodigious talent following older brother Mischa around on tour.

Many thought his chance to win a major had slipped away as Sinner and Alcaraz began to dominate, but Zverev finally shook off the unwanted tag of the best current player to have never won a major at Roland Garros last month.

Sinner's early loss in Paris opened the door for Zverev. He had no such luxury at the All England Club.

If Zverev was going to win Wimbledon it looked increasingly likely he would need to beat Sinner - and with that came a huge mental challenge.

Zverev had lost their previous nine meetings and had not won any of the past 13 sets. That included a dismal showing in May's Madrid Open final, where Zverev's lack of belief was staggering in a 6-1 6-2 loss.

At Wimbledon, Zverev

needed his serve to fire if he had any chance. He also needed something different.

Zverev has often been accused of playing too passively in the biggest matches against better opponents, but he came out with more attacking intent against Sinner.

Stepping closer to the baseline, Zverev was keen to take more risk with his forehand and impose himself on Sinner.

The risk-reward strategy paid dividends as he won the first set. It seemed unlikely he would be able to maintain that level throughout - but Zverev stuck to his gameplan and largely managed to keep executing it.

Had he taken his only break point of the match at 3-3 in the third set, it could have been a different story.

Addressing his team, Zverev said: "We had a pretty good two months, even though we lost this final.

"We came into Wimbledon having never reached the quarter-finals, and we reached a first final.

"At 29, this is the first time I believed I could win this trophy.

Zimbabwean Andy Flower, who was in charge when England won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, would be the standout candidate to replace McCullum, though it is not known if he could be lured from the franchise world.

Homegrown candidates might include Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson, or his fellow former England spinner Gareth Batty, now in charge at Surrey. Legendary former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is head coach of England Lions but has previously said he does not want the job with the senior team.

Australian Ryan Campbell has impressed at Durham, while ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann is now head coach at Northants.

In remaining as whiteball coach, McCullum can continue to build on the improvements made by England's limited-overs team.

The victory over India on

Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland in extra time to setup England tie

ARGENTINA will face England in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic victory over Switzerland in sweltering Kansas City.

Julian Alvarez settled a controversial match in extra time with a moment of brilliance, curling an unstoppable 25-yard effort past Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel to set up the meeting with Thomas Tuchel's side –a match that will be shown live on the BBC.

It was heartbreak for Switzerland, who had defended valiantly after being reduced to 10 men during the second half in dramatic circumstances.

Star striker Breel Embolo was dramatically given a second yellow card for diving following a video assistant referee review.

Embolo initially appeared to be fouled near the half-way line by Leandro Paredes, who was booked. However the referee was called by VAR to check under the mistaken identity rule, with the replay showing the Swiss player had clearly simulated contact.

The Paredes booking

was quashed and Embolo, who had already been booked, was sent off to his distress and Swiss outrage. Just five minutes before Embolo was dismissed, Switzerland had deservedly equalised having been the better team for much of this game against the reigning world champions.

Argentina may have anticipated a cruise to the last four when Alexis Mac Allister flicked home Lionel Messi's corner at the near post with just 10 minutes gone.

But they failed to press their advantage and Switzerland built into the game

before Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye struck after 67 minutes.

Ndoye cut in from the left, played a one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez and tucked his finish through the legs of Emiliano Martinez.

But Argentina assumed dominance after the Embolo red, and after long periods of struggle were blessed by Alvarez's moment of genius.

Switzerland pushed for a second leveller, but they were caught on the counter and Lautaro Caption: Martinez slotted home as Argentina kept their bid for back to back World Cups alive.

Former T&T cricketer Aaron Ragoonath passes

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – THE cricket fraternity is mourning the loss of former national and West Indies youth cricketer, Aaron Ragoonath, whose death was announced on Friday.

News of his passing quickly spread across social media, prompting an outpouring of tributes from former teammates, clubs, government officials and supporters, who remembered him not only for his achievements on the field but also for his dedication to the sport and his contribution to the development of cricket in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ragoonath represented Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies at the youth level, where he played alongside Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin

Aaron

He also left his mark on the local cricketing landscape through his dedication to clubs, including Clico Preysal and Balmain United Cricket Club, reflecting not only his talent but also his commitment, discipline, and love for the sport.

Matthews, Taylor centuries seal dominant series win for West Indies

…West Indies went 2-0 up in their series against Ireland in Bready, with one game left to play

CENTURIES from Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor headlined a second dominant West Indies win, and a 2-0 scoreline in their three-match ODI series against Ireland.

Opting to field first in Bready, West Indies restricted Ireland to 241 for 7 batting first, despite fifties from Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell. In the chase, their brace of centuries laid the grounds for a win with six wickets and 11.1 overs to spare.

( Scores: West Indies 242 for 4 (Matthews 100, Taylor 100*, Maguire 2-52) beat Ireland 241 for 7 (Hunter 67, Stokell 57, Dottin 2-15) by six wickets

Member of Parliament David Lee, on Friday, paid tribute to Ragoonath in a Facebook post.

“Rest in Peace, Aaron Ragoonath. Regrettably, we learnt of the passing of Aaron Ragoonath, former West Indies and national cricket player, who was a son of Preysal.

“Aaron made his presence and talent known at the club level, playing for clubs such as CLICO Preysal and Balmain United Club, before being elevated to play for Trinidad and Tobago and then the West Indies.

“We extend condolences to Aaron’s wife, children, wider family, loved ones, villagers and supporters in cricket. Thank you, Aaron, for making Preysal proud,” the post added.

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Ireland’s openers Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis had begun the day with a steady partnership of 38. It was broken in the final over of their batting powerplay, when Deandra Dottin had Forbes edging behind to wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle. Dottin struck soon again, in her next over, by having Hunter edge behind too.

Matthews picked up Orla Prendergast's wicket in

the 20th over to begin what would be another prolific day. In the first ODI, she had taken a three-for, then scored 159* off 123 balls in the chase, setting a record for West Indies' highest successful ODI run chase.

A 106-run partnership between half-centurions Hunter (67) and Stokell (57) had arrested the slide for Ireland. In the 41st over, Stokell departed when she fell to legspinner Afy Fletcher, on a day when she was otherwise the most expensive West Indies bowler, going at a run rate of 7.44 in her nine overs.

In the next over, Matthews returned to snare out Hunter too. Ireland had suddenly slid from 180 for 3 to 188 for 5, but they still scored 53 runs in their final eight and a half overs, propelled by cameos from Leah Paul (32) and Alana Dalzell (17*).

Once Matthews came out to open in the chase of 242, there would be no repeat heroics from the West Indies opening stand: Grimmond fell in the first over to Prendergast.

However, there would be

no respite for Ireland thereafter. Matthews and Taylor, batting at No. 3, put together a 158-run partnership for the second wicket. Matthews brought up her second consecutive century off 92 balls, hitting 14 fours and two sixes along the way. She fell in the 26th over, to Louise Little, but Taylor kept the charge up.

Aimee Maguire took back-to-back wickets with West Indies cruising through their chase, taking out Dottin and Jannillea Glasgow to leave West Indies at 199 for 4. Still, they needed just 43 off 94 balls at this point, and Taylor ensured there were no further hiccups as she brought up her own 104-ball century with a four, then a six.

Dalzell followed up, on the next delivery, by bowling a no-ball with just one run left to defend. This extra - Ireland's 14th - handed West Indies their series win with a game still left to play, on July 15 at the same venue. (Cricinfo)

Beharry Group National Secondary schools T20...

(FROM BACK PAGE)

fighting 14, before he was run out by good work from Jordon showed any resistance.

Sprostpon’s dismissal ended a promising 25-run stand with Aragyle, as only Morris (12) of the other batters reached double figures.

Vinesh Kalpoo captured 4-24 and got support from

Jagdeo and Ram with two wickets each.

Meanwhile, Essequibo Islands Secondary demolished West Demerara Secondary by nine wickets in a one-sided Zone 2 final.

West Demerara was bowled out for a paltry 27 in 13 overs as eight batters failed to score.

Anrav Sukham captured

5-1 while Bhomesh Lall took 4-4 for EISS, who reached 28-1 in 2.5 overs with Jimaul Whyte, who made 9 not out, and Sukham finished unbeaten on six. These scores suggest that more must be done by ‘proper’ coaches working in schools to teach the PE teachers about the rudiments of the game.

Historic day for Guyana as Will Redford triumphs in GT Challenge

A WAVE of euphoria swept across the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday as British driver Will Redford secured a monumental, historic victory for host nation Guyana in the opening GTS class race of the GT Challenge de las Américas.

Representing the local One Guyana Racing team— backed by the Bourne/Peter Lewis Construction banner— Redford's triumph marked a landmark achievement for the country as it successfully hosted the prestigious third leg of the championship during the inaugural Guyana Grand Prix.

Redford later capped off a stellar, unforgettable day on the newly transformed track by driving to a brilliant second-place finish in race two,

solidifying a dream weekend for the home outfit.

"Sunday was a momentous day for Guyanese motorsport," said an immensely proud Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed, Principal of the One Guyana Racing Team. "To secure a historic victory on home turf at an event of this magnitude is everything we worked for."

The high-octane action unfolded under the watchful eyes of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and key members of his cabinet, highlighting the massive state backing for the sport.

That rapid infrastructural development might soon pay even bigger dividends. Silvia Bermúdez, part of the organising team for the GT Challenge

de las Américas, dropped a bombshell: plans are afoot to bring a Formula 1 exhibition race and event to Guyana within a year.

While the definitive modalities are still being ironed out, Bermúdez indicated that the incredible local interest and success of the Guyana Grand Prix are major drivers in bringing both an F1 car and a driver to the country.

Mohamad Shairaz Roshandin, President of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), shared that he was overjoyed by the day's success and confirmed that track upgrades will begin immediately to meet the standards required for a potential F1 exhibition.

Away from the marquee

GT categories, British touring car driver Paul Rivett enjoyed an exceptional outing for local team AJM.

Racing in the support classes, Rivett secured a first and second-place finish in Group Two, before fighting hard for a third-place finish in Group Three to wrap up a highly dominant weekend.

Local Group Two maestro, Shan Seejatan, suffered immense heartbreak early on. Despite qualifying on pole position, Seejatan encountered severe mechanical issues in Sunday's opening sprint that completely denied him a podium spot.

However, the local ace bounced back brilliantly in race two, storming through the field to claim a spectacu-

lar victory right ahead of the chasing Rivett.

In Group Three, Stefan Jeffrey proved untouchable, sweeping the competition to stand on the top step of the podium for both Race One and Race Two.

The Group Four action saw Calvin Ming take top honours in the first encounter ahead of Ed Pead and Danny Harrison. Race two saw a shake-up with Harry Foster taking the checkered flag, followed by Pead and Harrison.

However, Foster’s weekend was marred by a difficult technical decision elsewhere.

Driving a Porsche 992 in the GTS Light class, competitor #1500 was entirely disqualified from those proceedings for leaving the track and gain-

ing a significant advantage.

This promoted William Martin and Calvin Ming in the GTS Light standings, where Ed Pead later took the spoils in Race Two.

In the upper tier GT Challenge divisions, the regional heavyweights flexed their muscles.

The formidable pairing of Juan Diego Hernandez and Colombian star Tatiana Calderon utterly dominated the GTS Turbo class, producing a flawless weekend to take top spot in both Race One and Race Two.

Alfredo Najri and Jimmy Llibre mirrored that perfect execution in the GTS Turbo V8 class, sealing a clean sweep of victories across both races.

Beharry Group National Secondary schools T20 zone finals at Uitvlugt

By Sean Devers

THE Beharry Group National U-19 schools T20 cricket tournament, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, continued yesterday with the finals of Zones 2 and 3 at the Uitvlugt Community ground in West Coast Demerara.

In zone 3, East Bank Demerara/Upper Demerara, Covent Garden Secondary, the first Guyanese school to participate in the Sir Garfield Sobers International tournament in Barbados, beat Yarrakabra Secondary by 24 runs.

The East Bank school started in a positive fashion

with Ravindranauth Ram and Terick Jagdeo sharing in a pugnacious 72-run opening partnership in sunny condi-

tions to be the cornerstone for their total of 111 in 14.5 overs Ram, who reached the

ropes twice and cleared it once in his confident 29-ball 25, was run out off the penultimate ball of the seventh

over to trigger a colossal collapse that saw 10 wickets tumble for 39 runs.

Extras contributed 49 with 38 wides and 8 noballs, showing undisciplined bowling.

Yarrakabra was bundled out for 87 in 14.3 overs despite 26 from Twain Aragyle.

Ajay Goordial bowled Vinesh Kalpoo for a duck at 72-2 in the eighth over before Nicholi Morris rocked back the stumps of Jagdeo six runs later.

Jagdeo’s demise for 24 with three fours at 76-3 in the 9th over was followed by Orwin Jordon being trapped lbw to Morris for a duck in

the next over to leave Covent Gardens on the ropes at 78-4.

Nazeem Lehan and Aden Lamoo (1) carried the score to 91 before Morris bowled Lehan.

The last three batters fell for ducks, leaving Leham unbeaten on 10 from 18 balls.

Arjune Looknauth, who polished off the tail, ended with 3-14, Morris had 3-34, and Goordial took 2-20

When Yarrakabra began their reply, Aragyle top scored with 26 from 21 balls, with three fours before he was lbw to Kalpoo, but only Devon Sprostpon, who hit a boundary in a

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