Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 18-08-2026

Tuesday 18th August, 2026 PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUSIVE

No.1081880

Government takes steps to boost Linden’s electricity supply 03 PAGE

–– Minister Indar says three engines to reach there soon

–– national-grid generation now stands at 266.3MW

Work has begun on a new concrete road in Tiperu Village, South Pakaraimas, delivering on the PPP/C government’s commitment to strengthening hinterland infrastructure. The project responds directly to residents’ calls for better, all-weather access and will improve connectivity for families, students, health workers and farmers (Photo: People’s Progressive Party/Civic/Facebook)

Sigma demands full apology, compensation from Mohamed over ‘wholly false’ claims 10 PAGE

Aqtar Ali demands withdrawal of ‘defamatory’ allegations by Opposition Leader 10 PAGE

Social workers, psychologists, counsellors 05 deployed to support Barima-affected families PAGE

–– Human Services Minister says teams remain on the ground across eight affected regions

Preliminary 2026 CXC results to be released today PAGE

05

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Transformational alternative Ruimzeight-Tuschen road link taking shape

THE Government of Guyana’s alternative access road linking Ruimzeight to Tuschen, with construction underway to ease congestion on the busy “west side” road and give motorists a faster route between the two communities. The project is being executed jointly by the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Housing, said Collin Gittens, Head of the Ministry of Public Works’ Special Projects Unit, during a recent site visit. Gittens said the Special Projects Unit is upgrading and strengthening the existing sections of roadway before giving them an asphaltic finish, while the Ministry of Housing is constructing the new sections and interconnecting bridges required to link the route into a continuous alternative corridor. “This road has been done in a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Housing and the Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Public Works, where the Special Projects Unit will be upgrading and strengthening all the existing road and bringing it to an asphaltic finish, while the Ministry of Housing will be doing all the interconnecting bridges and executing the construction of new sections along the corridor,” he said. Gittens said that the West Coast Road has become heavily congested, prompt-

ing President Dr Irfaan Ali to launch the initiative to construct an alternative route. “As you all may know, the West Coast Road has become heavily congested, and His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has come up with an initiative to construct an alternative road to ease the congestion,” he said. Once completed, the route will give motorists travelling between the West Bank Demerara and West Coast Demerara another option, offering relief to commuters who currently rely heavily on the West Coast Road, particularly during peak hours. Gittens said the project is intended not only to create another road, but to improve traffic movement and cut travel time along the corridor. “This will bring a significant ease in travel along the West Coast Road and also reduce the travel time along the corridor,” he said, adding: “This is a government initiative, and its intent is to alleviate the traffic congestion and, of course, to provide safe and fast travel for commuters along the route.” The initiative forms part of the government’s wider effort to respond to growing demand on the existing road networks, as communities along the corridor continue to expand and traffic volumes increase.

Work continues on the alternative access road linking Ruimzeight to Tuschen through Leonora

Construction progresses on the new alternative route aimed at easing West Coast traffic congestion

Government takes steps to boost Linden’s electricity supply 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

–– Minister Indar says three engines to reach there soon

–– national-grid generation now stands at 266.3MW By Naomi Parris THE government has stepped up efforts to address a growing power-supply gap in Region 10, where electricity demand has risen to 15.1 megawatts (MW), exceeding the 14 MW. Providing an update on the national grid, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar on Monday said the government has added emergency generation and is aggressively managing demand in Linden as hotter weather and rising economic activities push the system beyond its limits. Linden receives power from the Bosai minerals group. To ease the pressure during peak periods – 13:00hrs to 15:00hrs and 19:00hrs to 21:00hrs., the government has asked sawmillers in Linden to shift their operations to off‑peak hours. “There are two peaks in Linden, meaning that, the power demand spikes at its highest during those two [times] of the day,” he explained. According to the minister, President Irfaan Ali, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and himself met with the sawmillers to address concerns over the shortage and outline the emergency plan. In parallel, the Hinterland Elec-

trification Company Inc (HECI) and Bosai have agreed to install an additional 3 MWs of generation at the Bosai facility. Beyond Bosai, the government is also tapping idle mining capacity to bolster Linden’s supply. The minister disclosed that three 1 MW engines from a manganese company in Port Kaituma, are currently being transported to Linden. “So, we have been talking to the mining community. We have spoken to a number of them, Rusal and a whole lot of us. We have also spoken to GMI, which is the manganese company in Port Kaituma, and they have five megawatts of engine that they are not using. Each one [sic] of them carry [sic] one megawatt. It’s five engines. So, we are in the process right now, as we speak, to transport those engines, three of them to Linden,” he added. The minister added that other private players in the power sector have indicated that they may be able to provide about 3 MW more in engine capacity once the necessary transformers are sourced. Meanwhile, the government is moving to reinforce Guyana’s electricity grid with new generation, river cables and transmission lines, as rising demand and ageing equip-

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar ment put key corridors under strain. The minister noted that although Region Two has sufficient generation on paper, frequent engine trips have been causing outages. To relieve the pressure, the administration plans to divert roughly 2 MW of additional generation from the NorthWest to Essequibo, so that small caterpillar sets can finally be taken offline for overdue overhauls. “So, we are [sic] also put out a tender, and the

tender is closed, and it is in its final stage of evaluation for eight megawatts for Region Two, because of these very same small caterpillar sets that we have there that are running beyond their normal hours for overhaul,” he explained. Meanwhile, in Region Three, peak demand has climbed from 26 MW to about 41 MW, sharply increasing the risk to the submarine cable that carries power from Region Four across the Demerara

River. “The cable across the river is taxed. It’s supposed to be carrying a safe limit of about seven, to eight megawatts of power. It was actually transmitting15 megawatts a few days back, and that put the cable at risk because if that cable fries, we’ll have problems in Region Three.” To ease the load, the government has launched a project to lay a second cable along the riverbed from the Princes Street

substation on the Georgetown side to the substation at Vreed-en-Hoop. The contractors he noted have already moblised and they will start laying the cable on the Demerara River today. In Region Four, a major upgrade was carried out on Sunday at the new Georgetown substation, which receives 70 MW from the powership. That additional 5 MW will increase the contribution from the powership beyond its current 70 MW. On the East Bank corridor, the single transmission line that runs from Garden of Eden to Timehri and onto the Soesdyke–Linden Highway has reached its thermal limit, causing trips when demand peaks. A contract has been awarded to Ramatar and Sons to construct a new transmission line, with materials already being moved and pole planting expected to start by Wednesday. Indar confirmed that overall available generation on the grid has increased following the successful commissioning of a new 9.3 MW set at Garden of Eden. This has pushed the total available generation to 266.3 MW, providing a reserve of about 26 MW against peak demand, which now averages around 240 MW.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Review of powership contracts will be based on progress of gas-to-energy project —Minister Indar says

A SEPARATE contract for a 75-megawatt (MW) powership operating in the Demerara River is expected to end later this year, with any decision on its future to be guided by the progress of the government’s gas-to-energy project. Meanwhile, the government has extended by two years the contract for a 36MW powership stationed in the Berbice River. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar made the disclosure during a press conference last Friday, while responding to questions about the government’s electricity-generation contracts and the cost of the rented generation vessels. The government first moved to secure emergency generation capacity in April 2024, when Guyana Power and Light (GPL) signed a two-year contract with Urbacon Concessions Investments (UCI), a subsidiary of UCC

Holdings, to charter a 36MW powership. UCC Holdings has a strategic alliance with Karpowership International. The vessel arrived in Guyana in May 2024 and was connected to the national grid at Everton, East Berbice, to support the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) amid growing electricity demand and generation shortfalls. It subsequently reached its full generating capacity of 36MW, providing additional electricity to the DBIS. Indar said the decision to extend the contract was linked to the need to improve the voltage level in that section of the electricity network. “There’s a reason why we put the 36MW in Berbice. We put it there so that you can bring up the voltage level on that side,” he said. The original agreement for the 36MW powership

was signed in April 2024 for two years. Under the initial arrangement, GPL paid a charter fee of 6.62 US cents per kilowatt-hour and an operations and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kilowatt-hour. Indar said the government had secured the original 36MW arrangement at a negotiated concessional rate of 7.62 US cents per kilowatt-hour for the first two years. He said the renewed contract carries a rate of 9.5 US cents per kilowatt hour, divided between a capacity charge and an operations and maintenance charge. As electricity demand continued to rise, GPL signed a second agreement in November 2024 with the joint venture Karpowership Global DMCC and UCC Energy International LLC to charter another powership. The second vessel has an installed capacity of 75MW and is stationed in the Demerara River near Ruimveldt, in the vicinity of the Demerara Sugar Terminal and Banks DIH. It was initially dispatched to the national grid at 60MW. The government is now moving to take the remaining 15MW from the vessel. Indar said 10MW of the additional capacity was already being

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar

taken, with the remaining 5MW expected by the end of this month. “We were already taking 10 out of the 15. We’re waiting on five more to come at the end of this month,” he said. The minister said the contract for the second powership is expected to end this year. He said the government intends to take the full 75MW from the vessel until the gas-to-energy project comes on stream and provides sufficient generation capacity to replace the rented power. The 75MW powership

agreement was signed for two years and requires GPL to pay a charter fee of 8.52 US cents per kilowatt-hour, along with an operations and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kilowatt-hour. GPL is also responsible for supplying the heavy fuel oil required to operate the vessel. He added, “At the point when gas-to-energy comes on board and we have generative capacity to offset that, we will be the first to produce. You know why? Because we will be using gas as the feedstock. We will be producing power at five cents per kilowatt. Those vessels that are rented there, we use heavy fuel oil, which is very expensive.” Indar said he and Prime

Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips had secured a commitment from the project contractor to deliver one of the gas-to-energy project’s turbines, which has a generating capacity of approximately 57MW, by the end of 2026. He said the government will review the powership contracts once the gas-to-energy project provides sufficient additional generating capacity, taking into consideration the exit clauses contained in the agreements. Indar said the two powerships are currently essential to maintaining a reliable electricity supply across the country. Once the second vessel reaches its full 75MW output, the two powerships will provide a combined 111MW of additional generating capacity to the national grid. Indar also pointed to recent reductions in electricity costs in Bartica and parts of the hinterland, attributing those savings to the displacement of diesel generation through renewable energy sources. He said electricity costs in Bartica have already been reduced by 25 per cent, while power costs in Region One have been reduced by 30 per cent through the use of solar generation to complement and displace diesel-powered generation. According to Indar, the savings from reduced reliance on fossil fuels are being passed on to consumers.

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Social workers, psychologists, Preliminary counsellors deployed to support 2026 CXC Barima-affected families results to be --Human Services Minister says teams remain on the ground across eight affected regions released today

THE Ministry of Education is set to release the preliminary results of the 2026 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations today, providing the first indication of how Guyana’s candidates performed in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) examinations. The results are expected

performance, particularly in mathematics. As part of these efforts, the ministry introduced targeted mathematics camps designed to provide additional support to students in specific areas of the subject. Chief Planning Officer Mischka White-Griffith had explained that the camps were structured around specific topics rather than attempting to cover the entire mathematics syllabus in a single session. She said this approach allowed students

to be announced at a ceremony hosted by the ministry at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, which will also provide an opportunity to recognise the achievements of students and highlight Guyana’s performance in this year’s examinations. The release comes approximately four months after the May/June 2026 examination cycle commenced on April 13, with thousands of students across Guyana participating in the regional assessments. According to information previously provided by Ministry of Education officials, 13,032 candidates were registered for the CSEC examinations this year, representing students from public and private secondary schools across the country. The examination period began with CSEC oral examinations in foreign languages, including Portuguese, French and Spanish. Practical assessments in physical education and sport and music were also among the early examinations. The 2026 examinations were conducted against the backdrop of continued efforts by the Ministry of Education to improve student

to attend sessions addressing areas in which they required the most assistance, while noting that both students and teachers had responded positively to the targeted format. The camps were offered free of cost, with schedules made available through the ministry’s platforms to allow parents to identify locations convenient for their children. White-Griffith had also stressed that the mathematics camps formed part of a broader, long-term strategy to address challenges in mathematics education, rather than being a short-term intervention. Today’s preliminary results will therefore provide an early assessment of student performance following the implementation of these and other measures aimed at strengthening educational outcomes. In 2025, some 116 secondary schools participated in the 2025 CSEC examinations. The preliminary results showed that the overall pass rate at the General and Technical proficiencies for Grades One to Three stood at 66.76 per cent, remaining constant with the previous year.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud

MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, has said that around 75 social workers, counsellors and psychologists have been deployed across the country to provide psychosocial support to families, survivors and others affected by the MV Barima tragedy. Dr Persaud made this disclosure during the most

recent episode of the Starting Point podcast, during which she said that psychosocial intervention began immediately following the tragedy, with teams from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Health mobilised and deployed to affected communities. She said the response also involved the Ministry of Education in Region One, while psychologists were drawn primarily from the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, along with psychologists attached to the Human Services Ministry. “Across the country, on the ground in the affected regions, we have 75 officers, social workers, counsellors and psychologists,” Dr Persaud said. According to the minister, the teams have been working to reach not only the immediate relatives of those who died or remain unaccounted

for, but also survivors, children and members of wider family networks. She said that the complexity of family structures and the fact that many affected persons are from hinterland communities presented challenges to ensuring that everyone received support. Dr Persaud said teams had to track family members who were scattered across different locations, while continuing to update their database and coordinate with regional authorities. The psychosocial response has also extended beyond face-to-face counselling. She said two toll-free hotlines were established early in the response to allow affected persons to access support even when officers were not physically present. The hotlines remain operational, with support available until 10 p.m. daily, she said, urging persons directly or indirectly affected by the

tragedy to make use of the services. Counselling hubs have also been established across the eight affected regions, including at Ministry of Human Services locations, Hope and Justice centres and other Ministry offices. Dr Persaud said social workers and counsellors have accompanied affected families throughout different stages of the response, including travel to the hinterland, visits to hospitals and mortuaries, and referrals for further mental-health support. She further stressed that the psychosocial response cannot be viewed as a shortterm intervention, noting that the nature of the tragedy has left deep emotional scars. “This is a long-term approach,” the minister said while emphasising the need for continued support as families work through the different stages of grief and trauma.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Basic Decency a Solution to Noise Nuisance

GUYANA is booming. Cranes dot the skyline, new restaurants and bars open by the month, and money is moving through communities that were quiet a decade ago. That growth is welcome. But it has brought a companion problem that no amount of investment can fix on its own: noise. Loud sound systems at midnight, construction that never seems to stop, parties that bleed into the workweek have become a daily irritation for far too many households, and the instinct to solve it is almost always the same. Call the police. Pass a law. Send an inspector. That instinct is understandable, but it is also lazy, and it will not work. No police force on earth has the manpower to station an officer outside every bar, yard party and construction site in the country, weighing in real time whether the

volume has crossed some invisible line. Legislation can set hours and decibel limits, but a law is only as strong as the willingness of ordinary people to respect it when no one is watching. The truth Guyanese need to sit with is uncomfortable. They have to accept that the loudest source of noise pollution in this country is not bad policy. It is us and our collective refusal to consider the person next door before we turn the speaker up. This is not a call to silence Guyanese culture. Nobody is asking anyone to give up weddings, wakes, fetes or Sunday cook-outs. Those gatherings are the glue of community life, and they should stay loud, warm and frequent. The ask is smaller and more personal than that: think about who lives beside you before you decide how late the music plays. A responsible host tells the neighbours

a party is coming. A responsible business invests in sound baffling instead of waiting for a complaint file to pile up. A responsible neighbour who is disturbed knocks on a door and has a conversation before dialing an emergency line. None of that requires an act of Parliament. It requires basic decency. Businesses carry a heavier share of this obligation than the average household, precisely because their reach is bigger. A commercial licence is not a licence to make an entire block sleepless. Bars, event spaces and contractors that treat their neighbours as an afterthought are gambling with the goodwill that keeps communities tolerant of growth in the first place. Every unresolved noise complaint chips away at the public’s patience for development itself, which should worry business owners more than any fine. None of this erases government’s role.

Regulators must write clear rules, and police must be willing to act when reasonable requests are ignored again and again. Enforcement is a necessary backstop. But a backstop is exactly that; this is a last resort, not the opening move, and definitely not a substitute for a citizenry that polices its own volume. Guyana cannot modernise its economy while holding on to the idea that consideration for one’s neighbours is optional. A country’s development is also measured in whether people can close their doors at night and actually rest. That outcome will not be legislated into existence. It will be built, household by household, the moment enough of us decide that our right to enjoy ourselves ends where someone else’s right to sleep begins.

Wayne Maison is smarter than any PNC/APNU politician

I WAS intrigued at the crossover of long-standing PNC stalwart Wayne Maison to the PPP. This was not the Maison I knew. He was a dyed-in-the-wool PNC cadre. He reinforced that perception I had of him as recent as three months ago. I knew Maison over a 10-year period when I was a critic of the PPP government. After my politics changed after the 2020 elections disaster, unlike a majority of PNC and AFC personalities who knew me closely, he was never hostile to me; on the contrary, he maintained his friendly posture. So I called him three months ago to chat on the Freddie Kissoon Show. He was the same friendly person I always knew. In our conversation, Maison suggested that I “come back.” He said, “We want you to come back.” That friendly response I appreciated because he was different from those who continue to demonise me, including the then editor of the Stabroek News, who referred to me as a PPP lapdog. In our conversations since 2020, Maison has never showed any animosity towards the changed political person I had become. How Maison reacted when I invited him to be on the Freddie KIssoon Show is the type of attitude all PNC politicians should have adopted since the PNC, the AFC and WPA lost the 2020 elections. It is sensible, strategic, and pragmatic politics. Maison is way ahead of those that he shared a political relationship with in the PNC. The sensible thing to do is to speak to people whose politics you disagree with by showing a touch of respect and under-

standing. Instead, what PNC and AFC people have done is to abuse those that they once had a comradely relationship with. In every instance when a PNC personality or a PPP critic crosses over to the PPP, the reaction is inevitably one of insult. Either you are a soup-drinker, a house slave, or singing for your supper, or in my situation, a PPP lapdog, or as Nigel Westmaas described me – a PPP attack dog. James Bond told me on election day last year he was with his family going to vote when Terrence Campbell yelled out “house slave.” Bond told me he was incensed because he felt that Campbell should have observed protocol because he was with his family. I totally agree with Bond. You should leave family out of the equation. I have never read a statement from any PNC leader expressing regret that one of their comrades went over to the PPP and wishing that as the months and years move on that the person would reconsider. I have never read a statement from any PNC big-wig wishing the person well with their new politics and reminding them that they still have a place in the party if they should ever change their mind. This is commonsensical politics. You leave room for the person to reconsider because you have shown respect. At the time of writing, I haven’t seen the reaction of the PNC’s leadership to Maison’s endorsement of the PPP, but as night follows day, there is going to be some unpleasant words. It is as if these people lack the knowledge of the ABCs of politics. It is as if they don’t know a damn thing about politics. Leading

that ineffective pack is Ganesh Mahipal. What Mahipal did to me has caused me to lose the residue of respect I had for him. I couldn’t believe when I read what he did and when I describe what he did, you will understand that it is Maison today, and tomorrow there will be another defection, and the next day there will be further defections, and that is because the PNC is intellectually and politically a bankrupt organisation. I knew Mahipal from the days when he was a student and I, a lecturer at UG. Plus, the Wakenaam connection left a sentiment in me because of my wife’s family roots in Wakenaam. So Ganesh and I over the years would have some sensitive discussions and I would offer advice to him. I was in shock when I read that Ganesh had chastised two NCN journalists for

having only PPP ministers as guests and not opposition politicians. He advised the two journalists to give both sides an opportunity. He cited as examples, interview programmes by Sherod Duncan and Enrico Woolford that accommodate both sides. It was a gargantuan act of political dishonesty and Ganesh Mahipal is the embodiment of political dishonesty. Duncan and Woolford do not invite PPP personalities, only PNC politicians. It is the Freddie Kissoon Show that has PNC and PPP guests; Mahipal appeared four times. Mahipal did not mention my show. He and his party are hopeless failures. 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.

7

Digital ID unlikely to replace GECOM card in short, medium term

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

By Feona Morrison

GUYANA’S new Digital Identity (Digital ID) card is unlikely to replace the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) identification card in the short to medium term, according to Data Protection Commissioner Aneal Giddings. Giddings made the disclosure during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, during which he discussed the rollout of the Digital Identity Card, its intended uses and its relationship with existing identification systems. Giddings explained that the two identification systems serve different purposes. GECOM has a constitutional mandate to register persons for electoral purposes, while the Digital Identity Card Registry is responsible for establishing the identity of citizens and eligible residents. He explained that

Data Protection Commissioner Aneal Giddings GECOM is a constitutional body guided by the National Registration Act, which provides for the national identification card used by the Elections Commission. He noted that although the GECOM identification card is not itself a requirement to vote, it is a consequence of a person registering to vote. Giddings said the Digital

ID card is unlikely to replace the GECOM identification card in the short term, although he did not rule out the possibility in the future. He said the distinction stems from the separate mandates of the two entities. “GECOM, as a constitutional body, has a mandate to register persons for the purposes of elections. My entity does not do that,” Giddings said, adding: “So, I register persons for a different purpose, that is, to establish that they are citizens of Guyana.” Giddings said any eventual move to have the Digital ID replace or serve in place of the GECOM card for electoral purposes could require changes to the existing legal framework. “Unless those laws change, and dare I say, constitutional reform may be necessary,” he said. He also pointed to the work of the Constitutional Reform Commission, but said he could not predict

Sample of a Guyana Identification Card issued by GECOM

A sample of Guyana’s new Digital Identity Card issued by the Digital Identity Card Registry

what changes, if any, may result from that process. He said, “I’m going to say now that in the short and medium term, no, that our card will not replace G E C O M ’s c a r d , s o t o speak.” However, he said there could be scope for GECOM to recognise the Digital ID as an identification document at polling stations in the future. He stressed, however, that possession of the Digital ID would not by itself make a person eligible to vote. “You must be registered with GECOM in order to cast your ballot at whatever elections they’re coordinating and supervising,” he said. A total of 36,500 persons

has so far been enrolled for Guyana’s new Digital Identity Card, with enrolment being conducted across all 10 administrative regions. The Digital ID card, which is valid for 10 years, contains basic biographical information and a Guyana Unique Identification Number (GIN), which remains assigned to an individual throughout their lifetime. Its embedded chip also stores biometric information, including the holder’s photograph, fingerprints and signature. Giddings said the card is designed to make transactions with public and private institutions more efficient by allowing authorised systems to scan and verify the infor-

mation, with the individual’s consent. For more information on the Digital Identity Card, including registration, visit the official website: e-id.gov.gy The Digital Identity Card Act 2023 provides for the establishment of a registry to collect identity data from Guyanese aged 14 and over. It also covers eligible non-citizens, including skilled nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, for the issuance of Digital Identity Cards. The legislation states that the digital identity system is intended to facilitate electronic governance and enhance government and other services.

8

When trust faces its test [Part I]

THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is facing one of the most serious institutional controversies in its relatively young history. Leaked internal emails, allegations concerning the conduct of its President, Justice Winston Anderson, questions about judicial panel composition and claims of possible interference in the preparation of judgments have created an uncomfort-

able moment for a court whose authority ultimately depends not on political power, but also on public confidence. This is precisely why the controversy must be approached with intelligence, restraint and fairness. There is a legitimate public interest in understanding what happened inside the CCJ. There is also an equally legitimate interest in protect-

ing the independence, confidentiality and institutional integrity of the Court. These two principles are not contradictory but inseparable. Justice Anderson’s August 14 statement deserves serious consideration because, rather than hiding behind the institution, he confronted the allegations one by one. He also acknowledged that, in at least one respect, he might have handled matters

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

differently. That is not the behaviour of someone refusing scrutiny. It is the response of a judicial leader attempting to place a highly charged controversy into its proper constitutional and institutional context. The first issue, therefore, is not whether criticism of the CCJ should be allowed. It should. The real question is whether confidential judicial deliberations should be leaked, selectively interpreted and converted into political ammunition before the facts are independently established. Justice Anderson was unequivocal on this point. He condemned the unauthorised disclosure of confidential correspondence and internal deliberations, warning that such disclosures damage judicial collegiality and public confidence in the third branch of government. His concern is hardly trivial. Judges must be able to disagree privately. They must be able to challenge each other’s reasoning, test legal arguments, change their minds and propose alternative approaches without fearing that every sentence written in confidence will eventually appear in public as evidence of institutional warfare. The fact that judges disagree is not evidence that justice has failed. It can be evidence that judges are doing their jobs. Indeed, Justice Anderson explained that the deliberations in the Mohameds matter involved differing views about reasoning and the articulation of the judgment, but that all seven judges ultimately agreed on the disposition of the appeal. He described such robust exchanges as normal and healthy in a col-

legiate appellate court and I dare say that the distinction is particularly important to Guyana. The CCJ’s decision in the Mohameds matter should not now be treated as illegitimate simply because internal judicial discussions have become the subject of controversy. The Court itself says there was complete unanimity among its seven judges as to the outcome. A judgment must be evaluated on the law, evidence, reasoning and constitutional principles applied not on whether private emails contain disagreements over wording, strategy or legal analysis. Those who disagree with a CCJ judgment have every right to criticise it but criticism is not the same as proving corruption, bias or judicial manipulation. The most serious allegation is undoubtedly that panels were manipulated to achieve predetermined outcomes. Here again, Justice Anderson’s response was direct. He rejected the allegation as wholly untrue and explained that panel composition has historically been an administrative responsibility of the President. The controversy appears to have centred heavily on D’Almada, where a judge was removed from an interlocutory panel after disagreement over judicial attire. But the president maintains that the decision had nothing to do with the judge’s views or the merits of the case. More significantly, he says that the judge was subsequently included in the Full Bench for the substantive hearing and that the interlocutory matter itself resulted in

unanimous agreement among the five judges involved. That explanation does not mean every administrative decision at the CCJ should escape scrutiny. It does mean, however, that the leap from a dispute over judicial attire to an allegation of “panel fixing” requires evidence and that is where responsible journalism and responsible politics matter. The Caribbean cannot afford a culture in which leaked private correspondence becomes proof of wrongdoing merely because the contents are embarrassing, uncomfortable or politically useful. The controversy has already prompted calls from regional bar associations for investigations into both the leak and the allegations contained in the correspondence. That is a sensible response. Investigation is preferable to rumour, insinuation and trial by media. The future of the CCJ depends upon precisely this distinction. The Court was created as an expression of Caribbean sovereignty and confidence in Caribbean jurisprudence. It was inaugurated in 2005 and operates in both an Original Jurisdiction and an Appellate Jurisdiction. Its Original Jurisdiction serves the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, while five states including Guyana currently use it as their final appellate court. That is a tremendous institutional achievement. 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.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Imperial House launches $500,000 Youth Innovation Fund

9

--to support young Guyanese with ideas for community development, innovation

THE Imperial House (TIH) has launched a new Youth Innovation Fund, offering young Guyanese an opportunity to secure G$500,000 to develop innovative projects, products or services aimed at addressing challenges in their communities. According to a press release issued by The Imperial House on Sunday, the initiative forms part of the organisation’s 10th anniversary celebrations and a renewed focus on youth development, following its decision not to stage the Miss Guyana Teen Scholar Pageant in 2026. Instead, the organisation says it is shifting its attention towards youth innovation, leadership and community impact, with the inaugural

Imperial House Youth Innovation Award to be presented to one successful applicant. The fund is being supported by TIH’s Foundation Partners, GUYOIL, Palace De Leon, Reminiscent and Guywillship. According to the statement, Executive Director of The Imperial House, Wasim Khan, said the initiative is intended to provide young people with opportunities to go beyond simply participating in youth programmes and instead develop solutions to issues affecting their communities. “The Youth Innovation Fund represents an important next chapter for The Imperial House,” Khan said, adding: “We want to give young people more than a platform

to be seen. We want to allow them to develop ideas, solve problems and create meaningful change.” He said the initiative reflects the organisation’s wider approach to youth development as it marks a decade of work with young people and communities across Guyana. The call for proposals is open to all TIH members and young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Groups can also apply, provided all members meet the age requirement. Applicants are being invited to submit original concepts addressing at least one of four areas of culture and the arts, social ecology, gender, youth and development, and access to education. According to the release, proposals will be assessed based on their level of innovation, the community need being addressed, potential impact, feasibility, sustainability and how effectively the $500,000 award would be used. The organisation has encouraged young people to identify challenges in their communities and develop practical ideas that could lead to lasting solutions. Shortlisted applicants will be given an opportunity to present their proposals

during The Imperial House’s 10th Anniversary Gala 2026, where the inaugural Youth Innovation Award recipient will be announced. TIH said the initiative is intended to mark its anniversary by placing greater emphasis on what young people can create and contribute, rather than focusing solely on traditional youth development activities.

With the launch of the fund, TIH is inviting young people to put forward ideas that can address issues within their communities while showcasing creativity, practicality and potential for impact. The organisation said application information, including the Application Guide and Proposal Form and Applicant’s Handbook,

are available through its official platforms and social media pages. T h e s u c c e s s f u l a pplicant will receive the $500,000 award to help turn the proposed idea into action, marking the first recipient of what TIH hopes will become a new avenue for youth-led innovation and community development.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Aqtar Ali demands withdrawal of ‘defamatory’ allegations by Opposition Leader

MOHAMED Aqtar Ali, brother of President Irfaan Ali, has put Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on notice that he faces a defamation lawsuit unless he retracts corruption allegations made in a viral video posted to the Team Mohamed Facebook page early Monday morning. In a letter sent the same day, attorney Kashir A. Khan, writing on Aqtar Ali’s instructions, demands the allegations be “withdrawn forthwith in the appropriate manner,” warning that his cli-

ent will otherwise “take legal action as may be advised to protect his reputation, without further notice.” According to the letter, the roughly video named Aqtar Ali directly, with Mohamed telling viewers he was “putting the facts, the dates, the contracts and the documents” before the Guyanese public regarding “the brother of the President of Guyana.” The video went on to allege that Sigma Engineers Limited, incorporated on October 6, is effectively Aqtar Ali’s company, “fronted”

through his friend Taamjeed Rahmaan, a Bangladeshi-Canadian the two are said to have known from the same mosque in Canada. Mohamed further claimed Aqtar Ali’s name appears on Sigma’s financials, and separately alleged the president’s brother resides at State House with a level of access that has “raised serious concerns among persons working there,” and that community land was made available to Aqtar Ali’s company to build a bond after government officials had cited a land shortage

elsewhere. By the time the lawyer’s letter was drafted, the clip had drawn more than 384,000 views and over 1,600 comments, many of them hostile, and had already been picked up by local press The letter calls the claims “untrue, reckless and cannot be supported by any cogent and proper evidence,” and specifically singles out the suggestion that Aqtar Ali intends to “rob taxpayers” as “especially egregious.” Khan states flatly that his client “is not a direc-

tor or shareholder in any of the companies referenced in the video clip, nor has he ever been,” and characterises Mohamed’s statements as “calumnious, unsubstantiated and defamatory in their entirety.” The letter also warns that any further repetition of the claims, online or otherwise, will only “amplify” their defamatory effect, language attorneys typically use to preserve the right to sue over rebroadcast or commentary on the original statements. Sigma Engineers has

also pushed back publicly on the underlying allegations, stating it has operated in Bangladesh since 2003, was registered in Guyana on the same October 2022 date cited in the video, and won its first Guyana contract in 2026 through a competitive National Procurement and Tender Administration Board process. The company has described Aqtar Ali’s role as that of a senior technical consultant rather than an owner.

Sigma demands full apology, compensation from Mohamed over ‘wholly false’ claims

SIGMA Engineers L.T.D. Inc. has moved to formally and forcefully reject a wave of corruption allega-

tions leveled against it by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, retaining the Georgetown law firm

Gunraj & Co. and putting the businessman on notice that High Court defamation proceedings will follow

if he does not comply with a list of demands within days. Around 6:00 a.m. on Monday, a video posted to the "Team Mohamed's" Facebook page, accused Sigma of leveraging a suspiciously fast path from incorporation to billions of dollars in state contracts. The video, which the company says had already drawn over 384,000 views and thousands of shares and comments by the time lawyers responded, laid out a rapid-fire list of water-treatment and well-drilling contracts allegedly awarded to Sigma between 2024 and 2026, totaling billions of Guyana dollars. It also linked Sigma to Mohamed Aqtar Ali, alleged the company relied on imported Bangladeshi labour, and, most gravely, tied Sigma's work at Bachelor's Adventure to the drowning deaths of two children on Phagwah Day. In a statement issued the same morning and in the formal legal letter that fol-

lowed that evening, Sigma's position was unambiguous, noting that the allegations are, "wholly false." According to the company, it has been awarded a single contract in Guyana since its 2022 incorporation, which is the 2026 rehabilitation of the Shelter Belt for Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) awarded through a national competitive bidding process run by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Work, the company says, has commenced and is actively continuing. Every other contract cited in the video, Sigma maintains, was never awarded to it at all. The company also pushed back on the insinuation of a shadowy insider relationship, clarifying that Aqtar Ali serves only as a senior technical consultant to its Guyana operation, with no ownership stake or corporate affiliation. Sigma further notes it is not a Guyanese startup that materialised overnight, but a firm that has operated in Bangladesh

since 2003. Gunraj & Co.'s letter, sent as a formal pre-action protocol ahead of possible litigation, accuses Mohamed of publishing serious, unverified allegations without taking reasonable steps to check them; these are allegations the firm says falsely paint Sigma as corrupt, negligent, and complicit in preferential treatment, and that go as far as linking the company to the deaths of two children. The firm argues the natural and ordinary meaning of the broadcast would lead any reasonable viewer to conclude Sigma's incorporation and contract history were "improper and irregular," and that the company's business was built on illegitimate insider access. Sigma is now demanding that Mohamed immediately cease republishing the claims, delete the video and any copies, issue a full written retraction and apology with prominence equal to the original broadcast, identify everyone he shared the allegations with, and pay compensation plus legal costs. The letter states that if Mohamed fails to comply, "legal proceedings will be initiated without further notice," with the company reserving the right to pursue damages, aggravated and exemplary damages, an injunction, interest, and costs in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Tamukke feminists, UG-IGS partner to host ‘Gender on the Frontlines’ - conference attracted more than 70 participants on first day

GENDER on the Frontlines, a conference developed by Tamukke Feminists in partnership with the University of Guyana’s Institute of Gender Studies, opened on Monday at UG’s George Walcott Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus. The conference theme, ‘Gender on the Frontlines: role, risk, and urgency in a changing environment,’ comes at a timely period in Guyana as many are reminded constantly of the urgency of defending human rights and confronting the reality that shapes our lives. At the opening ceremony, it was emphasised that gender is indeed on the frontline, and cannot be separated from questions regarding health, environment, development, and our human rights. One speaker noted that the risks are gendered, later adding that women, girls, LGBTQ+ persons, indigenous people, people living with disabilities, and other marginalised communities experience the impacts of environment, social crisis in particular and in profound ways. The speaker added that at the same time, they are not simply victims of this crisis, but are rather organisers, caregivers, advocates, workers, community leaders, and activists who are on the front line of responding. Being on the front line, however, comes with risks, it was noted. These risks include speaking out against and challenging injustices, demanding accountability, and

More than 70 persons were present at the Gender on the Frontlines conference on its opening day (Photo: Tamukke Feminist/Facebook)

defending our communities, and can carry real consequences. Also speaking was Tamukke’s Managing Director Akola Thompson who said that for the duration of the conference, the panels and discussions will spark new perspectives and ideas about how we can pivot towards more community rooted solutions that truly centre around gender justice and well-being. She also highlighted the need for real and impactful

measures to address community concerns, environment changes and impact, especially in indigenous communities. Meanwhile, IGS’s Head, Dr. Lisa Edwards, mentioned that while these conversations have been happening for years, they are just as important and relevant today. She pointed out that in speaking about gender, it is not just about speaking on violence, but looking at it through the systems, and through this conference.

Chairman of the Transitional Management Committee at UG, Professor Stafford Griffith in his remarks said this conference comes at a “very important and challenging time for rapid development in our country.” The professor noted that for us in Guyana, we need to put measures in place that will assure the balanced participation of all citizens in the development process, irrespective of gender. “Sometimes I worry that in these matters of gender,

we perhaps need to shift our focus more sharply on the men, because I feel there’s a lot of work, a lot of gender-related work to be done with the men, and I sometimes wonder what it is that is causing the men not to come forward, and probably not to be as assertive in taking opportunities that are available as I believe the women are,” he remarked. According to the professor, we need to look at the gender issues in our country and pay more attention to

what is happening to the men in our society. The first day of the conference featured a panel discussion that examined land rights, indigenous knowledge in ecological stewardship, and presentations addressing violence, advancing rights, and strengthening institutions for gender equality. More than 70 persons attended the opening day of the conference, which continues today. It is being streamed on Tamukke’s Facebook page.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

GPF officers undergo speed limiter installation training

FOURTEEN Licensing and Certifying Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), along with two representatives of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), are being trained in the installation of speed limiters as authorities move to strengthen enforcement of vehicle safety standards. The one-day training was conducted Monday at the Officers’ Training Centre and is designed to equip the participating ranks with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to install and certify speed-limiting devices. The police participants, whose ranks range from Inspector to Corporal, are being exposed to the procedures involved in the installation of the devices, including practical aspects of their operation and application.

During the session, the participants received technical guidance from Aztec Global representative Ryan Allen before proceeding to the practical component of the training. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the GPF to improve road safety and promote compliance with established traffic and vehicle standards. The enhanced technical capacity of Licensing and Certifying Officers is expected to support more effective oversight of vehicles subject to speed-limiting requirements and strengthen the enforcement of measures aimed at reducing road-related risks. The involvement of GNBS representatives also provides an institutional link between police enforcement and national standards relating to vehicle safety and certification.

The police participants, whose ranks range from Inspector to Corporal, are being exposed to the procedures involved in the installation of the devices, including practical aspects of their operation and application

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Vendor invests $100,000 cash grant into her small business

A MOTHER of nine has invested her $100,000 cash grant into a small shop at her home, turning government’s support into a sustainable source of income for herself and family. She has also built her home through small loans and government grants. The woman who is a vendor, was among the many persons President, Dr Irfaan Ali interacted with during his visit to the Hydronie/Parika Market on Sunday. On Monday, in a post on his official Facebook page, President Ali said “Stories like hers demonstrate the positive impact of our investments in people—providing the support and opportunities for Guyanese to build more secure

and prosperous lives for their families.” During the interaction, which was videoed, the vendor said that 15 years ago she received her house lot after telling President Ali about her situation. At the time, the President was the Minister of Housing and Water. “Well 15 years ago he [the President] give me a house lot because I go and I tell he I had nine children. [I] continued building [and] I get a $200,000 loan in Dairy when you had your project [and] I put on a roof because I only had the building,” she shared. The woman stated that the $100,000 cash grant she received recently is being used to add a

roof to her shop, which is located at her home. The first time the National Cash Grant initiative was introduced was in late 2024, resulting in the transfer of over $60 billion in disposable income to more than 600,000 Guyanese. The programme was repeated again this year, and already, the initiative has processed payments amounting to more than $47 billion to over 400,000 eligible Guyanese. This national initiative is part of the measures introduced by the government to help increase disposable income and expand access to financial services for Guyanese citizens.

A vendor chats with President, Dr Irfaan Ali about the construction of a small shop at her home

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

US Embassy backs TVET expansion as BIT CEO completes leadership programme

THE United States Embassy in Guyana has reaffirmed its support for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a key component of the country’s workforce development, following a meeting between Deputy Chief of Mission John Crippen and Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Chief Executive Officer Richard Maughn. Crippen recently met with Maughn, who heads the Board of Industrial Training under the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning and is involved in efforts to expand access to skills training and career opportunities for young Guyanese. The meeting followed Maughn’s completion of the US Department of State’s International Visitor Lead-

ership Program (IVLP), held under the theme “Workforce and Business Development: Pathways for Youth”. Through the programme, Maughn examined workforce development models in the United States, including apprenticeships and cooperative education, aimed at linking young people with practical training and employment opportunities. The US Embassy said the experience was particularly relevant as Guyana undergoes rapid economic expansion and seeks to ensure that its workforce is equipped to meet growing demands across key sectors. “By investing in skills training in sectors like oil and gas, agro-processing, digital technology, and infrastructure, we help ensure Guyanese youth are posi-

tioned to lead that growth,” the embassy said. The embassy also welcomed Maughn to the US Department of State Alumni Network, signalling an intention to maintain engagement with him and other Guyanese professionals who participate in US-sponsored programmes. The BIT has a central role in Guyana’s technical and vocational training landscape, providing skills development opportunities designed to improve employability and prepare workers for the demands of an evolving economy. The embassy said it looked forward to continued collaboration in supporting workforce development and empowering the next generation of Guyanese workers. The engagement comes

Deputy Chief of Mission John Crippen recently met with Richard Maughn, Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT)

as Guyana’s economic transformation increases demand for skilled labour,

making technical and vocational training an increasingly important pathway

for young people seeking employment and career advancement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

CXC expands certification to recognise Caribbean skills

In an invited comment on the sidelines of a recent event, Wesley related that CXC has moved beyond its traditional qualifications, including CSEC, CAPE, associate degrees and diplomas, by introducing new approaches that can combine CXC qualifications with national programmes, or allow countries to develop their own programmes. He noted, “CXC has developed what we call our product-innovation model, which now gives our standard classical product, which persons are used to, the CSEC, the CAPE, our associate degrees and diploma. But now we have created two new

additions to our services that we provide, and that is hybrid innovation and proxy innovation.” The hybrid innovation model will allow countries to combine existing CXC products with specialised programmes developed around national priorities. Wesley said this could mean a programme created by a member state uses a newly developed Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC) qualification, CSEC or CAPE alongside a specialised national programme, with CXC working with the country to certify students. As he explained, “The hybrid innovation is simply combining products from CXC with products at the national level that is [sic] of importance to that particular country in awarding a particular qualification.” According to Wesley, this approach will allow member states to make use of CXC’s established qualifications while ensuring that

Christopher Thomas

Zeng Huaqing

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Dr Wayne Wesley

THE skills behind the Caribbean’s colourful carnivals, crafts, creative industries and emerging orange economy could soon be formally certified under new certification models being rolled out by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), according to Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Wayne Wesley, Dr Wesley said the new models are intended to expand the way people can gain qualifications, while also allowing Caribbean countries to develop programmes based on their own economic priorities and emerging sectors.

15

Chinese man charged with causing death by dangerous driving

A CHINESE man, Zeng Huaqing, was further remanded to prison last Friday after he was charged with causing the death of 21-year-old motorcyclist Christopher Thomas by dangerous driving. Huaqing, 39, of the CRBC Construction Camp, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, had been charged about a week earlier with four other traffic offences stemming from the August 5 fatal accident at Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD). He was brought before the Friendship Magistrate’s Court on last week Friday, where the additional charge of causing death by dangerous driving was read to him. Huaqing was further remanded to Lusignan Prison and is expected to return to court as the matter continues. The four earlier charges are driving while unlicensed, using an unlicensed motor vehicle, driving an uncertified motor vehicle and using an uninsured motor vehicle. Huaqing had pleaded not guilty to those charges when he appeared before the court on August 7 and was remanded to prison.

The matters were adjourned to August 14 for continuation. The charges stem from the August 5 collision involving motor van PAG 8745, which Huaqing was driving, and motorcycle CR 8010, operated by Thomas of Yarrowkabra. Police said the fatal accident occurred on Coverden Public Road around 8:45 p.m. According to the initial police investigation, Huaqing was driving the motor van

north along the western driving lane when, upon approaching the entrance to a worksite compound, he allegedly turned right into the compound without stopping. During the turn, the motor van collided with the motorcycle, which was travelling south along the eastern driving lane. Police said the motorcycle was allegedly travelling at a fast rate of speed at the time of the collision. Thomas TURN TO PAGE 17

programmes also respond to the specific skills and areas of development needed in their countries. He stated, “Countries and member states might develop a programme that will utilise our newly minted CTEC qualification or our CSEC or our CAPE to be combined with specialised programmes that is [sic] unique to their country’s priority, and we work together to certify the students in those areas.” The second model, known as proxy innovation, will give member states greater flexibility to design programmes of their own, with CXC providing quality assurance and regional recognition. Dr Wesley said CXC would assess these programmes against its skills-and-competency framework, which was developed to identify the skills needed for economic development and employability. “The other product-innovation model that we have come up with is that of the proxy innovation. This is where member states are now able to design their own programme[s],” he said. Dr Wesley related that

the framework covers five thematic areas and 15 subtheme areas, including problem solving, communication skills and critical thinking. The aim, he said, is to ensure that programmes being developed across the region are aligned with the competencies students need to become productive members of their economies. Dr Wesley further noted, “CXC will come in and quality assure those programmes, giving it regional recognition within the context of global acceptance because CXC is globally recognised.” The new models could also open a pathway for people with practical and creative skills to gain formal recognition for abilities that are often demonstrated outside traditional classrooms. He pointed specifically to the region’s growing focus on the orange economy, noting that events such as carnivals and cultural festivals showcase a wide range of skills that can now potentially be certified. Dr Wesley shared, “There are certain areas of that economy like the design, the craft, the cultural skills, and the design skills that persons will

display in our carnivals, in our Crop Over in the case of Barbados, and the carnivals in the case of Trinidad and Tobago and those festivals that we have right across the region. There are several skills that are being demonstrated in those events and activities that we can now certify.” He said the certification process would provide a quality-assurance seal that could give people greater confidence in qualifications earned through nationally developed programmes. Dr Wesley said once programmes meet the required standards under the CXC’s framework, the qualifications could receive recognition beyond the country where they were earned, giving skilled Caribbean people greater opportunities to apply their abilities internationally. As he added, “Persons can be assured that the qualification that they receive at the national level will now have regional recognition and global acceptance. So, our students are not limited to performing or applying their skills in the region, but globally as well.”

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Guyana to participate in historic all-female global space mission in India

MISSION ShakthiSAT is an ambitious all-girl satellite and space technology initiative led by Chennai-based Space Kidz India, founded by Dr. Srimathy Kesan. Launched on January 16, 2025, the initiative brings together 12,000 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 from 108 countries, with

the vision of empowering young women across the globe through the inspiring world of space exploration. Considered the world’s first initiative of its kind, Mission ShakthiSAT places young women not on the margins of a science programme but firmly at its centre. The girls are not simply

participants; they are being trained to conceptualise, design and contribute to the execution of a space mission, providing them with practical exposure to space science and satellite technology. The initiative is driven by the vision of creating opportunities for young girls while challenging traditional

barriers that have limited women’s and girls’ participation in STEM and the space sector. The programme was offered free of cost to all participating girls, providing young women from diverse backgrounds and countries with access to specialised space technology education and training.

Selected student: Nareeta Nandkumar

The programme is being implemented in two phases. Phase One, which concluded in mid-2026, entailed participants undergoing 120 hours of rigorous online theoretical training in areas of mathematics, physics, coding, ham radio technology, PCB designing, and payload development. Through 21 modules and over 365 lessons, participants were introduced to the fundamental concepts and technical knowledge required to understand how a satellite is developed. Phase Two brings together one selected young girl from each participating country in India for an intensive, hands-on space technology programme. The girls will build on the knowledge gained during their online training and gain first-hand insight into the processes involved in developing and executing a space mission. GUYANA’S ROLE IN MISSION SHAKTHISAT Quietly leading Guyana’s role in Mission ShakthiSAT is Ms. Devica Uditram, the appointed Ambassador to Guyana. Over the past year, 30 young girls from Guyana were enrolled in the programme and have been exposed to the free curriculum, gaining knowledge and developing their understanding of satellite systems. Ms. Uditram has been responsible for coordinating Guyana’s participation in the programme, supporting the girls throughout their journey, and helping to facilitate their engagement with the initiative. In recognition of her role in Mission ShakthiSAT, she was featured in HERizon: Women Shaping STEAM Campaign- an initiative launched by the CARICOM Secretariat high-

Mission ShakhtiSAT’s Ambassador to Guyana: Devica Uditram

lighting Caribbean women who lead and innovate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). From the group of participants, Ms. Nareeta Devi Nandkumar was selected to represent Guyana at Phase Two of the programme. Nareeta will travel to New Delhi, India, from August 22 to August 31, 2026, where she will join young girls from countries around the world. During this phase, she will learn from prominent scientists and engineers, engage in an immersive experience in real-time satellite design, fabrication, testing, coding, and integration activities, while experiencing cultural exchange and international collaboration. Two satellites will be developed which will be launched into lunar orbit. Ms. Uditram will also participate in a Global Women Leadership and Space Diplomacy Summit, aimed at building a global network through education, leading change, and inspiring generations in space and science. For Guyana, this moment represents an important step in opening new pathways for young people to see themselves as contributors to the global space and technology community. N a re e t a ’s s e l e c t i o n demonstrates that opportunities in space science are not beyond the reach of young people in Guyana. Her participation offers girls across the country the opportunity to see themselves not only as students of STEM, but as future scientists, engineers, innovators and leaders capable of contributing to some of the world’s most exciting frontiers.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

17

Road Safety Push: police record over 3,000 traffic breaches in six days

The Traffic Department recorded a further 110 cases for breaches of the conditions of prescribed vehicle fitness. The department said coloured lights, improperly placed licence plates and alterations to motor vehicles were among the breaches dominating this category

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department recorded 3,198 traffic offences between August 9 and 15, 2026, with speeding, helmet violations and breaches involving vehicle fitness conditions accounting for a significant portion of the cases. According to the department’s latest enforcement figures, ranks recorded 751 cases for speeding, making it the leading traffic violation during the reporting period. The enforcement drive also resulted in 150 cases for failure to wear safety helmets and 68 cases involving pillion riders being carried without the required safety helmets. Seatbelt violations accounted for 103 cases, while 64 motorists were cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. The Traffic Department recorded a further 110 cases for breaches of the conditions of prescribed vehicle fitness. The department said coloured lights, improperly placed licence plates and alterations to motor vehicles were among the breaches dominating this category. Other violations included 128 cases for leaving motor vehicles in a dangerous position, 94 cases involving

tinted motor vehicles and 69 cases for unlicensed drivers. The police also recorded 68 cases involving unlighted motor vehicles at the front and 44 involving unlighted rear lights. There were 53 cases for breaches of traffic-light signals and 11 cases for faulty parking. The department said the enforcement of helmet requirements remains a continuous area of focus, noting an increase in cases involving both motorists who fail to wear safety helmets and those who permit pillion riders to travel without helmets. It further disclosed that all of the tint-related cases recorded during the period involved tinting on front windshields. The continued enforcement against driving under the influence of alcohol also remains a priority for the Traffic Department, which said the latest figures reflect its commitment to taking action against motorists who endanger themselves and other road users. The figures form part of the GPF’s ongoing traffic-enforcement efforts aimed at improving compliance with road-safety regulations and reducing dangerous-driving practices on Guyana’s roadways.

Chinese man...

and a 24-year-old man of Grand Sand Road, Soesdyke, who was riding as the pillion passenger, were thrown onto the roadway following the impact. Both sustained injuries and were taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where Thomas was pronounced dead while receiving medical treatment. The pillion rider was also injured and was treated at the hospital. Police said CCTV cameras were identified in the area and were reviewed as part of the investigation.

FROM PAGE 15

Huaqing was arrested on August 5. A breathalyser test administered to him produced a reading of 0.07 micrograms, which police said was below the prescribed legal limit. The Guyana Police Force has said it remains committed to enforcing traffic laws and reminded motorists that driving without the required licence, vehicle certification and insurance can place other road users at serious risk and carries legal consequences.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

TVET’s Next Chapter: Modernise, Monitor and Move Forward – CTVET Chairman - Sooknanan urges TVET leaders to keep pace with global standards

AS the 9th Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CT-

VET) prepares to demit office at the end of August, the body’s chairman,

Elon Sooknanan is calling for stronger leadership, continuous professional

development and closer adherence to international standards to maintain the level of progress attained in Guyana’s technical education sector. The Council, which has been in office since September 2024, will complete its statutory term of office on 31 August 2026 after overseeing a number of initiatives aimed at improving certification, increasing technical training in schools and improving the quality of TVET institutions. Sooknanan, who is also the EPA’s Head of Public Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism, said the work of the Council has been crucial to addressing several long-standing challenges, while building a stronger foundation for the country’s skills training system. One of the most pressing problems taken up during the Council’s term was the backlog of certificates due to graduates of technical training programs. Over 3,000 excellent certificates were verified and cleared and a further 2,000 new certificates were verified and certified in 6 regions and 24 study areas, Levels 1-3. For graduates, the certification process is more than an administrative hurdle. Recognized credentials can determine access to employment, further training and opportunity to progress in their chosen fields. The Council also discussed the possibility of introducing technical skills into the education system at an earlier stage. It inspected and certified 86 secondary schools facilitating Level 1 TVET training in 26 courses countrywide. Simultaneously, 225 assessors were trained and certified in Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), in support of efforts to align Guyana’s assessment standards to the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) framework. Post-secondary institutions, too, felt the demand for better quality assurance. Twenty-five training centers and institutes in six regions were inspected and recertified including the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. (GTTCI) at Port Mou-

rant, Berbice. The Council also gave guidance to a consultant who is working on the implementation of an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System for CTVET under a World Bank project. The programme aims to strengthen institutional accountability and service delivery. Sooknanan said that strengthening TVET system also meant meaningful cooperation between training institutions and the private sector. During its term the Council collaborated with companies and organizations including ExxonMobil, Learn Corp Inc. and the Greater Guyana Initiative. It also participated in regional and international initiatives, including activities with the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) and the SAGE (Skills to Access the Green Economy) initiative. With the expansion of Guyana’s economy and the need for employers to have workers with specialized technical skills, these relationships are becoming more important. But Sooknanan believes the quality of leadership in the sector will be very important in the next phase of development. He warned against reliance on what he called “adopted customs and practices” when these are not in accordance with the laid down procedures and standards of the Council and Ministry of Education. Sooknanan said leaders of technical institutions must be aware of what is happening internationally in terms of trends, standards and best practices. He also emphasized the need for continuous professional training and development, stating that institutional leaders should be aware of developments to be able to manage an evolving TVET system. “Monitoring and evaluation needs to become routine in the work of the sector,” he said. “It is needed to ensure that institutions are in line with strategic objectives and are held to account for their performance.” The chairman was shared

Chairman of the 9th Council for TVET, Elon Sooknanan

his insight with this publication as the 10th CTVET Council is due to assume office later this year after taking over a sector that has seen major investment and institutional development over the past two years. Sooknanan said the challenge for the incoming Council was not to keep existing systems but to continue to modernize them. Among key priorities identified are stronger leadership development, faster digital transformation, regular monitoring and evaluation and strict compliance with international standards in health, safety and environment. The larger objective is to provide TVET graduates with practical, recognized and relevant skills to satisfy the needs of Guyana’s burgeoning economy. With employers in many sectors looking for more skilled workers, the performance of the TVET system will directly affect young people looking for jobs, businesses looking for qualified workers and economic development more generally for the country. As the 9th Council closes its chapter, Sooknanan’s message is that the gains made must be a platform for further reform, not an end point. The incoming Council will thus be expected to build on the work already done while grappling with the institutional and leadership challenges that will determine how effectively Guyana converts its growing demand for skilled labor into sustainable opportunities for its people.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Suthar, Jadeja share seven to hand India 178-run lead despite Dinusha 100 MANAV Suthar landed in Sri Lanka with big promise, delivered with a wicket first ball, and took three more to help India bowl Sri Lanka out for 284, which gave them a formidable first-innings lead of 178. With three wickets, Ravindra Jadeja provided a good helping hand, as did the other three bowlers with a wicket each. (Scores: Sri Lanka 284 (Dinusha 100, Dickwella 80, Suthar 4-76, Jadeja 3-57) trail India 462 (Padikkal 167, Rahul 82, Jurel 51, Jayasuriya 4-109) by 178 runs India might have entertained thoughts of enforcing a follow-on in this rain-curtailed Test when they had the hosts down at 90 for 5. But Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella took that decision out of India’s hands with a 146-run stand for the sixth wicket as the older and softer ball became less dangerous. Dinusha brought up his maiden Test century, but Dickwella was still saddled with the unwanted record of most Test half-centuries without a hundred when Prasidh Krishna produced a beauty with a 62-over old ball

Sonal Dinusha celebrates his maiden Test century

to dismiss him for 80. Suthar arrived at the bowling crease in earnestness even though India did waste the equivalent of three overs by coming out to bat at nine down and lasting just four balls. By the time Suthar came on in the eighth over, Mohammed Siraj had made one breakthrough in the first over. Nishan Madushka ended up playing at one just short of a length as it seamed away to offer first slip an easy catch. Suthar then rattled Sri Lanka with overspin and sharp turn with the new ball. The first ball was perfect, landing on a good length on middle and off, turning

and bouncing, and taking the glove of the experienced Dinesh Chandimal. Suthar kept going past the bat with such regularity that it ended up forcing Lahiru Udara to try to manufacture a cut shot, hitting an easy catch to backward point. You felt Kuldeep Yadav needed an early wicket for the sake of his confidence, and he did do his bit by beating a charging Kamindu Mendis in flight, but Shubman Gill’s assist can’t be forgotten. He dived full length to his left at short cover, and took it one-handed inches above the ground and behind his body. Jadeja soon joined the

Manav Suthar sent Dinesh Chandimal back off his first delivery (Getty Images)

party with the ball turning so much that his natural variations were lethal. Dhananjaya de Silva did everything right, though, playing for the straight ball, covering his pad and off stump, and then hoping the ones that turned went past the edge. And they did. Until one didn’t. This one turned less than usual, and took his edge. Post lunch, Dickwella and Dinusha rode their luck a little bit at the start of the partnership with a couple of edges falling short and a couple of top-edged sweeps not going to hand. However, once they got in and the ball became soft, they swept In-

Hurd appointed Dominica Men’s National Football head coach for a two-year term ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) –The Dominican Football Association (DFA) has ended its search for a new leader of the men’s national football program, appointing Kurt Hurd as head coach on a two-year contract. Hurd, who previously served as a FIFA talent scout, takes over the role he briefly held in March during the CONCACAF series. His familiarity with the squad from that interim stint proved pivotal in his decision to pursue the position permanently. “After working with the Senior Men’s National team in March, I was impressed

helmed the team for several years. Hurd’s first competitive test will arrive in September, when Dominica kicks off its campaign in the CONCACAF Nations Cup.

The two-year deal signals the federation’s commitment to stability as the team looks to build on recent performances and advance in regional competition.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday August 18, 2026) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158) Kurt Hurd appointed DFA coach

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Quinton de Kock-8 catches (BR)

with the talent and work ethic I saw,” Hurd stated. “I am excited to work with the boys. I believe in them, and they believe in me.” The appointment comes following the departure of Ellington Sabin, who

(2) 143* for the 2nd wkt (Nicolas Pooran/Alex Hales, TKR vs ABF) Today’s Quiz: (1) What has been the result of GAW first game in CPL 2026? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match in that game? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

dia to distraction. Dickwella played the regulation sweep he did that from almost every line - and Dinusha showed a penchant for the reverse and the slog. He even slog-swept Jadeja for a six, which is one of the more difficult asks. The middle session produced four runs an over and no wicket. It featured a testing spell of reverse swing from Siraj. Post tea, India came out wanting to bowl steady, but Dickwella started with a four first ball off Prasidh, and Dinusha with a six first ball off Jadeja. However, Prasidh mixed it up with a wobble-seam ball, which

ENGLISH RACING TIPS CHEPSTOW 09:15 hrs Hope Spring 09:45 hrs Delightfully Hot 10:15 hrs Grove Street 10:50 hrs Risen Again 11:25 hrs Evie Ross 12:00 hrs hrs Calafrio LINGFIELD 09:30 hrs Diamond Bay 10:00 hrs Romotoso 10:33 hrs Pride Eye 11:08 hrs My Old Mate 11:45 hrs Turpin 12:20 hrs Rovina 12:52 hrs Due Date 13:22 hrs Chasing Gold WOLVERHAMPTON 12:30 hrs Franschhoek 13:00 hrs Peaberry 13:30 hrs Spaceman 14:00 hrs Samra Star 15:00 hrs Flash Kozo

actually seamed away to take the outside edge of a distraught Dickwella, who lasted hundred balls for the first time in 21 Test innings A lucky break followed when a sweetly-timed cover drive from Keshara Nuwantha hit silly point Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knee and lobbed up for an easy catch to make Jadeja only the ninth spinner to have taken 350 wickets. Sri Lanka still needed 20 runs to go past the follow-on mark, and Dinusha was nearing a hundred as well. A resolute Prabath Jayasuriya made sure he was there when both the milestones were reached, but top-edged a slog sweep off Suthar immediately after Dinusha’s hundred. Jadeja came back to trap Dinusha with a quick delivery on the crease, and Lahiru Kumara was stumped to give Suthar a fourth. All four of Suthar’s wickets came from the 4-5m length zone, where he stayed for more than half the balls he bowled. Bad light denied India 13 overs of batting, leaving them with a possible 196 overs in the Test to force a result. (Cricinfo) SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS GREYVILLE 08:20 hrs Your Ladyship 08:55 hrs The Wolf 09:30 hrs Trois Trois Quatre 10:05 hrs Roy's Grace 10:40 hrs Little Cracker 11:15 hrs Mystique Rouge IRISH RACING TIPS ROSCOMMON 12:10 hrs Forlio 12:45 hrs Cashel Queen 13:15 hrs Green Dreamer 13:45 hrs Stooked 14:15 hrs Tokyo Treasure 14:45 hrs Almazann 15:15 hrs Lady Plimsoll AMERICAN RACING TIPS FINGER LAKES Race 1 Blamicker Race 2 Pompous Prince Race 3 Angel Gift Race 4 Grand Lady Indy Race 5 The Institute Race 6 Burn Notice Race 7 Freedsdale Race 8 Coach Bahe

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Bangladesh thrash Australia for historic Test win BANGLADESH thrashed Australia by nine wickets on the fourth day of the series-opener in Darwin to complete one of Test cricket’s greatest upsets. After bowling the hosts out for 284 and needing 57 to win, Mominul Haque cut Beau Webster to the boundary for the winning runs to seal the nation’s first Test victory in Australia. The moment sparked jubilation among Bangladesh players and staff as they celebrated arguably their greatest victory in 26 years of competing in Test cricket. Australia are the topranked Test nation while Bangladesh haven’t played a series under the five-day format in the country since a 2-0 defeat in 2003. The visitors were on top of the match throughout, but it was spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz who took the spotlight on day four as he took 5-66 to dismiss Australia for 284, leaving just 57 runs needed to win. All-rounder Cameron Green showed fight with a

valiant 104 but after being bowled by Hasan Mahmud, Australia’s faint hopes of saving the Test all but disappeared. Seamer Mahmud was named player of the match after claiming 6-55 in the first innings and 3-56 in the second. “This is the biggest win so far for Bangladesh in any format,” captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said. “Going forward we want to do something special in the future. I’m very happy, proud of myself and the way the boys played. We did a lot of hard work.” Speaking on ABC, commentator Jim Maxwell described the result as one of the most “embarrassing defeats that Australia have ever suffered in Test cricket”. History for Bangladesh as they beat Australia in Darwin Miraz’s second innings performance followed a gritty 65 with the bat on day three that helped Bangladesh into a healthy first innings lead, before he dismissed talisman Steve Smith in Australia’s

Hasan Mahmud (right) was named player of the match after taking nine wickets in the opening Test

second innings to set up victory. The spinner continued his form on day four as he had wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught behind for 30 before bowling all-rounder Webster for five with a pair of sumptuous deliveries to bring Australia’s tail into play. First Test, Darwin (day four of five) (Scores) Australia 198: (Smith 71; Mahmud 6-55) & 284 (Green 104; Miraz 5-66) Bangladesh 426: (Tanzid 101, Shanto 84, Miraz 65; Hazlewood 6-89) & 57-1 (Mominul 30*)

Bangladesh win by nine wickets The 28-year-old then had Australia captain Pat Cummins caught in close for eight, before a defiant 43-run eighth-wicket partnership between Green and Mitchell Starc was ended when Taskin Ahmed had the latter caught behind for 18. Green dug in for his third Test century in his home country in a timely knock amid criticism of his place in the side, but after being dismissed by Mahmud, Miraz removed Nathan Lyon to leave Bangladesh in touching

distance of victory. Despite losing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck to Josh Hazlewood in the second over, Mominul’s unbeaten 30 and Shadman Islam’s 25 sealed the resounding win. “They outplayed us in all facets, they were patient and disciplined,” said Cummins. “I thought our prep was spot-on, no excuses.” Australia’s only previous Test defeat by Bangladesh was at Mirpur in 2017. The match was the first of a two-Test series, with the second beginning on 22 August (01:00 BST), which you can follow with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Bangladesh prime minister congratulates team The result was all the more remarkable as Bangladesh, who are the ninthranked Test team, had been bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up match in Darwin days earlier. In June, they were thrashed by Zimbabwe, the

lowest of cricket’s 10-ranked Test-playing nations, in a one-off match in Harare. Bangladesh’s prime minister Tarique Rahman congratulated the team on a video call with the players. “We’re all eagerly waiting to welcome you home,” he said on social media. Bangladesh also went into the match against a fullstrength Australian team with two of their leading fast bowlers, Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, out injured. Shanto said the remarkable victory was helped by a mindset shift among his side’s pacemen. “Five years ago, pacers didn’t want to play Tests,” said Shanto. “But we’ve been playing lots of Test cricket and they are giving importance to Test format. They want to play, want to perform, want to be world class. That is the mindset they now have. “Seniors like Mushfiqur [Rahim] and Mominul [Haque] have encouraged them to play more Test cricket. (BBC Sport)

West Indies edge USA in Mahdia beat Eccles to secure spot at National Finals thriller in Over-60 World Cup in Lotto/Let’sBet T10 Tapeball ONTARIO, Canada, (CMC) – West Indies pulled off a dramatic one-wicket win over the USA when the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-60, 45over World Cup continued over the weekend here on Friday. After limiting the USA to 168 for nine in their 45 overs, the Windies got home by the smallest of margins, finishing on 169 for nine in 44.1 overs. After choosing to bat first, the USA were led by Parak Ananta’s unbeaten 53 off 58 balls, with his knock resuscitating their innings after they were precariously placed at 89 for five in the 26th over. Opener Mahmood Shahid contributed a run-a-ball 29, while Chandrakant Barlingay chipped in with a patient 25

off 54 balls. Zamin Amim was the West Indies’ best bowler with 3-27 and Deonarine Deyal took 2-21. The West Indies then got some useful contributions from the top order that saw them progress to 70 for two in the 20th over. However, David Martil (3-18) and Ahmed Merchant (3-31) orchestrated a batting collapse that saw the Windies crumble to 134 for eight in the 39th over. It took the efforts of Narine Bidhesi, who scored a crucial 56 off 85 balls to get them close to their total, but they West Indies still needed unbeaten knocks of 18 from Steve Linton and 13 from last man Rajendra Dilraj to get them over the line.

MAHDIA (Movements Family) dethroned 2025 zone champions Eccles All-Stars in a tense, high-scoring encounter to secure an eight-run victory in the East Bank/ West Demerara Zone final of the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast on Sunday at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Community Centre Ground. Batting first in the showpiece clash, Mahdia laid down a formidable marker by posting 128 for 5 in their allotment of 10 overs. The innings was built on a collective top-order contribution, headlined by Andy Lall’s aggressive 31. Devendra Latchman provided valuable support with 21, while Ershaad Ali (19), Andrew Gibson (18), and an unbeaten late cameo from Orrin Gibson (18*) ensured Mahdia set a challenging total. Nandkumar Ramanan was the standout bowler for Eccles, taking 3 for 29, but could not completely stem the run flow. Eccles All-Stars mount-

ed a spirited title defence in response, led by a blistering half-century from Akeim Vieira, who smashed 55. Solid contributions from Andrew Lim (25) and Quazim Yusuf (20) kept Eccles well in touch with the required rate, setting up a thrilling finish. However, Mahdia’s attack showed steely nerves under pressure. Gavin Moriah claimed 3 for 26 and Sanjay Algoo picked up 2 for 27, striking at vital intervals to halt Eccles’ momentum and restrict former champions to 120 for 8 as the overs ran out. Earlier in the day, both finalists produced dominant semi-final performances. Mahdia made light work of Airport SVC, restricting them to 67 for 9—thanks to a stingy spell of 2 for 4 from Devendra Latchman alongside two-wicket hauls from Algoo and Moriah— before racing to 70 for 2 in just four overs powered by Andy Lall’s 39. In the other semi-final, Eccles brushed aside Village Rams by seven wick-

ets, chasing down a target of 101 in only 5.4 overs as Vieira hammered an unbeaten 52. The zonal triumph earns Mahdia G$500,000 and a spot in the National Finals at the Anna Regina National Stadium on October 11, where they will face Berbice Zone champions Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars. Eccles took home G$200,000 courtesy of M.S. Roshandin Group of Companies, while losing semi-finalists Village Rams and Airport SVC received G$50,000 each from Camille’s Academy, and quarter-final losers pocketed G$25,000 courtesy of Scoop Ride Inc. Attention now turns to the Essequibo Zone, where 16 teams battle from August 22–23 for the next spot in the finals. On Saturday on the Essequibo Coast, matches will be held at 10:30h, 12:30h, and 15:30h, with venues at Pomona, Affiance, Anna Regina National Stadium, and Hampton Court. On Sunday, August 23,

the zone finals are from 14:30h at the Anna Regina National Stadium. The tournament is also backed by KFC Guyana, Office of the President, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Banks DIH Ltd, Star Rentals, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc., S&K Imports, I&S Trading, Impressions Branding, Regal Stationery, SAWA Investment Inc. Betcabana, Shawn Mini Mart, Trophy Stall, ENet, Supreme Transportation Inc., ETS – Environmental Technical Solutions Inc., Windsor Estates, Smart Choice Pharmacy, G Mining Ventures, V-Net Technologies, Guyana Oil Company Limited, Camilles Academy, 3D Lee Hub, Trinchloro, Superbet Guyana, Guyana Cup, The Laundry Chute Inc., Bernies Pharmacy, Mannol Oil, Montra Restaurant and Lounge, Continental Transportation Inc., D&S Ramdehol and Sons Jewellery, and Navin and Son Construction.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Bravo, Bishop first two inductees into CPL Hall of Fame ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and respected cricket commentator Ian Bishop will be the first two people inducted into the newly established Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Hall of Fame. In a press release issued on Monday, the CPL revealed that Bravo will become the first player inducted, with Bishop recognised in the non-player category for his contribution to the tournament’s success since its launch in 2013. The two Trinidadians will be officially inducted at a landmark Hall of Fame gala at The Hilton Hotel in Barbados on September 15. The 42-year-old Bravo, widely regarded as one of

the best T20 all-rounders in the sport’s history, won more than 15 T20 titles across the globe over an 18year career, including two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups with West Indies in 2012 and 2016, multiple Indian Premier League titles with the Chennai Super Kings, and further silverware in the Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League. Bravo was the first bowler to reach 500 T20 wickets and is the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker of all time with 129 wickets. He is the CPL’s most decorated player, winning five CPL titles as a player, with the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, and with St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2021, before adding a sixth as

Dwayne Bravo (left) and Ian Bishop (right) will become the first inductees in the CPL Hall of Fame

head coach when he guided the Knight Riders to the title in 2025. A delighted Bravo said he was honoured to become the CPL’s Hall of Fame first member. “It’s a real honour to be the first player inducted into

the CPL Hall of Fame. This tournament has been a huge part of my career, and I will always treasure every title I’ve won here. “I’ve played cricket all over the world, but there’s nothing like playing at home. CPL is a true cele-

bration of Caribbean culture and the game,” Bravo said. Meanwhile, Bishop, a former West Indies fast bowler, has delivered some of the most electric commentary the sport has ever heard. His passion for the game, and for CPL, has been vital in making the tournament the success it is today. Bishop said he was pleased to have given back to the sport that helped shaped his life. “Cricket has given me so much, and commentary has allowed me to give something back to a game and a region I love deeply. To be inducted into this inaugural CPL Hall of Fame class, and to be recognised for the stories I’ve had the privilege of telling, is an honour I’ll

carry with me always. “This tournament has always represented something bigger than the sport itself; it’s a stage for Caribbean talent, culture and pride, and I’m grateful to have had a courtside seat to its history,” Bishop said. The gala will bring together the biggest names in West Indies cricket to celebrate a tournament that has become a source of enormous regional pride, making it one of the unmissable nights on the Caribbean cricket calendar. Proceeds from the evening will go to The Sir Clive Lloyd Healthcare Foundation, supporting its work to raise awareness and improve testing for prostate cancer across the Caribbean.

Tucber Park beat Albion to capture BCB ABFA throws support behind embattled Guyana Breweries Under-19 title Infantino By Sean Devers ON a hot Sunday at the Albion Community Centre ground, where the first-ever ODI in the West Indies was contested in 1977, the home team faced off with New Amsterdam-based Tucber Park in the inauChampions Tucber Park with their trophy

Man-of-the-Match Gilbert Griffith scored 27 and captured 4-21

gural final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Guyana Breweries 50-over U-19 tournament. When the dust had settled it was Tucber Park who emerged victorious by 57 runs to lift the first championship Trophy. There was no U-19 tournament last year and Port Mourant won the 2024 BCB U-19 tournament.

A fair-sized gathering watched as Albion won the toss and invited Tuber Park to bat on good pitch and fast outfield. Openers, Antionio DePaul (18) Kelston Kistan (7) put together 20 before Jermey Gobin sent DePaul’s stumps for walk The in-form Lemuel DeJonge (8) joined Kistan and took the score to 29 before DeJonge departed for eight. Skipper Thiery Henry got going with five fours before clearing the boundary twice in a pugnacious 34 before he was caught and bowled by Gobin at 71-3. National U-19 left-arm spinner Gilbert Griffith fell for 27 at 87-4 and when Micah Amsterdam (13) was dismissed at 97-5, Tucber Park suffered a collapse, losing their five wickets for just 18 runs and were bowled out for 150 in 32.2 overs. Fiaz Baksh, Rovin Lallbeharry and Jermey Gobin picked up two wickets each

for Albion who were bundled out for 93. Fast bowlers Jayhayden Rohlehr and National U-19 speedster Micah Amsterdam ran in and bowled with good pace despite challenging runup. Rohlehr (4-14) ripped the heart out the Albion top order while Amsterdam (1-24) as the pair had the Corentyne side reeling on 15-3 and they never recovered. Baksh made 23 with a couple of boundaries while opener Suresh Jurralty hit fours as Albion were bowled out for 93 in 29 overs. Griffith returned with the ball to capture 4-21, while Shamar Thomas took 1-6. Such is the strength of Berbice cricket that a depleted BEI Secondary Schools team, made-up of Tucber Park and Canje Cricket Club players, beat Abram Zuil Secondary on Sunday to book their place in the national schools T20 U-19 in Monday’s final at Queen’s College ground.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – President of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Ickford Roberts has revealed that the association is still backing embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino because of his focus on assisting smaller football nations like those in the Caribbean. The ABFA’s support for Infantino comes amidst severe backlash and calls for him to resign following a scrapped plan to sell a $4.2 billion private equity stake in World Cup commercial rights. Major confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC condemned the move, demanding independent oversight. However, in a recently released statement, the ABFA described Infantino as a visionary leader whose tenure had reshaped the global football landscape. The association highlighted FIFA’s increased investment in grassroots football infrastructure and

President of the ABFA Ickford Roberts

the expansion of World Cup participation as key developments that have benefited emerging football nations. “His transformative policies, from groundbreaking investment in grassroots infrastructure to the historic expansion of World Cup access, have elevated the aspirations of emerging football nations into attainable realities. “By listening with genuine humility and acting with decisive conviction, he has forged a legacy of inclusivity that transcends the sport itself, affirming that every nation, regardless of size, deserves equal voice and fair opportunity on the world stage,” the statement read.

The ABFA also praised Infantino for what it described as his willingness to listen to smaller member associations and act on their concerns. “President Infantino has stood as an unwavering champion of equity,” the association said, maintaining that every nation, regardless of size, should have an equal voice and fair opportunity on the international stage. The association reaffirmed its confidence in Infantino’s continued leadership, expressing the view that FIFA’s role in using football to promote unity, hope and opportunity can be strengthened further under his stewardship.

Asafa Powell (right) broke down in tears while paying tribute to his former coach Stephen Photo saved: Asafa Powell

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC ) – One of Jamaica’s greatest ever athletic coaches, Stephen ‘Franno’ Francis was laid to rest on Saturday last in an emotional service at the National Indoor Sports Centre. Francis, founder of the renowned MVP Track Club, passed away on July 4, one day after celebrating his 64th birthday. During the service that

was attended by family members, friends, colleagues, athletes and political figures, Francis was remembered as a man that made an outstanding contribution to athletics not only in Jamaica, but internationally. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange described Francis as “no ordinary man” and hailed him as a figure who redefined excellence in track

Legendary coach Stephen Francis laid to rest in moving ceremony and field. “We say farewell to a man whose mind power gave him the ability and focus to shape actions, feelings, and results. He possessed an extraordinary vision backed up by a fixity of purpose and complete confidence that what he was doing would bring the results that he envisioned,” Grange said. “He was no ordinary man. Franno was no ordinary man. In fact, he was among the

most brilliant Jamaicans in any field.” One of the most emotional tributes came from former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, who broke down in tears during his address and needed the assistance of Brigitte Foster-Hylton to complete it. Powell said Francis was a role model throughout his years under his tutelage. “Today, I’m not here as

a former world record holder or an Olympian. I’m standing here as that little country boy whose life was changed by one man. “In 2001, at the Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, I false started in the finals and was disqualified. I went back to my high school with no idea what the future would be. Then one day, Paul Francis showed up at my school,” Powell remembered.

“…Coach became more than just a coach; he was another father. I remember his old Proton Saga leaking transmission oil and I always think I’m a mechanic, so on a daily basis, I would take it to top up the transmission oil for him. “It seemed like a small thing back then but now, it feels priceless. He invested in every part of us,” he added.

Rutherford, Motie power Tridents past Kings to remain unbeaten GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia, (CMC) – Sherfane Rutherford’s Player-ofthe-Match performance helped the Barbados Tridents outmuscle the St Lucia Kings by nine runs in their rain-affected contest in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here on Sunday. In a match that was reduced to 18 overs per side after consistent showers delayed the start of play by over an hour, Rutherford’s superb 61 off 31 balls breathed life back into the Trident’s innings in the latter stages, as they posted a formidable 177 for five at the Daren Sammy National Stadium. The home side was looking threatening at one stage, until Motie’s three-wicket haul helped the visitors seize control, with his heroics allowing them to limit their opponents to 168 for seven.

After being sent in to bat, the Tridents suffered the early loss of opener Zachary Carter for just two, but Brandon King and Quinton de Kock’s 56-run partnership carried them to 63 for one inside six overs. And even when Roston Chase accounted for the wickets of de Kock for a speedy 38 from 15 balls and King for 39 off 28 balls, the Tridents were still comfortably placed at 90 for three in the 10th over. Rutherford began his innings cautiously before unleashing his fury, blasting Chase for a six and four off consecutive deliveries in the 12th over. His partner, Rivaldo Clarke, meanwhile struggled to get the ball off the square and find the gaps, resulting in the Tridents creeping up to 119 for three after 14 overs. Rutherford took charge

Sherfane Rutherford scored 61 off 31 balls for the Barbados Tridents against the St Lucia Kings

shortly after, however, hitting Matthew Forde for two sixes in the ensuing over and followed up by thumping Khari Campbell for two consecutive sixes in the 17th over, the latter bringing up

his half century in 27 balls. Shadley van Schalkwyk eventually claimed his wicket in the final over, after he pummeled five sixes and three fours and he also had Clarke caught for a pedes-

trian 23 off 27 ball two balls later, before captain Chris Green ended the innings in fine style by hitting him for six off the last ball. The Kings were given a solid start by openers Johann Jeremiah and Chase, with the two putting on 41 runs while scoring at almost 10 runs an over. Mujeeb Ur Rahman broke the partnership by having Jeremiah caught for 11, before Motie bowled Chase for 34 off 21 balls to leave the score 59 for two after six overs. The Kings suffered a setback when Jewel Andrew was forced to retire hurt after picking up an injury to his right thigh, but Jewel Andrew and Charith Asalanka put them back on track during a stand of 55 runs for the third wicket. Auguste smashed Green for two sixes and a four in the ninth over and brought

up his half century off 28 balls by thumping pacer Ramon Simmonds for consecutive sixes in the 12th over that yielded 20 runs. However, when Ur Rahman struck to dismiss Asalanka for eight, the Kings’ chase lost momentum with Motie returning to bowl Auguste for the top score of 63 off 34 balls, inclusive of six sixes and three fours, while also snaring the wicket of van Schalkwyk to see the Kings crumble to 134 for five in the 16th over. Needing 44 runs from 12 balls, Matthew Forde tried his best in an unbeaten cameo of 24 off 17 balls, but it proved to be insufficient to save the home side from a second defeat in four games. Motie finished with 3-22, while Ur Rahman took 2-27 to help the Tridents win their second match on the trot and jump to the top of the table.

Bravo, Bishop first two inductees into CPL Hall of Fame 23

PAGE

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026