Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 18-09-2026

FRIDAY 18th September, 2026

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUSIVE

No. 1081910

Guyana eyes fuel-storage network

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- President Ali says proposals being explored, eyes integration with Brazilian market

The East Demerara road network has been expanded to make commute easier and more comfortable for all categories of road users (Photo: Vice -president Bharrat Jagdeo/Facebook)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday night joined members of the Chinese community in Guyana at a reception to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (Photo: President Dr Irfaan Ali)

Over $50B invested in Guyana’s health sector in first half of 2026

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Judge rules Jagdeo’s assertion that Goolsarran has no integrity is ‘substantially true’

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- tens of thousands reaping benefits of new hospitals, digitised records, health vouchers

- dismisses libel case, orders former Auditor General to pay $250,000 in costs

UN must be ‘fit for purpose’ as global challenges evolve – Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

14-member cultural delegation to participate in Belize’s 45th independence anniversary celebrations AT the official request of the Government of Belize, a 14-member cultural delegation from the Co-operative Republic of Guyana recently arrived in Belize to participate in the nation's 45th independence anniversary celebrations. Spearheaded as a symbolic gift of friendship from the Government of Guyana and His Excellency the President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the bilateral exchange underscores the deep diplomatic ties and shared CARICOM heritage between both nations, a press release said. The 14-member Guyanese cultural delegation in Belize

It added that the delegation, which departed Guyana on September 16 and will return on September 22, 2026, represents the country's vibrant "One Guyana" national vision. Across four curated live showcases scheduled from September 18 to 21, the delegation will highlight Guyana’s multi-ethnic traditions—spanning

Indigenous, Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, and contemporary Caribbean arts—through dance, music, vocal performances, spoken word, and visual arts. The key objectives of the cultural exchange are: * Strengthening bilateral & CARICOM Relations: Expressing solidarity and celebrating a major milestone with a sister

CARICOM state through cultural diplomacy. * Showcasing Guyana’s Diverse Heritage: Demonstrating the rich cultural tapestry of Guyana’s six peoples through multi-disciplinary performances. * Promoting Cultural Unity: Fostering creative dialogue and collaboration between Guyanese artists and Belizean communities. * Presenting a Symbolic Gift of Friendship: Creating and presenting a custom piece of live artwork during the celebrations, as a lasting emblem of unity between Guyana and Belize. The 14-member team comprises accomplished creative artists, performers, and stage directors. They are Adrian Dutchin, Andrew Tyndall, Carlvin Burnett, Diana Chapman, Inezi Emmanuel, Joel Browne, Miguel Ram, Sattie Udho, Staaie Udho, Swasti Saytoo, Teavona Cole, Tennicia DeFreitas and Winston Alexander.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Guyana eyes fuel storage network - President Ali says proposals being explored, eyes integration with Brazilian market

GUYANA is exploring proposals to expand its fuel-storage capacity as the country moves to establish itself as a regional energy hub, President Dr Irfaan Ali has said. The Head of State made this disclosure during a recent press conference, in response to a question about whether discussions with Qatar had advanced on the construction of fuel-storage facilities. Dr Ali said major players in the energy sector have been raising the issue, noting that Guyana’s growing energy profile makes additional storage capacity increasingly important. “Every single major player in the energy sector has asked that very question, because Guyana is positioning itself naturally as energy hub in the region, we have a few proposals, as you know, in terms of our ability to

President Dr Irfaan Ali store fuel not only for national demand and having greater reserves here, but also to integrate in northern Brazil market, that's important,” he said. He explained that the proposals being considered would cater not only for

domestic demand and the need to maintain greater fuel reserves but could also support the northern Brazilian market. According to President Ali, Guyana is examining a “hub-and-spoke” approach, where a main fuel farm

would serve as the central storage facility, with smaller facilities established at strategic locations. “The hub-and-spoke aspect of fuel farms, where you have the main fuel farm, and then you may have at Lethem and other places that are critical,” he said. The President also pointed to the growing demand for electricity associated with major developments outside the national grid. He noted that two gold mines could each require approximately 75 megawatts of power, creating opportunities for off-grid electricity generation. President Ali had earlier this year pointed to the possibility of establishing largescale storage facilities in Guyana with the capacity to hold several months’ worth of critical supplies, including fertiliser, which could serve regional and international

markets during periods of disruption. According to President Ali, Guyana’s geographic location, which offers a direct access to the Atlantic and proximity to major markets such as Brazil, places the country in a unique position to support global supply chains. He added that the country’s trade arrangements within the region, coupled with its natural resource base oil, gas and gold could further strengthen its potential as a strategic logistics centre. “I want to present Guyana as that location, that geographic location that can be a strategic storage location,” he said adding: “And why Guyana, our geographic location, our access to the Atlantic, our access to large markets in Brazil and the trade arrangement we have within our region. But importantly our ability also

to add our natural assets, which includes gold, that includes crude oil [and] natural gas as part of that portfolio, in building out a strategic geo-positioning for this entire industry. His comments at the time came following strikes on energy facilities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and he used the opportunity to stress that the damage would not be quickly reversed. Much of the pressure, he noted, centres on the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as “an important trading location,” especially for petroleum products and natural gas. Here is where about 20 to 25 per cent of the world’s total seaborne oil trade passes through. Attacks and disruptions in the Gulf have already led to sharp price movements and supply shortfalls.

per day. The Whiptail development is the sixth Stabroek Block project, and is expected to add another estimated 250,000 barrels per day, potentially taking production capacity toward an approximate 1.4 million barrels per day. This is expected to start in 2027. The seventh Stabroek development is Hammerhead, with first production expected around 2029. Prashad announced that Hammerhead is expected to have a production capacity of around 150,000 barrels per day, representing another phase of continued offshore development in Guyana. Prashad declared that the Guyana story becomes offshore gas to pipeline, gas processing, electricity, data centres, industrialisation, manufacturing and finally,

economic diversification. For Guyanese businesses, all of this means development potential in areas such as engineering, construction, logistics, ICT, catering, transportation, accommodation, professional services and much more. This, he said, aligns with GOGEC’s mandate to promote trade, investment, knowledge transfer and opportunities within Guyana’s energy sector. GASTECH 2026 was held from September 14 to 17, 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) and was identified as one of the most significant international events focused on natural gas, liquefied natural gas, low-carbon solutions, electrification and emerging technologies, including AI for the energy sector.

GOGEC’s President highlights Guyana’s energy potential at GASTECH 2026

MANNIRAM Prashad, the President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), recently led an 18-member Guyanese delegation to GASTECH 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, positioning Guyana with global leaders in this sector. Guyana, according to the GOGEC head, is entering GASTECH at a particularly important stage of its energy transformation. Noting that Guyana is no longer an emerging oil producer, Prashad said the conversation has shifted towards how Guyana can use its oil and natural gas resources to build a broader energy, industrial, technological and economic ecosystem. In his speech, Prashad said that this makes several Guyanese developments relevant to the

international gas industry. He mentioned several advancements including the 300 MW Wales Gas-to-Energy project, natural gas processing, and natural gas liquids (NGL) production, expansion of domestic electricity generation, the proposed Wales data-centre/AI ecosystem, potential gas-based industrial development, fertiliser and petrochemical opportunities, future gas pipeline infrastructure, the continued expansion of offshore oil production, Local-content development and Guyanese participation, and the possibility of Guyana becoming a vital regional energy and technology hub. Notwithstanding this, Prashad stressed that Guyana’s offshore oil production for 2026 has continued to rapidly ex-

GOGEC’s President, Manniram Prashad (GOGEC photo)

pand. Although the Stabroek Block produced over 900,000 barrels per day during 2026, monthly production fluctuates. “Government data cited by Reuters showed production of approximately 895,000 barrels per day in May and 869,000 barrels per day in June. The arrival of the fifth FPSO, Errea Wittu, is another major

milestone,” he said. Errea Wittu is being deployed for the Uaru development in the Stabroek Block. Prashad noted that the Uaru development will add approximately 250,000 barrels per day of production capacity. Once Uaru is online, Guyana’s production capacity is expected to move to an approximate 1.15 million barrels

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Judge rules Jagdeo’s assertion that

Goolsarran has no integrity is ‘substantially true’ - dismisses libel case, orders former Auditor General to pay $250,000 in costs HIGH Court Judge, Justice Peter Hugh, has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran against Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, ruling that the substance of Jagdeo’s statement, including his assertion that Goolsarran lacked integrity, was substantially true. The case arose from statements made by Jagdeo at a press conference on March 23, 2023, and at a public meeting three days later. Jagdeo criticised Goolsarran for remaining in senior positions at the Audit Office and continuing to receive a salary during the PNC dictatorship period when the country’s public ac-

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

counts were not audited. Jagdeo had stated that Goolsarran “could have resigned if he had integrity” and accused him of remaining silent about alleged abuses under the

former APNU+AFC administration while being politically selective in his public commentary. Justice Hugh found that the statements were defamatory because an ordinary, reasonable Guyanese would understand them to mean that Goolsarran lacked integrity in the execution of his duties. However, the judge determined that the essential facts underpinning

Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran

Jagdeo’s statements were substantially true. The court noted that Goolsarran admitted under cross-examination that no audited accounts were produced during the relevant years, that he did not resign and that he continued to receive his full salary. While Goolsarran maintained that he was not the Auditor General for most of the period referenced by Jagdeo, Justice

Justice Peter Hugh

Hugh considered this an “inaccuracy around the edge” that did not alter the substance of the statement. The judgement also examined Goolsarran’s receipt of audit contracts under the APNU+AFC coalition government. He admitted that he was retained to conduct audits of NICIL, the Marriott Hotel, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Forestry Commission. Goolsarran also acknowledged that the contracts were not awarded through public open tendering and that he was not the only provider capable of performing the services. The contracts were among those awarded for audits of approximately 30 state entities after APNU+AFC took office in 2015. At the time, questions were raised about the absence of open tendering. Justice Hugh found that Goolsarran’s receipt

of government audit contracts not awarded through open tender formed part of the factual basis supporting Jagdeo’s criticism of his political associations and selective commentary. Although Goolsarran denied being a formal AFC member, the court ruled that explicit party membership did not have to be established. It found sufficient factual support for Jagdeo’s suggestion that Goolsarran was politically associated with the coalition and selective in his criticisms. The judge concluded that Jagdeo had sufficiently established the underlying facts of both statements and that the “sting” of his allegations was justified. Since truth is a complete defence to defamation, the lawsuit was dismissed. Goolsarran was ordered to pay Jagdeo $250,000 in costs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

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UN must be ‘fit for purpose’ as global challenges evolve – Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett

GUYANA’S Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, said reform of the United Nations must remain a priority as the organisation confronts a changing global landscape and increasingly complex challenges. Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s nominee for Secretary-General of the United Nations, pointed to the proliferation of conflicts, growing humanitarian needs,

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

setbacks in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the organisation’s liquidity challenges, cli-

mate change and the rapid advancement of technology, including artificial intelligence, as issues demanding a

more responsive United Nations. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett maintains that reform must strengthen the organisation’s ability to deliver on its mandate while responding to the realities facing member states and people around the world. “The UN must therefore be fit for purpose; hence advancing reform will be amongst my top priorities,” she added. According to the ambassador, reform

must also be understood within the respective responsibilities of the organisation’s 193 member states and the UN Secretariat. She explained that the secretary-general is responsible for objective information to support the structural-reform decisions and ensure approved mandates are implemented effectively. The ambassador stated, “Ordinary citizens may not always know how the UN is involved in their daily

life [sic]. For example, the UN sets the rules for aviation to keep our skies safe, rules on road safety, on food standards, on health regulations, on the world’s oceans and many more. We have to communicate the work of the UN better, and that is what I will do.” Against this backdrop, Rodrigues-Birkett said the UN must also improve how it communicates its work and demonstrates its impact. (DPI)

Anna De Morias: A supporter for cancer survivors, fighters IN 2009, Anna De Morias was told she had six months left to live, but her journey with cancer had started the year before. At the age of 44, Anna was diagnosed with stage three breast c a n c e r, w h i c h w a s found in her right breast, prompting a surgery in October 2008. Anna, who describes herself as a survivor, spoke to a large audience on Wednesday at the PinkTOBER campaign launch. She recalled that by January 2009, the cancer moved to her left lung. “I had nine months of chemotherapy. In 2015, it come back at stage two in the left side breast. I tell the doctors…to take out

the breast. So, I had a double mastectomy,” she shared. “In 2018, it came back in the vagina. They say it was a new cancer,” Anna said recalled, “I did radiation, internal and external radiation. I was sick badly. But before, in 2009, the doctors gave me six months to live because the lungs were infected, and so, I prayed.” Anna shared that while receiving therapy she developed a few issues. In 2024, she was bedridden for 11 months at the Beacon Foundation. The now 62-year-old described that period as a very difficult one, stating that with the help of her supporters, including organisations

Anna De Morias (Sachin Persaud photo)

such as the Periwinkle Club, Beacon Foundation, the Giving Hope Foundation, as well as the doctors and the

nurses at the Oncology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, she was able to overcome the challeng-

es she faced. “I couldn't travel; I couldn't sit. I had to start to learn to walk again. The nurses were there. They had to clean me and everything,” she said, expressing thanks to those who supported and continue to support her along in that journey. C u r r e n t l y, A n n a works with Beacon Foundation to offer support to cancer survivors, and those still

fighting cancer. Anna De Morias is one of many cancer survivors whose story of determination, survival, and healing inspires others to keep fighting, advocating, and developing good health practices. She pledged to continue to be a voice and a strong supporter in the community for persons diagnosed with cancer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Cricket Builds Unity, Strengthens National Identity

CRICKET has always been more than just a sport in Guyana. It’s a cultural phenomenon, a unifying force, and a source of pride for the nation. The ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is not just another cricket tournament; it’s a powerful vehicle for fostering unity and eradicating divisiveness. In a diverse nation such as Guyana, where different ethnic and cultural communities coexist, cricket has long been a common ground where people of all backgrounds come together to celebrate their shared passion. The CPL, with its

star-studded line-ups and electrifying atmosphere, has taken this unity to new heights. It has transcended boundaries, both real and imagined, bringing people from all walks of life under the same banner of sportsmanship and camaraderie. First and foremost, the CPL serves as a source of entertainment that transcends age, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Families gather around their televisions, radios, or head to the stadium to witness the action-packed matches. The thrill of the game, the magnificent strokes,

and the nail-biting finishes provide joy and excitement to millions of Guyanese, allowing them to momentarily escape from their daily struggles and challenges. But the CPL’s impact goes beyond entertainment, it brings economic benefits to the country as well. The tournament creates jobs, boosts local businesses, and enhances tourism. It fosters a sense of pride among Guyanese, who see their country as a vibrant host for a global sporting event. Moreover, the CPL plays a pivotal role in strengthening national identity and unity. Guya-

nese from all backgrounds proudly rally behind their local team, the Guyana Amazon Warriors. This shared support for a common cause, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic status, is a testament to the power of sports in breaking down divisive barriers. It promotes a sense of belonging and inclusivity, reaffirming that Guyana’s strength lies in its diversity, and promoting President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision of “One Guyana.” T h e t o u r n a m e n t ’s success also brings forth inspiring local talent, encouraging aspiring young

cricketers from all backgrounds to pursue their dreams. It is a testament to the fact that sports can serve as a catalyst for social change by providing opportunities for talent to rise above socio-economic challenges. In a world often divided along various lines, the CPL in Guyana reminds us of the unifying power of sports. Cricket becomes the language spoken by all, transcending the barriers of language, ethnicity, and religion. The CPL creates a space where people can celebrate their shared love for the game and, by extension, their

love for their nation. Cricket, in Guyana, is more than a sport; it is a symbol of hope, unity, and pride. The CPL magnifies this symbolism, showcasing the best of Guyanese hospitality and sportsmanship to the world. It reminds us that in a world often marred by divisiveness, there are still avenues where people can come together, irrespective of their differences. As the CPL tournament inches towards the final, let us celebrate not just the wickets and boundaries but also the sense of togetherness and belonging it brings.

Opposition boycott should concern every Guyanese Dear Editor, AT some point, political opposition stopped being principled scrutiny and became obstruction for obstruction’s sake. The recent decision by members of Guyana’s parliamentary opposition to boycott an engagement between President, Dr Irfaan Ali and the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Foreign Relations should concern every Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation. This was no cocktail reception. It was no partisan rally. It was an opportunity for elected parliamentarians to engage the Head of State on matters affecting Guyana’s national interest, including the Venezuela

border controversy before the International Court of Justice and the agreement concerning third-country nationals. What purpose does an opposition serve if it refuses the opportunity for constructive dialogue? Leadership is demonstrated by entering difficult rooms for meaningful and serious dialogue, not avoiding them. Political maturity demands engagement with persons with whom one may profoundly disagree. Indeed, that is precisely when engagement becomes critical. The absence of a shared agenda and supporting documentation cannot reasonably excuse disengagement when is-

sues of obvious national importance are to be discussed. Attend the meeting. Put the procedural objection on record. Demand the documents. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Require answers. Then report to the country. That is what an effective opposition would have done. Walking away accomplishes none of those things. This episode is particularly troubling when considered against the recent conduct of the opposition parties themselves. Guyanese recently watched APNU and WIN hold highly anticipated talks concerning important disputes over opposition representation, GECOM, the

Local Government Commission and the Region 10 impasse, only for the engagement to conclude without final decisions on the substantive matters. This reflects a disturbing, yet familiar political pattern: hesitation where decisiveness is needed, procedural manoeuvring where substantive leadership is required, and political posturing at a time when national interest demands maturity. For the PNCR and its leadership, this should occasion serious introspection.The PNCR is not a new political organisation struggling to understand the machinery of government. It is one of Guyana’s oldest political parties. It

has governed this country. It has occupied the opposition benches. It possesses decades of institutional experience. Guyanese, therefore, have every right to expect a level of political maturity from its leadership commensurate with that history. Yet, maturity is not demonstrated by refusing engagement because the political circumstances are inconvenient. There is nothing courageous about remaining outside a meeting room while complaining about what may be happening inside it. Political courage would have meant sitting across from President Ali and engaging him directly on the matters of national

interest. Show up. That is leadership. This increasingly sterile politics of disengagement embraced by WIN and APNU is reflective for their inability to move beyond social-media theatrics and political grandstanding. An opposition cannot credibly complain that it is being marginalised while voluntarily vacating spaces in which its voice can be heard. More importantly, opposition parliamentarians do not occupy their seats merely as representatives of WIN, APNU, the PNCR or any other political organisation. They sit in TURN TO PAGE 7

History of the PNC, part 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

IN part six of June 10, 2026, my last paragraph read like this: “Under Granger’s presidency, the PNC as a party did not grow and there was a complete absence of regeneration. The PNC under Granger produced no young leaders with access to government experience from which they can grow and learn. When the PNC lost power in 2020, the PNC was on its death bed. Anyone could have become its leader. What happens next was the final nail in the coffin.” The story of the PNC from 2015 constituted the worst period in the history of the PNC. This is ironic because how can a party return to power after 23 years as opposition yet fail to energise itself and thrive. In its long history, the PNC went through deep political misery but though it may have been weakened by periodic upheavals, it maintained its equilibrium and preserved its ontology. There were distinct

periods of trials and tribulations since the PNC founded by Forbes Burnham in 1957. The first crisis was the split with Peter D’Augiar’s United Force (UF) between 1966 and 1968 when both parties were in government. The second disaster was the rise of Walter Rodney in the mid seventies. The third trauma was the crumbling of Burnham’s invincibility and the extensive loss of Burnham’s popularity over the assassination of Rodney. The fourth period of political damage was Burnham’s confrontation with the West after over socialism at home and foreign policy from the late 1970s to the middle of the 1980s. The fifth episode of disaster was the crumbled economy in which nothing could have stopped the descent in economic chaos. The sixth phase of trouble with the PNC was the initial psychological destabilisation that crept into the PNC after the loss of power in 1992.

The seventh crisis was the fading PNC under Robert Corbin. In all these moments of existential inflictions, the PNC never looked like it was lifeless, deenergised, and hopeless. Those syndromes occurred ironically after the PNC regained power in 2015. No analytically competent history of the PNC could be complete unless the research looks at how survival was achieved in those six periods. In the spilt with D’Aguiar, the PNC actually strengthened itself for four reasons – one was that colour and class worked to the disadvantage of D’ Aguiar. Guyanese saw the UF as a White elitist party so there were no cries went it went out of office. Secondly, the Mulatto/Creole class did not remain with the UF but supported Burnham. Thirdly, the PPP at a psychological level was more comfortable with the PNC than the pro-imperialist UF. Fourthly, the diminution

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of D’Aguiar’s power did not result as D’Augiar expected in the withdrawal of patronage by the Americans. In the second stage of headache created by Rodney, the PNC, though it lost meaningful national support of African Guyanese, had complete control over the state and there was money from sugar to stabilise the economy. The third period, when Rodney was assassinated, took a heavy toll on the PNC and most parties around the world would have faced some form of collapse because the assassination was an evil never witnessed in the CARICOM region. Burnham survived because of the spirit of resistance in Guyana, which was later replaced by fear. It was this prolongation of societal resignation that caused the PNC to survive after Rodney’s murder. In the fourth period,

the PNC was under severe pressure from Western imperialism but it remained intact for three reasons. One was that Guyana’s presence in the Non-Aligned Movement brought vital international support. Secondly, Cuba raised its presence in Guyana. Thirdly, imperialism was unable to use the divide and rule methodology. The PPP and the PNC were locked in intense deliberations for joint government. In the fifth moment of weakness, the PNC remained intact due to the astute politics of Burnham. He reached out to Jagan and that brought some breathing space. In the economic sphere, Eric Wiliams helped by allowing Burnham unlimited access to the CARICOM Clearing Facility which brought foreign currency relief. In the sixth period with the defeat of the PNC at the 1992 elections, the PNC was at its

lowest level. Burnham was not there to steady the ship. Burnham’s presence within the PNC was strong enough to hold the PNC together. In the five periods of deep anxiety, Burnham was always there. But he died in 1985 and his successor did not have the brilliance and gravitas to hold the PNC intact. Deep, poisonous rivalries penetrated the PNC under Desmond Hoyte. First, it was Green versus Hoyte then Hoyte versus the Young Turks led by Raphael Trotman and Deborah Backer. The seventh period under Corbin was the beginning of the end of the PNC. To be continued. 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.

Opposition boycott should concern every... FROM PAGE 6

the National Assembly because citizens voted for them. Every empty opposition chair at an engagement on a matter of national importance, therefore, represents more than a political tactic. It demonstrates a failure to rise above partisan differences. That is why this conduct is irresponsible. Consider the Venezuela controversy. This is an existential national issue transcending party politics. Guyana's territorial integrity cannot become collateral damage in domestic political gamesmanship. On matters involving our sovereignty and security, and the de-

fence of our territorial integrity, government and opposition, and indeed all of Guyana, must speak with seriousness and purpose, and with one voice. Regrettably, the opposition’s abandonment of its national duty at a moment when Guyana’s sovereignty demands unity, responsible engagement and an unequivocal national voice, is not new. During the 2025 debate on Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo territory, when Venezuela’s conduct posed a continuing threat to Guyana’s sovereignty, the then opposition, in a demonstration of tactical political misjudgment, walked out of the National Assembly. A responsible opposi-

tion should want more information, not less; more engagement, not strategic absence. Politics cannot simply be the art of saying “no.” A viable opposition must demonstrate that it possesses the judgment, discipline and intellectual confidence to sit at a table, absorb information, analyse competing positions, negotiate where necessary and make difficult decisions. Repeatedly avoiding engagement creates precisely the opposite impression. It suggests a politics afraid of scrutiny because serious engagement carries a burden: once you enter the room, slogans are no longer enough.

Questions must be intelligent. Arguments must withstand rebuttal. Alternatives must be workable. Leaders must demonstrate command of the issues. Walking away is easier. Guyana deserves an opposition that understands that opposition is a constitutional responsibility, not a permanent protest posture. If a political organisation cannot manage that responsibility from the opposition benches, Guyanese are entitled to ask how it proposes to manage the infinitely greater responsibilities of government. There is also a deeper democratic danger. When PNCR/APNU and WIN place tactical

advantage above institutional engagement, the people become spectators to political theatre rather than beneficiaries of representative democracy. Citizens did not elect these parliamentarians simply to issue press releases explaining why they would not participate. They elected them to participate, scrutinise, challenge, negotiate and represent. An empty chair asks no questions. An empty chair advances no alternative. And an empty chair cannot represent the interests of the Guyanese people. The measure of political leadership is not how loudly one condemns an opponent from the pulpits of social media. It is whether one has the

courage, preparation, and intellectual confidence to confront that opponent across the table when the national interest requires it. Guyana is undergoing profound economic, social and geopolitical change. This is no time for the opposition’s political adolescence. Leadership is not demonstrated through boycotts, procedural excuses and empty chairs, but through preparation, participation, intelligent interrogation and credible alternatives. The Guyanese people deserve nothing less. Respectfully, Hon. Thandi McAllister, M.P.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Region 10 poised for major agricultural expansion, jobs, food security, economic transformation

Dear Editor, REGION 10 is entering a new chapter in its economic development, with agriculture emerging as one of the most promising sectors for transforming the region’s economy, creating employment and building greater food security for Guyana. For decades, Region 10 has been strongly identified with bauxite mining and forestry as its main economic outputs. While these sectors remain important, the region possesses significant agricultural potential that is increasingly being brought into production through improved infrastructure, investment, access to markets and

greater government attention to agricultural development. This massive expansion in the agricultural sector that is presently taking place in Guyana must be credited to vision and leadership of His Excellency the President, Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali and the effective implementation by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, who must be commended for his outstanding management and performance for the sector. It must also be noted that this effective and transformative expansion of agriculture taking place in Region 10 must now be treated not simply as a rural development initiative, but as a major economic

strategy for this region and keeping in line with this PPP/C’s regional food-security objective. The agricultural expansion taking place across Region 10 has the potential to create employment for young people, farmers, skilled workers, equipment operators, technicians, truckers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. The objective must be to ensure that young people in Linden, Kwakwani, Ituni, the Upper Berbice and Demerara River areas, Rockstone, Great Falls, 47 & 58 Miles, Mabura, River’s View, Linden-Soesdyke communities and surrounding areas can see agriculture as a modern,

profitable and respected career—not simply traditional subsistence farming. With modern machinery, irrigation, technology, improved seeds, fertiliser distribution, technical training and access to finance through the Guyana Development Bank loans which would go into action soon, agriculture can become an attractive business opportunity for a new generation of farmers. Just two weeks ago the Hon. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited Kimbia, where he handed over a combine machine, eight agricultural tractors with the required agricultural attachments to the eight villages in the upper Berbice River and encouraged the villagers and farmers to expand their agricultural activities, especially in the production of red beans and black eyes peas, which there are ready to market those products. There are two new silo systems set up in those areas, one at Tacama and the other at Kimbia. Hundreds of millions were expended in the construction of the silos. The real economic opportunity lies not only in growing crops, but in developing the entire agricultural value chain. It must also be noted that major development is taking place in dairy production with a new dairy farm established at Moblissa and at Ebini in the Berbice River. Region 10 should increasingly become a centre for: • Commercial crop production • Soya bean and grain production • Livestock development • Dairy production • Poultry and feed production • Agro-processing • Cold storage and warehousing • Packaging and distribution • Agricultural equip-

ment services • Transportation and logistics • Agricultural input supply • Food processing and manufacturing This approach would allow more of the economic value generated by agriculture to remain within Region 10. A farmer who produces a crop should not be the only person benefitting. The mechanic repairing the tractor, the trucker transporting the crop, the warehouse storing it, the processor adding value and the small business supplying inputs should all become part of the economic chain. I believe that Region 10 is in the position to help feed Guyana and by extension the CARICOM region. With Guyana's rapid economic transformation, it is creating increased demand for food, livestock feed and agricultural products and Region 10 has an opportunity to contribute significantly to meeting that demand. Just look at what is presently taking place with the expansion of soya bean and corn production which are being cultivated in the intermediate savannah, particularly important because locally produced feed ingredients can support the growth of Guyana's poultry, livestock and other agricultural industries. The PPP/C administration understands that agricultural expansion cannot succeed without reliable infrastructure, therefore, that is why you are witnessing the improved roads linking farms and communities to Linden and the wider national transportation network is critical. Better access to electricity, water, telecommunications, storage and transportation will also determine how quickly agriculture can expand. The continued development of the Linden–Mabura

corridor and surrounding hinterland areas therefore has significance beyond transportation: it can become an important foundation for opening new agricultural lands and connecting producers to markets. The region should not be forced to choose between mining, forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and services. Instead, the objective should be to develop a diversified regional economy in which these sectors support one another. The success of the agricultural drive in Region 10 must not only depend on government investment alone, but also private investors, farmers, cooperatives, financial institutions and international partners must be encouraged to participate in the agricultural transformation of Region 10. Land must also be brought into productive use through transparent and efficient mechanisms that encourage serious agricultural investment while protecting the interests of local communities. I also believe that one of the most important objectives must be creating opportunities for the young people of Region 10. Agriculture today is not simply about planting and harvesting by hand. Modern agriculture involves machinery, agronomy, engineering, logistics, finance, information technology, marketing and business management. Region 10's young people must therefore be trained and equipped to participate in every part of the agricultural value chain. Finally, while I give an overview of what is taking place in Region 10 on the expansion of agriculture, however, we all should be very pleased with the massive expansion and transformation of agriculture that are taking place in Guyana. Yours sincerely, Andrew Forsythe

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

‘I was plainly and clearly aware’ of effort to steal, alter 2020 elections results — Benn testifies

FORMER Home Affairs Minister and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Robeson Benn testified on Thursday that he was “plainly and clearly aware” of an effort to “steal the elections and to alter the results.” He made this known while being cross-examined by defence attorney Nigel Hughes in the ongoing election fraud trial before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The cross-examination focused on events surrounding the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. His testimony centred on events at Ashmins Building, where GECOM’s Command Centre and the office of the Region Four Returning Officer were located. Benn is currently a Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources. “I was plainly and clearly aware that there was an effort underway to steal the elections and to alter the results,” Benn told the court, explaining why he remained at the building despite a police instruction to evacuate during a bomb scare. Under questioning, Benn said he remained in his capacity as a GECOM commissioner and under what he described as his “full moral and ethical responsibility,” given the circumstances unfolding at the time. Asked what authority permitted him to disregard the police instruction, Benn pointed to the Constitution of Guyana, the country’s supreme law. He said the events surrounding the police intervention contributed to his belief that an effort was underway to rig the elections. Benn testified, “It is my belief that the events as they unfolded, whether people were being misdirected or used, that it all evolved into the overall question of conspiracy to rig and/or steal the elections.” Benn, however, distinguished between believing that police officers could have been used and accusing them of knowingly participating in a criminal conspiracy. He said several officers had come to the building and told those present to “get out of the place” and “clear out of the place,” but he believed they “could have been used in

Former Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty

certain ways” to facilitate the continuation of an effort to rig the elections. “They may have been totally unaware of why they were sent and what they were supposed to do,” he said. Benn also testified about the use of watermarks on election materials. He recalled that the watermarks were decided upon at the commission level and said the parties knew the watermarks that were to be placed on the materials. During verification, he said, Statements of Poll (SoPS) were scanned for the presence of watermarks. “There was no instance of any problem of there being an absence of any watermark,” Benn said. His evidence also touched on discussions among GECOM commissioners concerning Order 60 and the implementation of rulings issued by then Chief Justice Roxane George, SC. Order 60 was the legal instrument through which GECOM established the national recount of ballots cast in all 10 electoral districts following the disputed March 2, 2020 elections. It set out the procedures for conducting, recording and tabulating the recount and provided for GECOM to declare the results of the “final credible count.” Benn recalled meetings and discussions among the commissioners and said there was an understanding that the relevant requirements had to be followed. However, he said he could not recall whether minutes of those deliberations were subsequently recorded and adopted. The former commissioner was also questioned about disruptions during the tabulation of votes. He recalled an incident in which figures displayed on a screen prompted party agents to protest that the numbers differed from those contained

in their Statements of Poll. Benn said he was present and examined a SoP after seeing the figures displayed on the screen, but acknowledged that he did not document what he had observed. “I did not document that, but I saw the figures,” he said. Asked whether he subsequently recorded the alleged discrepancies during the counting and recounting process, Benn again said he did not. He explained that the information was already a matter of public record and said he did not believe he had to document it himself. “The documentation and the discrepancies in the documentation were as a matter of public record.” Benn’s cross-examination has been deferred, with a new witness expected to take the stand when the trial resumes on Friday at 09:30hrs. The election fraud trial centres on allegations surrounding the tabulation and declaration of results from the 2020 polls, a process that led to months of political uncertainty before a final declaration was made five months after election day. Those on trial include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, former Health Minister Volda Lawrence and People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Carol Smith-Joseph. Also before the court are former GECOM employees Michelle Miller, Sheffern February, Enrique Livan and Denise Babb-Cummings. The defendants collectively face 19 charges, including conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office. All have pleaded not guilty and were released on cash bail. The prosecution, led by King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani, contends that the

accused played critical roles in efforts to inflate votes in favour of the then A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, while reducing votes cast for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Following a five-month

The nine defendants period of litigation and a Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-supervised national recount, the PPP/C was declared the winner of the elections with 233,336 votes to APNU+AFC’s 217,920. President Dr Irfaan Ali was subsequently sworn into office on August 2, 2020.

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The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the elections later concluded that there had been collusion and collaboration among senior GECOM officials to divert votes to APNU+AFC rather than safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

GUYANA’S healthcare sector continues to develop and modernise to meet the medical demands of the nation, with more than $50 billion invested in the first half of 2026, according to the government's mid-year report, produced by the Ministry of Finance. Major investments included more than $2 billion for expanding healthcare infrastructure, more than $400 billion for expanding and modernising the inventory of medical equipment, and more than $200 million for developing healthcare professionals. A number of projects and initiatives are planned for the second half of the year, with continued investment in infrastructure, training and access to healthcare set to drive the sector's growth. As government remains committed to delivering a world-class health sector, investment continued in the expansion of health coverage nationwide, with $58.6 billion of a $161.1 billion budget expended in the first half of the year. A major share went toward developing facilities, equipment and drugs. Work continued in 2026 on state-of-the-art regional hospitals in Moruca, West Demerara, Bartica, Kato and Lethem, while construction at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and polyclinics at Campbellville and Industry are scheduled for completion in the second half of the year. A further $2.3 billion was spent on construction, retro-

5,900 patient profiles have been created to improve treatment monitoring and reduce paper-based records. The GPHC is also expanding its rollout, with medical, surgical and paediatric records to be digitally recorded by the end of 2026, alongside ongoing training and infrastructure testing to reduce service disruption. Government has also launched an online portal for patient feedback to strengthen service delivery and accountability. Investment in healthcare infrastructure has been matched by investment in human resource capacity. A total of $226 million was spent advancing the New Amsterdam and Suddie nursing schools and dormitories, all of which are expected to be completed in the second half of the year. Two new specialised post-graduate programmes, in adult cardiology and nursing anaesthesia, began in the first half of 2026, with 273 people now training across 23 post-graduate specialty programmes and 60 expected to graduate in November. A further 128 nursing and allied professionals have completed training, with 2,798 currently enrolled and 1,345 more projected to begin by year's end. Voucher programmes continue to play a role in tackling chronic disease, as the report notes that 49,836 eye examinations were completed and more than 50,000 spectacle vouchers issued in the first half of 2026, while

Over $50B invested in Guyana’s health sector - tens of thousands reaping benefits of new in first half of 2026 hospitals, digitised records, health vouchers

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony during a visit to the Ithaca Health Centre in Region Five to distribute Universal Health, Eye Testing, Spectacles, and Cervical Cancer Screening Vouchers to residents (MoH photo) fitting and maintenance of other health facilities across all regions, and construction of the National Neurological Rehabilitation Centre is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The modernisation and expansion of healthcare inventory and medical equipment saw an investment of $488.4 million in the first half of 2026. Major developments include the GPHC's first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, an additional Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, and a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory machine, all slated for installation in the second half of the year. Fifty new telemedicine

sites were installed in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10, with 70 more proposed for the second half of the year. Artificial intelligence has also been used to improve access to healthcare, with AI systems now running across 21 health facilities and expected to expand to 15 more. Steps were also taken to use drone technology to deliver essential medical supplies and robotic technology to improve specialty care, while work to clear the backlog of children needing cardiac surgery will begin in the second half of the year. A total of $17.2 billion was expended in the first half of the year on the procure-

ment of drugs and medical supplies. To ensure timely and adequate supply, the Onderneeming and Bamia regional distribution centres have been completed, while three more, in Mabaruma, Williamsburg and Lethem, are slated for completion in the second half of the year. According to the report, these centres will use a newly designed, fully digitised supply chain management system aimed at reducing waste and improving logistics, stock management and distribution countrywide. The ministry also continued rolling out its Electronic Health Records (EHR) system at the Festival City Polyclinic, where more than

3,705 women benefited from cervical cancer vouchers and 38,935 people received universal healthcare vouchers. An additional 121 people received free prosthetic limbs and 478 received free hearing aids. All dialysis machines at the six regional hospitals will be fully operational by the second half of 2026, with 15 more machines being procured. The Ministry of Health's HEARTS programme is now active at 250 facilities, reaching more than 28,000 patients, and colorectal screening will launch in September at the Enmore, Diamond, Linden, Lethem and De Kinderen hospitals. Steps have also been taken to combat non-communicable and infectious diseases. Seventy-seven people were trained in integrated vector control management in Regions One, Seven and Eight to strengthen malaria and dengue prevention, surveillance and elimination efforts. Work continues toward eliminating filaria by 2030, with a Transmission Assessment Survey in preparation. Guyana has also advanced plans to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2031, including a review of the HIV Strategic Plan to guide the country's response from 2026 to 2031; voluntary testing remains available at 82 sites, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) distribution continues. On mental health, 80 primary health workers were trained to integrate mental health services into primary care, with 30 more to follow as part of a broader goal of region-specific mental health and suicide prevention plans under a decentralised model. The report also highlights steps to improve maternal care through specialised training and targeted interventions, including efforts to ensure all hinterland hospitals have waiting homes for mothers to reduce risk. Through the expansion of the school health programme from nursery to secondary level, 12,555 students have been screened so far, with 60,000 expected by year's end. In the second half of the year, focus will shift to mental health, substance abuse and early autism screening. Together, these investments and initiatives reflect the government's continued commitment to delivering a world-class health sector.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

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Sheriff General Hospital gets lab accreditation from GNBS - as efforts continue to build confidence in test results

BUILDING confidence in test results through standards, with accuracy, consistency and quality, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), on Thursday, certified the Sheriff General Hospital's Laboratory in Leonora, West Bank Demerara, Region Three with the GYS-170 (2021) Quality Management for Laboratories. This milestone was marked as a profound conservation of the laboratory’s system, technical competencies, and diagnostic proce-

the GNBS has certified in the last month. This he said speaks volumes to the unprecedented level of developments taking place in Region Three. He further said that, as a nation, Guyana itself is progressing rapidly, which is evident as people and businesses are recognising the importance of quality products and services. Bassoo said that to date, 45 laboratories across Guyana have been certified by the Bureau, 32 of which are medical laboratories. “In just the past six years,

Bassoo explained that the certification is based on the requirements of the National Standards GYS- 170, 2021. He related that the general requirements for the operation of a laboratory establish a structured management system that strengthens laboratory operation and supports the consistent delivery of reliable test results. The certification enables laboratories to streamline processes, enhance stakeholder confidence, and demonstrate to clients and visitors that there is an existing robust management

The team at the Sheriff General Hospital Inc., with Laboratory Quality Manager, Azam Latiff (centre), at Thursday’s brief certification ceremony

Sheriff General Hospital set to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery across Region Three, in years to come (Elton John photos) dures, aligning with nationally accepted requirements for accuracy, impartiality and excellence. The GYS-170 certification required rigorous evaluations of operating systems and policies, meticulous documentation, and genuine and unyielding commitment to quality assurance activities. With the GYS-170 standard governing the daily operations of the Sheriff General Hospital, patients and physicians can move forward in confidence, knowing that the results provided are reliable, precise and secure. Laboratory Quality Manager of the Institution, Azam Latiff, said that, more importantly, this achievement signals that even in unavoidable challenges, the laboratory will not waver in its pursuit of quality, particularly through clinical achievement. Latiff mentioned that the institution also aims to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery across Region Three, in time to come. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Trevor Bassoo, in his address noted that this is the second medical laboratory

of that 45 certified labs 38 have been certified in the past six years alone,” he said, adding that this is Sheriff’s second medical laboratory certification.

system in place. These systems help to minimise cross-contamination, as well as other operational hazards while also promoting continual im-

provement and quality service delivery. What is impressive, as underscored by Bassoo, is that this certification was gained in under five months, with no non-conformance.

The certification covers four different disciplines: biochemistry, serology, haematology and immunology. Bassoo said that now that the hospital has certification, they must continue to work

to maintain that certification. He assured that the GNBS team will be conducting surveillances and audits to ensure that the laboratory maintains the certification, and there are continuous improvements in Sheriff’s systems. “We will also commit to being available to lend support in the name of quality and continuous improvement,” Bassoo pledged, adding, “I want to encourage Sheriff General Hospital Laboratory and other labs who have attained their GYS 170 certification to now aspire for international accreditation. That is your next step.” The Sheriff General Hospital was opened in 2023 and was said to be Region Three’s first private hospital, adding to Guyana’s remarkable healthcare advancements.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Billions being invested in judiciary - as Guyana seeks to boost investor confidence, Nandlall says

AT TO R N E Y G e n e r a l and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, has pointed to billions of dollars in government investment in Guyana’s judiciary, arguing that a strong and independent justice system is critical as the country continues

to attract major investments. Speaking on his weekly programme, Issues in the News, Nandlall said businesses need confidence in the country’s judicial system when making significant investments. He said the judiciary

is important to the investment climate because investors must be assured that disputes can be resolved through an independent and competent court system. Further, he emphasised that “businesses need an independent, competent judiciary,” later stating, “With

the billions and billions of dollars of investments that are pouring into Guyana, and the new vista of economic and commercial activities that we are embarking upon, the judiciary is the institution where disputes between and among businesses, individuals, and

the state have to be resolved. The judiciary is the place where these disputes have to be resolved.” Nandlall also highlighted the relationship between the judiciary and commercial arbitration, noting that courts remain important, even when parties choose arbitration to settle disputes.

Nandlall also highlighted the introduction of technology into the justice system, including electronic hearings, which he said form part of efforts to modernise the judiciary. The Attorney General linked these investments to Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy and the need

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC Nandlall added: “The statistics clearly show that if the judiciary is not independent and not competent, investors will be reluctant to invest in that country.” Against this backdrop, he pointed to what he described as significant government investment in the justice sector. “The government has invested billions of dollars in the judiciary,” Nandlall said, while highlighting improvements to court infrastructure and the expansion of judicial services. He pointed to the construction and refurbishment of courthouses, the introduction of electronic hearings and electronic filing, as well as an increase in the number of judges and magistrates. “We have increased the number of judges,” he said, while also noting that the complement of the Court of Appeal had been expanded and additional magistrates appointed.

for institutions capable of supporting increased commercial activity. Earlier in the programme, Nandlall described an independent and competent judiciary as a sine qua non—an indispensable condition—of a democratic society. “The judiciary is an extremely important institution in any society,” he said. Nandlall said Guyana’s Constitution provides safeguards for judicial independence, including security of tenure and protection from political or executive direction. He also stressed that judicial independence must be balanced with accountability, arguing that public institutions funded by taxpayers cannot be beyond scrutiny. “No publicly funded agency should be unaccountable,” Nandlall noted. He added: “We must be accountable to the public.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Passengers escape injury after aircraft skids off Mabaruma runway

A TRANS Guyana Airways aircraft skidded off the Mabaruma Airstrip on Thursday morning after a black dog ran onto the runway, prompting the pilot to brake aggressively. Trans Guyana Airways spokesman Kit Nascimento told this publication that the SkyWest Flight TPA aircraft landed at the Mabaruma Airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini) around 08:15hrs with 12 passengers on board. He said that about three-quarters of the way down the runway, a black dog ran into the aircraft’s path, forcing pilot Jessica Ramcharitar to brake suddenly. The aircraft subse-

The Trans Guyana aircraft shortly after the pilot took evasive action to avoid hitting a dog that had run onto the airstrip at Mabaruma (Jason Chacon photo)

quently skidded off the runway and came to a stop sideways, he told the Guyana Chronicle. No injuries were re-

ported, although all 12 passengers were taken to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital for assessment. Ten were later

discharged, while two remained hospitalised for observation because of high blood pressure. Nascimento said the

aircraft sustained significant damage and was rendered inoperable following the incident. A full investigation

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has since been launched by the relevant authorities, including the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). According to Nascimento, the pilot’s account was corroborated by a colleague who was at the airstrip’s terminal at the time and recorded a video of the incident. He said the footage was submitted as part of the preliminary report. Trans Guyana Airways, a Guyanese airline, commenced operations in 1956 with a single floatplane. The airline has since expanded its fleet to provide domestic and regional transportation, including services to remote areas of Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Psychologist highlights link between stress management and mental health - urges greater attention to stress, social media, daily pressures during Suicide Prevention Month

By Shaniya Harding STRESS can be a driving force, the passion that keeps ambition moving, but left unmanaged, it can become overwhelming, with serious consequences for mental and physical health. As Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing Suicide Prevention Month this September, Licensed Psychologist,

Trainer, Educator and Consultant Wil Campbell spoke to the Guyana Chronicle about the challenge of managing stress, its most common causes, and how to cope with it in today's fast-paced world. Sitting down with this publication, Campbell shared that while most people consider stress to be an event, or series of events, external to a person, stress is in fact a response

mechanism, the way people respond to a potential fear or a stressful situation, and that response is both mental and physical. "Stress is a bodily response. It is important for us to understand that if we are constantly in a state of stress, it can cause us to malfunction physically. Our immune system gets suppressed, our digestive system is compromised, and also our

brain, which is a part of our body," Campbell said. Being in a constant state of stress for a prolonged period can have far-reaching mental health impacts. "If you are in a constant state of stress, the brain begins to malfunction, and then people can develop mental illnesses," he added. Campbell shared that there are several major stressors most adults grapple with. Speaking

on what people usually highlight as their leading source of stress, Campbell noted that most may cite finances as their biggest stressor. However, he believes that relationships are the real leading cause of stress. "Foundationally, the biggest source of stress is relationships, how we relate to people and how people relate to us. That shows up in the workplace, it shows up in our families, and sometimes it even shows up in our own relationship to ourselves," he said. He added that even financial stress is tied to relationships: "Even our finances are about relationships. Why do we want to dress nicely? Because we want people to like us, we want people to accept us." With relationships being the major stressor for most people, Campbell noted that this has been reinforced by the increased prominence of social media and the decline of human connection. He explained that information overload from the countless images and videos online is a major contributor to stress and poor mental health. "One of the most immediate challenges is information overload. The information that gets peddled the most, the posts that get the most responses, are negative posts. So, we are constantly and consistently absorbing all of the most negative things," he said. Campbell also cited the opportunity for comparison that social media brings, and how that comparison can impact self-image and mental health. "We all have a propensity for what we call social comparison. We pretty much compare ourselves with other people, it is the way we know how to dress, we make sure we purchase or create clothes that look like everybody else's so we can fit in. Social media has created a wider audience against which to judge ourselves," he said. Because many stressors are driven by factors that are not easily changed, managing stress has to be done intentionally. According to Campbell, stress management should be integrated into everyday life, with rest and relaxation as a core component. "Dealing with stress could be for some people as simple as making sure you're in bed by 9:30 or 10 every night," Campbell said. Additionally, he noted that limiting time spent online is another key step. "Managing our virtual presence, how much time we spend online, helps us stay grounded, because you get caught up in a virtual reality that is moving faster than your world is actually moving, faster than your brain can keep up with," he said. Along with rest, Campbell cited pacing one's work and taking breaks on busy days as important tools in managing stress.

Psychologist and Educator Wil Campbell He explained that short, intentional breaks throughout the day calm and reset the vagus nerve, which serves as the primary mind-body highway, linking internal organ states directly to emotional regulation, stress responses, and mental health. "It is also important to take breaks. While you have work to do, not when the work is finished, you need to take a 10-minute break. There is something that happens in the brain when you intentionally decide that for the next 10 minutes, you are going to do nothing, or something that calms you. It gives you what we call a vagus nerve reset," he said. Stress also has a biological and physical impact on the body, making self-care and healthy habits significant in managing it. "In order to manage that function, we have to nurture ourselves well, making sure our blood sugar level does not drop too low, that we are not eating at times we should not, that every meal has a little bit of the big three: fruits and vegetables, something protein, and some carbs, without overfeeding or under-nourishing ourselves," Campbell said. While maintaining wholesome social connections is important in stress management, Campbell reinforces the importance of community. He was also keen to note the significant role of setting healthy boundaries. Campbell noted that a lack of boundaries and an unwillingness to say no can create stressful situations. "It is important to set healthy boundaries. We have a bad relationship with the word no. I feel like if I say no, it makes me a bad person, so I feel like I have to say yes, every time, even when I am overwhelmed or it is not convenient. We have to develop a healthy relationship with no. We have to set boundaries," he said. Campbell noted that stress itself is not the enemy, in healthy doses, it sharpens focus and keeps people motivated. The danger, he said, lies in leaving it unmanaged until it takes over. As Guyana marks Suicide Prevention Month, Campbell is urging people to take small, consistent steps to manage stress, which he says can make a lasting difference.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

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Wanted man to arrive in Guyana today to face 2015 murder charge

KANAND Ojha of Meadow Bank, Georgetown, is expected to arrive in Guyana today, September 18, 2026, after being ordered deported from the United States to face a charge in connection with the 2015 murder of Noel “Nephi” Luther. Ojha is scheduled to arrive at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle at 15:00hrs, according to law-enforcement authorities. He was arrested in Queens, New York, on September 8, 2025, during a coordinated operation involving the United States Marshals Service New York/ New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations and Guyanese law-enforcement authorities. Ojha had been wanted by Guyanese authorities in connection with the killing of 20-year-old Luther, who was fatally shot in Georgetown in July 2015. Luther, who was a sex worker, was attacked at about 02:35hrs at the corner of Carmichael and Quami-

na Streets. Reports at the time stated that the incident stemmed from a dispute involving a client who had allegedly returned to the area with Ojha. Ojha was accused of shooting Luther once in the chest before fleeing the scene in a sport utility vehicle. Luther was subsequently pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). A wanted bulletin for Ojha was issued in July 2019. His arrest followed collaboration between Guyanese and United States law-enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters framework. Ojha’s accomplice, Ron “Andel” Forde, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2017, after pleading guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter in connection with Luther’s death. With Ojha’s return, Guyanese authorities are expected to proceed with the legal process surrounding the murder allegation against him.

Man, 25, arrested following discovery of pistol, matching ammunition at Tucville wash bay

The .32 pistol and matching ammunition that were reportedly found at a Tucville wash bay on Wednesday POLICE are investigating the discovery of a suspected .32 pistol and six matching live rounds of ammunition, which were found on Wednesday September 16, 2026 about 23:30hrs at a wash bay on Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown. Preliminary investigations revealed that ranks, acting on information received, proceeded to the location where they contacted a 25-year-old self-employed man of Tucville, Georgetown, the police said in a statement. It added that ranks conducted a search of the struc-

ture at the wash bay in the presence of the 25-year-old, during which a suspected .32 pistol, along with a magazine containing six matching live rounds of ammunition, was found in the drawer of a table. The 25-year-old, who is not the holder of a firearm licence, was arrested and escorted along with the suspected firearm and ammunition to the East La Penitence Police Station, where the firearm and ammunition were lodged, the statement said adding that the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

Kanand Ojha

Ron Forde

Noel Luther

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

NASS at 51: A legacy built on progress, educational excellence and co-operation

By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

FIFTY-ONE years ago, 181 students walked through the doors of a new secondary school in New Amsterdam, entering classrooms that would become the starting point of an educational journey spanning generations. There was no way of knowing then how far that journey would last. From those humble beginnings on September 15, 1975, to now, the New Amsterdam Secondary School (Multilateral) has grown into an institution deeply intertwined with the educational development of Berbice and the lives of thousands of

young Guyanese. Its classrooms have produced scholars, politicians, athletes, debaters, artists, skilled graduates and professionals. Its students have earned national and Caribbean recognition, while generations of teachers have dedicated their lives to educating and guiding those entrusted into their care. Now, 51 years later, the school is celebrating not simply its longevity, but a legacy built around three words that have defined it for almost five decades: “Progress Through Co-operation.” For Principal Wahid Omar, the September 15 anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate

the institution's achievements while paying homage to the people who laid its foundation. “On behalf of the school community, I am deeply honoured to reflect on this extraordinary journey and to recognise the many individuals whose contributions have helped to shape this institution into what it is today,” Omar said. According to Omar, at the helm was founding Headmistress Ms. Joyce A. Thomas, supported by Deputy Headmaster Mr. Reuben Dash, Senior Mistress Ms. Beverly Headly and Senior Master Mr. Michael Rambali. The foundation teaching staff comprised six educators

A section of the New Amsterdam Secondary School responsible for English, Social Studies, Home Economics, Integrated Science, Spanish and Agricultural Science. But growth came quickly. Less than a month after the school opened its doors, approximately 550 students were transferred from Berbice High School on October 13, 1975. By the end of the 1975– 1976 academic year, the student population had reached 861. The following year, enrolment surpassed 1,000. Those early administrators and educators were doing far more than managing a rapidly expanding student population. They were laying the foundation for an institution that would eventually establish its own identity and traditions. The school's crest was introduced in February 1976. Then, in November 1977, came the words that would ultimately become synonymous with the institution: “Progress Through Co-operation.” The motto captured an important philosophy that meaningful advancement in education requires students, teachers, parents and the wider community to work collectively. In September 1978, the institution became known as the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, while January 1979 saw the inauguration of its Parent Teachers Association as the New Amsterdam Multilateral School and Community Council. The foundation was firmly established and what followed was more than four decades of achievement. “Those early pioneers were building more than a school. They were laying the foundation for an institution that would become an important part of the educational landscape of New Amsterdam, Berbice and Guyana”, Omar stated. Over the decades, NASS has steadily built a reputation for achievement in academics, debating, technical education, culture and extra-curricular activities. Its debating teams have captured several major competitions, including the Pat-

rick Dargan, Prime Minister, Guymine and J.O.F. Haynes competitions, along with the Ministry of Agriculture's National Agriculture Month debating competition. That tradition remains very much alive. In 2026, students of NASS again demonstrated their debating prowess when they emerged as Region Six champions of the J.O.F. Haynes Debating Competition. Academically, the school's students have also distinguished themselves nationally. Over the years, NASS students have earned Guyana Scholarship Awards for outstanding performances at the G.C.E. A-Level examinations. In 1986, the school received two Ministry of Education National Awards, including first place for Outstanding All-Round Performance in Home Economics. Recognition continued in later years with NASS being named the Most Improved Senior Secondary School, based on CXC results, in 1999 and again in 2018. One of the institution's major academic moments came in 2008 when Naomi Christie emerged as Guyana's top CAPE student, while fellow NASS student Aliza DeNobrega secured the first runner-up position. The school's students have also gained Caribbean recognition in Agricultural Science and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Kishan Critchlow earned a Caribbean award in 2014, while Anthony Sukra received similar recognition in 2020. Then, in 2024, another student placed the institution firmly in the spotlight. Sohail Mohamad emerged as the top CSEC student for Region Six after securing an impressive 21 subjects, including 18 Grade Ones. The accomplishment added another chapter to a history shaped by generations of students striving to excel. NASS has also demonstrated a willingness to move beyond conventional approaches to secondary education. In 2004, the institution

made history when it became the first school in Guyana to introduce Theatre Arts into its curriculum. That pioneering spirit has continued through its emphasis on technical and vocational education. Since 2022, students have been able to pursue Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs), providing them with practical, competency-based training alongside traditional academic subjects. The programme includes areas such as agriculture, agro-processing, construction, electrical installation, furniture making, metalwork, office administration, food preparation and data entry. The significance of the programme was recognised beyond Guyana. Following an audit exercise in June 2024, the Caribbean Examinations Council named NASS a model institution for its CVQ programme. It was an important recognition of the school's efforts to ensure students leave secondary education equipped not only with academic qualifications, but with practical skills that can prepare them for employment, entrepreneurship and further education. Meanwhile, Omar further explained that the school's 2025 examination results provided another indication of its progress. NASS achieved a 90.6 per cent Grades One to Three pass rate at CSEC, placing sixth nationally for CSEC passes. The school also recorded an 85.6 per cent matriculation rate. But there was another achievement that carried particular significance. For the first time in its history, NASS produced a cohort of dual-certified students – young people who successfully attained both CSEC and CVQ qualifications. It represented an important development in the institution's educational journey. Students were no longer being asked to choose between academic and vocational success. Instead, they were being provided with opportunities to

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NASS at 51...

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Principal Wahid Omar and some of the NASS students FROM PAGE 16

pursue both. That approach reflects the changing demands of education and the world of work, where academic knowledge, practical competency, creativity and adaptability increasingly complement each other. ENDLESS TALENT The NASS story, however, cannot be told through examination results alone, Omar noted adding that its sporting history is equally rich. Over the years, the institution has won the Castrol Under-15 Inter-County Cricket Tournament, the National Schools Cricket League New Amsterdam/Canje Division Championship and the YBG Division 2 Basketball Championship. In 2012, NASS also captured the National Festival of Choirs title, demonstrating the diversity of talent among its students. The school has represented Guyana internationally through cricket, participating in the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament in Barbados in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016. On each occasion, NASS emerged as the highest-placed Guyanese school. Students Bryton Murray and Joshua Lalbachan also represented Guyana at the Under-13 Table Tennis Championships in Cuba in 2011. Meanwhile, between 2013 and 2018, the school established a dominant presence in athletics, securing five consecutive Inter-Schools Athletics Championships. However, more recently, students have continued to excel in cricket, basketball, dance, dramatic poetry, costume competitions and other activities. HONOURING ITS FOUNDERS AND EDUCATORS These accomplishments have helped reinforce an educational philosophy centred on developing the whole student academically, physically, socially and creatively. But anniversaries are not

only occasions to celebrate achievements, rather they are also opportunities to remember. For Principal Omar and the NASS family, the 51st anniversary is therefore an occasion to recognise the people whose sacrifices may never appear on certificates, trophies or examination result sheets. “The school honours its founding Headmistress, Ms Joyce A. Thomas, and the administrators and teachers who joined her in establishing the institution. It honours every Head Teacher and Principal who subsequently carried the responsibility of leading NASS through changing times.” Additionally, “It remembers the educators who dedicated decades of their lives to preparing lessons, marking assignments, correcting mistakes, encouraging struggling students and celebrating their successes. The contribution of administrative and support staff is equally important, as is the work of successive Boards of Governors.” Further, he said that parents and guardians have also remained essential partners in the school's journey, entrusting generations of children to the institution while supporting teachers and administrators. The wider New Amsterdam and Berbice communities, organisations and individuals who supported the school over the years are also part of that history. “An anniversary such as this must never be about the present alone. It must also be an occasion to remember those whose vision, labour and dedication brought us here.” However, Omar stressed that the greatest legacy of NASS cannot be placed inside a trophy cabinet but rather it is found in its people. “It is found in the thousands of students who entered the institution as young boys and girls and eventually left its classrooms prepared to take their places in society.

They have gone on to become professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, public servants, community leaders and contributors to Guyana's development.” “Every graduating class has carried a piece of NASS beyond the school compound. And every new student who walks through its gates becomes part of the next chapter.” The school's mission remains focused on developing the maximum potential of every student through meaningful learning experiences within a pleasant, stimulating and harmonious environment. Its philosophy similarly seeks to develop students' abilities, skills and values so they can contribute meaningfully to their communities and country. “That responsibility remains as important today as it was in 1975”, Omar noted. Omar took the opportunity to point out that much has changed since those first 181 students entered the school. “Education itself has changed. Technology has transformed the classroom. New career paths have emerged. Technical and vocational education has expanded, and the skills required by students entering the modern workforce continue to evolve and NASS has evolved with those changes.” As the institution moves into another year, Omar said the focus remains on honouring its history while embracing the opportunities ahead. “As Principal, I am proud to stand with the entire NASS family as we honour our past, celebrate our achievements and embrace the opportunities ahead,” he said. “May we continue to strive for excellence. May we continue to serve our students and our nation. And may we continue, together, to live by the words that have defined this institution since its formative years: Progress Through Co-operation,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Police probing misconduct allegations against ranks operating along Lethem Trail, in Lethem

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has taken note of a publication circulating on social media containing allegations that several police and immigration ranks operating along the Lethem

Trail and in Lethem have been receiving payments to facilitate the movement of foreign nationals. In a statement issued on Thursday, the police said given the serious nature of the allega-

tions, Commissioner of Police, Dr Clifton Hicken, has directed the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to immediately launch an investigation to determine the circumstances and verac-

ity of the claims made in the publication. “Commissioner Hicken has made it clear that corruption and misconduct have no place in the Guyana Police Force and that no rank will be shield-

ed where evidence establishes wrongdoing. He stressed that any member of the Force found to have acted unlawfully or in breach of established regulations will be dealt with condignly in accordance with the law and established disciplinary procedures,” the statement said adding that the law enforcement entity is encouraging any person who may be in pos-

session of information or evidence relevant to these allegations to make same available to the OPR to assist with the investigation. “The GPF remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity among its ranks,” the statement further said.

Guard dies after being shot outside Non-Pariel supermarket

Keion Wilman POLICE are investigating shot injuries to his upper an alleged murder which body and was transported to occurred on Wednesday the Enmore Regional HosSeptember 16, 2026, at pital, where he subsequently about 21:25hrs at a super- succumbed to his injuries market along the Non- Pa- while receiving medical atriel Railway Embankment, tention. East Coast Demerara, “A suspected warhead resulting in the death of and a suspected live 9mm Keion Wilman, a 25-year- round of ammunition were old security officer of Daz- recovered from the scene. A zel Housing Scheme, East 12-gauge shotgun and four Coast Demerara. live cartridges, which were In a statement, police issued to Wilman in consaid preliminary investiga- nection with his duties as an tions revealed that Wilman, armed security officer, were who was performing security also recovered and lodged. duties at the supermarket, “CCTV footage has been was in the entrance area obtained as police continue when two males reportedly efforts to identify and locate approached on a motorcycle. the two suspects,” the stateOne of the males allegedly ment said. discharged a firearm in WilIt added that Wilman’s man’s direction, after which body was taken to the Meboth males fled the area on morial Gardens Funeral the motorcycle. Home, where it awaits a “Wilman sustained gun- post-mortem examination.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday September 18, 2026) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Quinton de Kock-321 runs (BT) (2) Matthew Forde-16 wickets (SLK) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who cracked the highest score in the league stage of CPL 2026? (2) Who had the best bowling figures in a single game? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Banton steers England into unassailable 2-0 series lead

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Consecutive thrashings in three days saw England take the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare. Thursday’s victory was just as one-sided as the opener at the Utilita Bowl, which they took by 119 runs; in Cardiff, Harry Brook’s side reached a lacklustre target of 146 with 47 balls to spare, with Tom Banton unbeaten on 52 off 24 for the conclusion as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead. Brook was able to give his team their usual chasing privileges at Sophia Gardens. They punched their ticket once more for a 10th win in 12 completed T20Is at this venue. Their overall record has extended to 22 wins from 25 completed matches since Brook took over last June. Sri Lanka’s stand-in skipper Charith Asalanka also wanted to bat second to make use of the shorter, straight boundaries, a fact Sri Lanka seemed to forget when setting

Tom Banton launches one during his half-century • David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images

a total. Their paltry 145 for 9 was baffling: barring Pathum Nissanka’s 37 from 21 and Kamindu Mendis’s 12 off 8, there was no urgency or attempt at ingenuity.

Nissanka lifted them to 55 for 0 after the first five overs, but they were held hostage for the final 15, returning 90 for 9. That included just seven runs from the

final three overs, including a wicket-maiden in the 19th for Sonny Baker. That initial burst of scoring was capped with a 17-run over off Will Jacks,

who failed to hide the short, straight hit from the River Taff End. Liam Dawson then removed Lahiru Udara and Kamil Mishara in consecutive balls in the final Powerplay over. That proved to be the end of Sri Lanka’s impetus, and this contest. Asalanka’s 31 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s 27 came in the face of an exceptionally professional middle-overs display from Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid and Dawson, who finished with 3 for 32 to earn playerof-the-match honours. Aneurin Donald, as the hometown hero returning to his boyhood county, Glamorgan, had the crowd with him, managing to better his debut knock with 21 off 13 this time but struggled to get his timing right. Buttler initially had no such issues, carrying over his form from the 80 struck on Tuesday. He wasted no time getting to 30, moving to 15,000 runs in all T20, reclaiming the outright lead,

now one ahead of Kieron Pollard. That included taking 16 off the second over from left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka, brought into the XI with debutant Tharindu Rathnayake, as spinners Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana made way. With Buttler removed, and Brook dismissed for the first time in four innings his 23 yesterday taking his aggregate in that stretch to 311 runs - there was a hint of jeopardy at 79 for 3 after seven overs. But with 69 required from the remaining 78 balls, England’s middle order could decide between themselves who was going to see it home with a score of note. In the end, it was Banton, adding another finishing cameo to his catalogue. He ticked over a fifth half-century from 24 deliveries before a succession of no-balls and wides was followed by Jacks’s lame tuck into midwicket for an underwhelming finish.

pressure of the high asking rate and the quality of India’s bowling. Abhishek attacks One sighter is all it took before Abhishek hurtled off the mark with an extra-cover drive in the air off a half volley from Fazalhaq Farooqi. The innings had all the hallmarks of an Abhishek classic: a high grip giving him a seemingly long wingspan and languid bat swing, sweet hitting either side of the wicket off seam, and back-foot sixes down the ground off spin. The first time he charged a seamer was at the end of the second over, lofting Azmatullah Omarzai over cover for his second six. Farooqi overpitched again in the third over and paid the price. The worst fate, though, was reserved for off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, introduced in the fifth over. Samson had already taken him down the ground for two

sixes off the back foot, and Abhishek matched him two of his own, bringing up his fifty in 16 balls. For a change, Rashid Khan bowled inside the powerplay, but it made little difference to Abhishek, who hit two fours before performing a rare act for the third match in a row: charge at Rashid and hit him for a six down the ground. This was Abhishek’s seventh six and brought up India’s hundred. Under immense pressure, slight errors of length continued after the powerplay, and Abhishek kept punishing them. After bringing up his hundred in the ninth over - only once has it happened quicker in internationals he sat down in a meditation pose, a nod to his mentor Yuvraj Singh, who holds the record for the fastest T20I fifty for India.

Abhishek’s record century delivers India’s clean sweep of Afghanistan

(ESPNCRICINFO) Abhishek Sharma smashed a host of records in his 34-ball 108 to lead India’s whitewash of Afghanistan in the three-T20I series in Delhi. At 30 balls, this was the fastest T20I hundred against a full-member team and the third-quickest overall. With 11 delightful sixes and nine fours, Abhishek scored a century in boundaries alone, ending up with the highest percentage of runs scored in boundaries in a T20I innings. Nobody now has as many hundreds as Abhishek has in 30 balls or fewer and 40 balls or fewer. Abhishek’s sensational innings gave India enough insurance against the reverse-swing-induced slowdown in the second half of the innings. They managed to muster just 221 after the opening pair took 100 off the first six

Abhishek Sharma celebrates his hundred with a meditation pose • BCCI

overs, India’s record powerplay score. Sanju Samson, who was happy to watch from the other end while

Abhishek dazzled, ended up with a second successive half-century. Having languished in the

150s in the first two matches batting first, Afghanistan managed just 94 this time, the wheels coming off under the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Amazon Warriors claim first WCPL crown CHEDEAN Nation produced one of the greatest comebacks in Limacol WCPL history, powering the Guyana Amazon Warriors to their maiden title with a thrilling two-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Kensington Oval. Walking to the crease at number eight with the Warriors struggling at 71 for 6 in the 13th over and needing 74 runs from 46 balls to reach their challenging target of

145, Nation unleashed a stunning counterattack. The 39-year-old smashed four sixes in a sensational unbeaten cameo of 39 from just 21 balls, turning the match on its head. Captain Chloe Tryon joined Nation at the crease with the Warriors still 74 runs away from victory, and together they swung the momentum decisively back in favour of the eventual champions. The pair blasted 40 from

just 23 balls before Tryon was bowled by Laura Harris for 32 in the 17th over. When Sheneta Grimmond fell for 10 in the 19th over, the Knight Riders were back in contention, with the Warriors still needing 16 runs from nine balls. But Nation refused to buckle. Taking on seamer Shikha Pandey and off-spinner Karishma Ramharack, she kept her composure to bring the Warriors home with three

balls to spare, finishing on 149 for 8 and sparking wild celebrations. It was Nation’s first opportunity with the bat in only her second appearance of the season, and she made it count when it mattered most. The Warriors’ chase had appeared to be slipping away after their top order wobbled. In-form batters Tazmin Brits, who made 22, and Shemaine Campbelle, who scored 9, were among the

first five batters dismissed before the 10 over mark, handing the momentum to the Knight Riders. The spirited TKR bowling attack was led by captain Deandra Dottin, Ramharack and Pandey, who claimed two wickets apiece. Earlier, Dottin won the toss and opted to bat under sunny conditions. Debutant Sushma Verma top-scored with 39, anchoring the Knight Riders’ top and middle order, before

Marizanne Kapp and Pandey provided a late surge to lift TKR to 145 for 6. Warriors seamer Shabnim Ismail finished with two wickets, while Shamilia Connell delivered an economical four-over spell, claiming 1 for 18. The triumph marked the third time the Warriors had reached the WCPL final, following appearances in 2023 and 2025, but this time they finally completed the journey to the title.

GFF commences Ensemble U-17 Programme

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially commenced the Under-17 phase of its landmark Youth Ensemble Programme over the weekend, introducing the third level of competition in the initiative’s inaugural year and expanding opportunities for young footballers across Guyana. The U-17 programme got underway on Saturday, September 12, following the successful completion of the U-13 and U-15 competitions. The opening weekend featured exciting matchups across the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) and Berbice Football Association (BFA),

as teams launched their respective campaigns. At the Parade Ground, Pele FC opened its GFA campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over VENGY FC, with Ryan Sobers scoring a hat-trick, while Dashawn Hopkinson and Samuel Logo added to the scoreline. Riddim Squad FC also enjoyed a strong start, defeating Black Pearl FC 6–1, with goals from Keshawn Henry, Jashawn Marshall, Inshan Alli, Dequwan James, Malakai Gowen and Gavin Towler. Aluko Jervis scored Black Pearl’s lone goal. Beacon FC secured a walkover victory against Eastveldt FC. On the East Coast at the Victoria Ground, Mahaica

defeated Mahaicony 5-2, while BV Triumph overcame Plaisance 2-0, with Rovano Miles finding the net. Melanie edged Buxton Stars 2-1, and Ann’s Grove United recorded a 3-0 victory over Victoria Kings. The Berbice Football Association joined the competition on Sunday, September 13, with Paradise Invaders FC producing a dominant 7–0 victory over Ithaca. Keysean Mingo led the scoring with a hat-trick, while Dellon Bacchus, Jaden Nobel and Keywan Mingo also found the net. In another closely contested encounter, Monedderlust FC secured a 4–3 win over Cougars. Quivion

Practor, John Gullerton and Delante McKenzie scored for Monedderlust, while Cougars responded through Dominique Rodrigues, Shomal Petrie and Nathan Henry, who netted twice. The U-17 phase builds on the successful completion of the U-13 and U-15 competitions, where Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) secured both national titles, defeating YMCA 3–0 in the U-13 final and Buxton Stars 4–2 in the U-15 decider. This category is expected to see approximately 2,075 players participating across all nine regional associations, making it another significant step in the GFF’s efforts to broaden access to organised

youth football and create more opportunities for young players to develop through structured competition. Alongside the regional association competitions, the GFF has introduced an Elite U-17 competition featuring six GFF Elite League clubs: Guyana Defence Force FC, Guyana Police Force FC, Santos FC, Slingerz FC, Western Tigers FC and Fruta Conquerors FC. The competition will provide additional opportunities for young players to gain competitive experience and develop their abilities within a structured environment. The Youth Ensemble Programme, launched in partnership with FIFA in May 2026,

represents a major investment in the development of youth football, with competitions being introduced across the Federation’s nine regional associations. The U-17 category forms the third level of the programme’s inaugural year, strengthening the pathway for players to progress from youth football into higher levels of domestic and national competition. The programme continues this Saturday, September 19, with the Upper Demerara and West Demerara Football Associations set to join the ongoing U-17 competition, further expanding opportunities for young footballers across Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

Kingsmen demolish Tridents to stay in CPL title hunt

THE Jamaica Kingsmen produced their best performance of the season in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Eliminator as they beat the Barbados Tridents by nine wickets at the Kensington Oval. Maaz Sadaqat became the youngest centurion in CPL history at 21 years old as he produced a stunning 112 at the top of the order that completely took the game away from the Tridents from the start. Kirk McKenzie, his partner at the top finished 22 unbeaten as the Kingsmen steamrolled their way to Qualifier 2. The Tridents made a bad start losing Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson through the first two overs. They sat at 2/2 after three overs and lost two more wickets by the end of the first six. At 24/4, there was a silence around

the Kensington Oval as the Jamaican’s were smelling blood and the opportunity to set themselves up with a small run chase. The Tridents’ hopes rested on Quinton de Kock, who has made this tournament look easy at times. The classy South African has lifted the Tridents out of some precarious positions this season, and his task was made even more difficult after the fall of the fifth wicket as Sherfane Rutherford was brilliantly bowled by a dazzling delivery from Saim Ayub. But de Kock did what he has done all tournament and just bided his time, ensuring he was there at the end to shape the home side’s innings. He had the ideal partner, captain and fellow veteran Chris Green and the two got to work building a phenomenal partnership off 114 to salvage the Tridents’ innings.

Together, they scored 95 runs in the back half of the innings and finished on 144/6 with de Kock sacrificing himself on the last ball. The tournament’s leading run scorer ended with another impressive 71, whilst Green got his half century striking 57 not out. The Tridents would have been pleased with their recovery and with some momentum to defend their modest total. That momentum was quickly quashed by the Kingsmen’s opening pair of Maaz Sadaqat and Kirk McKenzie who got the chase off to a flying start. Sadaqat dominated the early rotation of strike and made good use of it, powering the Kingsmen to 79/0 at the end of the PowerPlay. He continued to dominate the strike and motored to his first CPL half century this season in just 22 balls. Tridents’ captain Chris Green

was left scratching his head with none of his bowling changes having any luck in slowing Sadaqat down. The spin that had carved through the Tridents top order earlier on, was now being pumped to all parts of the ground by the young Pakistani batter. McKenzie at the other end just had to lean on his bat and give the strike to the young man who was in the form of his life.

Sadaqat’s strike rate remained immaculate as he reached his first ever T20 century in exactly double the number of balls he had reached his half century in. He wasn’t able to finish the job off as Daniel Sams finally forced a mistake, as Sadaqat skied a slower ball that Sams took himself. He departed with a sportsmanlike round of applause from the home

crowd. With the Kingsmen needing one to win with 35 balls remaining, a wide from Kevlon Anderson put the Tridents out of the competition, the wide unfortunately summing up their evening. The Kingsmen will move on to Qualifier 2 to face the loser of the Amazon Warriors and the Falcons for a place in Sunday’s final.

ANTIGUA & Barbuda Falcons became the first team to book their place in the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a stunning nine wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Kensington Oval. The Falcons recorded the second-fastest win in CPL history as Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim took four wickets each, including a hat-trick from Khan to bowl the Warriors out for 76. Rahkeem Cornwall’s 49 in 16 balls ensured there would be no Guyana miracle with the Falcons producing the performance of the tournament so far. The Falcons backed their

bowlers and put the Warriors into bat who made a steady start inside the PowerPlay. It looked a sensible strategy as the wicket has seemingly got easier to bat on as the game has gone on in recent weeks, particularly in Barbados. It has often been about how many wickets you can keep in hand rather than how many runs you score, and the Warriors appeared to have got that memo, finishing the PowerPlay 34 for 1. However, the Falcons’ quality bowling attack has been largely what has got them to this point and that came to the fore quickly after the PowerPlay. First it was Sufyan Moqim, drawing mistakes from Glenn Phillips and Mohammad Haris.

Phillips didn’t get enough on it and was caught at deep mid-wicket. Haris walked straight away after feathering behind to Amir Jangoo. Moqim handed the reins to his partner in crime, Shadab Khan who produced a stunning hat-trick of googlies in his second over to completely destroy the Warriors middle order. First it was Shimron Hetmyer who clothed one to long-on. Next, Mehidy Hasan Miraz who was trapped LBW in front by another dazzling googly. Upon review, the umpire’s decision was upheld. He rounded it off with the best ball of the bunch, a perfectly flighted googly that crashed through the gate

of Quentin Sampson and sparked joyous celebrations amongst the Falcons fielders. The Warriors were left reeling at 45 for 6. The next over, it was back to Moqim who picked up two more, as Khary Pierre and Shai Hope were bowled and LBW respectively. Two balls later, Shadab picked up his fourth and the two were trading wickets as Imran Tahir went for 1. There was a mini revival by Romario Shepherd, who found two boundaries before Shamar Springer finished the Warriors off and left them all out for 76. Imran Tahir’s method of fighting fire with fire was crushed early on as Rahkeem Cornwall came out

in no mood to wait around. The Warriors’ captain took the ball himself and was carted around the ground by Cornwall’s power hitting. Cornwall took Tahir, Miraz and Khary Pierre to task with some exquisite shots in the restricted period and ensured there would be no doubt as to who would reach the final on the night. He raced towards his half century, nearly levelling Andre Russell’s record for the fastest 50 after just 14 balls. He was frustratingly left stranded on 49 as he was caught by Hetmyer off the bowling of Tahir, but he had left Evin Lewis and Amir Jangoo just 27 more to get. Lewis, having surrendered the strike to Cornwall

earlier on, picked up the mantle and began to punish the bowling change to Shamar Joseph. He took Joseph for 21 in six deliveries, whilst suffering with cramp. Jangoo only had time to face four deliveries, ensuring he left with a boundary to his name, before Lewis fittingly hit the winning runs with just 32 balls bowled. The Falcons advance to their first CPL final on Sunday in frightening form. The Warriors will need to pick themselves up off the canvas and go again, against the Kingsmen in the final eliminator tonight. The winner will face the Falcons for the CPL crown.

Maaz Sadaqat spearheaded the Kingsmen

Shadab hat-trick downs Warriors

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, September 18, 2026

The Guyana Amazon Warriors Women finally tasted success

Amazon Warriors claim first WCPL crown SEE PAGE

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Shadab hat-trick downs Warriors

SEE PAGE

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Amir Jangoo and Rahkeem Cornwall watch as Quentin Sampson is bowled

| FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026