Issuu

20th September, 2026

See Inside No.1081912

17 children to undergo life-saving heart surgeries in Guyana – specialised Apollo team to begin procedures Sept 28 SEE – President Ali says gov’t working to eliminate paediatric PAGE 3 cardiac surgery backlog

President, Dr Irfaan Ali shares a moment with children and their parents ahead of a specialised paediatric cardiac mission that will see 17 children with congenital heart defects undergo life-saving heart surgeries right here in Guyana from September 28 to October 2. The procedures will be performed by a specialised team from Apollo Hospitals of India working alongside Guyanese medical professionals. In addition to the surgeries, the government will also support transportation for all children and accommodation for those travelling from outside of Georgetown during the upcoming mission

Human Services launches ‘Catalyst Collective’ to give youth voice in policymaking SEE PAGE

— young Guyanese flag bullying, mental health, child abuse and vaping among key concerns

President Ali to headline global aviation safety forum in Guyana

Women receive nearly half of house lots allocated in first half of 2026 SEE PAGE

SEE PAGE

Justice Persaud allegedly faces travel restrictions after visa review

SEE PAGE

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

17 children to undergo lifesaving heart surgeries in Guyana

– specialised Apollo team to begin procedures Sept. 28 – President Ali says gov’t working to eliminate paediatric cardiac surgery backlog

President Dr Irfaan Ali joins parents, children and members of the medical team following an engagement with families whose children are scheduled to undergo specialised cardiac surgeries in Guyana between September 28 and October 2. Seventeen children with congenital heart defects are expected to benefit from the life-saving procedures SEVENTEEN children with congenital heart defects are expected to undergo specialised, life-saving cardiac surgeries in Guyana later this month, as the government moves to eliminate the backlog of children awaiting complex heart procedures. President Dr Irfaan Ali made the announcement on Saturday while engaging parents and several of the children who are expected to benefit from the programme. The Government has engaged a specialised medical team from Apollo Hospitals in India to work alongside local healthcare professionals at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The 17 procedures are scheduled to be performed between September 28 and October 2. President Ali said the initiative forms part of his government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyanese children requiring specialised cardiac interventions can access world-class care without families having to shoulder the burden of travelling overseas.

“One of the things that we promised every Guyanese is to invest in healthcare, invest in world-class healthcare,” the President said. He acknowledged the emotional and financial strain placed on families when children require complex procedures that are not readily available locally, noting that overseas treatment can involve significant expenses as well as challenges surrounding travel and visas. Against this backdrop, Ali said the government has been working on a programme aimed at reducing the number of children awaiting specialised cardiac surgery to zero. The latest initiative builds on a commitment made earlier this year by the President to have the Ministry of Health identify children requiring cardiac interventions and accelerate treatment locally. Following the first 17 procedures, the President said another phase is being planned for December, targeting approximately 10 additional children. “We are making this

investment because not only did we promise it, we are making this investment because we care,” Ali told the parents. Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, said the Apollo team was specifically engaged because some of the children on the local waiting list have highly complex conditions requiring expertise and resources beyond those normally available during existing visiting cardiac missions. According to Anthony, cardiologists and other specialists at GPHC assessed the cases and determined that some would require a larger specialised team, additional technical personnel and more time to complete the procedures safely. He said Apollo Hospitals has extensive experience in complex cardiac surgery and already has an established relationship with Guyana through a memorandum of understanding that includes training opportunities for local doctors. Rather than sending the children overseas, Anthony said the international

specialists will travel to Guyana and perform the procedures using local facilities. The minister said this approach also allows parents and children to remain closer to their families and support systems during what can be a difficult period. Guyana has been steadily expanding its capacity to provide specialised cardiac care locally. In July, President Ali directed that the backlog of children requiring cardiac surgery be addressed, while GPHC has also expanded the range of complex cardiac interventions being performed in the country. Head of GPHC’s Paediatrics Department, Dr Tarik Davidson, said the upcoming mission will involve cases that are more complex than those generally handled during previous paediatric cardiac missions. He explained that such missions are highly technical and costly, with the programme costing close to US$1 million annually. Davidson said investments made over the years

have nevertheless allowed GPHC to strengthen its equipment, staffing and overall capacity to manage paediatric cardiac patients. He also disclosed that two additional ventilators, valued at approximately $15 million, are expected to be acquired to support the programme. While the upcoming mission will focus on surgery, Davidson said GPHC is also moving to clear another backlog involving echocardiograms. An initiative dubbed “Operation Echoes” is planned for October and is expected to involve cardiologists and sonographers from Northwell Health in New York and a team from Calgary, Canada. The objective, he said, is to eliminate the waiting list for echocardiograms at GPHC by the end of October. GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Robbie Rambarran, also pointed to the expansion of the paediatric cardiac programme in recent years, including partnerships with Gift of Life International and other overseas specialists. Research presented

this year to the American Association for Thoracic Surgery states that a paediatric cardiac surgical programme was launched at GPHC in 2023 using an international partnership model focused not only on treating patients, but also on transferring clinical skills to Guyanese healthcare professionals. Assistant Director of Nursing, Charmaine Cornette, meanwhile, sought to reassure parents ahead of the upcoming procedures. Cornette said nursing and technical teams will provide round-the-clock care and support to the children throughout the mission. President Ali said the broader objective is to reach the stage where no child in Guyana is left waiting for necessary specialised cardiac intervention. The programme, he said, is ultimately about giving affected children the opportunity to live healthy and rewarding lives while building Guyana’s capacity to provide increasingly complex medical care at home.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Dredges, gold seized in Puruni River illegal mining crackdown

AUTHORITIES have seized two water dredges and a quantity of gold after dismantling another illegal mining operation along the Puruni River, the Ministry of Natural Resources has reported. The enforcement exercise was carried out on September 17, 2026, by the Enforcement Department of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), with support from the Guyana Police Force. According to the ministry, the operation targeted mining activities being conducted within the river’s buffer zone as authorities continue efforts to clamp

One of the dredges positioned in the Puruni River

down on illegal mining and protect the country’s waterways. During the exercise, two water dredges and

a quantity of gold were seized. Three persons associated with the operation were also escorted by police to Puruni Landing, where investigations are ongoing. The latest enforcement action comes as the Ministry of Natural Resources continues to reinforce the

requirement for miners and other stakeholders operating within the extractive sector to comply with the country’s mining laws and regulations. The ministry has reminded stakeholders that mining operations must be conducted within the established legal and regulatory

Gold seized from the illegal operation

framework, particularly where activities could affect rivers and other waterways. It said enforcement exercises will continue through the GGMC, in collaboration with law-enforcement agencies, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining activities and safeguard Guyana’s waterways. “The ministry wish-

es to remind all stakeholders of their obligation to comply with mining laws and regulations,” the ministry said. The authorities have not disclosed the quantity or value of the gold seized, while investigations into the operation remain ongoing.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

President Ali to headline global aviation safety forum in Guyana

PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will deliver the keynote address at a major international aviation safety forum set to bring senior regulators, industry leaders and aviation experts to Guyana later this month. The joint International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Third Global Regional Safety Oversight Organisations and Regional

Accident and Incident Investigation Organisations Forum for Aviation Safety will be held on September 29 and 30 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The two-day forum will be held under the theme, “Optimising Resources through Coordination and Cooperation”. According to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the event will bring together senior represen-

tatives of Regional Safety Oversight Organisations, Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organisations, ICAO member states, international organisations and key stakeholders from across the global aviation sector. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening regional cooperation, improving safety oversight and accident investigation capabilities, securing sustainable financing, developing the

aviation workforce and harmonising regulatory frameworks. Participants will also examine opportunities to strengthen partnerships between governments, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. The forum is expected to provide a platform for countries and aviation organisations to exchange proven practices and practical solutions, while examining how

regional cooperation can allow states to better utilise technical expertise and resources. Particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening aviation safety systems and improving the effectiveness of accident and incident investigations. Guyana's hosting of the international forum comes as the country continues to expand its aviation sector and deepen its participation

in regional and international aviation initiatives. The GCAA said the event also reflects Guyana's growing role in advancing aviation safety, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting greater collaboration within the global aviation community. The Authority has welcomed delegates who will travel to Guyana for the high-level forum.

Shipping sector pushes for greater efficiency as trade expands — SAG, gov’t discuss port operations, streamlined cargo movement

WITH Guyana’s expanding economy driving increased commercial activity and imports, the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) has opened discussions with the government on improving port efficiency and ensuring the country’s shipping and logistics systems can keep pace with growing trade volumes. SAG Chairman Dr Komal Singh, accompanied by representatives of shipping lines operating in Guyana, recently met with Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to discuss challenges affecting the sector and areas for greater government-industry collaboration. According to the association, Guyana’s economic expansion has created significant opportunities for the shipping industry, but has also placed new demands on the systems and infrastructure responsible for moving cargo through the country’s ports.

During the meeting, SAG raised several operational issues affecting the industry and stressed the need for stronger coordination, streamlined processes and greater responsiveness across the sector. The association said continued improvements will become increasingly important as commercial activity and cargo volumes expand. Dr Komal Singh described the engagement as timely, noting that the country’s economic growth is having a direct impact on shipping activity. “Our objective is to work collaboratively with government to ensure that Guyana’s shipping and trade systems continue to keep pace with the country’s rapid economic growth,” he said. He stressed that an efficient shipping sector is critical to facilitating trade, reducing delays and ensuring that the country’s wider development is supported by a logistics network capable of responding to increased demand. Minister Singh, meanwhile, acknowl-

edged the importance of the shipping industry to Guyana’s trade and economic development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with industry stakeholders to address existing challenges. “The government recognises the critical role of the shipping industry in facilitating trade and supporting Guyana’s continued economic expansion,” the minister said. He added that the government remains committed to collaborating with the sector to improve efficiency and ensure that systems respond to the requirements of a rapidly

growing economy. SAG said it intends to continue working with the government and other stakeholders to strengthen Guyana’s shipping, logistics and trade environment as economic activities expand.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Women Moving Forward

GUYANA is moving forward at a rapid pace and women must not only be part of that progress, but must also be positioned to benefit from the opportunities being created. The 2026 Mid-Year Report shows that investments in women are being made in practical areas such as education, skills training, entrepreneurship, home ownership and protection from gender-based violence. These are important because empowering women cannot simply be a talking point. It must translate into opportunities that allow women to earn, own, build and create

better lives for themselves and their families. During the first half of 2026, 3,625 women were awarded scholarships through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), while another 711 women received skills training through the Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) and the Board of Industrial Training. What stands out is the type of training being offered. Women are entering areas such as auto-electrical work, electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, information technol-

ogy and agro-processing. As Guyana expands its infrastructure and economy, women must have a place in these industries and access to the jobs that come with that growth. Entrepreneurship is another area where progress is being recorded. The report states that 1,930 women benefited from entrepreneurial training, while 79 received assistance to register new businesses and 76 received business start-up kits. Another 51 women benefited from 17 shade houses, while the We Lift initiative created opportunities for 450 women entre-

preneurs to showcase their businesses, network and reach wider markets. Home ownership is equally important. Some 1,547 women received house lots during the first half of 2026, representing nearly half of all recipients. For women, particularly those building families, owning property provides more than somewhere to live. It provides security and an asset that can create generational wealth. Progress must also mean creating environments where women are treated fairly. More than 1,700 public servants and community

leaders received sensitisation in gender mainstreaming and social inclusion, while another 500 were targeted. The National Gender Equality and Empowerment Seal also promotes equal pay, career advancement, inclusive workplace policies and workplaces free from harassment and discrimination. The report also recognises that women cannot truly advance without protection and support. Some 2,400 people participated in gender-based and domestic violence sensitisation sessions, 1,401 received legal aid, 347 people with

domestic-violence matters benefited from legal pro-bono support, and 45 survivors received shelter and other assistance. These numbers show progress, but the work cannot stop at programmes and statistics. The real measure will be how many women turn these opportunities into sustainable careers, successful businesses, home ownership and financial independence. Women are moving forward and as Guyana develops, that progress must continue with them at the centre of the opportunities being created.

Did Mr Goolsarran meet the standards he demands of others?

Dear Editor, THE recent ruling in the matter involving former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran and Vice-president Dr Bharrat Jagdeo should serve less as a sobering moment and more as a reality check for Mr Goolsarran and those who have long treated his public pronouncements as if they were carved in tablets from Mount Sinai. After all, it must be hard to keep up the image of a ‘paragon of virtue’ when the halo keeps slipping under the weight of inconvenient facts available to the general public. Indeed, for years, Mr Goolsarran has presented himself on the public stage as an uncompro-

mising defender of transparency, ethical conduct, and respect for the rule of law. However, Justice Peter Hugh’s ruling raises an important question: has Mr Goolsarran held himself to the same high standards he has often demanded of others, particularly public officials who serve under successive PPP/C administrations? In his ruling, Justice Hugh revealed Dr Jagdeo's statement that Mr Goolsarran lacked integrity, having collected a salary while failing to produce audited financial accounts for almost eight of the 10 years during which he served as auditor general, to be substantially true. In other words, the man who preached about integrity and accountability

from the pulpit of virtue couldn’t display this noble quality while serving as the chief guardian of accountability and transparency. The irony is conspicuous: entrusted with auditing the state’s finances, he withheld audited statements for almost a decade, all while pocketing his salary without so much as a gesture of resignation. Equally revealing, the court upheld Dr Jagdeo’s assertion that Mr Goolsarran remained silent during the five years the APNU+AFC administration ruled with little respect for the notion of transparency and accountability. Apparently, for Mr Goolsarran, accountability is a principle best applied selectively, loud and thunderous when one party is in of-

fice, mute when another takes the reins. Balance, fairness, and principle, it seems, were optional extras. And then there’s the pièce de résistance. Mr Goolsarran’s admission that he accepted solesourced contracts for forensic audits of NICIL, the Marriott Hotel, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Guyana Forestry Commission. For a man who always portrays himself as the high priest of procurement propriety, this is akin to preaching against sin while pocketing the entire collection plate. Justice Hugh’s ruling exposes not a minor lapse but a yawning and consistent chasm between Mr Goolsarran’s public

sermons and his actions for three decades. As auditor general, he failed to produce audited statements. As a watchdog and guardian of transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law, he lost his voice and pen under the APNU+AFC. As a private auditor, he accepted procurement contracts that mocked the very standards he championed. As an admirer of Mr Goolsarran, I would like to offer him some friendly advice. Sermons are best delivered by those who actually practise the gospel. Public trust is not earned by the sheer decibel level of one’s criticism, but by the consistency with which one observes or practises the standards one demands. In Mr Goolsar-

ran’s case, the evidence in Justice Hugh’s ruling is clear: the self-proclaimed preacher of virtue has turned out to be a remarkably consistent practitioner of convenience – a man who parades loudly on the public stage about integrity, transparency and accountability while quietly practising selective silence and contractual indulgence. Public trust is not earned by the sheer volume of criticism but by the consistency with which one lives the standards one demands. In Mr Goolsarran’s case, the evidence is clear: the preacher of virtue was, in fact, a consistent practitioner of convenience. Regards Kevin Persaud

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Championing OSH excellence: Safeguarding Guyana’s growing workforce

THE conversation about development is shifting as Guyana’s economy expands, with focus on new industries, infrastructure, investment, jobs and opportunities. But another measure of progress deserves equal attention: how effectively we protect the people doing the work. Economic transformation inevitably changes the workplace. New industries introduce new technologies, equipment, processes and occupational risks. Existing sectors must expand and modernise to survive. More Guyanese are entering technical and industrial fields. We can no longer afford to view occupational safety and health as something that matters only after an incident occurs or simply as a regulatory requirement. It must become part of our culture. The recently commissioned Occupational Safety and Health Centre of Excellence at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute is well positioned to support the continued growth of a culture that values safety and health. Established through the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning,

the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and LearnCorp International, the Centre will support delivery of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification Level 3 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health. It combines classroom instruction with practical exposure to areas including personal protective equipment, gas detection, industrial hygiene, chemical safety, fall protection, lifting and rigging, confined-space procedures and emergency response. It is the first facility of its kind in Guyana and the Caribbean dedicated to supporting the CVQ Level 3 Occupational Safety and Health programme, creating a strong foundation for Guyana to serve as a national and regional hub for developing workplace safety professionals. That matters because a growing economy requires more than workers who can perform technical tasks. It requires workers, supervisors and employers who understand the risks associated with those tasks, recognise hazards early and know how to prevent an unsafe condition from becoming an injury or fatality. The Centre also represents an important evolu-

tion in technical and vocational education. Training for increasingly sophisticated workplaces cannot be confined to classrooms and theory. Workers need opportunities to encounter equipment, practise procedures, make decisions and demonstrate competencies in controlled environments before entering workplaces where the consequences of an error can be far more serious. But facilities and qualifications alone will not create safer workplaces. Guyana must also develop something much harder to build: a national safety culture, one that embraces prevention rather than reaction and recognises safety as a shared responsibility, not an afterthought. A genuine safety culture exists when protecting people becomes instinctive, not something done only because an inspector is visiting or a regulation requires it. It is visible when workers feel empowered to identify hazards, when supervisors correct unsafe practices immediately, when employers invest in prevention rather than simply responding to accidents, and when everyone understands that productivity should never require unnecessary risk. Encouragingly, Guyana's

wider occupational safety architecture is also evolving. The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning has reported more than 3,000 occupational safety and health inspections during the first five months of 2026, surpassing its annual target of 2,000 inspections. Government is also reviewing the country's broader occupational safety and health legislation and workplace safety framework, with support from the International Labour Organization, while preparations continue for specific occupational safety and health regulations for the oil and gas sector. These developments point to a stronger national approach, not one limited to oil and gas. The Ministry of Natural Resources has reinforced this broader principle, noting the need for sectors such as mining and forestry to advance alongside petroleum with equally strong expectations around safety, compliance and responsible operations. As Guyana diversifies, these expectations must support the thousands of Guyanese who earn their livelihoods across the natural resources sector and other growing industries. As Guyana develops multiple sectors alongside petroleum, safety practices

in modern industrial operations should raise expectations across the economy rather than create isolated pockets of excellence. Construction workers operating at height, miners working around heavy machinery, forestry workers, manufacturers, transportation workers and employees in other industrial settings all face different risks, but all require strong systems for hazard identification, training, supervision and prevention. As Labour Minister Keoma Griffith has noted, a stronger national safety culture must respond to the changing nature of work across these sectors. The standard should increasingly become simple: if work carries risk, deliberately build harm prevention into how that work is planned and executed. A worker in mining should expect a serious approach to safety. So should someone in forestry, construction, manufacturing or transportation. When these expectations are consistently applied, the strongest evidence of Guyana's developing safety culture will not only be found inside workplaces. A population trained to assess risks, follow procedures, use protective equip-

ment, anticipate hazards and understand the consequences of unsafe behaviour can carry those principles into everyday life. The mindset that encourages someone to stop and assess a workplace hazard can also influence decisions on the road, around the home or when supervising children and family members. That is how a workplace initiative can contribute to something much larger. Through initiatives like the Occupational Safety and Health Centre of Excellence, stronger inspections, modernised regulation and continued investment in workforce competency, the country has an opportunity to embed safety alongside technical excellence as industries develop. A stronger economy should not only create more opportunities to work. It should ensure that Guyanese can pursue those opportunities, build careers and return safely to their families at the end of every working day. 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.

Can ordinary Guyanese expect the same patience from the courts?

Dear Editor, EVERY hour of judicial time devoted to one case is an hour that cannot be given to another citizen waiting for justice. Across Guyana, victims, defendants, families and litigants appear before the courts hoping their matters will be heard and determined within a reasonable time. Many do not have teams of senior lawyers, unlimited resources or the ability to sustain months of litigation.

They simply wait, sometimes under great personal and financial pressure, for their opportunity to be heard. Against that background, the pace of the extradition proceedings involving Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman has cautioned against rushing the proceedings, but requiring focus, discipline and reasonable expedition is not

rushing justice. It is responsible case management. The court must certainly allow the defence to test the evidence. It must also protect its proceedings from unnecessary repetition, excessive detours and arguments that consume considerable time without advancing the central issue to be determined. This is an extradition hearing, not the trial of the charges contained in the United States indictment. The Magistrates’ Court is re-

quired to determine whether the established legal conditions for committal have been satisfied. The guilt or innocence of the two men is for the appropriate trial court, should extradition ultimately be ordered. What message is therefore being sent when a case of this nature cannot be completed with reasonable dispatch? Our courts frequently speak about backlogs, limited resources and the need

for greater efficiency. Those concerns cannot be separated from what occurs inside individual courtrooms. Judicial time is a public resource, and its management affects every citizen with a matter awaiting determination. The court can protect the rights of the Mohameds while establishing firm timelines, limiting repetitive submissions and ensuring that witnesses complete their evidence without unnecessary delay. These obligations are

entirely compatible. The question is rather straightforward: “If an ordinary Guyanese appeared before the Magistrates’ Court, would the system demonstrate this same patience, permit this same use of judicial time and tolerate the current pace of the extradition hearing?”. Equality before the law must be seen, felt and experienced by every citizen. Yours faithfully, Attiya Baksh

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

The ignorance of anti-government minds

I WAS in the yard, walking out of the certification office of the La Penitence police station when a gentleman spoke to me. I am happy that I had that encounter because it makes me feel that, as a public intellectual, I am educating at least some people. He told me that he read my piece where I thought it was stupid for the 165 signatures that wrote President Ali on the ferry disaster to request that the Commission conduct its work in two other languages apart from English – Creolese and Indigenous language. He said he found that request really stupid. As we parted, he said, “Mr. Kissoon, how can these people be so ignorant.” This ignorance has no limit and when you see who it is coming from, then, you know the opposition and its civil society surrogates are people that will never earn the respect of the Guyanese nation. It makes absolute-

ly no sense conducting the enquiry into the MV Barima sinking in the Creole language or Indgenous language. Those two languages are not part of the school curriculum throughout Guyana. T he Guyanese people are educated in one language only – English. If you do not like that educational arrangement, it does not erase the fact that from kindergarten to tertiary level the Guyanese people, whether Africans, Indians, Amerindians, mixedrace groups or Europeans, are educated in the English language. Guyana does not accommodate different languages in its teaching system. I once went into a shop in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with my wife and the assistant did not understand one word in English that I was saying. In Quebec, the school system teaches both French and English. But even so, there are French schools in Quebec that do not teach

English. In India, Hindi is not spoken throughout the vast land of India . In Tamil Nadu and the Punjab, just to name two, the school curriculum does not teach Hindi. India has different languages at the official level, so does Switzerland. Guyana is the opposite; we have one official language – English. If you want to keep your child away from school and teach the child at home in Creolese or the Indigenous language, you still have to teach them in English because they will have to write CSEC and CAPE and UG examinations in English. There is a school in Cornelia Ida with a heavy Hindu orientation; the same for a school on East Street with Muslim orientation. But even if those two schools offer Hindi and Arabic, they are optional and not compulsory. Both schools teach in English. In Guyana, it becomes complicated because there are several Indigenous lan-

20,243 Votes: The numbers Guyana cannot ignore

THERE is a dangerous temptation to treat the 2020 elections crisis as old news, a painful chapter that is exhausting and best left behind. I urge readers to resist that impulse. Democracy cannot survive on selective memory. Guyanese have an obligation to confront the weight of the evidence now being presented in Magistrate Faith McGusty’s courtroom. Why? It has to do with safeguarding the right of every Guyanese to cast a vote and know it will be counted, tabulated and declared honestly. Without that level of assurance, any talk of stability, progress and national confidence stands on shaky ground. After months of hearings and scrutiny of a substantial evidential record, including sworn testimony from some 39 witnesses, election documents, official records and international observer reports, the 2023 Commission of Inquiry concluded that Guyana had witnessed “shockingly brazen attempts” to derail and corrupt the legally prescribed process for counting, ascertaining and tabulating the March 2, 2020 votes, and to obstruct a true

declaration of the results. Allow me a word for Azruddin Mohamed, whose sister and apparently second in the chain of command in the We Invest In Nationhood Party, keeps a close watch on this column. The Leader of the Opposition, currently resisting extradition to the United States in connection with a federal indictment alleging financial crimes tied to gold exports, has yet to produce a single one of his theatrical, hand-waving videos about the nine persons charged in the 2020 elections case. No righteous monologue; no indignant demand for answers, and not a single attack on the officials accused of helping to bend the electoral process away from the votes cast by Guyanese. It is a deafening silence from a politician who has made public outrage his political brand. One appreciates, of course, that he has been busy before the courts on his own legal matters. Still, a leader who claims to stand against wrongdoing ought not to go mute when confronted with allegations of a plot against the very democracy that placed him

in office. That brings me to Terrence Jaskaran’s evidence. Before the forensic accountant could explain his analysis last Friday, defence attorney Nigel Hughes repeatedly sought to challenge his credentials and credibility. There is nothing improper about a defence lawyer testing a witness, and Hughes will have every right to cross-examine Jaskaran when that time comes. However, the preliminary battle over the accountant’s credentials was staged to briefly shift attention away from the evidence itself: a comparison that showed striking differences between the certified Statements of Poll and the Region Four GECOM declarations. The Magistrate ultimately accepted Jaskaran as an expert witness. The witness is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA). As an FCCA and FCPA, Jaskaran brings senior professional accountancy standing and specialised forensic-accounting training to the examination of records, figures and documentary

guages. Which one must the commission use? There are two types of Creolese. Which one must the commission use? You have urban Creolese and rural Creolese. I saw a woman in MovieTowne car park striking her son and really hard too. She was speaking in deep rural Creolese. I didn’t understand what she was saying. I approached her and asked her to stop. She did. When she spoke to me, she used English. She simply told me in plain English that the boy will get knock down because he runs all over the place. So who is going to read this Indigenous and Creole languages at the commission? It cannot be Indigenous folks because they were educated in English. They know English. It cannot be Creole folks because they were taught English in school. So

the commonsensical conclusion is that it makes no sense and serves no purpose for the commission to translate its work in Creolese and Indigenous. So who are these 165 signatures that made this demand on the President? We only know a few – Guyana Human Rights Association; Red Thread; Transparency Guyana Inc; We the People; Amerindian Peoples Association; among others. These 165 signatures are yet to be made transparent and let Guyanese know who they are. The government has a duty to inform the nation that it received a submission from 165 individuals and organisations in which a number of demands were made (see my Tuesday, September, 14, 2026 column titled, “165 entities: What motivates humans?” for the demands) Who are these people?

How can they be so ignorant? But there is a positive side to this. When we see the kinds of insane ramblings that come from anti-government critics, you know you cannot take them seriously. I ask every Guyanese that live inside and outside of Guyana, it they think it makes any sense for the commission to do its work in Creolese and Indigenous language. Remember, among those 165 signatures are people who wrote to President Ali demanding Guyana stop oil production because its toxic effects kill African people. Really! Only African people! Or people in general? 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.

variances. Jaskaran is perhaps akin to Guyana’s version of Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) in the Hollywood movie The Accountant and its sequel, minus the autism and some very lethal combat skills. He has worked in audit and assurance since 2011 and has been a licensed practising auditor since 2015. He has participated in Government-commissioned forensic audits involving the Sugar Industry Welfare Fund and the Guyana Passport Office, and his audit practice has undergone professional peer review in the United States and United Kingdom. So what did Jaskaran’s comparison of certified Region Four Statements of Poll with the Form 24 declarations reveal? The certified SoPs he examined recorded 116,215

votes for APNU+AFC. Yet the March 5 Form 24 declared 136,458, a difference of 20,243 votes. The March 13 declaration put the figure at 136,057, still 19,842 votes above Jaskaran’s SoP-based total. The contrast was just as consequential for the PPP/C. Jaskaran’s tabulation from the certified SoPs recorded 80,288 votes. The March 5 declaration listed 77,329, or 2,959 fewer votes; the March 13 declaration recorded 77,231, a shortfall of 3,057. Could this have possibly been a typographical slip, rounding error or clerical footnote? Magistrate McGusty will eventually have to answer that question. Based on the final 2020 count, the electoral quota was 7,082 votes per National Assembly seat. A difference exceeding 20,000 votes represents al-

most three full electoral quotas, numbers large enough to matter in any serious contest for political power. Where did those votes come from? Where did the others go? They are questions the evidence now places squarely before the court. As Jaskaran’s testimony continues tomorrow, the prosecution’s case comes into sharper focus. And it may help to explain why defence attorney Nigel Hughes fought so hard, before the numbers could even be laid out, to challenge the credentials of the accountant presenting them. 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.

The Complex brain

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

JUST over a month ago, my eldest son died from a stroke. The doctors were unable to definitively diagnose the cause of the stroke, saying that the only risk factors they could find were cigarettes. The day he collapsed, Akim told the doctor he had smoked half a pack of cigarettes and a joint. Akim has been smoking marijuana for decades and controlled his consumption. He would roll a joint after he got home from work and light it after dinner; sometimes he would put it out, lighting it back later. His cigarette smoking was a recent habit and it was very casual. But a girlfriend confirmed that the habit had gotten worse Akim began to smoke

cigarettes heavily, while they were both trying to quit smoking weed. That was so ironic. “Just as we been getting we life together, this happened,” she told me in an agonised voice. It all began over a month ago, when Akim began to have headaches. They persisted to the point where he was advised to visit the doctor and have a check-up. He agreed but simply kept postponing it. I am a cigarette smoker who had given up the habit for over a decade. But when I heard of my son's collapse, I went and bought a pack of cigarettes, and I lit one immediately. After my son's sudden and unexpected death - a slim and healthy man- I began to look into brain dis-

eases and their causes. But I am primarily concerned about people doing regular checkups and heeding the warning that all is not well. When we consider that the mind rules the body and the brain is the seat of the mind, then we should pay attention to the brain. We readily visit doctors for physical ailments but seem to think that our brains are immune. We get a headache; we take a couple of painkillers. When the headache returns, we still ignore it and use an opioid. We pay scant attention to the fact that the brain is the complex control centre of the human body, that regulates thoughts, memories, movement and automotive life functions. Specialists speak of five

signs that indicate your brain may be under severe strain or " experiencing a medical issue". These include sudden, severe headaches, sudden vision changes, unexplained weakened numbness, trouble speaking or new seizures. Oxygen deprivation is the main killer of brain cells, causing cardiac arrest, stroke or severe asphyxiation. Immediate medical attention should be sought if any of these signs are detected. The human brain is the central organ of the nervous system and, along with the spinal cord, makes up the central nervous system. The brain is not a muscle. It contains blood vessels and nerves. Weighing about three pounds, it is about 60

per cent water. The remaining 40 per cent is a combination of water, protein, carbs and salts. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the brain and the vital importance of heeding the signs that say something is wrong. Do not try to selfheal or self- medicate. Get

a check-up and find out whether something is wrong. 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.

pumping oil and counting barrels. The country must use today's wealth to build an economy capable of standing when the oil wells eventually decline. The third accomplishment is the attempt to turn oil wealth into lasting national assets. This is perhaps the most important test of all. The oil must eventually run out, but the roads, schools, hospitals, and the skills acquired by Guyanese will remain. This is why investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and productive capacity matters far beyond one budget cycle. The contrast with the APNU+AFC government's 2019 Mid-Year Report is revealing, but must be understood in its historical context. In 2019, Guyana was still preparing for first oil. The APNU+AFC report projected capital expenditure of $69.3 billion and an overall fiscal deficit of 4.9

per cent of GDP. Revenue collected during the first half of that year stood at $115.9 billion. Seven years later, Guyana is operating in an entirely different fiscal environment. The 2019 report was essentially documenting a country standing at the doorway of the oil age. The 2026 report is documenting a country already inside it and grappling with the enormous responsibility of converting petroleum wealth into broad-based development. WIN, APNU, AFC and all of the other opposition parties must not ignore this distinction. They must give Jack his jacket and Jane her skirt. They must stop being bitter-Betties and commend the PPP government and, stop fooling and dividing the people. There are still challenges. Inflation, particularly food prices, remains a concern. The 2026 Mid-Year Re-

port provides considerable evidence of an economy expanding at extraordinary speed and a government deploying unprecedented resources into social support and national development. But the real achievement will not be the 33.3 per cent. It will be whether that growth continues to translate into more money in people's pockets, better services, better infrastructure, more opportunities and a higher standard of living. For the remainder of the year, the government is working very hard on addressing the issues the people care about while staying focused on delivering its manifesto commitments. 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.

Numbers Are Speaking WHEN the economy grows, the people must feel it. For years, Guyanese heard the promise of an economy waiting to take off. Oil was coming. Investments were coming. Transformation was coming. But for the ordinary citizen, “coming” does not pay a grocery bill, builds a house, fixes a road or puts food on a family's table. In 2026, however, the numbers are no longer speaking about what might happen to Guyana. They are speaking about what IS happening. The Ministry of Finance's Mid-Year Report has put some remarkable figures on the table. Guyana's economy expanded by 33.3 per cent in the first half of 2026, while the non-oil economy grew by 10.1 per cent. Capital expenditure approached $250 billion, while private-sector credit continued to expand. But the most important question is not whether Guyana's GDP is growing. It is whether Guyanese are better off because of that growth. This is where the 2026 Budget's theme—“Putting People First,” must be

judged. And three developments stand out. The first is money going directly into people's hands. The $100,000 cash grant to every adult citizen, the increase in the old-age pension from $41,000 to $46,000 monthly, higher public assistance and the increase in the income-tax threshold represent tangible changes in household finances. These are not numbers that exist only in a Ministry of Finance report, they are dollars in the hands of citizens. For a pensioner, additional income can mean greater freedom to purchase necessities. Ask aunty Joyce Campbell, who said she can get groceries, medication and still have a little left over to tide her through the month. For a working family, a higher tax threshold means retaining more of its earnings. The Persauds at Mon Repos opened a small business with the 100,000 that each member of the family received. For vulnerable households, direct support can provide breathing space in an economy where food prices remain a con-

cern. From Skeldon, Anns Grove, Diamond, Georgetown, Vreed-en-hoop, Bartica, Parika, ‘Melanie,’ Buxton, Better Hope to Enmore, to name a few places, people’s lives are slowly changing positively. The government has also maintained zero excise tax on petroleum products, helping to cushion consumers and businesses from higher fuel costs. The second big story is the sheer scale of national development. Nearly $250 billion in capital expenditure is a staggering figure by Guyanese standards. It is being translated into roads, bridges, housing, drainage, water infrastructure, schools, hospitals and other public projects. This is where the oil story becomes a development story. The 10.1 per cent expansion of the non-oil economy is particularly significant because it suggests that economic activity is spreading beyond petroleum. Construction, services, agriculture, mining and other productive sectors remain part of the national expansion. It matters. After all, Guyana cannot build a sustainable future by simply

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Gov’t invests $696.1M in waste management in first half of 2026 — Manickchand says reliable garbage collection can help change public attitudes

Some of the garbage compactor trucks handed over to 22 local bodies in Region Six earlier this year

THE Government expended $696.1 million on sanitation and solid waste management during the first half of 2026, as it continued investments aimed at improving garbage collection and disposal systems across the country. The investment, outlined in the Ministry of Finance’s 2026 MidYear Report, covered several interventions aimed at strengthening

solid waste management infrastructure and improving the capacity of local authorities to provide reliable services. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, has said that reliability in the delivery of services such as garbage collection is also critical to changing public attitudes towards littering and waste disposal. Speaking on a recent episode of the Guyana

Dialogue, Manickchand said people are more likely to properly dispose of their waste when they have confidence that collection systems are reliable and predictable. “If you start giving people the hope that we can do better, we can be better, we can look better, our services are reliable and predictable, for example, garbage will be picked up on time, and people believe that;

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, listens to the concerns of residents during an engagement at Windsor Forest, Region Three

then I think people themselves begin to change their own attitudes, with the ad campaigns and so on,” she said. “If you know your garbage is going to be picked up and there is a bin provided to you, chances are high that you would use that.” EXPANDING CAPACITY According to the Mid-Year Report, works advanced on access roads and landfill sites at Zorg-en-Vlygt, Laurentia Catherina, Lusignan, Zorg-en-Hoop and 10 Miles during the first six months of the year. Upgrades also continued at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill, including construction of a hazardous-waste cell. Waste-collection capacity was also expanded with the distribution of 75 garbage compactor trucks across the country’s regions. The report said the investments form part of comprehensive sanitation and solid waste management programmes intended to strengthen local dem-

ocratic organs and improve waste-management practices through enhanced disposal infrastructure. Bulk-waste removal programmes were also implemented across Georgetown, while local government bodies received guidance on the effective operation and maintenance of equipment distributed to them. The Government has also turned to technology to strengthen the fight against littering. The Clean592 platform, introduced in April, allows citizens to report littering, illegal dumping and other environmental violations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for investigation and possible enforcement action. In June, the Government also began preparation of a National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan aimed at further improving waste-management systems and guiding longterm investment and policy decisions. MORE WORK PLANNED

According to the Mid-Year Report, work will continue during the second half of 2026 on regional landfill sites and access roads, recycling programmes, public-awareness and community-engagement initiatives, as well as the continued solid-waste clean-up programme. Manickchand has maintained that infrastructure and Government spending alone will not create cleaner communities, with changes in individual behaviour also necessary. She said, however, that dependable public services can help encourage those changes by giving residents practical and reliable options for properly disposing of their waste. The combination of infrastructural investment, increased collection capacity, enforcement, public education and more reliable services forms part of the Government’s wider effort to improve waste management and create cleaner communities.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Women receive nearly half of house lots allocated in first half of 2026

— 1,547 women among 3,245 beneficiaries; $89.9B spent on affordable-housing programme

WOMEN accounted for nearly half of the 3,245 house lots allocated by the government during the first half of 2026, with 1,547 women receiving lots under the national housing programme. According to the Ministry of Finance’s 2026 MidYear Report, the figure represents approximately 47.7 per cent of all house lots allocated during the sixmonth period. “Government’s commitment to empower women to become home owners was further evidenced by 1,547 women receiving house lots which represents nearly half of the total recipients of house lots in the first half of the year,” the report stated. Of the overall allocations, 65 per cent went to low- and moderate-income households, while 27 per cent went to middle-income households and eight per cent to young professionals. The report said $89.9 billion was expended during the review period from the $159.1 billion budgeted to expand affordable housing opportunities for citizens. Progress was also recorded in the distribution of land titles and transports, with 4,883 distributed during the first half of 2026. More than 2,000 additional titles and transports are expected to be distributed during the second half of the year. Development works were completed in nine new housing areas during the first half of the year, while works continued on 13 housing developments, including Perseverance, Leonora, Wales, Vigilance, Burma and Old England. Across the various income categories, 483 homes were constructed during the review period. Works are continuing on low- and moderate-income homes in Amelia’s Ward, La Reconnaissance and Yarrowkabra. For middle-income earners, construction is progressing in Bartica, Groenveldt, Palmyra and Leonora, while homes for young professionals are being developed at Great Diamond, La Bonne Intention and Prospect. HOME-CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT The government also continued initiatives aimed at helping citizens offset the

cost of constructing their homes. “Keeping in mind the mandate to ensure affordable home construction, housing-support initiatives such as the steel-and-cement subsidy, and the Yarrowkabra homestead programme continued during the review period,” the report stated. Citizens also benefited from direct assistance measures, including foundation support and construction-advancement subsidies. The housing programme is being accompanied by infrastructural works aimed at strengthening new and existing communities. “Government remains resolute in the development of stronger communities across Guyana through fortifying public infrastructure across the country,” the report stated. Assessments are ongoing for the construction of interlocking concrete drains and roads in several areas, including Onderneeming, Anna Catherina, La Parfaite Harmonie, Perseverance, Covent Garden, La Bonne Intention, Bath, Palmyra, Bartica, Lethem and Amelia’s Ward. The report also highlighted the expansion of street lighting, with 625 LED street lamps installed during the first half of 2026 and another 375 slated for installation by year-end. Work is also ongoing on mini-industrial areas at Golden Grove, Enmore, Wales, Meten-Meer-Zorg and Number 75 Village. Meanwhile, new and improved recreational and green spaces are being developed in communities including Meten-Meer-Zorg, Cummings Lodge, Fort Ordinance and Hampshire. BUILDING APPLICATIONS The report also highlighted continued use of the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) single-window application system, which facilitates the submission and tracking of building-permit applications. During the first half of 2026, 4,292 applications were submitted through the system. More than 2,398 applications for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes were finalised during the period.

The housing investments form part of the government’s wider efforts to expand homeownership while providing the infrastructure, financial assistance and community amenities needed to support new and existing housing developments.

A woman proudly holds the keys to her newly constructed home. Women received 1,547, or nearly half, of the 3,245 house lots allocated by the government during the first half of 2026

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Amerindian villages leading own development as $41B invested over five years

One of the Lake View Cabins in Mainstay/Whyaka. It was constructed by members of the community with support from national initiatives, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and Presidential Grants

A SINGLE guest cabin at Mainstay/Whyaka, an Amerindian village in Region Two has become three. The riverside lodge is filled most weekends now, and the profit has

stretched further than anyone expected, financing repairs to other village buildings, upkeep for the school compound, and wages for the people who cook when guests arrive.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne-Shadeek, sits down with the Department of Public Information in Mabaruma, Region One

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah BrowneShadeek, keeps coming back to Mainstay when she talks about her first year in office. She said this is not be-

Community Service Officers from Region Nine

cause the numbers are the biggest, but because nobody in Georgetown told the village what to build. “It’s a different village, different needs, different requests,” she said in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI). Communities submit their own plans each year, an economic venture here, a cultural programme there, a recreation upgrade somewhere else, and the ministry funds what’s asked for. “We just make the resources available and monitor,” she explained further. The money behind that principle is considerable.

The Mabaruma Guese House in Region One

More than $41 billion has reached Amerindian communities over the past five years, and the ministry’s own budget now sits at $7.5 billion. This increased from $200 million when Carolyn Rodrigues first held the post in the early 2000s. Of the recent totals, $21 billion has moved through the Amerindian Development Fund, and $14 billion more through the Low Carbon Development Strategy, which skips the ministry entirely and lands straight in village bank accounts. What villages do with it varies. Mabaruma used LCDS money to build guest houses that are booked solidly on most weekends. Others wired every household in the community, bought furniture, or put the funds into poultry and farming. A Village General Meeting decides, and the decision does not need the government’s approval. The Community Support Officer programme, meanwhile, has trained more than 2,000 youths ranging small engine repair, shade house management, cosmetology, and other trades that stick. Some have moved into healthcare work, teaching, the public service. The stipend went up to $50,000 this year, and Santa Rosa is getting a rebuilt multipurpose centre with room for a beauty salon, a printing operation, and a recording studio. Then there’s the Guyana Development Bank, where Indigenous youth can now

borrow up to $3 million. A decade ago, a village’s entire yearly allocation was a $1 million presidential grant. Minister BrowneShadeek wants young people to pool that borrowing power into groups rather than chase it alone to invest in transportation ventures, especially, in places like Region Eight, where an ATV can be the only way in or out. Not all of it comes down to money. The ministry is doing consultation on revisions to the Amerindian Act, and she’s careful about how she frames it: additions, not subtractions. “We are going to review the Amerindian Act, but only to bring more rights and more benefit to Indigenous people, not to take away any rights already enshrined in the Act.” There’s a quieter admission underneath the achievements. Minister Browne-Shadeek is Lokono, raised in one of the largest Amerindian villages in the country, and she cannot speak the language of her own people. “If I don’t tell my children at some point, that little that’s left will die with me,” she stated. The ministry is now in talks with the Ministry of Education about bringing Lokono into the primary school curriculum. Ask her to grade the year, and she won’t. “I always want to do more, and I would never think that I’ve done enough. That’s what motivates me to want to do better today,” she said. [DPI]

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Reliable garbage collection, recreational spaces among government’s quality-of-life priorities—Manickchand — says cleaner communities, better waste management and responsive local councils central to improving daily life MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand, says reliable garbage collection, cleaner communities and properly developed recreational spaces are among the government’s priorities as it seeks to improve the quality of life of Guyanese. Speaking during the Guyana Dialogue, Manickchand said improving communities goes beyond major infrastructural projects and requires attention to everyday services that directly affect residents. “This ministry in particular must make sure that our communities, neighbourhoods, capital city, and other towns are clean, habitable, orderly,” she said. According to the minister, this requires properly maintained drainage, reliable waste collection and systems to ensure garbage is ultimately disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. “A lot of what we hear in communities is really, you know, people are relatively happy except for some of these annoying things that happen to them. Their garbage isn’t picked up. It’s scattered all over the street. The place starts smelling poorly. Animals are hurt,” Manickchand said. She noted that while these

issues may appear routine, they can have a significant impact on residents’ daily lives. Manickchand stressed, however, that infrastructure and services alone will not solve problems associated with littering and poor waste-management practices. She said residents also have a responsibility to change their habits, but argued that people are more likely to do so when public services are consistent and predictable. According to her, when residents know when their garbage will be collected and have access to appropriate bins, they are more likely to properly dispose of their waste. “And if people believe that, then I think people themselves begin to change out their own attitudes, of course, with the ad campaigns and so on,” she said. CHANGING HABITS Manickchand pointed to the Stabroek Market as an example of changing behaviour following improvements in garbage collection. She recalled that when she first assumed office, between 50 and 70 large bags of garbage were being dumped in one area of the market. “When I first came into office, we were getting 50 to 70 large, I mean, massive... jumbo

garbage bags of garbage in just one area. Now we get one or two because people are using the bins,” she said. Manickchand attributed the reduction, in part, to ensuring that bins are emptied regularly. “And once they’re emptied on time and so on. So, I can see attitudes changing out,” she said. The minister acknowledged that some individuals will continue to disregard the rules, but maintained that consistent public services can encourage better practices among the wider population. She also highlighted the role children and young people can play in changing attitudes towards littering and environmental responsibility. “I’ve also seen children drive change,” Manickchand said, noting that children sometimes challenge adults, including their parents, about improper garbage disposal. She said schools also play an important role in teaching children about littering, manners and responsible citizenship. RECREATIONAL SPACES Manickchand identified the development of recreational spaces as another com-

ponent of the government’s quality-of-life agenda. “We want to make sure there are recreation areas that are properly developed and well thought out in all communities,” she said. According to the minister, the intention is to provide communities with green spaces that also accommodate exercise, recreation and family activities. Plans include outdoor gyms, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, picnic areas and walking tracks. “We have 70 NDCs across the country,” Manickchand said, referring to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. She said the aim is to make recreational opportunities available across villages and towns rather than concentrating them in a limited number of locations. The initiative is being pursued in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady. Manickchand said these facilities are intended to provide residents with safe spaces to exercise, spend time with their families and participate in outdoor activities. RESPONSIVE COUNCILS The minister also stressed the need for local government bodies to be more responsive

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand kets are not simply places for to residents. She acknowledged that buying and selling goods, but some residents do not believe are also important centres of their NDCs are functioning as community and economic activities. New and upgradeffectively as they should. “I’m not saying they ed facilities are expected to don’t,” Manickchand said. provide improved sanitation, “I’m saying people don’t feel organised vending spaces and better amenities for vendors like they do.” She said the government and consumers. Ultimately, she said, imwants to ensure elected councils function in the interests proving quality of life requires of the communities they rep- both physical development and changes in how people treat resent. Manickchand noted that their communities. “It’s not just money,” Manstipends for councillors and overseers have been increased, ickchand said. “It’s not just a governbut said municipalities and NDCs must also carry out ment with a vision to build their responsibilities in keep- and actual wherewithal to ing with the legislation gov- build, but it’s a government who understands that we erning them. Her comments come as have to change our attitudes the ministry advances several of our people and what they infrastructural and commu- have become accustomed to nity-development initiatives, because of years and years including the redevelopment of, you know, neglect and and upgrading of markets inability in some respects to do some of what we’re doing across the country. Manickchand said mar- now.”

Randolph Marks tackles ‘unspoken’ mental health struggles in new book — Guyanese-US author aims to release fourth book by end of year GUYANESE-US author Randolph Marks is preparing to release his fourth book, The Unspoken Battle, which will explore the mental-health struggles people often carry privately and the stigma that can prevent them from seeking help. Marks, who released his third book, Look What They Have Turned Me Into, in 2024, told the Sunday Chronicle that he is currently working on the second chapter of his latest project and hopes to publish it by the end of this year. The author said the book is intended to encourage greater awareness and more open conversations about

mental health, particularly in Guyana. According to Marks, the opening chapter addresses what he sees as the stigma surrounding mental health and seeking professional help. He said the title, The Unspoken Battle, reflects the personal struggles people may experience without discussing them with others. Marks believes that sometimes what a person needs most is a listening ear, a safe space and an opportunity to explore solutions to the problems they are facing, rather than simply receiving advice or having someone agree with them.

Guyanese-US author, Randolph Marks (Randolph Marks photo) Drawing partly from his own experiences, Marks said he wants the book to explore the thoughts and emotions people carry but may be afraid to share, even with relatives and those closest to them. He said his observations

of people around him have also shown him that many individuals live with difficult emotions that they struggle to communicate. “Most of the time we have so much going on in our heart, in our life, and we have so much things that

we’re dealing with, not only in Guyana, in America too, but anywhere in the world,” Marks said. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES Marks previously worked in law enforcement in the United States, an experience he said exposed him to people experiencing mental-health challenges, particularly young people. He said that experience strengthened his belief in ensuring that young people have opportunities to be heard. While The Unspoken Battle is not his first work to address themes surrounding mental health, Marks said he wants the new book to encourage readers to reconsider how they respond to people who may be struggling.

“I want this book to touch hearts, to change people’s lives and change the way they think, because the first thing we do as humanity, we go and we beat someone down. Not physically all the time, but emotionally, mentally,” he said. Marks’ previous book, Look What They Have Turned Me Into, is a work of fiction examining some of the challenges faced by immigrants. With his fourth book, he hopes to turn attention to struggles that often remain unspoken and encourage greater understanding of the experiences people may be carrying privately. Marks’ published works are available through his author pages on Amazon and Goodreads.

Justice Persaud allegedly faces travel restrictions after visa review

HIGH Court Judge Gino Persaud was reportedly unable to proceed with planned travel on Saturday after being advised that his United States visa was under review, according to sections of the media. Justice Persaud was reportedly among a delegation of Guyanese judicial officers scheduled to travel to Kingston, Jamaica, for the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) Annual Conference 2026, which runs from September

20 to 24. Reports indicate that the planned itinerary required transit through Miami, United States, before onward travel to Jamaica. According to the media reports, Justice Persaud was advised during the airline check-in process that he could not proceed on the itinerary because of the reported status of his U.S. visa. No official information has been made public regarding why the visa was reportedly placed under re-

view, and there has been no independent confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the matter. There is also no indication at this stage that the reported visa review amounts to a cancellation or revocation. The reported development relates specifically to the requirements for travelling through the United States en route to Jamaica. The CMJA conference is expected to bring together judicial officers from across

the Commonwealth for discussions on judicial independence, accountability, the Rule of Law and other matters relating to the administration of justice. Efforts to contact Justice Persaud for comment were unsuccessful up to the time of publication. At the time of publication, no official statement on the reported visa matter had been issued by the relevant United States authorities or Guyana’s judiciary.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

High Court Judge Gino Persaud

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Human Services launches ‘Catalyst Collective’ to give youth voice in policymaking

— young Guyanese flag bullying, mental health, child abuse and vaping among key concerns

YOUNG Guyanese are being given a greater role in shaping programmes and policies that affect them through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s new “Catalyst Collective” initiative, launched on Saturday in Region Three. The first engagement saw children and young people identify bullying, mental health, child abuse and vaping among the issues they believe require greater attention. Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud said the initiative is intended to create a space where young people can openly discuss the challenges affecting their lives,

ister. The initiative is expected to be expanded to other communities and regions across the country. “I have always felt that young people are not leaders of tomorrow, nor are they the future of tomorrow, they are here now. And I believe that with that in mind, we can be in a good place to discuss some of the issues and challenges affecting young people across Guyana,” Persaud said. “Let us together find the solutions, the answers, to develop the programmes that can best work for you. Really, it is programmes, policies, and those are being developed amongst you, with you, and by you.”

be directly involved in developing the programmes intended to serve them. “I have always believed as a minister that policies can be shaped by people, and I believe youth policies, youth programmes, and youth initiatives are best shaped by young people,” she said. “We are looking at programmes for mental health, mentorship, and we want young people to come up with how we do these programmes so they are youth-centric and also thought of by youth, so they are more appealing and relatable to young people across the country.” The launch was also designed to encourage communication, respect,

Young participants take part in team-building activities during the launch of the Catalyst Collective in Region Three (Sachin Persaud photos)

propose solutions and contribute to the development of youth-centred policies and programmes. Saturday’s launch at the Guyana-China Friendship Park in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) brought together young people from across the region for discussions, team-building exercises and direct engagement with the min-

YOUTH-LED SOLUTIONS During the engagement, participants were encouraged to identify challenges affecting them personally and their peers. Several raised concerns about bullying, mental health, child abuse and vaping. Persaud said the discussions demonstrated why young people should

collaboration and teamwork. Participants were divided into groups and, with support from Persaud and ministry staff, took part in several activities, including a scavenger hunt. “It does not mean because we are discussing serious issues, we cannot have a bit of fun. So today is going to be fun. It is go-

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud, engages young participants during the launch of the Catalyst Collective in Region Three

ing to be discussion. And it is a great opportunity for you to get to know each other,” Persaud told participants. She said the activities were intended to help young people recognise their own ability to develop solutions to the problems affecting them. “Today, we are going to be going through a series of activities that will give you an opportunity to learn more about yourself and to realise that you actually have the solutions. Sometimes, you do not realise you have the solutions because you have not stopped to consider what the issue is,” she said. COMPLEMENTING VIBE HUBS Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that the success of the Catalyst Collective and similar programmes will ultimately be measured by their outcomes. T h es e i n cl u d e b e havioural changes, greater youth participation in leadership and community activities, and improvements in how young people interact with each other. The Catalyst Collective will also complement

the Ministry’s existing VIBE hubs, which operate through its Family Enhancement Services Unit. “The Catalyst Collective is going to complement a programme that we have through the Family Enhancement Services Unit, where we have set up youth-friendly hubs across Guyana, called the VIBE hub. We have around 12 of them right now, and we are hoping that most communities across the country will have one,” Persaud said. The hubs provide young people with access to counselling and support for mental health and well-being, as well as

homework assistance and recreational activities. “The VIBE hub is a place where young people could go for counselling, looking at their mental health, well-being, help with homework, recreation, a whole programme is there for them, all geared towards building a balance-centred young person in Guyana,” the minister said. With further Catalyst Collective engagements planned, the ministry intends to use the views and experiences shared by young people to help inform the development of future youth programmes and policies.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Demerara Bank launches mobile app for easier banking access — customers can pay bills, transfer funds, manage cards and access other services remotely

Demerara Bank Limited Marketing Officers Aneisa Harriram and Shirley Seokumar

Demerara Bank Limited’s new mobile app gives customers access to a range of e-banking services from their mobile devices (Sachin Persaud photos)

DEMERARA Bank Limited (DBL) has launched a new mobile application that allows customers to manage their accounts, pay bills, transfer funds and access several other banking services from their mobile devices. Speaking with this publication at the bank’s newly opened Beterverwagting (BV) location, Marketing Officers Shirley Seokumar and Aneisa Harriram said the app forms part of DBL’s continued efforts to make banking more convenient and accessible to customers. With the app, customers can access several services without having to visit a branch. Seokumar explained that existing e-banking customers can register using information already associated with their accounts. “So, you don’t have to go and register online. Just download the app from either your App Store or Play Store, and just have the information that you would have used before for the e-banking access, which is your last seven digits of your customer number and the email address that you

would have registered for before,” she said. For customers who are not already registered for e-banking, the process is also designed to be simple. “Now, that’s for existing e-banking customers. So, if you’re not an e-banking customer with us, all you would need is your customer number and the email address that you would have registered for an account. That’s all you would need to register for the app,” Seokumar explained. The app is available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Customers can use it to view their accounts, request bill payments and international wire transfers, and schedule appointments to visit the bank, among other services. CARD MANAGEMENT One of the new features allows credit-card customers to temporarily block and unblock their cards directly through the app. “This is a new feature that the app has introduced where customers that have credit cards, they can go on the app. If it is that they want to

block their credit card temporarily, they can do that right on the app and unblock it,” Harriram said. Previously, customers carrying out transactions considered highrisk by the bank could be required to contact DBL to have their cards unblocked. The app now allows customers to manage that process directly. According to the marketing officials, early feedback from customers who have registered for the app has been positive. “So, they said that it’s actually better, it’s more convenient for them, and the process of registering is quite simple. It’s easy,” they said. In the coming weeks, DBL plans to host meetand-greet sessions at several of its locations, where customers will be able to receive assistance downloading the app and setting up their e-banking access. The bank said the mobile app forms part of its wider technology-driven approach to improving access to banking services and providing customers with more convenient ways to manage their finances.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

ACADO opens new distribution centre on Heroes Highway — Rodrigues says investment reflects expanding productive capacity beyond energy sector

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, flanked by officials, during the official commissioning of ACADO Guyana Inc.’s new distribution centre on the Heroes Highway

ACADO Guyana Inc. has officially commissioned a new state-ofthe-art distribution centre on the Heroes Highway, marking another stage in the expansion of the Guyanese company. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, delivered the feature address at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where she joined ACADO Founder and Director, Frank DeAbreu; Chief Executive Officer, Alicia DeAbreu; representatives of the Agostini Group; management and staff, and members of the private sector. According to a release from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Rodrigues highlighted ACADO’s growth from a small family-owned business established by the DeAbreu family in 1992 to a company with a national footprint and regional partnerships. “Today is an important day because we are not simply recognising the growth of a company. We are recognising more than three decades

of enterprise, resilience, partnership and confidence,” Rodrigues said. The Minister reflected on Frank DeAbreu’s account of the company’s beginnings and the risks, relationships and determination that contributed to its development, noting that such experiences provide important lessons for younger Guyanese entrepreneurs. Rodrigues said the new facility comes at a time of significant economic expansion and stressed that Guyana’s transformation extends beyond the energy sector. “Economic transformation is not only about large infrastructure projects or the energy sector. It is also about building the productive capacity of Guyanese businesses, strengthening our distribution and logistics networks, expanding manufacturing and services, creating jobs, and ensuring that businesses have the infrastructure and partnerships required to compete,” she said. REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Rodrigues also high-

lighted the importance of regional partnerships, pointing to ACADO’s collaboration with the Agostini Group as an example of how Guyanese family-owned businesses can leverage regional expertise, networks and capabilities to expand their operations. Frank DeAbreu, reflecting on the company’s journey, credited his family, employees, financial institutions, suppliers and business partners for supporting ACADO’s growth. “It was about people. It was about trust. It was about taking risks when you had little, giving your word and recognising people who believed in you,” he said. Meanwhile, CEO Alicia DeAbreu described the new distribution centre as the result of a foundation established by her parents. She said integrity and honesty were central to ACADO’s early development and remain core values of the company. Alicia DeAbreu also recognised the contri-

ACADO Guyana Inc.’s new state-of-the-art distribution centre on the Heroes Highway (Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce photos)

bution of employees, directors and regional partners to the company’s continued expansion. On behalf of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana, Rodrigues commended

ACADO for its investment in its workforce and corporate social responsibility initiatives. She also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating an environment in which businesses can invest, innovate, expand and

create opportunities. Rodrigues congratulated the DeAbreu family, Agostini Group, ACADO’s management and staff, and the company’s partners on the opening of the new facility.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

GPL expects power outages to be ‘significantly alleviated’ by mid-2027 — Nandlall points to US$800M investment, additional generation and transmission works GUYANA Power and Light Inc. (GPL) expects power outages to be “significantly alleviated” by mid-2027 as additional generation and major infrastructural projects come on stream. Kesh Nandlall, Team Leader of GPL’s Executive Management Committee, made the projection during a recent appearance on the Starting Point podcast, where he outlined ongoing investments aimed at

strengthening the country’s electricity system. According to Nandlall, approximately US$800 million is currently being invested in infrastructure that is expected to come on stream and improve the reliability of the power supply. “Investment in the power sector takes time. We cannot build transmission lines overnight,” Nandlall said. He acknowledged that the investments

would not eliminate every challenge facing GPL but said they would “alleviate the problem significantly” once the additional infrastructure is in place. Nandlall said that since 2020, approximately 210 megawatts (MW) of generation have been added to the national grid, including capacity from the two power ships. He also pointed to the expansion of solar generation across the

Team Leader of Guyana Power and Light Inc.’s Executive Management Committee, Kesh Nandlall

country. According to Nandlall, 10MW of solar capacity have been added in Berbice and another eight MW in Essequibo, with both facilities already operational and connected to the grid. A further 15MW is being added in Linden, while solar generation has also been introduced in Bartica, Leguan and Wakenaam. “We are adding generation in the grid and we continue to add,” Nandlall said. 300MW BY JUNE 2027 The Gas-to-Energy project is also expected to provide additional generation, with Nandlall saying initial output is anticipated by the end of this year and further output by the first quarter of 2027. Based on the current programme, he said approximately 300MW

should be available by June 2027. Asked whether this meant consumers could expect an end to persistent power outages by the middle of next year, Nandlall said the problem “should be significantly alleviated.” The investments come as Guyana experiences a sharp increase in electricity demand. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, previously disclosed that demand had risen from approximately 125MW in 2020 to a record 242.64MW, while GPL’s customer base increased from approximately 204,000 to 250,000. The rapid expansion of housing, commercial and industrial activity, coupled with high temperatures, has contributed to increased electricity consumption. Indar has also ex-

plained that outages are not caused solely by generation constraints. Some are scheduled to allow GPL crews to safely replace transformers and conductors and carry out other works necessary to expand and strengthen the network. GPL is expected to notify customers in advance of planned outages and provide the expected duration. Unplanned outages can also result from third-party damage to electricity infrastructure, including incidents involving cranes, excavators and other heavy equipment. REDUCING PEAK DEMAND The Government has also introduced measures aimed at reducing pressure on the national grid, particularly during the 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. peak-demand period. Government buildings have been instructed to switch off unnecessary lights and equipment, while businesses with their own generating capacity have been encouraged to self-generate during peak periods. Households have also been urged to conserve electricity where possible. More recently, GPL reported reliable generation capacity of approximately 256MW, with additional generating units expected to increase available capacity to around 280MW. The combination of new generation, transmission works and other upgrades is expected to strengthen the electricity system as demand continues to grow.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday September 20, 2026) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 5 centuries (2) 3 five-wicket hauls Today’s Quiz: (1) Who struck most sixes in the preliminary round of CPL 2026? (2) Who struck most sixes in a single innings? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ENGLISH RACING TIPS HAMILTON 09:00 hrs Celtic Storm 09:30 hrs Space Dreamer 10:00 hrs Royal Duke 10:30 hrs Annie Edson Taylor 11:00 hrs Maximising 11:30 hrs Tee Aitch Aye 12:00 hrs Uncle Liam PLUMPTION 09:08 hrs Galeforcechopper 09:38 hrs Premier Tenor 10:08 hrs Premier Fantasy 10:38 hrs Pooroldmackley 11:08 hrs Nap Hand 11:38 hrs Khalk ‘Eau Spigao 12:08 hrs Shane’s Spirit

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS GREYVILLE 08:20 hrs Music Is Life 08:55 hrs Dricus 09:30 hrs Bangkok Magic 10:05 hrs Greek Heritage 10:40 hrs Mohave Prince 11:15 hrs Cool Wind IRISH RACING TIPS LUSTOWEL 09:18 hrs Sonny Corleone 09:48 hrs Tumbling In 10:18 hrs Wonderful Everyday 10:48 hrs Run Ted Run 11:18 hrs Ocastle Des Mottes 11:48 hrs Jalila Moriviere 12:18 hrs Green Hint

Fourth-year UG Biology student Madramootoo... enjoyed the environment, the structure of the sessions, and the level of coaching being offered. My parents also saw the value in what the club provided, so they enrolled both my brother and me as members. It became an important step in my development as a cricketer and helped me

FROM BACK PAGE

grow in the game” continued the batting all-rounder. I knew I wanted to play cricket seriously when I first played for the senior national team in 2023. Experiencing cricket at that level opened my eyes to the opportunities available and motivated me to work harder and continue developing as a cricketer. “There isn’t one particular person I would single out. I have had many coaches throughout my journey who have contributed to my development and continue to do so. Malteenoes, has also played an important role in my growth as a cricketer.” concluded Tilleya.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Over $5 million up for grabs in third One Guyana Inter-Region Softball Cup

SUFTBALL cricket players and fans are in for a treat as Guyana’s Biggest Open Softball Cricket Tournament is set to be Bigger and Better in the third edition of the “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” which is slated for 15th October to 18th September 2026. Organised by RS Sports, the nationwide tournament returns bigger and better, with competition once again in both Male and Female

categories, and over $5 million in cash and prizes up for grabs. The “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” tournament has established itself as a grassroots sporting competition that brings together players from different communities, backgrounds, and age groups, while giving local talent a chance to compete for the honour of representing their respective regions at the national level. One of the major de-

velopments for this year’s tournament is the organisers’ continued effort to expand participation into Guyana’s interior regions. According to the management of RS Sports, they are working to ensure that Amerindian brothers and sisters from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 have an opportunity to participate and showcase their softball cricket talents on the national stage. According to RS Sports, there is significant softball cricket talent in the interior

that has not always had the opportunity to compete nationally. The organisation said it is committed to creating greater opportunities for those players and ensuring that teams from the interior can proudly represent their regions in this year’s competition. The organisers said that the tournament is being played at the grassroots level, with preliminary and regional matches being hosted at various community grounds across Guyana, and will see local players competing against each other, with the successful regional winners advancing to the National Playoffs. “This tournament is not only about the cricket at the local level, but also the aim of the tournament is to bring our villagers in one place and to create that unity which is needed amongst our people. Over the past two editions, the tournament has attracted spectators from all walks of life, turning community cricket grounds into places where families, friends and communities come together to enjoy the sport and support their local players. RS Sports believes that softball cricket at the grassroots level is an important stepping stone for players to develop their skills, gain exposure, and potentially progress into hardball cricket and higher levels of the sport. This year’s tournament is set to see the winner in the regional male category walking away with $100,000 and a trophy, while prizes will be awarded to the runner-up, best bowler, best batter, MVP, and player of the final. In the female category, the winner will take away $50,000 and a trophy, while other prizes will be awarded

to the runner-up, best bowler, best batter, MVP, and player of the final. in the national playoffs, the Winner in the men’s category will take home $1.3 million and the winning trophy; the runner-up $300,000 and trophy; the Player of the Tournament (MVP) $70,000 and trophy, along with other prizes: Player of the final $30,000 and trophy, Best bowling figure in an innings $20,000 and a trophy, Batsman with the highest individual score $20,000 and trophy. While in the women’s playoffs, the winner will take home $500,000 and the winning trophy; the runner-up $200,000 and trophy; the Player of the Tournament (MVP) with $50,000 and trophy, along with other prizes; Player of the Final $30,000 and trophy; Best bowling figure in an innings $20,000 and trophy; Batsman with the highest individual score $20,000 and trophy. The tournament runs from 18th October to 15th November, 2026, and games will be played at various community grounds across the regions, while the national playoffs are set for 14th and 15th November. The organisers said that it’s about taking the tournament to the people, and the playoffs were held in Regions Five and Six; this year, the playoffs will be played in Region Three. The National Playoffs are expected to feature a spectacular programme of cultural entertainment and family activities, making the event more than just a cricket competition. The organisers said the National Playoffs will once again be family-oriented, with a variety of side attractions and activities planned for spectators. RS Sports is inviting communities, businesses,

cricket fans and families across Guyana to come out, support their regional teams and be part of what the organisers describe as a celebration of cricket, culture, community and One Guyana. According to the organisers, the continued growth of the One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup cannot be achieved without strong partnershipsThe organisers said that this tournament provides sponsors with a unique opportunity to connect directly with communities across all ten administrative regions, promote healthy lifestyles, support youth and female participation, and contribute to a national sporting initiative that delivers measurable social and economic benefits. Supporting the tournament is not simply sponsoring cricket, it is investing in community development, national unity, and the continued growth of one of Guyana’s most popular grassroots sports. The 3rd One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup is expected to generate significant national attention and attract extensive participation from players and supporters throughout the country. Registration will commence in early October 2026, and the entrance fee is $20,000 per team. With millions of dollars in prizes, regional pride at stake, new opportunities for interior players, and a strong focus on community unity, the stage is set for another major chapter in Guyana’s grassroots softball cricket. “This is more than just a Tournament. It is A Celebration of Talent. It is A Celebration of Togetherness. A Celebration of Sports & It is A Celebration of One Guyana.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Glamorgan beat Surrey to seal Divison-One status

GLAMORGAN’S bowlers overcame Surrey resistance to claim a first red-ball victory at The Oval since 2014 and rubber-stamp their place in County Championship Division One next season. Timm van der Gugten, Ray Toole, Zain ul Hassan and Mason Crane all collected two wickets apiece to dismiss the home side for 427 in their second innings, ending Glamorgan’s winless run of four games. Ryan Patel’s knock of 132, his first hundred of the season, had strengthened Surrey’s hopes of escaping with a draw – or even having a late dart at the gargantuan target of 612, which would have been a world record chase. But once the left-hander fell in the final act of the morning session, Glamorgan chipped away steadily and completed a Championship double over Surrey soon after tea. Surrey resumed their improbable pursuit on 177-2 and Patel rapidly advanced into the 90s with a straight-driven boundary off Toole, only to become bogged down as he crept closer to his century. Ollie Pope looked less settled at the crease, playing and missing on more than one occasion against the tireless Van der Gugten and getting away with an unconvincing push that sailed just wide of mid-wicket. (Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Kia Oval (day four) Glamorgan 132 & 594: Tribe 155, Crane 114*; Thomas 2-74 Surrey 115 & 427: Patel 132, Pope 75; Van der Gugten 2-67 Glamorgan (19 pts) beat Surrey (three pts) by 184 runs It was Ul Hassan who made the breakthrough as first change, ending the partnership of 168 by tempting Pope to drive at his third

delivery and nick through to Chris Cooke standing up behind the stumps. Patel eventually reached three figures with a leg-side single off Crane, while Dan Lawrence began in pugnacious fashion, thumping Van der Gugten to the fence and the pair ticked along nicely until lunch. However, Glamorgan struck again with the final ball of the session, Ben Kellaway leaping to his right at gully to snag an excellent catch off Mir Hamza and end Patel’s four-hour stint in the middle. Lawrence, having reverse-swept Kellaway to the rope to take the total beyond 300, tried to repeat the

blocking the better deliveries and dispatching loose ones to the fence, only to fall five short of his half-century when Crane pinned him in front and Van der Gugten sealed Glamorgan’s victory by castling James Taylor. Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson said: “After last week, to come down here under pressure and win against a very good team was an outstanding effort – and after being bowled out for 132 on day one and clawing our way back into the game, that was exceptional. “To beat Surrey home and away as well was a big incentive for us and there were a lot of contributions throughout the team, that was

Glamorgan confirmed their Division-One status by completing the double over Surrey

stroke a few overs later and top-edged it, with Asa Tribe running across from slip to gather safely. Glamorgan opted for an all-spin attack with Kellaway joined by Crane, who immediately sent down a beauty that turned sharply to flatten Adam Thomas’ off stump and leave Surrey’s hopes resting heavily on the shoulders of Ben Foakes. He and Tom Lawes delayed the visitors’ progress with a stand of 49, but Van der Gugten returned to take the new ball, spearing one low through the defences of Foakes to send his middle stump flying. Lawes batted calmly,

a very pleasing thing. “We knew the pitch had flattened out and we always knew we needed a massive score to be able to bowl at them today, that laid the foundations for us to get back into the game. “It was a tough first hour for us, with that partnership (between Ryan Patel and Ollie Pope). That catch (by Chris Cooke to dismiss Pope) got us started and we tried to keep it simple and put pressure on. “We want to finish as high as we can, especially back at home in front of our supporters as well next week (against Essex).”(BBC Sport)

Carse assault investigation dropped by police ENGLAND fast bowler Brydon Carse will face no further action from the police after an investigation into an alleged assault in Derby last month was dropped. Footage of Carse appeared on social media, showing him in handcuffs and surrounded by police on Sunday, 23 August. The footage was captured in the early hours of that day. It emerged that the 31-year-old had been arrested and then de-arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. Later that week, after Carse had been removed from the England squad for the second Test against Pakistan, Derbyshire Police confirmed it was looking at allegations of assault. In a statement released on Friday, the police said: “An investigation into reports of an assault in Derby city centre has been closed. “Officers attended Molly Malones in The Wardwick, Derby, in the early hours of Sunday, 23 August. “A man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and was then de-arrested after his details were taken by officers.” Carse will now be subject to an investigation from the Cricket Regulator. The Regulator has not commented. The England and Wales Cricket Board and Carse have both been approached for comment. The incident in Derby was the latest in a string of late-night alcohol-related controversies to hit the England men’s team in the past year. After Carse was dropped from the second

Brydon Carse has played 14 Tests for England, plus 44 white-ball matches

Test against Pakistan, Test captain Joe Root said he was “hacked off” and revealed he had addressed his team to make his feelings clear. Though Carse has continued to be play for his county Durham, he was also left out of the England squads for the third Test against Pakistan and the white-ball series with Sri Lanka. After he was omitted from the games against Sri Lanka, the ECB confirmed that Carse is available for selection. “Whilst Brydon was available for selection, he has not been picked for the Sri Lanka series squad,” said an ECB statement. “Given recent events, we feel it is important for him to work through the issues that led to the Derby incident and take time for a proper reset. “This decision does not prejudge the outcome of any investigation.”(BBC Sport) Earlier this week, England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum said Carse needs to “get his house in order” before returning to international cricket Carse did not play in Durham’s game against Worcestershire this week. The county said he was “unwell”.

History on the line as Falcons...

game against a very, very good side. We felt like Jamaica was the most dangerous side, they’ve got some match winners and they’re a very, very good side so we’re looking forward to a really good game and hopefully win,” Ali said. Meanwhile, Powell said his troops would have to come up with a plan to neutralise the Falcons. “I think to be honest we’re pleased to be in a final. When we sat down

as a group before the start of the competition, we outlined three goals; to see if we can get in the playoffs, and once we got in the playoffs the second goal was to push for the final and the third goal is if we get to the final, to see if we can cross the line. “When you look at it, it’s been up and down for us. When you look at the start and how we started the competition, I think that as the competition got on, we

progressively got better as a team and started to find those winning formulas,” Powell said. “Tomorrow should be a very good game. Antigua is one of those teams that has played the best throughout the entire CPL and that’s why they finished in the top two. They have a lot of match winners, so it’s for us to come up with those little plans and see how best we can get over the line.”

Kamil Pooran, Sampson earn T20I callups for India tour

series, but will join the squad for the T20I series. Regardless of the outcome of the ODI series, the West Indies will have to participate in the ICC’s qualification tournament early next year to book their spot in the World Cup. Despite this, Sammy reiterated the importance of the

series of matches. “Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine tune and improve our performances as an ODI team which has seen quality performances across the cycle. “The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into

important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027,” Sammy said. The squad departs the Caribbean on Monday and will arrive in Trivandrum on September 23. WEST INDIES ODI SQUAD: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John

Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales. WEST INDIES T20I SQUAD: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde,

Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer. Full Tour Schedule: 1st ODI: September 27: Thiruvananthapuram 2nd ODI: September 30:

FROM BACK PAGE

FROM PAGE 23

Guwahati 3rd ODI: October 3: New Chandigarh 1st T20I: October 6: Lucknow 2nd T20I: October 9: Ranchi 3rd T20I: October 11: Indore 4th T20I: October 14: Hyderabad 5th T20I: October 17: Bengaluru

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Beckham backs Messi for Ballon England crush Sri Lanka to top T20 world rankings d’Or after 100th Miami goal LIONEL Messi deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, according to Inter Miami co-owner and former England captain David Beckham. The 39-year-old Argentina great, who has won the global player of the year award eight times and has been nominated on the 30-player shortlist for 2026, scored his 100th goal for Miami on Wednesday. He also provided an assist

than eight in total. He is the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history, with 21, behind the 22 scored by France’s Kylian Mbappe. Ballon d’Or nominees Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane is one of three England players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Arsenal’s Declan Rice join Kane, the favourite for the award, on the 30-play-

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023

for Casemiro to score their second goal in a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul that clinched the Campeones Cup - an annual match contested by US and Mexican cup winners. “When you see him do things like this, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had, there is no one at 39 that’s doing that, and doing it at that level,” said Beckham. “He deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it.” Messi scored eight goals and registered four assists as he helped Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, where they were beaten by Spain. He took his career assists tally to 12 in World Cups, of which 10 have come in the knockout rounds. No other player on record has more

er shortlist. Lamine Yamal is one of six Spain players that won the World Cup to be included. Having scored the winning goal in the final, Paris St-Germain forward Ferran Torres, who joined the French club from Barcelona in the summer, makes the cut. Back-to-back Champions League winners PSG have nine players - excluding new signing Torres - nominated, including last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele. Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr also make the shortlist, as do Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba. The award is celebrating its 70th anniversary, having been created by France Football in 1956, and the winner will be announced at

a ceremony in London on 26 October. Messi reaches Miami landmark Messi opened the scoring in Wednesday’s Campeones Cup match at their Nu Stadium when he headed in a Luis Suarez cross in the 24th minute. He thought he had added a second when he raced clear on goal and slotted in a shot, only for the effort to be disallowed for offside. However, Messi great delivered the corner from which former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro headed in their second goal in the 81st minute to give Miami their first Campeones Cup. His exploits came after August’s announcement that he was retiring from international football, and after saying he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge. “We have to enjoy this because we don’t know how long we’ll have it,” said Casemiro. “What he has done and continues to do for football is incredible. He remains the best. He proved it at the World Cup and continues to prove it in MLS.”(bbc Sport)

ENGLAND steamrollered Sri Lanka in the third T20 to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep and return to number one in the world rankings. Watched by new Test coach Stephen Fleming, England once again outclassed the tourists to conclude a one-sided series played on the fringe of autumn. England’s pace bowlers were outstanding in dismissing Sri Lanka for a paltry 124, then the home side chased the target in 9.4 overs. Jamie Overton conceded only 15 runs in his four overs, including taking a wicket. Sonny Baker’s improvement continued with 2-17 and Jofra Archer recovered from an expensive start to return 2-23.

Third T20 international, Old Trafford (Scores; Sri Lanka 124 all out (18.5 overs): Nissanka 36 (24), K Mendis 35 (28); Baker 2-17, Archer 2-23, Jacks 2-31 England 126-2 (9.4 overs): Buttler 62* (32), Brook 33 (21) England won by eight wickets, won series 3-0) England’s fielding was sharp, best demonstrated by Liam Dawson’s direct hit to run out Eshan Malinga. The target was never likely to pose a challenge to an

England crush Sri Lanka to complete series sweep, reclaim No. 1 spot in T20I rankings (Reuters Photo)

England batting line-up that remains powerful despite Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell being absent injured. Though opener Aneurin Donald was out for 13, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook strolled the pursuit with a second-wicket stand of 85. Brook was run out for 33, leaving Buttler to wrap it up with a six that left him unbeaten on 62. The victory by eight wickets was concluded with 62 balls to spare - the most for England in a home T20 international. The success was England’s 23rd win in 26 com-

pleted T20s since Brook took charge in the summer of 2024. They have reclaimed their number one ranking from India. The pity for this group is a rare lengthy wait until the next global T20 tournament. The next men’s T20 World Cup is not until 2028, the same year T20 cricket makes its debut in the Olympics. England are instead building towards a 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in the autumn of 2027. Three one-day internationals against the Sri Lankans begin in Durham on Tuesday. (BBC Sport)

African greats inspired by the potential of Nairobi 2029

THE decision to award the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi has prompted an outpouring of celebration across Africa. Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, congratulated the whole continent on the “wonderful news” following the announcement by World Athletics on Tuesday morning. The Kenyan capital saw off former Olympic Games hosts London and Rome to secure a slice of history, with the event set to be held in Africa for the first time. Unsurprisingly, news that the globe’s top athletes will descend on the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium in three years’ time has gone

Faith Kipyegon has won 1500m gold at the past three editions of the World Championships, but will the 32-year-old be on the start line in 2029?

down well with some of East Africa’s biggest track and field stars. Given the passionate fol-

lowing the sport has in Kenya, several commenters have stated that athletics will be “coming home”.

‘Huge for Africa’ Julius Yego, javelin world champion in 2015, said winning the bid is “a huge thing for Africa”. “I’m so happy that the world will come to Kenya,” the 37-year-old told the BBC World Service. “Africa has produced the best of athletes but we’ve never had a chance to witness such a big championship. “It is something that will bring people to Africa. And people will know Africa.” Kenyans are known for their love of athletics, with 68% of people from the country who were surveyed by World Athletics rating their interest in the sport as high.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Kamil Pooran, Sampson earn T20I callups for India tour

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – FOLLOWING an impressive showing in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Kamil Pooran has earned a maiden callup to the West Indies T20I squad to face India in their upcoming white-ball tour of the subcontinent. The 30-year-old opening batsman was named in the West Indies’ 15-man squad, which was revealed by Cricket West Indies on Saturday and also sees the recall of exciting lower order batter Quentin Sampson. The regional side will take on the top ranked India in three One-Day Internationals from September 27 to October 3, before playing a five-match T20I series that runs from October 6 to 17. Pooran is currently the seventh highest run scorer in this year’s CPL, despite

Exciting lower order batter, Quentin Sampson

his St Lucia Kings failing to make the playoffs. He scored 273 runs in eight innings at an average of

39 with a strike rate of 159.64 Meanwhile, Sampson, who was dropped for the T20I series earlier this year

against Sri Lanka, makes his return after a decent showing in the CPL for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, where he scored 141 runs in 12 matches at an average of 28.20. CWI confirmed that veteran all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested for the series. Head coach Daren Sammy said the team had been selected with a clear focus on long-term objectives. “We are looking to build on the momentum from our series win against Sri Lanka, with the long-term goal of developing a strong core of players ahead of the next T20 World Cup. “The challenge of playing against the World Champions at home will provide valuable preparation, allowing us to continue improving and developing both individually

Kamil Pooran has earned a maiden callup to the West Indies’ T20I squad

and as a collective unit,” Sammy said. John Campbell makes his return to the ODI team after suffering a hamstring injury in the series against New Zealand, while Ackeem Auguste has been ruled out of the tour as he continues his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery in August. He has been replaced by

Jewel Andrew who will serve as a top and middle order batting option. Shimron Hetmyer, who featured in the last two matches of the New Zealand series and has been in prolific form in the CPL for the Amazon Warriors, has been permitted an extended recovery period and will miss the ODI TURN TO PAGE 21

Ramdin backs West Indies Joseph, Dottin absent from West experience ahead of IMC Indies Women’s tour of Zimbabwe Over-40s World Cup

ST JOHN’S, Antigua,(CMC) – REGULARS Deandra Dottin and Qiana Joseph have not been included in a West Indies Women’s 15-member squad to tour Zimbabwe for One Day International and T20I series starting next week. The team, which will play a three-match ODI and T20I series between September 24 and October 7, was announced by Cricket West Indies on Saturday, with the 35-year-old Dottin and 25-year-old Joseph the most notable omissions. Dottin, a veteran of 158 ODIs and 154 T20Is, has been granted personal leave, while opening batter Joseph has lost her place in the side following a drop in form. She has played 40 T20Is and averages 16.28, while in 31 ODIs she has a slightly better average of 19.44. They have been replaced by all-rounder and Under-19 World Cup prospect Eboni Brathwaite and Chinelle Henry, who returns to the squad following an injury that impacted her T20 World Cup campaign. Captain Hayley Matthews will lead the team in the ODI leg before taking personal leave and departing

Qiana Joseph has lost her place in the side after a dip in form

the squad ahead of the T20I series. The series forms part of the West Indies Women’s continued preparation across both formats, with the team looking to build on the progress made during the Ireland tour and the T20 World Cup campaign. Head coach Shane Deitz said the tour was a perfect opportunity for the young squad.

“We are looking forward to this tour of Zimbabwe. They are a side we haven’t played much, and, in their conditions, there will be some challenges. “We have a young squad, so this is a great opportunity for some players to step up and take their opportunity at this level,” Deitz said. WEST INDIES WOMEN’S SQUAD: Hayley Matthews (captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletche r, J a n n i l l e a G l a s g o w, Realeanna Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor. Series Schedule 1st ODI – September 24 @Harare Sports Club, Harare 2nd ODI – September 27 @Harare Sports Club, Harare 3rd ODI – September 30 @Harare Sports Club, Harare 1st T20I – September 24 @Takashinga Cricket Club, Highfield 2nd T20I – September 27 @Takashinga Cricket Club, Highfield 3rd T20I – September 30 @Takashinga Cricket Club, Highfield

CAPTAIN of West Indies Over- 40 team, Denesh Ramdin, is confident the international players will do well at the forthcoming International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup, which gets underway next month in Guyana. After the team was announced one week ago, Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jason Mohammed, Devindra Bishoo, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Rayad Emrit are the other players with international exposure. According to Ramdin, who led West Indies in 13 tests during his 71 appearances, believes the experience is vital for success at this 45-over, 16-team showpiece which starts October 17. “I believe we have a strong team to do well; I am happy we have several players with international experience and we know what they are capable of,” Ramdin, the wicketkeeper/batsman stated. West Indies will open their campaign against Australia at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Matches split into two zones. They are two of the eight

Group A teams with Namibia, Sri Lanka, Wales, Canada, Colombia and defending champions South Africa being the others. Group B consists of: New Zealand, England, Pakistan, Scotland, India, USA, Rest of the World X1 and Rest of the Caribbean team. Sarwan featured in 87 Tests, 187 one-day internationals and 18 T20s for West Indies and that experience will be invaluable for the hosts at the World stage. “Its good to have Sarwan in the team; he is class player and his wealth of experience will bring a lot to our side as well; but still we have got to play competitive cricket from the start,” the 41-yearold Trinidadian Ramdin revealed. Matches are fixed for various venues across Guyana with the National Stadium hosting the final on October 31. For each group, the top two teams will advance to semifinals while the other 12 countries will stay on to compete for placements. Ramdin added that home advantage will be terrific too and rated pitch conditions excellent.

Captain of West Indies Over- 40 team, Denesh Ramdin

“Yes, conditions in Guyana generally good for batting and bowling; we are very much familiar with it and that could be an advantage but still competitive cricket is required,” Ramdin, who featured in West Indies T20 winning World Cup teams in 2012 and 2016, commented. Quizzed on the team’s preparations for this assignment, the right-handed batter responded: “I think fitness is the key and most of the guys are still playing competitive cricket, yes is masters cricket but it still demands good fitness level to do well and I know the boys working hard to stay fit; we have a good, allround team as well given the fact several guys played in Masters tournaments before,” Ramdin said.

History on the line as Falcons, Kingsmen battle for CPL title

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – When the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and the Jamaica Kingsmen clash in the final of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval today, history will be made regardless of the outcome. The Moeen Ali-led Falcons will be seeking their first-ever CPL title, while the Jamaican franchise will be hoping to lift their first title since being renamed. If their meeting in the preliminary stage is anything to go by, fans are in for an exciting game that will keep them glued to their seats and televisions.

The two teams met in the very first match of this year’s competition, with the Falcons scraping home by two wickets off the very last ball of the match. Much has changed since then, with the Kingsmen, led by former West Indies captain Rovman Powell, rebounding from losing their first three matches to make the playoffs by the slimmest of margins on their way to qualifying for the final, while the Falcons produced their best-ever performance in the competition by finishing second. The Falcons have been led by their superb bowling attack, marshalled by fast

bowler Alzarri Joseph. It was on show in their Qualifier against the Guyana Amazon Warriors where they bundled out their opponents for just 76, with spinners Sufyam Moqim and Shadab Khan both grabbing four wickets. Meanwhile, the Kingsmen’s batters have been responsible for their progression, as was evident in chasing down the Amazon Warriors’ formidable total of 206 for four by posting 207 for five in 19.4 overs to advance to the final. Speaking during a prematch press conference on Saturday, Ali said he expected a stiff challenge from the Kingsmen.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 20, 2026

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons captain Moeen Ali (left) and Rovman Powell, skipper of the Jamaica Kingsmen, pose with the CPL trophy. (Photo courtesy CPL)

“We’re very happy to be in a final and things are going really well. We’ve just got better and better as the

Fourth-year UG Biology student Madramootoo is WCPL winner

By Sean Devers

TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD University of Guyana (UG) fourth-year Biology student Tilleya Madramootoo, has proved that education can go handin-hand with sport when she returned home as one of seven Guyanese ladies who were a part the Women Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) Champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAWs), which won its first-ever WCPL title. Tilleya, who plays for Malteenoes, represented Demerara and Guyana women’s senior teams before being selected for the Limacol WCPL. Although Tilleya is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Biology she still finds time for playing cricket at the regional level for Guyana and the WCPL. She is an inspiration for girls who were told that academics and sport can’t be done at the same time successfully. “I don’t have one particular favourite cricketer, but I would say Smriti Mandhana and Shabnim Ismail. I admire Smriti’s batting, while having the opportunity to watch Shabnim bowl up close with the Guyana Amazon War-

But now, I would say being part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women’s team in the WCPL and winning the tournament is my most memorable moment. It was an incredible experience and something I will always remember. I have learnt a lot from being around experienced players and seeing the level of cricket required at this stage. Being part of a championship-winning team was an amazing feeling. It was a great experience to celebrate that achievement with my team-mates and to know that I was part of something special” added Tilleya. “One of the main challenges for me is not having enough games to play. I try to make up for that by training regularly and playing club cricket with the male players at Malteenoes. I would like to see more games and opportunities for female players to help them gain experience and develop,” lamented Tilleya, whose aim is to do well for Guyana and get into the West Indies team. Tilleya, who was born on July 27, 2005, in Georgetown, explained that from a young age she has always been interested in pursuing medicine, which led her to study

tournament’s gone on, played quite consistently and obviously with one more game to go anything can happen.

“Unless you win the final, coming second doesn’t really matter so much, so it’s a big TURN TO PAGE 21

The 2026 WCPL Champions celebrate with the winners’ trophy and the Golden Arrowhead (Tilley is left of photo)

Biology at UG. “So far, balancing my studies and cricket has not been too challenging, it mainly comes down to scheduling, timing, and discipline. Whenever I have the time available, I try to attend training sessions while also making sure I stay on top of my studies. My parents, Noel and Indira Madramootoo, have always encouraged me to pursue cricket, but at the same time, they made it clear that my education was equally important. They wanted me to have a strong academic foundation while also giving me the opportunity to

develop my talent in cricket. They have always supported me in both areas and encouraged me to work hard, stay disciplined, and make sure that neither my studies nor my cricket suffered because of the other” disclosed Tilleya, who has two brothers, Valon Madramootoo and Noel Jr Madramootoo Tilleya’s entire early education was at Mae’s Schools, where she attended nursery, primary, and secondary schools. “I joined the Malteenoes Cricket Club in 2022 after attending one of their cricket camps along with my younger brother. I really TURN TO PAGE 19

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| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026

Tilleya Madramootoo is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Biology at UG

riors has made me really appreciate her skills as a fast bowler. In terms of my most memorable moment in cricket, previously, I would have said scoring my first half-century in an inter- county tournament, and that will always be special to me.