Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 26-06-2026

President Ali announces, says government

President Dr Irfaan Ali and members of his cabinet held bilateral discussions with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness and delegation on Thursday. The engagement focused on further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Guyana and Jamaica and advancing cooperation on matters of mutual interest, including but not limited to technology, education, energy, security, government efficiency, agriculture, and housing, among other areas of collaboration. Prime Minister Holness is on a two-day State Visit here at the invitation of President Ali (OP photos)

Jamaica, Guyana could explore housing partnership to tackle skills gap, boost tech adoption –– eye expanded co-operation

Minister Walrond assures thorough, impartial, transparent investigation

–– OPR says

The highly anticipated International Building Expo 2026 was officially declared open on Thursday night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, ushering in three exciting days of innovation, investment and opportunity in Guyana’s housing and construction sectors. The opening ceremony was attended by President Dr Irfaan Ali; Dr Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; members of the Diplomatic Corps; Cabinet Ministers; Members of Parliament; regional officials, private sector representatives; exhibitors and hundreds of patrons (Delano Williams photos)

Court rules that IDPADA-G Inc. has no legal right to

Guyana, Jamaica eye expanded co-operation in technology, energy, security

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali and Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Thursday held high-level bilateral talks aimed at deepening co-operation between the two Caribbean nations, with discussions focusing on technology, education, energy, security, agriculture, housing, and government efficiency.

The engagement formed part of Prime Minister Holness’s twoday state visit to Guyana and underscored the commitment of both countries to strengthening their long-standing partnership and expanding collaboration in areas critical to national and regional development.

“The engagement focused on further strength-

ening the longstanding partnership between Guyana and Jamaica and advancing co-operation on matters of mutual interest, including but not limited to technology, education, energy, security, government efficiency, agriculture, and housing, among other areas of collaboration,” a statement posted to President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Facebook disclosed.

Prime Minister Holness is visiting Guyana at the invitation of President Ali.

The two leaders had held bilaterial talks back in February on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Guyana’s rapidly expanding energy and agricultural sectors present new opportunities for further collaboration,

particularly in strengthening CARICOM’s agenda in reducing the regional food-import bill and building capacity in food production.

The Government of Jamaica has repeatedly identified food security as a national priority.

The discussion then focused on the expansion of investment, improving technology transfer, and enhancing co-operation in regional security are critical amidst the growing regional confrontation

of transnational crime and emerging geopolitical pressures.

President Ali had noted that over the past few years, Guyana has engaged in “expressive amounts of bilateral revolution in social security” and emphasised ongoing efforts to coordinate on security challenges in the region.

He said the goal is to ensure better coordination among countries in addressing regional security issues.

First-time homeowners to receive full tax deduction on mortgage interest

–– President Ali announces, says government wants to be citizens’ building partner

By Naomi Parris

FIRST-TIME homeowners

will now be able to deduct the full amount of interest paid on mortgages of up to $30 million from their taxable income, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced on Thursday night as he officially declared open this year’s International Building Expo.

The Head of State, addressing hundreds at the Providence National Stadium, described the policy move as the government “sharing the cost” of home ownership with Guyanese families.

“The government has doubled the ceiling and mortgage interest tax relief for first-time homeowners under Section 28 of the Income Tax Act,” he said adding:

“If you’re a first-time homeowner living in your own property, you can now deduct from your taxable income the full interest you pay on mortgage principle up to $30 million.”

He explained that this is a direct partnership between the State and households in financing their homes.

“What does this mean in practice? It means the government is sharing the cost of your mortgage with you. That is what it means in practice, that the government is sharing the cost of your mortgage with you,” the President said.

The President linked the tax relief to aggressive reforms in the mortgage and housing finance market since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returned to office in 2020.

He noted that when the government took office, the New Building Society (NBS) mortgage ceiling stood at $8 million. That has since been increased almost fourfold.

“We’re not just giving you access to loans; we are making the government your partner in building your home.”

Dr Ali said the wider banking sector has followed suit, with commercial banks slashing mortgage rates and expanding access to larger loans, signalling strong confidence in the economy.

“The power of competitive financial system is when a government moves, the market follows and has moved with extraordinary speed,” he underscored.

Republic Bank has scrapped its residential mortgage ceiling altogether and is now offering loans of up to $60 million at 5 per cent, with rates starting as low as 3.5 per cent, alongside a ‘mortgage move’ product that allows borrowers to transfer from higher-cost loans at other institutions.

Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has restructured its entire mortgage portfolio with standard rates beginning at three

per cent from 1 May, further reduced for loyal customers.

Citizens Bank has introduced a new mortgage regime with rates from 3.5 per cent over a 35-year term, 100 per cent construction financing, no requirement for a 25 per cent upfront contribution, and zero commitment or processing fees.

According to the President, similar reductions have been rolled out by Demerara Bank and Scotiabank, resulting in mortgage rates that had ranged between eight and 15 per cent just five years ago being driven down sharply across the system.

The President stressed that the government views home ownership as central to social stability and nation-building, not merely as an economic transaction.

“We are doing this because we view home ownership as not just an economic transaction, but as a statement of belonging. When a family in Guyana owns their home, when their name is on that title, deed, or transport, when their children grow up with a backyard and a bedroom of their own, when they are building equity rather than paying rent, something changes, security changes, aspiration changes, the relationship between citizens and nation changes,” he said.

Dr Ali reported that since 2020 the housing sector has experienced an “extraordinary” surge in demand,

which he attributed to public confidence in the Government’s ability to deliver serviced house lots and homes.

He recalled that when the PPP/C demitted office in 2015 there were more than 20,000 house lots in the pipeline and 39,000 applicants in the system. By 2020, he said, confidence had dipped and the new administration inherited a backlog of around 22,000 applications.

Since then, the number of applications has grown sharply.

“What took place between 2020 and now is noth-

ing short of extraordinary, because of the confidence of people in knowing that they will get the house lots, the confidence of people in knowing that there is a government that is prioritising housing, that is investing in housing, and that is delivering in housing,” he said adding:

“The applications in that period grew by 60,000. That is not accidental. That is because of the confidence in the system, and everybody wanting to be part of the growth story, owning their own homes, and that is where

we are today.”

The President reported that there are now some 81,000 applications in the housing system, the overwhelming majority of which are new.

According to him, the previous backlog has been effectively cleared, with 67,000 of the current applications originating from 2020 onwards. He noted that the average age of these new applicants is just over 23, underscoring the growing confidence of young people in accessing home ownership.

International aid heads to Venezuela after deadly earthquake

GOVERNMENTS

and humanitarian organisations worldwide have begun sending cash, rescue teams and other aid to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday killed at least 188 people and left more than 1,500 injured, with casualties expected to rise.

The back-to-back quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and striking roughly 160 km (100 miles) west of the capital Caracas, damaged at least 250 and left about 200 people trapped in debris, according to the latest figures.

UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the humanitarian affairs office was coordinating deployment of international urban search-and-rescue teams.

“The coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the government-led response and help communities,” he said.

Some eight million people in the country required humanitarian aid even before the quake, he added, and the disaster could make them more vulnerable.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

The U.S. State Department said it is mobilising $150 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela.

That included $50 million in new bilateral funding for partners such as the ⁠U.N.’s World Food Programme and non-profit organisation International Medical Corps and a $100 million contribution to a U.N. pooled fund.

Washington is also sending a disaster response team with two urban search-and-rescue units, while providing airlift, logistics and coordination support to move personnel and life-saving supplies into affected areas, the State Department said.

“That’s their most immediate need right now, is search and rescue efforts,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier told reporters.

The U.S. military is helping transport supplies and personnel as well as support other relief operations.

POPE LEO XIV

Pope Leo has sent €100,000 ($114,000) to Venezuela for quake relief from the Vatican’s charity fund, Vatican media reported.

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

Chef Jose Andres, founder of the humanitarian meal provider World Central Kitchen, said on Thursday his team had begun distributing meals in Caracas. He also said on X that his Longer Tables Fund will immediately contribute $1 million to help Venezuela.

EL SALVADOR

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on X that 300 rescue workers and paramedics were prepared to travel Venezuela, ⁠along with 50 tons of medical supplies.

MEXICO

A team of rescue workers and medical personnel left for Venezuela on Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

Mexico is sending 250 military rescue personnel, five rescue dogs, four aircraft, a drone, rescue equipment and medical supplies.

COLOMBIA

Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said it had mobilised an urban search-and-rescue team of more than 60 people, four dog teams, and 12 metric tons of equipment for Venezuela.

Nine firefighters from the city of Cali were going to assist with search-and-rescue efforts, the mayor said.

ECUADOR

Ecuador plans to ⁠send a rescue team to Venezuela on Thursday, consisting of 46 urban search-and-rescue specialists, two search dogs and six metric tons of equipment, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

PANAMA

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said the country will send a rescue mission to Venezuela and is organising humanitarian aid.

Mulino said authorities have also opened collection points for donations to ⁠be sent to Caracas as part of the country’s assistance response.

FRANCE

France said it is deploying an urban search-and-rescue unit to Venezuela including medical teams, engineers and dogs to help locate and extract survivors from collapsed buildings.

SPAIN

The Spanish defence ministry said a military plane would bring 57 soldiers from its search-and-rescue unit and 40 firefighters ⁠from the Madrid region to Venezuela. Spain’s development agency also plans to set up a field hospital in Venezuela.

ITALY

Italy’s civil protection agency said it was sending an advance team to Venezuela while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said firefighters, the ministry of defence and the air force were mobilising to offer help.

Jamaica, Guyana could explore housing partnership to tackle skills gap, boost tech adoption –PM Holness

By Naomi Parris

JAMAICA’S Prime Min ister Andrew Holness has proposed a bilateral col laboration with Guyana to address construction labour shortages and accelerate the adoption of new building technol ogies.

Speaking at the launch of Guyana’s 2026 Inter national Building Expo, Prime Minister Holness said the biggest obstacle to Jamaica meeting its ambi tious housing targets was not finance but supply‑side constraints which includes the scarcity of contractors, skilled labour and tech nical expertise capable of building at scale.

He suggested that re gional cooperation, in cluding labour exchanges and shared technology de ployment could help both countries expand housing delivery more rapidly and sustainably.

“I believe there are op portunities for Jamaica and Guyana to collaborate in the housing develop ment sphere, particular ly as it relates to labour and the deployment of new technologies in con struction, and I look for ward to advancing these conversations with your President to see how best

we can collaborate as two developing nations to im prove our people’s access to housing,” he said.

The Jamaican official also praised Guyana’s streamlined approvals re gime, a one‑stop shop that has cut planning times from years to months as a potential model for Ja maica.

Back in 2024, Guyana had through the then Min istry of Housing and Water and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) launched their Electronic Planning and Development Single Win dow system.

With the implemen tation of the Single Win dow system, licences and approvals can now be processed in less than 24 hours between agencies, significantly improving administrative efficiency and inter agency coordi nation.

Additionally, the gov ernment recently engaged the land registrar to ad dress the challenges af fecting the processing of certificates of titles.

Through collaboration documents which previ ously took in excess of three years to be processed are now being processed within three months.

“In Guyana you have

taken on with great cour age the efficiency of the government bureaucracy in delivering the approv als for housing, and I’ve told that you now have a one stop shop, and that you have cut the approv al times for as high as three years to know three months, that is to be ap plauded,” the Jamaican PM underscored.

Prime Minister Holness also publicly thanked Guy ana for its swift and effec tive assistance following the Category 5 hurricane that devastated parts of Jamaica last year.

He singled out the Guyanese Defence Force for its high standard of workmanship during re construction efforts.

“The workmanship was of the highest stan dard,” he emphasised.

More than 900,000 Ja maicans were impacted by the storm and some 150,000 homes suffered damage. The Guyanese de ployment joined a broader regional response, provid ing practical labour and technical assistance during the immediate recovery and early reconstruction phases.

Prime Minister Hol ness also noted Jamai ca’s intention to “rebuild better” through a new National Reconstruction and Resilience Agency, which will seek to up grade standards rath er than merely restore pre‑existing structures.

Housing Promise in Action

THERE is something profoundly symbolic about the fact that as Guyana marks 60 years of independence, the doors of another edition of the International Building Expo have swung open at the National Stadium in Providence.

Under the fitting theme, “Guyana at 60: Building Strong Foundations for a Sustainable Future”, this four-day showcase, the largest in the expo’s sixteen-year history, is a testament to a nation that is literally constructing its future, one household at a time.

Housing is not a policy abstraction. It is a child who does her homework under a proper roof. It is a single mother who no longer pays rent to someone else’s dream. It is a young professional building equity, not just shelter. Housing

is dignity, and dignity, under the PPP/C administration, has been delivered at a pace and scale that few governments in this region can match.

The numbers speak plainly. Since 2020, the PPP/C government has allocated over 53,000 house lots nationwide, exceeded its original Manifesto target, and established a significant number of new housing areas across the country.

Over 22,000 of those allocations went to single women, while 86 per cent of all beneficiaries fell within low- and middle-income brackets. These are not statistics manufactured for a press release. They are keys handed to families who, not long ago, were told to wait indefinitely.

In 2025 alone, 13,000 house lots were allocated, more than 570 housing

units were constructed, and 5,500 land titles were processed and issued. Budget 2026 builds on this record with $159.1 billion committed to housing, targeting 15,000 new house lots and 8,000 homes this year alone.

The government has also removed VAT on locally produced building materials, raised low-income mortgage ceilings to $30 million, and continued steel and cement subsidies, interventions that directly reduce the burden on the ordinary Guyanese builder.

Critics will argue that numbers are easy; delivery is what matters. The response to that is straightforward: Food for the Poor, an NGO that operated housing programmes in Guyana for over three decades, voluntarily discontinued its own housing project in 2023

because the government’s programme had become so robust that duplication was pointless.

When NGOs stand down in recognition of government effectiveness, that is not politics. That is performance.

Today’s Building Expo 2026, bringing together developers, architects, contractors, financial institutions, and thousands of ordinary Guyanese, is the visible face of this momentum.

It is a space where innovation, investment, and aspiration converge.

Where prefabricated housing technology meets a nation committed to delivering 40,000 homes over the next five years. Where a country of 60 years dares to imagine that homeownership is not a privilege, but a right within reach.

The kiskadee, like the leopard, cannot change its spots

Columnist note: Yesterday’ incomplete article was mistakenly sent because of prolonged blackout. This is the completed version. My apologies to readers and the Chronicle

SOME folks formerly with the Stabroek News (KN) have birthed an online newspaper titled Kiskadee Watch. See my column of Thursday, June 11, 2026, “The birth of an anti-government Kiskadee.”

I was under no illusion that the ‘new kid on the block’ would be like the old kid that died in March this year. But I honestly thought that those folks would have learned from the past.

I need to digress in order to reinforce my point. The 2025 election results revealed that people rejected David Hinds, Tacuma Ogunseye, the PNC and others of their ilk who came across as zealously pro-racial and not multi-racial. The SN and Kaieteur News (KN) didn’t participate in the election but you can say that the electorate also repudiated the politics of them based on the results.

People were simply fed up with the onetrack mind of SN, KN, PNC, Hinds, Ogunseye, Henry Jeffrey, etc…. It was the same thing each day. When it came to KN, it was oil, oil and nothing else. Based on the daily lashes the PPP got as the ruling party from these folks for five years, then, the PPP should have been devastated.

The opposite happened. APNU with Hinds, Ogunseye and Jeffrey got badly bruised to the point where the PNC may no longer be a viable force in 2030. SN went out of business and KN in order to survive has doubled the price of the printed paper since the beginning

of this month.

I was reliably informed that since that decision, KN’s sale has gone further down. My prediction is that KN’s printed version may not see the light of 2027; the paper is losing money badly.

But people never learn and that is one of life’s unfortunate instincts. So, we have the birth of Kiskadee Watch and the people behind that entity have learnt nothing from the past. As I wrote above, I was not surprised at the shape it would take but how about a little change which dictates that you must learn from the past? Since the kiskadees start their publication, every editorial is critical of the government. You mean the government does do anything positive?

I looked at the columnists and it is the same old story. I anticipated that at least a writer slightly in favour of the government would have found space. But no; there is Mr. Anand Goolsarran. And there is the obnoxious presence of Bertrand Ramcharran.

Let me tell you something about Ramcharran after SN closed. He had a column in the KN, then, his contribution appeared as a letter. Then he disappeared. My source at KN told me that Ramcharran was informed that his pieces would be carried in the letter section but not as a column.

The kiskadees do not whistle, see or learn. What are they doing with Ramcharran? Should any newspaper, printed or online in the

REO engages Mashabo Village Council during community outreach

Caribbean, carry Ramcharran as a columnist? What can he teach a very young population like Guyana’s about the world? Do young Guyanese deserve to read Ramcharran? This man wrote a SN column glorifying Mossad.

He penned another column in which he noted that Guyanese parliamentarians can learn from a certain Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Not a Commonwealth parliamentary speaker but one from a superpower country. Why not invite Neville Bissember to do the global affairs column that Ramcharran does? Bissember lives here and teaches at UG. He is far more impartial analyst than Ramcharran.

What newspapers do is they invite scholars to do a column on a particular subject. But the Kiskadee watchers will not invite anyone that analyses the Government of Guyana in a positive way.

A commonsensical thing for the Kiskadee watchers to do is juxtapose the Chris Ram column with that of Joel Bhagwandin. Give

Leonard Craig a weekly page. He writes analytically. Bet your last dollar, Alissa Trotz that edits the Kiskadee Watch’s Diaspora page is going to be her old self. She is ant-government so the kiskadees she invites to whistle to the Guyana diaspora will only be given an ant-government song. Will the Kiskadee watchers stare in the independent direction? They can’t because the leopard, the Kiskadee cannot change its spot. They are comfortable being anti-government but here is the thing. If you are asking the public to donate money to allow the kiskadees to keep watching, what makes you think that the people who give you money only want to read anti-government stories? The PPP got 242,498 votes last year. Don’t these voters deserve to read something good about the government?

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.

REGIONAL Executive Officer (REO)

Deolall

Rooplall on Wednesday continued his community outreach programme with a meeting involving the Toshao and Village Councillors of Mashabo Village, Region Two.

The engagement formed part of the Regional Administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen communication with communities and address issues affecting residents at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, Toshao Giddel Abrams welcomed the initiative, describing it as a valuable opportunity for the Village Council to raise concerns, discuss development priorities, and work collaboratively with regional officials to find practical solutions for the benefit of the community.

The REO was accompanied

by a team of senior regional officials, including the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Regional Health Officer, Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Regional Engineer, Regional Education Officer, and Community Development Officer. Their presence allowed for discussions on a range of matters relating to health, education, infrastructure, and community development.

Rooplall reaffirmed the administration’s commitment

to ensuring that communities remain actively involved in the decision-making process and that development initiatives reflect the needs of residents.

The administration said engagements of this nature are essential to fostering stronger partnerships with local leaders and ensuring that development efforts remain inclusive and people-centred across Region Two.

Government intensifies recovery efforts

–– as Region Two rebuilds after devastating windstorm

By Indrawattie Natram

THE Government of Guyana has spared no effort in assisting storm-affected residents across Region Two as recovery and rebuilding efforts continue following Wednesday’s destructive windstorm.

Mobilisation in the region commenced early Thursday morning, with Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Madanlall Ramraj leading a multi-agency team into several villages and communities to assess damage and provide immediate support to affected families.

The team included Regional Chairman Devin Mohan, Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit, National Cordinator of Men on Mission Lieutenant Colonel Bhageshwar Murli, officials from the Ministry of Public Works, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), and other stakeholders who are working together to restore roofs and provide shelter and essential services to the affected residents.

One of the affected residents, Kumar Ramdeo expressed gratitude for the swift intervention, praising

President Dr. Irfaan Ali for personally visiting the region and ensuring prompt action was taken to assist those impacted.

“Very thankful for the assistance, and I am thankful to the region and to the Government of Guyana,” Ramdeo said.

Meanwhile, the teacher who was injured during the storm at Riverstown Primary School is reported to be recovering at the Lima Regional Hospital. The educator sustained injuries after a section of the school’s roof structure collapsed during the height of the severe weather.

Relief efforts remain ongoing as teams move rapidly to support families whose homes were damaged by the powerful winds and heavy rainfall. Zinc sheets and other roofing materials are being delivered to affected communities to assist residents in restoring their homes.

Minister Ramraj and Regional Chairman Devin Mohan have been visiting communities to oversee relief operations and ensure affected residents receive the assistance required.

Regional Vice-Chairman

Humace Oodit, accompanied by the Regional Engineer, also visited Onderneeming to assess damage to a resident’s home.

Relief operations are being coordinated, with teams expected to assist affected families with rebuilding and recovery works.

Minister Ramraj chaired a planning and coordination meeting in Region Two to mobilise resources and determine immediate interventions required following the storm. The meeting brought together members of the inter-agency team established by President Ali during his visit to the region.

The team continues to monitor the situation, coordinate resources, and advancing recovery efforts in impacted communities. Efforts are also being made to renovate the blue stand at Anna Regina stadium.

PRESIDENT ALI LEADS GROUND ASSESSMENTS

Hours after the storm swept across Region Two, leaving extensive damage to homes, schools, businesses, and public infrastructure, President Ali arrived in the region to

personally assess the situation and oversee emergency response efforts.

Accompanied by Minister Ramraj, regional officials, members of the CDC, and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the President visited several affected communities where residents had already begun clearing debris and salvaging damaged property.

Authorities have reported more than 120 incidents resulting from the storm. Entire rooftops were torn from houses, trees and utility poles were uprooted, and several public facilities suffered significant damage.

Among the locations inspected was the Anna Regina Stadium, where strong winds severely damaged a section of the blue stand. The Pres-

temporary shelter.

Regina Police Station and other government facilities impacted by the severe weather.

During his visits, President Ali met with residents whose homes sustained extensive damage, assuring them that assistance would be provided as quickly as possible. Government teams simultaneously conducted assessments to determine the level of support required for affected households.

Special attention has been given to vulnerable families, including elderly residents, single-parent households, and persons living with disabilities.

Emergency relief operations resulted in the distribution of more than 120 tarpaulins to families requiring immediate

The government has since transitioned from emergency relief to restoration efforts, with zinc sheets and building materials being distributed while work crews assist residents in securing damaged structures and conducting temporary repairs.

President Ali commended the efforts of emergency responders, regional officials, volunteers, contractors, and residents who have worked tirelessly since the storm. He noted that the rapid mobilization of resources and personnel reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring affected communities receive immediate assistance and recover as quickly as possible.

High Court rules that IDPADA-G Inc. has no legal right to continued government funding

THE Attorney General’s Chambers has welcomed a recent High Court ruling in the case brought by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana Country Co-ordinating Mechanism Inc. (IDPADA-G Inc.).

It said the judgment “substantially vindicates the State’s position” and confirms that the organisation has no legal entitlement to continued government funding.

In a statement issued following the June 24, 2026, judgment, the Attorney General’s Chambers clarified what it described as misconceptions surrounding the ruling delivered by then acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, who has since been appointed acting Chancellor of the Judiciary.

According to the Chambers, “contrary to certain public commentary, the judgment did not order the reinstatement or continuation of subventions to IDPADA-G Inc.”

Instead, it said the court ruled that IDPADA-G Inc. “has no legal right to continued government funding” and dismissed the organisation’s substantive claims, including allegations of breach of contract, breach of constitutional property rights, legitimate expectation, and requests for mandamus, exemplary damages and costs.

The proceedings stemmed from High Court Action No. 2022-HC-DEMCIV-FDA-1760, in which IDPADA-G Inc. challenged the Government’s decision to discontinue financial subventions to the organisation.

The court examined several key issues, including whether the applicant had standing to bring the proceedings, whether a contractual relationship existed between the Government and IDPADA-G Inc., whether the organisation had a legitimate expectation of continued funding, and whether it was entitled to be heard before the subvention was discontinued.

Addressing the contractual issue, the Attorney General’s Chambers said it argued there was no evidence of any binding agreement between the Government and the applicant.

It quoted the Attorney General’s submission that “no case of contract has been made out either in the pleadings or by evidence and the issue of a breach

cannot arise.”

The court agreed, finding there was no written contract, no clear offer or acceptance, no consideration and no sufficiently certain terms capable of creating a legally binding agreement.

As a result, the claim for breach of contract failed.

The judgment also rejected IDPADA-G Inc.’s argument that it had acquired a substantive legitimate expectation that government funding would continue.

According to the Attorney General’s Chambers, the court found that any

statements relied upon by the applicant amounted only to policy declarations rather than enforceable promises.

In her ruling, Chancellor George stated: “I agree with the submission for the respondents that the President’s statement outlined the Government’s support for a cause, that is, a programme of activities associated with the UNIDPAD (United Nation’s International Decade of the People of African Descent), and not to the applicant.”

She further noted that former President David Granger’s 2016 speech “did not make a promise to any particular group or persons, and most definitely did not make a promise to the applicant or its predecessor.”

The court also observed that both IDPADA-G Inc. and its predecessor organisation did not exist at the time the speech was delivered.

The Chambers further highlighted another portion of the judgment in which the court concluded that government allocations were intended to support the objectives of the UNIDPAD rather than confer a proprietary right on any

individual organisation.

Justice George stated: “The government budgeted the subvention in favour of the cause, and not the applicant specifically.”

She added that “a legitimate expectation to the continued allocation of the subvention to the applicant cannot arise.”

The High Court also dismissed claims that ending the subvention violated IDPADA-G Inc.’s constitutional right to property, finding that neither the incorporated entity nor its predecessor established any legal right to continued funding beyond 2022. However, the court granted limited procedural relief.

The Attorney General’s Chambers explained that the court found the unincorporated body, IDPADA-G, should have been afforded an opportunity to respond before the Government ceased making payments.

Consequently, the court ordered payment of the remaining instalments for October, November and December 2022. No order for costs was made against the State.

Further, the Attorney General’s Chambers noted that the court also found IDPADA-G Inc. “was not the proper party to have instituted the proceedings” and that its substantive claims lacked merit.

The Chambers further emphasised that the judgment affirmed the Government’s authority to determine how public funds should be allocated.

Quoting the ruling, it noted that “since the subvention was for the cause, the government as a matter of policy could decide that it would seek to execute the policy through another executing agency.”

Justice George, accord-

ing to the release, further warned that directing the Government to provide a specific budgetary allocation to IDPADA-G Inc. “would amount to judicial overreach.”

She also held that “the government was and remains free to change its policy regarding the utilisation of the budgetary allocation for the UNIDPAD.”

According to the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Government remains committed to advancing the objectives of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution proclaiming the International Decade for People of African Descent.

It said annual budgetary allocations continue to be made for programmes benefiting Afro-Guyanese organisations across Guyana.

The Chambers also stated that several organisations representing Afro-Guyanese had previously complained that they did not benefit from more than $500 million disbursed to IDPADA-G Inc.

under the programme and had petitioned the Government to redirect the funds directly to multiple representative organisations.

Additionally, the statement asserted that financial records showed more than 80 per cent of the funds received by IDPADA-G Inc. were spent on salaries, rent, meals and administrative

expenses rather than on programmes directly benefiting ordinary Afro-Guyanese. The respondents in the matter were represented by attorneys Deborah Kumar, Shoshanna V. Lall, Ronetta Sargent and Loretta Noel, led by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who appeared in person.

NIS records ‘significant’ growth in number of contributors

–– Finance Minister says employed contributors up 38 per cent, self-employed participation more than doubled

THE National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has recorded significant growth in both employed and self-employed contributors over the last five and a half years, a development Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh said reflects the continued expansion of Guyana’s economy.

The minister made this known during a recent event, where he stated that the scheme has grown

alongside the country’s economic transformation, with more people entering the workforce and increasing the numbers of persons pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to the minister, the NIS added nearly 70,000 new employed contributors between 2020 and 2026.

“The scheme has added nearly 70,000 new employed contributors,” Dr Singh said.

He noted that the increase represents a 38 per cent rise in employed contributors over the period.

“The number of employed contributors has grown by a very commendable 38 per cent,” he added.

The finance minister also highlighted notable growth among self-employed contributors, indicating that participation in that category has more than doubled.

“The number of self-employed contributors has grown by nearly 9,000. In fact, it has grown by 138 per cent,” Dr Singh stated.

He said the increase in contributors mirrors the wider developments taking place across the economy.

“These numbers reflect the dynamics in the Guyanese economy because more persons are working, more persons are employed, more employment opportunities are being created,” he said.

Dr Singh also pointed

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh (Delano Williams photo)

to increasing levels of investment and business activity as factors contributing to the growth.

“There is more private investment, more employment opportunities are being created, more entrepreneurial opportunities are being created, and more persons are entering entrepreneurial activities and becoming self-employed persons,” he added.

The minister noted that the upward trend in contributors demonstrates the continued strengthening of the scheme while also expanding its reach among workers and entrepreneurs.

Against this backdrop, he used the occasion to encourage persons who are not yet participating in the scheme to register and begin making contributions.

“I want to urge you to come in and register,” Minister Singh said.

He further stressed that participation in the NIS provides access to several benefits beyond retirement pensions, including medical and other forms of support.

“The NIS not only provides retirement benefits like an NIS pension, it provides medical benefits in case you are ill or unable to work,” he added.

Guyana offers support to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela

–– other regional leaders, CARICOM express solidarity

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali leads regional expressions of sympathy and support for Venezuela following two powerful back-to-back earthquakes that struck near Caracas on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction, dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

In a message to the Venezuelan people, President Ali said Guyana was deeply saddened by the scale and magnitude of the disaster.

“As neighbours, we are deeply saddened by the scale, magnitude and destruction caused by the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes that struck Caracas yesterday and so far, claiming dozens of lives and injuring hundreds,” President Ali stated in a Facebook post.

He affirmed Guyana’s solidarity with Venezuela and said the country stood ready to provide assistance within its capacity.

“As neighbours, we are ready to offer assistance within our capacity. Our love, prayers and thoughts are with the families of those affected and the people of Venezuela,” the President added.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, expressed gratitude for Guyana’s support.

In a statement made to ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter, Rodriguez wrote:

“We would like to thank Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, for his solidarity and his willingness to offer support to the Venezuelan people during these difficult times. His message conveys solidarity, respect, and a sense of neighbourliness toward Venezuelans.”

Meanwhile, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago also expressed firm solidarity with Venezuela in the aftermath of the earthquakes, noting reports of significant seismic activity

across the country, particularly in the capital, Caracas.

In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago said it remains mindful of the Caribbean region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and shared the anxiety being experienced by its neighbour during the ongoing assessment and recovery efforts.

The statement highlighted the long-standing fraternal bond between the people of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela and reaffirmed the government’s willingness to provide support and assistance to Venezuelan authorities if requested.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago stands prepared to provide any requested support and assistance to the Venezuelan authorities, where possible,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted that

it continued to monitor developments closely through its diplomatic mission in Caracas, which was not significantly affected by the seismic event.

Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley expressed condolences and also offered assistance to the Spanish-speaking nation.

“Last night, I spoke with President Delcy Rodríguez to convey, on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela after the devastating earthquakes that have taken lives, shaken communities and left so many families in anguish.

“Some will call what happened an act of God. What happens next must be acts of humanity, acts of kindness, acts of solidarity, acts of courage, and acts of practical love.

“Venezuela is our neighbour, and in this Caribbean family, pain does not stop

at a border. Barbados stands ready to assist in whatever way we can,” she said in a Facebook post on her official Facebook page.

She added, “To every family grieving, to those waiting for word of loved ones, and to the first responders working through fear and exhaustion, please know that you are not alone.

Barbados stands with you in prayer, in compassion and in resolve.”

Meanwhile, the CARICOM extended its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and to all those affected by the disaster.

In a statement, the regional body expressed sorrow over the growing loss of life, increasing numbers of injuries and the extensive damage inflicted on homes and critical infrastructure.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela during this time of immense grief and offer

prayers for a swift recovery to the injured and displaced,” the statement said.

CARICOM also commended emergency personnel, first responders and citizens engaged in rescue and relief operations under challenging conditions.

As rescue, recovery and damage-assessment operations continue, regional governments and organisations have pledged their support to Venezuela as it confronts the humanitarian and infrastructural challenges arising from the disaster.

Reports coming out of Caracas noted that more than 100 deaths have been recorded a nd more than 1,500 injured.

Rescuers are searching the rubble in Caracas and the state of La Guaira.

The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit a minute apart. The second was the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900.

From stairway struggles to career achievement

–– GOAL scholarship graduate shares story of resilience, struggles

By Andrea Hendricks

BIBI Feroze-Singh, 23, of Montrose, overcame physical disability barriers to earn multiple certificates through the Government of Guyana’s GOAL Scholarship programme, securing employment and building a path toward higher education.

Earlier this week, she moved across the National Cultural Centre stage with a smile that carried years of struggle, patience and hope. For her, that moment was more than a graduation ceremony. It was proof that a life once blocked by barriers could still move forward. It was also a reminder that education does not belong only to those who can follow the usual path.

Feroze-Singh did not get the chance to attend a regular school because of her physical disability. While other children moved easily into classrooms, her path was shaped by stairs, distance and dependence using a wheelchair. She said her mother had to lift her up the stairs, and that small act made school feel out of reach.

“I had to be lifted up the stairs by my mother, and it was too difficult,” she said.

For years, that barrier stood between her and the education she wanted. It was not a lack of desire that kept her away. It was the weight of a system that was not built for her needs. Yet even then, the dream did not disappear; it only waited for the right door to open.

That door opened when she began learning with the Guyana Council of Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) through the Learning Lab and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection programmes. She started at the basic

learning levels and studied on weekends only, taking one step at a time. Her courses included Disability Advocacy, Health and Safety, Executive Business Management, Beauty and Wellness and a high school diploma.

Online learning gave her a chance she had never had before. It fitted well into her life instead of forcing her life to fit around school.

In an interview with is publication, she stated, “It fits into my schedule, and it also gives me the opportunity to build my portfolio so that I can get a job anywhere.”

For Feroze-Singh, that convenience was more than comfort. It was freedom. It allowed her to learn, grow and keep moving. She did not choose her courses by chance. She chose them with purpose. She wanted to build the kind of skills that could help her work in the corporate world, but she also held another dream close to her heart: running a successful small business one day.

That is why her learning journey was about more than passing exams. It was about building versatility and creating more than one possible future.

A BRIGHTER FUTURE

The GOAL Scholarship helped make that future feel real. It gave her support, direction and the chance to keep aiming higher. Each certificate became a brick in the foundation of a better life. Each new skill gave her more confidence to imagine what comes next.

Her story shows that education can be a tool not only for employment, but

for independence, dignity and self-belief, especially for a person living with a disability.

The road was not always smooth. One of her biggest challenges was poor internet connection, which could easily interrupt her studies. But Bibi refused to let that problem stop her. She found a simple but smart solution: a backup mobile data plan. That decision may sound small, but it showed strong thinking and quiet determination.

“If you don’t have proper Internet connection it can tamper with your studies,” she said.

Instead of giving up when the connection failed, she prepared for the problem before it could defeat her. That is the kind of lesson her journey teaches. Success is not only about talent. It is also about finding ways around the setbacks that try to block your progress. She kept going because she understood that every challenge can be managed with planning and patience.

Now, her hard work has paid off. She has secured a job as a Customer Service Representative at a local company because of the certificates she earned through the GOAL programme.

For someone who once struggled to access basic schooling, that achievement is deeply meaningful. It shows how far determination can carry a person when support is in place.

Her education did not end with a job, though. It opened the door to even bigger dreams. She now hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree and, eventually, a master’s degree in the not-so-distant future.

“All of these certificates that I have will help me move on to higher academic pursuits such a bachelor’s degree and ul-

timately my master’s in the future,” she told this publication.

Her story is not just about finding employment. It is about building a future with no limit on ambition and drive. It is about proving that one certificate can lead to another, and that learning can keep changing a life, long after the first class is over.

Feroze-Singh advice to others is simple: “Be honest and full of hope.” She used the opportunity to encourage persons with disabilities to start small, especially with six-month certificate courses, and to begin with weekend classes if that feels easier.

Start small with the six months certificate courses before you go for the bigger ones,” she said. She also reminded others that

taking weekend courses can help them understand how things will work before moving on to bigger goals. “It’s an opportunity to build yourself and there is support available if difficulty arises,” she said.

She is also advocating strongly for others in the disability community to take full advantage of the GOAL programme.

“As persons with disabilities, we don’t usually get these opportunities, so while it is here make use of it,” she told this publication.

In her voice was both urgency and care. She knows what it means to be left out, and she wants others to step forward while support is available.

Her message is clear: “Do not wait for the per-

fect moment. Start where you are, use what is offered and keep moving.”

This young woman’s story comes full circle in that image of her moving across the National Cultural Centre stage, certificate in hand and hope in her heart.

It was a small step for some, but for her it was a powerful sign that barriers can be broken. Her journey shows that education can transform lives, even when the path begins with pain and doubt. It also proves that determination, when matched with the right support, can open doors that once seemed closed forever.

Bibi Feroze-Singh is living proof that a dream delayed can still become a dream fulfilled.

‘Confidence is growing’ —CH&PA reports 200

per cent increase in housing applications

DR Martin Pertab, head of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), has highlighted a dramatic surge in demand for housing in Guyana.

Speaking at the launch of the International Building Expo 2026, Dr Pertab said housing applications between 2020 and 2025 rose by more than 200 per cent compared with the 2015–2020 period.

He pointed to sharp growth in Regions Three and Six, where applications jumped by about 344 per cent and roughly 297 percent respectively. This, according to him, is evidence of growing household incomes and rising aspirations across the country.

“These numbers tell a very clear story. Confidence is growing, incomes are ris-

ing and aspirations are expanding in support of our housing drive,” he said.

Currently, the government is working to clear an existing backlog of more than 80,000 pending housing applications.

Clearing that backlog, Mr Pertab estimated, will require roughly 5,500 acres of land and nearly $30 billion in supporting infrastructure.

To meet ongoing demand the CH&PA is targeting delivery of more than 40,000 houses over the next five years and will need to rely increasingly on purchased private land and higher density development.

“Much of our coastal land has already been allocated or developed, which means we can no longer rely solely on existing public land re -

serves,” he said adding :

“Going forward, we’ll have to purchase land from the private owners and open up new areas in other regions, which we have already started.”

He also cited recent supply figures to underline momentum, over the past five years more than 50,000 house lots have been allocated, over 21,000 land titles processed and in excess of 2,300 homes constructed, alongside some 550 km of upgraded or new roads.

Pertab noted improving mortgage affordability with some lower income rates around 3–3.5 per cent and larger loans from about five per cent as a factor supporting the surge in applications.

GO-Invest head urges companies to join Guyana’s transformation

CHIEF Investment

Officer at the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, at a recent sod-turning ceremony, said that Guyana is moving at a rapid pace, one where companies must get on board and be ready to join its transformation.

Holistically, Dr Ramsaroop said that when we look at the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships and how many persons are graduating from the respective pro-

grammes, and perhaps the Port Mourant Training Centre where dozens of youths are currently being trained in trade skills to take over the oil and gas, hospitality and tourism and other sectors, we are going to be the envy of many.

He delivered these remarks at the sod-turning ceremony for Massy’s new US$75 million Houston Hub, held at Massy’s Montrose location on Thursday.

He emphasised that the President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s goal was never for

Guyana to take the lead, but rather to work with our counterparts in the Caribbean Community.

Dr Ramsaroop told Guyanese to not be left behind, but “be part of our development.” He added, “Don’t let this pass us.” This, he remarked, is probably the most exciting time we will ever see real-time development happen.

“Guyana is probably the last frontier you would see in this phase. So, we get a chance to see [this] development,”

Dr Ramsaroop said adding, “So, let’s get on with the business of doing the things for Guyana. Let’s get on with supporting the initiatives by the government, and government is here to enable you. We’re not here to run businesses; we are here to make life easier for every business in this country, and we look forward to working with this company as they move forward, and to take care of our local needs, but also the needs of the region.”

Guyana Chronicle launches National Grade Five Assessment worksheet

THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle Daily and Sunday Newspapers, on Thursday launched its National Grade Five Assessment worksheet, which will be published every Tuesday from the start of the new school year in September.

The National Newspapers’ Marketing Manager, Beverly Roberts at the opening of the International Building Expo, said that they had received several requests for Grade Five material.

The company produces Grade Six worksheets, which were introduced in schools across the country.

According to her, the schools were very receptive, and teachers began to request that other materials be published.

After experimenting with the Grade Four publication, which was a success, she said there was a resounding demand for worksheets for Grade Five pupils. The publishers worked with a team of trained teachers, who would formulate appropriate questions.

“We are now launching our Grade Five worksheet newspaper for schools beginning in September,” Roberts said adding, “Every Tuesday. The cost is $60. We tried to make this paper as affordable as possible for schools…at $60, we believe that every child would be able to have one of these papers in their hand.

That they can practice and they can work. And we can contribute to their overall success at the end of the period.”

US$75M modern, technology-driven Massy Hub to be built at Houston

–– Minister Indar says investment signals ‘strong’ investor confidence in Guyana

By Faith Greene

THE Massy Group, on Thursday, turned the sod for a US $75 million Massy Hub which will be constructed at Houston on the East Bank of Demerara.

Described as a landmark development initiative, this hub is the continuation of a journey started over 50 years ago in Guyana. The Massy Hub will be opened in 2028, and over the next 80 months, the site at Houston will be transformed into a modern, technology-driven business hub.

At the heart of the million-dollar investment is a new 200,000 square foot warehouse, which will significantly strengthen Massy’s distribution business, and improve its ability to serve customers, retailers, suppliers, and communities nationwide with greater ef-

ficiency, capacity, and reliability.

The hub is also expected to improve Massy’s capacity to store, move and distribute food and essential products more efficiently and reliably, further supporting a stronger, more resilient supply chain for Guyana. It is also expected to include modern automotive and machinery showrooms, offices, and warehouse facilities for the Massy Motors portfolio.

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, in delivering the feature address said that this million-dollar U.S. investment sends a “single, straight, direct signal” that investors’ confidence in the Guyanese economy is strong.

Expressing enthusiasm at the fact that Massy is taking produce from Guyana into its stores, Minister Indar

said that Massy, along with other companies in Guyana, is part of Guyana’s wider development story.

“We are part of a country, part of a trajectory, and the timing … we as decision makers in our own life, in our own sector, in our own community are part of a development that others before us did not have, and those in the future will not have, because this is the time where you need hands to build,” he said.

Importantly, Massy Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, James McLetchie, said that for his company, Guyana is not a submarket it is just entering, it is a country they are growing with.

He added that this significant development represents another investment made by Massy in Guyana’s future and reflects the

company’s belief that the remarkable growth taking place in Guyana is not a temporary one.

“This investment reflects our belief that Guyana’s future extends far beyond oil, and it reflects our confidence that the next chapter of Guyana’s story will be driven by infrastructure, logistics, food security, energy technology, and most important, talent, entrepreneurship, and leadership,” McLetchie said.

He remarked that with all the ports being built, Guyana has to be the centre of the future of the supply chain. Further, he said this country possesses something that many nations are searching for; the ability to produce and feed itself.

The Massy CEO stated that as Massy builds in Guyana, it is bringing together regional experience, global standards, and local part -

nerships. It is a formula that has guided much of Massy’s success and will continue to do so, he emphasised.

“Massy’s partnerships demonstrate what can happen when local leadership, regional capability, and global expertise come together around a shared vision,” McLetchie said adding, “Our commitment is to use our scale, our partnerships globally to bring them into the region to develop our people to develop this region.”

Massy Guyana’s Chairman and Country Manager, Troy Beharry, in his remarks, shared that Massy has been part of Guyana’s business, economic, and social landscape since 1968.

He reiterated that Massy is not a newcomer to Guyana but is part of the fabric of our nation. Massy’s history is rooted in companies and brands that Guyanese have known for generations, worked with, and have trusted.

The real strength of Massy in Guyana, he said, has always been its people, who are the company’s greatest asset.

He related that this is not a slogan for them, but a principle that has guided Massy’s development in Guyana for decades.

“Massy is not here to observe Guyana’s growth by the sidelines. We are here to participate, to invest, to employ, to trade, to serve and to partner,” he said.

Over that time, the company has grown with Guyana, served its people, and invested in Guyana’s economy, building businesses that not only support daily life, but also enterprise, industry, and national development.

Companies offer great opportunities for locals at International Building Expo 2026

THE International Building Expo 2026 has been officially opened and there are companies on site offering promotions and great deals to Guyanese.

Those companies include Courts/Unicomer and Demerara Bank Limited.

Located at the Diamond Jubilee tent at the expo, Demerara Bank announced that it is giving one lucky customer who is approved for a loan of $15,000,000 or more, a chance to be entered into a draw to win the grand

prize of a BYD One Pro.

Additionally, the bank is also giving five cash prizes of $100,000 to five lucky customers.

“…any customer approved for a home loan of $15,000,000 or more is entered for a chance to win those fabulous prizes. We have also reduced our contribution for our home loans to 15 per cent for purchase of property and 10 per cent for construction and young professionals,” a Demerara Bank Limited officer said.

She added that the bank has reduced contributions for vehicle loans.

“Our contribution requirement is now 10 per cent and of course, we have our five per cent of the $40,000,000 on home loans. That’s our interest rate. And…if you apply for a credit card at the Building Expo, you are entered for a chance to win one of two Apple iPod Pro. And for visitors to the booth, we have something called a “Lucky Dip” Promotion, where they

can win Demerara Bank promotional items and instant cash prizes and other giveaways.”

That’s what we’re doing this year at the 2026 Golden Expo.

Persons can bring their supporting documents to Demerara Bank’s booth at the expo and get approved on the spot. Or they can apply at home during the period of the expo and benefit from those same concessions.

“And one of the things I

forgot to mention, no legal fees, no processing fees, no application fees, and no site-inspection fees for home loans,” she announced, “so whether you apply at home or here at the Expo, you get the benefit from that during the period of the Building Expo,”

Meanwhile, Courts/ Unicomer is offering customers cash loans up to $3.1 million at the Building Expo.

Additionally, hire-purchase customers can also

benefit from 30 per cent off on credit, or even 10 per cent off of purchases.

A company representative said: “So, the requirements are very minimal. All you need is your proof of address, proof of income and proof of bank [account].”

It is important to note that persons accessing these offers do not need to be a customer.

“This can even be your very first account, we will have that set up for you,” she said.

Four committed to stand trial, two discharged in ‘Bricks’ abduction case

FOUR of the six remaining men accused of kidnapping 34-year-old Joshua David, called “Bricks,” have been committed to stand trial at the Demerara Criminal Assizes after a city magistrate found sufficient evidence to proceed against them.

Magistrate Annette Singh of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Wayne Barker, Aaron Alleyne, Dwayne Griffith, and Devante Mars. The ruling paves the way

for the matter to be heard before a judge and jury at the Demerara High Court. This was following the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry.

The four men were each granted $500,000 bail pending their trial after their attorney successfully applied

on their behalf. The ruling comes days after two other accused in the matter, Osafo Peters and Alpha Poole, were discharged from the proceedings.

The magistrate found that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence against Peters and

Poole to warrant their committal to the High Court. As a result, both men were freed from the charges.

The case initially involved seven accused. Dameion Barlow was committed to stand trial after opting for a paper committal, allowing the magistrate to determine whether sufficient evidence existed based on written depositions rather than oral testimony. However, Barlow died in April after the motor car he was driving collided with a parked truck along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

The men are accused of abducting David with the intent of wrongfully and secretly confining him.

David of Lodge, Georgetown was kidnapped on September 26, 2024, from Main Street, Georgetown, with surveillance footage capturing parts of the incident.

Despite extensive searches in areas such as Buxton and the Annandale Backlands on the East Coast of Demerara, authorities have yet to locate him.

The disappearance has drawn considerable pub -

lic attention, and all seven suspects, previously named in police wanted bulletins, voluntarily turned themselves in.

Police investigations into David’s whereabouts continue as the case progresses.

At their first court appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, each accused was granted $500,000 bail and ordered to surrender their passports and report weekly to the Brickdam Police Station.

With Thursday’s ruling, Barker, Mars, Alleyne, Griffith, will now answer to the charge before the Demerara High Court, while Peters and Poole have been discharged. Alleyne was charged last September with trafficking 4.5 grams of cannabis and unlawfully possessing a Glock 9mm pistol and magazine while on bail in the David abduction case.

The police prosecutor told the court that the drugs and firearm were found in a bag Alleyne was carrying over his shoulder. He has denied both charges.

New industries, technology creating demand for skilled workers - Minister Ally

Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally

MINISTER of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation Zulfikar Ally has said that Guyana’s changing economic landscape and the emergence of new industries are creating increasing demand for skilled workers.

The minister made this known while speaking to recent graduates of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), who he encouraged to position themselves to meet the country’s evolving needs.

Ally told graduates they are entering a rapidly transforming environment where qualifications, adaptability and continued learning will play a major role in future success.

He said the country’s development has created opportunities that differ significantly from the challenges people faced years ago, noting that graduates today are entering a labour market where employment opportunities continue to expand.

“We are in unprecedented transformation, new industries are emerging, existing sectors are expanding. Technology is reshaping how we deliver services and how business operates,” Ally said.

According to the minister, the demands of the labour market are changing as economic growth creates greater need for qualified workers across sectors.

“It’s certainly not if you can find a job, because there are thousands of vacancies in the system,” he told the graduates.

He stated that many graduates globally often face uncertainty after completing their studies, particularly with concerns surrounding employment and student debt, but said Guyanese graduates are entering a different reality.

“You don’t have to worry about two of the most fundamental things that people all over the world worry about when they graduate: Finding jobs and paying back student loans,” he said.

He further stated that companies are increasingly competing for workers as Guyana’s economy continues to grow.

“Companies looking for workers instead of workers looking for jobs. The labour force needs you. Our country needs you,” Ally said.

He further highlighted the importance of human capital in sustaining development, noting that national progress ultimately depends on the abilities and innovation of its people.

He encouraged graduates to continue upgrading their qualifications and skills, reminding them that the education they received was not only a personal achievement but an investment in Guyana’s future.

Innovation at heart of Guyana’s push for climate‑smart housing

–– Minister Croal says

HOUSING Minister Col

lin Croal placed innova tion at the centre stage of this year’s International Building Expo, noting that new technologies and processes are key to deliv ering climate‑resilient, af fordable homeownership across Guyana.

Minister Croal high lighted several areas where innovation is al ready making an impact, climate‑smart materials, modular and prefabricated construction methods, ele vated foundation designs, and advanced drainage systems during his address

at this year’s expo launch.

“Countries like ours must remain open to new technologies, modern building solutions, and more efficient approaches to development. This in cludes stronger building standards, climate resilient designs, sustainable ma terials, and smarter urban planning,” he said.

He said these approach

es reduce construction times, lower costs and im prove durability, helping communities withstand flooding and other climate risks.

The four day expo will showcase international and local innovators, bringing fresh ideas to the market from Japanese and UK sup pliers of resilient materials to regional firms.

“As we build for the future, we must ask the dif ficult but necessary ques tions. How do we reduce costs while maintaining standards? How do we create communities that are resilient to flooding and climate risks? How do we integrate sustainability into every phase of our de velopment? Over these four days I am hopeful that we

will get new and more in novative answers to these questions as construction methods evolve globally,” he said.

Minister Croal en couraged public‑private partnerships to pilot these technologies at scale, linking developers, financial institutions and insurers in coordinated projects.

‘Gov’t building sustainable, strategic Guyana for decades to come’

—Minister Benn says, highlights efforts to streamline, improve services

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn has said the government is “building a sustainable, strategic Guyana for decades to come,” pointing to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration’s investments to support not only home ownership, but long-term economic growth.

Addressing the open ing of the International Building Expo 2026, be ing held under the theme, ‘Guyana at 60 Building strong foundations for a sustainable future,’ Minister Benn hailed the country’s rapid economic

expansion, highlighting significant gains in con struction, agriculture and other growth sectors.

“We are witnessing in real time the rapid ex pansion of our econo my,” she said, adding that new roads, highways and model communities are reshaping the nation and improving living stan dards.

Benn paid tribute to the legacy of previous housing leadership, not ing that the foundations laid by former ministers have enabled the current government’s ambitious programmes.

She stressed that hous ing is about more than

land allocation, it is also about creating aesthetic, safe and resilient commu nities that can withstand future challenges such as climate change.

The minister further underlined the govern ment’s commitment to integrated services and closer coordination across ministries, agencies and local authorities to ensure

development is resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

“Our work programme at the Ministry of Housing is pivotal to supporting national development as a whole,” she said.

She praised the Cen tral Housing and Planning Authority’s single‑window system, now in its sec ond year, for streamlining building application re

views and bringing greater efficiency and transparen cy to the sector.

This year’s expo will feature a two‑day sem inar which will exam ine sustainable urban planning; smart building technologies; construc tion waste management; flood risk and drainage during construction and measures to transition

the housing stock to greater energy efficien cy.

The four‑day expo, Minister Benn said, aims to showcase practical solutions and encourage knowledge sharing among policymakers, industry and the public.

This year’s expo also features expanded activities for patrons.

Minister Walrond assures thorough, impartial, transparent investigation into young motorcyclist’s death

says investigation launched

AS the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigates the circumstances that led to the death of a teenage motorcylist in Berbice on Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond urged residents to remain calm and to allow for the truth to be established.

Aftaz King, a 16-yearold of Eliza Mary Race Course, Corentyne, Berbice, while attempting to evade a police patrol, crashed into a utility pole about 18:45hrs, while on the Princeton Access Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

In a statement, the minister said, “I extend my

deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of 16-year-old Altaf King. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of profound grief.

“I wish to assure the family and the public that this matter will be the subject of a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. Every aspect of the incident will be carefully examined, and if any criminal or disciplinary culpability is established, it will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law. No one is above accountability.

“I also appeal to the residents of Skeldon and the surrounding communities to remain calm, refrain from actions that may endanger

lives and allow the investigative process to proceed without interference.”

She also emphasised that she understood the grief and concern being expressed. “… it is essential that the truth is established through a comprehensive and independent investigation,” the minister underscored.

Meanwhile, the police force announced that the OPR has commenced an immediate investigation into the teen’s death.

“Enquiries disclosed that he was riding motorcycle #CL 5607 when he attempted to evade a police patrol, lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a utility pole.

“King sustained injuries and was conveyed to the Number 75 Regional Public Hospital, where he was examined and pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty,” the police said.

The force indicated that the OPR investigation will examine all aspects of the incident and establish whether there was any criminal or disciplinary culpability.

“The Guyana Police Force recognises the seriousness of this matter and assures the relatives of the deceased and members of the public that appropriate action will be taken should any criminal or disciplinary culpability be established,” the police said. Investigations are ongoing.

NDC, RDC officials to receive increased stipends within days –– as budget measure takes effect

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Democratic Council (NDC) and Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officials are expected to begin receiving their revised monthly stipends within days after the government completed the administrative processes needed to implement a measure announced in the 2026 National Budget.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, made the announcement on Thursday in a Facebook video message, stating the Ministry of Finance has finalised the required approvals, paving the way for the enhanced payments to be distributed.

The minister explained that while the increases were announced earlier this year during the presentation of the budget, implementation was delayed because of the time required to complete the necessary paperwork.

“These were announced. You heard about it, and it took a while to get some paperwork done. We had to get some paperwork from the Ministry of Finance, that took some time. We’ve finally gotten that and we’re about to give you this significant raise in stipends,” Manickchand said.

She noted that the revised payments should begin reaching beneficiaries within the next few days.

She added, “In a matter of days, you’ll see that coming into your various NDCs and into your various homes, and we’re very happy to be able to do that.”

The revised stipend structure will benefit officials serving on NDCs and RDCs across the country.

Under the new rates, NDC chairpersons will receive $50,000 per month, an increase from the previous $10,000. Vice-chairpersons will now receive $40,000 instead of $5,000, while councillors’ stipends will

completed, Manickchand said the revised stipends will soon begin reaching eligible officials, describing the increases as an important investment in strengthening

local governance and enhancing the effectiveness of elected representatives across Guyana.

Alongside the stipend adjustments, the central

rise from $3,000 to $30,000 monthly.

Regional Democratic Council councillors will also benefit, with their monthly stipends increasing from $30,000 to $50,000.

According to the minister, approximately 70 NDC chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, along with more than 1,000 councillors, will benefit from the revised payments.

Manickchand said the government hopes the increased financial support will strengthen the work of local democratic organs and improve service delivery to residents.

“How does this benefit our neighbourhoods? With more, our councillors, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons will have more to give you, I hope,” she said.

She reminded local government representatives that the increase also comes with greater responsibility to the communities they serve.

The minister stated, “When much is given, much is expected.”

Expressing confidence in the role of local government bodies, Manickchand said the enhanced stipends form part of the government’s wider effort to ensure neighbourhood democratic councils and regional democratic councils are better equipped to fulfil their responsibilities.

“I believe that we can work together to make our local bodies function better, and this is our part of trying to make sure we can do our part as a state to help these bodies to function better,” she said.

The minister said the government remains committed to supporting local government institutions, which play a key role in community development, neighbourhood management, and the delivery of essential municipal and public services. With those processes now

government has also significantly increased annual subvention grants to strengthen local governance and improve community service delivery. Annual

subventions for NDCs have increased from $5 million to $30 million each, while municipalities will now receive $50 million annually, up from $18 million.

Fruta Conquerors FC retain elite league place

FRUTA Conquerors FC will continue to compete among Guyana’s top football clubs after securing their place in the Elite League Season Eight with a decisive 2-0 victory over Timehri United FC in the relegation playoff on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the NTC.

In a match where their top-flight status was on the line, Fruta Conquerors delivered a composed and disciplined performance to retain their position in the country’s premier football competition. After a tightly contested first half, Jamal Codrington broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, giving the Georgetown-based side a crucial advantage. Stefon Walton added a second goal in the 82nd minute to seal the victory and confirm the club’s place in Elite League Season Eight.

Head Coach Jersild Wright emphasised the significance of the result, describing the victory as one of the most important in the club’s history.

“The motivation to win is imperative. It is what separates good teams from ordinary teams. Winning this match was one of the most important moments in our club’s history because of what was at stake and what it means for the future of Fruta Conquerors FC.

“As one of the long-standing pillars of football in Guyana, our objective

has always been to compete at the highest level and strive for success. Securing this victory ensures that we remain among the country’s top football clubs in the Elite League, where we belong.

“This result not only pre-

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serves our place in the competition, but also gives us the opportunity to pursue a third Elite League title and, ultimately, the chance to represent Guyana on the biggest stage in regional club football. That is the motivation

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we will carry with us into Elite League Season Eight, as we continue to build on the club’s proud legacy.” said Wright.

Founded on February 14, 1982, in Georgetown, Fruta Conquerors FC has grown from humble beginnings into a pillar of Guyanese football. Over the past four decades, the club has established a reputation not only for competitive success, but also for its unwavering commitment to nurturing young talent and contributing to the development of the sport at the grassroots and national levels.

The club’s competitive pedigree is equally impressive. As a two-time GFF Elite League champion, their achievements have helped establish a culture of excellence that continues to define the organisation today.

While the relegation playoff presented a significant challenge, the team’s response reflected the resilience, determination, and fighting spirit that have characterised the club throughout its existence.

QUIZ CORNER (Friday June 26, 2026)

England dig deep after Latham, Conway dominate with 317-run stand

(ESPNCRICINFO) - For England’s cricketers, it was the sort of day that makes you question your life choices.

Ben Stokes, by all accounts, has done a fair amount of that already in this past fortnight, and on a sweltering day at Trent Bridge, Tom Latham and Devon Conway gave him 317 more reasons to do so. That was the extent of the record-smashing opening stand that seized control for New Zealand on the opening day of this series decider.

If, by the end of it, their opponents already felt baked alive amid the UK’s red-weather warning, then they suppressed their exhaustion with admirable grit. The extraction of both centurions, followed by two more wickets from the final two balls of the day, ensured there’ll be two fresh batters at the crease on Friday morning, including a nightwatcher in Will O’Rourke. There’s plenty more mercury-melting in store, but at 361 for 4 at stumps, there’s the outside chance that it won’t be exclusively England fielders feeling the heat

And yet, none of that could detract from New Zealand’s day. Conway top-scored for his team with 157 from 224 balls; Latham, the captain, was not far behind on 151 from 214. And yet, the most crucial contribution that the skipper made to his team’s cause arguably came before he had even strapped on his pads. By calling correctly at the toss, Latham not only seized the opportunity to bat first in pristine conditions, he mitigated his team’s chaotic build-up, in which two of their heroes from last week’s Oval victory, Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips, were subbed out late through injury.

The implications of those absences can now wait, thanks to a command per-

formance at the top of the order. With runs on the board on a surface that, so far, has been flat and true but has already shown signs of dusting up in the intense heat, New Zealand have the chance to set the agenda for everything that follows in this Test. Latham’s century was his 17th in his 95th Test, equalling the haul of the late, great Martin Crowe, whose name has been immortalized in the series trophy.

For Conway, it was his eighth in 36, and his third against England, the team whom he took for a debut 200 at Lord’s in 2021, to set up their last series win against these opponents.

Both men eventually fell in the space of

seven balls in the evening session to trigger a late wobble of 4 for 44. First, Stokes stretched the definition of “inevitable” by finding Latham’s tired edge in his 13th over, before last week’s England captain, Joe Root, induced a weary slog from Conway to wide long-on. But the pair’s efforts across the preceding 72 overs had been utterly relentless.

Record after record tumbled on their watch - the highest New Zealand partnership against England among them - though not, curiously enough, their own record as an opening pair. That remains the 323 that they amassed against West Indies at Mount Maunganui only six months ago, and the

loud groan of “no!” as Latham finally gave it away confirmed how many more runs he believed had been there for the taking. Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra looked set to guide their team through to the close, though they didn’t have it all their own way. In particular, Nicholls was rattled by a sharp bouncer from Archer, which necessitated a change of helmet and a concussion test.

And, after Ravindra’s ungainly slog had handed Gus Atkinson an overdue first wicket with minutes of the day remaining, Archer responded with a snorter outside off that Nicholls couldn’t help but snick to the keeper.

Ecuador stun Germany to set up round of 32 match

(BBC) - Ecuador reached the World Cup knockout stage in dramatic fashion as they came from behind to beat Germany in New Jersey and set up a potential meeting with England. They had not scored a goal in their first two games, a draw with Curacao and a defeat by Ivory Coast, but finally showed the talent they possess as they took advantage of a lacklustre display from Germany, who had already topped Group E.

Germany made the perfect start after only two minutes when Leroy Sane picked up Florian Wirtz’s clever pass in the area to fire a clinical finish beyond Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez.

Ecuador were furious, convinced they should have been awarded a foul for Alexandar Pavlovic’s high boot on Pedro Vite, but their protests were ignored.

Fuelled by that injustice, and by their masses of yellow-clad supporters, Ecuador responded with intensity and were level seven minutes later when Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo sent a low drive past Manuel Neuer.

Ecuador continued to press in the second half and were rewarded 13 minutes from time when Gonzalo Plata reacted quicker than Neuer at a corner to send their fans wild with delight.

The result is bad news for Scotland as it reduces their chances of qualifying

as one of the best third-placed finishers.

The wild scenes of celebration on and off the pitch inside the stadium summed up the drama of how Ecuador recovered from the worst possible start to reach the World Cup’s last 32.

They had lacked firepower in their first two games, failing to score, but a team containing talents such as Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo always had the capacity to produce more.

And so it proved as they shrugged off conceding a goal to Sane inside two minutes to produce a vibrant performance to match the mood of their magnificent supporters.

Angulo was a constant menace and

deserved his goal, as well as the man-ofthe-match award, while they produced some superb last-ditch defending in the closing stages with the stadium filled with nerves and tension.

The scenes inside this vast arena when Plata put Ecuador ahead will live long in the memory.

Germany, in contrast, were sluggish, perhaps understandably as they were safe in the knowledge they were through to the last 32 irrespective of the outcome.

If Ecuador can reproduce this form when it comes to the one-off games, backed by the noise and passion of their followers, they have the ability to pose a serious threat.

WI wrap SL up for 308 despite Dhananjaya 120

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Dhananjaya de Silva’s 120 off 168 deliveries formed the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s fighting batting efforts on day one of the Test series against West Indies.

West Indies lost three wickets in the first hour, Kemar Roach breaking through in the first over of the game, before Alzarri Joseph struck twice in three balls in the 10th over.

But on a track with some assistance for the quicks, Sri Lanka fought back, first through a counter-punching half-century to Dinesh Chandimal, before de Silva imposed himself on the match, scoring briskly through the middle and evening sessions.

The innings was largely built upon three partnerships that de Silva was part of - a 68-run stand with Chandimal, a 99-run stand with Sonal Dinusha, and a 64-run seventh-wicket stand with Milan Rathnayake.

A total of 308, however, was only a competitive first-innings total, rather than a commanding one. West Indies’ seamers were menacing in patches throughout the

day, particularly Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Shamar Joseph, who tested the batters whenever they were operating. It was the medium pace of Justin Greaves that wreaked the most damage in the end, however. He dismissed de Silva midway through the final session and would claim two further tail-end wickets to finish with figures of 3 for 39. Roach, Alzarri, and Shamar all claimed two wickets apiece.

Having bowled Sri Lanka out for 308, West Indies had one over to bat before stumps, and survived it without loss. Their over rate through the day had been exceedingly slow, however. Only 72.5 overs were bowled on day one, though all six-and-a-half hours of play were utilised.

De Silva had been confident from the outset. In the morning session he had defended well, and had played some assured straight drives to get himself moving, as Sri Lanka strove to recover from 42 for 3.

Chandimal was the primary aggressor in his first partnership, as he found boundaries through cover and point in particular. Chandimal hit 41 of the 68 runs they made together, and although not fluent

in this particular innings, had kept Sri Lanka ticking through a difficult period. He appeared to be finding his touch as he crossed 50, but was bowled by an excellent Shamar yorker soon after.

Kusal Mendis, reaching for a full wide one, was caught at second slip later in that Shamar over. This was the second occasion Sri Lanka lost two in an over, with Alzarri having earlier dismissed Nishan Madushka and Kamindu Mendis in the 10th over of the day.

De Silva got Sri Lanka out of that immediate danger with some sparkling shots square of the wicket, spanking one from Alzarri through point before pulling the same bowler imperiously through square leg two balls later. He had his outside edge beaten frequently, but also found singles and twos into the outfield to keep himself moving. Disdainful pulls would become a hallmark of this innings, though he also scored heavily through cover and deep third. Dinusha, who played a restrained innings, also dug deep to lift Sri Lanka out of trouble. He scored heavily through the backward

point region, pouncing on the short wide deliveries whenever they were offered up. He hit 43 off 75.

Soon after tea, he moved smoothly to a 13th Test hundred, off the 150th ball he faced, reaching the milestone with a sumptuous flick through midwicket. In the end, a tame length delivery from Greaves claimed his wicket, as de Silva gave a catch off the leading edge to point as he attempted to clip through midwicket. Sri Lanka were 273 for 7 at that point, and a little lower-order hitting propelled them past 300, Rathnayake scoring 27. The first hour of the day, however, had belonged to West Indies. Pathum Nissanka was caught off Roach at short leg, when he failed to keep a legside flick down.

Alzarri then nailed Madushka in front with a ball that nipped off the surface, and had Kamindu caught at first slip with a delivery in the channel outside off. Sri Lanka were 42 for 3 after that first double strike. Shamar would also take two wickets in an over, soon after lunch.

Beharry U-19 Schools T20 Cricket: Teams battle for places in zonal finals

THE 2026 Beharry Under-19 Schools

T20 Cricket Tournament enters a crucial phase this weekend as teams across the country fight for places in their respective Zone finals.

After several exciting rounds of competition, schools have produced strong performances, with some of Guyana’s leading Under-19 players showcasing their talent and keeping their teams in contention for championship honours. With the intensity expected to rise, the

upcoming matches will see teams making their final push for a spot in the next round, as players look to deliver match-winning performances when it matters most.

In Zone 1, action continues at the Joe Jagmohan Ground on June 28, with Santa Rosa Secondary facing Charity Secondary in the first semi-final at 09:30h. The second semi-final will see Abram Zuil Secondary take on Aurora Secondary from 13:30h.

Zone 2 action continues at the Uitvlugt

Ground, where West Demerara Secondary will face Westminster Secondary on June 26 at 13:00h in the second semi-final. The winner will advance to meet Essequibo Islands Secondary in the Zone final scheduled for June 28 at 13:30h.

The East Bank Demerara/Upper Demerara Zone will also be decided at the Uitvlugt Ground, with Diamond Secondary battling Covent Garden in the first semi-final from 08:00h, followed by Yarrowkabra against Camille’s Academy

at 11:00h. The Zone final will feature the winners of both semi-finals.

Meanwhile, North Georgetown Zone action continues on June 27, with Chase’s Academy facing New Campbellville from 14:00h.

As the tournament moves closer to its final stages, competition is expected to intensify, with schools aiming to secure zonal success and continue their journey toward Beharry U-19 Schools T20 glory.

Guyana promoted as archery destination at World Archery Americas congress in Mexico

ARCHERY Guyana Inc., the National Archery Federation of Guyana has represented the nation at the sport’s Continental General Assembly of World Archery Americas (WAA) in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

The General Assembly held on Monday 22nd June, 2026, was conducted by the continental organisation in charge of the promotion and development of archery in the Americas.

The congress, which is made up of 32 member associations along with two associate members has notably documented Guyana’s position in the sport and has acknowledged the country’s rapidly growing influence within the global archery community at this congress.

The delegation in attendance were Archery Guyana President Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon and Executive Board Member Assistant Treasurer Mr Saeed Karim.

The highlight of Guyana’s participation was a presentation delivered by President Persaud-McKinnon focused on the South American nation’s position in promoting sport and sport tourism, by hosting the upcoming Inaugural Caribbean Archery Championship and the eighth edition of the Caribbean Development Championships, both scheduled to be hosted at the prestigious Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Guyana, in October 2026.

The presentation generated considerable interest among member associations, with many countries expressing their intention to attend and support the two concurrent archery championship events.

Time was allocated for a special video message from the Director of Sport, Mr Steve Ninvalle, who welcomed delegates to Guyana on behalf of the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Government of Guyana. The message highlighted the government’s commitment to sport, future development and regional co-operation within the nations of the Americas, which was warmly received by delegates.

President of World Archery, Mr Greg Easton, was also in attendance at the congress, joining delegates from across North, Central and South America along with many nations from the Caribbean.

Taking the opportunity to further promote Guyana as a tourism hotspot and sport destination, the Archery Guyana delegation

made presentations of promotional packages to members in attendance. Delegates received Explore Guyana magazines, pens, keyrings and samples of Guyanese honey. These items which were presented ensured that every delegation left with a memorable introduction to Guyana’s culture, hospitality and tourism offerings.

As part of the main proceedings of the General Assembly, elections and constitutional business were conducted. Mr. Saeed Karim was appointed as one of the three scrutineers responsible for overseeing the processes, ensuring that the validity and values of the WAA Constitution were upheld.

Elections were held and delegates were subsequently re-elected: Maria Emma Gaviria as President of World Archery Americas. Following her re-election, she announced the appointment of Mr. Sergio Font as Secretary General for the next four-year term.

The election of the Permanent Committees, Guyana’s Persaud-McKinnon, secured the highest number of votes amongst candidates for the Gender Equity and Inclusion Committee and was duly elected to serve on that committee. The election of Archery Guyana’s President to this committee reflects the delegation’s confidence placed in her leadership and commitment to fostering greater inclusion, participation and opportunity throughout the sport.

Additionally, Archery Guyana board member, Assistant Secretary Ryan McKinnon, was announced to be appointed to serve on the WAA Marketing Committee, strengthening Guyana’s representation within the continental organisation.

Reflecting on the experience, President Persaud-McKinnon stated: “Attending my first World Archery Americas General As-

Rematch of Dataman,

sembly in person was truly an incredible experience. I was extremely impressed by the professionalism displayed throughout the congress and grateful for the opportunity to meet so many colleagues from across the continent with whom I had previously only communicated virtually. The assembly provided an excellent platform for collaboration, learning and relationship-building that will undoubtedly benefit archery development in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean.

“Archery Guyana remains committed to its objectives, governance and further establishing the Olympic sport of Archery nationally, regionally and internationally. We look forward to welcoming our archery family from all the Americas to Guyana for the Caribbean Archery Championships and the Caribbean Development Championships in October 2026.”

Olympic Kremlin on the cards for CARICOM Cup

ALL eyes will be on two of Guyana’s premier horses, reigning champion Dataman and former champion Olympic Kremlin at the CARICOM Cup on Sunday July 5 at Bush Lot United, West Coast Berbice. Both horses were seen in practice sessions at the Bush Lot United Turf Club and reports indicate that the clash of the champions is confirmed.

The Master Z top horse, Dataman had the better of Olympic Kremlin of Slingerz Racing Stables, but it was by a small margin

on their last meet at Port Mourant Turf Club.

Both horses had extended preparation period and it will be the perfect preparation for the Guyana Cup which is quickly approaching on August 23.

A total of 11 races are on the card and more than G$15 million in cash and prizes will be up for the taking.

The CARICOM Gold Cup feature will be open to all three-year-olds and over horses going at a distance of 1900 metres. A total purse of four million will be up for grabs

and the top horse will receive two million.

Other races on the programme include the CARICOM Sprint stakes open to all four-year-olds and over, CARICOM Derby open to three-year-olds Guyana bred, and the ‘E’ Class and Lower.

There is also the Rising Star stakes, open to three-year-old imported horses, the three-year-olds and over WI Bred winners, ‘H’ Class and Lower WI Bred non-winners in Guyana, three-year-olds and over I/J/K Class, ‘L’ Class winners, K&L Maidens

and the future star stakes two-year-old Guyana-bred juveniles.

All races will be run under the Guyana rules of racing and entries will open from June 22 and close on June 26.

Full Entries, declaration of Horse, Jockey & Equipment are to be made in person at the Racing Office c/o Director of Racing Operations, Mr. John Rupert. Location of Racing Office Lot #15, Strand, New Amsterdam (J’s Supermarket).

CWIMA, government ministers advance planning for Masters World Cup in Guyana

––16 nations to compete in month long tournament

THE Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) yesterday met with the Honourable Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Honourable Steven Jacobs at the ministry’s boardroom to review preparations for the upcoming Masters World Cup, scheduled to be held in Guyana from October 17 to November 1.

CWIMA was represented by its Chairman Mr Raj Singh, and the association’s Finance Convenor Mr Ramdeo Kumar provided the ministers with a comprehensive update on the work completed to date and outlined the critical next steps required to deliver a world-class tournament featuring 16 participating countries.

Key areas covered during the briefing included the preparation and readiness of cricket grounds; television broadcasting and live streaming arrangements; accommodation and hotel logistics; transportation and security planning and recruitment of match referees, umpires, venue managers and liaison officers, as well as mobilisation of volunteers, event staff and catering services.

“We have made substantial progress across all operational areas, but the scale of this event requires seamless collaboration with the government and our local partners,” Mr Singh said. “Today’s meeting allowed us to align on the remaining priorities, so that Guyana can showcase its renowned hospitality and passion for cricket on a global stage.”

Minister Ramson commended CWIMA for its detailed planning and reaffirmed the government’s full support. “This Masters World Cup is a significant opportunity for Guyana — to boost sports tourism, create economic activity, and demonstrate our capacity to host major international events. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport stands ready to ensure every logistical requirement is met.”

Minister Jacobs underscored the importance of robust broadcasting and security frameworks, noting that the tournament’s global audience will place Guyana in the international spotlight. “We are working closely with CWIMA to guarantee that both the physical and digital infrastructure are in place, so that fans everywhere can enjoy a safe, high-quality expe-

Fitness

AS athletes at the Intermediate and Masters levels fine tune preparations ahead of Sunday’s Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Intermediate/Masters competitions, long time corporate partner, Fitness Express, has maintained support for the sport.

Manager of the Sheriff and John Street based business, which is approaching two decades of consistent, quality service to Guyana’s sportsmen and women, Jamie McDonald, reinforced his business’ commitment for supporting the sport.

McDonald, told Federation President Franklin Wilson at a simple hand-over of the sponsorship cheque on Wednesday that the sport will continue to receive support.

“We here at Fitness Express value the partnership with the GAPLF. We have been consistently supporting this sport ever since we started business and have seen

rience,” he said.

The Masters World Cup will bring together veteran cricketers from 16 nations for two weeks of competitive cricket, with matches to be staged at venues across Guyana. Further announcements regarding fixtures, participating teams and ticket availability will be made in the coming weeks.

the continued development of the athletes, both male and female. We are very proud of being a valued partner and we will continue to play our part as a responsible corporate citizen.”

Apart from direct support towards the championships, including the Novices and Juniors held in March this year, Fitness Express assists dozens of athletes in the sport with discounted prices on supplements and equipment on a weekly basis.

President Wilson, on behalf of the GAPLF executive committee and members, conveyed profound gratitude to McDonald and Fitness Express for their continued investment in the sport noting that the partnership is cherished.

Sunday’s competition will get underway with the weigh-in at 07:00hrs at Saint Stanislaus College Auditorium with lifting time set for 09:00hrs

During the visit, Raj Singh took the opportunity to present World Cup Shirts & Caps to the ministers in recognition of their continued support of masters’ cricket over the years.

Pic shows both Ministers Ramson and Jacobs posing with their shirts in the company of Raj Singh & Ramdeo Kumar.

Olympic