Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 28-07-2026

New HEART initiative to coordinate long-term support for MV Barima survivors, families

–– President Ali announces; affirms nation will never abandon those affected by tragedy

Opposition refuses to formally address House on MV Barima incident

–– other national issues; ditches order for placards, protests throughout sitting

Despite days of public calls for “accountability,” Opposition MPs declined every parliamentary avenue offered to them to question government on the MV Barima tragedy and ditched order for placards, protests throughout sitting

Development Bank Bill passed, paving way for new wave of opportunities ––– with zero-interest loans for entrepreneurs

President vows ‘no stone unturned’ in ferry probe, pledges lasting support for survivors, families –– in message to Parliament Gaming Authority Bill targets social fallout from unregulated betting

CCJ to deliver final ruling Wednesday on Mohameds’ extradition appeal

President vows ‘no stone

unturned’ in ferry probe, pledges lasting support for survivors, families

--in message to Parliament

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan

Ali, through Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, amidst disruptive attempts by the opposition, delivered a solemn message to the National Assembly on Monday, offering the nation’s deepest condolences over the sinking of the Motor Vessel Barima while pledging the government’s support for survivors and bereaved families will not end when the search for the missing does.

Invoking his constitutional prerogative under Ar-

ticle 67(2) to address Parliament directly, the President described a tragedy that “has shaken our Republic to its very foundations,” recounting how the vessel, en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, is believed to have capsized on the night of Saturday, July 18, going down so quickly that crew and passengers had little chance to respond.

The President detailed what he called the largest search, rescue and recovery operation in Guyana’s maritime history, aircraft, boats from government agencies and private citizens alike, and rescue teams working through darkness and rough seas without pause.

To date, 76 people have been rescued and 73 bodies recovered, though some passengers remain unaccounted for.

He thanked a long list of responders, from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Police Force, Fire Service and medical personnel to fisherfolk who went out into perilous waters as first responders, alongside international partners including French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil, whose personnel and equipment supported the recovery effort.

Much of the President’s message centered on the government’s ongoing commitment to those affected.

He told survivors directly that “you are not alone” and that the country stands beside them, while assuring families still awaiting word on missing loved ones that the government would not rest “until every possible effort has been exhausted” to account for every passenger aboard.

That commitment, he stressed, extends well beyond the immediate crisis.

The government’s responsibility to affected families, he said, “does not end with the recovery operation” and “will continue for as long as

necessary.”

To back that pledge, President Ali reiterated the announcement of the HEART Initiative, a programme providing material, moral and emotional support to survivors and bereaved families, including psychosocial support, trauma counselling, social services and spiritual guidance.

He has also invited Caribbean jurist Eamon Harrison Courtenay, former Attorney General and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Belize, to help design a framework for financial assistance to those affected; this was assistance the President was careful to note should not be viewed as compensation.

Turning to accountability, the President was unequivocal: “The people of Guyana deserve answers. Families deserve answers. History demands answers.”

He committed the government to leaving no stone unturned in establishing the full circumstances behind the disaster, both to address the questions weighing on the nation and to prevent any recurrence.

To that end, he updated the Parliament on the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry composed of internationally recognised experts in maritime safety, accident investigation and disaster management.

The Commission will be chaired by Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. He will be joined by Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer; Captain Hamada Fouda, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Ms. Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, TURN TO PAGE 4

New HEART initiative to coordinate long-term support for MV Barima survivors, families

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has announced the creation of a new national body to coordinate long-term support for survivors and families affected by the MV Barima tragedy, promising that Guyana’s compassion will not fade once the headlines do.

The vessel, carrying passengers and crew from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, capsized after a distress call was received on the night of July 18, triggering one of the largest maritime search-andrescue operations in Guyana’s history, with support from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, local agencies, private vessels, international partners, and specialist diving teams from France, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.

In the days that followed, President Ali declared three days of national mourning, with the Golden Arrowhead flown at half-staff on government buildings across the country, alongside a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance at the Kingston Seawall, followed by nights of reflection in Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.

In his address, President Ali said his government’s commitment to the affected

families was never meant to be temporary.

“We will do so not for a fleeting moment, not until the headlines fade, but throughout the long, tender journey of healing that stretches far beyond this period of immediate grief,” he said, describing the response not as an act of duty but as an expression of who Guyanese people are as a nation.

That commitment now takes the form of the H.E.A.R.T. Initiative, Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience, and Trust, a coordinating body meant to sustain material, moral, and spiritual support for as long as it’s needed.

The initiative will be steered by respected religious and civil society leaders from across the country’s faiths, under the leadership of Carl Stewart, with a mandate to ensure no affected family “slips through” the safety net of support and compassion.

The President also announced that Eamon Harrison Courtenay of Belize, a lawyer and former Foreign Affairs Minister and Attorney General, will help work out the modalities of financial assistance for survivors and victims’ families.

He was careful to stress

THE Office of the Prime Minister has strongly condemned the conduct of the sister of US-indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed after she reportedly forced her way into the precincts of Parliament and directed offensive and distasteful remarks at Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips.

In a statement issued Monday, the office said the incident represented a serious breach of the standards expected within the National Assembly, describing Parliament as an institution that “is not a political street corner.”

According to the statement, the precincts “must not be reduced to a stage

for intimidation, disorder and Opposition theatrics,” stressing that no individual, regardless of political affiliation, status or family connection, should be permitted to enter the building and openly disrespect the Office of the Prime Minister.

The statement further highlighted that the conduct was especially troubling given that it was undertaken by a relative of an Opposition Leader who is already facing serious federal criminal charges in the United States.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the episode raised “troubling questions” about what he characterised as a belief in some quarters that political connections place certain

--President Ali announces; affirms nation will never abandon those affected by tragedy

President, Dr Irfaan Ali has announced the creation of a new national body to coordinate long-term support for survivors and families affected by the MV Barima tragedy, promising that Guyana’s compassion will not fade once the headlines do

that this assistance is not compensation, but a gesture of solidarity: “Grief cannot be balanced by any ledger.”

The announcement follows other steps taken in recent days, including the appointment of a five-member international Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, made up of regional and international experts in law, maritime engineering, and marine safety, tasked with determining the causes of the disaster and recommending reforms to Guyana’s maritime safety framework.

individuals above the rules and standards of behaviour expected of all citizens.

The office commended Prime Minister Phillips for his response to the confrontation, saying his composure in the face of the provocation reflected the discipline, dignity and restraint expected of national leadership.

At the same time, the statement highlighted that the behaviour directed at the Prime Minister as “an alarming attack on the dignity of his office” and warned that it signalled a dangerous erosion of the standards that ought to govern conduct within Parliament’s precincts. “Guyana must firmly reject this level of political hostility and disrespect,” the

Prime Minister’s office said, adding a pointed warning to the country’s political class: “This cannot and must not become the new political norm in Guyana.”

Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were arrested in October 2025 after the United States submitted a request for their extradition on an 11-count indictment involving conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.

Their legal battle to halt the extradition process has since wound through Guyana’s High Court and Court of Appeal and is currently before the Caribbean Court of Justice, with a final ruling expected this week.

Invoking the national motto, One People, One Na-

tion, One Destiny, President Ali closed with a message of collective resolve: “We are Guyana. We do not abandon our own. We rise from the ashes of sorrow with arms wide open.”

CCJ to deliver final ruling Wednesday on Mohameds’ extradition appeal

THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hand down a judgment on Wednesday that could determine the fate of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, in their long-running battle against extradition to the United States.

The regional court has confirmed it will deliver its decision at 14:00hrs (2:00 p.m.AST) on July 29, 2026, in the matter of Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed v Minister of Home Affairs, Attorney General and Magistrate of Guyana.

The proceedings will be livestreamed on the CCJ’s YouTube channel, giving the public direct access to what is expected to be a landmark ruling in Guyana’s justice system.

The case traces back to October 30, 2025, when the United States government formally requested the extradition of the father and son

to face an 11-count criminal indictment in the Southern District of Florida, including charges of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering tied to their gold-trading operations.

Following the request, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond issued an Authority to Proceed under the Fugitive Offenders Act, and the magistrate issued arrest warrants the following day, setting extradition proceedings in motion before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

In December 2025, the Mohameds launched judicial review proceedings against the minister and the Attorney General, arguing that the Authority to Proceed was invalid and asking the courts to halt the extradition process.

Both the High Court, in a ruling delivered by Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh on February 4, 2026, and the Court of Appeal, on March 17, 2026, dismissed the Mo-

hameds’ claims and declined to grant a stay.

The Mohameds, however, sought special leave to appeal to the CCJ.

At a case-management

Magistrate Judy Latchman pending determination of the appeal.

The court also ordered that the special-leave hearing itself be treated as the hearing

conference on March 25, 2026, the CCJ, describing the matter as carrying “a clear element of urgency,” granted an interim stay of the extradition proceedings, freezing the committal hearing before

of the substantive appeal, and fixed the matter for a video-conference hearing on April 21, 2026.

During that hearing, attorneys for the Mohameds told the court that their cli-

ents wanted the Authority to Proceed set aside and reassigned to an official they argue would be free of political bias.

Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, representing the state, has maintained that the challenge amounts to an abuse of process designed to delay proceedings, pointing to the Court of Appeal’s finding that the case had “absolutely no merit.”

Wednesday’s judgment will not touch on the guilt or innocence of the Mohameds regarding the US charges. However, the CCJ will rule on the legality of the process used to authorise the extradition proceedings, and specifically, whether the minister’s Authority to Proceed can stand.

Should the CCJ uphold the lower courts’ decisions, the stay will lift and the committal proceedings before Magistrate Latchman will resume.

The Mohameds are be -

ing represented by Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein and Roysdale Forde, along with Sasha Bridgemohansingh, Siand Dhurjon, Damien Da Silva and Aadam Hosein.

The Minister of Home Affairs is represented by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and Clay Hackett, while the Attorney General’s Chambers is represented by Attorney General Nandlall himself, along with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall and attorney Dishon Persaud. Magistrate Latchman is represented by attorney Arudranauth Gossai. With no further avenue of appeal beyond the CCJ, Wednesday’s ruling will be final, bringing to a close, one way or another, nine months of legal wrangling that has drawn national attention to the intersection of politics, law enforcement, and Guyana’s extradition treaty obligations to the United States.

President vows ‘no stone unturned’ in ferry probe, pledges lasting support...

an attorney specialising in admiralty and maritime law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard, also of Trinidad and Tobago, a veteran of maritime operations and security.

The Commission’s mandate is sweeping, covering the vessel’s loading, boarding procedures and seaworthiness; the adequacy of the rescue response; compliance with maritime laws and regulations; the competence and conduct of the crew; and possible

overcrowding or safety-equipment failures.

It will also be empowered to recommend legislative and regulatory reforms and to identify accountability wherever negligence or wrongdoing is found.

“The truth must be established,” the President said, adding: “The lessons must be learned. The reforms must be implemented.

And where failures, negligence or wrongdoing are identified, accountabil-

From page 2

ity must follow.”

The President closed by urging Guyanese not to let the tragedy become a source of division, framing the nation’s response as a test of collective character rather than only of its institutions.

“Today, Guyana grieves,” he said, noting: “Tomorrow, Guyana will heal. And together, united in faith, compassion and resolve, Guyana will rise.”

Gov’t pledges continued support for MV Barima families

DESPITE disruptive actions from the opposition, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips told the National Assembly on Monday that the government “remains committed to supporting those affected” by the MV Barima tragedy, as families across Guyana continue to wait for word on loved ones more than a week after the ferry capsized.

Delivering a full chronological account of the search, rescue and recovery effort, Phillips extended the government’s “deepest condolences to every family that has lost a loved one” and outlined the support structures put in place from the earliest hours of the disaster through to today.

The Ministry of Health and the Guyana Police Force jointly established protocols for processing, transporting and storing the deceased, with families invited to Suddie to identify loved ones and regional authorities working alongside them to arrange interments.

Aircraft were used to transport relatives to the hospital to assist with identification, and all recovered remains have been channeled through the Guyana Police Force’s designated facility at the Charity River Dam under those established protocols.

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali also travelled to meet with and stay with families as the scale of the tragedy became clear, and declared three days of national mourning, a period that brought national flags to half-mast, a National Day of Prayer on July 22, marked by a service at the Kingston Seawall and further Nights of Reflection and Prayer held for affected communities in Port Kaituma

on July 23 and Mabaruma on July 24.

Prime Minister Phillips walked the House through the timeline from the moment the MV Barima left the Transport and Harbours Department’s Goods Wharf in Georgetown at 15:20hrs (3:20 p.m.), carrying passengers and cargo bound for Port Kaituma.

The Air Traffic Control Centre at Timehri received a distress signal at 22:43hrs (10:43 p.m.), and the alert moved swiftly through the chain of command: the Georgetown Lighthouse passed the information to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) by 11:03 p.m., which then notified the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard, Guyana Police Force and other stakeholders.

The Coast Guard’s first vessel, GDFS 1030, launched from the Pomeroon floating base at 23:11hrs (11:11 p.m.) A National Search and

Rescue Committee was assembled at 11:25 p.m., and two more Coast Guard vessels were deployed from the Ruimveldt base at 23:40hrs (11:40 p.m.).

Survivors were pulled from the water through the night: five people by 2:27 a.m., 19 by 4:14 a.m., and 53 by 5:13 a.m. In total, 77 people were rescued, though the Prime Minister noted that one later died.

The vessel itself was located the next day, July 20, resting on the seabed roughly 31 nautical miles northwest of the original distress point; a discovery Phillips credited to a report from fisherman Haresh Singh, assisted by other local fisherfolk, ExxonMobil Guyana, VESHI and Sealand Survey’s Gilligan Island team.

By July 21, the operation had grown to 16 vessels working the wreckage site, with the search area expanded by 400 square miles to

--PM reaffirms, details full response timeline to National Assembly

mained active throughout the day, with the search area expanded again by 32 square miles, west to Waini Point and east to Adventure, supported by continued aerial surveillance.

Five dives were completed that day, each lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, and during one of them a body was recovered from inside the MV Barima itself. That brought the cumulative total of recovered bodies to 73, of whom 69 had been positively identified.

The Prime Minister said the MRCC has remained fully operational without interruption since the night of the sinking, and reaffirmed that “every reasonable effort would be exhausted” in the

reach Waini Point.

France contributed 15 divers to reinforce local teams. A day later, reinforcements from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy arrived, bringing the total deployment to 19 vessels and two aircraft, while technical teams began assessing how to safely right the capsized ferry to improve diver access and smaller vessels searched farther inland.

In the most recent operational update, issued July 24, Phillips said the coordinated search and recovery effort re-

ongoing search.

Prime Minister Phillips thanked the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration Department, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Health, regional authorities, local fisherfolk, private vessel operators, aviation personnel, divers and medical teams for their work, along with France, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil for their international assistance.

He closed the statement with a message for the families still waiting: “May the families who have suffered loss find strength and comfort, and may the souls of those who perished rest in peace.” Search and recovery operations continue.

Investing in People, Empowering Enterprise

THE passage of the Guyana Development Bank Bill 2026 is a significant milestone for Guyana and a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to building an economy where opportunity is not limited to those who already have capital, collateral or established business networks.

Guyana has an important national responsibility at a time when the economy is growing rapidly. Economic growth must be broadbased, inclusive and capable of improving livelihoods in every region and community. The establishment of the Guyana Development Bank has the potential to become one of the most meaningful instruments in the advancement of that objective.

Access to affordable financing has long been one of the greatest obstacles to growth for many small business owners, farmers, fisherfolk, artisans, agro-processors and aspiring entrepreneurs.

There may be a good business idea, but without capital, it may just be an idea. Many potential borrowers, while possessing the skills, experience and drive to run successful businesses, are unable to meet the collateral requirements or other conditions of traditional lending.

The Guyana Development Bank is expected to fill that gap.

A practical intervention to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship is the Government’s proposal of offering micro-credit loans up to $3 million at zero per cent interest,

mentorship and business development support.

Moreover, the 2026 National Budget allocated significant funds for the establishment of the institution and its role in supporting bankable small and medium-sized enterprises. This approach is based on an important reality: access to finance is not always enough.

New and small businesses may also need assistance with financial management, business planning, marketing, record keeping and longterm growth.

The proposed institution can combine financing with mentorship and technical support to help entrepreneurs not only to start businesses but to build enterprises that can survive, expand and create jobs.

So, credit to the Government for opting for a model that puts people and productive potential at the heart of national development.

The benefits could be nationwide. Low-cost development finance could support agricultural production, agro-processing, fisheries, tourism, craft production and other community-based enterprises in rural and hinterland communities, where access to traditional financial services may be more limited.

The legislation was intended to promote the development and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are recognised as important actors in employment, innovation and economic diversification.

Access to affordable capital could be transformative for the small farmer wanting to purchase equipment, the fisher wanting to improve operations, the young person wanting to start a technology-based enterprise or the artisan wanting to increase production.

They are not just single opportunities. Successful micro, small and medium enterprises create jobs, increase household incomes, strengthen local supply chains and contribute to the economic vibrancy of communities. The programme also reflects a wider understanding of how Guyana’s rising national wealth should be used.

Economic transformation is not only gauged by major infrastructure projects, big investments or national growth numbers. It also must be reflected in the ability of common citizens to effectively participate in the economy and improve their own circumstances.

The Guyana Development Bank can be that bridge. Importantly, the legislation fulfils a promise made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic during the 2025 election campaign. This Government has gone from promise to policy, from policy to legislation.

The tabling of the bill in June and its subsequent passage, is indicative of a deliberate effort to put in place the legal and institutional framework necessary to operationalise the initiative.

The parliamentary opposition

had the right to scrutinise the legislation, and to raise concerns. “Robust debate is a key part of parliamentary democracy.

But the importance of the proposed institution should have been a spur to positive engagement and support for an effort to increase economic opportunity for small businesses and vulnerable entrepreneurs.

“Political point scoring must never come before the national interest when it comes to legislation that can help farmers, young people, women led business, Indigenous communities, manufacturers, tourism operators and other productive sectors. The country’s development agenda is too important to be reduced to partisan disagreement.

But passing the bill is just the start. The ultimate success of the Guyana Development Bank will depend on effective implementation, sound governance, professional management, transparent lending practices and strong systems for monitoring performance.

Loans should be for viable and productive ventures and entrepreneurs around the country should have access to mentorship and business support.

The institution also must be protected from political interference and run to maintain public confidence.

number of sustainable businesses created, jobs generated, communities supported and livelihoods improved.

If well executed, the Guyana Development Bank could be a powerful engine for inclusive growth and economic diversification.

It may help cut reliance on imported goods, stimulate local production, strengthen entrepreneurship and provide new opportunities in sectors outside of oil and gas.

It could also, most importantly, give thousands of Guyanese a better shot at converting ambition into achievement.

“The Government’s decision to create this institution is a vote of confidence in the Guyanese people. It recognises that talent and enterprise exist in every village, every community and every region, but that opportunity is often limited by the absence of affordable capital.

The Guyana Development Bank can play a role in breaking down some of those barriers so that national development isn’t something that citizens just watch but participate in.

Dear Editor,

The recent MV Barima tragedy is a heartbreaking event that has left our nation mourning. Families have lost loved ones, and every Guyanese deserves answers based on facts, evidence, and a fair investigation. It is, therefore disappointing to witness the conduct of some opposition political parties.

Rather than allowing the Commission of Inquiry to carry out its mandate, they

have already sought to discredit the process before the first witness has even been heard.

This rush to judgment serves no one, least of all the grieving families who deserve the truth.

The Government of Guyana has appointed experienced and internationally respected professionals to serve on the Commission of Inquiry.

These individuals possess the qualifications and independence necessary to examine the circumstanc -

Its performance should be measured not just in terms of the amount of money disbursed, but also the

The passage of the Guyana Development Bank Bill 2026 is therefore a forward-looking and people-centred measure that should be welcomed. It is an investment in entrepreneurship, productivity and self-reliance and, above all, an investment in the aspirations of the Guyanese people.

The opposition political parties are behaving worse than spoilt children

es surrounding this tragedy objectively and to make recommendations based on the evidence presented.

Equally troubling was the despicable disruption and protest in Parliament. Parliament is the nation’s highest legislative forum, where representatives should engage in reasoned debate and demonstrate leadership.

While every parliamentary party has the right to express disagreement, repeated disruptions and protests before the Commission has even begun its work risk un-

dermining public confidence in a process that should be allowed to proceed without political interference.

Unfortunately, this has become a familiar pattern. No matter what action the Government takes, some in the opposition appear determined to oppose it.

One is left with the impression that even if Jesus Christ and His twelve disciples were appointed to the Commission of Inquiry, there would still be cries of conflict of interest and demands for a different panel.

That mindset is not constructive and does little to advance justice or national unity.

A Commission of Inquiry exists to establish the facts, hear witnesses, review evidence, and produce findings and recommendations.

It should be judged on the quality of its work not on political assumptions made before the process has even started.

The families affected by this tragedy deserve truth, accountability and closure. They do not deserve to see

their pain turned into another political battleground.

Let the Commission do its work.

Once its report is completed, every Guyanese will have the opportunity to examine its findings and recommendations.

Until then, all responsible leaders should place the national interest above political expediency and allow due process to take its course.

Yours respectfully, Quincy Anderson

We may not have parliamentary opposition after 2030

HOW does a nation react to an opposition that uses one of the saddest tragedies in CARICOM’s history to score cheap political points, using methodologies that pierce the soul of the average citizen?

I am not on Facebook but Leonard Craig publicly announced on the Freddie Kissoon Show that three APNU parliamentarians said that the Guyana government refused request for help with divers from other countries in the search for bodies after the MV Barima capsized in the Atlantic Ocean last Saturday night.

This is not true. So why was it said and why no apologies as yet? The answer lies in the attitude to political behaviour by the opposition since it lost power in 2020. The opposition does not understand the profound, dialectical changes that have taken place in Guyana since Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte died.

Topping the list are David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye. They belong to a Guyana long gone. They live in a Guyana that does not understand their language of daily racial sermons. What the opposition did in the Adrianna Younge drowning death was self-destructive.

When the girl died and answers were not forthcoming, an entire country poured out its collective heart. My research informed me that across ethnic and class lines, the nation showed sympathy for the Younge family and wanted to see justice. The opposition then moved in and turned the tragedy into a farce.

The first victim of the vulgarity and farce of the Adrianna Younge conspiracy was the President himself. The President met with the parents and relatives of the dead girl and promised everything they would ask for to find explanations for the girl’s death. The opposition

conspiracy involved attacking the President.

The foolishness of the opposition in the Adrianna Younge tragedy is that instead of building support among a grieving nation, they turned the event into a political battle ground. What is fundamentally wrong with the opposition is their inability to read Guyana’s population.

There are hundreds of thousands of Guyanese out there who admire President Ali and think that he is doing good things.

The opposition loses crucial support among those people because every event of a major nature they turn into an anti-Ali showdown and such narrow politics turns people off.

The President has a 62acre farm and because he owns that farm, the opposition wants a commission of inquiry into his personal, financial life. Imagine how people were angry that Guy-

ana must have a commission of inquiry into the small business that the President owns.

From the Adrianna Younge debacle to the President’s farm fiasco, the opposition has learnt nothing about the Guyanese nation. They have turned an immense tragedy of enormous national pain into a political battle field once more and they have lost.

They have lost because they simply do not understand the post-1990 generation in Guyana.

In the midst of an unspeakable tragedy such as the sinking of the MV Barima in the Atlantic Ocean, three APNU parliamentarians announced that the government refused divers from foreign countries. Which political points did the three APNU parliamentarians score from this unforgivable assault on the survivors and victims of the disaster?

The people who believed them are the people who

listen to David Hinds and praise him. And who are these people? A tiny school of misguided souls. Once the government denied the offer for divers was turned down, and the nation thought that the three parliamentarians were being nasty, the opposition self-destructed once more.

But simple politics and the politics of commonsense could have saved face. The combined opposition, given the gravity of the tragedy and given the obvious insult to the victims, could have offered an apology.

To date, there is no such apology. Yet in the same breath, these people keep chastising the government for mistakes they are claiming the government made on the ferry disaster and want Minister Edghill to resign.

Which decent citizen of this country will accept the opposition’s request for the minister’s resignation when they know that the opposition

is propagandising the tragedy and using the souls of those victims for unsavoury political purposes? And which is a graphic example? Three APNU parliamentarians told Guyanese that foreign governments offered to send divers but the government refused.

What is taking place in this country with the opposition will see the Barbados scenario arriving in Guyana at the next general election. Twice the electorate in Barbados did not award any parliamentary seats to the opposition. It is going to happen here. Even before the next elections, Guyana may see the withering away of opposition parties.

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.

Honouring those who searched, and those we lost

Dear Editor,

I WANT to join our people and offer some words to all the first responders, be they members of the joint services, the local fishermen, and all who used their private boats to go out on the high seas to search for survivors and, in the process, retrieved bodies out of the water. Thank you. Every single one of you stepped up when this country needed you the most. Thank you!

But I have a special word of thanks for the divers,

the Guyanese diver and the French dive team. I applaud you.

In a moment of profound national grief and desperate hope, you divers have done something remarkably brave, not just by diving into those perfidious waters, but by speaking your discovered truth with clarity, honesty, and restraint.

I watched the press conference and I listened carefully to your words dear divers.

You didn’t sugarcoat anything. You didn’t make promises you couldn’t keep.

You told the families and this nation exactly what you faced and the unvarnished truth.

Let’s be honest, you arrived at that site on a mission of mercy. In just days, you completed 15 dives in conditions that I cannot even begin to imagine: pitch-black darkness, crushing currents, blinding mud, and a tangled labyrinth of ropes that turn every movement underwater into a contest at surviving safely.

I listened to you divers as you described your experience as you felt your way

through that wreck like blind people, and it sent chills down my spine. No one above water can easily image your effort, even if we try. And here is what struck me most, you did not exaggerate. Your humility in service to humanity shined through at all times.

You did not make false promises. You told the families and this nation exactly what you faced, and in doing so, you honored the bodies that are still under the water with the one thing they deserve most at this time: the unvarnished truth and the

dignity that goes along with the truth.

Because of your honest assessment (and I could have seen it in your body language too and, the way you chose your words carefully), this nation can now better weigh the reality of this tragedy. Because of you, all who are evaluating this situation are in a better place to start making decisions. Difficult, painful, but necess ary decisions about the next steps.

So today, France and our Guyanese diver, we salute you. Not just for lending

us your skills, but for your integrity.

You came to help, and you have helped, not by recovering every soul, but by recovering reality from the depths. That is a gift beyond measure.

Merci. Chapeau bas.

To the families and survivors, on behalf of our families, we wish you our deepest sympathies. May all the dearly departed souls, rest in peace.

Yours respectfully, Sasenarine Singh, M.Sc. - Finance, ACCA

Development Bank Bill passed, paving way for new wave of opportunities

--with zero-interest loans for entrepreneurs

THE Guyana Development Bank Bill 2026 was, on Monday, successfully passed in the National Assembly, paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated financial institution to expand access to financing for small businesses and entrepreneurs, despite repeated attempts from the parliamentary opposition to disrupt proceedings.

The passage of the legislation fulfils a key commitment in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2025 manifesto and clears the path for the creation of the Guyana Development Bank, which will provide micro-credit loans of up to $3 million at zero per cent interest, alongside mentorship and business development support.

Following the bill’s second reading, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said the legislation would improve access to financing, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable entrepreneurs.

“What this bill seeks to

do... is to facilitate our smallest and most vulnerable businesses being able to access financing for good business opportunities,” Dr Singh said. He went on to add that the bank would unlock “a wave of entrepreneurial activities” that would strengthen broadbased economic growth while improving the lives and livelihoods of small business owners across Guyana. He also expressed disappointment that opposition members did not offer

support for the legislation, while thanking government parliamentarians for backing the bill despite the prevailing circumstances in the House.

The new institution forms part of the government’s wider strategy to broaden financial inclusion and ensure more Guyanese can benefit from the country’s expanding economy by accessing affordable financing to start or grow businesses.

The initiative is also expected to support communi-

ty-based enterprise and create new opportunities for sustainable economic development nationwide. Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha noted that the bank will help ensure economic opportunities reach every region and community, including rural and hinterland areas.

He highlighted that many farmers, small manufacturers, and entrepreneurs have ideas and resources but often lack access to financing.

“This will be a game changer for the small farmers, for the farmers in the hinterland, for the fisherfolk and for agro-processors,” Minister Mustapha said.

Additionally, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues said the legislation represents a commitment to removing barriers that have prevented many Guyanese from transforming their ideas into successful businesses.

Minister Rodrigues said the new bank will support farmers, manufacturers, tourism operators, artisans, women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs.

“This bill is about investing in people. It is about unlocking the productive potential that exists in every village, every community,

and every region of Guyana,” she said. Member of Parliament Alister Charles said the legislation will help ensure economic growth reaches all regions, including indigenous communities. He said indigenous people have long been involved in entrepreneurship through farming, craft production, and trade, but access to affordable financing has often been a challenge.

“This legislation is about confidence in the Guyanese entrepreneur, confidence in indigenous communities, confidence in our young

people, confidence in our farmers and confidence in our future,” MP Charles said. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, said the bank will create opportunities for small entrepreneurs, farmers, youth, and persons seeking to establish businesses.

He said the institution will support economic diversification by helping more Guyanese participate in the country’s development.

Hire Purchase Amendment Bill passed to improve access to justice

THE National Assembly on Monday passed the Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill 2026, which aims to clarify the legal framework governing disputes arising under the Hire Purchase Act, while improving access to justice for consumers and businesses.

During the bill’s second reading, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues said the amendment removes “ambiguity in Section 32 of the principal Act by expressly providing that claims or other proceedings under the Hire Purchase Act may be filed in either the High Court or a Magistrate’s Court, regardless of the monetary value of the claim.”

She explained that the amendment addresses uncertainty over the applicability of monetary limits under summary jurisdiction legislation, which has the potential to create unnecessary

procedural obstacles, delays and inconsistencies in the administration of justice.

“This amendment therefore provides much-needed clarity and certainty,” Minister Rodrigues said.

The minister said the amendment adopts a “sensible and people-centred approach” by allowing proceedings to be heard in courts that are practical and convenient for the parties involved, including locations where they live or conduct business.

“For many citizens and small businesses, access to justice is not only about legal rights but also about practicality, affordability and proximity. Allowing matters to be heard in courts closer to the parties involved reduces unnecessary hardship, lowers costs and promotes more efficient resolution of disputes,” she said.

The amendment also supports the efficient administration of matters involving hire

purchase, conditional sale and credit sale agreements by eliminating procedural uncertainty and strengthening the legal framework governing these transactions.

The amendment builds on the Hire Purchase Act 2022, which introduced stronger protections for consumers purchasing goods on credit. Among its reforms, the act requires notice before repossession and, in certain circumstances, court approval before goods can be repossessed, replacing previous provisions that allowed owners to repossess goods after default while retaining payments already made.

With the passage of the amendment, litigants will have greater certainty and flexibility in choosing whether matters are heard in the High Court or the Magistrate’s Court, helping to make the justice system more accessible and efficient. (DPI)

Families of MV Barima tragedy victims denounce unauthorised use of loved ones’ photos in opposition protest

RELATIVES of those who perished in the MV Barima disaster have expressed outrage and dismay after photographs of their family members appeared during an opposition-led demonstration at Parliament’s sitting, stating that no one sought or received their

consent to use the images for political purposes.

Numerous family members described feeling profoundly hurt upon seeing their children’s and relatives’ faces displayed in what they characterised as a one-sided political action, emphasising that their sorrow must not be turned into

a weapon for partisan agendas.

While affirming their continued determination to pursue truth, accountability, and justice on behalf of the victims, the families made it clear they will not tolerate their loss being manipulated for narrow political advantage.

“We don’t want our relatives to be drawn into the political divide, but we must honour them by seeking answers,” said one relative overcome with grief.

A second family member insisted that the tragedy is a matter of national concern, not something to be co-opted by any single

faction or exploited for political mileage.

Going forward, the families are appealing to political organisations, civil society groups, and the general public alike to treat the victims’ memory with dignity and to obtain family consent before featuring personal images in any form of public advocacy.

They further appealed for attention to shift toward assisting bereaved families, establishing the complete truth behind the tragedy, and drawing the necessary lessons to prevent a similar catastrophe from recurring in the future.

Opposition refuses to formally address House on MV Barima incident

--other national issues; ditches order for placards, protests throughout sitting

DESPITE days of public calls for “accountability,”

Opposition MPs declined every parliamentary avenue offered to them to question government on the MV Barima tragedy.

The National Assembly sat this week with a full slate of questions from Opposition MPs on the Order Paper; questions addressed directly to government ministers on issues, including the sinking of the MV Barima.

It was, by any measure,

the exact mechanism Opposition figures have spent time demanding: a formal, on-record opportunity to interrogate government’s handling of the tragedy.

When the Speaker called on WIN/FGM/APNU members to rise and ask their questions, MPs including Dr Terrence Campbell, Amanza Walton-Desir and others were reported to be absent from their seats, visibly gathered in the “pit” of the chamber rather than at their desks.

Parliamentary procedure is clear: if a member is not present when called, the Speaker moves to the next question.

One by one, the opposition’s own questions went unanswered, not because the government refused to answer them, but because the members who tabled them were not there to ask. Throughout the session, the opposition MPs ditched order for placards and protest. The pattern did not stop

with the Order Paper. David Hinds was invited to address the House and refused. Odessa Primus was invited and refused. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and APNU Parliamentary lead Terrence Campbell went so far as to formally request, in writing, the opportunity to make presentations to the Assembly on the MV Barima matter.

However, when their names were called by the Speaker, neither took the floor. For an opposition that has built days of public messaging around demands for a Commission of Inquiry and accusations that the government is stonewalling, the refusal to use the very platform built for that purpose is difficult for critics to square.

The government’s position throughout has been that it is prepared to answer to the people’s elected representatives.

The President, Dr Irfaan Ali has repeatedly committed to seeing answers delivered to the families affected and to the country at large.

Instead of using Parliament, critics note, some op-

position figures have opted for confrontation outside the chamber; including the widely circulated moment of Mohamed’s sister “distasteful” conduct towards the Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips as he met with affected families at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

President Ali, through Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, amidst disruptive attempts by the opposition, delivered a solemn message to the National Assembly on Monday, offering the nation’s deepest condolences over the sinking of the Motor Vessel Barima, while pledging the government’s support for survivors and bereaved families will not end when the search for the missing does.

the President was unequivocal: “The people of Guyana deserve answers. Families deserve answers. History demands answers.”

He committed the government to leaving no stone unturned in establishing the full circumstances behind the disaster, both to address the questions weighing on the nation and to prevent any recurrence.

To that end, he updated the Parliament on the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry composed of internationally recognised experts in maritime safety, accident investigation and disaster management.

The Commission will be chaired by Justice God-

frey Phillip Smith of Belize, CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an Ad Hoc Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. He will be joined by Dr. Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer; Captain Hamada Fouda, Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Ms. Nyree Dawn Alfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney specialising in admiralty and maritime law; and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard, also of Trinidad and Tobago, a veteran of maritime operations and security.

The commission’s mandate is sweeping, covering the vessel’s loading, boarding procedures and seaworthiness; the adequacy of the rescue response; compliance with maritime laws and regulations; the competence and conduct of the crew; and possible overcrowding or safety-equipment failures.

It will also be empowered to recommend legislative and regulatory reforms and to identify accountability wherever negligence or wrongdoing is found.

“The truth must be established,” the President said, adding: “The lessons must be learned. The reforms must be implemented. And where failures, negligence or wrongdoing are identified, accountability must follow.”

Canadians, Canada-based Guyanese pledge

financial assistance for impacted communities

By Frederick Halley

AS Guyana continues to mourn the lives lost in the tragic MV Barima ferry disaster, several faith leaders including Dr Shabir Ally, Gord Rankissoon, and Pandit Bhoj Sharma along with Honorary Consul Mani Singh, several dignitaries and Guyanese individuals offered prayers, compassion and solidarity for the deceased and their loved ones in this difficult period.

The service, conducted on Sunday in the Peace Park on the grounds of the Vishnu Mandir at 8640 Yonge St. Toronto, was held under the auspices of Dr Budhendranath Doobay and Winston Kassim, the only two Canadians with Guyanese heritage who were recognised by the Canadian federal and provincial governments for their Global volunteerism and were the recipients of Canada’s highest civilian awards, the Orders of Canada and Ontario.

Collectively, the faith leaders prayed for the mercy and blessings of the souls of those who departed, while asking for the comfort and giving courage to their families during this difficult period. The leaders also asked for the requisite strength to all responders involved in the ongoing recovery efforts

for those who are missing and prayed for the responders’ protection, wisdom and strength as they continue their critical work.

They also prayed for the safe recovery of the loved ones who remained missing so that their families and loved ones may find peace as they move forward.

According to Kassim, Canadians applaud the Guyana Government for doing everything in supporting the departed souls, their families and communities both monetarily and spiritually and also recognized that the government intends to continue doing so in future.

Kassim further remarked that “notwithstanding the Guyana Government’s excellent response since the tragedy occurred, Dr Doobay and himself have received a number of calls from individuals stating that they should proactively do something to support the impacted communities. He pointed out that they readily agreed to the initiative. Kassim further pointed out that “in all religions, we are taught that when we know someone is in need, we should never allow that person to ask for help. Rather, it is our duty to offer that support proactively without thinking what others are doing or not doing.

“So, I am delighted to announce that IDRF with sev-

eral mosques in the Greater Toronto Area and Vishnu Mandir’s Global Outreach and other Mandirs will start a joint fund-raising drive to collect funds indicating that these funds from Canada will enable development work for the impacted communities at a later date.

“In other words, we will support efforts on teaching folks how to fish rather than giving them the fish to eat” Kassim thanked everyone for attending the event and announced that several individuals and the Muslim community within the Greater Toronto area have already made pledges in excess of Canadian $50,000.00 to support the development work in Guyana.

$54.89B supplementary funds approved to continue development projects

THE National Assembly on Monday approved $54.89 billion in supplementary funding to accelerate the implementation of key national development projects across multiple sectors, presented by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

The largest allocation of $19.09 billion was approved for the Office of the Prime Minister to support the Gas-to-Energy Project, providing additional resources to facilitate an accelerated work programme, which seeks to provide electricity to Guyanese households at a significantly reduced cost

by time it is completed.

The Ministry of Housing received $17.5 billion to fast-track infrastructure development and construction projects. At the same time, the Ministry of Public Works secured $8.5 billion, comprising $6 billion for miscellaneous roads and drainage works and $2.5 billion for hinterland roads.

The National Assembly also approved $4.5 billion for the Ministry of Agriculture to provide subsidies and contributions to local organisations, including the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Other allocations in -

clude $496.3 million for coastal water supply works, $600 million for the maintenance of hinterland and coastal airstrips under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, $337.9 million for the rental of buildings under the Ministry of Health, and $60 million for the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Of the total approved supplementary allocation of $54,889,259,163, some $4.75 billion will finance current expenditure, while $50.14 billion has been allocated for capital expenditure to advance the government’s ongoing development agenda.

Guyana continues to mourn loss of lives in MV Barima tragedy

MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, on Monday, joined friend and family as they said goodbye to two young, innocent souls, Samara, 5, and Timar, 6, who we lost in the MV Barima tragedy. "We are all together in this time of bereavement as we

all share in the grief.

We hold those grieving close to us so they are assured that they do not have to take this journey alone.

No words can ease the pain of such a loss but together we can carry the memory of these children forward, honouring the joy they

brought into this world. "May their names be spoken with reverence, may their souls rest peacefully, and may their family find strength in the embrace of community and the comfort of knowing that Samara and Timar will never be forgotten," the minister said.

Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett discusses

UN80 reform vision with Princeton Group

GUYANA’S candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, continued her global campaign on Monday with an engagement before the Princeton Group, where she outlined her approach to implementing the UN80 reform process should she be elected to lead the world body.

The session gave Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, an opportunity to detail how she would translate the UN80 reform decisions into practical outcomes, with a stated focus on making the organisation more agile, effective and efficient.

Her remarks centred on the need for the UN to remain responsive to the concerns of member states, while adapting to what she described as

an evolving global landscape.

The Princeton Group, chaired by Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, brings together diplomats and officials who focus on strengthening the UN’s institutional architecture and its rules of procedure.

Following the engagement, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Wenaweser and the group’s members for organising the dialogue, and thanked participants for the questions and perspectives they raised during the exchange.

The session forms part of a sustained diplomatic push by the Guyanese candidate, who has in recent weeks held a series of high-level meetings and forums as she seeks support ahead of the

Guyana’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, continued her global campaign on Monday with an engagement before the Princeton Group

selection of the next Secretary-General.

She has engaged Heads of Mission from the European Union, met Caribbean Community leaders at their 51st Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, held talks with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing,

and presented her candidacy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. She also took part in a UN General Assembly town hall alongside five other contenders vying for the post.

Ambassador Ro -

Police destroy $11.5M in suspected cannabis in Upper Berbice

POLICE ranks destroyed approximately 35,000 suspected cannabis plants valued at more than $11.5 million during an eradication exercise at Gaetroy Savannah, Upper Berbice River, on Sunday.

The exercise, conducted between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and led by a Gazetted Officer, resulted in the discovery of

three cannabis farms covering approximately five acres.

The suspected plants, ranging in height from two inches to five feet, were uprooted and destroyed by fire.

A makeshift camp discovered at the location was also dismantled and destroyed.

The value of the suspected narcotics destroyed was estimated at $11,519,200.

No arrest was made, and investigations are continuing. Meanwhile, police in Regional Division Three have arrested a 43-year-old man following the discovery of 292.8 grams of suspected cannabis at Murphy Street, Wales, West Bank Demerara, on Saturday. According to police, ranks were conducting an exercise around

3:40 p.m. when, acting on information received, they observed the man, of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, standing on the roadway with a haversack on his back.

The man reportedly ran upon seeing the police vehicle, prompting ranks to give chase. He was subsequently apprehended and searched.

A bulky black plastic bag containing another plastic bag with leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was allegedly found inside the haversack.

The man was arrested and taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence before being lodged as an exhibit.

He remains in custody as investigations continue.

drigues-Birkett was formally nominated by President Irfaan Ali to succeed António Guterres, whose second term as Secretary-General concludes on 31 December 2026. Her candidacy has been built around themes of inclusive multilateralism, institutional reform, conflict

prevention, and stronger representation for the Global South in UN decision-making. She brings more than two decades of experience in public service, having served as Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, as well as Director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Liaison Office in Geneva, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN since 2020. If elected, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett would become the first woman to hold the position of UN Secretary-General in the organisation’s 80-year history; a milestone she has repeatedly emphasised throughout her campaign as she positions herself as a practical, results-driven leader for an institution she says stands at a critical crossroads.

Gaming Authority Bill targets social fallout from unregulated betting

THE Guyana Gaming Authority Bill, which seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework to regulate gambling activities while promoting responsible gaming, was on Monday presented in the National Assembly, paving the way for long-awaited reforms that are aimed at addressing the growing social impact of unregulated betting across the country.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall tabled the Gaming Authority Bill of 2026 (Bill No. 12 of 2026), which was read for the first time in the National Assembly.

equipment, the establishment of a Responsible Gaming Fund, the implementation of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism obligations within the gaming sector, as well as administrative penalties and enforcement measures for breaches of the law.

sino gambling was initially confined to hotels meeting strict licensing requirements, the sector has since expanded into hundreds of betting outlets, with online applications making gambling readily accessible from virtually anywhere.

nity, which has repeatedly urged the administration to address the growing social consequences of gambling.

According to the Attorney General, the proposed legislation will strengthen the regulatory framework governing the gaming sector

In presenting the legislation, Nandlall said the bill is intended to provide for the licensing, regulation, supervision, taxation and control of gaming, betting and wagering activities in Guyana.

by empowering the Guyana Gaming Authority with enhanced oversight of casinos, gaming lounges, betting shops, betting shop agents, remote gaming platforms and simulcast horse racing.

The bill also provides for the regulation of gaming

Sexual Offences Amendment

Bill to be sent to Special Select Committee

THE Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 has been referred to a special select committee of the National Assembly for further scrutiny following its presentation by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, during Monday’s sitting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The bill seeks to amend the Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 8:03, to reform the country’s laws relating to sexual offences and provide for the establishment of a National Sex Offender Database. In presenting the bill, Dr Persaud said the amendments are intended to strengthen protections for vulnerable adults and children and address gaps identified in the existing legislation. “This is a pivotal piece of legislation and a moral and legal obligation to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” the minister told the National Assembly.

Dr Persaud explained that the proposed amendments build on the Sexual Offences Act of 2010, which she described as a necessary and progressive measure that provided important protections for victims of sexual offences. She noted that a review of the legislation revealed several gaps and inadequacies that now require stronger legal measures.

“It is time to move this piece of legislation to close those gaps and inadequacies

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, during Monday’s sitting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

and to close them with robust, modern and uncompromising measures,” she stated.

The minister told the house that the amendments were developed through a nationwide consultation and gap analysis process involving the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. She said the review also included constitutional and rights commissions, legal and judicial stakeholders, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, indigenous and regional leadership and members of the disciplined services and public service.

Among the key changes proposed in the bill are the modernisation of definitions and terminology, provisions relating to digital and visual evidence, strengthened

victim privacy protections, greater accountability in the reporting process involving healthcare workers and police, and the creation of a National Sexual Offences Task Force and National Sex Offender Database.

Dr Persaud said the legislation reflects the need for the justice system to keep pace with technological changes while ensuring stronger safeguards for victims.

During her presentation, the minister also expressed condolences to the families affected by the MV Barima tragedy. The proposal was agreed to by the National Assembly under Standing Order 58, and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, Bill Number 6 of 2026, was formally committed to the Special Select Committee for detailed examination.

(DPI)

The tabling of the legislation comes months after the government announced plans to overhaul the country’s gambling regime amid growing concerns over the rapid expansion of betting operations, particularly through mobile applications and neighbourhood gaming outlets.

In October last year, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo warned that gambling had evolved far beyond its original purpose of supporting the hotel industry, and had become a widespread social concern affecting households across Guyana.

He noted that while ca-

The Vice President had said the ease of access to gambling was contributing to financial hardship for many families, with reports of parents spending household income and money intended for their children on betting activities.

The government has maintained that while it does not intend to prohibit gambling, it wants the sector to operate under a much stricter regulatory and taxation aexcessive gambling while ensuring proper oversight.

A significant factor behind the move to strengthen the legal framework has been sustained advocacy from Guyana’s religious commu-

Religious organisations have expressed concern over the impact of gambling on families, arguing that addiction has contributed to financial instability, strained relationships and wider social challenges.

Their lobbying, coupled with mounting public concerns, prompted the government to accelerate plans for comprehensive legislative reform.

The proposed Gaming Authority Bill is expected to modernise the country’s regulatory framework by introducing clear licensing standards, stronger oversight, responsible gaming measures and enhanced safeguards against financial crimes, while ensuring the industry operates in a more accountable and socially responsible manner.

Psychologists ready to provide long-term support to MV Barima survivors, affected families

By Indrawattie Natram

A DEDICATED team of eight psychologists from the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Unit continues to deliver psychological support to survivors and families of the MV Barima tragedy.

The team, which has its primary operations at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, is also executing outreaches at White Water, Black Water and other communities.

For Terenna Bacchus, a psychologist who arrived in the region in the immediate aftermath, the work is deeply personal.

“This process is not something that can be done short term. It must be long term,” Bacchus said.

Since day one, she and her colleagues have been holding sessions, listening to stories, and helping families navigate loss.

Dr. Mark Constantine, Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychological Services at the Ministry of Health, said: “We’re here for the long haul,” Dr. Constantine stated firmly. There will be long-term support for grieving families and survivors.”

The road has not been

Psychologist, Terenna Bacchus

easy. According to Dr Constantine, one of the biggest hurdles has been simply finding people.

Many lost phones, documents, and other belongings in the tragedy, making follow-up difficult. Some families have already buried loved ones, but the emotional wounds remain open.

Mental health professionals say trauma doesn’t follow a timeline. That’s why the ministry is committing to sustained counselling rather than a one-time intervention.

Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychological Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Mark Constantine

“We understand post-trauma,” Dr. Constantine said, adding: “Healing takes time, and our commitment is to be present through all of it.”

In communities still rebuilding, that promise of continuity is what many families are holding on to.

The team from the Ministry of Health said that they will continue to provide support and counseling to affected families.

Businesswoman robbed of cash, jewellery and valuables in armed Peters Hall attack

POLICE are investigating an armed robbery in which a Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara businesswoman was relieved of millions of

dollars in cash and valuables after three masked men stormed her business premises last week. The alleged robbery oc-

curred at about 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, and targeted a 33-year-old businesswoman of Peters Hall.

According to prelimi -

nary police investigations, the woman was at her place of business when she was confronted by three masked men, two of whom were reportedly armed with handguns.

Investigators said one of the suspects pointed a firearm at the woman and demanded money before the perpetrators allegedly bound her hands.

The suspects then escaped with three Samsung cellular phones, an Acer laptop computer, six Movado watches, a quantity of gold jewellery, GY$5 million in cash and US$7,000.

Police said the men fled the scene in a white, old-model Toyota Raum

bearing registration number PLL 1323.

No shots were fired during the robbery, and the victim was not physically injured.

Investigators have since questioned several persons as part of the probe. Police

confirmed that

been identified and footage is being reviewed in an effort to identify the suspects and trace the getaway vehicle. Investigations into the armed robbery are continuing.

Glock 19 pistol found during Issano Landing operation; man in custody

A 33-year-old man is in police custody after a Glock 19 pistol was allegedly found during a search at Issano Landing, Middle Mazaruni River, on Sunday.

The firearm was discovered between 07:45hrs and 08:15hrs during a police operation based on information received.

According to preliminary investigations, ranks conducted a search of a jet boat at Issano Landing which was being captained by the 33-year-old man, a resident of Long Dam, Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo.

During the search, ranks allegedly found a black Glock 19 pistol fitted with one magazine beneath a cardboard box next to the captain’s seat. No ammunition was found.

The police said the man is not the holder of a firearm licence. He was arrested and escorted to the Issano Police Station, while the firearm was lodged. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

Two charged with simple larceny, granted

TWO Georgetown men have been jointly charged with two counts of simple larceny and each granted $175,000 bail after appearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Charged are 42-yearold Canter driver Samuel Duncan, of Durban Backlands, East La Penitence, and 53-year-old businessman Warren Stuffler, also known as “Bage”, of Festival City.

The men were jointly charged with two counts of simple larceny, contrary to Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Duncan and Stuffler were arrested on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and charged on Friday, July 24.

They appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron

Daly, where the charges were read to them. Both pleaded not guilty. They were each granted

Police cite hundreds for speeding, helmet and seatbelt violations

THE Guyana Police Force Traffic Department recorded 2,040 traffic offences between July 19 and 25, 2026, with speeding, failure to wear safety helmets, seatbelt violations and dangerous driving practices accounting for a significant number of the cases.

According to the department’s weekly traffic enforcement figures, speeding was the most prevalent offence, with 461 cases recorded during the period.

awareness activities for drivers, patrons, bar operators and members of communities, while also participating in community outreach initiatives and radio programmes.

The outreach activities were conducted in several communities and at various locations across the country, including Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster, Lust-en-Rust, La Grange, Nismes, Goed Fortuin, Vreed-en-Hoop, Den Amstel, Leonora, Ruimveldt,

Bar, Moses Bar, Cheetos Bar and Musse Bar, as well as at beer gardens along La Penitence Public Road and Independence Boulevard.

Additional outreach was conducted at locations such as Quick Trip Taxi Service, Century Tamara Logistics, Cevons Waste Management and through NCN 102.5 FM.

The enforcement figures highlight the continued road-safety challenges posed by speeding, impaired driving, non-use of protective

This was followed by 111 cases involving motorcyclists who failed to wear safety helmets, 92 seatbelt violations, 83 cases of motorists leaving vehicles in dangerous positions and 80 cases involving tinted motor vehicles.

Police also recorded 69 cases involving motor vehicles without functioning front lights and 41 involving vehicles without functioning rear lights.

Fifty drivers were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, while 49 cases involved pillion riders being carried without safety helmets.

Other offences recorded included 58 breaches of the conditions of prescribed fitness, 46 unlicensed drivers, 28 breaches of traffic light signals and 12 cases of faulty packing.

The figures were released as the Traffic Department continued a combination of enforcement and public education initiatives aimed at improving road-user compliance and reducing traffic-related risks.

During the week, police conducted lectures and

The traffic ranks conducted lectures and awareness activities for drivers, patrons, bar operators and members of communities, while also participating in community outreach initiatives and radio programmes

Georgetown, Albouystown, East La Penitence, Kitty, Turkeyen, Diamond and communities in Linden and the South Rupununi.

The Traffic Department also conducted awareness engagements at bars and other entertainment establishments, including Sita’s

equipment and disregard for basic traffic regulations.

Police have consistently urged motorists, motorcyclists and other road users to exercise greater caution, obey traffic laws and take personal responsibility for protecting themselves and other road users.

Tarouba Test swings big on...

down the ground and looking to smite Shahzad over his head the following delivery. He did not take into account that this one was coming back in, and made a mess of his middle stump, having swooshed past his attempt at a wild slog.

Greaves and Chanderpaul did cobble together a tenacious partnership over the next hour, carefully compiling 37 attritional runs to edge ahead.

But the final hour belonged decisively to Pakistan again, and specifically Aamer Jamal, who came back superbly from a disappointing effort in the first innings to tie the batters down. An

effort ball grew big on Chanderpaul who skied a pull to midwicket to give Pakistan a sneak into the lower order. Abbas and Shahzad chipped in to dispatch Greaves and Roston Chase. However, exposing the tail does not necessarily mean quick wickets for Pakistan, who have the worst record getting the last four of an opposition out over the last couple of years. West Indies snatched some of the momentum back thanks to a priceless cameo from Shamar Joseph, who bludgeoned three sixes off Jamal to get the hosts’ lead past 150. Kemar Roach and Joseph had extended the partnership to

Amazon Warriors claim top spot with 53-run....

(From back page)

well initiated the turnaround for his side.

Shimron Hetmyer was caught at backward point by Abdullah Shafique for eight off Bracewell’s bowling, and Rovman Powell was trapped lbw by the captain shortly after without scoring. With Mohammad Nabi falling for two, the Warriors slipped to 121 for five.

A late contribution from Romario Shepherd, who scored 29 with two sixes and a four, ensured the hosts set a challenging target.

Bracewell finished as the standout bowler for the Qalandars with economical figures of two for 18 from his four overs, while Mehran Mumtaz claimed two wickets but conceded 59 runs in his four-over spell.

In response, the Lahore

(From back page)

32 when the umpired tipped the bails over, and, crucially, survived to add to it tomorrow.

The day had, until then, belonged to unlikely West Indies bowling hero Greaves, who produced a career-best five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan’s lower order. After the first hour and a half of the day was taken up by Masood and Agha cautiously edging Pakistan’s score towards 250, the floodgates opened when Joseph knocked Agha’s stumps back with a lovely delivery that seamed away. Greaves got Masood to chop on in the following over, and under sustained pressure from him,

Pakistan’s lower order fell apart.

Masood had begun the day with the circumspect approach that marked his innings once post tea on Sunday. A little punch through the covers brought up his seventh Test hundred, and while Agha and Masood frustrated West Indies, there was enough encouragement to keep the hosts interested. While the wickets weren’t falling, Pakistan’s position grew only stronger, the odd boundary taking them closer to West Indies’ total. It all changed in the blink of an eye.

Joseph had been probing along the off-stump line,

and produced an unplayable delivery that straightened off the seam. It turned Agha around as he closed the bat face, only to see off stump cartwheeling.

Masood, meanwhile, pushed with hard hands at Greaves in the following over, and this time, the ball went off the inside edge onto the stumps to end an innings that might easily have ended two sessions earlier. It put greater scrutiny on Pakistan’s decision to line up a batter short, especially as Jamal played all around a straight ball from Greaves that uprooted his middle stump.

By now, Greaves was on a roll, toppling debutant

Australia open to playing Test against...

(From page 20)

Ali Usman with minimal effort, bringing one back into his pads to trap him in front. Pakistan’s discipline had evaporated with the heat Greaves was bringing and Mohammad Rizwan was induced into flapping rashly at Greaves on the cusp of lunch, with the edge swallowed by the keeper.

The other side of lunch, he made it five wickets in five maiden overs in a scarcely believable spell that yanked Pakistan right out of the driver’s seat they had begun to get comfortable in. Abbas, however, ensured West Indies wouldn’t quite be able to settle into it overnight, either. (Cricinfo)

Qalandars’ chase faltered early and ultimately concluded at 111 all out in 17.2 overs.

The innings suffered an immediate setback with the early dismissals of Shamyl Hussain for five and Mohammad Naeem for a duck, reducing the score to 13 for two.

Abdullah Shafique and Parvez Hossain Emon attempted to stabilise the run chase, forging a 29-run stand for the third wicket, with both batters scoring 21.

The recovery was shortlived as the Amazon Warriors’ bowling attack consistently applied pressure. Left-arm orthodox spinner Gudakesh Motie dismantled the middle order, returning exceptional figures of 4 for 19 from four overs.

Motie’s decisive spell included bowling Bracewell for six and dismissing incoming batter Delano Potgieter for a golden duck on consecutive deliveries, leaving the Qalandars struggling at 65 for six.

Farhan Yousaf offered the only subsequent resistance with a brisk 28 from 19 balls before also falling to Motie as Dwaine Pretorius provided effective support, helping to close out the innings to finish with two for 25 in 3.2 overs.

Despite the loss, the Lahore Qalandars remain in second place on the points table with four points from three fixtures.

The tournament structure dictates that the team finishing at the top of the league standings will secure direct entry into the final on August 1, while the second and third-placed teams will compete in a Qualifier on July 31.

“It’s not something that we are planning, but it’s open for consideration. We’d have to be open to considering all options,” Greenberg said.

“Our relationship with the ECB and the BCCI is very strong and clearly there are opportunities in India to put more content in certain areas.”

Cricket Australia is already looking to expand its footprint in India by taking the Big Bash League overseas for the first time, with Melbourne Renegades due to face Perth Scorchers in

Chennai in December.

The governing body says the move is designed to grow the competition’s global appeal by tapping into cricket’s biggest market.

The popularity of Test matches in India have declined in the modern era amid a diet of T20 and the dominance of the Indian Premier League.

Greenberg said there was “no doubt” a one-off England v Australia Test played on Indian soil would capture the imagination.

“I think Test cricket between us, India and

England is very strong and probably bucking the trend in some other parts of the world. We want to make sure we grow and strengthen it,” he said.

Jefferson-Wooden flawless for 200m...

to win in 1:43.48, more than a second ahead of Wes Ferguson (1:44.55).

In the final track event of the day, Cordell Tinch outlasted Bradley Franklin to win in 13.00 by a margin ⁠of just four thousandths of a second, with the recent world record-breaker Ja’Kobe Tharp not competing.

The back-to-back Olym-

pic champion Valarie Sion reached 69.54 metres on her fourth attempt to win her eighth consecutive women’s U.S. national discus title, while Jordan Geist took the men’s shot put with 22.32 ⁠in his final throw.

In a final bit of drama for the day, the Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall finished third in the women’s long

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(From page 21)

jump, after initially being declared the winner on her final attempt. The jump was ruled a foul

after a protest and Alyssa Jones took the win with 6.96, while Monae’ Nichols (6.92) finished second.

Champions Cup returns as PCB unveils revamped domestic one-day competition

PAKISTAN’S premier domestic one-day competition has been rebranded as the Champions Cup, two years on from when it launched with a glitzy makeover, increased prize money and featured the country’s premier cricketers.

This event is nowhere near as ambitious in scale as the one in 2024, but draws the biggest domestic players available, and will see seven matches played between four teams. It runs from August 11 to 18, with all games taking place at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The tournament will be played on a single-round robin phase with a final.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan will captain the four sides, known

as Pakistan Gold, Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Blues respectively. The teams feature several players to have played international white-ball cricket in Pakistan.

Some are unavailable owing to their red-ball commitments; the Test side will be in England at the time in preparation for a threeTest series. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, who is currently playing The Hundred with Sunrisers Leeds, will also not take part in the domestic competition.

“We have arranged this high-profile 50-over competition to provide ample playing opportunities to our best available pool of players for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 preparations,” Aqib Javed, PCB’s director high

performance, said in a statement posted to the PCB’s website. “The teams have been assembled keeping in mind the roles of the players in the 50-over game. I wish the best of luck to all the teams and look forward to watch some highly-competitive contests in Multan.”

The Champions Cup was billed in 2024 as the jewel in Pakistan’s domestic cricket calendar, with mandatory participation for all domestic players, and eye-watering sums paid to the five mentors appointed to the five sides that played. The following year, however, it wasn’t held under the same branding at all, with a lowkey white-ball domestic competition held instead. (Cricinfo)

Australia open to playing Test against England in India

ENGLAND and Australia

should be open to the idea of playing a Test match in India to help generate interest in the format, says the chief executive of Cricket Australia.

The two sides traditionally only meet in Test cricket as part of an Ashes series, which is played on a homeand-away basis, with each

country hosting it roughly every four years.

Australia and England are, though, poised to play a one-off Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first meeting between the sides.

And Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg told BBC Sport the

England’s 2027 home season: Men’s and Women’s Ashes to run concurrently

THE English home season of 2027 is set to begin on May 15 with a five-match one-day series against Pakistan, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced last Thursday. They will then play Bangladesh in a one-off Test match at Lord’s from May 28.

The marquee battle - the Men’s and Women’s Ashes - will run concurrently through June and July, with the England Men’s Mixed Disability team also hosting Australia.

The Men’s Ashes is set to begin on June 18, in Nottingham, with the following Tests to be played at Lord’s and Edgbaston. Utilita Bowl, which will host its first-ever Ashes Test, will be the venue of the fourth Test. The series will conclude at the Oval, starting July 29.

Meanwhile, the multi-format Women’s Ashes will kickstart with a one-off Test at Headingley, which is set to host its maiden Test since 2001, on June 24. It will be followed by three T20Is and three one-dayers in July.

The ECB announced on Wednesday that the England Men’s Mixed Disability Team would also play Australia with those dates and venues to be confirmed.

The ECB and Cricket Australia have also agreed to schedule a match for the Australia Men’s team against a full-strength England Lions team at an international venue in order to prepare for the 2027 Men’s Ashes Series and that this will be reciprocated when England tour Australia in 2029. That match has been scheduled for Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground from June 7-10, if Australia don’t qualify for the World Test Championship final.

playing against Australia at venues across the country.

“The last time Australia were here made for captivating cricket, in a way that only the Ashes can provide, as both of our Men’s and Women’s teams fought back to level the series in dramatic circumstances.

“Next summer will see the men’s team play a Ashes Test at the Utilita Bowl for the very first time, while the women’s team will play an Ashes Test at Headingley for the first time since 2001.

“It’s also important that this summer shines a light on every part of our cricketing landscape and the inclusion of the England Men’s Mixed Disability team during an Ashes summer is a landmark moment.

“We are also excited to welcome Bangladesh Men for a one-off Test at Lord’s, which will be the first time we have played them at home in a Test since 2010 while also hosting Bangladesh Women in a white-ball series.

said, “We are honoured to be staging the next three ICC World Test Championship Finals in England and Wales, and we’re pleased to confirm that The Oval will play host again next year. The 2023 final at The Oval was a huge hit with broadcasters and fans, and I’ve no doubt that next year’s event will be extra special again.

“This promises to be another fantastic opportunity for cricket fans in this country and from around the world to see the best two Test teams in the world from the past two years taking each other on in a showpiece event.”

Next year’s final will mark the end of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship. The first final in 2021 was held in biosecure conditions in Southampton, with New Zealand beating India, while last year’s sell-out event at Lord’s saw South Africa securing victory against Australia on day four.

ICC General Manager, Events & Operations, Gaurav Saxena, said, “The ICC World Test Championship Final has established itself as one of the most prestigious occasions in the global cricket calendar, bringing together the two best Test teams in the world after two years of sustained excellence and consistency.

prospect of taking international cricket’s most storied - and marketable - Test rivalry to India should be on the table.

A non-Ashes fixture of this nature would need buyin from both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

(Turn to page 19)

England Men’s white-ball team will play 10 ODIs over the course of the summer as they prepare for the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup. Their schedule concludes with a three-match T20I Series and five ODIs against New Zealand in September. Meanwhile, England Women end their summer schedule with a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.

ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould said, “The Ashes is the pinnacle of our sport, and it is significant that next summer we will have three England teams

“With New Zealand Men touring as part of a white ball series that will be invaluable for our England Men’s team ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup, we have a summer schedule that offers high quality cricket across all formats and for all our England teams and fans.”

WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

The ECB will also host the ICC World Test Championship Final at the Oval. It will be the second time that the Oval will be hosting the WTC final. The match will take place from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th June.

Neil Snowball, ECB Managing Director, Competitions and Major Events,

“The confirmation of The Oval as the venue for the 2027 Final is another testament to the strong and collaborative partnership between the ICC and the ECB. This partnership was showcased through the outstanding success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where both organisations worked seamlessly together to deliver several landmark moments for women’s sport and create an unforgettable experience for players, fans and the wider cricket community.

“The 2027 World Test Championship Final will hold special significance as cricket celebrates 150 years of Test cricket. The Oval has played a proud role in the history of our sport and has hosted some of its most memorable moments. We look forward to working closely with the ECB to deliver another world-class event that celebrates the enduring legacy of Test cricket and creates lasting memories for fans around the world.” (Cricbuzz)

Fury v Joshua closer but hurdles still to clear

THE long-awaited heavyweight fight between Britons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has moved a step closer after they won their respective warm-up fights - but not without plenty of drama.

Fury was first into the ring on Friday, stopping 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in seven rounds in Thailand.

Joshua’s night in Saudi Arabia was a different story.

Facing little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga, Joshua was expected to ease through his comeback.

Instead, he was dropped after just 20 seconds and again in the opening round before producing a stunning

turnaround to stop Prenga in the second.

With both men winning and contracts already agreed, the biggest fight in British boxing remains on course.

Reports have suggested purses of about $100m (£75m) each, so there is every incentive to get the deal over the line.

But there are still a few hurdles to clear.

‘It’s done’ - Hearn says Fury v Joshua will happen

Many expected Fury to fly straight from Thailand to Saudi Arabia for a faceoff inside the ring after a Joshua win.

Remarkably, the only time they have ever shared

Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG group to build high-performance centre near Old Trafford

SANJIV Goenka’s RPSG Group will build a high-performance centre near Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. A multi-million-pound agreement was signed between Goenka and Lancashire County Cricket Club, paving the way for the acquisition of a piece of land behind Old Trafford, where a state-ofthe-art high-performance centre will be developed.

Goenka, the owner of the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, owns a 70 per cent stake in the Manchester franchise (Manchester Super Giants) in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)-run The Hundred. Manchester Super Giants are currently at the top of the table in The Men’s Hundred, with two wins in as many matches.

As part of the project, the club’s existing indoor centre will be transformed into a significantly upgraded facility featuring indoor nets, a gym, outdoor training areas, and sports science and medical facilities, a joint statement by Goenka and Lancashire noted.

“Cricket is at the heart of RPSG Group’s sporting investments, and this partnership reflects our longterm commitment to the game. Lancashire Cricket shares our ambition to build facilities that give players every opportunity to succeed, and we are proud to be investing alongside them in a project that will benefit the Club, the Super Giants family and the wider game for years to come. This is about leaving a lasting legacy for cricket in this region – a facility that will

shape the development of players for generations to come,” Goenka, who also owns a team (Durban Super Giants) in SA20, said in a statement.

The project will create elite training facilities benefiting all teams under the RPSG Group, including the Lucknow Super Giants, Manchester Super Giants and Durban’s Super Giants, as well as international and touring sides playing at Old Trafford.

The development forms part of RPSG and Lancashire Cricket’s longterm strategy to build the best cricket infrastructure at Old Trafford, alongside AO Farington Cricket Ground, to ensure all Red Rose teams are as wellequipped as possible for success on the field, the statement said. (Cricbuzz)

After beating Wach, Fury insisted he would not travel to Jeddah and, despite rumours throughout Saturday, he kept his word. Reporters even briefly thought he had arrived when a Fury lookalike stepped out of a car outside the arena.

But Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisted a fight with Fury will happen next.

“It’s done. We signed a legally binding contract about three months ago,” Matchroom’s Hearn said.

Netflix is expected to broadcast the fight globally to more than 325 million subscribers, but the biggest unanswered questions are when and where. (BBC Sport)

Jefferson-Wooden flawless for 200m title in last day of US championships

NEW YORK, (Reuters)Melissa Jefferson-Wooden claimed the 200 metres prize in a pristine sprint on the final day of the U.S. national championships on Sunday, where the world champion Noah Lyles pulled up short on the men’s side.

Jefferson-Wooden completed the sprint double in Tokyo last year and was near the top of her form as she blitzed through the first half of the race and crossed the line in 21.69 seconds, one hundredth of a second off her personal best.

Cambrea Sturgis was a distant second in 22.22 while Camryn Dickson (22.58) took third.

“Going up to the line, I just told myself, ‘Just let each phase of the race come to you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just go out there and when the gun goes off, let it rip’,” said Jefferson-Wooden. “And that’s what I did.”

Lyles gave the fans a fright when he pulled up with a leg cramp down ⁠the final straight, sending audible gasps through the stands at Icahn Stadium. The winner of the 100m earlier in the championships later said he was okay, citing the intense workload he put on himself.

Garrett Kaalund won in 20.04 seconds while Brandon Hicklin took second in 20.29 and Maximilian Thomas finished two thou -

sandths of a second slower for third.

ATHLETES ABSENT IN ‘OFF YEAR’

An “off year” with no Olympics or worlds deprived the competition of its usual suspense, marking the first time since 2018 the U.S. nationals did not serve as a selection meet for the two global competitions.

The New York crowd also took time to warm up to the event — which was held in the five boroughs for the first time in more than three decades — and sparse early attendance gave way to a packed house for Sunday’s finale.

Some of the sport’s top names were absent, the ⁠reigning women’s and men’s 400m hurdles

Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who gave birth earlier this month, and Rai Benjamin.

The Olympic silver medalist Anna Cockrell confidently ran to the top of the podium in 52.94 while Christopher Robinson produced his best performance of the season to win the men’s race in 47.61.

Nia Akins (1:59.25) pipped Addy Wiley (1:59.40) to win the women’s 800m after sprinting down the final straight. It was the second heartbreak in two days for Wiley, who lost the ⁠1,500m by four hundredths of a second to Nikki Hiltz on Saturday.

On the men’s side, the 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus put on another clinic

Laxman hails Sooryavanshi’s maturity after teen stars in Zimbabwe sweep

INDIA’S teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has shown remarkable maturity over the past six months, a quality that has enabled him to thrive in high-pressure matches after a rapid rise in cricket, coach VVS Laxman said on Sunday.

Sooryavanshi smashed an 18-ball century in the opening Twenty20 against Zimbabwe before scoring 81 on Sunday as India completed a 3-0 sweep of the hosts.

The 15-year-old, who fast-tracked into international cricket following a breakthrough Indian Premier League season, was named Player of the Series after scoring two half-centuries in the three-match contest.

“Very mature. That’s

what I really appreciate about Vaibhav,” Laxman told reporters.

“With every experience and ⁠every match, he understands, assesses and gets better. He reviews every practice session, not just matches.

“His maturity, understanding and awareness over the last six months have skyrocketed. That’s why he’s been able to handle tough situations and perform under pressure against the best players.”

Sooryavanshi’s success in Zimbabwe came after a difficult start to his international career in England earlier this month.

The youngest player to represent India registered scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three T20 internationals before being left out

of the fifth match.

Laxman, who has tracked Sooryavanshi’s progress from age-group cricket through IPL ⁠and into

the senior national side, said the teenager’s willingness to learn had been one of his greatest strengths, but managing his fitness remained

Trial looks to end goalkeeper tactical timeouts

ENGLISH football will implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women’s Super League have agreed on the measure, with permission granted by the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, had been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the pitch.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, that team’s coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute after play has restarted, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

The first game to feature the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Ro-

chdale on Saturday.

BBC Sport understands that the Australian A-League will trial a variation with the captain always having to leave the field.

The tactic of gaining a timeout as the keeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons.

It has not been uncommon for the goalkeeper to sit on the turf and signal for the physio, with all the other players rushing to the technical area for a team talk.

As soon as the coach has delivered their instructions, the keeper gets up to play on.

Goalkeeper treatment has also been used to disrupt the opposition’s momentum when they are on top.

In November, Leeds

United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and break up play.

Ifab, meanwhile, has issued a clarification to the mistaken identity rule after Fifa used it to book two players for simulation at the World Cup.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron and Breel Embolo of Switzerland both received bookings. Embolo was already on a caution meaning he was sent off in the quarter-final defeat by Argentina.

Ifab says that while it was well received and will be included in the detailed review of the VAR protocol, it “may not be used as such until that review is concluded”.

Measure intended to be proactive as a deterrent

At Ifab’s AGM in February, head of referees Pierluigi Collina said finding a solution to stop the goalkeeper tactical timeout was a priority.

At the 2026 World Cup, Collina told his officials to prevent players from going to the technical area on all stoppages.

The effectiveness of the measure is open to debate, as the three-minute hydration breaks in each half created a natural opportunity for a team talk.

In its own discussions, English football felt that merely stopping players going to the technical area

would not deter coaches from using goalkeepers to break up play.

English football chose this trial as it follows the logic applied to outfield players, who must themselves leave the field for one minute if the physio comes on.

It is intended to be proactive as a deterrent rather than reactive to a team talk as it happens.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy suggested last season that lawmakers could act to close the loophole in this exact way.

“I think they can change it really quickly,” Murphy said. “If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it’s fair all round.

“It’s a little change that makes a world of difference.”

Officials will not prevent players from visiting the touchline as an injury is treated but it is hoped the prospect of playing with 10 players for a minute will act as an adequate disincentive.

This is especially the case in the final minutes of

an important area of development.

“The one area we want him to improve is his overall fitness,” Laxman said.

“He’s a very young boy. He himself wants to get better ⁠in every aspect of the game. Even today, when he got injured (while attempting a diving catch running in from deep square leg), he still wanted to stay on the field..

“It was our physio who asked him ⁠to come off. That’s the eagerness and earnestness he has to contribute in every possible way to the team.”

Laxman said he was not concerned by the lefthander’s struggles in England and ⁠backed him to build on his strong start to international cricket.

“I’m sure he will progress and break all the records at the international level. He’s got all the potential and ability to do that,” he added. (Reuters)

games, when teams trying to hold on to a result would use the goalkeeper to kill momentum. Now they would have to play with 10 players. There are a few exemptions when a team-mate will not have to go off.

• Where a goalkeeper says they do not need the physio and they have not caused play to stop

• The goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided

• If a goalkeeper is fouled and needs immediate treatment

• If a goalkeeper is bleeding

• If there is a serious injury (has to be substituted) or concussion.

• If the goalkeeper is substituted, the substitution is not delayed.

There have been some concerns that a requirement to leave the field for one minute could lead to players, both goalkeepers and outfield, attempting to play on with an injury. The results of the trials will be assessed by Ifab at its meetings throughout the seasons, and this could lead to a permanent law change globally from 2027-28.

Makai Dowlin ends third in runs aggregate in Sir Gary Sobers Schools tournament in Barbados

By Sean Devers

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD

Guyanese Makai Dowlin batted six times for the New York Tri-State, scoring 235 runs at an Ave 47.00 in his maiden Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools tournament.

The youngest of three siblings, Makai scored three fifties with the highest score of 91 and shared in a couple of century partnerships to finish third in the runs aggregate in the tournament.

His dad, Travis, has a highest Test score of 95 during his brief career and has a century from 11 ODIs, while his eldest son, 19-yearold Jaydon, has played for Guyana at the youth level and is now playing club cricket in England.

“I’ve represented Guyana at the U-13 level in Trinidad and at home. The Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament was the first international tournament

I played against opponents from many different countries.

Going into the tournament, I did extra training with my dad, which made me feel well prepared.

Scoring 235 runs did not come as a surprise, as I felt that I had worked extremely hard and deserved the success that I got in Barbados,” explained a confident Makai, whose aim is to follow in the footsteps of his dad and his brother.

Guyana-born USA coach Basil Butcher Jr. worked with the New York Tri-State, and informed that Makai was the youngest and best batter in the side.

“Makai is very talented and batted with an injured thumb he sustained in the first match.

He has very good balance both when playing off the back and front foot,” said Coach Butcher Jr., the son of the great former West Indies batter Basil Butcher.

Born on September 5,

Wilkin remembered for his outstanding contribution to cricket

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Former attorney-at-law, King’s Counsel Charles Wilkin has been hailed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) for his invaluable contribution to the sport.

Wilkin, who passed away in St Kitts on Saturday at the age of 77, was an accomplished sportsman who represented St. Kitts in both cricket and football.

His contribution to cricket continued off the field, as he chaired St. Kitts and Nevis’ Local Organising Committee for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also produced the Wilkin Report, which proved to be the foundation for the Wehby Report.

In a statement issued on Sunday, CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow described Wilkin as a “thoughtful servant of Caribbean civilization.”

“Charles Wilkin understood that in the Caribbean, cricket is a part of our history, our identity

can Senator Don Wehby. Their work represented a serious reflection on the future of West Indies cricket and the responsibility of those entrusted with its stewardship,” the statement read.

and our understanding of ourselves. He also understood that institutions, like the game itself, must constantly be examined, strengthened and renewed if they are to serve future generations.

“It was in this spirit that he led the work which produced the Wilkin Report, laying the foundation for the subsequent Wehby Report, to which he was also a key contributor alongside the late Jamai -

“Mr. Wilkin’s contribution was rooted in a lifelong relationship with the game. He represented St. Kitts in cricket, played for Cambridge University, the combined Leeward and Windward Islands team, and later played a leading role in the successful hosting of ICC Cricket World Cup matches in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2007.

“His contribution reminds us that the strength of West Indies cricket depends not only on those who play the game, but also on those who dedicate their wisdom, experience and courage to ensuring that the game endures. His contribution to West Indies cricket and the wider Caribbean will not be forgotten,” Shallow added.

2011, in Georgetown, Guyana, to former West Indies Test player Travis and Gail Dowlin, Makai said, “I came from a household which was surrounded by cricket.

Life, for the most part, was normal, just sometimes a bit difficult to manage my academics with cricket, but in the end it was worth it as I can see the progress of my sacrifices.

I spent my early childhood at Green Acres, from Nursery through first grade, where I then switched to School of the Nations, where I’m currently enrolled.

Throughout my school year, I’ve always been in the top five in my class. I am currently heading into the science stream,” said Makai.

Makai said he first started playing hockey at the Georgetown Cricket Club, then switched to cricket, which he enjoyed more, and now sees it as a career path.

“The first and only club I ever joined was DCC (Demer-

ara Cricket Club), as this was the club my father played for. Both my dad and my brother played a major role in my cricket journey.

I first started to play because of my father and my brother; they are my source of inspiration in cricket as I continue to play,” disclosed the talented youth.

“My most memorable moment was my first six at DCC.

Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest in size, but I’m continuing to work to get stronger.

I have been privileged to work with various coaches such as Coach Nedd, Coach Best and Coach Bourne and in this recent tournament, Coach Basil Butcher Jr. and Coach Frasier, but the most important one is my father, Travis Dowlin”

He thanked his mother for always being his number one supporter; even when he didn’t perform at his best, she would always comfort him.

Bent nets late winner for Jamaica in win over Honduras

PUEBLA, Mexico, (CMC )– Brandon Bent scored a stoppage time winner to lead Jamaica to a thrilling 2-1 win over Honduras in their opening Group C match of the Concacaf Under-20 Championships on Sunday.

Playing at the Estadio Universitario BUAP, Jamaica took the lead in the 21st minute when Jahmarie Nolan’s shot from the right side of the 18-yard box snuck by goalkeeper Alan Cury and inside the far post.

Kimarly Scott should have doubled their lead later in the half when he faced Cury alone, but his shot was saved by the Honduran goalkeeper.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the second half, Honduras constantly pushed the Jamaicans back into their own area and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Victor Salazar finished off a smart team move, scor -

ing with their first shot on target.

With the game seemed headed for a draw, Jamaica got a late winner in time added, when Honduras failed to clear a ball from a corner and Bent was quickest to it, shifted to his left

to create space before firing the ball over the diving Cury. With the win, Jamaica is now tied for the group lead with Canada, who beat Panama 3-0 in the other game in the zone played earlier in the day.

Tarouba Test swings big on 14-wicket day

THE first ever Test at Tarouba made giant strides on the third day, claiming 14 wickets and hurtling towards its denouement. And yet, it appeared to stand in almost the same place it was on a humid sunny morning when the umpires called for play to begin.

Pakistan started, with Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha at the crease, marginally ahead of the hosts, having lost just three wickets and within little over 100 away from West Indies’ first-innings total. They end marginally ahead still, with Mohammad Abbas tormenting the hosts, who finish seven down, their lead a vulnerable 155.

(Scores West Indies 126 for 7 (Chanderpaul 35, Joseph 22*, Abbas 3-14) and 311 (Hope 92, Hodge 84,

Abbas 4-50) lead Pakistan 282 (Masood 109, Imam 63, Greaves 5-27) by 155 runs West Indies’ batters had been gifted an unlikely bonus when they padded up the second time around with 29 extra runs to play with courtesy of Justin Greaves sensational, and perhaps unlikely, five-wicket haul in the first half of the day. But Abbas’ twin strikes with another magical new-ball spell pulled them back, ensuring their slender lead did not turn into a significant advantage by tea.

n seven spotless overs, he did for Brandon King and Kavem Hodge in trademark Abbas fashion, coaxing a feather after relentless prodding on a fourth-stump line with a seaming ball. Mohammad Ali helped him out by snaring Amir Jangoo late in

the session with a splendid return catch to reduce West Indies to 30 for 3, going into tea having undone some of the damage Greaves had wrought.

There was no let-up from the bowlers in the final session as West Indies were made to scrap for every run. Mohammad Ali, perhaps was the slight weak link, particularly when he pitched up too straight to Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who was clinical when whipping balls off the pads through midwicket.

But with pressure applied relentlessly from the other end, Shai Hope’s mind was frazzled into some curious shot-making. A caress over cover off Khurram Shahzad was sensible enough, but Hope followed it up by premeditating a little amble

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SCOREBOARD

Azan Awais b Roach 0

Imam-ul-Haq c Greaves b Joseph 63

Shan Masood b Greaves 109

*Babar Azam c +Hope b Seales 23

Salman Agha b Joseph 20

+Mohammad Rizwan c +Hope b Greaves 12

Aamir Jamal b Greaves 3

Ali Usman lbw b Greaves 0

Khurram Shahzad c +Hope b Roach 19

Mohammad Abbas c +Hope b Greaves 0

Mohammad Ali not out 2

Extras (b4, lb17, nb10)

31

TOTAL (all out; 80.1 overs) 282

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-156, 3-197, 4-244, 5-244, 6-248, 7-256, 8-259, 9-267, 10-282.

Bowling: Roach 15.1-2-53-2, Seales 22-573-1, Joseph 16-2-58-2, Greaves 11-6-25-5, Warrican 16-1-50-0.

Amazon Warriors claim top spot with 53-run victory over Lahore Qalandars

THE Guyana Amazon Warriors maintained their unbeaten start to the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, securing a decisive 53-run victory over the Lahore Qalandars at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday night.

The result elevates the Amazon Warriors to the top of the five-team table with six points from three consecutive wins, while handing the Qalandars

their first defeat of the campaign.

After being asked to bat first, the Amazon Warriors posted a competitive 164 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began with a display of aggressive striking, as the hosts raced to a record-breaking 50 in just 2.5 overs.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz spearheaded the early charge, compiling a rapid 65 off 35 deliveries, an innings that in-

cluded six boundaries and five sixes.

Despite the early loss of opening partner Quentin Sampson, Gurbaz and Mohammad Haris, who contributed 34, constructed a 72-run partnership for the second wicket to maintain the scoring rate.

However, Gurbaz’s departure in the tenth over precipitated a middle-order collapse. Lahore captain Michael Brace-

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Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Usman b Jamal 35

Brandon King c +Rizwan b Abbas 5

Kavem Hodge c Rizwan b Abbas 0

Amir Jangoo c&b Ali 4

+Shai Hope b Shahzad 10

Justin Greaves c Azam b Abbas 20

*Roston Chase c +Rizwan b Shahzad 8

Kemar Roach not out 5

Shamar Joseph not out 22

Extras (b4, lb6, nb6, w1) 17

TOTAL (seven wickets; 43 overs) 126 Yet to bat: Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 3-28, 4-43, 5-80, 6-85, 7-93.

Bowling: Abbas 13-6-14-3, Shahzad 12-236-2, Ali 8-1-27-1, Jamal 10-2-39-1.

Position: West Indies lead Pakistan by 155 runs with three wickets remaining.