Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 29-08-2025

‘Wearebringingtomorrow’s medicinetoGuyanatoday’

Followingthecommissioningceremony,PresidentDr.IrfaanAliandotherofficialstouredthenewNumber75VillageRegionalHospitalontheCorentyne Coast,viewingthestate-of-the-artpiecesofequipmentandinteractingwith staff.Thisisthesixthmodernhealthfacilitythegovernmenthasopenedaspart ofitsongoingeffortstotransformhealthcareandbringworld-classservicesto allcitizensregardlessofwheretheylive(Photo:PresidentAli/Facebook)

Violencehas‘no placeinsociety’

PresidentDrIrfaanAlipresidedovertheswearing-inceremonyoffivenewly qualifiedlandsurveyors,urgingthemtoupholdthehighestethicalstandards astheytakeonthecriticalresponsibilityofshapingGuyana’sfuture.Meshacq Richards,KishonDosSantos,JustinJarvis,TroyHistick,andTyrekGrantwere officiallysworninaftersuccessfullycompletingtheLandSurveyorsexaminations.Thesixthsuccessfulcandidate,TyreseSpiers,iscurrentlyoverseasand willbesworninuponhisreturn.ThePresidentnotedthatlandsurveyingisfar morethanatechnicalvocation;itisafoundationalpillarofnationaldevelopment(PhotoPresidentAli/Facebook)

‘Wearebringingtomorrow’s medicinetoGuyanatoday’

-PresidentAlisaysatcommissioningofmultibillionNo.75VillageRegionalHospital -assuresPPP/Cgov’tiscommittedtobridginggaps,ensuringequitableaccesstohealthcare

ByNaomiParris

OFFERINGbothprimary andspecialisedhealthcareservices,themultibillion-dollarNo.75Village RegionalHospitalwillnow servethousandsofUpper Corentyneresidents,who wouldhaveoncehadto travellongdistancesto seekmedicalattention.

andLimaSands(Region Two).

Reflectingonthepreviousfailuresofthecountry’s healthcaresystem,President Alinotedthatthegovernmentwillnotstopatthe regionalfacilitiesbutwill takeonalargerintegrated plantoimprovehealthcare ateverylevel.

Theultimateaimisto

Thefacilitybringsprimaryandspecialisedhealthcare servicesclosertohomeforresidentswhooncehad totravellongdistancestoseekmedicalattention (RegionalDemocraticCouncilRegionNo.6photo)

Equippedwiththemost modernamenitiesandtechnology,thefacilitywascommissionedonThursdayby PresidentDr.IrfaanAli,who duringaformalceremony toldresidentsandstakeholdersthatthePeople’sProgressiveParty/Civic(PPP/C) government’srevolutionof thehealthcaresectorisnot merelyaboutthesteeland cementinfrastructures,but onethatisstrategic,ensuring thataccesstohealthcareis equitablecountrywide.

“Weareclosingcriticalgapsinourhealthcare system.We’reensuringthat accesstoqualityhealthcare isnotadistanthopereached onlyafterlongjourneys,but alivingrealityrightherein ourcommunities,”thePresidentsaid.

Thisissixthnewhealth facilitythathavebeencommissionedinawiderprogrammethatisbeingpursued bytheGovernmentofGuyanatoimprovehealthcare.

TheotherhealthcarefacilitiesarelocatedatDiamondandEnmore(Region Four),Bath(RegionFive), DeKinderen(RegionThree)

offerservicesthatarenolongerconfinedtogeographical linesorneglect.

“Itmeansthatnomother inBerbiceshouldhaveto wonderifherchildcansee aspecialist.Itmeansthatno fathershouldhavetotravel daysfordialysis.Itmeans thatourseniors,ourwomen,ourchildren,orpersons livingwithdisabilities,must feelrightwheretheylive thathealthcareworksfor them,”thePresidentsaid.

Thegovernmenthadembarkedonanambitiousplan toprovidethenecessary infrastructuretodecentralise healthcareacrossthecountry.Asidefromthebuilding ofregionalfacilities,the governmenthasinvested heavilyinthetrainingof healthprofessionals,telemedicine,digitalpatient recordsandotherartificial intelligenceandtechnology driveninitiatives.

“Canyouimaginea Guyanawhereeveryregion boastshospitalsequalto thoseoverseas,thatisthe Guyanawearebuilding fromhinterlandtocoastland,”thePresidentsaid.

Thenewhospitalwill alsofacilitatethetrainingof medicalprofessionals.Withinthenextthreemonths,all studentsenrolledinmedical programmeswillbeable topursuetheircoursesin Berbice.

Thegovernmentplans toexpandhealthcareaccess,train10,000healthcare workers,andinvestindigital

thatthesmallerfacilitiestoo areequippedtoadequately servecitizens.Thusfar,26 healthcentreshavebeen targetted.

Heremindedthatunder thepreviousadministrationthecountry’shealthcare supplychainwasbroken withbasicmedicationand amenitiesbeingunavailable.

“Wehaddysfunctional

Theinsideofthenewhospital(RegionalDemocratic CouncilRegionNo.6photo)

healthinfrastructure.The visionincludesafullyintegratedemergencyresponse system,telemedicine,and advancedcareservices.

‘QUALITYHEALTH CAREISRIGHTHERE ATYOURDOORSTEP’

Meanwhile,HealthMinisterDr.FrankAnthonystatedthatthegovernmenthas beenadvancinghealthcare delivery,ensuringthatboth primaryandspecialisedcare isclosertothedoorstepsof residentsacrossthecountry.

“Wehavebeenwriting anewchapterinthestory ofhealthofthiscountry;a storynotofdespair,butone ofhope,notofneglect,but oneofrenewal,astoryabout whathappenswhenanation darestobelievethathealthcareisnotaprivilegefora fewbuttherightofevery man,everywomanandeverychildwhocallsthisplace home.Thinkbackjustafew yearsago,toomanyfamilies hadtotravellongdistances, waitalongtime,orgowithoutcarethattheydesperately needed,”Dr.Anthonysaid.

Asidefromthestate-ofthe-artregionalfacilitiesbeingbuilt,thegovernmenttoo hasbeenworkingtoensure

PresidentAlispeakingmomentsbefore commissioningthecountry’ssixthregionalhospitalat No.75Village,Corentyne,Berbice(OPphoto)

andfamilieswereleftto suffer.”

laboratories,lackingequipment.Andveryoftenwhen therewasequipment,it lackedreagents.Wehada shortageofdiagnosticimagingservices,includinga simplethinglikeanXray machine,ultrasoundand worseyet,CTscans,patients

ThePresident'svision, henotedhastransformed Guyana'shealthsector,with improvedcareandprogress definedbyhoperatherthan despair.

“Thishospitalwould savelives.Itwoulddeliver babiessafely.Itwillperform surgeriesthatoncerequire longjourneys,eithertoNew AmsterdamortoGeorgetown.Itwouldalsoprovide emergencycarewhenthose minutesmattersmost,and itwouldgivefamilythat peaceofmindthatquality healthcareisrighthereat yourdoorsteps.”

Thegovernmenthasincreasedhealthcareworker salaries,employedover 5,000newhealthcareprofessionals,andpartnered withworld-classinstitutionsfortraining.Initiativesincludeelectronic healthrecords,onlineappointments,andtelemedicine.

Moredirectsupport, climatefundforfisherfolk

—PresidentAli

SHOULDthePeople’s ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C)administration returnforasecondterm followingtheSeptember 1GeneralandRegional Elections,Guyanesefisherfolkcanexpectmore directsupport,training, co-investmentopportunitiesandaclimatefund toenhancetheirlives andthelocalindustry.

Thisisaccordingto PresidentDr.Irfaan,who whilespeakingatthecommissioningoftheNo.75 VillageRegionalHospital onThursdaynotedthatthe incumbentgovernment hasacknowledgedthe plightoffishersacross

thecountryandwillwork closelywiththem.

“Iwantourfisherfolk toknowthatwehavelistenedtothem,wehave heardthem,andtheydeservealifeofdignity. Justlikewe'resupporting everyothersectorinour country,ourfisherfolk mustbesupported,and theywillbesupportedin manydifferentways,”he Presidentsaid.

PresidentAlihadoutlinedplanstoadoptnewer technologies,trainingand equippingfisherfolkwith thetoolsneededtoply theirtradewithgreater precision.

Thegovernmenttoo

willcontinuetosupport themwithsubsidisedfuel, buildingoutlandingfacilities,andprovidesupportinreinvestingintheir vessels.

“We'regoingtowork byhelpingtheminsocial protectionprogrammelike incomediversification, expandingtheaquaculture programme,theswamp shrimpprogrammegivingthemalternative meansofearninganincome,diversifyingtheir incomebase,we'regoingtosupportthemwith greatergrants,investingintheirsafetyand security,fillingoutthe infrastructuretosupport them,supportingthem

inmarketandmarket access,expandingthe market,helpingthem incoldstorage,helping theminprocessing,so thattheycanhavehigher valuefortheirproduct,” thePresidentsaid.

Ontheclimatechange front,throughthelow carbondevelopment strategy,thegovernment intendstoestablisha climateresilientfund thatwouldprotectthem againstclimaterealities.

Thiswillnotonlycatertoboatownersand fishers,butvendorswill alsoseemassivesupport asthegovernmentaims tobuildastrong,secure, stableandprosperous futureforallGuyanese.

Backin2022a

one-offcashgrantof $150,000wasannounced bythegovernmenttoassistfisherfolk.

Itwasintroducedto combatthefinancialburdenscausedbylowcatch rates,risingoperational costs,andtheincreasing costofliving,thegrant alsoaimedtosupport thegovernment'sgoalof makingGuyanaaCaribbeanfoodsupplyhub. Justabout5,000fisherfolkbenefittedfrom thisdirectsupport.

Newregionalhospitalsrecord25,000patients, 220births,100surgeriesin3-monthperiod

INlessthanthree monthsofopeningits doors,thefivenewregionalhospitalshave processedsome25,000 patients,delivered220 babies,andconducted justabout100surgeries.

ThiswasonThursdaydisclosedbyPresidentDr.IrfaanAli,who duringthecommissioningoftheNo.75VillageRegionalHospital,toldresidentsand stakeholdersthatthe governmentisrewriting themapofhealthcare acrossthecountry.

Thishospitalisthe sixthnewhealthfacilitydeliveredunder theGovernmentof Guyana’swiderprogrammetomodernise healthcare.Theother hospitalsarelocatedat DiamondandEnmore (RegionFour),Bath

(Regionfive)DeKinderen(RegionThree), andLimaSands(RegionTwo).

“Today,wecelebrate extraordinaryaccomplishments,butjust togiveyouanideain lessthanthreemonths, thefiveotherregional hospitalsthatwehave openedprocessed,or wouldhavealready seen,25,000patients,” hesaid.

“Forthosewho questiontheinvestment,forthosewho questiontheaccomplishment,thereisyour answer,”thePresident affirmed.

Thenewfacilities combinedhavebrought onstream18newstateof-the-artoperatingtheatresofferingadvanced medicalcare.Theyare fullyequippedtooffer servicesassociatedwith internalmedicineand surgery,obstetricsand gynaecology,paediatrics,cardiology,mental healthandpsychiatry, orthopaedicssurgery andinpatientandoutpatientcare.Alsobeing offeredareadvanced laboratoryandimaging services,aswellasdentalandopticalcare.

ThenewlycommissionedNo.75VillageRegionalHospital

“Weareclosing criticalgapsinour healthcaresystem. We'reensuringthat accesstoquality healthcareisnota distanthopereached onlyafterlongjourneys,butalivingrealityrighthereinour communities.”

THEimpressivestatisticssharedby PresidentDr.IrfaanAliduringthe commissioningoftheNumber75VillageRegionalHospitalonThursday highlighttheongoingtransformation inhealthcare.

Inlessthanthreemonthsofoperation,newregionalhospitalshavetreated 25,000patients,welcomed220newborn babies,andperformedabout100surgercommunitiesgainingaccesstotop-qual-

Thecriticswhodoubtedthe$38billioninvestmentinregionalhealthcare infrastructurenowseetheresultsinthe Georgetownforgoodmedicalcare.

Thesixmodernhospitals—locatedin Diamond,Enmore,Bath,DeKinderen, Lima,andnowNumber75Village—

advancedoperatingroomsandarange ofmedicalservicestoareasthatprevi-

Whatstandsoutaboutthisachieve-

beenimplemented.AsleadingcardiologistDr.MahendraCarpenpointedout, 12newhospitalsinsuchashorttime whilealsofocusingondevelopingits workforce.

diagnostics,andspecialisedtreatments

digitisetheMaterialsManagementUnit

comeequippedwithadvancedtechnolconductmorethan150diagnostictests, andtelemedicineoptionsthatconnect

tionedprivaterooms,intensivecare units,neonatalcareunits,and24/7

Thegovernment’sdedicationtozensisclearinPresidentAli’sorderto

Thiscomprehensiveplancombines top-tierinfrastructurewithstrongsupregionalhealthcarebutalsoasamodel forotherdevelopingcountries.

educationcentresineachregionandanaiscreatingasustainablehealthcare

Thedayswhendistancefrom Georgetownmeantalackofgood healthcarearecomingtoanend.A neweraisbeginning,whereexcellent medicalcareisarealitywithincommunities,notjustadistantdream.

CoordinatedattackagainstPPPwillfail

DearEditor,

THEREisclearlyacoordinatedattackagainstthePPP-Conbehalfof APNU-WIN.Thecoreoftheattack istoadvocateforaminorityPPP-C government.

ambiguouscharacter(letterwriter)that thatIhaveaPhDinpoliticalscience,was afullprofessorattheAmericanUniverspokenandparticipatedinacademicactivitiesat37universitiesin22countries.

Bisram’sletterinKN(8/28/2025)and evenalowlevelpropagandist. Takenoteofthefollowing–(1)thesiontherearenoindividualnamesorno nameofagroup.IspoketoseniorUG

(2)Bisramhimselfstatesthatpollingis thegroupofstudentsgottheirtrainingto

admitsthathedoesnotknowwhenthe pollingresultshimself,butforsomeone whoclaimstobeapollster,reliesonletter noonehaseverheardabout.

(1)Bisramclaimsthathedoesnotknow hepraisesthemthus–“TheUGstudents guess-work,oranoutrightmisrepresentastandneutralonpollresults,Bisramsalutes here. detectedtobebasedonfiction.Note -

riseofWIN.Thisisatruetechniqueof pollingwasdone,atall. Editor,asatrainedpoliticalscientistI formsforseveralmonthsnow.

PresidentAliwinasecondterm,butthat thePPP-Cwillreceiveaclearmandateto

Thecoordinatedattackagainstthe PPP-Cwillfail.OntheHarryramand Bisramgambit,allIhavetosayisthe asfarce.

AzruddinMohamedishunting, haunting,hurtingthePNCR

THEPPPisnolongerthe targetofthePNCRcampaign.Twothemesare boldlyimprintedonthe platformofthePNCR’s campaign:whipupapan jhaat(voteforyourown) andcussdownAzruddin Mohamed.Nowdon’t takemywordforit.MonitorthePNCR’selection meetings.Raceappeal andbad-mouthingMohamedarethetwostrategies.

Foreignersandvery youngpeoplemaynow knowwhatismeantby “mehearsringingcause peopletalkingmehname.” Letmeexplainthatlocal thingthatsadlyhasdied outorisdyingout.Igrew uphearingtheolderfolks sayingthattheirearsare ringingthereforepeople aretalkingaboutthem.The earsofPPPhavenotbeen ringingforthepasttwo weeksbecausethePNCR isn’ttalkingthePPP’sname butratheristalkingabout AzruddinMohamed.

EveryPNCRmeeting isanappealtoraceinorder togetAfricanGuyanese toembraceapanjhaat.I willgivethreeexamplesof PNCRmeetingsinwhich apanjhaatisbeingused crazilybythePNCRelectionbandwagon.RobinSimoninHaslington,Ronald DanielsinAgricola,and

Allthreespeakersthrew awayanypretenceofpoliticalcommonsenseand calledonAfricanGuyanesetovotealongracial lines.BeforeIgofurther,a wordonhowthePNCRis scrapingthebottomofthe hisearlyeighties.Heisnot evenafootnoteinGuyana’s

politics.NoyoungAfrican GuyaneseknowwhoJeffreyis.

ThePNCRputan 80-year-oldmantopreach apanjhaatattheirelectionoutings.Whereinthe PPPhasitresortedtoan 80-year-oldmantoexcite PPPconstituencies?Theingwithyoungpeople.Ina countrywhereabout82per centofthepopulationis under50yearsofage,the PNCRhasbecomesadand goingtoappearnext?The PNCRbetterbecareful not80andthisAugustheat iskillingme.Nowbackto whytheemphasisisapan jhaat.

ThePNCRknowsfrom hundredsofvideosthat theirleadershaveseenfrom WIN’smeetingsandcampaignralliesthatWINis winningthePNCR’straditionalsupporters.Iwould beadishonestanalystanda dishonestacademicifIdid notadmitthattheLinden rallyofWINwaslarge. Lindenhasalwaysvoted solidlyforthePNCR.My analysistellsmethatboth thePPPandWINwillget votesinLindenthatwould havegonetothePNCR.

Irathersuspectthat therehasbeenawarroom meetinginCongressPlace andthetwinstrategythat wasadumbratedwasapan jhaatandanti-Mohamed attacks.Theapanjhaat thinghasnosubtledimensiontoit.PNCRspeakersareopenlytellingthe crowdstovotefor“your race.”

Theothersideofthe coinis-donotvotefor WIN,stickwithyourAf-

ricanpoliticians.Ihave belabouredacertaintheme onthispage;itisthatafter 2026,AubreyNoronis gone.Hewillhavetogo becausethePPPisgoingto takeseveralseatsfromhim. Butthereisthepossibility thatevenwithasubstantial PPPmajority,theknives willbeslowtocomeout givinghimmaybeayear ortwo.

ImetVan-WestCharles atthepastryshopearlier thisweekandheagreed thatNortonwillhavetogo aftertheterribleelection showing.Butwhathas notbeendiscussedisthat Nortonmaynotsurvive aslongas2026ifMohamedsecurestradition-

alPNCRvotesandtakes aboutthreeorfourseats fromthePNCR. ThesymbolofaWIN invasionofPNCRconstituencieshastobethelast ounceoftolerationforthe currentPNCRleadership. Noleadercansurviveif Mohamedtakeshisvotes becauseMohamedisthe mostunacceptablepoliticianGuyanahaseverproduced.Ibelieveresorting toapanjhaatistoolittle,too late.ThePNCRandAFC createdMohamedtodevour thePPP.

Itwasaterriblyinsane misdirection.Therewas nowayMohamedcould havetappedintoPPPconstituencies.Thepersonality ofIrfaanAlisealeditup forthePPP.Itisvirtually impossibleforAlitolose. Mohamedknewthis.He knewfromhisinvolvement withtheAdrianaYounge scandalthatIndianssaw ontheafternoonandeveningofApril28,2025,the definitiveconclusionthat thePNCRanditsalliesare violence-prone. Mohamedknewhisbe-

hind-the-sceneinvolvement inApril28hadseverelyweakenedhischanceofpolitical survival.So,hehungonto thetailcoatofAubreyNorton. WhatNortondidnot knowwasthatMohamed wasusingthecoatto stranglethePNCRleader.Hehas.

DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumnare solelythoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarilyrepositionoftheGuyanaNationalNewspapersLimited.

CountdowntoE-Day2025: TheHarderTheyCome!

ByEarlBousquet

THEclosertheday,the harderGuyana’ssocial mediainfluencerstryto influencehowvoterswill voteonSeptember1.

Thecountry’ssocialmedialandscape–available everyminuteonYouTube, Facebookandotherplatforms–islikenowhereelse.

theirfreeaccesstotheeyes andearsoftheworldtovirtuallyandactuallysaywhat theywant,howtheywant,

aboutwhoevertheychoose –andintheworstofways.

Partisanbloggersand abusiveonlinethugsthreaten unveiledcallsforviolence on-air,inatotally-unregulatedatmosphere,where,it seems,anythingcanpass, anytime.

Fromadistance,it’svirtuallyimpossibletofollow alltheonlinebroadcastsand podcasts,postsandshares, theextentofsubjectivesubjectmatters,thedepthof personalinsults,theverbosityofviolentoutbursts,as

ifcompetingfor‘likes’for beingthemostunbelievable, totallydismissiveofpersonalprivacy,eveninventing reasonsandcausestolink politiciansandtheirfamilies toclaimsofcorruption.

Notsurprisingly,notas muchisbeingdiscussedonlineabouttherealissuesat stakeinGuyanatoday,just daysaheadoftheSeptember 1elections,whenpartiesare makelast-minutechangesof-mind.

Desperationisevidentlydeepeningasopposition

parties,togetherandapart, strivetooutdoeachother, whiletherulingalliance campaignsonitsachievementrecordasitseeksa secondterm.

Theelectoralhorse-race isn’tnecessarilyascloseas beingmadetoappearonline.

Usualsuspectsarealreadystartingtoallegeelectoralirregularities,some evenaccusingthepolice therulingpartybysipping juicefromredplasticcups.

Themainoppositionallianceiscaughtinthecross-

hairsofbeingchallengedby asmallerpartyintraditional baseareas,butseemsunableorunwillingtotakethe challengerstotaskonthe hustings,incaseofatightresultrequiringapost-election allianceofconvenience.

Thetwomajorparties havetraditionallybeenable toholdontotheirbasesat electiontimeandwhilethey mayseeathirdforcemoreas adistractionthanachallenge, itsonlineoutputisalsohigh.

Therulingalliance doesn’tseethewildcardchallengerasathreat,buthas alsohadtorespondpublicly tothemolehillofunprovenallegations,thepublic beingexpectedtobelieve everythingsaidbypersons admittedlyengagedinbillion-dollarillegalactivityat homeandabroad.

Interestingly,onesmall oppositionpartythatwas partofthesystemthatsought tostealalostelectionby displayingpollresultson bedsheetsin2020,istoday castingaspersionsonthe much-improvedelectoral processthat’salreadyunder way.

Yet,someoppositionpoliticians–includingatleadershiplevels--arealready indicatingtheywillnotrecognisetheresults,accusing therulingallianceofdoing justwhatwasdonetoitby thenowoppositionalliance

Thecurrentopposition alliancedideverythingto maintaincontrolofresults andcountsafterthe2020 Presidentialelections,spendtoAugust2)tryinghard claimsofvictorywith‘evilater.

Duringthattenseperiod thatGuyanesevoterswon’t haveforgotten,theElectoral Commission’schairwasat timesconsideredinvoluntarilymissing-in-action,while thethen-rulingalliance’s electoralfootsoldiersofferedsorryexcusesfordelays actuallyvoted. TheentireCaribbean wastensebackthen,asthe regionalandinternationalpresscoveredthedaily andwinningparties,leading tohard-knuckledinterventionbyWesternnationsand regionalandinternational bodies--theUSandUK, OrganizationofAmericanish)Commonwealth--while andoutofGeorgetownto trytoconvincethehijackers theyshouldstanddown. Noneoftheaboveproved influentialenough,until Washingtonstartedindicat-

ingitcouldpossiblyrevoke theUSvisasoftheprime ministerialandpartyculprits.

IttooktheCaribbean firmlyrejectthewanting legalclaimsofthosewho usurpedthestolenpowerof governancetoruleillegally forsome150days.

It’sonlyaftertheCCJ’s rulingthatthepretendersto thenationalthronereluctantlyagreedtostand-downand allowthewinningpartyto takeitsrightfulplaceasthe newelectedGovernment.

monthsin2020mighthave beensomewhaterasedby thepositivedevelopments duringwhichanewPresident andgovernmentmanaged earnings--thoughsmall--in waysthathavetouchedevery Guyanese,everywhere.

Somepartisancriticswill quietlyadmitthenationis experiencingitsbestinfrastructuraldevelopmentever andthatthenewnational wealthisbeingsharedwith households,butwillloudly claimtheycouldandwould dobetter--ifelected.

Therulingallianceinheritedone-sidedenergy agreementsthatonlyallow Guyana14%ofthebiggest investingcompany’searnyears,butitsowellmarshalledthenewresources thattheoppositioncanonly promisetodonexttime,what itfailedtodobetween2015 and2020.

However,alltheonline politicalmanoeuvringaside, anyfairassessmentofvoters’responsestotheruling allianceandgovernment’s performancewilltakeinto considerationtheresultsof mid-termLocalGovernment Electionsandsubsequent developments,thatresultedportfromtheoppositionto therulingalliance,whether throughcrossing-the-floor, orasseenthroughrelated demographicelectoralshifts.

GuyanesevotersareanxioustovoteonMondayand eachofthemajorcontesting partiessaysthey’llwin,plus withfeelingsthismaybe thehardestchallengeforthe rulingalliance.

Butitscoresupporters andleadership,justdays aheadofthefinalhour, seemtoberallyingaround foreverhit‘TheHarder TheyCome!’

DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumnare solelythoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheofficialpolicyor positionoftheGuyanaNationalNewspapersLimited.

Oppositionindisarrayaheadof electionsas‘collab’withWINbackfires

-Dr.Jagdeosays

WITHjustafewdays togobeforetheGeneralandRegionalElections,People’sProgressiveParty(PPP) GeneralSecretary,Dr. BharratJagdeohas takennoteofthepoliticalmiscalculation bytheAPartnership forNationalUnity (APNU)thathasleft thepartyfrantically fightingforitssurvival.

DuringapressconferenceonThursday atFreedomHouse,Dr. Jagdeowasquestioned bytheGuyanaChronicleregardingtheAPNU statingthatUnited States(U.S.)sanctioned businessman,AzruddinMohamed’spoliticalparty-WeInvestin Nationhood(WIN)is alignedtothePPP/C.

Unliketheopposition,thePPPGeneral Secretarystatedthatthe PPP/Chasbeencritical ofWIN’scriminality.

Dr.JagdeohighlightedhowtheAPNU’s plantosilentlyembrace theWINparty,inhopes ofaffectingthePPP/C’s supportbasehasbackfired.

Healsoquestioned whetherAPNU’slatestattempttocriticise theWINpartyisjust anotherploybecause, accordingtohim,“most peopleinthePeople's ProgressiveParty’sbase understandthatWIN willcollaboratewith APNUandthatiswhy theyhavenotcriticised them,youknowthis instinctively,peoplein Guyanaarenotstupid.”

ThePPPGeneral Secretarypointedtothe silencefromtheAPNU, regardingthecriminalityoftheWINpartyin thepreviousmonthsand contrasteditwiththeir recentaccusationsof

corruptionamongother attacksatthepolitical party.

Dr.Jagdeofurther indicatedhowcritical WINhasbeenofthe PPP/C,evenpromoting theuntruththatitisthe currentgovernmentthat placedthesanctionson theMohamedfamily.

Hefurthernotedthat WINhasalsostayed clearofcriticisingthe previousAPNU+AllianceForChange(AFC) administration,inspite ofthepreviouscoalition’sattempttohijack democracyandtheir disastrouspolicies.

“So,theynevercriticiseAPNUorAFC. AndAPNUforfour months,didnotsaya wordaboutthemand Nortonwassayingup tothreeweeksagohe'll reservehiscriticism.

Well,we'refourdays awayfromtheelections.Soclearlythe numbers,theiroriginal calculationthatacollaborationwithWIN couldseethePPPbea minoritygovernment, Ithinkmaybethey've hadotheradvicenow thatthePPPisgoing towinthemajorityand significantlyso.

“Andthey'renow fightingbackfortheir ownpositioninterms ofhowmuchseatsthey sharewithWIN,”the PPPGeneralSecretary said.

Basedonthecurrent commentsandproclamationsbytheAPNU, Dr.Jagdeosaidthatthe oppositionisindisarray.

TherewereclearindicationsthatAPNU washopingWINwould pressurethePPP/C’s strongholds,butinstead, accordingtocritics,it haslaidbarethedesperationwithintheAPNU camp,asprominentfig-

uresalongwithparty supportersareabandoningship,allwhile thePPP/Cmaintainsits strength.

AsseenonNominationDaylastmonth,the

opposition’splantopeel awayatthePPP/C’s voteshasgonesouth,as thefacesofmanyformerAPNUexecutives andpartysupporters werespottedinWIN’s crowd.

Also,WIN’scandidatelistsubmitted totheGuyana’sElectionsCommission (GECOM)onNominationDayfurther reflectedAPNU’smassiveloss,asformerAPNU+AFCparliamentarianshaveappeared ontheU.S.-sanctioned businessmanpolitical party’slist.

Violencehas‘noplaceinsociety’

-Dr.Jagdeocondemnsdomesticviolence,joinswithPresidentAliin callingforchangeinbehaviourasgov’tworkstostrengthenlegislation

ByTrinaWilliams

ASthenationmournsa

motherwhoselifewasbrutallycutshortbydomesticviolenceandpraysfor thespeedyrecoveryofher wounded10-year-oldson whoiscurrentlyhospitalised,thePeople’sProgressiveParty(PPP)General SecretaryandGuyana’s Vice-PresidentDr.Bharrat

Jagdeohascondemned thoseactsofviolenceand firmlystatedthatithasno placeinsociety.

DuringapressconferenceonThursdayatFreedom House,Georgetown,Dr.Jagdeosaidthatthestrengtheningoflawsisnotenoughto eradicatedomesticviolence. Heemphasisedthatthefight goesbeyondlegislation.

Ashecalledforachange

ofculture,notingthatviolencemustnotbeacceptable,Dr.Jagdeosaid:“We’ve madeitclearinthenextterm, wehavetonotjustwork inthisschoolthroughthe civicprogramme[butalso] toworkataveryyoungage withpeopletopromotevaluesthatarereallyimportant tothegrowthofoursociety, amorehumanesociety.

“Butimmediatelywe

havetostartdoingwhatthe Presidentpromised,thatis, workingwithourreligious leadersandtheNGOsto trytogetaheadofthis.It happenstoooftenandit's happeninginsuchabrutal waythatitstunsthecountry.”

Hestatedthattheseacts of“grotesque”and“barbaric”violence“hasnoplace inamodernsocietyora humanesociety.”

PPPGeneralSecretaryandGuyana’s Vice-PresidentDr.BharratJagdeo

OnTuesday,President Dr.IrfaanAlipledgedtothe littleboythatGuyanawill standwithhimandcalledon allGuyanesetorecommitto buildingstrongerandsafer families.

ThePresidentsaid:“Ihad theopportunitytospeaktoa 10-year-oldchild,a10-yearoldchildwhoisfightingfor hislife,fightingforhislife becauseofwhatoccurred earliertoday.Iwantallof ustoholdthatchildupin ourprayers,andIhadthe opportunitytotellhimthat welovehim.

“Ihadtheopportunityto tellhimthatwearestanding withhimasacountry,and thathecancountonusasa peopletostandwithhimfor therestofhislife.”

Dr.Aliusedtheopportunitytocallonthenation toconfrontthechallenges ofbrokenfamilies,violence, societalandcommunityfailures,whichrequireallcitizenstomakeastronger commitmenttodoingbetter.

Hesaid:“Whenwestay silentinthepainofothers anddonothinginthepain ofothers,wenevercould tellwherethatpainwould lead.”

ThePresidentsaidthat thenationowesittothisrecentvictimtoworkharder,to notonlysecureaprosperous andadynamiccountry,but tosecureacountryinwhich familiesmustfindthejoyof livingtogetherandchildren enjoythecomfortofthe loveandprotectionoftheir parents.

Hestatedthatthenation couldbetherichestbutwithouttacklingtheseissues, wewillneverachievefull prosperity.

“Wemustrecommitourselvestobringinthesevalues tothecoreofourdevelopment,toadvancingthese values,toprotectingthese values.Andthisrequires everysingleoneofus.Itrequiresallofustounderstand whatisneededandactinthe rightdirection,”hesaid.

TRAGEDY

Afterfleeingherfamily hometwomonthsagobecauseofdomesticviolence, 36-year-oldTeekadaiAtiya SolomonwasonTuesday gunneddowninGeorgetown byherestrangedhusband, whoshothertentimesbefore turningtheweaponontheir

10-year-oldsonandthen fatallyshootinghimself. Accordingtoapolice release,theincidentoccurred around11:50hrsatLot199 CharlotteandBourdaStreets, whereSolomon,anExxonMobilemployee,hadbeen livingwithhersonsince leavingthemaritalhomeat NorthEastLaPenitence.

Policereportedthaton thedayofthetragedy,her husband,AlroySolomon, droveupinablackmotorcar (registrationnumberGUY 94),rushedintothecompoundandopenedfire.

“The36-year-oldman thenreportedlyexitedthe vehicleandranintothecompound,afterwhichthewomanwasheardscreaming, followedbyseveralsuspectedgunshots.Thevictim ranoutoftheyardandwas followedbythesuspect,who dischargedseveralroundsat her,causinghertofallon thegroundinfrontofher apartment,southonCharlotte Street,wheresheremained motionless,”thepolicestatementsaid.

Thewomansustained multipleinjuries:twogunshotstotheabdomen,two tothechest,twototheforehead,andotherstoherlimbs andhip.

Momentslater,thesuspectre-enteredtheyard, shothis10-year-oldsonin theleftsideofthechest,and thenturnedtheweaponon himself,firingasingleshot tothetemple.

Public-spiritedcitizens rushedthewoundedchildto theGeorgetownPublicHospitalCorporation,wherehe remainsinastablecondition.

Crimesceneinvestigatorsrecovereda9mmpistol withamagazinecontaining sixliverounds,alongwitha matchingspentshellnextto thesuspect.

Neighbourstoldreporters thatthewomanhadrecently movedintotheareaaftera seriesofpersonalhardships, includingthelossofthe maritalhometoafireanda hit-and-runaccidentthatleft herwithabrokenarm.

Theyalsodisclosed thattherewereatleast twopreviousdischarging ofafirearmincidentsat theCharlotteStreetresidence.Itissuspectedthat theestrangedhusbandwas involved.

Guyana’sfuturetooimportanttoleavetochance

––DrJagdeosaysinappealtovoters;framesPPP/Casonlypartywithavisionforcountry,credibletrackrecord

ByTrinaWilliams

GUYANA’sfuturecannot belefttochance,People’s ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C)GeneralSecretary DrBharratJagdeotoldthe nationonThursday,asvoterspreparetoheadtothe pollsthisMonday.

FramingthePPP/Casthe onlypoliticalpartythatcan continuetoguideGuyana upwardsonitsdevelopment trajectory,DrJagdeoappealedtovotersofallages, especiallyfirst-timevoters beforeGeneralandRegional ElectionsareheldonSeptember1.

Hesaid:“Wehaveagreat dealofcredibilitygoinginto theseelectionsunlikeother politicalparties,because wehavedeliveredonevery promisewemade.Wego intotheseelectionsasthe partythathasthegreatest capabilityofputtingtogether sustainableplansandimplementingthoseplansandthat requirescapable,trusted, experiencedleadershipand ourpartystandsaheadofall theothercompetitorsinthat regard.”

TheGeneralSecretary wintheupcomingelections andwitha“handsomemajority,”explainingthatitis notarrogance.Henotedthat citizenshaverecognisedthe hardworkthatthePPPhas in2020.

Dr.Jagdeohadalsoissuedadirectappealtothose youngGuyanesewhowillbe Monday.

PointingtotheUnited States(U.S.)-sanctioned businessman,AzruddinMohamed’spoliticalparty,We InvestinNationhood(WIN), DrJagdeohighlightedthenumerousinstanceswheretop spokespersonsoftheparty haveverballyabusedthose whodonotsupportthem, physicallyassaultedpersons, threatenedtokillpersonsand allegedlyhandoutmoniesto solicitsupport.

ThePPP/CGeneralSecretaryevenpointedtothe recentstatementsbythechief spokesmanfortheWINparty,Bradley‘Doggie’Sampsonwhopromisedtorelease thosewhoareincarceratedas DrJagdeostatedthatother politicalpartiesarenotinterestedinthewell-beingof thenation.

Whilestatingthathe hopesMohamedispaying closeattention,Sampson

said:“…We’regoingtobring outallthejailmanexceptthe rapers…allthejailmenwho areincarceratedexceptthe rapeones,y’allcominghome September1.”

Notingthatthereare manyyoungpeoplewho 18,DrJagdeocautionedthem tonotfallforsocialmedia opticsandthinkseriously abouttheirfuture.

Hesaid:“Iwanttourge thoseyoungpeopletothink abouttheirownfuture.What kindofcountrydoIwantto growupin?I’msurethey thattheywanttogrowupin acountrythatisintact,that ourbordersaresafe,anda countrythatisunited,where peoplearejudgedonthebasisoftheirworkandnothow theylookortheirreligionor theirgender.Acountrywhere allofthepeopleregardlessof theirracecanworktogether, puttheirshoulderstothe wheeltomakesurethatwe becomeprosperous.

“Andthereisonlyone politicalpartytodaythat ispushingthisagendaof nationalunityandbringing peopletogether,andthat’sthe People’sProgressiveParty.”

DrJagdeoalsoreminded theyouthsoftheAPartnershipforNationalUnity+ AllianceForChange’s(APNU+AFC)attemptin2020 tohijackdemocracy,stating thatwhenpoliticalparties candosuchanegregiousact, thentheywilloperatewith impunity.

Youngpeopleshould safeguardtheirrightsand chooseapoliticalpartythat willworkfortheirsupport andnottakethemforgranted.

Onthatnote,hepositionedthePPP/Casthe onlycontenderthatcando such.

ACREDIBLETRACK RECORD

DrJagdeooutlinedhow thePPP/ChaspulledGuyanaoutoftheeconomic collapsethatthePeople’s NationalCongressReform (PNCR)hadplummetedthe countryintowhiletheyheld howthePPP/Chadtorevivetheeconomyfromthe APNU+AFC’sdisastrous policiesthattheyhadimplementedwhentheywere

Forinstance,from20152020,thepreviouscoalition hadcrippledGuyana’sworkforceandfailedtodeliveron

theirmanifestopromises.

TheAPNUanditscoalitionpartner,theAFC,put personsonthebreadline insteadofcreatingopportunities.Anexampleofthisisthe thousandsofsugarworkers wholosttheirjobs.

UndertheAPNU+AFC administration,sugarworkerswerebeggingfortheir livelihoodstobespared, evengoingsofarastohold picketswithheartfeltpleasin thescorchingsun.However, thethengovernmentturneda deafeartotheircries.

In2017,thecoalition governmenthadannounced

theclosureofseveralsugar estatesacrossthecountry, leavingthousandsofpersons withoutjobsorsourcesof income.Themovesawfour sugarestatesbeingclosed andover7,000sugarworkers losingtheirjobs. Sinceitselectiontoofgovernmenthasrestoredinthesugarindustry. WhiletheAPNU+AFC’s ofpersonsunemployed,the currentPPP/Chasrestored

Jagdeowarnsof fakeonlinepolls

DrJagdeoonThursday duringapressconference atFreedomHouse,Georgetown,explainedhowthe pollsaredesignedtomis-

encevoters’behavioursfora particularelectoraloutcome. So,theycouldbegenerated inabackroom,”hesaid.

Guyana’sfuturetoo...

andcreatedinexcessof 60,000jobssinceentering

TheGeneralSecretary spokeaboutthePPP’srecord ofrelief,whereitreversed APNU+AFC’smorethan 300taxes.

DrJagdeowasblunt abouttheopposition’srefailedmiserably.”

positivethatwewillgeta goodoutcomeforGuyana thatwouldsettlethiscontroversyonceandforallwith Venezuela.”

However,hewasnottoo optimisticthatVenezuelawill accepttheoutcomegiven howthatthecountry’sregime operates.

DrJagdeofurtherrubbishedtheopposition’s claimsofahungparliament andfurthercalledoutthe oppositionforattemptingto suppressthePPP/C’sturnoutsatitsralliesandpublic meetingsandeventelling PPP/Csupportersnotto comeoutandvote.

DrJagdeo,whilebrand-

Healsopointedtoan anonymousletterpenned inoneofthenewspapers,nancedbyagroupofforeign businessmenandcirculated byopposition-alignedplatoutcome.entificdoesn’tmeanit’s highlightinginconsistencies suchasnotstatingthemethodology.

ingtheoppositionpartiesas designedtocreateanarrativeouttherethatisfalse. So,atonetimecrowdsmatterandwhenthePPPstarted gettinghugecrowdsand theyaregettingsmallnumbersofpeople,thencrowds ceasetomatteranymore.”

in2020,thePPP/Cgovernmenthasimplementeda rangeoftaxcutsandrelief measuresaimedatimproving citizens’lives.Theseinclude theremovalofValueAdded Tax(VAT)onmachineryand equipment,waterandelectricity,dataservices,hinterlandtravel,andseveralother essentialgoodsandservices.

Further,industriessuchas miningandsugarhavebeen liftedfromthebackburnersofdevelopment,andthe currentgovernmentcontinuestofocusondiversifying Guyana’seconomywitheven biggerplanstotransformitin itsnewterm.

Withthatsaid,Guyana needsagovernmentthathas theskilltobuildinternational coalitionsthatwouldaddress anyattemptbyVenezuelato harmthenation’sterritorial integrityandsovereignty.

fore,thisistheworsttime totakeariskonourcase withVenezuela.We’vebeen pursuingthiscasediligently.We’reatastageatthe thatprocessthroughtothe completionandwe’revery

dentAlihasdemonstrated andMarkPhillips,thatthey arecapableofgettinginternationalsupportonthismatterandalsoworkingclosely withtheU.S.,Canada,the Frenchandeveryoneelseto keepVenezuelaatbay. arecontestingnowcando

CenterforEquity,Opportunity, InnovationinRegion SixreshapinglivesofPWDs

TWOmonthsafteritwas officiallydeclaredopen, theCenterforEquity, OpportunityandInnovationisalreadyreshaping thelivesofPersonswith Disabilities(PWDs).

Itissaidtobeopening doorstoeconomicempowermentandshowingthat abilityshineswhenopportunitiesareinclusive.

LocatedattheEmpower GuyanabuildinginPalmyra,RegionSix(EastBerbice-Corentyne),thefacility wasestablishedunderthe accordingtopreviousreports,isapioneeringprojectthatdirectlyrespondsto theneedsandvoicesofthe PWDscommunity.

Atthisfacility,more than120personswith disabilitieswillbeskilltrained,buildingconfidence,andbecomingentrepreneurs,withthespace andresourcesforthese individuals.

Inavideouploadedtobookpage,anumberof personsspokepositively abouttheirexperienceat thefacility.

BkeeshamKanhai,a technicianemployedatthe centre,whoalsohasaphysicaldisabilitysaidhewas excitedforittocometo fruition.Hedisclosedthat hehasbeendoingthisjob forawhile,notingthathe likestowork.

JaideoNankissoreisa deafandnon-verbalartist,whohasbeenpainting sincehewas14yearsold. Awoman,whoappeared alongsideNankissoresaid theyoungmanhasbeenin anumberofcompetitions withhisartwork,andhas madeappearanceatthe CastellaniHouse,where hehassoldsomeofhis artwork.

Identifyingherselfas a“slowlearner,”Theresa Sugrimhasdreamsofbecomingaseamstress.

Currentlyagarment constructiontrainee,she saidthatsheisexcitedto bedoingthis.Sheplanson startingherownbusinessto helpherfamily.

Avisuallyimpaired chef,AbiolaSandy,noted thatsheishappytomeet otherpersonslikeherself, addingthatshefeelscom-

fortableatthecentre.

laughwhenyouseecertain thingshappentopeople because,itcouldhappento anybody.”Shelateradded,

enceinourlife.”

AvisuallyimpairedAdministratoratEmpower Guyana,StreemaJagmohan notedthatwhiletheyhave employed120personsat thecentre,thereisspace formore.

“Manyofthepersons thatarecurrentlyemployed hereareearninganincome forthefirsttimeeverin theirentirelifespan,”she said.“Asapersonliving withdisabilitymyself,personally,thisissomething thatpersonswithdisability advocatedallourlivesfor --inclusionandopportunityandaspacetoprove ourselves.”

Shehighlightedthatthe GovernmentofGuyanaandedthemwiththeopportunityandaspacewherethey canfeelincluded.

rienceandunderstanding ofthebarriersthatpersons withdisabilityface,Jagmohansaidthecentrenow eradicatesthat.

AccordingtotheAdministrator,participantsare constantlybuildingtheir confidence,formingrelationshipswithprofessionals,andarenowmorevaluedinasocietythatonce overlookedtheirabilities.

Shestated,“SoImyself havingtowitnessthatevery singledayhereisempoweringformeandeveryone here.Toseethetransition, somepeoplewhocameshy andunsureofwhatthey wantedorwheretogoare nowleadersintheirown awesomeexperience.”

Apassionateadvocate forpersonswithdisability, Shreemasaidthisinitiative hasproventhatpersons withdisabilitiesareincluded.

“Itdoesnotalways havetobeasupportof givingustherespectand thedignityandanaccessiblespaceforustoprove ourselves,andbydoing this,you’renotgivingusa

favour,butyouareopeningawholenewdoorfor creativity,forinclusivity, forabetterGuyanaand whatwecanbringtothe tablewouldbenefitthe entirecountry,”Jagmohanrelated.

TheCenterforEquity,OpportunityandInnovation(Photo:FirstLady-AryaAli/ Facebook)

THECarnegieSchoolof HomeEconomics(CSHE), andtheMinistryofEducation(MoE)onThursday launched“ATasteofGuyaneseCurries,”arecipe bookthatfeaturesanextensivecollectionofmouth-wateringrecipesthataredeeplyrootedinGuyana’srich culturalheritage.

InfusedwithEastIndian culinaryheritage,thebook offersauniquelookinto

thehistoricalandcultural journeyofGuyanaandisan invitationtoexploreaworld ofculinarydelight,according totheschool’sPrincipal,Dr. SharmaineMarshall.

Notingthatcompiling thisinauguralrecipebook wasnoeasyfeat,sheshared thatuserscanexpectacomprehensivecompilationof 22authenticGuyanesecurriesfeaturingpopularmeats, wildmeatsandgame,fish

andseafood.Alsoincluded arevegetableandvegetarian curries,rotis,riceandsoups recipes.

Additionally,therecipe bookprovidesitsuserswitha comprehensiveguidetorecreatethefeatureddishes.The bookalsoincludesabbreviationsandtheprinciplesof safetyandhygiene.

“Thispublicationcelebratestheculinaryartistryof Guyaneseculture,focusing

onaharmoniousintegration ofEastIndiancuisines.Each recipehasbeenthoroughly craftedbyourteamtoensure thattheauthentictraditionsiarcomfortsandexcitingnew tastes,”sheexpressed.

Moreover,thePrincipaldertakingthischallenge,the CSHEunderscoresastrong commitmentinpartnership withtheMinistryofEducationtoelevatethequality, equityandrelevanceoftechnicaleducationinGuyana.

DCEO-Technical,Dr.RiteshTularam(MoEphoto)

Inhisremarks,Deputy ChiefEducationOfficerTechnical(DECO-T),Dr. RiteshTularamstatedthat Thursday’slaunchistimely, critical,andissignificant. Outliningthatthisisvery purposeful,theDCEO-Tsaidinghospitalityandtourism sector.

Inhisremarks,heemphasisedthetrainingofour human-resourcecapacityin thevariousskillareasto ensurethattheycanmakea meaningful,purposeful,tangible,andtransformational impact.

Hementionedthesignificanttransformationbeing undertakenontheEastBank ofDemeraracorridor,with theconstructionofseven state-of-the-arthotels.

“Nowthislaunchthat we’redoingheretoday,it istimely,itiscritical,itis nowlendtoallthemany personsthatwe’vetrained inCarnegieandbyextension,tounderstandthepurposeofthisbookandhowit willtranslateintoproviding qualityserviceintoday’s hospitalityinstitutions,”Dr.

Heunderscoredthatthis

meansanumberofthings forCSHE.Thisincludesthe needforustorethinkstrategically,realignstrategically andpurposefully,whatis beingdoneintermsofthe

“So,it’snotaboutofferingawholegamutof programmes,butwhatare [sic]therelevanceoftheprogrammes,giventheimpact withinthevarioussocio-economiclandscapesandspaces. So,itmeanswearetraining forapurpose,”Dr.Tularam said.

TheDCEO-Tadded,“We aretrainingourstudents;we aretrainingthepeoplewithin thiscountryforapurpose.” Hesaidthismeansthatthey

CarnegieSchoolofHome Economics,providingthem withtheskillstobegainfully employedandtocontributetothetransformationof thetourismandhospitality sector.

Hesaidthroughpartnershipswithagenciesand private-sectorentities,the CSHEwillbeabletorealign,repositionandre-engineeritspositioninmakingitstrainingmeaningful, purposefulandimpactful. HenotedthatCarnegie shouldseeitselfasnotjust atraininghub,butasa researchinstitution.

PPP/Catitsstrongestever

–Dr.Singhsays

ALLUDINGtothelarge crowdsateveryPeople’s ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C)politicalmeeting andrallyduringthis2025 electioncampaignperiod, SeniorMinisterintheOfResponsibilityforFinance andthePublicService,Dr. AshniSinghpositedthat thepartyiscurrentlyatits strongestinlivingmemory.

Theministergavethis perspectiveduringatelevisionprogrammeairedonthe NationalCommunications Network(NCN)inBerbice. Dr.Singhhasbeenonthe groundconsistentlyinRegionSixandinotherparts ofGuyanaalongwithother Cabinetmemberssincethe 2020.

“Isaythisforanumber ofreasons.Firstofall,we launchedourcampaignin Kittywithwhateverybody hasdescribedasthelargest politicalmeetinginliving memory.Andwehavehada successionofpoliticalelectionralliessinceKitty,includingoneinAlbionandin manyotherplacesinLethem recently.Andatrallyafter rally,weareseeingthelargestcrowdsevergatheredand evenwithinthosecrowds,we areseeinganumberofvery interestingcharacteristics thatarenoteworthy,”heex-

plainedtotheprogramme’s hostChristopherHolder.

Theministerthenzeroed inonthefactthattherehas beenthecontinuouspresence oflong-standingsupporters whohavebeenwiththeparty forgenerations.

“Butyou’realsoseeing morethanatanyothertime inhistory,apresenceofnew supportersofthePeople’s ProgressiveParty,andyou haveseenthis,literally,ateverysinglerallyandatevery singlepublicmeetingthatwe havehad,peoplewhohave I’vecometoapoliticalrally, I’vecometotherallyheld bythePeople’sProgressive Party,”headded.

Henotedtoothatmany supportershavestatedthat theywantedtobepresent toshowtheirsupportfor thepartyandforPresident IrfaanAli.

“Andthefactthatwe’ve seenthecontinuedpresence ofourtraditionalsupport baseandthismassinflux ofanewsupportbasetells methatwearepoisedfora September2025,becauseIt tellsmethatthetraditional baseisintactandittellsme thatwehavemadetremendousinroadsintodemographicgroupswho,perhaps historically,mighteither havebeensittingonthefence orperhapsmighthavebeen

JasonCartertolead CarterCenterelection missioninGuyana

SeefullstatementfromtheCarterCenter THECarterCenter’selectionobservershavearrived inGuyanaandareundergoingtraininginadvanceof theirobservationofelectionday,tabulation,andthe post-electionenvironment.

JasonCarter,chairpersonofTheCarterCenterBoard ofTrusteesandgrandsonofthelateU.S.PresidentJimmy Carter,willleadtheCarter Center’smission.Hewill meetwithkeystakeholders —includingpoliticalparty candidates,civilsocietyor-cials,andotherinternational electionobservermissions —beforeobservingpolling, counting,andtabulation. CarterreturnstoGuyanaafterhavingco-ledtheCenter’s 2020electionobservation missioninthecountry.

“ThisisanimportantmomentforGuyana’sdemocracy,”saidCountryDirector JasonCalder.“TheCarter Centerencouragesevery eligiblevotertomaketheir voiceheardandishopefulthattheelectoralprocesswill people.”

TheCenter’scoreteamofelectoralexpertsarrivedin lateJuneandissuedapreliminarystatementsummarizing keyobservationsinthepreelectionperiodonAug.19.

pendentandimpartialassessmentoftheelectoralprocess.

TheCarterCenterishereattheinvitationofthegovernmentofGuyana.Ithasalongstandingcommitment toGuyanaandhasworkedinthecountrysince1991to strengthendemocracy,supportcivilsociety,encourage sustainabledevelopment,andreinforcetheruleoflaw.

TheCarterCenterisarecognizedleaderinthe internationalelectionobservationcommunityand hasconductedmorethan125electionobservation missionsglobally,includinginGuyanain1992,2001, 2006,2015,and2020.

supportinganotherparty,” Dr.Singhpositedfurther.

MinisterSinghaddedthat thepartyalsoreceivedvery strongendorsementsofPresidentAlifromalargenumber ofGuyanese,whoaresaying“werecognisewhatthe people’sProgressiveParty hasdoneforGuyanaand hasdoneforusascitizens ofGuyana,andwewantto seemoreofthesepositive developmentsthathavebeen deliveredbythePeople’s ProgressivePartyandby PresidentAli.”

Herelatedthatfromthe party’sinteractionsonthe ground,manypersonshave

alsosaidthatthereisnoway thattheywillsupportany otherpartyotherthanthe PPP/C.

“Awayfromtheglare ofcameras,awayfromthe formalsettingofapolitical rally,youarehearingthis veryclearly,communityaftercommunity,villageafter village,streetafterstreet, you’rewitnessinganunprecedentedoutpouringoflove forthepoliticalleadershipof thePeople’sProgressiveParty,”Dr.Singhunderscored.

TheministerconcludedbyalludingtotherecentLocalGovernment Electionswheretheparty

MinisterAshniSingh

wasabletogainadditional seatsinareasthatwerenot traditionallytheparty’s supportbase,pointingout thatifthishistorictrendis observed,thenitshouldnot beasurprise.

“Becauseinareaswhere historicallywehavenotdone aswellaswehavedonein otherareas,wehaveseena furtherstated.

Thepartywillcontinueitscampaignallacross thecountry.Itslastmajor rallyisslatedforLusignan onSaturday,August30, asGuyaneseprepareto votein2025Nationaland RegionalElectiononSeptember1.

NandlallurgesvoterstoconsiderGuyana’ssecurity,

geopoliticalchallengesaheadofMonday’spolls

––saysMohamed’scandidacyposesseriousriskstocountry’sgovernance,internationalstanding;citeshisallegedlinkstoorganisedcrime,U.S.sanctions

ASGuyanaapproaches generalandregionalelectionsonSeptember1,AttorneyGeneralandLegallall,SC,isurgingvotersto weighthecountry’sgeopoliticalandsecurityenvironmentwhendecidingwhom toelect.

Speakingduringhisprogramme‘IssuesintheNews’ onTuesday,Nandlallhighlightedtheneedforexperiencedleadershipcapable ofmanagingbothdomestic andinternationalchallenges, particularlyamidtheongoing territorialcontroversywith Venezuela,nowbeforethe InternationalCourtofJustice (ICJ).

Hepointedtorecentdevelopmentsintheregionthat

TheUnitedStates(U.S.) hasdispatchedwarshipsand

AttorneyGeneral AnilNandlall,SC

morethan4,000personnel nearVenezuelanwatersas partofananti-narcoticsoperation.Venezuelaresponded bydeployingmilitaryunits tostrategiclocations,raising tensionsintheregion.

TheUnitedStateshas offeredamultimillion-dollarrewardforinformation leadingtothecaptureof VenezuelanPresidentNicolás

Maduro,citinghisallegedincorruption,andorganised crimethatthreatensregional stabilityandinternational security.

TheU.S.haswarnedthat Venezuela’sCárteldelos Solesandothercriminalnetworkscontinuetoexploit regionalairandsearoutes fordrugtrafficking,which threatensregionalstabilityana’ssecurityandeconomic well-being.

Assuch,NandlallexpressedalarmoverAzruddin Mohamed,presidentialcandidateandfounderoftheWe InvestinNationhood(WIN) party,whoiscurrentlysanctionedbytheU.S.Treasury Departmentalongwithhis father,Nazar,andseveral associatedcompanies.

Healsohighlightedvis-

itsbyMohamed’sfatherto theVenezuelanEmbassyin forconcern.

NandlallnotedthatU.S. congressionalmembershave describedMohamedasa “puppet”ofVenezuelanPresidentNicolásMaduroanda confederateincriminalactivitiesacrossSouthAmerica.

Nandlallcautionedthat Mohamed’selectiontopar-

internationalstanding,while assertingthatheisunlikelyto winthepresidency.

Heasked:“Doyouunderstandthedamagethatwill governmentalstructure,and ifthismaniseverelectedand becomespartoftheformal statestructureofthiscountry

orpartofourlegislature?”

“Thenextgovernmentof todealwith.Thatistosay, howitwillnavigateandmanagethisissue,becausethe entiresouthernCaribbeanhas alreadyindicateditsintention toaddressthismatter.You needstatesmanship,mature leadership,anddiplomatic

skillstoensureournational interestandterritorialsovereigntyareprotected,andthat wecontinuetomaintaingood relationshipswithourclosest andstrongestallies,”the attorneygeneralexplained.

Hequestionedwhether AzruddinMohamed,orother oppositionleaders,including APartnershipforNational Unity(APNU)LeaderAubreyNorton,hastheexpertisetomanagethecountry’s

Nandlallstressedthatthe outcomeoftheelectionswill shapenotonlywhogoverns butalsothelong-termsecurity,stability,anddirectionof thenation.

Heconcludedbyurging voterstosupportPresident, DrIrfaanAli,citingthe needforcapableleadership tonavigateGuyana’sevolvingchallenges.

Guyanatointroducerobotic surgeries

––saysGuyana’shealthcaresystemisonthebrinkoftransformation

ByIndrawattieNatram

GUYANAispreparingto takeagroundbreaking stepinadvancingitshealth sectorwiththeintroductionofroboticsurgeries,a moveaimedatmodernisinghealthcaredelivery andutilisingcutting-edge technology.

Thiswasannouncedby

ahealthcaresystemthatis world-class,wheredoctors andnursesworkinstate-ofthe-artenvironmentssupportedbyadvancedtechnologies.

ThePresidentemphasisedthatthePeople’sProgressiveParty/CivicGovernmentiscommittedto makingthishappen.

Lookingahead,Presi-

expandtrainingfornurses anddoctorswhileensuring supportivefacilitiessuchas dayandnightcareservices athospitals,sohealthcare workerscanhavepeaceof mindknowingtheirchildren aresafewhiletheyservethe public.

HestressedthatGuyana’sgrowingrevenuesmust translateintoanuplifted

qualityoflifeforitspeople, ensuringdignity,betterwelfare,andopportunitiesfor thosewhooncemigratedto returnhometowork.

“Thehospitalisnotjust aphysicalstructure—itis aboutthepeopleandthe supportstaff.Thatiswhy weareinvestingheavilyin training,”PresidentAlisaid.

Theintroductionofro-

boticsurgerieswilltransformGuyana’shealthsector signallingthecountry’scommitmenttoplacingpeopleat thecentreofdevelopment whileembracingtechnology forahealthierfuture.

Residentswelcomedthe announcementsayingthat leadershipandcareforthe people.

“PresidentIrfaanAliis amanwithavision,andwe knowwhenhesaysomethinghedoit;atLimawe arehappyforthehospital”a residentsaid.

Residentsarevery thankfulforLimaRegionalHospitalwhichwillprovidespecialisedservices totheRegionTwopopulation.

HisExcellency,President Dr.IrfaanAli,duringlast Friday’scommissioningof thenew$6.6billionLima RegionalHospitalinRegion Two.

PresidentAlihighlighted thatrobotic-assistedsurgerieswillnotonlytransform thewaymedicalcareis deliveredinGuyana,butthe connectivitybetweenlocal doctorsandinternational specialistswillbestrengthened.

“Thereisnoshortcut.We havetogetthereasearlyas tomorrow,notin10years,” PresidentAliemphasised.

Henotedthatthegovernment’svisionistocreate

dentAliurgedmedicalprofessionalstotakefulladvantageoftrainingopportunities overthenextthreeyears, asGuyanapreparesfora morespecialisedandtechnologicallydrivenhealthcare system.

“Thoseinthesystem usethenextthreeyearsto upgradeyourself.Useall thetrainingopportunities wearegivingyou.Nurses, knowthatthiscountryison 24-hourcallforyou,“the Presidentstated.

PresidentAlifurtherunderscoredtheimportanceof investinginpeople,notjust infrastructure.

Heannouncedplansto

––overlooksAPNU+AFC’s recordofburdeningstudents

ByTrinaWilliams

WHILEconvenientlyoverlookingthepreviouscoalition’slegacyofpilingcostsonuniversitystudents,theA PartnershipforNationalUnity(APNU)’spresidential candidate,AubreyNortonhascriticisedthecurrent governmentfordeliveringfreeuniversityeducation.

Nortoninavideopostedonhisparty’sFacebook pagesaid:“Whenthegovernmentclaimsthattheyhave deliveredonfreeuniversityeducation,wecannotbelieve it,becauseweknowbetter.WeknowthatitisthePPP governmentthattookawayfreeeducationattheuniversity level.WeknowthatitistheAPNUovertheyearsthat wouldhavepressuredthemtoreturnfreeeducationto UniversityofGuyana.”

However,Norton’sremarksomittedGuyana’seconomichistoryandthat,hisparty,thePeople’sNational Congress(PNC)whichisapartoftheAPNU,ledthe nationtoeconomiccollapseaswaspreviouslypointed outbycritics.

Asmanyhavepreviouslyhighlighted,freeeducation wasaneconomiccasualtyandGuyana’seconomicdownturninthe70sand90sledtoitsending.

Duringoneofthemostcripplingperiodsinthenation,

APNU’sPresidentialCandidate,AubreyNorton

theInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)imposedaseriesof measuresunderformerPresidentDesmondHoyte’sEconomicRecoveryProgram(ERP)wereaimedatstabilising theeconomyandreducingdebt.

Whenthegovernmentchangedin1992,formerPresidentDr.CheddiJagan-theverystatesmanwhofounded theUniversityofGuyana(UG)in1963-kepttheIMF-imposedmeasuresinplaceandby1994,theremovalof tuition-freeeducationatUGbecameanecessity.

TheAPNU+AllianceForChange(AFC)administration’strackrecordintheeducationsectorisnothing forthemtobeproudof.From2015to2020,theparty backpedalledonitspromiseoffreeuniversitytuitionand increasededucation-relatedcosts.

Thecoalition’snotoriousdecisiontorevokethe“BecauseWeCare”cashgrant,avitalsupportforschoolchildren,impactedthelivesofthousandsoffamilies.

UnderthecurrentPPP/Cadministration,therehave beenconcretereliefandpoliciestobolstertheeducation sector.Forinstance,PresidentDrIrfaanAlimadethe landmarkannouncementoffreeuniversityeducation, duringhisbudgetpresentationtotheTwelfthParliament

Asaresult,UGhasseenasurgeinapplicationsforthe 2025/2026academicyear.

AmidstthesepositivemeasuresisalsotheGovernmentofGuyana’sOnlineAcademyofLearning(GOAL) programme,whichstandsasoneofthemostremarkable educationalsuccessstoriesintheCaribbean.

Sinceitslaunchin2021,GOALhasprovidedarecord39,000fully-fundedscholarshipstoGuyanesenationals,almostdoublethegovernment’sinitialtargetof 20,000scholarshipsby2025.

Theprogrammedemographicstellapowerfulnarrativeofempowermentandinclusion.With21,436scholarshipsgiventowomencomparedto8,322giventomen, GOALhasbeenapowerfulinstrumentforgenderequality ineducation.

Publicinvestmentsintheeducationsectorsoared from$53billionin2020to$185billionin2025.

Fernandessentencedto25yearsfor 2002murderofestrangedpartner

–asjudgeemphasisesprevalenceofdomesticviolence,needfordeterrence

ByFeonaMorrison

AFTERmorethantwodecadesontherun,53-yearoldGautierJeromeFernandesofOnderneeming, EssequiboCoast,was,on Tuesdaysentencedto25 yearsinprisonforthe 2002murderofhisestrangedpartner,22-yearoldTaijwantie“Roshanie” Sooklall.

JusticeZamillaAlly-Seepaul,inhanding downthesentenceatthe HighCourtinDemerara, saidthepunishmentmustolentnatureofthecrime, stressingthatthecourt wasduty-boundtosenda strongmessageofdeterrenceagainstgender-based

Thejudgenotedthatone inthecasewasthatthe inacommon-lawunion,text—aparticularlyserious womencontinuetolose theirpartners,”JusticeAl-

Sheemphasised:“The messagemustbeclear:this homeandrelationshipswill Peoplemustfindwaysto settletheirdisagreementsgins,italltoooftenendsin

Accordingtothejudge, Fernandesusedaknifeto attackhispartner,causing organsbeforefleeingthe scene,demonstratingabla-

“Afterseeingwhathe haddonetoSooklall,Fernandesdidnothingtohelp tothehospital,hedidnot callforassistance,andhe didnotstaytotrytoren-

considerationforthelifeof

ThejudgehighlightFernandes’crimehashad onSooklall’schildrenand family,notingthatithas

Shefurtherstatedthat therewerenomitigating circumstancesapplicableto thatthenatureofthekill-

thatFernandeshadnopriearlyguiltyplea,andhada satisfactoryprisonconduct record,resultinginaone-

Sheaddedthreeyears bringingthebasesentence

Whileacknowledging hisguiltyplea,thejudge describeditas“tactical” ratherthangrantingthefull one-thirdreductiontypi-

Fernandes’finalsentence was25yearsinprison,mi-

STIFFPENALTY

Thejudgealsoremarked onFernandes’conductingthathe“showedabold willingnesstoescapethe lawandaccountability,” includingstartinganew familyduringthetimehe

JusticeAlly-SeepaulnotedthatFernandeshasshown nogenuineremorseforhis actions,merelyaskingfor anotherchancetoreturnto hisfamily,whichdemon-

Sheaddedthatheattemptedtoshiftblameonto thewomanhekilled,goingsofarastodescribe claimingthatsheneglected theirchildren,leftthehome untidy,drankalcoholexces-

“Thecourtcondemns theseattemptstoshiftre-

Thejudgesetabase sentenceof30yearsforingfactors,thejudgenoted

Fernandeshadearlier pleadedguiltytoslashing Sooklall’sthroatsometime betweenJanuary26and 27,2002,atDiamond,East

Atthetime,Sooklall hadlefttheircommon-law relationshipofsixyears— duringwhichtheyhadthree children—afteryearsof

Onthenightofthemurder,Sooklallwaswalking homewithafriendwhen Fernandesambushedheron adirtroad,killingherand Hefledthesceneand for20yearsuntilhisarrestin June2022atOnderneeming, RegionTwo,wherehewas thatinvestigatorswere abletosecureaconfession inwhichFernandesadmittedtokillingSooklall andinjuringherfriend, Williams.

alty,StateCounselChristopherBelfield,assisted byStateCounselPraneta SeerajandStateCounsel NelissaPeterkin,argued thatthekillingwasnota suddenactofpassion,but acalculatedandviolent ambush.

Theytoldthecourtthat Fernandes“strategically

Sooklallbyslicingher throatwithaknifehehad concealedinhispants”after sherefusedhisdemandsto

Theprosecutorsfurther askedthejudgetoconsiderFernandes’sdeliberate decades,stressingthatit showedaclearunwillingnesstoacceptresponsibility:

humblecontentionthatsuch thereachoflawenforcementandablatantdenialof thecrimecommittedonhisterhiding,signalsablatant acceptresponsibilityforhis

Theprosecutorsalso tiedthecasetothebroader issueoffemicideandgen--

trollablekillingoffemales bytheirmalepartners,”the

Theystressedtheseriousnessoftheproblem,stating: andresultingkillingsrepresentsascaryanddaunting increasedthreattothesafety

terkinurgedthejudgeto imposeastrongsentenceas

“Thestateurgesthe courttomakeanexample ofFernandes,tosenda strongmessagetomenin

tolerableandunacceptable bysociety,thelawandthe

Theyconcluded byurgingJusticeAlly-Seepaultoimposethe maximumsentencepossible,statingSooklall’s deathwas“violentand agonising”anddeserved thefullweightofthelaw.

SOMEFORM OFMERCY

Inhisdefence,attorney AdrianThompsonargued thatFernandes’searly guiltypleaandcooperationwiththepoliceshould betreatedasmitigating factors.

Henotedthathisclient didnotwastejudicialtime,

andaskedthatFernandes becreditedfortheperiod alreadyspentinpre-trial

“Weareaskingthecourt toconsiderareductionforprisonreport,”Thompson submitted,urgingthecourt torefrainfromimposingthe

“Inessence,Iamaskingthecourttomeasure someformofmercyand justiceasabalanceonthe scale.”

I’MSORRY Fernandesaddressed thecourtdirectly,expressingremorseforhisactions. askingthecourttoplease

Heemphasisedhisregretandpleadedforleniency,notingthathewished tomakeamendsandreinte-

Aprobationreport, whichnotedthatFernandes toldtheprobationofficer thekillingwasnotpremeditated,wassubmittedtothe

statedthatSooklallhadleft himandtheirchildrentogo “sporting”andthatduring aconfrontationshepulleda

HeclaimedthatastruggleensuedafterSooklall refusedtoreturnhome, duringwhichshewasfatal-

thatFernandeslaterestablishedanotherrelationship, fatheringtwomorechil-

Despitethesemitigatingfactors,JusticeAlly-SeepaulsaidtheviolentmannerofSooklall’s deathandFernandes’s longevasionofjusticerequiredalengthycustodial sentence.

THEbestofwomen’sfootballinGuyanawilltake centrestageagaintoday

whentheWomen’sDivision OneLeagueresumes.

Adoubleheaderison thecardsfortheGuyana FootballFederation’s(GFF) NationalTrainingCentre (NTC)atProvidence,East BankDemerara(EBD),with theactionsettokickoffat 18:00hrs.

ThefirstmatchthiseveningwillpitDenAmstel FootballClub’swomen againstAnn’sGroveUnited’s women;bothteamsareyetto getanypointsontheboardin thiscompetition.

WhileAnn’sGroveisyet

SANDOWN

09:15hrsNovelette

09:45hrsCharlieMason

10:15hrsMrWonka

10:50hrsManOfLa Mancha

11:25hrsElFox

11:58hrsKebleSpirit

SALISBURY

12:13hrsDarvel

12:43hrsPili

13:13hrsProjectIncheon

13:43hrsMammaMaria

14:13hrsExplode

14:43hrsGreyOwl

IRISHRACINGTIPS DOWNROYAL

11:50hrsCinammonCoco

12:33hrsHerja

12:53hrsAvalo

13:23hrsSharingIsCaring 13:53hrsWorldOfFortune

14:23hrsTechnology

tohitthepitchinthiscompetition,DenAmstelhave alreadyhadtheirfirsttasteof theleague.LastFriday,Den Amstelwasthevictimofa 24-0trashingatthehandsof theGuyanaDefenceForce (GDF)FCwomen.

However,therewere somebrightsparksinthe team,especiallygoalkeeper SabrinaPeters,whoinspite oftheonslaught,managedto pulloffover10saves.Peters willlikelybeakeyfactor thisevening,asherteam seeksredemptionfromlast week’sdrubbing.

14:53hrsGoodGirlKathleen

SOUTHAFRICA RACINGTIPS GREYVILLE

08:40hrsDevoted 09:17hrsVencedor 09:50hrsInvictusJet

10:30hrsKingCeltillus 11:05hrsFutureVariety 11:40hrsIsikwishikwishi 12:15hrsRuggerLover 12:50hrsHappyFortune 13:25hrsPositionOf Power

AMERICANRACING TIPS

SARATOGA

Race1TaxImplications

Race2SteerClear Race3ProgramTrading Race4KillyStart Race5PowerSpeed Race6AlwaysPractical Race7EskeCastle Race8SheFeelsStunning

Ontheotherhand,the secondencounterat19:30hrs willseeWesternTigers’ womenandFrutaConquerors’womengoinghead-tohead.

FrutaConquerorshadan excellentstarttothecompetition,pullingoffa13-0 victoryoverMonedderlust FContheopeningnight.For FrutaConquerors,thelikes ofDellannaSmall,Captain FayonHarryandnewcomer totheclubRihannaDaCosta areallcharacterstolook outfor.

ForWesternTigershowever,securingthreepoints tonightafterlastweek’s 0-2blunderagainstSantos FCwillbecrucial.Strikers RayannaHarrisandMarissa Frankwillthereforeplayan importantroleintonight’s proceedings.

Assuch,twomouth-wateringclashesarebilledfor theNTCthisevening.

ComingupintheWomen’sDivisionOneLeague, FrutaConquerorswilltake onDenAmstelwhileGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)FC battlesWesternTigerson Friday,September5.

ThenonFriday,September12,Ann’sGrovetakes onRiver’sViewandLake MainstayGoldstarsgoes head-to-headwithMonedderlustFC.Matcheswillbeginat18:00hrsand19:30hrs respectively.

TheteamsintheWomen’sDivisionOneLeague arebattlingfora$1M grandprize.thesecond tofourthplacefinisherswillpocket$500,000, $300,000and$100,000respectively.Followingthe League’scompletion,a Cuptournamentwillfollow with$300,000,$200,000, $100,000and$50,000on thelineforthetopfour finishers.

CUMMINGSELECTRICALCOMPANYLTD 83GarnettStreet,Georgetown(Tel:225-6158)

Answerstoyesterday’squiz: (1)BarbadosTridents (2)LendlSimmons(GAW)

Today’sQuiz: (1)WhowasthelosingfinalistinCPL2014 (2)WhowasdeclaredManofthefinal?

Answersintomorrow’sissue

(CWI)-WestIndiesUnder-19captainJoshua Dornesaysthesquadis readytoembracethechallengeofSriLankainaseven-matchYouthOne-Day Internationalseries,which bowlsoffonSaturday,30 AugustattheCoolidge CricketGround.

TheBarbadianbatter, whorecentlyguidedhis countrytotheregionalUnder-19titlewhileearningthe tournament’sMVPaward, stepsontotheinternational stagefullofconfidenceand determination.

Dorne,whogainedpreviousinternationalexperience aspartoftheWestIndies teamatthe2024ICCMen’s Under-19WorldCup,praised thestandardoftheregional competition,which,forthe firsttime,featuredguest teamsfromtheUnitedStates.

“Ithinktheregionaltournamentwaswellputtogeth-

TKRsecureeight-wicket winagainstFalcons

THE14thmatchoftheRepublicBankCaribbeanPremierLeague(CPL)sawthe TrinbagoKnightRiderssecureaneight-wicketvictory overtheAntigua&Barbuda Falconsintheirfirsthome gameoftheseason.Asuperb bowlingdisplayfollowed by50sfromAlexHalesand KaceyCartywereenough tosetupthewinandsee KnightRidersmovetosecondplaceonthetable.

TheFalconsweretwo wicketsdowninthefirst overafterMohammadAmir dismissedbothRahkeem CornwallandKarimaGore forducksashestartedthe gamewithadouble-wicket maiden.Theythenlostfour wicketswithoutaddingto thescoretogofrom71/2to 71/6,thanksinparttoAndre Russelltakingtwowickets withoutconcedingarunin theseconddouble-wicket

maidenoftheFalconsinnings.

PakistaniduoImad WasimandUsamaMirput togetherarecoverywith apartnershipof64which broughttheFalconsback intothecontest,endingona respectablescoreof146/7. WhiletheinningsfromImad washugelyimportantin keepingtheFalconsinthis game,heleftthefieldinjuredandtooknofurther partinthecontest,which willbeamajorconcernfor theFalconswhowillhaveto worryovertheavailability ofakeyplayerandtheir captain.

Asteadypower-playsaw theKnightRidersreach42/1 withColinMunrotheonly wickettofall.Apartnership of87betweenCartyand Halestookanyremaining dramaoutofthecontestas thetworighthanderscalmly

puttheirteamincomplete control.

Therewereafew chancestobreakthesecond-wicketstand,notleast whenAndriesGousmissed astumpingoffthebowling ofKarimaGorewhenHales wason33.Thestandwas eventuallybrokenwhen Cartyedgedtheballonto hisstumpsoffthebowling ofJaydenSealesfor60.

Halespassed50from44 balls,butitwasKnightRiders’captainNicholasPooran whosealedthevictorywith abigsixasthehomeside ranoutwinnerswitheight ballsremaining.

AmirwasnamedPlayeroftheMatchforhis 3/22,butthiswasavery impressiveall-roundwin fromtheKnightRiders whohavestartedtheir homelegofthe2025tournamentinfinefashion.

er.Withtheinclusionofthe USAteams,itwasabitmore competitive.Imanagedto reachsomeofmygoalsthere andnowIfeelgoodabout thisseriesagainstSriLanka,” Dornesaid.

Theupcomingseven-matchseriesisseenas vitalpreparationfortheICC Under-19Men’sCricket WorldCup,tobeplayedin ZimbabweandNamibiain January2026,butforDorne, theimmediatefocusisensuringhissideputstogether consistentlygoodperformances.

“It’salwaysgoodtoplay aninternationalside.I’ve beenluckytohavethatexperiencebefore,soit’sup tometobringsomeofthat knowledgeandhelptheotherswhowouldn’thavehad thatexperienceyet.”

“Themaingoalistowin theseries.Onceweputtogethergoodcricketandhit

ourtargets,Idon’tseewhy weshouldn’tcomeoutvictorious,”heexplained.

ThesquadhasbeenacclimatisinginAntiguaforthe pastweek,withaseriesof practicesessionsunderhead coachRohanNurse,designed tosharpentheirskillsahead oftheopeningcontest.

Dornenotedthespirit withinthecampwasespeciallyencouragingwhile highlightingtheimportance ofdisciplineandadaptability.

“Themoodincampis good.The“fellas”aregelling togetherverywell.There’s alotofbanteroffthefield anditcarriesontothefield withpositiveenergythat reallydrivesoursessions,” henoted.

“Cricketisathree-dimensionalsport,sowe’relooking togive100percentinall threecategories.Discipline offthefieldcarriesontothe fieldaswell.Personally,my

roleistodowhattheteam requiresatthatmoment. Sometimesdigginginand sometimespushingondependingonwhatisneeded.”

Lookingaheadtothe SriLankachallenge,Dorne underlinedthespiritofdeterminationthathasdefinedhis side’spreparations.

“Weareworkinghard andyoucantellwereally wantit.Formeascaptain, myjobistocontinuetobring thegrouptogether.Oncewe liveinharmony,nothingcan stopus.”ThefirstfourODIs willbestagedattheCoolidge CricketGroundbeforethe seriesconcludeswiththree matchesattheSirVivian RichardsStadium.

Allgamesstartat9:30 AM,withfreeadmission forfans.

Matcheswillalsobe streamedliveontheWindiesCricketYouTubechannel.

Liverpool,Man Citytoface

RealMadrid

(BBC)-BothLiverpool andManchesterCitywill face15-timewinnersReal Madridintheleaguephase oftheChampionsLeague, whileTottenhamandNewcastlemustbothplayholdersParisSt-Germain.

The36-teamleagueintroducedlastseason-will seesixPremierLeague teamsinactionforthefirst time,buttheycannotface eachotheruntiltheknockout stages.

Aswellascomingup againstTrentAlexander-ArnoldandRealatAnfield,sixtimewinnersLiverpoolface AtleticoMadridandbeaten finalistsInterMilanintheir eightgames,withPepGuardiola'sCitytakingonNapoli andBorussiaDortmund.

Napoli'striptoEtihad Stadiumissettofeature KevindeBruyne'sreturnto theclubwherehewonsix PremierLeaguetitles.

ChelseafacegiantsBarcelonaandBayernMunich aswellasaformerplayer oftheirowninDavidLuiz -nowwithPafosofCypruswhileArsenalalsoplayHarryKane'sBayernandInter.

Newcastle'sreturntothe competitionincludesatripto StJames'ParkforBarcelona, whileTottenham-whoqualifiedbywinningtheEuropa League-playDortmundand Monaco.

Thefirstmatcheswillbe playedonTuesday,16Septemberandthelastroundof leaguegamestakeplaceon 28January2026,withexact schedulingtofollowinthe comingdays.Thisseason'sfinalwillbeheldinBudapest.

WhothePremierLeague sideswillface

Liverpool:RealMadrid (home),InterMilan(away), AtleticoMadrid(home),EintrachtFrankfurt(away),PSV Eindhoven(home),Marseille

(away),Qarabag(home)and Galatasaray(away).

ManchesterCity: BorussiaDortmund(home), RealMadrid(away),BayerLeverkusen(home), Villarreal(away),Napoli (home),Bodo/Glimt(away), Galatasaray(home)andMonaco(away).

Chelsea:Barcelona (home),BayernMunich (away),Benfica(home),Atalanta(away),Ajax(home), Napoli(away),Pafos(home) andQarabag(away)

Arsenal:BayernMunich(home),InterMilan (away),AtleticoMadrid (away),ClubBrugge(home), Olympiacos(away),Slavia Prague(home),KairatAlmaty(away)andAthletic Bilbao(home).

Tottenham:Borussia Dortmund(home),Paris St-Germain(away),Villarreal(home),Eintracht Frankfurt(away),Slavia Prague(home),Bodo/Glimt (away)Copenhagen(home) andMonaco(away).

Newcastle:Barcelona (home),ParisSt-Germain (away),Benfica(home), BayerLeverkusen(away), PSV(home),Marseille (away),AthleticBilbao (home)andUnionSG (away).

Liverpool,Arsenal, ManchesterCity,Chelsea andNewcastlesecuredtheir spotswithtop-fivePremier Leaguefinishes.Tottenham sealedtheirplacebywinning theEuropaLeague.

Sixth-placedAstonVilla hadtosettlefortheEuropa League,alongwithNottinghamForest.FACupwinners CrystalPalaceareinthe ConferenceLeague,having beendemotedfromtheEuropaLeagueovermulti-club ownershiprules.

CelticandRangers bothmissedoutonqualifyingforthemaindraw.

BCB’stwo-dayfirst-divisiontournament…

OPENERAriAfrizalKadirstroked animperiousdoublecentury,former TestplayerVeerasammyPermaul registeredaton,whilefastbowler NaeemKhancaptured5-16asAlbion crushedSkeldonbyaninningsand 348runsovertheweekendatAlbion.

Inthesecond-roundencounterof theBerbiceCricketBoard’sTwo-Day, First-DivisionTournament,thehosts amassedamassive494-7declaredas Kadir,withanunbeaten202joinedRose HallTownYouthandSportsClub’sJuniorSinclair,whoachieveda‘double’in thefirstroundagainstpolice.

Permaulclobberedapugnacious155 andsharedinamatch-winningpartnershipwithKadir.

JonathanFoo(56)andDamionCecil

FOLLOWINGtheestablishmentoftheCaribbeanBoxingOrganization (CBO)inAprilthisyear, theCaribbeanfightscene willigniteintheChristmas seasonwiththefirst-ever regionalprofessionalboxingshowcase.

TheCBOrecentlyannouncedthataBoxingDay eventissettotakeover Georgetown,Guyana.

InareleaseonThursday,thenewlyformedCBO saidthattheBoxingDay eventwillbespearheaded byBris-OPromotions,the CBO’sGuyaneserepresentativespearheadedbySeon Bristol,andpromisesanelectrifyingnightofCaribbean

(46)alsocontributedtothecarnageafter theyhadbothgottencenturiesinthefirst roundagainstPortMourant.

Withjusttworoundsplayed,four Albionbattershavealreadynotchedup ‘three-figure’scores.

Inthematchwhichwasplayedat thehistoricAlbionCommunityCentre Ground,Skeldonwerebundledoutfor 84battingfirstandbystumpsonday one,Kadir,wason159andwhenhe reachedhisdoublecentury,Albiondeclaredon494-7,insidethefirsthour’s playondaytwo.

Withadaunting406deficit,Skeldonfaredevenworseintheirsecond innings,collapsingfor58.

Khanhadthreescalps,whileleftarm-spinnerGourafRamesh(4-10)were

boxingexcellence.Fanscan expect5–6high-stakesprofessionalmatchupsfeaturing someoftheregion’smost dynamicandaccomplished fighters,alongside2–4thrillingamateurboutsshowcasingthenextgenerationof boxingtalent.

Speakingontheupcomingevent,aCBOspokespersonshared:“Thisevent isexpectedtoattractboxing fansfromacrosstheCaribbeanandbeyond,unitingthe regionthroughsportwhile shiningaspotlightonitselite athletes.

WiththecombinedeffortsofCBOmemberpromoters,theBoxingDaycard ispoisedtodelivernon-stop

thearchitectsofdestructionasSkeldon weredecimatedinanearlyendtothe one-sidedaffair.

DharmeshSeenaine(20)wasthe onlybattertoofferresistancetoRameshwhohadmatchesfiguresof8-37 andKhantookthreewicketsformatch figuresof8-45.

Thetournamenthasbeensuspendeduntilaftertheelections(September1)duetotheunavailability ofsomegroundswhichwillserveas pollingvenuesinBerbice.

(SeanDevers)

action,unforgettablemoments,andthestartofan annualtraditioncelebrating Caribbeanboxingexcellence.

TheCBOisacollective ofleadingboxingpromoters fromacrosstheCaribbean, aimingtoelevateprofessionalcombatsportsinthe regionbyunitingtoptalent, creatinglargerplatformsand deliveringworld-classevents toCaribbeanfans.

Theorganisationcurrentlycomprisespromoters representingGuyana,Barbados,Trinidad&Tobago, St.Maarten,TheBahamas, Jamaica,Curaçao,St.Lucia andGrenada,eachbringing theirfightersandexpertise tothering.

Thoseelectedtoservein AprilwereexecutivemembersoftheCBOarePresident –SeonBristol(Guyana); VicePresidentBobbyOttley, (St.Maarten);Secretary, Mr.RonaldAls(Barbados), AssistantSecretary,Ms.MiriamBynoe(Barbados)and executivememberMrDexter Patterson(Guyana). Fightannouncements, ticketdetails,andbroadcastinformationwillbereleasedinthecomingweeks. Boxingfansareencouraged tofollowtheCBO’sofficial channelswhenreleasedfor updates,astheCaribbean preparesforoneofthemost electrifyingsportingevents oftheyear.

VenusWilliamslastwonadoublestitlein2016atWimbledon, whenshepartneredhersisterSerena

Williamsand Fernandez winUSOpen doublesopener

(BBC)-VenusWilliams andLeylahFernandez claimedashockvictory overreigningchampionLyudmylaKichenokandher partnerEllenPerezinthe firstroundoftheUSOpen women'sdoubles.

Williams,45,andFernandez,22,groundouta7-6(74)6-3winagainstthesixth seedstoprogresstothesecondround,wheretheywill faceJapan'sEriHozumiand UlrikkeEikeriofNorway.

Williams,a14-time GrandSlamdoubleschampion,onlyacceptedawildcardinvitationtopartner FernandezonWednesday, andtheysoonlookedsetfor anearlyexit.

Theytrailed5-2inthe firstsetafterlosingtwo breakpoints,butfought backwithtwobreaksoftheir ownbeforewinningtheset tie-breaker.

Theenergyofthatcomebackcarriedoverintothe

secondsetastheAmerican andCanadianduobroketo loveinthesecondgamebeforesavingtwobreakpoints whenunderpressureinthe third.Thesetwentwithserve untiltheendwhenFernandez -whowasbornthreeyears afterWilliamswonherfirst NewYorkwomen'sdoubles titlein1999-servedtolove tosecurevictory.

Ukraine'sKichenokwon thewomen'sdoublestitle lastyearalongsideJelena Ostapenko.

"Wecameinandtriedto figurethingsoutinthebeginning,"Fernandezsaid.

"Venussaidthemost amazing,amazingstrategy duringachangeover:bring yourenergyup.Thatdefinitelyhelped.

"Itwasnerve-wracking, exciting,"Fernandezsaidof playingalongsidehertennis idolWilliams.

"ThenightbeforeIwas shaking,Iwassuperhappy.

Froomeairlifted tohospitalafter ‘serious’crash

(BBC)-Four-timeTour deFrancewinnerChris Froomehasbeenairlifted tohospitalaftersustaining multipleinjuriesinacrash insouthernFrance.

The40-year-oldBriton wastakentohospitalon Wednesdayafternoonby helicopterfollowingacrash nearToulon,about105miles (170km)fromhishomein Monaco.

Froome'steamdescribed thecrashas"serious"but saidhewasinastableconditionanddidnotsustainany headinjuries.

However,scansshowed Froomehasfivebrokenribs, acollapsedlungandalumbarvertebraefracture.

Frenchnewspaper L'Equipereportedthat Froomewasconsciouson arrivalandwasabletospeak tomedicalstaff.

Hewillhavesurgeryon hisbackonThursday.

Noothercyclistswere involvedinthecrash.

Froomeisoneofthe mostdecoratedcyclistsin history.

Heearnedthefirstofhis fourTourdeFrancetitlesin 2013,winningitthreeyears inarowbetween2015and 2017.

Youweresuperniceand welcoming,thatbroughtmy nervesdown,sothankyou fordoingthat!"

Onherpartner,Williams said:"Weplaythesame style,I'mjustalittlebitbigger,butwe'reagreatteam. She'sthebestpartnerI'vehad outsideofSerena."

Williamswasalsogiven awildcardtocompeteinthe women'ssingles,andputin animpressiveperformance against11thseedKarolina Muchovaearlierthisweek beforeeventuallylosingina decidingset.

ShewontheUSOpen women'sdoublestitlein1999 and2009alongsideyounger sisterSerena.

Fernandez,wholost toGreatBritain'sEmma Raducanuinthe2021US Openfinal,isthe31stseed inthesinglesdrawandwill playworldnumberone ArynaSabalenkainround threeonFriday.

Onlyfourmen-Jacques Anquetil,EddyMerckx,BernardHinaultandMiguel Indurain-havewonmore TourdeFrancetitles.

HewontwoOlympic bronzemedalsintheindividualtimetrialin2012and 2016andwasmadeanOBE forhisservicestocyclingin 2015.

TheIsrael-PremierTech

rider,whoisoutofcontract attheendoftheyear,is expectedtomisstheremainderoftheseasonwithhis injuries.

In2019,Froomewas ruledoutoftheTourde France,havingbeenplaced inintensivecareaftersufferingmultipleinjurieswhen hecrashedintoawallin training.

Froomehaspreviously suggestedthat2025could behisfinalyearofcompetitiveracing.

TKRsecure eight-wicket win against Falcons

NicholasPooranofTrinbago KnightRidersbattingduring theMen’s2025Republic BankCaribbeanPremier Leaguematch,Trinbago KnightRidersvAntigua& BarbudaFalconsattheBrian LaraCricketAcademyon August27,2025inTarouba, TrinidadAndTobago.(Photo byAshleyAllen-CPLT20/ CPLT20viaGettyImages)