Guyana ChronicleE-Paper 17-08-2026

MONDAY 17th August, 2026

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUSIVE

No. 1081879

President Ali unveils agro‑tourism vision for Region Two

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- highlights potential for employment boost, transformed communities

President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday toured the Hydronie/Parika Market, engaging with vendors and shoppers while enjoying some of the local fruits and juices that were on sale. He also used the opportunity to listen and take note of citizens’ experiences, concerns, and ideas. President Ali later announced that a decision was taken to install additional sheds to cover the remaining sections of the market, providing greater comfort and protection (Photos: President Dr. Irfaan Ali/Facebook)

Guyana’s electricity demand projected to - energy generation envisioned to exceed surge five-fold by 2030 10,400 GWh amid rapid economic growth SEE PAGE

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Both Justice Anderson, leaked CCJ confidential business must be examined if RJLSC moves ahead with review SEE PAGE

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Unprecedented demand surge, El Niño conditions cause of blackouts in Linden - LECI says 12

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Both Justice Anderson, leaked CCJ confidential business must be examined if RJLSC moves ahead with review - Ralph Ramkarran says

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran S.C., has argued that if the Regional Justice and Legal Services Committee (RJLSC)

proceeds with a proposed review into allegations concerning Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Justice Winston Anderson, it should also examine the unau-

thorised disclosure of the court’s confidential internal business. Ramkarran made the argument in his Conversation Tree blog article titled “Rumble in the CCJ,” published on Au-

gust 16, 2026, in which he examined the controversy surrounding leaked emails involving disagreements among judges of the CCJ, Guyana’s final appellate court. He said the infor-

Ralph Ramkarran

mation disclosed in the emails was limited and incomplete and, based on Justice Anderson’s subsequent response, the sweeping allegations of wrongdoing against him were not justified. The allegations contained in the leaked correspondence included claims that Justice Anderson directed judges regarding court dress, pressured judges in relation to cases, including the recent Mohamed case, and improperly influenced the composition of judicial panels. Ramkarran noted that, before Justice Anderson’s detailed response, he had initially regarded the dress-code issue as relatively minor, while pointing out that the Mohamed case did not appear to support an allegation of pressure because the decision was unanimous. He also observed that determining the composition of judicial panels was a responsibility of the CCJ President. According to Ramkarran, Justice Anderson subsequently provided explanations for the issues raised. The President said the dress-

code matter arose after a judge insisted on wearing national dress while appearing in matters being heard in Chambers. After discussions with judges failed to resolve the issue, a draft Judicial Dress Code was prepared for consideration by the RJLSC. Justice Anderson also reportedly explained that the alteration of a judicial panel was made because of the disagreement over the wearing of national dress. He rejected any suggestion that judicial views were suppressed or that judges were directed to reach particular conclusions in cases. The controversy has also raised questions a b o u t t h e R J L S C ’s role. Ramkarran said it had been reported in the local and regional press that the committee had acknowledged allegations concerning Justice Anderson and announced that a “transparent and independent review” would be undertaken. However, he contends that the RJLSC does not have the jurisdiction to conduct such a TURN TO PAGE 4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

President Ali unveils agro‑ tourism vision for Region Two

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- highlights potential for employment boost, transformed communities

THE Pomeroon’s coconut farms and Essequibo’s natural assets are being positioned as key pillars of an ambitious agro-tourism vision for Region Two, with President, Dr Irfaan Ali highlighting their potential to drive jobs, community transformation and sustainable rural development. Addressing residents during a recent community engagement, the President said the government was moving to create integrated development models that would spur economic buzz and employment within local communities. “We want to set a comprehensive framework for development that would allow you not only to live in your community, but to enjoy your community,” President Ali said. COCONUT FARMS AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Central to the President’s pitch was transformation of the Pomeroon’s coconut farms into organised visitor experiences, allowing tourists to participate directly in farm life while generating new income streams for households. Noting complaints from farmers about a labour shortage for harvesting, Dr Ali proposed recasting the coconut lands as part of a structured tourism product. “Let us make the coco-

President, Dr Irfaan Ali engaging with residents nut farms part of the tourism product and invite people to come and pick coconut on the farms, just like people go to pick apples and pick strawberries,” he suggested. “Whatever they pick, they buy. So, this could become a beautiful product.” He painted a picture of visitors travelling down the Pomeroon River for a “coconut-picking experience,” floating coconuts

along canals, participating in bush‑cooks on the farms and sampling a range of drinks and dishes made from coconut water and jelly. “These things may seem strange, but these are important natural assets that we have that we can enjoy,” he added. The Head of State linked the agro‑tourism push to broader efforts to expand

Region Two’s tourism infrastructure and appeal. He cited the recently commissioned Demerara River Bridge a as an example of how targetted investments can quickly create new economic activity. “Before we built the New [Demerara] River Bridge, there was no activity at night. Now there are tourists every single night going under the bridge, din-

ner on the water, dinner under the bridge, sightseeing along the Demerara River,” he said. Region Two, he argued, is already emerging as a major supplier of tourism products, with government’s plans to award a contract very soon for a road leading all the way into Mainstay to support tourism growth; work with private investors to complete new resorts along creeks and riverine corridors and invest in wider tourism infrastructure to support sustained visitor flows. “We want to ensure that the region is built up in such a way that it creates economic opportunities, economic spin‑off[s] that will not only lead to job creation, but that would lead to sustainable job creation in Region Number Two,” the president said adding: “We want to invest in agro-processing. We want to invest in value creation. The region is already becoming a major supplier of tourism product[s], and we have to continue to build the tourism potential and tourism infrastructure for this region.” Dr Ali framed agro‑tour-

ism as part of a wider push to create “liveable” communities that are attractive to both residents and visitors. He said the administration was looking at how sports infrastructure could be integrated into a tourism offering, ensuring that hotels across the region are linked to nearby recreational activities. “We also have to look at how do we ensure not only[that] we build sports facilities, but we build sports facilities that are integrated into a system that will allow sports tourism to take on,” he said. The president envisioned visitors being able to stay at hotels such as those already operating in the region and access volleyball and football facilities, children’s play areas, and waterfront experiences showcasing the Essequibo. “You can go and experience the beauty of Essequibo, sitting on the waterfront… enjoying the boardwalk,” he said, comparing the potential to the transformation of the Georgetown seawall from a “dump” into one of Guyana’s most iconic leisure spaces.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Yarrowkabra farmers to receive planting materials

FARMERS in Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, are set to receive quality planting materials, following a commitment by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha during a recent engagement with farmers in the community on Saturday. The commitment came after farmers raised concerns about the quality and availability of planting materials, with some saying they have been unable to access sufficient quantities of suitable plants for their farms. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha assured the farmers that the government will address the issue and ensure that the necessary planting materials

are made available. “I want to assure all farmers who are here that I

will ensure that all your plant materials are provided. NAREI will bring it here in the

community and do the distribution,” the minister said. The minister explained that an assessment will first be conducted to determine the number of farmers requiring assistance and the types of planting materials needed, ensuring that the distribution is based on actual demand. “We have to understand what the needs are and what are the types of plants we need. So, we’ll do a needs assessment and see how many people need, what type of crops, and we will work,” the minister said. Minister Mustapha also acknowledged the need to strengthen the system responsible for providing

the President, making appointments and determining the terms and conditions of service of court officials and employees, exercising disciplinary control over judges other than the President, and making recommendations to the

Heads of Government concerning the appointment and removal of the President. He argues that nothing in those functions gives the RJLSC jurisdiction to investigate the President, review his conduct or examine issues arising from leaked correspondence concerning the internal functioning of the court. Ramkarran nevertheless said that if the RJLSC proceeds with a review despite what

he considers to be its lack of jurisdiction, the examination should not be confined to Justice Anderson’s conduct or his approach to resolving differences with his fellow judges. He argues that the committee should also examine whether the CCJ has been brought into disrepute by the unauthorised disclosure of confidential correspondence and internal business of the Court. “If there is to be a

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha as he engaged residents of Yarrowkabra

planting materials to farmers. He noted that the government expects the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to play a greater role in delivering quality plants. “Farmers must be given quality planting materials,” he remarked. The minister noted that efforts are already underway to revamp NAREI and improve its capacity to provide farmers with quality planting materials suited to Guyana’s conditions. He further announced plans to rehabilitate the plant nursery in the Yarrowkabra area and transform it into a modern nursery where farmers can access planting

materials locally. He mentioned that “We want to make it a modern plant nursery, so that you can go get all your planting materials here.” The initiative forms part of the government’s wider push to expand agricultural production and encourage farmers to move into both traditional and non-traditional crops. Minister Mustapha urged farmers to make use of the support being provided and work closely with the ministry’s technical officers to identify the crops and planting materials best suited to their operations. (DPI)

Both Justice Anderson, leaked CCJ... FROM PAGE 2

review. Ramkarran pointed to Article V of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice, which sets out the powers of the RJLSC. These include appointing judges other than

‘review’ by the RJLSC, notwithstanding the lack of jurisdiction,” Ramkarran wrote, “and the RJLSC ‘reviews’ Justice Anderson’s conduct or his approach to resolving differences, it should certainly also ‘review’ whether the CCJ has been brought into disrepute as a result of the unauthorized disclosure of the CCJ’s confidential business.” The article also addresses Justice Anderson’s intervention concerning the confirmation of the appointments of Guyana’s Chancellor and Chief Justice. Ramkarran said the intervention could be understood in the context of concerns publicly expressed by two of Justice Anderson’s predecessors about the independence of Guyana’s judiciary, particularly in relation to the failure to secure confirmation of the appointments of

the country’s two most senior judicial officers. However, Ramkarran believes Justice Anderson underestimated the extent of Guyana’s political divisions and the level of suspicion and bitterness surrounding politically sensitive issues. “Justice Anderson may have overestimated the goodwill he expected. Now he knows!” he concluded. Ramkarran is a veteran member of Guyana’s legal profession. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 1996. He also served as a member of the Bar Council for more than 10 years and is a former secretary of the Guyana Bar Association. Ramkarran chaired the Constitution Reform Commission from 1999 to 2000 and served as Speaker of the National Assembly from 2001 to 2011.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

‘Warned but not protected’: Four in 10 adults in England ignore heat alerts

AS amber heat-health alerts spread across England this summer, a new study has found that the warnings are being received – but not changing behaviour. Research published by the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health found that seven in ten adults in England had seen a formal heat alert, yet 41 per cent of them took no action to protect themselves. The most common reason was not confusion, but disbelief: Many simply did not see themselves as being at risk. Only 18 per cent of people in England report a high perception of heat risk, the study found, and roughly 30 per cent say they know little or nothing about how to protect themselves. OLDER, NOT WISER Social media, the system’s main means of getting the word out, was the least trusted source of heat information, particularly among older adults – the group most vulnerable to extreme heat.

London is sweltering in its fifth heatwave of a record-breaking summer (Adobe Stock/Moofushi) The national survey published by UNU drew on the views of 1,097 adults along with 29 heat risk communicators. England’s warning system has been severely tested this summer – a season that is normally fast drawing to a close once it is mid-August. England's warning system was tested severely this summer. On 26 June, temperatures at Lingwood, Strumpshaw Hill, reached a provi-

sional 37.7°C, breaking a June record that had stood since 1976, while the country was placed under only its second-ever Red Heat Health Alert. That was surpassed on 13 August, when Kew Gardens, in southwest London, recorded a provisional 38.1°C – the year's

hottest day so far, and the fifth-hottest on record, though still short of the UK's August record of 38.5°C set in 2003. Further amber alerts followed through the month. NEVER TOO HOT? For Dr. Mehri Khosravi, the study’s lead author, the findings point to a

deeper cultural problem. “Heat still gets treated as good weather,” she said, “or as something that only happens to the very old and the very ill.” The research also found that weather information from authorities in England is built mainly to coordinate in-

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stitutions rather than to prompt households to act: informing the public, rather than motivating protective behaviour, was the dominant goal for three quarters of those interviewed. Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the UNU institute and a co-author of the report, said the country had only gone halfway. “England has built one half of a heat plan, and built it well,” he said. “The other half is where people actually live.” The report calls for heat resilience to be built into housing and planning policy, with stronger enforcement of building regulations, and for greater use of trusted local intermediaries such as libraries, faith groups and social care providers to reach the people digital alerts miss. (UN)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Closer to Progress GUYANA’S Government Service Centres are quietly transforming what it means to be a citizen in a hinterland, riverine and rural community. The recent opening of the Region Nine facility, and the more than 6,000 transactions it has already processed, is a tangible, measurable improvement in the daily lives of thousands of people who once had to travel hundreds of kilometres to Georgetown just to renew a passport or register a birth. That single number tells

a powerful story that government is moving towards its people, rather than waiting for people to move towards it. What makes this initiative especially commendable is its steady, methodical rollout. From Leonora in December 2025 to Fort Wellington, Cotton Field, Region Six, and now the Rupununi, with Bartica, Region Ten and Region One next in line, this is not a one-off announcement but a genuine national programme.

Each new centre holds passport services, civil registration, revenue collection, digital ID enrolment and more under a single roof, sparing residents the exhausting circuit of visiting separate offices scattered across the country. For a nation as geographically vast and diverse as Guyana, with hinterland communities separated from the capital by rivers, forests and hundreds of kilometres, this kind of decentralisation is an act of equity. Equally encouraging is the recognition that physical

access alone is not enough. Pairing the service centres with a Public Service Management Portal, a forthcoming centralised digital platform, and an upskilling partnership with Coursera shows a government thinking beyond ribbon-cuttings towards genuine institutional modernisation. Training public servants to deliver services competently and efficiently matters just as much as building the buildings that house them, and it is heartening to see both tracks advancing together rather than one lag-

ging behind the other. There is, of course, more work ahead. Sustaining momentum across ten regions, some far more remote than others, will require consistent funding, reliable connectivity, and continued political will long after opening-day headlines fade. But the trajectory so far, from Leonora to Fort Wellington to the Essequibo Coast to Region Six to the Rupununi in barely eight months, suggests a government treating decentralisation not as rhetoric but as a working plan with deadlines and delivery.

For too long, where a Guyanese citizen lived determined how easily they could access the services they were entitled to. That is beginning to change. Every new centre, every bus fare no longer spent, every day of work no longer lost to travel, represents real progress. This is precisely the kind of unglamorous, practical governance that deserves recognition, and continued support until every region, without exception, has a door this close to home.

pint is $1,900. How is that possible? From Fernandes you pay $300 less and the amount is double what Banks DIH is offering. From Creamery, you pay $500 less and the amount is double what Banks DIH has. I repeat; for a onepint box of rum and raisin from Banks DIH the cost is $1900. I was driven by piercing, agonising curiosity. What is in that Banks DIH box that makes it so absurdly expensive? At the same time, I was deflated. I wanted to buy the Banks DIH version because it is local and I am a buy-local fanatic. Here is what I did. Driven by overflowing curiosity, I bought all three just to discover the superior difference in the Banks DIH version. It

was my first taste of rum, and I was doing it while in my 70s. There wasn’t any difference. I may not be a good academic. I may not be a good media practitioner. I may not be a good social activist, but I am a damn good judge of ice-cream. I am competent when it comes to judging the essence of chocolate, fudge, sugar cake and ice-cream. I did not see any difference with the rum and raisin ice cream of Banks DIH, Fernandes, Creamery and Sterling. But here is what happened: my spoon struck something hard at the bottom of the box of the Banks DIH ice cream. I dug further and discovered two small gold nuggets. The next day, I took it to my jeweller who said it was genuine gold and gave me $5,000 for the pair. So,

there you have it – the reason for the exorbitant price for a mere pint of rum and raisin ice-cream. Of course, readers would know I am being satirical about the gold nuggets. It is just my way of being cynical about that high price. But on a serious note, how do you explain this price difference and for half the amount? I am sad about this because I bought the foreign ice-cream. Surely, local producers have to be more competitive. 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.

Banks DIH made me touch rum that I never did all my life

I NEVER accessed any type of alcohol even if the beverage contained even 0.9 per cent of alcohol. At Leonard Craig’s wedding, Adam Lynch offered me a shandy which I refused because it had alcohol. Adam shouted to the gathering: “Freddie you ever drank cough syrup? Well, it contains alcohol.” I didn’t know that and not all cough syrups contains alcohol. Last Friday, I finally had alcohol which I never ever touched in my entire life, and I am in my 70s. Banks DIH is the reason for this departure in my life. I will describe below the context, and you are not going to believe what is printed here in this column. I decided to publish this story out of concern for my country and to inform Guyanese of the things that take place in their

country. I have been doing that for more than 38 years in all the major newspapers and I do not see the point in stopping. So here we go. My wife’s favourite ice cream flavour is rum and raisin. I don’t have a favourite, but rum and raisin I will never use. I have bought different makes of rum and raisin for her but throughout the years, I never purchased the Banks DIH version. Friday, I examined three types of rum and raisin in the supermarket. One was from the Fernandes company of Suriname. I bought that often for her just like I bought the one from Trinidad under the label “Creamery.” The rum and raisin type I normally buy for her is from Sterling Ltd because it is a Guyanese company. I will never leave a Guyanese company for any foreign

one. The day I do that is the day I die. There was no rum and raisin from Sterling. What I am about to write may give you apoplexy as it almost did the three pharmacists in Massy’s Supermarket. It certainly gave me apoplexy which I am currently recovering from. So, there was a one-litre box from Fernandes, a one-litre box from Creamery and a one-pint box from Banks DIH. I have been buying rum and raisin ice cream for my wife for years now, but never saw the Banks DIH version. I took all three boxes to the Massy pharmacy to ascertain the price. Now before I proceed, please note that a one-litre box is equivalent to two pints. Here is the price difference – Fernandes – 1 litre is $1, 600, Creamery is $1,400 and Banks DIH’s one

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Recent CCJ predicament was curated to energise bandwagonists

I WISH to briefly add my voice to some aspects of the CCJ debacle that held major headlines throughout the Caribbean over the past week. First things first, the person or entity responsible for the leaking of internal court emails should be roundly condemned. The Bar Association of Guyana (BAG) did exactly that and they came in for a good tongue lashing from no less a person than the inimitable Nigel Hughes together with a myriad of local political figures, including the Opposition Leader. As a result of the strong political overtones and seemingly anti-CCJ slants these emanations took, the court was exposed to some degree of erosion of public confidence. Whether one takes a single cursory glance or a forensic dissection of those email exchanges, it is immediately apparent that those emails are nothing more than everyday internal expression of strong opinions among professional colleagues. It is also clear that the emails were leaked with calculated malice to embarrass the President of the CCJ. It is also immediately apparent that nothing in those emails rise to the level of “a court in crisis” deserving of “fixing” beyond the robust internal self-regulating and self-adjusting mechanisms already built into the discursive management apparatus of the court.

Therefore, the salt-inwound approach taken by Nigel Hughes and others was wholly unnecessary and seems to point to unfulfilled petty political grouse. My own guess is that this approach has some history to it. That history cannot be divorced from the long series of political cases tried before the CCJ that delivered many judgements opposition elements determined to be adverse to their political interest and are still salty about these outcomes. The CCJ, hitherto, has been blameless but mischievous political minds were like ‘setting fowls’ ready to pounce. They saw this as their opportunity to strike, this was their gotcha moment. Ah ha, I knew it, we lost some of those cases maybe because of panel fixing and attempts to influence decisions judges. In most of the politically charged cases out of Guyana, the side that lost never had a snowball’s chance in hell. Politically contentious and highly charged cases spanning the March 2018 Bharat Jagdeo third term case right up to the ongoing Azruddin Mohamed extradition case, it doesn’t take a genius to determine that every single one of those cases were rightly determined on their individual merit. The one or two cases that were close went the way of the legal team with superior command of their legal arguments. So, for the Guyanese sourpusses to use back

alley mugging tactics to attempt to cast aspersion on the integrity of the court should be called out on every turn. They chanted, investigate!, investigate!, investigate! Investigate panel fixing, investigate attempts to influence other judges’ opinions. Investigate all past cases of the CCJ presided over by Justice Anderson. I dare say that the only aspect of this debacle worth investigating is exactly how the leak happened together with appropriate punishment for the culprit. I believe the response by President Justice Anderson was compact, concise and should put to rest the fake avaricious and enterprising clamour for investigation. From a non-lawyer’s perspective, those with legal certification, letters and eminent legal resume ought to have known better. I believe that they do know better, but they contrived to pander to narrow political meanderings in favour of sound legal tradition. While the allegations raised in the emails may not be baseless in reference to the internal cohesiveness, management process and camaraderie of judicial office holders, it is certainly wholly without merit to raise it to the level of a major investigation into the operation and judicial practices of the court. Take the allegation of panel fixing. For this to be successful, the logic is that the President, to whom this task falls, must have foreknowl-

edge of the individual judges’ thoughts on the case, even before it is heard. To do this, he must canvass the views of each judge and based on their leanings, he then determines who sits on that particular panel. This is midnight fairytale, “once upon a time in a land far far away.” Which self-respecting law student preparing for a mock trial will allow this sort of canvassing and fixing? Muchness eminently qualified jurists on the bench of multi-territorial apex court. The other major contention that there was an attempt to influence the views of judges is intertwined with the first. Are judges susceptible to be ambushed in the corridor and coerced to deliver a particular opinion?

The very email blew this contention out of the water as individual judge after judge were firm that they are independent, impartial, have strong opinions and that they take their oath of office seriously and will never allow themselves to be improperly influenced. As it turned out, the allegations really referred to one judge finding it annoying and off putting that Justice Anderson, in panel, during discussions, tend to use his status as chair to speak above others and may even come over as a dogmatist. On the question of dictatorial management style, the CCJ president explained that it was issue based, having to do with enforcing the sticking to a particular judicial dress code based on rules already on the

books unless and until it is changed following full discussion. All these allegations are kinks to be worked out among colleagues via the internal management mechanisms and cannot reasonably be expected to raise to the level of questioning the integrity of the court as some megaphone touting personalities sought to convey; but I am not surprised, this has been the calling card of the opposition and the political ethos of their most dazzling proponents. Long live the CCJ. 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Pastor Collins urges stronger gambling regulation to protect vulnerable communities

PASTOR Daniel Collins of Helping Others Ministry is backing stronger regulation of Guyana’s gambling industry, warning that easier access to betting, particularly through mobile phones, can expose young people and vulnerable individuals to serious social and financial risks. Speaking on the impact of gambling on families and communities, Pastor Collins said he has seen little positive impact from the activity, with some individuals increasingly viewing betting as a means of earning income rather than entertainment. He said this mindset can

encourage people to abandon traditional employment and responsible income-generating activities in pursuit of quick winnings, ultimately leaving families financially strained. “The young one should know that betting is not a way of life. It’s just entertainment, but they don’t have that knowledge. So, they choose that this is my way of life,” the pastor said. Pastor Collins welcomed the recently strengthened legislative framework, particularly measures aimed at increasing oversight of betting shops and online gambling platforms, verify-

Pastor Daniel Collins, Senior Pastor of Helping Others Ministry ing customers’ identities and including the use of governages, and tackling illegal and ment-issued identification, arguing that age declarations unlicensed operators. He is also calling for alone are insufficient to prestronger identity verification vent children from accessing systems for online betting, gambling platforms.

According to Pastor Collins, greater scrutiny should extend beyond operators to gambling customers, specifically where large sums of money are being wagered regularly. The pastor believes that such measures could help address wider concerns including fraud, theft and the use of illegally obtained funds. He further supports taxation of gambling operators. He noted that businesses’ income from betting should contribute to national development with the payment of taxes. Pastor Collins also stressed the importance of

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public education, particularly through social media, to ensure young people understand the risks associated with gambling and do not mistake betting for a sustainable source of income. He said Guyana’s stronger regulatory approach is an important step toward preventing gambling-related problems from becoming more deeply entrenched in society, while protecting children and vulnerable groups from an activity that can quickly escalate from entertainment into financial and social hardship. (DPI)

Thousands evacuate after Indonesia quake kills 53 - aftershocks hamper rescue efforts

AROUND 5,000 people have been evacuated after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Indonesia, killing at least 53, blocking roads and causing landslides, authorities said on Sunday. They added more than 130 people had been injured, many with broken bones. Saturday's quake was the Southeast Asian nation's deadliest since a 2022 quake killed hundreds in West Java. More than 3,300 people in Indonesia's Sikka region - one of the hardest hit self-evacuated or were in a sports arena, according to the country's national disaster mitigation agency, known as BNPB.

Some residents were stranded outside collapsed homes under makeshift tents made out of tarpaulin, while others received treatment in a tent outside the local hospital. A sprawling archipelago of 290 million people, Indonesia straddles ⁠the "Pacific Ring of Fire", a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet, triggering frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. FEAR OF AFTERSHOCKS At a now-closed port in Maumere, littered with debris from a collapsed roof and walls, residents told Reuters they were scared of aftershocks. The disaster agency said

on Sunday nearly a thousand aftershocks had been recorded since the quake. Nearby, hundreds of residents filled a sports stadium, which has been designated as an evacuation spot. As the sun was setting, residents stood in line to get warm drinks. Some mothers hooked pieces of clothing to tent frames to form makeshift cradles for their babies. Other children played soccer outside. One of these mothers was Lisda, 22, who chose to be in a tent with her twin babies due to the fear of sleeping inside her home. Inside another tent, Yuvienta Saen, 67, recounted her misfortunes. As f⁠ elt the quake

Destruction in the passenger port of Maumere, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, August 16, 2026 (REUTERS/Edgar Su)

during her morning prayer, she had to choose between her paralysed husband and herself. "He told me, you run, I'm

handing my fate to God," she said, adding there was a lack of clean water and blankets in the tent. The area of the quake

was hit in 1992 by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that caused extensive destruction, Indonesia's geophysics agency said. (Reuters)

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GDF officer creates history after graduating from U.S. Army War College THE Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, and the officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force extend

congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel John Mohanlall on his successful completion of the United States Army War College

Resident Education Programme. Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall is the first GDF officer to graduate from this prestigious

programme. Upon completion of the programme, Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall was awarded a Master of Strategic Studies degree and designated a Senior Service College Graduate. Conducted at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, the programme provides advanced professional military education at the strategic level. It prepares senior military officers, government officials and international fellows for leadership, command and advisory responsibilities. During the programme, Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall completed graduate-level coursework and strategic research. His studies addressed national security, military research, defence management, joint operations and international affairs, with a focus on complex national, regional and global

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Lieutenant-Colonel John Mohanlall

security challenges. This achievement marks an important stage in Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall’s professional career and adds to the GDF’s growing pool of officers with advanced strategic expertise. The knowledge, analytical skills and professional relationships acquired through the programme will support the force’s work in strategic planning, defence management and institutional advancement. As Guyana’s national security environment continues to evolve, developing strategic ex-

pertise remains essential to the GDF’s capacity to support national defence and security objectives. Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall’s qualification strengthens the Force’s senior leadership capacity and enhances its ability to address complex defence and security challenges. The Guyana Def e n c e F o rc e c o m mends Lieutenant Colonel Mohanlall on this significant professional achievement and extends best wishes for his continued service and contribution to the force. (GDF)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

DDL uses technology, advanced farming methods to boost local milk production

The Demerara Distillers Limited’s modern dairy farm at Moblissa is a strong example of the ongoing modernisation of agriculture, and diversification of Guyana’s economy. Through investments in technology and advanced farming methods, DDL is helping to increase local milk production, reduce Guyana’s reliance on imports, and enhance food security (Photos: President Irfaan Ali/Facebook)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Unprecedented demand surge, El Niño conditions cause of blackouts in Linden - LECI says

THE Linden Electricity Company Inc. on Sunday addressed public commentary on recent power outages in the mining town, noting that the situation was caused by the high electricity demand and the significant change in the hemispheric climate pattern. In a press release, the company sought to assure residents that every effort is being made to find long-term solutions which is critical given the township’s “positive” economic development. The following is the full text of a statement issued by the Linden Electricity Company Inc.: “The Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI) today (Sunday) issued a public statement to explain the intermittent power outages

currently affecting the community, reassuring residents that the company is implementing immediate measures to manage the situation while long-term solutions are under development. THE CAUSE OF THE BLACKOUTS LECI confirms that the recent disruptions are due to a critical generation shortfall. The company’s current maximum available generation capacity stands at 14.5 Megawatts (MW). However, over the past few weeks, the community’s peak demand has surged past the 15 MW threshold, outpacing the available supply. This rapid increase in demand is primarily attributed to the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon, which has brought significantly higher-than-normal temperatures to the region. The

extreme heat has led to a substantial uptick in the use of cooling equipment, particularly air conditioning units, placing unprecedented strain on the grid. A HISTORY OF GROWTH LECI notes that prior to this weather-driven spike, the Linden community has already been experiencing consistent demand growth due to positive economic development, including the expansion of housing schemes and new business enterprises. While this growth is welcome news for the community, it has accelerated the timeline for required infrastructure upgrades. LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS UNDERWAY The Government of Guyana has been proactive in preparing for the community's energy needs. A major 15

MW solar PV farm project is currently in the works to bolster Linden’s power supply. The first phase of this solar installation is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026. However, the unexpected and sudden demand surge driven by the El Niño weather pattern has arrived ahead of this scheduled deployment, creating a temporary gap between supply and consumption. IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY MEASURES To prevent a total grid collapse and protect the system’s integrity, LECI has been forced to implement scheduled load-shedding (rolling blackouts) during peak demand periods. These outages are being carefully managed to rotate across the community, ensuring that no single area bears the burden

for an extended period. The Government had requested, and got the general agreement of Linden sawmillers, to operate between the hours of 10:00 pm to 11:00 am daily, which is the period of lower demand. In addition, LECI is currently in active discussions with its generation supplier to secure additional, immediate generation capacity to bridge the gap until the solar farm comes online. The company is working diligently to find a solution that mitigates the inconvenience to residents as quickly as possible. A CALL FOR PATIENCE AND CONSERVATION LECI is appealing to consumers for their patience and understanding during this challenging period. The company is also urging all residents and businesses to

assist in reducing the strain on the system by conserving electricity as much as possible. Residents are encouraged to: • Set air conditioning units to higher, energy-efficient temperatures. • Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. • Limit the use of high-energy appliances during peak daylight hours. The management of LECI understand the frustration that comes with power interruptions, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. We are in a race against time to bridge this demand gap, and we are committed to keeping the community informed as we, with support from Government, work with our supplier to stabilise the grid.”

Teacher’s book-papering service makes back-to-school preparations easier for parents CHANDRANIE Persaud is a very industrious and resourceful educator who chooses to utilise her free time during the August vacation period to earn an extra income by papering books for an affordable fee. She offers busy parents a reliable and pocket-friendly option to help make back-to-school preparations less time-consuming and hassle-free. The book papering service is neat and professional and is done using strong, durable covering. She offers affordable rates and timely delivery while ensuring that the books get a clean, long-lasting look before school starts. Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that parents can drop off the books and

return for them when they have completed their errands or their work day. “If you'd like, I can also ⁠ c reate a matching eye-catching Facebook flyer in your preferred colors,” she said. Persaud, 35, related that the idea was born when she started papering books for her pupils free of charge during her free time. Her mother later suggested that she do it as a side job so she can earn some extra money. She embraced her mother’s suggestion and that is how the small business came into being. Persaud provides all the raw materials, including labels, but customers have the option of bringing their own paper, books and labels.

A sweet treat box done by Desi Delights, which is owned by schoolteacher, Chandranie Persaud

The cost to paper and label a dozen small exercise books is just $3000. Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that she launched her small business, Desi Delights, five years ago from her home in Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, where she also has a catering business that prepared sweet treats for various occasions. Persaud added that she is also a dancer of classical, Indian and Bollywood music and has been a part of various dance groups. The educator explained that she has been dancing since she was five years old. These days she is a freelancer and would like sponsorship to visit India to have that cultural experience. She has been teaching at Stella Maris Primary

School for the past 13 years, a profession that she is very passionate about. Persaud related that she loves teaching because she gets to see her pupils grow academically and seeing the fruits of her labour is very rewarding. She teaches Grades Five and Six and finds joy molding young minds so they can grow up to realise their dreams of becoming career-driven professionals ready to take on the world of work. Persaud is also very artistic, crafty and creative. She makes flash cards and uses her time to do a lot behind the scenes. She told this publication that the August holiday period is the ideal time to make an extra dollar.

The dancing sensation, Chandranie Persaud

Some of the papered books done by the educator as a side business

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

HEART initiative establishing regional units to support Barima families

THE Government of Guyana is moving to establish regional units under the HEART initiative to provide sustained and targetted support to families affected by the MV Barima tragedy, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud has said.

ed a process where every region will have a unit comprising of [sic] a social worker, therapist, psychologist,” Persaud said. She explained that religious representatives from different faiths would also form part of the teams, while logistical personnel would assess and respond

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud Dr Persaud, during an episode of the ‘Starting Point’ podcast, stated that the initiative is being built out across the country, with each regional unit expected to comprise social workers, therapists, psychologists, religious representatives and personnel responsible for coordinating logistical support. The HEART initiative, Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience and Trust, was launched by President, Dr Irfaan Ali following the July 18 tragedy, as part of the government’s commitment to provide long-term support to survivors and families of those who died. According to Persaud, the initiative is designed as a comprehensive support mechanism, incorporating spiritual, psychosocial, legal, and logistical components. “We are still building it out, but we have start-

to immediate practical needs. Those needs could include assistance with transportation, food, and other incidentals, she said, stressing that such support should not be confused with compensation. “We are not dealing with compensation. We are dealing with what is needed right now,” Dr Persaud said. She noted that affected families have different circumstances and needs, including expenses associated with memorials and other immediate obligations. These are being assessed on a case-by-case basis, she said. Dr Persaud also highlighted the particular needs of families who have lost breadwinners, noting that the government must ensure that children and parents receive the necessary support.

She said the Office of the First Lady will have direct responsibility for matters concerning children and their parents, while the legal component of the initiative is being handled separately under the leadership of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nand-

lall. Dr Persaud described the initiative as a combination of professional skills and support aimed at helping families navigate the practical consequences of the tragedy. However, she acknowledged that no amount of assistance could replace

the loved ones lost. “The presence is what is missed the most,” she said, noting that while government can address practical needs, the emotional void left by the tragedy cannot be filled. Persaud said the initiative remains a government-led effort crafted

under the direction of President Ali, with a dedicated team working continuously to ensure that affected families receive assistance. She also welcomed support from the private sector and others willing to contribute to the ongoing response.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

U.S. companies eyeing opportunities in Guyana amid rapid growth U N I T E D S TAT E S companies are actively courting opportunities in Guyana, supporting the country’s rapid growth into commercial partnerships and infrastructural projects. Speaking in George‑ town last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said he was in Guyana “with some American business‑ es” and insisted the United States wanted to be part of the country’s development trajectory as it expands its energy‑driven economy. He noted that Guy‑ ana’s new wealth from energy resources should be channelled into a broad range of projects across the country. He outlined priorities such as ports, roads, retail and sport‑ ing infrastructure, and the housing sector that present openings for foreign con‑

tractors, developers, and service providers. “We want to partner with Guyana to lever‑ age those resources into a whole variety of econom‑ ic development in many areas,” he said. “We want to see ports that allow goods to come in, roads that allow those goods to be transported throughout the country and the region. We’d like to see more stores and stadiums and all the things that the people of Guyana want, including housing.” The visit follows high‑level engagement between U.S. and Guya‑ nese officials, including Landau’s meeting with President, Dr Irfaan Ali, which he described as “terrific” and said left the two sides “very aligned on a vision for prosperity” that benefits people across Guyana, from Berbice and

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau

Lethem to the Demerara region. “We are very excit‑ ed about partnering with Guyana as it is taking advantage of its resources, both its natural resources [and] its human resources,

to build a better future, and the United States is here to say we want to be part of the story of Guy‑ ana's future development and prosperity.” It was recently reported that trade between Guyana

and the United States has exceeded US$25 billion over the past decade, with more than half of that total being recorded within the last two years. Senior Minister in the Office of the President

with responsibility for Finance while address‑ ing the recent U.S.-Guy‑ ana Investment Enabling Forum in Washington, DC, noted that the United States remains Guyana’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) and its leading trading partner, underscoring the growing economic part‑ nership between the two countries. “We would like more U.S. companies to invest in Guyana, and to do busi‑ ness in Guyana and with Guyana and Guyanese companies,” he said. The forum brought together government officials, investors and business leaders to explore opportunities to further strengthen investment and economic co-operation between Guyana and the United States.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Guyana’s electricity demand projected to surge five-fold by 2030 - energy generation envisioned to exceed 10,400 GWh amid rapid economic growth

GUYANA’S rapidly expanding economy is expected to drive an unprecedented surge in electricity demand over the next five years, with total energy generation projected to increase more than five fold by 2030, according to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Development and Expansion Programme 2026 - 2030. The programme projects that total energy generation will increase from approximately 2,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2026 to about 10,441 GWh by 2030, while systemic peak demand is expected to rise from 318 megawatts (MW) to approximately 1,671 MW over the same period. The projected increase would represent more than 1,350 MW of additional peak demand within five years, reflecting what the power company describes as a steep change in system requirements driven by rapid economic, industrial and population growth. The forecast comes against a backdrop of significant increases in electricity demand over the past five years. It was stated that GPL recorded peak demand of 144.63 MW in 2021, which climbed to 234 MW by the end of 2025. Gross electricity generation also increased from 947,132 megawatt hours in 2021 to approximately 1,482,597 MWh in 2025. According to the programme, peak demand grew by approximately 61.8 per cent during that period, while gross gener-

ation increased by about 56.5 per cent. Against this backdrop, it was disclosed that the next phase of growth is expected to be fuelled by expanding industrial and commercial activity, including major infrastructural developments, new data centres, and energy-intensive industries. Multiple data centres are planned, with a combined demand of approximately 200 MW expected by 2028, while a natural gas-based fertiliser plant is projected to add about 10 MW. GPL, according to the programme, is also tracking 77 major infrastructural developments, including airports, ports, factories, hotels, and hospitals, which could collectively add approximately 90 MW and 623 GWh of annual energy consumption by 2030. The Wales Development Zone is also expected to attract energy-intensive industries such as refining and manufacturing, with the programme noting that these activities could potentially add hundreds of megawatts of demand over the next five years and beyond.

Further to this, housing expansion will also contribute to the increase, with approximately 40,565 new homes anticipated to be connected to GPL between 2026 and 2030. These connections are estimated to add about 146 MW of residential demand by 2030. GPL projects its customer base will grow from approximately 252,720 in 2026 to 289,664 by 2030, while the interconnection of Linden is expected to bring more than 13,165 additional customers onto the national system by 2029. The programme also anticipates growing electricity demand from electric vehicles, with the national electric vehicle fleet projected to reach about 2,300 vehicles by 2030. To meet the anticipated demand, GPL plans to transform its generation fleet, reducing reliance on expensive diesel and heavy fuel oil plants while adding natural gas, renewable energy, and battery-storage capacity. The strategy is intended to support the country’s expanding electricity needs while reducing energy costs, improving reliability and lowering carbon emissions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Two dwelling houses destroyed in Linden fire

TWO dwelling houses located at Lot 263, Block 22, Wismar, Linden, were recently destroyed by a fire of unknown origin. Firefighters from the Wismar Fire Station responded promptly and, upon arrival, found both homes already engulfed in flames. A coordinated firefight-

ing operation took effect and successfully contained the blaze, preventing the fire from spreading further. Despite their efforts however, both houses were completely destroyed. The cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

One of the two dwelling houses following the fire at Wismar, Linden

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

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Nuwantha, Jayasuriya make impact but India well ahead

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Keshara Nuwantha gave a much better account of himself on his second day of Test cricket, but India still made their way towards a formidable first-innings total on another rain-hit day. Devdutt Padikkal converted his overnight 131 into 167, Dhruv Jurel scored an inconspicuous little half-century as India reached 460 for 9 in the 43 overs possible after rain took out the first half of the day. Three of the first four wickets on the second day fell to Nuwantha, who bowled an unbroken 16-over spell,

before Prabath Jayasuriya added three to his one wicket overnight. Possibly worried about the time lost already and the forecast during the rest of the Test, India's batting had a sense of adventure resuming on 288 for 2. Rishabh Pant hit a four off the first ball he faced, but with the pitch progressing towards more turn and Nuwantha holding his length, Pant soon holed out to a good catch at wide midoff. While such a shot is not out of character for Pant, it was quite similar to how Shubman Gill out on the first day, suggesting India didn't want to waste

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Dhananjaya de Silva takes a stunning catch at slip•Aug 16, 2026•AFP/Getty Images

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time after the good start they had got. The turnaround for Sri Lanka came when they took the second new ball as soon as it became available, seven overs into the

day. They stuck with Nuwantha with the new ball, who found sharp turn and natural variation to go with better accuracy. After Pant, he had KL Rahul, back after cramps paused his

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, August 17, 2026) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD.,83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Tim Siefert-9 (SLK vs ABF) (2) Kieron Pollard-36 (TKR) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which wicketkeeper took the most catches in CPL 2025? (2) What was the highest partnership for any wicket in CPL 2025? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

innings on day one, caught at bat-pad with a sharp offbreak. For Ravindra Jadeja, the natural variation came in handy as he trapped the allrounder lbw. Padikkal, meanwhile, continued from where he left off, using the depth of the crease against spin and then brought up his 150 with a nonchalant flick off Asitha Fernando. He looked to dominate Jayasuriya again, but the spinner had his own back with a delivery that held its line and left his stranded outside the crease. At 377 for 6, any hopes Sri Lanka had of restricting India were put paid to by a 55-run stand between Jurel and Manav Suthar. Jurel hardly looked like he was there but you looked up at the scorecard and he was bringing up his fifty with another nudged single. The two disdainful pulls for four off Lahru Kumara stood out, though. In a fashion that would have only encouraged India, Jayasuriya got one to turn from leg for a stunning slip catch for Dhananjaya de Silva soon after Jurel brought up his fifty. India then promoted Mohammed Siraj, possibly looking for quick runs, who hit Nuwantha for a big six before falling to a slower ball from Asitha. Suthar immediately hit Jayasuriya straight to long-on in the dying moments of the day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Mckenzie fires Kingsmen to victory over Knight Riders

THE Jamaica Kingsmen recorded their first win of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026, beating the Trinbago Knight Riders by five wickets in their fourth match of the tournament. Kirk McKenzie set the tone with a destructive 69 from just 25 balls, powering the Kingsmen’s chase after the Knight Riders posted 182 for 6, with their star-studded top order all making valuable contributions. With Kieron Pollard and

Usman Tariq back in action, the Knight Riders appeared well placed. Pollard smashed 44 from 22 balls, while Tariq returned impressive figures of 3 for 21. But McKenzie’s explosive innings ultimately proved to be the difference. Sent in to bat in Kingston, the Trinidad and Tobago-based franchise made a cautious start. Colin Munro and Alex Hales struggled to find their rhythm, while Hassan Khan kept things tight with the ball and Andre Russell removed Munro inside

the Power Play to leave the Kingsmen firmly in control. Captain Nicholas Pooran, also in his first game of the season, produced a wellmade 44, including four sixes, while adding 67 runs with Pollard for the third wicket. His timely dismissal just before the death overs proved crucial, however, as it kept the Knight Riders from pushing towards a total of 220 or more. Late wickets slowed the Knight Riders’ momentum, although Jyd Goolie and

Sunil Narine added some much-needed impetus with boundary-filled cameos to lift their side to a competitive 182 for 6. The Kingsmen, in contrast, came out firing. McKenzie did the bulk of the damage during a blistering Power Play that yielded 82 without loss, putting the home side firmly ahead of the required rate. Reeza Hendricks continued his steady run of form to provide valuable support, before Rovman Powell and Andre Russell

used their local knowledge of Sabina Park to put the finishing touches on the chase. The pair combined for an important 48-run partnership after Usman Tariq briefly threatened to swing the momentum back towards the Knight Riders. Their stand steadied the innings and kept the Kingsmen firmly on course. Any hopes of a late comeback were effectively ended when seamers Terrence Hinds and Nathan Edward conceded 17 and 28 runs

respectively in the 16th and 17th overs. The Kingsmen reached their target with eight deliveries to spare, completing the highest successful run chase at Sabina Park in CPL history. The inspired Kingsmen return to Sabina Park on Tuesday night for their final home match against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, while the Knight Riders travel to St Lucia for their next fixture against the Kings on Saturday.

Adams excels as Rockets surge to maiden Women’s Hundred title

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Trent Rockets cemented their status as the stand-out team in the rebooted Women's Hundred, as they romped to an eight-wicket victory over Leeds Sunrisers at Lord's. Chasing a meagre target of 92, the contest was broken apart by the bruising strokeplay of Sophia Dunkley and Beth Mooney, whose 69-run opening stand came from just 40 balls. The winning moment then fell to Trent Rockets' captain, Ashleigh Gardner, who put a difficult off-field week behind her to blaze the winning boundary through the covers off her fellow Aussie, Jess Jonassen.

However, the result had scarcely been in doubt at any stage of an afternoon in which Rockets stitched together three distinct collapses - 3 for 7 in nine balls, 4 for 6 in 12, and 3 for 9 in 15 - into one almighty meltdown. The wickets were shared around: two each for Kim Garth, Samantha Bates, Charley Phillips and Georgia Adams. However, it was Adams - in her fifth Hundred final out of six editions - who proved to be the game-breaker. Quite apart from her own breakthroughs, she served two telling moments of inspiration in the field. First, an exceptional, intuitive catch at short third to remove Sun-

Ash Gardner and Beth Mooney celebrate • Philip Brown/Getty Images risers' prime match-winner, Phoebe Litchfield, for 10, before following that up with a tenacious interception at cover to run out Jonassen for a duck.

The final moments of the match proved to be an all-Australian affair, but that was a recurring theme of a contest featuring five of the 11 Aussies who crushed

England in last month's T20 World Cup final, at this same venue. Although Garth leaked the day's first boundary, when she dropped short to Bryony Smith, it was Litchfield who seemed primed to lay down the day's big marker. Having made 48 from 35 balls in that previous final, she followed a first-ball four off her pads with a sweetly timed launch for six over the covers off Bates to breeze along to 10 from three balls. Garth, however, instantly transformed the mood for Rockets. Smith tried to clear the inner ring but chipped a tame catch to cover, where Nat Sciver-Brunt held on

well over her shoulder, before Lauren Winfield-Hill on her 36th birthday - poked her first legitimate delivery to backward point as Garth surprised her on the back foot with extra bounce. And, to cap a collapse of 3 for 7 in nine balls, Litchfield then succumbed to Phillips, courtesy of a smart piece of thinking from Adams at gully. Sensing the batter was sizing up a ramp shot, Adams shuffled finer as the bowler began her run-up, and was perfectly placed to intercept the deflection, as Sunrisers limped to 26 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.

Seifert blasts Manchester Super Giants to maiden Hundred title

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Tim Seifert blasted Manchester Super Giants to the men's Hundred title at Lord's, cracking seven sixes in his 38-ball 72 to chase down 159 with two balls to spare and cap an extraordinary run of form. The Super Giants were on the brink of elimination when they lost their third successive group match two weekends ago, but stormed to the title with five wins in a row. Their run coincided with Jos Buttler taking on the captaincy after Aiden

Markram flew home for personal reasons, and featured four half-centuries by Seifert, the season's second-highest run-scorer. The inclusion of Essex's Paul Walter at the top of the order in Markram's absence transformed the Super Giants' season. His quickfire 22 off 14 balls took his record for the season to 247 runs in five innings, striking at 179, and his left-right, tall-short opening combination with Seifert has been a revelation. "They went a long way to winning us the tournament,"

Buttler said. They added 66 in 31 balls on Sunday night, with Seifert smacking the first ball of the chase through cover for four and smearing the fourth over the leg side for six. Their partnership broke the back of the chase and while the Super Giants did their best to mess up a requirement of 23 off 22 after Seifert fell, Liam Dawson cleared deep midwicket to take them across the line. The result marked the first time that either Manchester team - men's or

women's - had won a Hundred trophy, and ended the Super Giants franchises' long wait for silverware, which had spanned seven IPL seasons and four SA20s. Calvin Harrison took some punishment, Trent Rockets vs Manchester Super Giants, The Hundred Men's Final, Lord's, August 16, 2026 Seifert had never played at Lord's a month ago but struck 67 off 45 on Super Giants debut in their opening game against London Spirit, and was their match-winner

once again nearly a month later. He raced out of the blocks and looked fired up, exchanging words with Mohammad Amir after taking his first over for 14 runs. He nearly fell on 33 to an extraordinary piece of fielding, hauling Craig Overton out towards midwicket when Finn Allen tumbled over the boundary and parried the ball back to Calvin Harrison, who took the catch one-handed. But it was given as six on review, with TV umpire Martin Saggers determining that Allen's foot

had brushed the advertising toblerone. Seifert pressed on, trading sixes with Buttler, and pressed on with support from Leus du Plooy after Buttler holed out to long-off off Harrison; his international team-mate Mitchell Santner, the only bowler to keep him quiet, yet curiously only bowled 15 balls. He eventually fell for 72 - the joint-highest score in a Hundred final when reaching for Amir's wide yorker.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

GFF U-14 Boys Open CFU Challenge Series with Dominant 8 – 1 Victory Over Montserrat

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-14 Boys made a commanding start to the 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Challenge Series, securing a resounding 8 – 1 victory over Montserrat in their opening match in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Sunday.

Guyana established its dominance early, taking a 2–1 lead at half-time, with Cavon Peters and Dane Vancooten finding the back of the net to give the young Golden Jaguars the advantage heading into the second half. The Guyanese side shifted into another gear after the break, producing a re-

lentless attacking display that saw them score six additional goals to complete an impressive 8 –1 triumph. Peters and Vancooten each completed their individual scoring, while Lujon Dos Santos added another goal to the tally. Aaron Vasconcellos struck twice, while Wayshawn Forde delivered a stand-out

performance with a hat-trick to cap a dominant team display. The well-deserved victory provides Guyana with an important opening result as the team continues its campaign in the CFU U14 Challenge Series, following months of preparation under the GFF’s FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS).

The GFF U-14 Boys will return to action on Monday, August 17, when they face Anguilla in their second match of the competition. Guyana will be looking to build on its strong opening performance and maintain its momentum as the Challenge Series continues. The GFF congratulates the U-14 Boys on their out-

standing opening performance and striking victory over Montserrat. The federation extends its best wishes to the players, technical staff and entire team as they prepare for their next challenge against Anguilla and continue their campaign in the CFU U14 Challenge Series.

over matches and 100-over matches at the Transport ground, while the 15 to 18 age group was divided into two teams. “The biggest benefit of the camp was that eight youths were able to score 50 runs for the first time. A number of them also bowled for the first time on a pitch, and two openers were able to put together a partnership of 135. One of the girls, Yendy Sookanan, took four wickets. It was a joy to see most players play with passion. They were able to grasp the knowledge of the game. They played a 40-over match, a two-day match, and two T/25 matches at QC

ground,” informed Club Captain and Head Coach Shawn Massiah. According to Massiah, the Chairman of the Competitions Committee of the GCA, during the camp, notable personalities visited and spoke on various topics. “We heard from former Guyana batter Mark Harper on batting and playing spin bowling, Superintendent Smith from the Guyana Police Force, along with Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindradat Budram. We also heard from Matthew Kissoon on umpiring and Nurse Carmen Lucas on preventing disease.

Transport Development League “TDL” concludes

Sean Devers THE Transport Sports Club’s Two-week, Transport Development League (TDL) climaxed last week Friday with a grand presentation ceremony at their club on Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, Georgetown. On the final day, the club closed with a ‘bowl out,’ bowling to stumps and ‘late for pad up’ and pack back their gear bag,’ which was followed by the presentation ceremony. Caleb Bastian scored the most runs, 216, for the junior category, and Adam Mohamed captured the most wickets with 11. For the next category,

Afraz Khan scored the most runs, 179, for the seniors Afraz Khan scored the most runs with 179, and Wasim Ali got the most wickets with 10. All participants received certificates and trophies.

Some of the participants

The camp, in its second year, attracted 80 participants, including five girls between the ages of 8 and 14 and those aged 15 to 18

years, and was divided into two categories. The smaller category teams were divided into four teams, and they played 30-

BCB/Cardiologist Services Under-21 Tournament

Pottaya, Deonandan spearhead RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour into quarter finals

THE Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under 21 team on Saturday defeated Bush Lot United of West Coast Berbice to advance to the semifinals of the Berbice Cricket Board / Cardiologist Services Inc Under 21 50--over tournament. The Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team was spearheaded by outstanding bowling by skipper Matthew Pottaya and national junior players Tameshwar Deonandan and Ramzam Koobeer with the bat. Bush Lot won the toss and elected to bat first in steamy conditions at the Area 'H' ground.

They slipped to 14 for 2 in the third over as both Afraz Ali and Akash Ramdeowar ran themselves out in a total mix-up with opener L. Henery. T. H e n e r y w a s t h e n caught behind off pacer Rafael McKenzie for 01 as the visitors soon fell to 24 for 3 in the fifth over. Opener L Henery and the promising Atta Ali then batted well to add 78 for the fourth wicket before Ali was caught by Nicholas Cameron off the bowling of off-spinner Matthew Pottaya for a wellplayed 26 (2 fours). Henery was then trapped L.B.W. by Cameron for 48 with three boundaries to

The winning RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team spark a collapse, as the visitors were bowled out for 126 from 40 overs. Pottaya ended with 3 for 23 from nine overs while Asif Marimuthoo took 2 for 23 from eight overs. Rafael McKenzie, Jayden

Ganpat, Nicholas Cameron all took a wicket apiece. Needing to score 127 to advance to the semifinals, the home team was given an opening partnership of 56 in eight overs by Ramzam Koobeer (30) and Matthew

Perreira (21), before Koobeer was bowled by S Seecharran. From 56 for one the RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour fell to 89 for 5 as Perreira (21), Leon Reddy (03), Junior Babb (01) and Pottaya (00) all fell cheaply. Former national U-13 player Tameshwar Deonandan and the hard-hitting Nicholas Cameron then batted well to lead their team to victory at 130 for 5 in the 19th over. Deonandan ended on 35 not out with seven delightful boundaries, while Cameron struck a four and a towering six in his unbeaten 18. Bowling for Bush Lot United, C Odel took 3 for 21

from seven very impressive overs of medium pace, while Seecharran and Justin Doobay each claimed a wicket for 23 and 13 runs, respectively. The Cardiologist Services Under-21 tournament is one of several junior tournaments to be organised by the Berbice Cricket Board as part of their cricket development programme. Other junior tournaments for 2026 include U-12, U-13, U-14, Under 16, Under 19, Under 21 and Under 23. The Under-21 tournament is sponsored by the Cardiologist Service Inc, based at the Mercy Hospital, and is headed by Dr. Mahendra Carpen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Friday Night’s 5s Field Hockey League

GCC teams grab huge wins

BOUNTY GCC, GCC Elites, Old Fort Phantom Troupe and Saints Girls delivered scintillating wins on Friday evening at the “Skip” Roberts Youth Development Complex in South Ruimveldt Gardens. The teams were a part of the Friday Night’s 5s Field Hockey League organised by the Old Fort Hockey Club. The highlight of the evening’s clashes came in the senior men’s category with a 13-1 drubbing of Old Fort Top Shottas by Bounty GCC. Meshach Sergeant led with

six goals, with Orland Semple and Dwayne Scott also scoring braces in the demolition exercise by Bounty GCC squad. Old Fort Top Form also narrowly got past GCC Outlaws in the Senior Men's Class 6-5 with a hat-trick from Nkosi Saul and Yonnick Norton. Zack Edwards scored all of GCC Outlaws' goals in a losing cause. In another senior men’s game, Pepsi Hikers took a 5-4 win over Saint's Men and GCC Hockey Dogs also drew with GCC Outlaws 4-4. Meanwhile, in the senior

women's category, GCC Elite also trounced Old Fort Inferno 11-2. Abosiade Cadogan was phenomenal, as she pierced six goals past Old Fort custodian, with Rebecca Ferreira also recording a triple in the win. Also coming out victorious in the women's division was the national women Masters Team that stopped GCC Spice 6-3. Karensa Fernandes was instrumental for the Masters ladies with a hat-trick in the win. Carenza Copeland then led the pack with a hat-trick with

braces coming for Arian Khan, Kaiyra Scott and Makaylah Poole to guide Saints girls to an awesome 10-2 whipping of Hikers Valkyries in the girls' U17 category. It was a one-sided affair from the Saints' youths, with all but one player getting onto the score sheet. The Old Fort Phantom Troupe also took a handsome win in the U17 girls division against GCC Her-Ricanes. The clash ended 7-2; Old Fort was led by Tinashe Henry with a quadruple.

GCC and Old Fort teams in battle at the “Skip” Roberts youth development complex in South Ruimveldt Gardens In the boys' U17 division, GCC Outlaws beat Old Fort Warriors 8-3, with Eli Atwell and Kristain Viapree coming to the fore with triples in the win.

Saints U17 boys also defeated Hiker Cadet’s 3-1 with goals off the stick of Oswald Fraser, Fayed Mohamed and Ezekiel Moses.

Beharry Group National U-19 schools T20 cricket tournament…

BEI reach final, Abram Zuil battle Annandale in Eliminator 2

By Sean Devers

THE playoffs in the Beharry Group National U-19 schools T20 cricket tournament, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, were contested yesterday with two matches in the ‘final-four’ at the Queen’s College ground on Thomas Road in Georgetown. In sweltering heat, under a blue sky, Annandale Secondary beat Covent Garden Secondary by 46 runs and will now face Abram Zuil Secondary, who lost by four wickets to Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) in the qualifier yesterday. Yesterday’s win by the Berbicians, arguably the strongest team in the nationwide tournament, qualifies them for a direct spot in the final where they will meet the winner of Eliminator 2. Covent Gardens did not make the most of their second opportunity to be in the tournament after replacing Essequibo

Man of the Match Brandon Grimmond took 5-10 for BEI Islands Secondary, who were disqualified for playing a youth who left the Wakenaam school two years ago. Annandale, on the back of Joshua Bollers’ 29, Akeem Persaud’s 27 and an unbeaten 24 from Sanjay Dindyal, made 1276 when their 20 overs expired. Vinesh Kalpoo had 2-8,

Man of the Match Ruel Dindyal had 4-15 for Annandale

while Shane Khan supported with 2-25 for Covent Garden, who were bundled out for a paltry 81 in 17 overs. When the East Bank Demerara school began their reply, only Kalpoo 24 and Jamele Schultz 27 put up a fight with a 50-run third-wicket partnership. The pair joined forces at 8-2

after Kevin Singh had bowled Navindranauth Ram (2) and Orwin Jordon for a duck. Akeem Persaud trapped Kalpoo lbw at 58-3 while Shane Khan (1) and Joshua Hoasyx (0) fell in quick succession, as Covent Garden slipped to 64-6 Ruel Dindyal then grabbed the four wickets, including Shul-

tz, who hit two fours and a six as Covent Garden were catapulted from 58-2 to 81 all out. Ruel Dindyal had 4-16, Kevin Singh took 3-19 while Persuad grabbed 2-19. Earlier, Kalpoo bowled both openers: Jermaine Paton (12) and Sanjay Dindyal (0) to leave Annandale on 17-1 in the fourth over. Ruel Dindyal (5) fell to Jousha Hoasyx at 33-3 before Bollers and Persaud got them back on track. Shane Khan removed both of them to leave the score on 98-6. Sanjay Dindyal (24) and Nicholas Ramrattan (4) added 29 to see their team to a winning score. In the other game, Abram Zuil were dismantled for 88 in 18.2 overs. Brandon Grimmond bowled Yuvesh Bridgemohan for a duck at 1-1, before the in-form Ravid Fredericks and Marcanthony Obermuller added 34 for the second wicket in good batting

conditions before Raj Ramnauth got rid of Obermuller (12) at 35-2. The 50 was posted before Ramnauth had Fredericks, who stroked a run-a-ball 30 with five boundaries, lbw at 53-3 before Jeremiah bowled Otis Roberts (17) at 72-4. From 72-4, Abram Zuil slumped to 88 all out with six wickets tumbling as national U-15 spinner Grimmond got four wickets for five runs to finish with 5-10. Ramnauth supported with 2-26 for BEI, who lost two early wickets when Rhonel Nurse struck twice to leave the Berbicians on 17-2. Luke Amsterdam, who made 33 with a four and six, added 57 with Grimmond (25) Ravid Fredericks removed Amsterdam, and Eshwar Tilak dismissed Grimmond to leave BEI on 77-4 before Demetrius Reid (10) and Geovani Amsterdam (3) saw BEI into the final.

Joaan Deo Claims overall honours at DemLife Golf Tournament

DR Joaan Deo emerged as the overall winner of the DemLife Golf Tournament, following an exciting day of competitive golf at the Lusignan Golf Club on Saturday. The tournament attracted 28 players, who took to the lush, well-manicured fairways of the Lusignan Golf Club for a day filled with skills, competition and camaraderie. Deo produced the standout performance of the tournament, carding 84 gross and 70 net to secure overall honours. Her impressive performance also saw her capture the 13–18 Flight and Longest Drive prizes, making it a particularly successful outing for the accomplished golfer.

The competition remained exciting throughout the day, as players battled across the different flights and individual categories. The lush surroundings and challenging layout of the Lusignan course provided the perfect setting for golfers to test their accuracy, distance and consistency. Mohanlal Dinanauth was among the other standout performers, capturing both the Nearest to Pin and Best Gross awards. In the Senior Flight, Hilbert Shields claimed first place with 91 gross and 72 net, while Bala Vinjimor secured the top spot in the 19–28 Flight, finishing with 102 gross and 74 net.

Patrick Prashad took first place in the 0–12 Flight, recording 84 gross and 72 net. The tournament provided an entertaining display of golfing talent, with players competing not only for flight honours, but also for special prizes that added to the excitement of the event. From the opening tee shots to the final scores, the DemLife Golf Tournament showcased the competitive spirit that continues to drive the growth of golf in Guyana. The event also brought together golfers of varying experience and handicaps, creating an atmosphere of sportsmanship and fellowship on and off the course. At the end of the day, it was

The Winners Row Deo who stood above the field with her 70 net earning her the coveted overall championship.

The DemLife Golf Tournament was a successful celebration of golf, competition and

community, with the picturesque Lusignan Golf Club once again providing a fitting backdrop for an exciting day on the greens. Tournament Results Overall Winner: Dr. Joaan Deo – 84 Gross / 70 Net Longest Drive: Dr. Joaan Deo Nearest to Pin: Mohanlal Dinanauth Best Gross: Mohanlal Dindnauth -80 Senior Flight: Hilbert Shields – 91 Gross / 72 Net 19–28 Flight: Bala Vinjimor – 102 Gross / 74 Net 13–18 Flight: Dr. Joaan Deo – 84 Gross / 70 Net 0–12 Flight: Patrick Prashad – 84 Gross / 72 Net

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday, August 17, 2026

Mckenzie fires Kingsmen to victory over Knight Riders SEE PAGE

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Kirk McKenzie (R) of Jamaica Kingsmen hits 4 and Nicholas Pooran (L) of Trinbago Knight Riders watch during the Men’s 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match 8 between Jamaica Kingsmen and Trinbago Knight Riders at Sabina Park on August 15, 2026 in Kingston, Jamaica (Photo by Randy Brooks/CPL T20)

GFF U-14 Boys Open CFU Challenge Series with Dominant 8 – 1 Victory Over Montserrat SEE PAGE

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The Under-14 Boys downed Montserrat 8-1

Joaan Deo Claims overall honours at DemLife Golf Tournament SEE PAGE

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Dr Joaan Deo won the overall title

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| MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2026