K
Israel rejects Trump’s NEWS 15-point plan for Gaza, stoking tensions with U.S.
Monday Edition
AIETEUR
August 10, 2026 -Vol. 19 No. 31
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Price $200
Online readership yesterday, 47,303
CCJ under pressure as judges’ leaked emails raise questions over independence ...court says claims risk 11 mischaracterisation without context CCJ President Winston Anderson
PAGE
Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice have raised alarm over the actions of President Dr. Winston Anderson, accusing him of “dictatorial”leadership, panel fixing and attempts to influence court decisions.
Dead: Ishwarnauth Bisram
Dr. Veersammy Ramayya
Canje businessman killed after struck by car driven by Dr. Ramayya Justice Peter Jamadar Justice Peter Jamadar
Justice Chantal Ononaiwu
Justice Denys Barrow
‘Hands off the Kurupung’ – Region 7 Vice-Chair warns EPA against approving uranium drilling
Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji
Mme. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee
US$161 million Soesdyke-Linden Road Project is “highway robbery” Justice Arif Bulkan - Opposition Leader
Guyana must now receive its 50% profits in ExxonM deal …Lall demands Govt. break silence on company recovering full investment
PAGE 02
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 03
Guyana must now receive its 50% profit in Exxon deal …Lall demands Govt. break silence on company recovering full investment “Rejoice Guyana! Oil money will begin to flow. Poverty and borrowing will become a thing of the past. Exxon has spoken.” This is the charge given by businessman and newspaper Publisher Glenn Lall over the recent announcement by ExxonMobil that the company has recovered its entire US$55B invested in Guyana to date, which will now increase the country's profit share from a measly 12.5% to a staggering 50%. In his latest social media commentary, Lall pointed out that Exxon proudly reported the development to its shareholders while highlighting the country's record breaking performance which allowed the company to recoup US$55B investment, two years ahead of schedule. Moreover, the businessman stated that ExxonMobil clearly outlined that in keeping with the contractual arrangements, more money will flow to Guyana. C o n s e q u e n t l y, L a l l argued, “This is not some little piece of oil news buried in a corner. This development has been reported by news organisations around the
world and is being discussed in the boardrooms of major business and financial circles across the globe. In other words, the world is hearing what this development means for Guyana.” Under the PSA, the contractor can use up to 75% of Guyana's oil monthly to recover its expenses. The remaining 25% is considered “profit oil” and is divided equally between the Government and the consortium, meaning the country receives 12.5% profits. Now that all of the company's investments have been recovered, Guyana should now enjoy 50% profits. Lall said that upon this announcement, it was expected that the leaders of Guyana, especially former President, Bharrat Jagdeo who controls the oil sector would have been the first to offer an explanation to the citizens. “One would expect him to come before the nation with a big smile and say: My fellow citizens, the moment we have been waiting for has finally arrived. More money is coming our way, and the struggles so many of you have been going through can finally begin to ease.” You
would expect an announcement. You would expect excitement. You would expect the numbers to be laid before the nation,” the advocate reasoned. The businessman urged that Guyanese must know how much more money is expected to flow into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), when it will start coming, what it means for the ordinary Guyanese family and perhaps most importantly, when citizens who are the rightful owners of the resources will begin to feel the difference in their pockets. Instead of excitedly sharing the news with its people, Lall argued that for 10 days the government has been silent. “We have to ask why. Why is the oil Companies comfortable telling its shareholders what has happened in Guyana but the Guyanese people are still waiting on their leaders to explain what it means for them,” he questioned. “If more money is now expected to flow to Guyana then this should be one of the biggest announcements coming out of Government. You shouldn't have to drag this information out of anybody,” Lall insisted.
The businessman pointed out that despite the wealth Guyana has, the country still has billions of US dollars debt while families struggle to stretch their salaries from one month to the next with young people fleeing the nation in search of a better life. He appealed, “Come on, if your family was drowning in debt and somebody called to tell you that more money was finally coming into the house, would you hide that news from your wife and children? would you run through the front door shouting: Thank God, Relief is coming. That is why we cannot understand this silence.” Lall argued that Guyanese must not be forced to speculate over its natural resources as he called on VP Jagdeo to address this major development. He urged, “Tell us what contractual provisions now apply. The same 12.5% or the full 50%. Tell us how much additional revenue Guyana should expect. Tell us when it begins. Put the figures on the table because Exxon has already spoken to its shareholders. Now you must speak to the people of Guyana. And if there is some
reason why this announcement does not mean what Guyanese have been told then tell us that too.” On Friday, Kaieteur News reported that the operator confirmed US$55B in costs have been paid off using Guyana's oil. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Exxon, Darren Woods told the company's shareholders that Guyana's progress as a success story that has set a new standard for the industry, exceeding even the company's expectations. Exxon said it expected the cost bank to be cleared in another two years. Woods however said, “Delivering on tight schedules, at industry-leading cost – with strong reliability and optimised production – has resulted in recovering our capital and cost nearly two years earlier than anticipated, increasing NPV, and desaturating the cost bank.” Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Exxon, Neil Hansen offered clarity, “…as we mentioned, at this point, we've fully recovered the $55B of investment, along with all the operating costs and the way the contractor
Glenn Lall agreement works is we can recover that investment up to 75%. After that, the remaining production is shared 50/50 between us and the government of Guyana.” Hansen further noted that the company's share of oil from the Stabroek Block will decline as a result of the development. ExxonMobil discovered oil in commercial quantities in Guyana's Stabroek Block in 2015. The company later began producing oil in December 2019. To date, seven oil projects have been approved while only four are currently producing oil. The remaining three are under development with ExxonMobil eyeing two additional developments- its eighth and ninth projects. Approving more projects can again hamper the country's increased revenue flow from the sector.
U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau heads to Guyana for energy, investment talks United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to Guyana as part of an official regional visit from 9th August to 12th August, 2026, targeting expanded economic cooperation, strategic energy partnerships, and bilateral investment opportunities. The high-level visit prioritises diplomatic and economic engagement in Georgetown, where Deputy Secretary Landau will meet with President Irfaan Ali and senior cabinet members. Discussions b e t w e e n Wa s h i n g t o n a n d Georgetown will center on strengthening U.S. private sector investment and deepening technical collaboration across strategic national sectors, with a primary emphasis on energy resilience and critical minerals
extraction. According to a media note released by the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Spokesperson, the regional itinerary also includes a stop in Trinidad and Tobago, where Deputy Secretary Landau will meet with Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar to reinforce shared security, economic cooperation, and regional energy initiatives. The state department emphasised that Deputy Secretary Landau's tour highlights the ongoing commitment of the United States to advancing economic prosperity, hemispheric stability, and regional security through strategic partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. Kaieteur News previously reported that United States (U.S.) Department of War has struck an
Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau US$85.5M equity investment deal to acquire and expand a bauxite mine in Guyana, part of a broader effort by Washington to break
China's grip on critical mineral supply chains, a move the Guyanese government is yet to publicly address. The agreement, announced by the Department's Economic Defense Unit (EDU) alongside the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, channels funding through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme. Combined with US$64.5M in private co-investment, it forms a US$150M package aimed at acquiring and expanding the First Bauxite (FBX) mine, building new calcination facilities in Guyana, and eventually constructing a brown-fused alumina plant in the United States. U.S. officials described the deal as a direct response to American
reliance on Chinese-controlled sources for refractory-grade bauxite, a material used in hightemperature components such as heat shields, turbine engines and missile parts. Once fully operational, the project is expected to meet all U.S. military demand for brown-fused alumina and all domestic demand for refractory bauxite.George K. Kollitides II, Director of the Economic Defense Unit, said the Department is no longer waiting for supply chain dependencies to be exploited, framing the investment as a way to convert emerging opportunities into advantages for U.S. forces. “This agreement shows how EDU and the Department can partner with the commercial sector to rapidly turn opportunities into (Continued on page 6)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 04
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Answering the people Guyana has been forced to deal with national crises before. There was the Great Flood of 2005. A crime wave with heavily armed escapees from the 2002 Mash Jailbreak, phantom squads, and extrajudicial murders all wreaking havoc. Many lives were lost. The December 2018 parliamentary NoConfidence motion and the 19-months of continual crises over national elections. Leaders and many citizens answered the call and did furious battle to gain the upper hand. They did not please everyone, but they tried their best. On 18th July, 2026 what is described as Guyana’s biggest national maritime disaster sent this country into a nosedive. It is certain to have days ahead before there can be some semblance of calm, cooling of passions. When citizens needed the best in leadership presence, vision and courage, they came up mostly empty. The calls for two government ministers to resign began, have never stopped. The two ministers are still on the job, in full control of their portfolios. The ministers have dug in their heels, with the expectation that the PPP/C Government leadership has their backs, will hold the line for them. In the current environment, it is apparent that the only people going are those already six feet under, and those gone down with the MV Barima. The total lives lost still cannot be officially confirmed three weeks after the tragedy. Aside from the usual circling of wagons, that has been the sum of national leadership. When the expectation is of bold leadership from the front, the first concerns have been to protect comrades. Inspiration comes hard in situations like these. This is only one aspect of a tragedy that has this country raging. It was inevitable that in a tragedy of this magnitude, the calls for a Commission of Inquiry (COI) would multiply. It is informative that in a country with scores feared dead in a single maritime tragedy that citizens are so angry at one another, that there is no trust in a locally-panelled COI. The only COI that citizens believe could give them some probability of justice with so many gone, so many not coming back, is one of international composition. To his credit, President Irfaan Ali promised a COI that is ‘full, thorough, and independent.’ After that, he did not do as good as he should, resorted to the usual state of unilateralism. There was no consultation process, not even one that went through the motions, as a courtesy. No civil society input, no political outreach, no community say. Team members, all selected by the PPP/C Government, decisions made behind closed doors. When leadership of a special kind was called for, it was the regular: new day, same story. The five-member international panel was sworn in secretly, one virtually, the media was barred from covering the swearing-in. Is that an indicator of what is to come with media coverage and this COI? Further, expressions of unease have been heard about past links between members of the PPP/C Government and, at least, one COI member. When these pre-COI developments are considered, the question on the minds of many citizen is what kind of actual COI work, what quality recommendations, and what consequences follow, if any? Considering these developments, individually or cumulatively, and the probability of a COI that is full, thorough, and independent has not started out on the right foot. We hope that we are not watching at a tragedy that began on water being compounded by another that is gathering steam on land. When leadership should be at its highest arc, it seems that the same six for a nine is well in the works. Vice President Bharrat led a PPP/C Government team to Linden. He led its members indoors, balked at facing the people, then hustled behind a tight security ring back to Georgetown. The government’s man of action who gets tough things done could not get his feet nor voice going. With 100 dead, with Region 10 management at an impasse, Jagdeo had to go into the teeth of the whirlwind, stand before the people, whatever his concerns. That’s what good leadership does. Order his security people to ease back. He had to respect the call of the people.
The U.S.-Iran war cannot go on much longer DEAR EDITOR, Kaieteur News’ Saturday, August 8, Al Jazeera-sourced news article, “Trump says war ‘can’t go much longer’,” does not really comport with the article’s subheading, ‘What did Trump say on Thursday night?’, with his answer to the ask being: “I think it’s going to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer.” The ‘IT’ Trump referred to, as he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office, was the war with Iran. It is important for me to start off on this idiomatic ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment for Trump who has mastered the ‘art of projecting’, which usually refers to a psychological projection or a defense mechanism where a person shifts their own unacceptable feelings or traits onto someone else. So, when Trump said, “I don’t think THEY can take it much longer,” he actually meant HE (not Iran) can’t continue carrying the psychological, emotional, political and financial burden for the Iran war. This current U.S-Iran war actually is phase 2, which started 28th February, 2026, because phase one was executed June, 2025, with Israel initiating attacks on June 13 and America joining later. On 21st June, Trump addressed Americans and the world in a prime time speech from the White House: “A short time ago, the U.S military carried out massive precision strikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan…Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular success. IRAN’S KEY NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT F A C I L I T I E S H AV E B E E N COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY OBLITERATED.” It was against that background of I r a n ’s n u c l e a r c a p a c i t y b e i n g completely and totally obliterated that the world started questioning why America was once again attacking Iran on 28th February, 2026. In a letter to Kaieteur News,6th April, 2026, “The
road to war is always paved with good intentions, but truth is always the first casualty,” I referenced Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s attempt on 2nd March to clear the air on the rationale behind the 28th February, attack by saying the U.S launched preemptive strikes because it knew Israel was planning an imminent attack, which, in turn, could prompt Iran to retaliate against U.S interests, leading to higher U.S casualties. So, having gone from completely and totally obliterating Iran’s nukes in June 2025, to preempting an Israeli attack in February 2026, America has now found itself in a six-month war that most Americans, via most polls, disagree with. Even Trump is finally realising this war cannot go on anymore after trying without success to get NATO allies involved as he kept looking for an off-ramp or exit strategy. But two things that have to be weighing heavily on his mind for a quick exit strategy: the total costs of the war (financial, logistical and human) and its concomitant economic impact on Americans. The widely reported economic impact does not need my analysis to underscore the point, but it is the financial and logistical costs of the war that could determine America’s standing in the world as a military superpower. This past week, Trump reportedly reacted angrily to U.S. media reports that the U.S. may, in fact, be running low on weapons, but especially Interceptors. According to CBS News and other news outlets, before the 28th February attack, America had around 452 THAAD Interceptors, but now has around 278. It started with around 2,300 Patriot Interceptors, but now has around 827, and has burned through nearly half of its global Tomahawk cruise missiles and almost all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM).
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went to the U.S. Congress, 21st July, 2026, seeking US$67B to replenish expended military stocks and he revealed the Iran war cost was about US$37.5B, some analysts/experts contended the figures may not have given a true picture. But for cost context, one Tomahawk can range from US$1.4m to US$3.6m, one Patriot: US$3.8m, and one THAAD: US$12.7m. Reality Tea online news outlet reported 6th August, 2026, that “The U.S fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptors, during the first month of fighting, and more than 1300 Army tactical ballistic missiles in the initial weeks of the now 6-monthold war.” When we multiply the missile unit costs by the numbers reportedly fired, we have to ask ourselves if Iran was really worth such a massive expenditure and yet it remains standing as a negotiator? Americans can only hope the munitions depletion report is fake news. Still, given that most have concluded it was a war of choice and not necessity - after all nukes were completely and totally obliterated in June 2025 - this Iran war has been costly on multiple fronts. In fact, for the sake of Americans, Iranians, and other Gulf States, the U.S-Iran war can’t go on much longer. Trump desperately needs an offramp, but he has to be extremely careful America’s exit does not become its ‘Afghanistan Aftermath’, which saw the Soviet Union collapsed two years after withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1989 following a grueling 10-year war. Trump has to hope that he is not leaving Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz because that could become America’s Achilles heel. Sincerely, Emile Mervin
Help President Ali ‘modernise’ villages DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s transformation continues and I am happy that President Dr. Irfaan Ali is pushing the ‘model village’ initiative. We need this all across Guyana where the big idea is for “… creating safer, more resilient and sustainable communities.” This kind of mind-set and new way of thinking, being spawned by the People’s Progressive Party, was explained by His Excellency himself to eager listeners across the East Coast of Demerara. According to the effervescent head of state, his “government’s national village transformation programme will incorporate security infrastructure, improved drainage systems, economic development initiatives and enhance public amenities (all) as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise communities across Guyana,” and not only Melanie Damishana, where he met with villagers. On this note, I hastily apprise the nation that any good village will and must involve a combination of easy physical access to basic needs of
everyday living. It must also incorporate strong social connectivities, and definitely, a shared sense of safety, characterised by the presence of security offers and availability of law enforcers. By way of expansion, and as per President Ali, these villages will be equipped with very potable water systems and sanitation to ensure a ‘healthy living’ environment. Of course, “safe roads and transit options to reach larger towns” will be in place. I see that the government is planning for proper “medical care, schools, gathering spots, market squares, and parks.” Overall, it’s like a miniature country, and this kind of thinking is consistent with the modern and developed world, and Guyana must take its place therein. Mind you, there is a caution that President Ali alluded to, that is, ‘people are at the center of such developments.’ He clearly laid down the notion that “Stronger, resilient and sustainable communities are communities that are
built to last; communities that are built to ensure the space in which you live is not only pleasing to the eyes, physically, but that that space gives a sense of belonging, that space gives a sense of pride, a sense of ownership, a sense of dignity” I see this as a challenge for people of Guyana wanting and driving to become good and worthy villagers themselves. Leaving aside logistics and minutiae, what is heartening is that this is not ‘mere talk,’ as “… preliminary assessments have already been carried out by teams of engineers, planners, architects and development specialists, who have identified several priorities for Melanie’s development, (and in time, all across the country.)” Staying with the motif of ‘people’ or villagers themselves, the president was emphatic that “A community is the coming together of people; it is the coming together of many different things that coexist as one, and that is what makes us a community. Continued on page 5
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 05
Guyana’s opposition faces mounting challenges DEAR EDITOR, Two independent voices: one international, one from inside Guyana’s election machinery have converged on the same warning: the institutions meant to guarantee a free and fair vote aren’t yet trustworthy enough to go unwatched. That should be the starting point for any discussion of the 2030 election. The Carter Center’s assessment of the 1st September, 2025 election was blunt: widespread complaints cited unregulated campaign finance and misused state resources, with incumbency advantages disguised as public works undermining t h e p o l l ’s f a i r n e s s . Journalists reported statedriven censorship and intimidation, and evidence showed candidates obstructed from campaigning freely — structural findings from one o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o s t respected observer bodies. That external verdict is now echoed internally. GECOM Commissioner Alexander has accused the commission’s chair of
serious impartiality breaches, arguing the chair’s obstruction and overreach make free and fair elections impossible — conduct allegedly amounting to “misbehaviour,” which the commissioner argues is a precondition for removal under Article 225. Together, these external and internal accounts describe the same institutional weakness from opposite vantage points, a convergence hard to dismiss as partisan noise. It’s the backdrop against which opposition fragmentation must be judged: a serious problem against an ordinary incumbent, far graver against one credibly accused of tilting the referee. Comparable case law: · Kenya — Raila Odinga v. IEBC (2017): Supreme Court nullified the presidential election, citing systemic irregularities that echoed concerns raised by international observer missions. · Malawi — Chilima & Chakwera v. Mutharika (2019–2020): Constitutional ourt annulled the presidential election over irregularities corroborated
Is Christianity really the white man’s religion claimed by some DEAR EDITOR, Christianity came about through the advent of Jesus Christ who himself was a Jew. To understand whether Christianity is really “the Whiteman’s religion” as claimed by some, we need to go back to understanding who the Biblical Jews (ancient Israelites) were. They were an olive to brown skin, dark brown or black hair and brown eyes. Whereas, the modern Israelites are of European and American heritage who tend to be white. Christianity is not the Whiteman’s religion. It is of the faith that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and is the Son of God and is open to everyone. teaches us to love God and love our neighbours. It teaches us to be forgiving and to practice hospitality, being generous when we can. It teaches us the need for faith, hope and love with love being the greatest. Sad to say that Christianity has been used to wage war invoking “we doing it for God”. When I need to be reminded what God’s will is I read the Bible (the New Testament part). Sincerely, Sean Ori
Help President Ali... From page 4 A community has within it, its traditions, culture, economy, infrastructure, people, environment, ecology and its own beauty. And what we want to do is invest in such a way that all of these aspects of the community can become critically integrated in making the community a better place.” This means that the onus will be upon every citizen to parallel the model villages and become model villagers. This redounds into following the law, helping out in their various communities, showing respect for all and sundry, caring for the common good and taking part in society’s well-being. In a nut-shell, it’s about realising a vision. Yours truly, Hargesh B. Singh
by domestic and international observers; upheld on appeal. · Zimbabwe — Chamisa v. Mnangagwa (2018): Petition drew on EU and Commonwealth observer criticism of the process, though the Constitutional Court ultimately upheld the result. Note: these are illustrative parallels on how observer-mission and internal-body findings have featured in past election disputes elsewhere — not a legal opinion on Guyana’s situation. I’m not a legal practitioner practising in Guyana. The opposition remains split 3 ways, and the math has worsened. In 2020, the combined opposition held 32 seats — 1 short of a majority. In 2025, that fell to 29 — 4 short. Oil wealth has also split the mainland from a hinterland still awaiting its share, a frustration itself fractured among WIN, APNU, and FGM. Meanwhile the government converts incumbency into votes in real time; a landtitling push alone may move roughly 35,000 ballots. The Stabroek clock, at least, is fixed. Article 70(3) requires Parliament to
dissolve 5 years after the Assembly first sits. The 13th Parliament convened 3rd November, 2025. Barring a declared war under Article 70(4), the outer deadline is 3rd November, 2030, with polling likely within 2 months after. That date won’t move; everything else remains an open question. Guyana’s economy is booming (oil money), but there aren’t enough local workers to keep up — so people are pouring in from other countries. The head of the UN’s migration agency (IOM) came to talk about this, calling it a natural part of Guyana growing up as a country. The numbers show how big this is: about 5,000 Cubans are working construction jobs in the capital, Georgetown. Meanwhile, way more Cubans are passing through Lethem on their way to Brazil — that traffic almost tripled in a year (2,100 up to 6,400). On top of that, thousands more Venezuelans have arrived too, adding to thousands already there. Both Cuban and Venezuelan migrants run into the same wall — their visas are short and hard to renew, so many end up
working off-the-books and living in unstable housing, with no real legal status. Colombia handled a similar wave of Venezuelan migrants better — it gave over a million of them 10year permits to live and work legally. Guyana doesn’t have anything like that yet. There’s an international fundraising appeal to help Guyana handle this, but it’s only about 15% funded — meaning Guyana mostly has to deal with this on its own, and can’t count on outside money to bail it out. The fix suggested: create a proper system to register migrants, fast-track their job credentials, and let their kids go to school regardless of status. This brings me to a broader argument: none of these problems — migration, unequal oil wealth, labour shortages — get solved unless the government is actually held accountable, and unless the political opposition unites before the election, not scrambling at the last minute. I suggest my position can be bolstered with examples from other countries: in Chile, Zambia, and the Gambia, opposition parties that teamed up early (years
in advance, picking 1 leader together) actually won and governed well. Chile’s Concertación united 17 parties 2 years ahead of its election and governed for 2 d e c a d e s . Z a m b i a ’s Hichilema lost 5 elections before sustained coalitionbuilding finally won. The Gambia unseated a 22-year incumbent after 7 opposition parties settled early on 1 candidate. Same lesson from coalition deals in the UK, Pakistan, and India. The Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement was a policy document drawn up following the UK’s 2010 general election. But in Guyana when unity gets thrown together last-minute, Guyanese voters can smell that it’s just a political tactic, not a genuine alliance — which is basically what happened to Guyana’s AFC party in 2025, when their late attempt at teaming up won them zero seats. History is consistent: unity negotiated early works; unity improvised late doesn’t. 3rd November, 2030 will not wait for anyone’s ego to soften. Regards, Mohamed Shabeer Zafar
The strategic, timely way to secure more for Guyana’s oil now! DEAR EDITOR, At Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, my professors emphasised that timely intervention is essential to sound governance. It prevents harmful policies from becoming entrenched, reduces the cost of corrective action and maximises public benefit. That lesson is especially relevant now. President Donald Trump recently accused ExxonMobil and Chevron of making “too much money” and urged them to return more of their profits to the public. He has demonstrated both the willingness and the influence to summon corporate leaders and pressure them publicly. Guyana should seize this extraordinary moment. President Irfaan Ali should formally ask President Trump to mediate discussions with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and the other Stabroek stakeholders toward a
voluntary “Guyana Fair Return Agreement.” Trump cannot simply order these companies to pay Guyana more. However, through negotiation, public pressure, incentives and rigorous enforcement, he possesses substantial persuasive leverage. Guyana’s failure even to make the request would represent a grave failure of leadership, and malpractice. Trump could call upon ExxonMobil and Chevron to disclose their total Stabroek investments and recovered costs, their cumulative profits from Guyana, Guyana’s true effective share of petroleum revenues, why Guyana receives only a 2% royalty, and whether they would accept those same terms today in a proven, highly profitable petroleum basin. Such transparency could generate pressure from shareholders, pension funds, churches, civic organisations and international institutions for a voluntary adjustment. The most practical
objective would be a supplemental, pricesensitive royalty-potentially increasing Guyana’s royalty to 5%-combined with stricter cost auditing, project ring-fencing and increased national-development payments. This would provide Guyana with a fairer return while preserving reasonable investment profits. President Ali should immediately ask President Trump to mediate-not to confiscate- ExxonMobil’s rights, but to secure a fair and voluntary rebalancing of an agreement negotiated under circumstances that have changed dramatically since
2016. As a final point of leverage, Guyana may remind the companies that public demands for national control of the country’s petroleum assets, or dreaded “Nationalisation,” will inevitably intensify if voluntary fairness remains impossible. The time to act is now. Guyana must ask-and President Trump should help. He must “put his money where his mouth is.” Regards, Albert Baldeo Community Leader, Advocate and Judicial Delegate Queens, NY, USA
Kaieteur News
PAGE 06
Monday August 10, 2026
Canje businessman The bottled water debate killed after struck by car driven by Dr. Ramayya
DEAR EDITOR, As a public analyst and tourism writer, I have been speaking with citizens regarding the government’s introduction of a locally produced bottled water brand. Public opinion appears to be divided. Some citizens believe the initiative is simply another way for the government to generate revenue, while others view it as a positive investment in local manufacturing and national development. These differing perspectives reflect the importance of maintaining open public dialogue on matters that directly affect consumers and businesses. I do not hold a personal bias either for or against the initiative. However, I believe the discussion highlights a broader issue—the level of public trust in nationally accessible services. Many communities have experienced years of inconsistent access to potable water, making some citizens question whether greater emphasis should first be placed on ensuring reliable water delivery to every household. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that the Guyana Water Incorporated has made measurable progress in
improving water quality and expanding its infrastructure, and those achievements deserve recognition. Another concern expressed by members of the public is the possible impact on small businesses that import and distribute bottled water. They fear that a government-backed product could create additional competition in an already established market. On the other hand, many Guyanese believe that producing and purchasing more locally made goods can strengthen the national economy, create employment, and reduce dependence on imported products. Both viewpoints deserve careful consideration. From a tourism perspective, the availability of quality local products is an important part of the visitor experience. Business travellers and tourists who choose Guyana as a destination expect reliable services and products that meet international standards. A well-produced, locally branded bottled water could become another symbol of G u y anes e quality an d hospitality while supporting the country’s growing reputation as an emerging
destination for investment and tourism My personal view is that initiatives designed to stimulate economic growth and create opportunities for Guyanese should be encouraged, provided they are implemented fairly and responsibly. Government and private enterprise should not be seen as competitors alone but as partners in national development. Policies that encourage collaboration, support small businesses, and maintain healthy competition are more likely to deliver longterm benefits for consumers and the economy alike. If this initiative ultimately improves access to safe drinking water, p r o m o t e s l o c a l manufacturing, creates opportunities for businesses, and enhances Guyana’s image among visitors and investors, then it has the potential to be a worthwhile investment. However, its long-term success will depend on t r a n s p a r e n c y, p u b l i c confidence, continued improvements to water infrastructure, and ensuring that all Guyanese benefit f r o m t h e c o u n t r y ’s development Sincerely, Blane R. Bunbury
DEAD: Ishwarnauth Bisram, 42
Sandy Bisram, sister of the deceased
Dr. Veersammy Ramayya
A popular businessman of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice, succumbed to injuries he sustained after he was reportedly struck by a car along the Nigg Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice. Dead is 42-year-old Ishwarnauth Bisram, also known as Ajay Bisram, formerly of Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne. The incident occurred at about 9:55 p.m. on Saturday. According to police, Bisram was struck by motor car PZZ 1906, which was being driven by a 79-yearold doctor of Whim Village, Corentyne. information provided to this publication confirmed that the driver was Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya, a prominent political figure in East Berbice-Corentyne.
A c c o r d i n g t o preliminary investigations, Ramayya was driving east along the northern lane of Nigg Public Road when Bisram allegedly walked from south to north across the road and into the path of the vehicle. Ramayya reportedly applied the brakes in an attempt to avoid a collision, but was unable to do so, and the front of the car struck Bisram. Ramayya reportedly applied brakes in an attempt to avoid a collision but was unsuccessful, and the front portion of the vehicle struck Bisram. He sustained injuries about his body and was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.
Bisram’s sister, Sandy Bisram, said she initially tried contacting her brother but received no response. She later learnt that he had stopped to purchase food from a Chinese restaurant and had apparently stopped a car that was waiting for him across the road. Sandy said footage she reviewed showed her brother crossing the road when the vehicle struck him. Recounting the devastating moment she learnt of her brother’s death, she said her mother called her on Saturday evening and told her that he had been involved in an accident. “My brother had an accident, and I said that can’t be true. Couple of minutes later, my aunt called me and Continued on page 17
U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau heads... From page 3 advantages for the warfighter,” Kollitides II. Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, added that defense readiness depends on secure, regional access to critical minerals, and said the arrangement is meant to keep Western Hemisphere resources inside supply chains that serve the U.S. and its allies. To ensure the transaction moves swiftly, the U.S. Department of State also stepped in to provide “critical funding to support infrastructure associated with the project, enabling the U.S. government to act quickly and reinforce the long-term viability of the supply chain.” Refractory-grade bauxite serves as a vital component in modern defense systems, required to build “hightemperature-resistant materials used to make critical components for our
warfighters such as heat shields, thermal barriers, and turbine engines in guided missiles, rockets, military aircraft, and space systems”. Beyond weapon manufacturing, the highpurity ore is considered a “vital raw material for steel and aluminum production, energy infrastructure, and industrial furnaces, making it a cornerstone of a modern, industrial economy”. To ensure the transaction moves swiftly, the U.S. Department of State also stepped in to provide “critical funding to support infrastructure associated with the project, enabling the U.S. government to act quickly and reinforce the long-term viability of the supply chain”. The bauxite deal is the latest step in a wider American push into Guyana’s mineral and energy sector. U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg met
with Guyanese officials, including President Irfaan Ali, in May 2026 as Wa s h i n g t o n m o v e d t o deepen ties with Guyana. At the time, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told the Associated Press that Guyana wanted to attract U.S. investment but was seeking more valueadded processing rather than raw mineral exports. Guyana’s bauxite sector already draws interest from other major powers. Chinese-owned BOSAI Minerals holds a substantial existing footprint in the industry. Despite the scale of the deal and its explicit framing as a counter to Chinese influence in the country, the government of Guyana has not issued any public statement or response. T h i s n e w s p a p e r ’s attempts to reach Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat for a comment were unsuccessful.
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . . L U L LUNT B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T T LU N N T U U L N L B U . B Guyana must know its . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . share of the oil wealth T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . N T B . . U N . L T U B L N . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T B L . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N B U U .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . UN .BLUNT.. UNT...BL T...BL . L N . T B U . . L LUN ...BLUNT. LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
PAGE 07
PAGE 08
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
New Canadian firm moves closer to acquiring 64km2 mineral claims One of the newest entries into Guyana's mining sector is moving closer to acquire mineral claims covering approximately 64.75 square kilometres (km²) in the northwest mining district, in a deal valued at US$1.1M. Following the execution of its letter of intent announced on 14th July, 2026, Lexston Mining Corporation's wholly owned subsidiary, Lexston Guyana Inc., has commenced drafting a definitive purchase agreement with claim-holder Joseph Jardine. The definitive agreement is intended to set out the terms for Lexston to acquire a 100% interest in 15 mineral claims in Region One, Mining District Five, Northwest Guyana. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lexston Jag Bal stated, “We have commenced work on the definitive agreement as our team evaluates these prospective claims in the Guiana Shield. We look forward to working collaboratively with Mr. Jardine to finalise the formal terms.” Under the proposed transaction, Lexston Guyana will pay a total of US$1.1M in structured cash payments. The company has already paid an initial refundable deposit of US$25,000, with the remaining payments to be made over a five-year period following the receipt of the required approvals. The agreement also provides for Jardine to retain a two percent net smelter royalty (NSR) on future production from the
property, while maintaining operational rights to any alluvial gold found on the property. Lexston said the contemplated transaction remains subject to the parties agreeing on and executing the definitive agreement and to receipt of all required approvals. “There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed on the terms described herein or at all,” the company added. Lexston's arrival adds to a growing wave of Canadian gold interest in Guyana. Over 10 Canadian companies are already advancing gold projects across the country's mining districts — most concentrated in Region Seven, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Mining District, long recognised for its gold potential. Five of those companies have published Proven and Probable Reserves and Indicated Mineral Resource Estimates totaling 15.7 million ounces of gold while the rest remain at earlier exploration stages. Lexston Corporation had revealed that it decided to establish a presence in Guyana after an internal evaluation identified opportunities in the country's gold-rich districts. The move follows the company's recent engagement of Dentons Delany Inc., an international law firm with a Guyana office, and a site visit by Lexston representatives to assess prospects firsthand.
Map of the mineral claims
“Fix the taps first”
…opposition slams Govt's $496M bottling plant while dirty water runs in Guyanese homes
Saiku Andrews, APNU MP
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul
Leader of the ALP Simona Broomes and Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews are demanding the immediate suspension of a GY$496.3M state-owned water bottling plant under Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), noting the funds must be urgently redirected to failing municipal water systems. The joint outcry centers the government's latest infrastructure allocation as a direct threat to the local private sector and a distraction from GWI's core mandate to provide safe tap water. Broomes condemned the initiative as an expensive workaround that shifts the state's responsibility to consumers while expanding dependence on disposable plastics and PFAS chemicals. Referencing the Public Utilities Commission's 2025 Annual Report released in June 2026, Broomes noted that treatment plants in Amelia's Ward, Wisroc, McKenzie, Grove, and Bartica are currently operating outside World Health Organisation's safety ranges. The ALP leader is demanding the government table a "Safe Tap Water Plan" within 60 days, freeze all spending on the bottling project, and publish full procurement details to reveal who stands to profit from the diverted coastal water supply budget. MP Saiku Andrews immediately labelled the initiative a betrayal of GWI's core purpose and "bad economic policy dressed up as national vision." Andrews emphasised that
Simona Broomes, ALP Leader
the government should empower local businesses through investment incentives and duty-free concessions rather than establishing a state-owned rival to compete on an uneven playing field. He likened the venture to the Marriott Hotel project, suggesting it could be a plot to use taxpayer funds for capital investment before selling the profitable operation below market value. Andrews pointed to residents in South Ruimveldt North who are still receiving discolored tap water as proof of the utility's misplaced priorities. The opposition's stance is bolstered by data from MP Ganesh Mahipaul, who revealed that imported bottled water accounts for merely 2.9% to 4.8% of the total monthly supply, with local private manufacturers already satisfying over 95% of the market. The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has similarly warned that state intervention could crush existing private investments. Defending the $496.3M allocation, Minister of Public Utilities Deodat Indar met with private sector stakeholders to assure them the state does not intend to compete with local businesses. The project advances President Irfaan Ali's February directive to completely eliminate imported bottled water within 12 months, utilising GWI's resources to reportedly lower retail prices to $100 or less per bottle.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 09
When pumpkin became a luxury There was a time, not so long ago, when pumpkin was pumpkin. You went to the market, found a vendor, pointed to a whole pumpkin, paid your money and took it home. Nobody asked you how many pounds you wanted. Nobody weighed it. Nobody carefully cut it into sections as though dividing a precious commodity. You bought a pumpkin by its size. This was in the days when money was scarce and times were hard. Yet even then, there were certain things one could still afford. Pumpkin was one of them. I never imagined that I would live to see the day when pumpkin in Guyana would be sold by the pound. But recently I did. I stood in a market looking at pumpkin being sold by weight and had one of those small, unsettling experiences in which the present suddenly makes the past seem like another country. A vegetable that once seemed almost too ordinary to price has become something to be measured carefully. And pumpkin is not alone. Bora has become another reminder of how far things have changed. A thousand dollars can barely buy enough bora to prepare a modest meal for four. There was a time when that same $1,000 could buy a
c o n s i d e r a b l e q u a n t i t y. Indeed, I can remember when $100 could buy a parcel of bora without the buyer feeling that he had acquired something of consequence. These days, you will be hard-pressed to find a parcel of anything for $100. Not even squash. Squash was once among those vegetables that seemed almost to be given away. You bought it because it was dog cheap. Today, you may find yourself handing over $500 for what once would have been regarded as an afterthought in the market basket. Yet, we are constantly being told that Guyana is experiencing an agricultural revolution. We hear about increased food production, modern farming, technology, investment, diversification and of Guyana becoming the breadbasket of the Caribbean. But there is a simple question that the ordinary consumer is entitled to ask: If food production is increasing, why is food becoming so expensive? The answer cannot simply be that demand has increased. There is no doubt that Guyana has more mouths to feed. The arrival o f an estimated 200,000 addi tional migrants from
Venezuela and Cuba has placed greater pressure on the food supply. But demand alone cannot explain everything. Somewhere between the farmer and the consumer, something is going wrong. The agricultural chain has become a long and complicated journey. The farmer produces. Someone transports. Someone wholesales. Someone distributes. Someone retails. By the time the pumpkin reaches the kitchen, the consumer may be paying several times what the farmer received. The people at the beginning of the chain work hard. The people at the end pay hard. And somewhere in between, somebody appears to be doing rather well. This is the part of the agricultural supply chain that is rarely discussed. We celebrate production figures, hectares cultivated and tonnes harvested. But the consumer does not eat hectares. The consumer eats food. What matters finally is not merely how much we produce, but whether ordinary people can afford to buy it. The farmer must earn a reasonable income. The transporter must cover his costs. The vendor must make a living. But there must be some point at which the system stops rewarding
DEM BOYS SEH
Overtime gone missing Dem boys seh dem looking fuh something that disappear without anybody calling de police. Time-and-a-half. And Sunday double pay. Dem boys seh dem remember when people used to talk about overtime like it was something serious. You work past your regular hours; you get extra money. You work Sunday, depending on the category of worker, you get higher pay. Simple. But these days, dem boys seh, overtime looking like one of dem missing persons cases. The law still got provisions for overtime pay. The law says workers are entitled to at least time-and-a-half for overtime and Sunday work, while factory workers are entitled to double time on Sundays and certain public holidays. So dem boys asking: Who collecting it? Because plenty people working 10, 11 and 12 hours like dem applying fuh become permanent resident inside the workplace. Twelve-hour shift! Dem boys seh some workers seeing the office more than dem seeing dem own house. And what about the migrant workers? How much of dem know what the law says? How many know that working extra hours may entitle dem to extra pay? And how many employers making sure they get it? Dem boys seh this is where things does get interesting. Because some employers in
the private sector got a special understanding of overtime. The worker does work overtime. The boss does call it “good business.” The worker does call it “hard work.” The payroll department does call it “regular hours.” Everybody got a name for it except overtime pay. Dem boys seh some companies could mek a worker work so long that by the time he reach home, he does have to introduce himself to his family again. And Sunday? Some employers apparently believe Sunday is just Saturday wearing different clothes. But if the law says workers are entitled to overtime payment, then the question is not whether employers feel like paying it. The question is whether they are paying it. So dem boys got a modest suggestion for the Ministry of Labour: check the time sheets. Check the payroll. Talk to the workers—not only the employers. Because if the law says time-and-a-half, workers should not have to settle for time-andnothing. And if dem boys discover that 12 hours of work is being paid as eight, dem boys got one question: Where the other four hours gone? Dem boys seh maybe overtime did not disappear after all. Maybe somebody just pocket it. Talk half. Leff half.
layers of middlemen and starts protecting the consumer. Otherwise, we produce more food, but the food becomes less affordable. There is only one durable answer. Produce so much food that the market has more than enough. A genuine surplus changes the balance of power. When there is a glut, prices fall.. The first possibility is remarkably simple: get families planting again. There was a time when the backyard was part of the food system. People planted cassava, eddoes, peppers, tomatoes, ochro, pumpkin and other vegetables. Not every family had a kitchen garden. But many families had something growing behind the house. We should encourage that again on a massive scale.
The second possibility is that Guyana should explore arrangements with the Chinese to establish largescale commercial farms producing food specifically for the domestic market. The objective should not simply be exports. We need food here. We need the Chinese to help us produce more food because the local agricultural system and the chain through which its products reach consumers have failed to keep prices within reasonable reach. That failure cannot be disguised by statistics about local food production. The ordinary Guyanese does not go to the market carrying an economic spreadsheet. He carries a wallet. And increasingly, the wallet is coming home lighter while the market bag is coming home emptier.
This is not what an agricultural revolution should look like. A green revolution should mean that food becomes more abundant, more accessible and more affordable. It should mean that a mother can buy enough vegetables to feed her family without calculating whether she can afford the pumpkin. It should mean that $1,000 buys more than a few strings of bora. It should mean that pumpkin once again becomes pumpkin—not a luxury item. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10 UTHS
D TR
HAR
HK
BY G
LALL
Monday August 10, 2026
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
One issue- money, how much, when O
n 31st July, some of the words uttered by Exxon's Chief, Mr. Darren Woods, were as clear as a bugle. Exxon has recovered all of its investment in Guyana -all US$55B. I thank Mr. Woods for his clarity on that score and his extra note about the repayment being two years ahead of schedule. It has been 10 days since the high-performing and high-flying Exxon chief mentioned his Guyana debt repayment words. It has been 10 days and
not a word from the PPP Govt. Not a word from Excellency Ali. And, most conspicuous of all, NOT A SINGLE WORD FROM VICE PRESIDENT DR. BHARRAT JAGDEO. I deliberately capitalised and bolded a part of the sentence involving Vice President Jagdeo. With a bow to the presidency, Dr. Jagdeo is the man in command of Guyana's oil industry. Therefore, it is Oil Chief Jagdeo who must speak. Exxon spoke. Chief Oil Minister of Guyana, Dr.
Bharrat Jagdeo, should have been the very next man to speak over here in the very next minute. To date, Guyanese have not had a whiff, or so much as a syllable, from the man in command of the Guyana oil treasure. I don't want to know why he has not spoken. All I know is that he should have spoken, and must speak. Ten days of silence at a time like this could mean many things. But I cast no aspersions. All the focus, where I zero in, is on one area, one truth, one reality: the man, this national oil leader, must speak. He must break his silence. Guyanese must hear from their oil boss, Dr. Jagdeo. About one and one thing only at this time. What does the 50:50 profit sharing look like, when did it begin (it should have), and how much by the calculations of the government's army of
mathematicians. I am concerned about rapid cost bank refilling. But that will have to wait. There are other issues of a bigger nature. But all of those have to take a backseat (for the moment). The issue at hand right now is the share. Though a moving target, Guyanese need to be told (by Jagdeo), Guyanese need to hear (from Dr. Jagdeo) about the significance of this development for this country. Because if there is a problem or a crick in the neck now, if the straightest of straight talk cannot be heard now, then what more could be in store? To s a y t h a t I a m astonished, blown away, by Oil Head Jagdeo's ten days of silence would be an understatement of mythical proportions. Tell Guyanese about percentages, decimals, and fractions. In sum, tell them about the dollars and when
that started. Note the repeated use of the past tense, please. The investment recovery by Exxon was in the second quarter of this year, which means before 30 th June, 2026. Therefore, the new 50:50 profit sharing configuration began life then. This new profit dispensation cannot be beginning in September, or in this August, but it had to have begun more than a month before. All of this is what Vice President Jagdeo should have already shared with the Guyanese people. Fifty! Fifty! Fifty! Or, more down to earth, and pleasing to the ear: Money! Money! Money! In this one moment in time, Bharrat Jagdeo is the president. Bharrat Jagdeo is the Government of Guyana in his one person. Say s o m e t h i n g , M r. Vi c e President of Oil. I am trying to figure out
h i s silence and must confess to be at a loss. Dr. Jagdeo was a man who spoke for hours, with religious fervor, every Thursday afternoon. Amazingly, he kept that up for years. More amazingly, this is man that has not stepped forward and said one letter of the alphabet on oil in 10 days. Incredible, I say. It is said that good things come to those who wait. The Guyanese people wait on Bharrat Jagdeo. He marshals his thoughts. He will speak. The question is when. Remember: money, money, money. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 11
...Court says claims risk mischaracterisation without context An explosive internal rift at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has triggered fresh concerns about the independence and credibility of the region's highest court, following leaked emails in which sitting judges accuse President Justice Winston Anderson of “dictatorial” leadership, panel manipulation and attempts to influence judicial opinions. The revelations have sparked alarm in Guyana, particularly over allegations that the court's internal tensions spilled into the politically sensitive Mohamed v MOHA extradition matter involving Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed. However, in a statement responding to the Trinidad Express the CCJ has reaffirmed its commitment to judicial independence, inte grity and public confidence in the administration of justice, saying the questions and allegations could be misunderstood or mischaracterised without the proper context. In its statement to the Sunday Express on Friday night, the regional tribunal
stressed that its judges remain gui ded by the principles of the United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct and committed to delivering fair, accessible and efficient justice across the Caribbean Community. "The Court is mindful that questions and allegations presented without the benefit of context, background, or an appreciation of the nature of judicial deliberations, collegial discussions, and institutional governance may lend themselves to misunderstanding or mischaracterisation," the statement read. "For that reason, the Court wishes to reaffirm that the Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice remain committed to the tenets of judicial conduct enshrined in the United Nations Bangalore Principles of J u d i c i a l Conduct—independence, i m p a r t i a l i t y, i n t e g r i t y, p r o p r i e t y, e q u a l i t y, competence, and diligence. Maintaining public confidence in the Court is fundamental to upholding the rule of law and (Continued on page 16)
CCJ President Winston Anderson
CCJ under pressure as judges’ leaked emails raise questions over independence
Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice have raised alarm over the actions of President Dr. Winston Anderson, accusing him of “dictatorial”leadership, panel fixing and attempts to influence court decisions.
Justice Peter Jamadar Justice Peter Jamadar
Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji
Justice Chantal Ononaiwu
Mme. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee
Justice Denys Barrow
Justice Arif Bulkan
PAGE 12
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
'Hands off the Kurupung’ – Region 7 Vice-Chair warns EPA against approving uranium drilling With Canadian firm U92 Energy slated to commence drilling at the Kurupung Uranium Project this month following approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Vice-Chair of Region Seven, Alden Marslowe, has added his voice to growing concerns over the project, calling on the government and EPA to halt further approvals. In a social media post, Marslowe said “hands off the Kurupung,” warning that “Guyana must not gamble with the future of the Middle Mazaruni.” The Kurupung Uranium Project spans approximately 92.2 square kilometres in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and carries a historical resource estimate of 20.6 million pounds of uranium. U92 Energy acquired the project earlier this year through the acquisition of LIA Industries Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean company. In a recent corporate update, U92 said it had subsequent correspondence with the EPA and submitted an environmental management plan as requested by the agency. “The company has determined to proceed with completing the site infrastructure and anticipates that the phase one drill programme will commence during the month of August, 2026 following receipt of the EPA's approval of the environmental management plan,” U92
said. Since taking control of the asset, U92 has finalised a commercial agreement with Orbit Garant for a phase one 5,000-metre diamond drilling programme and acquired the project's historical exploration data. Wi t h t h e c o m p a n y preparing to commence drilling soon, Marslowe said the people of Region Seven, particularly communities in the Middle Mazaruni, have every right to be deeply concerned. “This is not simply another mining project. Uranium is different. The potential consequences of uranium exploration and, ultimately, uranium mining demand a much higher standard of caution, transparency, scientific scrutiny and public consultation than what Guyanese citizens have witnessed so far,” he stressed. Marslowe called on the government and the EPA to stop and reconsider the project before any further approvals are granted. He cited what he described as a lack of consultation with the Regional Democratic Council of Region Seven, village councils, Indigenous communities of the Middle Mazaruni and the wider public. “One of the most troubling aspects of this matter is the apparent absence of meaningful consultation with the people who stand to be most
Ma
za
ru
ni
Ri
ve
r
Map showing the location of the boundary of the two PLs that constitute the Project shown on a digital elevation model of topography
Olive Creek Aricheng Camp
affected,” he noted. Kaieteur News reported that LIA Industries local subsidiary, LIA (Guyana) Inc. was incorporated in Guyana on 20th March, 2023, and holds exclusive rights to occupy and explore the property under two Prospecting Licenses issued by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) on 19th April,2024. The licences permit exploration of uranium, other radioactive minerals, and rare earth elements for three years, ending 18 th April, 2027, with an option to extend for up to two additional one-year periods through 18th April, 2029. Marslowe added, “The people who live in these
EPA Executive Director, Kemraj Parsram
Vice-Chair of Reg. 7, Alden Marslowe
communities have an intimate relationship with the land, forests and rivers. Their livelihoods, food sources, transportation, culture and way of life are intrinsically connected to the natural environment. Yet public reporting indicates that the uranium prospecting licences were granted in April 2024, while the existence and implications of the project only became widely known much later.” He also referenced a statement by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), which called for the project to be halted and raised concerns about the lack of consultation and the absence of free, prior and informed consent from affected Indigenous communities. Marslowe argued that the environmental implications of the proposed uranium project deserve serious attention, pointing out that the Kurupung, Mazaruni and Essequibo River systems are interconnected parts of a
larger watershed upon which thousands of Guyanese depend. “A mistake, accident, leakage or failure involving hazardous materials in an upper watershed does not necessarily remain confined to the immediate project site. Once contaminants enter a river system, they can travel. The potential consequences therefore extend far beyond Kurupung. They can affect downstream communities, aquatic life, fisheries, drinking-water sources and people whose livelihoods depend upon these waterways,” he said. The Vice Chair also outlined the potential risks associated with uranium mining and processing, noting that such activities can generate radioactive waste and other contaminants. Further, Marslowe questioned whether Guyana possesses the regulatory capacity, technical expertise, emergency preparedness and
long-term institutional resources necessary to safely manage uranium development. He pointed to comments made by former EPA head Dr. Vincent Adams, who warned that Guyana currently lacks the regulatory and technical capacity required to safely oversee uranium mining. “That warning cannot simply be dismissed. The Indigenous way of life must not be sacrificed The Middle Mazaruni is not an empty piece of real estate waiting to be exploited. It is home,” the vice chair added. He noted that ancestral territories have served Indigenous communities for generations, with residents depending on the land for fishing, hunting, farming, transportation, traditional medicines, cultural practices and spiritual connections. “Development cannot mean that communities are expected to surrender their way of life because a foreign company has identified a commercially valuable mineral beneath their feet,” he added, noting that villages in the Middle Mazaruni are increasingly united in their opposition to the project. Moreover, Marslowe further argued that citizens should not have to rely on company releases and newspaper reports to learn details about the project. To this end he noted that government has a responsibility to tell citizens (Continued on page 16)
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 13
Firearm, ammo St. Ignatius firefighter pleads guilty to drunk driving, fined $100,000 found at Kwakwani charged with driving a motor vehicle while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit.The charge was laid under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, in relation to an offence committed last week on the St. Ignatius Public Road, Central Rupununi.
The discovered items have since been lodged
P
olice have launched an investigation following the discovery of a firearm and ammunition during an intelligence-led operation at Kwakwani Park, Airstrip, Upper Berbice River, on Saturday. According to police, the discovery was made at about 12:30 a.m. after ranks, acting on information received, proceeded to an unfinished and unoccupied concrete structure, where they conducted a search.
During the search, ranks found a black plastic bag containing a silver Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol fitted with a magazine. The magazine contained one live 9mm round of ammunition. The firearm, magazine and ammunition were taken to the Kwakwani Police Station, where they were lodged pending examination. No arrest has been made. Investigations continue.
Chief Magistrate sets September dates for Mohameds' extradition case following CCJ ruling Extradition committal proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, are set to resume in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on 3rd,4th,7th,8th,9th and 10th September. Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman scheduled the September hearing dates following a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on 29th July, 2026, which dismissed the father-and-son duo's appeal and lifted a five-month interim stay that had paused the proceedings since March. The United States government formally requested the extradition of the Mohameds on 30th October, 2025, in connection with an 11-count federal indictment charging them with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The following day, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond issued the Authority to Proceed (ATP) enabling Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman to issue arrest warrants and launch committal proceedings. In December 2025, the Mohameds mounted a judicial review application against the Minister of Home Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Chief Magistrate, seeking to quash the ATP. They argued that the extradition process was unlawfully initiated because Minister Walrond was allegedly affected by actual and apparent political bias when signing the order. After their challenge was dismissed by the High Court on 4th February, 2026, and by the Guyana Court of Appeal on 17th March,
Judy Latchman, Chief Magistrate 2026, the applicants turned to the regional apex court. On 25th March, 2026, the CCJ granted an emergency interim stay while agreeing to treat the special leave application as the substantive appeal. Delivering its final verdict, the CCJ, while acknowledging that the rule against bias applies to executive decision-making, the court held that the appellants failed to establish that the issuance of the ATP was improperly influenced or infected by irrelevant considerations. By lifting the interim stay, the CCJ cleared the path for Chief Magistrate Latchman to proceed with the committal hearings to determine whether the extradition request meets the statutory standards to commit the two to stand trial in the United States.
Terrell Pauline A 24-year-old fireman, from St. Ignatius, Central Rupununi, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. Terrell Pauline has been
Pauline made his appearance on Friday before Magistrate Nikkisha Logan at the Lethem Magistrate's Court, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100,000, with the alternative of two weeks' imprisonment in default of payment.
Kaieteur News The house engulfed in flames
Fire guts vacant Rose Hall house A Rose Hall Town, Corentyne Berbice home was completely destroyed by fire during the early hours of Sunday at First Street, Swamp Section. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said it responded to reports of a house on fire at First Street, Swamp Section, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne. The building, an unoccupied oneflat wooden structure, was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. The Rose Hall Fire Station is located a short distance from the property, allowing firefighters to respond quickly and contain and extinguish the blaze.The property and all of its
contents were, however, completely destroyed.A neighbour who spoke to Kaieteur News said the owners of the property had migrated some time ago and that the house was periodically checked by persons living nearby. The woman, who requested anonymity, said her mother alerted her to the fire. “This morning, about 5:00 time, when we open the windows to wake my brother to go to work, she said the fire catch from the veranda. Like somebody like they burn it,” she recounted.According to the neighbour, persons occasionally checked on the property but were
unaware that two individuals, reportedly of unsound mind, had been frequenting the abandoned house. “It get some mad man does go there, because one set of old stuff went downstairs, and upstairs inside the house. He gone jail about a month now, but there is a next one that does go there,” she explained. Residents believe the fire may have been deliberately set by one of the individuals who frequented the property. Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald confirmed to Kaieteur News on Sunday that the fire was deliberately set.
Monday August 10, 2026
Elderly Lethem teacher charged, fined for DUI
Roderick George
PAGE 14
A 71-year-old teacher of Tabatinga, Lethem, Central Rupununi, has been charged with driving a motor vehicle while breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. Roderick George appeared before Magistrate Nikkisha Logan at the Lethem Magistrate's Court, where the charge was read to him.The offense was reportedly committed last Monday on the Tabatinga Public Road, Lethem. The charge was laid under Section 39A(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. Subsequently, George pleaded guilty and was fined $100, 000 or an alternative two weeks' imprisonment in default of payment.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
US$161 million Soesdyke-Linden Road Project is “highway robbery” - Opposition Leader Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed criticised the People's Progressive Party's (PPP) administration, accusing President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of systemic corruption, hyperinflated infrastructure spending, and personal enrichment. Standing along the Linden-Soesdyke H i g h w a y y e s t e r d a y, Mohamed detailed alleged procurement irregularities surrounding the road's US $161M rehabilitation project. Focusing on the infrastructure contract, Mohamed questioned the US $161M price tag to rehabilitate approximately 73 kilometers of the existing Linden-Soesdyke Highway. He contrasted the project with the 121-kilometer Linden-to-Mabura Hill Road upgrade, which costs $190M U.S. despite being nearly 50 kilometers longer, passing through far more difficult terrain, and requiring the conversion of mud, slush, sand, and dirt into an asphaltic corridor. Noting that the original highway was carved through dense forest from scratch by American firm B.B. McCormick & Sons under Forbes Burnham between 1966 and 1968, M o h a m e d a rg u e d t h a t spending $161M today to strip and relay asphalt on an existing route is less like a highway project and more like highway robbery. He said contractors normally apply a 10 to 20% markup, whereas project markups in Guyana under the current administration reach up to 100%. H e c l a i m e d Vi c e President Jagdeo initially favoured Chinese contractors while President Ali selected his close friend, Guyamerica, leading to a contract signed in August 2024 between Guyamerica and Namalco Construction Services (from Trinidad & Tobago) with a two-year timeline. Estimating that the actual cost of materials, including asphalt, crusher run, 3,000 streetlight fixtures, and two roundabouts, does not exceed US $50M, Mohamed questioned who receives the r e m a i n i n g U S $ 111 M margin. He further criticised ongoing construction delays extending past the original September 2026 deadline,
Mohamed during his video severe safety hazards due to poor light visibility, and allegations that foreign workers are being prioritised over local highway residents for cheap labour. While the LindenSoesdyke project faces heavy political scrutiny, progress continues on the neighbouring Linden-toM a b u r a H i l l c o r r i d o r. Contracting firm Alya Construction confirmed previously that the US $190M project has reached a milestone, completing 100 kilometers of modern asphalt paving. Deploying over 300 heavy equipment units and a 900-person workforce, roadspecific execution stands at 83% completion. Expanding his corruption allegations, Mohamed previously released a video presentation on his Team Mohamed Facebook page from President Ali's private entry road, alleging that the 150-acre estate represents more than GYD $2.2B in state-fuelled development completed over three years. Mohamed argued that an investment of this scale could never be funded on a presidential salary of GYD $3.7M per month. In his breakdown, he cited engineering estimates placing the 2.2-kilometer, 17-foot-wide access road at $75M, site clearing and forest removal at $300M, 6.6 kilometers of dedicated electrical infrastructure at $55M, worker housing at $60M, and a 3-year payroll of 50 full-time staff at $180M. He further detailed extensive agricultural and recreational facilities on the property, including two automated poultry tunnel houses for 80,000 chickens valued at $340 million with an initial $76 million flock investment generating $84 million in net profit every six weeks. He cited a $40 million cattle barn housing 200 Brazilian cows worth
$64million, a $10 million black-bellied sheep barn holding 200 sheep worth $18 million, $13.2 million in goat, Black Giant, and duck facilities, $150 million in nine long-span greenhouses, $50 million in seven shade houses with exotic plants, $250 million across a 40-acre commercial citrus orchard, $45 million in industrial wells and black tanks, $50 million in aquaculture infrastructure for Tambaqui and Hassa, a $165 million two-story air-conditioned residential ranch house with a pool and gazebo, a $60 million man-made kayaking circuit creek, $150 million in dedicated heavy machinery, and $50 million in perimeter fencing. President Irfaan Ali hit back almost immediately by refuting the claims as a contrived narrative. The statement clarified that President Ali acquired the property long before assuming the presidency, with all financial source records independently verifiable through banking documentation. Ali also promised a tour of the farm which is yet to materialise. Additionally, the response highlighted that President Ali has made all required asset declarations to the Integrity Commission, possesses a lifelong personal passion for modern agriculture, and has never utilised state funds, public resources, or preferential government benefits for his private farm. President Ali also disclosed that he holds recent text messages from Senior Mohamed implying that recordings would be released unless government extradition proceedings requested by the USA were eased, stating he is fully prepared to make these communications public. However, when the Senior Mohamed challenged him to do so, Ali has gone silent.
PAGE 15
PAGE 16
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
CCJ under pressure as judges’ leaked...
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
100 HP Stop and start switches. Friendship Oxygen Limited, WhatsApp # 634-3430
Industrial & Medical Oxygen and Acetylene Fast and efficient Services Friendship Oxygen Limited Location: East Bank Demerara Public Road Call/ WhatsApp: 634-3430
C Belt Pully, 12 Groove by 18'’ Dimensions and other sizes. Friendship Oxygen Limited. WhatsApp #6343430 Helium Gas for Balloons Price 6230 ltrs $136,800 VAT Inc. 9350 ltrs $171,000 VAT Inc. UHP Argon gas, Mix gas and other high purity gas can be ordered. Friendship Oxygen Limited WhatsApp # 634-3430 Caterpillar Generator Caterpillar D342C Engine in good working condition WhatsApp # 634-3430 2-100 HP Motor 3 Ph 440 Volts 1-75 HP Motor 3 Ph 440 Volts WhatsApp # 634-3430 1234yf $14,799 VAT Inc.WhatsApp # 634-3430 Granular Chlorine 100 lbs $77,520 VAT Inc. Chlorine Tablets 40 lbs $72,960 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430. Aluminum Sulphate $13,700. Soda Ash $18,200. Pool Salts $13,700. Caustic Soda Pearls $18,000. Copper Algaecide $11,400 VAT Inc Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/ WhatsApp: 634-3430 PAG 46 $22,800 RPO 32 Oil $22,800 RPO 68 Oil $22,800 AC Flash Flush $22,800 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430 Sulphuric Acid 5 gal $34,200 Nitric Acid 5 gal $34,200 Hydrochloric Acid 5 gal $34,200 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/ WhatsApp: 634-3430 Condemned Oxygen Cylinders $1,140 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430 Compressed CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Gas and Cylinders also Hydrogen and other gases Can be supplied on order Friendship Oxygen Limited WhatsApp # 634-3430 Honeywell Refrigeration Gas: R404a $30,000 R134a $38,7960 R410 $33,000 R-448 $77,520 R290 $14,800 R600a $14,800. R32 $30,780 R407c $34,200 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/ WhatsApp: 634-3430. Air Compressor Friendship Oxygen Limited. Call/ WhatsApp: 634-3430
2000 lbs., White metal in shape of a boat rudder. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430 White Wash Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. Call/WhatsApp: Natasha #655-9846 UHP Argon, helium balloons, Industrial Argon, Mix Gas, and Refrigeration Gases. We also source Gases upon request. Friendship Oxygen Limited. Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430 Liquid Nitrogen Tank 45 Gallons. Taylor Wharton Friendship Oxygen Limited. Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430 TRUCK TIRES 295/75R22.5 $40K EACH. CALL/ WHATSAPP +592-688-3201.
WANTED Wanted - Experience Jetmen and Marrack men needed to work in the interior. For more info call or whatsapp: 6605010
FOR RENT Two bedroom apartment for rent Farm, E.B.D. $120,000 per month. Tel# 692-7377 or 6727194.
From page 11 preserving trust in the administration of justice. The Caribbean Court of Justice remains committed to providing accessible fair and efficient justice for the people and states of the Caribbean Community.” Guyana Opposition parties have jumped on the issue with fierce condemnation from Opposition MP Sherod Duncan, an official statement from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, APNU Parliamentary Lead Terrence Campbell, and WPA CoLeader Dr. David Hinds, all warning that such internal dysfunction severely undermines public confidence in the regional apex court’s independence and demands urgent clarification regarding its impact on politically sensitive Guyanese matters. The leaked internal correspondence first reported by the Trinidad Express reveals that five of the court’s six sitting judges, Justices Chile Eboe-Osuji, Chantal Ononaiwu, Arif Bulkan, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, and Peter Jamadar, have directly challenged Justice Anderson’s administration. In the e-mails, Justice Jamadar described a “toxic” environment, detailing what he characterised as an unprecedented “attempt to influence the opinions of colleagues” during deliberations on the extradition matter involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, M.P. Endorsing Jamadar’s warnings of “creeping patterns of antidemocratic approaches,” Justice Eboe-Osuji went further, alleging he had “never seen before the level of dictatorship in the administration of a judiciary” and claiming Justice Anderson pointedly sought to announce a decision in the Mohamed case despite clear opposition from a majority of his colleagues. Reacting to the revelations, APNU MP Sherod Duncan highlighted the far-reaching implications for regional governance, noting that previous assurances regarding the court’s insulation from political and institutional bias must now be re-examined. Duncan pointed to earlier
SERVICES Building plans and estimates. K. Lakeram Building contractor. Call #216-0671/ 692-8464 or WhatsApp #622-0267
TOURS
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK: Graphics design, advertisements, wedding arch rentals.Tel: 6267040.
Suriname Summer holiday tour trip from August 20th returning 24th. Call Matthew Bus Services/Tours #6392663, 673-2348
concerns, including Justice Anderson’s direct engagement with former Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton in late 2025 regarding local judicial appointments, as well as the recent ruling against Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed. Stressing that citizens appearing before the court deserve complete assurance that cases are decided strictly by law without internal or external pressure, Duncan urged the CCJ to issue a transparent statement clarifying whether these administrative and paneling disputes affected the deliberative process or outcomes of cases before the bench. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition described the disclosures as deeply disturbing and called for an independent examination into the allegations. “These concerns do not come from a lone or dissenting voice within the Court,” the statement read. “The people of Guyana and
the wider Caribbean are entitled to know precisely what occurred during the deliberations in the Mohamed extradition matter... Judicial independence cannot merely be proclaimed. It must exist in practice, it must be protected internally, and the public must be able to see that it has been protected.” APNU Parliamentary Lead Terrence Campbell also expressed concerns via a Facebook post, stating, “I am a firm believer in the CCJ. However, I have had cause to worry about the independence of Justice Anderson. This newspaper article now adds to my angst.” Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-leader and APNU MP Dr. David Hinds also remarked that while it remains too early to draw final conclusions, “this does not look good.” A self-described regionalist, Dr. Hinds warned that if validated, the allegations could justify longstanding political skepticism regarding the
court’s potential to be used as a political tool. Pointing to the CCJ’s pivotal role in deciding past Guyanese elections and previous concerns raised by Aubrey Norton over the departure of Guyana’s former chancellor, Dr. Hinds questioned whether the alleged politicking was at play in prior major rulings. “Are the current allegations confined to the present leadership or are they broader and deeper?” Hinds asked, noting that the Caribbean public cannot afford to ignore questions of this magnitude. Anderson is no stranger to Guyana as just last year, October, Norton revealed he engaged him regarding the substantive appointment of then-Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings and he voiced disquiet over this development. The CCJ President raising the matter with Norton would be seen as interference in a case which has to be decided by the President and the Opposition Leader.
‘Hands off the Kurupung’ From page 12 what is being proposed, where it is being proposed, who stands to benefit, what risks exist, what safeguards are in place, who will bear the costs if something goes wrong and what happens after the company leaves. Marslowe also said the public should also have access to relevant environmental studies, baseline water-quality data, radiation assessments, emergency-response plans, waste-management proposals and rehabilitation commitments.
The vice-chair said legitimate concerns about public health, Indigenous rights and environmental protection should not be silenced. He said government should pay attention to the concerns surrounding the project and urged the EPA to act cautiously. He also called for citizens to be consulted. He further noted that the Kurupung uranium project presents Guyana with a choice: either rush forward because the mineral is valuable or pause because the people and environment are more valuable.
He argued that if Guyana cannot demonstrate that it has the technical and institutional capacity to regulate uranium exploration and mining safely, then the responsible position is not to proceed with the project. “I therefore urge the EPA to decline the environmental approval for the proposed uranium drilling programme unless and until there has been full, transparent and independent examination of the environmental, social, health, cultural and cumulative impacts of the project,” he said.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 17
Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, stoking tensions with U.S. (AL-JAZEERA) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists he has rejected President Donald “Trump’s plan for Gaza and will not “withdraw forces until the Palestinian group Hamas “fully disarms, risking more obstacles in the increasingly complex efforts to reduce escalation on multiple fronts in the region. “Israel rejects the 15point document,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, referring to the plan endorsed last month by Hamas. The Israeli army “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed … and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens”, Netanyahu said, adding that Israel is “talking to the Americans about this issue”. “They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some are not acceptable to us, and we know how to stand firm on these things,” Netanyahu said. There was no immediate response from the White House. In a statement published on Telegram later on Sunday, Hamas said it remained committed to fully implementing the plan. The Palestinian armed group called on mediators and guarantor countries to “ a s s u m e t h e i r responsibilities” and prevent any “violations or breaches” that could derail the process. Israel has continued “to carry out near-daily deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip regardless of a so-called “ceasefire” with Hamas last “October. Trump announced a “historic” agreement on 30th July, that entailed “the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed
The Israeli army will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [File: AFP] groups in Gaza”, which he called “a monumental step toward lasting peace and security”. The deal was credited to the U.S-led Board of Peace, inaugurated in February 2026 and including roughly 40 countries – including Israel and several Arab states, though no Palestinian representatives – with Trump installed as its chair for life. Speaking to his cabinet Sunday, Netanyahu vowed that “as long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will arise” and emphasised that Israel would not abide by the U.S-backed plan. Israel’s desire for “real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament” would mean the removal of all weaponry, including lighter weapons, he said. The 15-point plan calls for initially focusing on Hamas’s heavy weaponry, military production sites, weapons depots and the group’s extensive tunnel network. Reporting from Wa s h i n g t o n D C , A l
Jazeera’s Patty Culhane said that Netanyahu is playing a “very dangerous game” with Trump. Israel is becoming increasingly unpopular in the U.S, with the Democratic Party “very much sliding towards the Palestinian cause”, said Culhane. Furthermore, Trump could decide to “say it is time to split with Israel”, which would likely see many in the Republican Party, “the last staunchest ally of Israel in the U.S”, follow suit, Culhane said. Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said Netanyahu’s statement raises “serious questions” for Palestinians about the path out of hostilities. “The full rejection here puts the sequencing and the steps into question,” Mahmoud said. Reporting from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh said Netanyahu’s stated conditions could prove “extremely
Canje businessman killed... From page 6 told me that he did have an accident,” she recalled. She said she then instructed her son, who was attending a wake at the time, to go to the hospital and verify what had happened, as she desperately hoped the reports were untrue. Even after learning that her brother had died, Sandy said she struggled to accept the reality. “I still didn’t believe. And then he stopped and he said, ‘Mom, it’s true.’ Then I told him to come and pick me up, and when I go, I see my brother already dead,” she said. The body is currently at Ramoo’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination. Sandy said the driver did not assist in
taking her brother to the hospital. The family, she added, wants a full investigation and justice for Bisram. “We want justice for our brother. We had one brother. One brother we get. And he’s very close to me, because both of us were working together since we were little. We want justice for our brother. My brother is a good person,” she said. Meanwhile, a breathalyser test conducted on the driver returned a reading of 11 micrograms, which is below the prescribed legal limit. The driver remains in police custody as investigations continue. Police have also identified CCTV cameras in the vicinity and will review the footage as part of the investigation.
problematic for the Board of Peace and the mediators who have been working for months now to try to carry out the disarmament of Hamas”. The roadmap would eventually involve transferring Gaza’s day-today administration to a technocratic Palestinian committee operating under the oversight of the Board of Peace. But the board has “very limited power” to move forward without Israeli support, Odeh said. “Netanyahu has hit the reset button,” she said. Since Hamas and Israel agreed to a nominal ceasefire
last October, experts have expressed scepticism that Israel would honour the agreement as its forces have continued to pummel Gaza, killing hundreds of people. At least one child was injured in Israeli army gunfire in the Al-Najjar neighbourhood of Khan Younis on Sunday, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. Since the “ceasefire” started in mid-October last year, at least 1,258 people have been killed and 4,139 wounded with more than 800 bodies recovered from rubble, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The overall death toll in
Gaza since October 2023 is at least 73,386 and 174,250 wounded. Attacks by Israeli forces, settlers across the occupied West Bank Israeli forces and settlers continue to launch near daily attacks across the occupied West Bank, as Netanyahu’s party courts the settler vote less than three months before Israel’s general elections. The Israeli military ransacked multiple homes after storming several villages in the Nablus governorate and multiple towns east of Bethlehem, reported Wafa. Israeli settlers and Continued on page 18
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Monday August 10, 2026
U.S. envoy nominee flags T&T Crime Crisis ( Tr i n i d a d E x p r e s s ) United States Ambassador nominee Jennifer JohnsonCarroll has raised concerns about Trinidad and Tobago’s states of emergency, saying that, if confirmed, she will pursue “strategic goals” to help tackle the country’s crime problem. On 2nd June, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Johnson-Carroll as ambassador. She appeared before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for her confirmation hearing on 30th July, 2026, where she outlined her priorities, including strengthening security cooperation, expanding trade and investment, combating transnational crime, and deepening the bilateral relationship with Trinidad and Tobago. Following the hearing, her nomination must be voted on by the full U.S. Senate before she can be confirmed and sworn into office. She had not yet been confirmed as of yesterday. Responding to questions f r o m t h e c o m m i t t e e ’s chairman, Johnson-Carroll said that, right now, the United States is experiencing a “good relationship” with Trinidad and Tobago, in that the country has been very supportive of the Caribbean Basin Initiative. She said T&T recognises it has a porous border and needs resources to curtail illicit human trafficking and narco-terrorists. She said there is also an “issue” with respect to energy production. She added that the United States
Jennifer Johnson-Carroll is committed to moving forward with a licence that has been accepted for a sector in the Caribbean area between T&T and Venezuela. She said this will also help the U.S. increase direct support for business opportunities. Asked about the stability of the Government, she said she could not speak to that yet. She said if confirmed she will be able to go to the region and have more dialogue with the Government to find out more. “But I do know that they have had several emergency orders which doesn’t bode well with regards to the criminal activities that have been occurring for a number of years,” she added. She said this is something that needs to be addressed and, hopefully, if confirmed, with her direction on the ground she would be able to share
information with the Trump administration and the Committee and come up with “some strategic goals to help in that endeavour”. Deep connection To T&T In her opening statement, Johnson-Carroll said the nomination holds special personal meaning for her as she was born in Port of Spain and immigrated to the United States at the age of eight. She said she carried a deep connection to Trinidad and Tobago throughout her life and career. Johnson-Carroll noted that she has also committed her life to service to the United States. As a Navy veteran who rose from an enlisted jet mechanic to retire as a lieutenant commander after 20 years of service, and later served as Florida’s 18th Lieutenant Governor, she said she dedicated her career to strengthening America’s security and economic interests.
Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point... From page 17 soldiers carried out attacks in the areas of Tubas, alMughayyir, Masafer Yatta and Wadi al-Rakhim while also levelling farmland, according to Al Jazeera journalists on the ground. In conjunction with Israeli police, Israeli worshippers stormed the AlAqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The compound, which is
Islam’s third holiest site, is where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended into heaven. It is also the holiest site in Judaism, known as the Temple Mount, where the ancient Temple of Jerusalem previously stood. A group of Israeli settlers protected by military forces also stormed the town of Beit U r a l - Ta h t a , w e s t o f Ramallah, while another
group of settlers simultaneously stormed the al-Batin area on the outskirts of the village of Jaljulia, north of Ramallah, Wafa reported. Israeli settlers conducted raids in multiple locations across the Ramallah and elBireh governorates. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian properties near Bethlehem and cut down olive trees and damaged water tanks in Deir Sharaf, west of Nablus. Israeli settlers under military protection attacked Palestinian farmers in AlMughayyir, northeast of Ramallah. Israeli ministers and parliament members attended an event to establish Emek Dotan, a new illegal Israeli settlement in Arrabeh, southwestern Jenin.
Johnson-Carroll said as Lieutenant Governor, she led successful trade missions to Trinidad and Tobago and other nations, generating over US$70 million in new trade for Florida businesses and “will draw directly from these experiences in this role”. Johnson-Carroll said as Lieutenant Governor, she led
successful trade missions to Trinidad and Tobago and other nations, generating over US$70 million in new trade for Florida businesses and “will draw directly from these experiences in this role”. She said if confirmed, she will focus her efforts on four priorities central to strengthening the U.STr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o relationship and advancing American interests and President Trump’s vision in the Western Hemisphere. First, she said her most important priority will be to ensure the safety and security of American citizens residing in Trinidad and Tobago, including the thousands who travel to T&T each year for business and tourism. S e c o n d l y, s h e s a i d economic security and prosperity are critical to both countries. She said she will promote American exports, market opportunities and trade that generate commercial wins
for U.S. businesses while helping Trinidad and Tobago build a resilient, diversified economy, positioning the United States as the key partner for its economic growth and competitiveness. She said as a founding member of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition and the Shield of the Americas, Trinidad and Tobago is a regional leader on security and a strong partner in the fight against transnational organised crime. If confirmed, she is committed to working with Trinidad and Tobago to stop illicit narco-trafficking that corrupts the lives and livelihoods of both our citizens. She further pledged to champion American sovereignty and independence, ensuring U.S. engagement with Trinidad and Tobago serves the U.S.’ national interests first and reinforces the nation’s right to control its own borders, resources and decisionmaking.
Firearm, ammo found during police drug eradication exercise in Upper Berbice River Firearm and ammunition discovered by ranks Police ranks conducting a drug eradication exercise in Bartica Village, Upper Berbice River, on Thursday discovered a 12gauge shotgun and six matching cartridges at a makeshift camp. The exercise was conducted between 6:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and was led by a gazetted officer. According to police, ranks located a field measuring approximately two acres, where close to 5,000 suspected cannabis plants were found. The plants, which ranged between
three and six inches in height, were uprooted and destroyed. During a search of a makeshift camp measuring approximately 10 feet by 10 feet, ranks discovered a 12-gauge shotgun and six matching cartridges. The firearm and ammunition were taken to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, where they were lodged. The makeshift camp was also destroyed by fire. No arrests have been made. Investigations continue.
The Upper Berbice River location where the discovery was made
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
PAGE 20
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
Monday Thursday August November 10, 2026 24, 2022
PAGE 21 19
Narine dazzles as TKR make winning start Sunil Narine was exceptional once again for TKR in the CPL
Sunil Narine produced a bowling performance for the ages, delivering figures of 41-7-3 to dismantle the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and help Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) open their Caribbean Premier League campaign with a 19-run DLS-method victory in Kingstown. N a r i n e ’s b r i l l i a n c e restricted the Patriots to 109 for nine in a rain-affected contest, giving TKR an ideal start to the tournament and a significant boost to their net run rate. Rain delayed the start after TKR opted to bowl, but nothing could prevent Narine from taking control of the Patriots innings. Opening the bowling alongside Akeal Hosein, Narine struck twice in
Monday August 10, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You aren't at your best today, so you should find a way to hunker down and get some rest. It's one of those days when you're sure to find new ways to stumble if you insist on pushing too hard.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Progress is hard to come by today, so make sure that you're not getting too stressed out about the slow pace. Things are sure to pick up soon, and you don't want to be in a dark mood then!
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your good feelings are infectious, and you should find that at least one person is happy to spend time with you at any given moment. You may want to hang out in one place for the day to charge it up.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Try eating somewhere new today, and definitely eat something you've never had before! Culinary adventures can lead to more and more interesting things, and you need some more spice in your life.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Financial issues are still on your mind, and you can't get away from them until you take care of planning. It might be as simple as a quick budget or as complex as a ten-year plan, but you've got to make it happen.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Keep pestering the boss (or your mate) for an answer—things are up in the air, and you deserve to know what's what. It may take all day, but you should be able to wear them down and get what you need.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your deeper sense of intuition is primed and ready to go now, so expect a flood of new clues as you spot hidden connections and read between the lines. Things should be really interesting soon enough!
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You feel the urge to split today, no matter where you are. It may be a case of the grass looking greener, but you can't know that until you try. If you keep feeling restless, you may as well sit still and deal with it.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your sensitive side is out today, and at least one person takes this as an opportunity to tease you without mercy. Do whatever you can to back off, but if you must give it back to them, do so at once.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) If things look dark, keep in mind that this is just a phase. That should give you the confidence you need to push through the system and come out the other side better for the experience.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Try to get your life back in order even if it feels perfectly fine to you. Your good energy is just right for making sure that all the little details line up and make sense, so get to work for an hour or two.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your dreams are nagging at you again—you'd better pay attention! The good news is that it's a positive message, or at least that there will be a positive outcome if you stick with your gut feeling.
FIFA warns of effort to undermine... From page 24 apologised to its 211 member associations for mistakes in the handling of the proposal and said its leadership had reaffirmed its full support for Infantino. The fallout has cast a shadow over Infantino’s bid for a fourth term at the FIFA ‘Congress in Morocco in March. No clear candidate to challenge him has yet emerged. E u r o p e a n f o o t b a l l ’s governing body UEFA has said it no longer has confidence in Infantino, while Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called for him to resign on Friday, saying he no longer ‘had the institutional trust required to govern FIFA. But Infantino continues to enjoy substantial support among FIFA’s 211 members. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously backed his leadership on Thursday, while South America’s CONMEBOL rejected any attempt to oust him that did ‘not involve a vote of all FIFA members. M e x i c o ’s f o o t b a l l federation (FMF) also backed Infantino, despite its regional confederation CONCACAF having called for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency. “The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework,” the Mexican federation said.
consecutive deliveries to remove Andre Fletcher and Kyle Mayers. He turned one away from Fletcher to induce an outside edge to slip before switching to around the wicket and turning the ball into Mayers to trap him lbw. In his next over, Narine accounted for Alick Athanaze, who edged a delivery to slip for a duck. The decision was initially not given, but TKR successfully reviewed the call. Narine completed the powerplay with a maiden, leaving the Patriots reeling at 24 for three. The wickets continued to tumble. Jyd Goolie had Johnson Charles caught behind, while Terrance Hinds dismissed Jason Holder and Navin Bidaisee with consecutive deliveries to reduce the Patriots to 47 for six. Rain briefly interrupted play, while boundaries from No. 5 Kevin Wickham slowed the collapse and helped the Patriots move beyond 75. However, the wickets returned when Dominic Drakes, on his TKR debut, dismissed Wickham and Saurabh Netravalkar in the 17th over. A few late boundaries
from Obed McCoy and Ashmead Nedd pushed the Patriots past the 100-run mark, but 109 for nine was never enough to seriously challenge TKR. The TKR chase stuttered early, with openers Alex Hales and Colin Munro falling within 10 deliveries of each other. Joshua Da Silva and fellow debutant Matthew Breetzke then steadied the innings with a half-century partnership. Da Silva retired hurt for 18 with TKR on 88 for two after 13 overs. Two overs later, rain returned with TKR on 94 for two and comfortably ahead of the DLS target, securing them two points. For Narine, the performance earned his 10th Player-of-the-Match award in CPL history, leaving him third on the all-time list behind Kieron Pollard, who leads with 15, and TKR’s regular captain Nicholas Pooran, who is joint-second. Neither Pollard nor Pooran has joined TKR for the CPL campaign yet, as both are currently involved in The Hundred with MI London, where Pollard is part of the coaching staff.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 22
Monday August 10, 2026
Dowlin, Lall star in Essequibo Islands’ eight-wicket win …Abram Zuil storm to 10-wicket victory The final stretch of the Beharry School U19 T20 To u r n a m e n t c o n t i n u e d yesterday at the Queen’s College Ground, with Essequibo Islands and Abram Zuil registering emphatic Group A victories, while West Side High and Berbice Educational Institute also secured important wins in Group B. The day’s action got underway with the traditional march-past, officially opening the final phase of the competition. Organisers Petra, along with representatives of the tournament’s sponsors and Ministry of Education Allied Arts Head Nicholas Fraser, addressed the participating t e a m s b e f o r e p l a y, congratulating the youngsters on reaching the latter stages and wishing them success for the remainder of the tournament. Group A: Abram Zuil beat Covent Garden by 10 wickets Covent Garden were never able to settle at the crease as Abram Zuil’s inform bowling attack applied relentless pressure to restrict them to 64 for eight from their allotted 20 overs. Shivesh Bridgemohan led the way with an excellent spell of 3-7, while Eshwar Tilak claimed 2-3 and Rhonel Nurse chipped in with 1-13 as the bowlers continued to carry Abram Zuil’s challenge. Nazeem Lehan topscored with a gritty 15 from 29 balls, while Joshua
Man-of-the-match Jayhaden Rohlehr (left) had a good Match with bat and ball Hoasyx made 12, but the remainder of the batting struggled to build partnerships against disciplined bowling. Abram Zuil made light work of the modest target. Openers Ravid Fredericks and Naveed Fredericks completed a comprehensive 10-wicket victory without losing a wicket. Ravid continued his outstanding tournament form, smashing an unbeaten 41 from just 25 deliveries, including six fours and a six, while Naveed finished unbeaten on seven. Essequibo Islands beat Queen’s College by eight wickets Essequibo Islands produced another commanding performance,
offered the most resistance with a top score of 22, but the Queen’s College batting struggled to cope with a disciplined bowling attack. National youth allrounder Justin Dowlin was the chief destroyer, returning impressive figures of 3-10. Ezekiel Morgow claimed 26 and Aarav Sukhram 2-12 to keep Queen’s College under pressure throughout their innings. Dowlin then completed a superb all-round performance with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 41 from just 21 balls. His innings contained five sixes and two fours as Essequibo Islands raced to 72 for two in the eighth over. Bhomesh Lall, another
Match MVP Justin Dowlin had a brilliant game yesterday dismissing hosts Queen’s College for 70 for nine from their 20 overs. Nathaniel Sukhnandan
national youth player, provided a stunning finishing cameo, smashing 17 not out from just six
Devindra Samaroo (right) was one four players to cop Man-of-the-match awards deliveries, including two fours and a six, as Essequibo Islands secured an eightwicket win. Group B: West Side High beat St Stanislaus College by 54 runs West Side High posted a formidable 162 for six from their 20 overs, with Ricardo Danesar leading the batting effort with 38. Shaquan Ceres added 33, while Davendra Samaroo chipped in with 32. Noel Nihal was the pick of the St Stanislaus bowlers with 3-19, while Aden Coonjah claimed 2-42. However, St Stanislaus struggled badly in their run chase and were bowled out for 108 in 20 overs. Antonio Forde topscored with 29, while Brendan Arjune made 28, but the pair received little support as West Side’s attack-maintained control. Samaroo led the way with the ball, claiming 3-11, while Nathan Karamchand took 2-9 and Danesar 2-24 to complete a 54-run victory.
Berbice Educational Institute beat Annandale Secondary by 35 runs Berbice Educational Institute posted 150 for six from their 20 overs, built around a classy half-century from opener Lemuel Dejonge. Dejonge struck 50 from just 27 balls, clearing the ropes four times and finding the boundary four times as well. Luke Amsterdam added 34, while Jayhaden Rohlehr contributed 16. Kevin Singh and Sanjay Dindyal were the leading wicket-takers for Annandale Secondary, claiming 2-24 and 2-25 respectively. Annandale reached 115 for seven in their 20 overs despite a determined 42 not out from Joshua Bollers and 35 from Reul Dindyal. Rohlehr returned with the ball to make a telling contribution, claiming 3-16, while Nicquan Fraser supported him with 2-12 to ensure Berbice Educational Institute completed a 35-run victory.
World number one Sinner to miss Cincinnati Open
Shivesh Bridgemohan (left) copped the MVP award for his sterling performance yesterday
Open.” World number one Jannik The Cincinnati Open main Sinner has withdrawn from this draw begins on 13 August, with week’s Cincinnati Open the final on 23 August. Zverev because of a knee injury, but and 24-time Grand Slam still expects to be fit for the US champion Novak Djokovic are Open later this month. among those in action. The 24-year-old Italian Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz won won his fifth Grand Slam the 2025 event and was leading 5singles title by beating 0 in the final against Sinner, Alexander Zverev in the before the Italian had to retire Wimbledon final last month, because of illness. but has not played since. Jannik Sinner has not played since winning But world number two “After consulting with my Wimbledon for a second time in July. Alcaraz, 23, will not be there to doctors and my team, I have to defend his title as he has not announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 team, I have to accept I’m not ready to played since the Barcelona Open in compete yet. I’m very disappointed not April because of a wrist injury. tournament in Cincinnati,” Sinner said. The US Open, the last Grand Slam He added, “My right knee has been to be able to play in Cincinnati. I can’t bothering me and even though we have wait to be back next year and I’m now of the year, takes place in New York been working hard with my medical focusing on getting ready for the US from August 30 to September 13.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 23
Georgetown Smash delivers explosive wrestling debut Part of the action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday evening.
Kenny King, with Guyanese background, during his entrance in the ring. (Rawle Toney photo)
An electrifying night of high-impact action, drama and championship changes marked All Caribbean Wrestling’s (ACW) historic debut in Guyana, as the promotion brought its “Georgetown Smash” card to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night. The event attracted a strong crowd, including Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs, with fans transforming the CASH into a raucous arena as regional and international wrestling
stars delivered a night of nonstop entertainment. Headlined by WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry and Guyanese-heritage star Kenny King, the inaugural Guyana show provided a memorable blend of technical wrestling, power, high-flying action and the theatrics synonymous with professional wrestling. The night ended fittingly with a clash that had the partisan crowd firmly behind the “Son of the Soil” King, who faced Trinidad and Tobago’s TriniDan in an
International Event Match. King, a seasoned performer and former Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) star who also competed on WWE’s Tough Enough, tapped into the longstanding sporting rivalry between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to add extra spice to the encounter. The two wrestlers produced an aggressive and technical contest, with the action spilling outside the ring and into the fans before eventually returning to the
squared circle. TriniDan seized control with a series of hard-hitting moves, but the match took another turn when interference from his manager brought Suriname’s Dongo Brothers into the equation. King eventually regained his composure and waited patiently for his opportunity. When it came, the Guyanese star delivered his signature “Royal Flush” to secure the victory and send the home crowd into celebration. Earlier, ACW World Heavyweight Champion Prince Agballah successfully defended his title against the undersized but spectacular Ríos De La Sangre in one of the fastestpaced contests of the night. De La Sangre repeatedly stunned the near-seven-foot champion with his agility,
including a perfectly executed 450 splash that nearly produced an upset. However, Agballah’s size and strength eventually proved decisive. The champion overpowered his opponent for long stretches before capitalising on a reversal from the ropes to execute a slingshot slam and score the three-count. There was also a change at the top of the ACW women’s division, as Paola Mayfield defeated defending champion Kaylia Capri to capture the ACW Women’s Championship. Capri showed plenty of fight but ultimately lost her title after being caught by a top-rope suplex. In keeping with ACW tradition, Henry presented Mayfield with the newly minted championship belt following her victory,
adding another memorable moment to the historic event. Capri, however, made it clear the rivalry is not over, cutting a fiery post-match promo and calling for her rematch at the next ACW event in her hometown. The opening portion of the card also featured an entertaining Tag Team No. 1 Contender’s triple-threat match involving Drako Starx and Alex Arsenal, The Dongo Brothers and Venezuela’s Most Wanted, alongside several competitive singles bouts. With its combination of international stars, Caribbean rivalries and championship drama, “Georgetown Smash” gave Guyanese fans a taste of professional wrestling at a major level, and could pave the way for more ACW events in Guyana.
FIFA warns of effort to undermine Infantino as leadership crisis deepens FIFA on Saturday warned against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine President Gianni Infantino, saying attempts to challenge his leadership must follow the governing body’s statutes and democratic procedures. The statement came amid an increasingly bitter standoff over Infantino’s leadership following the collapse of his proposal to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. The plan triggered criticism from UEFA, national associations and senior FIFA officials, led to calls for Infantino to resign and prompted a crisis meeting in Morocco this week at which FIFA’s leadership reaffirmed its support for
the president. FIFA did not identify those it said were seeking to undermine Infantino or specify which reports or allegations it was referring to. The ‘statement followed reports by The Daily Telegraph about payments made by UEFA to a former employee during Infantino’s time as the European governing b o d y ’s g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y, allegations he has denied and that FIFA has rejected as unfounded. “Those who do not have the s u p p o r t o f F I FA’s M e m b e r Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes,” FIFA said.
It said recent reporting had included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” concerning FIFA and its president, adding that it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reports “directly and vigorously”. FIFA added it would not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of its president that was inconsistent with its statutes, democratic procedures and governance framework. “The `FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA’s member associations and continues to serve with their mandate,” it said. FIFA SUPPORT SPLITS Following a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA Continued on page 21
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino
PAGE 24
Springer’s bronze highlights Guyana’s World U20 C/ship campaign
Tianna Springer proudly displays her women’s 400m bronze at the World U20 Championship. By Rawle Toney The five-day World U20 Championships came to an end last evening in Oregon, USA, with the world’s best young athletes taking centre stage at one of the biggest moments of their budding careers. For Guyana, while the country continues to chase that elusive gold medal, 18-year-old Tianna Springer created a piece of history of her own. Her bronze medal in the women’s 400m gave Guyana its first podium finish at the championships in 14 years. Springer’s third-place finish ensured Guyana departed Oregon with one medal, a bronze, and its second-ever medal since the global junior championships began in Athens, Greece, in 1986. Springer delivered when it mattered most, clocking 51.76 seconds in the women’s 400m final to secure third place after entering the race as one of the leading medal contenders. She had won both her heat and semi-final, building confidence and momentum with each round. Poland’s Anastazja Ku[ captured the gold in a national U20 record 51.06 seconds, while American Ataja StephanieVazquez took silver in 51.36s. Springer’s bronze ended a 14-year wait dating back to 2012, when Kadecia Baird won silver in Barcelona, Spain. Baird’s achievement was historic, as she became the first Guyanese athlete to win a medal at the World U20 Championships. The championships, however, produced mixed fortunes for the Guyanese contingent, with several athletes delivering notable performances despite falling short of the podium. Malachi Austin, who joined Springer in the 400m finals, finished sixth in the men’s event, capping a strong showing from one of Guyana’s leading young quarter-milers. Guyana also produced a National U20 record in the men’s 4x400m relay. The quartet of Tishawn Easton, Dejuan Grant, Skylar Charles and Austin clocked 3:10.93 to finish fifth in their heat. Easton opened in 47.46s, followed by Grant in 48.54s and Charles in 49.54s, before Austin produced a strong anchor leg of 45.39s. The men’s 4x100m quartet of Ezekiel Millington, Gordon Thompson, Dequan Farrell and Onesi Dunn also competed strongly, clocking 41.11s to finish seventh in their heat. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Olivia Solomon continued to impress, setting another National U20 record in the women’s 800m. The CARIFTA Games U17 champion clocked 2:06.15 to finish fifth in her semi-final, lowering the national mark she had established earlier in Oregon. Although several of Guyana’s athletes fell short of the podium, Springer’s bronze provided the defining moment of the country’s campaign.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
The funding was formally presented by Minister Ramson Jr. alongside Minister Jacobs and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, with Noel joined at the handover by his mother, Ushaka Noel.
Govt. backs Raekwon Noel’s push for LA 2028 Olympics Following a historic performance at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, has stepped up its support for swimmer Raekwon Noel as he officially begins his campaign to qualify for and compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. An undisclosed sum was recently presented to the 20year-old swimmer following a meeting with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. and Minister within the Ministry Steven Jacobs. The financial assistance comes after Noel, who also competed at the Paris 2024 Games, produced the most successful swimming performance by a Guyanese athlete in CAC Games history, returning from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with three gold medals and three Games records. His landmark campaign began in the men’s 200metre individual medley, where he shattered both the national and Games records to win gold in 1:59.35. In the process, Noel became the first swimmer in CAC Games history to break the two-minute barrier in the event. He followed that performance with another record-breaking display in the 200m butterfly, touching
Raekwon Noel and Minister Charles Ramson Jr. the wall in 1:56.82 to lower the previous Games record of 1:57.03. His time was also just outside his own Guyanese national record of 1:56.62, set earlier this year. Noel later placed fifth in the 100m butterfly final in 53.58 seconds after winning his heat in 53.28. He subsequently made the tactical decision to
withdraw from the 100m backstroke, conserving energy after enduring consecutive late nights for anti-doping testing. The decision paid dividends in the 200m freestyle, where Noel stormed to his third gold medal in another recordbreaking performance. He clocked 1:47.08 to
establish a new national and Games record, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:47.19 set by Mexico’s Jorge Iga in 2018. With th e LA 2 0 2 8 Olympic Games now firmly in his sights, the Ministry has committed to supporting Noel’s development through immediate financial assistance and a long-term high-performance roadmap. The initiative is expected to fund elite training camps, targeted development programmes, participation in major international competitions and comprehensive nutritional support as Noel seeks to take his swimming to the highest level. The presentation was formally made by Ramson Jr., alongside Jacobs and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle. Noel was accompanied at the handover by his mother, Ushaka Noel. T h e G o v e r n m e n t ’s investment marks a significant step in supporting one of Guyana’s brightest young sporting talents as he begins the demanding journey towards Olympic qualification. For Noel, whose breakthrough at the CAC Games has already elevated his status on the regional swimming stage, the focus now shifts to sustained development, international exposure and achieving the standards required to earn a place at LA 2028.
Kaieteur News
Monday August 10, 2026
PAGE 25
Vurlon Mills Academy kicks off annual All-Girls football camp
Vurlon Mills The Vurlon Mills All-Girls Camp will be catering for female players ages 6 – 16. T h e Vu r l o n M i l l s Academy will today launch its annual All-Girls Football Camp at the Saints Ground o n C a r i f e s t a Av e n u e , offering another opportunity for young girls to sharpen their football skills while developing confidence, discipline and teamwork. Sponsored by Republic Bank, the five-day camp will run from August 10 to 14 and will cater for girls between the ages of six and 16. The programme has become one of the most anticipated football development initiatives during the August school holiday period, attracting strong interest from young players eager to improve their game under the guidance of experienced coaches. For Mills, a former national football player, the camp represents another chapter in his commitment to developing the next generation of Guyanese footballers. After retiring from playing at both the club and international levels, Mills turned his attention to youth development, establishing the Vurlon Mills Academy and dedicating himself to nurturing young talent. Over the years, the academy has grown into one of Guyana’s leading football development programmes, if not the country’s premier academy, producing a structured environment in which young players can learn, develop and compete. Mills’ transition from player to coach and administrator has also been supported by corporate
Guyana, with businesses recognising the value of investing in grassroots football and the development of young people. The continued support has allowed the academy to expand its programmes and provide opportunities for youngsters who aspire to progress in the sport. The All-Girls Football Camp has become a particularly popular feature of the academy’s annual calendar. Since its introduction, the programme has been among the most sought-after football activities during the August holidays, reflecting the growing interest in girls’ football and the demand for quality development opportunities. The camp is expected to provide participants with technical instruction covering the fundamental aspects of the game, while also emphasising teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship and personal development. With girls between six and 16 expected to participate, the camp will cater to players at different stages of their football development, providing a platform for beginners to learn the fundamentals and more experienced players to further refine their skills. As Mills continues to build on the academy’s reputation, the annual camp remains an important part of his broader vision of creating pathways for young Guyanese footballers and contributing to the continued growth of the women’s game.
The Vurlon Mills All-Girls Camp will be held August 10 – 14 at the Saints Ground on Carifesta Avenue.
Georgetown Smash delivers explosive wrestling debut
Ríos De La Sangre goes airborne in his clash with ACW Heavyweight Champion Prince Agballah at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (Rawle Toney photo)
s t r o Sp
Govt. backs Raekwon Noel’s push for LA 2028 Olympics Dowlin, Lall star in Essequibo Islands’ eight-wicket win From left: Women’s 400m silver medalist Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez of Team United States, gold medalist Anastazja Kus of Team Poland and bronze medalist Tianna Springer of Team Guyana celebrate on the podium at the medal’s ceremony (Getty Images)
…Abram Zuil storm to 10-wicket victory
Vurlon Mills kicks Springer’s bronze highlights Guyana’s offAcademy annual All-Girls World U20 Championship campaign football camp Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.