K
Thursday Edition Oil pushes past AIETEUR NEWS US$100 as wave of U.S.-Iran attacks exposes dwindling safety net September 10, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 37
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 48,202
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Dutch firm secretly invited by Govt. among 3 bidders for - BK International MV Barima salvage bids lowest Fire ravages Regent Household 03 14 Electronics Store PAGE PAGE
The Regent Household Electronics Store engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon.
CANU seized 11 firearms, Take shorter 154kg of narcotics - GWI showers urges between July and August …amidst increasing El Nino conditions
Panama Canal restrictions put up to US$10 Billion of - CPSO CARICOM imports at risk warns
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 10, 2026
Thursday September 10, 2026
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Oil pushes past US$100 as wave of U.S.-Iran attacks exposes dwindling safety net Global oil stocks fall below 7.9 billion barrels in July, down from a 2026 peak near 8.3 billion in February
Source: IEA analysis based on data from IEA member countries, EIA, PAJ, Kayrros, Kpler, FEDCom/S&P Global Platts and Enterprise Singapore.
Panama Canal restrictions put up to US$10 billion of CARICOM imports at risk — CPSO warns Between US$8 billion and US$10 billion of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) annual imports, roughly one quarter to one third of the Region’s non-fuel import bill are exposed to the transit restrictions now taking effect at the Panama Canal, according to preliminary analysis by the CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO). In a press release, the CPSO is advising importers and governments to plan for higher landed costs and thinner inventories through the 2027 dry season. The Panama Canal Authority’s Advisory A-29-2026 caps daily transits at 34 vessels for booking dates from 4 September, falling to 32 from 15 September. Rainfall in the canal watershed has run 34% below the historical average from May through August, with inflows 44% below. The Authority has warned that the expected intensity of the 2026 to 2027 El Niño could further reduce water availability during the next dry season, from January to April 2027. The cost signals are already visible. A priority auction slot recently fetched US$5.3 million, reported as the highest bid ever recorded, and CMA CGM, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have each announced per-TEU surcharges on canal-dependent routes, with further increases expected as draft limits tighten. “Auction premiums and low-water surcharges do not stay on the carriers’ books,” said Dr. Patrick Antoine, CEO and Technical Director of the CPSO. “They are passed down the chain to importers, to distributors, and ultimately to the Caribbean consumer. When slot scarcity forces carriers to reroute or rationalise port calls, small Caribbean markets are typically the first to lose frequency and the last to regain it.” CARICOM economies are among the most import-dependent in the world. Food, manufactured goods and construction inputs reach regional shelves largely on transshipment networks routed through or
priced off the Panama Canal. The CPSO estimate covers both cargo transiting the Canal directly, between US$4.5 billion and US$7 billion a year, and Canal-transited cargo consolidated through United States ports before onward shipment to the Region. The risk to consumers is twofold: availability, through longer lead times and thinner inventories; and price, as surcharges and longer voyages feed into landed costs. The Canal is not the only constraint. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also disrupted, two of the world’s critical maritime trade corridors are under pressure simultaneously, one by climate and one by conflict, lifting freight rates, war-risk premiums and fuel costs globally. For petroleum- importing CARICOM states, that compounds pressure on electricity, transport and food prices at the same time. The CPSO presented its Derisking CSME Imports methodology to the CARICOM Heads of Government Breakfast Meeting in Saint Lucia in July 2026. The framework maps the Community’s exposure to extra-regional supply shocks and identifies, product by product, where intra-regional production and alternative supply corridors can substitute for vulnerable long-haul imports. “Every percentage point of import demand we can shift to regional supply is a percentage point insulated from canal auctions, low-water surcharges and chokepoint conflict,” Dr. Antoine said. “Regional resilience is not built during a crisis. It is built before one.” The CPSO is urging importers to engage carriers and logistics providers now on routing, surcharge exposure and inventory planning for the fourth quarter of 2026 and the 2027 dry season. The Organisation continues to advance the Region’s connectivity agenda with CARICOM Heads of Government, the World Bank’s Caribbean Reconnect Programme, and support to the Regional Ferry Service initiative now before Heads.
SINGAPORE/LONDO N, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices topped US$100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time in six weeks as an escalation in fighting by U.S. and Iranian forces deepened concerns over supply from the region and raised fears of inflationary and higher energy costs for consumers and businesses. Brent, a global oil benchmark, has risen by a quarter since early last month as hopes fade for a permanent resolution to the six-month-old U.S.-Iran conflict. The rally accelerated this week after Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi energy facilities set oil installations ablaze,
increasing the risk that disruptions could spread across the wider Gulf region. Oil’s break above the US$100 level signals growing concerns that the global market has become increasingly vulnerable after months of supply losses due to disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz and inventory drawdowns. “Oil investors are expressing their view about the impact of the latest bout of escalation in the Middle East in an unambiguous way,” said Tamas Varga, of oil broker PVM. “They are voting with their dollar, and this vote strongly indicates that unless the Strait of Hormuz re-opens, and oil
starts flowing again uninterruptedly, supply will not be aligned with demand in the foreseeable future.” While Brent futures have yet to reach the US$126 mark struck earlier in the conflict, a sustained period above US$100 a barrel could be felt beyond energy markets, raising transport and manufacturing costs, reigniting inflation fears and keeping interest rates higher for longer. OIL STOCKS ARE LOW Six months of reduced oil exports from the Middle East due to the war in Iran have helped deplete oil stocks in some key consumers. The United States has also drawn Continued on page 15
Kaieteur News
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Thursday September 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-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Deportee deal There is nothing inherently objectionable about Guyana helping people caught in difficult circumstances. This country has a long tradition of hospitality and Guyanese should not suddenly become indifferent to the plight of foreigners simply because their circumstances have become politically inconvenient. If six people: four Cubans and two Afghans have arrived here after being vetted, have no criminal backgrounds, and have voluntarily agreed to come, there is no justification for treating them as criminals or threats merely because they were removed from the United States. But compassion cannot be allowed to become a substitute for accountability. That is where the Government of Guyana now finds itself. The administration has confirmed a one-year migration cooperation framework with the United States under which a limited number of vetted, non-criminal and skilled thirdcountry nationals may be accommodated in Guyana through the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The United States will bear the financial cost, while the IOM will provide housing, support and other services. Guyana says it retains the sovereign right to reject any individual proposed for relocation. On paper, those safeguards are reassuring. But they do not answer all the questions. Indeed, the Government’s own explanation raises perhaps the most important question: if the IOM is responsible for implementing the programme but does not assume Guyana’s legal responsibilities for admission, legal stay, protection or removal, who in Guyana is responsible for those functions, and under what legal framework? That is not an academic question. It goes to the heart of sovereignty. The Government cannot simultaneously tell the public that Guyana retains complete control while leaving unclear how that control is to be exercised in practice. There is another matter that cannot be ignored, the secrecy surrounding the agreement. The arrangement was reportedly negotiated over several months, yet Guyanese were not presented with the full terms before the first group arrived. The public has instead been given a broad outline of what the agreement supposedly does and does not entail. The Government should release the agreement in its entirety, subject only to legitimate privacy protections for the individuals involved. There is a fundamental difference between protecting the identity and personal information of six human beings and withholding the legal terms of an international arrangement from the population. How many people can Guyana be asked to receive during the one-year period? Is there a numerical ceiling? What happens if Washington makes a request that Georgetown considers unacceptable? What are the precise circumstances under which an individual can be removed from Guyana? What domestic agency has responsibility for monitoring legal status? What happens if an individual seeks asylum or other protection? And what happens when the one-year framework expires? These are reasonable questions, not anti-American questions. Nor should criticism of the arrangement be dismissed as opposition politics. The concerns raised by the Guyana Human Rights Association, opposition parliamentarians and others deserve serious consideration, particularly where constitutional protections and international obligations are concerned. Reports from some other countries involved in third-country deportation arrangements have generated disturbing human-rights concerns. That should make Guyana more determined—not less—to establish robust safeguards of its own. The fact that another government may have handled deportees badly is not proof that Guyana will do likewise. But neither should Guyana wait for something to go wrong before establishing safeguards. The Government has repeatedly emphasised that the arrangement is temporary, voluntary, limited and humanitarian. If that is indeed the case, transparency should
PURUNI BRIDGE WELCOMED, BUT IT MUST BE BUILT TO LAST DEAR EDITOR, I welcome the construction of the Puruni Bridge and the opportunity it presents to open up the interior, connect communities, strengthen mining and forestry, and improve the roads and infrastructure needed to expand economic activity across the hinterland. The support for development does not mean that we should remain silent when legitimate questions are raised about the quality and integrity of a major piece of infrastructure. The concern is not about whether the bridge should be built. It should. The concern is whether it is being built to the engineering standards required to withstand the conditions and loads it will face for decades to come. Photographs and information coming from persons on site have raised concerns about some of the
materials reportedly being installed. Some appear heavily rusted, distorted or crooked. I a m n o e n g i n e e r, however the concerns are serious enough to warrant a proper technical assessment. Before any material is installed as part of this bridge, it should be properly inspected, tested and certified to ensure that it meets the required engineering specifications. Steel, connections, welds, load bearing members and other critical components must be assessed for quality, strength, dimensions and structural suitability before they become part of the finished structure. This is especially important because the Puruni Bridge is expected to serve a major mining and forestry corridor. Heavy trucks, mining equipment, fuel vehicles and logging machinery will place significant and sustained
loads on the structure. The fundamental question I am asking is simple: Are the materials being used certified, fit for purpose and capable of safely carrying the weight and traffic this bridge is expected to bear? I believe the Ministries of Natural Resources and Public Works have a responsibility to provide clear answers and to ensure that the appropriate technical oversight is being exercised throughout construction. I am calling for a proper assessment of the materials being used, particularly those that have raised concerns, before they are incorporated into the structure. It is far better to identify and address a problem at the point of inspection than to discover years later that a structural component was unsuitable, compromised or below the required standard. The people of Guyana
deserve a bridge that is safe, durable and properly constructed. The people of the interior deserve infrastructure that will stand the test of time and support the economic activity that the region has the potential to generate. I want to see the Puruni Bridge completed. I want to see the interior opened up. I want to see better roads, stronger connections and greater economic opportunity for communities across the hinterland. But development must be accompanied by quality, engineering discipline and proper oversight. Build the bridge p r o p e r l y. I n s p e c t t h e materials before they are used. Test and certify every critical component. Follow the engineering standards. Build the Puruni bridge to last. Sincerely, Sharma Solomon Member of Parliament
International Literacy Day: Before the ABC’s DEAR EDITOR, Since 1967 UNESCO has held annual celebrations of International Literacy Day on 8th September. According to their website: “It is an opportunity to remind policy-makers, practitioners and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.” Promoting early literacy begins well before children enter the school doors to receive formal organized instruction. It begins with fostering the development of cognitive skills that provide children with specific subject-based knowledge; the development of socialemotional skills necessary to communicate and cooperate. Parents have a critical role as their child’s first teacher when learning is happening during the everyday activities and moments they share with their child. Sharing a book with a baby opens a world of benefits that can last a lifetime. When reading to babies they are absorbing the rhythm, tones,
sounds and flow of speech long before they understand words. According to 2020 data on Guyana from the UNICEF Data Warehouse: “47% of children under age 5 have 3 or more children’s books.” To promote early literacy experiences, we must ensure access to developmentally and culturally appropriate books for children ages birth to five. Frequently engaging babies and toddlers in book exploration, storytelling and reading activities builds
children’s knowledge and enriches their language development. The interactions that young children have with literacy materials (books, papers, crayons) and with the adults in their lives are the building blocks for language, reading and writing development. We must invest resources into the National Library to provide families with literacy and learning resources including access to board and picture books as well as opportunities to
participate in Storytime activities. Once children enter school, we must foster strong home-school connections in every community which can support the development of early literacy skills to set every Guyanese child up for future success. Regards, Kathryn Jones, MS, EdD Candidate Early Childhood Expert & Advocate Founder & Executive Director, The Birth to Three Agenda
Reducing accidents and increasing road safety DEAR EDITOR, The recent report in the news that highlighted the increase in injuries caused by road accidents is quite alarming. Given the current accelerated change in the driving culture that is being spurred on by the need for additional income, it is now necessary to make physical changes to the road
pose no threat. There is also a legitimate domestic concern about capacity. Guyanese citizens continue to demand better electricity, water, healthcare, housing and public security. It is therefore reasonable to ask whether the State has the institutional capacity to assume additional responsibilities, even where the immediate financial costs are being covered by international partners.
infrastructure to force a reduction in speeding and increase road use safety. Other countries with a similar cultural dynamic have added speed bumps at intersections and an increased presence of police officers at major intersections and those intersections which have frequent accidents.
In addition, large vehicles are prohibited from using the fast lanes on highways. Some of the speed bumps used also take the form of an elevated pedestrian crossing and others are a series of bumps leading up to the intersection. Another major concern Continued on page 5
This does not mean Guyanese must come first in every humanitarian calculation at the expense of everyone else. It means the Government must demonstrate that helping others does not weaken its obligations to those who elected it. Guyana is no longer a small, obscure country whose international decisions attract little attention. Its growing geopolitical importance means that every agreement entered into with a major power deserves greater scrutiny, not less.
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Thursday September 10, 2026
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The Leader of the Opposition Is Not Above the Law DEAR EDITOR, The recent decision by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, to complain to the United Nations, CARICOM, the OAS and foreign diplomatic missions about what he describes as a campaign of political harassment d e s e r v e s s c r u t i n y. Allegations that the State is using the police to persecute an Opposition Leader are serious. But serious allegations require serious evidence. What is conspicuously absent from this narrative is adequate acknowledgement of the circumstances that preceded the encounters with law enforcement. Consider the record. I n F e b r u a r y, M r. Mohamed was detained after failing to appear at the appointed time for his extradition proceedings. The arrest was not ordered by the
Government or the Guyana Police Force. A magistrate issued a warrant after the matter was called and Mr. Mohamed was absent. When he eventually appeared, the warrant was subsequently recalled. Whatever one thinks of the episode, portraying it as political persecution requires ignoring the inconvenient fact that the warrant originated from the bench. Then came the August incident on the Demerara River. According to the Joint Services, a fast craft travelling at high speed failed to stop when signalled, resulting in a pursuit. The Maritime Administration Department subsequently stated that neither the vessel nor Mr. Mohamed was licensed or otherwise authorised to operate it. Mr. Mohamed and his colleagues dispute aspects of the police account, as they are entitled
to do. But a dispute over the facts does not transform a legitimate law-enforcement investigation into political persecution. More recently, Mr. Mohamed and others were intercepted after two heavily tinted vehicles attracted the attention of security personnel near the private residence of the President. Police subsequently reported finding a drone, while the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that unregistered drones were discovered and reminded the public that unauthorised drone operations, particularly around restricted or protected areas, may constitute criminal offences. There is an obvious pattern here, but perhaps not the one Mr. Mohamed would have the international community believe. The recurring feature is that each encounter arose
Unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian DEAR EDITOR, The recent visit by President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kiev has generated some optimism regarding an end to the war in Ukraine which is now in its 5th year. This is indeed a forwardlooking initiative but unless it is buttressed by a genuine desire to bring about a lasting peace based on the principles of international law, respect for territorial integrity and
national sovereignty, it is unlikely to bring about a resolution acceptable to both sides. I think there is now a sense of battle-fatigue from both Russia and Ukraine. Both sides to the conflict are intensifying efforts to gain battlefield advantage resulting in deaths and destruction on a scale not seen since the Second World War. It is unfortunate that this war has been allowed to drag on for such a prolonged
period without the tangible intervention of the UN Security Council. Meanwhile thousands of innocent lives continue to be lost in what can only be described as a senseless war. The solution, in my view, can only be found in the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian sovereign territory, which must include the temporarily occupied Crimea. Regards, Hydar Ally
Reducing accidents and increasing... From page 4 for road users is the decrease in safety for pedestrians and cyclists along the sides of the roads. Many countries have installed physical barriers that separate walkways, and bicycle paths from the main carriageway. This helps reduce the risk of injury and is the first line of defence against a motor vehicle straying into the path of a pedestrian or cyclist. The aesthetics in Shanghai of these barriers are quite impressive. CRG recommends that the Ministry of Home Affairs implement these modifications
as part of a comprehensive plan to reduce road accidents and change the driving habits within the country. These proposed initial modifications will help contain the problem being faced on the roads, deter future speeding and will eventually lead to a positive change in driving behaviour as motorists learn that slowing down will not only prevent damage to their vehicles and loss of income due to citations, but more importantly it will help prevent the loss of life. Sincerely, Jamil Changlee
from an identifiable lawenforcement or judicial circumstance. A court appearance was missed. A vessel was allegedly operated without the necessary authorisation and allegedly failed to obey instructions to stop. Heavily tinted vehicles and unregistered drones were discovered in circumstances sufficiently unusual to attract the attention of security personnel near the President’s residence. None of this establishes Mr. Mohamed’s guilt of any criminal offence for which he has not been convicted. That distinction matters in a society governed by law. But the converse is equally important: being Leader of the Opposition does not confer immunity from investigation, questioning, arrest or the ordinary requirements of the law. T h i s i s w h e r e M r. M o h a m e d ’s a r g u m e n t becomes troubling. He appears increasingly to regard ordinary encounters with law enforcement as extraordinary simply because they involve him. The Constitution accords the Leader of the Opposition an important place in our democratic system. It does not provide him with a s e p a r a t e t r a ff i c c o d e , maritime code, aviation code or criminal law. Nor does political office convert every police inquiry into political persecution. If the police have acted unlawfully, Mr. Mohamed has access to counsel and to the courts. If property has been improperly seized, that too can be challenged. If his constitutional rights have been infringed, Guyana’s judicial system provides
remedies. These are precisely the institutions through which allegations of unlawful state conduct should be tested by evidence rather than assertion. Instead, an increasingly familiar spectacle is emerging: confrontation, cameras, social media, allegations of persecution and appeals to international organisations. That may be effective political theatre. It is less clear how it advances the work for which an Opposition Leader was elected. Guyana needs a vigorous opposition. It needs an Opposition Leader who scrutinises legislation, interrogates government expenditure, proposes alternative policies, represents constituents, holds ministers accountable and uses Parliament to challenge the Government. Democracy benefits when the opposition does these things effectively. What Guyana does not need is the transformation of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition into a permanent stage for confrontation with lawenforcement authorities. Mr. Mohamed should also recognise the distinction between political opposition and provocation. An Opposition Leader is entitled to challenge the Government relentlessly. He is entitled to criticise the President, expose alleged wrongdoing and mobilise public opinion.
Those are legitimate democratic functions. But repeatedly placing oneself in circumstances likely to invite intervention by lawenforcement authorities and then presenting the resulting intervention as proof of persecution risks turning politics into performance. Social-media views are not a substitute for p a r l i a m e n t a r y representation. Viral videos are not legislation. Confrontations with police are not policy. And political theatre, however e n t e r t a i n i n g t o o n e ’s supporters, is not an alternative to the serious work of opposition. The most dangerous p r o p o s i t i o n i n M r. Mohamed’s complaint may therefore be the implicit one: that because he occupies high constitutional office, the application of ordinary law to him should itself be regarded with suspicion. The opposite must be true. The test of the rule of law is not whether powerful political figures are left alone. It is whether the same law applies to the powerful and the powerless, to government and opposition, and to officeholders and ordinary citizens alike. Mr. Mohamed is entitled to every protection of the law. He is not entitled to exemption from it. Yours faithfully, Dr. Tilokie Arnold Depoo
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Corentyne man remanded over fatal stabbing of friend Twenty-eight-year-old fisherman Videsh Singh was on Wednesday remanded to prison for the alleged murder of fellow fisherman Franklyn Sauers, 34, during a deadly confrontation at Albion Front, Corentyne, Berbice. Singh, of Lot 71 Albion Front, made his first court appearance at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Tuana Hardy, where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The charge alleged that on 6th September, 2026, in the county of Berbice, Singh unlawfully murdered Sauers, of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. Singh was represented by attorney Vinay Punwa, who, in his application for bail, told the court that Sauers was the aggressor and that his client was forced to defend himself. According to Punwa, Singh, a father of two, was at home on Sunday evening when Sauers allegedly forced his way into the house by kicking down the door. The attorney said Singh was acting out of concern for the safety of himself and family and desperately attempted to fend off the alleged attack, during which Sauers was fatally wounded. Reports indicate that Singh and Sauers, who were reportedly close friends, had an altercation at a bar in
Remanded for murder: Videsh Singh, 28 Albion earlier that Sunday evening. Punwa told the court that his client had no previous run-ins with the law. He said Singh’s only previous court matter involved him being the victim of an assault. The attorney further submitted that Singh was the person who subsequently called for the police and remained at the scene, fully cooperating with investigators following his arrest. The prosecution objected to bail, citing the loss of life and the possibility that Singh, being a fisherman, could leave the jurisdiction and fail to return to court. The prosecution also raised concerns that
investigations remain incomplete, with additional statements still outstanding, and argued that the accused could potentially interfere with witnesses. The court was also told that legal advice has been sought and that the prosecution is awaiting a summary of the post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, Singh’s 26year-old wife, Moureen
Cyril, who was reportedly at home during the incident and witnessed the confrontation, on Wednesday spoke to the media following her husband’s court appearance. Cyril supported the defence’s claim that her husband was attacked first. She said on Sunday afternoon, Singh was home bathing while another male friend was also there when Sauers arrived with alcoholic beverages for the three men. According to Cyril, the men subsequently left after Singh finished preparing. Later that evening, she said, a call from her husband left her panicked. Cyril said Singh told her during the call that Sauers and another man, known as “Short Man,” were allegedly trying to harm him and that he was heading home with the two men pursuing him. “I go back on the veranda, and I see my husband running and coming on the dam. Franky come out the car and stand up and wait fuh my husband come, and they two scramble mattie. After he din cuffing my
Dead: Franklyn Sauers, 34 husband, my husband said, ‘Franky, this is wuh yuh doing yuh buddy?’ then he said, ‘do what yuh want to do,’” Cyril recounted. She said while she argued with the two men, her husband managed to escape and locked himself inside the house. According to Cyril, Sauers then retrieved a weapon from his car and began pounding on the door, eventually forcing it open. “When he shove the door, he and my husband scramble, and I hug up my
son, and when I come back, I see sheer blood,” she recounted. Cyril said her husband and Sauers had been very close friends, making the incident particularly difficult for her to understand. She also confirmed that both men had been drinking alcohol before the confrontation. Magistrate Hardy denied Singh bail and remanded him to prison. The matter will resume on 16th September, 2026.
Student hospitalised, others injured after bee attack at Port Mourant Secondary Twenty-six students of the Port Mourant Secondary School, Corentyne, were taken to hospital on Wednesday after they were attacked by bees during the lunch break. Kaieteur News understands that one male student remains hospitalised, while the other students were treated at the Port Mourant Hospital and subsequently discharged. Scores of worried parents rushed to the hospital after receiving news that their children had been stung. Fourteen-year-old student Bhuteswar Ramsaroop, who sustained several stings to the right side of his chest and shoulder, recalled the frightening ordeal. “When I go for my bag under the benab, I see a lot of kids running out, and before I could run, the bees done deh all over my skin. I couldn’t do nothing, I just had to cover my ears,” the student said. Ramsaroop noted that his injuries were minor compared to those suffered
The Port Mourant Secondary School
by some of his schoolmates and confirmed that 26 students were treated and sent home. Deeraj Arjune, an employee of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), said he received a call informing him that his 13-year-old daughter, Davina, had been injured in the incident. “They said, ‘You need to come to the hospital, bee bite up Davina,’” Arjune recounted. According to Arjune, he was told that his daughter and other students were playing in the school field when the bees attacked.
Information reaching this publication indicated that a junior student first came into contact with a beehive and disturbed it. The boy was reportedly stung about his body and, in panic, ran toward other students, who were then attacked by the swarm. He remains admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, Ms. Smartt, whose 11-year-old daughter Ariana sustained minor injuries, said she learned of the incident through another child from the school. “The child said that bee attacked the school, so I catch a car and I come down
to the hospital to see what’s going on. They gave me treatment to rub on her, to rub on the spot she got the bite,” she said. Parents commended teachers for acting quickly and transporting the affected children to the hospital. They are also calling for the bushy area believed to harbour the beehive to be cleared to prevent a recurrence. “They should really look into the bee thing, because you need to remember that the children will go play in the playground, and the nest deh right there. They said it’s a big nest,” Arjune said. Smartt also expressed concern about the condition of the school surroundings. “Why is there a lot of bush around? There is supposed to be looked after. You can’t have a school and get a set of bush around the place, at least for the child’s safety,” she stated. Efforts to obtain comments from officials of the Region Six Department of Education were unsuccessful up to press time.
Thursday September 10, 2026
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Dutch firm secretly invited by Govt. among three bidders for MV Barima salvage — BK International bids lowest
MV Barima
The Dutch company that the Government quietly invited to submit a proposal to salvage the MV Barima before the public bidding process was launched has now emerged as one of three companies formally bidding for the lucrative recovery contract, raising fresh questions about the transparency of the procurement process. K M S B . V. , a Netherlands-based salvage firm, was among three companies whose financial bids were opened by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) on Tuesday, despite Government previously insisting that no company had been pre-selected and that the salvage process remained open and transparent. B.K. International Inc. has submitted the lowest offer among three bidders vying for the contract to retrieve the wreck of the MV Barima, which capsized off
$1,895,000,000 with a bid security of $28,500,000 b a c k e d b y P r e m i e r. Netherlands-based firm KMS B.V. offered a bid of USD $2,035,100,000 with a bid security of USD $136,691 backed by KBC Bank. Back in August Kaieteur News had reported that government sought the services of KMS prior to issuing an official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the salvaging of the vessel. Sources closely connected to the government had told this newspaper that the administration quietly “invited” KMS to send a proposal to retrieve the sunken ferry. Kaieteur News understands that KMS established a base in Suriname where it can easily mobilise staff and resources to Guyana. The proposal that was leaked to this publication clearly dated 28th July, 2026, days before government publicly opened a competitive bidding
proven, safe and controlled solution. Given the loss of life and the ongoing official and legal investigation, our objective is to recover the vessel in one piece so that it is preserved for examination, rather than segmented. This proposal reflects that priority throughout.” It boasted of its International Organisation for Standards (ISO) certification, informing government that its services would be provided at a cost of US$8M. The company has offered to recover the MV Barima within six to seven weeks with its timeline including one week for mobilisation; one week for surveying and diving purposes; three to four weeks to lift and secure the barge and one week to demobilise. Meanwhile, the financial submissions of the three companies follow weeks of growing public pressure and political friction surrounding the recovery process. Earlier
across state and private media, as well as MARAD’s social media platforms, from August 2 until August 14, 2026. MARAD firmly rejected claims that any firm had been pre-selected, issuing a statement asserting that no individual, company, or entity had been selected to undertake the salvaging of the MV Barima and emphasising that the process remained open and transparent. At a recent news conference, President Irfaan Ali told reporters after being asked a question, that the EOI period had closed and that several companies were being shortlisted before being invited to submit prices for the recovery operation. President Ali noted at the time that the expressions of interest had closed and that those interests were being shortlisted by the agency before shortlisted entities would be invited to supply prices. The president
establishing a memorial at the site where the vessel sank. “The president indicated that he met with the families of the persons who were missing and they requested that they ought not to be raised. Apparently, the families changed their minds and they requested that the boat be raised. The government said, okay, we will raise the boat. It will cost
possible effort to recover the vessel and any remains still trapped inside. “In terms of the actual raising of the vessel, I don’t think we’ve contacted anybody to raise the vessel,” Phillips stated. “If you listen to the interview with the French, the whole issue of raising the vessel is not being forwarded at this stage because it’s difficult to do that exercise now. The vessel
Castle Flats, Essequibo Coast on nearly two months ago. The tender opening took place on September 8, 2026, under MARAD file reference number 211/2026/34. The salvaging work is structured strictly on a “NO CURE NO PAY BASIS,” ensuring the chosen contractor will receive payment only upon the successful recovery of the vessel. A c c o r d i n g t o documentation seen by this publication, figures unsealed at the tender opening show B . K . I n t e r n a t i o n a l ’s proposal undercut its local and international competitors by hundreds of millions of dollars. B.K. International Inc. offered a bid of $1,034,000,000 with a bid security of $15,600,000 backed by NAFICO. Industrial Fabrication Inc. offered a bid of
process. This had raised questions as to whether the government had already selected a company to salvage the vessel and merely launched a bidding process to satisfy the public and assure family members and victims of the dreaded incident of a “transparent process”. In its executive summary, the Dutch firm reveals, “KMS has been invited by the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, through the Maritime Administration Department (“MARAD”), to submit a proposal for the righting and recovery of the passenger ferry MV BARIMA, which capsized and sank off the Essequibo coast on or about 18th July, 2026.” The company continues, “KMS is pleased to accept this invitation and offers a
this week, Kaieteur News reported that 25 days had passed since the deadline for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to salvage the MV Barima, yet the Government had still not disclosed which company or companies would undertake the recovery of the vessel. Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul condemned the delay as “wickedness” and “an insult” to the Guyanese people, particularly the families of the more than 100 people who lost their lives in what he said was the country’s largest tragedy in modern times. The official timeline for the procurement process began when the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) publicly advertised an EOI inviting qualified salvage companies to submit proposals. The process was advertised
estimated that 10 or more entities may have expressed interest, cautioning that he did not have the exact figure, and noted that companies were being assessed against established criteria with no distinction between local and international firms. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, had revealed that the price tag to salvage the sunken MV Barima could be between US$8M and US$10M. During his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News’, the Attorney General defended the government’s move to tender for the salvage operation. Before it was decided to salvage the 87-year-old ferry, which capsized on July 18th, leaving 73 confirmed dead and at least 30 still missing, the Irfaan Ali administration had been considering
somewhere between 8 to 10 million US dollars. A tender is out to salvage the boat,” Nandlall said. However, this contradicts what this publication reported in early July, when the government appeared to be preparing the nation for the possibility that the sunken MV Barima would never be recovered. Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips had stated that bringing in additional foreign divers “will not change the situation” and that the stateowned vessel was “likely to remain there as is” on the seabed off the Essequibo coast near Iron Punt. His remarks, made after a sitting of the National Assembly, come even as grieving relatives continued to demand a full salvage operation, insisting their loved ones deserve every
is likely to remain there as is.” The shift toward a permanent memorial, outlined in a draft “Declaration of Agreement” circulated to grieving families on Saturday and seen by this publication, triggered backlash from relatives of those still missing. Relatives accused authorities of attempting to wrap up salvage operations prematurely and potentially influencing the upcoming Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the maritime disaster. The administration’s stance represents a shift from earlier public commitments. Regarding the controversial document sent to the victims’ families, Phillips maintained that the government is merely testing options. “So, if they receive letters, it’s just Continued on page 10
Kaieteur News
Thursday September 10, 2026
PAGE 09
When someone we love is taken from us After my first encounter with the Guru, I had to probe for some more life lessons. I pressed Guru a much heavier question. “Guru,” I said, “how does one recover from losing someone one loves?” He did not answer immediately. Perhaps there are some questions that deserve silence before words. I had lost someone close to me, and I had discovered what everyone eventually discovers: there is no preparing for the emptiness left behind when someone who has occupied a place in your life suddenly occupies a place only in your memories. The house is still there. The chair is still there. The cell phone may still contain the person’s number. But there is no longer a voice at the other end. And somehow, the world continues. The sun rises. People go to work. Children go to school. Traffic moves. People laugh. And you wonder how the universe can continue behaving normally when, for you, nothing feels normal anymore. The Guru looked at me. “Do you want to forget the person?” “No,” I said quickly. “Then why do you say you want to recover?” I had never thought about
it that way. Perhaps recovery from grief is not forgetting. Perhaps it is learning how to remember without being destroyed by remembering. The Guru reminded me of a story in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna encounters Arjuna at a moment of profound emotional turmoil. Seeing his relatives, friends and revered teachers standing among those he is expected to fight, Arjuna is overcome with grief and doubt. He lowers his bow, unable to bring himself to fight, and, in his anguish, turns to Krishna as his teacher and guide. He fears that taking part in the war will bring sin, destroy the traditions that hold families together, and unleash suffering on a devastating scale. And Krishna begins one of the most profound conversations about life, death and the nature of the self. The central Hindu teaching is that what we call the person is more than the physical body. The body is temporary; the atman, the deeper self, is not. Just as a person discards worn-out garments and puts on new ones, the embodied self passes from one body to a n o t h e r. F o r s o m e o n e grieving, this is an invitation to consider that death may be
a change of form rather than the annihilation of existence. Whether one accepts reincarnation literally, metaphorically or not at all, there is something powerful in the Hindu insistence that death should not make us believe that the life of the person we loved has become meaningless. Their body may be gone. But their influence remains. Their words remain. Their kindness remains. The values they taught us remain. And, perhaps most importantly, something of them continues through the people they touched. I asked the Guru, “But what should I do with the pain?” He answered, “Do not fight it.” That surprised me. “Grief is the price we pay for love,” he said. “If you loved deeply, you will grieve deeply. Do not be ashamed of that.” Perhaps we make another mistake when we speak about “getting over” someone. We don’t get over people we truly loved. We grow around the absence. The wound becomes a scar. It does not disappear, but it no longer bleeds every day. The Hindu understanding of attachment offers another difficult lesson. We naturally
Dem Boys Seh...
Silence is not always golden If you see when somebody get rob and de police come and ask you if you see de person who committed de act, do you have a right to say dat you reserve de right to be silent? Dem boys nah think suh. As far as dem boys know, de law requires you to cooperate with de police. If you see a crime and you keep quiet, den dat can be interpreted to mean dat you frustrating de course of justice. In English common law, dem does call it perverting de course of justice. In America dem does call it obstructing justice. De last time dem boys check, a crime is a crime. And de police gat a right fuh investigate any crime regardless of whether it tek place in a constitutional body or not. Fraud is fraud and de police can investigate any fraud. And people obligated to cooperate
with de police. You have a right to remain silent. But if de police believe you have knowledge or ought to have knowledge of something and you nah talking, den dem gat every right to press charges for perverting de course of justice. Think about what would happen to justice in dis world, if everybody could pick up demselves and decide dat dem nah talk wah dem see. De world would end up in chaos and justice would be dead. It mek dem boys remember de story of a man in an interrogation room. De man shouted, “I’m not saying a word without my lawyer present.” “You are de lawyer,” said de policeman. “Exactly, so where’s my present?” replied de lawyer. Talk half. Leff half.
want the people we love to remain with us forever. We want to possess their presence, their voice, their e m b r a c e , t h e i r companionship. But nothing in the material world is permanent. Everything changes. Everything ages. Everything eventually passes. This does not mean that we should love less. It means that we should love without pretending that we own what we love. When someone dies, we are forced to confront a truth we spend much of our lives avoiding the fact that our time with one another is borrowed. And if our time is borrowed, perhaps we should use it differently. Call the person you keep meaning to call. Say “I love you” while the person can hear you. Forgive
the argument that has gone on too long. Visit the parent. Hug the child. Sit with the friend. Don’t postpone affection. The Guru was quiet again. Then he said something I have never forgotten. “When someone you love dies, do not ask only, ‘What have I lost?’ Ask also, ‘What did this person give me that I can now carry forward?’” That question changes grief. It does not remove the pain. But it gives the pain somewhere to go. The kindness of a mother can become kindness in her child. The courage of a father can become courage in his son. The wisdom of a grandparent can become a lesson passed to another generation. The laughter of a
friend can become a memory that still brings warmth years later. Perhaps this is one way in which the dead continue to live. Not in the sense that we deny death, but in the sense that love refuses to end simply because physical presence does. Eventually, I asked the Guru the question I had been afraid to ask. “Will the pain ever disappear?” He smiled. “No,” he said. “But you will become larger than the pain.” (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
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Thursday September 10, 2026
A double centurion-not Roman, but Guyanese I have honoured before and lived to regret the lapse. In the instance of Chartered Accountant, attorney-at-law, and social activist, there is firm belief that I’m on good grounds to publish this tribute. For the milestone of his 200th oil and gas column. A milestone that takes him into rarified territory, so unique is that achievement. Two hundred columns of the highest quality, with piercing truths, are the kind of patrimonial revelations that the Guyanese people desperately need. The president and opposition need them. The wider population benefits from that
caliber of oil literacy. If only for their own sanity, their potential prosperity suppressed. Sabotaged by their own elected. M r. R a m ’s d o u b l e century of columns have been about peeling back the dense layers of numbers, then probing professionally and deeply, to unearth gems of profoundness for an information-starved and deceived citizenry. In the process of his reviews, and the sum of his output, a redline becomes prominent f o r i t s c o n s t a n c y, i t s thickness, and its consequences for Guyanese. There they are: the pilots and
stewards of the nation’s wealth, slavishly and cleverly committed to doubletalk, double-dealing, and double lives. His numbers do the talking. Nakedly exposed are those who shoutout that the patrimony is for the people, and how they are for the people. It seems that those in the PPP Govt. and swaths of the opposition are speaking (without actually saying so) for the people from Washington and Texas. This remarkable record of presenting two followed by two zeros of columns on one subject area puts Ram on a pedestal. I say so, even as I
remember from my own experiences, my own acquaintance with history and scripture, of those who were held high, only for them to slip down the ladder. A book in 200 chapters is staggering on its own terms. An encyclopedia of oil and gas that highlights foreign corporate trickeries and abuses. A tome that testifies to Guyanese leadership (PPP and PNC) misjudgments and mistakes that cost this country its head and its feet. Plain corporate and political brutality. And then they present weaknesses and betrayals of the PPP elected in their abject submission to the descendants of former colonizers and slave masters. Today, as it was before, they are toasted ahead of the people. I think so; conclude so. All this wealth and all these failures are identified subtly or sharply by Mr. Ram. Accounting books that have pages missing, or pages that embed the imprints of actions taken and numbers registered that harm the
interests of this nation and its nationals. The history of the East India Company repeated on an incredibly larger scale, and on this occasion in what is still nostalgically termed the West Indies. Instead of the British reducing the maharajahs to minions in India, today it is of the Americans rubbing the noses of Guyana’s political masters into the dust and gutters. The new imperial viceroys of oil reap an added advantage. Those whose noses are smeared with the evidence of suspicious brown stuff clap their hands, sing their songs, and praise their jailers. Their body odors waft higher, linger longer. In his 10 scores of illuminating columns on oil and gas, Mr. Ram has walked an impeccable line. He lays out his points, makes his arguments, and delivers his interpretations. The results are always the same: Guyanese are fooled, ridden for asses, twice. By their own, then their partners.
Through gimmicks and sales pitches. They are of how Guyanese politicians, with few exclusions, are happiest when they sell the dreams of Guyanese for pieces of silver for themselves. Riches sold for a hold on that Holy Grail power. Guyanese have been served well in these 200 columns spread over close to a decade. A hard, thankless job that was splendidly done. A gift to Guyana from a son of Guyana. Wishes for Mr. Chris Ram to stay at the wicket, take his stance, and let his pen do the scoring. A triple century of columns, I would recommend. Yes, I know: just found work for him for another two years. No good deed goes unpunished. Ram delivered. I proved. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Dutch firm secretly invited by Govt... From page 8 for discussion as to the way forward, making it a memorial site if that is the wishes of the family,” Phillips said. “The government is prepared to listen to them, and maybe that’s why the letters went out.” It was only after the public backlash, that the government’s stance on raising the vessel shifted in favour of doing so. MARAD’s Request for Proposals documents outline the considerable technical challenges involved in recovering the vessel. The 38.6-metre ferry lies in soft seabed mud at a depth of between 13 and 15 metres (approximately 42 to 49 feet). Poor underwater visibility, strong currents, and tidal streams are among the harsh maritime conditions, contractors must contend with. Prospective salvors were required to submit detailed methodologies covering the various stages of the operation, demonstrate between five and 10 years of successful salvage experience in Guyanese or Caribbean waters, and show the technical capacity to recover and stow the vessel upright on a barge while preserving forensic evidence required by the Commission of Inquiry. The disaster itself occurred late on the night of Saturday, July 18, 2026, when the 87-year-old
state-owned ferry capsized and sank while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. The vessel encountered severe difficulties and issued a distress call around 11:00 PM off Castle Flats, approximately 10 nautical miles off the Essequibo Coast. Passengers reported that a massive wave struck the ship, causing water to rapidly flood the cargo hold and forcing the vessel to tilt and roll over. Although the official manifest recorded 133 individuals on board, subsequent search and rescue operations and investigations revealed an estimated 179 people were aboard, exposing an illicit cash-for-seats scheme at the port. Dozens of lives were lost in the tragedy, leading to an official Commission of Inquiry and multiple murder charges against key crew members. The fallout from the sinking has sparked debate over how the wreck should be handled. Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed, had previously called on the government to authorise the recovery of the Barima at no cost to the state, using specialised international salvage teams. Mohamed criticised earlier suggestions that the vessel could remain submerged and later be turned into a memorial, describing such proposals as “premature and wicked” and “an act of cruelty.” He said families had reached out to him saying they want the bodies of their loved ones, even if all that remain are bones, to bring closure, adding that the government had not exhausted every possible option or sought international help with the expertise and equipment before talking about turning the site into a memorial.
Thursday September 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Education Ministry dismisses social media claims over Mahdia school toilets
The newly rehabilitated block with eight washroom facilities at Mahdia Primary School.
The Ministry of Education on Wednesday accused a parent of breaking the locks on two abandoned toilet facilities at Mahdia Primary School and photographing them to create the impression that the deplorable facilities are being used by pupils. The ministry said the photographs, which have been circulating on social media, do not show the washrooms currently being used at the Region Eight school and described the portrayal as “deceptive, misleading and irresponsible.” According to the ministry, the two toilets shown in the photographs are old, no longer in use and had been secured and locked. “The ministry has been informed that the locks were broken by a parent when the photographs were taken and subsequently posted on social media, creating the false impression that these are the washroom facilities currently being used by pupils of the school,” the ministry stated. The ministry said Mahdia Primary School instead has a newly rehabilitated block containing eight washrooms for pupils and staff. The block was completed under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative and provides improved sanitation facilities for the school community. “The ministry finds it deeply troubling that anyone would seek to use outdated and
It said established channels are available for concerns affecting schools, children and staff to be investigated and addressed. “Where legitimate concerns exist, the ministry welcomes scrutiny and remains committed to addressing them,” the ministry said. It urged persons with genuine concerns to use those mechanisms instead of turning first to social media, where incomplete or
unused facilities to create a misleading narrative about the conditions under which children are being educated,” it said. The ministry acknowledged that parents, public officials and citizens have a role to play in bringing genuine deficiencies within the education system to its attention.
misleading information could create unnecessary alarm. “The Ministry of Education will not allow misinformation to overshadow the significant investments being made to improve school infrastructure and sanitation facilities across Guyana,” the statement added. The ministry said it remains committed to providing safe, sanitary and conducive learning environments for every child.
Kaieteur News
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Second shipment of milking cows arrive to expand DDL’s farm
Milking cows being released
Two of the milking cows
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) reached another major milestone in the development of its stateof-the-art US$30 million dairy farm at Moblissa, with the successful arrival of an additional shipment of highyield milking cattle late last night at the Hakh Friendship Port on the East Bank of Demerara. According to a press release from the company, the shipment of 473 pregnant heifers follows the May 9
arrival of a foundational shipment, when a herd of 85 pregnant heifers was flown directly into the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) via a specialised Amerijet charter to launch operations for Demerara Dairy Inc. (DDI). The arrival of this second batch by sea significantly expands the growing herd, rapidly scaling up operations at the Moblissa site ahead of commercial milk production.
The arrival marks a historical first for Guyana, as it is the first time a dedicated Livestock Carrier has docked at Port Georgetown to deliver livestock. The animals were transported aboard the Danish-flagged livestock vessel MV ALONDRA (IMO: 9113719), a 97.54-metrelong and 15.9-metre-wide specialised carrier. Sourced from a farm in Seattle, Washington USA, the milking cattle underwent
a road trip to Florida before embarking on a seven-day ocean voyage to Georgetown. Upon docking just before 23:00h, the vessel and its c a rg o w e r e p r o c e s s e d through health and regulatory inspections led by government agencies, including the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Following clearance, the cows were transported by road to Moblissa on specialised livestock trucks, with each truck taking approximately 23 cows in three cycles. The truck convoys are being
escorted by units from the Guyana Police Force. Commenting on the arrival and the expansion of the herd, Komal Samaroo, DDL Executive Chairman, highlighted the strategic importance of the shipment saying, “The arrival of this specialised livestock carrier marks a monumental step forward not just for DDL, but for Guyana’s agricultural infrastructure. Building upon our initial air freight shipment in May that established the foundation of our herd, navigating a maritime logistics operation of this scale demonstrates our absolute commitment to realising the full potential of
the Moblissa project. With these additional high-grade animals safely on the ground at Moblissa alongside our initial stock, we are significantly accelerating our vision to establish a world-class, sustainable dairy operation that will enhance Guyana’s food security and transform our national livestock industry.” The Moblissa dairy farm project is central to DDL’s diversification strategy and aligns with national and regional efforts under the CARICOM food security initiative to reduce the food import bill by boosting local production of fresh milk and dairy products.
Guyana, Japan discuss deeper trade, investment cooperation
Minister Horri was accompanied by Japan’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Guyana, Dr. Akima Umezawa, and other Japanese officials Guyana and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to stregthening bilateral cooperation, with discussions focusing on investment, climate change, technical cooperation and security. Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud met on Wednesday with Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horri at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on South Road, Georgetown.
Horri was accompanied by Japan’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Guyana, Dr. Akima Umezawa, and other Japanese officials. During the meeting, the two sides discussed several issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda, including political and technical cooperation, investment, climate change, peace and security. According to a release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Minister Horri praised Guyana’s economic
growth. He noted that it has attracted increased Japanese investment, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The minister also pointed to the rise in high-level exchanges between the two nations and the expansion of Japan’s support for technical cooperation projects across the Caribbean Community. Foreign Secretary Persaud, meanwhile, described Japan as a consistent and reliable development partner, highlighting its support for
Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud met with the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Iwao Horri on Wednesday
projects in disaster management, energy, climate change, water and sanitation. Among the initiatives highlighted was funding received from the Japan International Cooperation Agency earlier this year for the construction of the Diamond Water Treatment Plant. Persaud said Japan’s support complements Guyana’s broader development priorities under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030
He also identified greater opportunities for private-sector cooperation, particularly in expanding trade and investment between the two countries. Guyana and Japan are preparing to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which both officials said will provide an opportunity to develop a strategic vision for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the years ahead. (DPI)
Kaieteur News
Thursday September 10, 2026
PAGE 13
‘Fix the weak links in rape, child abuse response’ — Min. Persaud tells
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and other officials on the sidelines of the workshop Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has issued a strong call for greater accountability, faster responses and closer collaboration among agencies dealing with child sexual abuse and rape, stressing that weaknesses within the system must be addressed to protect victims and secure justice better. Minister Persaud made the call on Wednesday while delivering the keynote remarks at the opening of a Child Sexual Abuse Workshop hosted by the Ministry’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence
Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre. The workshop brings together police officers, medical practitioners, child protection and probation officers, lawyers, school counsellors and other key professionals involved in responding to cases of sexual violence. “Child sexual abuse is a crime. It has always been a crime,” Minister Persaud declared, noting that while Guyana has recorded progress, sexual violence remains a serious concern. According to a press release by her ministry she
disclosed that 209 rape cases were recorded in 2025, while 85 were recorded between January and June 2026, marking a significant reduction. “It is my fervent wish that we continue to see not only the reduction, but the complete eradication of rape cases in Guyana.” The Minister said more must be done to strengthen every stage of the response process, particularly reporting, investigations, medical examinations, evidence collection and prosecution. “We have to fix the weak links in the chain. And I say
Take shorter showers …amidst increasing El Niño conditions
- GWI urges
Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) issued a public advisory on Wednesday, warning citizens of ongoing dry weather conditions caused by the El Niño phenomenon and calling for immediate household water conservation efforts across the country. The national water utility posted a public awareness notice across its official social media channels under the national campaign hashtag #EveryDropMattersGY, urging residents to adopt daily habits to prevent unnecessary wastage and protect the c o u n t r y ’s f r e s h w a t e r resources. In its caption, GWI emphasised that “El Niño is here, and every drop counts!” To help consumers manage their daily consumption during the dry spell, the utility company outlined five essential practices for households to implement immediately. Residents are urged to repair leaking taps and pipes right away, as even small drips waste significant volumes of water over time. Additionally, consumers should take shorter showers, turn off running taps while brushing teeth or completing
household tasks, and only run washing machines with full loads to maximise efficiency per cycle. Outdoor cleaning activities should also be adjusted by using a bucket instead of a continuous running hose whenever practical. The advisory comes as regions across the country manage reduced rainfall levels typical of El Niño weather patterns, which can strain local water supply systems and surface reservoirs. GWI reminded
consumers that individual household actions play a vital role in maintaining system pressure and ensuring consistent access to clean water for communities nationwide. Members of the public seeking further information or needing to report major pipeline leaks are encouraged to contact GWI v i a e m a i l a t communications@guyanaw aterinc.com or through their official social media handles (@guyanawaterinc).
A section of the gathering at the workshop it unapologetically because we cannot be good unless everybody is doing their job to the best of their abilities.” Minister Persaud called for rape kits to be readily available in every region, more medical personnel to be trained to conduct examinations, and case reports to be completed clearly and promptly. “There should be no delay in dealing with child matters when it relates to abuse. None.” She also pointed to the
strengthening of support systems, including Child Advocacy Centres in every region, the 24-hour 914 hotline, the iMatter app and Hope and Justice Centres, which provide access to several services for survivors. She urged participants to use the workshop to identify gaps, strengthen communication and improve the collective response to sexual violence. “We can have the best legislation and the best
policy, but if we do not have that collective, collaborative, robust approach to cases of child sexual abuse, we will continue to see the numbers climb,” the Minister pointed out. Minister Persaud said the ultimate objective remains clear: to eradicate child sexual abuse and rape and create safer environments where victims can confidently access protection, support and justice.
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Fire ravages Regent Household Electronics Store A massive fire of unknown origin on Wednesday afternoon completely destroyed the three-story Regent Household Electronics Store on Regent Street, between Light and Albert Streets, Georgetown. The blaze, which started sometime before 13:00hrs, engulfed the building and its contents, which included electronics, appliances, furniture, household and gift items, footwear, clothing and other merchandise. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dwayne Scotland told reporters at the scene that the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call at approximately 13:03hrs and arrived about three minutes later, immediately beginning firefighting operations. “Currently we have seven vehicles on the ground; we would have surrounded the fire. So far, we have extinguished the fire but we are mopping-up basically… If you look behind me you could see the western end of the building would have collapsed, even though that has happened we have still contained the fire to one building,” Scotland said at around 15:22hrs. He said there was no longer any threat of the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings, while firefighters continued efforts to extinguish remaining hotspots. The fire service was unable to
Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Dwayne Scotland immediately determine where the blaze originated. “It is a three-story building and when we arrived, the top floor was fully engulfed in fire, so to say from which side of the building I don’t have that information,” Scotland said. He added that, based on information received, everyone in and around the building had been evacuated. Seven firefighting vehicles were dispatched to the scene, including four water tenders and three water bowsers. Firefighters also drew water from open sources and nearby hydrants, with the Guyana Water
Incorporated assisting by boosting the water supply. “ We w o u l d h a v e d r a w n firefighters from Central, HQ, Campbellville and West, we have maximum of personnel on ground to carry out our operations,” Scotland said. The firefighting operation continued for more than three hours, resulting in several businesses in the area closing their doors and a number of streets being blocked to vehicular traffic. At the scene, store owner Shaheed Hamid and family members watched as firefighters battled the blaze. Hamid confirmed that all of his employees were accounted for and disclosed that this was the second fire of such magnitude to occur at his Regent Street property. Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore was also at the scene and commended the fire service for preventing the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties. “I must commend the fire service for containing this fire to at least one building, and maybe there was a smaller building here but at least it is kept within a small square and that they have done a fabulous job because there are many other persons here who felt very nervous,” Mentore said. According to the mayor, two to three nearby buildings could have
been affected had the fire spread. “A gentleman just finished building his place and he didn’t had all the necessary or requisite insurance on his property. So, he was beginning to get extremely nervous if this building and the other buildings would have been caught in the fire,” he said. Mentore noted that while few people reside in the immediate area, it is occupied by numerous businesses. He said the city council would seek to assist those affected. “Whatever help we can give at the level of the council in relation to
A massive fire on Wednesday afternoon destroyed the Regent Household Electronics Store located on Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown.
helping them in their planning process and helping them in waiving certain things, we will work with those persons who have been displaced,” he said. In an update posted on its Facebook page at 18:33hrs, the fire service said firefighters had successfully contained the blaze and were conducting mopping-up operations. The service explained that the operation involves extinguishing remaining hotspots, cooling affected areas and checking for hidden fire to prevent the blaze from reigniting.
Thursday September 10, 2026
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
CANU seized 11 firearms, 154kg of UG law professor earns narcotics between July and August major regional honour The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has seized for the months of July and August this year 11 firearms and 154 kg of narcotics. This bring the year’s total so far to 46 firearms and a total of 673kg of narcotics according to information on the organisation’s website. Giving a breakdown of the narcotics CANU said that it seized 215kg of cocaine, 456 kg of cannabis and 2+kg of NPS, which comprised of crystal meth and ecstasy. In a statement back in June CANU updated the public that for the first half of 2025 it seized 519.49 Kilogrammes of narcotics, 35 illegal firearms, and 699 rounds of ammunition. In what the organisation termed as its “most significant mid-year seizure totals in the agency’s history” it explained that this was made possible due to operations across multiple operational areas nationwide. NARCOTICS SEIZURES “The total volume of narcotics seized during the reporting period represents a 272.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 139.5 kilogrammes were recovered. The seized substances comprised four categories: cannabis, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and ecstasy (MDMA). Cannabis remained the highestvolume substance seized, totalling 357.28 kilogrammes, a 28.2% year-over-year increase. The largest single-month cannabis seizure occurred in March 2026, when 176.01 kilogrammes were intercepted.,” CANU said. The highest value narcotic seized was cocaine and the 159.93 kilogrammes seized represents a 272% surge over the 42.97 kilogrammes recorded for the same period last year. This was driven by major interdictions in January (92.4 kg) and May (45.6 kg). This amount of cocaine has an
estimated value of USD $15.99 million in the United States and EUR €12.79 million across European markets at international retail prices. The agency added that, “Crystal Methamphetamine was recorded in CANU’s seizure statistics for the first time, with 1.89 kilogrammes intercepted, the overwhelming majority (1.82 kg) seized in April 2026. This marks a significant and concerning development in Guyana’s domestic drug landscape. Ecstasy (MDMA) seizures totalled 380 grammes, with detections recorded in January and May 2026, reflecting an increase in distribution frequency compared to the single seizure event recorded for the same period in 2025. INTERNATIONAL VALUATION OF SEIZURES Combined, the seizures carry a total estimated domestic street v a l u e o f G Y D $339,383,500, and at the international level, these narcotics represent an estimated wholesale v a l u e o f approximately USD $5.72 million, with potential retail values reaching USD $20.02 million in the United States and EUR €16.02 million across European markets. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was identified as the primary point of interdiction, accounting for 35% of all seizures during the reporting period a geographic analysis of seizure locations highlighted. The airport according to historical trends has consistently served as a critical node for trafficking attempts transnationally, particularly involving cocaine concealed in outbound passenger luggage and air freight. Additional seizures were recorded at land border crossings, along maritime routes, and during targeted community operations in Regions 3, 4, and 9.
Oil pushes past US$100 as wave... From page 3 heavily on its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, leaving it at its lowest level since 1982. The reserve now holds 289.7 million barrels after years of releases by former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump aimed at cushioning consumers from high fuel prices. High pump prices are a risk for Trump’s Republican Party, which will be campaigning to retain narrow majorities in both houses of Congress during November’s midterm elections. The national average gasoline price was expected to hit US$4.03 a gallon for the Labor Day weekend. Analysts say US$4 per gallon is a pain point for many consumers. Total global oil stocks, including all types such as commercial stocks, the U.S. SPR, Chinese stocks and stocks on water, look fairly comfortable, according to the IEA. Still, a big chunk of those are either in transit, committed to buyers or held in countries that provide little public information about available reserves, such as China. OIL FLOWS FROM MIDDLE EAST STILL DISRUPTED Prices remain below the peak reached in
April, when Brent surged as high as $126 a barrel. But the return to oil above the tripledigit level poses a risk to a market with little room for error, as reduced inventories and limited spare capacity leave supplies vulnerable to further disruptions. About 10 million barrels per day, or about 10% of world oil demand, of oil exports are still missing as a result of the Iran war, according to estimates from Vortexa, which tracks oil shipments. Over 10 million barrels a day still missing While some producers including the United States, Canada and Guyana have ramped up output, the IEA said last month it expected global oil supply would fall this year by 4.3 million bpd, or about 4%. With emergency stockpiles depleted and millions of barrels a day already offline, analysts say the market has less capacity to absorb new disruptions than it did at the start of the war. “I think the market is trying to treat this rise in energy prices as a one-off. It’s not. This is structural. It’s not going away, and it’s part of what I would argue as a security premium. And it’s only going to get bigger,” said Jeffrey Currie, co-chairman at Abaxx Markets.
Professor Justice (Ret’d) Courtney A. Abel, Head of the Department of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana, is pictured at a previous award presentation. He was recently recognised with the 2026 OCCBA Award for Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession and the Judiciary. Professor Justice (Ret’d) Courtney A. Abel, Professor of Law (Legal Practice) and Head of the Department of Law, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana, has earned a second major regional honour for his distinguished contribution to the legal
profession, receiving the 2026 Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA) Award for Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession and the Judiciary. The award was presented virtually during the OCCBA Retreat on Saturday,25th July, 2026, following his selection by the 16-member bar associations of the Commonwealth Caribbean and the Executive Council of OCCBA. It recognises his dedicated and significant contributions to the legal profession in the Commonwealth Caribbean, particularly his service to the Judiciary of Belize and his contributions to OCCBA and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Bar Association (OECS) Bars. The OCCBA recognition follows the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Professor Abel by the Society of Caribbean Lawyers (SOCAL) earlier this year. Together these honours represent recognition from two important segments of the Caribbean legal community with which his professional journey has been closely connected. Professor Abel stated, “Receiving the OCCBA Award was deeply moving because it came from what I regard as my professional family: the organised Bars of the Commonwealth Caribbean. The distinguished legal scholar reflected Continued on page 17
Digital trade can unlock next wave of growth in Caribbean — NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WASHINGTON — Digital trade – international trade that is ordered or delivered online – quintupled in two decades in Latin America and the Caribbean to nearly $90 billion and it is rapidly becoming a powerful engine of growth across the region, creating new opportunities for businesses, workers, and entrepreneurs while helping countries compete in an increasingly digital global economy, according to a new report. The analysis released today by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Bank Group, Digital Trade in Latin America and the Caribbean: Connecting Markets, Powering Growth, examines how digital technologies are reshaping trade across the region and identifies policies needed to unlock their full potential and boost growth and competitiveness. The region’s exports of digitally delivered services nearly quintupled from $18.5 billion in 2005 to $87.7 billion in 2024. The increase underscores the growing importance of digitally delivered services to the region’s trade performance and economic growth, the report finds. Digital services are lowering barriers to international markets, reducing costs, accelerating innovation, and improving resilience. Digital platforms are enabling small businesses, entrepreneurs, and women-led firms to reach customers worldwide, while advances in artificial intelligence and other technologies are creating new possibilities for cross-border trade in goods and services. The report underscores major opportunities for expansion since the region only captured 2% of global exports of digitally delivered services in 2024. Countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina have emerged as regional leaders, while foreign direct investment in digitally enabled
industries is helping strengthen capabilities and competitiveness across the region. The report also points to a promising opportunity: deeper regional integration in digital trade. In 2023, only 8.4% of exports of digitally deliverable services stayed within the region – well below levels seen in Europe and Asia. “Latin America and the Caribbean countries have substantially increased their exports of digitally delivered services in recent decades, but there is still significant potential to expand them further,” said Fabrizio Opertti, manager of the Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector at the IDB. “To realize this untapped potential and boost productivity, countries across the region need to improve connectivity, modernise regulatory frameworks, streamline and digitalize border procedures, reduce information barriers through stronger trade promotion, and strengthen the digital capabilities of firms and workers.” Significant challenges remain, including gaps in digital infrastructure and connectivity, fragmented regulations, limited payment system interoperability, trade and customs bottlenecks, digital skills shortages, and insufficient financing for innovative firms. To address these challenges, the report calls for action in eight key areas: expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening and modernizing regulations, improving payment interoperability, streamlining trade procedures, promoting digital exports, strengthening digital skills, increasing access to finance, and improving the measurement of digital trade. The report concludes that governments, businesses, and international organizations must work together to expand the region’s participation in digital trade, increase integration into the global economy, and create new opportunities for firms and workers.
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Thursday September 10, 2026
UK govt. rejects Jamaica’s demand for reparations
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(SVG Times) The UK government has firmly rejected a historic petition from Jamaica demanding financial compensation for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. Delivered to Buckingham Palace for King Charles III by a formal Jamaican delegation, the petition requests £10 billion ($10 billion) in reparations, but British officials reiterated that the nation’s position remains unchanged: “The UK does not pay and will not pay reparations”. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed that while Britain acknowledges the abhorrent nature of colonial practices and the immense wealth gained from the slave trade, successive UK governments continue to avoid issuing a formal apology or entering into economic negotiations. Led by Minister of Culture Olivia Grange, the Jamaican delegation presented the petition in person, launching a novel legal strategy. Rather than requesting a direct royal ruling, the filing asks King Charles III to seek formal guidance from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council— the London-based body serving as the final court of appeal for Jamaica and several Commonwealth territories. As the first Commonwealth nation to pursue this specific procedural avenue, Jamaica’s petition poses three
The UK government has rejected the historic petition from Jamaica. core legal questions: Whether the enslavement of African people in Jamaica was lawful under contemporary English law. Whether the practice violated international law regardless of domestic legality. Whether the United Kingdom bears a legal obligation to compensate for historical damages. Beyond monetary compensation, Minister Grange also called for the restitution of Caribbean artifacts held in British museums. Despite the government’s refusal and the King’s absence, Grange stated she felt “encouraged” by the legal filing, viewing the step as meaning-
ful progress independent of London’s immediate reaction. The petition’s submission drew additional scrutiny due to King Charles III’s absence in Scotland during the delegation’s visit. Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, criticized the monarch, arguing that the King “once again… seeks refuge whenever the issue of slavery and empire is raised”. However, Jamaica’s claims align with recent findings from a United Nations committee, which determined that states carry a legal obligation to consider
reparations for transatlantic slavery to eradicate ongoing racial discrimination. British rule in Jamaica began in 1655, during which hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans endured brutal conditions over three centuries. Although Jamaica achieved independence in 1962, its government executed a constitutional amendment in December 2024 to replace the British monarch as its head of state. Britain became the world’s largest slave-trading nation by the 1730s, transporting over three million Africans across the Atlantic. While the British state paid compensation upon abol-
ishing slavery in 1833, those funds were awarded exclusively to slave owners for the “loss of their property” rather than to victims. Although institutions such as the Church of England pledged a £1 billion ($1.35 billion) fund in March 2024 to address historical ties to slavery, political leaders— including former Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office in October 2024—have steadfastly refused to offer financial reparations or official apologies. Furthermore, the UK abstained when the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest
T&T PM doubles down on call to remove violent students from schools: Take them into your homes (Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar has doubled down on her call for violent and persistently disruptive students to be removed from schools, challenging those opposed to her stance to take them into their own homes and deal with them. In a social media post yesterday evening, PersadBissessar also accused the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) and the People’s National Movement (PNM) of failing to do enough to protect teachers and students from school violence. On Sunday, ahead of the opening of the 2026/2027 academic year, the Prime Minister urged teachers to send disruptive students home and leave parents to deal with them, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to disrespectful and misbehaving students, as well as uncooperative parents and guardians. Since then, her statement has been strongly criticised. Yesterday, she answered her critics and issued them a challenge. “I INVITE THOSE OF
YOU WHO ARE AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF VIOLENT, DISRESPECTFUL STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS TO VOLUNTEER TO TAKE THEM INTO YOUR OWN HOMES, WITH YOUR OWN FAMILIES, AND DEAL WITH THEM,” she said. Prime Minister said thousands of children go to school in fear of being beaten, robbed, harassed or terrorised by other students. She said this affects their ability to study and can cause “fear, despair and depression”, ultimately affecting their education and futures. “This is not fair to wellbehaved students and their hardworking parents, who make sacrifices every day so their children can have a good education and a better future,” Persad-Bissessar said. She also referenced the death of 15-year-old Jayden Lalchan, a St Stephen’s College student who died by suicide in October 2024 following allegations of prolonged bullying. “Never forget Jayden Lalchan, who took his own life at 15 years old because of constant bullying and abuse from another stu-
dent at St Stephen’s College in Princes Town,” she said. The prime minister then directly targeted TTUTA, the NPTA and the PNM, accusing all three of failing to provide solutions to the issue of school violence. “TTUTA, NPTA and the PNM have done nothing and will continue to do nothing to keep our teachers and children safe from violent students and parents in our schools,” she said. Persad-Bissessar also accused the three groups of opposing the use of police officers to protect teachers and students and of now resisting efforts to remove violent students from schools. NPTA president Walter Stewart had said the association supported the Prime Minister’s call for students to take education seriously, respect teachers and recognise the importance of education. However, he said the proposal to send indisciplined children home from school was concerning. TTUTA president Crystal Ashe had raised similar concerns, questioning what
students would actually do if sent home without appropriate interventions. Former Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly had also criticised the Prime Minister’s position. In a social media post on Monday, Gadsby-Dolly questioned whether sending misbehaving children home would actually solve the problem. But Persad-Bissessar has rejected the suggestion that her government is ignoring the needs of troubled students. She said her administration is “standing up for our teachers’ and children’s safety” and for the future of students who want to learn in a safe environment. The Prime Minister maintained that well-behaved students and their parents should not be forced to suffer because of the actions of violent or disruptive students. Persad-Bissessar’s latest position is consistent with the hard-line approach she adopted shortly after taking office in May 2025. June 5, 2025: PersadBissessar said students who physically assault others should face expulsion and
possible criminal charges, following a series of violent school incidents. Early July 2025: She announced plans to deploy police officers to high-risk schools, treating school violence as a security as well as a disciplinary issue. September 8, 2025: She defended the deployment of armed police in schools, saying “enough is enough” and arguing that officers should be allowed to carry firearms when necessary. November 2025: School violence in Tobago again came under scrutiny following incidents involving students and calls for further arrests. March 2026: PersadBissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles clashed in Parliament over the Government’s use of armed police in schools and its School-Oriented Policing Initiative. April 2026: Education Minister Michael Dowlath reported that 1,050 students had been suspended for school violence between September and December 2025, while no students had been expelled during that period.
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No-case submissions made for three accused in Mobil gas station bombing
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efence attorneys representing three Venezuelan nationals charged in connection with the October 2025 fatal gas station bombing made formal no-case submissions on Wednesday, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against their clients. The submissions were presented as paper committal proceedings resumed before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The three accused, Jhonny Boodram, Krystal La Cruz, and Alexander Bettencourt, are jointly charged with terrorism alongside the prime suspect, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodemo. The charges stem from the explosion at the Mobil gas station on Regent Street, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and left several others injured. Attorney Mikel Puran appeared on behalf of Boodram, while counsel Tifaine Rutherford represented La Cruz. Attorney Melvin Duke appeared for Bettencourt. Each counsel contended that the prosecution, led by Mandel Moore, did not provide sufficient evidence linking their clients to the act of terrorism. State-appointed counsel Shellon Boyce, representing Ramirez Peodemo, informed the court that her client would abide by the magistrate’s ruling. The court had previously seen a significant shift in May, when
Two freed, five still face charges in deadly gas station bombing. Ramirez Peodemo retracted his guilty plea after learning that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) intended to proceed with terrorism charges against his three co-accused. In March and April, Ramirez Peodemo had repeatedly told the court that he was solely responsible for the deadly attack and pleaded for the discharge of
eProcure website to bring greater transparency to govt. tenders - Min Ally Government is moving to further digitise and modernise the procurement process by the introduction of online systems to make government tenders and requests for proposals more accessible, efficient and transparent. Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, revealed this during an interview, noting that the eProcure website, launched in February, has centralised the government’s expressions of interest, requests for proposals and other procurement opportunities in one location. According to the minister, the platform eliminates the need for contractors and businesses to rely solely on newspaper advertisements to identify government procurement opportunities. “Now you can go to one website, which is the eProcure website, and you can get all of
government tenders and requests for proposals,” Minister Ally explained. M o r e o v e r, t h e m i n i s t e r emphasised that the initiative is also bringing greater transparency and efficiency to the procurement process, while making it easier for businesses to access available opportunities. Minister Ally further disclosed that government is preparing to move to a fully digital procurement system, where contractors and small businesses will no longer have to physically submit bids. The planned procurement portal will allow bids to be submitted electronically, while also enabling bidders to track the status and progress of their submissions. The move forms part of government’s broader efforts to modernise public-sector systems, improve efficiency and strengthen transparency in the delivery of government services and opportunities. (DPI)
Boodram, La Cruz, and Bettencourt. However, upon learning that his sole confession would not clear the three foreign nationals, he opted to change his plea, prompting Magistrate McGusty to proceed with paper committal proceedings. A total of eight individuals were
initially implicated in the broader conspiracy, leading to varying legal outcomes across different jurisdictions. At the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Alisha George dismissed all charges against Guyanese nationals Wayne Corriea and Ramesh Pramdeo after ruling that the
prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence connecting them to the bombing. Conversely, Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, who faced a related charge at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, has already been committed to stand trial in the high court after a magistrate found sufficient evidence against her during prior proceedings. The prosecution officially concluded the tendering of evidence in July, submitting over 225 statements into the record during the committal proceedings. The evidence presented by the state includes a DNA analysis report from the Center of Excellence in DNA Forensic in India, technical statements from medical experts at the National Forensic Science University in India, the official post-mortem examination report for six-year-old Soraya Bourne, medical certificates detailing injuries sustained by surviving victims, police investigator statements, and official immigration records for Boodram, Bettencourt, Ramirez Peodemo, and Rodriguez. Following the conclusion of a rg u m e n t s o n t h e n o - c a s e submissions, Magistrate McGusty will review the tendered statements, expert reports, and documentary evidence to determine whether sufficient cause exists to commit Boodram, La Cruz, and Bettencourt to stand trial in the high court. The case was adjourned to 19th October, 2026.
UG law professor earns major regional... From page 15 that much of his regional work over the years involved practical efforts to strengthen bar associations, protect the independence of the legal profession and judiciary, support regional institutions and give Caribbean lawyers a collective voice. In retrospect, he sees these efforts as “part of a broader movement towards Caribbean self-authorship”. Professor Abel’s legal career has spanned practice, judicial service, regional Bar leadership and academia. He served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Belize and has held leadership positions within regional legal organisations, including the OECS Bar Association and the Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Association. These experiences, he said, have shaped his understanding of the relationship between law and the society it serves. “The most important lesson is that law cannot properly be understood apart from the society whose life it orders. Practice taught me that law affects real people long before it becomes doctrine in a textbook. Judicial office taught me humility: the immense responsibility involved when one human being is
authorised by society to exercise judgment over another,” he stated. At the University of Guyana , Professor Abel has brought these experiences into the classroom using his background in practice, judicial service and regional Bar leadership to contribute to the development of future legal professionals. He explained that his concern extends beyond ensuring that students understand legal rules. “I want students to understand who they are, the society in which those rules operate, the histories which produced them, and the responsibility they inherit for improving them,” he said. He added that legal education should help to form “thoughtful, ethical, critical and imaginative lawyers capable of becoming responsible authors of the Caribbean legal future.” The receipt of the 2026 Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA) Award comes just before Professor Abel assumed the role of Head of the Department of Law at the University of Guyana, adding a new dimension to his continued contribution to the University and the legal profession. For Professor Abel, however, the honours received since the start
of the year are not viewed as the culmination of his professional journey. Instead, he sees them as reinforcing the responsibility to continue serving and contributing to the generations that follow. “An award should not become a chair in which one sits. At its best, it becomes another place from which one is called to serve,” he said. Reflecting on the wider meaning of his career and the recognition he has received, Professor Abel said that his greatest satisfaction lies not in the honours themselves, but in the contribution made along the way, “The greatest reward is not recognition. It is the quiet knowledge that one tried to leave the road a little clearer for those who must travel it next.” The University of Guyana congratulates Professor Justice (Ret’d) Courtney A. Abel on receiving the 2026 OCCBA Award for Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession and the Judiciary and recognises his continued contribution to law, justice and legal education in Guyana and the wider Commonwealth Caribbean. (Feature by the Department of Events, Conferences and Communication, University of Guyana)
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Iran and U.S. hit tankers in biggest wave of attacks on shipping since war began (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. sank five Iranian oil tankers, in the biggest declared wave of tit-fortat attacks on shipping by both sides since the start of six-month-old war. The attacks sent the price of oil surging, with benchmark Brent crude futures breaching $100 a barrel for the first time since July. At least one seafarer aboard a tanker was reported killed and another listed as missing. Iran also said it had fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces in Jordan. Attacks by both sides since the end of August have shattered a month of relative calm, with the U.S. and Iran hitting military, shipping and energy assets. The Revolutionary Guards said they would sharply escalate their response to any further attacks, hitting 20 targets if the enemy struck two or three. Iran would soon release maps of a new, enlarged off-limits zone at sea that would extend as far as Chabahar on the far reaches of Iran’s coast near Pakistan, the Guards said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to all sides to “exercise utmost restraint” and avoid inflaming the already volatile situation in and near the Strait of Hormuz. Recent days have also seen an escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, a second theatre of war that threatens global energy supplies from the Middle East. VIDEO SHOWS IRANIAN TANKERS ABLAZE The Americans said they
Picture taken February 21, 2020: The vessel then-named the Axel Spirit, which has since been renamed the M/T Kaviz and is among the Iranian crude oil carriers that U.S. Central Command says it struck after attempted Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days, in the waters off Shimonoseki, Japan, February 21, 2020. Taketo Fuchi/via REUTERS destroyed five Iranian oil tankers overnight, releasing video of ships ablaze before they sank. The U.S. military’s Central Command called its attacks a response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting a U.S. Navy warship twice with ballistic missiles over the previous two days. No Americans were harmed, the U.S. said. Washington has announced a new policy of attacking Iranian tankers in retaliation for fire that threatens its warships, and says it has hit 10 so far over the past week. “Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia. Iran said it fired on two U.S. ships and eight tankers in response. One seafarer was killed aboard
the oil products tanker Hercules Star while at anchorage off Dubai and another crew member was missing, the vessel’s charterer, Peninsula, said. Maritime security sources said it may have been hit by a drone. The British maritime security agency UKMTO described a vessel in the vicinity that was listing, possibly taking on water after being struck by a projectile. Reuters could not immediately determine whether this referred to the same ship. Two Iraqi port officials said a tanker carrying 2 million barrels of fuel oil, the New Andros, had caught fire after being struck by a drone in Iraqi waters. There were no reports of casualties among the 22 crew. The UKMTO said it had received reports of several merchant ships struck by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman, on either side of the strait.
Iran also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement carried by state media. A maritime security source reported a liquefied natural gas tanker was damaged in the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan. The IRGC also said on Wednesday it had fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces near Al Azraq, in eastern Jordan. Jordan said its air defences had intercepted 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, with two falling harmlessly in unpopulated areas. A U.S. official said Iran’s strikes in Jordan were ineffective and allAmerican troops were accounted for. An explosion was heard in the southern part of the Iranian port city of Jask, coming from the sea, Iran’s Fars news agency reported late on Wednesday. It said no details were available on the source or cause of the blast.
STRAIT CHOKED OFF In recent weeks Washington had boasted of increasing success guiding tankers through the strait, which carried a fifth of oil supplies before the war. But any such gradual reopening appears to have been set back by a resumption of fighting this month. Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at consultancy Rystad Energy, said flows through Hormuz had fallen back as low as 2 million barrels per day, having reached as high as 8 million to 9 million bpd in the week before fighting resumed on August 30. Even more severe than the rise in crude prices has been a surge in the cost of the fuels refined from it. The politically sensitive average retail price of U.S. diesel hit a fresh all-time high on Wednesday above $5.94 a gallon. Escalating combat between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls most populated parts of Yemen has created additional uncertainty for energy markets. On Tuesday, the Houthis launched an attack on four cities in Saudi Arabia, causing huge fires visible from space at oil installations. Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded. Saudi authorities announced alerts on Wednesday in two of the cities hit the previous day, but later said the threat had passed. A Saudi-backed government based in the south of Yemen has launched a multi-pronged assault on areas controlled by the Houthis, who have threatened Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.
Equatorial Guinea police pull guns on migrants deported by Trump, witnesses say (Reuters) - Police in Equatorial Guinea pulled firearms on migrants deported there from the United States, according to three witnesses and video footage shared with Reuters, intensifying concerns about the treatment and safety of people sent to the Central African nation under a U.S. deportation programme. Deportees have complained inadequate medical care, denial of legal assistance and “severe psychological distress” while being held at a hotel in Equatorial Guinea’s former capital, Malabo. The altercation on Saturday began as a dispute over access to mobile phones but quickly escalated, with men wearing shirts bearing the words “National Police” pointing what appeared to
be semi-automatic assault rifles at deportees inside the entrance to the hotel. One migrant appeared to be kneeling on the ground while others screamed nearby. Reuters reviewed the footage but could not independently verify the events that preceded the confrontation. The Trump administration has since last year struck multiple agreements with African governments to accept migrants who it cannot legally return to their home countries. Many of those deported under the so-called thirdcountry arrangements ‘had previously won protection from U.S. immigration judges, who found they could face torture or other abuses if repatriated. Washington has defended the
third-country deals as lawful and said deportations are carried out in accordance with U.S. immigration law. Equatorial Guinea has not publicly detailed the terms under which it is housing the deportees. Rights groups and advocates have said the arrangements are opaque and that some deportees are ultimately returned to the countries they originally fled. Lawyers representing some of the deportees said the confrontation underscored concerns about their safety. “Once again, evidence demonstrates that deporting people to Equatorial Guinea is putting their lives in danger. I hope that someone will not be seriously injured or killed,” said Meredyth Yoon,
litigation director for Asian Americans Advancing JusticeAtlanta, a legal advocacy group. ‘THEY COCKED THEIR GUNS... TELLING ME TO GET ON MY KNEES’ There are currently 31 deportees being held at the hotel in Malabo, according to Yoon and two members of the group of deportees. Last month, five people whom the U.S. attempted to deport to Liberia resisted getting off the plane and were subsequently transported to Equatorial Guinea instead. One member of that group, a Cuban man, approached police officers at the hotel on Saturday morning to request the return of his confiscated mobile phone so that he
could contact relatives and a lawyer, the two witnesses said. The officers ignored ‘his request, and another deportee, an Egyptian man named Ahmed Soliman, began filming the exchange on his phone. Within 30 seconds, “I was rushed at by multiple officers, me and a few other people that were outside with us. That is when they started assaulting us, grabbing my neck, my shirt, trying to dig the phone out of my pocket,” Soliman told Reuters. “They cocked their guns, took it off of safety, pointed their guns `at me telling me to get on my knees, with my hands up... I had to remain in that position for 10-15 minutes while there was chaos going on in the hotel.”
Thursday September 10, 2026
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Kaieteur News
Thursday ThursdaySeptember November 10, 24, 2026 2022
India eye strong start in IMC Over-40s World Cup campaign in Guyana Captain of India Anand Nair is upbeat about his side’s prospects at this year’s International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s 45over World Cup, to be played in Guyana. The action gets under way on October 17th with 16 sides participating. The final
is scheduled for October 31st at the National Stadium, Providence, in Demerara. Nair, an all-rounder, believes his team can start strongly in their Group B fixtures, but stressed that results will follow only from good cricket. “We have a side capable
of going deep in this tournament, but we have to play positive cricket from start to finish,” Nair commented. Group B comprises India, New Zealand, Scotland, England, Pakistan, USA, Rest of the World XI and Rest of the Caribbean
Thursday September 10, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Communication with close friends and a romantic partner should be especially beneficial today, Aries, since you're feeling more in touch with those close to you. Children could also be a source of joy today. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Recent successes could lead to new aspirations to increase your socioeconomic standing. You should be feeling especially determined and confident about your future. Your plans have worked out well.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Online group activities that you attend today are likely to be spiritually oriented, such as group meditations. You could communicate with new friends from faraway places who share your interests. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some vivid and wonderful dreams might provide inspiration for future creative projects. You're feeling cheerful and optimistic now, and your enthusiasm is likely to continue. Success in career and relationships is indicated.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Normally you tend to view things on a logical, intellectual level, Gemini, but today the strength of your intuition could surprise you. Your communications could be subtler than words.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You might find yourself thinking about a possible future vacation. You've worked hard during the last few months and feel you deserve a break. This year you're likely to want to do something different from the norm.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Artistic talents are greatly increased by fresh, deeply felt inspiration. Today you may spend much of your time giving material form to your ideas.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your health should be in top shape today, Capricorn. You're likely to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually strong and ready to tap into your inner power.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This is a time when you're likely to feel especially idealistic and hopeful. Spiritual experiences may have you on cloud nine, Leo. Your intuition is also strong. You might consider taking a future trip to a distant state or foreign country.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You're good at dealing with others, but today you should be especially so. Your intuition is strong and you're likely to instinctively understand others' thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) During this time, you'll feel especially intuitive, optimistic, and spiritually on a roll. You could feel artistically inspired, and channel some of your newfound awareness into recently started projects.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You generally are good at sizing up other people and sensing their thoughts and feelings, but today that talent is greatly enhanced by increased intuition. You should be feeling especially enthusiastic and optimistic today.
XI. Group A is led by defending champions South Africa, along with Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Namibia, Wales, Canada and Colombia. India begin their campaign against the Rest of the World XI at Malteenoes in Guyana’s capital, before heading to the Ancient County of Berbice to face familiar rivals Pakistan at Albion the following day. According to the 43year-old Nair, challenges are inevitable, but the squad is ready to meet them. “We have a good team that is excited to reach Guyana and produce some strong performances. In a tournament of this magnitude, you have to face up to challenges, but we are prepared and we are looking forward to competing against any opposition,” Nair said. He noted that 80 percent of the team plays competitive and professional cricket consistently, which brings quality to the side. “I know my players well because they are playing the game regularly. We work hard on our fitness because fitness is very important. I always emphasise the importance of training and staying fit for a World Cup, so everyone is really prepared,” said Nair, who is based in the UAE. He confirmed that three players have been selected who featured in the inaugural tournament in 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. The hosts went on to win that competition, defeating New Zealand by six wickets in the final. The round-robin tournament is being run by IMC in collaboration with the Cricket West Indies Masters Association. Matches will be played at venues across Guyana, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals. India squad: Anand Nair (Captain), Amit Paul, Jatin Saxena, Murtaza Ali, Pankaj Dhuldhoye (wk), Somesh Nair, Shalabh Shrivastava, Amit Mishra, Sunny Bhatnagar, Jitendra Likhar, Bhupendra Yadav, Shankar Tikyani, Pawan Anand, Sudeed T, Anup Fulper and Jigar Metha. Management staff: Nasir Khan and Harsh Shah.
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Anand Nair
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Thursday September 10, 2026
2026 Republic Bank CPL…GAW vs. SKL
Tahir (5-17), Mehidy (3-13) magic show leaves Kings in disarray as Warriors regroup with 4-wicket win Roston Chase bagged 3 wickets but inevitably failed to stop Guyana from marching to victory Two mind-boggling spells from spin wizard Imran Tahir, who put on a magic show for his 5-fer, backed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 3 wickets on debut, put the Guyana Amazon Warriors back in a winning space following last night’s 4-wicket torching of the St. Lucia Kings. Following their first loss of the season on Tuesday, having allowed the Mehidy Hasan Patriots to breach Warrior Nation’s Miraz’s 3-fer came Providence Fortress, the home team during his first responded with a brutal display which run as a Warrior was predominantly carried out by their two spinners. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kings ran into a bowling buzzsaw controlled by the legendary leg-spinner Tahir, who utilized the Googly delivery to rake in his 2nd CPL 5-fer and his career-best haul in T20s. The leg-spinner delivered an absolute masterclass, tearing through 119 all out in 18.5 overs the Kings’ lineup to claim astonishing figures Amazon Warriors, needing exactly a runof 5-17, his 6th career 5-wicket haul, which is a-ball to get their 120 runs required for the most by any player, while becoming the victory, ended on 122-6 with a few deliveries oldest player at 47 to bag a 5-fer in franchise to spare. Opener Glenn Phillips (37), Quentin T20 Cricket. Sampson (37*) with 5 huge sixes, and Shai New man, Bangladeshi Miraz, who Hope (21) got the job done for their side, as replaced Mohammad Nabi, made his impact Kings veteran all-rounder Roston Chase tried felt immediately as he choked out the middle his best to keep the game dramatic with his 3order to claim 3-13 with his off-spin, to 34. celebrate a brilliant first stint with the Guyana will lock down Providence this Warriors. Friday in their final game before winging out It took a pugnacious knock of 43 off 35 to Barbados, where they play their biggest from Kamil Pooran and 35 from Obus rivals yet, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR). Pienaar to see the defending champs limp to (Clifton Ross)
Pace and Power Gym take top honours... From page 24 opening round, while Akeem Quintin added another stoppage for Pace & Power with a second-round victory over Omar Barker at 46kg. The 46kg division produced another first-round stoppage, with Trimaine Lindore of Pace and Power defeating Donovan Troy in the opening round. The U15 category featured a 60kg bout between Pace and Power teammates Akeem Ross and Kevin Medas. Ross picked up the victory after Medas abandoned the contest in the opening round, earning Ross the Best Boxer award for the age group. The U17 division saw Itavius Vanderstoop of Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym outpoint Pace and Power’s Troymell Matherson at 51kg. Vanderstoop’s performance earned him the Best Boxer award in his category. There was little time wasted in the U19
division. At 70kg, Simeon Haymer of Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym stopped Emmanuel Sandiford of Pace and Power in the first round, earning the Best Boxer award for the U19 category. The remaining bouts saw NABA’s Ukesh Persaud earn a points victory over Harpy Eagles’ Kelon Mullin at 37kg, while Curtis McDonald of NABA edged Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym’s Izzla Vanderstoop by split decision in their 65kg U19 encounter. The tournament also provided a competitive platform for the participating gyms, with Pace and Power emerging as the Best Gym with four points. Harpy Eagles and Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym finished joint runners-up with three points apiece, reflecting the closely fought nature of the competition and the depth of talent displayed across the participating boxing gyms.
Thursday September 10, 2026
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Numerous sports and Cricket West Indies appoints community activities on cards Bob Carter as Batting Consultant for New Amsterdam Town - Targets immediate gains and long-term 135th anniversary Celebrations batting development
By Samuel Whyte The Municipality of New Amsterdam is celebrating its 135th Anniversary as a town. A number of sporting, culture and communitybased events are on the cards in the month-long list of activities. Which also includes religious, and educational showpieces. New Amsterdam, which is the oldest town in Guyana, got township status on the 1st September 1891. Its first Mayor was Briton, Neil Ross Mc Kinnon, a Barrister of Law. The present Mayor is Wainwright McIntosh, an Education Officer and businessman. Activities will run from September 18th to October 31st. The theme for this year’s Town Day is, “New Amsterdam 2050, A Small Town Rising, Bridging Heritage and Innovation.” The 2026 Town Day activities got started with a church service at the Wesleyan Church on Main and Asylum Street. Things will get brewing on the 18th September with the second annual food festival. The three days activity will start with an
Experienced New Zealand coach Bob Carter works in the nets. (CWI)
Mayor of New Amsterdam Mr. Wainwright McIntosh. inter school cooking competition at the Esplanade Park. Simultaneously, a female inter school T10 cricket competition organised by the Georgia Women’s Cricket Association will be held from 18th – 20th September at the Berbice High School Ground. An inter Ward football competition will kick off from October 9th to 11th at the Scott School Ground. This will be followed by a joint services debate competition on October 12th and 13th at the NA Town Hall.
Mayor Mc Intosh interacting with one of the youngest players during last year’s football competition.
A domino competition featuring the top teams in and around the town will be held on the 16th October. The “town week jumpstart”, week of festivities will jump off on October 17th along the Republic Road New Amsterdam. A basketball competition is slated for October 20th to 23rd at the New Amsterdam Basketball court. The annual cycle road race and a car show are also on the cards. The celebrations are expected to culminate with the annual street fair on October 31 along Main Road New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam is located about five miles on the Eastern Bank of the Berbice River. It is situated at the confluence of the Berbice and Canje Rivers. It became a town exactly 100 years before it became a Municipality. It was first situated up the Berbice River. In 1785 it was moved to its present spot at the confluence of the Berbice River and its tributary the Canje River. It was built by the Dutch in 1740 before being taken over by the British in 1803. New Amsterdam covers an estimated 13.7 square Kilometers and has a population of approximately 50,000 persons. In 1812 a special Department of Works, the Winkel Department, was set up to deal with all repair works required by the residents. The workmen were originally slaves who were given their freedom in 1831.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket West from 2019 to 2022, and twice as the Men’s Indies (CWI) has appointed experienced New Assistant Coach, alongside previous head Zealand coach Bob Carter as Batting coaching roles with Canterbury and Consultant, with his initial one-year Wellington, and as Director of Cricket at engagement focused on raising batting Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in standards across the West Indies and England. CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe strengthening the regional coaching system ahead of a critical period of international said the appointment is aimed at improving the regional coaching system as much as the competition. Carter, who officially took up the role on players. “West Indies teams will participate in at September 1, 2026, will work across CWI’s men’s, women’s and age-group programmes, least 6 global events over the next 24-30 with his appointment coming as West Indies months, including the Men’s World Cup prepare for the Men’s ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier next February. The steps we take Qualifier in February and March 2027, now are intended to lay the groundwork for followed by the World Cup preparation success. Bob’s immediate job is to raise the technical standard heading into these events,” window. His first assignment will be a regional tour later this month, taking him across all six first-class territories – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands – where he will work directly with players and coaches. Carter’s mandate will have two principal areas of focus; providing specialist technical support to elite and emerging batters, while also strengthening the ability of regional and high-performance coaches to design and deliver effective Experienced New Zealand individual batting programmes. coach Bob Carter. (CWI) He will work closely with coaches to enhance the support provided to elite players returning to their said Bascombe. “But the measure of this territories, while collaborating with CWI’s appointment is not what our top six look like High-Performance team to develop batting in twelve months. It is whether the coaches he modules that can be incorporated into the works with come out of it better at teaching regional coaching pathway and reach coaches batting than they went in, and whether that reaches the coaching education modules the at every level. “West Indies cricket has a proud tradition rest of the region is taught from. That is what of producing outstanding batsmen, and my lasts.” The appointment is part of CWI’s broader job is to help build the base to produce future generations of world-class players,” said technical development programme and Carter. “My focus has always been on follows work by the Cricket Strategy and supporting players and coaches to reach their Officiating Committee, which identified full potential, and I am looking forward to specialist technical intervention and working alongside the regional and high- strengthening the regional coaching system as priorities for the development of West performance coaches to help achieve that.” Carter brings more than 30 years of elite Indies cricket. Carter’s regional tour will provide an coaching experience, most recently serving as High-Performance Coach with New early opportunity to assess the batting talent Zealand Cricket from 2012 to 2025, where he and coaching needs across the territories, supported international and domestic player while establishing the foundation for a development, performance planning and coordinated technical programme that can talent identification. He also served as Head support players throughout the regional Coach of the New Zealand Women’s team pathway.
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Thursday September 10, 2026
Laured ‘The Lion’ Stewart hunts knockout win on Saturday ...Terrence Greene promises to punish ‘Doggy’ in Celebrity match By Rawle Toney Laured “The Lion” Stewart is hunting another knockout when he returns to the ring on Saturday, but standing in his way is a former Ve n e z u e l a n c r u i s e r w e i g h t champion with plenty of experience. Stewart will headline the Caribbean Boxing Organisation’s (CBO) second pro-am boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where he faces Williams Ocando in what promises to be his sternest test yet as he looks to climb the cruiserweight ladder. And while Stewart’s sights are firmly set on stopping Ocando, social media firebrand Terrence “Tiger” Greene has his own score to settle. Greene has promised to unleash his inner “Punisher” against Bradley “Doggy” Sampson in the e v e n i n g ’s m u c h - a n t i c i p a t e d Celebrity bout, adding another layer of drama to a 10-fight card the CBO believes will deliver plenty of action, entertainment and, inevitably, leather. The gloves are set to fly, the trash talk has already landed, and the Caribbean Boxing Organisation (CBO) is promising that fight fans will have plenty to cheer about when its second pro-am boxing card takes centre stage at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday. CBO President Seon Bristol said the organisation remains
Terrence ‘The Tiger’ Greene (left) and CBO President Seon Bristol. (Rawle Toney photo) committed to delivering quality boxing to Guyana and the wider Caribbean, with Saturday’s card designed to showcase both emerging talent and seasoned professionals. “We are looking forward to a great night of boxing,” Bristol said at a Press Conference yesterday at
the Tower Hotel, as anticipation builds for what promises to be a night of fistic fireworks at Guyana’s premier indoor sporting venue. The main event certainly carries plenty of intrigue. Stewart, who has compiled a 51 record from six professional
outings, including four knockouts, will face his most experienced opponent to date in Ocando, a former Venezuelan cruiserweight champion. Ocando has been around the professional circuit 43 times, winning 25 bouts, an impressive 21 by knockout. He has also suffered 17 defeats and recorded one draw. Stewart believes Ocando represents the kind of challenge he needs as he looks to make his mark and climb the cruiserweight ladder, entering the contest with momentum, having stopped Mexican Carlos Gonzalez by second-round TKO in his last outing. While more than a year has passed since that victory, he insists ring rust will not be an issue, pointing out that his work with the United States Army has kept him physically active, while he has continued training ahead of his return to the ring. Meanwhile, a much-talkedabout celebrity bout between social media personalities Terrence “Tiger” Greene and Bradley “Doggy” Sampson has generated its own pre-fight heat. The pair have exchanged plenty of verbal jabs in recent weeks, particularly on social media, although Sampson was notably absent from Wednesday’s press conference. Greene, meanwhile, was present, and seemingly had no
shortage of ammunition. The “Tiger” said he plans to transform into the “Punisher” when the bell rings, claiming he could finish the contest inside a minute but would rather make his opponent pay for the words exchanged before fight night. The competitive boxing programme opens with Jamaica’s Daniel Hylton (2-0) against Guyana’s Septon Barton (0-1) in a four-round, 135-pound contest. Guyana’s Mitchell Wielson (20) will face Grenada’s Rickenson Henry at 165 pounds, while unbeaten Guyanese Kevin Isaacs (3-0) takes on Trinidad and Tobago’s Shakir Garcia (1-1) at 126 pounds. Barbados’ Tyres Tate (0-1) m e e t s G r e n a d a ’s C h i v a r r o Blackson (0-0) at 160 pounds, while Guyana’s Joel Williamson (2-0) battles Jamaica’s Toriano Nicholas (1-5) at 140 pounds. Jamal Eastman (1-0) will face Grenada’s Edinio Gijsberg (0-0) in another four-round, 140-pound encounter. The seventh bout brings experience and heavier leather, with Guyana’s Joel McRae (13-3) taking on Jamaica’s James Moore (10-5) in a six-round heavyweight contest at 190 pounds. The evening will also feature an all-Guyanese clash at 168 pounds, with Imran Khan (2-3) facing Charwin Estwick (2-2) over six rounds.
Pace and Power Gym take top honours at GBA’s at Developmental Tournament
The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) continued its push to strengthen the country’s boxing pipeline when it hosted an After Championship Developmental Tournament on September 5 at the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Boxing Gym, with emerging talent getting valuable ring time across 12 bouts. The tournament brought together boxers from Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym, New Amsterdam Boxing Academy (NABA), Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym (ALBG), and Pace and Power Boxing Gym, with the programme spanning the U13, U15, U17 and U19 age categories. While competition was spirited throughout the afternoon, the tournament’s developmental purpose was equally important, giving young fighters an opportunity to gain experience, test their skills under competitive conditions and continue their progression through the amateur ranks. The U13 division produced the largest share of the action, with seven bouts contested across
Winners display their prizes following the presentation. various weight classes. At 25kg, Abu Barker of Harpy Eagles got the better of fellow gymmate Trayvon Brant, earning a points victory. Nathan Sugrim, also of Harpy Eagles, secured a closely contested
split-decision victory over Omar Lindore at 31kg. At 35kg, Imhotep Vanderstoop of Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym advanced by walkover against Devon Andrews, before another Vanderstoop, Marcus, produced
one of the tournament’s standout performances. Competing at 41kg, Marcus Vanderstoop stopped Devon Andrews in the second round, in a performance that ultimately earned him the distinction of Best Boxer in
the U13 category. Pace and Power Gym also enjoyed considerable success among the younger competitors. At 39kg, Carl Lindore stopped Harpy Eagles’ Tayvon Brant in the Continued on page 22
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Thursday September 10, 2026
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S. Maraj Contracting Services backs the 3rd edition of the One Guyana Reg. 3 Softball Cup
S
. Maraj Constructing Services has once again given its support towards the 3rd edition of the One Guyana Region 3 Softball Cup, which is slated for Sunday 13th September at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, West Coast Demerara from 9 am. Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Sattrohan Maraj, said that he is very pleased that his entity is once again given the opportunity to renew its partnership for the third edition of the annual tournament, and his company sees it as a way of supporting the development of sports in communities and also it’s part of his company asocial responsibilities in giving back to the community. The Managing Director said that grassroots games like these bring out the potential in young, upcoming cricketers because through local cricket is where all cricket starts. He further said that youths have an opportunity to be part of cricket at the grassroots level and to show their skills and abilities they have in the game. Mr. Maraj said not only cricketers get to be involved, but also the entire community by going out and supporting their village
teams and players. He sees this as a stepping stone in bringing together our people across the divide. Ms. Rajkumarie Ragoobar, executive assistant at the company, said that she is also pleased that the company is on board once again with the tournament and wishes all the players, management, and organisers all the best. Representative of RS Sports, Ms. Danne La Rose thank Mr. Maraj and his company for supporting the tournament for the third consecutive year, and lamented that their support plays an integral role in developing young cricketers towards a brighter future in the sport. Ms. La Rose went on to say that they look forward to more collaborative efforts as they are geared and prepared to ensure they promote positive things for the young and old to be involved in. According to RS Sports, S. Maraj Contracting Services will be the title sponsor for this year’s tournament and it will be branded as “S. Maraj Contracting Services One Guyana Region 3 Softball Cup.” The one-day limited overs competition will see male and female players in action battling for supremacy. The competition will be
based on a one-game knock-out format with round arm bowling being used in the tournament. According to the organisers over $500,000 in cash incentives and trophies is up for grabs for the winning teams, the runner-up teams, MVPs, players of the finals, best bowlers in an innings, most runs scored in an innings, and players of the final. The organisers said that softball cricket is the grassroots of all cricket and gives young local talented players an opportunity to showcase and expose their skills in the game in helping them to develop further into the game of cricket at various levels. Softball cricket at the grassroots level not only allows local players to showcase their talents, but also brings people together, no matter race, religion, status, political affiliations, etc. The tournament continues to be powered by Paint Palace, West Side Shipping, D&S Ramdeholl Jewelry, 3S Legacy Enterprise, A&J Auto Sales, New Level Business Enterprise, Krishna and Sons Sawmills and Lumber Yard, Min. Vikash Ramkissoon M.P. and Mr. Inshan Ayube - Regional Chairman. Interested teams can register by
Executive Assistant of S. Maraj Contracting Services Ms. Rajkumarie Ragoobar (left) handing over sponsorship to RS Sports Region 3 representative Ms. Dianne La Rose. sending their team info to WhatsApp 726-1386 or 698 6406. According to the organisers, there will be lots of side attractions
for the entire family, and they calling on all to support the tournament as it will be bringing people together through sports.
Mars delivers endgame masterclass to stay perfect - Mechanical engineer moves to 4/4 after ending Sandiford's unbeaten run The battle of perfect records lived up to its billing on Monday night, as returning national player and mechanical engineer Davion Mars defeated national player and sports coach Keron Sandiford to remain the only player with a perfect score after four rounds of the Pegasus Weekly Chess League. Both players entered the highly anticipated encounter on 3/3, knowing that something had to give. For much of the game, however, very little separated them. Playing with the white pieces, Mars entered an Exchange Variation of the French Defence against Sandiford. The position remained remarkably balanced as the game progressed, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage. That changed deep into the endgame. On move 39, Sandiford agreed to what appeared to be a routine exchange of rooks, simplifying the position into a pawn ending. It proved to be the moment Mars had been waiting for. Deeper post-game analysis showed that the exchange transformed the previously balanced position into a winning pawn ending for Mars, whose advantage climbed to approximately +4.9. Mars needed only four more moves to demonstrate the point before Sandiford resigned. The victory moved Mars to a perfect 4/4, one full point clear of the field with three rounds remaining.
Action in the contest between Davion Mars (left) and national player and sports coach Keron Sandiford. Mars, however, was still examining what he could have done better. “Annoyed by the missing 37.Rxf7, which was winning on the spot, but I am satisfied with the fact that at no point in the game Black had any initiative,” Mars said during the postgame analysis. It was also revealed afterward that both players had prepared diligently for the encounter, adding another layer to a match that had been building since both emerged from Round Three with perfect records. McKay holds third as Reece, Oyeyipo climb While the top-board showdown
commanded much of the attention, several other results reshaped the standings. Artist and business owner Ryan Oniel McKay defeated WCM Jessica Callender, moving to 3 points and retaining third place behind Mars and Sandiford. Odinnie Nehezie Reece climbed one position into fourth after defeating the tournament's youngest player, Sachin Beharry. Reece now sits on 2.5 points. Oluwadare Oyeyipo also moved up one position after defeating Martin Poon, joining Reece on 2.5 points and occupying fifth place. Veteran player and banker Raymond
Sookdeo moved two positions to seventh after receiving a forfeit win, while entrepreneur Jaden Taylor continued his climb with victory over Owen Mickle, moving two places into eighth. Annastaysha Marcano also registered her first point of the season following a forfeit win over Juliana Persaud. After four rounds, Mars leads on 4 points, followed by Sandiford and McKay on 3. Reece and Oyeyipo sit on 2.5, while Callender, Sookdeo and Taylor each have 2 points. League pauses for Chess Olympiad With three rounds remaining, the Pegasus Weekly Chess League will now pause until October 5, as organiser FM Anthony Drayton and two League participants prepare to represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. The Olympiad runs from September 14–29, after which the League will return for the closing three rounds of its inaugural season. Round Four therefore leaves the championship with a clear target at the top. Four games played. Four victories. And, for now, Davion Mars remains perfect. The Pegasus Weekly Chess League is organized by Drayton’s Chess Club in partnership with Pegasus Chess Club and the Guyana Chess Federation. For standings, results and League updates, follow Drayton's Chess Club on Facebook.
2026 Republic Bank CPL…GAW vs. SKL
Tahir (5-17), Mehidy (3-13) magic show leaves Kings in disarray as Warriors regroup with 4-wicket win
Quentin Sampson blasted a handful of sixes to see the Warriors home in a hurry. The old master Imran Tahir cast a spell on the Kings last night to finish with 5 wickets and a W in front of their fans.
rts o p S
CBO President, Seon Bristol along with main event fighter, Laured ‘The Lion’ Stewart ahead of Saturday’s boxing card. (Rawle Toney photo)
Laured ‘The Lion’ Stewart hunts knockout ...Terrence Greene promises to win on Saturday punish ‘Doggy’ in Celebrity match 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.