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Thursday Edition Saudis pound AIETEUR Yemen, Houthis NEWS fire at Saudi, as Middle East war spreads September 17, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 38

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 40,411

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

‘Guyana foreign currency burden …as more of the country’s deepens’debt is owed in US dollars Mid-Year Report :

Sugar prices crash 19.2% as global supply swells — $8.9B spent on industry so far in 2026

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Frozen body of baby found in city bin

Three road deaths in three days in Berbice …Education Ministry urges extreme caution by motorists

GuyOil and GPL fuel $149.7 billion public enterprise spending surge

A police officer and other persons at the scene.

Guyanese woman found dead at airport in India — had travelled overseas for medical treatment 032

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Dead: Racquel Olivia Seecharran

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Thursday September 17, 2026

Colombia 69kV substation 70% complete GPL ...US$156.5M project to strengthen power transmission to Onverwagt The new 69kV substation being constructed at Colombia, East Bank Demerara, is approximately 60 to 70 per cent complete, according to team lead of Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), Kesh Nandlall. Nandlall made the disclosure during a site visit on Tuesday, noting that the US$156.5 million project awarded to Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) is progressing with major civil works and equipment preparations underway. In a brief video statement, Nandlall explained that the project involves the expansion and modernisation of the existing Colombia facility, which already has a power plant, to facilitate the more e ff i c i e n t a n d r e l i a b l e transmission of electricity along the 69kV line to the

Onverwagt substation. He said the project also includes the installation of new lines and feeders, which are expected to improve the reliability of electricity supplied to communities in the surrounding areas. “All the materials have been ordered. As you can see, most of the foundation work are completed. All the piles they’re tying in, the pile driving and so on. So, it’s about 60 to 70%. The materials have been shipped. We have already done factory acceptance testing, and they are on the way here to be assembled to extend the substation,” Nandlall said. This publication reported on June 26 that GPL had commenced construction of the new substation, following a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20, 2026, led by KPIL. The Colombia facility forms part of Lot 2 of GPL’s

Workers at the construction site back in June

Project 053, aimed at strengthening voltage stability and distribution reliability within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). The project is also expected to increase transmission capacity and accommodate growing electricity demand in areas connected to the DBIS.

The ongoing works include pile driving, foundation construction, equipment installation and eventual electrical integration into the national grid. GPL has said it is working with KPIL to ensure the project meets approved technical specifications, international standards, and environmental and safety requirements.

The existing Colombia facility is equipped with 17 containerised generators and six step-up transformers, with a reported generating capacity of approximately 30 megawatts. The new substation will complement the existing infrastructure and strengthen the transmission network as electricity demand continues to increase.

Frozen body of baby found Guyanese woman found in city bin dead at airport in India

The Colombia project forms part of a wider u p g r a d e o f G u y a n a ’s electricity transmission infrastructure. In April 2025, GPL signed contracts valued at approximately US$422 million with PowerChina and KPIL for the extension of transmission lines along the eastern corridor of the DBIS.

...had travelled overseas for medical treatment

Blurred image of baby in bin

A newborn infant was found dead inside a garbage container at a waste disposal site at Orange Walk, Bourda, Wednesday afternoon. The discovery was made around mid-afternoon when an unidentified vagrant searching through the refuse stumbled upon the remains and immediately raised an alarm to nearby sanitation personnel. Ackeem Austin, a Mayor and City Council (MCC) worker stationed at the site for the past six months, reported that the situation unfolded rapidly after the vagrant alerted workers on duty. “A couple of hours ago, a man came to tumble the bin,” Austin stated. The man said, “You all come, you all come and see what’s going on,’ and when we went, we saw a just-born baby.” According to Austin, workers were informed that the specific waste bin containing the infant had originated from the vicinity of Merriman Mall before being transported to the Continued on page 3

A Guyanese woman who had travelled to India for medical treatment was found dead in a transit hotel room at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on Wednesday. Dead is Racquel Olivia Seecharran- an accountant attached to the Hughes Fields and Stoby law firm. The Hindu newspaper reported that Seecharran had arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) from London and was found unconscious in a room at the transit hotel in the airport’s Terminal 2 and was later declared dead at a city

hospital. The newspaper said, Seecharran had arrived from London on a Virgin Atlantic flight at around 6.10 p.m. on T u e s d a y 1 5 t h September,2026 and was scheduled to travel to Mangaluru by an IndiGo flight at 2.35 p.m. on Wednesday 16th September,2026. According to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards KIA, at around 10.30 a.m., as her scheduled hotel check-out time approached, the receptionist tried contacting her over the phone.

The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo

H o w e v e r, s h e n e i t h e r answered the call nor responded. Hotel staff subsequently went to the room at the Transit/Day Hotel in the arrival city-side area of T2 and found her lying unconscious. The airport medical team rushed to the room and provided the passenger with medical assistance. She was subsequently shifted in an ambulance to a nearby private hospital. At around 12.22 p.m., the attending doctor examined her and conducted an ECG. As no pulse was detected, she was declared dead at

Dead is Racquel Olivia Seecharran around 1.08 p.m. The incident was immediately reported to the local police, who are carrying out the medico-legal formalities and f u r t h e r i n q u i r y. T h e circumstances surrounding her death are yet to be established.

Thursday September 17, 2026

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‘Guyana foreign currency burden deepens’ …as more of the country’s debt is owed in US dollars - Mid-Year Report

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uyana’s foreigncurrency debt has increased over the past year, with nearly 40 percent of the country’s public debt now owed in foreign currencies, leaving the Government more exposed to changes in exchange rates and the cost of servicing that debt. According to the Ministry of Finance’s 2026 Mid-Year Report, foreigncurrency debt accounted for 38.6 percent of total PPG debt at the end of June 2026, up from 35.1 percent a year earlier. The corresponding share of domestic-currency debt fell to 61.4 percent. The report identifies exchangerate and interest-rate movements as the two major risks requiring close monitoring within Guyana’s debt portfolio. Earlier this week, President Irfaan Ali during a news conference said commercial banks purchased US$1.798 billion in foreign currency between

January and June 2025, compared with US$2.279 billion during the corresponding period this year, an increase of 26.8%. Bank of Guyana foreign currency injections also increased from US$642 million to US$836 million over the same comparative periods. He said there will be significant foreign currency demand for the rest of the year, including US$385 million in October, US$400 million in November and US$436 million in December. According to the President discussions with commercial banks will take place to better understand the structure of that demand, including spending by large companies and the repatriation of profits by regional and multinational businesses. Meanwhile, according to the Mid-Year- report, the country’s external PPG debt stood at US$3.306 billion at the end of June, with the US

dollar accounting for an increasingly dominant share. The US dollar represented 69.8 percent of Guyana’s external debt at mid-year, compared with 58.5 percent at the same point in 2025. The euro accounted for 10.9 percent, while the Chinese Renminbi Yuan represented 9.8 percent. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) accounted for another 6.9 percent, with the Canadian dollar, pound sterling, UAE dirham and other currencies making up the remaining 2.5 percent. The ministry explained that the dominance of the US dollar presents a particular risk because it is also used to acquire other foreign currencies required to meet debt obligations. Consequently, movements in exchange rates could increase the cost of servicing foreign debt and raise the value of outstanding debt when measured in Guyana dollars. The report noted that a

depreciation of the US dollar against other currencies in Guyana’s external debt portfolio could also increase debt-service costs and the total debt stock when measured in US dollars, with further implications when converted into Guyana dollars. Government said it is therefore closely monitoring global trade trends and movements in major currencies. Despite the increased foreign-currency exposure, the report noted that the Guyana dollar has generally remained stable a g a i n s t t h e U S d o l l a r, helping to contain exchangerate pressures on debt servicing. Government said too it is also seeking to reduce exchange-rate risk by developing the domestic financial market and introducing new localcurrency instruments. The Bank of Guyana is supporting those efforts through monetary and

Demerara Bank to launch mobile banking app on Saturday Demerara Bank Limited on Saturday will officially launch its Mobile Banking App and upgraded Online Banking platform, giving customers greater freedom to bank securely, conveniently and on their own time. To mark the launch, customers are invited to visit the bank’s Beterverwagting location from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to experience the new platform first-hand. “Our team will be available to help customers register, become Mobile Ready, d e m o n s t r a t e t h e A p p ’s features and provide handson guidance on how to use them,” the bank said in a release. According to Demerara Bank, the Mobile Banking App has been designed around one simple idea: customers should be able to do more without having to visit a branch and it can be

accessed conveniently across your devices, including Android and iOS smartphones, iPads, tablets and computers. Customers can: Ÿ View account balances, transactions and statements. Ÿ Transfer funds seamlessly between DBL accounts and to other local banks, with the option to notify beneficiaries once the transfer is completed. Ÿ Submit wire transfer requests and track the status. Ÿ Receive via email and inapp real-time notifications and updates on transactions initiated through the platform, including transfer confirmations, wire transfer processing status, new account and credit application decisions Ÿ Make bill payments; ENET, GWI, DIGICEL,

ONECOM, IPED, GRA. NBS and more. Ÿ Pay your DBL credit card Ÿ Create and save payment templates for faster and more convenient future transactions. Ÿ Set up recurring payments and transfers for transactions you make regularly. Ÿ Apply for accounts, car loans, housing loans and credit cards, and track application progress. Ÿ Update your profile from the app Ÿ View credit card balances, transaction and statements and block or unblock your credit card. Ÿ Submit banking service requests and book appointments. Ÿ Log in securely using biometric / facial authentication. Self-register without visiting a branch or completing a physical

President, Irfaan Ali administrative measures aimed at maintaining exchange-rate stability and ensuring that sufficient foreign currency is available to meet external debt payments. Interest-rate risk While exchange-rate exposure has increased, the r e p o r t s a i d G u y a n a ’s vulnerability to interest-rate movements has declined marginally. At the end of June 2026, 77.9 percent of the country’s debt was fixed-rate, while variable-rate debt accounted for 22.1 percent—down 1.4 percentage points from a year earlier. The ministry attributed the decline in variable-rate exposure largely to the issuance of new fixed-rate debt. However, it cautioned that the headline fixed-rate figure does not tell the entire story. More than half of the fixed-rate debt is subject to refixing within one year or less, largely because of maturing Treasury bills and other instruments linked to T-bills. In fact, 100 percent of the domestic debt portfolio is subject to refixing within one year, compared with 37.6 percent of external debt.

The heavy reliance on shortterm Treasury bills has resulted in what the Ministry describes as the “T-bill effect”, leaving the domestic debt portfolio more exposed to changes in interest rates. Guyana’s Average Time to Refixing (ATR)—the period before interest rates on debt are reset—stood at just three years at the end of June. The domestic portfolio had an ATR of less than one year, while the external portfolio had an ATR of seven years. The ministry said the s h o r t e r d o m e s t i c AT R reflects the dominance of Tr e a s u r y b i l l s i n t h e domestic debt portfolio. Despite this exposure, T-bill interest rates remained relatively stable over the past year, with yields hovering around 1 percent per annum across maturities. Government said it is mitigating external interestrate risk by favouring fixedrate borrowing and converting variable-rate instruments to fixed rates where advantageous. On the domestic side, it said it is also prioritising fixed-rate debt while using fiscal policy to minimise upward pressure on borrowing costs.

Frozen body of...

application form. Whether at home, at work or on the move, customers will now have greater access to their banking directly from their mobile devices. The bank said the digital experience will not end on S a t u r d a y, b u t r a t h e r customers can visit the Continued on page 10

From page 2 Orange Walk location. Asquith Smith, an employee with private waste management firm Puran Bros. Disposal Inc., confirmed the sequence of events, clarifying that the bin had been brought in for emptying prior to the discovery. “The man was just tumbling the bin... he saw what was going on,” Smith recounted. “When he got there, he saw there was a baby inside.” At the time of the discovery, offloading and processing operations at the site were temporarily stalled due to an ongoing localised power outage (“blackout”), leaving the bins stationary when the vagrant began searching through them. Officers from the Guyana Police Force were called to the scene shortly after the discovery to secure the area, process the evidence, and initiate investigations. Police have not yet released official details regarding the child’s sex or cause of death.

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Thursday September 17, 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

Consumers deserve more than advice Last week the Public Utilities Commission called on Guyanese consumers to be more vigilant about the quality of electricity, telecommunications, water and sewerage services they receive. It was an important reminder that consumers have rights and that they should not simply accept poor service as an unavoidable part of daily life. But there is an important question that the PUC’s latest intervention raises: what happens after consumers complain? The Commission, during a consumer awareness session with teachers of Brickdam Secondary School, encouraged consumers to first report problems to their service providers and to properly document those complaints. Consumers were advised to keep bills, receipts, complaint reference numbers and correspondence so that there is a record of the matter. That is sensible advice. However, in a country where citizens continue to raise concerns about electricity reliability, water quality and access, and other essential utility services, consumer education cannot be the beginning and end of the regulatory response. The PUC says that where a matter remains unresolved after the consumer has engaged the service provider, the Commission may be approached for guidance and assistance. It also says it intends to document and assess concerns raised during its awareness exercises and, where necessary, engage the relevant service providers, while monitoring their responses and measures to improve service reliability and voltage performance. That is precisely where the Commission’s real responsibility begins. Consumers should certainly complain. They should keep the evidence. They should follow the proper procedures. But they should not have to become full-time investigators merely to establish that an essential service is failing them. Electricity is not a luxury. Water is not a luxury. Telecommunications have become indispensable to modern life. When these services fall below acceptable standards, consumers should have confidence that the regulator will intervene effectively and that complaints will result in meaningful action. The PUC’s emphasis on teachers is also noteworthy. Teachers are influential members of their communities, and educating them about consumer rights can help spread awareness among students, parents and the wider community. That is a worthwhile initiative. A population that understands how to report problems and seek assistance is better equipped to demand accountability. But there must be a clear connection between awareness and enforcement. The PUC cannot merely encourage consumers to document repeated failures while service providers continue to determine the pace and quality of the response. If consumers are being told to keep complaint numbers and correspondence, then those records should ultimately help the regulator identify recurring problems, determine whether providers are meeting their obligations and take appropriate action where necessary. The Commission’s own statement acknowledges the need to strengthen regulatory oversight by listening directly to consumers’ experiences. That should be taken seriously. Guyanese do not need to be persuaded that utility problems exist. They experience them. What they need is confidence that the institutions responsible for regulating these services are listening, investigating and acting. The PUC deserves credit for taking its consumer education programme into communities and for reminding citizens that they have avenues available when problems arise. But the ultimate test of the regulator will not be the number of awareness sessions conducted or the number of consumers who know where to complain. The real test will be whether those complaints produce results. Consumers must do their part by reporting problems and keeping proper records. The service providers must do their

Guyana, China, India and UN Security Council DEAR EDITOR, I write to provide some historical background and give clarity to comments in missive (Sep 13) by Hamilton Greene on G u y a n a ’s p o s i t i o n o f replacing Taiwan with China with the Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council. Guyana consistently (and wisely) sided with the west on almost all votes at the UN until it established relations with leftwing countries in the 1970s and was punished by Washington. Guyana voted ‘against’ communist China, siding with the western countries until such time that the West gave recognition to Beijing (Peking) as the legitimate government. The West agreed to the change in 1971, and China replaced Taiwan on the UNSC as a Permanent

Member in October 1971. Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with China in 1972 after the West changed their position and gave recognition to Peking as the government of China. The UNSC was created with the UN in 1945 in New York, and the SC held its first meeting in January 1946. The four dominant powers at the time gave themselves a permanent seat, and a permanent seat was reserved for a large “poor” or “developing” or a “South” country. It was given to Taiwan as representative of all of China (inclusive of Taiwan, etc.) . The 1949 Communist Revolution in China further complicated matters; the West didn’t want to give the seat to Chairman Mao’s communist government. In 1950, the U.S.

Citizen-led fix for Guyana’s landfill challenge DEAR EDITOR, “The solution to overcrowded landfills does not start at the dumpsite. It starts in our citizens’ kitchens.” That was the central message shared by Waste To Wealth Caribbean Inc. Founder Rampertab Etwaria during a courtesy visit with Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Priya Manickchand, this week at her chambers. Etwaria presented Waste To Wealth Caribbean’s citizen led approach to changing what happens to biodegradable resources before they ever reach a garbage truck or landfill. The movement is seeking to educate citizens to take greater ownership of the resources leaving their homes by adopting four actions: Separate. Divert. Compost. Monetize. Through the Waste To Wealth model, families learn to combine organic kitchen resources and cardboard through a backyard composting system to produce O.M.G.S., Organic Miracle Garden Soil, in approximately 12 weeks. The finished product can be used to regenerate soil,

support household food production or be monetized, shifting the conversation from simply waste management to wealth management. During the meeting, Etwaria shared the movement’s progress in 2026, including six educational activations and 77 families educated and activated across Georgetown and Linden, with Champion Families progressing through their composting and harvesting journeys. Wa s t e To We a l t h Caribbean also highlighted its introduction of Guyana’s inaugural observance of International Compost Awareness Week in May 2026. The National Park activation educated and activated 39 families and formed part of the movement’s wider mission to activate 1,000 Champion Families and work toward reducing landfill bound waste by 25 percent by 2030. Wa s t e To We a l t h Caribbean is now seeking greater collaboration with Government, corporate Guyana, communities and development partners to expand citizen education and Continued on page 5

part by delivering reliable and acceptable services. And the regulator must do its part by ensuring that neither consumers nor their complaints are ignored. Guyanese deserve nothing less than quality, reliable and accountable utility services for the money they pay.

Administration approached India (informally floated) with a proposal to substitute Taiwan with democratic India for the permanent seat on the council, but Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru rejected it outright saying the seat should go to China. The U.S. and the West were trying to court newly born India (independent in August 1947) to side with the western alliance, hence offering the seat. At the time, India’s per capita GDP was comparable with China and had better socio-economic indicator on almost every measurement and was in an ideal position to replace Taiwan. But out of principle, Nehru rebuffed the idea, saying it would be an affront to China to accept the seat. As a compromise, the USSR made a separate offer, increasing the UNSC to six members with India added. Nehru also rejected this offer still insisting it would be wrong. It is not known what the West’s position on increasing the UNSC at that time to adding India as a sixth permanent member of the council. Nehru consistently remained committed to China having the UNSC seat, saying the two nations

were “bhai-bhai” (brothers). Regrettably, a decade later China would attack India. India appealed to the West for defense and intelligence assistance, but was largely blanked. The Soviet Union came to India’s side with military assistance; this partly explains why India has had close relations with the USSR (Russia). Over the last two decades, India has advocated for a change in the UNSC permanent structure, adding several large nations like Japan, Brazil, South Africa, and Germany. Today, the major nations, including China, opposes any expansion of UNSC. Russia still supports India as a permanent member of UNSC as does Japan, Germany, Brazil, South Africa and most of the nations in the South, including Guyana, CARICOM, MRCOSUR, OAU, SAARC (minus Pakistan), BIMSTEC, among others. Had India accepted the offer of a seat as permanent member on the SC, first by the U.S. and then by Soviet Union since the 1950s, global politics may well have been different than it is today. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The president should have the situation of local food production checked by a reliable,independent person or source DEAR EDITOR, In a recent interview His Excellency President Irfaan Ali is alleged to have stated that he wanted Guyana to be the most powerful food producer in the world in 10 to 20 years. After being in office from 1992 to today, with a brief five-year hiatus, the president’s prediction is at best fanciful. Since 2020 the present government has had available to them, large sums never before available to any government. If his excellency’s prediction is to be taken seriously, the movement to this powerful food production ought to be noticeable now. Fruits are a vital component of food production and I took the opportunity to do a survey in the markets in Georgetown, and found that the majority of fruits we know are now imported, believe it or not. These include avocadoes, bananas and even mangoes. I recall on a visit to the Essequibo coast, in the 1960s, youngsters were playing cricket with mangoes as balls. Today, mango season was a brief three to four weeks. Genip same story, guavas same story, the short fall is made up with imports. Papayas, watermelons, sapodillas same story. The president should have the situation of local food production checked by a reliable, independent person or source. Further those advising him to make his fanciful statements, should be cashiered and sent packing immediately. Sincerely, Elder Hamilton Green

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Thursday September 17, 2026

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The Opposition failure to rise above partisan politics DEAR EDITOR, At some point, political opposition stopped being principled scrutiny and became obstruction for obstruction’s sake. The recent decision by members of Guyana’s parliamentary Opposition to boycott an engagement between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the Parliamentary SubCommittee on Foreign Relations should concern every Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation. This was no cocktail reception. It was no partisan rally. It was an opportunity for elected parliamentarians to engage the Head of State on matters affecting Guyana’s national interest, including the Venezuela border controversy before the International Court of Justice and the agreement concerning third-country nationals. What purpose does an Opposition serve if it refuses the opportunity for constructive dialogue? Leadership is demonstrated by entering difficult rooms for meaningful and serious dialogue, not avoiding them. Political maturity demands engagement with persons

with whom one may profoundly disagree. Indeed, that is precisely when engagement becomes critical. The absence of a shared agenda and supporting documentation cannot reasonably excuse disengagement when issues of obvious national importance are to be discussed. Attend the meeting. Put the procedural objection on record. Demand the documents. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Require answers. Then report to the country. That is what an effective Opposition would have done. Walking away accomplishes none of those things. This episode is particularly troubling when considered against the recent conduct of the Opposition parties themselves. Guyanese recently watched APNU and WIN hold highly anticipated talks concerning important disputes over Opposition representation, GECOM, the Local Government Commission and the Region Ten impasse, only for the engagement to conclude without final

decisions on the substantive matters. This reflects a disturbing, yet familiar political pattern: hesitation where decisiveness is needed, procedural manoeuvring where substantive leadership is required, and political posturing at a time when national interest demands maturity. For the PNCR and its leadership, this should occasion serious introspection. The PNCR is not a new political organisation struggling to understand the machinery of government. It is one of Guyana’s oldest political parties. It has governed this country. It has occupied the Opposition benches. It possesses decades of institutional experience. Guyanese, therefore, have every right to expect a level of political maturity from its leadership commensurate with that history. Yet maturity is not demonstrated by refusing engagement because the political circumstances are inconvenient. There is nothing courageous about remaining outside a meeting room

Will history be erased? DEAR EDITOR, As we look around Georgetown and its environs, the country as a whole most of our historic sites and structures aren’t being maintained and preserved to protect and preserve the legacy of the persons, whose brain were the instrument or the wombs from which it was conceived. The National Cultural Centre has been scheduled for renovation and repairs for so long, but today nothing has been done to treat this with a sense of urgency. Durban Park is almost falling apart but nothing has been done to ensure its maintenance, viability and preservation. English Language is our language, a

Guyanese Language as we know it, but daily, the erosion of English is dominant by Spanish, Portuguese, through an invasion of foreign nationals in our country. It’s no longer One People, One Nation One Destiny- it’s One Guyana. When will it end? Shouldn’t we as Guyanese fight for the preservation of our culture and the things that identity us as Guyanese? While we accept that our Guyana is changing with the advent of technology, it is my belief that there still needs to be a preservation of culture , identity and a Guyanese uniqueness and patriotism Yours faithfully, Concerned Guyanese

Citizen-led fix for Guyana’s landfill... From page 4 activation across the country. Its goal is to activate 1,000 Champion Families by 2030. The movement maintains that Guyana’s long term waste solution cannot rest only with garbage collectors, trucks and dumpsites. Citizens must also be equipped to make different decisions about biodegradable resources before they leave their homes. “We want to upgrade how citizens think, from waste management to wealth management. Instead of asking only how we manage garbage when it reaches the dumpsite, we want citizens asking how much of what leaves their kitchens should ever become garbage in the first place,” Etwaria said. Waste To Wealth Caribbean currently offers a 12 Week Waste To Wealth Family Programme that teaches households the practical skill of converting organic kitchen

resources and cardboard into O.M.G.S. Families can participate through a GYD $25,000 DIY programme or invest GYD $50,000 in the supported programme, which includes mentorship and onsite support toward their first harvest. Following a successful harvest and meeting the programme requirements, participants can also qualify for the movement’s Train the Trainer pathway. Waste To Wealth Caribbean Inc. is a Guyana based citizen led movement committed to creating cleaner communities, regenerating soil, supporting household food production and creating economic opportunities by helping citizens recognise the value in resources they once considered waste. Sincerely, Founder Rampertab Etwaria Waste To Wealth Caribbean Inc.

while complaining about what may be happening inside it. Political courage would have meant sitting across from President Ali and engaging him directly on the matters of national interest. Show up. That is leadership. This increasingly sterile politics of disengagement embraced by WIN and APNU is reflective for their inability to move beyond social media theatrics and political grandstanding. An Opposition cannot credibly complain that it is being marginalised while voluntarily vacating spaces in which its voice can be heard. M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y, Opposition parliamentarians do not occupy their seats merely as representatives of WIN, APNU, the PNCR or any other political organisation. They sit in the National Assembly because citizens voted for them. Every empty Opposition chair at an engagement on a matter of national importance, therefore, represents more than a political tactic. It demonstrates a failure to rise above partisan differences. That is why this conduct is irresponsible. Consider the Venezuela controversy. This is an existential national issue transcending party politics. Guyana’s territorial integrity cannot become collateral damage in domestic political gamesmanship. On matters involving our sovereignty and security, and the defense of our territorial integrity, Government and Opposition, and indeed all of Guyana, must speak with seriousness and purpose, and with one voice. Regrettably, the Opposition’s abandonment of its national duty at a moment when G u y a n a ’s s o v e r e i g n t y

demands unity, responsible engagement and an unequivocal national voice, is not new. During the 2025 debate on Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo territory, when Venezuela’s conduct posed a continuing t h r e a t t o G u y a n a ’s s o v e r e i g n t y, t h e t h e n Opposition, in a demonstration of tactical political misjudgment, walked out of the National Assembly. A responsible Opposition should want more information, not less; more engagement, not strategic absence. Politics cannot simply be the art of saying “no”. A viable Opposition must demonstrate that it possesses the judgment, discipline and intellectual confidence to sit at a table, absorb information, analyse competing positions, negotiate where necessary and make difficult decisions. Repeatedly avoiding engagement creates precisely the opposite impression. It suggests a politics afraid of scrutiny because serious engagement carries a burden: once you enter the room, slogans are no longer enough. Questions must be intelligent. Arguments must withstand rebuttal. Alternatives must be workable. Leaders must demonstrate command of the issues. Walking away is easier. Guyana deserves an Opposition that understands that opposition is a constitutional responsibility, not a permanent protest posture. If a political organisation cannot manage that responsibility from the Opposition benches, Guyanese are entitled to ask how it proposes to manage the infinitely greater responsibilities of

government. There is also a deeper democratic danger. When PNCR/APNU and WIN place tactical advantage above institutional engagement, the people become spectators to political theatre rather than beneficiaries of representative democracy. Citizens did not elect these parliamentarians simply to issue press releases explaining why they would not participate. They elected them to participate, scrutinise, challenge, negotiate and represent. An empty chair asks no questions. An empty chair advances no alternative. And an empty chair cannot represent the interests of the Guyanese people. The measure of political leadership is not how loudly one condemns an opponent from the pulpits of social media. It is whether one has the courage, preparation, and intellectual confidence to confront that opponent across the table when the national interest requires it. Guyana is undergoing profound economic, social and geopolitical change. This is no time for the O p p o s i t i o n ’s p o l i t i c a l adolescence. Leadership is not demonstrated through boycotts, procedural excuses and empty chairs, but through preparation, participation, intelligent interrogation and credible alternatives. The Guyanese people deserve nothing less. Respectfully, Hon. Thandi McAllister, M.P.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

13 contractors Commencement order gazette for — grand launch bid to complete development bank set for October 5 58 Miles Primary School project A total of 13 contractors recently submitted bids to complete works at the 58 Miles Primary School Project in Region 10, according to tender minutes published by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). According to information provided on NPTAB’s website, contractors bid between $12.6 million and $17.9 million to complete works. This new project at the school comes more than two years after an initial $37 million project was awarded to construct a brand new primary school in the community. In July 2024, this publication reported that NPTAB revealed on its website that a $37,651,350 contract was awarded to Barron’s Exclusive to construct the school building. Below are the companies and their bids: Ministry of Education Completion of Works at 58 Miles Primary School, Region 10.

Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Supply and Delivery of Preprinted Bills.

Guyana Sugar Corporation Supply and delivery of 22416 Metric Ton UREA.

Supply and delivery of 2224 Metric Ton Muriate of Potash

The Guyana Development Bank is moving closer to its October 5 launch, with Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, signing the Commencement Order yesterday to bring the new financial institution into operation. The Order was subsequently Gazetted, marking another key step towards establishing the bank, which Government says will unlock a new wave of entrepreneurship by expanding access to financing for small businesses and entrepreneurs. But as the bank prepares to open its doors, concerns remain over its governance and oversight structure. Opposition critics had previously questioned the concentration of authority in the Government, particularly the provision allowing the Finance Minister to appoint the bank’s board, while the legislation does not provide for representation from the Opposition, civil society or independent transparency bodies. In a press release the Ministry of Finance said that the bank is expected to transform the financing landscape for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in Guyana, especially to the benefit of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, offering zero-interest loans of up to $3 million with no collateral required. Mentorship and training services would also be provided to ensure beneficiaries are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to run successful businesses. Under a co-financing arrangement, borrowers would be able to unlock additional financing of up to $7 million from traditional lending institutions, at favourable interest rates. Further, the Bank’s operational structure would facilitate the creation of consortia among beneficiaries, providing opportunities for scaling, specialisation, and risk-sharing. This week Leader of the Opposition and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed told Kaieteur News that government was making a mistake to roll out the Development Bank (GDB) without a robust framework that ensures all Guyanese can benefit fairly from loans up to $3M and that resources intended to benefit those in need are not used to fuel further corruption. In an interview with this publication, Mohamed said the Opposition, particularly his faction, welcomes any genuine initiative that expands affordable financing for Guyanese entrepreneurs. The freshly appointed Member of Parliament (MP) however stressed that the law, passed in the National Assembly on 27th July and assented to by President Irfaan Ali on 30th July is gravely deficient and fails to set strict penalties for corruption involving the misuse of funds from the Bank. Mohamed warned that an October 5 launch date is not a substitute for transparency or proper institutional preparation. In fact, he said government risks rushing the launch and missing a key ingredient for the successful operation of the institution – accountability. The Opposition Leader pointed out, “Every director is

appointed by the Minister of Finance, and the legislation guarantees no representation for the parliamentary opposition or any genuinely independent stakeholder. The law allows the Minister sole power to appoint all five to nine directors, including the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, with no requirement of approval from the

National Assembly. Mohamed reasoned that a bank capitalised with public money, empowered to lend “with or without collateral and with or without charging interest” at the Board’s discretion, must not be controlled as though it were a partisan lending facility. In fact, he told this newspaper that Continued on page 9

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Thursday September 17, 2026

GuyOil and GPL fuel $149.7 billion public enterprise spending surge Public enterprises plunged into a $3.2 billion deficit at the end of the first half of 2026 as expenditure surged by 53.5 percent to $149.7 billion, outpacing receipts despite a similarly sharp 53.2 percent increase to $146.5 billion. The Ministry of Finance, in its mid-year report, attributed the spending explosion largely to Guyana Oil Company Limited (Guyoil), which faced higher fuel acquisition costs, and Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), which spent more to meet rapidly rising electricity demand and expanded its transmission and distribution programme. The Government is projecting that the public enterprise sector will end the

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh year with an even larger $17.1 billion deficit. According to the report, GPL expenditure grew due to the cost of generating adequate power to meet rapidly growing demand,

along with a $24.7 billion growth in its capital programme over the same period in 2025 due to expanded transmission and distribution work. Total receipts increased by 53.2 percent, from $95.6 billion in the first half of 2025 to $146.5 billion in the first half of 2026, with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) recording a $2.5 billion increase in contributions. Additionally, transfers from Central Government grew by $33.2 billion in the first half of last year to $53.6 billion. Additionally, the report stated that total Central Government expenditure increased by 11.5 percent to $599.8 billion in the first half of 2026. Non-interest current Continued on page 15

Sugar prices crash 19.2% as global supply swells - $8.9B spent on industry so far in 2026 Global sugar prices plunged by 19.2 per cent during the first half of 2026, largely due to surplus production in Brazil and India, the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Report has revealed. “Sugar prices averaged US$0.32 per kilogramme, decreasing by 19.2 percent when compared with the average in the first half of 2025, largely reflecting surplus production in Brazil and India,” the report stated. It said sugar prices are expected to average US$0.35 per kilogramme for the year, marginally below the US$0.37 per kilogramme recorded in 2025. Meanwhile, the government has spent $8.9 billion of the $13.4 billion allocated in this year’s budget for the resuscitation and operation of the sugar estates. The allocation is aimed at improving yields, expanding production and reducing production costs, while also supporting industry diversification, job creation and the economies of communities surrounding the estates. During the review period, government investments in field operations resulted in 696 hectares of land being converted for mechanised harvesting. A further 2,543 hectares are expected to be converted during the second half of the year. The investments also included the procurement of drainage tubes to facilitate land conversion, along with four mechanical harvesters, four cane haulage trailers and two trucks to improve harvesting efficiency and the transportation of cane to factories. Upgrades were also made to factory operations to improve sugar quality, including the replacement of sugarprocessing equipment with stainless steel components. These upgrades are currently ongoing at the Albion and Blairmont factories. Procurement is also underway for additional dryers for the Rose Hall and Uitvlugt

factories, a conveyor system for billet cane at Albion and billet cane feeder tables. The report said other initiatives aimed at improving sugarcane quality include the propagation of high-yielding varieties, importation of improved germplasm materials, a revision of the fertiliser policy to increase potassium in fertiliser dosages, and the use of multispectral drones to detect nutrient deficiencies in cane plants. Continued investments in value-added interventions resulted in the production of 2,630 tonnes of packaged Demerara Gold sugar and one tonne of Demerara Gold sugar sticks during the first half of the year. For the second half of 2026, Albion Estate is scheduled to have cane unloader equipment installed to ensure a consistent, efficient and clean flow of billet cane from trucks for milling. Construction of a new feeder table is also expected to commence. At Rose Hall Estate, a reverse-rotation knife is scheduled to be installed to increase juice extraction, while Albion and Blairmont are expected to acquire two turbo filters to improve the purity of the sugar produced. Despite challenges during the first crop, the sugar-growing subsector is estimated to have expanded by 19.3 per cent compared with the first half of 2025. Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) produced 19,031 tonnes of sugar during the first crop of 2026, with production affected by heavy rainfall that disrupted harvesting and factory operations. The report said these challenges were compounded by labour shortages and poor cane quality. As in previous years, the first crop is the smaller of the two, with the industry’s fullyear performance expected to be driven by the second crop. Based on the first-crop performance, growth in the sugar sector is now projected at 18.1 per cent for 2026, with a revised production target of 70,401 tonnes of sugar.

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Save our stories before they disappear I asked a middle-aged woman if she knew Rabbi Washington. She vaguely recalled the name but nothing more. This is exactly how most of our collective memory works these days. When I mentioned other Guyanese public figures from the 1970s and 1980s, she drew a blank on most of them. It was then that I realised that we are losing an entire g e n e r a t i o n ’s l i v e d experience simply because nobody thought to write it down. The 1970s and 1980s were two of the toughest decades in Guyana’s history. It was a period filled with hardship, discrimination, victimisation, political harassment and public terror for many ordinary citizens.

Yet most of what we know of that period comes from the speeches and memoirs of political leaders. Those leaders wrote their own versions of events. They naturally painted themselves in a favourable light, while the daily struggles of common people—the mother who couldn’t find cooking oil, the father who lost his job for no good reason, the family forced to flee Guyana —remain largely unrecorded. Many Guyanese from that era have passed away. Countless others have migrated to places like New York, London, and Toronto, taking their memories with them. Their children and grandchildren in the diaspora often know very little about what their parents

endured. This is not because they don’t care, but because the stories were too painful to tell or simply never asked about. I once met a woman in Canada who told me that she would never return to Guyana. She witnessed the death of a close relative of hers at a public hospital and that traumatised her so much that she washed her hands of Guyana and hardly wanted to speak about the country. We have a small window of time left to capture these experiences while the people who lived them are still here. We cannot afford to waste it. Every week that passes, another elderly Guyanese in Queens or Brampton forgets another detail, or passes away without ever being asked a single meaningful

Commencement order gazette for... From page 6 opposition involvement in the governance of publicly owned banks is neither unprecedented nor incompatible with professional independence. The Opposition Leader pointed out that in Germany, the Parliament appoints seven members of KfW’s Board of Supervisory Directors, and that parliamentary appointment process has included members proposed by opposition parties. Similarly, Malta’s Development Bank requires consultation with the Opposition before appointing the chairpersons of both its Board of Directors and its Independent Supervisory Board. He also noted that in South Africa, the Land Bank’s appointment process formally allows relevant parliamentary committees to nominate Board candidates, although the minister retains the final appointment power. To this end, Mohamed suggested, “Guyana can adopt comparable safeguards without compromising the bank’s professional independence. A bank funded by all Guyanese must work fairly for all Guyanese and not only for those with the right connections.”

Shifting his attention to offences, he said the legislation is weak in ensuring banking officials face penalties for seeking or accepting kickbacks to approve, accelerate, or influence a loan. He said that the Act also imposes the same G$5 million to G$10 million fine for offences ranging from providing false information to the deliberate misuse of the bank’s funds, without any penalty proportionate to the amount diverted. Mohamed added, “For serious insider corruption, a fine without express provision for imprisonment, confiscation, or permanent disqualification risks becoming little more than a tap on the wrist. Nor does the legislation establish a protected complaints mechanism or independent investigation process.” The Leader of the Opposition argued that these safeguards should have been expressly built into the bank’s governing framework prior to it becoming operational. He acknowledged that the law only provides for offences such as providing false information, obstruction, record tampering, improper disclosure, and misuse of the bank’s assets.

Dem Boys Seh...

Better safe than squashed! How many of y’all remember dem oldtime school days when yuh used to have traffic patrols or wah we does call traffic wardens fuh help dem children cross de road to go to and from school. In dem times, students proudly donned dem colorful harnesses, wielding stop signs like knights of the zebra crossing, basking in the glory of regulating the traffic, all in the name of safety. Back then, every child with an ounce of ambition wanted to be a traffic patrol. Dem did, crave de the limelight and the adoration of their peers, parading around in their shocking-coloured harnesses. But oh, how the tides have turned. In this modern age, where vehicles speed like they’re at de South Dakota Race Track, dem school pickney have developed a newfound sense of self-preservation. Dem look at those once-envied harnesses and shiver in terror at

the thought of standing in harm’s way. “To patrol or not to patrol?” they ask themselves, and the answer is a resounding “Not today!” One brave child dared to bring up the idea of joining the traffic patrol at home. But oh, what a mistake! The parents, fearing for their offspring’s safety, promptly yanked him out of school! Can you blame these kids for their trepidation? It’s like asking a lamb to step into a den of ravenous lions armed with stop signs. In a country where road rage is rampant and roads have become makeshift racetracks, who would willingly sign up for potential vehicular sacrifice? So, let us bid adieu to the days when traffic patrol was a coveted dream. The harnesses may still be colorful, but the risks have become far too real. The children have spoken, and they’ve said, “Dem boys seh, better safe than squashed!” Talk half. Leff half.

question about their younger days. History is not just about presidents and prime ministers. It is also about how ordinary people survived, adapted, and persevered through difficult times. Their voices deserve to be heard just as loudly. The politicians have their autobiographies and their official records. But the woman who stood in line for bread at five in the morning has no chapter in any textbook. That is a gap that makes our history incomplete. I am urging Guyanese everywhere, especially those in the diaspora, to start recording these stories now, using whatever tools are available—a phone camera, a voice recorder, a simple notebook. Sit with your parents, your aunts, your uncles, and ask them openended questions about their daily lives, not just the big political events, because the small details often reveal the

deepest truths. What did they eat during the shortages? How did they feel when they heard the news on the radio? What made them finally decide to leave their homeland? These are not trivial questions. These are the building blocks of a real history that belongs to everyone, not just the powerful few. We have the technology to preserve these voices permanently. But we lack the will and the urgency. That is a shame for which we will have to answer for one day. It does not matter if the stories are painful or embarrassing or seemingly ordinary, because every single one adds something to official history. A nation that forgets its people’s everyday struggles is like a family that throws away all its old photographs—you still exist, but you no longer know who you really are. So let us stop waiting for some government commission or academic institution to do this work for us. They have

their own priorities and their own biases. Let us take responsibility ourselves, starting with our own families, and gather these precious memories before they are gone forever. The children of the diaspora deserve to know what their parents survived. The grandchildren deserve to know where they truly come from, not just the name of a country on a map but the heartbeat of a people who refused to be broken. If we do not act now, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when future generations ask about Rabbi Washington and we can only shrug and say, “I think I heard that name once.” (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

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UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

L

LAL

Thursday September 2026 Monday May 02,17, 2022

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

PPP most ruthless guerrilla fighters of all B

BC and other Western media called them irregulars. Unorthodox also sold well. I fuse elements from irregulars and unorthodox to my preference for unpredictable. Guerrilla fighters and stealth operators have still endured. In any study of both, there’s none better than the PPP (old or new). Take Cheddi Jagan. The Americans cut the floor from under him, dropped him into a deep, dark hole. Though clobbered, he didn’t cry. Never was crushed. He worked the wilderness, travelled the edges, kept his chin up. His fighting spirit never deserted. Despite many electoral defeats. In sum, he laid low; adapted. Changed from a lion to chameleon; won the day. Discard burnt cane fields. Discard the Sun Chapman. Discard the Abrahams; later the Sawh family. Discard boycotted parliament. Discard when

he took matters in his own hands -the Mace. Recall: Cultivating his local and foreign assets. Training for his loyalists. Moses can testify. There was Dr. Jagan: environmental scholar and guerrilla fighter, who never gave up. One who never yielded to superior forces, the odds. Rallied loyalists. Donald and Clement can testify. One who never crossed the floor beyond ‘critical support’; and to use the lavatory. A simple man became sophisticated under duress. Mention guerrilla fighter and stealth operator, and CBJ was it. Then there’s Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. The PPP best imitation of a guerrilla fighter. He’s so good that an American ambassador paid court; not the reverse. Oil. Check history. When Jagdeo is cornered, he gets flustered first. Oozes hostility next. Becomes increasingly aggressive. Everything vented; not for delicate stomachs; shaky nerves.

The guerrilla fighter side of the PPP flares when Live in Guyana and State Media are unleashed to assassinate those pressuring PPP luminaries. In classic guerilla fighter mode, there’s d e n i a b i l i t y. N o n e o f Guyana’s Excellencies, not Ali, not Jagdeo, not Nandlall, not Phillips, not Hicken, not Waldron has any knowledge of what Live in Guyana is. Nor who are the guerrilla fighters inside Live in Guyana carrying on psychological warfare for the PPP Govt. So, what’s this omnipotent, untouchable, Live in Guyana: Vatican Radio or the guerrilla arm of the PPP? Now, try this dessert. The PPP loves guerrilla fighters so much, it even welcomed a Palm Tree explosives expert into the PPP cup, and one of Guyana’s highest offices. Wi t h g u e r r i l l a f i g h t e r recruitment like that, who can best the PPP Govt? Recall the Mash jailbreak and mayhem.

Recall how Jagdeo marshalled his forces, deployed his assets. Who was he, General Westmoreland or Ho Chi Minh? And wasn’t the latter a great guerrilla fighter? Operating from shadows, or tight pockets, is guerrilla culture. Operating with secret powerful backers is the modus operandi of guerrilla fighters. The PPP Govt’s Live in Guyana neatly fits all three slots. Thus, I submit the PPP as Guyana’s best guerrilla fighters. CBJ ran with the greats during his years. Mohandas, Martin, Mandela. The underground was their home. On the run their existence. Jagan and Jagdeo learned from them, got made enemies pay. Burnham -5th richest Black man in the world. Nonexistent Swiss bank account. A fairytale sold and bought by many. Guerrilla fighters in action. Talk about a bloodless assassination! Cells planted in the political opposition; sleepers in

churches, everywhere. Stealth operators living double lives. Who’s better than the PPP Govt at this type of guerrilla fighter. Paid trolls to multiply online numbers (likes and dislikes for speakers and programs). Another kind. Incumbent advantage that misuses State assets to sabotage adversaries, and persuade Guyanese of their own purity. Recall people hurled from a bus in the interior; men in red with baseball bats cutting lines of approach and communication. Ask Azruddin. Guerrilla fighting writ large. A different approach. Reserve strike force to berate opponents. Coerce the compromised and cowardly. Turn them against their own. Then laff at their weakness and humiliation. Stealth operators culling the field and cultivating human assets to do dirty work. Lawmen. Political men. Religious men. College men and women. The PPP is the best by far as guerrilla fighting

and stealth o p e r a t o r s . Reexamine the PPP as guerrilla fighters and its biggest coup: the parliamentary noconfidence motion that toppled the PNC. Howzat for guerrilla fighters and stealth operators pulling off a stunner! A government betrayed for cash. Beat that one. Jagan did several time Last, Jagan embraced the trenches and forests of cane. Mohandas, Martin, and Mandela fought their battles in unique ways. All four, guerrilla fighters of special distinction, had one defining standard. They didn’t see themselves as guerrilla fighters or stealth operators. From Cheddi to Madiba saw themselves as freedom fighters. A distinction without a difference, I say. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Demerara Bank to launch mobile... From page 3 bank’s Learning Hub on the Demerara Bank website for step-by-step registration guidance, instructional videos and

demonstrations showing you how to use the new platform and its features. “We will also be taking the experience to our other Demerara Bank branches during the next few weeks, where similar sessions will be held to give customers across our network an opportunity to meet our team, receive assistance with registration and experience the new platform first-hand.” Demerara Bank said the Mobile Banking App is another important step in its digital transformation journey combining technology with the personalised service that customers know and trust.

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Govt. spent $64.5B on roads, bridges in first half of 2026 - Mid-Year Report

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overnment expended some $64.5 billion on roads and bridges across the country during the first six months of 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance’s 2026 mid-year report. Of the amount, $60.7 billion was spent on improving roads, while $3.8 billion was expended on bridges. “Government continues to invest in improved integration, traffic flow, connectivity, and access to new lands. To this end, in the first half of the year, $64.5 billion was expended on improving roads and bridges,” the ministry said in the report, released on Monday. The report disclosed that $3.3 billion was spent during the period to improve connectivity to hinterland communities. Works were completed on main access roads in Achiwib, Rupertee and Shea in Region Nine, while works commenced in Central Rupununi and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Works are also expected to commence in Kaburi and Karisparu during the second half of 2026. Outside of the hinterland road programme, $23.1 billion was expended across the 10 regions to

construct, rehabilitate and maintain community roads. The finance ministry also highlighted several major road projects being executed through the public works ministry. These include the development of the Railway Embankment fourlane highway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau and onward to the Mahaica River Bridge. The project is ongoing and is expected to advance further by the end of the year. On the same East Coast Demerara corridor, works are expected to commence in the second half of the year on the next phase, which will extend the highway from Mahaica to Abary. Works are also progressing on the extension of the Ogle to Eccles Highway to Providence and the upgrade of the Good Success to Timehri Road. The report noted that rehabilitation works on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway are ongoing and are scheduled for completion in the second half of this year. Another major project is the Linden to Mabura Hill Road, which the government expects to complete by year-end. Meanwhile, works on the

The Rupertee Road network in Region Nine which was completed back in February.

Mabura Hill to Kurupukari Road are expected to commence in the second half of the year. The government recently signed a contract for the project, with the first 30 kilometres of the 108kilometre stretch slated to be undertaken initially.

In Region Six, works are progressing on the Palmyra to Moleson Creek four-lane highway, while construction along the Parika to Goshen route and the Sand Hills to Makouria link is also advancing. Earlier this year, the public works ministry received a record

$227 billion budgetary allocation, which was approved by the national assembly. A d d i t i o n a l l y, w h e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s $ 5 5 b i l l i o n supplementary budget was approved in July, the ministry received a further $8.5 billion.

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Thursday September 17, 2026

$52B Craig-Land of Canaan four-lane highway on track for early 2027 completion

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal and his team on Tuesday inspecting the road works. The $52 billion Craig to Land of Canaan four-lane highway project on the East Bank of Demerara is approximately 50 percent complete, with the Ministry of Housing targeting the first quarter of 2027 for completion of the road works. The ministry provided an update on the project on We d n e s d a y, f o l l o w i n g a n inspection on Tuesday by Minister of Housing Collin Croal, Deputy Director of Projects Intakab Indarjeet and senior engineers. The highway is being constructed in eight lots and is intended to provide a major alternative route for commuters travelling along the East Bank corridor and in and out of Georgetown. Land of Canaan is expected to serve as the main exit point for this phase of the project. The ministry said it is also examining the alignment to eventually extend the roadway from Land of Canaan towards Soesdyke.

During Tuesday’s inspection, Minister Croal highlighted the scale and complexity of the project, noting that much of the highway is being constructed across previously undeveloped swamp lands covered by thick vegetation. “Extensive land preparation and substantial quantities of sand filling have therefore been required to bring the corridor to the necessary elevation. The nature of the terrain also requires adequate settlement periods before subsequent stages of construction can proceed,” the ministry explained. The project also involves significant drainage and irrigation infrastructure, culverts and other supporting works. Several major bridges required along the corridor will be constructed under a separate project. The ministry said drainage and irrigation are particularly important given the residential communities and farming activities surrounding the highway corridor.

Works ongoing on the $52 billion Craig to Land-of-Canaan four-lane highway.

Croal said the ministry has been working with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which reviewed the

drainage design and provided its no-objection. The minister also assessed progress on Lots Two and Three,

where construction started later due partly to relocation exercises involving persons occupying lands Continued on page 16

Thursday September 17, 2026

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Thursday September 17, 2026

Three road deaths in three days in Berbice …Education Ministry urges extreme caution by motorists T

he Ministry of Education is mourning the loss of three members of the education community who died in separate road accidents within a three-day period. The victims are 10-year-old Gabriela Rodrigues, 14-year-old Giresh Lautan and 51-year-old Sonia Williams, a longstanding Berbice educator. Rodrigues, of 17 James Street, Georgetown, and a pupil of Ketley Primary School, was reportedly struck down on Saturday along Independence Boulevard by a teenager riding a motorcycle. Reports are that the rider was performing a stunt when he collided with the child. Rodrigues was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she subsequently succumbed to severe internal bleeding, cardiac failure, punctured lungs and major head injuries. Earlier that morning, Lautan, a

Giresh Lautan, 14, of Skeldon Line Path Secondary

Gabriela Rodrigues, 10, of Ketley Primary School

Sonia Natasha Williams, Headteacher of Kildonan Primary School

student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary School and resident of No. 52 Village, Corentyne, died at the scene after the motorcycle on which he was travelling slammed into a horse at No. 50 Village, Corentyne. Lautan was reportedly the pillion rider, while his uncle-in-law operated the motorcycle at what his mother described to Kaieteur News

as a fast rate. On Monday, Williams, the Graduate Headmistress of Kildonan Primary School and a resident of Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme, Corentyne, was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Rose Hall Town. Williams had reportedly completed an errand at an insurance company and was standing at the

door of her parked car when another vehicle slammed into her. The driver then fled the scene. Police in Region Six apprehended the driver on Tuesday. He was identified as 35-year-old Arivindra Singh of Hampshire, Corentyne. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education said Minister Sonia

Parag and the entire ministry were “deeply heartbroken” by the deaths of the three members of the education community. “We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to their grieving families, loved ones and school communities during this time of profound sorrow. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” the ministry stated. The ministry also highlighted Williams’ more than 30 years of dedicated service to education, noting the sentiments expressed by teachers across Region Six about her commitment and contribution to the profession. Lamenting the three deaths, the ministry urged motorists to exercise greater caution and vigilance on the roadways and to comply with road safety regulations. It also urged parents and guardians to reinforce traffic rules and safety precautions with their children, including outside of the school setting, to help protect lives.

GGDMA continues $6 million back-to-school programme with 500 children benefitting in Bartica

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ore than 500 primary and secondary school children in Bartica received backpacks and school supplies last Saturday as the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) continued its nationwide back-to-school support programme. The Bartica exercise represents the latest phase of an initiative valued at more than G$6 million, through which the association is distributing approximately 1,000 school packages to children in communities across Guyana. In a press release GGDMA said each child attending Saturday’s activity received a backpack containing school supplies, while the GGDMA also provided lunch for the children. GGDMA Managing Director Avalon Jagnandan said the Association was particularly pleased to bring the programme to Bartica because of the town’s longstanding relationship with Guyana’s mining industry. “Bartica means a lot to us, and we appreciate the community which has supported the mining sector over the years. “We are happy to be here in the mining town of Bartica, the gateway to the interior, and

to reach out to over 500 kids, both primary and secondary. Each child received a backpack with school supplies, and we also provided lunch because some of these children travelled from far-flung areas,” Jagnandan said. The Bartica distribution follows the Association’s first handing-over exercise in Region Four, where children from several communities and organisations benefitted from school supplies as part of the same programme. The GGDMA initiative is supported by more than 20 miners who contributed towards the programme, which forms part of the Association’s continuing corporate social responsibility efforts. “This is a project valued at over $6 million, and we want to say thank you to our partners. We have more than 20 miners who contributed towards this back-to-school initiative, and the support allows us to reach children in communities across Guyana,” he said. Mr. Jimmy Reece the Deputy Commissioner Technical for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) also attended the Bartica exercise and commended the GGDMA for giving back to communities across Guyana. Region Seven Regional

Some of the children and their parents during the back-to-school programme. Councillor Lorenzo Best described the programme as an important contribution to families in the region and said it had been warmly received by residents. “What we witnessed here today is a true act of altruism by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association. It was very beneficial and well received by the residents of Region Seven. These are not merely backpacks; they are well equipped with the stationery and other things that children need for school,” Best said. He thanked the GGDMA on behalf of the Regional

Democratic Council and residents of Region Seven, noting that the assistance would contribute positively to the education of the children who benefitted. Bartica resident Kiana Scott, who was among those attending the exercise, said the initiative would make a meaningful difference to children and families in the community. “The backpacks will go a long way for our children in need. The fact that they also catered for lunch shows that they care and continue to think about us. I would like to thank the Association and

all of its members as they continue to put Guyanese people first,” Scott said. The back-to-school drive is part of the GGDMA’s broader programme of support for mining communities and vulnerable families. The Association has said that investing in children and education is an important component of its commitment to the communities that have supported Guyana’s mining sector over the years. The GGDMA also extends its gratitude to Ms. Vishanti Balgobin - Executive

Member of the GGDMA, for all the assistance in arranging the Bartica outreach. The next GGDMA school package handingover exercise will take place in Linden, as the Association continues the programme and extends its support to more children and families. GGDMA reaffirmed that the mining sector’s contribution to Guyana extends beyond mineral production and economic activity, and includes supporting communities, families and the next generation of Guyanese.

Thursday September 17, 2026

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GECOM IT Manager admits defying Myers’ order to leave Ashmin’s Building, remained unsupervised with SoPs Former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Information Technology Manager Aneal Giddings admitted under cross-examination on Wednesday that he defied explicit instructions from then Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers to leave the Ashmin’s Building during the disputed March 2020 election tabulation. Giddings acknowledged remaining behind unsupervised alongside another individual, Paul Persaud, to handle and package Statements of Poll (SOPs). Giddings returned to the witness stand for a second day of cross-examination before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty as trial proceedings resumed

following a three-month hiatus. The trial involves nine defendants, including former Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, former DCEO Roxanne Myers, and former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who are facing charges related to alleged attempts to declare fraudulent results following the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections. Under questioning by defence attorney Nigel Hughes, the court examined video footage showing Giddings inside the command centre’s tabulation room after Myers ordered all unauthorised persons, party scrutineers, and observers to evacuate the premises. Cross-examination focused heavily on

GuyOil and GPL fuel... From page 8 expenditure increased by 19.7 percent to $337.2 billion in the first half of 2026. Employment costs amounted to $77.8 billion, an increase of 18.8 percent over the half-year position in 2025, primarily reflecting the full-year impact of the 8 percent salary increase granted in July 2025 to all central government employees, according to the report. Additionally, the report stated that the ministries and regions expanded staffing through the recruitment of personnel to support service delivery in key sectors, including education, health, and public safety and security. A total of $107.3 billion was expended on other goods and services during the first half of the year, representing a 22.5 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. The main contributors to this expenditure were the $100,000 cash grant programme which commenced distribution in March 2026 for persons 18 years old and older which accounted for $42.5 billion, followed by spending on materials and supplies at $16.6 billion mainly driven by increases in drugs and medical supplies; and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure at $8.9 billion, the report noted. Tr a n s f e r p a y m e n t s increased by 18.2 percent to $152.1 billion in the first half of the year, primarily on account of higher social

assistance benefits and education support programmes. This outturn was driven by the increase in old age pension (OAP) from $41,000 to $46,000 per month and public assistance from $22,000 to $25,000 per m o n t h . A d d i t i o n a l l y, approximately 206,000 students are benefitting from the Because We Care cash grant of $60,000, the uniform voucher allowance of $5,000 and the newly introduced annual transportation grant of $20,000 per child raising the total grant per student from $55,000 to $85,000. The total projected non-interest current expenditure is revised upward from $705.1 billion to $709.8 billion for 2026. At the end of the first half of this year, PSIP expenditure totalled $248.9 billion, marginally above the $247 billion expended in the comparable period of 2025. This was mainly attributed to a $8.4 billion increase in expenditure on the domestic portfolio to $223.4 billion which cushioned a lower outlay on our foreign funded projects where $25.5 billion was expended. The total PSIP for 2026 is now revised upward to $829.7 billion from $779.6 billion primarily on account of additional investment in power generation and distribution, housing, and public infrastructure projects.

Giddings’ handling of electoral documents during that period. Giddings acknowledged that Myers instructed everyone to leave after citing unauthorised interference with the electoral process. He conceded he defied her directive, maintaining he remained behind because he felt responsible for the electoral materials his staff had signed for within the tabulation centre. Confronted by Hughes regarding his activities alone

in the room with Persaud, Giddings admitted to handling and packaging SOPs. When asked if he could state which region’s SOPs were in the envelope he was holding, Giddings testified that he could not recall. He further agreed that he made no retained personal record of the specific documents he handled, stating he left his notes at the tabulation centre. Hughes suggested that remaining unsupervised provided an opportunity to

switch or alter SOPs. While Giddings rejected claims of tampering, he conceded he could not identify the specific contents of the package when pressed on whether he could definitively refute defence assertions. Wednesday’s testimony followed admissions made Tuesday, where Giddings conceded he removed GECOM’s primary server from the building following a reported bomb threat called in by police. Giddings

admitted that neither Lowenfield nor Myers authorised the removal, and that he held no statutory mandate under the Representation of the People Act or his employment contract to take custody of the equipment. Giddings confirmed that while he did not have the necessary peripherals, such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, or uninterrupted power supply (UPS), inside his personal vehicle at the Continued on page 16

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Thursday September 17, 2026

PAHO joins global efforts to advance pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

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The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will join global efforts to advance pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR) during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), as countries and partners prepare for the Second High-Level Meeting on PPPR on September 25. For the Americas, strengthening pandemic preparedness remains critical as countries continue to face emerging and re-emerging health threats, while working to build more resilient health systems and strengthen health security, PAHO said in a press release. The General Assembly comes at a pivotal moment for global health, as countries continue to navigate ongoing health emergencies, economic pressures, climate-related threats and declining development assistance while working to strengthen health systems and protect populations from future risks. Against this backdrop, the High-Level Meeting on PPPR will focus on how countries can sustain and strengthen preparedness efforts in an increasingly constrained global financing environment. PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa will participate in a series of high-level events

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throughout UNGA week, highlighting the experience and priorities of the Americas and the importance of sustained investment, strong health systems and regional and international cooperation to strengthen pandemic preparedness and global health security. The second UN HighLevel Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response will provide an opportunity to review progress since the first meeting in 2023 and renew political commitment to prevent future pandemics through international cooperation. The discussions will take place as countries advance implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, strengthen the International Health Regulations, and pursue other global commitments aimed at improving pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. In the Americas, many of the capacities needed to prepare for future pandemics are the same ones countries rely on every day to protect health, including disease surveillance, laboratory networks, primary health care, infection prevention and control, and resilient health systems. “Pandemic prevention and preparedness cannot be built only when an emergency occurs. It requires sustained investment in the health systems, laboratories, surveillance and public health capacities that countries need every day,” said Dr. Barbosa. “The Americas has important experience to share, including the value of regional cooperation and the importance of strengthening national capacities as part of global health security.” Strengthening pandemic preparedness in the Americas Pandemics can have profound and far-reaching consequences, disrupting health

systems, economies and societies and reversing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. COVID-19 underscored the need for sustained investment in preparedness, international cooperation and equitable access to the tools and capacities needed to protect populations. Five years after COVID19, the world has stronger tools and frameworks for preventing and responding to health emergencies, but significant challenges remain. Sustained political commitment, investment in resilient health systems, trust in science and effective international cooperation remain essential to global health security. The Americas has made important progress in strengthening its capacity to detect and respond to health threats. In 2025, PAHO’s regional surveillance system analysed more than 2.1 million signals and detected 157 public health events, helping countries identify and respond to emerging threats. The Region has also expanded genomic and laboratory surveillance and strengthened mechanisms for coordinated emergency response. PAHO is also working with countries to reduce vulnerabilities in the supply of vaccines, medicines and other health technologies. In 2025, the Organization’s Revolving Funds delivered 234 million vaccine doses and 13 million diagnostic tests, reaching an estimated 85 million people. At the same time, regional production is expanding, with locally produced vaccines accounting for around 26% of procurement volume through the Revolving Funds in 2025, compared with just 1.5% in 2020. Dr. Barbosa’s UNGA agenda During the week, Dr. Barbosa will participate in key

side events: September 21 Crisis in Preparedness: Laboratories and Frontline Readiness in the Time of Ebola – panel discussion on strengthening laboratory capabilities for routine health needs and pandemic preparedness, co-hosted by the Mérieux Foundation USA, Weill Cornell Medicine, GHESKIO, the Association for Public Health Laboratories and PAHO. September 22 Two Regions, One Future: Financing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Build Global Health Security – regional keynote at an event organised by PAHO, Africa CDC, Guyana and Burundi, with support from the UN Foundation. Global Brain Economy Initiative Summit – keynote on the burden of neurological disorders in the Americas and why brain health must be a public priority. – keynote on the burden of neurological disorders in the Americas and why brain health must be a public priority. Devex Impact House and Lilly – fireside chat on accelerating progress in global cardiometabolic health. – fireside chat on accelerating progress in global cardiometabolic health. The Health System Stress

Test: Integrated NCD Care for UHC – panel discussion organised by the International Society of Nephrology and Devex. United to Beat Malaria – panel discussion on malaria elimination in Latin America and the Caribbean, organised by the UN Foundation and the United to Beat Malaria partnership. September 23 Foreign Policy Health Forum – session on NCDs and health security. OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care– panel discussion organised by Nigeria, UNICEF, WHO, Africa CDC, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. – panel discussion organised by Nigeria, UNICEF, WHO, Africa CDC, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Jamaica. September 24 Bringing Innovation into Healthcare Systems – session organised by the International Alliance for Personalised Medicine. September 25 UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response – global discussions on strengthening pandemic preparedness and advancing international cooperation and action.

GECOM IT Manager... From page 15 time, the server could technically have been accessed or extracted had that equipment been present while in his sole possession. State Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat objected to suggestions that Giddings had stolen data or equipment, noting there was no evidence of intent to permanently deprive the commission of its property. Giddings also faced questions concerning two unidentified individuals who reportedly approached and engaged him near his vehicle in the car park after he placed the server inside. Giddings testified that he did not recall their identities or the specifics of the encounter. Defence counsel is expected to present further video footage of the tabulation room interactions as cross-examination continues on Thursday. All nine defendants maintain their innocence.

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$52B Craig-Land of Canaan four-lane highway... From page 12 within the road alignment. Those relocated included legitimate landowners as well as illegal occupants whose removal was necessary to facilitate construction. Despite the delays, Croal said he was pleased with the progress being made. The ministry is also expected to meet with all contractors working across the eight lots as it seeks to accelerate construction. In December 2024, following the national tendering process, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) awarded contracts for the eight lots as

follows: Lot 1: Ashoka Build Construction Ltd — $5,546,817,641 Lot 2: H. Nauth & Sons — $6,384,420,210 Lot 3: R. Bassoo & Sons and Qingjian Group Co. Guyana Inc. — $7,699,717,043 Lot 4: S. Jagmohan Construction & General Supplies and Vals Construction — $8,198,675,835 Lot 5: Aronco Services Inc. and Build Smart Construction & Supplies — $6,325,080,011 Lot 6: China Railway First Group Guyana Inc. — $4,464,086,736 Lot 7: Pro Build Hardware

& Construction Inc. — $5,676,911,709 Lot 8: KP Thomas & Sons Construction Inc. and Const Soma — $8,262,131,511. The Craig-Land of Canaan highway forms part of the wider expansion of the East Bank Road network and is a continuation of the new East Bank highway which began at Mandela Avenue. The first phase was the $2.6 billion Mandela Avenue to Eccles Road project, which was commissioned in April 2022. The second phase extended the highway from Eccles Dumpsite Road to Diamond at a cost of $13.3 bil-

lion. The project was divided into 12 lots and included more than 30 reinforced concrete bridges, 8.6 kilometres of reinforced concrete highway and two roundabouts. In September 2023, President Irfaan Ali commissioned the Eccles/Haags Bosch roundabout, connecting the completed Eccles thoroughfare to the Mandela Avenue Highway. The next phase extended the roadway from Diamond to Buzz Bee Dam, Craig. That project, valued at approximately $11 billion, was awarded in late 2023 and has since been commissioned.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L Consultation or . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N political theatre? L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B . . L LU ...BLUN . T B . . N . T U L N T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday September 17, 2026

Kaieteur News

The latest standoff between President Irfaan Ali and the parliamentary opposition exposes a troubling weakness in Guyana’s democracy: consultation appears to be taking place only when the Government is ready to have it.

The opposition parties’ refusal to attend meetings without a clear agenda or supporting documents is not, by itself, proof of obstruction. Their stated concern is whether Parliament is being genuinely invited to influence decisions or merely summoned after the important decisions have already been made. That distinction matters, particularly on foreign policy, international agreements and billions of dollars in economic commitments. Government cannot preach transparency while offering elected representatives’ little information with which to prepare. Equally, the opposition must not turn every invitation into an excuse for confrontation.

Parliament is not a stage for political photo opportunities. It is an institution of accountability. Real consultation means listening before deciding—not explaining after.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

PAGE 21

Bookie, Meredith, Ramsammy lead T10.. From page 24 while Abdul added 45, striking four fours and also six sixes. Their onslaught propelled Herstelling CTI to 138-2 from 10 overs.Herstelling B responded through Shemroy Kendall, who struck a half-century, but the chase ended at 116-4. Abdul completed a solid all-round effort, claiming 1-21 from his two overs, while another Herstelling CTI bowler finished with 115. In the day's other contest, EBDCA Under-23s posted a formidable 153-3 from their 10 overs, led by Emanuel Lewis and Myheim Khan.Lewis top-scored with 58, hammering six fours and four sixes, while Khan fell six runs short of his halfcentury as the EBDCA top order consistently found the boundary. Herstelling B responded aggressively, with Kendall and Lennox Andrews both producing quick-fire half-centuries to keep the chase alive.Despite their efforts, EBDCA held their nerve in the closing stages. Khan and Jovid Duncan kept the pressure on with disciplined bowling as Herstelling B finished on 152-4 — falling just one run short of the required target. Sunday's action between Herstelling CTI and EBDCA U23s delivered some entertainment at Farm ground. Batting first, U23 posted 96-7 in 10 with Ronaldo Singh and Deonarine Dindial being the main contributors as East Bank U23 crumbled to a 10-wicket defeat against CTI. With under 10 runs an over required the CTI openers wrapped up the innings in 6-2 overs as Zynul Ramsammy shelled five fours and six sixes in his half century knock while Ronaldo Reece closed on 40 not out at they got to 99-0. Action continues this Saturday and Sunday at venues on the East Bank, East Coast and West Demerara.

Man Utd lose to Brighton from 2-0 up to end 50-year record BBC Sport - Manchester United suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at Old Trafford as Brighton came from two goals down to reach the last 16.United head coach Michael Carrick had to bring on skipper Bruno Fernandes 18 minutes from time in a desperate attempt to salvage the game after watching his side concede twice in four second-half minutes. It was the first time United had led at home by two goals and lost since they were beaten 3-2 by Tottenham in 1976, half a century ago.The small band of Brighton fans were jubilant as they celebrated in the corner of Old Trafford, with the home fans booing

Thursday September 17, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19 A rush of physical energy may hit you this morning, Aries, and you could feel like you have no outlet for it. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Invaluable help with money or property concerns could come to you from an unexpected quarter today, Taurus. Someone you didn't know possessed the appropriate information could make a big difference. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) re you looking for a particular piece of information, Gemini? A friend, possibly another Gemini, has this information but is unaware that you're searching for it. CANCER (June 21–July 22) The opportunity to fly somewhere might come up today, Cancer. Career changes are in the wind, and while they might seem rather unsettling at first, they'll be positive in the long run.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Are you presently negotiating a contract, Libra? If you and the other party disagree on any points, these differences will most likely be resolved. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Professional difficulties could be resolved by outside assistance, Scorpio. Equipment may have gone haywire, or miscommunications could have led to snarls. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Idealistic romantic notions join with intense sensual passion to create powerful desire that stays with you throughout the day. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could be quite busy today as friends from far away call for long-overdue conversations, Capricorn. You'll probably spend as much time as you can catching up on the latest, but don't go overboard.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Have you been having difficulties with career or money matters, Leo? If so, help might come today from a friend who lives far away.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Some fascinating news could come from a friend who's presently out of town. This might be personal, but it more likely involves new discoveries in a field that interests you both.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today, a flash of inspiration may resolve an obstacle to your career advancement that presented itself in the past few days, Virgo. This solution could prove so beneficial that you'll want to remember it.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Friends who are interested in psychic and metaphysical matters could contact you today, Pisces. You may discuss a lot of fascinating material, which could alter your value system in a subtle way.

Brighton's Maxim de Cuyper celebrates his side's stunning winner in their 32 EFL Cup win against Manchester United at Old Trafford. (Getty Images)

their team off at the final whistle. It was the worst possible outcome for United and Carrick, still reeling from the stunning Manchester derby defeat by 10-man City followed by 15-year-old academy star JJ Gabriel informing the club of his intention to quit. United thought they had the perfect response when their other highly rated youngster Shea Lacey marked his first senior start

with a well-taken goal after just eight minutes.Mason Mount doubled their advantage two minutes later when he drove home the rebound from a Marcus Rashford effort that had been blocked.At that point, it looked like being a good night for Carrick and his team.But Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back just before half-time. Brighton skipper Pascal Gross levelled when he was left on his own on the edge of

the area and had time to turn on to a clearance from halfway and send his shot beyond Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who was making his United debut. Four minutes later, Kostoulas turned supplier as he cut the ball back for substitute Maxim de Cuyper to finish.Jason Steele denied Marcus Rashford an equaliser at one end, but United were reliant on Darlow denying Diego Gomez a fourth Brighton goal.After their humbling EFL Cup loss at League Two Grimsby last season, followed by Brighton's FA Cup triumph here in January, it was a third successive domestic cup loss for Manchester United.

India pick Kohli... From page 24 ⁠Rahul (VC), Dhruv Jurel, N i t i s h K u m a r R e d d y, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, ​Naman Dhir. INDIA T20 SQUAD VS WEST INDIES Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, ​Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, ⁠Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav. I N D I A U P D AT E D SQUAD FOR ⁠JAPAN T20 ​AND ASIAN GAMES Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), ​Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav ​Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur, Vipraj Nigam.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

2026 Republic Bank CPL Playoffs… GAW vs. ABF

Grudge Match looming as Warriors/Falcons collide tonight - Guyana eyeing revenge following first season loss to Antigua By Clifton Ross The stage is set for a blockbuster clash at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, as table-toppers Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the second-placed Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in Qualifier 1 of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League. F o r t h e Wa r r i o r s especially, this high-stakes encounter grants the winner a direct ticket to the grand final, with their story arc this season being played on the Guyana's memories this season following their first loss all season at home too; at the claws of the Falcons. Guyana Amazon Warriors' absolute dominance defined their group-stage campaign as well as the final laps heading into the playoffs. They secured 8 commanding wins out of 10 games to finish comfortably at the summit of the points table leading up to this point. However, they enter the playoffs on the heels of a reality check, having been dismantled for a meager 99 runs in their final group match against the Barbados Tridents. The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons have been the tournament's biggest success story, gaining similar love and affection from their fanbase as well as the general community; quite similar to how the Warriors earned their tag as arguably the most beloved team in the history of the tournament; having made the finals more than most if not all the other franchises. Reaching the playoffs for the first time in consecutive years, the Falcons finished second behind tonight's opponents and will have their tails up heading into this battle. Crucially, they hold a significant psychological edge over the Warriors, as they brutally snapped Guyana's six-match unbeaten streak earlier this month with a massive 65-run victory. T h e B a t t i n g Heavyweights: Guyana will rely heavily on Shai Hope,

who remains a stabilizing anchor in their top order. In-form batters Mavendra Dindyal, Glen Phillips, Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, with 263 runs, will hold down the top/middle-order. The engine room, which features Quentin Sampson, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Romario Shepherd and possibly Ronaldo Alimohamed, will serve as the Warriors' pinch-hitters. For the Falcons, the aggressive Evin Lewis and the finishing power of Shadab Khan, who smoked 30 off just 9 balls in their last encounter, will spearhead the runscoring efforts alongside former Warrior Mooen Ali, possibly Rahkeem Cornwall, Hasan Nawaz and Fabian Allen and others. The Bowling Arsenal is evenly spaced between the two sides, with the match likely being decided by whoever can pull off a masterclass in spin and pace. Guyana's evergreen captain Imran Tahir has spearheaded their defence with 14 scalps, with his teammate Shamar Joseph trailing with 13 but backed by Mehidy, who has been collecting wickets by the handfuls since his short run, and Khary Pierre's consistency. Conversely, the Falcons feature a deadly weapon in Alzarri Joseph. Joseph ripped through the Warriors' lineup with figures of 4 for 41 in their previous meeting, proving how lethal he can be on pitches offering true bounce, as he will no doubt be looking to add to his 14 wickets. The crafty Shadab will also come into play as the primary slower option alongside a string of quality part-timers. In all, with both teams looking to lessen their load and clip one of the two spots in the finals and possibly buy themselves an extra day or so to decompress ahead of the last hurdle, it will serve as a huge consolation prize for whoever emerges victorious come tonight. Game time is set for 20:00h tonight.

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

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Benn ton headlines GPF Officers 50-run arrest of CPL Prestige XI - Barnwell clobbers 82

Former West Indies skipper turned cricket commentator Darren Ganga speaking to his peers following the recent battle versus the local lawmen at Eve Leary Ground.

All-rounder Chris Barnwell continues to dominate the domestic circuit this time with a brutal half-century knock.

A

breathtaking century from Troy Benn and an explosive late assault from Kanhaiya Ramkarran powered the GPF Officers to an entertaining 50-run victory over the CPL Prestige XI in their T20 encounter at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Batting first, the GPF Officers amassed an imposing 240 for five

from their 20 overs, led by Benn's magnificent 102 from just 45 deliveries, decorated with 13 fours and five sixes. Vishaul Williams contributed 36 from 26 balls before Ramkarran provided a spectacular finish, blasting an unbeaten 65 from only 20 deliveries. His whirlwind knock included seven sixes and one four and came at a remarkable strike rate

of 325.00.Faced with a daunting target of 241, the CPL Prestige XI featured several familiar faces from regional and international cricket. Former Ireland international Niall O'Brien was dismissed for seven, caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Michael off Joshua Kishundial, while former West Indies batsman Darren Ganga struck three fours in his 15 from 12

deliveries before he was bowled by Stephen Harris. Ryan Banwarie made 18 from 26 deliveries before retiring out, but it was Christopher Barnwell who brought the chase to life with a brutal counterattack. Barnwell hammered 82 from just 31 balls, smashing 10 sixes and one four at a strike rate of 264.52. His explosive innings kept the Prestige XI moving before Shane Prince eventually brought his fireworks to an end. Devon Lord later added a rapid 26 from 12 balls, including three

sixes, but the GPF Officers maintained control as the CPL Prestige XI finished on 190 from their 20 overs.Prince led the GPF Officers' bowling effort with two wickets for 21 runs from four overs, while Kishundial, Harris, Antony Adams and captain Ravindradat Budhram each claimed a wicket.The entertaining encounter produced a combined 430 runs, but Benn's superb century and Ramkarran's breathtaking late assault proved decisive as the GPF Officers completed an impressive 50-run victory. (GPF FB)

Historic Lift! GAPLF duo attending IPF Trainer Course Level 2 With the aim of ensuring that it is compliant with the rules of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and to ensure that the sport in Guyana is on a firm footing from a technical perspective, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) is on a path to investing in the technical capacity of officials. In this regard, the GAPLF, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association in the main will see two new coaches being trained to lead the development of powerlifters in Guyana. Bjorn Williams and Ashley Abraham are attending and IPF Trainer Course Level 2 taking place in Chile from September 17-19; This is the first time that local based coaches are being trained with Abraham being t h e f i r s t f e m a l e . Guyana has one IPF trained coach who is Kerma

Singh, based in the USA and has been the technical glue for the nation for many years at the international level. The IPF has now made it mandatory that a female coach must be attached to teams competing in their championships once female members are selected. Other nations that will be participating in this trainer course are Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and the host nation. This course will precede the 2026 South American Powerlifting Championships which will lift off also in Chile from September 20-28 at the Gimnasio Polideportivo Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile. Guyana will be represented by 17 athletes, 10 would be repping the Golden Arrowhead for the first time. Two will be contesting the equipped segment of the competition and 16, the classic category.

Bjorn Williams and Ashley Abraham are attending and IPF Trainer Course.

Thursday September 17, 2026

Kaieteur News

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EBDCA/Rovin Dookie T10 Cricket tournament

Bookie, Meredith, Ramsammy lead T10 run-fests as Herstelling B suffer double defeat Despite handful of walkover victories, the Rovin Dookie Annual T10 Cricket Tournament returned to competitive action last S a t u r d a y, p r o d u c i n g a number of entertaining encounters across various venues. At one venue, Alphius Bookie marked his return for Uprising Sports Club in style, smashing a stylish halfcentury to propel Uprising Sports Club to a thrilling five-run victory over North Soesdyke. Bookie led the charge with an explosive 52, featuring seven fours and three sixes, while Adrian Hinds provided valuable support with a brisk 39, which included six fours and a massive six. The pair helped Uprising post 134-3 from their allotted 10 overs, setting North Soesdyke a challenging target of 135 from only 60 legal deliveries. North Soesdyke mounted a determined response, led by Andrew Light and Marcus Watkins. Light top-scored with 33, but despite contributions from the middle order, they were restricted to 129-5 at the end of their 10 overs. Anthony Hutson and Nicholi Barker shared the wickets for Uprising, with Hutson returning 2-23 from his two overs and Barker taking 1-24. Silverbullet recorded split results. At the LBI ground, Silverbullet Sports Club experienced contrasting fortunes following the tournament's restart, defeating Eccles Sports Club before going down to Little Diamond Cricket Club in the latter. Against Eccles, Silverbullet cruised to a sixwicket victory after restricting their opponents to 85-8 from 10 overs. Nath Shivpersaud gave Eccles a brisk start with 26, including four fours, while Mark Cumberbatch contributed 17 before falling short of carrying the innings through the final over. Patrick Alexander was the pick of the Silverbullet bowlers, claiming 3-13 from his two overs, while Naresh Bhagwandin supported with 2-8. Silverbullet's chase was led by Leon Crawford, who

T10 Cricket continues Saturday fixtures Farm ground 10 am Alexander Village vs Eccles 12 pm North Soesdyke vs loser G1 2 pm North Soesdyke vs winner G1

Abdul Ramsammy doing Abdul Ramsammy things during his explosive knock against Herstelling B Saturday last.

LBI ground 10 am Providence vs Little Diamond 12 pm Uprising vs loser G1 2 pm Uprising vs winner G1 Bellevue ground 10 am Under 23 vs Diamond 12 pm Patrewta vs loser G1 2 pm Patrewta vs winner G1 Ragnauth again offered resistance, top-scoring with 34. Ty r o n e S i n g h spearheaded the Little Diamond attack with 4-24 from his two overs, while David Singh chipped in with 2-9 to help secure victory on a good batting surface. Meanwhile at the Farm ground, Herstelling B endured a difficult day, suffering defeats against

Alphius Bookie slams half century for Uprising.

entertained with a powerful 38 decorated by three fours and three sixes. Christopher Ragnauth added a valuable 24, including two fours and a six, as Silverbullet reached 86-4 with two overs remaining. However, Silverbullet's fortunes changed in their clash with Little Diamond. Andre Meredith produced one of the day's outstanding batting displays, smashing 63 from the top order to help Little Diamond post 112-5 from their 10 overs. Meredith repeatedly found the boundary, striking five fours and six sixes, while Ni Nelson was the only other batter to make a significant contribution with 19. Bhagwandin was the most expensive of the Silverbullet bowlers, finishing with 2-18. Faced with a demanding target, Silverbullet struggled to maintain the required scoring rate and were dismissed for 81 in 8.3 overs.

Herstelling CTI and the EBDCA Under-23s, with the latter producing a thrilling one-run finish. Herstelling CTI's opening assault came from Zynul and Abdul Ramsammy, who tore into the Herstelling B bowling attack. Zynul was particularly destructive, producing a courageous 71 with five fours and six sixes, (Continued on page 21)

Sunday (20/09/2026) fixtures Farm ground 10 am Ruimveldt vs Herstelling CTI 12 pm Sandpipers vs loser G1 2 pm Sandpipers vs winner G1 Laluni Ground 10 am Timehri vs Soesdyke X1 12 pm Silverbullet vs loser G1 2 pm Silverbullet vs winner G1

India pick Kohli, Rohit for West Indies ODIs; Nigam joins Asian Games squad (Reuters) - Stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline India's OneDay International squad for their upcoming home series against the West Indies, while Vipraj Nigam has replaced ​ i njured spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in the Asian Games squad.Top-order batter Shubman will captain India in the three-match ODI series, with wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul named vice-captain, while batting all-rounder Naman Dhir and bowler Auqib Nabi have earned their maiden ODI call-ups. The ODI ​series begins in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on September 27. For the Twenty20 series against ​the West Indies, 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been included in ⁠the squad led by top-order batter Shreyas Iyer. India will play five T20 internationals ​against the West Indies, starting in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on October 6. India will ​also play a one-off T20 international against Japan on September 22, before beginning their Asian Games campaign at the quarterfinal stage six days later.

India's Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli celebrate after winning the match. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams) Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of both the Japan ​T20 and the Asian Games with a side strain. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, ​ w ho was originally named in the Asian Games squad, has been withdrawn and included in ODI ⁠squad for the West Indies series instead. All-rounder Hardik Pandya and

wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant are notable absentees from India's squads for the West Indies ODI and T20 series, the Japan T20 and the Asian Games. INDIA ODI SQUAD VS WEST INDIES Shubman Gill (C), ​Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, ​Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 17, 2026

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Stage set for high-stakes Georgetown/ East Coast showdown in Lotto/Let's Bet T10 The stage is set for two pulsating weekends of Tapeball action as the biggest zone in the Lotto/Let'sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast takes centre stage from September 26. Round-of-32 action bowls off across four grounds on September 26, with Malteenoes Sports Club, Ogle Community Centre Ground, Better Hope Community Centre Ground, and Lusignan Community Centre Ground hosting the opening fixtures. The competition then shifts to the Demerara Cricket Club and Lusignan for the round of 16 on September 27, before Lusignan hosts all quarterfinal clashes on October 3. Across these first three match days, games will be played in four back-to-back time slots starting at 09:30h, followed by 11:30h, 13:30h, and 15:30h.The zonal climax takes place at the Enmore Community Centre Ground on Sunday, October 4, with semi-final fixtures at 10:30h and 12:30h, followed by the final at 15:30h.

The zonal climax takes place at the Enmore Community Centre Ground on Sunday, October 4, with semi-final fixtures at 10:30h and 12:30h, followed by the final at 15:30h. Admission is free across all venues, though patrons are advised that coolers will not be allowed for the quarter-finals and zone finals.A packed field of 32 teams will battle for ultimate supremacy in the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone, the final qualification step before the marquee event moves to Essequibo for its grand conclusion.

"Based on some team submissions so far, it looks like we will have a galaxy of stars in this zone, the final zone before we head to Anna Regina for the National finals on October 11," noted Tournament Director John Ramsingh. Three zone champions have already booked their places following intense qualifying campaigns. Grillmaster Sip N Play

All-Stars produced a series of clinical performances to secure the Berbice zone title, Mahdia – Movements Family dominated the East Bank/West Demerara zone, and Lusignan Bulls DTP II franchise claimed bragging rights in Essequibo. O n c e t h e Georgetown/East Coast representative is locked in, all roads lead to the Anna Regina National Stadium on

Sunday, October 11, where the country's premier Tapeball sides will contend for a lucrative purse. The national champions will take home $2 million, the runners-up $1 million, and the two losing semifinalists $500,000 each. Each zone winner also pocketed $500,000. Individual brilliance will also be heavily rewarded. The tournament's Most

Valuable Player will ride away with a brand-new motorbike alongside a $150,000 cash prize. The leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker are each set to collect $100,000 plus a television set, while the Player of the Final earns $75,000. Players finishing with the Super Strike Rate and Best Economy Rate will take home $50,000 apiece.

Rising athlete prompts former National Athlete Eustace Dodson to donate training shoes

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ormer National Athlete, Eustace Dodson, who visited Guyana about 4 weeks ago, and was walking in the National Park where he saw a young athlete, Bianca Skekel training and he was impressed with her performance. Dodson approached her coach Diallo Jamal Shabazz, and promised to assist her in the form of footwear. Dodson has kept his promise to the Thunderbolt Track and Field Club athlete and this week she was the recipient of two pairs, of joggers, (Nike and New Balance) to aid her training. Bianca is a student of the Queen's College School and is presently preparing to write her 2nd C.A.P.E. exams. The young lady is a future aspiring Attorney-at-Law. Coach Shabazz was high in praise for her work ethic, noting that Bianca balances her training regimen with her academic pursuits in an impressive manner. She expressed her appreciation for the

donation of the training shoes by Mr. Dodson and highlighted the contribution of the outspoken President/Coach of the club Diallo Jamal Shabazz of the Thunderbolt Track and Field Club. His dedication to the club's athletes training, be it on Saturday and Sunday behind the Marriot Hotel in the sand or on the Track in the National Park, or at the Leonora Facility, he is always available to conduct training sessions with his athletes, the athlete mentioned. Shabazz informed that he has advised his charge to compete at 100, 200, 400 and 800m at the Queen's College house sports to test herself and he was also confident in her ability to dominate at that level. However, at the nationals Bianca will run the 200 and 400m races and the relays. Cornel Rose makes the presentation to Queen's College student Long standing athletics official Cornel Rose and Thunderbolt Track and Field Club athlete Bianca Skekel on was on hand to make the presentation to Bianca of behalf of Former National Athlete Eustace Dodson, while club coach the training shoes on behalf of Dodson who was Diallo Shabazz (background centre) and other athletes look on. impressed with the young lady's training programme and chose to encourage her to excel.

2026 Republic Bank CPL Playoffs… GAW vs. ABF Both the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons will be gunning that first clear-cut spot in this year's CPL finals.

Grudge Match looming as Warriors /Falcons collide tonight

- Guyana eyeing revenge following first season loss to Antigua

Teams and players alongside members of the Guyana Police Force including Deputy Commissioner 'Administration' and Chairman of the GPF cricket club Mr. Ravindradat Budhram (centre) following the recent match

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Benn ton headlines GPF Officers 50-run arrest of CPL Prestige XI - Barnwell clobbers 82 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.