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cricketerdiesafter crashingintotractor

Govt.sendshomeMVBarimamanagement

team

...fears they can tamper evidence of possible wrongdoing

Death toll could reach 110 MV Barima Disaster… ...27

The death toll following the capsizing of the MV Barimacouldpossiblyreach 110 after Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips disclosed that 27 bodies have so far been recovered, with 83 passengersstillmissing.

Providing an update to the media on Monday at the boardroom of his office, Phillips said updates will continue to be provided as theoperationprogresses.He noted that from the moment the distress signal was received until now, the primary focus has been rescuing those aboard the vessel.

“At first light today, 13 assets were deployed to augment the rescue

perations that were continued throughout the night in search of the MV Barimapassengersandcrew At approximately 09:26 hours, debris was sighted at seabyapilotvessel.Shortly thereafter, GDFS Shahoud identified a substantial debris field, some 2.5 nauticalmilesoffthecoastof

DevonshireCastleFlats.The body of a female was recovered off the coast at Moruca at approximately 10:45hours,”hesaid.

The team, led by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, had recovered anadditionaleightbodiesby 13:49 hrs, bringing the total at that time to 10. Through thecoordinatedeffortsofthe agencies and stakeholders involved in the search, the location of the vessel, in

tially rep

rted by fisherman Haresh Singh, wasconfirmed.

The prime minister highlighted that Singh has been assisting in the rescue operation since Sunday He saidsupportfromotherlocal fisherfolk, along with collaborative efforts from ExxonMobil, which utilised Sealand Surveys’ Gilligan Island survey vessel, also played a critical role in confirmingthevessel’sexact locationontheseabed,close tothepointwheretheinitial distresssignalwasreceived.

“ T h a t w a s communicated by the air

traffic control tower, that is

DevonshireCastlePass.The Government of France, through the French Armed Forces, has provided additional critical support with the deployment of 13 diverswhohavesincejoined the local dive teams at the confirmed vessel site,” he added.

R e m i n d i n g t h a t additionalcapabilitiesareon the way from CARICOM sister state Trinidad and Tobago,PMPhillipssaidthe operation remains a search and rescue mission as authorities are still holding onto hope that there are survivors.

R e g a r d i n g t h e processing, transportation

and storage of the remains, he said the Ministry of Health and the Guyana

Police Force have establishedjointprotocolsto address those issues

Provisions have also been madeforfamiliestoidentify their loved ones at the S u d d i e H o s p i t a l .

Photographs of the recoveredbodieswillalsobe distributed to the Umana Yanaandtheothercommand centres established at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma to assistwithidentification. Expressing his sadness over the loss of life, Phillips assuredthateveryeffortwill be made to recover and positively identify the deceased, while the government works with

OpeningofNTCConference nowsetfortoday

affected families and communities to ensure they receiveclosure.

“That would include transportation, in keeping withthewishesofthefamily of the dead, to their communities for interment, in keeping with whatever rites they request, okay, in terms of religious services, etc This is a serious operation, (that) calls for a lot of a dedicated approach in handling these sensitive issues,”headded.

Phillips confirmed that the search area has been expanded from the initial 400 square kilometres to 1,070 square kilometres and willcontinuetogrow,taking into account ocean currents andthepossibledispersalof bodies.

after locating the vessel, said: “All the life jackets them floating out no coast guardnobodyisoutherebro. Putitoverthenewsandcall forhelpquick.”

He related that it was difficult to obtain photographs, but several items were seen floating in thearea.Singhestimatedthe water depth at about 50 feet and said they waited for some time after repeatedly callingforassistance.

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Monday announced that the opening ceremony for the 2026 Toshaos Conference has beenrescheduledfortoday

Inanotice,NTCadvised all invited participants, stakeholders, members of the media, and the public that the official opening

The National Toshao’s Conference will officially get underway today

in

Responding to questions from the media, he confirmed that the possibility of DNA analysis has been discussed to identifyremainsthatmaybe unrecognisable He also revealed that divers are already on site and are assessing the safest time to descendtothewreck.

In a brief statement on Monday, the Maritime Administration Department ( M A R A D ) s a i d , “ A g g r e s s i v e a n d coordinated actions by the various stakeholders have led to the positive identificationofthelocation of the MV Barima. The potential location was identified at 13:31 hrs today by fisherman Haresh Singh, who had earlier assisted in rescue efforts yesterday Support from local fisherfolk, along with the privately owned vessel, Gilligan Island, has been of great assistance in confirming the location of thevessel.”

Thestatementaddedthat full recovery operations are now underway with assistance from the French government.

In a voice recording sharedwiththispublication, fisherman Haresh Singh,

On 20th July, this publication reported that a massive search and rescue operation was underway off Guyana’s coast following the capsizing of the MV Barima near the Pomeroon River While 67 passengers had been rescued from the Atlantic, uncertainty remained over the actual number of persons on board becauseofwhatgovernment officials described as “criminal” discrepancies in thevessel’sofficialmanifest.

At a press conference heldmorethan18hoursafter the disaster, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, acting as Head of State and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, confirmed that two bodies had been recovered at the time. However, with dozens still unaccounted for, the final death toll remained uncertain.

TIMELINEOF THEDISASTER

The MV Barima, an “old” vessel that was last dry-docked in 2024, departed the Port of G e o r g e t o w n a t approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, 18th July, 2026. It wasboundforPortKaituma in the North West District, carrying268tonnesofcargo, 17 crew members and an official manifest listing 116 passengers.

Disaster struck just before midnight At approximately 11:00 p.m., the Timehri Control Tower received a frantic distress signalfromthevessel.Atthe Continuedonpage8

Guyana a key global FPSO hotspot

- RYSTAD REPORT

With four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels(FPSOs)landedinGuyana’swatersbetween2019and 2025 and major developments in the making, Guyana has takenthespotlightasakeyglobalhotspot.

Rystad Energy in an FPSO Market Outlook Whitepaper noted that South America continues to dominate the global FPSO pipeline through 2028. The report explained that in Brazil,Petrobrasisadvancingmultipleunitsacrosstwomajor programmes while in Guyana, ExxonMobil continues to systematically unlock resources at its Stabroek Block. The report highlights three new FPSOs planned for Guyana in 2026(Longtail),2027(Haimara)and2028(Bluefin).

To date seven projects have been approved in Guyana, withfourvesselsalreadyproducingoilandthreeexpectedto bedeliveredoverthenextthreeyears.

According to Rystad, “In 2024 and 2025 alone, six new unitsweresanctionedacrossBrazil,GuyanaandSuriname,in addition to two redeployment contracts, reinforcing the region’s position as the backbone of global FPSO contracting.”

Meanwhile, between 2020 and 2025, eight awards were documented inAsia, across China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Another eight are planned for the period 2026 to 2028.

ThereporthighlightsAfricaemergingasthenextfrontier andNorthAmericaformaking“aquietcomebackafteryears ofabsence”.

“Notably absent from the forward pipeline is the Middle East,whichhasrecordednoFPSOawardsinthecurrentcycle and has none projected through 2028, reflecting the region’s structural preference for fixed platforms and onshore processinginfrastructure,”thereportadded.

Rystad said 2024 was a breakout year for FPSO capital expenditure (capex), with greenfield surface capex hitting $15.3billion–thehighestinthedataset.Spendingdroppedto $6.9billionin2025andisexpectedtoreach$14.3billionin 2026,withnewFPSOsplannedforGuyanaandBrazil.Rystad projectsabout$10.8billiontobespentperannumduring2026 to2028onaverage.

It said ExxonMobil’s Longtail and Bluefin projects in Guyana,alsocontributetoasignificantshareinthegreenfield surfacecapexestimatedforthecomingyears.

Reflectingon2021to2025,theWhitepapernotedthatthe award cycle was dominated by “very large units”, with both oilandgascapacitysurpassing200,000barrelsperday(bpd) and 200 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd), respectively Guyana’sJaguarFPSOunderconstructionwassingledoutas one of the larger units with an oil production capacity of 250,000bpd.

Meanwhile,lookingahead,thereportsaidthe2026–2028 pipeline signals a shift towards vessels with smaller productioncapacity.“Only7%ofexpectedawardswillhave oil production capacity above 200,000 bpd, while 14% will exceed200MMcfdofgas.Theselargevesselswillcontinueto dominate in South America, particularly in Guyana, and in newfrontierssuchasNamibia,”accordingtoRystad.

The growing demand for FPSOs to be deployed in gas fieldswaspointedout,particularlyinprojectsproducinggas with condensate. Over the past five years, about 10% of awarded FPSOs were allocated to gas or gas-condensate developments. In the coming years, this share is expected to increasetoaround20%.

When it comes to the developers, the report states that Chinahasgraspedtheleadingroleinconstructionactivityfor unitsonorder

Kaieteur News

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Tragedycompounded

bytravesty

There will be commissions on the sidelines of Guyana. Citizens of this country, shocked men and women, will conduct their own postmortems. Public commission or private inquiry, the outcome will terminate at the same revealing place. The sinking of the MV Barima and the lossofmanyenvelopatragedyfuelledbytheaccelerantsof travesty

The PPP/C Government, through its tightly knit bunch of spokespeople, was already on the move. To steer the conversations and reactions away from failure. They failedabjectly,duetothefactthatseveralrevelationscould not be suppressed, hidden from the public, the fate of so many worrying issues in Guyana Rather than disappearing obediently into the fast-moving streams of news developments, the travesties took over, would not be denied, and took on a life of their own. About indiscipline with overload, recklessness with alcohol, and a boat older than Independent Guyana. Dozens of lives probably lost, and the first efforts are at damage control, with a spinning machine revving up to leap into top gear It did, but only mademattersworse.

We at this paper shall not add to the clamour of angry voices, not add to the disgust, at the government. A government that has so much money at its disposal that its people are sucked into one instance of depraved indifference,thenanotherandanother Intheiressences,a litanythatsendsajoltofelectricitythroughmembersofan unbelieving public. How could this disaster waiting to happenbeallowedtogettothattragicstage,whilethemen and women with the power to introduce change engage in boisterous revelries? We will be back to this at the proper time. Thisisatimeforsearchinglongstretchesofwater,so that the bodies can be picked up. Hopefully, all of them will be recovered, and with those more than a few miraculoussurvivors.

Thiscountryanditscitizensareinurgentneedofafew miracles. To vanquish the darkness that hangs over Guyana and devastates it. To find, against all the odds, a survivor or two, so that deep in the heart of a national tragedy,thereisarareopportunitytocheer Topreparefor that other long travail, that of burying this country’s dead with all the dignity they deserve, with all the honest care thatneverwastheirswhilealive. Itwouldbeanassaulton the grief of those who try to cope with their loss for the usual big, solemn speeches from those who stand as monumentstothehypocrisiesthattormentGuyanese,then degrade them. On the other hand, Guyanese have become so accustomed to hypocrisies from the highest levels that theyarenownumbedbeyondfeeling.

What is one more assault, one more instance of leadershipcruelty,whenthereweresomanybeforethatthe senses are stunned? One family is struggling with the unbearable and that is from the mere thinking of their horror. A reported seven family members may be lost. Locked within a huge national tragedy, there is this larger family catastrophe. Probably seven of such, and all at once. It is people like the Moonsammy family, the people ofGuyana,manylikelyfromRegionOne,whoareentitled toeverydropofcareandconcernthatcanbegiventothem at this time. There have been many failures that dragged themtothisfateful,sorrowful day Theremustbeadayof reckoningforthoseegregiousfailuresatmanylevels,with none spared. Those must be taken apart rivet by rivet, so thatthereisrealjusticeforthedeadandtheliving,butonly after the last goodbyes have been said. Not until after the lastofthefallenhavebeenputtotheirfinalrestingplace. In a time of mass deaths, the decency must be found in all(fromthehighesttotheangriest)tobreathecleanairand quiet grace into what follows from here. The simplest and softest of manners is the best way that all of Guyana can pay tribute to those now gone, to the families and communitiesleftbehindtoputtheirlivesbackontrack.

Diaspora joins in grief of ferry mishap

DEAR EDITOR,

In Queens Village, Hollis, Jamaica, Briarwood, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach, and surrounding areas of Queens, NY, the sunken ferry and the fate of the passengers have been the talk among Guyanese. Sadness was on the face and invoiceofeveryone.

Guyanese everywhere express

shockandgriefandprayforthevictims. It probably has been the same in other parts of the diaspora such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Schenectady, New Jersey, Florida,Texas,etc.

Phone calls from other parts of USA, London, and Canada queried aboutwhatreallyhappened.Theyasked if all passengers were safe. At the several mandirs I visited in Queens;

CRG calls for Edghill

DEAR EDITOR,

The recent revelations around the MV Barima tragedy, which may become the worst in our country’s history, shows significant m

reckless disregard for the safety of the lives of our citizens. Given the resources currently available to the Ministry of Public Works and the fact that the vessel was not replaced as it should have been since the minister tookofficeseveralyearsago, CRG is left with no choice but to call for the minister’s resignation. In addition, the lack of the effective implementation of controls

to safeguard the lives of the passengers on the vessel reflects the serious problems also faced throughout the transportation sector on both seaandland.

S o m e o f t h i s responsibility does fall within the realm of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but the minister with direct responsibility over the transportation sector must hold himself and his team accountable and do the honourablethingandresign. This is the second major tragedy under the leadership of PresidentAli. First, it was the Mahdia tragedy that should have resulted in the

people talked about the mishap. Pandits offered prayer that all lives are safe. Several people on the phone and in person asked this writer what happened and how? Were lives lost? Information has been slow and limited in coming. They wish the government and rescuers well.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

to resign

Manickchand,andnowthere is the MV Barima tragedy that should result in the removal of Minister Edghill. The safeguards that should havebeenimplementedafter the Mahdia tragedy are still lacking, illustrating a propensity for neglect of safety for our citizens within President Ali’s cabinet. A classactionlawsuitwillmost likely follow after the grieving period has passed, a n d h o p e f u l l y t h e administration will not try to circumvent the legal process as they did in the Mahdia tragedybyofferingapittance in compensation to the

familieswholostlovedones. President Ali and his mentor are destroying the party of the Jagans. It is time fornewleadership.

The kind of leadership that places law and order above a quick dollar The kind of leadership where the safety of our citizens on our roadways, on our rivers and in our skies is the highest priority and foremost concern of all those involved.

CRG once again extends sincere condolences to those families affected by this preventabletragedy

With condolences, Mr Jamil Changlee

Guyana’s cops must be held to the same standard on obstruction of justice as the rest of the commonwealth

DEAR EDITOR,

A recent Kaieteur News report describes a mechanic who alleges he was unlawfully detained and pressured by cops to falsely implicate a sitting MP in a murder — told to say the MP ordered him to tint a white fielder wagon tied to the case, a claim he denies, but which he relayed to his attorney Thereafter, another media report surfaced that the DPP’s chambers intends tokeepthesamemurdercase “fresh on the desks of state prosecutors ” Nowhere in that story is there any acknowledgment of the alleged police misconduct itself. If true, this is an attempt to pervert justice, and it should concern every citizen who expects cops to uphold the law rather than manufactureevidencetofita predetermined outcome, and moreso, the attorney who was informed by his client what transpired during his detention by cops whose conduct I beg, editor, to refer as reprehensible conduct, if the facts told by the mechanic prove true and what the attorney had substantiated.

What happens to a Guyanese cop who does

this? Too often, nothing Cops who coach witnesses, plant evidence, or coerce false statements seem to act with impunity that would be unthinkable elsewhere in the commonwealth.

Trinidad and Tobago, sharing our common-law inheritance and policing culture, is instructive-not because it has solved this problem, but because its institutions have shown a willingness to name and act on it In October 2020, Trinidad’s DPP personally instructed that two cops be criminally charged with perverting the course of justice, after one filed a false report- corroborated by a colleague-claiming lost ammunition during a chase that never happened. That case went before an Arima magistrate: a clear, public signal from the state that fabrication by police is prosecutable misconduct, not an internal matter to be managed quietly Separately, in a civil claim for malicious prosecution, a trial judge found that a cop had fabricated the allegations underlying a citizen’s arrest a finding the Privy Council upheld on appeal. In both instances, once

wrongdoing was identified, Trinidad’s state apparatus moved to formally charge or judicially condemn the cops involved, rather than absorb the allegation into an openendedfile.

Contrast that with Guyana’s posture in the said murder case: the DPP’s Chambers response to the mechanic’s allegations was to reaffirm that the murder file remains active — silent on the cop or cops, and/or anyone else in the state apparatus accused of coercing false testimony by the mechanic. I raise this not because Guyana lacks comparable episodes of cop misconduct; corruption complaints against our force are, by government’s own admission, frequent. But I couldn’t find a single instanceinthepast2decades ofaGuyanesecopcriminally charged and convicted for fabricating evidence or coercing testimony, perhaps I’m not alert enough. That silence is itself the indictment. The machinery to hold cops accountable for this specific conduct is rarely, if ever, engaged — even when, as here, the allegation directly touches a case already before the courts. In Canada, where I now practise, this is squarely a s 139 Criminal Code o f f e n c e : w i l f u l l y obstructing, perverting, or defeating justice, including dissuadingawitnessthrough threats or corrupt means, with a maximum 10-year sentence Guyana’s own Criminal Law (Offences) Act already criminalises obstruction and fabrication of evidence The legal architecture isn’t the problem — enforcement is. Why have a toothless statute enactedinthefirstplace,and keep recruiting 200 recruits annually who can flout the law at their whims and fancies just because they hold a badge? These are not Clint Eastwoods, but real Guyanese men and women trained by competent, accountable and qualified Instructors at the Police Training Academy Or perhaps the problem is actually emanating with the level of training and capacity-building of said Academy. There is no principled reason a cop in Georgetown s h o u l d f a c e l e s s accountability than one in PortofSpainforidentical

Continued on page 5

WPA condemns Govt. for ‘politicising’ MV Barima tragedy, demands independent probe

DEAREDITOR,

TheWorkingPeople’sAlliance(WPA)extendsitsdeepest condolencestothefamiliesandlovedonesofthosewholost theirlivesas a resultof thetragiccapsizingof thepassenger vessel MVBarima.We also extend our solidarity with those whohavebeenrescued.Atthisdifficulttime,ourthoughtsand prayersarewitheveryfamilyanxiouslyawaitingnewsoftheir lovedonesandwiththeemergencypersonnelandvolunteers engaged in rescue and recovery efforts. This heartbreaking incident has once again highlighted the immense risks faced bycitizenswhodependonrivertransport.

National tragedies demand national unity They also demand transparency and accountability by the state. It is therefore deeply troubling that there have been reports indicating that members of the independent media were sidelined from official briefings. In moments of national crisis,accesstotimelyandaccurateinformationshouldnever bedeterminedbypoliticalconsiderationsormediaaffiliation.

WPA believes that every legitimate media house has a responsibility to inform the public. Restricting access to official information undermines public confidence, fuels speculation, and weakens the transparency that is essential during emergencies. The government must ensure that all media organisations are afforded equal and fair access to official briefings and updates. WPA strongly condemns the government’spoliticisationofthistragedy

WPA also urges the government to conduct a thorough, independentinvestigationintothecircumstancessurrounding thecapsizingoftheMVBarima.Suchaninvestigationshould identify any failures in safety protocols, vessel regulation, emergencypreparedness,oroversight,anditsfindingsshould be made public. Lessons must be learned to reduce the likelihoodofsimilartragediesinthefuture.

Sincerely,

WorkingPeople’sAlliance

Guyana’s cops must...

Frompage4

conduct. I call on the Office of Professional Responsibility, the DPP, and the Police ComplaintsAuthority to investigate both the mechanic’s and his attorney-at-law’s allegations directly and publicly — not merely keep the underlying murderfileopen—andtoensurethatanycopfoundtohave pervertedjusticeischargedandremovedfromtheforce,not quietly transferred. The rule of law cannot be selective. If ordinary citizens answer for obstructing justice, so must the menandwomensworntoupholdit.

Respectfully,

ShabeerZafar,barrister-at-law

Police search opposition leader’s Friendship property as “Paper Shorts” murder probe continues

TheGuyanaPoliceForceinabrief statement on Monday said ranks executedasearchatapropertylocated at Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) as part of the March 2021 murder of Ricardo Fugundes betterknownas“PaperShorts.”

Thepropertyreportedlybelongsto

Mohamed, his sister, Hana Mohamed confirmed in a Facebook live she made as the ranks searched the

property

“Acting on the legal advice, Police today, Monday 20th July, 2026, executedasearchwarrantataproperty at Friendship, East Bank Demerara” policesaidbeforeadding,“thewarrant was granted by a magistrate after consideration of the information presented”.

Mohamed in the past was implicatedinthemurder,aclaimhehas repeatedlydenied.

Police in recent days arrested five persons for questioning in connection with the case, a former security guard Mark Richmond, a tint shop owner, Troy Singh, a mechanic, Satrohan Rajkumar, Udoh Kanu, a manager at Mohammed’s security and Amernauth Ramsookanautosalesdealer No-onehasbeencharged.Butthree of the men, Richmond, Ramsook and Kanu were released on $1 million stationbaileach.

Bob Marley-inspired mass to debut during

Emancipation

season

(Jamaica Gleaner) A pioneering church service

blending reggae and Anglican liturgy will take place this weekend, as St Barnabas Church stages what organisers describe as the Caribbean’s first “Bob Marley Em

Mass”, positioning the reggae icon’s work as a vehicle for Christian reflection on justice, unity andliberation.

ncipation

Viewing the event — the first of its kind in the Caribbean through a distinct theological lens, St

Barnabas Church officials maintained that Marley’s body of work contains a profound, timeless message deeply aligned with Christianscripture.

Scheduled for Sunday at 5pm, the mass is being staged in collaboration with

thegovernmentaspartofthe national observance of Emancipation season and 26th July as the Day of NationalSignificance.

The service utilises a unique liturgy originally performed at St James’ CathedralinToronto.

It was written by the Reverend Canon Dr Steven Fields, a Barbadian priest serving in Canada, who will return to his home soil to preach at this inaugural service.

At a press conference at the church in Chapel Gap, St Michael, the rect

liams, emphasised that the event is strictly an act of worship rather than a concert,

intended to reframe how the faithful engage with secular art.

“This service is built aroundtheideathatthereisa theology to be found in the body of work of the late Bob Marley,” Canon Williams explained “There is a message that is there that is both timeless and quite relevant because Bob Marley’s music echoed the cries of the oppressed. It is a call to unity, and it speaks to ahopeforliberation.”

According to Canon Williams, Marley’s music provides an analytical framework that forces the church to reflect on the realities of the marginalised. He noted that the lyrics challenge Christians to see

God not as a distant, passive observer, but as an active, revolutionary force in the earthlystruggleforjustice.

ByresistingwhatMarley termed

“Ba

y

system”, believers are encouraged to embody a b

and transformativelove.

Integrating these themes into a traditional Anglican settingwillalterthestructure of the standard Sunday liturgy In a conventional service, the progression of worship is marked by traditional hymns. For this mass, seven of Marley’s most spiritually resonant tracks will occupy those structuralslots,includingthe introductory Continued on page 8

Bob Marley-inspired mass to debut during...

Frompage6 music, the collection and holycommunion.

The musical line-up features global classics such asCouldYouBeLoved,War, Three Little Birds and One Love.Alivebandassembled by musician Roger Gittens willanchortheperformance, supported by a lead vocalist and the St Barnabas Church choir, alongside parish organistChristopherGibbs. The theological themes will be further illustrated through liturgical dance, with performers moving to Marley’s rhythms from the openingcalloftheservice.

Addressing potential criticism regarding the fusionofRastafarianculture with Anglican orthodoxy, Canon Williams sought to clarify Marley’s personal spiritualjourneytowardsthe endofhislife:

“WhenBobMarleydied, Bob Marley died as a Christian. He was baptised into the Eastern Orthodox Church, so he’s Christian justlikeweasAnglicansare

themselves with his music, but his music does not belongtothem.Itbelongsto allofus.”

Church warden Stanley Alleyne supported this inclusive view, pointing to the universal Christian principlesfoundinMarley’s mostfamousanthem.

“Speakingoflove,we’re talking about unconditional love, and that’s what human beings are supposed to represent as far as I’m concerned,” Alleyne said. “Sothatsong,BobMarley’s songOneLove,isformehis signaturesong.”

TheDioceseofBarbados has fully endorsed the unconventional service Canon Williams confirmed heconsultedthebishop,who

serves as Anglicans’ chief liturgicalauthorityhere.

“Isharedtheservicewith him, sought his permission to do it, and he was very receptive to the idea,” the rector said, adding that the bishop expressed immense excitement for the initiative despite being off the island overtheweekend.

Church warden Junior Jordan emphasised the regional significance of Sunday’smass:.

“It’sactuallygoingtobe history in the making, because it’s a first for the Caribbean, it’s a first for Barbados,andcertainlyit’sa

firstforStBarnabasChurch.

We are making full preparations for the large crowd that we expect to appear.”

To m a n a g e t h e anticipated influx of worshippers, the church is setting up an outdoor overflowtent.Arrangements havealsobeenfinalisedwith the nearby Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre to provide additional parking for the congregation.

C h u r c h l e a d e r s expressedthehopethemass will demonstrate how

contemporary Caribbean culture can be viewed through a spiritual lens to inspire positive social change.

“Whatwearetryingtodo is to say, here is a body of musicbyaniconofmusicin theCaribbeanthathaswithin it some really positive lyrics,” Canon Williams said.

“Here is an opportunity to see Bob Marley’s music and to hear Bob Marley’s musicinaChristiancontext, bringing a positive message topeople.”

Brazilianstabbedto deathinReg.7backdam; oneincustody

ABrazilian national was onSaturdaystabbedtodeath at Rock Creek Backdam, PuruniRiver,RegionSeven, following an argument with awoman.

According to the police, the deceased has been identifiedasAntonioPereira Figueredo, a 53-year-old gold miner of Manaus, Brazil.

Police stated that the incident occurred about 23:00hrsonSaturday

P r e l i m i n a r y investigations revealed that the deceased and his 50year-oldwife,wereinvolved in an argument at their mining camp. “It is alleged that during the incident, the man received a stab wound to his abdomen,” the police reported.

Upon receiving the report, police ranks visited thescene,wherethebodyof thedeceasedwasfoundlying on the ground next to one of the camps with what appearedtobeastabwound totheabdomen.

The police also revealed that a kitchen knife suspected to have been used in the incident was recovered. The suspect was arrestedandtakentoBartica PoliceStationwhereshewas placedincustody

The man’s body was takentotheBarticaRegional Hospital, where it was pronounced dead and thereafter transferred to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home,whereitisawaitinga post-mortem examination Aninvestigationisongoing.

Deathtollcouldreach...

Frompage2

same time, desperate voice notes from terrified passengers began circulating. Reports indicated that the vessel listed heavily to one side before capsizing rapidly, eventually settling about seven miles offshore near Iron Punt and the mouthofthePomeroonRiver

The Maritime Emergency Rescue Coordination Centre was immediately activated. By 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, 19th July,theGuyanaCoastGuardhadarrivedatthescene.They were soon joined by a fleet of 15 local vessels, including 11 operatedbylocalfisherfolkandotherprivatesectorassets.

ManifestFraudandCaptain's

PositiveTest

An outraged Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, accused the vessel's operators of compromising the rescue operation by allowing passengers to board without being listed on the official manifest. According to Edghill, only 35 of the 67 rescued passengers appeared on the manifest.

“To be confronted with a reality that despite an official manifest given to us, persons who were rescued were not manifested—that is a criminal action,” Edghill stated. “Nobody, for the want of a few extra dollars, can cheat a system... and compromise the entire search and rescue operation.”

Compounding the unfolding scandal, Edghill revealed thatroutinesubstancescreeningconductedaftertheincident producedatroublingresult.

“We have a zero tolerance for members of the crew drinking or smoking while at work,” Edghill announced. “And for us to have positive tests from the captain... this is serious. People's lives are at risk, and those matters will be dealtwith.”

Thedangerwecanseebutignore

As our nation remains grippedbytheheartbreaking tragedy surrounding the capsizing of the M V Barima, our collective attention is, understandably and justifiably, focused on therescueefforts,thesearch for those still missing, the care of survivors, and the grief of families who have suffered unimaginable loss. At moments such as these, our humanity demands that we stand together, offer support, and ensure that everypossibleeffortismade to save lives and provide comforttothoseaffected.

But while we are rightly consumed by this national tragedy, we must not lose sight of the other lifethreatening dangers that exist around us dangers that we see every day, dangers about which warnings have been issued, and dangers that, in many cases, remain unattended untiltragedystrikes.

Afew weeks ago, an old building on Cemetery Road collapsed. Thankfully, the collapse did not result in the loss of life. But the incident shouldnotbedismissedasan isolated occurrence or simply attributed to the passageoftime.

For years, that building appeared to be a disaster waitingtohappen.Itseemed tobeheldupbysomeunseen force of gravity since the columns appeared rotten

and, in some instances, absent The building’s deteriorating condition was visibletoanyonepassingby, andconcernsaboutitssafety had been highlighted publiclyinthemedia.

The question that must therefore be asked is: how long must a dangerous structure remain standing beforeactionistaken?

The responsibility of authorities is not merely to respondaftertragedyoccurs.

What is needed is anticipation,prevention,and decisiveaction.Wherethere is clear evidence that a buildingposesathreattolife and limb, the relevant authorities must act within the law to condemn such a structure, secure the area, and pursue the necessary processes for demolition or rehabilitation.

Thetragedyisthatmany ofthesedangerousbuildings do not suddenly become unsafe overnight Their deterioration is gradual Cracks appear Walls weaken Roofs decay Wooden structures rot. Yet, despite visible warning signs,actionisoftendelayed untiltheinevitablehappens.

One of the recurring challenges in addressing derelict properties is that many become trapped in complicated circumstances, including inheritance disputes, uncertainty over ownership, abandoned

Dem Boys Seh...

estates, and disagreements between property owners and municipal authorities. These issues are real and cannotsimplybeignored.

The law must be respected, and property rights must be protected. However, legal complexity cannot become a permanent excuse for inaction when publicsafetyisatrisk.

Thesituationinvolvinga deteriorating building on Norton Street is a clear example of how such disputes can delay intervention even when neighbouring residents have expressed concerns about potential danger. When citizens raise alarms about structuresthatappearunsafe, those concerns should trigger urgent assessment and action—not a cycle of delayuntilthebuildingfails.

A dangerous building does not have to collapse to become a threat. Derelict structures present multiple hazardslongbeforetheyfall. They can shed falling masonry onto pedestrians. They can have weakened walls that suddenly give way They can contain unsecured openings through which children or unsuspecting persons can fall. They can become fire hazards, shelters for illegal activity, and breeding groundsforvermin.

Across Guyana, particularly in urban areas,

Tattoo Trouble

Dem boys seh social media got more drama than village cricket. Every time yuh open TikTok, somebody either getting married, getting divorced, or getting sense toolate.

Now dem boys stumble pun one story thatmekwholeofficenearlychokepundem tea.

Afella bin deeply in love with a young lady named Tina. Not ordinary love, mind yuh.Thiswasdekindoflovethatdoesmek people write poetry, buy oversized teddy bears,anddothingsthatcommonsensedoes hidefrom.

He march straight to de tattoo parlour andstampTINAacrosshechest.

Big.Bold.Permanent.

Dem boys seh when love fresh, permanent does sound romantic After breakup,permanentsuddenlystartsounding likeprisonsentence.

Well, as fate would have it, Tina decide she ain’t interested no more. She gone one way, he gone another, but poor fella chest refusetocooperate.

Every morning he had to look in de mirror and remember de woman who had alreadyunfollowedheemotionally

So,hewentbacktodetattooartist. “Boss,”heseh,“fixdisproblem.”

Tattoomanscratchheheadlongerthana

there are buildings that fit this description. Some are abandoned commercial properties. Others are old residential structures that have been neglected for years. Some are located in areas where hundreds of people pass daily, unaware of the danger above them or besidethem.

Wecannotcontinuewith areactiveapproachtopublic safety, where attention is only paid after tragedy has occurred The cost of prevention is always lower thanthecostofmourning.A lifelostcannotberestored.A family’s grief cannot be undone. An apology after a preventable tragedy cannot

replacetheactionthatshould havebeentakenbeforehand.

The lesson from every tragedy is that warnings matter Signs of danger matter. Public concerns matter The responsibility of institutions is not only to respond to emergencies but to prevent them wherever possible.

The capsizing of the MV Barima reminds us painfully of how fragile life can be and how quickly circumstances can change. But it should also remind us that protecting life requires vigilance in every sphere of nationallife.

Let us not wait until another building collapses,

until someone is injured, or untilfamiliesaremourninga preventable loss before we act.

The time has come for a comprehensive assessment of dangerous and derelict structures across Guyana, followed by decisive action throughthelawfulprocesses available.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper)

goatlookingatalgebra.Thengeniusstrike. Hesimplyaddfivemoreletters.

TINAbecomeARGENTINA.

For a few glorious weeks de man walk round proud like Lionel Messi cousin. People ask bout de tattoo and he chest puff outlikehepersonallyscoredewinninggoal.

Then Sunday arrive Spain beat ArgentinaindeWorldCupFinal.

Lawd!Poormanchestlosetwice.

First Tina dump he. Then Spain dump Argentina.

Is why dem boys always warn people: nevertattooanythingdatcanresign,divorce yuh,loseelections,changepoliticalparties, orgetrelegated.

Today’s soulmate could be tomorrow’s stranger Today’s champion could be tomorrow’srunner-up.

Tattoosgotlongercontractsthanfootball managers. Dem boys seh if yuh really feel overwhelmed by love, buy flowers. If yuh feeling extra emotional, buy chocolates. If yuh feeling completely irrational, write a poem.

Butleaveyuhskinalone.Becausewhile brokenheartseventuallyheal,laserremoval stillchargingbydesquareinch.

And unlike Tina... ...laser don’t accept apologies. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Barima - Guyana’s Titanic

When the Titanic went downintothewaterydepths of the Atlantic, there was singing, dancing, and much merrymaking in riotous motion on its bejewelled decks. When Guyana’s MV Barima descended to its watery grave in the Pomeroon, there were some level of drinking onboard, and having a go at a good time.

The great, yawning

mouth of the Atlantic stood not too far away; waiting to devourthosestillgraspingat life, hoping against hope for somerespite.

Amid those forced to struggle for a handhold, a toehold, on life slipping away, there were and are those living large, having a jolly good time. Tragedy on the water Ecstasy on land, in the self-celebrating company of those sitting at

the top. Sporting events spikinginteresthigh.

After all, it was a Saturday night; that time to let it all out, and countless taxpayers’ millions to burn. And,lestIneglect,theWorld Cup, that once-every-fouryear extravaganza was just hours away One morenote ofinterest,amidstthisseaof poignancy: at least, the doomed Titanic had a captain onboard and

commanding the bridge Now, that’s another matter that may require some probing, if only to follow wherethetrackslead.

So far, 67 made it. But what of the others, the 66 or so that are somewhere out there in an endless world of water? I can see from this distance,theirheadsbobbing listlesslyinalonelyoceanof water I think that heads on land should roll. Many of

them come with a prefix: the word honorable is placed beforetheirnames.

But I maintain fire, remain quiet, for the moment. I know about tragedy I know of those repeatedly Thus, there is empathy for the suddenly lonely, the miserable, the wretchedlyempty Ofthose there are now many in this country

Life can be a cruel companion. Its savaging, disemboweling, strikes Lord! How can I go on? What is there to live for, to carrymethroughthisvaleof tears, this valley of death?

Oneoftheworsetragediesin this life is when those who call themselves friends provetobeanythingbut.

When they are of treachery and abandonment writ all across the faces of Guyanese. Whoisafriend? Whowantstotalkofafarm? Whohastheheart? Whenso many have lost their hearts and more. One of the problems-what ought to be made into a crime, really-is thatwordsaretoocheap,too vulgar It seems that the higher the floors, and the brighter the towers, the cheaper the words are, the morenoxioustheybecome.

Guyanese should brace for a parade of them Properly garbed black suits, white shirts, and respectable dresses. There is the rare good sense to distance from costumes and the other attires of power Thus, amongthemournerswillfile themightyofGuyana. Their dancing put on pause (a pause only). Their addictions to spending on toys and trophies held in abeyance for a minute Thereisaroletobeplayed,a sharing to be done with, gotten over, as quickly as

possible. So-calledrespects paid. Thenwhat? Itisback to the trampling on the memoryofthedead.

Tramplinglongandhard on the reality of the living. Painful, it is. There was no capsizing and sinking MV Barimaneededforpaintobe felt Pain amid great prosperity is a constant bosom partner to masses of Guyanese. Thesufferingsof Region One represent just one.

Menwillrubshamefrom their faces, shake the hands of the grieving (and shame themselves some more). Listen. Expenses will be paid. There will be a fund. There will be some examining to unearth the truths that sank the MV Barima and with it almost a parliament of citizens Those who believe them shouldhavetheirownheads examined. When has truth everbeeninfriends? Itisagracelessseasonin Guyana. Gracelessmenand women who make life for those living with darkness thicker and grimmer Amid all the glitter in the upstairs rooms,withintheconference rooms, there is a new disaster: the ill-fated MV Barima.

The MV Barima is Guyana’sTitanicinpolitical technicolor What was unsinkable went down What is impregnable in Guyana will collapse Under the weight of its governancedisasters.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper

CallsgrowforEdghilltogo

With at least 83 persons still missing and 27 bodies recovered as of Monday afternoon, calls have intensified for Minister of PublicWorksJuanEdghillto be removed from office following what is being described as Guyana’s deadliestmaritimedisaster.

The calls come on the heels of the government’s

decision on Monday morning to send the entire m a n a g e m e n t t e a m responsible for the loading,

dispatch and overall oversightoftheMVBarima on leave pending an investigation Pointing to systemic failures and lapses in leadership, political stakeholders argue that accountability should not end with those directly responsibleforthevesselbut should also extend to ministers with oversight responsibility for the relevantagencies.

Calls have also been made for the removal of Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, as well as Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)DirectorGeneral StephenThomas.

TheAmerindian Peoples Association (APA), in a statement, said the tragedy exposed poor management andaccountabilitywithinthe operations of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and called for the removalofMinisterEdghill, under whose purview the tragedyoccurred.

The 87-year-old vessel sank about seven miles offshore near Iron Punt, in thevicinityofthePomeroon River, on the evening of Saturday, 18th July On S u n d a y e v e n i n g , government officials disclosedthatthenumberof persons aboard the vessel at the time of the incident may have been higher than the previouslyreported133(116 passengers and 17 crew members) The recent

figures disclosed by government suggest that the vessel was carrying at least 179persons.

In response to Minister Edghill’s revelation regarding the discrepancies inthevessel’smanifest,APA reminded that, for years, passengers travelling on the North West ferries have complained about the deplorable condition of the vessels, the behaviour of somecrewmembers,andthe generally unsafe conditions they are forced to endure whiletravellingbetweenthe North West District and Georgetown.

“While Guyanese of all ethnicities reside in the North-Western District of Guyana, the majority of the population is Indigenous, and all use this mode of transportation because it is the most cost-effective, giventhehighcostsofother means of travel,” the APA outlined,addingthatpersons travel for various reasons, including medical care, business,educationandeven vacation.

APA stressed that the tragedy is a devastating reminder of the risks and inequities Indigenous peoplesandotherhinterland residents continue to face.

“ T h e s t a t e h a s a responsibility to provide safe, reliable and costeffective means of transportation for its citizens. For too long, the safety of those who depend on Guyana’s air, waterways and roads has not received the level of attention, urgency and care it deserves,”itlamented.

APAaddedthatMinister Edghill’s report about the manifest exposes poor m a n a g e m e n t a n d accountability in the operations of the vessels serving the North West District. “Who oversees the operationsofthevesselsthat they do not detect what appears to be corrupt practices in overloading? Who is responsible for the regular maintenance of the vessels that a seemingly unseaworthyandagedvessel is allowed to ply dangerous routes without care for the souls on board?” the associationquestioned.

It stressed that the a c c e p t a n c e a n d normalisation of corrupt practices, which Minister Edghill described as “ m i s c h i e f , ” h a v e consistently contributed to thesystemicfailuresthatled tothetragedy

In addition to calling for Minister Edghill’s removal from office, the APA called for a comprehensive, independent and transparent reviewofthetragedy Italso calledforasimilarreviewof Guyana’sentireriverandsea transportation systems, arguing that many of them are plagued by longstanding faultsanddeficiencies.

“Thelossoflivesaboard the MV Barima must become a turning point for significant improvements in public safety and maritime regulation.Wecannotafford to hear the Government of Guyanarespondtoatragedy with temporary expressions of sympathy, only for

another one to highlight public deficiencies. Every tragedy that fails to produce meaningfulreformincreases the likelihood of another The Government of Guyana must commit to sustained investment in safe, reliable and modern river and sea transportation facilities and infrastructure,” the APA said.

In a video posted by APNU, Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews said Ministers Edghill and Indarmustresign.

“As rescue and recovery

efforts continue, the emerging facts point to serious and unacceptable failures. Minister Edghill’s own admission already exposed systemic failure,” theMPnoted.

He cited initial governmentreportsshowing that the number of persons on the vessel’s manifest did not accurately reflect the numberofpersonsonboard, aswellasreportsconcerning

thevessel’sactualtonnageat thetimeoftheincident.

“Lives have been lost, and families remain in anguish. This is not a minor administrativelapse;itisthe collapse of basic maritime oversight and control,” Andrewssaid.

He also questioned the maintenanceofthedecadesold vessel and called on the government to address critical issues surrounding the vessel with factual evidence.

TheMPfurthercalledon the ministers to produce the MV Barima’s inspection, seaworthiness, safety certification, crew fitness and emergency readiness

records “The PPP/C Government must not scapegoat junior workers whileshieldingtheministers who supervise the system,” headded.

The MP stressed that MARAD cannot credibly investigate its own regulatory conduct without

Minister of Public Works,

independentoversight.“The PNCR/APNUthereforecalls on Minister Indar and MinisterEdghilltoresignor be removed pending a truly independent inquiry led by qualified external maritime experts.”

Meanwhile, APNU MP Terrence Campbell, commenting on reports that theMVBarimamanagement teamhadbeensentonleave, stated, “This is the problem in Guyana, leaders do not take responsibility The

GreatBishopneedstoresign orbesentoff.”

TheAlliance for Change (AFC), in a separate statement, called for the immediate removal of Edghill and MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas.

AFC called on President Irfaan Ali to remove both officials to facilitate an independent and transparent investigation.Thepartyalso proposedtheestablishment

Continuedonpage12

FiredestroysupperfloorofSouthRoadbuilding

Aftermath of the fire on South Road

Members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) on Monday successfully contained a fire that engulfed the upper floor of a twostorey wooden and concrete building on SouthRoad,Georgetown.

Firefighters responded to reports of the blaze at approximately 09:15 hrs at a buildinghousingSpecialAuto,anautosales and spares dealership, on the ground floor, while the upper floor served as a private

residence.

Uponarrival,firefightersfoundtheupper floor fully engulfed in flames, with nearby buildings under immediate threat. Through swift and coordinated firefighting operations, the blaze was successfully contained to the upper floor, preventing it from spreading to surrounding properties. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Calls grow for Edghill to...

Frompage11

ofaCommissionofInquiry(COI)underthe Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, to conduct a comprehensive investigation intoallaspectsofthetragedy

The party proposed that the inquiry examine key areas: the vessel, the voyage, weather and sea conditions, the captain and crew, safety equipment and emergency preparedness, the events leading to the sinking, search and rescue operations, crisis management and public communication, regulatory oversight, compliance with international best practices, and recommendationsforreform.

TheAFCsaidthecommissionshouldalso assess the effectiveness of MARAD and other regulatory agencies, identify any systemic failures or negligence, compare Guyana’s maritime safety regime with international standards, and recommend legislative, regulatory and operational reformstopreventsimilartragedies.

The party further stated that the commission should be chaired by an independentpersonwiththerequisitejudicial

expertise and experience and supported by international maritime and emergency management experts. It also recommended thathearingsbeconductedpubliclywherever possible and that the commission be vested with full powers to compel witnesses and documents.

PRES.ALIWILLDECIDE

Meanwhile, at a press conference on Mondayevening,MinisterEdghillwasasked whetherthecallsforhisresignationinlightof thetragedywerejustified.WhileEdghilldid not respond to the question, Prime Minister MarkPhillipsansweredonhisbehalf,saying such a decision could not be addressed by anyoneatthepressconference.

Theprimeministersaid,“Letmeanswer all the questions. Minister Edghill was appointed by a president of Guyana… But I wanttoalsoinformyouandremindyouthat, thatdecisionlieswiththepresident.Noneof usherecannotanswerthat.”

Phillips noted that officials, including PresidentIrfaanAli,areawareofthecallsfor MinisterEdghill’sresignationanddismissed thosecallsas“noise.”

‘Brace yourself for the coming days,’ President tells nation after MV Barima tragedy

President Irfaan Ali on Monday said Guyanese should prepare for the difficult days ahead, as the country grapples with the devastating capsizing of the MV Barima and as rescuers continue the desperate searchforthosestillmissing.

Inatelevisedaddresstothe nation after visiting survivors and grieving families in Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, the presidentsaidthetragedyhas left the country in mourning and pledged that the government will stand with everyaffectedfamily

Earlier in the day, the presidentmetwithsurvivors, relatives of the missing and injuredpassengersreceiving treatment at the Mabaruma RegionalHospital.

“It was a deeply emotional experience I listened to their stories, shared in their pain and anxiety, and assured them that every practical measure would be taken to provide the support and assistance theyneedatthistime.”

Hesaidthegovernment’s immediate focus remains on the search and rescue operation, stressing that every available resource has been deployed to find those who are still unaccounted for “Ourpriorityistoprotect every life that can still be saved, to support those who have endured unimaginable trauma and loss, to comfort grieving families and to account for every person who remains unaccounted for,”Alisaid.

“Every minute matters Every life matters Every possible resource is being mobilised in pursuit of this mission ” The president assured the nation that the search will continue for as longasthereishope.

“Every available asset is being deployed and every agencyisworkingaroundthe clock. We will continue this effort with determination and resolve until every possible avenue has been exhausted,”hesaid.

Ali also committed to a full, thorough and independent investigation into the disaster He said Guyanese deserve to know exactlywhathappened.

“The families affected and the people of Guyana deserve answers They deserve to know precisely whattranspiredandwhether any failures contributed to thisheartbreakingevent.We will pursue the truth with transparency, impartiality andaccountability,”hesaid.

He praised the efforts of rescueteams,membersofthe

joint services, fishermen, volunteers, regional officials, religious leaders, the private sector and others who responded to the

tragedy. President Ali called for national unity, and urged citizens to support those affected instead of allowing divisions to overshadow the

country’sresponse. Acknowledging that the full impact of the tragedy is still unfolding, the president warned that the nation must

...promises full support for survivors, grieving families

be prepared for difficult newsinthedaysahead.

“Brace yourself for the comingdays.Itisgoingtobe difficult for all of us” Ali added that he will soon announce the form of national mourning that Guyana will observe in honourofthevictims.

PromisingBerbicecricketerdiesaftercrashingintotractor

The tragic death of a well-known young cricketer hasleftmanyalongtheWest Coast of Berbice in deep mourning.

Ayinde Rogers, age 21, ofLo177‘B’,No.22Village (BelAir),WCB,succumbed to critical injuries he sustainedafterhereportedly crashed motorcar # PWW 2900 into a tractor that was parked along the No. 28 Public Road, Corentyne around12:05amonMonday

Based on preliminary investigations, Rogers was headedwestalongtheNo.28 Public Road allegedly at a fastratewhenhelostcontrol of the vehicle and collided with the front portion of the stationary motor tractor, which was parked on the northernparapetfacingeast. Asaresultoftheimpact,the motor car toppled on the northernparapet.

Rogers suffered injuries about his body due to the collision. He was extracted fromthemangledvehicleby public-spiritedcitizensinan unconscious condition and taken to the Bath Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival byadoctoronduty

Thebodywasescortedto Bailey’s Funeral Home,

where it awaits a postmortemexamination.

Charmayne White, mother of the deceased, told KaieteurNewsthatthetragic incident has devastated her, as preparations are underway to bury her only

c h i l d , w h o w a s a professional cricketer The final mother and son moment, she related, was when he returned home inquiringwhatmealshehad prepared,justabout7:00pm.

“He went out yesterday and he played the cricket match He send me a messageandaskedmewhatI cooked, and he said keep some food for him in a food box, he’s coming to pick it up, ‘I’m going out to lime with them boys and come back, at least by 9',” White recalledhersonsaying.

A c a l l f r o m a n undisclosed individual not

the Achievers Club, plus he plays for the Guyana Defense Force,” White explained.

M o r e o v e r , s h e

longafterconveyedthegrim news.

“Somebody called me and asked where is my location, and I said I’m at home. They asked me if I heardwhatwentwrongwith Ayinde,andIsaidno,andthe young lady told me what transpired.”

Startled, White recalled proceeding to the location wheretheaccidentoccurred.

Asshearrived,sheobserved a crowd gathered, and advancing further, she saw her son lying at the road corner

She confirmed that the vehiclehewasdrivingatthe time belonged to one of his friends.Thegrievingmother sharedtoothatherson’slove of cricket was making inroadsforhim.

“Hehadaprospectgoing forhim,notjustforthelove of it. He normally plays for

highlighted that a strong bond existed between the two.

“We had a lovely relationship. A very loving

relationship All sorts of jokes we make together, all sorts of things we did together I will really miss him.”

PassengersofthesunkenMVBarimastillunaccountedfor

Photos of passengers reported to have been on board the MV Barima. Up to press time, Kaieteur News was unable to independently confirm whether the bodies of these individuals were recovered.

PassengersofthesunkenMVBarimastillunaccountedfor

Govt. sends home MV Barima management team to facilitate probe into tragedy

All staff responsible for the loading, dispatch, and overall management of the MV Barima, under the Transport and Harbours Departmenthasbeensenton leave as the probe deepens intotheunfortunateincident.

The vessel capsized on Saturday evening during its voyage to Port Kaituma.

Bound for Region One by

Sunday afternoon, the 87year-old ferry went down with 133 passengers and crew members, along with 200 tonnes of cargo in the vicinityofIronPunt,anarea known for its notoriously roughanddeepwaters.

Up to the time of this report, 67 persons were rescued while the bodies of 13 passengers have been

recovered.

In a statement early Monday morning, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said the persons relieved from duty “aims to guarantee the absolute integrity of the upcoming inquiry”andwillpreventthe likelihood of “tampering with or interference in evidence and materials,

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill during a meeting with the management team of the MV Barima

unprejudicedoutcome.”

Edghillremindedthatthe decisionwasfirstannounced byPrimeMinister,Brigadier (Ret’d)MarkPhillipsduring a media briefing on Sunday inGeorgetown.

The senior management team of the MVBarima met withministerEdghillduring a late-night meeting on Sunday where they were notified of the suspension and administrative steps movingforward.

M e a n w h i l e , a s investigations continue into the tragic incident it was

explained that surveillance footage from the Kingston Goods Wharf where the vessel departed around 3:15 pmhasbeenextractedbythe Guyana Police Force (GPF) for a thorough review Government believes this is crucial to providing vital insightsintothesequenceof events leading up to the tragedy

The Ministry of Public Works

unwavering commitment to conducting a thorough, transparent, and exhaustive investigation into this tragedy to ensure full accountability

Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, vows to end years of instability

(Reuters) - Andy Burnham became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, pledging to reshape its politics to deliveraneweconomicmodeland revive a nation “fed up” with a revolvingdoorofleaders.

Infrontofdozensofsupporters outside his new office and residence at 10 Downing Street, Burnhamsaidpoliticianshadfailed tobringthestabilityneededtoraise livingstandards,somethinghesaid he would change, with both immediate measures and a longerterm plan to be drawn up later this year.

Speaking without notes, Burnham delivered a domesticfocused speech aimed at offering hopetoanationthathas,likemany European countries, struggled for years with soaring prices and anaemic economic growth. He did nottouchonforeignaffairs.

And with his first appointment as finance minister, Burnham pressedhomehisdecisiontoripup politicsasusual.

He appointed former defence ministerJohnHealeytothesecond most powerful position in Britain, promoting a man who resigned underKeirStarmerinprotestatthe inflexibilityoftheTreasury

“Iknowpeopleathomearefed up with politics. I hear you, and I wanttobehonestwithyou,wehave notbeengoodenoughandweneed to be better,” Burnham said, dispensing with the lectern that primeministersgenerallyuse.

Burnham pledged ‘to use his premiership as a “circuit-breaker

for Britain”, arguing that a new model was needed to rebuild the country,whichhasbeeninpolitical turmoil since voting in 2016 to leavetheEuropeanUnion.

BURNHAM PROMISES 10YEAR PLAN, BUT NOT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS

Just over an hour after his predecessor and Labour colleague KeirStarmerhadmadehisfarewell speech to say “My work is done”, the 56-year-old former Greater Manchester mayor entered Downing Street, where he said his teamwouldtacklehisfirstpriority: toendroughsleeping.

The major challenges will then lieahead.

After unveiling his cabinet — which had become the subject of muchdebateintheLabourParty,he must then tackle a long list of problems ranging from high levels of illegal immigration to underperformingutilityfirms.

A key first decision was Burnham’s choice of Healey as finance minister after Rachel Reeves became one of several Starmer allies to leave the cabinet. Friction in this axis of government has brought down previous administrations.

Healey, 66, resigned from Starmer’s government last month after accusing him of failing to investenoughmoneyinitsmilitary and leaving the country “well short” of what it needed to protect itselfinadangerousworld.

Labour lawmakers welcomed themove,sayingitwouldsignalto U.S. President Donald Trump and

Houthis announce

NATO that Britain was serious about funding defence, and that keeping interior minister Shabana Mahmood in her role would mean shecouldpressonwithherreforms totrytocontrolillegalimmigration.

Energy secretary and former Labour leader Ed Miliband, who had ‘once been considered a frontrunner to become finance minister, was appointed foreign secretary

BREAKING WITH POLITICS OF THE PAST

The departures of several StarmeralliessignalledBurnham’s intent to break with what he describesasthepoliticsofthepast, and usher in a new more agile cabinet to deliver on policy more quicklyandmoreboldly

After being ousted by his own lawmakers a month ago, Starmer stepped aside earlier in the day saying his work as prime minister was “the privilege of my life” and that he wished Burnham every success,with“myfullsupport”.

Burnham did not refer to Starmer in his speech, instead focusing on how he will bring change. But he acknowledged that someofhisprogrammewouldtake time.

In his short address, thin on policy detail, Burnham said he would release a long-term plan for the‘nextdecadewithinmonthsand repeated his pledge to build more public housing and to help bring down welfare spending to fund higher defence investment Opposition parties suggested he would need to win a national

Saudi

Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivers a speech outside 10 Downing Street after taking office, in London, Britain, July 20, 2026. REUTERS/Isabel

election to get a mandate to implementit.

Buthepromisedtounveilmore immediatemeasuresonTuesdayto easeeverydaypressuresonBritons, and explain how he will pay for them.

Speaking to reporters later on Monday, Burnham said he was finalising the details of those measures which he described as “things that people will feel and feelquite`quickly”.

Underlining the sensitivity of Burnham’s plans to the financial markets, sterling slipped and Britishborrowingcostsroseonhis commentthathewouldsticktothe previous government’s fiscal rules although he would look to use any flexibilitywithinthem.

‘KING OF THE NORTH’

Dubbed‘KingoftheNorth’for his dogged defence of the Manchester region’s interests, Burnham received messages of congratulation from foreign

leaders, including European leaderswhocalledforcloserties. His first phone call was with Trump,whenBurnhamsuggesteda visittoManchester.

“The prime minister also underlined his commitment to defence and security,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Burnham had outlined Britain’s commitment to securing the movementofshippingintheStrait ofHormuz

Yetinitially,Burnham’sfocusis verymuchondomesticissues.

Labour lawmakers see Burnham as one of the few figures capable of tackling the threat from veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UKsomething they doubted the unpopularStarmercoulddo.

“Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again,” he said. “The moment we bringbackhope.”

naval blockade, threatening new front in U.S-Iran war

(Reuters) - Yemen’s Iranaligned Houthis said on Monday they would impose a naval blockadeonSaudiArabia,opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond theGulf.

The comes after one of the deadliestperiodsinthewarforU.S. troops. The Pentagon on Monday identified two U.S. soldiers who were killed when Iran attacked an AmericanbaseinJordanonFriday, whiletheyalsosaidtheyhadfound unidentified remains that could be those of a third soldier reported as missing in action. Separately, a fourthservicememberwaskilledin northernIraqduringthe“controlled detonationofunexplodedordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attackdrone.”

After the Houthis announced their blockade, the Saudi-led

coalition in Yemen said in a statement that it would respond to them with force, and also that it began implementing protection measures for its ships moving throughtheBabel-MandebStrait,a keyexportrouteforSaudioilafter theeffectiveclosureoftheStraitof Hormuz.

The Houthis made their announcement despite signs that Tehran and Washington want to resume diplomacy to halt a worseningcycleofattacksthathas all but wrecked a fragile interim agreementsignedlastmonth.Iran’s Foreign Ministry ‘said mediators had presented “proposals” to Tehran, signalling that diplomatic contactsremainactive,butgaveno details.

Oil prices rose briefly after the Houthistatementbutlaterfellback as traders held out hope of a diplomatic breakthrough The insurance cost of shipping goods

through the Red Sea rose on the increased risks for merchant shipping.

Iran had been pressing the HouthistoclosetheBabel-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea if the U.S.

Houthis announce Saudi naval...

Frompage21 armed forces said they were declaring “a maritime embargoagainstthecriminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye’, effective immediately” in response to what they called “an unjust and oppressive siege” imposed onYemenbytheSaudis.

DIPLOMATIC PUSH TO RESTORE CEASEFIRE

A senior Iranian official toldReutersonMondaythat Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire in efforts to salvage the interim deal, intendedtopavethewaytoa lasting agreement to end the war that began on 28 February with U.S.-Israeli attacksonIran.

Neither the ministry nor the official who spoke to Reuters gave any details on the putative ceasefire discussions.

T w o P a k i s t a n i government sources said separately that Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni had asked Pakistan to resume its mediation role in the conflict He later arrived in Islamabad for furthertalks.

The diplomatic push anothernight‘ofU.S.strikes on Iranian cities and attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on U S military assetsacrosstheregion.U.S. Central Command said MondayafternoonU.S.time that it had begun another roundofstrikesonIran.

PresidentDonaldTrump, under mounting political

pressure at home over rising gasolinepricessincethewar began and Iran effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, defended the latest strikes on Iran as honoring the deaths of American service members killed in recentIranianattacks.

“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military,” Trump wrote onTruthSocialonMonday

The war has killed thousands of people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, part of which has been occupied by Israeli forces following attacks on ‘Israel by Hezbollah fighters who said theywereactinginsolidarity withTehran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is due to meet TrumpattheWhiteHouseon Tuesdaytopresentaplanon how to disarm Iran-aligned Hezbollah and secure an Israeliwithdrawal.

Israelalsostillhasforces in Gaza following two years of war ignited by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ attack on southern Israeli communities on 7 October,2023.

HamassaidonMondayit had named top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya as its overallleader,amovethatan analyst said could signal a tougher stance by the group towards calls for it ‘to

disarm.

IRAN SAYS TANKERS

EXPLODED

T h e I s l a m i c

Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers had exploded after attemptingtotransitthestrait via an “unsafe” route. On Sunday, the IRGC had said two ships were involved in an “accident” in the same area. It was unclear whether the two incidents were related.

Reuters could not immediately verify the incident The IRGC statement gave no details about the vessels or any casualties.

Separately, a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile off Oman’s coast, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operationsagencysaid.

InIran,‘explosionswere reportedinTabriz,Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr andBandarImamKhomeini. One person was killed and several wounded southwest of Tabriz, according to state newsagencyIRNA.

The IRGC said it targeted U S aircraft at Jordan’sAqaba airport with ballistic missiles, as well as military assets at Kuwait’s Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base, and positionsinSyria

Sirens sounded in BahrainthroughoutMonday Kuwait’s army said early Tuesday that air defenses were again intercepting Iraniandrones.

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T&T downstream plants uneconomic, says Venezuela analyst

(Jamaica Gleaner) MethanexCorporationhaving to idle its methanol plant in T&T is the latest example of the decline of T&T’s energy industry

This is the view of Dr Einstein MillánArcia, whose consultancy is based in the UnitedStatesandisaVenezuelan energy analyst, consultant and former high-ranking manageratthestate-ownedoil company,PDVSA.

AttheendofJune,Guardian Media reported that Methanex Corporation announced that it will indefinitely idle its Titan methanol plant in T&T after failing to secure a new natural gas contract with the National Gas Company(NGC).

The Vancouver-based company stated that the existing gas supply agreement for the Titan facility, which has a production capacity of 860,000 tonnes per year, ex-

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pires in the third quarter of 2026 and no replacement agreement could be reached.

Methanex’sPresidentand CEO Rich Sumner said the decision was driven by the country’s ongoing gas supply challenges.

Guardian Media also reported that Energy and Energy Industries Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said the door remains open for Methanex to resume operations.

MillánArciabelievesthat thesituationaroundthePoint Lisas Industrial Estate “continues to worsen.”

“As domestic oil and gas production consistently declines, energy feedstock to the industrial complex is not only being scarcer, but increasingly expensive, adversely impacting cash flow performance to most petrochemical facilities in the complex...Titan plant could remain idled in a preserved state in case gas supply conditions favour a restart in the future, although in our opinion it is highly unlikely that the situation improves while Kamla Persad-Bissessar remainsasPrimeMinister.”

He pointed out that as of June 2026, several major methanol and ammonia/urea plantsatPointLisashavereducedorendedoperationsor are currently under controlled shutdown. These include: the Methanex Atlas Methanol Plant, which has been idled since September 2024; the five-plant Nutrien ammonia/urea complex and several of the plants in the Promanfacility

Heidentifiedtheprimary causes as being chronic naturalgassupplyshortages, uneconomic feedstock pricing and NGC contract disputes, amidst a very contested global market, and growinggeopoliticalentropy, particularly with Venezuela, country which happens to be the only realistic short-term option for T&T

He said key exposure to T&T continues being the persistent natural gas supply shortages, and uneconomic

domestic feedstock prices, drivenbydecayingremaining oil and gas reserves, combinedwithupstreamhighlifting and production redevelopment costs, particularly fromverymatureandcomplex deepwater assets.

He also said that gas production has fallen significantly from the ~4.3 Bcf/d reached during late 2009, to recentaveragesof~2.4Bcf/d causing shortfalls for downstream demand and this persistentdeclineindomesticoil and gas production has led to feedstock scarcity, higher manufacturing costs, and reduced petrochemical output.

NEWNORMAL

Millán Arcia argued that “T&T must face its new reality” as the number of mature fieldswithconsistentlyhigher redevelopment costs, especially for deepwater assets, abundantly increases, while making production, industrialisation, and marketed gas, uneconomical.

He expressed pessimism saying that he does not see a turn-around in T&T’s energy sector anytime soon.

“Factually, T&T should not expect this situation to change in the near future, as domestic proven oil and gas reserves deplete, and fresh gas never shows. As soon as gas production peaked in the neighbourhoodof2010,T&T politicianshaveofferedfresh productionornewgasthatso far has not arrived.

“Among these empty offers; the failed offshore deepwater round bids during of 2010-2015, the gas from Shell-Calypso project, the Dragon gas agreement, the 2014,2024naturalgasmaster plans, the Grenada Nutmeg gas field, and now, the projected-to-recover, Moonilal forecast from the maturedeepwater assets and that T&T’s oil output is projected to climb to 74,600 b/d by 2029.”

DARKDAYSAHEAD

In June, Energy Minister Moonilal said negotiations between Methanex and NGC over gas pricing and allocation had failed to produce an

agreement. However, he noted that the company’s decisiontopreservethePoint Lisas facility in a “restartready” condition left room for future operations if gas supply conditions improve.

He also noted that the NGC had successfully concludedgasnegotiationswith more than a dozen downstream operators, although discussions with Methanex broke down over the terms of extending its agreement.

While Moonilal remains optimisticdespitethecurrent challengesfacingtheenergy sector, former energy minister Stuart Young is using the Methanex example as another example of T&T’s energy industry’s decline.

In Facebook post on Wednesday, Young called thelatestdevelopmenta“sad day” for T&T’s energy sector as Methanex commences its indefinite shut down and that Titan is being taken offline. He claimed that this was allowed to happen because of the Government’s inaction.

“This shut down is due to the Kamla PersadBissessar Government’s inability to negotiate commercial terms - incompetent and unsophisticated. The PNM administration managed to get commercial negotiations donefrom2015-2025keeping our gas sector going with jobs, forex earning and benefits to T&T. In less than a year the UNC has destroyed our energy sector.”

GACnamedofficialautomotive...

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GAC brings world-class e n g i n e e r i n g a n d manufacturing expertise, strengthened by more than two decades of producing vehicles through its joint ventures with Toyota and Honda in China. Renowned foritsquality,reliability,and innovation, we are excited for the people of Guyana to discover the brand that has been making waves across

theCaribbean.”

Mikhail Hosein, HSM Motors CEO, added: “This partnership marks an exciting opportunity to introduce GAC to Guyanese consumersandshowcasenot only our award-winning vehicles, but also the confidence and peace of mind that come with purchasing through Guyana’s official GAC dealer, HSM Motors Customers will benefit from the country’s best bumper-

to-bumper warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km, genuineGACparts,factorytrained technicians, and exceptional aftersales support. As we officially launch GAC in Guyana, our commitment extends far beyond selling vehicles. We are dedicated to delivering anownershipexperiencethat reflects the quality, innovation, and reliability engineered into every GAC.”

The 2026 Global Super

Leaguewillonceagainbring together champion teams from multiple cricketing nationsinGuyana,providing a global stage for elite c o m p e t i t i o n a n d unforgettable moments for fans.

GSLConfirms...

Frompage30

Nepal–StyxSports

NewZealand–SkyNZ

Pakistan – A Sports, Tamasha

Pan-Caribbean – Rush Live&Louder

SriLanka–DialogTV

Kitts–ZIZ

Lucia–WinnersTV

Trinidad–CNC3

Tuesday July 21, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You may have endless ideas streaming through your head butlittlepatiencetoseeanyof themthroughtotheend,Aries. Perhaps you're so busy jumping from one thought to thenext.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

It's OK to change your opinion You may pride yourselfonbeingthesolidone who always has an answer or knows exactly where to go. You may look upon others as flaky,indecisive,orfickle.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Youmayfeelastrongneedto express your individuality, Gemini. You don't want to blendintotheherd,unseenas youwalkdownthestreet.You want to be the sheep with the bluewool,thepersonskipping insteadofwalking.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Going with the flow may not necessarily appeal to you today,Cancer Thisisonetime when you may want to be the fish swimming upstream while the school heads downstream.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

There are a few emotional surprises coming your way, Leo. You might act a certain w a y u n d e r n o r m a l circumstances, but today you'reapttotakeacompletely differentroute.

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

You're apt to need emotional freedom. Perhaps you sense that you're being manipulated into feeling a certain way and feel trapped in the situation. You're indeed getting caught upinsomeoneelse'sdrama

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Take inventory of your habits and behaviors, Libra. Look to certain patterns and note the onesthatdoanddon'tworkfor you. You'll more than likely feelanurgetobreakfreefrom repetition.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You may feel smothered by certain individuals and loved ones who hang on you like barnacles on a rock, Scorpio. You're a big part of their emotional support system and theyrelyonyouforstrength.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Youmayendupscaringpeople with your dramatic, emotional outbursts, Sagittarius Your behaviorislikelytobeerratic. The smallest things could set youoffonacrazytirade.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You might surprise a few people with your words and actions, which could seem out of character for you, Capricorn. Don't be surprised if you don't think or act like yournormalself.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You could feel like a giant wrecking ball that's anxious to breakdownexistingstructures. Perhaps you're upset about a new development in your town, the country's political system, or the power structure withinyourhome.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Keep pen and paper close by, and have the number of the patent office on hand. You're apt to come up with some original ideas that could be revolutionary You're likely be more intrigued by gadgets and electronicdevicesthanusual.

GGA/AcadoGuyanadelivers...

Frompage31

theiroutstandingperformancesinthecompetition.

Speaking after the tournament, representatives of the AcadoGuyanaGroupexpressedtheirdelightwiththeevent.

“We are extremely happy to be associated with this highlycompetitiveformofgolfattheWestsideGolfCourse. Itisaninnovativewaytointroducenewplayerstothesport while developing their skills through fun and competitive challenges.”

The tournament was sanctioned by the Guyana Golf Association.PresidentAleemHussainpraisedthecontinued growthofgrassrootsgolfinGuyana.

“Theturnoutwecontinuetoseeweekafterweekatthe WestsideGolfCourseandtheengagementofsomanynew players is extremely heartening. We thank the host course and its dedicated staff—Yosiel, Vianis, Shavana, Anusha, andDave—fortheiroutstandingsupportandcommitmentto growingthegame.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the CPCE Physical Education Cohorts 2024–2026 for donating the

USA&Canada–Willow United Kingdom – ARY

Digital

Rest of the World –

YouTube

“This year’s broadcast lineup reflects just how far the Global Super League has come We’ve deepened our exclusive partnerships in core markets like Australia,NewZealand,the USA and Canada, while opening the door to new fansintheUK,Afghanistan, Malaysia, the Maldives and Bhutan for the first time. Cricket is a global game, and our job is to make sure no matter where a fan is watching from, GSLis easy to find and exciting to follow,” said Sir Clive L l o y d , C h a i r m a n , ExxonMobilGSL

The2026seasonwillsee GSL’s broadcast footprint reach its widest distribution to date, with coverage confirmed across more than 20 territories and additional partnership announcements expected as the tournament approaches.

West Side

High storm...

Frompage29 entire batting order still intact.

Inothersemi-finalgames played,WestSideSecondary beat Woodley Park Secondary by 69 runs after making 115-7, led by Danesar(35).

Laurie (3-7) and Sukhnandan(3-11)werealso amongthetopperformers. Meanwhile, Bush Lot Secondary beat Rosignol Secondaryby61runstoseal theirspotinthefinalsbefore eventually being beaten by the lads from West Side Secondary

supporters—Comfort Sleep, Trophy Stall, Royal Castle Guyana, Madewini Gardens Eco Resort, and Toolsie Persaud Ltd.—whose generous contributions have helped maketheseprogrammespossible.”

The Skills Challenge is part of the Westside Golf Course’s ongoing mission to make golf affordable, accessible,andenjoyableforeveryone.Throughinnovative competitions and beginner-friendly activities, hundreds of newplayershavebeenintroducedtothesportoverthepast year,helpingtostrengthenGuyana’srapidlyexpandinggolf community. The next Skills Challenge and other exciting golf activities at the Westside Golf Course will be announced shortly, with players of all ages and skill levels encouragedtoparticipate.

CouldArgentinafaceactionafterpost-finaltrouble?

BBC Sport - Argentina are likely to face a Fifa investigation following the uglyscenesattheendofthe WorldCupfinal.

Fifa had already begun the process of potential disciplinary action against Argentinawhentheirplayers held a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following the 2-1 semi-final win againstEngland.

After the 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the

Argentina team and

backroom staff were involvedinaltercationswith Spain players as they began tocelebratetheirWorldCup success.

Any player or coach involved in the fracas at the MetLife Stadium could face suspensions, while the Argentine Football Association(AFA)mayalso befined.

It was initially reported by Fifa that Argentina’s Leandro Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic after he pushed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat.

Paredes’ red card was removed from the record shortly afterwards and there is now no evidence of any disciplinary action being takenatthetime.

Argentina had already had one player dismissed, with Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow cardinsecond-halfstoppage time.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee will now await the official match reports beforetakinganyaction.

Whathappenedafterthe WorldCupfinal?

Asthefinalwhistleblew

in New Jersey, a few Argentina playe

including Lionel Messislumpedtotheturf.

Others stood there motionless as Spain’s playersracedacrossthepitch injubilation.Rodri,whohad been substituted in extratime, ran over from the dugout to join his teammates. As the Manchester City midfielder went past N

der appeared to punch Rodri on thearmorstomach.

This was the fuse which ignitedthetrouble.

Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involvedtoo,jabbingGarcia inthethroat.

Unused substitute Gavi triedtointervene,onlytobe forced to the ground by ThiagoAlmada.

Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard’s

face.

Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielderDaniOlmo.

“Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’sface.Hewentfor them,”Alan Shearer said on BBC One’s coverage.

“There is no place or space for that. “We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina.Thereactionafter thefinalwhistleisterrible.”

Joe Hart added: “The game’s done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today Disgustingbehaviour.”

But Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who had attempted to calm down the situation, appeared to play down the incidents in his post-matchinterview

“We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat,” he said.

“Today,weareshowingthat weknowhowtolose.

“We lost the match, and weacceptit,butthatdoesn’t meanwestoplivingorforget everything we did to get here.”

Whatactioncould Argentinaface?

Fifa’s disciplinary committee has a number of optionsopentoit.

It could look to issue three-match bans for violent conduct,butitismorelikely touseitsdisciplinarycodeto givestrongercharges.

Article 13 covers offensive behaviour and the principlesoffairplay

Theactionsoftheplayers and staff could be judged as “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/orFifaintodisrepute”.

The Fifa disciplinary committee takes into account “both aggravating a n d m i t i g a t i n g circumstances”, and it has thepowertoenforcetheban globally

Fifa used this clause to

chargethen-Spanishfootball federation president Luis Rubiales after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’sWomen’sWorldCup finalwinagainstEngland.

Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years in 2023andlostanappealtoget itoverturned.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

It meant the Liverpool player missed the first nine gamesofthePremierLeague season.

It is unlikely that Paredes, Molina and Ayala willfacebansaslongasthis.

The AFA, however, has faced issues with the behaviour of its players in recentyears.

Argentina faced charges related to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct of players and officials” following the 2022WorldCupfinal.

The South Americans beat France on penalties but were criticised for the way theycelebrated.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his Goalkeeper of the Tournament trophy, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star KylianMbappe.

Argentina were fined £18,300 and no action was taken against any player involved.

But Martinez was banned for two games in 2024 for ‘offensive

behaviour’ in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

Martinez repeated his infamouscelebrationusinga replicaCopaAmericatrophy following a 3-0 win over Chile.Fourdayslater,hehit acamerawithhisglovesasa cameraman approached him onthepitchaftera2-1defeat byColombia.

At this World Cup, the AFA is already facing a probable fine for the banner held up after the England game.

Their players celebrated while holding a cloth which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” , which translates as “The Falklands areArgentine”.

In 2014, the AFA was fined £20,000 after its playersheldupabannerwith the same message before a friendlyagainstSlovenia. It is possible that Fifa could issue bans to the playerswhowereholdingit:

Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, former Spurs playerGiovaniLoCelsoand Manchester United’s LisandroMartínez.

After Spain’s 2-1 Euro 2024finalwinoverEngland, their captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri were bannedforonegamebyUefa aftertheychanted“Gibraltar is Spanish” during their victorycelebrations. Sowhencould Fifamakeadecisionon anypotentialcharges?

After the 2022 World Cup final on 18 December, Fifa officially charged Argentinaon13Januarybut it took another month for a decisiontobereached. There will not be a resolutionanytimesoon.

Spain go back to top of FIFA rankings, Morocco reach record high

CWI to honour Kemar Roach’s Historic 300-Test wicket milestone at Kensington Oval

B R I D G E T O W N , Barbados – Cricket West Indies (CWI) will formally honour Barbadian fast bowlerKemarRoachforhis outstanding achievement of claiming 300 Test wickets during the innings break of the fifth One-Day International between the West Indies and New Zealand at Kensington Oval today,Tuesday,July21.

Roach became only the fifthWestIndianandsecond Barbadian to reach the coveted 300-wicket landmark, achieving the milestoneduring the Men in Maroon’swinoverSriLanka inthefirstmatchofthetwotest series held in Antigua.

He joins an elite list comprising Courtney Walsh (519), Sir Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376), and Lance Gibbs (305) The on-field presentationwillseeCricket West Indies joined by representatives of the Government of Barbados and Barbados Cricket Association With free admission being announced in honour of the late Sir Garfield Sobers, Barbadians and cricket supporters are encouraged to fill the stands to show their appreciation for Roach’s historic accomplishment.

CWI President Dr The Hon.KishoreShallowspoke onRoach’sillustriouscareer andopportunityfortheWest Indiescricketfamilyandthe people of Barbados to recogniseoneoftheregion’s moderngreats.

“For the better part of two decades, Kemar has represented the West Indies with distinction, displaying extraordinaryskill,heartand determination every time he haswornthemarooncap.He has been an outstanding ambassador for Caribbean cricket,andaninspirationto generations of young fast bowlers.”

“I am personally heartenedtowitnessaplayer of this generation whose unwavering commitment a n d e x c e p t i o n a l contributions have earned him a rightful place among thelegendsofourgame.On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I once again extend heartfelt congratulations to Kemar on this remarkable achievement. It is a richly deserved honour, and one that reflects the profound impacthehasmadeonWest Indies cricket,” Dr Shallow added.

Since making his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2009, Roach has established himself as one of the finest

generation His 300 Test wickets have come at an average of approximately 28.83 and an economy rate of 3.10, including 12 fivewicket hauls and one 10-

Renowned for his exceptional control, late movement and relentless accuracy, he has enjoyed success in all major Testplaying nations and has consistently led the West Indies attack throughout his

career

In recent years, he has played a pivotal leadership role within the West Indies bowlingunitandremainsan inspiration to aspiring cricketers throughout the region.

Cricket West Indies invites patrons attending the fifthODIatKensingtonOval to remain in their seats during the innings interval and join in saluting Kemar Roach on his crowning achievement.

Parika Defenders claim T20 Over-50 softball trophy against Invaders

ParikaDefenders beatEssequibo CoastbasedteamInvadersbyonewicketinaT20 Over-50 softball match on Sunday at Reliance Sport ground, Essequibo Coast, Region2(Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Invaders took first strike after winning thetossandtalliedupacompetitive154-9at theexpirationofthe20-overs.

Parika Defenders responded with 155-9 withoneballremaining.

Experienced opener UnissYusuf led the way for the visitors with 35 while he got supportfromTeddyManchandwirth25.

Devanand Kannan and Yuvraj Singh added22and19respectively

Wayne Moore grabbed 3-34 from his maximum four overs and Rishie Bishop collecting2-24(04).

Earlier, Fazeer Mohammed hit a topscore for Invaders with 33. Skipper and former Essequibo Senior Inter-County playerLatchmikantNarinestroke33and22

fromEshwarSingh.

ShiekAlliwasthestar-bowlerforParika Defendersnabbing4-31offfourovers.

PersaudandYuvrajSinghalsoaccounted fortwovictims.

At the post-match presentation ceremony, Parika Defenders received a trophyalongwiththerunners-upside.

Yusif was chosen as the best-batter and Alli as the best-bowler Both took home a trophyeach.

Trophies were sponsored by V&J Supermarket of Parika and Layne’s Agri Electronics and Marine Shop of Three Friends,EssequiboCoast.

ManagingDirectorofV&JSupermarket KenrickPersaudthankedtheteamsfortheir participationandexpresseddelighttobeone ofthesponsorsforthegame.

OrganizerWakeel Layne echoed similar sentimentsandinformedthattheywillhave anotherencountersoon.

Guyana’s Dominic Tyrrell sets two national records at SilentWorker Switzerland Meet

Guyana’s top-ranked 83kg

powerlifter, Dominic Tyrrell, recently attended the

SilentWorker Switzerland Meet, held on 18 and 19 July 2026. The competition formed part of the SilentWorker Power Series’ international “Prime Time” team event between Team Viper and Team Runetech. The series describes itself as the first international amateur powerlifting circuit, with the leading lifters from each stage qualifyingfortheseasonfinaleinFrance.

Tyrrellcompletedallnineofhisattempts overthetwodaysofcompetition.Heopened with a 275kg (606lb) squat, setting a new Guyananationalrecordinthe83kgclass.The lift surpassed his previous national mark by 2.5kgandimprovedhiscompetitionpersonal bestby5kg.

He followed with a 170kg (375lb) bench press, another personal best, moving to within 2.5kg of Guyana’s national bench press record, which he hopes to challenge againlaterthisyear

His competition concluded with a 340kg (750lb) deadlift, only 25kg below his lifetime competition best of 350kg. That lift secured a total of 785kg (1,731lb), establishing a second national record by improving his previous Guyana total record by10kg.

It also equaled the largest single-meet improvementofhiscompetitivecareer

Theresultcontinuesanimpressiverunat the international level. Tyrrell represented Guyana at the 2023 IPFWorld Men’s Junior

and Sub-Junior Classic Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where he won the silver medal in the deadlift.At the 2024 IPF WorldMen’sClassicOpenChampionshipsin Lithuania, he claimed bronze in the deadlift with342.5kgandplacedsixthoverall.

He returned to the World Classic Open Championships in Germany in 2025, finishingninthamongforty-twocompetitors inthemen’s83kgdivision.

Aformer national champion in the 74kg class, Tyrrell has set multiple Guyana national records across both weight categoriesduringhiscareer

According to his father, Rev Dr Fitzroy Tyrrell, who provided the information, “His attention now turns to a qualifying competition in Geneva, Switzerland, this October Astrong performance there would secure qualification for a major international championship in 2027, with either the IPF World Classic Open Championships or the South American Championships remaining possible destinations. The final decision will depend onhisformatthetime.Shouldhebelievehe iscapableofcompetingforatop-fivefinishat the World Championships, that will be the priority Otherwise, the South American Championships provide a more practical competitivepathway.”

Tyrrell’s latest performance adds two more national records to an already distinguished career and reflects the steady progress he continues to make on the internationalstage.

GAC named official automotive partner for ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League

GAC is proud to announce its partnership with the Global Super League (GSL) as the Official Automotive Partner for the tournament’s third season, further strengthening the brand’s growing presence across the Caribbean and its commitment to supporting world-classsportingevents.

T

y established itself as one of the region’s premier cricket tournaments, bringing

franchises from around the worldtocompeteinGuyana.

Council (ICC) and Cricket

West Indies (CWI), the tournament showcases elite talent while delivering exciting entertainment to cricket fans across the Caribbeanandbeyond.

A

Automotive Partner, GAC

automotive category rights throughout the competition, with prominent brand

tournament’s broadcast, digital, and in-stadium platforms.

Fans can also expect to see GAC vehicles showcased at the venue, highlighting the brand’s innovative design, advanced technology, and growing modellineup.

The partnership will be spearheaded by HSM Motors, the official GAC dealer in Guyana, with support from Motorworld, GAC’s regional distributor fortheCaribbean.

Dylan Smith (left), Regional Brand and Logistics Director, Manisha Amjad (right), Sales Director at Motorworld and GSL representative Jamie Stewart.

2026 Beharry U19 School's T20 Cricket tournament...

West

Side High storm to Zone 7 crown following weekend of action

Zone 7 crowned new champs this past Sunday following the end of a triple-header day of action at Cotton Tree Ground as two Semi-Finals and the final were hosted at the Cotton Tree Ground,Berbice.

Afterbothteamsgotpasttheir respective opponents in the two semis played earlier in the day, a pairofwinssetthestageforWest Side’ssurgetothezonalcrown.

Bush Lot Secondary could only muster 77-9 after the 20over match was reduced to a 15-

over affair due to weather, with Matthew Sugrim (27) carrying histeamthroughatoughpassage.

The trio of Romel

Sukhnandan (2-3), Kishan Ramroop (2-4) and Ricardo Laurie(2-13)didtheheavylifting for West Side, which went on to score82-1inside11overs.

Half-centurion Ricardo Danesar (54*) took 30-odd balls for his milestone as he and Davendra Samaroo (17*) took theirsidehomewithalmosttheir Continued on page 25

League (GSL).

Together, they will leverage the Global Super League platform to further s t r e n g t h e n G A C ’s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h communities through sport, culture, and shared experiences. As one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing automotive brands, GAC continues to expand its

regional presence while championing initiatives that bringpeopletogether

We l c o m i n g t h e partnership,SirCliveLloyd, Chairman of the Global SuperLeague,said:“Weare delighted to welcome GAC as the Official Automotive Partner of the Global Super L e a g u e G A C h a s demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the Caribbean and shares our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community engagement We look forward to working together

toelevatethefanexperience and continue building the Global Super League into a world-classsportingevent.”

T a r i q A m j a d , Motorworld Chairman, added: “The Global Super League has rapidly become one of the most exciting sportingeventsintheregion, attracting world-class talent and passionate cricket fans from around the globe. We areproudtopartnerwiththe tournament and introduce GAC to Guyana, the 22nd marketintheCaribbean,

Continued on page 25

Man of the Match, West Side High School,

Some of Guyana’s top prospects were a part of a clinic hosted by the GSL and a few of the players this past Sunday at Providence.

Future stars rub shoulders with int’l players as part of mini clinic par 2026 ExxonMobil GSL...

A few of the overseas players having a chat during yesterday’s clinic.

Some of Guyana’s future prospect cricketers rubbed

shoulders on Sunday with a few international stars at the Guyana National Stadium ahead of the upcoming ExxonMobilGuyanaGlobalSuperLeague(GSL),whichbowls offlaterthisweek.

Theyoungstersgainedvitalandfirsthandknowledgeofthe game courtesy of franchise players who will represent the respective franchises namely; GuyanaAmazon Warriors, Perth Scorchers, San Francisco Unicorns, Lahore Qalandars and DesertVipers.

Theonedayclinicfocusedheavilyonthefundamentalsofthe game mostly notably; batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, and fielding.

Speaking with local media, Desert Vipers fast-bowling CoachformerplayerAzharMahmoodlaudedtheconceptofthe GSL while citing his pleasure in being apart of such a tournament.

Mahmood said his players were amped up ahead of the tournament’sstart,addingthatheseestonsoftalentherelocally coupledwithendlesspotential;thecoachbelievedthatsky’sthe limitfortheyoungtalentswhohebelieveswillonedayrepresent theircountryaswellastheWestIndies.

Guyana Amazon Warriors newbie Johnathan Van Lange, who is excited ahead of his first stint with the Warriors, also creditedtheclinicaswellashailingtheoverseasplayersfortheir timespentwiththeyoungercropofstars.

GSLConfirms2026Broadcasters

The ExxonMobil Guyana Global SuperLeague(GSL)hasannouncedits 2026 broadcast lineup, confirming an expanded slate of media partners that willbringthetournamenttoaudiences across the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Asia, the Middle East, NorthAmerica andbeyond.

Building on the momentum of previous seasons, GSL has strengtheneditsfootprintinkeycricket markets while welcoming new partners in territories where the tournament has not previously had dedicated coverage, including the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Malaysia,theMaldivesandBhutan. For all territories not listed below

thetournamentwillbebroadcastonthe Global Super League’s YouTube channelmeaningnomatterwhereyou are in the world you will be able to catchtheaction.

2026BroadcastPartners

–StyxSports

–WinnersTV

Drayton and Khan off to CAC Games in Santo Domingo 2026

FM Anthony Drayton

GGA/Acado Guyana delivers exciting competition at Westside Golf Course Skills Challenge

The Westside Golf Course Skills Challenge, proudly sponsored by the Acado Guyana Group, was a smashing success as first-time and seasoned golfers showcased their precision and distance control in two exciting skills competitions.

The event attracted an enthusiastic field of participants, highlighting the growing popularity of golf in Guyana and the unique, beginner-friendly format offered at the Westside Golf Course.

In the Men’s Division, spectators witnessedathrillingcomebackasFeroz Singh produced an outstanding late performance to claim first place. Rene Hudsonfinishedastrongsecond,while Afrwaz Baksh proudly defended the sponsors’ honour by securing third place.

TheWomen’sDivisionprovedtobe the most dramatic contest of the day Afterseveralplayoffroundstoseparate the competitors, Shavana Ramlakan emergedvictorious,withAnushaSingh

taking second place, Carol Ramroop finishingthird,andNicolaRaghunanan placingfourth.

The Junior Division also produced impressiveperformances,withCzavier Raghunanan capturing first place and EtonRamroopsecuringsecond.

Specialrecognitionprizeswerealso presented to Adrian Savory, JorgeLuis Echevarria , Dave Ramroop, Suraj Singh, Bashur Khan, Sean Ramoutar, RavinNandalallandRobertHosseinfor

Continued on page 25

Master Anthony Drayton and Candidate Master Taffin Khan are off to represent Guyana in the Chess competition of the XXV Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games Santo Domingo 2026 in the Dominican Republic.ThetwoGuyanesechessplayerswillcompeteinthe round-robinformatofRapidandBlitzgamesfromJuly25th to28th,2026,attheChessPavilionoftheJuanPabloDuarte OlympicCenterinSantoDomingo.

FM Drayton and CM Khan, after having qualified last January via a hybrid tournament for the final rounds of the CACChessCompetition,willfacetheirCentralAmericanand Caribbeancounterpartsinstiffcompetitionovertheboardin theAbsolute Category The lineup of countries is Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,Haiti,Jamaica,Mexico,Nicaragua,Panama,Puerto

Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Drayton and Khan, two of Guyana’s most seasoned players, have long been at the forefront of the national and internationalchessscene.Drayton,thereigningNationalBlitz Champion,aimstomakeanimpactontheinternationalstage duringthistournament.Meanwhile,Khan,ahouseholdname in Guyanese chess whose extensive experience speaks for itself,lookstosharpenhisRapidandBlitzskillsattheboards. Followingthisevent,bothplayerswillgearuptorepresent Guyana at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan,thisSeptember.

TheGuyanaChessFederation(GCF)extendsitswarmest wishes to both players for a successful and rewarding tournament. Their participation marks another positive milestone for the growing federation as they join fellow Guyanese athletes from various sporting disciplines competingattheCACGamesSantoDomingo2026.

The GCF wishes to thank the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for sponsoring the players and making theirparticipationpossibleundertheAssociation’sauspices.

For more information on federation membership, upcoming events, and chess programs, visit our official website at guyanachess.gy Be sure to follow the Guyana ChessFederationonFacebookandInstagramtostayupdated onallthelatestlocalandinternationalaction!