Kaieteur News

No ruptured gas pipeline but ‘slight anomaly’ EPA, MARAD say after video evidence surfaces

Gibraltar firm secures rights to half of Guyana's Uranium Project's initial output

Gibraltar-based ROPA Investments Limited has securedtherighttopurchase up to half of the uranium produced during the initial phaseofproductionfromthe Kurupung Uranium Project, under agreements tied to Canadian company U92 Corp.'s acquisition of the assetinGuyana.

The Kurupung Uranium Project spans approximately 92.2 square kilometres in Region Seven and carries a historical resource estimate of 20.6 million pounds of uranium. U92 completed its acquisitionofLIAIndustries earlier this year, giving the Canadian company control ofwhatiscurrentlyGuyana's onlyknownuraniumproject.

Since taking over, U92 has finalised a commercial agreement for an initial 5,000-metre diamond drilling programme, submitted the required environmental application fordrillpadpreparation,and acquired the historical technical and exploration

datasetfortheproject.

According to the acquisition filing, ROPA — oranomineeitdesignates— will retain off-take rights to 50% of the first 40 million pounds of uranium oxide (U3O8) produced from the project, effectively giving the firm an option to purchase up to 20 million pounds from initial production.

T h e o f f - t a k e arrangement stems from a th18 June, 2025 agreement

executed before U92 completed its acquisition of Singapore

based LIA

Industries Pte Ltd , the company that controls the Kurupungprojectthroughits Guyanese subsidiary, LIA (Guyana)Inc.

LIA (Guyana) Inc. was incorporated in Guyana on th20 March, 2023, and holds exclusive rights to occupy and explore the property under two Prospecting Licences issued by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) on

th19 April,2024.Thelicences permit exploration of uranium, other radioactive minerals, and rare earth elements for three years, th ending18 April,2027,with anoptiontoextendforupto two additional one-year

Two men gunned down at Vigilance

Two men were fatally shotatVigilanceSouth,East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Wednesday night, police confirmedonThursday

In a statement to the media, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said ranks attached to Division 4C have launched an investigation into the shooting, which occurred at approximately22:00hrsand claimed the lives of Cordel August, 22, a wash bay attendant of Strathspey, ECD, and Eon Headley, 35, a self-employed resident of VigilanceSouth.

"Initial investigations revealed that the victims were among a gathering of personsatashopinthearea when two males, dressed in black and riding a motorcycle, approached them.Duringtheencounter, the suspects allegedly

Cordel August Eon Headley

dischargedseveralroundsin theirdirection,"policesaid. Both men sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to Enmore Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens, but were pronounceddeadonarrival.

An examination of the bodies confirmed gunshot

wounds as the cause of the injuries. The remains were subsequently taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where they await post-mortemexaminations. Investigations are ongoing, and up to press time, no arrests had been made.

th periods through 18 April, 2029.

The filing notes that any royalty payable to the GovernmentofGuyanafrom future large-scale mining operationswillbenegotiated at the time a mining permit application is made — an application that can be submitted at any point

during the life of the prospectinglicences.

Beyond the off-take rights,ROPAalsoholdsa2% net concentrate royalty (NCR) over the prospecting licences indefinitely, applying to all revenue generated from mineral extraction and sale, as well asanyotherrevenuederived

from the property regardless of whether the licences are eventually converted into mining licences.

U92,however,retainsan option to buy back the royalty in two stages: one percentage point for C$8 million within 36 months of its stock exchange listing, and the remaining point for C$10 million between 36 and50monthsafterlisting.

U92 has described Kurupungasaprojectwitha

resource and a clear path to expansion, positioning it to

demand for nuclear energy ascountrieslooktouranium as a low-carbon power source.

ROPA Investments is a privately backed investment group with capital exposure across more than 26

investments primarily in upstream and midstream minerals businesses and technologies adjacent to the metalsandminingsector

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher:DR.GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Blackmail or the lay of the land

WhatisdevelopingintoEstate-Gatehasrockedcitizens backontheirheels. Ithasopenedeyesandforcedthepeople of this country to decide. President IrfaanAli’s large land holdings and well-populated property are the results of legitimate efforts and the regular leverage provided by commercialloans. Or,thefarmanditnumerousenriching featuresaretheproductofwhatcallsforgenuinescrutiny. We at this paper watch as the back-and-forth evolves betweentheLeaderoftheOpposition(LOO)andGuyana’s head-of-state. We do not make any hasty interpretations. Nordowerushtoanypreconceivedconclusions. Whatwe insist upon, though, is that this land and livestock development (and so much more) be handled in a manner that is aboveboard. In this situation, transparency of the highestordermustbepresent.

There should be a clear and credible inquiry that convinces supporters and denouncers of either side of two componentsinaction,andthattheymeshwell. First,there wasatrustedprocessandbecauseofthatthefactshavebeen uncovered. So,thisiswherethemattersettles.

The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader, now also LOO,AzruddinMohamedhasproducedmanyclearimages. Hehassharedaslateofnumbers,whichcoversfromutilities toconstructiontoamountsforavarietyoflandanimalsand marinecreaturesusuallyrearedforhumanconsumption. Without exception, the line items presented are in the millions, more often in the tens of millions of dollars OppositionLeaderMohamedhungthewordcorruptioninthe air Weatthispaperdonot Notatthistime,hopefullywedo not have to The nation’s president is involved, is now the objectofeyesthatrangefromthesuspicioustothenegative

Did he fairly accumulate all of these assets and his huge farm? Or,istheremoretothisbook,withwhatisprincipled andpositiveinquestion? ThisiswherePresidentAlicomesin, anditisimperativethathegivesthebestaccountingpossible fortheseextensiveassetswithhisnameassociatedtothem

PresidentAli has stated that everything is aboveboard. Fromacreagetolivestocktoaquacultureprojects,hehasthe documents to prove, the bank loans that support. He assertedthathisfarmlandsandallofitselementsareapartof cleanvisionandhonestwork. Thereisnothingthatprohibits the president, or a government minister (as he was then), from having a plot of farmland and the grazing stock that complementsuchpastoralinterests.

Butwhenacitizenholdstheportfolioofaminister,one whoisnowthenationalleader,thereissignificantanswering that is expected by citizens. Even more heavily so, when therearemanyGuyanesewhoareforcedtowaitpatientlyfor yearsforapieceofland. Apieceoflandtostarttheprocess ofbecomingafirst-timehomebuilder Asmallhouselotthat is the tiniest of fractions when compared to the land now ownedbyPresidentAli.

PresidentAlihasrespondedviathemediatoOpposition Leader Mohamed’s claims. President Ali must do more. One of the places that he should think twice of going is “blackmail.” Heshouldallowhisownershipofthoselands, hisloandocuments,hisothersupportingmaterials,testifyto hiscredibility Lettheprocessesandpracticesthatmadethis portfoliobeatthelevelthatitis,behisproof.

Instead of relying on the not-so-robust defense of “blackmail”,PresidentAliemergesfromwhatappearstobea tightcornerasaknightinshiningarmor Andonewithahalo aroundhishead Thepresidentoughttobeawarethatpublic figures cannot risk taint, not even a whiff of it His best defense,therefore,istogatherwhatbackshisrepresentations in the media, and present them for the deepest and fullest scrutiny

It is our position that assertions of blackmail leaves PresidentAliwrongfooted,pusheshimtothedisadvantage of retreating. The president is a leader who is usually a bundleoffireandenergywhenhehashisteethlockedonan issue. He must be even more energetic amidst these developmentsabouthisfarm.

Full public disclosure needed on Pres. Ali’s agricultural enterprise

DEAREDITOR,

President Ali was assigned by CARICOMin2022toleadtheregional effort to reduce the Community’s food importbillby25%by2025.Thattarget was not achieved, and CARICOM has sinceshiftedthehorizonto2030.

Earlier this year, in the first budget ofhisAli’ssecondterm,theMinisterin the Office of the President announced the permanent removal of corporation tax on income from agriculture and agro-processing.Noonecanaccuseour enterprising President of failing to embrace the region’s agricultural ambitions. If anything, he appears to havetakentheassignment,shallwesay, abittoopersonally

Indeed,whiletherestofCARICOM struggled to reduce the region’s food import bill, our President was apparently busy reducing his own dependence on an extravagant presidential salary He was quietlyvery quietly - diversifying both the economy and, it would seem, his own income base. So quietly, in fact, that it took a lifelong friend and party financier, Azruddin Mohammed, to revealthescaleoftheenterprise.

The achievements are impressive. Import substitution through herds of Blackbelly sheep from Barbados and halaalcattlefromBrazil;eradicationof the contraband import of chickens replaced by fattened birds from the Presidential Hatchery; bringing some 150 acres of idle land into productive use; and demonstrating that, in agricultureaselsewhere,someanimals aremoreequalthanothers.

Thisissurelyacasestudywaitingto bewritten.TheUniversityofGuyana’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation could hardly ask for a better illustration of entrepreneurial achievement The finance faculty might even consider a

companion course: Building a MultiBillion-Dollar Enterprise While Holding One of the Most Demanding PublicOfficesintheCountry

President Ali often speaks of making Guyana “world-class.” On that score, he may already have succeeded. It is no ordinary feat to lead CARICOM’s campaign to expand regional agriculture while simultaneouslyfindingthetime,energy and business acumen to develop what has become the country’s most talkedaboutprivateagriculturalenterprise.

Thisisnosmallfeat.InFact,Alihas now won for Guyana its first ever gold medal in multitasking an equivalent of Trump’sPeacePrize.

As he waves proudly to his friends, family and favourites before ascending thepodium,herecomesthecrèmedela crème of the Guyana press to ask our dearly beloved president to reflect on his incredible achievements in such a short time, on a fixed salary that is so low that Parliament decided to make it tax-free.

As the applause dies away and the President prepares to mount the podium, the Guyana press corps edges forward.

“Congratulations, Mr President Before you celebrate your remarkable achievements, the Guyanese people wouldlikeyoutohelpthemunderstand justhowyoudidit.

1.Mr President,weunderstandthat you acquired twenty acres of land during the Jagdeo presidency Under whose administration did you acquire theremaining130acreswhichtogether comprise your agricultural enterprise, and what process was followed in makingthemavailabletoyou?

2 Were all the environmental approvalsobtainedbeforedevelopment commenced,andwillyoupublishevery permitissuedinrespectoftheproject?

3.CanyouassureGuyanesethatno Government agency gave your enterpriseanytreatmentthatwouldnot have been available to any other farmer?

4 Your government has permanently removed corporation tax on agriculture and agro-processing. Givenyourownsubstantialinterestsin thatsector,didyoudeclarethatinterest and absent yourself from any discussionsleadingtothatdecision?

5.What is the estimated tax benefit that your enterprise will enjoy because ofthatmeasure,anddoyouacceptthat many Guyanese will regard the timing as, at the very least, remarkably convenient?

6. Your explanation is that the project was financed by bank loans. Willyouauthorisethepublicationofthe loan agreements so that the public can judgethematterforitself?

7.Willyoualsopublishthefinancial statements of the enterprise, together with evidence that all taxes, NIS contributions and other statutory obligationshavebeenfullydischarged?

8 Mr President, you have repeatedlyaskedGuyanesetotrustyou. Given the controversies that have followed you throughout your public career,doyouacceptthatmanycitizens believe trust now requires independent verification rather than personal assurances?

9.Finally,Mr President,ifyouhave nothing to hide, will you today announce an independent Commission of Inquiry with full powers to examine every aspect of this enterprise, and to publishitsfindings?

Thank you, Mr President. Enjoy your medal, and the vast opportunities offortuneandfamefromyourthankful andappreciativecountrypeople.

Regards, ChristopherRam

Development must serve the people whose labour built this country

DEAREDITOR,

ThestateofworkersinGuyanatoday cannotbeexaminedinisolationfromthe actions of successive governments, particularly the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, which came to office promising to put Guyanesefirst

When the PPP sat in opposition, it arguedthatonlyitpossessedthecourage and political strength to renegotiate the widely perceived lopsided ExxonMobil oilcontract Itpersuadedthenationthata PPP government would ensure that Guyana’soilwealthbenefiteditspeople and that Guyanese workers would no longer be spectators in their own economy Many workers believed those promises

Long before oil production began, the trade union movement warned that Guyana needed a new development framework one that protected Guyanese interests, guaranteed opportunities for local workers and businesses, and ensured that the

country’s natural resources translated intomeaningfulbenefitsforitscitizens

Throughout the A Partnership for NationalUnityandAllianceforChange (APNU+AFC) administration, the GuyanaTradesUnionCongress(GTUC) and its affiliated unions consistently maintained that Guyana’s emerging oil wealthmustfirstandforemostbenefitits people That position has remained unchanged under successive PPP/C administrations, with the GTUC continuingtopressforlocalcontentthat goes beyond contracts and procurement to guarantee decent work, trade union representation, collective bargaining rights,skillsdevelopment,andequitable participationbyGuyaneseworkersinthe country’soileconomy

Today, we must ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Have those promisesbeenfulfilled?

Across the country, we have witnessed Guyanese-owned businesses, many operated by citizens whose families built this nation over

generations, disappear from the commercial landscape Along the East Coast Demerara corridor and in other communities, properties once occupied by local businesses are now rented to persons who have come here to do business

Instead of implementi

programmes to strengthen local

entrepreneurs have found themselves pushed to the margins of the economy

Weareconfrontingapainfulrealityasto whether Guyanese are being afforded a fair opportunity to participate in the economyoftheirowncountry Thesame concernexistsintheoilandgassector

Severalyearsafterfirstoil,Guyanese workers employed in the petroleum sector remain without meaningful trade union representation The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) remains the only union to have successfully gained a foothold in theindustry,undertakingsustained Continued on page 6

The Corentyne River Bridge: Conflicting statements represent a serious breakdown in diplomatic trust

DEAREDITOR,

A New and United GuyanaANUG- views the conflicting statements from the Presidents of Guyana and Suriname regarding the Corentyne River Bridge, represents aseriousbreakdownin diplomatic trust, with significant political and financial consequences and corrosion of publictrustforbothnations.

BACKGROUND

Initially, (2022), both countries agreedtoa50/50costsplitandboth countries agreed to pursue independent loan agreements/ terms, to finance the US$236 million bridge In the 2025

ed GY$5 b

llion (approximatelyUS$24Million)for the continued engagement of this project as it sought external f

ancing How

, the Government of Suriname changed handsinMay,2025.Coulditbethat the new Surinamese government a

l dimensions that were previously overlooked/ glossed over and decided that current agreement is less beneficial to Suriname? Was this 2022 contractual agreement inked and, therefore, binding, with consequences if either party reneged?

If so, what happens now to “sanctityofcontract”(ahackneyed expression that Guyanese are all too familiar with)? Will the 2 governments find a common middlegroundtoworkwithorwill their obstinacy (principled or unprincipled) derail this 2022 bridgeinitiative?

COREFACTSOF THEDISPUTE

·Suriname’sPosition:President JenniferGeerlings-Simonsandher governmentclaimthatGuyanawas informedofthedecisiontofinance the bridge unilaterally during multiple meetings, including a virtual one on 15th May,2026, and that discussions included the intention for Suriname to take sole responsibilityforfinancing.

Guyana’s Position: President Irfaan Ali maintains he has not r e c e i v e d a n y o ff i

communication on a change to the joint framework Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists that the May 15, meeting was focused on flood relief assistance for Suriname, and that no bridge financingdiscussionsoccurred.

POLITICAL&FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS

Trust Deficit: This is the most immediate casualty Accusations of unilateral decision-making and a

lack of transparency will poison bilateral relations, making future cooperation difficult As one editorial noted, this is part of a “pattern” of Suriname making decisionsthatdisadvantageGuyana

Project Delays & Costs: Suriname’s Minister Tsang acknowledged that solo financing would “effectively reset the project’s timeline”. What will becomeofthe2022,$1MillionUS, that Guyana co-funded/ paid to WSP Caribbean Limited for the Feasibility Study and Design for thebridge?Delaysmeanescalating constructioncosts.$US236million Additionally, does Guyana risk losing its GY$5 billion budget allocation if the project proceeds withoutitsinput.

StrategicVulnerability:Abridge built and operated solely by Suriname could crea

“monopoly” that “holds Guyanese hostage”.Thisconcernisamplified by long-standing grievances over tariffsonGuyanesecargoandprior incidentsinsharedwaters.

Regional Implications: This public disagreement undermines the spirit of regional integration that CARICOM promotes and embarrasses both nations on the internationalstage. WHOISTRUSTWORTHY?A

LOOKATTHECLAIMS.

The available information does not conclusively prove who is lying, but it reveals a fundamental disagreement about protocol and procedure. President Ali’s position hinges on the legality of formal, documented diplomatic communication, which he says he has not received. He appears to view parliamentary remarks as a “public statement” rather than officialstate-to-statepolicy.

President Geerlings-Simons’ government may have discussed their intentions during meetings, but the Guyana government has arguedthatthisdoesnotconstitute aformalproposal.

HOWSHOULDGUYANESE CITIZENSREACT?

1 Demand Clarity: Citizens shouldcallonbothgovernmentsto release the official minutes of the meetings in question (particularly the May 15, virtual meeting) to establish exactly what was discussed.

2 Scrutinise Actions, Not Just Words: ANUG reiterates that Guyanese should observe whether Suriname moves forward with a new tender process, as this would beaconcreteactiondemonstrating intenttoproceedunilaterally

3 Guard Against Partisanship:

ANUG implores all political parties to resist reducing this to domestic political point-scoring. Treat this as a national issue requiring a unified response from all Guyanese stakeholders to protect national sovereignty and economicinterests.

4. Assess Existing Grievances: ANUG urges acknowledgementof the broader context of trade imbalances and historical disputes that have fuelled suspicion, and evaluate this bridge dispute as a symptom of a deeper relationship problem.

Editor, in summary, the information available does not allowadefinitivejudgmentofwho is lying, but it does highlight a dangerous diplomatic breakdown rootedincompetingclaimsofwhat wassaidversuswhatwasformally agreed. For Guyanese citizens, the priority should be to insist on transparency and demand their government protect national interestsinany ANUG is hoping that dogged diplomatic mediation will rectify thisimbrogliotherebyengendering a win-win outcome for both nations.

Sincerely,

JonathanSubrian ActingChairman,ANUG

GWI’s statement is irresponsible, callous and dangerous – water 630 times safe limit

DEAREDITOR,

Upon reading the 5th July, 2026 edition of THE 5 9 2 G U A R D I A N summarising the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) 2025 findings on drinking water quality in Regions 4, 7 and 10, I was embarrassed and astounded by the Guyana Water Inc’s (GWI)statementreportedin the 3rd July, 2026 Kaieteur News article that “Water quality issues flagged by PUCaffectonlytaste,colour andappearance,notsafety”. True to the Govt’s code ofconduct,GWIattemptsto deceive the people, not only by leaving out the actual measurements that would make it impossible to back up their ludicrous claim, but also insultingly tells the people not to believe the coffee coloured water they seewiththeirowneyes.This GWI statement is nothing but irresponsible, callous and dangerous to the people’shealth. This issue is close to homeforyourstruly,sinceI happen to be one of the 11 Engineers specially trained by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)toestablishandrun the GWI (originally GUYWA) initiated in 1972; so, knows first-hand of the world class WaterAuthority handed over to the PPP/C Govt in 1992, only to see it descend to this abyss of

incompetenceandneglectof itssacredmandatetoprovide reliable,cleanandsafewater to the public. Instead, the people are heartlessly advised that it is no big deal forthemtodrinkwaterthatis periloustotheirhealth,while certainly not the same water consumed by Govt officials andtheirfamilies.

In a normal country, it would have been an oxymoronforacountrytobe dubbed “the land of many waters” with “water, water everywherebutnotadropto drink” (Poet Samuel Coleridge).

The data analysis and facts – Human beings can survive without oil, electricity, etc., but never

without water! A safe water supply is guided by scientificallydevelopedsafe standards and undoubtedly the most essential substance for the sustenance of human life Consequently, let’s address the three contaminantshighlightedby the PUC that falls out of the rangeofsafestandards.They are:pH,turbidityandiron.

pH–ThepHscaleranges from 0 to 14 with lower pH values corresponding to higheracidity However,itis most important to note that the pH scale is logarithmic andnotlinear,meaningeach unit change represents a 10fold change in acidity For example, a pH of 4 is 10 times more acidic than a pH

of 5, and 100 times more acidic than a pH of 6. This means that the 3 7 pH measured at Linden is 630 times more acidic than the World Health Organization (WHO)safepHlimitof6.5. Highly acidic water at 630 times the safe limit is corrosive and can dissolve toxic heavy metals, such as copper and lead from the plumbing lines, which wind up in your drinking water

Ingesting these metals can cause serious health problems such as cancer, stroke, kidney disease, memory loss, high blood pressure, reduced bone

density, etc. It is more toxic forchildren,astheirgrowing bodies absorb these metals muchquicker Further,water withahighacidityhaslikely not gone through proper filtration and may still contain pollutants like pesticides and chemicals making the water unsafe to drink.

Turbidity – As clearly defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water, and the higher the levels the more particles (whichcarrythepollutants)

Continuedonpage6

WIN excluded, but PPP allies dominate Constitutional Reform Commission

DEAREDITOR,

I write to express deep concern regarding the compositionandsuitabilityof the Constitutional Reform Commission as it is currently comprised For a constitutional entity to be legally and properly constitutedfollowingachange

in the substantive representation of stakeholder bodies,itmustformallyamend its governing documents, and notify the nation of the new structure Any deviation from this process risks being perceived as disregarding the willofthepeopleasexpressed inthe2025GeneralElections.

The Honourable Minister ofLegalAffairs,Mr Mohabir Nandalal, has apparently instructed the Commission to proceed with its work on the basisthatitremains“properly constituted” With highest of respect to the honorable gentleman,thispositionraises serious legal and procedural questions The 2025 election results delivered a clear mandate: the WIN Party secured16seatsandbecame the largest opposition bloc, while APNU obtained 12 seats Under Act No. 16 of 2022, the Constitution Reform Commission Act, 2022,five (5) seats on the

twenty-one-member

C o m m i s s i o n w e r e designatedfortheopposition parties . These seats were occupied by Mr. Vincent Alexander, Mr Sherwood Lowe, Mr Ganesh

Mahipaul, Mr Nigel Hughes, and Mr Timothy Jonas.

U n d e r t h e n e w parliamentaryconfiguration,it is submitted that the WIN Party is entitled to three seats ontheCommission,reflecting its popular support, while APNUisentitledtotwoseats (seecomputationbelow)

I note that Mr Nigel Hughes has done the honorable thing and since resigned his position following his party’s poor electoral performance It would also be appropriate for Mr TimothyJonastosimilarly step aside, having resigned from his party, which did not

takepartinthe2025elections

Likewise,APNU cannot now claim three seats when the electorate has granted them only two, and they must make a choice among their representatives.

Furthermore, the composition of civil society representatives on the Commission raises legitimate concerns MrAslimSingh,the l a b o u r m o v e m e n t representative, has accepted a contractual position as Chief Labour Officer under the Minister of Labour and thereforenowacreatureofthe PPP Mr Aslim Singh is no longeramemberoftheTrade Union Movement executive. Therefore,Mr Singhcanno longer be considered a bona fide representative of the labourmovement.

With respect to the HonourableJusticeKimKyteThomas,hercontinuedservice on the Commission as the women’srepresentativewhile also holding judicial office presents a fundamental integrity issue A constitution she helps to create may one day come before her for interpretation This dual role undermines the separation of functions and is inconsistent with the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles, which safeguard the independence, impartiality, and competence of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law It is respectfully suggested that the Chancellor (ag), the Chief Justice (ag), and the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission should address this matter with her directlyandurgently

Questions also arise regarding Dr Josh Daniel Kandhai, who has reportedly been appointed as a contractual Regional Executive Officer for Region No 7 On what basis was he selected as the youth representative? His presence raises concerns about the independence of the Commissionsinceheisnowa formalcreatureofthePPPand cannot be the voice of all the youthsofGuyana. As a Hindu, I must ask:

GWI’s statement is irresponsible...

was there a National Pandits Council and Hindu Religious Leaders Conference that met to allow the Hindu leaders of Guyanatogatherandtoelect Mr R K SharmaastheHindu representative?Asapracticing Hindu, I have consulted several pandits and they all madeitcleartheywerenever consulted and they do not recogniseMr R K Sharmaas their Hindu representative. So who really is he representing? Another PPP stooge? I am not convinced herepresentsthemajorityof Hindu voices in the country Why was a figure from the larger Hindu body like the Dharmic Sabha such as Pandit Dr Deodat Persaud notputforward. Whatabout an active legal mind in the form of Pandit Rodley Mathoo from the Maha Sabha or Pandit Madana Rampersaud,aLawyer,who is part of the Hari Krishna Movement? The Hindu community is not short of talented legal minds and thereiscertainlynoneedfor Mr.R.KSharmatosquatas theirrepresentative.

Finally,theappointmentof MinisterKeomaGriffithasthe Christianrepresentativeraises similar concerns, so comical thatthejokeisnowonusthe Guyanesepeople.

In conclusion, by excludingtheWINPartyfrom the constitutional reform process,thegovernmentrisks sending an anti-democratic signal to the citizens of Guyana that they have no intention to be inclusive, to build consensus, to respect constitutional conventions, or to maintain the checks and balancesessentialtoacredible constitutional amendment process

If the process is perceived as unfair, the resulting constitution risks means that there can be a courtactionthatwillserveas another embarrassment to this country at the CCJ similartotheAPNUs’efforts when they were trying to thwarttheelectionsresultsin 2025.

The most robust constitutionalamendmentsare products of inclusive processes that allow diverse views to be heard I respectfully suggest that the WIN Party consider seeking animmediateinjunctiontohalt this process until the Constitutional Reform Commissionreflectsafairand reasonable representation of allofGuyana Asitstands,the Commissiondoesnot

Sincerely, SurujdaiJuglall

Frompage5 arepresent.Itisusedtoindicatewaterquality and filtration effectiveness (such as whether disease-causing organisms are present) and higherlevelsareassociatedwithhigherlevels of disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses,parasitesandsomebacteria.”

Notwithstanding that one doesn’t need a measurementtoverifytheobviousthatcoffee coloured water at Grove means extremely high turbidity, the actual measurement of 29 times the US EPA and WHO limits plainly pointsoutthegravehealthriskofconsuming such water that may indicate presence of disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses, parasites and some bacteria Substantively, owing to constant flooding, flood water with disease-causing microorganisms from latrines, septic tanks, manholes and pipes transporting raw city sewage, will most likely leak into the drinkingwaterpipenetwork;thus,testingfor the presence of these microorganisms must be conducted, especially during and after floods.

Iron–Thoughatahighlevelof3.35mg/l, or 11 times the WHO guideline, high iron content is not a major health concern, and highlevelsareexpectedfromtheupperofthe

two major aquifers supplying Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara. However, high iron levels may create operational and cosmetic problems, staining plumbing fixtures,sinks,dishes,andlaundrywitharust colour; and can build up inside pipes, reducingwaterflowandcloggingappliances likedishwashersandwaterheaters.

Consideringtheabove,isthenationledto believe that like the Guyana EPA, and the GWI has become devoid of technically qualifiedprofessionalstoadviseagainstsuch statementsthatputthepublicatserioushealth risk?

IhopethismissivewillimploretheGWI to immediately do the right and responsible thingtoapologeticallyretracttheiradviceto consumesuchunsafewater,andtofollow-up withurgentactionstosatisfyitsonlymandate to provide the nation with mankind’s most precious substance and basic need for a safe water supply, especially in a nation with the highestGDP Inthemeantime,Ihumblywish todissuadethepublicfromfollowingGWI’s inexplicably advice that the water is safe, despiteitsirrefutablescientificindicationsof beinghazardoustohumanhealth.

Sincerely,

Dr.VincentAdams

Development must serve the...

Frompage4 efforts to organise workers and secure recognition as their bargaining agent. Those efforts, pursued while Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton had responsibility for industrialrelations,ultimatelyfailedafterthe Trade Union Recognition Board—whose membershipincludesgovernment-appointed andtradeunionrepresentativesandwhichthe union says is aligned with the People’s ProgressiveParty/Civic(PPP/C)—refusedto grant recognition, effectively denying workerstherighttocollectivebargaining.

Employershavechanged.Contractshave changed.Companieshaveenteredandexited the industry But the fundamental issue remains the same—workers still lack the collective voice necessary to protect their rights in one of the richest industries in Guyana’shistory

Equallytroublingistheincreasinguseof foreign labour under conditions that raise seriousquestionsaboutlabourstandardsand enforcement.

Workers are being brought into Guyana and, in some instances, are reported to be working without proper safety helmets, safetybootsandotherprotectiveequipment. Thisisbiggerthantheissueofwagesalone.It is about the conditions under which people are employed. It is about ensuring that no employer is permitted to exploit vulnerable workers while simultaneously undermining the wages and employment opportunities of Guyanesecitizens.

When employers can recruit workers prepared—or forced—to work under poor conditions and for lower wages, it creates downward pressure on labour standards for everyone. That is not in the interest of Guyaneseworkersorforeignworkers.Every worker deserves fair wages, safe working conditionsandrespectforthelaw,whichare often ignored, or when enforced only to the benefitofaselectedfew,notall.

The trade union movement must therefore intensify its efforts to organise workers under the realities of today’s economy We cannot continue relying on organising models developed in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s while expecting to

confrontthechallengesofarapidlychanging global economy The world, workplace and theeconomyhavechanged.Thetradeunions mustalsochange.

New industries require new organising strategies.Oilandgas,construction,logistics and emerging sectors cannot remain outside effective worker representation while billions of dollars are generated from Guyana’snaturalresources.

Workers also have a responsibility Too often, warnings from the trade union movementhavebeendismissedorportrayed as being against development or against the national interest. We were told that raising concerns about labour rights, local content and the protection of Guyanese businesses wassomehowinimicaltoprogress.Timehas exposed the consequences of ignoring those warnings.

Many Guyanese businesses have disappeared Many Guyanese workers continue to struggle for meaningful employment while foreign labour expands. Thecostoflivingcontinuestoriseevenasoil revenues flow into the country at unprecedented levels. This is not the future, workerswerepromised.

The wealth generated from Guyana’s oil mustimprovethelivesofGuyaneseworkers first. Development cannot be measured solely by economic growth statistics or impressive infrastructure. It must also be measured by whether workers enjoy secure jobs, fair wages, safe workplaces and the protectionoftheirrights.

The labour movement cannot remain silent. Nor can workers remain divided.The time has come for workers to organise, to standtogetherandtoinsistthatdevelopment serves the people whose labour built this country Ifwefailtodoso,weriskcreatinga Guyana where our people become strangers in their own economy—watchingprosperity pass them by while others determine their future.

Workers have always been the architects of progress. Now they must become the defendersoftheirownfuture.

Sincerely,

LincolnLewis

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

Guyana's Gold

Guyana's gold is disappearing at record speed while the nation is left clutching promises instead of prosperity. Foreign mining giants arrive with massive machinery, rip apart mountains, poison rivers, scar forests and haul away fortunes.

Guyanese inherit the environmental destruction and the bill for rehabilitation. This is no balanced partnership; it is exploitation wrapped in the language of investment. Every ounce of gold exported is a permanent loss from the nation's inheritance. Yet royalties remain inadequate, value-added industries are scarce, technology transfer is negligible and mining communities continue waiting for meaningful development.

A country blessed with immense mineral wealth should negotiate from a position of strength, not surrender. Foreign investment has a place, but only on terms that guarantee fair returns, environmental accountability and lasting national benefits. Guyana must stop giving away its patrimony and start protecting the wealth that rightfully belongs to its people.

GT Council must be proactive in reclaiming city roads, lands or risk losing valuable assets -FormerMayor

The Georgetown Mayor andCityCouncilneedstobe moreproactiveinreclaiming control of roads and prominentlandsunderthreat of takeover, or risk losing these valuable assets permanently, former City Mayor Pandit Ubraj Narine haswarned.

In an invited comment with Kaieteur News, Narine saidhehastakennoteofthe issue and the Council's apparent reluctance to act.

"I'mnotsurewhythey'renot being more proactive, but

this is not something the Council should drag its feet about,"hesaid.

According to the former Mayor, the Council is well withinitsrightstochallenge the central government in courtoveranymovetoseize roads or land under municipalcontrol.

"First,letmesaythatthe Carifesta Avenue property was a gift to the Council for thecitizensofGeorgetown.I saw a copy of the transport myself when I was there duringmytimeasMayor—

itwasinthepossessionofthe Town Clerk So, the government's takeover of that land should be challenged in court," Narine said.

He noted that the Water Street property, which once housed the training school for the City Constabulary Department, is also under threat of takeover by the central government The Council, he said, should move swiftly to resist such action, which he argued undermines core principles

oflocalgovernance.

Narine said similar urgencyisneededtostopthe government's takeover of city streets, explaining that the roads are a key revenue source for an already cashstrappedcouncil.

"Itisthereforesurprising thatamatterhasnotyetbeen filed in court I don't understand the reluctance of the Council in safeguarding theassetsoftheCouncil,"he said, before urging the Council to act urgently "If they don't, they risk losing

the valuable asset," he warned.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council has publicly condemned the takeover as an act of "bullyism"aimedatstarving the municipality of muchneeded funds. In an earlier statement, City Mayor Alfred Mentore described it as "a calculated act of political intimidation and overreach, designed to destabilise the Municipality and silence the voices of the peopleofGeorgetown."

Hevowedthecitywould takethegovernmenttocourt over the "unlawful takeover."However,months have passed since that pledge, and Kaieteur News hasrepeatedlyreachedoutto Mentore for updates on the legal move with the mayormaintainingonlythat thematterisbeing"carefully studiedbylawyers."

Since March, the central government, through the Ministry of Public Works,

Soesdyke

hasgazettedordersstripping t h e G e o r g e t o w n municipality of authority over 57 key revenuegenerating corridors — 22 streetsgazettedonMarch21, followedbyanadditional35 onMarch24.

Earlier this year, the Council also raised objections after the government announced that aQatariinvestorwouldbuild a dual-branded Hilton hotel on CarifestaAvenue — land historically under municipal control The Mayor and Councillors had vowed to challengethatmoveincourt aswell.

woman killed in head-on collision at Coverden

A 49-year-old Soesdyke womanisdeadandtwoother people are in critical condition after a head-on collision on the Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Wednesday evening Dead is Cheryl Skeete of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.Police said theaccidentoccurredaround 18:45hrsandinvolvedmotor car PAM 2468, driven by a 44-year-old man of Coverden, and motor car PAM 6733, driven by another49-year-oldwoman.

Initial investigations indicatethatPAM2468was heading north along the westernlaneoftheCoverden Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed behind motorcarPYY615,whenits driverattemptedtoovertake and collided head-on with

PAM 6733, which was travelling south in the easternlane.

Both vehicles sustained extensive damage, and all three occupants were injured, including Skeete, a passengerinPAM6733.

Skeetewasexaminedby Emergency Medical Techniciansandpronounced deadatthescene.Thedriver of PAM 6733 had to be extractedfromthewreckage by the Guyana Fire Service and was taken to the DiamondRegionalHospital, whereherconditionislisted ascritical.ThedriverofPAM 2468 was also hospitalised; hisconditionisdescribedas criticalbutstable.

Skeete's body has been taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for a postmortemexamination.

Whenisareputationworthmillion?

I must confess to being more than a little surprised by the quantum of compensation that has been awarded in some libel cases inGuyana.Onmorethanone occasion, I have found myself asking, “Can a person’sreputationreallybe injured to the extent that it deserves compensation running into millions of dollars?

That question naturally leadstoanother Howdoesa court determine how much of a person’s reputation has actually been damaged?

Unlike a broken arm or a damaged vehicle, reputation cannot be measured with a ruler or assessed by a medical examination or by costofreplacementofparts. It is invisible. And people rarely announce that they now think less of someone because of something they haveread

Inasmallsocietysuchas Guyana, how great can be reputational damage when the reach of the offending publication is limited and sometimesverysmall?How, alsodoesacourtdecidewhat is fair compensation when the damage is to something as intangible as one’s good name?

Fortunately, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) addressed these very issuesinGlennLallv Walter Ramsahoye. Although the Courtultimatelyrestoredthe trial judge’s award of G$4.5 million, its real contribution lies in explaining the legal principles that govern

reputationalinjury

TheCourtbeganwithan important proposition. The purposeofdamagesinalibel case is not to punish the newspaper or publisher.The objective is to compensate the victim for the injury to his reputation and feelings while publicly vindicating hisgoodname.

I n d e t e r m i n i n g reputational injury, the CCJ explained that courts examine several factors

T

allegations Were they merelyinsulting,ordidthey accuse s

e of dishonesty, corruption or professionalincompetence?

In that case, the Court also observed what was not proved There was no

Ramsahoye had lost patients There was no evidence of financial loss. There was no psychiatric evidencethathehadsuffered seriouspsychologicalinjury Nor was there evidence that hisprofessionalstandinghad actually declined after the publications.

That distinction is important.Whereaclaimant seeks larger compensation based upon actual financial or professional loss, those losses must ordinarily be proved.

A n o t h e r f a c t o r consideredbytheCourtwas

the conduct of the defendants A prompt apology can substantially r e d u c e t h e h a r m

Dem Boys Seh...

Conversely, persisting with an indefensible publication, refusing to apologise and prolonging litigation may aggravatetheinjurybecause the defamatory allegations remain alive in the public mind.

Equally significant was what the Court said about Guyana itself. The Court rejected the suggestion that Guyanese courts should simply follow the much larger libel awards made in Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago. Reputation is local. Sotooiscompensation.

T h e e x t e n t o f reputational harm depends upon the community in which the publication occurs Damages must therefore reflect local conditions, local standards andtheeconomicrealitiesof the country in which the claimant’s reputation exists. A society’s socio-economic circumstances are therefore legitimate considerations when courts assess compensation.

It is important to note also that the publication of something false about a person does not, without more, amount to libel. The common law has never treated every falsehood as defamatory

Also, a person being libeled does not does not mean every wounded reputationisworthmillions. Nordoesitmeanthatcourts should attempt to place a market value on a person’s character Rather, judges are required to exercise careful

Adding to de problem

Demboyssehthegovernmentgotanew trafficmanagementplan:ifyoucannotsolve the traffic problem, create enough traffic thateverybodydoeshavetostayhome.

One fella ask why dem putting traffic lightsonHeroesHighway Theanswercome quick: because after spending billions to build a highway, somebody remember that vehicles does actually have to move on it. So, the next brilliant idea is to put lights to stopthem.

Dem boys seh this is like building a speedboatandthendecidingthebestwayto controlitistotieittoapost.

The Heroes Highway was supposed to bethemodernsolutiontoGuyana’sgrowing traffic problems. It got wide roads, it got roundabouts, and it was supposed to allow traffictoflow Butnow,insteadofallowing the highway to function like a highway, everysideroadlookingforachancetojump intothemiddleoftheaction.

ThebiggestbottleneckiswheretheOgle Bypass meets the Heroes Highway The junction is creating havoc mainly because too many vehicles converging there during peakhours.

But instead of building an overpass to allowtraffictoflowfreely,thesolutionwas

judgment, weighing the seriousnessoftheallegation, thestandingoftheclaimant, theextentofpublication,the evidence of actual harm, the conductofthedefendantand the economic circumstances ofthejurisdiction.

The law therefore approaches reputation with both respect and restraint. It r e c o g n i s e s t h a t compensation must remain fair, measured and proportionate. That balance, more than the size of any award,istheenduringlesson fromtheCCJ’sdecision.

If the law is to remain both fair and credible, there

must be some principled basis for moving from presumed injury to extraordinarycompensation. Where there is no evidence that a person has lost employment, clients, business opportunities, professional standing or suffered demonstrable psychological harm, it is legitimatetoaskwhetherthe magnitudeoftheawardtruly reflects the extent of the injury or merely the outrage generatedbythepublication.

Thatispreciselywhythe CCJ insisted that damages mustbecompensatoryrather than punitive and that appellate courts should not simply substitute larger figures because they believe a claimant deserves more. The Court recognised that reputationispricelessinone sense, but compensation cannotbeprice-less. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.

Securityguardchargedwithmurder ofgoldmineratSandsBackdam

A 27-year-old resident of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, Ormyous Vieira was on Thursday charged with the murder of 32-year-old gold miner CetonCourtman.

Vieira appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court Hewasnotrequiredto enter a plea to the indictable chargeandwasremandedto prison The matter was adjourned to 17th

A u g u s t , 2 0 2 6 , f o r continuation of report and disclosure Reacting to the swift legal proceedings, Courtman’s family told Kaieteur News that the charge brings a small sense of relief, calling it “a step forward” in their pursuit of justice.

approximately 11:50 hrs, when Courtman also known as Ceton Smith, originally of St. Monica Village, Upper Pomeroon River — became embroiled in an argument with Vieira, whowasworkingatthesite as a private security guard foralocalfirm.

toaddmoreturninglanes.Thatisliketelling a man with a leaking roof to buy a bigger bucket.

Now the government wants traffic lights.Demboyssehwhenthoselightsstart changing, drivers might need to pack food, water and a good book because reaching from one end of the highway to the other couldbecomeafull-dayexpedition.

The problem is not that there are not enoughlanes.Theproblemispoordesign.A major highway cannot operate efficiently when every street, driveway and shortcut canpourvehiclesdirectlyontoit.

Dem boys seh the better solution is simple: keep the roundabouts, add more wherenecessary,restrictunnecessaryaccess points, and build proper grade separation wheretrafficvolumesdemandit.

Ahighway is supposed to move traffic, not collect it. But if the planners continue thisway,HeroesHighwaymightsoonneed anewname—“HeroesParkingLot.”

And dem boys seh when the first driver stuckataredlightonahighwaystartasking why he ain’t moving, somebody might tell him: “Because progress got stopped at the junction.”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf

Thechargestemsfroma violentconfrontationonthe morning of Monday, 6th July, 2026, at Sands Backdam along the Cuyuni River According to preliminary police reports, the incident occurred at

Police said the dispute escalated quickly, and that Vieira drew his firearm and firedasingleround,striking Courtmaninthehead.

The injured miner was rushedtothenearbyAurora Gold Mines (AGM)

Medical Centre but was pronounceddeadonarrival. An initial physical examination found a single, circularwoundtothecentre ofhishead,consistentwitha gunshotinjury Responding officers apprehended Vieira at the scene. Detectives recovered a Taurus .32 pistol believed to be the murder weapon, along with 12 matching rounds of live ammunition. Both the firearm and ammunition have been tested and lodged as evidence.

H@RD TRUTHS

Dr. Ali's assets – much disclosing compulsory

Land ahoy! There's a sheepfold. Followed by a cow palace. Arich field for fowls. Then, a shrimp lake. Onecouldgetlostinadaze. Forthoseareonlyaglimpse of what grazes in Guyana's Pres Ali's grand garden. A mere handful of what teems in Excellency Ali's lush nature resort. His Animal Farm that functions with SpaceAgeprecision. Anda budgettomatch.

By any count, Pres Ali's pastoral paradise tucked behind the stone façade and bushes of the SoesdykeLinden Highway is like a Rockefeller Trust A combinationofhaciendaand encomienda;onefittingfora maharajah. Onlythebestfor the best: in beauty, what billions make happen. I congratulate Pres Ali on his prowess with remarkable success. I plead with my national leader: a president

whoismorethanapresident. One bigger and better than anyWallStreetpowerhouse. Move over Morgan Stanley PPP Guyana has Mohamed IrfaanAli. What'sthesecret, skipper,ofallthissuccess? I won'ttell.

Pres Ali has been forthcoming, a barrel of cooperation, truckloads of transparency Assets accumulated before becoming president. By golly! Anything of this grandiosity takes some doing! For that means the flow of funds, and the alignment of the stars: bold banksbackingabighitterof a batter Remember: back then he was only a minister When earnings were not million, maybe less than a half, monthly I learn again about'toobigtofail.' Ah,the talenttoidentifyatycoonon themove,astarwaitingtobe born.

UG Vice-Chancellor

search draws 27 applicants; shortlist down to 15

Advertisements for the post of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Guyana attracted 27 applications from Guyana, the wider Caribbean, Canada, and India,ChancellorSirRonald Sandersannouncedinapress statement.

Sir Ronald said considerable progress has beenmadeinthesearchfora suitable candidate Following an initial review, the search committee narrowed the pool to 15 candidates for further consideration, the university saidonThursday

T h e c o m m i t t e e subsequently enlisted the assistance of professors and otheruniversityspecialistsof considerable stature in the United Kingdom to help assess the academic credentials of the candidates and support preparation of a final shortlist. That shortlist has now been narrowed to five candidates, who will proceed to the next stage of the process, including interviews and public lectures, before a final decisionismade.

T h e C h a n c e l l o r emphasised that the ViceChancellor'spostisofcritical importance to the University's future and to Guyana's national development. He noted that

I recall that it was in Guyana'ssleepy,prehistoric, paleolithic age. That is, its distressednonoilera. Loans were low Movement was slow Butthepresidentsaid it: loans. I congratulate the nowpresidentonhissuperb, platinum, creditworthiness backthen.

I behold a budding fairytale in the making, waiting to burst into the scene. Taking notes. Must scribble one of those. Try thistitle:Dreamscometrue. What was needed in circumstances involving big landsforabigmanwithabig appetite for risk was a big bank.Perhaps,asyndicateof suchbigbanksrequired. To cushion the risks of lending enormoussumsforaproject of that sp

ar dimensions. Banks exist for risk-taking,don'tthey? Ona

UG's Chancellor

Sir Ronald Sanders

the University must produce graduates with the skills, competencies, and adaptabilityrequiredtoserve a changing and growing economy, while also strengthening research, innovation, and professional training.

Sir Ronald noted that the contract of the current ViceChancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed, ends on st31 July,2026,andexpressed appreciation for her service totheUniversity He also announced that, between July 31 and the assumption of office by the new Vice-Chancellor, the University will be managed byathree-personteamdrawn from its staff. This interim arrangement, he said, will ensure continuity in university administration while the final phase of the selection process is completed.

T h e C h a n c e l l o r reaffirmed the University Council's commitment to a fair, transparent, and meritbased process, and said the public will be kept informed asthesearchproceeds.

conservativescale,naturally, since it's other people's money Forthedeadcertain, can't lose stuff-special livestock breeds, rare aquaculturespecies,ariotof seeds, and other Medellintype arboreal touches-put intoit. Thoseallcostquitea bundle of millions. Think billions. Itwouldtakemore than one bank to lend one man that many millions. A consortium taking big risks based on what collaterals, what assurances, what guarantors?

Thosearetheproductsof my inquiring mind Regarding guarantors, who would those be? Pres Ali should find it easy to trot them out and line them up. Former presidents could be among such helpful souls. Readytogiveayoungmana break. A good deed done.

But what about thelittlepeopleof Guyana? What strokes for such folks?

Street leve grassroots, minibus riding Guyanese have to line up, and hold their breath for 10 years or more for a single plotofland.

There must be a different standard at work forothercitizens.Thosewho are not political leaders, not business leaders, not government ministers, and not members of parliament. Because it seems that for every square inch of house lot space that a teacher, soldier, or pensioner is awarded, fat cats and bigshotssnareanacre. And what takes 10 years for the small people require 10 hours,maybe10minutes,to

getapprovedbytherelevant authoritiesforGuyanesebig people. If all this is off the reservation, then I plead to the kind in Guyana for enlightenment. Where am I goingwrong?

Land ahoy! Compass bearings: Long Creek, LindenHighway. PresAliis in for long days. There's a silverlining. Hesayshehas the goods. Hopefully, they'rethatgood.

The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper

No ruptured gas pipeline but

‘slight anomaly’

EPA, MARAD say after video evidence surfaces

Less than 24 hours after Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat flatly denied reports of a pipeline rupture to Demerara Waves, two state regulatory bodies issued a joint statement admitting to a pipeline "anomaly".

The admission was a complete about-face arguably forced by video evidence publicised by Leader of the Opposition (LOO) Azruddin Mohamed.

On Wednesday night, Bharrat dismissed claims of a structural failure in the ocean, telling Demerara Waves therewere"noreports"ofaruptureand speculating that routine tests were simply underway By Thursday, the narrative had shifted: the Minister directed Kaieteur News to a statement issued by the relevant agencies. It should be noted, however, that this project falls under the remit of the OfficeofthePrimeMinister

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maritime AdministrationDepartment(MARAD) issued a joint statement that traded the Minister's outright denial for carefully parsed bureaucratic language. While the agencies stated "unequivocally that thereisnofactualbasis"forclaimsthat the pipeline has ruptured, they simultaneously confirmed that a report had been received and investigated — revealing what they termed a "slight anomaly."

Theadmissionfollowedallegations from Opposition Leader Mohamed, who posted video and photographic evidencetohisFacebookpageshowing apocketofwaterbubblingtotheocean surface directly above the pipeline's path. Both videos were filmed just feet

from the buoys marking the alleged rupture site."Imagine you have the evidencewherethepipelineisruptured, you can see the water is bubbling up, you can see 10 feet away where the pipelineisrun—nothingishappening there—andyet,theywillcomeoutand lietothecountry,"Mohamedcharged.

He further alleged that the pipeline sits less than 10 feet deep at low tide, placing it directly in a major shipping channel without proper feasibility studieshavingbeenconducted."Thisis somethingthatwillcontinuetohappen overandover,"hewarned.

Toreconcileadmittingtoabubbling ocean surface while denying a "gas leak,"stateofficialsareleaningheavily on the fact that the pipeline is not yet commercially active Government Consultant Winston Brassington had previously disclosed that the line is currently filled with nitrogen gas — a standard industry practice used to preserve uncommissioned pipelines.

ExxonMobil Guyana has likewise notedthatnitrogenwilloccupytheline until it is ready to supply the 300megawatt power plant at Wales, West BankDemerara.

The joint EPA-MARAD statement sought to reframe the sudden controversy as a routine checkup, noting that ExxonMobil has been conducting a scheduled three-month subsea inspection since May 2026, involvingfivevessels.

However, the admission that "further inspections are being conducted to confirm the continued integrityofthepipeline"suggestsmore urgency behind the scenes than the agencies' have stated Regulators appealed for calm, urging residents to verifyfactsthroughofficialchannelsto avoid"unnecessaryalarm."

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Guyana wasunabletoofferanofficialcomment by press time but promised to do so whenpossible.

Yo g e n d r a

Sukhdeo, a 30year-old former police officer, has been s e n t e n c e d t o l i f e imprisonment for the $8 million robbery-murder of young businessman Amit Singh.

The murder took place th on 24 October, 2023, at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

AccordingtotheGuyana Police Force, Singh was lured to a house in Middle Roadbypersonsclaimingto havegoldforsale.

Sukhdeo,anassociateof Singh's, initially implicated threeofhisemployeesinthe killing.Thetriowasarrested and questioned but denied any involvement; they were later released after investigators confirmed

Ex-cop gets life sentence for murder of young businessman

theiralibis.

After his own arrest, Sukhdeo led police to his room at 20th Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, where a search turned up $7,791,000 in $5,000 bills. Singh and Sukhdeo had a history of prior transactions — the businessman's family owns and operates D. Singh Trading in Campbellville, and the young man had entered the gold trade some timeago.

At a court appearance lastmonth,Sukhdeoinitially pleaded not guilty He later confessed to the murder moments before he was due to stand trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12memberjury

Handing down the sentence at the High Court, Justice Kissoon described the killing as "a cold, deliberate act of murder committedinthecourseofa robbery." He ordered that Sukhdeo serve 30 years beforebecomingeligiblefor parole.

"The rule of law is, and hasalwaysbeen,[that]those who violate the sanctity of human life, threatening the safety and well-being of members of society in the course of their violent criminal activities, motivated by hope of unlawful financial reward, must be prepared to accept the consequences of such conduct in law," the judge said.

Justice Kissoon found that Sukhdeo committed a "willful, planned, and

premeditated act of murder, motivated by greed," bludgeoning his victim to death"inahorrificdisplayof callous indifference to human life" before robbing him of $8 million in an attempttoconcealthecrime.

The judge noted that Sukhdeo had deceitfully lured his victim by falsely claiming to have gold for sale.In fixing the sentence, the trial judge weighed

several factors: the nature and circumstances of the offence, the degree of deliberation and violence involved, the prevalence of such crimes, the offender's antecedents, age and character, and whether he posesadangertothepublic.

Thecasewasprosecuted by special prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat, who asked the court to consider that the victim was a young,

contributing member of society who lost his life violently at the hands of someone he had regarded as atrustedfriend.

Reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Singh's mother, the prosecutor shared the depth ofthefamily'sgrief."WhenI learnt that my son had been brutally murdered, a part of me died on that day," the statementread.

P a t r i c k K i r e e m Sanmoogan,who was wanted by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), was arrested on Thursday after turning himself in at CANU headquarters, accompanied bylegalrepresentation.

Kaieteur News reported onJuly8thatCANUissueda wanted bulletin for Sanmoogan a day earlier in connectionwithpossessionof narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

CANUhadappealedtothe public for information on Sanmoogan'swhereabouts.

Ammo, firearm parts, military gear found at Lusignan

The

Policeareinvestigatingthediscoveryofa cache of ammunition, firearm components, and military gear on Tuesday at Lusignan NewHousingScheme,EastCoastDemerara. Acting on information received, ranks searched an unoccupied plot of land in the area,focusingonapileofconstructiondebris onitseasternside.Thesearchturnedup7.62x 39mm live rounds, spent shells, 12-gauge cartridges,ateargascanister,severalfirearm components,andassortedmilitarygear

All items were seized and taken to Vigilance Police Station, where they were lodged. No arrests have been made, and investigationsarecontinuing.

Frominfrastructuretodigitaleconomy:

China and Guyana

pave way for deeper bilateral ties

(L-R) Hydar Ali, Chairman of the Cheddie Jagan Research Center Board, Lian Jihong, President of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Guyana Yang Yang, Former President of Guyana Donald Ramotar, President of Guyana Peace Council Clement Rohee, Dr. Li Huansong, Captain of the 21st China Medical Team and Devin Mohan, Chairman of RDC #2 (Source: Ministry of Public Works)

Tomarkadualcelebration of national and political milestones, diplomats, statesmen, and political figures gathered at the Red House on Wednesday, July 8 to commemorate both the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist PartyofChina(CPC)andthe 60th anniversary of Guyana's independence.

Against this historic backdrop, the core dialogue centered on rigid internal party discipline, the fight against institutional corruption, and a candid critique of Guyana's current economicmodel.

Addressing the gathering, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, pulled back the curtain on the i m m e n s e i n t e r n a l mechanisms required to governapoliticalbodyof100 million members spread across 5.25 million primarylevel organisations Emphasising the CPC's absolute zero-tolerance stance on corruption, Ambassador Yang shared the stringent personal parameters dictated by party discipline that govern her own diplomatictenure.

"I myself am not allowed to engage in business activities, use my position as ambassadortoseekfavoursor assistanceformyrelatives,or accept gifts from individuals or entities under my supervision,"Yangstated.

To illustrate the party's shift toward people-centered governance, she highlighted that the 1 July Medal, the st CPC's highest internal honor, wasrecentlyawardedtoeight ordinary citizens, including communityworkersandrural doctors who spent decades servingatthegrassrootslevel.

Ambassador Yang Yang further highlighted the parallel historical trajectories oftheCPC,whichhasgrown from 50 members in 1921 to the world's largest governing party with over 100 million members, and Guyana's People's Progressive Party (PPP).

"Both the CPC and PPP knowwellthatthedestinyofa country cannot be controlled by external forces, " Ambassador Yang stated, drawing a connection between the first line of China's national anthem (“Arise, we who refuse to be slaves”) and the final line of Guyana's (“Land of the Free”) The Ambassador emphasised China's early recognition of Guyana's independence 60 years ago.

To mark Guyana's Diamond Jubilee, China contributed to theconstructionoftheChinaGuyana Friendship Park and dispatched the Hebei Acrobatic Troupe to perform inthecountry

Former Guyanese President Donald Ramotar echoed these sentiments, delivering an expansive historicaloverviewofChina's pre-revolutionary struggles, i

Uprising, and the 1911 Revolution led by Dr Sun Yat-sen, which culminated in the 1949 victory Ramotar explicitly praised China's i m m e n s e , o f t e n underreported sacrifices during World War II, noting thatChinalostover20million lives while holding down fascist Japanese forces, preventingatwo-frontwarfor theSovietUnion.

Ramotar also provided a candid look at Guyana's own c o m p l e x r o a d t o independencein1966,noting it was achieved under a state ofemergencywithprominent political prisoners, such as former Education Minister Cedric Nunes, behind bars. He reminded the audience that under colonial and early post-colonial alignments, Guyana initially voted in September 1966 against the Albanian resolution to seat the People's Republic of ChinaattheUnitedNations,a policy the PPP fiercely contested until formal diplomatic ties were establishedin1972.

Acorethemeoftheforum was the commitment to h

n development Ambassador Yang outlined China'srapidindustrialisation through 15 consecutive FiveYear Plans, creating what he called "two miracles: rapid economic growth and longtermsocialstability."

Ambassador Yang connected the milestones of China increasing the life expectancy of its citizens from 35 years in 1949 to 79 years today, lifting 850 million Chinese citizens out of poverty since the reform and opening-up era This represents close to twice the total population of South America and 70% of global poverty reduction and finally China currently contributing approximately 30% to global economic growth and building the world's largest education,socialsecurity,and healthcaresystems.

The Chinese diplomat referenced Guyana's

(Continuedonpage16)

Final suspect in Berbice AK-47 bust remanded to prison

TheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) has captured the last remaining suspect in connection with the discoveryoftenAK-47rifles

inBerbice. InareleaseonThursday, police confirmed that Ryan Singh,called'Satan',34,has been charged with conspiracy to commit a

‘Information to be shared among nations before position taken on accepting third-country nationals’

—CARICOMChair

CARICOM member

states must share more information among themselves before any collective position is taken on accepting third-country nationals from the United States, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and sitting CARICOM Chairman, the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, saidonWednesday

Prime Minister Pierre made the statement at the closingceremonyofthe51st

Regular Meeting of

CARICOM Heads of Government after he was askedbyajournalistwhether the issue had been discussed collectively and, if so, what position had been adopted.

The CARICOM Chair confirmed the matter was discussed, noting it remains oneofconcernfortheregion.

"We discussed it, and then took a position that we would share some more

information among ourselves about what really eachislandisdoing,butright nowwearenotclear So,we decided to share some

information among ourselves to possibly come out and formulate a position inthefuture.Rightnow,it'sa fact the United States has asked most islands to accept third-country nationals," he said.In a statement to the media on Thursday,

CARICOM said the Conference of Heads of Governmentmetincaucusto discuss a wide range of mattersofcriticalconcernto the Community, including proposed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on transit arrangements for third-country nationals (TCNs) put forward by the UnitedStatesgovernmentto individualmemberstates.

"Heads of Government

considered common concerns across the region regarding the capacity of small countries to manage the transit of TCNs," the statement said, adding that regional leaders stressed

felony, contrary to Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Singh, a labourer of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, was one of four wanted men in connection with the alleged unlicensed possession of ten AK-47 rifles, discovered at East CoastBerbice.

th matter was adjourned to 10 July,2026.

Meanwhile,histwoother alleged accomplices — 21year-old Gregory Anthony Persaud, called 'Greg' of Farm, New H

sing Schem

He appeared before MagistrateAlisha George at the Leonora Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where the charge was read to him. Singh pleaded not guilty Bailwasdenied,andhewas remanded to prison The

, East Bank Demerara, and Antonio Alonzo Lawrie, called 'Lanzo' a wash bay owner also of the same area — remain in police custody afterturningthemselvesinto the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Georgetown on June 4, accompanied by their lawyer Both were remanded to prison on June

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and sitting Chairman of CARICOM Honourable Philip J. Pierre

every effort would be made to ensure the arrangements "donotdisruptthesecurityof countries in the region or divertresourcesandservices from the citizens of respectivecountries."

T h e H e a d s o f Government emphasised that the proposed MOUs are intended to facilitate the transitofindividualswithout a criminal record back to their homelands — not to allow them to settle in CARICOM member states.

Leaders stressed the importance of ensuring citizens understand this distinction, and agreed that efforts must be made to engage the public on the issue The Heads of Government also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of safe, orderly, and regular migration, as well as to upholding the dignityofmigrants.

The statement noted the region's longstanding cooperation and close partnership with the United States, and acknowledged the importance the U S government has placed on the proposed MOUs It confirmed that some CARICOM countries have already signed the agreements, while others remain in discussions with Washington Globally, 30 countries have already signed similar TCN MOUs, thestatementadded.

8. Steven Rajah, 33, who was initially remanded in connection with the matter, has since secured bail in the sum of $1 million, granted by Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the New Amsterdam Magistrates' Court Bail was secured through Rajah's attorney, CharandassPersaud. Rajah, of Goed Fortuin Village, West Bank Demerara,wasthefirsttobe apprehended after police madethemajordiscoveryof ten AK-47 rifles at No. 11 Village, East Coast Berbice, onMay22.

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Scars of Henry boys’ brutal murder still fresh for family

A monumental ruling in the high-profile Henry boys’ case was handed down on Wednesday at the Berbice High Court, where Anil Sanchara,39,andVinodGopaul, 35, were each sentenced to lifeimprisonment.

The two were convicted on two counts of murdering cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry. Sentencing was handed down by Justice SimoneMorris.

Reacting to the longawaited conclusion of the trial, Donna Thomas, a relative of the two boys, said the case had been an extensive ordeal and that, even with it now concluded, the scars remain fresh in the heartsoffamilymembersand thecommunity

Asked whether she believes the two convicted men are indeed culpable, she said: “All I would say is God

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knows best, and the cry that they (Sanchara and Gopaul) making — if they are innocent, stop crying and pray without ceasing.”

The60-year-oldreasoned that despite the severity of the life sentences, the men should consider themselves fortunatetheirownliveswere not taken through punitive measures such as execution for the offence of which they were found guilty

News of the verdict spread quickly, drawing divided reactions. While somehailedtherulingaslongoverdue justice, others expressed skepticism about the men’s involvement in the killings. Both Sanchara and Gopaul had maintained their innocence from the outset, accusing Akash Singh of conspiring with police against them. Singh’s testimony had firmlyincriminatedthetwomen.

Thomasmaintainedthatif the pair is indeed innocent, their circumstances would ultimately be corrected by a higherpower.“Godwillshow up at the right time and skin up [expose] the right person. I wasn’t there. Who am I to judge? If they’re innocent, God will see them through.

Whoever claims that they (Sanchara and Gopaul) are innocent, whatever they know, letthemspeakout,”sheurged.

Reflecting on that tragic period,Thomasrecalledhow the atmosphere in the normally lively No. 3, West Coast Berbice community grew tense overnight on 5th September,2020.

“Icamehomeabout10:30 thatnight.Isawacommotion on the road, and when I reached home, I asked my daughter [what happened]. My daughter told me that Isaiah’smotherandtwoother persons had passed by the back of our house. She asked where they were going — theysaidtheyweregoingout. Then the next day, I learned that they were missing.”

On September 6, the two cousins were found dead, their bodies bearing brutal chop wounds. Reports at the time indicated that the boys were killed by Sanchara, Gopaul, and Singh in retaliation for allegedlydestroyingthetrio’s marijuana farm. Notably, Thomasdisclosedthat,toher knowledge,nomarijuanafarm existed at the backdam — a detailthatcastsfurtherdoubt on the stated motive for the killings.

ChinaandGuyanapavewayfor...

From page 14 domestic governance, praising Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s lifelong fight for social justice and President Irfaan Ali’s contemporary “One Guyana” initiative, which aims to ensure equitable development opportunities for all citizens.

However,whileacknowledgingtherapid, visibleinfrastructuretransformationsweeping across Guyana, former President Donald Ramotar delivered a sobering assessment of the domestic economy. He cautioned that despiteskyrocketingheadlineGrossDomestic Product (GDP) numbers, Guyana remains heavily trapped in a legacy model of raw material production, leaving vital traditional sectors on the backfoot.

“We’re not manufacturing many things. We’renotrefiningourgold.We’renotrefining ouroil,”Ramotarwarned.

Ramotar stressed that an economy built solely on exporting unrefined commodities cannot sustain equitable long-term development. To counter this, he called on citizensandcivilsocietyorganisationstoraise their voices and actively participate in public governance, ensuring that the fruits of expanding global partnerships are used to build a genuinely diversified and equitable society

Bothspeakersfocusedheavilyontherole of political philosophy in state sustainability Ramotar discussed the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, attributing China’s economic acceleration, which at points reached 12% to 15% GDP growth per year, to a precise, pragmaticapplicationofMarxismtoChinese realities, summarised by the principle of “seeking truth from facts.”

He noted that by reforming management in state-owned enterprises and utilising the market as an instrument for resource allocation,Chinadramaticallyshifteditsglobal economicstanding.Theformerpresidentcited recent figures showing that while China’s

shareofglobalGDPstoodatjust1.8%in1978 (comparedtotheU.S.at22%),by2025China’s share had risen to 19.3%, with the U.S. at 14.5%.

The transition toward a green economy emergedasavitalfocalpoint.Ramotarrecalled hisfirstvisitstoChinain1996and2001when majorcitiessufferedfrompermanentindustrial smog. Today, he observed, China has successfully pioneered an ecological revolution, greening deserts and clearing the skies of Beijing. China has become a global leader in clean energy, including hydroelectricity,wind,andsolarpower

On the international stage, Ambassador Yang reiterated China’s adherence to a path of peaceful development, invoking the traditional adage, “Only the wearer knows if the shoes fit.” She rejected external interference and ideological lectures from positions of superiority The diplomat commended Guyana’s constructive role in global food security, climate change, and international justice during its recent tenure on the UN Security Council. Historically,inter-partyrelationshaverun deep; in 1962, Janet Jagan, then General Secretary of the PPP, braved colonial obstruction to visit Beijing, where she was received by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. This tradition continues withannualdelegations,includingrecenthighprofile visits by PPP Central Executive Committee members Donald Ramotar and ClementRohee.

Looking toward the future, Ambassador YangaffirmedthattheCPCisreadytotranslate sharedgovernancephilosophiesintoconcrete bilateral actions. China aims to deepen investments and cooperation with Guyana across a multi-sectoral spectrum in Infrastructure and Energy, Agriculture and Health, Education and People-to-People Exchanges and Digital Economy and Green Development.

President still to provide records of farm lands acquisition and evidence of blackmail

President Irfaan Ali has failed to release full communications of alleged blackmail attempts towards him and verifiable financial recordsregardinghisprivate highway farm, opting instead during a Thursday live address to dismiss the brewing controversy as a “sideshow” and a “distraction.”

The broadcast, delivered upon the President’s return from the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in

St Lucia, directly contradicts previous official

assertions that the administration would subject the evidence to independent examination.

Despite a statement published by Newsroom explicitly noting that the President was “willing to make them [the text m e s s a g e s a n d communications]public”for independent scrutiny, Thursday’s live address offerednosuchdisclosure.

Rather than presenting the full text messages, videos, or audio recordings,

President Ali only paraphrased a tiny, vague

fragment of a text message, quoting the sender, who he says is Nazar Mohamed as saying, “I went through duringtheelectioncycle…I refrainedfromreleasing.But ifyoudon’tend,ifyoudon’t end all this madness, I will...”

Newsroom previously reported that Mohamed’s messages implied a demand f o r t h e G u y a n e s e government to ease U.S.requested extradition proceedings.

Mohamed has since denied those claims. “I categorically reject the president’s claim that I attemptedtoblackmailhim,” Nazar Mohamed told this newspaperpreviously “I challenge President Ali to release, in its entirety, the communication I sent to himonFridaymorning.”The seniorMohamedmaintained that the message contained no threats, no mention of blackmail, and no reference to legal sanctions or indictments.

He further revealed that upon receiving the text messageonFriday,President Ali attempted to place a

phone call back to him, which Mohamed chose not toanswer.

“Ihavenothingtohide,” Nazar Mohamed stated. “I invite the president to make the communication public and allow the people of Guyana to read it for themselves. Let the public judge the facts rather than rely on unfounded allegations.”

Furthermore, the

Presidentacknowledgedthat the unreleased materials contain severe implications that have not been formally

Mohamed’s security guard arrested over ‘Paper Shorts’ murder

Police have reportedly detained a security guard attachedtotheMohamedsas they reopen their investigationintothekilling of Ricardo Fagundes called ‘PaperShorts’.

Detained is Mark Richmond who is being questioned for the March 2021killingofFagundes.

Richmondwasnamedin the early stages of the investigations as one of the suspectsinthekillingbuthe was never arrested and reportedly filed a multimillion-dollar suit against Detective Sergeant Dion Bascomwhohadimplicated himintheheinouscrime.

Incourtdocumentsseen, Richmond was identified as a security checker with Mohamed Enterprise and claimed that the statements Bascom had made implicatinghiminthecrime were untrue. Bascom had made it clear, however that the millions of dollars in lawsuit and multiple cybercrime charges will not changehisposition.

According to Bascom there is evidence linking the security checker to ‘Paper

Shorts’killing. He had alleged too that his superiors in the case had covered up the crime.Not only did Bascom implicate Richmond but he had also implicatedtheMohameds. Almost Five years later police have arrested Richmond for questioning.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed said that his security guard is innocentoftheaccusation. Heclaimsthatpoliceare overlooking another individualofinterest. Mohamed alleged that policeknowtheownerofthe car used in the killing but

have not moved to question theindividual.

The opposition leader believes that the arrest of Richmond might be in connection with his recent exposure of the president’s multi-billion-dollarfarm.

Fagundeswasshotmore than20timesinMarch2021 by two men moments after stepping out of Palm Court onMainStreetGeorgetown.

The men had emerged from the back seat of a waitingwhiteToyotaFielder car, which was heavily tinted.Policehadlaterfound a burnt-out car at a location along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway

necessaryaction/stoaddress the security matters those messagesraise?” FINANCIAL CONTRADICTIONS AND THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION

processed through state law enforcement. “I’m not interested in the sideshows and the distraction and the videos that he sent to my phone and the recording... SomeofwhichIbelievehas security implications,” President Ali stated during thebroadcast. This admission has sparked immediate public backlash, with Ronald Daniels, Attorney at Law, questioning “Isn’t the President testifying to a neglect of his duty as the ChiefCitizenofthiscountry, Commander of our Armed Forces, and our ultimate protector by failing to disclose and take the

Theaddressalsofailedto provide physical or documentary proof of disclosures made to the Integrity Commission or verification of the loans funding the agricultural venture While official reports previously stated the farm’s assets and funding sources “are capable of verification through the relevant financial and regulatory records,” the public was left with competing narrative descriptions.

In Thursday’s video, President Ali stated, “My farm carries a huge loan, a huge loan, and everything has been, everything has been disclosed to the Integrity Commission, in andoutofgovernment.”

President Ali sought to distancehiswealthfromthat of Azruddin Mohamed, stating,“Icantellyou,unlike Azruddin Mohamed, who still have to account to Integrity Commission, unlikehim,whodidnothave to take a single loan for the

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister KamlaPersad-Bissessar,whohaspreviously criticised the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on several issues, has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to the regional bloc, revealing that some of her concerns were resolved during the recently concluded 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOMinSaintLucia.

Speaking at the closing press conference on Wednesday, Persad-Bissessar said that despite the concerns she had previously raised about CARICOM’s operations, her government’s commitment to the regional bodyremainsunchanged.

“My position from the start remains to now, and that position has been: whilst I wouldhavelevelledsomeconcernsaboutthe operationsofCARICOM,Ihavealwayssaid Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to CARICOM.Wehaveunwaveringsupportfor CARICOM,forustoworktogethertobetter theregionand,ofcourse,allourcitizens,”she said.

Persad-Bissessar said discussions under the chairmanship of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, along with cooperation from the other Heads of Government, helped resolve several of the issuesshehadraised.

wealthheaccumulated,Iam not in that category or bracket ” The President asserted that his farm occupies lease lands on the highway under the exact conditions governing hundreds of other farms, claiming that Mohamed had “exaggerated the size of the farm” by more than double itsactualacreage.Hedidnot, however, state the actual acreageornamethefinancial institutions holding the “hugeloans.”

Daniels further publicly challenged the President’s definition of accountability, publishing a list of 14 direct questions demandin

immediate executive clarity including “When were the farmlands acquired?” and “What is the acreage of the farmlands?”

The President concluded hisaddressbystatingthathe intends to go live directly fromthefarminthefutureto showcase agricultural techniques, maintaining that his“conscienceisclear.”

For an expectant public and accountability watchdogs, however, virtual farm tours are unlikely to substitute for the missing bank records, Integrity Commission filings, and blackmailtranscripts.

“Withthecooperationoftheotherheads, we’ve been able to iron out some of the concerns I had. So, my position has not changed.Iremaincommitted,”shesaid.

She further argued that disagreements among member states should not be viewed as a threat to regional integration, but rather asahealthypartofresolvingdifferences.

“In a family, you have issues... We must not put our heads down in the sand like ostriches. We raise them when they are [issues]andtrytofindresolutions.So,we’ve been able, in this 51st CARICOM Heads meeting, to iron out some of those differences,andIthinkwearebetteraswego forward,”Persad-Bissessarsaid.

Iran says it hits U.S. military targets in Gulf, buries slain leader Khamenei

D U B A I , J u l y 9 (Reuters) - Iranian armed forces launched attacks on US militaryinfrastructurein Gulf states on Thursday following US strikes on Iran’s southern coastal and eastern provinces, further eroding a three-week-old ceasefire.

Iranian media later reported multiple explosions across southern Iran, includingBushehr,whereone ofthecountry’snuclearplants is located, along with Konarak, Choghadak and BandarAbbas.

US official said there hadbeennoAmericanstrikes in recent hours The attacks came as Iran buried its slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a shrine in Mashhad, capping a week of funeral processions and rallies.

Khamenei was killed in anairstrikeonthefirstdayof the war on February 28, as part of a US-Israeli barrage against Iran that set off a months-long conflict killing thousands and throttling worldwideenergysupplies.

Attacks on Qatari and Saudishippingvesselsearlier this week upended the ceasefire,withU.S.President Donald Trump declaring the truce“over” Washington was still committed to finding a

resolution with Iran and “technical talks continue”, according to a second US official

Trump’s inability to end ‘the war has frustrated the president, whose Republican Partyfacesmidtermelections later this year amid high gas

pricesandvoterdiscontent. Khamenei’s funeral procession reached the country’sholiestshrinewitha huge crowd packing the courtyard, some bearing banners denouncing the US. president and reading, “We WillKillTrump.”

LeRepentirCemeteryBarrelmurder: Two more remanded

Two more people have been remanded to prison for the murder of a man whose body was found stuffed head-down in a barrel at the Le Repentir Cemetery six monthsago.

Edgar Lawson, called ‘Baby’, a 33-year-old businessman of Land of

Canaan, East Bank Demerara, and Keiran Barrett,called‘Bucko’,a50year-old vendor of East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared separately before Chief Magistrate Faith McGustyattheGeorgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where the charge wasreadtothem.

They were not required topleadtothecharge,which states that between 23rd December and 25th December 25, 2025, at C h a r l o t t e S t r e e t , Georgetown, they murdered 39-year-old Levi Williams, called‘Vamperous’.

B o t h m e n w e r e remanded to prison, and the

Vehicle transports the coffin of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, and coffins of his family members, on the day of his burial, in a culmination of a mass funeral, in Mashhad, Iran, July 9, 2026. REUTERS/REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said the US attacks and intervention in redirecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupting the waterway’s reopening.

systems, coastal surveillance assets,andmissileanddrone storagesites.

intercepted, with no injuries ordamagereported.

“Thisis`inretributionfor yesterday’sbombingofships byIran Ifithappensagain,it willgetmuchworse!”Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Keiran Barrett called ‘Bucko’

matterwasadjournedto29th July,2026. Williams’ body was discovered stuffed headdown in a barrel at the Le Repentir Cemetery around 23:40hrson25thDecember, 2025.

Lawson and Barrett are the fourth and fifth persons charged in connection with the killing Police had previously arrested and charged three men: Randy Mars, called ‘Ratty’, a 42year-old unemployed resident of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway;

The Guards said the number of vessels transiting the strait under Iranian supervision had recovered to about 50% of pre-war levels over the past two weeks, adding that permission was being granted only to ships using routes designated by Tehran.

Any further U S intervention will draw a “crushing response”, the Guardssaid

The US military said its strikeswereaimedatkeeping thestraitopenafteritaccused Iranian forces of attacking threetankersinthearea

Edgar Lawson called ‘Baby’

Aaron Khan, called ‘Tattoo Man’ , a 29-year-old unemployed resident of Charlotte Street; and Jamal David, called ‘Hundred’, a 44-year-old unemployed residentofWestRuimveldt.

According to reports, Williams was beaten to death at a drug block on Charlotte Street by individuals who accused himofstealingafirearm.His body was then placed in a plastic bag and transported by vehicle to Le Repentir Cemetery, where it was dumpedinabarrel.

The military said on Thursday the United States had helped facilitate the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil throughthestraitsinceearly May and that Iran does not controlthewaterway

Oil prices fell back on Thursday after spiking on concerns the fighting would disruptglobalsupplies.

TARGETINGU.S. BASESINGULFSTATES ANDJORDAN

U.S. Central Command saidonWednesdayitsforces had struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets, including air defence

The U S attacks had killed 14 people and injured 78 across five provinces on July 8 and 9, Iranian state media reported The Fars news agency said one U.S. strike had hit a rail bridge used for trade with Russia andChina.

Bushehr is home to a Russian-built nuclear power plantandalocalofficiallater told state media that a US projectile had hit the perimeterareaofthefacility

The perimeter had already beenhitseveraltimesbefore anApril8ceasefire.

Iran’s army said in a statement released by state media that it had launched attacks on U S ‘Patriot systems in Kuwait, an earlywarning site in Qatar and a U.S. Army fuel depot in Bahrain.

Kuwait said its armed forces had engaged a cruise missile, three ballistic missiles and 10 drones in its airspace,andthatoneperson had been injured by falling shrapnel.

Sirens also sounded in Jordan after missiles launched from Iran were detected, the state news agency reported Eight were

The Revolutionary Guards later said Iran had fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan’s ‘Azraq military base,usedbyUS forces,and alsoataUS militarycontrol center in the Middle East, withoutelaborating.

Qatar, which hosts the largestUS baseintheregion and has often mediated between Washington and its adversariesincludingTehran, condemned attacks on commercial shipping but also called for a return to diplomacy

The foreign ministers of Turkey and Oman also stressed the need to avoid further military escalation in separate calls with their Iranian counterpart, ‘Abbas Araqchi.

In a call with the army chief of Pakistan, which has also mediated in theconflict, Araqchi condemned what he called US “warmongering policies”

The Strait of Hormuz handled about a fifth of globaloilsuppliesbeforethe war Tehranhassincelargely taken control of the strait, forcing a stalemate in its confrontation with the world’s most powerful military.

“The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened only under Iranian arrangements, not through U.S. threats,” Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad BaqerQalibaf,wroteonX.

Barbados Tridents unveil overseas contingent for CPL 2026

CPL - The Barbados Tridents today announced their overseas player roster ahead of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, addingaformidableblendof top-order power, worldclass spin, and seambowling variety as the franchise returns to its historic identity under the “ O n e B a

d o s ” partnership.

signings confirmed for the upcomingcampaignare:

Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

ChrisGreen(Australia)

Mujeeb ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

George Linde (South Africa)

DanielSams(Australia)

With Kensington Oval, “TheMecca”ofWestIndies cricket,settohostthisyear’s CPL final, the Tridents’ recruitmentfor2026signals intent to build a squad

Friday July 10, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Today is all about communication,somakesure that you're letting the right people know what you need fromthem.Thingsaregetting a little weirder now, but you can find new ways to get past barriers.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You aren't quite feeling yourself today—and others are definitely taking notice! Youmayfindthatyourenergy isbetterspentonentirelynew activities and plans. The old stuffdoesn'tappealtoyou!

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Keep moving forward today—you can follow up with old obligations some othertime.Yourenergyisbest spent on new endeavors and newpeople,somakesureyou areprojectingyourself.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You've got a lot to do today, butyou'vegottherightkindof energy to push past it all. Make sure that you're full of caffeine and ready to cross every last item off of your todolist!

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Yourfriendsareinluck you've got them firmly in mind, and when you do that, there's no waytheycankeephangingfor long Make sure that you're showing them just how you thinkthingsoughttobe

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

You need to deal with something quickly—but your mind is more than up to the task! Make sure that you're abletodealwithyourpeople's reactionstoo,becausetheyare alloverthemap.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Your energy is just about perfectfortheday'sactivities, so make sure that you're out there and mixing it up with others Socializing, brainstorming, and romance couldallplayimportantroles.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

You need to take greater care today—playing it fast and looseisjustnotthewaytogo. Thingsarelookingup,butyou need to ride this odd situation outforalittlelongerfirst.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You're thinking hard about big-time issues today, but something is keeping you from reaching that breakthrough you know is coming.Itmightbethatyou're not focusing on the right details.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Thepeoplearoundyouneedto hear what you're thinking, though you may not be in the bestframeofmindtoletthem know Just start talking (or typing)andletyourselffigure itallout.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Your love life is still progressing in the right direction—so make sure that you'redealingwitheverything else that needs it. You may find that there's more to this love connection than meets theeye.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

You feel somewhat overwhelmed by today's goings-on, and that could lead you to retreat into your office, bedroom,orjustacomfortable self-delusion Be sure to poke yourheadoutnowandthen!

capable of

aggressive batting with world-class control across allthreebowlingdisciplines.

Kock headlines the signings with him returning to the Tridents. The prolific South African wicketkeeper-batter has long been one of whiteb

st destructive openers, and his ability to dominate the powerplay makes him a natural fit for Kensington Oval’s fast outfield and true bounce.

CM Pitamber wins Enermech Guyanasponsored...

Frompage24

Chess Federation (GCF), noted that this year’s Qualifiers featured the strongestfieldofparticipants to date, with the average Elo ratingsurpassingallprevious tournaments. He added that the GCF’s investment in youth development is making significant strides in advancingthegame.

In a simple award ceremony, certificates, medals, and trophies were distributed by the Senior HR Advisor from EnerMech Guyana, Ms Yulanda Armstrong.

Thetopnineplayersfrom Group A now move on to challengethecurrentNational Junior Champion, Kyle Couchman, for a chance at the 2026 title. The Junior Championship starts on Monday, July 13 at the Olympic House in Liliendaal. This will be a round robin tournament in which all ten players play eachother

A special thank you is extendedtoourChiefArbiter, FIDE Arbiter John Lee, and his team for all their hard work in ensuring that the tournament was conducted according to FIDE rules and regulations, that the live streaming was up and running, and that pairings and standings were published.

TheFederationwouldlike toextenditssinceregratitude to our sponsor, EnerMech Guyana Inc , for their generosityandsupportinthe development of chess in our youths.

Thank you to the Guyana Olympic Association for providing the venue for the tournament

squad’sdepth.Hewaspartof the Barbados squad which reachedthe2022CPLfinal. GeorgeLinderoundsout thespin-bowlingall-rounder cohort, offering left-arm variety alongside genuine batting ability lower down the order The South African’s all-round skill set gives th

flexibilityinsquadselection.

Chris Green is also back with the Tridents, bringing his experience as one of CPL’scricket’smostreliable off-spinners, valued for his control through the middle overs and his sharp work in the field His addition strengthens the Tridents’ s p i n d e p a r t m e n t considerably MujeeburRahmanjoins as one of the most difficult bowlers in world cricket to get away, renowned for his mystery variations and economyateverystageofan innings. The Afghan allrounder also adds handy lower-order hitting to the

DanielSamsisalsoback with the Tridents and completes the overseas group, bringing left-arm pace and power-hitting versatility from the death overs with ball in hand to finishing touches with the bat. The Australian’s ability to contribute in both disciplines makes him a valuable middle-overs and finishingoption.

Combined with a core West Indian contingent led by Gudakesh Motie, Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford, the Tridents’ overseas quintet gives the franchise a balanced group acrossbatting,spin,andpace as they look to reclaim past glories under their restored Tridentsbanner

Rashid, Wiggins pilot Guyana’s overtime win over Antigua

…Guyana will face Dominica tonight in must-win encounter

ByRawleToney

It was the Umar Rashid and KevonWiggins show at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, as the two combined for45points,tohelpGuyana down Antigua and Barbuda 75-73 in overtime on night two of the FIBAAmeriCup CaribbeanPre-Qualifiers.

After falling 55-68 to Turks and Caicos in their opening game, the home team rebounded in dramatic fashion, as Wiggins, who had a game-high 24 points, and Rashid, who had 21 points to go along with his eight rebounds, both clawed Guyanabacktoanimportant win infront of a jubilant homecrowdinthecountry’s premierindoorfacility

Kevin Mickle (eight points, six rebounds), the star of Guyana’s opening night loss, anchored the defence this time around, as Wiggins and Rashid carried Guyana’soffence.

The first quarter saw

Antigualeading15–11,but Guyana rebounded to score 18 points in the second period to end the first half trailing31–29.

Behind Wiggins, who scoredmuchofhispointsin the third quarter, Guyana outscored Antigua and Barbuda21–17,toheadinto thefourthquarter50–48.

However, Antigua and Barbuda mounted a comeback, but with the crowd cheering their every play, Guyana held their composure, but with the game tied at 69, Wiggins missed the game-winner underpressure.

In overtime, Wiggins, Mickle, Stanton Rose Jr and Rashid kept Guyana in the loop, as the home side held onfortheimportantwin.

Rose, despite struggling with his shot, netted 10 important points Akil Hughes,withhistimeonthe floor,hadeightrebounds.

Preston Merrick and

Xavier Spencer had 16 points each as Antigua and Barbuda stumbled to their firstdefeat.

Tonight, at 8:00 pm, Guyanawilllooktocontinue thepathofvictorywhenthey faceDominica.

Earlier on day two, Cayman Islands handed Grenadatheirsecondlossof the tournament, while picking up their first win in two games, after defeating the men from the Spice Isle 77–68.

Xzavier Miller had a team high 15 points, while Brad Lansdell contributed with 13 for the Cayman Islands.

Kevin Cox’s game-high 18 points were in vain as Michael Checkly added 11, andAkindy Redhead scored 10forGrenada.

Barbados, behind a KyroneAlexander’smonster 36points,trampledHaiti9168towintheirsecondgame ofthetournamentinasmany outingsattheCliffAnderson SportsHall.

CarlThorpepouredin20 points for the Bajans, who areonquesttowinGroupB of the tournament and book theirspotinthenextroundof thetournament.

Candy Lalanne had 18 for Haiti, while Ronaldo Segu scored 13, as the Haitians opened the tournamentonalosingnote.

Meanwhile, the Turks

Kevon Wiggins had a game-high 24 points in Guyana’s overtime win.

and Caicos Islands defeated Dominica 81 – 64 to stay perfect in the tournament, after opening with a 68 – 55 winoverGuyana.

EthanTaylornetted17in the win, while Daylon MorrisandTravanteGarland eachscored10.

ForDominica,playingin their first game of the tournament, Ethan Boland poured in a game high 22 points and Kijuan Thomas

had16.

The tournament continues today with four morematches.

Haitiwilllooktoredeem themselves against the struggling Grenadians from 12:30pm,StVincentandthe Grenadines will face the Cayman Islands from 3:00 pm,whileBermudawilllook tocooloffthehotTurksand Caicos team, hunting their thirdwinofthetournament.

Patentia Secondary completes Tapeball double with GOAPC, CARICOM triumphs

Patentia Secondary School produced a championship-winning week, lifting two Tapeball cricket titles in the space of three days after claiming both the Georgetown Office Assistant Promotion Committee (GOAPC) End-of-Term Secondary Schools Boys’Tapeball Cricket Competition and the CARICOMSchoolsKnockoutTournament.

The school first stamped its authority on Saturday at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, edging St. John’s College by a narrowfive-runmarginintheGOAPCfinal.

Asked to bat first, Patentia posted a competitive 59-4 from its allotted overs.

Captain Krishna Mahase led from the front with a top score of 28, while Shazad Ally addedavaluable17.ValSamuelsalsomadea usefulcontributionwith12runstosteadythe innings.

St.John’sCollegefoughthardinreplybut felljustshort,finishingon56-5asPatentia’s bowlersheldtheirnerveintheclosingstages tosecurethetitle.

Jadon Birch’s all-round performances throughout the tournament earned him the Most Valuable Player award, while Patentia collected the championship trophy and medals,courtesyoftournamentsponsorIdeal

Supplies.

The celebrations continued on Monday (CARICOMDay)whenPatentiareturnedto winning ways in the CARICOM Knockout TapeballCricketTournamentattheNational Parktarmac.

Facing Yarrowkabra Secondary in the final, Patentia produced another composed performance to claim a convincing sixwicket victory Yarrowkabra, batting first, reached 67-5 with Leon James playing the leading role through an aggressive 33-run innings. Jadon Birch again starred with the ball for Patentia, claiming 2-24 to keep the oppositionincheck.

Needing68forvictory,Patentiafoundits match-winner in Kevin Mahase, whose fluent 49 anchored the successful chase.

Althoughhenarrowlymissedahalf-century, Mahase guided his side to 69-4 and another championship trophy Wazim Ali and Leon James shared the wickets for Yarrowkabra withtwoapiece.

Mahase’s match-winning innings also earned him the tournament’s Most Valuable Playeraward.

Attentionnowshiftstothenextroundof Tapeballaction,scheduledforSaturday,July

11,withthefirstballsetfor9:00a.m.

Amongtheschoolsalreadyregisteredare Bishop’s High, Patentia Secondary, West Demerara Secondary, Covent Garden Secondary, St Rose’s High, New Campbellville Secondary, Tucville Secondary, B V Secondary, Diamond Secondary, St. John’s College, Brickdam Secondary, Christ Church Secondary, Yarrowkabra Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, Queen’s College, St. Joseph High, President’s College, St. Stanislaus

College, Valmiki College, School of the Nations,WestminsterSecondary,alongwith avisitinghighschoolteamfromSuriname. Meanwhile, tournament coordinator James Lewis is appealing to Corporate Guyana to support the continued development of the competition, noting that sponsorship opportunities remain available despitestrongparticipation.

Businesses or individuals interested in contributing to the initiative can contact the coordinatoron+592672-6179.

CM Pitamber wins Enermech Guyana-sponsored National Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers

Candidate Master (CM) SachinPitamberemergedas the winner of the 2026 National Junior Chess Championships Qualifiers, hostedbytheGuyanaChess Federation (GCF) The EnerMech Guyana Inc sponsored seven-round tournament concluded at OlympicHouseinLiliendaal onJuly8thafterfourdaysof intense competition. A total of seventy-five young chess players took part in the Group A and Group B

categories, including twenty-sixfemales.

In Group A, CM Pitamber, who holds three National titles, played unbeaten throughout the tournament,scoring6points from seven rounds. His bid for a perfect score was thwartedbytwodrawsinthe fifthandsixthrounds.

Securing a strong second-place finish with 5.5 points was Woman Candidate Master (WCM) and reigning National Women’s Chess Champion

Aditi Joshi, who put on an impressiveperformance;her onlyblemisheswerearound four loss to CM Pitamber andadrawinthesixthround. In third place was Alexander Zhang, who finished with 5 points

Drawing on his experience in high-stakes junior play, Zhangwentunbeatenacross all seven rounds, securing three victories and four drawstoclaimhisspotinthe top9.

ThereigningNationalU-

14 and U-16

Girls Chess Champion, Kataleya Sam, claimed fourth place with a strong 5-point finish. Sam cemented her spot at the top of the standings by scoring vital wins and holding her ground with key draws in

Participants in the 2026 Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers.

rounds five and six, safely securing her position in the top9.

Also finishing with 5 pointswasJeremyCole,who secured fifth place after the tie-breaker system was applied Cole played resilient chess throughout the seven rounds, securing four wins and two draws against just one defeat. His mostnotablevictorycamein the final round against reigning National U-14 Open Champion Abel FernandezCiria.

Roundingoutthecrucial top nine qualifying spots in sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth places were Nicholas Zhang, Matthew Singh, DarrelAbrams,andNational U-12OpenChampionAiden Tinne, respectively.All four players finished the tournamentwithastrong4.5 points, safely securing their placesinthetopnineforthe upcoming National Junior ChessChampionship.

In the newly introduced Group B, the tournament saw a thrilling battle among the up-and-coming players, culminating in a dramatic three-way tie at the top with 6 points each. After the tiebreaker system was applied, Nikhail Raghubir emerged victorious to claim first place, while Tremeur

Alleyne and Shurlan Sparmansecuredsecondand thirdplaces,respectively

Following closely behind was Sanjay Suman, locked in fourth place with 5 5 points, while Mark DeFreitas rounded out the topfivewith5points. In the Priority Areas School Chess Training Programme under the

Ministry of Education, TremeurAlleynefromChrist Church Secondary School gainedthefirst-placetrophy, while second place went to JadenDennyfromStRose’s High, and third place to Madison Spencer from St. JosephHigh.

Group A special Awardees were Aditi Joshi (Best Female), Kataleya Sam (Best U14), and Aiden Tinnie(BestU12).

Group B saw Pranav SumanwinningtheBestU8, while the Best U10 Open went to Mark DeFreitas and Best U10 Girl went to MichaelaThompson.

The competition saw students aged seven to twentyfromvariousschools in and around Georgetown, such as Queen’s College, Bishops’ High School, MarianAcademy, School of theNations,St.JosephHigh, St Stanislaus College, Christ Church Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, Stella MarisPrimary,NewGuyana School,Mae’sSchool,North Georgetown Secondary, Diamond Secondary, Hauraruni Primary School, C u m m i n g s L o d g e Secondary, Cindy’s AcademyandtheUniversity ofGuyana.

The Group A section,

tournament, will see some players gaining valuable international rating points for the first time, thereby increasing the pool of rated playersinGuyana.

Anand Raghunauth, PresidentoftheGuyana

Continuedonpage21

2026 New Zealand tour of West Indies...

Unicomer Guyana/CWI hosts West Indies experience ahead of first ODI at Providence

- CWI Events Manager lauds direction of off-field growth

ByCliftonRoss

Ahead of Saturday’s first ODI between West Indies and New Zealand at Providence, Cricket West Indies (CWI) official partner Unicomer(Guyana)Inc.hostedthe official Windies Experience yesterday at Courts’ Mega store MainStreetbranch.

The event featured some 20 future cricketers from the Malteenoes Sports Club Cricket Academy who were blessed to rub shoulders with members of the West Indies contingent, featuring Guyanese stars Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul and St.LucianAckeemAuguste.

Thefoundationoftheeventwas based on Unicomer’s donation of G$500,000 to the Malteenoes SportsClubtosupporttheongoing development of its academy programme.

Gillian Matthews, Unicomer’s Directing Manager, expressed greatpleasureatthecompanybeing

at the forefront of West Indies cricketdevelopment,notingthatin beinggoodcitizens,itisessentially to give back especially to the growth of sport by virtue of the buildingthegrassrootsprogramme.

She emphasized that investing in people, along with partnerships with CWI, is very important to the company, adding that Malteenoes has been an integral part of the communitysince1902makingthis moveoneforthefuture,whichwill allow more coaching, games and memorable moments for the youngercropofplayers.

Meanwhile, Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle said government is eager to focus on nurturing future talents of cricket while thanking Courts for ensuring their path to greatnessissmoother.

Ninvalle, who wished the players and team success ahead of their first match, believed that it’s no accident that careful planning was involved in making the sports

arena in Guyana such a huge success given the list of regional and international activities billed forthenextfewmonths.

SoniaForrester,BanksDIHPR executive also shared her joy at knowingthesupportonherentity’s behalfhasbeenaproudmomentas theyhavebeenabletopartnerwith theteam,thuscelebratingthefuture ofsports.

One important aspect was furtherhighlightedbyCricketWest Indies’ Events Manager Dario Barthley, who believed the partnershipwasahugesignaltothe rest of Guyana and the Caribbean thattheWestIndiesiscommittedto growingthesportacrossallfacets.

BarthleylaudedCourtsGuyana while expressing gratitude to BanksDIHforbeingpartofCWI’s g r o w i n g m o d e l o f commercialisation.

He believed that from a commercial perspective, support on and off the field has been

From left Kaieteur News Senior Journalist Clifton Ross and Cricket West Indies Events Manager Dario Barthley during yesterday’s West Indies Experience launch at Courts Main Street.

significantly enhanced thus providing even more value to the community

Barthley outlined that the overall experience gained during travels is highly appreciated, as it signifies an opening for business and collaboration in corporate

GuyanaandtheCaribbean,marked by an agreement with Guyana TourismAuthority Inclosing,hethankedeveryone involved for their involvement furtherwishingtheteamsuccessin Guyana and throughout the length series.

Guyana/CWI hosts West Indies experience ahead of first ODI at Providence

- CWI Events Manager lauds direction of off-field growth

Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle flanked by Guyanese/ West Indies stars Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, St. LucianAckeemAuguste, Executives of Unicomer Guyana during yesterday’s launch of the West Indies Experience.